Little Work? A Big Transition Is Possible!

“There's little work out there these days.  I'm never gonna make it to the big time at this rate.”  I hear this from fellow distressed older workers all the time.  How do you make the transition from one small cubicle to another without losing hope that one day you can fulfill your dream and live big?  Well, I don't claim to be a guru with the magic formula, but I can tell you that my experiences have been a potpourri of little situations that never squelched my desire to attain the big piece of the pie.  I have worked for big companies that held such big promises like stock options, attractive benefits and the chance to work there long enough to transition from a little uncomfortable cubicle to a big office with a view.   I've also witnessed those workers who were not ready for retirement but practically forced into it when the company released them after a long tenure.

Keep Your Ultimate Goal in Sight

I chose to leave that big company without as much as a little threat of losing my job.  At my going away party, so many coworkers asked me what I would do with my life.  Rumors spread that I was leaving to pursue a personal endeavor.  That was correct.  You see, it just so happened that I penned my first award winning short story while slaving away in my little cubicle.   That job was a big disappointment, but it didn't suppress my big dream.

Small Personal Losses, Big Career Gains

I have a friend who is an artist by nature and an administrative wizard by trade.  But, unfortunately laid off months ago, she's discovered that there's little work out there for her these days, too.  She recounted that on her way to an interview,  a little rock hit her windshield and noticeably dinged it.  That same day, she got the job.  During another trip to an interview, she recalled how her big car was a tight fit for the little space provided and she hit the pole—hard!  She got that job, too.  Then, she went home and created a lovely piece of artwork using little pieces of heat-treated glass.  Her work was featured at an art exhibition in her area.  She was a big success! 

Don’t Let Distractions Alter Your Career Course

Monterey, California hosts a big outdoor jazz festival in mid-September.  In addition to great big name musicians performing there, I strolled past  rows and rows of little display booths where I encountered many mature folks like myself showing off their wares.  The festival also offered the opportunity to network with others while sharing our aesthetic talents.  After engaging in conversation with a few of them, one theme was constant:  they never let the little worries in life steer them away from reaching for the big prize.

Categories: Career Plan, Career Management & Transition, Getting Started, Job Search Help