Case Study
During the past weekend, I stopped
into my local Starbucks Coffee to take a break from the mob
at the shopping mall, and had the pleasure of meeting a guy
named Paul in line. Paul was on the same mission as I was,
just to get a quiet moment alone. He and I began a very interesting
conversation, which turned out to be the beginning of a new
working partnership. Paul told me what was going on in his
life and about his career. Paul is 53 years old, recently
separated from a 17-year marriage, and has been in the job
he presently has about 3 years.
Paul told me he only had several major jobs
during his adult life, and the job he had now as a sales rep
was barely making ends meet. The job he held prior to that
was with a large national company, again as a sales rep. He
left that job after 5 years of doing quality work, but with
no advancement, or significant pay increases. He told me he
felt as though he were at a dead end, and so he put his feelers
out. The company that hired him promised him a great position,
with a great potential for bonuses and advancement. At the
time I met Paul, neither had taken place, and Paul was a little
discouraged, but trying to remain positive.
I asked him if he were doing what he liked,
or wanted to do for a living and he answered a simple, but
definite "No". What happened next was quite a revelation.
I asked him what he might like to do, or what would make him
happy at work. He looked at me like I were the man in the
moon and told me " I have never thought about that before".
I sat there stunned and saddened. There I was, sitting with
a guy, 53, employed his entire adult life, but had never thought
of what he would like to actually be doing for his career.
The story he told was sad, and one that I hear all to often.
In his youth he had taken a job to support a
family, which was his primary concern. He stayed in that job
until it ran out, then got another one, then repeated the
cycle, and is repeating it today.
Paul and I got a refill of coffee, sat back
down and began to make a plan, which we are working on together
to break this 30 plus year cycle.
I will keep you posted on Paul's progress through
his process of shifting perceptions.
If this story is familiar to you, please write of
call to discuss your situation.
|
