| Topic Name: |
Mentor vs. Coach vs. Guru |
| Message Name: |
How To Keep From Loosing "IT" |
| Date Posted: |
04/08/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Anytime you're forced to leave an organization involuntarily, your self-esteem takes a hit. You start wondering if you still have "IT." You start to wonder how you can get more of "IT" so that you won't have to go through this again. Well, there's no magic formula, no single silver bullet that will solve your problems.
Start with looking at yourself. Have confidence in yourself and realize you're the same person, talented as ever, that the company hired not so long ago. If anything, you're even more experienced if you kept your eyes open and learned a couple of things in your last job. No, I'm not trying to blow sunshine up your resume, but do understand that all the mentors, coaches, and gurus in the world are worthless if you can't be confident about the skills and abilities you can bring to any position.
Do you like to read? Hey, the local library is cheaper than hiring a career counselor or a "life coach." Find some career or job search books. Take some tests and find out your personality type, what environments get you jazzed, which environments you should stay away from. Get some knowledge and vocabulary to better label and describe what a successful "you" looks like.
Do you like to meet people? Then go out and network. Talk. Ask questions of those whose opinion you value. People don't need a formal title to have valuable career advice. Check out your local SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) office (http://www.score.org/) and see if you can buddy up with one of their members. Or check out the local Chamber of Commerce mixers. Rub elbows with your local captains of industry. Ask them what they've done to be successful. Ask them what three skills are critical for a successful career.
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| Message: |
Thank you for your response. This is the part of what I am looking for - people who can provide practical advice.
It is very difficult to maintain confidence in yourself when you are trying to figure out how you're going to pay your bills long term. Fortunately, my finances are OK, but a long way from where they were. I now fully realize what I had and desperately want that back.
As for confidence, I have walked into a CXOs office and recommend a course of action and back it up with strong facts and figures. I also know I still can. I have had a line item on my MBO for the past 3 years to find zero-cost improvements to the business bottom line that will return the value of my salary to the company. What I am saying is that I have confidence in performing above and beyond my defined duties.
The military taught me The Three Ms - Mission, Men (no offense intended), and Myself. I have been selfless in prior positions and concentrated on the first 2 M's. Now I need REAL help with #3 - Myself.
I will act on your advice regarding library resources. I guess I should talk to my librarian about available tests & evaluations. I will also look into SCORE and the local C of C.
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