Wait! Just One More Thing...Then a Career Change

One of the beliefs that I see so often in my Life Coaching business is the belief that, "I need to know more before I make a career change." It is such a convenient belief because it can keep you stuck in your comfort zone of inaction forever. This belief comes from a place of fear. Fear that you might make a mistake. Fear that you won't do it perfectly because you don't have enough information. Let me clear this up. You will make mistakes no matter how much you know because it is the first time you have been in this career or business. There is no way you can avoid this!

It is true that the process of finding out what you are passionate about and then making the move to start a business or change careers does require some learning and research. But and it's a big but! Research and learning need to be done in the PROCESS of moving forward and taking action. It is all too easy to get stuck in the "learning phase" and spend the rest of your life waiting until you "know enough."

Often the belief that "I don't know enough" is simply an excuse to spend time in perpetual worry. "What if this happens? What would I do? What would I say? What if I can't answer this question? Will people think I am a fraud?" The worries go on. Guess what? You can never answer those questions fully enough to feel comfortable getting out of your comfort zone and starting something new.

When I was in Coaching school we were told to start coaching right away. We were supposed to learn in action. I remember that first coaching call, knowing that I didn't know what I was doing. I learned more in those first calls then I could have ever learned in class or by reading a book. The problem is that when we are starting something new whether a career or business we don't really know what we need to know until we get started and then we learn very quickly. I found a quote in the magazine Fast Company that says it best, "There is no substitute for getting smarter faster. And the way that you get smarter is to screw around vigorously. Try stuff. See what works. See what fails miserably. Learn. Rinse. Repeat." It's all about learning while taking steps forward towards your new career.

I remember reading the story of the poet Maya Angelou's life. The one thing that struck me is that she was willing to jump into jobs and other opportunities whether she knew what she was doing or not. If it was what she wanted she said, "I'll do it!" This is a pattern seen in the lives of successful people. They are willing to have a high degree of uncertainty and learn in action.

My challenge to you is to change the limiting belief, "I don't know enough." to " I know all I need to know for right now." This frees you up to take action from a place of confidence knowing you know enough for the moment and when you find out that you need to learn more you will. This eliminates the endless hours of research and years of waiting to "know enough."

You are on your way to an exciting passion-filled career and with your new belief you will find yourself taking action and moving forward with less effort. Here's to jumping in, getting messy and heading towards success!

Leanna Fredrich

Life Coach

"Are you ready to have passion-filled work? Contact me at coach@leannafredrich.com"

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More Then a Career Change... a Life Change

Is your vision for your life big enough to make you jump out of bed in the morning? For most of us the answer is "no". We drag our sorry bodies out of bed and groan when we think about going to work. Our lives are small but "safe." We have an itsy, bitsy vision for our lives so that we will not be disappointed. What a high price to pay to avoid disappointment!

My wish for you is that you will grow a vision for your life so big that you could never reach it in one lifetime. Michelangelo writes, "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." When we have a huge vision for our lives we grow WHO we are in order to reach it. That's the beauty of an amazing vision- we must constantly grow to attain it. The growth keeps us feeling vital, excited and inspired.

Many people feel confused and at a loss when asked what their vision is for their life. Finding that answer begins simply by asking questions and exploring. I will get you started by asking you a few important questions. If you are not sure what the answers are then just guess. You may always go back and change your answers!

1. What do you want to give to others?

2. What are the natural strengths that you have to offer?

3. What difference do you wish to make?


Each of us has something to offer that is unique. We are passionate in offering this gift in a certain way. For example one of my Life Coaching clients has a son with learning disabilities. Through the years she has spent countless hours researching about, and negotiating with, the school system to get help for her boy. She has the natural strengths of teaching, organization and negotiating. She is passionate about getting help for children with learning disabilities and about supporting parents as they deal with their children. Her personality is warm and bubbly. As we talked about what career change she could make she looked at all her experience, passion and skills and decided to start parent workshops, write books, create "How-to guides" to help families with children who need academic assistance. Her quest for a career change turned into a life change.

Many client's tell me that they are looking for "meaningful" work. The definition of meaningful work is different for each of us. That is the beauty of creating your own vision. It will be different than anyone elses vision. So what is "meaningful" work to you? What makes it meaningful? Here are some answers I have received from Coaching clients...

"Meaningful work is helping others have a good time."
"Meaningful work is creating software that will help people have more free time."
"Meaningful work is helping children or animals."
"Meaningful work is anytime I can express my creativity."
"Meaningful work is helping others become financially independent."

As you make your next career change don't just look for a job you can live with. Ask yourself what you have to give to others and how you enjoy giving. Find out what makes work meaningful to you and then use the information as the foundation on which you build your next career. Find a career that will change your life!

Leanna Fredrich
Success Coach
If you want to find your passion-filled career and life email me at Coach@LeannaFredrich.com.

Are You Ready to Enjoy this Chapter?

Quotes:

"And so we turn the page over/ To think of starting. This is all there is." John Ahbery

"I didn't get my first show until I was 45. If I could tell you anything, I would tell you that you have time." Agnes Martin

"Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold/ your own myth..." Rumi

I don't know when or how it started but there it is, we feel like we need to do everything right now. We feel this intense pressure to accomplishing everything in this instant! What we need to realize is that our lives are like a novel. There are many chapters. Right now we are living only one chapter and soon we will move on to the next. Are you enjoying and putting your energy in the NOW- in the chapter you are writing this moment? What chapter are you living? Is it the raising small children chapter? Is it the messy getting a divorce chapter? Is it the changing career chapter? Sure you may want to change some things and you can take steps to do so but it all does not have to be done now. Relax and enjoy where you are at. Often I hear,"But I am getting older and I won't have time..." There are very few things that age prevents you from doing. We underestimate what we can accomplish over a lifetime and we overestimate what we can accomplish this week! My challenge to you is to decide what chapters you want in your life story. Accept that fate may give you a few others. Focus and love the chapter you are in now and trust that it is preparing you for your next chapter.

Coaching Questions:

1. What do you wish to accomplish during this chapter of your life?

2. Are you trying to stuff too much into this chapter at the expense of enjoying it?

3. Are you letting limiting beliefs of aging get in your way of planning your next chapter?

4. What can you take out of this chapter that is stressing you and add to this chapter that will bring you joy?

Happy Life-Writing!

Leanna Fredrich
Success Coach
"When you are ready to go from burned out to fired up!"
coach@leannafredrich.com

What You Need to Know About Dreams that Stalk You

Donna has been telling people for years that she wants to start her own business. She has dreamed about it since she was in high school but instead of taking steps towards following her dream, she has spent her days in the corporate world. When asked, Donna will say she doesn't know what she wants to do for a career. All she knows is that she is burned out with what she is doing. Yet, everyone around her knows the dream that has been following her – the dream of being her own boss.

Many of us have dreams that are following us around while we desperately try to ignore them! Think for a minute. Have you heard yourself saying things like..."I'd love to turn this hobby into a career but..." or "I've always wanted to be my own boss but..." or "What I really wanted to do was _______ but now it is too late." If this sounds like you then it is time to turn around and look those dreams right in the face. They hold clues to what your passion-filled career change can be

What keeps us running from our dreams? One of the most common reasons I have seen as a Life Coach is that we think it is too late to live a dream. Most of the time that is absolutely false! We give up on our dreams way too fast. I remember reading about a woman who always dreamed of being a doctor. She was 60 years old when she went back to college to pursue that dream. Many people asked her, "Do you realize that you will be almost 70 years old by the time you get out of school and begin your career?" Her answer was always, "I can be 70 and a doctor or 70 and not a doctor. Either way I'll turn 70. I would much rather be 70 and a doctor!" She went on to achieve her MD and is still enjoying her thriving career. Are you giving up too soon?

I'll admit (although reluctantly) that sometimes it might be too late to accomplish certain dreams. For example becoming a professional athlete in your 60's might not happen. Although, I really hate to say that because of a man called Banana George. He begin barefooting at the age of 46. He now holds 4 world records and is a professional barefooter. To top that off when George turned 75 he learned how to snowboard! Be very careful before you decide your dream is "impossible"! But if you really, really believe that the dream you have is impossible for you to reach then take a look at the essence of your dream. What is it that you wanted most from it? If you wanted to be a professional dancer then what attracted you to that career? Was it the movement? If so you can have a career around movement . Was it the music? Was it the thrill of performing on stage? The challenge of mastering something and being known for it? Whatever you loved about that dream you can have in many different careers. Take the essence of that dream and find a career to meet that essence.

The next time you hear yourself saying, "I have no idea what I am passionate about or what I want to do for a career change." take a quick peek behind you. Do you have a dream that is stalking you? If you do look it in the eye and start taking it seriously. I have been amazed over and over again at how well those clingy dreams lead people to exciting, passionate, and meaningful careers!

Leanna Fredrich works with professional and executive women in the 2nd half of their careers who are burned out and don't know what to do next. She helps them go from burned out to fired up by finding meaningful and passion-filled work. Are you serious about creating an amazing life? Take the FREE “How to Discover Your Passion-filled Work” email class. For more information go to http://www. LeannaFredrich.com

Do You Feel Stuck?

"The distance isn't important, it is only the first step that is difficult." Marquise du Deffand

"I believe how I act today will affect the way I am tomorrow." Katherine Hepburn

"It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis." Margaret Bonanno

Have you ever felt stuck? It is probably one of the worst feelings we can experience. I specialize in Coaching people to find passion-filled careers and so that is the area I see people stuck in most. Often they have done absolutely nothing for years and years to change a career they are unhappy with. They wonder around and around in their same deep rut . The fact is that we are never really stuck we just keep doing the same things over and over and so we FEEL stuck!

So how do you move out of that "stuck" place. Well, it is not glamorous, but the best way to start moving out of your nasty rut is to do the next indicated action. What I mean by that is to ask yourself, "What is one step I can take today to do something different about this problem?" It may be a small action step and most likely should be. Then do it! Don't fall into the black hole of worrying that your action step is not the "right" one. It is more important that you are taking action NOT that it is the "right" action. Often that first action step is the most difficult to take but as you ask the question everyday and keep moving forward it will get easier and easier. Soon you will look back and realize that you are out of your awful rut and on to someplace wonderful and new.

Coaching Questions:

1. In what area of your life do you feel stuck?

2. What are you gaining by being stuck in this area? (We never stay anywhere for long if it isn't serving us in some way.)

3. What is one step you can take today to do something (anything!) different about this stuck area?

4. Are you stopping yourself from taking action because you are afraid it will be the "wrong" action?


Make July the month for new beginnings and an end to an old rut!

Dance with Joy,

Leanna Fredrich
Success Coach
"When you are ready to go from burned out to fired up!"
http://www.passionfilledwork.com

The Top 10 Ways to Find Your Passion-Filled Life's Work

1. Practice Extreme Self-Care

The first and most important step to finding your passion-filled life's work is to take outrageously good care of yourself! When you feel numb and the only thing that gets you excited is a good long nap, your passion could plop in your lap and you wouldn't even notice it! So start taking excellent care of yourself now. What are some nurturing activities you could do everyday? Enjoy!

2. Listen to Your Body

Do you know how your body says "No?" Many of us have been in jobs and had the unpleasant experience of our body saying "No!" We get sick often, have headaches, stomachaches, neck aches. All kinds of aches and pains! It is hard for our body to lie. That is why lie detectors work so well. So if you want the truth about what your passion listen to your body! Listen for it to say "Yes!" Watch for increased energy (fear is ok too!), excitement and joy.

3. Explore Your Passions

Passion is a feeling so notice them. What subjects, activities, magazines or topics interest you? Have fun with this! Make a list of what you are passionate about and watch for themes. Now, begin exploring your strongest passions.

4. Allow Yourself to Dream

As adults we often stop dreaming in favor of being "realistic." The problem with this is that we loose track of what we REALLY desire. So start dreaming wildly and with abandon. Look at each area of your life and write down an ideal vision of what you truly want that area to be like.

5. Look for Dreams that Have been Following You

Do you have a dream that has been following you? Have you been saying things like, "I would love to start my own business." "Someday I will turn this hobby into a career." Pay close attention to those "clingy" dreams. Often finding your passion-filled work is as simple as looking behind you to see the dreams that are chasing you!

6. Expand Your Vision

Most of us have a small, safe vision for our lives. We are terrified to reach for something greater. Are we worth it? Can we do it? Absolutely! It is time to grow and expand that vision! Find out what gifts you give others. Decide what is really important for you to accomplish. Design the life you desire and take action. A vision comes alive only when we take action towards it!

7. Find Your Genius

All of us have strengths and talents. These are gifts we have had our whole life. We often overlook them because they come so easily to us. When we use and develop these strengths we are working on the "Genius Level." Work on your weaknesses and you will be competent. But develop your unique gifts and you will be a genius!

8. Start Clearing Out Your Choking Beliefs

Often we are stopped from creating our desired life by "Choking Beliefs." They literally choke the life out of our dreams! These beliefs come from past experiences, our parents, teachers or friends telling us we can't or shouldn't do something. It's time to take a look at them and the price we pay for believing that way. Lose the Choking Beliefs! Choose supporting beliefs that breathe new life into your dreams!

9. Make a Plan

All the dreaming in the world will not change your life unless you take action. When you have an idea about what your passionate work would be, start taking the first steps. Make a plan that will help you explore that idea. It is amazing how many doors will start opening for you when you make a plan and take action!

10. Celebrate Your Successes

This is my favorite part--celebrating! Right from the beginning celebrate each small step on your journey to passion-filled work. Why? Well, first, because it is fun! Second, celebrating every success helps you stay focused on your successes and keeps you motivated to move forward.

Dance with Joy,

Leanna Fredrich
Success Coach for Professional and Executive Women
Take the first step to finding your passion-filled work by taking the FREE e class at http://www.passionfilledwork.com.