StartingOverNow.com
Articles
I've Made a Mistake - Now What?
I was asked to present to high school students as part of a program
entitled “Pittsburghers That Make a Difference.” My topic was Goal
Setting. When first asked to do this all I could think about was how
boring a topic this would be to teenagers. It was even boring to me.
And then when I found out that one of the other presenters was the
veterinarian from the National Aviary who was bringing the Froot
Loops bird I knew I was in trouble. So I decided to focus my talk on
something kids and many adults tend not to think about – failure.
What happens when you set a goal, are working toward it and
realize the goal was a mistake?
Forty-four percent of college graduates change their major between
the second semester of their freshman year and graduation day.
Eighty-three percent of the 2001 graduating class of Duke University
were working for a different organization within five years of
graduation and 43 % had changed careers at least once.
Setting goals and readjusting them is an ongoing part of life.
Remember two things with respect to setting goals:
#1. Begin with the end in mind – Know where you ultimately want to
be.
#2. It is important to fail early – Don’t be afraid to take calculated
risks.
If you have made a bad career choice, define your transferable skills
and start researching other opportunities. If you are in school and
majoring in something you feel will ultimately not make you happy,
diversify your course selection and change majors or minor is
something new if it is too close to graduation.
Your job, your ongoing education, your relationships, your outside
activities – they are like a boat at a dock. You will get one. You will
get in it. Your boat will start to pull away from the pier. If you have a
set of oars, you will drive the boat. If you don’t the boat will drive you.
You probably won’t sink – unless there is a terrible storm where
faith and self worth will come strongly into play. But you will more
likely find yourself in the same inlet circling the same waters over
and over never being able to pull out of the harbor and into the sea
toward a destination.
Think about people whom you have heard repeatedly say, “I hate my
job.” They haven’t taken hold of the oars.
Goals are specific, measurable and time framed. “I am trying” is not
a goal.
“I will do it within this amount of time” is.
So ask yourself, if circling the inlet is good enough for you? Who is
driving your boat?
In the words of Christopher Columbus, “You can never cross the
ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
Get Mary Lee’s new FREE e-book “Make Your Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by clicking here.
Follow Mary Lee's career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE Articles: “Find a Mentor” and “How to Make a Career
Change in a Challenged Economy” go to: http://www.
startingovernow.com/Articles-and-Tip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a career advice expert who went from being a
stay-at-home mother with four children to divorce, poverty and then
on to become a newspaper reporter, trade association executive
director, public relations consultant, and foundation president and
CEO. View Mary Lee’s free career tips, worksheets and Blog on her
website at www.startingovernow.com. Contact Mary Lee at
info@startingovernow.com.
I was asked to present to high school students as part of a program
entitled “Pittsburghers That Make a Difference.” My topic was Goal
Setting. When first asked to do this all I could think about was how
boring a topic this would be to teenagers. It was even boring to me.
And then when I found out that one of the other presenters was the
veterinarian from the National Aviary who was bringing the Froot
Loops bird I knew I was in trouble. So I decided to focus my talk on
something kids and many adults tend not to think about – failure.
What happens when you set a goal, are working toward it and
realize the goal was a mistake?
Forty-four percent of college graduates change their major between
the second semester of their freshman year and graduation day.
Eighty-three percent of the 2001 graduating class of Duke University
were working for a different organization within five years of
graduation and 43 % had changed careers at least once.
Setting goals and readjusting them is an ongoing part of life.
Remember two things with respect to setting goals:
#1. Begin with the end in mind – Know where you ultimately want to
be.
#2. It is important to fail early – Don’t be afraid to take calculated
risks.
If you have made a bad career choice, define your transferable skills
and start researching other opportunities. If you are in school and
majoring in something you feel will ultimately not make you happy,
diversify your course selection and change majors or minor is
something new if it is too close to graduation.
Your job, your ongoing education, your relationships, your outside
activities – they are like a boat at a dock. You will get one. You will
get in it. Your boat will start to pull away from the pier. If you have a
set of oars, you will drive the boat. If you don’t the boat will drive you.
You probably won’t sink – unless there is a terrible storm where
faith and self worth will come strongly into play. But you will more
likely find yourself in the same inlet circling the same waters over
and over never being able to pull out of the harbor and into the sea
toward a destination.
Think about people whom you have heard repeatedly say, “I hate my
job.” They haven’t taken hold of the oars.
Goals are specific, measurable and time framed. “I am trying” is not
a goal.
“I will do it within this amount of time” is.
So ask yourself, if circling the inlet is good enough for you? Who is
driving your boat?
In the words of Christopher Columbus, “You can never cross the
ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
Get Mary Lee’s new FREE e-book “Make Your Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by clicking here.
Follow Mary Lee's career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE Articles: “Find a Mentor” and “How to Make a Career
Change in a Challenged Economy” go to: http://www.
startingovernow.com/Articles-and-Tip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a career advice expert who went from being a
stay-at-home mother with four children to divorce, poverty and then
on to become a newspaper reporter, trade association executive
director, public relations consultant, and foundation president and
CEO. View Mary Lee’s free career tips, worksheets and Blog on her
website at www.startingovernow.com. Contact Mary Lee at
info@startingovernow.com.
StartingOverNow.com
Articles
People who use the
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
Turnaround Solutions for People & Organizations
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
FREE Resources
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
| Mary Lee Gannon is interviewed on Mind Your BIZness |
Listen to Mary
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Gannon Group/StartingOverNow.com
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Get the FREE e-Book "Lead Your
Team with Values and Watch
Productivity Grow - A
Manager's Toolbox"
and the Executive Coaching Newsletter
.
Team with Values and Watch
Productivity Grow - A
Manager's Toolbox"
and the Executive Coaching Newsletter
.
Mary Lee Gannon's
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
Follow Mary Lee's tips
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
