Currently, the US Department of Labor reports there are 6.4 million people unemployed and looking for jobs. The average tenure of private sector employees is 3.7 years and declining; either they leave the company, or the company leaves them. Transitioning in their professional life typically brings high anxiety. In fact, leaving a company or closing a business can feel like a death. Fortunately, transition does not always mean a setback. When done properly, transitioning can set them up to achieve their life’s vision and mission. As they make these changes, it is critical to consider the context in their overall life strategy.  

 

Shifting Gears in the Crossroads

 

Repositioning Your Career and Your Life to Rebuild, Re-emerge and Realize Your Dream

 

........guides early to mid-career professionals as they bounce back from the death of a dream or loss of employment and graduating college students (both undergraduate and graduate) as they seek to launch their career.

   

This book is unique in that it offers a four-phase life transition process (reposition, rebuild, re-emerge, and realize) AND a step-by-step “how to” guide with customizable tools, relatable models, and timeline/milestone plans readers can use as a holistic solution to realize their dreams. This book focuses deeply on repositioning and rebuilding with lighter thought development on re-emerging and realizing allowing room for two sequels one for each of the latter two phases. 

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1. Shifting Gears is an event-driven problem and solution - other books are primarily tied to a time-based milestone such as mid-life, or mid-career. This book focuses on the individual facing an unanticipated event that creates significant opposition to recovery or to the college student who is searching for the right first step. 

2. ​Shifting Gears tells the story from the inside out – it is based on the author’s (my) personal experience and observations while other books are written from an academic or clerical perspective and base their principles and practices on theory alone.  

3. Shifting Gears addresses a mind set with strong ties to faith and spirituality – and leverages a message of hope and inspiration when most readers feel discouraged. 

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With this book, readers will be able to: 

1. Create or revise their life strategy to include a written vision statement, a written mission statement, and actionable goals to improve work/life balance in all areas: faith, family, fitness, and finances. 

2. Capture the positive mindset and tie it to spiritual renewal that helps them align their career strategy with their life vision and spiritual commitments. 

3. Accelerate their job search by listing key criteria to use in evaluating employment alternatives to ensure landing the right next role that repositions them on the path to greater satisfaction––to “realizing” their dream. 

4. Identify specific activities in networking that turn up the best opportunities faster and connect to key influencers.