How's Your Health?

When I practiced law, I had bad headaches. Not so much fun. I was positive my work was causing them. And the only way to get rid of them was to leave the law.

Then a friend at work asked me to describe my headaches and said, “Those sound like migraines. You should see a neurologist. She helped me a lot with mine.”

I was skeptical. I didn’t need a neurologist; I needed a new job. If I could just get out, everything would be fine.

The problem was that over time the headaches weren’t just interfering with my work life, they were also interfering with my ability to implement my plan to leave. I could make it through most of the work day but I spent a lot of evenings and weekends lying on my couch watching television because it was the only thing my aching head could handle.

So I took my friend’s advice and went to a neurologist, as well as a chiropractor. Treatment didn’t rid me of all of my migraines but it helped me to lessen the amount and severity, so that I could get back to working on my escape plan.

What are your current health issues? What do you think causes them? And even if you think practicing law is causing them, what can you do right now at your current job to mitigate them?

Leaving the law is hard; trying to do it at less-than-optimum health is a challenge that’s best avoided.

What changes can you begin implementing now so that you can give your best self to the task of finding and pursuing work you love?

P.S. If you live in Atlanta, let me recommend my skillful and compassionate chiropractor, Dr. Caroline von Fluegge. Check out her website at http://www.balanceatlanta.com/.

What Color Is Your Parachute?

I was in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA yesterday and stopped in at the Harvard Coop bookstore. I like to browse the career section of book stores often to see what might be new and helpful for you.

I picked up a copy of the 2008 edition of What Color Is Your Parachute? and flipped to the Preface, thinking, I wonder if there’s anything new in here? I laughed as I read the Preface because it turns out Richard Bolles, the author, addressed this very issue.

He mentioned that he’d had a conversation with someone about the book. He asked them whether they had read it and they responded, “Yes.” But when he asked what edition, it turned out to be a not-so-recent edition. In response to that he said that he’s not churning out the same ol’ thing every time. In fact he feels like the 2006, 2007, and 2008 editions are his best work yet.

I would agree with that assessment. It seems to me that each edition gets tighter, cleaner, and clearer. Now mind you it’s still a big book. But then again changing careers is not an easy issue. I also especially like how he keeps up with the changing technological times as it pertains to career search.

So if you haven’t read it recently or you’ve never read it before, pick up a copy or check it out your library and enjoy.

Great News

My first book is going to be published in 2008 by Sourcebooks! It’s called Getting Hit by a Bus Isn’t the Answer: A Road Map for Finding Meaningful Work Outside of the Law. If the title sounds familiar, it’s because the publisher and I decided to steal it from the e-book on my site. The book will cover the entire journey of leaving the law from how to come up with exciting career possibilities to dealing with all of your fears and doubts about letting go of your legal career to making the leap. I’m so excited! And also a bit frightened—now I have to write the thing. Eek.