conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me a description for a book titled Stop Sabotaging Your Career about LOIS, FRANKEL, PhD with the genre: Business & Money, Job Hunting & Careers.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: LOIS P. FRANKEL, PhD, lives in Pasadena, California.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first four paragraphs for this book.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Stop Sabotaging Your Career
  I once worked with a man who was brilliant at conceptualization. He could come up with ideas for any major project on which his company was working. If you wanted to brainstorm, he was the man to go to. The only problem was that he was short on implementation. He often provided solutions so complex that they couldn't possibly be carried out cost-effectively. Unable to work within boundaries, he was forever exceeding his budget without really producing results. When the company went through a downsizing, he was one of the first people tapped because his contribution to the organization was limited. He couldn't make his dreams a reality.
  Another form of overutilization of strategic thinking comes with people who are manic. They are often off the scale of the creative continuum. You may know some of these folks. They are energetic, enthusiastic, and innovative—but so much so that they exceed the bounds of acceptable behavior. They tire us mortals out with their continual flow of ideas and concepts. They are frequently successful in entrepreneurial efforts, provided they don't overextend their resources, because they believe in their ability to overcome any obstacle and won't take no for an answer. They are less successful in the corporate arena because they typically can't function within the bounds of expected social and group behavior and are perceived as loose cannons by their management.
  The factors contributing to overutilization of strategic thinking are not quite as clear-cut as those contributing to acute attention to detail. Certain types of personalities seem more inclined to be able to think broadly and creatively than others. Certainly being raised in a home or working in an environment where creativity is valued and encouraged is a plus, but there must also be a degree of imagination in the individual to begin with. Whereas innovativeness can be thwarted and not allowed to blossom fully, the opposite is not always true. It may be more difficult for people who have never developed a creative pursuit to develop an ability to innovate later in their lives, no matter how much they are encouraged to do so. Yet we can all stretch the boundaries of thinking that confine us by rejecting strict adherence to outdated norms, self-limiting paradigms, and early-childhood messages that have outlived their usefulness.
  If you think too broadly and overlook the importance of producing results, the following suggestions should help you achieve balance with greater attention to detail:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: This tip is particularly pertinent for team building. People will grumble to one another in small groups about problems in the department, but seldom do they see improving the situation as their responsibility. Once it's made a norm for everyone on the team to assume responsibility, rather than only the manager or team leader, then entire departments move forward with a surge of new ideas and solutions to old problems. It won't work, however, if the team leader fails to empower team members and still expects them to resolve team problems. Success, in this regard, is contingent on the collective wisdom and energy that spring from groups of people who work collaboratively toward a common goal.
  Doing what you love can contribute not only to the ability to think more broadly, but also to a can-do attitude. When you do what you love, you quite naturally want to be of service and share your enthusiasm with others. No problem is insurmountable when you approach your work with passion.
  If you're lucky, what you love and what you're good at are one and the same, but this isn't always true. I know a surgeon who is brilliant in his field. He has a full practice and is trusted by his patients and admired by his colleagues for his skill. He once confided in me that he hates his work—and unfortunately, this is reflected in his attitude toward his patients. It is not uncommon to hear them complain about his curtness and dour attitude. Given a choice, many patients say that they would prefer another physician. He's a good example of someone who remains successful primarily because his skill is so specialized that he has no local competition.
  A man with whom I used to work left the company at about the same time that I did to start his own business. Nearly two years after we'd each headed out on our own, we were talking about how quickly the days and weeks fly by now that we're doing what we love. His comment "My worst day on my own is better than my best day working for someone else" frequently resonates in my mind because it's true. Whether you work for someone else or for yourself, you know when you're doing what you love because the challenges are easier to meet and the positive attitude with which you approach your work is obvious to all those with whom you interact.
  If you answer yes to any of these questions, it may be that you are in the wrong job and that your situation is making you more depressed than you realize. It's important that you objectively assess your situation and determine ways in which you can balance your obligations with a fulfilling career or outside interests. Talk to friends and family members about your dreams and aspirations and ask for their input. Speak with a career counselor. Interview other people who have successfully moved from an unrewarding job to one they now love. Once you do, you may find that you're not as stuck as you thought you were and that you have more support than you thought for making a career move.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last five paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Outward Bound courses are designed to help people develop self-confidence, compassion, and an appreciation for selfless service to others. This is not a survival school. Its challenging curriculum enables participants to learn by doing, and personal growth is central to the Outward Bound experience. Programs enable you to realize individual success and encourage you to develop a team spirit that results in the camaraderie and interdependence necessary for your team to achieve its goals. In addition to public programs, it customizes events for individual company retreats or team buildings. I highly recommend an Outward Bound program for anyone who wants to learn to take more risks, develop confidence, and understand the value of teamwork.
  Most people will do well with a licensed psychologist or psychotherapist. Psychiatrists are physicians (MDs) who typically use a medical model for the treatment of psychological problems. Psychiatrists can prescribe drugs, whereas the other two classifications cannot. I recommend beginning with a psychologist or psychotherapist; if needed, a referral can then be made to a psychiatrist.
  There are many people who call themselves counselors or psychotherapists, and licensing varies from state to state. When seeking psychological assistance, you want to evaluate a number of things: the person's professional credentials and licenses, his or her experience dealing with the problems you want to address, the match between you and the therapist, and the cost. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Remember, you are the consumer.
  Depending on the part of the country in which you live, the average cost of therapy can range anywhere from one hundred to two hundred dollars per hour, or more. When you're ready to find a therapist, there are a number of ways to locate someone reputable:
  To each of you, and the others in my network of extended family and friends, I extend a heartfelt thank-you. I hope that each of you knows how very grateful I am for the gifts you have given and continue to give me.