In the 15 years I have been counseling, coaching, and working with thousands of clients there is one thing I know: Most people’s job experience is a huge part of their life. And the question I suggest every individual ask themselves is this: “Are you fully satisfied with what you are doing and where you are headed?”
Choose the Best Career & Job for You
Whether you are currently choosing a career or are considering a change, have you truly researched and considered what fits you best? I have seen too many that are not happy with their job or career path. Just recently, a new client came to me after accepting a job as a technical program manager where after two weeks on the job was wondering when is too soon to find a new position. He realized that the job did not match well and offer enough of what he enjoyed and there was little opportunity for growth.
When you buy clothes or shoes, you often spend many hours looking for the best fit and style. Your life and career are more important than purchasing the perfect dress or pair of shoes or even taking the best photo to post on social media. And sure, buying clothes doesn’t compare to working in a job 40+ hours a week. The point is I see people taking more action on things that really don’t matter much in the long run. It is worth the time and effort to look within at who you are and what you want so you can select the career path and role that is the optimum match for you.
Change is a Constant
People change over time. What you wanted as recently as two years ago may be very different than what you want today. There is no linear path for your life or your career. And there is so much that is outside of ourselves that we cannot control and this affects how we feel about ourselves especially if it alters our plans and goals. When obstacles arise, we must find resilience inside of ourselves.
When I graduated from college, I could not find and land a job despite how hard I worked in applying to openings and using my network. I blamed myself thinking I was not good enough despite the awful economic downturn and recession that was happening. It took a long time for me to realize there were outside forces that affected the job market. I took a job that I hated, and after a few years, I took the steps to discover my calling.
How to Find Your Calling
Everything I advise my clients to do I have done myself: assessments, soul searching, exploration, planning, and making choices. I always had the passion and drive for helping others discover more of who they are, their strengths, their weaknesses, their dreams, and goals. Everyone is worthy of living a great life and yet many obstacles can stand in the way. And even with so many roadblocks, there are ways to overcome challenges, and sometimes it can be as simple as taking a detour. 
A coach like me will see your best qualities, some of which you may not see yourself. I will accept you with no judgment wanting only the best for you and your life. I am positive and optimistic even in the toughest of times and will keep you on the path to discovering and realizing your dreams both personally and professionally.
Making the Change
When I was mid-career I made a major shift going back to college to get a Master’s Degree in career counseling and then started at the beginning doing an internship. I learned and grew in my skills and experience by choosing what I wanted to do based on the impact I wanted to make.
I pivoted again when I started to do volunteer work facilitating grief support groups for hospice. It was another calling and way to help people in deep pain after a loss. And I found I was gifted in helping so many. I received so much training and experience in volunteering that when an opening to work for hospice as an employee appeared, I quickly applied as my skills matched, and I was an internal candidate even as a volunteer. I was hired to manage their grief and bereavement program and I worked part-time for 7 years in that role while still doing career coaching, and then moved through more pivots to where I am now.
Today most of us will change jobs and careers at least 5-10 times in our lifetimes. And our personal lives will pivot many times as well. Sometimes shifts happen when we least expect it and not shifts are good.
See Opportunity in Every Challenge
Our lives are more about how we respond to what happens as a result of personal or situational factors or events. I have seen so many of my clients getting laid off from jobs and feeling really down. When we focus on what happened and the possibilities so many of my clients discovered what initially seemed so bad turned out to be one of the best things that happened as it was the impetus for them to take action and make a positive change in their life and career. Too many got stuck in a job or company that was no longer working well for them.
One of my recent clients who got laid off and is an engineer early in his career expressed that he no longer wanted to work in high tech. He said that he didn’t enjoy working in medical devices for a large organization and wanted to do something different. What we discovered is the difference was not about leaving engineering, it was choosing an industry and company size that matched well for him. He did a lot of networking and found a great fitting job in a very small electrical components company and he is so happy now.
Your Life is Like a Book
I believe our lives are lived like chapters in a book. You are the main character and past chapters have led you to where you are now. Just like an author, you can plan your story and create what you will do and experience until you reach the ending. In real life, you are more in control of your life’s story than you can ever imagine. Let me be your guide and show you how you can take action and achieve what you most desire. 
I Can Help You
Are you ready to see possibility, to know more about yourself and what you want from your life? I will help you to visualize, set goals and make choices for what you want to experience as the chapters of your life unfold. I will guide you in moving forward, cheer you when you do well, and listen and help you if you’ve hit a rough spot or need support.
My coaching process is customized to your needs. It includes:
- Self-Exploration & Discovery
- Designing and Executing a Plan
- Taking Action and Measuring Progress
- Eliminating Obstacles
- A Partnership for Support, Growth, and Satisfaction
As a coach, I can help you and am known by my clients for being direct with intuitive clarity, understanding, and step-by-step guidance. I provide practical tools and resources whether you are making a career choice or change, are searching for a job, starting a business, or want to focus on other important aspects of life besides work.
My background includes extensive experience in a wide variety of industries from start-up, mid-sized, Fortune 500 to the Federal Government, and non-profit in addition to starting my own businesses.
The best life stories are when the character grows, moves forward, and lives fully. I will help you achieve that in your career and in your life. You are Awesome. Own it!
Let’s Get Started
Call or text (831) 601-6576 or e-mail me at estelle@careeractioncenter.com to arrange a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation or to schedule your first coaching session. I work with clients virtually throughout the U.S and Canada.
Dream of a day when you wake up eager to work at what you truly enjoy, where you “own” your time and life. I’d like to help. Career Action Center www.careeractioncenter.com