BE FEATURED - YOUR STORIES
Jasenka Šabanović
I am 33. I had spent my teenage years in the civil war in Bosnia,
and years as a refugee in different countries, finally ending up in
USA...and for many years I was looking to find happiness, until I
finally realized that it is not a destination, but my journey. Happiness
was in the realization that my family was with me, that it had
stopped shooting, that we were living in peace, that we were living
in democracy, that I can trust again, and that my life now is every
day challenge supporting peace. Things I did to move on: 1.
Stopped being a victim, 2. Get support (life coach), create self-
awareness and figure out what is my fear and obstacles that are
getting in the way, 3. Set my Goals, daily, 4. Take Action, 5. Stay
positive, surround myself with only positive people, 6. I write out 10
things every day I am grateful for. www.CoachingToVision.com
I am 33. I had spent my teenage years in the civil war in Bosnia,
and years as a refugee in different countries, finally ending up in
USA...and for many years I was looking to find happiness, until I
finally realized that it is not a destination, but my journey. Happiness
was in the realization that my family was with me, that it had
stopped shooting, that we were living in peace, that we were living
in democracy, that I can trust again, and that my life now is every
day challenge supporting peace. Things I did to move on: 1.
Stopped being a victim, 2. Get support (life coach), create self-
awareness and figure out what is my fear and obstacles that are
getting in the way, 3. Set my Goals, daily, 4. Take Action, 5. Stay
positive, surround myself with only positive people, 6. I write out 10
things every day I am grateful for. www.CoachingToVision.com
Dr. Nancy Irwin, PsyD, C.Ht.
I converted from stand-up comic to psychotherapist in my 40's, and
wrote a nonfiction book on reinventing the self. Give yourself
permission to freak out. Your feelings needed to be validated so
you can let them go. Covering them up with "positive thinking" is a
band-aid at best. I'm a huge fan of positive thinking, and you can
use it to positively validate your negative feelings! Do something
frivolous for yourself. Life has just dealt you a blow, and you must
find a way to tell yourself that you are on your side. It need not
cost a fortune.....perhaps it's a massage, or flowers or a facial or a
new CD or a manicure. But you definitely want to send a loving
message of support to your psyche. Take care of your health. It is
by far your greatest resource. Exercise and healthy food will not
make your problems go away, but you are guaranteed to get a
fresh perspective on them. Get in touch with nature and/or animals
and/or children. Pray, medidate, contemplate.
www.makeayou-turn.com
I converted from stand-up comic to psychotherapist in my 40's, and
wrote a nonfiction book on reinventing the self. Give yourself
permission to freak out. Your feelings needed to be validated so
you can let them go. Covering them up with "positive thinking" is a
band-aid at best. I'm a huge fan of positive thinking, and you can
use it to positively validate your negative feelings! Do something
frivolous for yourself. Life has just dealt you a blow, and you must
find a way to tell yourself that you are on your side. It need not
cost a fortune.....perhaps it's a massage, or flowers or a facial or a
new CD or a manicure. But you definitely want to send a loving
message of support to your psyche. Take care of your health. It is
by far your greatest resource. Exercise and healthy food will not
make your problems go away, but you are guaranteed to get a
fresh perspective on them. Get in touch with nature and/or animals
and/or children. Pray, medidate, contemplate.
www.makeayou-turn.com
Eileen Roth
After the second layoff in one year I tried mind mapping. You turn a
piece of paper sideways, or landscape, and draw a circle in the
center. Put one word or thought in the middle of the circle. I put in
“Job.” Then you draw lines from that word representing main ideas or
thoughts related to the word. I put my three favorite jobs on the “main
branches” leading from the circle. On the fourth line (or branch) I put
“Family.” Then I thought about the things I liked best about each job
and wrote those on lines coming out from each main branch, like the
smaller branches on a tree. When I finished, I noticed similarities
across jobs: detail, people, and organizing information. For the Family
branch, I wrote: children and stay at home. I had worked helping to
manage a National Association of Professional Organizers. So thus I
began my professional organizing business. A client taught me how
to write a press release. So I wrote one that landed me on the Today
Show (and subsequently Oprah.) I taught cold calling at Tupperware
meetings so I added speaking to my consulting practice. In 2000, I
was asked to write Organizing For Dummies®. www.
everythinginitsplace.net
After the second layoff in one year I tried mind mapping. You turn a
piece of paper sideways, or landscape, and draw a circle in the
center. Put one word or thought in the middle of the circle. I put in
“Job.” Then you draw lines from that word representing main ideas or
thoughts related to the word. I put my three favorite jobs on the “main
branches” leading from the circle. On the fourth line (or branch) I put
“Family.” Then I thought about the things I liked best about each job
and wrote those on lines coming out from each main branch, like the
smaller branches on a tree. When I finished, I noticed similarities
across jobs: detail, people, and organizing information. For the Family
branch, I wrote: children and stay at home. I had worked helping to
manage a National Association of Professional Organizers. So thus I
began my professional organizing business. A client taught me how
to write a press release. So I wrote one that landed me on the Today
Show (and subsequently Oprah.) I taught cold calling at Tupperware
meetings so I added speaking to my consulting practice. In 2000, I
was asked to write Organizing For Dummies®. www.
everythinginitsplace.net
Elayne Angel
I had a successful business in the French Quarter of New Orleans
for over 12 years. Unfortunately, it closed in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. My husband and I spent a modest sum and moved
into a home in the Yucatan of Mexico. In this new, quiet environment I
applied myself to writing a book “The Piercing Bible” on my area of
expertise. The book has been published (by Ten Speed/Random
House) and now my job is promoting it online and via book signings
around the US. I networked with everyone I knew to let them know
that I was writing a book and I got lucky: I have a friend whose
brother works in publishing. He heard about my project and took an
interest in it. He was instrumental in getting my proposal and sample
chapters to a few major publishers. Without his assistance, I'm not
sure how long it might have taken to get published. http://piercingbible.
com
I had a successful business in the French Quarter of New Orleans
for over 12 years. Unfortunately, it closed in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. My husband and I spent a modest sum and moved
into a home in the Yucatan of Mexico. In this new, quiet environment I
applied myself to writing a book “The Piercing Bible” on my area of
expertise. The book has been published (by Ten Speed/Random
House) and now my job is promoting it online and via book signings
around the US. I networked with everyone I knew to let them know
that I was writing a book and I got lucky: I have a friend whose
brother works in publishing. He heard about my project and took an
interest in it. He was instrumental in getting my proposal and sample
chapters to a few major publishers. Without his assistance, I'm not
sure how long it might have taken to get published. http://piercingbible.
com
Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem M.Ed.
After my husband suddenly left I had to reinvent my self as a single
woman and rewrite my life goals. I was left financially devastated
and needed to become very serious as a single parent and wage
earner. I increased my marketing for my counseling business and
worked longer hours. I cleared all of his personal belongings out of
the house and all the mementos that reminded me of happy times
together replacing them with neutral items or things that had special
meaning for me, like my mother's cookie jar and pictures of just me
and my children. I changed the bedroom sheets and draperies and
feminized the bedroom, parked in his garage space as it had easier
access, cut my spending every way I could imagine and sought out
single women who never knew him as new friends. Changing our
inner vision of our future to include new and interesting experiences
helps balance the grieving for the old dreams and reality.
http://www.mbcinc.ca
After my husband suddenly left I had to reinvent my self as a single
woman and rewrite my life goals. I was left financially devastated
and needed to become very serious as a single parent and wage
earner. I increased my marketing for my counseling business and
worked longer hours. I cleared all of his personal belongings out of
the house and all the mementos that reminded me of happy times
together replacing them with neutral items or things that had special
meaning for me, like my mother's cookie jar and pictures of just me
and my children. I changed the bedroom sheets and draperies and
feminized the bedroom, parked in his garage space as it had easier
access, cut my spending every way I could imagine and sought out
single women who never knew him as new friends. Changing our
inner vision of our future to include new and interesting experiences
helps balance the grieving for the old dreams and reality.
http://www.mbcinc.ca
Mark Prus
I was downsized from my position as Director of Marketing &
Innovation in September 2008 after a 25+ with GlaxoSmithKline. I
was 54 years old and tried my hand at marketing consulting. I was
fortunate to have enough friends and contacts in the industry to find
some work. However, I found my real calling in my first consulting gig.
I was helping a small pharmaceutical company with some marketing
positioning work for a new product launch when the President
remarked "you know, I really don't like the name we have for this
product." I immediately announced that part of my consulting
offerings was a name generation service. He asked me what I would
charge, I made up a price on the spot and I had my first job. My
naming service, NameFlash(SM), is now a successful business
(www.nameflash.info) and I have named products ranging from a
new candy bar from Hershey's through a lice treatment through
several vacuum cleaners, and many products in between.
www.nameflash.info
I was downsized from my position as Director of Marketing &
Innovation in September 2008 after a 25+ with GlaxoSmithKline. I
was 54 years old and tried my hand at marketing consulting. I was
fortunate to have enough friends and contacts in the industry to find
some work. However, I found my real calling in my first consulting gig.
I was helping a small pharmaceutical company with some marketing
positioning work for a new product launch when the President
remarked "you know, I really don't like the name we have for this
product." I immediately announced that part of my consulting
offerings was a name generation service. He asked me what I would
charge, I made up a price on the spot and I had my first job. My
naming service, NameFlash(SM), is now a successful business
(www.nameflash.info) and I have named products ranging from a
new candy bar from Hershey's through a lice treatment through
several vacuum cleaners, and many products in between.
www.nameflash.info
Michael Guerriero
I was laid-off from a big pharmaceutical company (for whom I worked
for 8 years) and rather than find another white collar job, I tried to
land a book deal. For years the idea for this book was on my mind,
but I never had the guts to go for it. A publishing house in Boston
offered me a book deal (despite the fact that I had ZERO previous
writing experience). I used my severance pay to travel the country
and attend the greatest annual parties and celebrations from coast to
coast. My travel guide - "Party Across America" is now out
nationwide. I've been on CNN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated,
countless other publications and TV shows in the past 6 months. I'm
now being called the nation's #1 "party expert (per CNN)" What a
transformation!! www.partyacrossamericabook.com
I was laid-off from a big pharmaceutical company (for whom I worked
for 8 years) and rather than find another white collar job, I tried to
land a book deal. For years the idea for this book was on my mind,
but I never had the guts to go for it. A publishing house in Boston
offered me a book deal (despite the fact that I had ZERO previous
writing experience). I used my severance pay to travel the country
and attend the greatest annual parties and celebrations from coast to
coast. My travel guide - "Party Across America" is now out
nationwide. I've been on CNN, USA Today, Sports Illustrated,
countless other publications and TV shows in the past 6 months. I'm
now being called the nation's #1 "party expert (per CNN)" What a
transformation!! www.partyacrossamericabook.com
Nancy Merz Nordstrom, M.Ed.
I returned to school at age 51 after being widowed 3 years
previously. Being back in school did more for me than grief
counseling, therapy or the passage of time could do. It gave me a
new life. Prior to returning to school I was a wife, mother and
secretary. Today I am an author, run a national network of 400
lifelong learning programs, and give presentations and courses about
the concept, benefits and opportunities of lifelong learning for older
adults. I LIVE my passion. www.learninglater.com.
I returned to school at age 51 after being widowed 3 years
previously. Being back in school did more for me than grief
counseling, therapy or the passage of time could do. It gave me a
new life. Prior to returning to school I was a wife, mother and
secretary. Today I am an author, run a national network of 400
lifelong learning programs, and give presentations and courses about
the concept, benefits and opportunities of lifelong learning for older
adults. I LIVE my passion. www.learninglater.com.
Robert Evans Wilson, Jr.
In 2005-06, I had to start over in a big way after a particularly
devastating divorce (ending a 22 year marriage). 1.) I spent more time
on my hobbies which helped occupy down time, gave me a sense of
accomplishment, and gave me pleasure at a time when pleasure
seemed difficult to attain. 2.) I took on more responsibilities with my
work. One of the things I did to re-invent my speaking business was
to start writing a column. I turned some of my speeches into
tele-seminars so that I could reduce the price (make them affordable
to prospects who couldn't afford me in the past), and do them from
home (this was huge because I had the responsibility of my children).
I started recording some of these and selling them on my website. I
opened a Cafepress.com store to sell other products. I worked late at
night after the kids were put to bed. 3.) I did volunteer work. In my
case, volunteer work that benefited my children. I became the
Cubmaster of my sons' Cub Scout Pack. 4.) I forced myself to start
dating. www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com
In 2005-06, I had to start over in a big way after a particularly
devastating divorce (ending a 22 year marriage). 1.) I spent more time
on my hobbies which helped occupy down time, gave me a sense of
accomplishment, and gave me pleasure at a time when pleasure
seemed difficult to attain. 2.) I took on more responsibilities with my
work. One of the things I did to re-invent my speaking business was
to start writing a column. I turned some of my speeches into
tele-seminars so that I could reduce the price (make them affordable
to prospects who couldn't afford me in the past), and do them from
home (this was huge because I had the responsibility of my children).
I started recording some of these and selling them on my website. I
opened a Cafepress.com store to sell other products. I worked late at
night after the kids were put to bed. 3.) I did volunteer work. In my
case, volunteer work that benefited my children. I became the
Cubmaster of my sons' Cub Scout Pack. 4.) I forced myself to start
dating. www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com
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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
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Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
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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!
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!
StartingOverNow.com - Turnaround Solutions for People and Organizations
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