This just in to my mailbox from a long time colleague: "Doug, I've got to make some changes for the new year.  I can't stay here.  What's out there?"

If you have spent anytime talking to me at length about your career path, think back to those conversations.  Ready?  Ok, when you asked for help in finding your way, did I immediately put on a path to job nirvana? No.  Did I hook you up with a job?  No.  Did I offer to solve your problem for you?  Definitely not.  What I did was turn the conversation back to where you were left trying to answer two questions. 1, Who are you? (professionally) and (2) What do you really want out of a job?

That email came from someone who has reached a plateau in her career and she knows it.  I think she saw it coming a few years ago and neglected to act before she had to type me an e-mail asking for help.  

I'll help her, of course.  But, I'm going to insist that she first be honest with herself about what she really wants to do.  Once we discover that, it makes things far easier to help her walk a path. 

I'm glad she asked.  Often, that's all it takes.

When was the last time you asked for help?

doug@knowledgewebb.net

*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog