ADAPTing to Downsizing

8 steps to a new career and a new you!

ST. LOUIS, Mo. While many people are polishing their resumes and hitting the pavement in search of work as a result of recent layoffs and corporate downsizing, one area business coach has some different advice.

Stop and think for a while before you head right back into the kind of corporate environment that burned you in the first place. This is a golden opportunity to find your passion and make it work for you, says Drew Stevens, president of Alliance Performance Management. "If you¹re forced to make a change, then take full advantage of that and make sure you position yourself for success and happiness in your professional in your professional life."

Stevens speaks from experience. After moving to St. Louis from the east coast in 1999, he was laid off from the job he had relocated for. He quickly found a new position but was downsized again in 000. Believe it or not, I was laid off twice in the span of seven months, facing an unknown future in a new city where I had not yet built a large network of professional contacts," he says.

So Stevens sat back and took a long, hard look at his life and his future. In the process, he developed a series of questions and actions that he now directs clients to use in determining the direction of their careers. He calls them his ADAPTING - Eight Steps to Professional Satisfaction."

First, Stevens suggests taking some time to assess the big picture. This involves an honest evaluation of your dreams and desires and then a basic idea of how you might make those dreams a reality. This is crucial," Stevens says. How can you create a satisfying career doing something you don¹t like? Yet many people never really consider what they truly want, but only what is expected of them or what they think they can do. Youd be surprised at how much you can accomplish when your actions are geared toward moving you toward something you really care about."

Next, take an inventory of your current skills and abilities, as well a the personal traits and values that impact the type of work you are most suited for. This process, which Stevens refers to as determining what you bring to the table," allows individuals to quantify their strengths and identify which areas they need to work on in order to move in the desired professional direction. Stevens suggests asking friends and relatives for their opinions and impressions in order to get a more objective, balanced view.

Building on this step, secondary research becomes important in determining which careers best use the skills, personal traits and abilities you¹ve identified. The Internet and numerous periodicals can be valuable tools in researching various careers and industries.

Once youve done your homework, Stevens tells clients to carefully crystallize specific personal and professional goals. These specific goals will serve as a beacon that can be looked to again and again. You can check yourself against these goals periodically to make sure you¹re still moving in the right direction instead of getting blown off course," he says.

Step five calls for you to list your core competencies." Now the journey gets very personal," Stevens says. Before, you relied a lot on data and input from others. Now you¹ve got to look inward and think about what will truly fulfill you. Get to know yourself well." To accomplish this, Stevens guides clients through a series of soul-searching questions such as What do you want your epitaph to say?" and What are you really good at?"

After you¹ve laid all the groundwork, Stevens says you have a firm foundation on which to create a personal mission statement. Your mission statement should clearly and succinctly state your reason for existence," he says. And your mission statement is the basis for a business plan the road map that will take you to your desired destination.

Many people are intimidated by the idea of creating a business plan, but it¹s very important to ensuring your future success," Stevens says. For guidance, do-it-yourselfers can request copies of small-business plans and find templates on the Internet.

Stevens final step is to put your plan into action. He stresses the importance of networking and sharing your plans with everyone who may be able to hook you up with another source or suggest you to a potential client.

These are the very steps that led me to develop my company, and my work is now more enjoyable and fulfilling than anything I¹ve ever done before. By coaching entrepreneurs and other professionals through these eight steps, it¹s gratifying to see other people get to the same positive place I¹ve come to," Stevens says.

About Getting to the Finish Line

Drew Stevens is all about results! He has been delivering results on sales, productivity and profitability since starting his business, Getting to the Finish Line, in 1999. His passionate and personable presence and his easy to remember ideas such as EMBED and C4 create immediate efficiency and effectiveness. Drew speaks and consults internationally and he is frequently called upon by the media for his expertise. is very active with the National Speakers Association and American Society of Training and Development. To receive Drew's Finish Line Sales Tips please call 877-391-6821 or 636-938-4486 or send him an email at drew@gettingtothefinishline.com