FINDING YOUR WAY TO YOUR AUTHENTIC CAREER

ADAM TAGGART

Copyright 2013 Adam Taggart All global rights reserved in all media I !"#10$ 1%&%&2'0(1 I !"#13$ )*&#1%&%&2'0(& +irst edition p,blished -,ne 2013

Dedication:
To everyone .ishing they .eren/t .here they are0

Table of Contents Introduction TAGE ONE: Ta1ing Control o2 3o,r 4ro2essional +,t,re te! ": 5nderstanding 3o,r Tr,e "at,re te! #: !,ilding the 6i2e 3o, 7ant te! $: Identi2ying 4otential Careers that +it !oth TAGE TWO: "avigating the 8+allo./ 4eriod te! %: +reeing 3o,rsel2 5p to +o9,s :C,tting the Cord; te! &: !,ilding 3o,r ,pport ystem te! ': Identi2ying Target Ind,stries< Roles and Companies TAGE THREE: Ma1ing a ,99ess2,l Transition te! (: 4,rs,ing 7or1 .ith Meaning in 3o,r "e. Chosen +ield te! ): 6anding the Right =pport,nity +or 3o, te! *: !eginning 3o,r A,thenti9 Career

Introduction
4erhaps the most 2re>,ent >,estion as1ed by visitors to the +ea, +ros!erit- .ebsite is what should I do? 7e/ve 9reated a lot o2 9ontent to address this broad and very 2ar#ranging >,ery< b,t at its simplest< o,r advi9e distills do.n to this$ 10 4rote9t .hat/s pre9io,s 20 C,ltivate resilien9e 30 6ive .ith p,rpose This g,ide 2o9,ses on ?3$ 2inding p,rpose< spe9i2i9ally in regards to .hat yo, do 2or a living @ yo,r Acareer0B My .or1 at 4ea1 4rosperity provides me .ith the opport,nity to spea1 .ith a large n,mber o2 people ea9h .ee10 +rom these dis9,ssions< I .o,ld estimate that o.er (/0 o2 these 2ol1s are a9tively dissatis2ied @ or< at best< ,n2,l2illed by their 9,rrent Cobs0 The reasons span a .ide range0 ome simply eDperien9e a bad 2it .ith the 9areer 2ate steered them intoE others 2ear their eDpertise .ill have little relevan9e to a 2,t,re shaped by the AThree FB 2or9es o,tlined in The Crash Course0 7hatever the 9a,se< most eDpress a desire to s.it9h to an entirely di22erent pro2ession i2 given the opport,nity to do so0 I2 yo,/re one o2 these 2ol1s< this g,ide is 2or yo,0 And its overall message is$ Your purpose is out there waiting for you. There is a methodi9al pro9ess to 2ind it and to transition s,99ess2,lly over to it0

This transition may ta1e longer than yo,/d li1e< or at times 2eel more ,n9om2ortable or 9ir9,ito,s than yo, .ant0 !,t it is possible0 4robable< even @ i2 yo, tr,ly 9ommit yo,rsel20 +or those interested in reading it< I/ve shared my !ers!ecti.e on 1- o2n 3ourne- @ 2rom dissatis2ied ili9on Galley eDe9,tive to r,ral homesteader and pro,d 9o#2o,nder o2 4ea14rosperity09om0 A 1ey ta1ea.ay is that I don/t believe I .o,ld have s,99ess2,lly made the transition .itho,t either the g,idan9e I re9eived or the str,9t,red pro9ess I 9ommitted to0 I had tried to A2ig,re it all o,tB :A2ind mysel2<B Adis9over my 9alling<B et90; on my o.n many< many times over the past t.o de9ades @ yet 2ailing at ea9h attempt to prod,9e the res,lts I .anted0 I only began ma1ing tr,e progress on9e I honestly admitted the 2ollo.ing to mysel2$ # # # I did not 1no. my o.n goals .ell eno,gh0 I did not have a 9lear methodology0 My 2ears o2 what if I fail? .ere 1eeping me 2rom 9onsidering ta1ing tr,ly s,bstantive steps0

It be9ame 9lear to me that to s,99eed< I needed to stop thrashing aro,nd on my o.n0 It .as time to bring in the pro2essionals0 In doing so< I learned that there is indeed a pro9ess that yields the sel2#dis9overy< visioning< planning< and implementation that ,ltimately res,lts in 2inding pro2essional 2,l2illment0 It has been analyHed 2or de9ades and is .ell#,nderstood by 9ompetent 9areer 9o,nselors0

There/s little abo,t this pro9ess that is novel or 9ompleD0 It doesn/t re>,ire yo, to spend a lot o2 money0 It doesn/t re>,ire yo, to go thro,gh any spe9ial training be2orehand0 The di22i9,lty lies in both having the 9o,rage to .restle .ith yo,rsel2< as .ell as the reserve to see this Co,rney thro,gh to its 9on9l,sion0 3o, .ill be dealing .ith eDistential >,estions @ ones that are hard 2or many o2 ,s to 2a9e0 The ans.ers are not li1ely to 9ome easily or s.i2tly0 3o, .ill have to get 9om2ortable de2ining and 9ategoriHing yo,rsel2< .hi9h is< by its nat,re< also an admission o2 .hat yo, are Anot0B0 Ma1ing pea9e .ith o,r limitations does not 9ome easy0 5ndo,btedly< there .ill be times .hen yo, .ill 2eel st,91< .here insight and progress el,de yo,0 3o, .ill need to have the 2ortit,de to soldier on0 The pro9ess is an organi9 one and is there2ore Amessy0B Fmbra9e the ,n9ertainty0 !,t i2 yo, 2ollo. this pro9ess thro,gh< the odds o2 yo, ending ,p .ith a 9lear ,nderstanding o2 yo,r Ap,rposeB @ and in a Cob that/s 9onsistent .ith it @ are very good0 !e2ore .e la,n9h into the details o2 the pro9ess itsel2< 1no. that its s,99ess depends ,pon$ 10 20 30 %0 A Gision A 4lan 4ermission to Change 4erseveran9e

The steps in this g,ide are designed to help yo, develop these 2o,r essential s,99ess ingredients0 !,t at the end o2 the day< ea9h o2 these needs to 9ome 2rom yo, @ and only yo,0 o as yo, begin yo,r o.n Co,rney to.ards p,rpose2,l .or1< 2re>,ently stop and as1 yo,rsel2$ how well am I making progress on developing these four points?

Ho2 to Use T4is Guide

Ma1ing a s,99ess2,l 9areer transition ta1es time @ typi9ally< a lot o2 it0 Most o2 yo, sho,ld set the eDpe9tation that this pro9ess .ill ta1e at least a year 2rom beginning to end0 +or those ma1ing radi9al shi2ts in terms o2 ind,stries and s1ills< it 9o,ld ta1e several years< depending on the entry re>,irements o2 yo,r ne. 2ield0 This is not being said as dis9o,ragement0 !,t rather as honest tr,th abo,t the s9ope o2 inner .or1< eDploration< and perseveran9e a s,99ess2,l transition .ill re>,ire 2rom yo,0 o< in short< approa9h this pro9ess as a marathonE not a sprint0 And so this g,ide is divided into three parts :9alled AstagesB in this do9,ment;$ TAGF ="F$ Ta1ing Control o2 3o,r 4ro2essional +,t,re TAGF T7=$ "avigating the +allo. 4eriod TAGF TIRFF$ Ma1ing a ,99ess2,l Transition Focus on one sta5e at a ti1e6 And don7t !ro5ress to t4e ne8t until -ou7.e co1!leted t4e sta5e before6 taying 2o9,sed .ill help prevent yo, 2rom 2eeling over.helmed and be9oming dis9o,raged by the .ide s9ope o2 .or1 that s,99ess2,l transition re>,ires0 That/s .hy this g,ide is 9onstr,9ted in stages0

=2 9o,rse< 2eel 2ree to read ahead i2 yo,/re 9,rio,s to learn abo,t .hat the neDt stage o2 the pro9ess involves0 -,st don/t press,re yo,rsel2 to slog thro,gh the entire g,ide be2ore starting tage =ne0 A2ter all< yo,r 2,t,re is .aiting0 o let/s get startedJ

Ta,in5 Control of Your +rofessional Future teps 1#3

TAGE ONE

te! ": Understandin5 Your True Nature

Know thyself, 9o,nseled the ancient Gree, sa5es0 The .isdom o2 that simple advi9e is C,st as relevant millennia later0 A better 1no.ledge o2 yo,rsel2 is the bedro91 that yo, .ill b,ild yo,r 2,t,re .or1 on0 This 9onstr,9tive introspe9tion .ill be the most important .or1 o2 yo,r transition< yet it is also the area most people have invested in least th,s 2ar in their lives0 To identi2y a path leading to greater 2,l2illment< yo, 2irst need to ,nderstand .ho yo, are in the what makes me tick? 1ind o2 .ay0 It/s 2rom this ,nderstanding that yo,/ll be able to ,nlo91 the really interesting and help2,l insights @ li1e what makes me happyK =r whats my purposeK ,re @ I 9an hear many o2 yo, thin1ing$ Easy for him to say. Very hard for me to do. "o do,bt abo,t itE these are very 9hallenging >,estions regarding the 9ore o2 yo,r eDisten9e0 Most o2 yo, have probably been as1ing yo,rsel2 these >,estions all yo,r li2e .ith less s,99ess than yo,/ve .anted0 At this point< C,st tr,st that yo,/ll soon be able to do this m,9h more e22e9tively0 Io.K 3o,r 2irst step begins .ith lettin5 5o0

I2 yo,/re li1e most people .ho 2ind themselves in an ,n2,l2illing 9areer< yo, li1ely 2eel shame or a sense o2 2ail,re 2or ending ,p there0 7ith all o2 the 9hoi9e< opport,nity< and potential that li2e o22ered to yo, in the past< yo, still managed to p,t yo,rsel2 on a traCe9tory to ,nhappiness0 There are t.o really important realiHations to ma1e here$ 10 3o, are not alone0 20 3o, have 9ontrol to 9hange yo,r sit,ation0 As I mentioned earlier< many @ in fact9 1ost @ people are not thrilled abo,t their Cobs0 Many @ in9l,ding do9tors< la.yers< and 2inan9iers @ 2eel trapped in their 9areers< st,91 there d,e to the s,n1 9osts o2 years invested< a 2ear o2 stat,s loss< or o2 not being able to meet the demands o2 their monthly b,dgets :mortgage< 9hild 9are< et90;0 o< right o22 the bat< 1no. that yo, are not the only one in this sit,ation0 3o, have 9ompany0 A lot o2 9ompany0 Iope2,lly that helps to relieve some o2 the sense o2 2ail,re or shame0 I2 yo,/ve 9ommitted some so9ial sin by not 2inding the per2e9t 9areer yet< most o2 so9iety is right there along .ith yo,0 D,ring my o.n period o2 sel2#eDploration< one o2 the most help2,l insights I re9eived .as 2rom an eDperien9ed therapist0 he eDplained to me that part o2 the nat,ral and healthy mat,ring pro9ess 2or ad,lts is to ma1e the transition 2rom li.in5 a life accordin5 to ot4ers7 e8!ectations of us to li.in5 one based on our o2n0

+or all o2 ,s< many o2 the de9isions .e made in o,r early lives .ere shaped by the 2eedba91 and eDpe9tations o2 others0 =,r parents/ eDpe9tations and inp,t .ere h,gely in2l,ential @ in most 9ases< playing a large determining role in .hat .e maCored in at 9ollege or .hi9h pro2ession .e 9hose to go into0 =,r 2riends/ 9hoi9es also strongly 9olored o,r early de9isions0 7e are so9ial 9reat,res and are geneti9ally and 9,lt,rally .ired to syn9hroniHe .ith those aro,nd ,s0 As .e mat,re and develop a stronger sense o2 sel2< as .ell as an appre9iation o2 o,r o.n mortality< a healthy ad,lt begins to p,t aside these vestigial eDpe9tations and as1 instead$ hat do I want? hat are my own e!pectations for myself? o many people are a2raid o2 loo1ing deep into themselves be9a,se the ans.ers they 2ind may be di22erent than .hat others val,e0 :My o.n 2ear .as that the Abest#2itB 9areer I .o,ld dis9over 2or mysel2 .o,ld seem AsmallB to others 9ompared to the 2ast# tra91 9o,rse I had been on be2ore0; 3o,r 1ey tas1 here in tep 1 is to realiHe that the all o2 the inp,t 2or TAGF ="F needs to 9ome 2rom .ithin yo,0 o9iety/s norms and in2l,en9es do not belong here0 3o,r goal is aut4enticit-0 3o, are see1ing to develop a 9learer ,nderstanding o2 yo,r a,thenti9 sel2$ the val,es< aptit,des< and s1ills that yo, possess0 And the goals that .ill s,99ess2,lly 2,l2ill yo, i2 attained0

This is a Agarbage in garbage o,tB pro9ess< .hi9h is .hy a,thenti9ity is so important0 I2 yo, let yo,r inp,ts here be 9olored by others/ in2l,en9e< yo,/ll end ,p .ith ans.ers that are optimiHed 2or others/ needs< not yo,rs0 +o9,s on being br,tally honest .ith yo,rsel2< no matter .hat yo, ,n9over d,ring this introspe9tion0 o< ho. to get started better ,nderstanding yo,r a,thenti9 sel2K imply sitting do.n .ith a blan1 sheet o2 paper and trying to 2it the essen9e o2 Ayo,B onto it is really da,nting0 4erhaps paralyHingly so0 It s,re .as 2or me0 +ort,nately< I dis9overed three things that helped greatly in b,ilding 9onstr,9tive moment,m0 The 2irst t.o are essentialE the third is very help2,l i2 yo, 9an se9,re it$ 10 A9>,ire data points :the more the better;0 20 Get something :anythingJ; on paper0 30 Re9r,it help0 ": Data9 Data9 Data It/s very hard to loo1 at o,rselves .ith obCe9tive eyes0 !,t this is something yo,/ll need to do yo,r best at thro,gho,t this pro9ess0 The easiest .ay to begin to develop an obCe9tive assessment o2 yo,rsel2 is to get data 2rom o,tside so,r9es0 3o,/ll 2ind yo, 9an do this s,rprisingly >,i91ly0 The more data yo, 9olle9t< the easier it be9omes to get a 9learer and more a99,rate pi9t,re on .hi9h yo, 9an then begin to base 2,t,re de9isions0

There are a n,mber o2 readily available tests and reso,r9es that 9an help yo, a99,m,late ,se2,l data abo,t yo,r native predile9tions0 3o, 9an also mine the perspe9tives o2 those .ho 1no. yo, .ell0 At this early stage< C,st abo,t any data is better than none< so go 2orth and 9olle9t as m,9h as yo, 9an0 "ote that some o2 this data re>,ires money to obtain @ tho,gh not m,9h< in the big pi9t,re< relative to the high val,e o2 2inding yo,r a,thenti9 9areer0 In general< I thin1 it/s hard to over#invest at this stage< as the insights yo, gain here in TAGF ="F .ill yield disproportionate val,e as yo, progress thro,gh yo,r 9areer transition0 There are three prin9ipal types o2 so,r9es that are ,se2,l here$ 10 4ersonality tests 20 Aptit,de tests 30 ManagerLpeer revie.s +ersonalit- tests see1 to help yo, ,nderstand ho. yo, pre2er to eDer9ise yo,r per9eption and C,dgment< and .ill 9ategoriHe yo, into a distin9t personality Atype0B The rationale behind these is that by ,nderstanding yo,r personality< yo, 9an approa9h yo,r o.n .or1 in a manner best s,ited to it0 ,9h tests give yo, a >,antitative meas,rement on s,9h dimensions as yo,r level o2 eDtraversionLintroversion< ho. yo, li1e to pro9ess in2ormation< ho. yo, pre2er to ma1e de9isions< and ho. m,9h str,9t,re yo, pre2er in li2e0

The granddaddy o2 personality tests is the ;-ers< =ri55s T-!e Indicator0 Many o2 yo, reading this have probably ta1en the test at some point in yo,r li2e0 I2 yo,/re one o2 those 2ol1s< see i2 yo, 9an dig the old res,lts o,t o2 yo,r atti90 +or those .ho haven/t ta1en it or 9an/t 2ind their res,lts< there are a nu1ber of o!tions for ta,in5 t4e test 2rom a li9ensed provider0 It 9an also be ta1en online :at a 9ost o2 M3)0)(;0 A!titude tests strive to identi2y the type o2 .or1 at .hi9h yo, are nat,rally gi2ted to s,99eed0 The rationale :.hi9h I agree .ith; is that yo, are best served 2o9,sing yo,r 9areer on yo,r nat,ral strengths0 3o,/ll be more s,99ess2,l and yo,/ll 2eel more 2,l2illed0 everal o2 these tests are help2,l and .orth yo,r 9onsideration$ # Gallu! tren5t4 Centers # an online servi9e based on the tren5t4 Finders methodology o22ering an introd,9tory pa91age 2or dis9overing yo,r 8signat,re/ strengths :M)0)); and a more detailed pa91age .ith yo,r 9omplete 3%#strengths pro2ile :M&); Career>eader # an online servi9e designed to ,n9over yo,r deeply embedded li2e interests< s1ills< and motivators :M)(; ?o4nson O7Connor Researc4 Foundation # an in# person< 9omprehensive battery o2 tests administered over several days and designed to empiri9ally determine yo,r nat,ral talents :M'*(;

# #

I have to spend a moment here dis9,ssing the -ohnson =/Connor test0 3es< this test is signi2i9antly more eDpensive than the others0 !,t in my eDperien9e< it .as the single most ,se2,l test I too1 d,ring my transition0

In the 1)20s< -ohnson =/Connor .as 9ommissioned by General Fle9tri9 :GF; to develop an aptit,de test that 9o,ld mat9h its employees .ith .or1 2or .hi9h they .ere innately 2it0 !a91 then< an employee o2ten spent their entire 9areer at the 9ompany< and GF leadership hoped to get better per2orman9e i2 employee talent .as better mat9hed to its nat,re0 The tests =/Connor 9reated .or1ed eDtremely .ell0 6ater< in the 1)30s< he 9reated the pre9,rsor to the -ohnson =/Connor Resear9h +o,ndation :-=C;< .hi9h has been administering and improving the tests ever sin9e0 7hat I li1e abo,t this approa9h is that it is eDtremely data#driven< and they have been iterating it 2or almost a 9ent,ry0 I,ndreds o2 tho,sands o2 s,bCe9ts have gone thro,gh this pro9ess over the de9ades< enabling -=C to re2ine pro9ed,re to the point .here the res,lts are eDtremely predi9tive relative to 9ompeting methods0 The testing pro9ess 9onsists o2 ' ho,rs o2 eDer9ises designed to empiri9ally s9ore yo,r nat,ral ability a9ross a n,mber o2 spe9i2i9 s1ills0 These eDer9ises are .ide#rangingE some are 9on9ept,al< some man,al< some vis,al< some m,si9alNsome yo, have no 9l,e at the time .hat they may be testingN

!,t a2ter yo,r ' ho,rs< yo, then have a 10( ho,r session .ith a spe9ialist .ho synthesiHes the o,tp,t 2rom yo,r res,lts0 I 2o,nd this eDtremely help2,l< as have the people .ho initially p,t this test on my radar0 7hile the -=C 2ol1s don/t promise yo,/ll have an 8epiphany moment/< yo,r odds are pretty good here0 The goal o2 this eDit 9ons,ltation is to ma1e s,re yo, have a ro91#solid ,nderstanding o2 the attrib,tes that .ill most determine yo,r 9areer s,99ess and happiness0 The resear9hers also do their best to help yo, identi2y potential pro2essions or ind,stries that are .ell#s,ited to yo,r spe9i2i9 pro2ile0 o yo, leave the eDperien9e armed .ith bedro91 insights abo,t yo,rsel2< along .ith one or more paths to go eDplore0 There are -=C testing 2a9ilities in many maCor 5 9ities0 o i2 yo, de9ide yo, .ant to ta1e the eDam< yo, sho,ld be able to 2ind a 9enter .ithin driving distan9e0 ;ana5e1ent or !eer re.ie2s are also help2,l vehi9les 2or developing a better ,nderstanding o2 yo,rsel20 They/re espe9ially val,able so,r9es o2 data i2 yo,/re ,nable to a22ord the any o2 the tests mentioned above0 I2 yo, ever .or1ed 2or an organiHation at .hi9h yo, re9eived per2orman9e revie.s< no. is the time to sear9h thro,gh yo,r 2iles 2or them0 As yo, read thro,gh these revie.s< loo1 2or observations and 9omments that re9,r 2rom year to year andLor are .ritten by di22erent revie.ers0 It/s those persisting traits that are most li1ely to be indi9ative o2 .ho yo, tr,ly are0 7hen yo, re9eived praise 2or yo,r a99omplishments< .as it 2re>,ently 2or the same sort o2 s1ills< >,alities< or domain eDpertiseK I2 so< this is important data abo,t yo,r pro2essional strengths0

I2 yo, don/t have o22i9ial per2orman9e revie.s< don/t .orry0 3o, 9an still get m,9h o2 the same val,e :and a broader spe9tr,m o2 inp,t; by soli9iting 2eedba91 2rom those .ho 1no. yo, .ell0 et a goal to get inp,t 2rom ( or more revie.ers0 Re9r,it a miD o2 people 2rom yo,r pro2essional and personal lives0 As1 them to .rite do.n their per9eptions o2 yo,r strengths and yo,r de2ining 9hara9teristi9s$ 10 7hat adCe9tives .o,ld they ,se to des9ribe yo, as a personK 20 7hat are yo,r strengthsK 30 7hat are yo,r Anon#strengthsBK :This >,estion may be di22i9,lt to obtain ans.ers 2or0 Many revie.ers .ill be rel,9tant to deliver 9riti9ism0 6et them 1no. yo,/ll be happy no matter .hat they .rite here< i2 anything0; %0 7hat type o2 .or1 do they see yo, being most 2,l2illed byK Again< yo,/re loo1ing 2or patterns @ 2or observations 9onsistent a9ross the revie.ers0 I2 yo,/re hearing the same things 2rom m,ltiple so,r9es< it/s a good indi9ator that the insight is li1ely a99,rate0 #: T4e I1!ortance of Co11ittin5 Words to +a!er 5nderstanding .ho yo, are is a pro9ess o2 vis,aliHation0 3o, .ant to .or1 on b,ilding a 9lear and detailed image o2 A.hat isB :val,es< s1ills< goals< et90; that yo, .ill then ,se as a basis 2or ma1ing de9isions abo,t the 2,t,re0 3o, do this by arti9,lating .ho yo, are0 =n paper0

5n2ort,nately< the Ablan1 sheetB problem de2eats most people be2ore they/ve even beg,n0 7hyK T.o main reasons$ Reason @": A blan1 sheet represents ,nbo,nd possibility0 It/s a talisman o22ering the promise that o,r lives 9an go in any possible dire9tion 2rom this moment in time0 It says< I am anything I want to "e. 3et the very a9t o2 .riting on this sheet is a restrictive pro9ess< be9a,se the .ords 9ommitted immediately stand in 9ontrast to those that are not on the page0 7riting 2or9es yo, to 9hoose0 ,ddenly limits are no. being pla9ed on yo,r vision 2or yo,rsel20 This 2eels ,npleasant @ many people report emotions o2 anDiety and loss :the same as in the OPbler#Ross grieving pro9ess; .hen doing this0 Reason @#: 6a91 o2 9on2iden9e in the res,lts0 in9e this is the beginning o2 the pro9ess< ho. 9an yo, be s,re that .hat yo,/re .riting do.n is a99,rateK 7hat i2 it/s not< and .hat i2 the de9isions yo, then base on these insights are horribly 2la.edK !oth o2 these 9hallenges o2ten present h,ge psy9hologi9al h,rdles to ta1ing the 2irst step to.ards sel2#vis,aliHation0 Don/t let them de2eat yo,0 The tri91 here is not b,rdening yo,rsel2 .ith AnailingB yo,r vis,aliHation at the 2irst try0 6oo1 at it as a pro9ess< not an event0

-,st as a s9,lptor begins .ith a shapeless l,mp o2 9lay< be 9om2ortable at the beginning o2 the pro9ess .ith the 2a9t that .hat yo, p,t do.n on paper may loo1 nothing li1e anything that stri1es yo, as the Aa,thenti9 yo,0B 6i1e the s9,lptor< yo, .ill ret,rn to this .or1 again and again< shaping here< 9arving there @ and event,ally a 2orm yo, re9ogniHe .ill start to emerge0 The 1ey is to C,st start 9apt,ring yo,r initial thin1ing in .ritten 2orm0 +or those o2 yo, .ho are 2amiliar .ith o,r W4at 4ould I DoA Guide< this is the tep Qero o2 yo,r 9areer transition0 It/s the 2irst step that brea1s the inertia and ma1es all o2 the 2ollo.ing steps possible and easier to ta1e0 =1ay< so pres,ming yo,/ve no. got pen and paper in hand$ hat to write?

There are 2o,r eDer9ises that I 2ind parti9,larly help2,l to b,ilding a 9learer pi9t,re o2 one/s a,thenti9 sel2$ 10 20 30 %0 Farly FDperien9es A,tobiography C,rrent 6i2e Assessment The even tories

I re9ommend that yo, 9omplete ea9h one in the order above0 I2 yo, do< yo, .ill have a very solid 2o,ndation 2rom .hi9h to b,ild plans 2or yo,r 2,t,re 9areer0 E8ercise ": Earl- E8!eriences 3o,r memories o2 yo,r early eDperien9es have a lot o2 po.er0 This is be9a,se they o99,rred at a time be2ore yo,r personality and perspe9tive .ere in2l,en9ed by the more 2or9ed so9ialiHation .e eDperien9e d,ring adoles9en9e and beyond0 As s,9h< yo,r 9hildhood li1es and disli1es are a good .indo. into yo,r 9ore pre2eren9es0 o9iety may shape< enhan9e< or repress them to varying degrees< b,t this 9ore programming never really 9hanges thro,gh li2e0 The goal o2 this eDer9ise is to 9apt,re as many 8memorable moments/ 2rom yo,r 9hildhood as possible that 9an in2orm yo, abo,t .hat yo,r nat,ral val,es and aptit,des may be0 10 Create a list :as many as yo, 9an thin1 o2; o2 moments in yo,r early li2e .hen yo, derived pleas,re 2rom .hat yo, .ere doing0 # These eDperien9es 9an be 2rom any part o2 yo,r li2e$ home< s9hool< play< solit,de0 All that matters is that yo, have a strong positive asso9iation .ith them0

20 "eDt to ea9h< .rite a brie2 s,mmary o2 .hat it .as abo,t the eDperien9e that resonated 2or yo,0 30 6oo1 thro,gh yo,r .or1 so 2ar and as1< hat are the elements here that seemed to come naturally for me? Re9ord them0 # 7as it artisti9 9reationK =r ma1ing relationshipsK =r solving p,HHlesK Anything is 2air game< as long as it 2elt li1e A2,nB and not A.or1B0 Completing this eDer9ise sho,ld arm yo, .ith t.o important assets$ T4e first is a set o2 a9tivities that 2eel 2,ndamentally nat,ral to yo,0 3o, .ill ,se these later on to sele9t .or1 opport,nities that 2it yo,r native pre2eren9es0 T4e second is a vestigial memory o2 .hat it 2eels li1e to be 2,l2illed .hen a9tive0 Iold on to this 2eelingE yo, .ill 1no. yo,/re getting 9lose to the right 1ind o2 9areer .hen yo, 2ind yo,rsel2 eDperien9ing it again0 E8ercise #: Autobio5ra!4This se9ond eDer9ise is designed to re#introd,9e to yo, to yo,rsel2 at a high level0 7rite as m,9h as yo, 2eel is needed abo,t the 2ollo.ing$ 10 3o,r history # +o9,s on .hat is notable 2or yo, abo,t yo,r li2e so 2ar0 :7hat stands o,t as parti9,larly good or badK; 20 7hatL7ho have been yo,r biggest in2l,en9esK 7hyK 30 7hat .ere yo,r dreams 2or yo,rsel2 .hen yo, .here yo,ngK

%0 7hat are yo,r dreams 2or yo,rsel2 no.K The obCe9tive here is to gain an ,nderstanding o2 the eDperien9es and belie2s that have g,ided yo, to .here yo, are today0 As1 yo,rsel2$ #. $o my e!periences suggest that I gravitate to certain types of opportunities? %. hat are the common elements "etween the positive moments in my life and my dreams? &. 'ow have my hopes for myself changed as Ive matured? 3o, .ant to end this eDer9ise .ith a good sense o2 .hy yo, are .ho yo, are right now. !e2ore yo, set yo,r ne. traCe9tory 2or yo,rsel2< yo, need to 1no. .here yo,/re starting 2rom0 E8ercise $: elf<Assess1ent This ta1es the .or1 yo, started in the previo,s eDer9ise and brings it do.n to a m,9h more gran,lar and tangible level0 It/s designed to help yo, gain a good ,nderstanding o2 how life is for you right no.0 There ,ndo,btedly .ill be elements that are C,st 2ine 2or yo,< as .ell as others that yo, .ish .ere di22erent0 7hi9h is .hy it/s very important in this eDer9ise to be br,tally honest .ith yo,rsel20 3o, are embar1ing on a pro9ess o2 9hange @ positive 9hange @ and to do this s,99ess2,lly< yo, have to be as 9lear as possible in identi2ying the things that need to 9hange0

This eDer9ise is yo,r 9han9e to let it all hang o,tNto name yo,r demons0 3o,/ll 2ind that by p,tting yo,r biggest disappointments and 2ears on paper< the po.er they have over yo, begins to lessen0 In 2a9t< as yo, progress thro,gh the remaining steps in this g,ide< yo,/ll develop spe9i2i9 strategies and plans 2or moving past these regrets0 "o one need ever see .hat yo, .rite here0 o be 9ompletely open .ith yo,rsel20 =n9e yo, ,nderstand the 2,ll nat,re o2 the material yo, have to .or1 .ith< yo, 9an start s9,lpting the vision yo, .ant0 3o,r el2#Assessment 9onsists o2 ans.ering the 2ollo.ing >,estions$ 10 20 30 %0 (0 '0 *0 &0 )0 7hat adCe9tives des9ribe yo,r li2e at this stageK 7here are yo, livingK 7hat are yo, doing 2or .or1K 7hat are yo,r relationships li1e .ith 2amily and 2riendsK :!e spe9i2i9 @ list names0; 7hat interests and a9tivities are yo, involved .ith o,tside o2 .or1K 7hat/s the state o2 yo,r physi9al healthK 3o,r emotional healthK 3o,r spirit,al healthK Is there anything else parti9,larly important to yo,r li2e right no. :yo,r role in yo,r 9omm,nity< et90;K 7hat are yo,r top priorities right no.K OF3$ 7hat are the elements yo, most .ant to 9hangeK 7hyK

R,estion ?) is espe9ially important to 2lesh o,t0 As yo, begin .or1 on dis9overing yo,r 2,t,re 9areer< yo, .ant to align yo,r sear9h parameters .ith .or1 that s,pports these 9hanges0 E8ercise %: Definin5 B;eanin5C for You

This eDer9ise< 9alled AThe even tories<B .as developed by T4e Fi.e O7Cloc, Club0 It strives to help yo, p,t yo,r 2inger on .hat de2ines 2,l2illment 2or yo,0 3o,/ve done a lot o2 living to dateE this eDer9ise leads yo, ba91 thro,gh yo,r li2e eDperien9es and as1s$ (or you, where does meaning come from? As .ith the pre9eding eDer9ises< the more time and tho,ght yo, p,t into it< the ri9her the insights yo, .ill get o,t o2 it0 o b,dget a 2air n,mber o2 ho,rs 2or this eDer9ise< and ret,rn to it several times over several days :at least; to revie. and iterate ,ntil the 9ontent 2eels a99,rately a,thenti90 Iere are the steps to 2ollo.$ 10 Create a list o2 2( to 30 o2 the most enCoyable a99omplishments yo, 9an re9all 2rom yo,r li2e # These 9an be 2rom any.here :home< .or1< sports< relationships< et90;0 +o9,s on those eDperien9es .here yo, did something that gave yo, an inner sense o2 a99omplishment0 # These need not be AbigB a9hievements0 A mallB moments :e0g0< learning to ba1e yo,r 2irst pie; 9an be C,st as signi2i9ant i2 the sense o2 a99omplishment has the same intensity 2or yo,0 20 4i91 the * that have the most resonan9e 2or yo, 30 +or ea9h o2 the *< .rite yo,r ans.ers to the 2ollo.ing >,estions$ # Des9ribe the eDperien9e :one to several paragraphs;0 # 7hat .as the main a99omplishment 2or yo,K # 7hat abo,t it did yo, enCoy mostK # 7hat did yo, do bestK # 7hat .as yo,r 1ey motivationK # 7hat led ,p to yo,r getting involvedK

# 7hat .as yo,r relationship .ith othersK # Des9ribe the environment0 # 7hat .as the s,bCe9t matterK %0 7hi9h s1ills yo, see re9,rring a9ross these storiesK # 7rite do.n the s1ills involved in ea9h a99omplishment0 +or ea9h individ,al s1ill< add ,p ho. many times it appeared a9ross yo,r stories0 The 1ey in this eDer9ise is to loo1 2or the co11onalities a9ross yo,r positive eDperien9es0 Are there themes< elements< or a9tions that 9reate a 9ommon thread a9ross ea9hK At end o2 this eDer9ise< yo, sho,ld have a pi9t,re o2 the ingredients 2or meaning< as yo, eDperien9e it0 Along .ith this< yo, sho,ld an ,nderstanding o2 the s1ills and a9tivities yo, 2eel nat,rally 9om2ortable per2orming0 Finis4in5 t4e E8ercises 7ith these 2o,r 2o,ndational eDer9ises 9ompleted< yo, sho,ld no. have a detailed and rob,st ,nderstanding o2$ 10 20 30 %0 7ho yo, are Io. yo, be9ame that .ay 7hat yo, .ant to 9hange 7hat is important to yo,

These insights are 9riti9ally important0 They .ill serve as the 9ompass points as yo, navigate thro,gh yo,r Co,rney to a ne. 9areer0 $: Recruitin5 a Guide The pro9ess o2 introspe9tion that yo,/re going thro,gh is 9hallenging0 It/s an amorpho,s< non#linear pro9ess that is o2ten emotionally taDing 2or a host o2 reasons0

Iaving someone :or several people; to lean on 2or s,pport< en9o,ragement< and 2eedba91 is eDtremely help2,l 2or most people0 As yo, .or1 to b,ild as obCe9tive a sel2#portrait as yo, 9an< having an o,tside so,nding board to tal1 thro,gh yo,r thin1ing .ith or re9eive a needed Areality 9he91B 2rom is very val,able0 I2 yo, 9an a22ord it< a 9areer 9oa9h 9an be an eD9ellent investment0 It 9ertainly .as 2or me0 A good 9areer 9oa9h is part therapist< part drill sergeant< part net.or1ing maven0 The right 9oa9h .ill be a h,ge help in getting yo, thro,gh the testing and eDer9ises des9ribed above :and .ill li1ely have their o.n pre2erred methods to integrate; in less time and .ith higher odds o2 s,99ess0 3o, .ant to 2ind a pra9titioner .ho has eDtensive eDperien9e .ith 9areer transition0 Their eDpertise enables them to vie. yo, in relative position to the many .ho have gone be2ore yo,0 They 9an re9ogniHe .here yo, are in the pro9ess< point o,t .here yo, may be tripping yo,rsel2 ,p< or identi2y 9onne9tions yo, may be blind to0 A good 9oa9h 9an literally do,ble or triple yo,r odds o2 transitioning s,99ess2,lly0 =ne note$ imilar to therapists :my .i2e is one;< 9areer 9oa9hes have di22erent styles0 7hat .or1ed .ell 2or yo,r 2riend may not .or1 best 2or yo,0 I strongly advise yo, meet .ith several be2ore de9iding .hi9h one to .or1 .ith0

I2 a 9areer 9oa9h isn/t in yo,r b,dget< don/t resign yo,rsel2 to going it alone0 3o, 9an still get a lot o2 bene2it 2rom a 9ons9ientio,s vol,nteer0 Don/t ,nderestimate the val,e o2 a so,nding board @ some o2 my biggest epiphanies o99,rred as I heard mysel2 arti9,late my thin1ing to a .illing listener0 I2 yo, ,se a vol,nteer 9oa9h< 2ind someone .ho 1no.s yo,< b,t not too .ell0 Close 2amily members tend not to .or1 .ell be9a,se it/s hard 2or either o2 yo, to be obCe9tive @ there/s too m,9h history in the .ay0 +riends< 9o#.or1ers< or 2ello. Cob#see1ers are good 9andidates0 7hoever yo, end ,p .or1ing .ith< set ,p a reg,lar .ee1ly meeting to revie. yo,r progress .ith the data 9olle9tion and eDer9ises des9ribed above0 =n9e per .ee1 is a good 9aden9e< as it allo.s yo, time to both eDe9,te yo,r tas1s and pro9ess them internally bet.een meetings0 These meetings sho,ld primarily 9onsist o2 yo, reporting yo,r insights 2rom the previo,s .ee10 hich specific tasks did you work on? hat did you learn from them? +o9,s on s,mmariHing .hat yo, too1 a.ay 2rom ea9h tas1. hat did you glean a"out yourself? ere there any surprises? 'ow will these insights affect your vision for yourself and your work going forward? 3o,r 9oa9h is there to$ # Add disci!line # 3o, are going thro,gh a pro9ess0 The .ee1ly meeting is yo,r 2or9ing 2,n9tion to get yo,r .or1 done0 I2 yo, 2ind yo, are arriving to these meetings .itho,t yo,r home.or1 9omplete :or done in an overly r,shed manner;< it/s a good sign

that yo,/re not approa9hing the mission .ith eno,gh 9ommitment0 Hel! -ou or5aniDe and articulate -our t4ou54ts # The tas1s yo,/re .or1ing on in tep 1 prod,9e a lot o2 in2ormation0 These sessions 2or9e yo, to synthesiHe .hat/s important and .hat yo,/re going to do .ith that insight0 I g,arantee there .ill be moments .hen yo,/re eDplaining yo,rsel2 and s,ddenly thin1< I didnt reali)e I knew that a"out myself, "ut it sounds spot*on+ Hel! -ou see t4e bi55er !icture # 3o,/re loo1ing in.ard at this stage< and there2ore 9an miss some o2 the bigger patterns and 9onne9tions that an o,tside eye 9an see0 This is .here a pro2essional 9oa9h 9an add a lot o2 val,e< espe9ially be9a,se they are so 2amiliar .ith the s,99ess 2a9tors o2 the transition pro9ess0 +ro.ide Etou54 lo.e7 # Fa9h o2 ,s harbors 2antasies o2 eD9elling in areas that .e simply aren/t good at0 =r perhaps .e/re blind to behavior traits that th.art ,s0 A good 9oa9h .ill :1indly; deliver the tr,th .hen it/s needed0 In3ect ins!iration # 3o, .ill inevitably en9o,nter setba91s and lo. points0 Iaving a party 9ommitted to yo,r s,99ess .ho 9an provide en9o,ragement and motivation is a big deterrent against b,rning o,t .ith yo,r transition0

6ater on< .e/ll go into more detail :in teps ( and '; abo,t additional .ays to leverage yo,r 9oa9h in 9reating a !lan and providing 1o1entu1< along .ith the other people and reso,r9es that .ill ro,nd o,t yo,r s,pport team as yo, begin to p,rs,e spe9i2i9 Cob positions0 !,t 2or no.< invest in 2inding the person yo, .ant to .or1 .ith0

A good so,r9e 2or pro2essional 9oa9hes in yo,r area is the al,mni servi9es 9enter at yo,r nearest ,niversity0 5s,ally< there are 1#3 9oa9hes that al,mni have 9onsistently rated higher than others over the years0 tart .ith those0 It/s be9oming easier to 2ind 9oa9hes online0 T4e Fi.e O7Cloc, Club< the Gallu! tren5t4s Center< and Career>eader6co1 .ill 9onne9t yo, .ith >,ali2ied 9oa9hes0 =r try sear9hing 2or A9areer 9oa9hB on Yel! 2or yo,r Hip 9ode and read the revie.s0 My personal pre2eren9e is to .or1 .ith someone lo9ated 9lose eno,gh to meet .ith in person0 !,t I .o,ld 9hoose a Agreat#2itB 9oa9h even i2 I had to .or1 .ith them remotely :over the phone or 1ype;< rather than a medio9re 9oa9h in my area0 =n9e yo,/ve met .ith a 2e. 9oa9hes and pi91ed one< ma1e s,re that they 1no. yo,r goals and priorities 2or yo,r 9areer transition0 Iaving alignment on that 2rom Day 1 is 1ey0 Also ma1e s,re they/re a.are that yo,/re ,sing this G,ide and that they at least ta1e the time to ma1e themselves a.are o2 its ) steps0 It/s 2ine i2 they .ant to inCe9t some 9hanges to the plan< b,t only i2 yo, agree and yo, both ma1e these depart,res a 9ons9io,s 9hoi9e0 "o.< s9hed,le yo,r .ee1ly meetings and get startedJ I2 yo,/ve already made progress on the testing and eDer9ises be2ore lining ,p yo,r 9oa9h< that/s o1ay0 -,st ,se yo,r 2irst 2e. sessions to bring them ,p to speed on yo,r .or1 and insights to date0 Co1!letin5 te! "

I2 yo,/ve ta1en time to digest the res,lts 2rom the data gathering steps< and yo,/ve .or1ed yo, .ay thro,gh .ritten eDer9ises 1#%< 9ongrat,lationsJ 3o, no. have a solid sense o2 yo,r aut4entic self0 3o, sho,ld no. be able to 9on2idently ans.er the 2ollo.ing$ # # # # hat do I value? hat are my personal and professional strengths? hat are my essential re,uirements for "eing fulfilled "y my work? here am I willing to make trade*offs? :e0g0< is in9reased happiness in my .or1 .orth a de9reased salaryK;

These insights .ill serve as the 2o,ndation stones 2or te! # F =uildin5 t4e .ision of t4e life -ou 2ant0 3o, no. 1no. the val,es yo,r 2,t,re .or1 m,st be aligned .ith< the s1ills and aptit,des it sho,ld leverage< and the type o2 2,l2illment it sho,ld deliver0 It sho,ld no. be easier to re9ogniHe opport,nities that meet these re>,irements :and to reCe9t those that don/t;0 At this point< yo, sho,ld also be 2eeling a pride o2 a99omplishment0 3o,/ve C,st 9ompleted a s,bstantial amo,nt o2 the inner .or1 Aheavy li2tingB that this 9areer transition .ill demand0 3o, are no. armed .ith sel2#1no.ledge that has po.er2,l ,tility beyond yo,r 9areer needs0 !eing 2,lly gro,nded in yo,r val,es< the strengths yo, bring to the table< and yo,r priorities .ill help yo, ma1e better de9isions in yo,r relationships< as .ell as most other aspe9ts o2 yo,r li2e0

It .ill serve yo, .ell to ret,rn to the .or1 that yo,/ve done here in tep 1 in 2,t,re years0 Revie.ing these insights 9an provide val,able re#9entering< i2 needed0 Also< yo, 9an add to them as yo, more 2,lly enter yo,r ne. 9areer and develop a 2iner sense o2 .hat Atr,ly a,thenti9 .or1B means 2or yo,0