Networking Primer IV: Gone Fishing March 23, 2015(I met with Lance as part of a Seattle Times “Career Makeover” series and wrote the following summary of our conversation for the journalist writing the story.) I told Lance to go on a fishing trip. A successful composer, he’s ready to do something else after 15 years of writing music professionally. Something a little more family friendly. After all, he’d like to see his kids every once in a while. I’ve been living the dream,” he said about his…
Networking Primer III: The Wall January 6, 2015I met with Mary as part of a Seattle Times “Career Makeover” column and wrote the following summary of our conversation for the journalist writing the story. Mary wanted to talk about how to land a marketing job — but couldn’t stop talking about her work as a videographer. She’s a freelancer with clients ranging from a gaming company (“I’m a gamer, I’m passionate about gaming,” she says) to an animal rights nonprofit, to weddings and other celebrations. “But,” she…
Career Transition as a Garden Party September 17, 2014This is the story I wrote up for the journalist writing the Career Makeover series for The Seattle Times. As a former journalist, I couldn’t just send her notes, I had to write the story, too! At 54, Mike has had a successfully solid career in supply chain management. For three decades, he’s been the guy that figures out how to get the raw materials — across oceans, on time – that manufacturers turn into things that you and I…
Upper International May 9, 2014My husband took me down Upper International (a double black diamond, I’ll have you know) on the last day of the ski season this year. This is important (to me) because my season started on a green circle run as I tried to remember how to ski after 25-some years. My mid-season included a Traverse of Shame after I got myself past the point of no return on a bumpy black diamond run (Triple60) and forgot how to ski. I…
Networking Primer II March 26, 2014What do you tell a job seeker doing everything right — and still not finding work? I met with Tricia as part of a Seattle Times Career Makeover project and wrote the following summary of our conversation for the journalist writing the story. Tricia and I met at a drafty coffee shop in Columbia City. She presents as a very well-put-together, accomplished marketing professional. Nothing about her indicates that she’s been out of work for two years. Except for her long,…
The Old Man on the Bus February 18, 2014A favorite coaching client got blown off by his CEO. As the afternoon got later and later, my client watched the clock and seethed. He felt disrespected and unimportant. He was too busy being angry and anxious to get much else done that afternoon. “I tend to do that,” he told me. “I focus on the negative outcomes and it takes up a lot of space in my brain.” “I want the inverse of that feeling,” he said. We talked…
A Room of My Own February 11, 2014Years ago, in one of my first coaching classes, a beloved Master Coach asked me to describe my future office where I would do meaningful work. I could see it clearly in my mind’s eye: an open window letting in a warm breeze, a green view of trees and grass, a hint of blue sea in the distance. This week, I signed the lease on my own office. This is the view: I am delighted with my view of green…
The Leap February 10, 2014“I took a leap of faith this morning,” a favorite coaching client told me. I held my breath. “I took it,” he said. I started dancing around the living room. I’ve been working with this client for the past three months on a career transition. He’d been in corporate marketing for most of his career and wanted to move into nonprofit work. During his job search, he found a thrilling job at an organization he cares deeply about. His dream…
AND September 23, 2013A coaching client is moving to Myanmar. (Which is not what usually happens with my clients.) This client is an adventurer. If he’d been born in the 19th century, he’d have set off with Shackleton. If he’d been born in the 24th century, he’d be off colonizing new planets. Since he was born in the 20th century, he’s moving to the other side of the world. To Myanmar. Recently laid off, this client had sought my help strategizing a career plan. As…
I’ll Show You September 19, 2013The Colman Pool swim test loomed large all winter. If you’re a little kid, you can’t go down the slide or the diving board unless you pass the swim test. And it’s a long way. You have to swim the crawl stroke all the way across the pool and back, without stopping. My 7-year-old daughter Z really wanted to go down that slide. We talked about it all winter. The first day of summer she failed the swim test. “You…
