I read a great article by John Baldoni today – Leadership in Six Words.  The link to this article is at the bottom of this blog.

He writes of the importance of brevity, choosing your words so carefully that every word really matters.  A wonderful example is Earnest Hemmingway being asked to write a story in six words.  He succeeded powerfully.  “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.”

Baldoni’s challenge to describe your own career in six words really fascinated me.  It is hard enough to summarise your career into four pages on a resume.  How could you possibly do this in six words?

I have had a few calls and emails from potential clients today with the recurring theme that can be summed up in six words.  “Hate work.  Want something different.  Help!” In a difficult economic climate many people are worried about making any change, insecure about their own job and also insecure about where the economy is heading.

Yet the price we pay for putting up with a job that we hate, or a work situation that is difficult, is often too great.  The impact goes far beyond the workplace.  It has been proven that stress can lead to serious illness.  Unhappy workers bring their unhappiness home, often affecting their primary relationships.  Difficult work relationships can undermine confidence which in turn can seriously affect work and life performance.

Whilst it may seem wise to stay in an unhappy work situation rather than risk the uncertainty of making a change, will that same decision seem wise in hindsight?  With professional help you could make decisions, wise and considered decisions, and profoundly change your worklife for the better.

For a bit of fun, tell me how you would describe your career in six words.  Send your ideas in to this blog and I’ll feature them in future postings. The winner will be offered a free 60 minute career counselling/coaching session by telephone.

Jenni Proctor