Everyone is in a life transition, particularly during these challenging times.
In my last Competitive Edge Report; I introduced the research of Bruce Feiler, the bestselling author of “Life in Transition — Mastering the Change at Any Age.” I studied his work, which involved the interviewing of people who had made significant changes in their lives, how they coped with the life transition process and flourished in the outcome. Feiler showed how non-linear our lives can be and that “disruptions” (which occur, on average, every 12 – 18 months) can be voluntary, involuntary, personal, or community-wide. For most of the interviewees there was a “lifequake.” These are dramatic, chaotic, even catastrophic, occurrences in our lives that cause upheaval and bring about change, a new sense of self and renewal. [Read more…]
Life transitions — those voluntary or involuntary changes we make, personally or as a community, is the basis of the book “Life is in the Transitions – Mastering the Change at Any Age.”
Challenging times provide another lens to look at the many aspects of our lives — the people, the places, our values, our fears.
We know all the phrases, “look for the silver lining,” “there are opportunities in a crisis,” and “leaders are born in wars.” There is truth to all of these, maybe even some motivation and solace.
Times of crisis and significant stress can bring great clarity to our lives. What is important at home and in work becomes obvious because demands are immediate and sometimes life changing.
Let’s start with a simple but important idea on earning a promotion. You must earn the next level, title change, and/or increase in compensation. No one owes it to you, and you don’t go to the store to “get” it. That said, there are actions and mindsets that are more likely to move you to where you want to be and deserve. 
More often than I would have anticipated, I hear an executive coaching client say something like, “I didn’t see it coming” or “How did I miss the warning signs?” when talking about working in a place that isn’t right for them now, or maybe ever.
Whether you’re at the peak of your career (something difficult to determine in a rapidly changing workplace environment) or you’ve recently entered the professional workforce, there are important actions, items, and mindsets to consider and work on. I call them your “Essential Career Toolkit.”