2024 Chinese symbol
2024 is the year of the Dragon, or more specifically the ‘Wood Dragon.’
A Dragon symbolises bravery, strength and luck.
Wood Dragons in particular have the drive and motivation to put their ideas into practice and are original.
You need bravery, strength and luck to change career direction.
This short article shares client and personal examples of bravery, strength and luck and tips.
What is bravery?
Bravery means: “The quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear or difficulty.”
An example of bravery
My husband is an orphan and the product of 2 diasporas (German/Jewish + India/Pakistan).
Not only is he one of the bravest people I know, and the most determined, he has done a massive amount of pro bono to help others throughout his life. He inspires me so much. He lives all 5 career adaptability competencies, Control, Curiosity, Commitment, Confidence and Concern.
Tips to be brave
- Find humour in a difficulty – choose to see the ‘light’ in a ‘dark’ situation.
- Be inspired by the bravery of people dealing with worse difficult situations than yourself; war, disability etc.
- Recall a time when you were brave. Relive the memory and connect with the positive emotion of bravery.
What is strength?
Strength means: “Capacity for endurance, toughness”.
A client example of strength
One of my clients left advertising and set up a charity. He has raised millions of pounds to help people. In one coaching session he was going through a particularly difficult time. I created an obstacle course in the meeting room with different objects representing different challenges and got him to pick up one object at a time and work out how he was going to overcome it. 20 years on, he is still helping people and is brave to overcome all that he has along the way.
A personal example of strength
Just before the credit crunch of 2007, I had self-funded a 6-month CPD break about talent management, employer branding and employee engagement.
The credit crunch happened.
A very very difficult time.
I felt quite desperate for a while.
Then I managed to find and activate an ‘inner turbo boost button’ and regain my inner strength.
The government realised that Job Centres weren’t equipped to deal with the large number of executives and professionals being laid-off and so started a scheme to support them.
My company Energise was one of the first to tender and be approved and I did a one-day workshop ‘Steer your career’ with an associate helping hundreds of people for 2.5 years. This kept my ‘head above water’ until the economy began to improve.
PS My personal brand ‘The Talent Liberator’ was a positive outcome of the 6-month CPD break! Percolation led to creativity!
Tips to be strong
- Practice equanimity. Put simply, it is accepting the ‘rough and smooth’ of life instead of wishing things were different.
- Recall a time when you overcame a difficult situation or challenge. What enabled you to do this?
- Who do you know who is strong? What is their approach or attitude to life?
What is luck?
Luck means:
“Success or failure apparently brought about by chance rather than through one’s actions.”
An example of luck
I attended a MediaTrust https://mediatrust.org/ thank you Christmas celebration for volunteers who had helped charities pro bono.
There were some lawyers from the ‘magic circle’ global law firm Clifford Chance there.
By chance, that day there had been a news item about Clifford Chance being the worst law firm to work for a healthy work life balance. I cheekily introduced myself and asked if they had camp beds in their office for late nights working deals and cases.
Having got their business cards, I followed up and sent them my newsletter. This led to coaching a couple of people in law firm management who recommended me to their boss. The managing partner was at a career crossroads and I then became his career coach.
Tips to have luck
- Give what you lack.
- Reflect on what luck or ‘happenstance’ you have had in your life.
- Plant ‘seeds’ without attachment and be curious about what happens.
- Join a new network.
- Have a conversation or meeting with someone you wouldn’t normally.
Interested in career change?
Career change isn’t easy. It takes bravery, strength and luck. Contact us for case studies and client testimonials, and/or or see the Recommendations section on our LinkedIn profile.
What next?
If you would like a confidential no-obligation chat about your career, get in touch.