 I am a woman over 50. I do not like to be labeled, unless of course that label is biker chick or awesome mom. Labels like extroversion, sensing, thinking, etc. feel so superficial to me. And don’t even get me started with the acronyms. ISTJ, ESTP, ENFP?
I mean WTF? But five years ago, I acquiesced to take the Clifton Strengths Assessment mainly because it did not have acronyms. Upon completing the test, I promptly put my results in a manila folder on the shelf for two years. There is no way in hell a behemoth like Clifton owned by Gallop (and aren’t they all about TV ratings anyway?) could tell me who I am. I was so very wrong. Clifton labeled me Positivity, Connectedness, Learner, Intellection, Empathy. B-I-N-G-O. Once I learned my strengths, my life got easier. This light of understanding made my path so much more comprehensible and straightforward. I understood why I suck at some things and accel at others. I felt and still feel a little bit like Harry Potter in the Triwizard Tournament. His coach and mentor Mad-eye Moody counseled him to “play to your strengths, Potter.” Harry is a wizard who is an ace broom flyer. When he finally understood what Moody was telling him to do, he flew like the brilliant wizard he is and slayed the evil dragon. My strengths have helped me slay my own dragons. As a woman my age, there seem to be more dragons out there than there were even just a decade ago. Knowing my strengths, I am better equipped in all aspects of my career and my life, which is why I am thrilled that my colleagues at FromWithin Coaching are offering an online Clifton Strengths Worship this fall just for women. November 10th, 2022 12pm EST/10am MTN/9am PST Join us for 2-hour live discussion that will help you engage your strengths for a more fulfilling life beyond 50. See you there! - Jane Taylor, former CliftonStrengths Doubter, Current Believer  A friend asked me yesterday, “What all goes into writing a good resume?” This is such a huge question, I had to laugh. It’s like asking Serena how to play tennis or asking Billie Eilish, “How can I sing like that?” I don’t know tennis and I only sing in the shower, but I do know what goes into a good resume—especially for women over 50 who are in transition. The short answer is that the resume portrays what it is like to work with you. And more than a history of past work experiences, I think of the resume as a roadmap to the future that opens the door to what is possible. I do this by presenting not just accomplishments but the skills, qualities, and characteristics that made the accomplishments possible. My resume writing process is deeply introspective. I ask clients to complete an in-depth questionnaire about what they’ve done, why it makes a difference, and how it’s relevant to their life goals and dreams. The resume-as-roadmap factor is why I like to recommend that people keep their resume current. If you are looking for change and growth or wondering what it is you’re actually doing in your career, maybe it’s time for a look under the hood? Why are you so good at what you do? What accomplishments are you most proud of? Why? How did you get to where you are today? What makes you You? How do you want potential employers/colleagues to perceive you? How do you want to perceive yourself? Answering such probing questions can either reassure you that you’re in the right job or start to inform your path to the right job.   I feel lucky to know people with so many different personalities and interests. If I need help with my taxes, I can go to an accountant who loves numbers, if I am hurt, I can see a doctor committed to healing and if I feel stuck, I can talk with a coach who will encourage and guide me through finding the answer I am searching for. I have been coaching others most of my life, but I didn't have a name for my actions until meeting another amazing coach. The thing in life that fills my cup more than all else is to truly see someone and be with them through the tough moments. I am a coach because I see the possibilities when someone can't find even the first steady step and am there to guide, push, challenge and cheer them on through their journey. One of the beautiful things about coaching is it can be used to support people through so many different aspects of life. My coaching is built around helping others to slow down, declutter and simplify whatever situation or space they want to work through. Creating calm is a central part of my own life and through coaching, I am able to help others find how intentionality can change the way they walk through their own journey. Life can be beautiful when you are willing to slow down and breathe it in. Today and everyday, I am thankful that we live in a world of complex and interesting people that devote their time and energy to different things and am especially thankful for the coaches in my own life that have cheered me on, held up a mirror when I needed to see things more clearly and helped me to find a place to help others in living more intentional lives. Asking for help isn’t always easy, but when you let someone with expertise assist you, you will get to your results faster and easier than you may have on your own. You may even end up with a result you didn't know was possible. So whether you need a plumber, mechanic, lawyer or a coach, know that there are amazing people with a variety of interests and experience available to help you. As a Coach, I work with clients who are ready to set boundaries, simplify their lives and clearly understand their top priorities in their professional and/or personal lives. They want to learn to say yes to what truly matters and stay focused on those priorities. Let's set up a time for a complimentary exploratory session to discuss your priorities. And if you think that asking for help makes you "weak", think of it not as "help" but as an efficient way to get to your goals! -Amanda Lau, Clarity & Professional Development Coach    "Finding your true north doesn’t have to be a long and winding road. That’s why I do what I do. I’ve been there and I bring a personal perspective and motivation to my work. My passion is helping you achieve your career goals." - Tim Birmingham, Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) Next Cohort Starting June 2nd! This Zoom based group coaching program provides career support to a small group of students and graduates who want to gain clarity, understand their strengths, and stand out among their peers. Each participant will walk away with the most up-to-date job search strategies and tools delivered by a certified career development coach and resume writer who specializes in career coaching college students and new graduates. This program is ideal for:
Attendees will achieve the following by the end of the program:
  The unknown is where all outcomes are possible; enter it with grace.
This wisdom I found on a Yogi tea label when I poured myself a cup of tea. Reading the sentence over and over I compared it to coaching. I think you can compare to life as well since the unknown has a magical ring to it. And this we can explore another time, for now I would like to connect the unknown to (career) coaching. Stepping into the unknown as a coachee and coach might feel like sailing unchartered territory. Both bring experience, expectations and the unknown. The coachee would like to work on career development, personal development or ‘how to change jobs/careers’. Your coach can help you with this and is equipped for this process. But both do not know in advance what the process will bring, the unknown. What will you uncover about yourself that helps you develop as a leader, ready for a new career challenge? All these insights you might call outcomes, ready to be yours and to be used in life and your career. In such a process it is not about putting a square in a round hole but to be open to all there is. Maybe you would like to be coached on getting ready for a new job and during that process you found out that the environment and organisation you work is such a good fit that you consider staying. I would call that stretching your playing field, asking yourself, “have I covered every corner of that field that is my current career or job?” The other way around is also possible. Wanting to stay and then during coaching, coming to the finding that you see more opportunities outside of your current employer. All is good as long as you permit yourself to be open to any possible outcome. This attitude is also important to have as a coach, in my opinion. To be open to any outcome that is possible. Although there is always a question before you start a coaching cycle with your client. This question is about, what brings you here and what would you like to solve? All the answers to this question are personal and different all the time. And as a coach you do not have all the answers. So then, together with your clients you work towards answers that are right for them. Both coachee and coach do their dance with grace so that they can become aware of all the possible outcomes. Now back to my tea and possibility, LJ Nieulant Career and Leadership Coach I Coach on the Job  A neighbor invited me to the backyard for a bonfire and a sip of wine to toast the return of spring. My two neighbors (both women of a certain age) and I (also a woman of a certain age) stood around the smokey fire talking about crones and hags. In folklore and Disney movies, a crone is a scary old woman. She is disagreeable, angry, even sinister. Think of the witch who gave Sleeping Beauty that poison apple and you’ve got the right idea. We have been taught—largely by men—to fear the crone. It makes sense. The fellas have drawn a scary-ass picture. But back before those instructive men cold even hold a crayon, the crone of matriarchal societies was revered as a wise elder, a shepherdess of future generations. The Crone was the postmenopausal woman recognized and admired for her wisdom and leadership. “The literature describes the crone archetype as a pre-existent form in the collective unconscious that embodies instinctive ways of channeling wisdom, inner knowing, and intuition, guiding us through the transition of life, and going inward to bring forth the light for transformation. When women resonate or activate the crone archetypal image they tap into the psyche, to reclaim primordial images and receive the power within them that honor older women.” [1] In Irish and Scottish folklore, the Hag is represented as a divine deity of creation and weather. Her name is Cailleach, a direct translation of “old woman, hag.” There is a movement afoot to reclaim the name and elevated status of the crone archetype. We women of a certain age want to unveil her power by being ourselves. Think Whoopi Goldberg, Patti Smith, Alice Walker, Joni Mitchell, Jane Goodall, and the late, great Maya Angelou. These women are painting a new picture of aging in power. Back at the campfire, my neighbor (the one with grey hair she calls silver) said, “I feel invisible sometimes.” “Hooray for invisibility! Think of all the fun we can have while no one can see us,” I responded. (My hair is mostly grey, too, though I still have streaks of brown and gold.) Harry Potter fans will remember that when he donned the Invisibility Cloak, he learned great things that connected him to his past and his strengths. Invisibility was a gateway to discovery and growth. And invisible, he furthered the cause of good versus evil. As I step into my own cloak of invisibility (I had my 58th birthday earlier this week), I am ready to discover and grow. I encourage the same in the women of a certain age I write resumes, bios, and LinkedIn profiles for. We are at the height of our intellectual powers, it’s time we acknowledge our value, wisdom, and direction! -Jane Taylor    On December 30th, I watched in horror as the relentless wind pushed fire across the beautiful place I call home. It seems impossible to imagine the pain and overwhelm people felt losing their homes, especially in the midst of a raging Covid-19 spike.
The next morning, my husband and I talked about the what if’s. “What if we were evacuated?” “What if we had lost every physical possession we owned?” We both agreed that as long as we were safe, we could heal from the loss of our physical possessions. Moving through tragedy and grief gives us a lens to see what matters most and helps us to spot what isn’t serving us. Joy lives concealed in grief. -Rumi The people that lost their homes are currently at a crossroads of how to move forward. Grief can be paralyzing, but if we choose to move through the pain and let in love and the support of others, we can take those first steps towards rebuilding what we want our lives to become. I immediately grabbed boxes and opened every closet and drawer in my house to give what I could to those rebuilding their lives. I could still live comfortably without so many of the things taking up space, especially knowing they could serve someone in need. By opening up space and letting go, I felt a lightness in my home and in my mind. It allowed room for creativity and sparked a sense of gratitude knowing that there are so many wonderful people in my community and across the world that eagerly stepped up to help those in need. Ask yourself, "What could I do without, that could serve someone in need?" The lightness that comes from releasing the weight of our physical possessions and the opportunity to help others might just open doors of opportunity you didn't know existed. My heart goes out to all those affected by the Marshall Fire. If you would like to contribute to those in need, there are opportunities available through ColoradoGives. - Coach Amanda Lau: believer that physical decluttering can declutter your mind and serve you and others in powerful ways  In FromWithin Coaching’s 12th year, we find ourselves inspired by the lessons of the past few years and the possibilities in 2022! As the owner of FWC, I am lucky to be surrounded by talented Coaches and Writers that consistently make a difference in their clients’ lives. And in mine.
We have added two more amazing Coaches and we want to take a moment to introduce them. I’d like to introduce them in order of their arrival to our FWC family: Tim Birmingham, both a Career Coach and Communications Writer, believes a rewarding career path can be blazed over any mountain and around any obstacle. Like a mountain range, career paths have peaks and valleys along the way. Having been through that change himself, he brings both a personal perspective and professional commitment to helping others find the right path and achieve their career goals. His clients are individuals who: ★ Are still searching for what they want in their career OR have an idea of what they want but might be unsure of how to get there, or where to start. ★ Are aware it’s time for a change and are committed to that change ★ Are rising or mid-career professionals seeking Career, Clarity, Strengths-Based Coaching as well as Job Search Strategies, Powerful Resumes, Cover Letters & LinkedIn Profiles and Interview Coaching & Training. Tim's Strengths are Futuristic, Significance, Empathy, Individualization, and Relator. We are lucky enough to welcome Amanda Lau to FromWithin Coaching as well! As a Professional Development and Simplicity Coach, she works with clients who are ready to set boundaries, simplify their lives and clearly understand their top priorities in their professional and/or personal lives. They want to learn to say yes to what truly matters and stay focused on those priorities. Learning to say no to requests, people, things, and buffers that will not serve us can be uncomfortable, but when these changes move from a new practice to an unconscious habit, that's when the magic happens. Her clients learn to believe in themselves and find the confidence to have a voice to advocate for what they need. Her Strengths include Connectedness, Relator, Empathy, Responsibility, and Maximizer. The change you seek starts here!  Career Coaching vs. Clarity Coaching
When I first started coaching 15 years ago, I’d get asked “What is a Coach?” way more than I do now. This is a wonderful thing because that tells me that more and more people are seeking Coaches or at least understand what a Coach is. It also tells me that coaching is becoming a more accepted form of support in one’s career, life, or business. However, the question I do find myself answering often is “What is the difference between job search coaching and clarity career coaching?” Good question! “Isn’t it all career coaching?” Yes and no… FromWithin Coaching is proud to support hundreds of clients each year, from students to seasoned professionals, to find happiness in their careers. It’s our specialty. We love helping clients find a career that brings them happiness. But in order to understand how we can help you, it’s important for you to understand the difference between these two different types of career coaching – job search coaching and clarity coaching- so you can consider what might be the best fit for your specific situation. Job Search Coaching is likely for you if you are asking yourself any of these questions:
And so on… What you’ll see is a theme of strategy – “how” or “what” is the key in these questions. A job search coaching client is seeking strategy, tactics, steps, and hints on how to handle a job search. Career Clarity Coaching is likely for you if you are asking yourself any of these questions:
What you’ll see is a theme of following up on the “what” and “how” with the “why.” Clarity Coaching is more about purpose and why you want to pursue a career. It helps you identify the problems holding you back from getting clear. Clarity comes by brainstorming solutions that value your strengths and individuality. This greater self-awareness will not only allow you to shift to experience yourself, others and the world in a much more positive way, but will also help you better understand what you need in a career in order to find greater meaning, purpose and fulfillment. And that is the frame you can use in your job search. To sum it up: Clarity first – job search second. You don’t want to leave it to chance that you’ll find your dream job based on who is hiring the week you look at your career alerts, Indeed, or wherever you’re searching. Now that you know the difference, it’s up to you to ask yourself: “What support do I really need?” Is it getting clear on what might be next in your career, or how to get there? Finally, to lock in the learning I hope I was able to offer, as a lover of metaphors, I’d be remiss if I didn’t use one to explain the difference. Job searching coaching is for you if you’re driving your “car” on empty with the orange fuel light on and there is no gas station in sight. You need strategy to find the gas station. Clarity career coaching is for you when you don’t know which car to get into in the first place! Still not sure? No problem. We offer free exploratory calls to help you determine whether you need fuel or the clarity on which car to drive. Amy Magyar, PCC, M.Ed. Owner/Founder of FromWithin Coaching  This is a chance to learn about uncovering your Strengths using the CliftonStrengths Assessment.
Amy Magyar and Augusta Good Krahl discuss the "what and how" of the assessment, but most importantly, why it is important for your personal and professional growth. Click on the image above or the link below to learn about Strengths and their importance. https://youtu.be/LuEM7RyVJmA Curious about learning your Strengths? Join us for an exploratory session: https://fromwithincoaching.com/cliftonstrengths-coaching.html |
AuthorThe authors of these blogs include incredible Coaches and Writers at FromWithin Coaching who are inspired to share their thoughts, ideas, comments, and possibilities with YOU, the reader. Archives
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