Career Development As a Learning Journey

Every day your life changes. Sometimes you hardly notice – “One day is just like another”. And then some days there are what are called “nodal events” – complications, difficulties which cause us to come up short and, if we’re lucky, reflect on what’s happening. From that we may see revealed possibilities, which lead us to generate a new reality for ourselves.

Those centering moments in our lives don’t happen automatically. Becoming more aware of the circumstances of your life, continually trying to make sense of circumstances and experiences, identifying your abilities, skills, interests, experiences, influences, attitudes, beliefs and values: help you make wiser choices for your future. Keeping an enquiring mind and attitude, and getting help requires a constant return to the process of assessment and reflection so that individuals can continue to grow in their decision making.

Absent a continuing process, careers and life seem to stall and lose their savor.

Working with clients at a variety of stages in their careers has confirmed my belief that accurate, objective self-knowledge is one of the best existing career development tools. The process of finding and identifying basic motivators and restraints allows the individual to grow in appreciation of her or his own strengths, and to see perceived weaknesses as areas to avoid, or to develop new skills or more productive coping mechanisms. It allows the individual to take control of her or his own life and career.

In this process, which can be arduous as well as rewarding, I act as consultant, counselor, coach, mentor, cheerleader and friend.