Career Counseling Advice: Escape The Rat Race, Improve Your Health
“My work is ruining my health.” Tom said regarding his hour and a half total commute time to Hartford from Old Lyme and back. Connecticut commuters should not have such lengthy commutes given the relative proximity of great suburbs to cities. But many do. Moreover, as Tom mentioned, he rarely has time for a good […]
Career Advice: Follow the American Dream
“I hate my job. I dream of starting a business – it’s the American dream, right?” Julie, an administrator at a well known Connecticut college said. I hear variations of Julie’s story a few times per week. My work training new business owners is often the most satisfying part of my work. The original American […]
Career Happiness As An Example To Your Children
“I always said I don’t want a job like my father had and now I’m wondering if my kids will say the same about me.” said Brett, a middle manager in a mid sized corporation in New Haven County. I have heard variations of Brett’s tale with increasing frequency. When I ask clients what their […]
Do unhappy careers contribute to unhappy marriages?
“My job is ruining my marriage.” said Alan, a sales rep for manufacturing company based in New London County, CT. “I’m on the road a great deal. I’m under pressure. I drink too much. I’m grumpy all the time.” he continued. I realize that some career coaches would take a tougher approach and tell Alan […]
The Outside Force of Career Counseling
“I should have started career counseling years ago.” said Mark. “Am I too old to switch careers?” he continued. Mark was 42. “It depends,” I responded. ”Do you think 28 years is a long time?” Since Mark and I already spoke about the likely need (or choice) to work until at least 70, he understood […]
The Happy Life-Happy Career Connection
“My husband is depressed. I know you are not a psychologist but you helped my friend transition careers. She had been miserable and now she’s happy. I’m hopeful you can do the same for my husband.” Michelle, a caring wife from Branford, CT, called about her husband, an unhappy IT middle manager working in New […]
Why [Effective] Career Counseling Is Needed
It seems only a little bit biased that someone running a career counseling company would suggest that career counseling is needed…! My bias is mitigated by my lack of need. Let me explain: I run a company called The Learning Consultants. The Learning Consultants, in and of itself, has not only provided wonderfully meaningful work […]
Tapping Your Inner Career Wisdom: What would your older-wiser self tell you?
“I really want to start this business.” said Susan. “But, I’m afraid. My job has benefits and a steady salary.” While there are several hundred variations of career counseling questions, one of the more common ones revolves around risk. The philosophical question: should I take the safe, unhappy route or take a chance at the riskier but […]
Career Advice From Buffaloes and Cows
Science alert: When cows see a storm coming, they wait for the storm to reach them. They then run in the direction that the storm is going, thinking erroneously that they can outrun the storm. When buffaloes see a storm coming, they charge directly into the storm and then continue in that direction as the […]
Career Advice: Happy Work Stops Big Problems
Jared is an attorney in New Haven, Connecticut. He drinks two to three scotches per night and, on the weekend, will sometimes hit five or six. I’m not sure if he is a functional alcoholic or just someone who drinks too much. But when I asked him why he drinks so much, he responded that […]