   Changing Course Newsletter: Issue 12Date: Feb 2, 2001
Subject: Changing Course Newsletter: Issue 12
Changing Course Newsletter
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Issue 12 - February 2, 2001
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Brought to you by Changing Course
http://www.ChangingCourse.com
Dedicated to helping you:
~ Live Life on Purpose
~ Work at What You Love
~ Follow Your Own Road
Barbara Sher, author of "I Could Do Anything If I Only
Knew What It Was," calls Changing Course "wonderful,
inspired and informative."
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QUOTE FOR THE DAY
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Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every
dream precedes the goal.
~Ralph Vaull
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IN THIS ISSUE
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~ ASK THE CAREER COACH
How to make the leap from Admin Assistant to Spiritual Writer
~ WHAT'S NEW AT ChangingCourse.com ?
Maybe You Don't Have the Answer - But, Someone Does!
~ FEATURE ARTICLE
The Best Careers in the World
~ INSPIRATION TO FOLLOW YOUR BLISS
Words to Live By
~ LIVE YOUR DREAM MARKETPLACE
Products and services you might like to know about
~ FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
Career Changes Resume Service
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ASK THE CAREER COACH
How to make the leap from Admin. Assistant to Spirituality Writer
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I am 35 and have a passion for writing. I have an Associate's degree in
Liberal Arts plus 1 extra year of college. I just accepted a calling to
the ministry in March 2000. I've entered the seminary in Huntsville and
have taken a Homiletics [meaning, the art of preaching] class. In doing
so, I find that I can use this passion to the fullest by writing
sermons. I also write poetry. I enjoy writing so much that it consumes
me at times. How can I change from my career as an Administrative
assistant? (I have great medical and dental benefits and excellent stock
and 401K plans). Any advice that you could give would be helpful.
Jo Anita
Dear Jo Anita,
Many people who begin to question their career directions spend much of
their time attempting to discover what their unique career passion is.
It is not an easy question to answer and often takes a lot of
soul-searching along with rational assessment of where they have been
and where they now want to go.
You appear to have discovered your personal vocation. Now you are in the
process of exploring it and charting your course.
You have blended two areas that interest you: writing and religion. Such
a blending allows you to focus on obtaining the necessary training and
also indicates areas where possible opportunities may await you. From
your question, it is clear that you are moving ahead with the training
piece by taking course work at a seminary. As you increase your skills,
I would also encourage you to begin to explore opportunities in which
your writing may be in demand.
Religious writing is a very targeted type of writing, but its market is
very large and there are many different forms in which the writing can
take: poem, sermon, fiction, essay, prayer, journal, and non-fiction. I
encourage you to try your hand at all of these writing forms, if you
have not done so already. The purpose being to assess whether one or two
of them evolve as a style that best fits what you want to communicate.
Writing, after all, is a form of communication whether it is writing
just for yourself or for others. The mere act of putting thoughts upon
paper creates something tangible that then takes on a life of its own.
The advice that I often give someone who is led to make a career in the
arts is that by choosing to make your living through creating implies
that you may also have to be creative in how you make your living! That
means as you continue to explore your craft it may also be wise to
create a strategy relating to how you may want to grow your writing
career. For example, is it best for you to work full-time and write in
your free time or rather would it be best for you to work part-time and
write part-time? Another option may be to explore work in a field that
employs writers, such as book or magazine publishing. There are many
more possibilities. The choice that fits you best is up to your
lifestyle concerns and limited only by your imagination.
As support for your career search you may want to join a group of fellow
writers, if you have not already. They can provide both practical and
inspirational advice and encouragement. A few Internet resources that
may also aid you are:
http://www.inkspot.com (a writers market and advice site)
http://religion.rutgers.edu/vri/ (an academic link site that allows you
to search religious topics)
http://techwriting.miningco.com/careers/techwriting/ (a technical
writers advice and link site)
I also encourage you to either go to the library or buy a copy of 2001
Writer's Market: 8000 Editors Who Buy What You Write (Kristen Holm,
Editor). Considered one of the best investments a freelance writer can
make, this 1,112 page directory includes a list of 1,400 consumer
magazines, 450 trade magazines, 1,110 book publishers and 200 script
buyers.
I am sure that as you follow your passion of writing and spiritual
growth, your path will become abundant with new and inspirational
experiences of which to write.
Wishing you good health and a good days work,
Erik Larson
Career/lifestyle coach Erik Larson helps others to envision, plan, and
take the actions needed to increase the satisfaction and meaning in
their lives and work. He may be reached by calling bean fields
Professional Services (231) 439-6882 or online at
http://www.beanfields.com
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WHAT'S NEW AT CHANGING COURSE?
Maybe You Don't Have the Answer - But, Someone Does!
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Need some advice on getting over a specific changing course hurdle?
Trying to track down Paul Newman to narrate your documentary? Looking
for a good web designer for your new e-business idea? Wondering how to
find the best shopping cart for your new web site? Looking for a good
career counselor? Dozens of heads are better than one!
Just log onto our newest new Bulletin Board Forum: "Does Anyone
Know...?" and post your question. Before logging off, check to see if
perhaps you can offer some information or advice to another kindred
spirit!
Join the Chat or simply read and learn at
http//www.ChangingCourse.com/forums.htm
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FEATURE ARTICLE
The Best Careers in the World
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By John O. Andersen
More than a few people agree that the best career would be one which
would provide challenge, intellectual stimulation, and rewards for
quality work. Many, however, would be surprised to discover they can
have all of those benefits and more in some of the unlikeliest of
careers.
Case in point: I'm a professional carpet cleaner. Some people think this
is a second-rate career. I don't agree with them. Carpet cleaning gives
me challenges, intellectual stimulation, and many other tangible
rewards. To prove this, permit me to walk you through the highlights of
a recent work day.
The first job was a water damage cleanup at a large old home rented by a
German family temporarily living in the United States. I was looking
forward to this appointment because I had learned German in school, and
later lived in Southern Germany for a year and a half. Predictably, as
soon as I arrived at the job site this particular morning, I started
chatting with the family in German.
I learned about how they were adapting to life in the United States, the
children's school, and the father's work experiences. It was a real kick
to discover that I could still carry on a reasonable conversation in
German, and it was interesting to get a unique perspective on American
culture as seen through other's eyes.
A later appointment that day was with a long-standing customer. I
cleaned the carpet in four rooms of one of his rental homes. As I
finished up the job, he told me of his recent visit to China. We talked
about places he saw, where and what he ate, hotel accommodations, how to
find bargain flights, and interesting things he learned.
The final appointment was at a small Asian art and antique gallery.
Water had leaked through one of the walls and saturated the carpet. When
I arrived, the owner was openly grateful that I would respond to his
emergency so late in the day. It's always a good feeling to know I'm
able to help someone when they are truly in need.
While working, I asked him how he had learned enough about Asian art and
antiques to become a dealer. He responded that he had been in the
intelligence field in the army for several years. That had enabled him
to travel to many foreign countries, and in his off-duty time gain
exposure to art and antiques.
In the army he had also learned to speak fluent Russian. He told me
about some of his spy escapades posing as a Russian soldier. On one
mission, he flew into East Germany in a helicopter and was on the ground
only long enough to place several wire-tapping devices.
To think I experienced all of that in just one day of carpet cleaning!
Granted, I don't meet as many interesting people every day, but whenever
I take the opportunity to chat with customers, I usually discover
something unique and interesting about them.
This is not to imply that all of the stimulation is in meeting people.
On the contrary, much of it comes through the actual process of
cleaning. Often it requires ingenuity to clean something correctly and
thoroughly. Finding the most efficient way to complete the job, removing
difficult stains, avoiding damage to the carpet and household contents,
and handling customers with a kid glove - all require a certain finesse.
Well executed jobs don't just happen.
The point is that as a professional carpet cleaner, I don't need to look
very far for challenge and stimulation. No, the work isn't easy, and can
be physically demanding, but as you will gather from my descriptions, it
isn't all repetitive drudgery either.
Many people get misled when seeking a career. They turn their backs on
work which is supposedly beneath the ability of the ambitious and
intelligent people they fancy themselves to be. They unwittingly fall
for the notion that only work with high social status can provide what
they seek.
Perhaps this is true for some. I submit, however, that people can find
surprising levels of stimulation and challenge in some of the
unlikeliest of places. To identify such careers often requires nothing
more than looking at the familiar and seemingly mundane with new eyes.
So perhaps the highest priority in a career search should be to forget
the stereotypes and instead focus on finding work which allows you to be
yourself and makes you feel whole and complete. Many would agree that
those feelings combined with a sufficient income to meet basic needs and
enjoy life a little, make up the best compensation package a person
could ever hope to get. For them, it could be the best career in the
world
John O. Andersen retired early from the Air Force to pursue his dreams
of living his life according to his own "life script" and now owns his
own carpet cleaning business and writes Unconventional Ideas: A
Collection of Short Essays Which Question Mainstream Thinking. John is a
frequent contributor to Changing Course. You can find more of his
thought-provoking essays at http://www.unconventionalideas.com
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INSPIRATION TO FOLLOW YOUR BLISS
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Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed.
~Corita Kent
Each day can be one of triumph if you keep up your interests.
~George Matthew Adams
If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing
that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a
new page.
~Mark Houlahan
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