Archive for 'career'

Follow These 5 Practices to Help Others Reach Their Potential

Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 12:10 AM  
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As you’ve committed yourself to a more meaningful life, chances are that you’ve began noticing others around you who could really use a hearty dose of passion. Maybe you have a friend, child, coworker, family member, or colleague who is just not living up to his or her potential. Maybe this person is stuck in a dead-end job. Maybe he or she just can’t seem to choose a major or career path. Or even more common, maybe this person is just too afraid to take the leap towards pursuing their passion because it is just too darn scary.

So there you are, a helpless onlooker bearing witness to a perfectly extraordinary person choosing a life that is, well, underwhelming. What to do? Well I have good news, friends. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have identified 5 practices that will help you to make extraordinary things happen around you. Though the practices are originally intended as exemplary leadership principles, you don’t have to consider yourself a leader to follow them. Though you’ll find that when you do, you will inspire greatness in those around you.

Model the Way

The biggest gift you can give this world is to be an example of what it looks like to live your passion. Not only will you be an inspiration to others, you will also lend credibility to your message.  As Ken Kesey said, “You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case.” So go show those around you that a meaningful, passion-filled life is possible! Read the rest of this entry

Finding Pinspiration for Life & Career

Friday, October 5th, 2012 at 12:13 AM  
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                                                      Source: blogging2fun7915.blogspot.com via Vera V. on Pinterest

Pinterest, aaaahhhh, Pinterest. Where have you been all our lives? If you haven’t yet heard of this virtual pin board, you must have been living under a rock for the last year because it has just about taken the world by storm. Not only has it been a way for us creative folks to find ideas for new DIY projects, but it has also been a place to become (p)inspired about life, love, work, travel, and just about anything else under the sun.

In fact, on Thursday nights before writing my weekly posts, I often spend a good hour or so pinning my favorite things to one of my 47 boards. (Yes, I said 47.) Pinterest is a world of endless possibilities, and for me there’s no better place – other than real life or reality TV, of course – from which to draw inspiration.

Though some might underestimate Pinterest as just another way to waste time on the internet, I disagree. Pinterest is powerful. Each and every pin has the potential to stimulate self-exploration, bring possibilities for career and life to light, and to motivate and inspire self and others. If I had my way, everyone would have a Pinterest account. Here’s why:

Using Pinterest to Explore Your Interests

Pinterest puts you behind the wheel of your self- and career-exploration in a very fun and engaging way. By creating pin boards and pinning from virtually any website, you can express yourself and collect your interests in one place. Whether it is photography, education, technology, food, or design that tickles your fancy, Pinterest allows you to develop and explore your interests (and your fire) more fully. Read the rest of this entry

Doing the Brave Thing (Ilse’s Story)

Thursday, September 27th, 2012 at 9:57 PM  
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A couple of weeks ago a beautiful e-mail arrived in my inbox unexpectedly from a Chasing Your Fire follower. I hadn’t received much mail from readers prior to that, so it was a complete shock to me and definitely made my day. In truth, I was about at the point where I was doubting whether anyone was actually reading and benefiting from the messages that I poured my soul into each week. So you can imagine that I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I unwrapped the beautiful words in front of me.

Having recently liberated herself from a high profile career that made her miserable, Ilse’s message is a powerful one that she desires to share with others in her position. With her permission, I have included her beautiful words below so that her story of courage, self-discovery, and hope will inspire you to also chase your fire – whatever that might look like for you.

In Ilse’s own words:

Dear Vera…

 

It was with great surprise, or perhaps better yet, great divine intent that your  page “Chasing Your Fire” appeared in my Facebook news feed! So I thought that I would share my story of great realization with you,  given the impact of your post’s miraculous appearance in my news feed.

 

Let me start by giving you a bit of background as to how I ended up where I currently am. I loved every bit of my life up to my graduation from University. Then, like the majority of graduates I set out to seek employment. I was subsequently appointed by a specialist recruitment consultancy in [city], who won numerous awards for being the best company to work for at the time. However,

 

I soon realized that I was killing my passion and losing out on precious friendships and relationships which I so dearly wanted to foster.

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7 Confidence Builders To Keep You Moving In The Direction of Your Dreams

Thursday, August 16th, 2012 at 1:34 PM  
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“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!

Live the life you’ve imagined!“

Henry David Thoreau’s call to action never fails to inspire. Who wouldn’t want the kind of life he describes? I know I do! But in reality, that’s quite a tall order for most of us. Going in the direction of your dreams takes courage, resources, support, and a plan. Most importantly, Thoreau reminds us that the most well-formulated goals can only bring you so far without the self-confidence necessary to pursue them. 

Sadly, they don’t sell confidence in a bottle. It is built, slowly, through self-exploration, loving support, and experience to prove to yourself that you can do it (whatever “it” is). It requires patience, time, self-acceptance (and celebration!), and self-nurturing. Though it can seem like a lifelong journey for some,  self-confidence can propel you in the direction of your dreams and sustain you as you chase your fire.

If you’re not the most confident person, don’t be discouraged. We all have moments in our lives that we doubt ourselves. Yes, all of us – even seemingly fearless folks like Donald Trump, Mother Theresa, Barack Obama, or Missy Franklin. So count yourself among giants! These 7 action steps will help you to build confidence and lift your spirits as you keep moving in the direction of your dreams:

Embrace What Makes You Unique

Take “me time” regularly to break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and to self-reflect. Be still. Listen. Think. Journal. Consider meeting with a Counselor to assess your personality, skills, values, strengths, abilities, and interests.  There is so much joy in the process of self-discovery!  When we understand more about who we are, how we relate to the world, what kinds of activities make us come alive, and which kinds of environments best suit us, we feel validated, empowered, and special. We naturally start embracing and celebrating the things that make us unique. It’s very difficult (near impossible!) to feel down on yourself when you keep learning just how awesome you really are and become aware of the many great gifts you have to offer! Read the rest of this entry

Start Believing in Yourself Instead

Thursday, June 28th, 2012 at 3:29 AM  
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What is the world’s greatest lie?” the little boy asks. The old man replies, “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate.”

(An excerpt from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho)

As children, we eagerly conjured up fantasies about our future grown-up selves. We imagined what careers we would have and what we would be like. Innocently optimistic, we imagined a life for ourselves that would be exciting and fulfilling. When asked about our futures, we got a twinkle in our eyes as we told others, “When I grow up, I’m going to be… (A ballerina! A fireman! A Doctor! A Basketball Player!)”

Don’t you sometimes wish you could recapture that childlike wonder? Sadly, somewhere along the way to adulthood, dreams often get buried under the realities of daily living. We can barely make it through the day, and chasing our fire is often the furthest thing from our minds. The focus shifts from ‘living the dream’ to just ‘finding a good job that pays the bills.’  Life, as messy as it is, often teaches us that we are mere products of fate and circumstance, and that dreams can only be realized if you are one of the lucky and/or wealthy…which (let’s be honest) most of us aren’t.

Thankfully, Paulo Coelho blows a hole right through that theory. Allow him and I to assure you that fate and luck have very little to do with happiness. Life doesn’t just “happen” to us. We are not mere passive recipients of fate, living the life that has been dealt to us. Oh, no. Our lives are a culmination of choices (big and small), each breath building on another. Read the rest of this entry

Career Advice for Women: 16 Success Tips from Professionals

Thursday, May 17th, 2012 at 8:31 PM  
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As a proud member of Connect: Professional Women’s Network on LinkedIn, I enjoy reading and engaging in discussions relevant to women’s issues. The fellowship with other professionals is priceless, especially in light of the growing importance of online networking. Recently, Christine Sternfels, Founding Director of A Dollar A Day For A Year, posed an interesting question to members of this group:

If you knew then what you know now,

what advice would you give to your younger self?

In the discussion that followed, several incredibly talented and accomplished women offered a wealth of candid career and life strategies. I felt compelled to share them with you – not only because I am a sucker for a good quote, but because I believe there is value in taking a moment to learn from those who have gone before.

The advice that follows is categorized based on focus and will be presented in three parts. This post is the first in the series, focusing on advice specific to career and education. A second post will offer success tips related to relationships and raising a family, while a final post will focus on life in general (finances and health/diet). I hope you’ll find the comments as inspiring as I did!

On Education

1. Keep your mind clear and open to new experiences. Education doesn’t always come out of a book, it also comes from living life and learning from the good and bad things that come your way. - Pam Coleman - Student Services Secretary at Crouse Hospital College of Nursing

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