| "When I was laid off, I was shaking so badly that I | | | | Volunteer Investment -- finding one or more ways to |
| didn't know whether I could drive home," said Kristin, | | | | reach out to your community in a way that is |
| 32, a mother of three who lost a public relations job. | | | | meaningful to you. When volunteerism supports your |
| "My heart was pounding and I felt disassociated, like | | | | personal purpose, you can gain new skills and meet |
| the whole thing was a bad dream." | | | | valuable new contacts, all while making a difference in |
| After working at the same company for five years, | | | | your world. |
| David, 36, was escorted out of his building after | | | | Lifelong Learning Investment -- including mentorship, |
| being informed that the company was heading in a | | | | focused reading and education. |
| new direction and no longer needed his type of skills. | | | | Once you identify your desired career assets, you |
| Shock, rootlessness and anger are just a few normal | | | | can put together a step-by-step plan for building your |
| responses many feel when they lose their jobs to | | | | CareerPortfolio. Your overall life goals, available time, |
| corporate downsizing. Since the national crisis on Sept. | | | | the ability to balance work and family, and stage of |
| 11, the U.S. Dept. of Labor states that jobless claims | | | | your life all should factor into your decision-making. |
| are approaching 700,000 across the U.S. -- the | | | | A CareerPortfolio in Phoenix |
| highest in nearly a decade. | | | | Pam Overton, partner in the national law firm of |
| How can you mitigate career risk -- otherwise known | | | | Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Attorneys at Law, has built a |
| as the pitfalls of marketplace change, economic | | | | CareerPortfolio comprising three major career |
| turndowns, downsizing, personal health and life | | | | investments: Primary, Volunteer, and Lifelong Learning. |
| changes, and distasteful company politics that can | | | | |
| wreck havoc with one's life? | | | | Pam's personal purpose is to excel at her career, |
| The answer lies in building a CareerPortfolio, a career | | | | while supporting her family and placing them as her |
| risk management approach, similar to building a | | | | No. 1 priority. Her purpose includes having a strong |
| financial portfolio, that can help you develop four, | | | | charitable and spiritual life to add perspective and |
| specific career assets, or "investments." Why four? | | | | balance. |
| Because these four ingredients offer a well-balanced | | | | Her Primary Income Investment is her litigation |
| opportunity for you to earn, learn, and help others | | | | practice, which focuses on complex litigation, business |
| throughout the rest of your life. And, like a financial | | | | torts, breach of contract and condemnation matters. |
| portfolio, you can diversify risk so that you always | | | | In this role, Pam won the Golden Heart of Business |
| have a number of career options on tap. | | | | Award in 2000. She also was recognized by Today's |
| Begin with a Personal Purpose | | | | Arizona Woman Magazine as one of the "Top 10 |
| To build a CareerPortfolio, start by developing your | | | | Business Women in the State of Arizona" for two |
| personal purpose. Your personal purpose is your | | | | consecutive years. |
| investment strategy that guides all of your career | | | | Pam's Volunteer Investments include serving on the |
| decisions. | | | | board of directors for Fresh Start Women's |
| Begin by answering the following questions. | | | | Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping |
| How would I like to be remembered 100 years from | | | | women who need assistance in career, financial and |
| now? | | | | life skills to better their futures. This board of |
| What am I passionate about? | | | | powerful community movers and shakers provides |
| Two projects when I made a difference in recent | | | | Pam an opportunity to learn leadership skills, provide |
| years are (list them): | | | | value to the organization, and learn more about |
| Now think about the big picture and write down the | | | | community issues. |
| purpose of your life by filling in the blank: The | | | | Pam's additional Volunteer Investments include |
| purpose of my life is | | | | supporting cancer and heart research and |
| to____________________________. | | | | development. She has dedicated many fundraising |
| You can revise your personal purpose statement as | | | | hours at All Saints' Episcopal Day School where her |
| needed. It will help you decide what types of | | | | children attend school, integrating volunteer service |
| opportunities are worth pursuing. You will become | | | | with family life. |
| purposeful rather than just "busy." | | | | For Lifelong Learning Investments, Pam is a member |
| Develop Your CareerPortfolio | | | | of several lawyer's professional associations and has |
| Now, it's time to assess the kinds of career assets | | | | served on the Arizona State Bar's Ethics Committee, |
| you either may want to develop. If you have two or | | | | sharing and gaining insight which ultimately benefits |
| more of the following career assets working in your | | | | her clients. |
| life, you will be building optimal career wealth over | | | | "All of these career investments add valuable |
| time. | | | | perspective to my career and bring opportunities to |
| Primary Income Investment -- your job, or business | | | | learn and build lasting friendships," Pam said. |
| that you own, where the majority of your financial | | | | Pam reviews her career investments periodically to |
| income is earned. | | | | ensure balance, as she and her husband raise their |
| Secondary Income Investment -- an optional, | | | | three children. |
| alternate source of income that allows you to gain | | | | If you have two or more CareerPortfolio assets in |
| additional knowledge, career options, income, and | | | | place, you will be far more flexible and confident to |
| sense of purpose. Not everyone is destined to own a | | | | face future career changes. Regardless of your age |
| business. However, those who choose to develop a | | | | or place in life, it's never too late to build a purposeful |
| business or occasional side project can start out | | | | and rewarding CareerPortfolio. |
| small, and grow the business over time. | | | | |