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March 2008             Linda K. Liebold           www.CoachToSuccess.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? When you were a child, did an adult ever ask you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”   If so, how did you respond? “I want to be a policeman… or a teacher…or a rock star”? How did they respond?  “Oh, you don’t want to be a policeman, it’s too dangerous.” Or, “You don’t want to be a teacher – they don’t make enough money.” Or, “You don’t want to be a rock star – they do drugs and you’d never make it, anyway.” Unfortunately, the adults around us often squelch our childhood dreams.  Their sense of reality nips our dreams in the bud and we end up moving in “should” directions rather than “want” directions. Childhood wishes and dreams can give us clues as to the kinds of careers we might enjoy. When I work with clients who are transitioning to new careers, I ask them questions that will help them look deep inside themselves -- questions that will shed light on the kinds of things they admire, the kinds of things they enjoy doing, and the kinds of things that come naturally to them and make them happy. Take a moment to re-visit your childhood.  What did you want to be when you grew up? Respond to the questions below.  Write your answers in a journal or on a piece of paper. What did you daydream about when you were a child? What kinds or things did you like to play? What kinds of work did you imagine?  Whom did you admire? What was most appealing about your dreams? Your responses to these questions can help you find a career you will love.      Exhilarating Experiences Another way to discover a career you will enjoy is to think about the experiences you have had in your life that were exhilarating – your “peak” experiences. Reflect back to when you were a child. What stands out as a peak experience? How about when you were in your teens? Your twenties? Take each decade of your life and respond to these questions: When did you feel on top of the world?  What were you doing?  When did you feel both confident and competent?  Peak experiences occur when we’re using our gifts – the things that come naturally and easily for us – things about which we feel passionate. When Time Flies By You can also gain insight on the type of a career you will enjoy by thinking about the activities you are engaged in when you totally lose track of time.  You are most likely doing something you really enjoy.  Take a few moments to respond to these two questions: What activities do you lose yourself in? What kinds of things do you enjoy so much that you do them whenever you can? These are the types of activities you should try to incorporate into your career. Getting to Know YOU Answering questions like the ones above can direct you toward a career you will love.  It is a way for you to dig deep down inside yourself – a way to gain a better understanding of your needs, wants, desires, and dreams. Another means of self-understanding is taking assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest Inventory. I often use these instruments with my coaching clients. These scientifically based tools help you understand yourself better -- who you are, what you like to do, and what inspires you.  Personalized reports supply tailored descriptions of your personality type, your interests, and the occupations that will be attractive to you. The reports take you a step beyond looking at results and provide practical applications and suggestions to begin your career development process. MBTI & Strong Interest Inventory If you are interested in gaining a better understanding of your personality type, natural gifts and interests, contact Linda@CoachToSuccess.com. You can take the MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory online and receive in-depth, personalized reports.  Career Coaching If you are interested in finding a career you love – one that provides passion, purpose and balance in your life, contact: Linda@CoachToSuccess.com Want to learn more? Are you interested in learning more about this topic and others like it?  l will be happy to talk with you about creating custom on-site workshops and tele-classes for you and your group.  Contact me at Linda@CoachToSuccess.com  Free Tele-Workshop:  Tackling Tolerations March 26, 2003, 1:00 –2:00 pm EST Would you like to reduce stress by eliminating the things you are tolerating in your life?  Join others in a FREE One-Hour Tele-Workshop: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm EST where you’ll begin to create a life that is free of tolerations. During the workshop, you will develop a list of tolerations and determine ways to eliminate them.  By getting rid of the things that weigh you down, you will create more space in your life for the things that lighten you up and make you happy.  Share your experiences and toleration tackling techniques with others participants.  This free workshop is conducted by telephone. To register, contact:  Linda@CoachToSuccess.com.  Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation and an audio-bridge number to call the day of the event. Coming Next Month… Next month’s issue of Leadership & Life Tips will feature more information about finding a career you love.    Free Coaching Session If you are interested in a complimentary, 30-minute, no obligation coaching telephone session, send an email to Linda@CoachToSuccess.com.  Share Your Tips If you would like to share your own tips and recommended resources, please send them to: Linda@CoachToSuccess.com and they will be included in an upcoming issue of Leadership & Life Tips.   About the Author Linda Liebold, M. A., is a business, career and life coach. She has 25 years of experience as a coach, consultant, manager, trainer, speaker, and facilitator.  Since 1984, she has headed Liebold & Associates, Inc., a strategic planning, marketing and communications consulting and coaching company. She has worked with hundreds of individuals in over 60 organizations nationwide. She is affiliated with Coach U, Coachville and the International Coach Federation. She is certified in administering the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI), Strong Interest Inventory, the California Psychological Inventory (CPI), and other personality, management, team, and individual assessments. For more information click here. Recommended Resources  Do What You Are, by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger, Little, Brown and Company.  Reinventing Yourself, by Sandra Davis and Bill Handschin, Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc. Type Talk, by Otto Kroeger and Janet M. Thuesen, Dell Publishing. ****** If you or someone you know would enjoy receiving Linda’s complimentary, monthly e-zine, Leadership & Life Tips, please e-mail Linda@CoachToSuccess.com or visit her website http://www.CoachToSuccess.com .  ------------------------------------------------------------- © 2008 Linda Liebold All rights reserved. Feel free to forward this e-zine to others. Reproduction for publication is approved, provided the copyright information is included along with the following attribution: From CoachToSuccess.com, an e-zine by Linda K. Liebold, M.A., 410-544-3655 , Email: Linda@CoachToSuccess.com and website: www.CoachToSuccess.com   ------------------------------------------------------------- Leadership & Life Tips is a monthly e-zine featuring professional and personal strategies for success.  Each issue offers thought-provoking and practical tips, tactics, and resources to motivate and empower you to  be the best that you can be in your career and in your life. If you wish to subscribe please send an email to subscribe@CoachToSuccess.com, or to unsubscribe please send an email to unsubscribe@CoachToSuccess.com.

What's New | Life Coaching | Career Coaching | Corporate & Business Coaching Teleclasses & Workshops | Meet Linda | Coaching Quiz |Free Coaching Session Free Ezine | What My Clients Say | Contact Us | Home | Client Area Coach To Success,  a division of Liebold & Associates, Inc. Linda K. Liebold 14 White Oak Court Severna Park, MD 21146 410-544-3655 (voice) 410-544-4249 (fax) Linda@CoachToSuccess.com  © 2008 Coach To Success, a division of Liebold & Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.