New Business? Changing Careers? Youve Got a Whole New Ball Game

When you embark on a life transition, the skills that brought you success in a former life will no longer work. It's like trying to play football on a basketball team.

Example: To succeed in corporate life, you've developed strong political skills. You can maneuver by memo. You know the unwritten rules as well as the policies.

When you're ready to find a new life, you need to learn a whole new set of skills -- like these.

1. Scrambling: Transition is pickup basketball, not pro football.

2. Running on two tracks: Keep going in the short term but plan for the bigger picture.

3. Decision-making without data: You come to a fork in the road and both paths are unmarked. What do you do next?

4. Using intuition: Hang on to your power. Intuition is no longer woo-woo -- psychologists recognize intuition as a critical aspect of thinking, residing in a specific portion of the brain.

5. Listening and waiting: If you rush, you'll hit a wall. The toughest skill to master.

6. Not being afraid of fear. During a life transition, fear is your ally.

7. Taking the freedom inventory: count your money as well as your blessings.

8. Getting help: how to hire an expert -- and maybe discover you don't need one

9. Managing identity: overcome the biggest roadblock to a new life. As soon as you leave a well-established career or business, you're viewed differently by others and you may have to revise your own self-concept.

10. Enhancing creativity: think of new ways to reach your goal.

I offer one-to-one consultations on business and career strategy. Check out my new resume and interview services.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com

Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294

In The News:


Keep it simple when organizing school papers
DetNews.com, MI - 7 hours ago
It was bound to happen. My daughter's kindergarten papers have invaded our home. So, I turned to Debi Weinstein for some guidance. ...

Opposing Views

What Next for Obama's Network?
Washington Post, United States - Nov 20, 2008
Because of the emphasis he put on organizing, barackobama.com might fairly be seen as the most successful high-tech startup of the past two years. ...
The GOP's Internet Insurgents Mother Jones
Obama's Millennial Marketers National Journal
A Call to Action Political Affairs Magazine
Politico - WatertownDailyTimes.comall 417 news articles

More than organizing fairs
Daily Press, VA - Nov 21, 2008
Wright's work is more than organizing school fairs or fundraisers. Her biggest mission is getting a crucial element involved in the students' education ...

Undergraduate Organizing Committee: Explaining our sit-in
Yale Daily News, CT - Nov 21, 2008
The Undergraduate Organizing Committee is grateful for the News’ coverage of our activities, but in the face of the accusations made by Kate Maltby and the ...
Macey: Yale invests responsibly Yale Daily News
all 2 news articles

New community band is organizing
Downey Patriot, CA - Nov 20, 2008
DOWNEY— Warren High School band director Dave Niemeyer, with the help of school alumni, is organizing a new community band featuring brass, woodwind and ...

ABC News

Both sides in California's Prop. 8 battle look ahead to 2010
Los Angeles Times, CA - 5 hours ago
Regardless, backers and foes are organizing supporters, waging a fierce public relations campaign and considering their next moves. ...
Nurses Rally to Support Marriage Equality in California AFL-CIO
Massive Movement Erupts to Overturn Proposition 8 Bay Area Indymedia
Prop. 8 battle enters new stage San Jose Mercury News
On Top Magazine - Beyond Chronall 1,514 news articles

Columnist mistaken about union organizing
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - Nov 20, 2008
Companies intimidate, harass, coerce and even fire people who try to organize unions. Workers are fired in a quarter of private-sector union organizing ...

A new battle over the right to organize
Socialist Worker Online, IL - Nov 20, 2008
EFCA would also penalize employers that refuse to negotiate a first contract with the union or otherwise violate workers' right to organize. ...
New, aggressive ad for anti-card check coalition American Thinker
EFAC Launches Anti-EFCA Campaign With National TV Ad Center for Union Facts
all 4 news articles

Join the Impact and the Web, part II: Organizing local rallies in ...
The Industry Standard, CA - Nov 19, 2008
(Editor's note: The following report is the second in a series about the massive online effort earlier this month to organize protests around ballot ...
Join the Impact and the Web, part III: Putting out the call The Industry Standard
all 2 news articles

Washington Times

Unions sure organizing bill will pass
Washington Times, DC - Nov 19, 2008
... law that would make it much easier for unions to organize businesses both large and small -- will pass Congress and be signed by President Barack Obama. ...
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