Interesting book by Marlene Chism on Life Reinvention

Many Great Careers readers tell me they’re going through a life re-invention (or wanting to). I just came across a good book by Marlene Chism. I was intrigued by her question: “Do you how to read the signs when going through a Life Re-Invention?”

Marlene shares her personal story of Life Re-Invention in her book. She left her job as a blue collar factory worker (after 20 years!) to pursue her dream of becoming a motivational speaker and author. She often laughs when she tells her story of working in a factory: “The best part of your day is when you look up at the clock and realize it’s time to rotate.”

I like this quote: “Much of the time unhappiness is due to compulsively thinking about success, judging your current level of success, and obsessing over achieving your next big success.”

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Career Change without career change

Often the biggest career change happens when you are not focusing on your career: you pay attention to the rest of your life. So with a career in the doldrums, here are some things you can do to explode yourself into a new life. I’ll blog more about each of these in the days and weeks to come.

You don’t have to take these steps in order. If you don’t feel ready for one step, just hold the thought and try another.

Here’s the first. Kill the television for 30 days.

Ouch. You have to be ready for this one.

I tend to be up and down about television. I count myself lucky: I grew up in a home without television. My college dorm had one set for several hundred students. So television didn’t enter my life till I took a job with lots of travel and a TV set in every room. Sometime around the mid-70s the color TV became standard.

So I have an off-again, on-again relationship with television. I’ll go a few years without no television, then get cable and watch for awhile.

For the past 3 years, I’ve enjoyed cable with ESPN capability and a DVR from Comcast. I first splurged to watch the Sopranos, then got rid of HBO. They gave me a deal when I threatened to cancel awhile back. But this summer, I realized I was paying about $70 a month to watch shows I could borrow from Netflix (or the public library).

And most days I’m not watching at all…just watching the recorded shows pile up.

So I pulled the plug. At first I noticed the silence. And suddenly I was reading all kinds of books. And I noticed that even a good murder mystery left me feeling more energized and motivated than watching television.

I miss C-Span and PBS. I loved Carrier. But they tell me podcasts are available and Carrier can be purchased as a DVD set.

Mostly, I noticed there’s a new energy in my home. Somehow there’s more space as well as time. I feel freer, more empowered and more productive.

So without changing anything in my career or business, I’m different…and my work feels different, too.

And I’d like to invite you to get started on your own career change, even if you’re not ready for this step. Check out my 21-Day Extreme Career Makeover.

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Perils and Promises of Change

Recently I was jolted out of my own comfort zone by two changes. They seem small to outsiders but they affected my work rhythm and routine.

First, my senior cat began heading downhill. She had been with me almost 14-1/2 years, and she was listed as 5 when I adopted her. That’s just over 1/4 of my whole life…a huge chunk of my adult life. She was the perfect companion and family member — quiet, mellow, and friendly. She defied all the veterinarians who insisted her life would be cut short by her tendency to gain weight.

And within a few weeks, she was gone. I dreaded getting another cat. Where would I find a declawed cat, in politically correct Seattle, let alone a cat who could mesh with another cat and a playful dog?

In the same week I lost Tiger, my gym announced the closing of the most convenient, high quality gym available to me — about 7 minutes walk from where I live. Now I’d be taking a bus, adding considerable time to my workouts…and I work out 3 to 5 times a week.

Besides, our Queen Anne gym had become community. We “regulars” recognize each other and we know a little about each other’s work and lives — not easy in a city famous for being chilly in both people and climate.

This time, things worked out.

I found a cat who fit my specifications at the nearby Seattle Animal Shelter, and even caught a ride over with my neighbors. I wrote about her in my Midlife Dog blog. I will always honor Tiger’s memory, but she lived a full life and frankly, I wouldn’t mind having my own life end just like hers. And I’ve enjoyed watching Ophelia, who looks like a furry watermelon, become part of the household.

My second change was equally smooth. I checked out the downtown branches of my gym. They offered us an incredible deal to transfer membership and I know most of the instructors. The classes are longer and more challenging. I’ll have a whole new level of fitness by Christmas — certainly by Memorial Day. Best of all, it was fun to reconnect with others who transferred and meet new people.

Not all change leads to positive outcomes. When it does, you get a boost to energy and sometimes a new spark of creativity. This time I got lucky.

I’d like to read your stories of change and luck. Please click on the “comments” link and share.

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