I was at a recent webinar and the host had us do a writing exercise that, at first, I thought was just something to get through until we got to the real meat of the webinar. Boy was I wrong. This was the real meat. Once I let myself play along and dig into the exercise the magic began to happen.
And it got me thinking about making a career pivot. Moving from a role, career or company that you know into the unknown can invite all sorts of self-doubt gremlins.
What if you had a tool that could help shut down the gremlin voices?
What if you had a way to access a part of your brain that could give you greater insights into where you are going and why?
If you are willing to play along you might invoke some of your own special magic.
Try This:
Set aside a minimum of 15 minutes (ideally 30) for this exercise.
Turn off all things that are competing for your attention. Phone, computer, kids, TV, pets.
Grab pen and paper. This is not a writing exercise you do on your laptop. This is done on paper using a pen. According to Nancy Olson in her Forbes article, Three Ways That Handwriting With A Pen Positively Affects Your Brain, writing using a pen and paper:
- Unleashes creativity not easily accessed in any other way
- Sharpens the brain and helps us learn
- Forces us to slow down something radical in today’s estimated 8-second attention span
Respond to these writing prompts:
1. What is a career dream you have?
Example: To go to work for a startup
2. Turn that response into an image. If your Career dream were an object or an animal, what would it be?
Example: An engine of a hotrod car.
3. Describe the image in as much detail as you can. What does it look like? How big is it? What qualities does it have? Does it make any sounds? Do this in the present tense.
Example: I am a large engine made of copper and steel. I am powerful. People notice me. I make things go.
4. How does this image remind you of your career dream?
Example: Joining a startup would give me more visibility. I would be able to step into my power. I will be able to bring all the various skills I learned being in Corporate America to get a new company going!
5. What advice would this image give you about what to do next?
Example: I need to turn the key and start myself up. I need to go where the startup entrepreneurs hang out. It’s time to take some action.
I would love to hear what you learned from this exercise. Head out to our Facebook Page and let me know. LINK TO FB GROUP
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