Happy “Quitters Day”. . .unless you don’t!

A recent Inc.com article pointed out that, based on research, today, January 19, is lovingly referred to as “Quitters Day” because it’s today that most folks will give up on their goals for 2022.

In the midst of “The Big Quit” — a parallel term for “The Great Resignation” that’s been shaping our economy — there’s a whole lot of emphasis on terms reflecting retreat and retirement.

Of course, the economists say some of this is just the moving around of talent, which I am halfway through discussing in a series of articles on LinkedIn (see article 1 and article 2), yet the wording is all fairly negative.

Did you know that the French roots of “retire” mean to “draw back.” I’m not sure how you feel — and, for sure, there’s a LOT to want to retreat from in the recent past — but, in the midst of all the chaos, I believe that a course correction around “playing forward” is how we’ll personally turn our lives toward the directions we desire.

So, on the heels of “The Great Resignation” I would like to encourage you to step into “The Great Reevaluation” opportunity we all have to take the lemons of the last couple years (or, perhaps, lemons that have soured our lives for decades) and turn them into “playing forward” energy.

The book below comes out and will be available on Amazon in two weeks (2/2/22). If you’d like to get a sneak peak and be in a position to offer a review that day on Amazon, I have 20 spots available for beta-readers. Just 20. And, if you claim one, please only do so if you can truly commit to digging into it over the next two weeks.

(Hey, this is a complete midlife makeover book, so you’ll definitely want to spend time in it long-term. But here’s a chance to get a glimpse and be able to share what you see on 2/2/22 when purchasing the Kindle version — either $.99 or $2.99, not sure yet.)

The Reevaluation After “The Great Resignation” – Coming on 2/2/22

“The Back Forty: 7 Essential Embraces to Launch Life’s Radical Second Half outlines the basic tenets of an approach to life that maintains that midlife is a time to revise perspectives to reach for new opportunities for growth and fulfillment. It’s a welcome antidote to the notion that midlife begins the slow slide into inability and retirement from life, providing readers with an inspirational survey of these opportunities and how they may be realized. Consider it a perfectly timed tool for reevaluation brought on by “The Great Resignation” occurring in today’s world economy.”

The post January 19, 2022 – JOLT – Course correcting The Great Resignation – Beta-Reader Opportunity appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

Trust and abiding by science has been challenging

in recent times, and I have not been as “woke” about it myself in some ways. And yet here’s a big scientific revelation: the degree to which the good intentions and goals you and I have mused upon coming into this new year — the changes we want to make, the dreams we want to fulfill — will be directly related to what we do with those goals. You’ve likely heard of the Harvard study where folks were followed for decades and those with written goals were so much richer? Well, Dr. Gail Matthews Dominican University discovered that study was an urban myth. . .but in conducting her own, she proved that not only writing out your goals but actually taking action, communicating them to others, and being held accountable for them is where the real riches lie. OK, you’ve likely heard this before, but maybe it will stick with you this time, as it did with me last night when presented with the science:

How it worked: Participants in Group 1: were asked to think about their goals (what they wanted to accomplish over the next 4 weeks) and then asked to rate that goal acccording to difficulty, importance, the extent to which they had the skills and resources to accomplish the goal, their commitment and motivation to the goal, whether or not they had pursued this goal before and if so their prior success. Participants in Groups 2-5: were asked to write (type into an online survey) their goals and then to rate their goals according to those same dimensions. Group 3: was asked to formulate action commitments based on those goals. Group 4: was asked to formulate action commitments and send their goals and action commitments to a friend. Group 5: was asked to formulate action commitments and send their goals, action commitments and weekly progress reports to a friend. This group also received weekly reminders to email quick progress reports to their friend. At the end of 4 weeks participants were asked to rate their progress and the degree to which they had accomplished their goals In a nutshell: This study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of three coaching tools: accountability, commitment and writing down one’s goals. Our best wishes on a goal-fulfilling New Year of great accomplishment by you in 2022. And remember: you’ve got a friend. Think differently, play better. Radically, Darrell CareerGuy and Back Forty Freedom Flier

The post January 5, 2022 – JOLT – Scientific research impacting the quality of your 2022 appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

Let the gift be YOU this holiday season. . .

And may the gift of more, full, abundant, Self-expressed YOU in life, career, business, relationship, health and well-being be what you bring forth overflowingly in 2022.

Our best wishes, from the CareerGuy Back Forty to you and yours!

Think differently, play better.

Radically,

Darrell
CareerGuy and Back Forty Freedom Flier

The post December 22, 2021 – JOLT – All You Want for Christmas is (more of) YOU! appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

Can someone’s greater self-expression in 2022. . .

be put in a box?

Yes, if it’s in a gift box supporting their greater self-expression sent by you!

And it’s that box that helps them get outside of the career/life/purposeful fulfillment box in 2022.

Sure, there’s lots of supply chain delays on the regular stuff you could gift to your loved ones, but it’s likely stuff they don’t need or may regift (without your knowing it) anyway.

But a gift of reflection, planning and 2022 design of their better year ahead is not something they’d ever dream of regifting.

So, if you care enough to consider what really matters for those you love, then take advantage of the Holiday Gift Specials below. Each gift will come with a personalized email to your loved one acknowledging your thoughtfulness.

• Career Review Strategy Session: Know someone who wants to find their bigger career expansion? During this 90-minute phone call, Darrell gathers information on their specific career situation and then offers a tailor-made action plan to follow toward their greater career self-expression in 2022. This action plan is recorded to listen to again later. More info: https://careerguy.com/transition-coaching/
• PlayGame Big Game Coaching Session: Have an entrepreneurial or executive loved one looking to play a whole new game at a whole new level in multiple areas of life in 2022? In this 75-minute phone or zoom video session, I’ll construct with them a “Big Game” around their specific intentions. From issues of business building, goals achievement, launching new initiatives, or simply the benefit of having a coach in their corner to stretch them, this session sets them up for a playful and expansive 2022. More info at: https://careerguy.com/playgame/
• Back Forty Big Game Future Session: Is your friend ready for a deeper purpose exploration? In this 75-minute phone or zoom video session, we begin to build their Back Forty “Big Game” Future, addressing goals and dreams they’d like to achieve at the midpoint of life and career, breaking through to fulfilling on who they came here to be and what they came here to do. Why wait for the upcoming book (below)? Help them create the movie of their own superhero-ish 2022 NOW! More info at: https://thebackforty.com/shop/
  
• Any Other Service: A variety of services available from resume to interview support.

Limited sessions remain for this holiday offer. (HINT: The “loved one” could be you!)

Schedule any of these sessions now and, for a special holiday discount, use coupon code “20OFF”. (And, if you’re not sure when they’d schedule their session, just book one and we’ll reschedule later.)

Have Happy Holidays. . .both inside and outside of the box!

Think differently, play better.

The post December 15, 2021 – JOLT – Holiday Boxes to Get Outside the Box in 2022: Special Offers Inside appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

For those who’ve heard of or entertained. . .

the idea of “The Great Resignation” — as this unique period of working life has been deemed — this next month and standard New Years rituals (personal reflections, resolutions, intention-setting, etc.) should be anything but standard. There’s nothing holy about resignation. Let’s desecrate it!

If ever there was a time for deeper awareness of one’s career and life-purpose juices being squeezed out and imbibed with abandon, this is that time.

Sure, there’s a lot of hooplah to come around the festivities of the season. Yet, there’s no reason to wait to get a leg up on one’s repurposing toward a bigger, bolder and better new year until one is in recovery mode from holiday partying. Start that sober repurposing plan now!

Getting ahead of the game by getting your introspective evaluation and consciously constructed game plan in place before the parties can leave you enjoying the holidays even more because you already know what’s coming next: you’re boots are ready to hit the ground on Jan 1.

To support that proactive and even pre-emptive retailiatory strike on any foggy start to your upcoming New Year, enjoy a holiday discount on a few of my most popular career and life-purpose juicing sessions for the next 3 weeks:

Career Review Strategy Session: Want to find your own antidote to The Great Resignation? During this 90-minute phone call, Darrell gathers information on your specific career situation and then offers you a tailor-made action plan to follow toward your juice. This action plan is recorded for you to listen to later.

PlayGame Big Game Coaching Session: Looking to play a whole new game at a whole new level in multiple areas of life in 2022? In this 75-minute phone or zoom video session, we construct a “Big Game” around your specific intentions. From issues of business building, goals achievement, launching new initiatives, or simply the benefit of having a coach in your corner to stretch you, this session obliterates any great or small resignation.

Back Forty Big Game Future Session: Ready for a deeper purpose exploration? In this 75-minute phone or zoom video session, we begin to build your Back Forty “Big Game” Future, addressing goals and dreams you’d like to achieve at the midpoint of life and career, breaking you through to fulfilling who you came here to be and what you came here to do. Why wait for the upcoming book (below)? Let’s create the movie of your superhero-ish 2022 NOW!

Schedule any of these sessions to take place in the next 3 weeks — for you, or as a holiday gift for a loved one — to get a leg up on 2022 with a holiday discount by using the coupon code “30OFF” here.

Think differently, play better.

The Antidote to The Great Resignation – Coming in 2022

The post December 1, 2021 – JOLT – An Antidote to The Great Resignation? appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

Thanksgiving didn’t start out of the blue. . .

as being about turkey or even family. Rather, it was a big “THANK YOU” to the Native American Wampanoag tribe and their chief, Massasoit, for saving the hides of the first settlers.

After half of the Mayflower’s original colonists died during their first harsh winter, the tribe taught the survivors how to grow corn, to fish, to pull maple syrup from trees and how to avoid poisonous plants.

So, they celebrated after their first successful harvest and joined together with their helpers to express gratitude and rejoice in the blessing of life itself.

In that vein, I offer you a simple challenge for this holiday:

Who saved your hide this past year? Will you reach out and thank them? By when?

On my end, I want to thank you, as a subscriber to my (sorta) weekly JOLT Note. There’s been LOTS of changes going on here in my world, with a new book coming out in next year (after 19 years in development) and some related shifting of plans.

I appreciate your giving me a (sorta) weekly opportunity to attempt to creatively inspire, and ALWAYS appreciate your replies of what most makes a difference and helps you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now go thank those who’ve helped you!

Think differently, play better.

The post November 24, 2021 – JOLT – Who Has Saved a Piece of Your Hide?? appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

A Thanksgiving Challenge that can only leave you

being a whole other person in 8 days than you would have otherwise.

You’ve heard of The 12 Days of Christmas? Welcome to The 8 Days of Thanksgiving.

Simple challenge, yet will amp up your energy as well as contribute to the upliftment of others.

Between NOW and next Thursday — Thanksgiving here in the US (but play wherever you are) — take time each day to distinguish at least one blessing in your life, and post on some social media venue at least one thing you’re thankful for! Invite others to join in with you if you like, but post anyway, regardless of likes, loves, cares or comments! (Use hashtag #8daysofthanksgiving)

We’ll be playing this in our Back Forty Freedom Fliers Group (see above), and you’re more than invited to join us.

Yet please don’t take this simple game for granted. You’ll be amazed at not only what you’ll discover in and for yourself but the tide of good energy that will happen because of you. Use your blessings to incite others to count theirs. . .and let’s create a frikkin movement!

The 8 Days of Thanksgiving are upon you. Make a grateful noise!

Think differently, play better. (And, again, if you want to play with US, join us here.)

The post November 16, 2021 – JOLT – Introducing The 8 Days of Thanksgiving. . . To Build Your Gratitude Muscles! appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

The age-old deliberation around in or out. . .

Where might I be in a holding pattern inside the wrinkles of my navel trying to figure it all out on my own?

Where might I be running like a hamster on a wheel in the world of effect without giving due diligence to my inner cause?

What’s my next step in striking a balance?

The post October 27, 2021 – JOLT – Balancing Your In and Out? appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

We often devote a lot of time to the goals. . .

Because your very growth, expansion and vitality depends on it!

Have you ever actually deliberately and voluntarily chosen disruption in your life?

The standard answer is “no” because the standard understanding is that we are always consciously and subconsciously seeking safety and comfort.

But rarely are any great strides in our personal development and engagement of life achieved through safety and comfort. Maybe never.

If, however, you are well aware that the biggest challenges you’ve ever faced in your life helped you become a greater YOU, then you’re already clear on the value of disruption. It’s just whether you actively choose to put yourself in the gym of disruption-generated growth and development on a regular basis.

HINT: you can actually choose to voluntarily put yourself inside of such a crucible or chrysalis of personal/career/business/dreams expansion, depending on the YOU that you’re interested in developing.

Here’s an opportunity, for the few, the proud, the brave:

For those interested in designing a Big Game for 2022, I’ve schedule a couple Back Forty Accountability Alliance Mastermind Groups in which we can all be empowered by fresh ideas and held accountable by one another for taking the actions necessary to launch More of You in 2022!

If you’re not a not yet a member yet of the Back Forty Midlife Fliers Group on Facebook, this would be a great time to join as we are offering these groups to our members only.

You don’t have to be 40, 50, or 85 to be a member. You just need to be interested in playing a bigger, more playful, passionate and purposeful second half game of life beyond what you’ve played thus far. And that means career, business, dreams, relationships. . .you name it!

Join the group now here and see details of an event happening Friday afternoon to answer questions for playing boldly together before the end of the year to design your Big Game for 2022!

I’ll discuss this idea of disruption more today at noon PST in a short, 3-minute LIVE Facebook video in our Back Forty Midlife Fliers group (again, join us here).

If you want your 2022 to be something playfully disruptive to have your heart pumping and your goals jumping, check out a free educational video and download your copy of “The Top 7 Benefits of Mastermind Success” here.

Think differently, play better.

Radically,

Darrell
CareerGuy and Back Forty Freedom Flier

The post October 20, 2021 – JOLT – Disrupt and Be Saved: An Opportunity To Proactively Design 2022 For More of You appeared first on CareerGuy.com.

We often devote a lot of time to the goals. . .

and dreams that we want to bring about in our lives but don’t take enough time to manage the environments in which those goals reside.

Capture this scene: someone aspires to reach a goal, say, become a dancer in a top dance conservatory. However, they don’t have any exposure to that world, they work a day job in a steel mill and only dance in a dive bar at night.

This is often the case with big dreams: all hat (high-minded and wistful visions of grandeur), no cattle (the actual substance and means for fulfillment).

However, let’s say that this particular someone catches the eye of a person a league up from them, say the boss of the steel mill, who has both means and a wider view of life to offer a supportive opinion that this dream is possible. . .and you now have an upgrade taking place in the Relationships Environment.

Add to that some offered mentorship by an individual who has travelled those worlds of high-level dance — a former ballet performer — and you now have an upgrade happening in the Networking Environment.

With all of these Environmental Upgrades (and others), it actually then becomes possible to have a once wistful vision become a reality.

OK, who recognized the plot line for “Flashdance”?

We love the stories of individuals who have risen above non-supportive environments to achieve previously unimaginable goals, and Hollywood makes a mint off them.

Are you making a mint off of your own rise-up story?

You too have some (now) seemingly unachievable goal or dream that is simply hanging out in a wistful vision. Is it time to add some cattle to your hat?

I’ll discuss this, and the 9 Environments in which our goals reside, more today at noon PST in the regular Wednesday Facebook Live video in our Back Forty Midlife Fliers group (join us here).

Though today’s Live will address ALL kinds of goals and dreams, if you just happen to be an executive that has been wistfully envisioning your career growth but not fulfilling on it for whatever reason, my HR executive wife and I have put together a gamified program to support adding cattle to your hat this fall, to set you up for a winter or spring breakout Flashdance!

This program is specifically designed for senior professionals and promises a whole new outlook on who you are, what you bring to the table, and the environments you build around yourself and your career.

If you want your future to be something playfully outside of the steel mill, check out a free 25min educational video here.

Think differently, play better.

Radically,

Darrell
CareerGuy and Back Forty Freedom Flier

The post September 29, 2021 – JOLT – You and Your Dreams Have Earned an Environmental Upgrade appeared first on CareerGuy.com.