Brian Kurth

Face Your Fears of Financial Insecurity & Make A Career Transition

I’m looking forward to tonight’s teleclass on facing one’s financial fears — and still make a career transition.  Financial Advisor Linette Dobbins will be one of our panelists.  Here are just a few of the many tips she will be discussing on tonight’s teleclass:

1.  Create a financial plan. Those with a financial plan seem to experience less fear when life-changing events occur. A financial planner can help you prepare for the unexpected and discover opportunities, resources and guide decision-making.

2.  Do a financial stress test to see what you can handle – What if I am laid off? What if I change careers for my dream job? Can I retire? How long will my money last, etc.?

3.  Identify your greatest fears and have a disaster plan.

4.  Crisis brings opportunities – look for them and seize them.

5.  Fear is an acronym for False Experience Appearing Real. Identify if the fear you are experiencing is real or false. Media sells more advertising with fear.   Fear hooks you into watching the story.  We refer to this as Media Mania and the Herd Syndrome. If your fear is coming from the media, turn it off. Refocus, do something that makes you feel good.  If your fear is from a real event, ask yourself, what is the worst thing that can happen? Then take action. If you don’t know what to do, ask for help.

6.  If you have serious financial problems, see a debt counselor.

7.  Set realistic goals and work on them one step at a time. Just keep making small steps toward your goals and reward yourself for your achievements.

8.  Look at the your accomplishments and the things that are going well and acknowledge them.

It’s not too late to join…and feel free to share with your friends and colleagues.  Sign-up here to get the call-in number.  The teleclass is free other than the cost of you dialing the direct line conference number:

http://vocationvacations.com/MessagePages/2009.06.23-teleclass

Cheers!
Brian

www.briankurth.com

www.vocationvacations.com

Hi Friends,

I just met Scott Tennyson (Related to the other Tennyson?  You make the judgement…probably a few beers and whatever else in between) here in Portland.  He’s in Portland visiting his daughter, Nichole.

Scott EXUDES what career change is all about.  Positive attitude.  Having fun.  And a bit of “early retirement” while figuring out what his encore career really is.

Now….a bit of a warning: He’s sassy and uses the F-bomb freely….so if you’re a prude, don’t read.  But if you’re a forward-thinking person wanting to really make change at any age (Scott is 57), then take a read:

http://www.taoofscott.com/house-boy/

Hey folks,

I was at the airport in Portland waiting to take a flight to Chicago this morning (now on a nice, 3-hour layover before heading on to Appleton, WI for my youngest niece’s high school graduation party) and I overheard a fellow complaining about how this economy is wreaking havoc on his life — due to a layoff from a certain large sports shoe and apparel company based in Portland.  The company has a reputation for providing dream jobs.  Cool setting.  The “campus” is almost like a resort complete with soccer fields and a swimming pool, etc.  Not a bad gig.  And people working there consider themselves not only lucky — but they’ve also worked very hard to get there.  But, for this fellow, that was gone.  Poof!

I’ve heard many stories like his lately.  But this was different.  This fellow was angry.  Really angry.  And, in my opinion, he feels a sense of entitlement for the type of job he once held at this prestigious, hip company.

So I began to think what advice I’d give him if he asked, or if I so rudely interrupted him (I didn’t but I was tempted).

Just like when Cher slapped Nicholas Cage in Moonstruck and told him to, “Snap out of it!”, my suggestion to this fellow would be to snap out of it!  But how?  I would suggest:

1.  Check your pride at the door.  Your external accomplishments are not who you are, so don’t evaluate or judge yourself

2.  Accept and embrace humility, and find the people in your life who care about the real you

3.  Own what and where you are now

4.  Define what a “Great Job” is by looking at your passions and interests as well as the things you loved and hated about your old job (cool company but there HAD to be some downsides somewhere) so you can start setting sights on what’s next.

Been laid off?  Worrying about a lay-off?  Or simply not satisfied in your current job?  Then snap out of it and do something about it!

Cheers,
Brian

www.briankurth.com

www.vocationvacations.com