Is there a place you’ve been settling and in what way? That’s one of the questions I ask at the start of a coaching engagement. At the top of Morgan’s list was this: the lack of motivation I feel and that I’m going through the motions. Read more
I don’t recall the actual achievement – just that it was some form of recognition I had received at work. It might have been an accolade from a customer. Or maybe it was a promotion. Yes, a long overdue promotion, that sounds good. Let’s go with that. Read more
We were in our early 30’s and putting in long hours at work. My friend Monica and I were determined to do something healthy and decided to become walking buddies. The fact that we lived in adjacent condominiums made it easy to coordinate walks at the spur of the moment. Up and down the steep hills of our neighborhood we would go, burning off stress with each step and talking about anything and everything. Read more
During a recent conversation with my Connecticut mastermind group,1 one of my coach friends described having several potential opportunities in play. Investing her time and energy in multiple directions was making her feel scattered and unfocused. By the end of the conversation she concluded: I need to take a breather right now and get grounded and back in balance. In hearing herself say these words, she knew what she needed to do. That’s the value of tapping into your inner circle – people who will listen, hear what you’re saying, and give honest and helpful feedback. Read more
We were introduced when Dennis1 was offered a coaching scholarship through a unique program at his bank. After being unemployed for over ten months, he still didn’t have a job. Admittedly, a major factor was his ambivalence about whether to continue in the same industry. We talked about how he could vet organizations to ensure he wasn’t walking into any familiar fires, yet it was clear that Dennis was more interested in exploring his ideal work and long-term career goals than in examining his current job search strategy. Read more
I’m Aunt Ginny to seven young women and two young men, plus honorary aunt to a few others, and stepmom to my two guys, Jake and Jordan. And since Aunt Ginny is also Coach Ginny, I’m occasionally tapped for some on-demand guidance. Last week I spoke with Natasha and Mary Grace who are both in the process of finding the entry points to their careers.
Clark Terry: Musician, composer and educator
A few weeks ago while looking for a movie to rent and in the mood for something uplifting, my husband and I opted for Keep on Keepin’ On, a documentary about trumpeter and jazz legend, Clark Terry. With a career that spanned over 70 years, Clark Terry is one of the most recorded musicians in the history of jazz. Read more
My friend Art and I still reminisce about a customer meeting we attended together years ago. It was my freshman year in the corporate world and my first business trip. My job in the meeting was to utter three whole sentences about how the numbers were derived. He insists he saw something special in me at that meeting — who knows what it was, but he saw it. Art is definitely one of the people who helped me build confidence in those early years and remains a loyal supporter to this day.
Throughout a career and no matter the titles acquired, everyone’s confidence will hit some peaks and valleys. While it’s ultimately something to possess internally, external input provides valuable information. Pay attention to what your supporters are saying. They see it in you, even before you’ve internalized it. That they see you is a gift. Read more
In response to the last issue on Moving Forward, Sharon, a long-time In the Current subscriber, emailed me with a question. Having just been through an intense time of various changes, she comments:
I am perfectly happy right now just floating in the sea of life and not wanting to move forward yet. So aren’t there also times in life to be still and listen to what our inner soul speaks to us? Because that is where I am, but I don’t want to feel a sense of guilt or remorse that I am not “moving forward.”
Movement, momentum, and progress – they’re attractive words. From personal goals to business plans, we want to see that forward movement. Over the last 13 years of coaching people from diverse backgrounds and industries, I’ve detected a natural cycle through which we move constantly. Read more