Jobs and companies are not one in the same; one you can control, one you can’t Grace is an advertising professional and managed a department for a large firm. She wondered why she was feeling uneasy discontent. “I was in this state of limbo trying to figure things out,” she explains. “I thought for a while, do I want to leave this industry? Is it me? Is it the company? Am I having a mid-life crisis?” Grace had been following Laura Goodrich on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for quite some time, occasionally sending messages and questions. Laura’s book was soon to be published and Laura asked Grace if she would read an advance copy and write a review. It turns out, the experience was perfectly timed. Following the instructions outlined in the book, “I put together a list of my passions, my strengths, my values and my priorities, and then I did a ‘through my eyes’ evaluation of my company,” says Grace. When she compared her notes side by side, she said, “I determined that I love what I do, I love my team, but I had lost faith in the company. I had always assumed my job and my company were the same thing, but I realized the company is something I can’t control, and my job is something I can control. I had never looked at it that way before.” Grace reflected on the leadership changes at her company in recent years. “They’re not making changes that are really pushing the organization forward,” she concluded. So she took a closer look at what she really values: open communication, honesty, fairness, flexibility and open mindedness. Then she asked herself, “How important are my values to me, and what is it about my values that I really relish?” Grace said she realized her values are “my personal brand; it’s who I am. My values are very important to me and I can’t compromise them for anything or anyone.” So Grace proceeded to seek a new opportunity. She now has a clear picture of the team and organization she wants to join: “I want to make sure the department is highly regarded and has a voice; their opinions count.” She researched companies and cultures, and reached out to people working in those companies to validate her findings. Then she began to tell her story—sharing her passions, strengths and values, and her desire to work in an organization in which there is alignment. She says there are numerous opportunities she would have entertained prior to reading Seeing Red Cars and gaining a clearer understanding about herself. Grace is now several interviews along in the selection process for a new position. She researched the company and asked questions in the interview such as, “Tell me about the marketing department in your organization. How is the department perceived?” Luckily, says Grace, the interviewer “was very happy and very proud to talk about it.” That gave Grace greater confidence. Grace told Laura that even if this opportunity does not work out, she will keep on seeing red cars. “I’m not going to get depressed and focus on the negative. I’m going to focus on the experience and what I learned from the process, and take that information with me and use it for other opportunities.” Grace said the clarity of what she is looking for gives her a greater sense of comfort and trust that it will happen. She will find an opportunity that is right for her. And, she will be happier as a result. If you want to drive yourself, your team and your organization to a positive future, Seeing Red Cars offers the process and the toolkit that can get you there. Check out these resources at seeingredcarsbook.com. ==================== Do you feel comfort with your job and company, or uneasy discontent? Do your passions, interests, strengths and values align with your job and organization? ==================== 
Seeing Red Cars the book is available from popular retailers through our book website, seeingredcarsbook.com.
____________ Laura Goodrich Innovator l Author l Expert Speaker Radio l TV l Program Host Internationally Recognized Expert in Workplace Dynamics and Change Email: laura@onimpactproductions.com Website: www.onimpactproductions.com Business: 952-856-6071 Mobile: 952-240-1516 SKYPE: laura.goodrich OOVOO: Laura Goodrich Author: Seeing Red Cars: Driving Yourself, Your Team and Your Organization to a Positive Future is available at Amazon http://amzn.to/aj0IUm or Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/c5F1j7 Seeing Red Cars — Mindset to Win — Forbes Magazine http://blogs.forbes.com/mindmakeover/2011/02/03/seeing-red-cars-mindset-to-win/ Program Host and Author: Seeing Red Cars Film: www.seeingredcars.com Book: www.seeingredcarsbook.com FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seeing-Red-Cars-with-Laura-Goodrich/179858525374208?v=wall App: Seeing Red Cars “I Want Statement” iPhone/ iPad http://bit.ly/afWHOx Seeing Red Cars Products: http://bit.ly/cB29Tq Program Host and Author: Shifting Years: Leverage the Power of Generations Film: www.shiftingyears.com FB Shifting Years: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shifting-Years-Leverage-The-Power-of-Generations/129830580411162 Radio Host: FutureWork http://www.blogtalkradio.com/laura-goodrich TV Host and Producer: Life to the Max http://www.lifetothemax.tv/about.html Laura Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Goodrich/164266833612423?v=wall Twitter: http://twitter.com/lauragoodrich Blog: http://lgoodrich.posterous.com/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/lauragoodrich Seeing Red Cars FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seeing-Red-Cars-with-Laura-Goodrich/179858525374208?v=wall Seeing Red Cars Book: Amazon ( http://amzn.to/aj0IUm ) or Barnes and Noble ( http://bit.ly/c5F1j7 .) Shifting Years FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shifting-Years-Leverage-The-Power-of-Generations/129830580411162?v=wall Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/LauraGoodrich Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35914444@N07/
