The Career You’ll Love

Here’s a useful concept that might come in handy at some point:  A MasterMind group can help you to achieve your goals through support, ideas, and motivation.  So what is it?

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Peter Bregman, in the Harvard Business Review, wrote an interesting article this week about what motivates people to help.  If you haven’t seen it yet, follow that link and have a look.  Peter raises an interesting question about why people are motivated to give to others, to help.

In general, people like to be helpful.  I suppose part of it is an expectation of getting something in return, but that’s not the core.

The fact is, you get a rush just from knowing you’ve done good.  It actually physically feels good to you, and in many cases that may be enough reward in itself.

Of course, we get rather cynical about all this.  Many charitable organizations prey on our need to be loved and to feel like we’re making a difference.  After a while we get the sense that maybe we’re not actually making the difference that we’d hoped, and that some of the unscrupulous types might be taking advantage of us.

That’s why Peter’s example is so powerful.  It’s about making a difference to someone here and now, in a way that makes a difference that you can actually see.

Here’s what we learn about giving:

• Let people see the difference they’re making, in as immediate a way as possible, and in the way that person values.
• Entering payment into the equation introduces a whole different dynamic – it becomes about the money rather than about the value delivered.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  People like helping.

As I said before, the act of giving has great value.  Remember that in your own life, and those of people who you work with.

Well, we survived the first decade of the third millennium.  It’s been an amazing and ever-accelerating ride for me, and I hope that you can see your own sparks of potential which will help you build your own future success.

Now it’s time to look forward:

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As the year and the decade draw to a close, I just wanted to express my gratitude for all the help I’ve received this year.   It’s been tumultuous, the future is uncertain, and depression and fear still reign over the economy.

Despite all that, I’ve been blessed with a great number of friends and supporters, a wonderful number of opportunities, and the love of my family.  If you’re going to lose your job and head off into a new career, it’s hard to ask for more.

Thank you.

Now let’s get to work on making 2010 a much better place!

When I was growing up as a child in the 1960s, I thought about the upcoming turn of the century – 2000 seemed so impossibly far away.  But here we are, ten years AFTER entering this new millennium, and it’s disappeared so quickly!

Ten years I was employed in Hewlett-Packard, just beginning to discover this new emerging field called coaching.  I was managing a team that was embroiled in the whole Y2K issue, worried that all our hard preparation might not have been enough to ward off customer problems on January 1st.  As it turns out, things went remarkably well.

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I hinted that a big decision was in the works for me, which is this:  I’m no longer hunting for a job.  Instead, I’m now building my coaching business.  What surprises me is how much of a difference this makes in my life.

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As I talked about last week, job hunting is an emotional rollercoaster.  Well, after a slow start this week, I’ve been steadily building toward a training class in Toronto next week.

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Well, this is a big day, at least emotionally.  My opportunities to find another job with HP have come to an end and I’ll be formally terminated today.

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Something light and interesting today!  My wife and I went to the Phoenix Art Museum this afternoon, and there were some fascinating pieces.

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I talked before about the importance of having gratitude.  But it’s one thing to have gratitude for the wonders of the universe in general, and it’s another deal to actually have the right interactions with people.  What do you actually DO?

Well, number one on my list is “Thank you.”  Although it costs nothing, it’s perhaps the most valuable gift you can offer anyone.  And it’s the fundamental tool of conveying gratitude from one person to another.

As 2008 draws to a close, I’d like to express my thanks to you, as someone who reads blogs, for helping me to keep my mind open and wits sharp.  I thank my manager for being one of the best supporters I’ve had in a long time.  I thank my teammates for being really sharp people, always willing to help even when I’m an absolute newbie.

I’d like to thank a whole bunch of really passionate coaches around the company who give me the emotional lift to be excited about my career even after thirty years.

And now it’s time to head off for the much-anticipate break.  Take care, all.