Getting Un-stuck in the Job Search
--By Paul Wood
Director of Operations
Lighting Services Inc
"I’m an operations guy; what do I need a coach for? I know how to get things done.
"Five years into an insane commute to a job with a wildly dysfunctional and unpleasant environment, I finally realized I was stuck and desperate to move on. I sheepishly asked around about coaching.
"The first couple of referrals led to coaches whose concept didn’t sound like what I needed: a to-do list and lots of pressure?! I create all the pressure I need. The third contact linked me to Carole’s website, noting that Carole is “great.” Expecting another dead end, I was pleasantly surprised to find her articles at the site intriguing.
"Carole immediately got to the core of what was preventing me from helping myself. I had developed very effective arguments in favor of not networking and not pursuing consulting. Both left me little option but to look for limited permanent positions by the least effective means. She taught me several very helpful structured methods for contrasting self-perception versus the reactions of others. This was so effective in freeing me from the conviction that I couldn’t network because I was “just not good at it.” Her techniques for impartially observing negative thoughts and just moving on are great.
"As the sessions continued I began building a network and found the process becoming less daunting. I also found the prospect of interviewing for specific jobs was no longer the fearful experience I had come to expect.
"I worked my network in parallel with a targeted mail campaign which ultimately led me to a couple of positions of short duration. I finally took an assignment as a consultant which evolved into my current role. I’m happy where I am now, but if I have to do it all again it doesn’t feel nearly so difficult. Definitely un-stuck. Thanks so much, Carole!
"The craziest thing is that I haven’t yet met Carole in person….we did all our sessions over a couple years together by phone - NY to California; never would have believed it except by experiencing it! We’re bound to cross paths sooner or later.
"
Early Retirement to a New Career
--Joe Steinbock
former Director of the Federal Highway Administration
currently Tour Guide in Washington DC
"After a government career of 32 years, I decided I wanted to retire at age 55 and do something else. The question was: what?
"I had met Carole Rehbock as a facilitator and trainer and had good rapport with her. When I learned she was trained as a coach, I decided to work with her about a year and a half before I retired in early 2003. She was flexible about our sessions, so we met at times convenient for me, often in ad hoc locations close to my work. At first we met frequently, perhaps twice a month, and later less frequently for a few months after I retired, generally at Carole's home office.
"Initially, I was eager for a good deal of structure and feedback, and so Carole gave me homework essays, structured exercises, and tests all designed to explore what I really valued and what I would do after retirement. Through these exercises and conversations, not only did I begin to focus on what really mattered, but Carole got a more and more accurate understanding of me.
"When I veered away from my real wishes toward goals less important to me, Carole would remind me, "I thought you wanted a job you loved."
"One thing I became certain of was that I did not want another desk job, and after retirement, I became a chauffeur in the Napa Valley. I met some tour guides there and asked them for advice. They suggested a school in San Francisco called the International Tour Management Institute that I attended. When my wife took a job in the Washington, D.C. area, I followed. I then studied for the licensing exam to become a Washington, D.C. tour guide. Since 2005, I have enjoyed a very satisfying new career as a tour guide in Washington, and as a tour director taking foreign travelers all over the USA and Canada.
"In thinking about the time I spent with Carole, I recognize that she provided structure for my quest. It was important for me to obtain a viewpoint apart from my own close family and friends. For those who find that they need more structure and detachment than they can supply on their own, a trained coach like Carole can be a big help. And I might add that my once skeptical spouse cites my successful experience when she recommends coaching to others!"
Enhancing Leadership Skills
--Sheila Buck
Service Area Manager
Optical Services
Kaiser Permanente, No Ca.
"I have had the pleasure to work with Carole for a few years. I describe our sessions like having a massage. I walk into our sessions feeling anxious, stressed from a very demanding job, and I leave with a sense of calmness, clarity, ease and focus.
"Carole has trained me to listen to my own voice and live the life that I was meant to live. Focusing on how I want to present myself, what are my integrities and breathing before I go into a meeting or conduct a presentation, has allowed me to show up with a presence. She has skilled me to look at every person positively, avoid presumptions and appreciate every individual for what they have to offer in this world.
"Through Carole’s work my managerial skills have improved my communication to influence how others view their work. She has helped me to convey information, ideas and thoughts. My meetings have also become more interactive and meaningful.
"Time management is something I have incredible difficulty with. Carole has taught me to create a realistic and productive schedule that allows me to be much more effective in my role. She has also helped me to prioritize e-mails, phone messages and electronic communication that can get in the way of the personal relationships that I need to have.
"I would recommend Carole’s services to anyone seeking ways to improve your communication, how to focus on your top priorities, increasing your efficiencies, and searching for overall happiness in your work and home life balance.
Starting A Business
--Jill Wasserman
CEO
Let Me Get It Done
"After spending the last 5 years in a job that I did not enjoy, I was lucky enough to attend one of Carole’s speaking engagements. I enjoyed the presentation and felt like it reflected a lot of what I was feeling at the moment: that it was time for a change!
"I was encouraged by family and friends to start to work with Carole individually. Now less than a year later, I am so glad I did. I recently started my own business and could not be better suited for this career move. Thanks to Carole I learned that I am indeed an entrepreneur and that even though I felt an enormous amount of fear around that concept, it really is who I am. Her ability to help me see what is important to me in a job and what is not, helped me to create this new business venture. She helped me get through the fear that was inevitably going to be there during this process and guided me to the other side.
"As I sit here at my computer working from home in an environment I love, I know I did the right thing by working with Carole and unearthing the entrepreneur inside.
"My new business is called “Get It Done”. I help people check-off the items on their To-Do Lists. Carole was also instrumental in helping me develop this tag line."
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