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Meaningful Careers News |
February 2012 |
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Greetings!
How are those New Year's resolutions working out for you?
In this, our February issue of Meaningful Careers News, our focus is on "stick-to-itiveness," an appropriate follow-on to a month typified by ambitious, but frequently unfulfilled goals.
And who better to demonstrate stick-to-itiveness than Punxsutawney Phil, who for 125 years has kicked-off February by popping his head out of the ground to spot his shadow and decree 6 more weeks of winter.
February also brings Super Bowl Sunday, a de facto national holiday and the second largest day for food consumption in the US. Aging rock-stars emerge at half-time to strut around and show the world that they've still got it -- and they're sticking to it.
This all leads up to Valentine's Day, a day in which lovers express their neverending love by presenting flowers and candy, symbolizing their steadfast commitment to each other.
And there's President's Day, mostly honored as a 3-day celebratory weekend rather than a show of reverence for our quadrennial (or octennial) leaders, who must demonstrate stick-to-itiveness and steadfastness, even in the face of crippling opposition.
For more on stick-to-itiveness, pick up a copy of "Make Your Shift," by Friend of Meaningful Careers, Beverly Flaxington. Bev offers an insightful approach to accomplishing your goals with a clear sense of purpose. And don't miss this month's Feature Story.
As always, we welcome your comments -- and thank you for letting us do what we love to do.
Dan and Mark
The Meaning Guys |
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 Feature Story:
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Stick-to-itiveness, Steadfastness and Success
by Mark Guterman and Dan King
"What's your success rate?"
It's a fair question - and one we are asked frequently. Clients seek us out for help making a job or career change that is a more complete expression of what brings them meaning. They want to know that we've succeeded in helping others find meaningful work. And we have.
But it's a challenging question to answer because it implies that we are the primary drivers of our clients' success. And we're not. We are facilitators in the process of finding meaningful work, but our clients are the drivers. Our success is contingent upon our clients' success - or in other words, upon their driving skills.
So the short answer to the question is that for those who "stick with the process," the chances for finding meaningful work are very high, approaching 100%. Our success is influenced by the degree of "stick-to-itiveness" we can instill in our clients. How long it might take (another question we are regularly asked) requires "steadfastness," a spirit of dogged persistence and tenacity, however long it takes.
Of course, it's easy to become overwhelmed and daunted by the process of finding meaningful work -- from clarifying "what meaning means," to creating and committing to a plan, and acknowledging the time and effort necessary to achieve it. Starting the process is relatively easy -- hanging with it to a successful resolution is something else altogether. It takes discipline to sustain your momentum through the inevitable twists and turns of the journey. Those who do, find success - and subsequently, so do we.
What makes the difference between those clients find meaningful work and those who do not?
Those who achieve a successful outcome do the following:
- They set small goals, putting their attention on those things over which they have control, and celebrating both big and small successes.
- They find time every day (even if its only a few minutes) to work on the process, establishing momentum that comes only through discipline.
- They have someone (a coach, a partner, a friend, a mentor) who supports them and holds them accountable.
- They practice self-care as an important and necessary part of the process.
- They hold a vision, anchored by their values, in their mind's eye and relish it as if they were already there.
- They find their own way to move forward, following their curiosity and improvising, when necessary.
- They make learning an integral part of the process.
There is no magical formula for success at finding meaning in our worklives. It comes down to three things: Passion, Patience and Persistence. Meaningful work is within the reach of everyone -- and each of us can exercise the power needed to achieve it. Are you ready to get started? And, more importantly, do you possess the stick-to-itiveness and steadfastness to see it through to a successful outcome? |
Become a Meaningful Career Affiliate | |
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