Day 3 of 48
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Armour on
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Great to hear from you, Marc. It sounds like you have already made some progress aligning your priorities to care for your wife and 6 (love it!) kids. Taking time away to collect your thoughts can be a highly valuable process.
In regards to discerning what that dream job/employer is perhaps you can find the answer by asking some different questions. For instance, ask yourself what's really exciting? What do you do really well that you also find really fascinating? Once you identify those activities, ask if you are able to do those things in your current job. If so, how often? 25% or 95% of the time? And then back into your original question by asking yourself if you can do that activity more often with your current employer or another employer. If another employer, which one? If you can stay with your current employer will you be able to get a new position - or redefine your current position - to do more of those activities? If so, how can you use your skills to bring more value to your company? If you bring more value to the company how can you take that value and be compensated accordingly?
Another set of questions you could ask is this: how can I do what I do well in a side business that would supplement the income/benefits of my current job? As Dan says (often) - look for yes/and, not either/or options. Defining a dream job/employer can be tough because a job and employer are both dependent others. If you define the things that you are excited to do and that you are good at doing, YOU have the answers inside; and while finding those answers can be difficult you can persevere because you know the answers are there. You are in control.
I hope this helps. I know it helps me because I'm working through these same questions myself! I will put The Power of Who on my reading list. It sounds like a great resource.
Aaron
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Permalink Reply by Marc Pekny on -
I apologize, Aaron, for not responding to your kind note until now.
I was able to spend Friday afternoon, as planned, in a very beautiful and secluded shrine in the Missouri wine country. Despite the triple-digit temperatures, I was able to spend a couple of hours in relative silence and was very good for me. It was so quiet at one point because the wind stopped blowing through the trees..I almost thought my hearing had gone away!
I was able to spend time contemplating your questions. As far as doing things that I really enjoy...the most enjoyable part of my current work is two-fold...1.) I enjoy helping others (and myself) find simple and efficient solutions to parts of our work that tend to be repetitive with tools already on hand (i.e. an excel macro or modified query from a database.) My company has invested many millions of dollars in procuring tools that are vastly unused. I have a knack for fiddling around with these things and find ways to really move the needle and help others. Somehow I need to capitalize on that. 2.) I enjoy seeing a little bit of a shot in the arm in those who work on my team (and others, peers, etc.) when I can provide a little helper or make a decision, lead or press forward. Their frustration levels are high because others won't make decisions or are afraid to rock to boat a little. I encourage them to lean into things a little and they appreciate that...or they're encouraged when I do it.
If I think about it long enough, I feel both of those to be highly transferrable. But how could I turn this into another opportunity...that is where I get stuck. Would a coaching side business be a good fit or would I do better inserting myself elsewhere as a consultant or something...those are the things I'm thinking about. I'm open to any other thoughts/suggestions for consideration that you can provide. Also, I'm still pretty new and uncharted in this community. If there's a good group or groups to toss this around, let me know.
"The Power of Who" was a book that Dave Ramsey recommended on his radio show. I just finished it and really enjoyed it. I've kind of used that resource as a little pick-me-up in asking for help from those who are close to me. Those whom I've talked about my situation have been good listeners and have offered a few thoughts that keep me thinking.
Anyway, sorry about the long reply :) Have a great week and Independence Day!
Marc
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Marc -
I'm glad to hear your time alone was a success. I've been able to intentionally set aside time recently to do the same and I've found that time immensely valuable.
I agree with your assessment of those 2 enjoyable elements of your job - highly transferable! If you have not read Seth Godin's Linchpin, I would suggest you put that in your reading queue. It will give you ideas, encouragement and motivation to fully leverage those two strengths every day in any workplace. If you are doing more, helping others, and performing with excellence while having the best attitude on your team you will be a success, regardless of what you choose to do.
The coaching/consultant side business is another thing to explore. I know you could be very structured and intentional to test the waters with that as a side business to determine the viability without leaving your current job. I would be very curious to hear how you do with that so I could explore doing somehting similar and learning from your success.
Keep moving forward! It sounds like you've had a change of perspective and outlook since undertaking this process. And it also sounds like you're some great progress has been made!
Aaron
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Permalink Reply by Marc Pekny on
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Indeed! Great minds must think alike because I will be getting Linchpin to start reading tomorrow! I also have emails into the hosts of the 48 Days podcast, Andy & Justin. They both did (I think) financial counseling/coaching at one point and that is something that also interests me since we started doing the "Dave Ramsey Thing" a year or so ago.
I'll pass along what I learn!
Marc
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Permalink Reply by Jeff David on
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Hi Marc, Congratulations on your progress. It's so interesting to me how so much of what Dan has written really clicked with me. I have a bookshelf of books that I read once, got excited about for a few days, and then never did anything about. The way Dan has set up his business, the way he was to create multiple streams of income, they way that he wants to be in control of his time all resonates with me. I have loved being involved with the 48 Days Community and have begun following my passion (if you care to read about it here, www.hometownslop.blogspot.com, feel free).
Thanks Marc,
Jeff David
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Stumpf on -
Aaron,
I hope all is going well for you. Sometimes even in the trip through 48Days, you can get bogged down with so much great information and you get sidetracked. Have you considered a coach? I highly recommend Rob Clinton. To see his info here just type his name into the search box or go to his site at 180 Degrees to Your Calling. Rob has a good way to sort out the chatter and help you focus on what is truly important to you.He is a wonderful servant and a friend for life.
You can also get acquainted with Rob at http://www.180coach.com/
He has been a good person to guide me when I strayed a bit. I know other coaches frequent this 48Days group. These are simply my thoughts.
I sense that you are a talented person who wants to go in many directions at once. Being so good has its drawbacks.
Many good folks have given valuable advice to you and I hope this is beneficial as well.
The Best Is Yet To Be!!!! - Jerry
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Hi Jerry -
Thanks for the note. I will take your suggestion to check out Rob's content on his site and through this community. I always appreciate a good recommendation.
Jerry, how did you get connected with Rob and this community?
Thanks for the reminder that "the best is yet to be!"
Aaron
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Stumpf on
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Aaron,
It was through 48Days initially. I met Rob in person at Kent Julian's Speak it Forward bookcamp. He was very gracious and thought provoking in our discussions. He was very generous as he gave me a guideline co-authored with Randell Mark, who I also met at the SIF bootcamp. They listened to my dreams and followed up with a phone call to help me crystallize my future details. I am in the middle of getting all the details worked out to sell an existing route business, so we have put their coaching on llod for now. However, when the sale goes through and I push "go" on my plans we will get together to map out our strategies. I mention this because through all this process Rob has been supportive and encouraging seeking to help what was good for me.
He has sent me a couple of emails to keep in touch. I also like that he is responsive to my encouragement for his goal of running across the country. Through out this process I have been a cheerleader for him which he has shown genuine appreciation. Again this is to let you in on a bit of Rob's inner working.
He is a great servant and mentor. Hope it helps!
The Best Is Yet To Be!!! ---- Jerry
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