Clients Talk About Their Experiences
with
The Center For Life Decisions
Environmental Nonprofit to Environmental Nonprofit
Bob was seeking a change and knew what he wanted. He even turned down several offers because they weren't "right". However, pressure to leave his current job mounted because his contribution to the organization was being both discounted and undermined by the CEO.
Through his working with the Center, Bob crafted both a letter of resignation, and dialogue, for what to say and not say to colleagues and board members about what he was experiencing. He received counseling around the unfairness of his employer and his resulting anger. And the Center helped him promote his strengths to employers which landed him an ideal job.
Bob felt, with the
Center's assistance, his abilities were affirmed and opportunities appeared
for professional growth. What could have been a rocky transition
was both smooth and rewarding, without a loss of income.
Health Care to Business
George wanted to
exchange years of experience in Health Care Management for management
in an area of his passion - the specialty coffee business. He first tried
a direct route but management doubted the depth of his retail knowledge
or commitment. Through focused reassessment and creative networking he
started over at the entry level grind making, lattes. He's now steadily
working his way again into management level jobs.
Business and a Balanced Life
For Steve, finding
a successful balance between work and commitment to family and religious
values was paramount. Through focusing, persistence, guidance and a series
of jobs in marketing and sales he has increasingly developed ways to both
promote his worth and values while at the same time identifying and successfully
interviewing with family-friendly businesses.
Law Enforcement to Education
"Fitz"
has a deep commitment to education and service in all that he does. First
as a State Patrolman conducting public safety forums, then as a school
district public safety officer, and now as the risk management specialist/security
officer for a large municipality, he personifies his passion for working
with people and groups.
Banking to Environmental Nonprofit
Greg grew up with
a traditional notion of the work world that fun was what you had after
work hours. Yet, Greg instinctively marched to the beat of a different
drummer. With the support of his wife he left his career in banking for
a 2/3 pay cut to become director of an environmental, trail maintenance
organization. Co-workers alternately described him as radically sane or
out-of-his-mind when he left the bank. Greg has never been happier.
Writer
Tina voluntarily
left her ten year government career during a time of downsizing and reorganization
to head into the alluring world of high tech after talking through the
pros and cons. After a lengthy but voluntary time as a contract employee
in order to gain new skills and to see if she like the private sector
she accepted a full time offer by the same company. In a few years she
might cash in her stock options to become self-employed. The constants
throughout her career have been writing - for livelihood and nurturing
her soul, as well as continuing to learn and grow in her craft.
Academic Research to Education
Lyle's creativity
and spirit were at an all time low. It's all he could do to get to and
through a day's work as a researcher. A good occupation became a millstone
when he realized that too much of his creativity remained buried and untapped.
Through encouragement and refocus Lyle's now in his second year of teaching
- combining his talents with people, art, design and teaching.
Counseling to Education
Lori encountered
a disastrous series of workplace and job search setbacks derailing both
her career and her self-esteem. After a too lengthy search she's back
on track in a job that draws on her talents in counseling, education and
management. Her success was due in large part to both encouragement and
support to remain true to her personal and professional vision.
Artist
Jill's day job was ending, she hadn't located another and her creative career was in such dormancy as to be a painful source for discussion. Through encouragement and support from The Center, focusing and planning, and a bit of luck, she obtained a 3/4 time position affording her needed blocks of time (at least one extra day) to begin thinking about her musical aspirations. Three years later she released a cassette of her music, recorded a CD which has been a best seller, is now performing weekly, and was featured in a monthly music magazine. She now has two national distributors, and the continued success of her CD is inspiring her to produce another one in 2000.
She continues with
her somewhat administrative day job, but her creative outlet is a source
of joy for her. At some point she'd like to get a job more related
to music and that will be her next goal.
Health Care
Diedrich found that
traditional outplacement companies weren't assisting him in tapping into
his deepest spiritual values as necessary and desired resources for making
his career transition. Encouragement to pay attention to these spiritual
values, his entrepreneurial spirit and attention to detail led to filling
a needed niche in the health care industry when he started a unique employment
agency with his partner/spouse.
Government
Barbara's understanding that there can be a lot of workplace politics even within politics serves her well. She has been able to remain committed and involved government employee without becoming enmeshed in the cyclical shifting of governmental personalities, loyalties, and policies. She's used this renewed awareness along with an increased understanding of her special workplace contributions to avoid burnout, remain effective, respected and flexible in her varying government roles.
Working with The
Center taught her to look inward at leadings and to keep her balance in
external political shifts through keeping in touch with her real skills
and values.
Hydrogeologist to Acupuncturist
Through her career
work with The Center, Jean realized that she wanted to do healing work
on an individual basis after having spent years working on healing the
earth at the social and environmental levels. Jean has left her most recent
work as a hydrogeologist, graduated from school and is now in private
practice as an acupuncturist.
Environmental Nonprofits
Because he is an
environmental activist, Rick's resume was coolly received by local business
leaders and employers - even though he'd just obtained one of the first
environmental MBA's in the country. Through sharpening his career focus,
sprucing up his interview image and broadening the geography of his job
search he obtained a nonprofit position advocating the inclusion of sustainability
issues into the curriculum of the Nation's over 700 MBA programs. His
portfolio of responsibilities is global in both reach and impact.
Education
Bob wanted a job
that fit his values, a position at a college that truly prepared students
for jobs that emphasized service to one's community. Careful planning,
the creative use of career, networking resources and a patient yet persistent
job search yielded a position at a small liberal arts college requiring
service learning for graduation. Bob's work with the Center helped him
clarify the connections he wanted to make between his deeper self and
work in the world.
Public Health to Dot Com
Shelly pursued a career in public health because she believed in the mission. She became increasingly frustrated, though, since the government career track did not meet her professional growth needs. Shelly was "downsized" and wanted to explore new career options. With the Center's help, she stopped thinking about her career prospects in terms of her skills and previous work experience. Instead, she targeted her resume and professional job search toward an occupation she could enjoy and want to do.
The Center also helped her to understand the process of major career change. When she got discouraged or lost sight of her goals, a counseling session put her back on track. The Center's counselor pointed out all the work she had accomplished and where she stood in the process.
Shelly is now happily working as a Project Manager at a health and wellness web site company. She enjoys the dynamic, flexible, and fast-paced work environment. She finds there are lots of things to learn. She is excited by the "can-do" attitude of her coworkers. The company is encouraging her future growth by facilitating job movement around the organization. Plus, Shelly now enjoys the company perks and a better compensation package!
Laid-off Worker to Outdoor Adventure Company - Retail
"I was one of those thousands of unemployed persons at the news and the media mentions daily. I had been laid off like so many others after having worked for a company for ten years. Times and circumstances had altered considerably and I felt angry and cheated that I once again had to march to the rigors of finding myself a new job. Not only was I ten years older than the last time I had searched for work, but I also had to reconsider where I wanted to spend my time and energies that would bring me a sense of satisfaction in what I was going to do. Job descriptions had changed, technology had drastically altered the requirements of employers, and on top of that I found I had no idea where I fit in. My conception of self and my world were on tilt. I looked at all kinds of job wanted sites, and job/career papers, listened to friends' advice, made myself a resume, and even went back to school to update my skills. Those of you who have had to look for work again, or are just starting the search probably found a lot of the same obstacles that I did.
Making the contact with Larry was the smartest and most helpful action I had made since my former employer laid me off! I found that he was a wealth of information and had a viewpoint about work that was positive and founded upon principles that I had not been able to define by myself. His guidance was remarkable in every way. He provided me with tools that I was able to use that were instructive and very meaningful. I participated in one of his workshops that ultimately led to my finding myself a job!! I need to point out that I would never have even applied to work for this company had Larry not suggested that I try. What really pleased me was that after having the valuable feedback that Larry's Center For Life Decisions was able to provide, I am confident that he will be there for me when or if I need any assistance in the future... I wish I had known about his services a long time ago."
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