Chapter 15: Taking Control

Consider this: Since we are all living longer than people in generations past, if we start our professional careers in our early twenties, we will be in the workforce for a period of 45 to 50 years. Now, if you hate your job, working for 50 years sounds like a horrifying proposition. If you love your job, however, working for 50 years sounds more like a gift. If you love what you do, you will want to keep doing it, because it uses your strengths and talents, continually enhances your skills, honors your values, and allows you to be professionally successful and personally fulfilled at the same time.

Take control of your career, and you will be taking control of your life.

Resources

The following organizations and web sites are offered as resources for additional information:

• Coaching, assessments, and workshops: Executive Coaching and Resource Network: www.Executive-Coaching.com

• In-person executive networking opportunities:

  Executive-Networking (west coast): www.executive-networking.com

  ExecuNet (nationwide): www.execunet.com

  C-Sixgroups:.yahoo.com/group/csixnetwork

  FortyPlus of Bay Area: www.fortyplus.org/

  Financial Executives Networking Group: www.thefeng.org/home.html

  Marketing Executives Networking Group: www.men gonline.com/

• For a national database of networking groups: www.careerjournal.com/calendar/index.html

• Virtual executive networking opportunities:

  Ryze www.ryze.com

• Nationwide expert career management resources for executives and professionals: www.ExecuNet.com

• Legal advice for employees: Executive Law Group, www.execlaw.com

• Coach referral services, some with a sliding scale and pro bono coaching:

  International Coach Federation: www.coachfederation.org

  Coachville: www.coachvillereferral.com

  Coach Inc.: www.coachinc.com

• For healing:

  Therapist Referral Network: www.therapy-referral.com

  Therapist Directory: www.psychology.com/therapist/

• Directory of recruiters and other search resources:

  www.i-recruit.com

  www.searchfirm.com/

  www.executive-coaching.com/searchresources.htm

• Better Business Bureau: www.bbb.com