Are you really a business owner or still trying to be someone else?

Copyright Chesney Bradshaw 2016
Copyright Chesney Bradshaw 2016

I came across a business owner the other day, someone who now owns a franchise in a large national chain, but on his LinkedIn profile, he said he was still open to corporate opportunities. It makes one think about small business ownership and whether it can satisfy people who have been in the corporate world and enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s not by choice or design that people buy a franchise that because circumstances in their career in a large company have changed. Continue reading “Are you really a business owner or still trying to be someone else?”

Do you think this lifestyle is possible before the big door closes?

(Copyright © 2015 by Chesney Bradshaw, all rights reserved)
(Copyright © 2015 by Chesney Bradshaw, all rights reserved)

You’re living in Jeffries Bay, Simon’s Town or Saldana Bay. At Jeffries Bay you wake up in the morning, drive down to the beach and go for a swim in the refreshing sea. Afterwards you go up to the coffee roastery and eat breakfast. With no traffic to mention, you drive to your beach house and start your day’s work. Continue reading “Do you think this lifestyle is possible before the big door closes?”

Smart-Aleck advice on life transitions don’t cut the mustard

"Pump House", Vaal River, Parys, by Chesney Bradshaw
“Pump House”, Vaal River, Parys, by Chesney Bradshaw

Transitions can be an opportunity in self-discovery. But they can also be a nightmare for those who fear change, those who are stuck with super glue to the status quo.

I heard of someone who had been with an organisation for many years and because of bad management the unit where she worked was shut down. But this person, being the leader she is, decided that she would use the opportunity to make a career transition that would give her more personal growth. She is actually looking forward to her career transition. Continue reading “Smart-Aleck advice on life transitions don’t cut the mustard”

What support do you need in crossing the unknown sea in your life?

Storm at sea.
Storm at sea. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A young woman’s sensing the need for change after working at a Swiss bank in Zürich has decided to transition into a career in sport management. The inciting incident or trigger event for this woman was that the bank is not doing well and retrenchments are on the way.

Life or career transitions can be provoked by external or internal change. Yet, as we know, transition happens internally and can often be traumatic, difficult and painful. It can mean a shaking up of your equilibria or status quo. The need to change places additional stress on you. Even if the need for transition is initiated by yourself, you still may feel uneasy, uncertain and adrift like a small rowboat on a vast stormy ocean. Continue reading “What support do you need in crossing the unknown sea in your life?”

What are the five stages of crossing the unknown sea?

John M. Fisher’s Process of Transition
John M. Fisher’s Process of Transition

People face making important transitions in their careers and lives. It doesn’t always have to be a painful process if you know how to handle a transition in your life or career.

One of the important tools in managing personal transitions or inner journeys is to understand that transformation follows a definite stage process. It is useful to have such a model because it allows you to understand what is happening and enables you to make sense of your world. Continue reading “What are the five stages of crossing the unknown sea?”

Are you facing a transition in your life?

satir-change-modelHow many transitions have you faced in your working life? Are you at the beginning or in the middle of a transition right now? Do you wish you had the tools, processes and even someone to help you manage your life transition?

Research studies show that people face up to 7 or more transitions in their working life. These days transitions occur more frequently because even the largest companies are struggling in this economy and have to make structural adjustments or changes. You also might be fed up or tired of what you are doing and want to change.

It can be an uncertain time, painful and scary when making a transition whether it be career, retirement, relocation, lifestyle, all because of personal circumstances. It a time of great searching, reflection and introspection to find out what you want to do and how you are going to get there. But it doesn’t have to be hard. Instead of seeing it it as a struggle or survival course, you can see your transition as an adventure.

How do you handle a transition in your life or career?

One of the main things is to know what motivates you and what you feel passionately about. You also need to know what you are good at doing and what you can do that generates income for you. Or, if it is not income, you need to be clear about your new ideal role. There is a simple and fun tool that I have used to help people who are stuck in their careers or other transitional times that can quickly and easily bring new insights.

You also need to know your key drivers. There are about 85 drivers and one of the exercises is to work out which ones motivate you the most. It may be two or three or a handful that is important to you. These could include making a difference, mentoring, lifestyle, creativity, financial independence, professional gratification, being energised, to be current or even to be constantly challenged. This exercise helps you find the drivers that matter most to you.

Using simple worksheets, you then find out what activities and achievements have been important in your life to determine your skills and sub-skills. Once you know your skills and talents as well as your business skills, you are in a far better position to know your strengths and weaknesses.

From these exercises you will want to work out your personal value proposition. Your value proposition shows what sort of value you can offer given your experiences and skills and how that can benefit others whether it be a company, small business, not for profit, or even work that you wish to do on a voluntary basis. Simple and fun brainstorming exercises help you identify your key values.

Next, you would use a simple technique to imagine possibilities so that you can match your skills and experience with opportunities whether they be market opportunities or possibilities to serve your community. The most important final step will be to make it happen which means execution or implementation. This is where you find opportunities for yourself whether it be in your present company or outside.

We believe in helping people reach their full potential and turn what’s can be seen as a fear trip into an exciting adventure. For people in transition who are looking for reducing the risk and agony in starting something new, we have developed a practical manual that guides you in developing a roadmap for your transition. “Breakthrough Ideas” saves you time and money and improves your chances of success. Here’s the link.