We are all born with talented minds. However, Gallup (2020) found that 69% of the workforce is disengaged from their work. This results in lower measurable levels of productivity and happiness with what they do. Individuals often wonder if there is more to life than simply showing up for their job. They simply want to find a pathway which is more fulfilling and connects them with what they do in life!
Problem: Grasgreen (2013)argues only 28.3% of college graduates say they "are engaged in their jobs," citing 2 reasons:
Students were without clear career paths in college and or
They were lacking strong mentorship, all of which resulted in their disengagement or getting stuck in life.
The takeaway from this suggests that if individuals never had the opportunity to define a clear career path and or find a mentor to guide them, this may have led to their getting stuck in their current job as evidenced in the above slide show above.
Solution: From our graduate research and over 13 years of counseling and professional career development experience, we have learned that our clients yearn to discover three basic things about themselves:
"What" do they really want to do professionally and will it allow them a chance to reflect our uniqueness in "what" they do?
Does "what" they do in life matter or is it just a job?
"What" gifts or competencies are they endowed with and "how" can they support a pathway to an abundant life?
As individuals, we all long for an understanding of “what” we are naturally good at. We also want to know “how” we can use our gifts in a way that expresses our uniqueness and offers a path in life that impacts the lives of others. This is accomplished by engaging in a process of self-reflection, leading to self-clarity. This enhances self-esteem, and promotes self-efficacy, all of which elevates levels of hopefulness. Attitude -> Emotions-> Behavior Self-clarity reveals "how" these may be manifest in a purpose-driven life. Significantly, this elevates a sense of hope, which transforms "what" we think (attitude), informs "why" what we do feels right (emotions), and impacts "how" we either react or respond to stressors we encounter on our journey (behavior).
Our Mission: As a trained counselor and professional in career development, my mission is to work with individuals in the discovery of "what" makes them exceptional. This process empowers them to confidently express their individuality in the world of work.
I want them to re-discover "who" they are, "why" their interests are a reflection of themselves, and "how" their inherent abilities will support them in fulfilling a life that truly matters. It is about re-framing an attitudinal approach to living that is abundant and meaningful. Ultimately, what individuals hope for is an avocation that feels less like work and more like engaging in "what" they are called to do in life.
