If you’re on the path to zenployment you might want to change this for a more positive, useful and productive frame: focusing on the things that you want to have more of. 

Emma Bird’s done just that, identifying all the extras she’s now got in her life.  A story that she’d rather call upshifting than downsizing.  Upshifting for her has meant:

• More time
• More freedom
• Better health
• Improved quality of life
• More money

Plus the chance to experience those priceless moments that come from living in a beautiful place (Sardinia), having enough time to enjoy them – and the right frame of mind to appreciate what you have.

What extra benefits has upsizing brought to you?  And if you’re on the path to creating a new future – what happens if you focus not on what you want less of, but what you’d like more of?

I got some amazing comments back on the ‘search to zenployment’, highlighting the value of choosing the path less trodden.

For Emma Bird from How to Italy the path less trodden had taken her to a:

More relaxed lifestyle, more freedom, doing a job that I love and growing and learning new things every day.

(And if you follow her blog you’ll know she truly does have a great lifestyle – and approach to life.)

Margaret Ntifo wrote that she was glad she’d had the courage to take the path less trodden, adding some inspiring words about the power we have to shape our destinies:

‘I always say “the best way to predict the future is to invent it”. We truly ARE the authors of our own life, or should I say we have been given the power to author our lives, if only we will recognise that power, and use it.’

I often find myself thinking about the paths that we follow (as a metaphor) when I am out walking in wild places.  Paths that are easy, straight, well maintained but maybe less challenging.  Paths that take us out of

our comfort zone but create a huge sense of satisfaction and achievement.  Paths that take us to new and unexplored places.  I’d have to admit though that the hardest part of a long walk, for me, is when I can’t see the way ahead at all.  When the path peters out and you stop, looking about you, wondering which is the ‘right’ way to go.

But what never ceases to amaze me is that you always do find a path.  Perhaps your eye leads you beyond the boulders to the line of the shore beyond.  Perhaps it’s no more than a sheep track to follow.

Perhaps, as happened to me recently, it’s looking up and seeing the path through the grass marked just by a darker shade of green, and a rich pattern of daisies, marking out the way.

Path to the coral beaches, Dunvegan, Skye

It’s not everyone that wants or is able to change their career or move job.  There are lots of other things that individuals can do to change the ‘relationship’ that they have with their job, work, career, ‘the office’.  And lots of things that enlightened employers can do to keep their employees satisfied and motivated in the ‘second half’ of their working lives – rather than risk them walking out the door.  Working with a coach can help you work out what those ‘magic’ ingredients are for you – and how to make them happen in your place of work.

Some examples:

Add some ‘giving’ into your job.  Over 25% of people in the zenployment survey wanted their current employers to provide them with the opportunity to do unrelated charity, or pro bono work in their field. 

Figure out what you’re working for.  This isn’t necessarily what your employer tells you it’s about, but rather what your job is doing for you.  Maybe it’s financial freedom, security for your family, enough time to pursue other interests outside of work, a good social network.  Try focusing on what the job gives you that you wouldn’t otherwise have – rather than expecting to find all the ‘meaning’ in the job itself

Change the way you work.  That might be around doing less of it – what would a better work life balance do for you?  Or changing the things that you make time for when you’re there: a phone conversation rather than e-mail?  a sandwich away from  your desk rather than over your pc?  time to chat to friends, colleagues, peers, your team?  What are the things that would help shift your state from "dissatisfied" to "satisfied"?

Redefine what you do.  If there is nothing  you can do to change the material circumstances how about changing the way you think about the job, how you describe it to yourself and others.  What job title would make you feel better about yourself?  What would make it seem like fun again?

Anyway that’s just some quick ideas in response to the thought that’s been bubbling round my head today (‘yes but not everyone wants the upheaval of changing their jobs’).  Any other tried and tested suggestions and solutions out there that have brought your work and career back to life?

Two thirds of those interviewed said they were "unfulfilled", "miserable" or "drifting" in their jobs.  (Even more in Scotland – 70% said they were dissatisfied.)  And more than half said they’d happily earn less money in a job that made them feel better about themselves. 

This trend, labelled ‘zenployment’ may also reflect our thoughts on a longer period of ‘retirement’, with people making different and more exciting plans for a second career rather than going to live in a cottage in the country.

Of course moving into a second career – especially stepping down financially – is less than totally easy and people acknowledged that financial commitments, lack of training and also fear of failure might be holding them back… at least temporarily.  One of the most interesting findings (for me) was that people are taking this business seriously, with ‘the road to zenployment’ taking an average of 9 years.  The researchers found that 36 was the typical age that people started to prepare for their second career, to plan for more fulfillment in the second half of their life.

That’s probably about right -  I’d say 36 was about the time most of the ‘second career’ people I know (self included) started working towards their new future.  Working with a life coach can make a huge difference as you work through that path to zenployment – helping you to explore your options, to identify what action you need to take and when, to work out the values that are most important to you and that you want to feature more importantly in the ‘second half’, to expand your map of the world and help you to realise just what might be possible…

If you are already on or just starting the path to zenployment do get in touch if you think a life coach could help – just e-mail me at joanna@coachingwizardry.com.

It would also be great to hear from other second career people out there.  What age were you when you started to plan for the next chapter?  How long did the path to zenployment take you?  What’s it like now you’re there?!