What Color Is Your Parachute - Intuition and Step by Step

Time to think!



In Chapter 2 of the book, there's discussion of setting out to search for a job based on thinking about what kind of approach you tend to take in life: by luck, step by step, or intuition. And on page 29 (in the 2011 edition), there's a chart at the end of the chapter that helps you to identify "next steps".

So I think I probably fit into the "Intuition" area, but I also see the value of going step by step. As a person with a creative background, I have room to grow with discipline; I've known plenty of creative people with a great deal of discipline, working hard in their field to achieve. But it can also be the case that you can spend a lot of time with ideas and visions, and then not accomplish much, because of spending so much time in the (comfortable) realm of the imagination.

So I'd say that I greatly value intuition, but want to continue to grow in step by step - and this book has a lot of wisdom in it, and in a situation where I do want to find long-term, sustainable work, with a mortgage payment due, student loans around the corner, etc. - I do believe that working through this book can offer the best possible chance for finding work. So i think that it's worth placing your faith in, and I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

Because I fall into both categories, I'm going to think about which of the "Intuition" areas I fall into first. In this section of the book, the author invites an "intuitive" person to consider,

"What kind of footprint do you want to leave here on this earth, after your journey here is done?"

And there are a series of suggested categories, which might be areas of concern/interest:

Mind, Body, Eyes/Beauty, Heart, Conscience, Spirit, Entertainment, Possessions/Simplicity, The Earth

Each area has some discussion and description, and it's an opportunity to consider what you are drawn to.

These are the areas that stood out to me, that seem to fit:

Body: I do think it's ridiculously important to try and make the world better, and because of my worldview, I do consider my neighbor to be my responsibility; I do answer yes to the question: "am I my brother's keeper?" -- from a sense of wanting to grow in love. This area touches on health, feeding the poor. I don't see myself being a health trainer or doctor, but I do feel like part of the "footprint I want to leave on the earth" in some peoples' lives, is to help them explore ways to make the world better. So I guess the Body is one of my "areas". This area relates to a project I'm working on, called xCredits - I'd like to see if it's possible to help simplify the process of sharing, by helping people explore organizations, and giving them a way to share with "points" - www.xcredits.net

Heart: I would like to work towards inciting passion, compassion. I'm not sure if this means supporting organizations that do this type of work, or working for one, but it is an area of interest/concern.

Entertainment: true enough; I've really enjoyed participating in projects that have brought laughter or joy. It's a dream I've had, and for awhile, I lived the dream full-time, in a past life in rock n roll -- and when we didn't have a hit radio single, I felt like I had to move on. But the most joy I've had truthfully has been in making albums and videos. Not sure this is a career, but to put my money where my mouth is, I guess I need to "keep this on the radar". And perhaps it will at least be a creative outlet. Probably part of the process in thinking through these is giving yourself the freedom to think about where your heart is really at -- and not closing the door on yourself, but allowing yourself to dream.

The Earth: this is a theme too, I suppose. My interest in the environment is more about sunflowers and appreciation of nature than anything else, but it does seem that things are out of balance, and that the things we've put into the environment have come back and affected our bodies. Just about a month or two ago my Aunt Joan passed away from cancer, and I can't help but think that it may very well have been affected by toxins that we put into the environment, and end up back in our bodies, through food. So yeah, even though I'm somewhat apolitical, I guess I do care about the Earth, because it comes back to affect people, and their health, and families. So if I could do something to help bring balance to the earth, that would be cool.

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So those are the "Intuition Areas" for me. The best thing to dig into them a bit is to read the book.

As for "Step by Step" -- I guess that will be later on; the author discusses how the "Flower Exercise" can help you work through step by step considerations, like thinking about transferrable skills, and making a plan to find work or find more fulfilling work or both. Frankly I think everyone should probably go through the "step by step" process. But if you're like me and have an intuitive side, I think working through the areas mentioned above makes sense.

Best wishes!

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If this article has been interesting, I invite you to consider doing one or more of the following:

1. Buy a copy of the book for you, a friend, or someone you love. It's reasonably priced, and very much worth reading. Maybe even invest by buying two copies - it's most valuable when you work through it with someone else (talk once a week). Your career is one of the most important things in your life. it's worth investing in. Amazon link
2. Visit the JobLife Facebook page, and click the Like button, to receive updates when new posts are made
3. Make a post on Facebook about how the book/blog triggered thought/inspired you. For example: "Check out this blog; it talks about a helpful book, What Color Is Your Parachute, which can help anyone to find a job, or more fulfilling work, or both."

What Color Is Your Parachute - Ch2 - Where Do I Go From Here With My Life?

Chapter 2 is basically talking about putting passion first, job-hunt later.

There's a good quote in the chapter, that directly addresses the sense of urgency, which may be on the verge of panic for some. It's from Alice in Wonderland:



"Will you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat.

"I don't much care where--" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat.

--

So you can certainly go for whatever you can get, but it also makes a lot of sense to make the effort to figure out where you really want to get to.

It doesn't claim that the process is easy, or that any part of the job hunt is easy, but it makes a strong case that working towards a fulfilling job is worth doing.

The main reason is pretty simple: the more enthusiasm you have about what you're looking for, the more energy you'll have to put into the hunt.

What Color Is Your Parachute - Ch1 - There are Always Jobs Out There

The first chapter is both compassionate and realistic. (The Introduction and Preface are also worth reading, to get a sense of context, to get to know the author)

Nelson Bolles, the author, has a kindness about him and the way he regards things, but you can also place faith in his realism, because he has a knack for digging deep into the background. So he's not just writing down his personal thoughts - he's done the (hard) work of really understanding the job market, all the statistics, all the "hard data". So his perspective is valuable, because it's based on thorough research.

But as a reader, you're not just a statistic - the author does seem to truly care. He cares enough to take an entire week, four times a year, just to talk to job searchers, to keep up to date with what they're saying, to really listen to them. He's aware of what's going on, what things are like out there.

Chapter 1 is pretty light, it starts out including some of the things people are saying, what they are going through, and that's addressed, and then what the chapter goes on to say is to tell the reality of the job market - not gloss over things, not sweep things under the carpet, but not to foretell doom and gloom either. Realism.

And I like that he critiques the media a little bit, in terms of how dire the picture is painted, and I agree with his critique. Sometimes journalists, in an attempt to get readership, may dramatize things in a way that doesn't give the whole picture. A sensationalist headline is more likely to get read than a drab one. Dire predictions are more likely to get clicked on than just saying what the situation is.

So the reality of all the people who are out of work is addressed, but basically, through relating statistics in an easy to understand way, the author shows how things have pretty much always been this way. That is, that there always has been millions who can't find work, so while the numbers might be higher, even in the best of times, there are always those who haven't found, won't find, or who give up on finding work. So the media will claim statistics, and the impression you get is not really based on considering that even though the numbers increase, millions are always out of work.

The point is not to discourage, but to address the possibility of finding work. And month by month statistics are given about the number of jobs that are available and being created, the number of people being hired, and things like the continual need of the 178 million people who are working, to buy things.

And the chapter ends up with a good thought: "Even in the worst of times, people in the U.S. have been finding jobs in the millions, this month and every month. Moreover, after that, millions of vacancies remain unfilled . . . all of this is an opportunity for you, if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and spend some decent time doing some hard work figuring out where you want to go with your life, and mastering job-hunting skills that are more than just elementary . . ."

What Color Is Your Parachute - Intro

If you're looking for a job, or wanting to switch jobs, or trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, What Color Is Your Parachute is the best book you could possibly read, in my opinion.



It's sold 10 million copies, the guy who wrote it has updated it constantly, and there's a lot of good wisdom in there. There's practical advice that is immediately useful for preparing for an interview or job search techniques, and there's also another dimension to the book, much more valuable, an open door for those who are willing to put the effort into it - the book can help you figure out what you'd be happy doing.

WCIYP is not a "magic bullet" or panacea or whatever other word you might like to use for something that will solve all issues. But it is rock solid, and because of the wisdom of it, which has happened over the years from someone focused on this issue - there is at least a bit of magic in it. Because you can take the book, read it, and if you put the effort into what it recommends doing, I personally believe you can find a job, for one - and if you have an open mind, I also believe you can find a job that would be fulfilling.

So it's not like it does the work for you, and there's no hidden tricks. It's all about addressing realities - like the fact that the typical way we send out resumes is the technique least likely to result in getting a job. But what it does show is a series of helpful techniques that are proven to increase your chances of getting a job. It's not late night television. Unrealistic promises are sometimes made on television commercials, which often promise to deliver something fantastic without requiring any effort. This book doesn't do anything for you - but it shows you how to do it yourself -- or ideally, with a friend. It won't reduce the amount of effort required to find a job, but it can reduce waste.
you can't get the book for "only $9.95!" - but you can get it at the time of writing for $12.91 USD on amazon.com.

And I really do think the job can give a person hope. Like if you're out there and got laid off, or have been looking, doing the best you can - this book is like having an expert working for you, to give you the best techniques.

And part of the technique might involve identifying your transferrable skills -- that is, skills you have, things you are good at (which you might not even realize or place value on). And in most cases, there are some things that you actually enjoy doing, or skills you had in your last job, or current job, which can be transferred to another "type" of job.

So when you start thinking with an open mind, and when you consider how the book has sold 10 million copies, I think it's a solid source of hope. You get out of it what you put into it.

The book won't get you a job.

But I do believe it is a powerful tool for finding one. And even if you already have a job, the book is worth reading, to help you think about getting into a career that would make you happy, or at least happier. And yes, sometimes there's no choice, for whatever reason. But for the other majority of cases where there is a choice (but where many of us just stay in a job even though we're not really satisfied or happy) -- wouldn't it be worth spending 13 bucks on a book, and putting the time into going through it - if the result could be a job that we'd be happy doing?

I think the answer is yes.

So I'd *highly* recommend reading the book.

And I'd also recommend getting two copies, and finding someone who will go through it with you. Because we're all human (except for Google, which will read this blog post at some point) - and it may help to go through with someone.

Suggestion:

1) Get 2 copies of book
2) Find a friend who wants to go through it
3) Read 1-2 chapters, discuss once a week

Do it.

If you are like me, you'll never actually "feel" like doing it.

So really, you just need to do it.

2 copies = 26 bucks plus shipping. A small price to pay.

Amazon link below:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2010/dp/1580089879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260745923&sr=8-1

And what this blog is all about is simply that I'm going to go through it and put down a few thoughts about each chapter, to spur some thought; so feel free to come back and check the blog out after you get the book.

Note: the book is updated every year. Libraries sometimes have it - but I do think it's worth buying whatever the latest edition is.

Best wishes!

The Next Important Bed

toxicity


those who live by the sword

die by the sword

those who live by the fossil fuel fire

die by the fossil fuel fire


thanks be for the antioxidants

red pomegranates

green tea

blueberries


ten thousand years

before you were conceived

on cotton sheets


before a relationship evolved

and the events of your creation

were set in motion


ages before

your mother sat propped up in bed

with you nursing at her breast


something lived on the earth

something died


when you burn that fuel

it's shock and awe on your cells


blessed be the peacemakers

red pomegranates

green tea

blueberries


the choices you make now

influence where your body comes to rest

on the next important bed

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