HEADLINES from Business Mentors, Inc.

What is HEADLINES?

HEADLINE: YOU HAVE OPTIONS…

He couldn't believe that time had passed so rapidly.  It seemed like yesterday when Kenneth finished college. Within one month after graduation, he was offered an opportunity to join the family-owned firm of one of his classmates.  At the time, he was facing a very depressed employment market after graduation. That was twenty years ago, and he thought he was the most fortunate guy in the world.

I WAS BORN FOR THIS JOB…

His career track there was impressive.  While he started as a management trainee, he rose rapidly from Manager to Director and then to Vice President. He was eventually the position of President of the organization about eight years ago.  All had gone well during this time in his leadership role, well, until he started to come up against some strong opinions of family members.  He wanted to expand the company and move it forward into a high growth mode. The most senior family member, however, “the Patriarch”, believed that a more conservative growth strategy would be a better route to follow.

WHICH WAY DO I GO…?

His unwillingness to deviate from his plan was his “un-doing”.  He found himself unemployed after twenty years with that one company. His resume reflected one industry and one company.  He was totally at a loss as to where to turn.  He couldn't imagine doing anything except pursuing another leadership role in exactly the same industry. As we talked, he recognized something interesting… He readily admitted that he had never been interested in the field where he had spent the last twenty years. It was a job, and simply that!

COUNSEL FROM THE COACH

Kenneth was astonished when I introduced him to a process which allowed him to see that he had many alternatives he could pursue professionally.  If he did want to pursue another leadership role, he could branch out and consider those marketplaces that were tied to his industry in one way or another.  He might join a former vendor or supplier organization; he could pursue a position in a consulting organization that prided itself on its focus on his former industry; or, better yet, he could launch his own consulting practice. His elation at these ideas was noticeable. He wanted to get to work pursuing these options immediately.

Now, Kenneth is two months into his job search process. He has turned down two offers since neither was the right fit. He’s determined to find an opportunity that is both challenging and satisfying and one that takes advantage of his depth of experience. At this moment, he’s engaged in discussions with a smaller, start-up organization where the focus is on transforming the operational methods of his former industry.

His enthusiasm is obvious and prospective employers are drawn to his energy. He has learned that there are always options in a career search when you “open your mind” to alternatives. As well, he has realized that it helps to have the support of a coaching professional who can assist in better understanding his skills and the options available to him.

Invest in Yourself,

Al Stewart

President/Owner

Business Mentors, Inc. is a career management organization that was founded in 1995 by Al Stewart, a former corporate executive with background in the transportation and communications industries with such industry leaders as Eastern Airlines, AT&T, GTE and Sprint and an educational background in Adult Education. His firm, Business Mentors, Inc., offers a broad range of services focused on successful management of professional careers including: Career Exploration, Career Transition, Career Outplacement, Becoming an Entrepreneur, Executive Development and International Transition. With a powerful record of success using counseling, consulting and motivation of over 3500 executives in the past ten years, the firm founded the executive coaching movement and continues to enhance its reputation as one of the leading and most highly regarded career management firms in the country. For more information about our services or questions regarding how we can assist you, please consult our website: www.business-mentors.com Or, you can choose to email us at alstewart@business-mentors.com or call our offices (Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale or Paris, France) at our global number: 404.644.8618. Our associates are available in person at one of our three offices or via teleconference worldwide.

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