Posted by Miriam Katz on Wednesday, June 2, 2010,
 Once in a while, we are touched by situations that truly transform us. I'm happy to report that I'm in the midst of such a life event. While blogging has been a treasured outlet for almost a year now, I am taking a short hiatus to enjoy spending time with my newborn daughter. I'm grateful for all of the active fans and followers of the Tao of Work. Please check back in September for additional reflections and tools. Continue reading ...
 Self-judgment is a plague that affects many of us. Most of us begin down this dreadful path with the best of intentions. We believe we are capable of the best. We are so convinced of our limitless potential, in fact, that we cringe at any shortfalls on our path to greatness. Thus begins the destructive internal dialogue to which many of us fall victim. Once we've started down the path of self-judgment, it's hard to turn back. Thoughts, gaining speed and strength, become automatic. We eventually... Continue reading ...
 We all have tons of thoughts running through our minds, at lightning speed. We're so used to this phenomena that most of us have developed - unconsciously - coping mechanisms to manage these thoughts. Some of the most common coping mechanisms? Ignoring the thoughts; tuning into other sources of information - conversation with someone else, reading, or TV. But the more we try to push them away, the more these thoughts persist. And the more they persist, the more we believe them. Most of us have... Continue reading ...
 Have you ever heard the phrase "Perception is Reality"? I first learned its application in the corporate world. Working in a department that was responsible for giving out, rather than bringing in, money, we felt pressured to manage others' perception of our actions. In a down economy, we made sure employees understood that our contributions to the community were made for critical reasons, not for frivolous ones. For example we might choose to invest in a homeless shelter whose numbers had sp... Continue reading ...
 Lately, I've been reading The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. It's a great read, and it fell into my lap just as I agreed to lead a training on coaching skills for nonprofit managers. An example of perfect synchronicity. As I go through each chapter, I distill the tips into my presentation. The process has been relatively straightforward so far. Until. Today, I came across Chapter 6, which focuses on engaging one's audience using the classi... Continue reading ...
 A recent report by the Conference Board found that job satisfaction in the US has dropped to a record low of 45%. More than 55% of Americans are unhappy in their jobs, with a whopping 64% of workers under age 25 reporting dissatisfaction. We have many ideas and opinions about what's most important in a job. Top water-cooler theories include: - Money (the more the better)
- A supportive boss
- Nice coworkers
- Flexible schedule
- Good benefits (healthcare, anyone?)
- Fit with the mission/values of the employer
- Len...
Continue reading ...
 At the end of the year, media outlets around the world are reflecting on the past calendar year. We review lists of top movies, books, articles and inventions. We remember the lives of those who have passed from this world. And, in our personal lives, many of us are thinking about what we want to change going forward. We make New Year's resolutions. New Year's resolutions are great because they are forward-thinking, proactive statements about how we want to live in the world. But implicit in New... Continue reading ...
 Yesterday I saw a great movie - "Up in the Air" starring George Clooney. In the movie, Clooney plays a man whose job is to fire employees who companies are too squeamish to handle the ugly task themselves. As you can imagine, much of what Clooney says to the laid-off is carefully worded due to legal restrictions. His words of consolence come across as trite and incomprehensible to his newly unemployed audience. To paraphrase, Clooney's signature line is: because you've gone through this expe... Continue reading ...
 I had the distinct privilege of attending Marcus Buckingham's workshop at last week's Massachusetts Conference for Women, titled "Find your Strongest Life." Marcus' work has heavily influenced both my career path and my client work in recent years. After learning his strengths-based career navigation system, I put in place his strategies to figure out what my ideal job would be. I learned that I love working one-on-one to serve others. I love empowering people to undergo personal and profess... Continue reading ...
 This time of year, our schedules are packed with business holiday parties. Many of us enjoy them, and many dread them. For some, holiday parties have become a necessary evil. Not everyone enjoys interacting with coworkers on a social basis (I'm one of the lucky ones to have had outstanding coworkers), yet the pressure to make an appearance is strong. How can we transform our experience of the corporate holiday party from dread to enjoyment? With a little bit of planning. First, think about y... Continue reading ...
 As the year winds down, many of us are feeling rushed. Holiday shopping and end-of-year deadlines are compounded by endless celebrations and holiday parties. With all of this chaos, it's hard to set aside time to reflect on the past year. Most of us have things we'd like to change about our lives. Maybe its a habit, like smoking, overeating, or overspending. Maybe we'd like to create a healthier lifestyle, make time for a committed relationship, or re-imagine our career. Committing to making... Continue reading ...
 Members of Generation X, those of us in our 30s to mid 40s, particularly those of us living in major metropolitan areas, are delaying marriage and children later than any generation before us. Why do we put off these milestones, known to prior generations as rites of passage into adulthood? Many of us are focused on establishing ourselves as adults in our own right. Gen X is known for its focus on individuality, expressing ourselves through technology and an ever-younger and more casual tast... Continue reading ...
 In the last post we explored internal clutter, the mental chatter that drags us down, and how to address it. External clutter is an equally common and debilitating condition. Most of us have cluttered desks or offices, at work or at home. Here are some quick tips to scale back that mess. 1. Set aside a chunk of time, ranging from an hour to 3 or 4, depending upon the size of your clutter. Clear a large surface, whether on your desk or on the floor, where you can put all of the items that need t... Continue reading ...
 As discussed in the prior "monkey mind' post, we're bombarded by thousands of messages every day, most of them stemming from our own minds. The result is a feeling of turmoil. Clutter can increase our sense of chaos. Some downfalls of clutter include: 1. When we look at clutter, we feel anxious. This is because clutter is an outward manifestation of an internal state of turmoil. 2. If our homes or work spaces are filled with clutter, it is hard to find what we need/want. 3. Clutter is just one... Continue reading ...
 In the workplace, as in every other sphere of life, we are often faced with disappointment. Disappointment occurs when our expectations aren't met. For example, a job seeker who has gone through three rounds of interviews and feels she is going to get an offer will likely feel disappointment if the offer doesn't come through. When tracing disappointment to its root cause, we will first encounter a mismatch between expectations and reality. The next step is to examine the source of the expectatio... Continue reading ...
 In case you haven't guessed, I'm in the process of selling my home. In a down economy, making your home stand out is as crucial as making your resume stand out. In order to attract the most buyers and the highest possible price, I've been watching home staging shows on HGTV, such as "Get it Sold" and "Designed to Sell." After digesting and applying the top tricks of the trade, I realized they have much in common with the "rules" of job application. Let's explore some of the top lessons in home... Continue reading ...
 We all have what Buddhism refers to as the "monkey mind." Like a monkey jumping from tree to tree, our minds jump from thought to thought. Most of the thoughts that we think each day are a repetition of our thoughts from the day before, with some slight variations. More importantly, our thoughts shape our emotions, which shape our actions, which determine our outcomes. Therefore, if we want to change our lives, we can start by changing our thoughts. Easier said than done, right? Maybe not. Let's s... Continue reading ...
 What would your world look like if you ceased to believe in limits? If you believed anything was possible, how would you feel? How would you act? We all carry around baggage, the baggage of believing that the world can only give us so much. Think of someone you know who sees limitations all around them. Someone whose negative beliefs about what is possible shape their lives so strongly that they don't bother to discuss their dreams. "What's the point?" they might say. Now think of someone who ... Continue reading ...
 It's amazing how often the word "should" comes up. I should finish that report before going to lunch. I should be grateful to have a job in this economy. I should accept the job offer with the highest salary. How often do our unexamined ideals tie us down? I'd like you to try an experiment. Think of something you don't want to do, but feel you have to do. Then turn it into a should statement. For example, I should clean out my desk. How do you feel when you say, type or think your should state... Continue reading ...
 Many modern employers are short-sighted. In the interest of averting the next looming crisis, they ensure their employees are plugged in at all times. As a result, the definition of a vacation is shifting. Whether a professional checks in with the office once a day or multiple times, "vacation" is becoming synonymous with working remotely. I recently took a 12-day vacation. Having launched my own business, I was haunted by all the what-if's. What if, by not tweeting multiple times each day, ... Continue reading ...
 Most of us have a clear idea of what we want. However, many of us fear that we can't achieve it, or that if when we did achieve it, we wouldn't really be satisfied by it. Enter the concept of blocks. Blocks are complicated dances that we perform. Sometimes these dances are driven by fear. If I fear that I can't get what I want, and I think it's a sign of weakness to admit I'm afraid, there are many ways I can hide my fear. Signs that you may be afraid you can't get what you want: Continue reading ...
It’s surprising how many of us fear that we are inadequate, assuming the best way to approach our work is “any way but
mine.”
We love to sell ourselves short. This collective practice has emerged in reaction to external
cues – specifically, how we are and aren’t supposed to be, think or act. We internalize these directives and
judge ourselves in relation to standards that have little to do with who we are.
An example? I was
recently told by an entrepreneurial client “I’m no... Continue reading ...
 What is so appealing about Harry Potter? Five weeks after the premiere of the latest movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it's still appearing in local theaters. Not only that, Harry Potter is the highest grossing film series of all time, at over $5 billion. As a fan, I understand why people of all ages and nationalities are in love with Harry Potter. It is because we recognize our untapped capacity for greatness. Harry Potter is a boy who is overlooked in his day-to-day life, somet... Continue reading ...
 As we discussed in the last post, clarifying your purpose - or objective - is key to sharing your story in a way that will appeal to a prospective employer. Or, for the self-employed, using your story to help raise capital or secure clients. Life purpose is something that sounds big, daunting and elusive. So let’s make it more concrete with some examples. My life purpose is to help people achieve self-actualization through work. Oprah’s life purpose is to be “a catalyst for transforming... Continue reading ...
 Telling our life stories is something we don’t do enough of. Nowadays people like snapshots. They like to know what you do. If they have some time, they might want to know how you got there. But they usually don’t want a long-winded answer. In a twitter world, verbal real estate is scarce. As a result, we need to maximize every opportunity we are given; to provide the best possible information. With so much pressure to make our words count, how do we choose the right ones? We start w... Continue reading ...
 On Friday I watched the lively movie Julie & Julia, which shared some surprising insights into charting one's career path. Below are some lessons I took away from the movie. 1. Careers don't have to come from "traditional" places. One of the movie's protagonists, Julia Child, was in her late 30s by the time she enrolled in culinary school. Why was she drawn to cooking? She loved to eat. In the New York Times, she described her first meal in France as "an opening up of the soul and spiri... Continue reading ...
 It’s rough out there. For each job that gets posted, up to ten times more applicants are applying than as little as a year ago. The chance of being rejected when applying to any given job is significantly higher. Rejection can have harmful effects if we take it to heart. We may feel inadequate, insignificant, or even invisible. The key to thriving in today’s job market – whether you have a job or are unemployed – is to focus on the things you can control. And to keep the things... Continue reading ...
 Today, many professionals are expected to be plugged in at all times. Who sets these expectations? In some cases, it's the workplace. In many others, however, we set those expectations. For example, in a recent job, I didn't have a blackberry. None of my colleagues did. My first coworker to get a company-issued blackberry had to fight for it. Multiple proposals, value propositions, the works. After several attempts, one stuck. We celebrated her victory. What did my coworker win? From a pr... Continue reading ...
 So many of us treat career searches as we would a shopping expedition. We go online and look at the jobs, all dressed up to look their best. Ooh, that one looks like fun! We try on the title, the name of the organization, picturing ourselves in a new role with its associated salary. And with just a few clicks, we can apply for it. This approach to job searching may seem fun at first, but after a few rejections, the process starts to wear on us. Or worse yet, if we accept this pretty new j... Continue reading ...
 As children, many of us asked meaningful questions about our lives, such as “Why are we here?” As we got older, often the question changed to “What is my purpose?” Some of us found answers that satisfied us, some didn’t. Many of us eventually gave up on the big questions, instead focusing on practical questions like “How can I make enough money to support my lifestyle?” Life comes at us pretty quickly and it’s easy to lose our childlike ability to question. However, it... Continue reading ...
The story below is a fun way to illustrate how shifting your perspective can transform your experience.
To get the most out of the story, read it carefully. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster that may feel familiar.
You'll also find debriefing comments after the poem.
Enjoy!
The Cookie Thief
A woman was waiting at the airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shop,
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.
She ... Continue reading ...
   In my first yoga class, I was thoroughly perplexed by child's pose. Addressing the beginners' Hatha yoga class, our teacher said we would practice resting poses throughout the class. She showed us how to fold our bodies in half, resting our foreheads on the ground. Why take breaks during a slow-paced class, I wondered? Looking back, I can understand why I was confused about the benefits of breaks. While playing team sports, sitting on the bench typically meant I was among the worst players... Continue reading ...
 Cute puppy, huh? Today Boston.com posted readers' photos from Take Your Dog to Work day. I know this because my husband, an avid web browser and dog lover, sent me links of his favorite photos via web chat this afternoon. In case you haven't guessed, today's posting is about distractions at work. More specifically, we're going to focus on the effects of multitasking. Thanks to the rise of email and the internet, multitasking is a huge phenomenon. In addition to our three established metho... Continue reading ...
 On Wednesday night I went to a talk by Tal Ben-Shahar, Harvard lecturer and author of several powerful books including Happier and the Pursuit of Perfect. Tal began his journey as a computer science major at Harvard. He was a successful person living a well-rounded life, but he wasn't happy. Tal set out to find out why. Having studied psychology, philosophy and organizational behavior, Tal designed a course on the science of happiness at Harvard. The first class began with only six student... Continue reading ...
 Marriage as we know it used to be viewed as a business relationship. Arranged by the families of a young couple, such partnerships were formed for the value they could bring to all parties. Some benefits included financial stability, securing class status, and prestige. The concept of love relationships is relatively new, even in the Western World, where arranged marriages were a part of mainstream culture well into the 19th century. Why discuss arranged marriage in a career forum? Becau... Continue reading ...
 What if each of us has a unique contribution to give to this world? And what if, in the act of making that contribution, each of us has the ability to be deeply, truly happy? Let’s take it a bit further. What if, in this world, there are enough roles for each of us to play the role we dream of? No one would have to do a job they didn’t like because there was another person out there who genuinely enjoyed that role. The implication is that if you’re unhappy in the job you’re doing, ... Continue reading ...
 Most of us face a daily dilemma: we have to earn a living. We do this by going to work. And most of us don't enjoy work. We think of work as... well, work. Just watch The Office and you'll see some of the associations that ring true for the show's millions of fans. Its mostly gloomy characters work at uninspiring jobs surrounded by incompetent, amoral or socially challenged coworkers. Why do so many of us live notably less funny versions of this reality, day in, day out? Because we nee... Continue reading ...
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Career Coach
| Miriam J. Katz |
| Brookline, Ma |
I aim to transform our collective perception of work. With a slight perspective shift, each of us can find and cultivate a deep sense of satisfaction in what we do.
Together we can find authentic meaning in a space that has become known as the grind. Most of us spend more than 2000 hours at work each year. Let's utilize and value that time, rather than dreading it. Together we can put work on our payroll.
Join me for the journey, and share your thoughts and questions!
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