I'm always fascinated when people tell me about a career
change that -- sometimes literally -- falls into their laps.
Recently I've even seen research suggesting that change happens
without conscious planning, more often than we know.

My neighbor "Ed" found his career, he says, when he literally
fell from the choir loft into the church organ. He was so
fascinated by the repairs that the specialist invited him to work
in his shop. Through high school, Ed did small chores and later
graduated to apprentice repair. Now he owns a firm that repairs
church organs all over the region

According to a story from long ago, the California Highway Patrol
stopped a man for speeding. Noting that he handled the car
exceptionally well at high speeds, they suggested he apply to the
CHP. Now he can drive ninety miles an hour all day long.

In her book Fighting Fire, Caroline Paul recalls the man who came
up to her in the gym, complimented her strength, and handed her a
Fire Department recruiting pamphlet. Caroline, a Stanford
graduate who had majored in fine arts, went on to become one of
the first women fire fighters in San Francisco.

Three Dog Bakery was formed when a dog refused to eat. The vet
suggested, "Why don't you cook for her?" The dog's owner had no
idea where to begin. He modified a cookie recipe and the dog
wolfed it down. That was the beginning of an empire.

I'm trying to collect more serendipity stories, but people who
fall into careers they love do not read self-help books or call
career coaches. I suspect we all hear many messages. A
professor says to a student, "You have a knack for this subject
and you should major in it." A neighbor says, "You ought to
consider making a career out of your talent." And the
conversation is forgotten half an hour later.

Messages are rarely presented as advice. They are invitations. If
you say "no" or don't open the envelope, they'll just go away
quietly. Meanwhile, you struggle with a career you've outgrown,
or you try to live up to someone else's dream.

I urge clients to be open to invitations -- not advice. As you
open your intuition and become focused on what you want, you'll
find yourself attracting more invitations. Stuck? Stop pounding
on the door of career change, ring the bell gently and wait to
see what unfolds.

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. coaches and writes for midlife, midcareer
professionals who have been on the fast track to success --
and now want to get on the fast track to career freedom.
Website: http://www.movinglady.com .
Ezine: http://www.movinglady.com/subscribe.html




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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Coach, Speaker
*The Fast Track to Career Freedom*
http://www.movinglady.com
505-534-4294 mailto:cathy@...


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