How to succeed in your career


Career Portfolio

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



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