Dear fwm: Tom Volkar on Changing Gears

Posted by: Viviana | Posted on: May 20, 2008 | Comments 16

Thanks to all who have sent questions to us through our DearFwm email (and keep them coming!). We can’t wait until fwm launches so that we can regularly feature these dilemmas, with solutions from our fwm expert contributors. Here’s a sample of what’s in store: fwm Community Member Mia Smith sent us this question, and we’ve asked fwm expert contributor Tom Volkar to jump in and answer. Mia’s question deals with something so many of us face--gathering the courage to take flight in a new career direction. Tom is a career coach, writer, and blogger who specializes in helping people realize their potential. Mia writes:

I have been working for the same company for the past 13 years. When I first started here it was my intention to be here for five years only and move on to open my own business. Obviously, that time has come and gone. I have always had a desire to own my own business. My latest dream has left me overwhelmed and afraid because I feel like it is bigger than I am. This has kept me confused as to which direction to move in. I am not sure where to begin because the ideas keep coming to enhance my initial dream. So, at this point I have been journaling my ideas until I can get a hold of what I am doing, but I need guidance.

I understand how you feel. Many before you have also been intimidated by the scope and power of their own imagination. Fear not. Your idea came to you; that means that you have the strength and capability to see it through to reality.

But you must decide on a direction and act. You can’t remain in your head because all your doubts and fears are there, eroding your dreams. To act you need confidence. You need to feel as though the odds are in your favor. A good coach can help you to validate your authentic desires and match them to a market need. A coach can help you sort things out so you can see and choose your next optimum step.

Once you get into action only good things can happen.

1). You’ll be able to see what you could not before. Opportunities and connections will appear as you act.
2). You’ll make mistakes and they will help you to arrive at fresh realizations from which you can make adjustments and move forward.
3). You’ll be in the midst of making your dream come true and you’ll feel much more vibrant and alive than you did while just in your head. Every part of your being will vibrate with joy and fulfillment.

I’ll make you an offer that I hope you have the courage to accept. I’ll give you a no-obligation coaching session so that you can receive the guidance you seek. Your only payment will be to write about your experience of being coached and share it on this blog. That way we both can help inspire many others to get out of their heads and into action.

Tom Volkar ~ CoreU & DelightfulWork.com

Related tags: advice, career-change, dearfwm, tom-volkar

16 people have responded so far. Add your comment below.
Viviana said:
05.20.08 1:13 p.m.
Thank you again, Tom! Mia has enthusiastically areed to the coaching session. I can't wait to hear from both of you after you have your session. Do keep us posted!
Dorinne said:
05.20.08 5:54 p.m.
I had a meeting today with my *coach,she is also on the winter market committee with me. We discussed the direction we want the market to go and how to get there. A year ago to the month, I never would have dreamed that I would be doing what I am now. I just wanted a place to sell my jewelry, now I am able to plan and execute events for a wonderful community and am working on developing a commercial kitchen. The right help at the right time makes a huge difference in whether you succeed, networking, listening, communication all play a role in that success. Tom is correct when he mentioned action makes opportunities appear.To conquer my fears, I have taken baby steps, now they are full strides with a clear destination.Yes it is scary, but most things in life are, your attitude about them will make the difference in whether they conquer you or you conquer them!
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work said:
05.21.08 2:22 p.m.
Dorinne it's so pleasing to read about your progress and how fun the action is for you. Big strides are what's necessary sometimes to blow the funk off. It sounds like you are well on your way. All there is an interesting discussion going on at my blog right now on... what makes you exceptional? For would be entrepreneurs the comments especially will be inspiring to read because of all the business owners and bloggers who have decided to be their wild selves without regard to what others might think. Mia I'm looking forward to coaching you and you sharing your progress here.
Lori R said:
05.21.08 2:34 p.m.
I hear so much about "coaching" and frankly, I always thought of it as something wealthy people did. However, I now know of a few friends and colleagues who have worked with either a life coach or a career coach, with great results. I wonder if it's like the relationship I have with my personal trainer? She cares, so I care. She takes the time, so I take the time. In other words, I pay her to care whether or not I show up at the gym that day (smiles) and because she and I have made that investment and have that professional relationship, I show up.
Mia said:
05.21.08 3:54 p.m.
Hello Tom, Thank you for offering me the first coaching session to help me get going on my journey. With that said, what's next? Dorrine, thank you for the encouragement and support. Mia
Marion Oliver said:
05.23.08 9:16 a.m.
This is a great idea!!! I agree with Lisa--I only recently realized what a common thing coaching is becoming. By the way, Tom--your blog is, well, DELIGHTFUL!
Maggie R said:
05.23.08 9:26 a.m.
Mia- I know exactly how you feel. I, too, don't see myself at my current job long term and have a business idea (finally!) I'm going to start with researching my idea on nights and weekends once my kids are in bed and see where that leads me. If the research shows this could really be as successful as I hope, then I hope that will give me the motivation to do something bold (like quit my job and get a loan or a small investment to cover me!) Good luck!
Viviana said:
05.23.08 9:32 a.m.
@Maggie and everyone else...I encourage you to look at the Mentor's page on the Yahoo! Seeds For Success contest. Several of the mentors that Carolyn brought on board for this contest(and whose websites are listed next to their pictures) are a wealth of information on launching a business. In particular, Christina Blenk of www.womanowned.com has an incredible website. Here is the Yahoo SFS page: http://seedsforsuccess.smallbusiness.yahoo.com/index.php
Corinne said:
05.23.08 9:36 a.m.
Hi Ladies & Tom- I haven't used a coach, but I'm really considering it now. I've discussed my business idea with a few people to briefly pick their brain and afterwards, I've regretted it. Sometimes the advice isn't all that great, I can't tell anyone that, and then I worry people will feel that I owe them $omething. I also worry that they might tell other people my idea! Maybe it is best to work with a coach for motivation and for tactical advice (if they even do that?) since they work with your best interests in mind.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work said:
05.24.08 7:57 a.m.
(1 of 4) Ladies I’m honored to respond because you sound like you’re ready to take some action. So many folks just talk about being their own boss. But it’s essential that we move into action because then both our perspective and our confidence changes. Lori, personal training is a pretty good analogy at least from the standpoint of having a partner who cares about you and your progress. Coaching goes much deeper so that you can discover your strengths and uniqueness to move forward from a firm foundation built on who you are and what you want. Most of us do need a higher degree of accountability and both coaching and personal training can provide it. (continued)
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work said:
05.24.08 8:01 a.m.
(2 of 4) Maggie, you sound like you are ready to make your move and yes it will be challenging for a while as you work both on your dream and in your job. Research is a key step but try not to get too hung up there. There is always a next small action step to take to move you closer to your objective. Unfortunately I’ve seen people get really stuck in the research step because they don’t know exactly what their objective is so they don’t recognize found wisdom when they see it. That’s a big part of what coaching helps you do, clarify, define and set objectives so your valuable resources of time, money and connections are leveraged in the best way possible. (continued)
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work said:
05.24.08 8:03 a.m.
(3 of 4) Corrine, yes it can be hard just discussing your idea randomly, even among relatives and friends because everyone has their own fears and their own agenda. I’m coaching a young lady now who is working 50+ hours a week in the fashion industry and wants out. She was initially shocked to discover that all of her girlfriends seemed non-supportive of her new career desire and some were very negative. Yet with the help of a coach you can build a support structure that gives you exactly what you need to take the next step. Everything talked about in a coaching session is confidential and a coach would be the last person to ever steal an idea. Believe me, we have plenty of our own that we are working on and most coaches are so authentic that they only want to develop their own ideas. (continued)
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work said:
05.24.08 8:03 a.m.
(4 of 4) An invitation – my process is to have a 20 minutes discussion about you and your desires. Within that discussion we’ll get a feel for our possible coach-client synergy. If we both agree I’ll write a custom intake questionnaire to be used for an individual coaching session. You’ll respond to the questions and we will use your responses to focus the session. You’ll be under no obligation or owe anything for that session. Yet you can use it to determine if coaching is for you. So Corrine, or anyone of you, go to my blog and send me an email requesting a time to talk. It’s my honor to help you bring your dreams to fruition. However I am an action oriented coach who will be both firm and encouraging, so please do not request a session unless you are ready to make and honor agreements.
Viviana said:
05.24.08 8:25 a.m.
I love how this is moving forward!! I must drop in and add one point that jumped out at me...Corinne, you mentioned talking to a few people, and I assume you meant friends or colleagues. This brings up a matter that many a career woman and/or potential business owner has faced. While many friends will truly want to help, they can never be as effective as someone who comes in from an outside perspective and takes a fresh look at things (and is not afraid to make observations and suggestions that you may not want to hear). It sounds as if you've noticed that friends and coaches provide very, very different roles.
Mia said:
05.25.08 5:55 p.m.
Corinne, you would be wise to seek direction outside of your friends and family. I made the mistake of sharing my idea with a friend and she is now trying to steal my dream. I am very frustrated with myself for even sharing it. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I definately have learned from my mistake.
Mia said:
06.01.08 12:43 p.m.
My first coaching session with Tom Volkar was great. The questions I had to answer have aloud me to really dig deep and begin to understand myself. The tapping videos and instructions have been very useful and have helped me to redirect my negative thinking in to positive thoughts. Although the agreements we are making are going to be challenging at times, I am excited to know that I am beginning to move in the direction of my dream of entrepreneurship. I look forward to our next session next week. Thank you FWM and Viviana for seeing something in my original post that needed immediate attention by one of your experts. This experience is going to be a journey like no other for me. Not an easy one, but hopefully very worth it.
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