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Career change

Pondering Becoming Self-employed? Part 1

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Just before Christmas, I gave a talk to a group of people who are part of the government’s Enterprise initiative about ‘becoming self-employed.’

It reminded me that the only thing I missed about employment apart from the regular salary 14 years ago was having an IT helpline to mop up my IT incompetence.  

Giving the talk got me thinking afresh about self-employment and what advice to give people now. My marketing training was in the dark ages, otherwise known as the 1980’s so I thought I would ask via LinkedIn what members of the Chartered Institute of Marketing thought. The question I posed was:

“What advice would you give about marketing to someone becoming self-employed for the first time?”

In case you are thinking of jumping into the world of self-employment or perhaps being pushed, as after all, it is a young industry, here are their tips:

“Make sure you offer something that is different and be prepared to change and update what you offer as your market whatever you choose will evolve.”

“Draw up a business plan and keep within a budget.  Network and build up your contacts carefully, targeting your chosen market carefully.”

“Business is about making money and protecting margin. Get your pricing, costings and overheads right, choose the customers you want in the location you want them, don’t be frightened to lose them and keep your promises. And most important – get some of your own money behind you to weather the downtimes.”

“Think niches. Think networks. Think partners. Think elevator pitch. Think about what the customers’ hurts/needs and wants are and how you can engage with the customers. Get some good books written by small business people for small business people.”

“Be concise and give a prospect a real reason to choose you.”

“Be prepared for the quiet periods and have a plan to identify opportunities in a downturn. It’s great to get a regular salary however when you are self employed income can be very irregular. Also, use your contacts to identify opportunities and network where your customers are likely to be.  Have plans for worse the case scenarios.”

“Take your time. You don’t have to do everything straight away. It’s better to do it right than just to do it.”

“Have a plan in mind and listing it down on a paper is very important. You should be very clear about your Target Segment, narrow it as much as you can. Also, one more important step in marketing is to know the Opportunities and possible Threats. And not to forget depending on your business prepare the Marketing Plan!!”

“Prepare a simple marketing plan and revisit/update often. Do a SWOT on yourself, your business and your main competitors. Take a section of the plan at a time to work on, develop and understand more fully. Know your competition and identify how you stand out from them. Learn the marketing basics from webinars and meetings. Consider carefully your communications options and don’t rush into any major spend. Test and measure.”

“Build profitable relationships in the sector where you are a real “expert”.  Hopefully you have some work/clients coming with you but you should also build your base. And don’t do work for free in the hope that one day it’ll come right – we all do it and it’ll suck up your time.”

“Rehearse an Elevator Test to ensure that you dont miss any points when talking to prospects. Use your track record/expertise to give credibility to your pitch. Attend any events where your target is likely to be – expect to build relationships first before a sale.”

“You are the whole company; you are the personal assistant, the secretary,the financial accountant, the driver, the messenge, .but best of all you are also the shareholder,all profits and proceeds come to you..Never ever ever underestimate the power of marketing.”

Source = Chartered Institute of Marketing LinkedIn group December 2011

If you are pondering becoming self-employed, you might find:

1) Our bulletins useful:

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

2) These client examples inspiring to make that leap, even in a downturn.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1106786138562.html

Wishing you a successful 2012 personally and professionally.

Rachel

KISS

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How simple are you? The mnemonic ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’, always makes me smile, I’m not sure why. This week 2 things have got me pondering simplicity. 1) I have been reading about simplicity and how business has got far too bureaucratic and is tying itself in knots by overcomplicated things. 2) My parents bought a kettle because they found their automatic boiling water device was too complicated to meet their requirements. As someone who wakes up early at 5 a.m. and was unable to make a coffee until the device switched itself on at 7a.m., it was also unable to meet my ‘I need an injection of caffeine first thing’ requirement, I am very very glad!

 I am simple and I like simplicity, in fact it is one of my values. One of the reasons I choose not to have any employees is so I can have short Board meetings with myself, enjoy fast decision-making and have a duvet day or five if I want one.

Career change can feel the opposite of simple. In fact it can feel so huge, complicated  and overwhelming that many people never even start. But you know what? A big change does not have to be complicated. It can be just as simple as a small change. It is a question of breaking it down into smaller bits and tackling them one at a time. If you were to create a change in your career, what would be your first small step? 

Being simple, one of the concepts I read this week that I really liked was the principle of having all key information for a business; vision, goals and actions on one piece of paper. Love it. One of the tools I use in career change is all the insights for the ingredients of your career change on one piece of A4 paper including fears, values, skills, and ‘no no’s’ i.e. things you never ever want to have again at work e.g. bullying bosses or someone else giving you a last minute task as a result of their PPP. You work out that mnemonic for that one, but it has nothing to do with an insurance company.

Here is another simple concept, the later you start your career change, the longer you wait to enjoy the benefits and the more delayed your escape is. With companies taking longer to find the right candidate and being less compromising, looking for an ‘exact fit’, that wait could feel like a prison sentence with no parole.  

If you are pondering a career change, but you find yourself procrastinating and simply not starting, why not take the first step small and do one of these 3 things: 

1) Download a free report to better understand your skills and where else they are useful. Click on this link:       

http://careerstrategies.co.uk/changingcareersreport/

or

2) Read our bulletins with free tips to help you in your career – click on this link.  

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

or 

3) Read about the career changes of people who, like you, felt the fear and did it anyway. Click on this link:

 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1106786138562.html

My clients inspire me so much, it really is just the best job ever!

The Beauty Of Deadlines

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The 6 week timeframe to sort out the debt crisis has got me thinking about deadlines. They can be a pain but they are also very useful to focus the mind.  Work deadlines under pressure imposed by someone else can get you enraged, renewal deadlines like car insurance or the end of a fixed mortgage force you to think about it/explore other options rather than ignore or forget about the issue. Forced deadlines like redundancy or early retirement give you short or long timescales to get your act together and plan.

Without deadlines procrastination can be king and “I didn’t get around to it” Queen.

For many people being made redundant, while not nice, can be a push to do something different rather than drift/cruise at work. I have found that people who hate their career can take years, even decades to take action. That is a lot of time being fed up of work and having a sinking feeling on Monday mornings. The reason? No deadline and it feeling like a huge overwhelming decision. 

I find that the tipping point to people finally deciding to come to me about career change is often a birth, death, birthday or sometimes the straw that broke the camel’s back – e.g. a colleague getting a promotion or the umpteenth time they have worked late and their boss taken the credit.

What deadline could you set for yourself in 6 weeks time to achieve something important but not urgent?  E mail me and I will hold you accountable – click on the link. 

http://careerstrategies.co.uk/careercoaching/what-next/

 

 

 

 

 

Does Coaching Work? A Client’s Story.

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Hello, how are you?

I am aware that many people are cynical about marketing. I am a marketer by background so I know! This has been magnified with a lack of trust about business and a cautiousness in spending.  I am sure you get bored of my blogs so I thought it would be great to invite a client to ‘guest blog.’ 

My clients inspire me so much and I get such a buzz out of what they achieve. Here is the account of a client I worked with recently, Hannen Beith.  My clients  can explain what I do better than I ever could.

HANNEN’S STORY (male, age 59)

I was flattered when Rachel invited me to write a guest blog. I feel I owe her so much, it was the least I could do.

So here is my story. In March 2011 I was made redundant. I had worked in the legal sector since 1974. It was not a profession I chose, it was ‘chosen’ for me – my father in law. I had enjoyed many roles, including solicitor, partner, Deputy District Judge, adjudicator, and casework adviser with the Law Society.

Overall, however, I looked forward to, and relished the prospect of redundancy. It would give me a chance to strike out in a new direction away from the Law which I had found constricting. Of course, there were occasions when practising law was rewarding. They were mainly when I was interacting with people and helping them to achieve their aspirations. I often felt, especially when practising Family Law, that I was more of a counsellor than a lawyer. I hated having to regard my clients as “walking wallets”.  On the other hand, I was business aware, having had my own sole practice, and working hard and marketing even harder to support a wife and three children, and to pay the mortgage.

So I was aware that, whilst my world of work was not satisfying, work was necessary, and I often felt that it could be enjoyable. I could not see how partners and managers were unable to recognize that a happy working environment brought the best out of people, and if you bring the best out of your employees then it follows that you are going to retain them, motivate them, and increase your £ turnover.

Redundancy seemed to me to be an opportunity to strike out in a new direction and to find a job or career that would better suit my personality and aspirations.

However, having completed several application forms, and made it to final interviews I faced disappointment after disappointment when I was told that, although I had the experience that the company required, I did not have e.g. the “key competencies”.

It dawned on me that I could spend the next few years applying for jobs and get nowhere. I did not know what to do, but I knew that carrying on applying for posts that I thought might satisfy me could go on for years.

It was at this point that I think the Universe intervened. Like many of my colleagues, who had been made redundant at the same time, I had joined “LinkedIn”, the professionals’ “Facebook”.  Following one of the discussion threads one day I came across Rachel. There was something in the comment she made that intrigued me. I started to wonder whether I would be better off ploughing my own furrow and using my skills in a field that would satisfy me personally and professionally.

I emailed Rachel and we had a informal discussion, face to face. Fortunately she lives not too far away from me. I was immediately struck by her engaging manner, her personality, her directness and honesty. She did not try to engage me with empty promises, but set out what she thought she could do for me and left it up to me to decide whether I would like to go ahead. As a seasoned decision maker I had no doubts, and asked her there and then, if she would be my coach.

The weeks that followed, after we had agreed to do business together, were incredible. I can say frankly and sincerely that this period has been one of the most thrilling experiences of my personal and professional life.

Rachel began by bolstering my self-esteem, which I now realize had dropped to a dangerously low level. She reassured me that I had transferable skills, and if I chose to, could make a career based on those skills, using them to gain an income and more job satisfaction than I could ever have hoped for.

Rachel helped me to see how I was not nurturing myself, something that would be vital if I was to run my own business when I would be my own advert. I must emphasise that Rachel is completely non-judgemental. She never says you “should” do this or that. She probes and analyses, speaks to you as an equal, and leaves it up to you to make the changes which you know you need to make in order to live a more fulfilling life.

Rachel gave me many exercises to work on in between our weekly sessions. I was able, with her help, to identify specific skills that I could offer to companies and people. I became aware of my limiting beliefs, and Rachel gave me the tools to free me from them, tools which I still use now, even though I have progressed so far in such a short space of time.

Rachel also showed me how I could identify my values and be true to them. This exercise alone was amazingly liberating. After all, it was what had been holding me back, in terms of job satisfaction, and personal relationships, for decades.

Rachel also gave me a huge toolkit to play with and I relished that. I used to be so pessimistic, but now I am optimistic. For example, I used to be plagued by negative thoughts and beliefs. Rachel taught me techniques to deal with that. I found that I was able to turn my negative thoughts into positive ones very quickly, sometimes within a few seconds. It is a technique that I use now several times a day, although I have to say that as I have moved on, with Rachel’s help, I have fewer and fewer negative thoughts. The important thing is that I have lost so many fears. Fears about personal relationships, fears about money, fears about future security, fears about growing old.

The coaching is over now, but I am still in touch with Rachel. She gives out so much positive energy that I think that any client of hers would want to keep in touch. That does not mean that I feel dependent on her. On the contrary, I am confident that she has given me the skills to be my own coach. But you cannot come into contact with Rachel and fail to like her as a person, and respect her as a coach.

When I first approached Rachel I was not aware of how low I had sunk psychologically. I only had two concerns. Could she make me aware of the modern job market and its opportunities? Could she help me to acquire the skills to succeed in setting up my own business in such a market? Rachel has delivered on both.

To get down to the nitty-gritty, I have learned so much from her about branding, marketing, networking, being specific and applying the “S M A R T” approach to life and work.

I have only just finished working with Rachel – we worked together for 12 hours in total over 6 weeks – and I already have two potential assignments. If you had said that to me when I first met her I would not have believed it was possible.

To be even more specific let’s look at “networking”. Rachel impressed upon me how important it was. My reaction was “well I don’t know anyone worth networking with”. However, whilst when I first met Rachel my diary was blank, having used the skills she taught me I am now in a position, just a few weeks later, where I see or telephone a colleague or friend every day. I find it incredible that I’m now in the position where I have to say to members of my network that I cannot see them or telephone them for two weeks, because I am so busy!

Contrasting how I was before I met Rachel and how I am now, I feel like a totally different person.  My friends and family recognize this in my attitude and even in the tone of voice I have when I speak to them over the telephone.

Rachel has also taught me how to cope with and use social media. Something she is very adept at. My world now feels full of endless possibilities.

So the last few weeks have been, to use a metaphor, like pushing a boulder. Hard at first, but as it gathers momentum easier and easier, until you are chasing it down the hill!

I think to myself this is the life I have always wanted. I am happy. My odyssey is not at an end, but I feel that, from sailing in stormy seas, I am now in calm waters and the sun shines on me every day. I cannot wait to gather more assignments and provide businesses with optimism and hope, knowing that those qualities in themselves can be called vacuous, but as awareness is raised, the link between the qualities and increased profitability and stability becomes apparent. What I want to do is to help people flourish and that in turn will nourish and nurture their businesses, because at the end of the day, businesses are made up of people.

Hannen Beith B. A (Hons.) Humanities, Solicitor, Deputy District Judge (Retired),  MCIPD

Director, The Resurgence Consultancy

Hope you enjoyed Hannen’s story. If you are at a career crossroads or know someone who is, get in touch – click on this link: http://careerstrategies.co.uk/careercoaching/what-next/

ENERGISE WEB SITES

Career coaching

http://careerstrategies.co.uk/careercoaching/

Career revitalisation programme

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/ecourse/

FREE report – Skills

http://careerstrategies.co.uk/changingcareersreport/

Thanks for making the time to read Hannen’s story – hope it inspired you that career change is possible.

For more inspiring career change client examples, click on this link:

 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1106786138562.html

What Is Your Fear About Career Change?

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Change, especially big change like career change can feel a bit scary. Whether it is getting a new job after redundancy, starting a business or changing direction, it is natural to feel fear. Fear about the future and fear about the unknown  are common. The key is to know your fears and work out how to tackle them so that you can move forward.

Here are 20 common fears about career change – which do you relate to most?

Not being known – having to re-establish your reputation

Losing status

Going to the bottom of the ladder and having to climb up again from the bottom rung

Not knowing how/where to find out about a new work area

Convincing employers in new area that have transferable skills

Losing financial security

Discomfort at having to get to know people and understand new politics 

Dislike of change and uncertainty

Discomfort from being out of comfort zone

Not having a buddy to chat/lunch/gossip with

Stress of having to get up to speed with a new computer system

Actual/perceived pressure of having to prove worth/higher salary/promotion 

Being liked/feeling good enough in a new environment

Worry about making the wrong decision and regretting moving

Risking joining a company which might make you redundant, losing redundancy rights built up over a number of years’ employment 

Being overqualified

Being under qualified

Experiencing ageism

Worry that there will be a stigma about being unemployed/being made redundant 

Having to market yourself 

Fear about the future and fear of the unknown are common. If you want or need to create a change in your career but feel daunted, why not give me a call? 0845 22 55 010 or to download a free report about pain free career change, click on this link:   

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/ 

Thanks!

Rachel

What’s Your Best Strength?

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You’re blushing. What are you like! It’s ok to blow your own trumpet occasionally, it doesn’t mean you have an ego the size of Donald Trump. Us Brits are far too modest for our own good, it is important to  acknowledge yourself.

There is a lot to be said for doing work that plays to your strengths. One of my best strengths is spotting insights,  making connections and coming up with ideas. Just as well I’m in the right job then, isn’t it, as a career coach?

 I remember doing a course once and we all had to share something we were brilliant at. One person chose flirting. We had to ask each other questions about how we did what we were good at.  Very interesting exercise!

What are you really good at? Download our free report and find out:

 http://careerstrategies.co.uk/changingcareersreport/

 

Jigsaw Puzzles For Grown Ups

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I love jigsaw puzzles. Not wooden ones mind you but people ones. What on earth is she on about I hear you cry. I love the jigsaw pierces that make up someone’s new career. You need to have all the pieces to create a picture of their future, you know what the pieces are but not what is on them at the outset.

You know there will be a certain number of pieces but you don’t know exactly how many as everyone is different.  First you create the border and then fill in the pieces, one by one. It is exciting seeing what picture emerges and it isn’t always what you think it might be when you start off.

The other day I even shocked myself when I came up with 21 career ideas for a client for how they could use their skills and interests, plus honour their values and motivations. They are now going great guns and their planning of their new business is getting off the ground really fast while they are working 4days a week – cunning plan.

If the only committee you are a member of is the escape committee, then read this inspiring example of a client who changed from & design and architecture to holidays around cheese.   

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1106787631322.html

 

Do You Love Your Job?

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You do? You’re kidding right? Oh you’re the one.

You see it’s a bit like relationships – there are lots of ‘all right ish’ ones but ones that are brilliant are as rare as a nesting osprey.

If you are a typical employee, if you have a job, you will be hanging onto to it for dear life like an aging footballer with a supermodel girlfriend.

 If you are fed up to the back teeth of your job, your boss or your employer, what can you do except grin and bear it? The behaviour of people who don’t like something but don’t know what to do about it easy to spot:

  1. You talk more behind your boss’ back than to their face
  2. You wake up on a Monday morning with lead weights in your shoes rather than a spring in your step
  3. Weekends and holidays feel like an oasis and you cling to them like a drowning man
  4. You get ill a lot because your body is being obliging to get you out of there
  5. You drink too much alcohol, shop to excess, eat comfort foot to excess and do drugs to distract yourself, or maybe all of them
  6. Soap opera storyline feel positively cheery compared to your lot

So what’s the alternative? Here are 3 options:

1)     Bump off your boss and steal their job

2)     Resign with no job to go to

3)     Download the Energise free report ‘Pain free career change’ as the first step to keep sane http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

Itchy Feet? Need New Career Ideas?

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I adore those moments of blinding insight. An oxymoron if ever I heard one. Moments of utter clarity about what someone REALLY wants to do. Most people fall into their career by accident and plod along, leading a half empty working life. Shame.

A client came to me looking for new career ideas. They knew they wanted a career change, they just weren’t sure what. My favourite challenge! I asked what she really loved doing. She replied: “I don’t know if it is significant but, when I was a teenager I used to babysit and I would clear out and tidy the cupboards. I absolutely loved it.” As she talked about it, she glowed with enthusiasm and her energy completely changed from 60 to 240 watts. The seed of a new business was sown.  

Bingo, or Bob’s your Uncle. Whoever Bob is. That wonderful moment that informs a new career. Utterly exciting. Hugely rewarding. New career ideas are hard to come up with on your own. You are too close to yourself. A career that fits you is like finding a partner with whom you are compatible. It has an unquantifiable large impact on your happiness and fulfilment.   

Here is an example of a career change http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs042/1102862873131/archive/1106375841019.html

Do you like something for free? Thought so.  If you have got itchy feet and could do with some new career ideas, why not download our free report, “Pain free career change“? Click on the link: http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/

Does Size Matter?

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Size matters. Or does it? Isn’t it how you use it? I’ve been thinking about this a lot. The older I get, the bigger is my network. Throw in a dollop of Twitter followers, LinkedIn connections and Facebook ‘friends’ and the whole world could be my network. This is hugely exciting and absolutely paralysing overwhelming! I need a lie down.

 That clever chap Pareto said that 80% of your problems come from 20% of people, 80% of business come from 20% of your contacts. The key is working out the 20%. If your network is increasing fast, how can you keep up with who need to be culled, which contacts need to be nurtured and which is the 20% when it changes minute my minute.

 I think I shall go and live in a cave.      

 Does your career matter? If so, download our free report ‘Pain free career change’ and see if you need a career rethink.

http://www.careerstrategies.co.uk/