Thursday Thought September 20, 2012

I am a talk radio junky.  I work at my desk or drive all over the region to meet with clients, so it's a no-brainer, really.  If you have this type of job you are probably a talk radio junky too!

This morning's local talk radio discussion centered around a young man who dances on the side of a major highway, outside a busy outlet shopping center. I've seen him my self! 

When I see the highway dancer, as I learned this morning that he calls himself, I always think he looks happy.  So does everyone else apparently. 

Some callers shared information that painted a bit of a picture of the young man.  He is 21 years old and works for two retail stores and word has it he dances to "relieve stress."

Several callers suggested ways for him to turn his happy highway dancing into paying gigs.  Some suggested dance-off's with a similar dancer in another, nearby town. 

It put me in mind of my many friends and family who have tried to encourage me to work in food as I love to cook and usually turn out edible items... Sometimes we just need to do what we love and not be paid for it. Otherwise, it might be less enjoyable. 

Ironic, really, since it IS ideal to love what you get paid to do as you will be more satisfied and, potentially, more successful.   I am one of those lucky people who do what they love and get paid for it - I cook edible items as well!  

In a recent conversation with my niece at a family vacation I found the need to explain that I don't get paid if I don't work. "But, how can that be vacation if you are working, Aunt Mary!" 

Photo Courtesy of  3riversepiscopal.blogspot.com 

"Well," I told her, "I am on vacation all the time."

And that is truly how I feel.  I wish for everyone that they find their calling and enjoy what they do and find a balance between work and personal life.

So many drudge to work and whine about about terrible this and terrible that, counting off the days to the weekend or vacation.  If this is you, you may want to read the article I just came across on the Minimalist Mom Blog:  

"You don't need a vacation. You need a new life." 

While the lifestyle may not be for you, it should get you thinking about how you might change parts of your life that YOU are not satisfied with. 

Be Happy!

Other articles that may be of interest:

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Job Search Tip of the Day: Get out of ...

Sep 07, 2012

Draw happy faces on the computer or on paper. Turn up your CD Player as loud as you dare and sing ... Google search "How to cheer yourself up" or "Happy images." Fly a kite or blow bubbles. Call or visit someone who ...

http://www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com/

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Job Search Tip of the Day Stay Positive

Sep 10, 2012

In order to break the negative cycle, you might need to go through the motions of being positive or appearing happy. Not convinced? Get up right now and go look in the nearest mirror. What do you see? Would you engage ...

http://www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com/

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Job Search Tip of the Day: Smile

Aug 24, 2012

People like to interact with happy people. When you ... Not right away, but eventually, you will feel happier if you act happier. Part of the ... Smiling lifts your face and makes you appear not only younger, but happy and healthy.

http://www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com/

Job Search for the Rest of Us!: Jobless during Easter or Passover?

Apr 06, 2012

The negative emotions can be especially magnified at holiday time when Delaware familes join together and expect happy times. Well meaning friends and relatives often increase the sense of frustration and anger that can ...

http://www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com/

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VACATION Vocations? How to Live & Work in a Resort Area

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Mary Sherwood Sevinsky, MS, CDMS, CCM

Who hasn’t gone on vacation to mourn leaving and say, “I wish I could live here…let’s not go back!” Well, as my husband would say that is unemployment, not vacation. A valid point, I think.

That having been said if you do have a regular vacation site and do have a sincere desire to relocate to that area, it is possible.

How? Keep in mind that resort areas have a very specialized economy. There are limited job opportunities for many traditional career paths, other than hospitality and amusement. There are, however, very definite niches and opportunities for self-employment.

The trick, of course is to identify a way to move to the beach, or maybe you prefer the mountains or lake such and such?

Next time you visit, take a hard look at the culture, the needs of the existing businesses, residents that live there. Where might you fit in? How can you fill a niche? Would it be through employment or self-employment?

Perhaps you can modify your current position to telecommute, at least part time. Consider proposing to work from home two days a week and the office three days. Try just one if that doesn’t work. Use the local time to further investigate your opportunities or explore gradually increasing your telecommuting days to a full time level.

A change in a position with your current employer might be possible. I returned to field work from a mid-level management, which allows me to work from home full time, wherever that may be!

Be creative.

If you are serious about moving to a resort area it will likely involve a change of pace. Think long and hard about whether you are ready for this change before making any commitments to a plan. Usually this pace is more palatable than a regular, hum drum, workaday life. But, don’t take this change lightly.

As with any career change (see my previous article: Dare to dream of change in your career) make sure youhave the resources to follow through on your plan, once you develop one. Will you need to work in a different field for a time to use as a stepping stone? Will you have to work two jobs because the cost of living is higher? Consider these in your planning.

Plan carefully and make sure your friends and loved ones are supportive of your plan (or be prepared to make a change in those relationships). Make a reasonable timeline – what will you accomplish by when. It is fine to adjust it as you go, but it is imperative to have one to work from.

When planning goals it is most often easiest to start with the long term goal and then back up to identify each step you need to take to reach it, followed by when you could hope to accomplish each step.

You may be able to make a smooth, gradual transition to your new life in a resort area or you may be able to arrange an all at once jump into your resort town. Either way, enjoy it!

Mary Sherwood Sevinsky writes career transition for the Examiner.com – her blog can be found athttp://www.examiner.com/x-20518-Wilmington-Career-Transition-Examiner. You can find contact her directly at www.marysevinsky.wordpress.com or www.linkedin.com/in/MarySevinsky.