Help Me Find a Career

By Julie Gleeson

When a client recently burst into tears about her new career, I was utterly charmed. This amazingly talented client had an impressive artistic resume, yet the pain in her hands would no longer allow her to do the work that had been supporting her for years. When she arrived to report on her progress, she had a large check with her from her very first consulting client, allowing her to become the artistic director she had always wanted to be. Yes, they were tears of joy. Now, instead of drawing action figures, she has rebranded herself, and guides her clients with her new motto: Everyone should have an action figure to help market their business. After working with me to discover her design and how to find work from there, she was finally back on track to loving her work.

As a conscious career designer, I am always amazed by how many people believe—quite strongly—that you have to be miserable to find work, trying to fit into a career box that is often constraining and unhealthy. Yet the truth is that it is exactly the people who love what they do, who find themselves with abundant opportunities beyond belief. Consider this: If you work full-time between the ages of 21–65, you will have worked 96,000 hours! That’s a lot of your precious life. If it is only for money, how sad.

Everything changes over time, and employment is no different. It is now common for people to change their positions frequently, with the norm being a change about every three years or less. The number of women who have successfully entered the workforce is increasing, and most of the open and interesting jobs are in the hidden job market, which is never advertised.  

With all of this change going on, it is imperative for job seekers to understand the new “lay of the land.” 

• The days of a career counselor telling you what job you’d be perfect for are over. That never worked anyway. It has always been true that people know what they want to do with their lives; they just don’t think they can be successful doing it.

 

• The secret to staying employed during all of this change is to know what makes you unique and how to introduce that uniqueness in a compelling and inspiring way. That thing—that ability or understanding—can play itself out in many different industries and opportunities, so as the world changes, you are still only doing this one core thing, just in many different places.

 

• Clients and employers hire people they like and feel comfortable with. It is essential to radiate attractive energy while being steady and creative during times of overwhelm and stress. Are you able to stay calm and inspiring when all around you is chaos? It’s a wonderful skill to cultivate, and it is what employers and clients like.

 

• There is a cycle to all work: a beginning, middle, an end, and a rest period. Most people want to skip that rest and reflective period, yet it is essential to new beginnings going well. Too many of us rush from one thing to another and wonder why we are tired all of the time.

 

• Finally, there is no such thing as work-life balance. There is, however, the ability to find work you love that transforms you both at work and at home. This is harmony, not balance, and feels like heaven. Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!

Please call me at 925-408-8422 for a free advisory consultation. Happy hunting, and stay away from internet searching. It will only lower your mood.

Julie Gleeson is the Co-founder of Career Wisdom Institute and the Founder of The Art of Living, Inc. She brings over 25 years of experience as a consultant in the fields of career designing, couples mentoring and resilience, stress and overwhelm elimination. Julie also co-authored a best-selling book, “Inside Job, 8 Secrets to Loving Your Work and Thriving.” She can be reached at Gleesonj@CareerWisdomInstitute.com or 925-408-8422. Check out her website for more information: www.careerwisdominstitute.com