The flowers aren’t the only ones blooming this spring. As we recover from the economic tumult, and high unemployment, many continue to rethink their career and redefine success – for themselves. People are popping with innovative ideas, allowing their personal brand to shine through and restructuring how and when they work.
Career transition often requires employing new tools, skills and/or a switch in perception. What’s emerging, is critical thought around the way we work. My Google reader is exploding with new stories, worklife books and lots of debate around balance in the blogesphere.
In the wave of change, some are switching careers, starting their own business, opting for higher education or acquiring new skills. The goals of these worklife pioneers: to better align their work with their values and passion, while still making a living and not burning out in what I call our WorkLife Nation which has seen a dramatic shift year over year.
“2009 was the year of the ‘career chaos economy,’ 2010 is the year of ‘career evolution economy’ infusing success, serenity and significance into our work life merge, locally and globally.”
I wrote about this back in December 2009 in this post: Redefining Business, Career and Personal Success in a Chaotic World. We’re collectively striving for better work life integration en mass like never before. It’s become a “WorkLife Movement” or “Revolution” of sorts.
Thriving in Our New Economy Takes Skill
Thriving in this new economy, requires adjustment, from the inside out. The evolution of our work life merge will manifest differently for everyone. It might mean doing work differently by embracing a more flexible or stress-free lifestyle in order to spend more time with family and children. For others it might involve switching to more fulfilling careers and embracing a business style which is more conscious of human capital.
New territory calls for a new train of thought. Whether you have decided to become an entrepreneur or start a new career, here are three skills which can keep you grounded while joining the goldrush toward a better worklife fit.
Communicating your Unique Message:
Articulating your business message with clarity and passion. This includes personal branding, by identifying the unique factor that embodies your essence. The “special something” that elevates your brand and uniquely makes you and your work distinguishable from others in your niche. The communication of your personal story or narrative is not surface material, it comes from a contemplative place.
Cultivating Resilience:
Navigating info overload, being productive and reducing stress. Employee Assistance Programs can only go so far in helping you get a handle on work related stress. You have to identify the stress factors, measure the impact of those stressors on your individual work life scenario, and then create your own program to tackle the issues with tools, programs and help from others. This might be as simple as taking on an exercise program, or getting help from a coach or wellness counselor.
Championing a Cause:
Embracing a cause that is bigger than yourself, which fuels internal change, creates community, and clarifies intention. With so many of us working overtime and doing more with less, this seems an elusive goal. But sustainable relationships inside and outside of work are often based on common purpose. When a thread of meaning runs through an organization or a group of like-minded people, it creates bonds and shared goals. When you champion a a cause that is aligned with your values, that intention feeds the joy within your individual work.
