1. 1. Ruth Hohl Borger, Ed.D., APR | Ruth Hohl Borger, Assistant Vice President, UF/IFAS Communications ACE Conference, June 9, 2015 OMG! I forgot to follow my dream! How to deal with mid-career boredom, doldrums and disappointments
2. 2. As many as 98 percent of Americans are unhappy in their jobs. Sher, B. (1995). I could do anything if I knew what it was. New York, NY: Dell.
3. 3. Why cant we see/know what we should be doing? We have too many options Something inside is stopping you from knowing
4. 4. The silent message inside of us: Understanding why you dont know what you want That nagging feeling What are the messages that defined you? Who gave them to you?
5. 5. Exercise: What did they want from me?
6. 6. Exercise Two Earliest recollection of what you wanted to be when you grew up? High school graduation day: what were you going to be? What did you study in school? First job that paid the rent Job you hated
7. 7. The majority of men lead lives of quiet desperation. Henry David Thoreau
8. 8. The job from hell What, where, with whom? What are you doing all day? Location, location, location
9. 9. The job from heaven What, where, with whom? What are you doing all day? Location, location, location
10. 10. This is about looking inward for the answer not outward.
11. 11. Trusting your gut
12. 12. Getting to know you. Concept of the essential self vs. our social self
13. 13. Exercise: Questions for testing your social-essential self connection
14. 14. Scoring the quiz: Basically, if you didnt answer often to every one of the questions, you could stand to be in closer contact with your essential self.
15. 15. Reconnecting your essential and social selves Notice your energy level Hows your health? Remember much? your supermemory Time flies. Emotional intelligence[relaxation and empathy] Magnetic attraction A natural high
16. 16. What inspires you?
17. 17. Exercise: Things I like to do What are the patterns? What are you searching for?
18. 18. Meaningful work What makes work worthy? Connection your gifts to the world Doing what you truly love
19. 19. ACT It raises your self esteem You are a success every time you face down fear Do it first, learn how second
20. 20. Real vs. escapist dreams Real dreams dont require you to abandon your family, quit your job and move to Tahiti with your sarong. They require that you search your soul for that deep dream you put aside and go for it. You do have to take an emotional chance.
21. 21. The freedom fantasy Your job, family, (insert whatever here) is not stopping you Exercise: Choose one activity you are going to give up every day and replace it with something you love to do. p. 60
22. 22. What would you do if you were bold? If you were sure you would succeed.
23. 23. Why arent you doing that?
24. 24. Exercise: Just for a moment.. Think about 3 things you could do to make that dream a reality..