career-map · 2016-12-27 · career or thriving business while enjoying healthy personal...

Career-Map©

tools for designing a career path that fits your life

Career-Map©

tools for designing a career path that fits your life

Mickey Parsons, M.Ed., CEAP, PCC

Marilee CrockerEditing

Craig CombsGraphic Design

© 2004 Parsons Associates Coaching, LLC. All rights reserved.

TTable of Contents

Introduction 4

SESSION 1: Rediscovering Success 6

SESSION 2: Reclaiming Your Strengths 13

SESSION 3: Reorienting Around Your Values 18

SESSION 4: Resurfacing Your Needs 23

SESSION 5: Re-energizing Your Goals 29

SESSION 6: Realizing Your Mission 36

APPENDIX A

Career Worksheet 42

APPENDIX B

Power-packed Tips 43

APPENDIX C

Resources 46

APPENDIX D

Working With A Coach 51

Parsons Associates Coaching, LLCAtlanta, Georgia

Phone 770.451.0505 • Fax 404.529.4484

PDF Page

If you’re like me, you want to make the most of

your life. You have a lot you want to accomplish

including, perhaps, exceeding your own

expectations. But, how do you reach these

goals? For most of us, it’s hard enough to

complete the tasks on our daily to-do lists, much

less fulfill our dreams of building a successful

career or thriving business while enjoying

healthy personal relationships. Whether you’re

considering changing careers, an over-achiever

who’s ready to enjoy more balance in life, or an

entrepreneur who wants to move out of

survival mode, this workbook can help you

break free of whatever is holding you back so

you can begin doing what you love and getting

what you want out of life.

In my experience, developing a clear vision about the direction you want

your life to take is the first and most critical step in achieving long-term

career success. To do this, most of us need to spend quality time peeling

back the layers of our public personas in a program of self-discovery.

Through this process you come to know who you are and what type of life

you want to create. Many of us have friends or colleagues who are

accomplished at work and financially successful yet who complain that

they feel incomplete and lack passion in their work. Why? Most often the

reason is because their career or business choices have been based on

someone else’s definitions of success or on motivations that are not true

to their core selves or to their unique strengths, values and needs. Taking

the time to know yourself better will give you clarity about your goals.

This in turn leads you to make decisions that are right for you as you move

confidently toward fulfilling your dreams.

IINTRODUCTION

My own search for career fulfillment has led

me from jobs in traditional counseling roles

to business development, executive

leadership and finally professional coach

and business owner. In navigating these

varied jobs and roles, I have come to view

career planning in holistic terms — that is, I

see career success as a key ingredient in

overall happiness. Regardless of our “check

it at the door” attitudes about work, in

today’s culture it is difficult, if not

impossible, to separate career from the

other key areas of our lives.

The exercises in this workbook (illustrated

by real-life case studies) are designed to

give you the clarity and self-knowledge

essential to creating a career plan that fits

you perfectly. Through the process of

redefining success for yourself, refocusing

on your strengths, reorienting around your

values, resurfacing your needs and re-

energizing your goals, you will create an

individualized litmus test you can use to

make near-perfect career — and life —

decisions every time!

Are you ready to realize your mission?

Let’s get started!

IINTRODUCTIONContinued

Let’s begin with a small exercise. Quickly, without

giving it too much thought, jot down your definition

of success. (There are no wrong answers.)

To me success is

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Here are some definitions of success I’ve heard from

clients over the years:

• growing my business aggressively

• doing what it takes to achieve my goals

• owning a great house and car

• having the time and money to travel widely

• experiencing freedom and flexibility

• attaining balance and simplicity

• making a difference

• having a purpose

The New American Heritage Dictionary defines

success as, “The achievement of something desired,

planned or attempted.” My personal definition of

success is this: “Success is getting what you want and

taking time to enjoy it.” No doubt, there are as many

definitions of success as there are people to ponder

them. And, indeed, perhaps the difference between

success and failure is in the eye of the beholder.

SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS

“To laugh often and lovemuch, to win the respectof intelligent persons andthe affection of children,to earn the approval ofhonest critics and endurethe betrayal of falsefriends, to appreciatebeauty, to find the best inothers, to give of one’sself without the slightestthought of return, toleave the world a bitbetter, whether by ahealthy child, a rescuedsoul, a garden patch or aredeemed socialcondition, to have playedand laughed withenthusiasm and sung withexaltation, to know thateven one life hasbreathed easier becauseyou have lived is to havesucceeded.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I ask new clients, “How do you define success at this

point in your life?” their initial answers usually center around

material possessions and finances. When they dig deeper, many

often discover that in striving to build or achieve “the good

life” they have fallen into the trap of overwork or of

measuring their success against other people’s standards. After

years of sacrificing their hobbies and personal pleasures,

neglecting self-development and, in some cases, living with

mediocre relationships, they feel frustrated, depressed and

STUCK.

Among the behaviors, habits and attitudes that lead people to

become stuck are these:

• putting yourself under constant pressure

• believing you can’t have what you want or cynicism

• spending time with people who are negative,

struggling and problem-oriented

• allowing fear of the unknown to dominate your

perspective

• doubting your competence.

Are any of these familiar to you? Do you see a connection

between these behaviors and your beliefs about yourself and

about your ability to heed your life’s calling?

Here are three great strategies for transforming these patterns

and crafting a new definition of success that fits you uniquely.

Take time to dream. I often ask clients to spend time each

week daydreaming, even if it means doing nothing and being

bored. I make this request because I have learned that quiet

time and daydreaming allow us to see beyond the clutter of

our daily roles and activities and begin imagining new

possibilities. Once you begin to get clear about what you really

want, you can set goals, develop action steps and cultivate

environments that support you along your path.


Reframe failure. Most of us would agree that we learn something from each

failure we experience. The important questions to ask are:

• Did I learn a positive or negative lesson?

• Did the experience lead me to be a better employee, manager,

leader or person?

• Did I draw conclusions that lead to self-blame, worthlessness and

a lack of ambition?

Reframing failure is like taking a photograph out of a tattered old frame with

broken glass and putting it in a shiny new frame made of gold. Reframing failure

means you transform your references from those that hold you back to those that

serve you. For example, “I’m an idiot, I couldn’t do it!” is reframed as, “I didn’t

have the skills and knowledge at the time; now, I can learn what’s needed and

improve results.” This reframing helps positions you for success by fine-tuning

your belief system so it stays healthy and serves you well.

Keep the goal posts steady. In Session 5 you will begin setting goals for career and

life success. For now, it is sufficient to say that once you achieve a goal (for

example: earning a promotion or bonus, winning a new account, updating your

resume, buying a new home, investing your savings, organizing your office,

completing a time management course), be careful not to shift your focus onto the

next hurdle too quickly. Don’t get me wrong — ambition is a great thing. But it is

important to mark and celebrate your achievements along the way. That way,

instead of sending messages to your brain that you can never be good enough,

you experience success at each step of your path. This prepares you mentally for

even more success.

One important note about success: When you take time to define success for

yourself, you avoid the trap of letting your life be run by someone else’s definition

of success (including your parents, cultural conditioning, consumer advertising,

etc.). Only after you define success for yourself can you chart a path toward doing

what you love and having the experiences that are most important to you.


Leo was a successful engineer who had

spent most of his 40-something years

pleasing everyone but himself — parents,

teachers, wife, boss and so forth. He hired me as his coach to help

him find a job closer to home so he could spend more time developing

a home-based Web design business. As we explored career options it

became obvious that Leo really wasn’t interested in engineering. He’d

fallen into the industry because his father had encouraged it and he did

well at the coursework. During our first months together, Leo explored

what success meant to him. At my suggestion, he re-framed his self-talk.

For example, instead of saying, “I’m stuck and I’ll never be happy at

work,” he said, “Though I’m unhappy at work now, I’m exploring

options that fit me better.” Leo began listening to and following his

heart by looking inside for answers. He regularly made time to

daydream and began writing down his goals and dreams. Using his new

self-knowledge, he wrote out a personal mission statement. Based on

that, he began making decisions that supported this vision for his

future.

Leo’s self-discovery process led to a clarity that made it easy for him to

create and implement action plans. This produced RADICAL life changes.

He ended an unhealthy relationship, relocated to the West Coast and

pursued a new career path that he feels passionate about. Nearly every

aspect of his new life fits his new definition of success for himself, which

goes something like this: “I am successful when I stretch myself every day

in some area of my life, when I give love and appreciation to others, and

when I exceed my financial expectations and listen to my gut.” Today, Leo

is tackling a new hurdle — fear of success — and learning to be

comfortable in his new skin. Overall, his self-confidence is at an all-time

high. He takes great care of himself and is building healthy relationships.

In every way, Leo is one of the most successful individuals I’ve had the

honor of coaching.


Your Turn


Take time for your own self-discovery, so you canbecome clear about what success means to you.

1. List the five most successful people you know:

a. ___________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________

c. ___________________________________________

d. ___________________________________________

e. ___________________________________________

2. What is it about each person that makes them successful in

your eyes? Be specific.

a. _________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________

c. _________________________________________________________

d. _________________________________________________________

e. _________________________________________________________

3. Use the above information to craft a statement about what success

means to you in each of the following areas:

a. Relationships: To me, a successful relationship __________________

________________________________________________________________

b. Work/Career/Business: Being successful in my work means _______

________________________________________________________________

c. Wealth: My definition of financial success is ____________________

________________________________________________________________

d. Health: ______________________________________________________

e. Spiritual: ____________________________________________________

4. To create your personal definition of success, combine these

statements, or find the common theme in them. Refine your

definition until it resonates with you:

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

5. Now create a personal benchmark or two to keep you on track daily.

Here are sample benchmarks:

a. I know I’m successful when I am enjoying

intellectual stimulation.

b. I know I’m successful when I feel deeply connected

with other people.

c. I know I’m successful when I am playful and 100% me.

d. ________________________________________________________

e. ________________________________________________________

f. ________________________________________________________

Here are a few more questions to consider

when crafting your personal definition of success.

6. If you could wave your magic wand and do absolutely anything in

the world what would it be? _____________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Why?___________________________________________________________

7. How does money tie in with your definition of success? What are

your beliefs about money? _______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Do these beliefs hold you back or spur you forward? _______________

_________________________________________________________________



8. List 5 reasons that you work (other than money).

1. _________________________________

2. _________________________________

3. _________________________________

4. _________________________________

5. _________________________________

9. List 10 activities you would LOVE doing every day, whether you were

paid or not. Include hobbies, recreation, etc. Anything goes!

1. ___________________________

2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________

4. ___________________________

5. ___________________________

Congratulations! You’re on your way to gathering

information about yourself that will guide you to making

great choices about your career path and overall life. Now,

take a moment to choose an enjoyable activity or activities

(from #9) to do every day. Put these on your calendar for

after work, so you have something to look forward to.

Activities to add to my calendar:

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Resources Follow Your Heart: Finding Purpose in Your Life and Work by Andrew Matthews

Whistle While You Work: Heeding Your Life’s Calling by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro

6. ___________________________

7. ___________________________

8. ___________________________

9. ___________________________

10. ___________________________

Your Reward

Here’s a question you’ve probably thought about before:

What are your greatest weaknesses?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

I’m willing to bet you answered my question about your

weaknesses much more easily than you answered the

questions about success at the beginning of Session 1. For

some reason we have been trained to identify and focus on

the negative, particularly our own faults, failings and

shortcomings, rather than on positives such as our natural

strengths, talents and abilities. Similarly, we tend to believe

that identifying and conquering our greatest weakness will

enhance our chances for success.

This approach is widely evident in business. For instance,

according to the Gallup organization, only 20% of

employees working in large organizations feel they use

their strengths every day in the workplace. Most

companies, it seems, fail to take full advantage of their

employees’ natural abilities. Instead they spend hundreds

of millions of dollars every year on training and education

to help employees overcome or compensate for poor skills

or weaknesses. While some weaknesses (such as poor social

or communication skills) may indeed merit improvement

through training or education, we often spend entirely too

much time, energy and money striving to correct

shortcomings while failing to make full use of natural

strengths. The result is mediocrity, at best.

SSESSION 2: RECLAIMING YOUR STRENGTHS

What does this have to do with you? Just as

businesses can improve performance

dramatically by cultivating employee

strengths rather than working to overcome

their weaknesses, you will be far more

successful in your career (and your life!)

when you refocus your attention on

developing and making full use of your

innate talents, strengths and interests.

Recent research indicates that our inherent

strengths remain relatively stable

throughout our lives. True greatness, it

turns out, is a byproduct of identifying

these unique talents or strengths,

developing them and building your work

and life around them.

When you reorient your life around your

strengths, you position yourself for greater

success and fulfillment. One reason is

because when your work engages your

natural strengths and talents, you gain

confidence and mastery. As a result, you

struggle less, which frees up your energy.

You’re actually pulled forward by the

process! You also begin making life choices

that ensure your needs will be met and

career goals achieved. Using your strengths

as the foundation of your success formula

also helps you craft a clear vision for the

future. It is a simple yet powerful tool

that’s key to building an incredible career

and life — one that fits you perfectly!

SSESSION 2: REDISCOVERING YOUR STRENGTHS

Kim’s story is a great example

of the power of turning your attention to

developing your strengths. As president

and co-owner of her own research and

development firm, Kim was growing tired of the day-to-day hassles of

running a business. After deciding to sell her firm, she hired a coach to

help her identify what her next step should be. We worked together for

a few months before discovering that Kim’s real passion was in

marketing. Yes, she could manage, she could lead, and she could do the

books. But those activities left her tired, bored and overwhelmed. Give

her a marketing task or a new product to develop and she sprang to

life! With my encouragement, Kim began concentrating on those areas

she was naturally good at. She delegated project management,

bookkeeping and other responsibilities that had bogged her down, so

she could focus on improving her marketing skills. The result? Kim

began to enjoy her work again. Kim may never be the world’s best

manager, but because she reinvented her business to suit her, she was

able to excel at what she does best. In the end, she decided she didn’t

want to sell her business after all.

Refocus your attention on your greatest strengths by completing the

following exercises.

1. What talents or special abilities do you have? What do you do

really well?__________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________


Your Turn

2. Do you spend time every day doing what you’re good at and

enjoy doing?

3. What activities do you engage in that zap your energy?

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

4. What are your secret passions or desires?

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

5. What are your favorite pastimes and/or hobbies?

_____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

6. Write down your top 5 personal & professional achievements.

(Professional)

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

(Personal)

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

7. Write down those activities and skills that come naturally to you,

that you do easily, without having to think about them. These are

your strengths. (Examples include: organizing your surroundings,

listening to others, seeing creative solutions, maximizing

productivity, encouraging or mentoring others, building

relationships and connecting with others, or working the numbers).


YES NO

8. Now compare your strengths to your list of achievements.

Chances are you will see common themes. These linkages point

the way to your life’s mission or calling. When you begin taking

steps every day to fulfill your life’s mission, you’ll be incredibly

successful!

Make room for your strengths to flourish by taking

care of the energy-drainers in your life. Make a list of

situations, projects, tasks, things and people in your

life that you are tolerating and that do not build on

your strengths. (Examples include: bothersome

neighbors, relationship problems, disorganization, etc.)

Develop a plan to deal with or remove them from your

life. You’ll be amazed at the energy you free up!

Situations, projects, tasks, things and people that drain my erergy:

1. _____________________________________

2. _____________________________________

3. _____________________________________

4. _____________________________________

5. _____________________________________

Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton


Your Reward

Resources

Clients who have placed their dreams on hold, or

who have not managed their careers or businesses

effectively, often tell me they simply don't have

the time. "I don't have time to network." "I don't

have time to follow-up." "I don't have time for

informational interviews." "I don't have time to

learn that new skill." And so forth. While it's easy

to feel trapped by the game of life and time

management hassles, the good news is we have

more control over our time and our lives than we

realize. After all, we make choices every day about

how to use our time. Of course, poor planning

and other variables do come into play. But I have

found that when individuals understand their

values and explore how those values interact with

their personal or professional mission, they

invariably find the time to create a life that is both

successful and fulfilling.

What are values? They are those preferences,

activities and behaviors an individual is naturally

drawn to and the attitudes, traits and ideals he or

she considers most important. When you become

aware of your values, you begin making clear

choices that are consistent with your top

priorities. I know of no more powerful step on

the path to success in career and life than

clarifying your values so you can use them as a

guide in creating the career, business and/or

lifestyle that fits you perfectly and brings you

immense satisfaction.

SSESSION 3: REORIENTING AROUND OUR VALUES

John had spent most of his adult life jumping

from job to job — computer salesman,

industrial products salesman, police officer,

insurance adjuster and so on. He would fall

into a position, do well for a year or so, and then

become bored and unfulfilled and ready for his next leap. Over time these

leaps grew tiresome so, at age 38, John decided he wanted to identify his life’s

passion and start on a career path that suited him. When John hired me as his

coach, he told me he was willing to return to school or to relocate, almost

anything that would give him a sense of purpose and connectedness.

We began our work by using assessments to uncover what motivated John. Next

we compared these factors to his personal interests, attitudes and values. Finally

I gave John a needs-clarification exercise to use as a basis for building a strategic

plan. Each step gave John information that helped him clarify his goals while he

explored areas of interests and possible job matches. Eventually, he narrowed his

search to three areas — becoming a corporate trainer or university professor or

starting his own high-adventure tour guide company. Then he implemented a

weekly action plan that included informational interviews with individuals in

each of his three areas of interest. Following each interview, he wrote up his

discoveries, specifically noting the aspects of each job that did or did not match

his values.

Throughout the coaching process, John kept a close eye on the five core values

he had identified. He used those values as litmus tests in his research, during the

informational interviews and when evaluating career path opportunities. If a

prospect allowed John to honor three or four of his core values, he would

continue pursuing it as he gained more specific information and made

additional contacts. However, if the opportunity did not match, John would re-

assess its importance and eventually let it go.

Today, John is working to complete a PhD in organizational psychology and has

a job as a trainer with the human resources department of a well-known

company. He also plans at least two outdoor adventure trips per year with

friends. He still has a couple of steps to go before he realizes his dream of

becoming a tenured professor, author and motivational speaker, but he’s well

on his way and I know he will make it!

SSESSION 3: REORIENTING YOUR VALUES

To begin identifying your core values, answer the followingquestions as honestly as you can. No shoulds allowed.

1. What people, activities, things or environments are most important to

you? _____________________________________________________________

2. If you learned you had less than one year to live, how would you plan

to spend that time? _______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. What activities do you enjoy sharing with other people?

__________________________________________________________________

4. When you feel energized and at the top of your game what are your

doing? __________________________________________________________

5. What do you often think about doing “someday”? _________________

_________________________________________________________________

Using these answers as a guide, write down your top 5 values. (Examples of

values include: educating others, encouraging others, having influence, freedom

and flexibility, good health, creating joy, making a difference, raising a family,

living purposefully, being an expert, having peace, building relationships, etc.)

Value 1: _________________________________

Value 2: _________________________________

Value 3: _________________________________

Value 4: _________________________________

Value 5: _________________________________

Now, list the ways you currently honor each value in your life.

How can you honor this value more fully?

Value 1: _______________________________

How I honor this value today:________________________________________


Your Turn


Steps I will take and choices I will make to honor this value more fully:

______________________________________________________________________

Value 2: _______________________________

How I honor this value today: _________________________________________


_____________________________________________________________________

Value 3: _______________________________



_____________________________________________________________________

Value 4: _______________________________



_____________________________________________________________________

Value 5: _______________________________

How I honor this value today: ________________________________________


______________________________________________________________________

To reinforce your work, create a treasure map or collage

that represents your values and hang it in your office or

personal space at home. Enjoy!

Taking It Further


Pick your favorite activity from Session 1 and give yourself

extra time to enjoy that activity. Perhaps even plan an entire

weekend to immerse yourself in your favorite activities.

What Matters Most: The Power of

Living Your Values by Hyrum W. Smith; forward by Ken Blanchard

The Portable Coach: 28 Sure Fire Strategies For Business And Personal Success

by Thomas J. Leonard

DiSC for Personal Interests, Attitudes & Values. An online behavioral

assessment tool and personal/professional development resource.

(www.disc4success.com)

Your Reward

Resources

Psychologist Abraham Maslow was right: We are

motivated by our unsatisfied needs. It’s only after

we’ve met the basic survival needs for food, shelter

and love that we can shift your attention to

fulfilling the “higher” needs that drive us to be our

best in life. These higher needs are different for

everyone. One person’s highest need may be to give

to others. Another may have the need to be an

authority. For another, the need to be praised may

be very important. Whatever your list includes (and

usually there’s more than one), once you have

identified your higher needs, you can begin to drop

self-limiting patterns and organize your life so your

needs are met consistently. This allows you to create

a life rich in success, joy and meaning.

Of course, if you’re dealing with a major career change or

life transition — maybe you’re about to leave your job or

your health is suffering because of overwork — it’s natural

for survival instincts to take over, leading to fear, anxiety

and worry. It’s not easy to think about higher needs when

you’re in survival mode. One way to navigate this phase is

to use your imagination. Imagine what your life would

feel like if all your needs were met — not just your survival

needs, but your need for success, mastery and confidence,

for a job that allows you to be yourself and that uses your

talents every day. You’d stop suffering and live happily in

each moment, instead of wishing for some future time

when you felt fulfilled.

SSESSION 4: RESURFACING YOUR NEEDS

You’ll begin by identifying your core 3 to 5 higher

needs. Then you can set up the systems, processes

and personal supports that will help you satisfy

these needs regularly. For example, my top needs

are to achieve, to be heard and to be independent.

Looking back over the career choices I’ve made, I

see that they make perfect sense in light of my

higher needs. I pursued new jobs every 3 to 5 years

because this fulfilled my need for new challenges

and new opportunities for achievement.

Each job also afforded me creative

freedom and independence and

gave me new audiences

to influence.

Since learning how my needs and values influence

my choices, I have purposefully crafted ways to

have my needs met regularly. For example,

I build in plenty of daily, monthly, quarterly

and annual goals so I can mark my achievements

and celebrate them. To meet my need for

independence, I have become my own boss. Finally,

I’ve developed a group of fantastic friends,

colleagues and mentor coaches who understand my

needs. I speak to one of them every single day. They

listen, support me and hold me accountable. This

frees me to enjoy my work more. Instead of my

feeling needy and incomplete, I can help my clients

reach for their stars.


Here’s another reason to focus on fulfilling your higher needs. According to the

Universal Law of Attraction, if your needs go unmet you’ll attract people with similar

complaints or in similar frustrating situations. Do you really want to spend your time

with needy people or in situations that feed feelings of being stuck and unfulfilled?

Truly, satisfying your higher needs is not a luxury. It is essential to your continued

growth, happiness and development. What better reason to start work today on

getting your needs met!

Jamie’s number one goal in coaching was to

“get a life.” A successful career woman, Jamie

had spent most of her working life climbing

the corporate ladder while also taking care of

family. Now in her late-40s, she held a senior level position with a Fortune

500 technology company. In addition to her job, she cared for her aging

parents and grandparents, a role that came naturally to her since, as the

eldest child she had always been the family “hero.” But Jamie was reaching a

breaking point. Between her demanding career and her caretaking roles, she

had pushed aside her personal needs almost completely. She was stressed and

overwhelmed, every night collapsing into bed with worries about how she

would accomplish the next day’s tasks.

We began our work by evaluating Jamie’s relationship to time and stress

management and introducing basic self-care principles. Jamie was over-

extended, so in the first four months we worked primarily on crisis

management and moving toward longer-term problem-solving strategies.

That’s when Jamie began to understand that taking better care of herself

and getting her needs met would free up energy. This in turn would better

equip her for her dual roles as family caregiver and corporate executive.

Identifying her needs was an important step. Once Jamie established her

personal priorities, she was able to eliminate, delegate or reframe many of

the tasks that were draining her energy. We then worked to set up structures

to help her get her most important needs met every day. For example, she

arranged to have a good friend call her every morning to get her day off to a

positive start. She also obtained respite care from professional caregivers so

she could take mini-vacations. Once Jamie saw that having needs was

perfectly natural and not a sign of weakness, she was able to embrace them,

honor them and meet them 90% of the time. The result was a huge increase

in her overall stamina, which freed her up to enjoy, rather than resent, the

time she spent with her parents and grandparents.


2. Now, prioritize these needs in order of importance to you.

1._____________________________________________________________

2._____________________________________________________________

3._____________________________________________________________

4._____________________________________________________________


Your Turn

1. Excluding the basic physiological needs of food, water and shelter,

what are your highest needs? What do you need to be at your best

consistently on a daily basis? (Examples include: approval, praise,

respect, encouragement, touch, being heard, being noticed, being

fully informed. For more ideas, see below.)

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(Coach U’s complete Needless Program is a dynamic success tool It’s provided free tocoaching clients of Parsons Associates.)

• be accepted • to accomplish • be acknowledged• honesty • to control • be loved• order • be needed • be right• peace • be free • be cared for• power • recognition • safety• work • be comfortable • to communicate• certainty • duty

Top Need Categories Identified in Coach U’s Needless Program © 2001

3. What would you need to have each need met consistently? For each need

ask yourself: How can I get this need satisfied, regularly and forever?

Who can help?

Here’s an example:

Need: To be cared for and encouraged

How can I get this need met? Ask a friend to send me a card or handwritten

note every month. Schedule a lunch appointment with a dear friend who

listens well once per month

Who will help? Debbie, Craig, Pat (cards/notes); Debbie, John, Mike (lunch)

Other ways of getting your needs met might include:

• Leave a voicemail for your coach or a friend daily (need = be heard)

• Send yourself an email, reminder or voice mail to focus on a certain task

(need = to accomplish)

• Host a monthly BBQ, dinner party or event (need = to communicate and

relate, to be in control, to be loved and valued, to receive attention)

• Ask clients, friends, family to give you feedback when you do something that

has a positive impact on them. A great alternative for parents — ask your kids

to greet you at the door with a BIG hug every day. (need = appreciation)

Need 1: _______________________________________

How can I get this need met?______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Who will help? ___________________________________________________

Need 2: _______________________________________


__________________________________________________________________

Who will help? ___________________________________________________


Need 3: _______________________________________


__________________________________________________________________

Who will help? ___________________________________________________

Need 4: _______________________________________


__________________________________________________________________

Who will help? ___________________________________________________

(1) Create a new morning habit that nourishes you (and

perhaps meets a need).

(2) Plan a “ME DAY” where you spend the entire day doing

ONLY what you want to do.

Use a notebook or an electronic journal to keep track of

the self-discovery insights and ah-ha-moments you are

gaining as you answer the questions in this workbook.

:

NEEDLESS PROGRAM: A list of 200 needs developed by Coach University with

additional instructions on how to become need-free. (Contact Parsons

Associate Coaching for a copy of this proram )

Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts by Regena Thomashauer. (Mostly for

women, but a fun read for men too.)


Your Reward

Resources

Taking It Further

It seems that every January a newspaper,

magazine or work group asks me for tips on

how to achieve New Year’s resolutions. Year

after year, so many of our important goals —

whether it’s to quit smoking, lose weight,

spend more time with family, get more

education, exercise or similar — fall by the

wayside by January 31. But, why? Perhaps it’s

because New Year’s resolutions are merely

fanciful — grand, bold statements meant to

impress friends, but lacking commitment and

heart-felt motivation. More likely, it’s our

failure to develop and stick to a plan that

stands in our way.

To me, setting goals is like building a bridge

between where you are today and your dreams

for tomorrow. Goals lend motivation and focus.

If you pay close attention, they also teach

important lessons about how to control events,

how to make choices that encourage you to

think big and how to build a successful life that

honors your deepest self. Of course, setting

goals alone does not ensure success. However

establishing realistic, specific and measurable

goals — goals oriented around values and

aligned with your strengths — will make your

life journey infinitely more rewarding. And a

lot easier too!

SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING

Linda describes herself as a free spirit. She’s

also a college professor who struggles with

deadlines. When we first met she estimated that she only accomplished

about a third of her daily to-do list. Normally, that wouldn’t worry her.

But a recent 25th high school reunion was an eye-opening reminder

that she wasn’t any closer to attaining many of her most-important life

goals, like starting a family and writing a book, than when she

graduated from high school.

We quickly set to work on re-assessing and clarifying Linda’s current

goals. In short order, Linda discovered that many of her earlier goals no

longer fit her aspirations or lifestyle desires. She then prioritized the

goals that remained, plus a few new ones, and linked them to short-

and long-term motivators and rewards.

For example, one of Linda’s goals was to get more exercise, but she

really didn’t like using her treadmill or going to a gym. However, she

loves music, so I suggested she take a dance course with a friend (to

hold her accountable for attendance). Linda agreed, since dancing and

music felt like fun, creative expression instead of work, so she signed up

for belly dancing and ballroom dance classes. We took it a step further

by setting up rewards. After attending dance classes for one month, she

could stop the treadmill routine; at three months, she could go on a

mini-shopping spree for a tropical vacation she would reward herself

with after reaching a 6-month milestone. Did it work? You bet!

This was a huge step for Linda. It boosted her confidence, and she

began going after her other goals with zest. Creating an action strategy

and setting up a weekly accountability system helped Linda stay on

track. Within a year, she had reoriented her life by regularly creating

space for what she valued most. Setting goals and creating action

strategies had become a way of life for her. In fact, she has since

achieved a few more goals, including an outline for a book proposal,

and she has begun the process of adopting an overseas child.


Working through the previous exercises in this workbook has given you

excellent self-discovery knowledge. Use this as a basis for building your goals.

Let’s jump right in.

The first step in goal setting is to WRITE DOWN YOUR GOAL. I’m always

surprised by how few people actually do this! It’s a powerful action. Give

yourself permission to think BIG here.

1. Write down the immediate goals you would like to achieve in the next 90 days.

1.________________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________________

3.________________________________________________________

4.________________________________________________________

5.________________________________________________________

6.________________________________________________________

7.________________________________________________________

8.________________________________________________________

9.________________________________________________________

10.________________________________________________________

What longer-term goals do you want to achieve in the next

12-18 months?

1.________________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________________

3.________________________________________________________

4.________________________________________________________

5.________________________________________________________

6.________________________________________________________

7.________________________________________________________

8.________________________________________________________

9.________________________________________________________

10.________________________________________________________


Your Turn

What else would you like to accomplish in your lifetime?

1.________________________________________________________

2.________________________________________________________

3.________________________________________________________

4.________________________________________________________

5.________________________________________________________

2. Consider each goal individually. Is it specific? Measurable? Time-

bound? Does it fit your values, strengths and who you’re working to

become? If so, give yourself a hand. If not, back to the drawing

board!

3. For each goal, or at least the long-term ones, write down why it is

important to you. Will achieving it be rewarding in itself? On a scale

of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to reach for it? What happens if

you don’t reach the goal?

4. Identify possible obstacles, risks or personal beliefs that could

prevent you from achieving your goals. Outline a plan to help you

avoid these pitfalls.

5. Break down larger goals into smaller steps. Plan daily or weekly

actions that will allow you to reach your goal within a reasonable

amount of time. For support, accountability or strategy development,

solicit the help of trusted friends, family members or a professionally

trained mentor/coach.

6. Evaluate your goals regularly for progress and fit. When you achieve

a goal, MARK it. Celebrate! For large goals that will take months or

years to achieve, set up mini-celebrations to mark milestones on your

path to success. Implementing a rewards system that is personally

meaningful will provide focus and persistence.

That’s it! You’re a goal setting pro.



Short-term Goal #1: Exercise at least 3x per week

ObstaclesLong cold winters that confine exercise to indoors;

my tendency to procrastinate; lack of a workout

partner to hold me accountable; my belief that I’m

not that out of shape physically.

Plan

Join 2 dance classes (ballroom dance with best friend

Sam, belly dance with Sheila); get into the music and

enjoy the movement; whenever possible, plan dinner

or socialization time for a half hour after each class.

Who will keep meaccountable?

Sam, Sheila and Coach Mickey; plus I’ve asked the

instructor to call me if I miss more than one

consecutive class.

RewardsStop nightly treadmill drudgery, shopping spree,

vacation to Jamaica

Here are two examples that show

how setting a goal, identifying

obstacles, creating a plan and

establishing rewards can work.

GOAL SETTING IN ACTION


Short-term Goal #2:Find a new job in an environment that will allow me to thrive.

ObstaclesTendency to be satisfied with status quo; bored

easily; lack of focus and direction; lack of

confidence that my skills are transferable.

Plan

Work with a coach to discover my strengths and value

to an organization and practice articulating it; identify

my ideal work environment and begin exploring

possible matches as well as ways to improve my

current situation. Make a list of 20 companies and

gather information about them via Internet resources,

personal/professional contacts, association staff, trade

journals, networking, informational interviews, etc.

Also, plan a dialogue with my CEO about restructuring

my role within the division.

Who will keep meaccountable?

Weekly coaching sessions and daily pop-up reminders

from my calendar.

Rewards A great job; sense of accomplishment; also, each week

that I work my plan, I will plan a boating excursion

with my family.

(1) Spend extra time developing a powerful reward system

for each area of your life. You’ll be amazed at how

celebrating your successes can beef up your confidence and

attractiveness as well as your zest for achieving even more.

Your Rewards

(2) Write yourself a love letter, or

a letter of affirmation telling

yourself how wonderful you are.

Be very descriptive. Note all the

important personal and

professional goals you have

achieved. Be sure to include value

statements about what you give

to others and to your company. As

your letter evolves into a

compelling living document, read

it aloud as often as possible (like

you might an affirmation). This

will help you celebrate your

achievements continually as well

as provide a gratitude list and

generate spin-off goals to keep

you moving ahead.


Goals: Setting and Achieving Them on Schedule by Zig Ziglar

(audio cassette or video)

The Power of Visualization by Lee Pulos, Ph.D.

(Audiocassettes and workbook)

Resources

My first real-world exposure to the power of mission came

while working for a nonprofit agency where mission

(statement of purpose) was paramount. At this agency,

every single decision about services, every management

team meeting, marketing campaign and special event

centered around and supported the organization’s

mission. While many companies and organizations have

adopted mission statements, this agency stood out

because management and employees routinely used its

mission to guide everything from day-to-day operations to

major policy decisions. This mission-driven approach

provided a solid foundation and an inspiration — two

elements that every company, and every individual, needs

to be successful.

It wasn’t until training to be a life coach that I was

introduced to the idea of personal mission. I soon learned

that a personal and/or professional mission (usually the

two are closely linked) is essential if you want to develop

and follow your own roadmap for success. How do you

find your personal mission? Your mission represents the

culmination of everything discussed in this workbook so

far — all your roles, values, strengths and goals rolled up

into one or two sentences that describe who you want to

BE and what you want to ACCOMPLISH in life. Your

mission encompasses all areas of your life: social, family

life, work/career/business, and spirit. While finding the

exact words to describe your unique and wonderful life is

challenging, it is worth the effort. Your personal mission

will give you a solid foundation and provide ongoing

inspiration for success, even when times are rough. As

Friedrich Nietzsche said, “He who has a why to live for can

bear almost any how.”

SSESSION 6: REALIZING YOUR MISSION

Looking back on my own education and early career decisions, I regret that I

didn’t know about the concept of personal mission sooner, and I wonder why

the concept of personal mission isn’t introduced to all high school and college

students. What a powerful tool it would be for young people facing important

decisions about career, finance, relationships and lifestyle. Instead, we are

taught a dry pro-con decision-making system that fails to take into account an

individual’s core values and often leads to inappropriate career decisions. Is it

any wonder that so many highly motivated people seek out career coaching?

With countless options available to them, these talented individuals choose

coaching as a sounding board and self-discovery tool that helps them uncover

their personal missions and use them as roadmaps to success.

Chad initially hired me to help him decide

between four job offers. After an intense 90-

minute session, we eliminated two options,

narrowing the field to his top two job

possibilities. He made the final decision by comparing benefit packages and

stock options. I soon learned that Chad is the type of guy executive

recruiters love. In fact, it was not uncommon for him to receive several calls

per month about exciting opportunities. While this was great for his ego, it

was also distracting, making it difficult for him to give 100% to his current

employer. He also was stressed by his fear that he wouldn’t choose the

“best” option for he and his family.

I asked Chad to review each and every job and achievement on his resume,

outlining the activities that he enjoyed and why. We soon identified

recurring themes. Chad was a big-picture leader who thrived on closing deals

and mentoring others. This became his temporary mission statement, which

he later refined after testing it against his values and an executive

assessment. Eventually, Chad was able to craft a few simple questions that he

could use to quickly assess whether an opportunity matched his

personal/professional mission. This saved him time and energy and lowered

his stress level. He also knows that his current position is where he really

wants to be (for now).


Begin thinking about your mission by re-reading the personal definition of

success you wrote in Session 1. Review what you’ve discovered about your

strengths, values, needs and goals. Then do the same thing Chad did — print

out your resume and examine every work or volunteer activity you’ve enjoyed

immensely and why you enjoyed it, highlighting recurring themes.

Next, ask yourself the following:

1. To what ideals, causes, goals, values or people am I most deeply

committed? (Examples: education, the homeless, job training,

bringing beauty into people’s lives, creating peace, excelling in

technology, living each day with purpose)

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

2. What image do I want to convey to others? (Examples: professional,

personable/approachable, creative, traditionalist, non-conformist)

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

3. What roles do I most like to play? What roles feel most natural?

(Examples: coordinator, leader, negotiator, encourager, collaborator,

parent, etc.)

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

4. What do I want to be remembered for? What impact do I want to

have on the world?

______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________


Your Turn

Use your answers and your work in previous sessions as the basis for writing

your personal and professional mission. (You can write these as two separate

missions or combine them into one.) Very important: Be true to yourself! Do not

copy or craft your mission statement based on someone else’s expectations.

Also, keep your statement short and specific so you can commit it to memory.

My personal mission:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

My professional mission:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Below are sample mission statements:

• My mission in life is to live my convictions and lead by example.

• My mission is to create music that inspires people.

• My mission is to be a loving partner and teach simple truths to my children.

• My mission is to encourage others and help them find answers.

• My mission is to be a positive force in the lives of others.

• My mission is to always do my best and to give attention, time and

enthusiasm to everything I do.

Do something BIG to celebrate all the work you’ve done! Buy

yourself a new interview suit. Give yourself a makeover to

match the new you. Plan a weekend of celebration.

First Things First: To Live, to Love, to Learn, to Leave a Legacy by Stephen R.

Covey, A. Roger Merrill (contributor), Rebecca R. Merrill (designer)


Your Reward

Resources

Your final action in this workbook is to collect everything you’ve learned aboutyourself and create a quick reference sheet to use for decision-making. Begin byprinting out the Putting It All Together worksheet in the appendix and logging all theinformation you’ve gathered while completing this workbook.

Keep this completed worksheet handy so you can use it as a litmus test and decision-making tool whenever you’re making career decisions and other life choices. Forexample, if you are deciding which of two industries to enter or choosing fromamong three job opportunities, use the worksheet to compare each option againstwhat you know about yourself. This will make it clear which is the best match for you.(If none fits, consider creating your own opportunity through self-employment --perhaps by starting your own business or taking on freelance work or contractventures.) When you use your self-knowledge to guide your choices, each step ofyour journey will be far more purposeful and rewarding.

GTHE GRAND FINALE: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

In closing, I hope this workbook has providednew tools and insights that will allow you tonavigate your career path with renewedpurpose and energy. If you find you needadditional support in the process, I encourageyou to get it. Hire a coach. Find a mentor.Develop new networks. Do whatever it takes.This is your life – make it GRAND!

If you‘d like to learn more about coaching, besure to read An Invitation to Explore Coaching(Appendix D). You are also invited to takeadvantage of the 25% discount on apersonalized DISC assessment.

I leave you with this final wish (with apologiesto Henry David Thoreau): Go confidently in thedirection of your mission. Live the life you’veimagined. Live a life that honors you!

Here’s to your success!

Mickey Parsons, M.Ed., CEAP, PCCProfessional Coach

AAPPENDIX

Career-Map Worksheet

1. My definition of success: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. My top strengths: 1.__________________________________________2.__________________________________________3.__________________________________________

3. My Values:1.__________________________________________2.__________________________________________3.__________________________________________4.__________________________________________

4. My Needs:1.__________________________________________2.__________________________________________3.__________________________________________4.__________________________________________

5. My goals: (immediate, short-term & long-term) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. My personal/professional mission:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What resources do I require to take the next step?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Who will help? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What BIG action step will I take TODAY to start the process?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AAPPENDIX

BAPPENDIX B

Power-Packed Tips for Managing Careers,Transitions & Job Searches

10 Tips for Managing Your Career Path

The latest job trend analyses indicate that employees switch jobs about every

three years. This means many of us will work for more than 10 different

companies over the course of our careers, and today’s college graduate can plan

on a minimum of 15 jobs during his or her lifetime. Is it any wonder that

managing your career path has become a frightening proposition? In today’s

world, managing your career requires your ongoing attention. Below is a list of

tips for defining and navigating your career path successfully. Note that you’ve

already completed steps 1 and 2!

1. Identify and gain an understanding of your values, interests, skills and

life goals.

2. Formulate a personal mission statement or purpose and use it as a standard

for making decisions, especially job-related decisions.

3. If your current skills don’t support your mission and values, develop a plan to

learn new ones.

4. Define your future from a big picture perspective and use that as a road

map in formulating a job search.

5. Explore all your options. Conduct research, prioritize targets, assess your

resources and develop an action plan.

6. Accentuate the positive. Focus on your strengths and what

comes naturally.

7. Prepare for success by brushing up on interview and networking techniques.

8. Polish your communication and negotiation skills. Not only will they help

you negotiate your BEST OFFER, they will help you be more effective in

every area of life.

9. Don’t be shy. Learn to market and promote yourself to your target audience.

10. Believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion or help

from a coach.

BAPPENDIX B

10 Tips for Managing Transition

Transitions and change create stress. Even exciting, positive changes shock our

systems and cause anxiety. When you find yourself experiencing frustration, anger

or depression over a job loss or frustrating change, remember those feelings are

part of the natural healing and growth process. Here are tips to help you navigate

transitions gracefully.

1. Keep a journal where you review your days and your feelings.

2. Reach out to others and get more support than usual. Let family and

friends know how to help you.

3. Manage your time. Set realistic priorities and delegate whenever possible.

4. Make a list of ways you can simplify your life and do it!

5. Slow down. Take a temporary time out.

6. Think of this time as an adventure, an opportunity to design the life

you want.

7. Create new habits that nurture your mind, body and spirit.

8. Make a list of things you are tolerating right now and develop a plan to

reduce or eliminate them.

9. Make a list of everything you feel is missing from your life. Consider what

you need to experience fulfillment and balance, then develop a plan

to GO FOR IT!

10. For additional support and accountability consider hiring a coach.

(See Appendix D: “An Invitation to Explore Coaching.”)

BAPPENDIX B

10 Tips for Successful Job Search Campaigns

Finding your ideal job can take from three months to three years. The

following action steps will maximize your efforts.

1. Use your networks to connect. Ask for job leads from family, friends,

colleagues, associations, chambers of commerce, college staff —

anyone and everyone you can think of.

2. Knock on a potential employer’s door and ask about vacancies. (With

your professional resume in hand).

3. Grab the Yellow Pages and cold call employers to ask about

opportunities.

4. Join a job hunters group.

5. Contact recruiters, search firms, employment agencies.

6. Answer ads in local newspaper ads and professional journals.

7. Visit trade shows. Get to know the people staffing vendor booths and

ask for contacts.

8. Request informational interviews.

9. Volunteer for a local charity or business group. This will help you

connect on a personal level, which can be especially effective.

10. Answer Internet ads.

CAPPENDIX C

Career Management Resources

RECOMMENDED READINGFor a more complete list, visit http://parsons-associates.com/pac_books.htm.

• 169 Ways to Score Points with Your Boss by Alan R. Schonberg

• Best Resumes for $100,000+ Executive Jobs by William Mongag

• Do What You Are (Discover Perfect Careers based on your Myers-Briggs TYPE Indicator Scores) by Tieger & Barron-Tieger

• Don’t Send A Resume by Jeffrey J. Fox

• Follow Your Heart —Finding Purpose in Your Life and Work by Andrew Matthews

• Masters of Networking by Ivan R. Misner, Ph.D., and Don Morgan

• Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham andDonald O. Clifton

• The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional Peopleby Carol Eikleberry

• What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard N. Bolles

• Whistle While You Work by Leider & Shapiro

Web Resources

JOB SEARCH SITES

americasjobbank.com -www.americasjobbank.com/

One of the largest job boards, America’s Job Bank is the combined effort of the

US Department of Labor, state employment offices and the private sector.

Bestjobsusa.com - www.bestjobsusa.com/

Archived jobs from over 300 major newspapers’ employment sections.

www.americasjobbank.com/

www.bestjobsusa.com/

CAPPENDIX C

CareerBuilder - www.careerbuilder.com/

Large database of jobs is accessed through flexible, detailed search criteria —

a great site for generating multiple job leads.

careerexchange.com - http://www.careerexchange.com/

Excellent resource for searching job titles and descriptions. Keyword searching

is excellent and the job matching accuracy is 100%. Jobs are dated and

include salary ranges.

careerjournal.com - www.careerjournal.com/

An excellent resource put out by the Wall Street Journal; primarily for

management professionals.

Careermag.com - www.careermag.com/

Online employment magazine.

Careershop.com - www.careershop.com/

Allows easy search of multiple locations.

Direct Employers - www.directemployers.com/

Large database of jobs, mainly from companies hiring directly. You can search

the database by industry, company and location and link directly to job

listings on hundreds of individual company websites.

DiSC 4 Success - www.disc4success.com

Excellent career planning assessment includes reports and detailed feedback

on personal interests, attitudes and values and time management skills; useful

for executives, managers and others. (Because you have purchased this

FailSafe Career Tactics workbook, you are entitled to a 25% discount on DISC

assessments. See coupon on Page 53.)

Employment Guide - www.employmentguide.com/

Easy to navigate; offers good job search criteria. Searches multiple locations

at once.

Employmentwizard.com - www.employmentwizard.com/

A database of employment classified ads from local newspapers that can be

searched geographically or by newspaper name.

Flipdog - http://flipdog.monster.com/

A powerful web crawler that sources jobs directly from over 58,000

employer websites.

www.careerbuilder.com/

http://www.careerexchange.com/

www.careerjournal.com/

www.careermag.com/

www.careershop.com/

www.directemployers.com/

www.disc4success.com

www.employmentguide.com/

www.employmentwizard.com/

http://flipdog.monster.com/

CAPPENDIX C

GLPCareers.com - http://glpcareers.com/

A job search engine providing employment opportunities and resources for

gay, lesbian and bisexual job seekers.

Grassisgreener.com - jobsearch2.jobinthebox.com/gig2/monetizegig/home.asp

Collects jobs from job boards, community boards and employer sites,

searching more than 100,000 websites. Registration is free.

Hotjobs.com - http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/

Most jobs listed are from companies hiring directly, allowing job searchers to

sidestep recruiting firms.

International Assessment Network, Inc. - www.assessment.com

The industry standard for assessing your work-related motivations.

Job Bank Usa - www.jobbankusa.com/

A popular job search engine that offers a variety of other services, such as a

resume broadcaster and moving/relocation resources

Joboptions.com - www.spherion.com/corporate/careercenter/home.jsp

For professionals and managerial job seekers in a variety of industries,

including: computer/technology, consulting, engineering, internet/new media,

accounting, manufacturing, financial services, health/medical, banking, civil

service, and government.

Jobfiler.com - www.jobfiler.com/

Job search portal that helps jobseekers centralize all search data & contacts.

Monster.com - www.monster.com/

Extremely popular career site lists jobs in all industries and functions.

Net-Temps - www.net-temps.com/

Originally a site for temp jobs, this site now lists a large number of

permanent jobs too.

Recruiters Online Network - www.recruitersonline.com/

Lists jobs from recruiters, headhunters and professional staffing firms; a good

place to connect with recruiters.

Salary.com - www.salary.com/

Best known for its salary data, this site recently added a job-listing database

that has grown quickly.

http://glpcareers.com/

jobsearch2.jobinthebox.com/gig2/monetizegig/home.asp

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/

www.assessment.com

www.jobbankusa.com/

www.spherion.com/corporate/careercenter/home.jsp

www.jobfiler.com/

www.monster.com/

www.net-temps.com/

www.recruitersonline.com/

www.salary.com/

CAPPENDIX C

Truecareers.com - www.truecareers.com/

Focuses on college-educated professionals, offering opportunities largely from

companies hiring directly.

Vault.com - http://www.vault.com/

Known as the “insider career network,” vault.com provides an insider’s look at

life in over 3,000 companies and 70 industries.

SOCIAL SERVICE AND NON-PROFIT SITES

www.execsearches.com/exec/default.asp

www.socialservice.com/

www.opportunitynocs.org/index.jsp

www.nonprofitjobs.org/

BUSINESS INFORMATION SITES

Hoover’s Online - www.hoovers.com/free/http://www.hoovers.com/free/

Corporate Information - www.corporateinformation.com/

D&B Small Business Solutions - http://sbs.dnb.com/

TGRNet, Thomas Global Register - www.tgrnet.com/

ThomasRegister.com - www.thomasregister.com/

BizWeb - www.bizweb.com/

JobWeb Career Fair Employer Search - www.jobweb.com/employ/fairs/default.asp

IndustryLink - www.industrylink.com/

OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

America’s Career InfoNet - www.acinet.org/acinet/default.asp

Part of the America’s Job Bank network, this is a tremendous source of

information on hundreds of occupations and industry trends.

Occupational Outlook Handbook - www.bls.gov/oco/

Biannual handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a wealth of career

information for a wide range of occupations.

www.truecareers.com/

http://www.vault.com/

www.execsearches.com/exec/default.asp

www.socialservice.com/

www.opportunitynocs.org/index.jsp

www.nonprofitjobs.org/

www.hoovers.com/free/http://www.hoovers.com/free/

www.corporateinformation.com/

http://sbs.dnb.com/

www.tgrnet.com/

www.thomasregister.com/

www.bizweb.com/

www.jobweb.com/employ/fairs/default.asp

www.industrylink.com/

www.acinet.org/acinet/default.asp

www.bls.gov/oco/

CAPPENDIX C

O*NET Resource Center - www.onetcenter.org/

Provides access to a large database of occupational information, including

information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests

associated with occupations.

RECRUITING FIRMS DIRECTORIES

Association of Executive Search Consultants - www.aesc.org/

Represents retained executive search consulting firms worldwide. Allows you

to preview a short list of members for free, and refers you to a partner site for

fee-based searchable directory.

NAPS - www.napsweb.org/

The National Association of Personnel Services Association for staffing and

personnel services has over 1,800 members covering contingency and

retained search, direct hire, temporary staffing, employee leasing and

contract positions.

RecruiterLink Online Database - www.recruiterlink.com/

RecruiterLink Online is an Internet-based site that takes key data elements

from a three-volume Executive

FindARecruiter.com - www.findarecruiter.com/

FindARecruiter is a free searchable database of network of third-party

recruiters, headhunters, executive search firms, and staffing agencies.

GOVERNMENT WAGE SURVEYS

Bureau of Labor Statistics - www.bls.gov/

Data on wages, unemployment and other employment trends.

Occupational Employment Statistics - http://stats.bls.gov/oes/

Produces employment and wage estimates for over 700 occupations.

www.onetcenter.org/

www.aesc.org/

www.napsweb.org/

www.findarecruiter.com/

www.bls.gov/

http://stats.bls.gov/oes/

CAPPENDIX C

DAPPENDIX D

BUSINESS STARTUP RESOURCES

Starting Your Own Business - www.sbaonline.sba.gov

US Small Business Administration site provides a step-by-step personal

evaluation, market research and business start-up tutorial.

Business Resale Network - www.br-network.com/

Searchable directory of thousands of businesses for sale.

International Franchise Association - www.franchise.org/

Database of franchise opportunities that can be searched by name, category or

investment amount.

Morebusiness.com - www.morebusiness.com/

Site offers entrepreneurs numerous articles on starting a business,

incorporating, building a website, finding funding, marketing, and managing

your company.

An Invitation to Explore Coaching

What Is Coaching?

“Professional Coaching is an on-going professional

relationship that helps people produce extraordinary

results in their lives, careers, businesses or

organizations. Through the process of coaching,

clients deepen their learning, improve their

performance and enhance their quality of life.”

— International Coach Federation

www.sbaonline.sba.gov

www.br-network.com/

www.franchise.org/

www.morebusiness.com/

DAPPENDIX D

A coach will help you:

• Design and implement a plan of action

• Pursue your dreams

• Reach your goals

• Make decisions

• Stay focused on your needs, values and vision

• Maintain a healthy balance between personal and professional life

• Solve problems

• Overcome obstacles.

How does coaching work?

1. You set up two to four phone

appointments with your coach each

month. Each phone session lasts

from 30 to 50 minutes, depending

on your needs and goals.

2. As your coach, I’ll ask thought-

provoking questions and guide you

in exploring your goals and

aspirations and in developing

strategies for success.

3. Your responses form the basis of a

meaningful and eye-opening

dialogue. You’ll begin to see new

things about yourself, your business

or career, your dreams and your

relationships.

4. I will advise you based on my training and experience as a coach,

entrepreneur and counselor, and my knowledge, personal

experience and intuition.

5. The coaching process naturally leads you to new and exciting

ideas. You’ll discover new ways to overcome obstacles. Along the

way, your individual action plan will become obvious to you.

6. After listening closely to what you say (and don’t say), I will

encourage you to move forward, challenging you to “play a

bigger game” so you achieve more than you thought possible.

7. You will be asked to commit to the coaching process for a

minimum of three months. Once they discover the benefits of

coaching, most clients stay with coaching beyond this initial

commitment. After all, any change worth making takes time.

8. My goal is to help you experience long-term sustainable success

so you create the career or business and lifestyle that allows you

to express your true potential. I guarantee you will have a fun

and rewarding journey!

To learn more, visit us on the web at www.parsons-associates.com.

DAPPENDIX D

Atlanta, Georgia • Phone 770.451.0505 • Fax 404.529.4484

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