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 became a painter at the age of 79
became a chef at age 35
attorney, a professor, a speechwriter for Presidents Ford and Nixon, and a Wall Street Journal columnist before finally moving to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting - now an actor
stockbroker to caterer to a multi-media empire
management and marketing consultant to a famous fashion designer
councilman, mayor, news anchor, radio personality - now a talk show host
attorney to a famous fiction writer of novels
public school teacher to the CEO of The New York Times
internist to an international best selling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
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Welcome to the Tero International Monthly eZine
Our lives are full of change. Some good, and some bad. One thing for certain is that we can't control everything. We encourage you to take the time to read this month's article, a first-hand experience of one woman's unexpected and necessary career transition. The sidebar cites examples of individuals, some well-known, who've also made important career transitions mid-life.
The professional development exercise cites a popular model of change and asks you to implement it into your current situation. Career transition is also a popular topic of the questions we receive from graduates, and the Q&A will be addressing a few of them.
Whether you're in your first decade of your career and determining a good fit, or joining in the leagues of experienced professionals looking to or needing to transition, you'll find this eZine to be a resource for you.
Ask Tero
This section contains questions asked of the training professionals at Tero. Do you have a question for Tero? Let us know! If there is a topic or question you would like to see addressed in a future eZine, please make suggestions so we can give you the resources you need. Thank you for the continued responses we receive each month.
Question: My company is expanding globally, and I'm being asked to consider working overseas. What things should I be thinking about?
Tero says: First of all, congratulations to you for considering the possibility. A global assignment offers opportunity for a unique leadership experience as well as cross cultural and personal growth.
Adjusting to a global assignment requires adjusting to a new job as well as new and unfamiliar living conditions. Begin now to acquaint yourself with the area you may potentially agree to be working in. People often think learning the basics of the national language is the most crucial step in preparation. Some language skills can be extremely helpful, but there are other things as important for you to reflect on and learn.
What cultural differences exist? Acquainting yourself with what the national cultural values are will help you think about potential differences that may make a difference in how you will relate both at work and in your personal life. Taking an inventory such as the Intercultural Developmental Inventory (IDI) can help you know how you might manage the differences that will exist, and what you could do in preparation to manage them most effectively.
Will you be bringing a spouse or child? If so, they need to be in on the planning process. Preparing for a smooth transition for your family will greatly affect how well you will be able to function on the job and at home. You may have the benefit of a social network at work, but if your spouse will not, a network needs to be created. There are interest groups of expats you can tap into to help create an individualized network to support the interests of your family.
Culture shock is a given, and if you have prepared ahead for it, you can ride it out successfully. Learn about the stages of culture shock. Consider keeping a written log of your experiences so you can reflect on them (start now at the planning stage). Think about the activities you enjoy (jogging, biking, etc.) and consider one you could continue doing faithfully when you arrive to create stability for yourself while you manage adjusting to the changes.
Find a cultural informant. Either someone from the location you are considering or a fellow expat are great resources to answer questions about transition processes, work conditions and daily life.
Finally, learn as much as you can about culture in general, your organization's experience in this location, common expat issues, and yourself! Knowledge gained in all of the above will assist you in being able to make an informed decision, and a successful transition.
Question: I've been working for over twenty years and recently decided I want to take on a less stressful job. What advice can you provide for when I'm interviewing and am asked why I'm looking for this change?
Tero says: It is not uncommon for people to desire a career change after twenty years. Before you go into an interview clarify what less stressful means to you. What makes the job you currently have stressful to you at this point? Once you identify that, you can begin to develop in your mind what you are truly looking for. Perhaps you desire a different type of experience, flexible hours, a smaller work environment, or less people to manage etc. Define what it is you want and you can go into the interview reflecting positively on your past experiences, yet clearly communicating what you are looking for in the new position. Approaching it from this direction, you will present yourself and your aspirations well. Good Luck!
Feature Article - In Pursuit of a Career Change
I have a friend who had always dreamed of becoming an airline stewardess. After years of secretarial work, and in her early 40's, she decided to take the leap - the career change leap. Today she's approaching her 10th year as an airline stewardess and still living her dream. I've always envied her for that and wondered if I would have the courage to make a career change, should the opportunity arise.
I was satisfied with my position as a Sr. Human Resource Administrator in the pension and benefit area of Maytag Corporation.
Professional Development Activity - Handling Change
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
In reality, or at least in our emotional realities (which tend to take precedence over "objective reality"); change begins with an ending. Before we can move into the new, we must first leave the old. As William Bridges describes it in his book Transitions, transition is the emotional process we go through to get from something old to something new.
Before you arrive at the new location, you must leave home, travel through what Bridges calls the "Neutral Zone" which is neither home nor the intended destination. The process of breaking away from the ending, getting used to the idea of what you've lost as well as that with which you're not yet comfortable and slowly warming up to the idea of the new situation.
Following are 8 Tips to Successfully Navigate Change
1. Challenge yourself to remain open, allowing new ideas into your current reality.
2. Seek out the knowledge and/or people you need to help you in the process.
3. Communicate effectively what you are feeling and experiencing to others.
4. Remember fear is best viewed as "False Evidence Appearing Real". Trust only actual evidence, fear is a stop gate.
5. Look for signs of accomplishing change, not just involvement in the activity around change.
6. Create a support system around you. Carefully choose individuals who will cheer you on and activities that will fuel you.
7. Remember change is a process. Reward yourself along the way for incremental progress. Take time to stop and review how far you've come.
8. Be prepared to feel a little resistance to the notion that it's time to change and learn something new.
Resources
Change is often personal thing. People tackling new challenges can gain strength, build skills and expand their knowledge through the help of a professional coach.
For information about Tero's Private Training and Professional Coaching, click here, call 515-221-2318 (ext. 203) or email training@tero.com
What's New at Tero
Rowena Crosbie serves on business panel with Iowa Business Leaders to discuss the topic of "How to make Iowa's Schools World Class". Watch the Des Moines Register and Iowa Public Television for this segment of the series. Information will be provided in future eZines about publication/broadcast times and locations.
An Interviewing Skills workshop to debut as a public workshop this October
Iowa High School Athletic Association State Baseball Tournament Tickets Available
A 5-hour Business Etiquette and Dining Tutorial workshop. September 18, 2008 (Des Moines), December 4, 2008 (Des Moines) Image and Influence: Polishing Your Professional Look
IMPACT - How To Speak Your Way To Success
Time Management Through Goal Setting
Selecting Top Performers: Recruiting and Interviewing
Online Resources
Are you a graduate of a Tero workshop? Your feedback is important to us.
Click here to fill out an evaluation of how your Tero acquired knowledge has impacted your everyday work and life. This opportunity is available in each eZine or you can visit the Tero website at www.tero.com to give us your feedback.
Inspiration - Things to Think About
Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness. Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say the weather is a great bluffer. I guess that is true of our human society - things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
No matter what the course or nature of your transition, you can only travel through it one day at a time. Results are not immediate, but eventually things will change and results will arrive. In the meantime, do not forget to hang on to your hat. Have hope - there is sure to be a break in the clouds. Figure out the things you need to do to carry you forward. And don't forget to wind the clock, for each tomorrow is another day closer to reaching your goal.
The Tero International Monthly eZine is written for the graduates and friends of Tero training programs. It is published by Tero International, Inc., 1840 NW 118th Street, Suite 107, Des Moines, Iowa 50325. Copyright 2008, Tero International, Inc. All rights reserved.
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