Drawing Conclusions

If you add up the posts, the comments, the relationships and everything else here on work/life fusion, what conclusions would you draw so far?

Here are a few I have come to:

✪ Work/life fusion doesn’t try to offer definitive career answers but it does aim to maximise career opportunities whatever your individual situation

✪ Work/life fusion does try to show that individual career choices can make a difference and that career choices/decisions are best taken by you, wherever possible

✪ Work/life fusion does try to secure your belief - with evidence and fact - that your career can move forward, even if it has stalled

✪ Work/life fusion doesn’t stand or fall on individual career successes - yours, mine or anyone else's - but it's important to know what it stands for

What conclusions do you draw so far?

[Puppy Love - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

A big Thank You to everyone who has read, commented and linked here throughout the year. I'm taking a break from blogging in August but will be online for email and comments too.

If it's Summer where you are, I hope you're enjoying it. If it's Winter or just one long season all year round, know that you probably won't see as much cloud and rain as I will here in the UK :)

See you all in September!

All the best for now,

Paul

Out of the Blue

The bar was busy like it was every Friday night.

Most people were celebrating but Craig was talking seriously.

“I’m serious!” he said.

Craig didn’t know it but lately he was nothing but serious.

“I can’t believe this has happened to me.”

Craig had been looking for a new job for a while. This sounded like bad news.

“I can’t believe it! I finally got a new job and it came to me out of the blue!”

[San Francisco Sunset - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

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This post is for everyone out there looking for work and/or looking to move their career forward.

It’s also for anyone celebrating good news as we go into the weekend. If you’re like Craig you’ve earned it!

Enjoy your weekend wherever you are.

All the best

Paul

Talking Redundancy/Layoff

“You’re younger than me so you wouldn’t understand.”

Your friend is right but if he thinks being younger means you don’t have career worries, he’s got a short memory.

The conversation between you continued.

“I’m looking over my shoulder at all these people younger than me. How can I compete with that?”

A short silence fell while both your minds raced.

His question went unanswered.

[Walking & Talking - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

“I’ve been laid-off before but it's different this time. I just feel like my luck has run out.”

He finished talking.

You considered your reply.

You took a deep breath and started to speak, “...

How did you respond?

What would you have said to your friend in that conversation?

All the best for now,

Paul

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Previous posts on redundancy:

Norris's story: Redundancy/Layoff in a Team

More about redundancy and layoff

Redundancy: Is there a positive future?

Redundancy - A personal view

Alex's story - Redundancy/Layoff with a Positive Outcome

A Commuter's Tale

Tuesday morning. It’s dark and raining.

You walk to the train station avoiding the puddles. Your umbrella keeps you dry for the moment. The same umbrella will soon make you and the person beside you wet on the busy train.

“Remind me again why I’m doing this?” you say out loud. Thankfully, no-one is close enough to hear you.

Your job is OK. It’s a good company. Good people. You know what you’re doing.

“So what’s the problem?” you say to yourself. Still out loud but a little more quietly this time.

[Rain Tracks - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

The more you think about it (and you have thought about it a lot lately) you don’t hate your job. You just aren't one of those people who enjoy what they do.

You don’t envy the people who seem happy at work.

“They should be praised for proving it’s possible.” you think to yourself. Not speaking out loud this time.

“It’s up to me to figure out what’s missing. To understand what I want. Not just from my job but for the rest of my career too.” you quietly resolve to yourself.

You splash into the station and continue to think as you roll up your umbrella.

Your umbrella rolls up in a smooth, practised motion that reflects the many times you have done it before. It's a familiar, satisfying feeling.

“That’s the feeling I want from my job!” you speak out loud again. Louder this time.

The ticket collector hears you.

She smiles and you know that she wants the same feeling too.

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A bit of an experimental post today. I hope you like it!

All the best for now,

Paul

Where would I like to be in 5 years time?

Ask yourself this question

There's no trick to it

No right or wrong answer

Take your time

Where would I like to be in 5 years time?

Easy answers can't work in the long-run

Someone else's answer won't work for you either

You can't be 'technically correct' on this one

[Santa Cruz - see more at Saundra's Flickr Photostream here]

Where would I like to be in 5 years time?

You're not alone when you think about this question. It's by far the most searched and most visited on this blog.

I hope you do choose to stay with this question a little longer. The only person who can benefit is you.

Refresh it, Re-phrase it, Renew your attitude towards it. Do whatever you feel necessary but do take the time to ask yourself once again:

Where would I like to be in 5 years time?

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Learn how your answer to this question can evolve over time at exploreyourcareer.com

Where do you want to be in 5 years time?