A Letter of Real Joy!
DeeDee the Ringmaster
John Remington
This letter came from a student who attended my career development workshop at Portland Community College...
Dear Jennifer,I am writing to let you know that I have found a job. After thirteen months of intensive career exploration... I have accepted a position as a Project Manager...
As you know, finding a position that combined my interest and extensive experience in intercultural communication, education, and project management was extremely important to me. For this reason, I explored careers in intercultural communication training, international student services and international project management. I have learned a lot about each field, but found the greatest opportunities in project management. This position is an ideal one for me...
Thank you for your advice and support during my job search. I have met with or spoken to over forty professionals in these fields locally, and over sixty nationwide. Each person has helped me in some way, whether it was providing a new contact, or sharing valuable insights about a particular profession.
As new doors of opportunity opened, others closed. Very much like a treasure hunt, during this process I learned as much about how to look for a job in the world as I did how to look in my internal world to answer the question, "what do I want?"
Your contribution has had an impact on this process, and I thank you.
Sincerely,
J.J.T.
[top] In October of 1997, DeeDee attended my Career Development series of workshops sponsored by Portland Community College. We began working together shortly after.
Imagine working in a company where you are not appreciated. You're finding it difficult to do your job because the management is paying more attention to personal needs than business needs. You're frustrated on a daily basis, feel you can't make much of a contribution and know that only a few of your gifts are being utilized. This was DeeDee just over a year ago.
Things have changed, though. DeeDee started her path to ideal work by taking a look at her values and interests. As a child, she imagined herself being a ringmaster -- her touchstone was "running the show." She is passionate about personal growth and development. And her true love is creativity -- both her own, and bringing out the creativity in others.
DeeDee saw herself running many profit centers -- earning money in several different endeavors.
She was already making money successfully as a "mystery shopper" - evaluating branches and stores of different companies. She also was designing and making custom hats, truly art-to-wear. She determined that she wanted to get back to one of her other loves -- designing costumes for theater. Before long, she landed a job as costume designer and house manager for a local Portland theater. Miraculously, they wanted her to work part-time, which allows her time to work on her other profit centers. She knew she needed another stable source of income as she ramped up her other centers, so she worked in several p/t opportunities until she landed one that truly fit her needs. She is about to launch her final profit center, creativity workshops that are designed for people who have not been able to explore their artistic creativity.
Her transition: From one very unrewarding full-time job to several "profit centers" that allow her to explore and develop a variety of interests and still support herself financially.
Here are some of DeeDee's thoughts about her journey:
1) What has been the easiest part of pursuing your ideal work?
"Figuring out my profit centers and starting the development of them."
2) What has been the hardest part?
"Growing the profit centers. Balancing the time it takes to see a return."
3) Is there any one lesson you learned that acted like a "lead domino" and allowed you to make a quantum leap forward?
"Having the faith in myself and God. Getting out of my way and allowing the profit centers to grow. Having the trust that they will grow. Kicking fear out of my way."
4) What advice would you give someone who is pursuing their ideal work?
"Once you feel you are reasonably clear on what is it you want to create, be honest with yourself... establish the type of support you know you'll need to get past the fear (to know) you can create this wonderful work, and go for it. Listen to your intuition. That's God and the universe cheering you on."
5) What do you see coming up for you in the future?
"More great opportunities to create, create, create, and assist others with their creativity. Monetary stability.
Congratulations to career coaching client, John Remington. Just one month ago, [Sept. ‘99] John officially launched his Internet tutoring service in Portland, Oregon. He's already been discovered by the media, and was featured in the Oct 18, 1999 issue of theOregonian newspaper.
Great job, John!