Do you refuse to settle
on one career?

Have you been through
several positions, and discovered new and different passions with each one?

Are you struggling to
make a success of your ‘not-so-normal’ career?

Would you like to find
a way to actually employ more of your talents?

Would you like to hear
how others are dealing with the challenges of being a multi-talented
professional?

I call multi-talented
people like you and I Genre Bustersâ„¢ because we’re trying to "do it
all" and we don’t fit just one genre or theme. You can read more about Genre Bustersâ„¢ here.

As a Genre Busterâ„¢ myself, I’ve learned that I deliver the best
results when I’m creating a workshop or program that focuses on what my
learners really need and want.

So, here’s my invitation to you.

JOIN ME August 22, 2006 at 1:00 P.M Mountain Daylight (2:00 Central,
3:00 Eastern, etc.) for a F*R*E*E Teleclass to
look at building "Successful Careers for Genre Bustersâ„¢"

If you are even the least bit interested in learning more about being
a Successful Genre Busterâ„¢,

DO THIS: Send a blank e-mail to

gb-interest@aweber.com

I will send you an e-mail with your official
invitation to the workshop and I’ll ask for your input on the challenges of
being a Genre Busterâ„¢.

REMEMBER: To get your personal invitation to
the workshop, send a blank e-mail to

gb-interest@aweber.com
 

–

A question that faces many of us — one that I struggle with — is, "When do I let go of that which pays to do that which I truly love."

I suspect there is a point of no return.  A place where, once you are past it, you can no longer go back.

A colleague suggested to me today, something like this, "It’s better to be the initiator than be forced!"

Ah, true.

But, what happens when the thought of leaping into the thin air, hoping that trapeze will be there, scares the crap out of you? Out of me!

Susan Jeffers advised in her best selling book, "Face the Fear and Do it Anyway!"

Maybe.

Or, is there a way to as Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) said, to transmogrify it?

I hope so.

I’ll let you know.

Meanwhile, I’m waiting on the platform… seeing if that trapeze just might swing on by.

Or, if I can find what it takes to jump.

Tags: Creative Professionals, Creative Dreams, Tantra

And, aspiring GENRE BUSTERSâ„¢. 

For several years I’ve wanted to develop and launch a
career Action Group for creative, eclectic, multitalented, and/or
unconventional professionals – in other words Genre Bustersâ„¢. 

This group would provide a forum for Genre Bustersâ„¢ to: 

· Clarify your Career Dreams and make them real
and actionable,

· Understand your Vocational Interests, Values,
Personality, and learn how to translate your core natural strengths into a
working career that fits who you are,

· Create a comprehensive picture of your Career
and Life,

· Develop Career Plans that you, the creative
professional, can actually put to use and easily use,

· Learn and apply Career Strategies that are
adapted to your needs and wants as a creative professional,

· Bust barriers to having the career and life of
your dreams, and

· Participate in a supportive community of like
minded professionals who will help you achieve your goals and aspirations. 

As a Genre Buster™ myself I’ve learned that I deliver the
best results when I’m creating a workshop or program that focuses on what my
learners really need and want. 

So, here’s my invitation to you. 

If you are even the least bit interested in learning more
about being a Successful Genre Busterâ„¢, 

DO THIS: Send a blank e-mail to gb-interest@aweber.com 

When you sign-up I will provide details of my evolving plan, over the next few weeks — you will be able to opt out at any
time.

And, wyou can participate as little or as much as you want. 

REMEMBER to join: Send a blank e-mail to gb-interest@aweber.com

Last post
I promised I talk more about Macro Niches… and I will.

But, I wanted to share an exciting discovery.

One of my favourite author’s on Careers is Barbara Sher. She’s just released a new book:

It’s a very special book if you are a multi-talented professional. Here’s an excerpt from the chapter titled, "Are you a Scanner?"

"’I know I should focus on one thing, but which one?’ ‘I won’t choose a career path because it might be the wrong one…’

If you’ve ever said these things to yourself, chances are good that you’re a Scanner, a very special kind of thinker… Because your behaviour is unfamiliar — even unsettling — to the people around you, you’ve been taught taht you’re doing something wrong and must try to change. But, what you’ve been told is a mistake — you have been misdiagnosed. You’re a different creature altogether."

Sound familiar?

It sure grabbed my attention!!

I have so long felt that traditional methods of Career Coaching don’t work for me — and for my clients!

So, I’ve developed different techniques to help them sort out what — and how many things — they want to focus on.

I encourage you to read Sher’s book.

Learn what kind of Scanner you are. 

By the way, Sher says that true to the nature of Scanners you probably aren’t one kind.

I know I’m for sure mostly  the kind of Cyclical Scanner Sher calls "The Plate Spinner" — many projects on the go. This description also fits what Kathy Kolbe calls the "Quick Start".

A Cyclical Scanner is the type of Scanner that keeps coming back, circling back, to the same interests. Contrast this with the Sequential Scanner who masters a skill and then MOVES on.

I’m looking forward to trying Sher’s techniques with my multitalented clients.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

This is for Paula who didn’t get that job in NYC she wanted.

First, let’s talk about rejection.

Why? A) Because, It hurts. Sometimes, it hurts tons. And, B) because until we deal with the emotional impact we can’t do an effective job of dealing with the ‘tasky’ stuff of job search.

It’s clear to me that landing the position in NYC was a big deal to Paula. So, Paula I’m guessing that not getting the job hurts big time. So, before talking about what you can do to recapture the attention of those folks in NYC, let’s talk about dealing with the emotions.

I don’t know what you do or what you want to do, Paula. I’m going to assume that because you’re reading this Blog you’re a Creative. If so, then the best way to deal with the pain of rejection is to immerse yourself in the pain through your creative process.

If you’re a writer, write about it. If you’re a musician, sing about it. If you’re an artist, paint it or sculpt it.

Get the feelings out of you and into the world.

Then, and only then do this…

1. Get really clear on why you weren’t accepted. Don’t assume it was the money. Ask. Best bet pick up a phone and say something like this:

"Hey this is Paula. I was really looking forward to working with you. I’m disappointed I won’t have a chance to contribute. It would be really helpful to me if you could tell me specifically why I wasn’t selected. What skills were missing? Experience? Attitude? I’d really appreciate that."

Take several deep breaths. You will need to park your ego and your defenses at the door. 

Listen. DO NOT argue with any critcisms. DO ask for specific examples of behaviour. Take notes. Listen. Ask probing questions. SAY THANK YOU.

End with something like this, "Thanks so much. I really do want to work with you. I’d like to stay in touch with you. May I contact you in 3 months to see if more suitable opportunities have come up?"

Again, say thanks… AND, then send the person a personal, neatly hand written Thank You note.

If you don’t feel comfortable on the phone, then do this same process in writing.

I hope that helps Paula.

Life was simpler in my dad’s day. So, were careers.

My dad dropped out of school after grade 8, so he could help out on the family farm. Remember, this was during the "Great Depression". When the farm sold the family moved into town and my dad got a job in a grocery warehouse. Then at age 17 he ‘ran away’, lied about his age, and joined the Army so he could fight in the War — and maybe kill a few of his German cousins (my dad is 2nd generation German).

When he returned from the war there wasn’t a lot of future in working for the grocery warehouse. When my mother became pregnant, with twins yet, he needed to find a better paying job. So, he left small town Saskatchewan and moved to Sudbury, Ontario and a future job as a nickle miner. Fate intervened and my mother died a month after my sister and I were born. So, my dad moved again. This time to Calgary, Alberta, where his parents could help him care for and raise the wee babes.

Since there weren’t any nickle mines in Calgary, or any other kind for that matter, my dad decided to become a carpenter. Calgary was just beginning to see the first blushes of its building boom. So, what better thing to do than learn how to be a carpenter. And, that’s what he did for the rest of his career. In fact, even to this day he still does a lot of carpentry work.

I remember when I was a teenager, struggling to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I asked my dad for career advice. He said something like this, "I don’t care what you do. Do whatever you want. But, whatever you do. Don’t get a job where you have to wear something like a carpenter’s apron!"

At that time, being a carpenter, or something like that wasn’t something my dad would recommend.

But, what else could you do?

You found a job. Usually, a conventional job. And, you stuck with it…till you retired or it killed you.

Your career was defined by one thing. You fit in one box. You were a carpenter. Or, a miner. Or, a farmer. Or, whatever.

There was no such thing as being multitalented.

Or, god forbid, having a multitalented or multifaceted career.

It’s kind of like writing.

You get know for a genre. Say, mystery or science ficition or historical.

What happens when like Diana Gabaldon you write a compelling novel that doesn’t fit in the predefined categories. Her first novel, Outlander, was more than a Romance. It was a historical, romance, featuring a time travelling heroine and a young Scots hero, alleged to be an outlaw who fall in love and lead us on many advetures which lead our hero and heroine eventually to America and the Revolution. But, where ought this novel be shelved? More than Romance. Not just Fantasy or Science Fiction. What was its Genre?

As it turned out Gabaldon was a member of that career class I call Genre Bustersâ„¢

When you don’t fit in a single career category, then you too are a candidate for being a member of Genre Bustersâ„¢.

You’re not just a coach. You’re a coach / writer / photographer / painter. Or, figure skater / choreographer / painter like Toller Cranston.

So, how about you?

Are you a member of that elite group called Genre Bustersâ„¢

Tags: creative professionals, multitalented, multitalented professionals

This post at my personal site talks about the wonderful movie Legends of the Fall.   

What struck me as I reviewed the booklet that came with the DVD was this description of the career of the film’s writer, Jim Harrison:

Book reviewer, editor, essayist, food columnist, literary critic, poet, scenarist, sportswriter, and, of course, novelist

Sheesh. And, here I thought I had a Portfolio Career.

What about you?

If you made a list of the top 10 ‘jobs’ you did, what would they be?

Here’s my top of the head list:

The Unsticking Coachâ„¢, Writer, Change Management Consultant, Aspiring Author, Poet, Amateur Photographer, Watercolourist, Travel Fiend, and Instructional Designer.

Come on! Give it a try.

See what pops up.