connect store

discover your talents | career focus | interviewing skills | sharpen your resume | secrets of great networking | join mentoring council | what is a career coach? | request coaching

Identifying Your Talents

Are you following your true path?

It is believed that 85 percent of people are going to work doing their job and not receiving real satisfaction from their work. I certainly believe those figures. Most of my clients are over 40 years old, with the majority of them now in their 50s. The realization that they may have to do the same thing for the next 10 or 15 years is causing them to re-examine their work environment. Often they can’t quite figure out what isn’t quite right?

When I worked for the Anthony Robbins franchise in Portland, Oregon, there was an all-day seminar. Each participant received an hour coaching after that event. I became that frontline coach. I would say, “What would you like to work on?” Their reply would often be “I just don’t know what it is I want to do for a living. I know I want to help people, etc.

How I'm different

I heard this so many times I began developing a process that would help people understand their three unique talents. Often we could even discover the industry they would like to work. My experience has been that written assessment tests are often outdated before they are printed. Plus, I take keep pride in keeping up with what businesses are looking for in their employees and new positions that are constantly being developed.

People know what it is they would like to do, yet it may have been a mentor, friend or parent that convinced them that they “Couldn’t make a living doing at it.” I met man who was in his second year of college and a professor told him he couldn’t make money working for the U.S. Forest Service. Now at 44 years old he was sitting in front of me still looking for his career. We went through my process and revealed his talents and made an action plan that would lead him to work that would be definitely be of use to the U.S. Forest Service.

My process

1. We set a date to meet for no more than two hours—usually about a week before we actually meet.

2. I ask you to do some homework.

Often the client comes to me and says “I don’t care what you come up with….I’ve already learned and had great conversations with my family over this. I can already see what I have been doing wrong.”

Example: A person sits behind his/her computer all day when they really want to be outside or meeting with people.

3. We meet (I can do this on the telephone) and I ask you questions about your homework. We are laughing and really “talking” about the things that bring you joy.

4. I reveal to you the patterns I heard and suggest the talents I believe have been given to you. There has NEVER been an occasion when a client has not ended up agreeing with me about these talents---after all they are the ones told me they use them in their life during this process. I cannot make up talents for you.

5. We brainstorm where the talents can be used and explore industries that would appreciate a person with these talents and enthusiasm.

6. The first plan of action is developed. A person does not leave a meeting with me without viable information to start his/her journey to their new careers. After all I do teach networking….or connecting with people.

It is rare that I meet with someone and he/she has the skills necessary to get a job in that career. We develop plans to get a position in that industry so they can learn the skills necessary or in some cases decide what course work they may need to take to add to their knowledge bank. Often it is a case of “networking” your way into a newly uncovered career.

Get the help you need

I am available to keep you on track toward your new career. Friends, spouses and parents love you, yet seldom do they keep you on track like a Career Facilitator does---that's my job. And you know what? I have a coach to keep me on track, too. It seems we humans have gotten good at procrastination. Trust me! I’ll keep you on track.

Request a coaching booking now.

To learn more about me, please visit the About Kathy page. A list of my credentials is available. Be sure to check into my helpful 55 Networking Tips eBook and read more about my CD, "Connect with People - It's the little things!"