Welcome to Tripping on the Ladder


LadderWelcome to Tripping on the Ladder, the premier online community created by and for individuals in career transition or professional reflection.

Whether you’ve unexpectedly been pushed off the corporate ladder thanks to today’s tough economic climate, whether you are intentionally choosing to climb a new ladder more aligned with your passion and purpose, or whether you’re a family member of someone in transition, you’ve come to the right place for information, support and resources to help you get “unstuck” (while having a little fun along the way).

Welcome! Here you are among friends.

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The Daily Rung is the daily blog of Tripping on the Ladder. To subscribe to receive The Daily Rung by e-mail, click on the “E-mail Subscription” button. We do not share your  contact information. (See our Privacy Policy.)

 

Wed 28 Apr 2010

Desperate Workingwife: Unleash Your Inner Diva

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Desperate Workingwife, Renew & Replenish, Spouses & Loved Ones
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Diva Nikki  By Diva Nikki
 (c) April 28, 2010

Some of you may have wondered how I came by my moniker “Diva Nikki.” 

It’s actually not that I’m a diva in personality. I’m not a snob. I’m not a fashionista with 100 pairs of shoes. (Sadly, I tend to wear the same comfortable pair all the time.) And I’m certainly not someone who expects others to cater to my every whim.

The name is actually a nickname I was given by friends years ago because of what I do, not because of who I am.  You see, I’m a singer. I’ve been singing since I was about 3 years old…had my first solo at 5. It’s something I’ve always done, and done well. Though I chose not to make it my college major or my profession (a choice, by the way, I still look back at and wonder about), I’ve found plenty of ways to feed my passion for music. That includes a six-year stint as a chorus member in a local opera company, among other things. Being an opera singer doesn’t seem to be all that common among those in the average working world – thus, the nickname.

Unfortunately, there have been periods of my life where I’ve let that passion for music fall to the wayside. For instance, when my husband and I were full-time employees and full time MBA students, I had to let music go for a little while. And more recently, while my husband was in career transition I tried to focus more energy on keeping our household prospering than I did on my own interests.  

I think as women we have a tendency to put the needs of others before our own needs. We give so freely that sometimes we forget to take back a little bit of energy for ourselves.

As working women, too, it’s so easy to get caught up in being the “corporate” versions of ourselves that we forget the “real” versions.

And then, sometimes the right people and opportunities come along at the right time to remind you that YOU matter. Several months ago, I was invited to join the local symphony chorus. (Essentially, whenever the symphony wants to do works that include singing, they call us.) It had been a little while since I’d had the opportunity to do some real classical music. Handel, Vivaldi…  Quite frankly – I had forgotten that this is something I’m designed and trained to do.

As I started going to rehearsals, seeing old friends from my opera days, singing music from composers I love…my soul just opened up. As I would open my mouth to sing, it was like opening myself up to a pure joy I hadn’t felt in a long time. This was something just for me. Not something I should do. Not something I had to do. Not something that would help someone else. All mine.

This past weekend, I was honored to have the opportunity to appear as a soloist in our latest concert with the local symphony. I spent a good hour or so before the concert getting “diva’d” up. The hair, the dress, the makeup, even the jewelry. It was like putting on a persona. With each element, my inner Diva started coming back out. I remembered who I was. I felt confident, radiant, happy.  And as I walked out to the front of the stage during the concert, feeling the lights on me, the music swelling behind me, the anticipation of the audience…I knew I was right where I needed to be. My soul was at home.

What does this have to do with having a spouse in career transition, you might ask? 

Just this: Unleash your own inner Diva every once in awhile, whatever that means for you. Where does your soul feel most at home? Where do you feel like you’re doing exactly what you’re designed to do? Whether it’s on stage, behind a keyboard, in a pair of running shoes or in your kitchen – do it. Feed your own soul. By feeding your own passions and reminding yourself that you’re a unique, powerful talented person you’ll be better prepared to support others.

 My hair may be less curly today, my dress put away…but the Diva in me is still smiling. I hope yours will, too.

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Wed 21 Apr 2010

Desperate Workingwife: He Said, She Said – Part 2: The “She Said” Edition

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under In Transition
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Brian Doebert

 By Brian Doebert
 (c) April 21, 2010

 Men like to fix things.  When a problem arises, we take charge and start working on the solution. 

While in a career transition, the focus naturally turns to finding a new job and bringing another salary back into the house. 

While this task is important, it is probably more important to remember that your spouse is experiencing this situation with you, but in her own unique ways.  While this presents something else for us to fix, we can’t fix what we don’t understand.  Turnabout is fair play, so let’s see what we can learn from our favorite Desperate Workingwife as I interview her this week.

Part 2 – SHE SAID: Transition from Desperate Workingwife Diva Nikki’s perspective

Brian: What’s been the hardest thing about being in transition?

Desperate Workingwife: The hardest thing about being in transition, for me, is that there is so little I can do about it. I can control spending and be supportive. (We Desperate Workingwives…we’re “do-ers.”) But there is nothing I can truly physically do to help my husband find a job – that’s all on him.

B: What’s been the biggest blessing?

DWW: One of the biggest blessings I’ve seen during this transition time is all the support we receive from others. Even if it’s just a friend buying lunch or coffee, or giving Brian a contact name to talk to. It really makes you see the power and worth of a good friend network.

B: What has surprised you the most during this time of transition?

DWW: I think the length of time the transition is lasting is probably the biggest surprise to me. We’ve been through career transitions for Brian before – this is the third time since we’ve been married. But before it was usually only about six months between jobs. This time, it’s a year.

B: In what ways have you worked to sustain your marriage during this time of change?

DWW: I actively work to find ways to be supportive to my husband every day. I tell him I love him and I believe in him. Even more importantly, though, I never, ever put him down or make him feel like this is his fault. If I need a real venting session – even just about the cruddy situation – I call a girlfriend who understands. I don’t take it out on him.

We both make a conscious effort, too, to spend real time together talking or even just being goofy. Whether it’s iPod karaoke at the kitchen table or a Disney movie marathon, we find ways to spend time together even if there isn’t a huge budget.

B: Where have you found information or support?

DWW: Support I’ve found in spades from friends, co-workers and family. Information – that’s another story. I find it interesting that there are thousands of books, networking groups and resources for those who are unemployed. And not one single book out there for the spouse of the person who is supporting the person who is unemployed. That’s honestly what inspired me to write this column. I wanted to provide some helpful insights, at the very least, to others like me who are going through this.

B: What changes have you made in your household that you think have most helped you make it through the transition?

DWW: I think the biggest, and possibly the hardest, change we’ve made in our household is our budget. Before the economy tanked, we lived quite well. We were dual income, no kids, very reasonable cost of living area. We’re not “big spenders” – but we’d gotten used to being able afford things we wanted, when we wanted them. Now, it feels like there are so many things on hold. But it’s what keeps us afloat. We’re making house, utility and insurance payments. There’s no shortage of food on the table. There’s not even any credit card debt. So we’re definitely doing the right thing.

B: What’s the first thing you’ll do when the transition period is over?

DWW: First thing – eat some sushi. It’s the pact we have. My husband gets a new (permanent) job, we go out for sushi. It’s one of those little indulgences we’ve given up for now. Second thing (possibly in the same day) – I’m going for a spa day. I figure it’s only fair payment to bring on a little stress reduction after such a long transition.

From there out, I think we’ll assess our priorities a bit, look into doing some things around the house that have been on hold. I also think after being on a reduced budget for so long, we’ll be able to find ways to save even more than we always have to be prepared for any more transitions life might throw at us. Nothing like 12 months of unemployment to make you really understand the value of an emergency fund!

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Fri 16 Apr 2010

Diary of a New Entreprenuer: Finding Your Inspiration After the Big Good-bye

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Diary of a New Entrepreneur, Finding Your Purpose, In Transition, Reinventing Yourself
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Jen the Catalyst By Jen the Catalyst
 (c) April 23, 2010

In my last post, I discussed the HIGH immediately following the Goodbye. 

 The Colossal High, the juicy, unbelievable, “Yes-this-can-be-attained-without-skydiving” high, lasted for five solid weeks. And what a five weeks they were… Action-packed and part of that leap forward I talked about last week.

Here are some great inspiration starters to get your juices flowing. 

Print off a copy and use it as your journal entries for the next week or two or three! (Hint: There are no wrong answers!)

My favorite things to do are:

My biggest dream is to:

When I am feeling my best, I:

My friends/family tell me that I am good at:

People seek me out to:

This especially jazzes me up:

The thing that drives me the most is:

I feel nurtured when:

I feel very confident when I:

If I were able to look at my life with perspective, I would reward this:

I WANT:

I NEED:

I am most at home when:

I feel most empowered when:

My biggest dream is to:

(What else can you think of to inspire the best when you’re in a HIGH place?)

If you’re tripping up in the place you are, it’s time to make a change, and I believe that positive thinking and an optimistic approach will lead to the best possible spot.  Only I can control how I react to situations and how I choose to navigate… and I decided to choose the path that would jazz me, nurture me, bring out my strengths, and take a leap to something fantastic.

What jazzes you up, and how can you get more of it?

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Fri 2 Apr 2010

Diary of a New Entrepreneur: Once She Made the Decision to Move On, Jen’s World Opened Up

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Diary of a New Entrepreneur, In Transition
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Jen Antila  By Jen the Catalyst
 (c) April 2, 2010

In last week’s diary entry, I wrote about endings and departures. 

Once I had identified my “Goodbyes,” my mind and heart synchronized and I was able to say out loud that “I wanted to leave my corporate job.” 

What came next were waves of relief, freedom, positivity, excitement, anticipation and happiness. My work friends responded to that energy in kind, which made the high of leaving even better. My last three weeks of work were blissful, and I was at my peak. I didn’t feel the fear and the worry and the frustration that I had been struggling with for months.

JOY!

The world was new and shiny and different. Colors were brighter. Friends were friendlier. The house was homier. My husband was sexier. My appreciation of everything was… well, super awesomely appreciative.

(A word of unsolicited advice to readers who are contemplating taking the leap: CAPITALIZE on this transition high. It’s a great time to take gargantuan steps forward toward what you want in your life!)

I love people, and the people at my corporate jobs were no exception. I spent my last days at the company solidifying my relationships with my work friends. I connected with co-workers whom I had not previously met and received the gift of words of wisdom and encouragement—related to areas I was considering for my solo gig. I printed business cards with my contact information and made sure I always had a few in my back pocket to hand out to acquaintances and co-workers that I may not see again soon—or ever.

It was a great celebration and I enjoyed every moment.

What is making your glasses particularly rosy lately?  Share the energy!

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Wed 31 Mar 2010

Desperate Workingwife: “He Said, She Said” – Part I: The “He Said” Edition

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Desperate Workingwife, Spouses & Loved Ones
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Diva Nikki By Diva Nikki (interviewing her husband Brian) 
(c) March 31, 2010

Isn’t it amazing how men and women view the world differently? 

For any of you who read and remember Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, we often seem to be from another planet. So how does all this play out when a couple is in the midst of career transition?

In this two-part series, “He Said, She Said,” you’ll hear from both sides…and finally meet the amazing husband of your favorite Desperate Workingwife as I interview him for this article.

Part 1 – HE SAID: Transition from husband Brian’s perspective

Desperate Workingwife (DWW): What’s been the hardest thing about being in transition?

Brian: The hardest things about being in transition are the feeling of helplessness and the feeling of non-contribution.  Even with an active plan to find a new job, there is still only so much that I can control.  Since I’m not making a real salary, I feel like I’m letting the family down.

DWW: What’s been the biggest blessing?

B: The biggest blessing is the increase in free time.  There is extra time to bond with the cats, and to take care of a few things around the house.  Being able to score points with my wife by taking care of laundry and cleaning is nice.  I also have the ability to put some effort into pet projects and potential self-employment options.

DWW: What has surprised you the most during this time of transition?

B: I am surprised most by the length of the transition.  In good economic times, when a position is posted, HR professionals hope to find someone who meets about 75% of their preferred criteria.  During this transition I have been unable to get interviews for positions where I meet about 90% of the preferred criteria. It seems that there are so many people on the market that every position attracts multiple applicants who do meet 100%.  Along with the length of the transition, I am surprised by the lack of much tension at home.

DWW: In what ways have you worked to sustain your marriage during this time of change?

B: The way I work most to sustain my marriage is to be helpful at home. No matter how much time I am looking for a new job, there is always some down-time during the day. Some of this time is reserved for household chores that my wife would normally do.

Another way that I work to sustain the marriage is to try to keep my transition frustrations from dominating time spent with my wife.  She knows I am frustrated and I know she is frustrated.  There is no need to dwell on the frustration and ruin the night.  Dates at home and dates at inexpensive restaurants are nice ways of keeping romance alive while on a budget.

DWW: Where have you found information or support?

B: I have found information and support pretty much everywhere. Friends and family have been good sources of both. Networking groups and job-seeker support groups and industry association meetings provide support in different ways.  The key is to seek out multiple avenues of support covering different demographics to maximize the breadth of information.

DWW: What changes have you made in your household that you think have most helped you make it through the transition?

B: The revised budget probably provides the most help. By knowing what we can and can’t spend during the week, one large source of stress is removed. Knowing how long we can be okay financially allows me to focus on other areas.

DWW: What’s the first thing you’ll do when the transition period is over?

B: The first thing I will do is take my wife out to a nice sushi dinner and possibly a mini-vacation. Recovering our emergency funds will be a high priority, but showing my appreciation for my wife who has been totally supportive in my search will come first.

Stay tuned for next Wednesday’s edition of Desperate Workingwife, when the tables turn and husband Brian interviews Diva Nikki in “He Said, She Said” – Part II: The “She Said” Edition.

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Mon 29 Mar 2010

What is Trying to Get Your Attention Today?

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Getting Unstuck
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Jenaissance  By Jenaissance
 (c) March 29, 2010

 

A couple weeks ago, I started running.  

It’s actually going relatively well so far. (And no one is nearly as surprised by this as me, it seems.)

But this past Saturday morning, I jumped on the treadmill to follow the day’s plan. About three minutes in, I thought to myself, “This is kind of hard today.” At five minutes in, I thought, “I shouldn’t have eaten that nutritionally devoid scone for breakfast.” At seven minutes in, I thought, “I might not be able to do this today.” But, I told myself to “Cut it out” and when a good song popped up on my iPod, I was able to stop thinking about how miserable I was and instead continued on for another 20 minutes until my time was up.

A similar thing happens to our dog—not with running, but with barking. When our dog gets overly excited, he starts barking. We’ve discovered that the best way to get him to stop is to calmly distract him with a fascinating treat or toy. My husband says it’s almost like the dog’s brain needs to be redirected from the scary/exciting/threatening thing to something calming and enjoyable.

When it comes to life—and all its transitions, stressors, questions and opportunities—sometimes getting over the hump really is as simple as “redirecting” our thinking. Lucinda Bassett, a longtime sufferer of anxiety and now an expert in the field of anxiety, advises clients whose minds are reeling to picture a stop sign, and to go so far as to say to themselves, “STOP!” The technique is designed to get your attention, so you can redirect your thinking to something more positive.

A few years ago, a friend of mine was let go from a job that, quite frankly, he’d long outgrown. He called me after it happened, and understandably he was feeling a little shocked and disappointed. I remember telling him at the time that it was clear to me that he needed to “move on” from there—and that his termination, no matter how painful, was a necessary signal to grab his attention and essentially force him to “move on.” It wasn’t long before he found his dream job.   

Whether a great song on your iPod, a doggie treat, a stop sign or a difficult conversation at the office, what in your life is trying to get your attention today, to help you stop dwelling on the “old” and instead move you in a new direction?

And, when it does, how will you answer the call?

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Fri 26 Mar 2010

Diary of a New Entrepeneur: You Can’t Say Hello Until You First Say Good-Bye

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Diary of a New Entrepreneur, Finding Your Purpose, In Transition, Now What?, Reinventing Yourself
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Jen Antila  By Jen the Catalyst
 (c) March 26, 2010

I’ve come to the conclusion that “3″ is an important number when assigning order to the universe. 

In fact, the number three led me to jump off the corporate ladder!

How, you ask?

I had been working with Michelle Stimpson, a professional coach and owner of LifeShine Coaching, for about three months. My objective: to improve my drive and intensity and commitment to my work, my career. I expected to achieve the passion I felt when my adventure at the large Fortune 50 corporation was new, and to embrace my future there with more vigor.

In reaching out to Michelle and establishing our professional relationship, at a gut level I knew I was preparing to transition. I thought I was transitioning toward better personal synergy at this Fortune 50 place. What I found out, through one of the first exercises I did, was that I actually was preparing to transition…OUT.

That meaningful exercise was based on a simple three-part grid. 

I oriented my blank 8½-by-11 sheet of paper horizontally, and placed it in front of me on my empty table. I started with a clean slate.  I divided the sheet into three equal parts: ENDINGS, NEUTRAL, and NEW BEGINNING/DESTINATION.

Transition page

It was easy to name the things I wanted to walk away from, what I wanted to say goodbye to. I started to believe that I should depart. 

But, I couldn’t figure out where to go next without first knowing and understanding why I was leaving. My brain started to shift toward the future… letting go of the endings freed me up to dream of my new destination.

What do you want to say goodbye to?

 

This article series “Diary of a New Entrepreneur,” which appears every Friday on Tripping on the Ladder, chronicles the journey of our newest contributor, Jen the Catalyst (known in real life as Jen Woods Antila), as she leaves behind her corporate life to embark on the road toward self-employment—and self-discovery. Visit her blog at  jenthecatalyst.wordpress.com.

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Wed 24 Mar 2010

Desperate Workingwife: Lessons in Transition Learned from a Big Mouse

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Desperate Workingwife, Family Matters, Spouses & Loved Ones
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Diva Nikki  By Diva Nikki
 (c) March 24, 2010

 Several weeks ago, I mentioned that I was blessed with a vacation to Walt Disney World with my husband and parents. In short: it was great!

Anyone who’s ever read a business book or journal is likely familiar with the fact that Disney. Does. Things. Well. 

They are a well-oiled machine of great customer service and experience perfection.

 While I was there, it struck me that there were actually some lessons to be learned at the Big Mouse’s House about being in transition.

It’s always better to wait less than your expected time than to wait more.
At each and every ride, there is a clever signage system (some now more high-tech than others) to let you know how long the wait is expected to be before you climb in a boat/honey pot/flying elephant and have an adventure. 

The cleverness is this: the time actually posted is always longer than your actual wait time. So when you wait only 20 minutes instead of the 35 you were expecting – you’re happy about it. If you’re in career transition, the lesson here is to be careful about setting timelines for yourself. It’s better to expect a long wait and be pleasantly surprised than to plan on a short wait and be disappointed.

Waiting is less unpleasant when you’ve got fun distractions to keep you occupied.
You cannot go to Walt Disney World and avoid being in a queue. It’s amazing how even at the airport, they begin preparing you to wait for absolutely everything you’re going to do, be it board a bus, go on a ride, make a trip to a restroom or dine at a restaurant. You absolutely will wait…and in an organized fashion.

Diva Nikki's Family at Disney

Speaking of celebrating, Diva Nikki's parents celebrated their 43rd anniversary!

But – they are masters at providing great distraction while you’re waiting. Maybe it’s a fun video, or larger-than-life displays of toys or even replicas of “scientific” evidence that yetis really do exist. Whichever tactic – it works. Suddenly the wait seems less about aching feet and more about an engaged mind.

The lesson here is that while in career transition, try to find at least some amount of pleasant distraction while you wait. As Jenaissance pointed out in a recent article – time can be a gift. In addition to the hard work of job searching, be sure you throw in a little fun, too. It might just make you forget for a minute that you’re waiting.

Celebrate everything.
The theme this year at Walt Disney World is, “What will you celebrate?” Absolutely everywhere from the transportation to the restaurants, that theme was present.

Disney cake

"Celebrate Volunteers" dessert

My dessert plate at one of the restaurants even had “Celebrate Volunteers” stamped in chocolate. The mid-afternoon parades were about celebrating. When making dinner reservations online, there was even a spot to indicate what you were celebrating.

What’s the lesson here? Celebrate even the small things. Getting a job interview, finishing a project, even making a great new contact – spend at least a few seconds celebrating your accomplishment.

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Tue 23 Mar 2010

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (If Only We Knew How): Why We are Seeking Happiness in 90% of the Wrong Places

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under Getting Unstuck, Reinventing Yourself, Renew & Replenish, Resources & Helpful Hints
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Jenaissance  By Jenaissance
 (c) March 23, 2010

 

When our nation’s forefathers boldly assured future generations “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” they had a very big vision indeed.

Unfortunately, the Declaration of Independence didn’t come with an annotated bibliography for how to go about pursuing that happiness. And, when left to our own devices, experts say we tend to go about it all wrong.

Here’s a personal example.

At various points in my life, I thought I would be happier if I had a different job. Lived in Washington, D.C. Lived anywhere else but Washington, D.C. Made more money. Made less money but had more time. Took more vacations. Had a BlackBerry. Didn’t have a BlackBerry. Lived in a different house. Had more closet space.  Had a car with a sunroof.

Many of you likely have had feelings similar to mine, preoccupied with striving for personal and professional contentment.

It’s such a rite of passage in our culture that it seems like this is just the way we’re supposed to find our bliss, with the hope that one day, we’ll finally crack the code and it will all fall into perfect place and we will be satisifed.

But you know what? We’ve got it all wrong.

In her book The How of Happiness, research psychologist Sonya Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., says years of documented research and studies point to a very startling fact: Only 10% of a person’s happiness is impacted by situational factors. In other words, your job—or your home, the city in which you live, the car you drive, the spouse you chose—only accounts for a tiny fraction of your overall perceived well-being.

In fact, she says, studies show that 50% of our happiness level is credited to our DNA (our “set point” that determines how we’re hardwired, how resilient we are likely to be), 10 % is due to life’s circumstances and a whopping 40% of our happiness quotient is actually attributed to what she calls our “intentional activity” or the actions we deliberately bring to every situation—our attitude, our thoughts, our daily practices and rituals.

So, to put it plainly, we’ve been grabbing at all the wrong straws. (And if anything, the current state of the economy should be illustrating for us just how true this is. Countless folks who have bravely faced job losses and financial difficulties these past couple years—and even those who are employed but intentionally “tightening their belts”—are often among the first to express that downsizing and simplifying has come with its own surprising sets of joys.)

While it’s nice to have a fulfilling occupation, a house that feels like home, and a spouse who sees our best selves even when we don’t, a statistically surer road to happiness can be found not by searching outward for it but by simply deciding to create and cultivate it for ourselves.

Lyobomirsky says that it’s important to think about happiness as a continuum, sort of like your temperature. There are days when you may be happier and days when you will be a little less happy. But, on the balance, the happiest people share some of the same characteristics, including:

  • Devoting time to family and friends and nurturing these relationships.
  • Feeling comfortable expressing gratitude for what they have.
  • Being willing to help others.
  • Practicing optimism when considering the future.
  • “Living in the moment.”
  • Taking time for regular exercise.
  • Committing to lifelong goals and ambitions.
  • Possessing strength and poise in the face of crisis or stress.

The best news of all? All of these characteristics of happy people are within our reach–and can be learned!

To find out how, check out The How of Happiness, which includes several customized tools to help you evaluate your current ”set point” and to identify an action plan with 12 strategies that will help you focus your efforts on the 40% of your actions that will make the most difference in your pursuit of happiness.

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Mon 22 Mar 2010

“Do You Want To…?” Find the Joy, Even When You Don’t Know How the Sentence Will End

Posted by Tripping on the Ladder under In Transition, Resources & Helpful Hints
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Jenaissance  By Jenaissance
 (c) March 22, 2010

 

One day last week, I had a small window of time between phone calls, so I thought I better walk over to our neighborhood library to return a few books whose due dates were quickly creeping up.

It was a relatively nice day, and I thought I could kill two birds with one stone by hitching the dog up to the leash and walking him to the library with me.

Our dog likes excitement—and it really doesn’t take much to qualify. He is delirious with happiness every time he hears any of the following, in no particular order:

“Do you want to…go potty?”

“Do you want to…go on a Field Trip?” (That’s our code word for a car ride.)

“Do you want to…have a treat?”

But today something interesting happened. I was about to ask, “Do you want to…go for a walk?” when I got interrupted and didn’t get to finish my sentence. All I said was, “Do you want to…?” (and then I paused to look at my BlackBerry), and yet the dog still nearly jumped out of his skin with enthusiasm.

It occurred to me that perhaps his excitement was in the prospect of something happening, not in the specific activity itself.

Those of us who are in career transition—either starting a new business venture or looking for that next job opportunity—often fall into this trap, too. How often do we find ourselves hinging all our hopes (and happiness) on the specifics of “what’s next” instead of on the “what’s now”? We tell ourselves we’ll be happy once we get that new job, make a certain amount of money, land that new client, achieve work/life balance, save enough to retire…you get the idea.  

But instead, maybe we are robbing ourselves of the ability to enjoy the mystery and the joy of the here and now. By focusing on the outcomes we think we need, perhaps we are neglecting some powerful gifts that are here right now—including the ability to “live in the moment.”

Try it today. Set aside the doubts and nagging voice that insists that the future will be your savior, and try to enjoy today in all of its beautiful, mysterious unfolding.

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