Welcome to the Fulfillment@Work Newsletter
Published by Joel Garfinkle, Dream Job Coaching
ISSN: 1533-3906

Message from Joel

Welcome new subscribers! Dream Job Coaching is proud to announce... RADIO FREE GARFINKLE

The Dream Job Coach will be the featured guest on "Power Talk" a live radio show Sunday May 13, 2001, on KFNX 1100 AM. Hosted by Sydney Barbara Metrick.

Joel's topic of discussion will be WORKING WITH PASSION: HOW TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE!!! You are cordially invited to listen and call in to participate between 11 AM and 12 noon PST as Joel explores:

1. The value of doing what you love.
2. Why people don't do what they love for a living and conquering barriers that stand in your way.
3. The inherent differences between a skill and a gift
4. Why working based on skills alone is a barrier to doing what you truly love.
5. How to know whether you are truly gifted or not and so much more.

KFNX broadcasts out of Phoenix but those of you outside of the listening area can tune in online by logging on to www.renaissanceradio.com.

Contents

1. Feature Article: Getting To First Base
2. Quotes of the Week
3. Love Work Tip: What's In It For You?
4. Dream Job Tip: Get Heart Smart
5. We Recommend: CareerHunters.com
6. What's Joel Been Up To?

Feature Article
Getting To First Base

The coach a of high school baseball team became so frustrated with the fielding performance of his error-prone first basemen that he decided to devote the next day of practice to demonstrating first hand the fundamentals on how the position should be played.

At the outset of this "hands-on" training session, the first ball hit towards the coach took a bad hop and clobbered him in the chest. The coach's next opportunity to "shine" came in form of a high pop fly hit just outside of the first base line. Lost in the bright sun, the ball glanced off the heel of his glove and hit him squarely in the forehead.

Later an errant throw from the shortstop forced the coach to stretch so far to catch the ball that he tore the seat of his pants. Exasperated, the coach turned to his pupil, handed him the glove, and shouted, "You've got this position so messed up, even I can't do anything with it."

What does baseball have to do with finding your dream job or loving the job you already have, you ask? Many individuals in search of personal fulfillment have a strong affiliation towards doing some kind of work, but much like the short-sighted coach and his negatively- influenced first basemen, they possess erroneous assumptions and beliefs about that particular field that limits them from understanding why they are so drawn to a certain type of job and, ultimately, their capacity to enjoy it.

For example, in my own coaching experience, I had client who wanted to become a Field Biologist, but the moment we started talking about how to pursue his dream, a very negative image manifested itself causing him to balk about actually following through with it. He said, "they spend over 90% of their time in the lab working long hours alone and almost every biologist I know will tell you that they simply do not enjoy their work."

"Playing small is an easy way out," I replied. "It is convenient, safe, and comfortable. Most of us live our lives in an average manner in order to preserve the status quo. Average has become the norm because over 90% of the people around us live this way. They just don't think that there is anything more. They don't even think to dream big, let alone act on it. The blinders they've had on for so many years distort their vision of the future that they believe their position in life is all there is and the only thing to do is just accept it. They're not stifling their dreams, they don't even realize they can dream." The key error in my client's limited analysis is that there are plenty of field biologists who actually love the work that they do.

Here are five simple tips to help you avoid playing "small ball" and how to get to "first base" in finding the career you are truly passionate about:

1. Reflect on times when you have wholeheartedly embraced the possibility of greatness. Think back over life to times when you've felt yourself unquestionably embrace greatness and follow your passions. What did that feel like? What did you think? What did you do? What happened because of your actions? How can you recreate that experience in your life now?

2. Live Each Day Without Limitations Each and every day make sure you do something to put yourself in a mindset that is not limiting. Make yourself your "self-care" and your deepest passions a priority. Do one new thing each day. Have new experiences, open your mind to new possibilities and begin to do things "out of the box."

3. Reinforce Greatness By Slaying The "Energy Vampires" Having negative energies in our lives can easily bring us down and encourage further negativity in us. We have all encountered "energy vampires" in workplace, social and, worst of all, family environments that are filled with emotionally draining energy that we literally have to force ourselves to go back again. Take notice of these people and places and replace them with positive energy resources as much as possible. Talk to uplifting people, read inspiring literature and post inspiring quotes throughout your home or office. Paint a room, get new furniture, buy a new wardrobe. Do whatever it takes to surround yourself with as many positives attributes as you can and watch your life open up.

4. Maintain A Strong Sense Of Who You Are What are your likes and dislikes? What do you really feel at this moment? What is your opinion on world politics, religion, art or philosophy? Do you simply pick up the opinion of the moment or only the popular things? Or do you truly know your innermost self and who you are? Make time to reflect and get to know yourself. Sort out your feelings from those of everyone around you. Explore your needs and wants. Having a good sense of who you are will encourage you to expand your life and yourself.

5. Take Notice Each Day Of What You Truly Enjoy Take some time each day to tune into your inner voice. Listen to what resonates with you and what you truly enjoy. What excites you most about your potential dream job or the job you already have? Make it a morning or evening ritual to take 15 minutes to have some personal quiet time and really take stock of what turns your inner light on.

By learning and applying these techniques on a regular basis your awareness of when you're playing "small ball" will greatly increase, empowering you to refocus on the total greatness that's within your grasp. Remember, you will become as small as your controlling desire and only as great as your most dominant aspiration. What did premiere athletes like Mickey Mantle, Michael Jordan and Joe Montana all have in common? Answer: they all benefited from the knowledge of a great coach.

If you want to learn how to Find Your Dream Job, click here:
http://www.dreamjobcoaching.com/coaching-overview.html

If you want to learn about Executive Coaching, visit:
http://www.GarfinkleExecutiveCoaching.com

~ Joel Garfinkle
Dream Job Coaching:
Live Your Dream Life!

Quotes of the week

"You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. there are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind."
~ Darwin P. Kingsley

"In any contest between power and patience, bet on patience."
~ W. B. Prescott

"The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, it is in what direction we are moving."
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Love Work Tip
What's In It For You?

Another useful strategy to avoid setting your sights to small is to precisely pinpoint the internal motivators behind your work. There's no doubt it, barriers and challenges are par for the course as we continue the journey to loving our work more.

However, you can greatly reduce your fear of these obstacles by taking the time to be aware of what motivates or what's in it for you. Next, construct strategies and take action steps to bring even more of these positive motivators into your work. Here are a few examples to get you started:

MOTIVATOR: CHALLENGE
Action/Steps: Volunteer for new projects.

MOTIVATOR: PERSONAL GROWTH
Action/Steps: Take seminars on a new topic.

MOTIVATOR: ACHIEVEMENT A
ction/Steps: Work on smaller projects so you can see results more frequently.

MOTIVATOR: PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Action/Steps: Take on higher profile projects and volunteer for leadership roles.

Once you've identify your motivators and the action steps required to achieve them, try integrating at least one of these driving factors into your work today.

Dream Job Tip
Get Heart Smart

There's no advice about lowering cholesterol or eliminating fat from your diet here. When I use the term "heart smart" in Dream Job Coaching, I'm talking about conducting a full-scale examination of what your heart desires to unlock your fullest potential.

For example, after his life-changing accident, actor Christopher Reeve went from playing Superman to being one by transforming his paralyzing condition into a cause for further research on spinal cord injuries.

If you were suddenly transported to life in which everything you take for granted was suddenly gone, what would you do? Where does your heart lead you? If you don't have an answer, here are a few "super" tips to get you "flying" in the right direction:

1. Allot some time to truly examine what your heart desires.
2. Now put yourself in Christopher Reeves shoes by asking yourself: If I suddenly lost my ability to perform the skills I currently perform or take pride in, what else would I do?
3. Whether your answer is sailing, raising dogs, creating a new recipe, painting and so on, listening for those softly whispered intuitive messages that your heart reveals will direct you to where your soul resides and most likely your dream career.

We Recommend
CareerHunters.com

A unique career guide packed with thousands of top national and regional career sites, ultra-categorized to jump start any job search. Featuring articles from career experts, free resume web pages and templates, and the only selective and free web resume directory. Look for articles by Joel Garfinkle soon! http://www.careerhunters.com

What Joel's up to
Taking The Plunge

No matter what you do with your life, you are so much more than just someone who works. Besides our careers, we all have many other diverse roles to play such as friends, relatives, community members, significant others and parents, the list goes on and on. We also have mental, emotional, spiritual and physical needs to take into consideration.

The important question to ask yourself is how well are you balancing your roles versus your needs? It's absolutely critical to find hobbies and outlets to treat your life and your work as an integral whole.

Over the course of my life one my favorite leisurely, yet serious, pursuits is swimming. In fact, I've been an avid swimmer for over 25 years. For those of you who are wondering if I practice what I teach, I will be competing at the 2001 USMS Short Course Nationals on the weekend of May 18-19. Even more than that, I have been seriously training for this meet over the past five months in order to accomplish something I've never done before: completing the 100-yard backstroke in under one minute.

Fifteen years ago, when I was in my prime for competitive swimming, I was only able to get my time down to a 1:01.45. With your support, I will break this personal milestone and report back to you in the next newsletter!

Whether we win or lose in any endeavor, again, the most important things we can do is to strive to make a conscious effort to honor our individual needs, create calmness in our days and do whatever it takes to renew our spirits. Cultivating more balance in your life can also dramatically improve your work life. You will be more relaxed, better able to focus and produce a higher quality of work. Having the benefit of this strong personal foundation will increase your professional abilities and improve your view of the work you do. Don't delay take the plunge today.

FREE content for you

Nationally published articles that you can FREELY use as content for your websites, newsletters, and publications.

Website LINK EXCHANGE program!

Would you like to exchange website links with Dream Job Coaching? Just visit our link exchange page.

Coaching Services

Joel Garfinkle is available for coaching. Send him an email at joel@dreamjobcoach.com or call (510) 339-3201.

----------------------------

Copyright 1998-2006, Joel Garfinkle, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute DreamsWork so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached.