Events:
Past Event Summaries

February Meeting Summary:
Taking Ownership of Your Career
by Elizabeth Michalka

Taking ownership of your career involves deciding what you want and going after it, according to Stephanie Zizzo, certified life and career coach.

"You can achieve anything you want," Zizzo said to a room full of communication professionals attending the February IABC meeting at the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce.

Zizzo only spoke briefly before launching into an interactive discussion with attendees. She asked the audience to think about their careers and consider three main points: how they feel about their current position, what impact they are having in their job, and new steps or actions they want to take.

Then she opened the floor for attendees to share their thoughts. Some shared horror stories of unhappy work situations, and some said they felt they were not making the right amount of progress or having the impact they desire in their career.

Zizzo responded to every story with encouragement and advice. Some of her main points were:

• Carefully consider the impact you are currently having and the impact that you want to have. In some cases, you may discover that you are already having the impact that you desire or, with some tweaking, you can increase your impact.
• When you discover that you are having your desired impact, that knowledge will help you get rid of the "shoulds" that haunt us. The "shoulds" are all the things we tell ourselves we should do.
• Assess the importance of your career within all the other aspects of your life (like family and leisure time), and decide what your priorities are. It'll be easier to make decisions when you know your priorities.
• Always consider how important money is within the grand scheme of things. It's okay if your top priority is making more money; once you decide and know that, stick to it.
• If you see a need, take ownership by doing something to meet the need. Take initiative, especially when you feel passionately about something.
• If your success rides on the actions of someone else, you will fail. You cannot change or wait for anyone. Your success is up to you rather than your boss or anyone else.
• Sometimes work environments do not allow you to take ownership of your career. If that's the case, assess your situation and consider whether it's a situation worth staying in.

Zizzo's new book, The Journey From Comfort to Possibility: A Workbook of Self-Discovery and Personal Transformation, includes more practical tips and suggested actions for enriching your life and career.

Above all, Zizzo believes it is critical for us to be honest with ourselves and to be specific about what we want. She recommends writing out plans and creating proposals.

"When taking ownership, ask yourself what you really want to do," Zizzo said. "If you're not sure, look around you and see what appeals to you. Then go for what you want."

For more information about Zizzo, her book and her services - including upcoming seminars and phone counseling, visit her Web site, www.stefaniezizzo.com.