Most of us 
begin our careers really jazzed about what we will be doing for the next thirty or forty years. Then, something happens. We wake up one morning only to find that the career we ordered is no longer filling our hearts, minds and sometimes indeed our stomachs. It can be somewhat comforting to know that others are experiencing a similar plight. Yet, this does little to fill up the emptiness that now resides inside our bodies.
That’s where Caroline Dowd-Higgins’ book, That’s Not the Career I Ordered: Empowering Strategies From Women Who Recharged, Reunited and Reinvented Their Careers comes in. Caroline begins her book by talking about her own journey from self-proclaimed Diva to Career Counselor at a prestigious mid-west law school. Her humor, which is required for all career changers, shines throughout her chapters. One of my favorite parts of the book is where Caroline discusses how she turned her career as an opera singer into a full-scale production of her own. She is one of the founding members of the professional singing group, The Grateful Divas. The group raises money for non-profits and charitable organizations nationally. Caroline proves that you can have your cake and eat it too, and still have money to pay the baker.
People in the prime of their careers tell me all the time why they feel they are acting in their final scene. Many are miserable in their current careers, yet they continue to act as if nothing is wrong. Usually they aren’t fooling anyone, as their employers are able to see right through them. Of course they then act surprised when they are replaced by someone who is able to hit the notes they used to hit.
Spring is here and it’s the perfect time to take stock and try something new. How about trying on happiness for a change of pace?
Check out our Job Search Programs, specifically designed for those who are serious about finding a job that reflects the skill and talent they bring to the stage everyday.
