Jul. 17, 2017 "Why outdoor discomfort is good for growth": Today I found this article by Matt Mosteller in the Globe and Mail:
Six lessons gleaned from spending time out of your element with implications for productivity and inspiration at the office
Now, being uncomfortable may scare you, but so does the road to discovering all of the power and goodness inside of you. We need to unleash that power inside of us because we don’t have many opportunities to do this throughout the daily grind of our regular lives.
Don’t fret, there are plenty of outdoor programs that are accessible and ready for you – just don’t put this off as you have those other projects in your inbox.
How do we do this? To name a few ideas: You could sign up today and learn to canoe, book an introduction to hiking course, discover how to stand-up paddle board or get in some rock-climbing action. You’ll be high-fiving yourself and sharing newly gained confidence with others in no time.
We can learn so much from challenging ourselves in the outdoors, which makes us stronger and more confident. It also helps us shape a more inspired life from the situations Mother Nature throws our way.
Here are six tips to consider for a more productive and inspired life. For perspective’s sake, let me take you to the edge during a rock-climbing course to explain why pushing yourself outside of your limits can assist you in your regular life.
When your grip on the rock begins to fail, you’re already freaked out. Your leg is shaking more violently than your favourite cocktail mixer, and a torrent of sweat soaks your athletic wear and blinds you as you search for a better grip.
Throwing your arm, your fingers skid into place, safely stuck in a clinging state of mind. Calmness rushes over you, if even for just a second. Your first time rock climbing outside pushed you to the limits. Having to push yourself as never before fills you with new-found confidence , giving you a better vantage point to reflect on your personal and professional challenges.
Throwing your arm, your fingers skid into place, safely stuck in a clinging state of mind. Calmness rushes over you, if even for just a second. Your first time rock climbing outside pushed you to the limits. Having to push yourself as never before fills you with new-found confidence , giving you a better vantage point to reflect on your personal and professional challenges.
As with so many people, your work environment may have recently become a stressful atmosphere, leaving you feeling the brunt of its negative effects. That experience rock climbing gave you the strength to stand up and challenge mediocre minds, and to start inspiring others with a positive, can-do attitude. This propelled you to become the positive change, the little spark your company needed.
This feeling wasn’t only making an impression at work. An inner personal growth flourished from putting yourself in uncomfortable situations outside, helping you develop a variety of tools that release the goodness inside of you.
This helps you deal with all of life’s challenges. We’re not just talking about the niggling details and tedious responsibilities of our daily lives, but those big mountains we may face in life on the broader spectrum of our relationships, family and personal development.
This helps you deal with all of life’s challenges. We’re not just talking about the niggling details and tedious responsibilities of our daily lives, but those big mountains we may face in life on the broader spectrum of our relationships, family and personal development.
Real growth comes from the outside, pushing yourself in nature and challenging yourself in ways nothing else in your repetitive, regular life can. Don’t wait. Get outside now, not only for the health benefits, but to develop your own toolbox that will act as a springboard for living your life with confidence and inspiration. Go all in
Just as with rock climbing, don’t be afraid to take on new challenges. Being perched on a rocky cliff does not give you many options but to focus and put 100 per cent of your effort behind each move, so that you make it to the top. Learning to dig deep and apply all of your effort to a project will consistently move the needle in your everyday life.
You can’t move forward if you can’t get things done or – in today’s digital world – ship your art.
Look around
You can’t move forward if you can’t get things done or – in today’s digital world – ship your art.
Look around
We need to learn that changing direction is all right and that moving outside of our comfort zone is healthy for us. While rock climbing, this can occur through a variety of scenarios – adapting to changing weather conditions, taking on more degrees of difficulty in your route selection or overcoming deteriorating rock conditions.
Unlike responding to text messages, you may not have time to pause and think or procrastinate; you act quickly as survival instincts kick in and take over. We may not realize it, but we face these decisions on a smaller scale on a regular basis.
Unlike responding to text messages, you may not have time to pause and think or procrastinate; you act quickly as survival instincts kick in and take over. We may not realize it, but we face these decisions on a smaller scale on a regular basis.
When you’re outside, you make instant choices when potential risks arise, such as changing ski touring routes based on avalanche conditions or taking another canoe route based on a prediction of stormy weather ahead. This greatly enhances your skill set, giving you the ability to make decisions on the fly and determine major directional changes when needed.
Be cold
Be cold
Sure, you have some uncomfortable situations at work, such as the ego-driven team member who is taking credit for all your work, or communication challenges with one of your colleagues in another city. You will take on different perspective after you reflect on that canoe journey when your boat flipped over in a raging storm.
You’ll recall having to quickly erect a makeshift camp while shivering for hours, leading to a sleepless night you will never forget. With that experience top of mind at the office, all other situations will seem much easier to deal with. Plus, you’ll always be grateful for heat and a dry office space.
Always be learning
You’ll recall having to quickly erect a makeshift camp while shivering for hours, leading to a sleepless night you will never forget. With that experience top of mind at the office, all other situations will seem much easier to deal with. Plus, you’ll always be grateful for heat and a dry office space.
Always be learning
World-class climbers are constantly practising new moves and honing their skills in preparation for their next challenge. Settling is the beginning of death. You have one opportunity to live, so why not learn as much as you can? Stir your mind and soul regularly.
Besides, having something to look forward to keeps your head in a progressive state of mind. When you don’t have challenges, worries and stress can fill your head. Your career will benefit from a clear mind. Even if those around you do not recognize it, do it to better yourself. Your future self will thank you for it.
Never give up
Besides, having something to look forward to keeps your head in a progressive state of mind. When you don’t have challenges, worries and stress can fill your head. Your career will benefit from a clear mind. Even if those around you do not recognize it, do it to better yourself. Your future self will thank you for it.
Never give up
Put yourself in situations where you have to rely on yourself to slog it out, such as mid-way through a 70-kilometre backpacking trip on the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, in a seemingly never-ending rainstorm. Nothing is dry. Winds whips your eyelids up and down.
Yet you still have 35 kilometres to go. You complete the backpacking trip due to your persistence, inner strength and resolve to make each step count. In nature, you have no choice but to continue. We can get too complacent in our daily life; we need to challenge ourselves. Have the tenacity to keep going, constantly creating and honing your skills.
Face your fear
Yet you still have 35 kilometres to go. You complete the backpacking trip due to your persistence, inner strength and resolve to make each step count. In nature, you have no choice but to continue. We can get too complacent in our daily life; we need to challenge ourselves. Have the tenacity to keep going, constantly creating and honing your skills.
Face your fear
How do we do that? First we need to embrace the power it entails. The main ingredient is adrenalin, which gives you that rapid heart rate originally meant to kick in and save us from being eaten in caveman times. The key is to embrace the fear and channel the powerful energy into good.
Positive fear helps you, giving you that lifesaving leap as you are crossing the street and there is a car coming directly at you.
Negative fear is when it holds you back from doing something good for yourself, such as trying a new sport or challenging your boss with a different view.
Tell fear that you are going to do this, you are going forward. Familiarize yourself with your fear.
Trying a new sport outdoors, such as rock climbing, can assist you in a big way by letting you meet your fear head on. This will not only provide you the incredible life confidence you deserve, but also show you how to face your fear.
Negative fear is when it holds you back from doing something good for yourself, such as trying a new sport or challenging your boss with a different view.
Tell fear that you are going to do this, you are going forward. Familiarize yourself with your fear.
Trying a new sport outdoors, such as rock climbing, can assist you in a big way by letting you meet your fear head on. This will not only provide you the incredible life confidence you deserve, but also show you how to face your fear.
Accomplishing something you are told you cannot do – by yourself or by others – is good for you in so many ways. We grow most when we face fear.
Executives, educators and human resources experts contribute to the ongoing Leadership Labs series. Find more articles at tgam.ca/careers.
Executives, educators and human resources experts contribute to the ongoing Leadership Labs series. Find more articles at tgam.ca/careers.
"How can I find a qualified, reputable career coach?": Today I found this article in the Globe and Mail:
THE QUESTION
From my online searches, it doesn’t seem that career coaching is a regulated, professional designation. How do you know if they are reputable and qualified to provide advice? Is there a registry or a rating system, as with financial services? What are customary fees and duration of service? Is it worth the investment?
THE FIRST ANSWER
Peter Caven
Managing director, Launched, Toronto
The job market is intensely competitive.
You are in the “Career Olympics” and a coach will help you to set realistic and achievable goals; develop strategies; acquire the skills to successfully implement those strategies; keep you motivated and engaged.
A coach will ensure you are executing career-building tactics (résumé, LinkedIn profile, networking and interviewing skills) at a gold-medal level.
A coach will set milestones, monitor your progress, provide feedback and modify your approach as required. The process of finding a career can be disheartening – a coach can boost your spirits and keep you motivated.
A coach will set milestones, monitor your progress, provide feedback and modify your approach as required. The process of finding a career can be disheartening – a coach can boost your spirits and keep you motivated.
Choosing the right coach is important – you need to be confident in your coach and trust their judgment. There needs to be good “chemistry” between you and your coach.
Meet with and interview several of them. Examine their careers – what have they done? Have they “competed” or only coached? What is their track record – who have they coached and helped succeed, and to what level?
What is their approach and process – do they take an integrated, bigger-picture view or only focus on one or two elements of the process?
Meet with and interview several of them. Examine their careers – what have they done? Have they “competed” or only coached? What is their track record – who have they coached and helped succeed, and to what level?
What is their approach and process – do they take an integrated, bigger-picture view or only focus on one or two elements of the process?
View costs as an investment and calculate your return – what is the pay-back period and net present value over the balance of your career? With fixed fees, you know what the cost will be – hourly fees can get out of control and discourage you from getting the help you need.
Coaches can create a road map for success, however, ultimately it is up to you to ensure you reach your career goals.
THE SECOND ANSWER
Colleen Clarke
Corporate trainer and principal, yourresumepro.com, Toronto
Career counselling is not regulated, though there is Canadian certification available. In Ontario, for one, check the Ontario Association of Career Management website for a listing of members. There are also graduates with career-management diplomas from a few colleges across Canada.
The best way to find a professional career coach is through referral. Considerations when selecting a counsellor:
- Check out their website, read testimonials, ask for references;
- You can book a package of multiple visits, or one-offs – the number often depends on where clients are in their life, in their job search and what their goals and needs are;
- A counsellor need not have experience in your industry though that can be a plus in certain occupations/industries and levels of employment;
- Chemistry is important if working together for longer than one visit;
- Availability, location and accessibility: Independent coaches might be available seven days a week;
- Rates vary from $100 to $200 an hour for an independent; a retail consultant at an outplacement firm may be much higher;
- Professional résumé services should start at $500, depending on varying factors. Plan to sit in on the session or be available for consultation, around three hours plus edit time.
Every professional athlete has a coach; any job seeker would be fortunate to likewise have a guiding light.
Comments:
JPP221
2 days ago
Is this question even real?
Wanting an advisor with some experience or track record is reasonable. But a grown adult seeking some central authority to have certified or authorized their advisor? I can’t imagine how they pick a dry cleaner or the agony that presents when a shoe repair shop must be chosen.
1 Reaction
rf9
22 hours ago
A millennial in all probability.
Jason Argo
2 days ago
I'll suggest an alternative:
-read a couple of books about career building
-hire a PA for a day each week (liberal arts grads are cheap) to carry out what the book says (AND pick up your dry cleaning).
BERNIE600
2 days ago
HI:
Remember in "The Graduate", the line "One word: plastics"!!!!!
One word:Network is my line.
I have/had what most would consider a rewarding(financially, esoteric) career(s).
Mentors through networking played large but the real key is that person looking back in the mirror. See where you are weak in people skills arena as that if anything holds folks back from their true path.
rf9
2 days ago
Seriously, if you're operating at a professional level will you think of career coach may be helpful then you're probably not competent enough in the first place. If you can't manage your own career how are you going to inside an organisation? A career coach is a huge red flag to anyone hiring. I'm speaking from some experience as a hirer.
My opinion: I have went to my career counselor at MacEwan back in 2012. I wasn't in college at the time, but I was an alumni. She provided good tips because she was a 3rd party and not a friend or family member. She brought a new point of view.
Feb. 18, 2019: I don't know why people are so negative about career coaches. You may want someone outside to look into your resume.
If you aren't getting the results like a career you want and you have tried different strategies and been doing it for a long time, then you bring someone in.
Feb. 18, 2019: I don't know why people are so negative about career coaches. You may want someone outside to look into your resume.
If you aren't getting the results like a career you want and you have tried different strategies and been doing it for a long time, then you bring someone in.
No comments:
Post a Comment