"From the early fourteenth century to the late sixteenth century, the Renaissance era ignited Europe with its exciting emphasis on human individuality and expression. Renaissance thinkers rejected the dominant philosophy of the Middle Ages, when a person's highest purpose was to pray for his eternal soul to ensure life in the hereafter - and to accept his lot in life while on earth. The Renaissance fascination with individual potential stimulated a spirit of inquiry and experimentation. Its brightest stars made brave forays into uncharted lands experimented with new forms of government; conducted scientific studies on plants, animals, and the elements; invented technologies such as gunpowder and the printing press and reached dizzying heights of artistic endeavor"
"The Renaissance demanded a new kind of person, one well suited to the era's invigorating atmosphere. This new ideal emerged in Italy from the writings of Leon Battista Alberti (1401-1472), an architect and art theorist who stated badly that "a man can do all things if he will." Alberti dubbed this versatile, highly capable type of human Uoma Universale, meaning "universal man," but the phrase that has survived in our history books is "Renaissance man." TO say that the Renaissance man was well rounded would be an understatement. Renaissance men were expected to develop their understanding of natural sciences and philosophy....and exhibit accomplishment in athletics, artistic pursuits, and the courtly art of conversation"
Career options:
- Different career paths pursued sequentially
- Umbrella - one job title that has many interests
- Two for one - two jobs pursued simultaneously and complement one another
- A J-O-B - paid work that serves YOUR interests
- One career path with improved life design to accommodate a lot of interests
I do have a hard time choosing between one interest & another. MAYBE I DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE!
I interrupt myself by dropping one task to pick up another before it's done!
I am skeptical of traditional time-management and business tools because of the overly detailed nature of it and it being long-term!
There's nothing wrong if you specialized in one thing and now you want to move into a new career sphere after you mastered the first field
After a year or two, I feel the urge to change it up
I distrust my own decision-making ability because I convince myself that I want to do this and then I try it and move on to the next thing
Characteristics of Renaissance Souls: variety over single-minded focus, working style that emphasizes evolution over rigid plan
"If I were to envision the Renaissance approach to life, the traditional career metaphors of a highway to follow or a mountain to climb wouldn't come to mind. The Renaissance approach to life looks ore like a tree branching out in myriad directions, some branches overlapping, some intertwining, and some just finding their own merry ways to the sunlight"
"When given the choice, Renaissance Souls prefer to be governed by our own energy rather than by a schedule, calendar, or "to do" list. We may write down an activity in our planner, such as going to the library or doing research on Thursday morning. When Thursday comes, if we feel like doing research, we'll be dynamite at it. But should we not feel that energy, in two seconds flat we'll be out chatting up clients, developing a new system for our files, walking the dog, or doing any one of the other million and one things we find interesting and worthwhile"
"Most people dreaded the difficult time spent moving up the front end of the learning curve. Not the Renaissance Soul! We are most fully engaged when learning something new and discovering how it works. Because we love a good challenge, we tend to define success and completion differently from other people"
Because Renaissance Souls love new challenges, they opt for change -- not continuation - when they reach success. They want less of the same!
IT'S NOT ABOUT AVOIDING PERSONAL PROBLEMS! It's because a lot of activities are fascinating and I like a good challenge
Rotating through interests. Some weeks devoted completely to one interest, and other weeks 100% enjoy doing something else. A nice break from both is doing little tasks. Variety allows someone to get expertise in 3 areas.
Even if you have one single interest, doesn't mean that you will be an expert
In order to be an expert, lean into your passions, don't stifle.
A lot of jobs are going away for good because of low wages and tax loopholes enticing corporations to move businesses offshore. In the service industry as well. Even while collar jobs are going away
Passion gets you ahead of the pack
Love for variety is a marketable asset now
"For people who cling to the familiar, new work requirements are frightening. They stand at the base of the learning curve and moan at the thought of the uphill climb ahead of them. But for Renaissance Souls? Why, we throve on that steep portion of the learning curve - and we go into new situations with a more positive psychology than many of our counterparts"
"On the other hand, there are employees who have been at a variety of companies, worked in a variety of different positions, maybe taken time off to travel or run their own business. In today's highly competitive, constantly changing work environment, more and more companies want people like this. Why? Because they are much more adept at listening for change and noticing what needs to be done differently and more creatively inside the department, the company, or even the market that the company is maneuvering within"
A varied resume conveys flexibility, not immaturity
"To put it bluntly: in today's business world, adaptation is the name of the game. In order to succeed, organizations have to realize that. Once they do, they recognize the need for employees who adapt quickly and easily. And who are these people? They're the ones with the broadest range of skills and employment experiences. People who are not limited to working in only one corporate culture" - Carole Brown, director of Thinking Team
Employers look for the right attitude toward challenge...agility, adaptability, insatiable appetite for multiple things
Five From Fifty Exercise: career/employment, health [physical], socializing, creativity, pleasure [in that order]
Many Circles exercise: securing finances, maintaining physical health, sustaining interpersonal relationships, increasing competence [in that order]
Throw Your Own Birthday Party Exercise: imagine you've lived 80 years and will live some more and are throwing a big birthday bash in celebration. Asked four people who know the real you to make toasts in your honor [family member, friend, co-worker, person from community like the gym, neighborhood, volunteer group]. Then, highlight in the margins the overall values described or implied.
121: Mine/Theirs Exercise Part 1
125: Mine/Theirs Exercise Part 2
The Four-Flavor Ice-Cream Sampler: the ice cream store owner says that I can try a different four-flavor sampler when sampling ice cream flavors. Either flavors I've already chosen and liked during the visit [I've visited before] or pick an entirely new combo of flavors [this easily helps you make a decision and focus]
This sampler metaphor is used to think about activities. The phrase "Renaissance Focal Points" to describe "flavors" in your sampler
Get a high from one activity that carries over into another
In crafting Focal Points, don't think about money, only interests you would do if you weren't paid
Focal Points can be different or related [related would be an umbrella] ex. Catherine has a store [her umbrella] which satisfies her interest in design, sharing knowledge, working with artists, basking in the spotlight [all these are different but related activities]
Not all Focal Points have to be action-oriented. Sometimes you do want to be rushing around [phase of life] but then slowing down is another phase of life. The 4 Focal Points can be action-oriented [not all of them]. Don't have to be attached to this slowing down phase of life for "rest of your life." You can change it up again.
I reject the phrase "rest of your life"
If you want Focal Points to last for a long period of time, that's fine, it doesn't always have to be in flux now or in the future
"A J-O-B is a smart way to hitch your goals to a revenue source. It pulls the double duty of bringing in money while moving you closer to a Focal Point"
5 criteria for a J-O-B: income/benefits, energy, time, training/equipment, networking
1.Income/Benefits: May just need a few extra cash, health insurance benefits, discounts
What do you need to move your Focal Points forward? Airline tickets? Professional clothes? Athletic equipment?
2.Energy: an opportunity that helps you conserve energy but also balance energy [less social activity with more social activity or more social activity with less social activity or opposite energies]
Job demands certain things, will be hard if focal points are the same!
3.Time: easy commute, allowed to read/study while working etc....
Training/equipment: access to workshops, free classes, free training
Networking: being close to the subject/industry such as talking to people about your interest For example, an admin at an art museum talked to curators/volunteers about art, offered to use the display wall to post a display she made on her own as a volunteer, one of the staff mentioned another museum was hiring display artists
One example of a J-O-B is being a sales representative for an established hotel chain: chances to build connections in the event-planning business
Even if you have a "real" job and your passion is elsewhere, shape it as a J-O-B [cultivate contacts in other departments who might have skills]
When identity rests in focal points, they stay in current position & make its J-O-B - frees mind to focus on Focal Points
How to integrate interests & income? place identity in Focal Points, answer "what do you do?" using Focal Points, NOT YOUR DAY JOB
"What do you do?" I go to a French conversation group, I study sales, I blog about my learning projects.....NOT MY DAY JOB
Some hold down one J-O-B as they ROTATE through hobbies, not careers [some do just careers]
"For some, tackling a series of new careers or J-O-Bs can be a brilliant adventure. Renaissance Souls often don't set out with a particular career in mind. Before settling (if ever) on a job, they pursue their interests and passions in the spirit of a great quest"
Lee Kravitz didn't have a "real" job until he was 33. Traveled for two years, returned flat broke to uS and bartended while freelancing as a magazine journalist and photographer. He followed an inner need to explore the world and share what he learned with others, not a career path. Took a job at Scholastic where he created a magazine for teens and now edits for Parade magazine.
Don't have to start at the bottom every time you start a new career!
177: translating skills into a new position exercise
EXPERIENCES ACCUMULATE AND BUILD SKILL CAPITAL WHICH THEN CAN BE CASHED IN ON WHEN WE SWAP OUT ONE CAREER FOR ANOTHER
Don't send resumes! Talk to people in the industry and get answers!
Use the right terminology for the right industry when writing a resume
Avoid skill resumes and use a cover letter to describe skills instead
Identity common dominators [themes] in your resume
No apologies for career-switching!
In the interview, talk about skills not on resume
Take an umbrella job in order to house more than one interest
Umbrella jobs are 2 types:
Repeated activity/skill set applied broadly [application of one process to a variety of subjects, ex. writing....]
One interest where you get to wear many hats [sustainable travel, sustainable transportation...]
Two for One Approach: 2 careers or unpaid interests that combine to make one Renaissance Soul life
3 options of Two for One:
One of the two careers is an umbrella
One career that remains constant while other career changes regularly [a passion that requires maintenance]
becoming a free agent/entrepreneurs
The reverse flowchart:
Identify goal
3 steps you now you'll need to take before you get goal?
"Brainstorming extravaganza" to fill in missing pieces of knowledge. Ask questions!
"Opposite brainstorming"
"Resource party"
Volunteer to get relevant experience because it doesn't always have to be paid [don't do formal volunteering because that's not training for Focal Points]
230: 4 Frames Method [to get a volunteering opportunity]
280: finding out your working style exercise [ask yourself and ask 10 people]
289: The PRISM test: an evaluation which makes you less likely to second guess
You can introduce one focal point at a time
P. Price: time, emotional stress, sacrifices from relationships
Find out what you really want by cutting down the price a little [not being overly ambitious if you don't want to be]
R. Reality: what is the day-to-day?
I. Integrity: why are you doing this?
S. Specificity: define success based on what's really important to you
M. Measurability: set a target date
Maybe you want to finish up focal point in months, not years!
297: go through the PRISM test questions
312: create a Focal Points notebook
313: create a Focal Points worksheet
The Focal Points Blocking Tool: Not good advice is blocking in a specific thing for a specific time, the better way is "calendar blocking." You get to decide IN THE MOMENT, which activity [out of a set of 3 based on your Focal Point] that you want to do based on your energy
Color code each focus area by using a matching highlighting pen to indicate which Focal Points are getting enough attention and which you are doing too much of
Focal Point calendar blocks don't require you to decide in advance which items on your worksheet you'll do. Some each week should be long stretches, some shorter
318: if people pressure you to break commitments, just say that you have an appointment already! Write "commitment" in your calendar
Block downtime
Enjoying M and M's [Meaningful and Manageable] a technique for figuring out how much Focal Point time you want to devote: identify how much time you'd like to devote to Focal Points and then you see how many hours you have left over for other things [not the reverse]
329: M & M Worksheet
The No!No!No! Rule: say NO!NO!NO! Out loud before getting to location & when getting distracted online and at home [used in immediate situations]
Renaissance Souls are most interested in the new & different, stretches of less exciting can become detours!
William James' No Exceptions! Rule: to make a change [used for long-term]
Make the change immediately
Make the change flamboyantly
Make no exceptions
Instead of saying that I need to do a Focal Point every day, I can commit to a minimum requirement of X many sessions per week
If a busy schedule up ahead, get your required X number of sessions early in the week
Real reward is a continually extending streak of commitment to the No Exceptions! Rule
Multi-task Focal Points into other activities, not the other way around. For example, no checking email while designing your darkroom, rather if you have a long commute then you can listen to language-learning podcasts in the car if its one of your Focal Points
Renaissance reward: checking off items in your Focal Points worksheet as well as more abstract things such as "ask for help," "chant NO!NO!NO!...." [because dopamine can be a reward]
Instead of viewing time as always running out, we can view every minute followed by another minute that comes pouring in like an hourglass [Richard Leider and David Shapiro in the book Repacking Your Bags]
362: exercise for getting the help you need
Come up with 3 friends/contacts/associates
Rank person 1, 2, 3 according to their ability
Call the number 1 person
BEFORE you need it, identify the people
Who will be my partner in an activity?
Who is willing to share prof expertise?
Emotional support?
368: perfectionism & percentages exercise
If you work best under pressure, have an event that begins at a specific time as your "reward deadline"
Think of someone who'd expect you to give up and prove that person wrong
390: rewriting old scripts exercise
Whenever you waver, re-read new scripts from this exercise!
Resistance can be an old protective strategy: if you couldn't explain your personality traits to yourself and those around you, may have unconsciously developed protective mechanisms to avoid being pinned down. For example, Tim, her client, always had a reason why he just couldn't follow through on whatever exciting ideas he came up with. He saw that killing off every suggestion is his way of resisting the career ladder and that taking a suggestion meant being prepared to follow through with it and being STUCK WITH IT FOR LIFE. LIKING SOMETHING NEW DOESN'T MEAN COMMITTING TO IT FOREVER! If Tim wanted to push away idea, he looked back over values exercises
Unconsciously have the old message in my head that I can't do something because I perceived from others saying that to me
If there's boredom in the middle of an activity, just take a break & don't worry about it
I was told that rich people were selfish & unhappy & money won't make me happy
Be grateful to your fear for prompting preparation
Name the fear, break it down into specific worries, those worries will teach you how to prepare
Repeat a relevant, silly, sacrilegious phrase as you begin whatever task that has you terrified
Visualization: imagine fears as hailstones, falling down. Then imagine it turns into a soft, early spring rain. Continue breathing slow as you imagine gentle water nourishing you
396: examples of rewriting fearful scripts
All-or-nothing thinking: I subconsciously think that I will neglect my responsibilities because I've neglected them before in the past