What’s New
So much advice, most of it annoying at best, infuriating at worst. Let’s separate what’s useful to you and what (as politely as possible) to ignore.
My story, what I did, how I stumbled along and tried different things. The chances I took, the people who helped me and how I decided that I didn’t want to work for someone else.
It used to be that school was a ‘safe bet’ for a career path. But the cost, value, and utility of going to or returning to higher ed is no longer safe. Today, there are more choices than ever.
What is a mentor? How does mentorship work? How can you find one? What kinds of mentors are there? How do you know you have found someone you can trust?
Should you try entrepreneurship? Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Should you work for a start up? The good, the bad and the ugly of independent work.
At some point in my career, I decided to find a person to work for rather than a job to do. I looked for a boss I respected and could learn from. It worked well for me, and it might work for you too!
1. How to find out about company culture BEFORE you take the job.
2. How to stop judging your career path and embrace the uncertainty.
3. How some people, just like you, have managed their journey so far.
4. Why knowing your values is important to finding meaningful work.
5. Why it’s important to build a support network for this journey.
6. How mentors can change your life.
I’ve been a file clerk, a consultant, a waitress, a teacher, a nanny, a librarian and much more. I’ve worked in corporations, non-profits, for the government, and had my own business… lots of different jobs.
Some jobs held no meaning for me, others really fed my spirit—but none more so than my current journey, supporting seekers; people who want something more from their work, something better. Each of my jobs taught me something, even if it was just… don’t do that again!
I live and work happily from the Pacific Northwest with my terrier, the trees and the mountains.
More About DeborahMost of the ideas were things that I had tried. From writing down my values and what I wanted to learn, to researching fun job titles (whether they had anything to do my skills or not), having ideas about what to try… gave me something to do and therefore, hope! The hardest place to be is stuck without an idea about what to even try.
I hope is that the book generates a discussion among younger people about what it takes to find meaningful work. My experience is that there isn’t enough support for that journey. The way to improve that is to create a tool kit and embrace the idea that we can each find meaningful work if we chose. It’s not easy, but it can be done.
In my work with my daughter Jenna (Marbles) and in my teaching & work w/ mentees, I talked with many younger people about their work journeys. Over and over, I heard frustration, disappointment & confusion. I wanted to share my experience and the experiences of some of my millennial and Gen Z friends, to offer relief, optimism, fortitude, clarity, and hopefully, even a little joy.
Most of them are my friends, only one person is someone that I don’t know that well. Each of their stories inspired me so much. I hope they would inspire you, too.
Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to help support local, independent bookstores. I treasure my local bookstore. It provides me a window into diverse ideas, thoughts and authors. If you want to support them, buy through Bookshop.org.
I do not intend to talk about Jenna’s life – that is her business – but I will say that she is doing well. I know many people care about her and I also know that you respect her privacy. As her mother, I appreciate that very much.
