/ 202 LIFE / coach ’ s corner
By Career Coach Sherri Thomas
Why You ( and Your Career ) Need a Vacation !
Ahhh , I just returned home after renting an oceanview condo in Newport Beach for a month . One full month of playing at the beach , building sandcastles , staring out at the ocean and digging my toes into wet sand and then watching it all wash away .
In my “ normal ” life , I live in Tempe where my work days are over-stuffed with being a program manager for a Fortune 100 company , writing books , running my own business , helping clients , conducting media interviews , juggling work and family , and just trying to keep my head above water . The only time I can hop off the hamster wheel and try to be proactive about what I actually want to be doing in my career is when I go on vacation .
In fact , just a few years ago , I was vacationing at the Hyatt in San Diego , spending my days eating ice cream cones , walking along the beach and cheering for Shamu at Sea World . Feeling extraordinarily refreshed one morning , I got up early and ate my breakfast out on the balcony overlooking the ocean . On a whim , I grabbed my laptop and pulled up Amazon . It had been a dream of mine to be featured on their Top Ten List of Personal Branding Books . I was currently lagging at No . 13 .
Quietly , my thoughts turned towards the question , “ What are they doing that I ’ m not doing ?” I lingered over each book ’ s description and noticed that many of the Top 10 books were available in audio and e-book formats . I quickly added to my list of career goals that in six months , I would offer my book in audio and e-book versions . I did , and eight months later my book soared to No . 3 on Amazon ’ s Top 10 list .
This would never have happened if I hadn ’ t allowed myself to escape from the office . It turns out that when we ’ re able to leave the office ( and I mean , really leave the office behind us ) to rejuvenate and replenish our spirit , we are actually able to think new thoughts . In fact , I wrote my entire first book in just three-and-a-half weeks while I was vacationing at a Bed and Breakfast in Dublin , Ireland .
Takeaway Lesson
I try not to let my thoughts linger on my daily routine when on vacation , but more toward answering questions like :
X What energizes me in my career ? X What gives me the feeling of accomplishment ? X What fills me with purpose and meaning ? X What are the ‘ fun ’ things I ’ m currently doing ? X Are there any new things that I want to try doing ?
Carve out time this summer to travel somewhere that ’ s fun and dream about possibilities in your career . What do you want to be doing ? Which activities fill you with energy ? How can you start doing more of those ? Which activities deplete you of energy ? Are there ways you can delegate , negotiate with your boss , or outsource those activities ? What do you want to accomplish ?
Give yourself permission to dream . My dream is to be able to take off one month during the summer , plus the entire month of December . That would mean working 10 months of the year , and taking two months off . I ’ m not there yet , but with each vacation I ’ m getting closer to making it a reality .
Sherri Thomas is a Career Strategist , international speaker and author of the 2013 “ Best Career Book ” by the Indie book awards for , “ The Bounce Back – personal stories of bouncing back higher and faster after a layoff , re-org or career setback ” and “ Career Smart – 5 Steps to a Powerful Personal Brand ” currently on AMAZON ’ s TOP 10 LIST for personal branding . You can download three FREE chapters of THE BOUNCE BACK at www . MyBounceBack . com
48
202 MAGAZINE \ JULY 2013 \ 202magazine . com