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