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OK, I survived. Now what?
After spending 25 years in the financial services industry as an agent and manager, a mammogram changed my direction. I spent 3 years healing, worked for a wonderful non-profit, but knew it was not where I would spend the rest of my working life. Now that I was going to live, now what? What else was out there? I had never looked beyond my industry in all those years.
What did I want to be for the rest of my life, now that I was 52 and would make it after all?
As a manager, for about 6 years, I had been quietly referring candidates to CareerMakers. These were quality people, but not necessarily suited to sales, and who appeared to need direction in their career lives. Because of all the great things I had heard from these CareerMakers graduates, I thought, maybe, it was finally my turn.
So in July of 2002, I called the office and spoke with Anne Hudson. I think we talked for almost an hour. The chemistry was immediate, and I appreciated her open communication and warmth. Then I went in for an introductory meeting, and decided to enroll in the Lifetime Program. I had already had made one huge right turn in my road; who knew what else was in store? We cannot adjust the wind, so we must adjust our sails. I thought CareerMakers could give me the tools to adjust those sails, no matter what might happen in my future.
So there we were, 6 strangers, in class together. By the end of our two-week experience, we knew each other, we knew ourselves, we had lifetime tools and could communicate our skills and traits succinctly and positively to others. I learned that there was a good reason why I have my windows open at work and home, and why Alexa is such a great detective. We are the product of our experiences and preferences, and need to listen to where we come from.
The process by which CareerMakers helped us find our passions, identify environmental "non-negotiables", explore the source of our joy, and communicate what we are to others was so important. I've always thought of myself as a good communicator. Wait - you want to video me? Wasn't I the one who was behind the camera before, coaching others? What a role reversal, and so valuable! The assignments and dialogue in class helped me transfer my skills and preferences into a meaningful set of practices. Their process of leading us, as individuals, to a disciplined way of communicating who we are, and expressing our skills and successes was invaluable.
I explored 6 different fields, held 75 exploratory interviews in 6 weeks, and worked full time at finding the right "fit" based on my personal compass. Thank goodness for the compass. If I didn't have that compass, I'd most likely be somewhere else, wondering why it didn't feel right. I'd probably still be in management, working a 70 hour week, caring more about someone else's career than they did, far away from individual client interaction. Or, I'd be working in another non-profit, traveling 19 weeks every year. CareerMakers gave me the gifts of insight, self-discovery and the ability to communicate clearly who I am and what I want, but I also gained a tool with which I evaluated work environments, organizational personality, and whether I "fit".
CareerMakers also taught me how to effectively network with others, not simply how to get referrals and appointments. Having been in sales, I thought I knew networking pretty well. After all, it was how I worked. The disciplined approach, pure exploration and methods I learned made a huge difference in how I was received, the quality of information I gathered, and led to many more substantial conversations than I ever thought possible. By the time I was entering my final interview for my current position, I already had met and knew 4 out of 5 decision makers. What a positive, comfortable interview that was.
The Cheshire Cat says, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there." Chessie is my muse and my mascot. I've had him, stuffed and bright pink and purple striped, on my shelf for many years. I know where I'm going. CareerMakers helped me stay focused on what I had identified was important in my life, my job, my career (they're different), the people around me, working environment, and so many other areas. I eventually returned to financial services, but in a way that nurtures me and adds value to others. Helping people plan their financial lives gives me great satisfaction. At the end of the day, I look myself in the mirror and know I've made a difference in someone's life with the work I do and where I do it. At the bottom of my email, there is a saying that goes, "Every day is a new opportunity to make a difference." I got a second chance at life, and am very deliberate about making the most of that gift.
Thanks, CareerMakers!
Jan Keyser
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