What is a management system?
The daily life of a manager is complex and requires a combination of skills and approaches. The important thing to remember is that action which a manager takes has a direct relationship to the whole system. When a manager plans a project, it impacts how the ... Views: 1217
Save your life?
After 40 one tends to be more aware of their time left and the things which are undone in their life. While it usually takes a crisis to become more aware, this doesn’t always move one to make change in their life, especially in areas which are no longer bringing joy and ... Views: 737
This is the third in a ten-part series exploring the “Ten P” model developed by Craig Nathanson, The Vocational Coach, to help mid-life adults discover and do what they love.
When Murray and Heather Rand of Canada sold their St. Thomas, Ontario, home and moved permanently aboard their sailboat, ... Views: 808
Do nothing
Probably not the first piece of advice you would expect to get!
When you are laid off, the range of emotions you feel can be overwhelming. You become your own worst critic, and you start coming up with all the reasons why you lost the job. At home, you hear more of this from your ... Views: 692
It’s easy to put off things that you want to do. There is no limit to the excuses — too tired, no time, what will others think?, no money - the list goes on and on. When it comes to doing the work you really like to do, the list becomes longer. “I’ll wait till I retire. I ... Views: 905
Not since the great depression of 1929 have we seen such a financial crisis, and frankly, the lack of national leadership that we are experiencing now. Banks are failing overnight, Wall Street greed and the chase after quick money has finally caused this country to grind to a financial halt. All ... Views: 778
Do you have the just the right support network in place for you?
Look around you now. Do you have people in your life on a daily basis who support your dreams, your goals and your daily activities? Do these people make you laugh, make you smile and help you feel better about yourself? Are these ... Views: 721
Have you ever thought about what your perfect work would be? How about the pattern of a typical work day for the rest of your life? What daily routine would get you excited and bring joy and happiness to your work?
This didn’t come with the job description
The problem with job ... Views: 603
Over 40? Make your passions Work for you!
February, 2007
By Craig Nathanson - The Vocational Coach™
Why is this important?
Making your passions WORK for you is important because your happiness MATTERS and makes a difference in your life.
Waking up to a day you really look forward to can make ... Views: 921
Did I get your attention?
Good; that was the point. No one should have just a job after 40. Before 40, it is necessary to build your ego in the world. It is critical for self-development, self-esteem, and to get a sense of your place in the world. Naturally, it would be perfect to do the work ... Views: 953
P is for Perfect: Purpose
What is life about? How will you make a difference in the world? Your purpose drives your behavior and can provide you with daily energy and happiness. What is the purpose of your life? Think deeply about where you most want to make a contribution in the world.
Does ... Views: 698
# 1 Figure out why you should quit in the first place
That’s right. If you find joy, passion and meaning in your work, there is no reason to quit. Sadly, this isn’t the case for many of the people I meet.
Look at what is most important to you. Is your work aligned with what you ... Views: 760
Over 40? What’s next with your work, your life?
By Craig Nathanson
The Vocational Coach™
What would your perfect life’s work be?
In mid-life, it’s a question we seldom ask. It could be the one question that saves you from lackluster jobs, faceless bosses and endless commutes.
Are you stuck ... Views: 772
You are not alone
After 20 or more years of working we seldom acknowledge that our work life is no longer meeting our needs for meaning and fulfillment. After all, who has the time for this self-reflection? Between worrying about growing older, staying in shape, keeping the relationship alive, ... Views: 788
There isn’t a better time
Have you defined and written down exactly what you want in your vocational life?
Have you talked about it with others? Now is a perfect time to follow your heart and become a magnet for your dreams.
Give yourself permission to live the life you choose
This is harder ... Views: 791
What contribution do you want to make?
What exactly do you want to contribute to most now? What issues concern you the most? Where do you feel your natural gifts and talents can make the most difference in the world? Do you want to help children learn, feed the elderly, or help others with ... Views: 712
Why to retire?
Retirement has traditionally meant to stop working and to enjoy leisure time. Nowadays, more people have reasons to never retire. One of them is the need to continue making an income. First, you have to consider my definition of working which I call vocation. This is work which ... Views: 1023
Is your work coherent with your life?
This is a question rarely asked before 40, but it’s so important after 40.
Most of our work lives have been about accepting the views of others and working to the plans of others. We had jobs and we were expected to meet the requirements of our jobs. ... Views: 604
Look at the big picture of your life
This can be hard to do. The daily pressures of a thankless job, a demanding commute, and mounting bills all lead to stress. Worst of all is the nagging feeling that your life is out of your control, and slowly slipping away.
I don’t have time to ... Views: 693
Over 40? Vocation starts now!
Well, the summer is finally over, and kids are ready to go back to school. For adults, especially those over 40, this time associates with extra anxiety. Perhaps, you have spent the summer avoiding the most important question you must answer. That’s it. It is ... Views: 1299
1. Give feedback just before the next time the person needs it.
(People will not make long term behavior change when evaluated,especially directly after a poor performance)
2. Let people know that you care about them.
(When people see that their manager cares, they will be more motivated to ... Views: 1338
Step One: Envision what you want
Making change especially when it comes to your work the fear of change tends to stop us in our tracks. We worry what will happen if we make a mistake or do the wrong thing. It can be the result of not having a clear vision of the desired state. Be clear about ... Views: 4281
Have you been wondering if happiness is even possible?
Yes, it is!
Deep inside, we all want to be happy, especially in the middle part of our lives. We also seek a simple process, and a new secret to reach this lifelong goal.
Well, I have a simple answer and, of course, a longer answer.
The ... Views: 880
Crisis in management education
There is no consistency today in the way we educate managers. Larger organizations tend to have more comprehensive programs. If we look at the business results of the past year it will show that these programs have not been very successful. In the US over 99.9% ... Views: 2780
What is coaching?
Coaching is behavior intended to enable another person to develop, improve or correct something which is not working. Coaching also can enable someone to be more creative, get unstuck or resolve a current or ongoing challenge. Coaching can enable someone to make a better ... Views: 1027
Protect your investments!!
This is the headline from this month’s Money magazine. In fact the whole magazine is focused on how to keep your retirement intact for future years. For me this is like saying, prepare for your death!!! The opposite action is mandatory now, especially for those in ... Views: 881
Myth One: Work leads to retirement
This is the biggest myth of all. First of all, most people simply can no longer afford to stop working. Even for those who do stop working soon they find their lives are filled with too much leisure time. Not too long after a feeling of wanting to make a ... Views: 1344
The importance of joyful work
Sadly, most people did not learn at school about the importance of enjoying their work, unless a person was fortunate to have had a parent who taught how important it is. Most commonly, the notion of work to most people is the necessity for providing an income ... Views: 1321
Nobody will stop you in the hallway at work to ask if your career provides meaning and personal fulfillment. Recognizing that something’s missing in your vocational life and taking the initiative to change must come from within.
Serena Williamson found a way to turn her passion — helping ... Views: 1106
Empty work
Have you ever had work which was empty? Perhaps you were successful as society might view. Perhaps you had a nice job title, made good money, owned lots of material things and even a good family and social life. Yet, deep inside when you went to sleep at night, you felt empty. You ... Views: 1136
Our economy needs a boost
Take a look around and you will see a lackluster economy in many countries around the world. While some of this does have to do with financial crisis, much more has to do with poor management.
People come to work with high expectations. In many workplaces adults are ... Views: 1194
1. Ask lots of questions. It worked for Socrates and it can work for you.
2. Have more empathy. Putting yourself in the shoes of a subordinate will change your perspective.
3. Walk around a lot and be more visible. This produces more brief coaching moments which are unplanned and more ... Views: 1103
Step One: Engage in self-reflection
I know — easier said than done. Most of us go through our lives never really getting to know ourselves. After all, life offers us many distractions. Who has time for self-reflection? The only way to to be happy after 40 is to get to know yourself really ... Views: 1062
Mistake # 1:
Doing work that brings no joy or happiness
Who made up the rule that says work should bring misery. Go ahead and add up the hours of “work” left in your life. Calculate up to the day you stop breathing, not the day you retire. A big number, isn’t it? Now, how will ... Views: 2608
1. Life moves fast and work will consume the majority of your hours in your life. Use them wisely and your life will be fulfilled and meaningful.
2. If you choose work which best fits you, you can generate happiness from your work which can last a lifetime.
3. Your work affects everything else ... Views: 1485
1. Do what really interests you!
(This seems like a simple idea, but many times we do work for many other reasons)
2. Decide for yourself what kind of work best fits you.
(There is no shortage of people who will tell you what to do, but this decision should come from you since you will ... Views: 1260
1. Micro-manage
(People will do exactly what is requested and monitored and no more)
2. Give people challenging assignments when they don’t have the skills for the work
(This will lead to burn-out and poor morale after the thrill of the new assignment wears off)
3. Evaluate all work all ... Views: 1272
Here are the top ten ways to take positive risks in your life (And what will happen if you do)
1. Decide what you want and then define and take the biggest risk you can think of which will move you closer to your goal. (Taking action towards doing what you wanto do is not a risk)
2. Make a ... Views: 3840
Evaluate where you are
Evaluate where you have been in your life and ask yourself, “Is this enough?”
The beginning of the New Year is a great time for re-evaluating your life and plans.
What would you do with free time?
If you had a day to yourself, what would you do and why?
The ... Views: 624
Twenty-One Steps to Discover and Do What You Love with Your Life's Work!
In mid-life, many of us are unfulfilled in our lives and careers and have a deep longing for change. We often feel that we have waited too long to pursue our dreams, and believe we have no choice but to settle for our lot ... Views: 718
The big question: What’s really important?
The message I deliver most to mid-life professionals is that a key ingredient of happiness is finding vocational passion. It’s finding the perfect alignment of interests and abilities that make going to work seem like it isn’t work at all.
People who ... Views: 991
It’s not that complex
In the last ten years of working with mid-life adults on finding the right work which aligns interests and abilities, I have come to the conclusion that the criteria for the RIGHT work is very similar.
Make a living and make it interesting
People need to provide an ... Views: 1004
Do you want to be the best manager? Here are key areas to pay attention to and you will be well on your way!
Productivity
Are people getting things done and on time? This is an important indicator to look at. Many factors will impact work quality. If work is not getting done on time step ... Views: 1042
What is your attitude towards your work?
The position you take just might mean the difference between fulfillment and misery!
This is the sixth article in a ten-part series, based on Craig Nathanson's trademark "Ten P" model for vocational happiness.
By Craig Nathanson
The Vocational Coach™
... Views: 2334
What resumes can’t do
Let's face it, resumes are boring to write and worse to read. These days, most employers have software to read and prioritize resumes through the use of keywords. The goal of your resume is achieved if it brought you to an interview. But, there are many things you can’t ... Views: 1035
Notice I said “now”?
Before 40, it is easier just to accept any work. After all it pays the bills, gives us a job title and a sense of belonging in the world. The problem with this after 40 is that it becomes too easy to settle into a mundane life. It put one’s life on hold until there is a ... Views: 1038
What is the role of the leader?
It really depends on the perspective of different stakeholders, what role of the leader is going to be. In general, the board, shareholders, and top management expect the leader to maximize profit. The employees, who work for the leader, have a different view. ... Views: 977
Incorrect starting point
Almost everywhere you turn there seems to be another rewards based incentive program to motivate people. This approach can work short term only for people who don't like their work. But with the time these people will only demand larger rewards to gain the same ... Views: 1420
We humans are terrible at preparing for the crisis
It seems to me that many people tend to ignore their needs in mid-life. We tend to be very good at reacting to a crisis, but terrible at planning for one. I think this is the root of the problem. For example, many people stay in mundane, ... Views: 733
What does work mean to you?
Does your work align with your abilities and deepest interests? Is your work simply a way to earn a living? Do you enjoy your work so much you could do this work forever? Is Monday your best day of the week and Friday the worst because you have to wait until ... Views: 2237