Boost Your Green Career with a Mastermind Partner
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| Green Career Tip of the Week |
"Two heads are better than one."
John Heywood, English writer, 1497 - 1580
I love it when several moments experienced the previous week coalesce into a new thought to share with you! Last week I talked with several clients who are in the early stages of their job search or birthing a green innovation. I sensed they were pulled in, almost afraid to share their new vision with others.
I remember this feeling only too well! Four years ago I was in the very same place with my career and Green Career Central. As I reminisced about my own green beginnings, I realized what an important role my brainstorming partners played in my journey and how important it is for everyone to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Read more about my experiences and how to create your own jump start team below.
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Tip of the Week: Boost Your Green Career With a Mastermind Partner
Green job seekers and career changers are often temped to hide what they are up to from friends, colleagues, and family. The stories vary, but basically the reasons I hear are:
- They don't feel clear enough about their direction to tell anyone.
- They are afraid to let anyone know for fear their employer will find out.
- They feel no one can help them because other people in their lives don't know much about the green arena.
- They aren't sure what others will think of their new passion and direction.
At one level there's truth to each one of these reasons...and yet keeping yourself completely hidden can cost you in the end.
- Costs you time - it takes longer to figure things out on your own
- Costs you connections - you don't meet as many people
- Costs you opportunities - you miss openings that could move you forward quickly.
Working With a Brainstorming Partner Can Change Everything
Having one or more partners add a new dimension to your experience and the results that can be life changing and priceless! My business, Green Career Central, would NOT be where it is today without the support of several mastermind partners along the way.
In March of 2007, I attended a conference with one of my mastermind partners. At the end of the sessions she and I sat down to review what we'd gotten from the event. I was stewing about having to choose between to career directions--helping people find meaningful careers and helping people navigate difficult transitions using my natural model of transition, Seasons of Change. With one question she changed my reality! Her question: What if you helped people find green careers? Within an instant I knew that was the answer. That weekend Green Career Central was born.
Summer of 2007, my walking partner got a job at the local independent bookstore to organize a Go Green Speaker Series. She invited me to have a booth and to speak at one of the events. I hadn't spoken on the topic before, I was still in my initial phases of my research, and I didn't have a logo or a website. I didn't feel I knew enough yet and was content to keep hiding! And yet she had faith in me, saw the value in my work, and knew I could impact people in a positive way. Contacts I made at that event led to a string of speaking engagements and interviews. Green Career Central and I were on our way!
I'll be forever grateful to both of these women for standing with me through my journey over the last four years as Green Career Central continues to grow and evolve. Being a trailblazer in a constantly emerging field isn't a straight path. Satisfying, inspiring, and motivating, yes! Easy, calm, and uneventful, not so much!
Both of these women have been with me through thick and thin over the years and I with them. The beauty of our relationships is that they too have made great strides in their own respective careers. Lauren and Kristi, here's to many more years of collaborative support!
Who Is Your Mastermind Partner?
Although it is nice to partner up with someone who is fully engaged in the sustainable space or in your field, it's not essential.
The key is to connect up with someone:
- You have a good rapport with
- Who is willing to share ideas, resources, and suggestions.
In the best world, the two of you complement each other in some way. One of you may be a strong networker, the other might be good at brainstorming. In any event, you both bring something to the partnership.
As you read this, someone might pop to mind. Reach out to see if they are interested in this sort of mastermind collaboration. If you don't think of someone immediately, keep your eye out at networking events, discussion forums, and social networking venues. Remember, you don't have to limit yourself to people in your own geographic area. Partnerships by phone are just as powerful as those that meet in person.
I tend to have a collection of partners at any given time. Others like to meet with in a small group format. Both are valuable.
Actions to Take
As you search for potential mastermind partners, get together for a call or a coffee meeting with a variety of people to see who clicks. When you connect with someone who feels like a potential mastermind partner approach them to gauge their interest. Figure out a schedule and frequency that work for a trial run. You can always evolve the partnership as it deepens.
industry.
Copyright 2011, Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc.
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Earth Week Events
Green Careers Expo
Sponsored by Eucalyptus Magazine
April 15th - 10 am - 2 pm
Cupertino, CA
Eucalyptus Magazine's Green Careers Expo 2011 is taking place in Cupertino. Fr.ee with pre-registration, $10 at the door. All the Details
One special tip: My husband, professional photographer (and Green Career Central contributor) will be at each event to take LinkedIn Profile photos. Come looking your best to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.
Go Green Earn Green
Earth Week Telesummit
April 18 - 22
Carol will be talking about green careers on April 18 - free to participate. Register here.
Recent Blog Posts
Follow the Green Money:Money is flowing to thin-film solar, PV solar and biopesticides for sustainable agriculture.
What's New for Green Career Central Members
About Us
Green Career Central(TM) is an online coaching and resource center designed to help mid-career professionals, students, new grads, and career counselors make sense of the green economy and the green job market.
Carol McClelland, PhD, author of the award-winning, Green Careers For Dummies, is one of the nation's leading green career experts and founder of Green Career Central. Throughout her career, Carol has helped thousands of people find careers that match their values and interests.
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Are You Ready to Figure Out Your Strategy?
...To have a fulfilling, rewarding green career ...Where you can make a difference and prosper? So what's stopping you?
- Are you sorting out what training to get to prepare for your future career?
- Are you unclear about how to focus your target goal?
- Are you trying to figure out where your skills fit?
- Are you wondering how to tap into the green network in your area?
If you aren't sure how to proceed, you waste a lot of time and energy. By not knowing what steps to take, you lose the chance to connect with valuable contacts. In addition you miss powerful opportunities to become engaged in your target industry. I know what you're going through! Throughout my life I've made several major career transitions. I know how hard it is to be in a career that's not fulfilling or meaningful and I know how frustrating it is to want to change, but not see a clear path to your next career. Now I show green career seekers like you the most effective strategies to reach their goal to make a difference and contribute to a sustainable future. When you know where you are going and how to get there, you'll use your time more wisely and achieve results more quickly.
I invite you to apply for a complimentary one-on-one
Green Career Strategy Session with me. During our time together, we'll explore your biggest challenges and identify the steps you can take to have a breakthrough.
Given my schedule, I'm only able to set aside
a limited number of appointments, so act quickly!
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Get Started with Your Green Career Journey
Are you passionate about finding a way to contribute to the emerging green economy?
- Not sure where to start?
- Unclear about what steps to take?
- Trying to figure out where your skills fit within the green economy?
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Copyright (c) Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc. 2007-2011.
All Rights Reserved.
Green Career CentralTM is a trademark of
Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc
PO Box 354, Menlo Park, CA 94026
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Subscriber Information
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