Listen up and rise up

Advice. Have you ever benefited from timely advice? “That guy is a jerk!” your friend said. Blunt but wise words that encouraged you to avoid a potentially abusive relationship. “You’ve got to get more excercise,” your doctor said. And 10 years later, you are as healthy as can be, and still out there jogging, bright and early, with all the other jogging addicts. “Danger: Sharks. No Swimming,” the sign said. So you stayed on the beach, stayed out of the water, and now you are still alive. Good advice.

It is actually a sign of wisdom to regularly seek advice

Everybody needs to listen to appropriate advice from time to time. Each person reading this (and writing this) would benefit if they did. It really doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from. Nationality isn’t an issue. Culture doesn’t count. Race is irrelevant. Money is insignificant. An education isn’t everything. Old age is no guarentee that you have arrived. Das macht nichts as they say in German. It doesn’t matter when you arrived on the earth either. People on this planet need to listen to constructive criticism today just like they did a thousand years ago. It is a good idea to stop and listen, because nobody is really a know-it-all after all. Surprised? I didn’t think so.

20-year chunks

Life is too large to live, or even think about living, in one large chunk. Even 24 hours is too much to deal with all at once. Our batteries can only run for so long, approximately 16 hours, before they need to be recharged. The Energizer bunny might have been able to keep on going and going but we can’t. Most people are only conscious, make that semi-conscious, for 66% of their existence. If you live to be 60 years old, you will spend about twenty of those years in a comatose state recovering from the other forty. Does being alive ever strike you as being incredibly strange?

Breaking life down into smaller chunks is not easy though. For there are approximately 65 different ways of going about it, and each method is no doubt advocated by someone with a Ph.D. who has written 14 books, etc. But they all tend to sound arbitrary and forced after a while; that is, if they are presented as the one and only possible approach to life. Self- help books, phases and all, can be helpful but not when presented as bedrock truth claims that seem to hang in the air. But maybe I am going through the phase-doubting phase.

Beauty for the soul

Coldplay, the British alternative rock band, is much more popular than the cold. Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion – extremely talented musicians – make a living being mysterious and cool, but in Europe the extreme winter weather just makes it difficult to live. What is it about their music that connects with so many people around the world, and seems to warm our souls?

Living with an artistic person, and a Coldplay fan, I have also felt the “warmth” that their music brings. With album titles like Mylo Xyloto, Viva la Vida, and A Rush of Blood to the Head, there are times I wonder what in the world they are singing about. But whatever it is they are saying, it must sound appealing to millions of people. Artistic people like my wife know good art when they see it and hear it. Beauty isn’t just in the eye of the beholder; the classics are classic for a reason. Coldplay ranks right up there with U2 in terms of popularity. That is saying something.

As you journey through life, it is seldom possible to ever be in complete control. There is always something that is out of your control and mine.

Accidents happen. Storms hit. Cancer strikes. Friends move away. People die, etc. Having said that, it is rarely necessary to be completely helpless and dependent either.

Infants are helpless; grown adults should not be, or at least not most of the time.

Sitting back in your seat, resting, as the 747 roars and rattles down the runway, is to experience what it is like to be helpless as an adult. No wonder so many are afraid to fly. Pilots are particular people: they never let their passengers drive. They insist on sitting behind the controls, and pushing all the fancy buttons, all by themselves. To fly is to place your life temporarily in your pilots hands. You have no other choice but to sit passively while the captain is in full control. This might be a good idea, but then again it might not. Who knows? The uncertainty is frightening.

As your plane takes flight, questions fill your mind in rapid succession: Did your pilots get enough sleep last night? They sure looked tired greeting the passengers. Did they have anything suspicious to drink this morning? Just coffee? Is he emotionally stable? Today would not be a good day for a mental breakdown. Is she physically healthy? How long has he been a pilot? Is she really who she claims to be? Do they text all their friends while they fly? And finally: Why don’t they just clear out of the cockpit and let me drive? But that could be scary too. Oh, yes it would.

An old story from the old country (from the perspective of some North Americans) describes how dangerous it can be to just be a helpless passenger on a long trip. Two older men were flying from New York to Oslo, Norway, when two explosions shook the their plane. “We just lost one engine on each side,” the pilot said calmly over the intercom. “Do not worry. Everything is under control. We still have two good engines. There will, however, be a 2 hour delay.”

One hour later, 34,0000 feet over the Atlantic ocean, another engine blew. BAM! “We lost our third engine,” the pilot said, trying to sound calm and composed. “Do not be alarmed. Expect a 3 hour delay.” Twenty minutes later…KABOOM! Everyone on board inhales, and people are about to panic, as Ole turns to Sven and says, “Oh no, now we’ll be stuck up here forever.”

Realizing that you are in a very dangerous situation and feeling out of control can motivate you to grasp at as much control as you possibly can in other areas of your life. This is futile. Pointless. For you will always be exposed to the positive or negative influence of other peoples actions. Life is full of risk and it will never be completely under your control. But as you develop your career, and journey through life, it is helpful to recognize the importance of having a measure of control over your life. The pendulum does not have to swing in the opposite direction to the opposite extreme.

So here are four things you can do to gain back a healthy measure of control in your life if you feel like you have lost it. And yes, this list is brought to you by the letter “D.” All of the other letters in the alphabet must be very, very sad. For the record, if you have been to Career & Life Direction a few times before, you will notice that none of this is entirely new.

1. Determine your career direction

It is painful to put it in such plain terms, but the goal this website is not primarily to get you to read one message after another, until the end of time, about your career and life direction. What would be the point of that? Actually pursuing your God-given potential is much more important than just reading about it here or somewhere else.

One spin-off of doing something concrete, is that you will gain a greater degree of healthy control in your life. Think about it. Who has more power? The 35-year-old guy living in his parents’ basement with little to offer in terms of marketable skills, or someone with a tangible career and clear direction in life?

2. Discover and be yourself

A few resources and a considerable amount of verbal encouragement here at CLD will hopefully inspire you to get to know yourself better than you have before. This new knowledge will empower you to make significant life decisions that are more of a fit with who you are. Being able to say, “I am going this way and not that way!” is huge.

Suddenly your life has a greater sense of focus, and it becomes more difficult to be tossed this way and that and bossed around. To be fair, most people in your life to not likely intend to run your life. Out in the ocean, by way of comparison, the waves just do what they do. It is the ship that is adrift that really has the problem

3. Defend your personal boundaries

This title is not ment to suggest images of aggression and hostility. It is intended, rather, to encourage you to continue to be yourself when you bump into people who don’t respect who you are or what you do. This will happen. Remember, their lack of respect for your dignity as a unique human being is their problem not yours. Often this takes place because of deep insecurities; so don’t be too hard on someone who is pushing and pressing you down while promoting themselves.

At the same time, don’t confuse humility with becoming invisible. You matter. Your life matters. Your contribution matters. Make sure that you show up for your own life.

4. Develop your worldview

If you think that every belief system or religion or worldview is pure propaganda, or just a matter of personal choice, you may tend to tune-out right about now. I don’t. So here is a suggestion, or if you like, some advice: Don’t let other people (media people, university people, publishing people, etc.) push you around, telling you what to think and feel and believe and exactly how to live. Take some time, perhaps a lot of time, to investigate and think for yourself.

Nowadays, a lot of people in the West – even some who attend church on a regular basis – have, say, a grade three understanding of their Christian heritage and a grade ten comprehension of the latest naturalistic philosophy of life. If this imbalance describes your situation, something needs to change.

Everybody enjoys little children. But children all need to grow up some day and become adults.

Moving ahead

Gazing far up ahead, it feels like you will never, ever make it. Your destination is way off in the distance. Too far away. Barely visible. You have a long way to go. Tired, you are so tired. Weary. Everything aches. The distance is definitely more than you can manage.

Sighing, you think: This canyon is larger than you can possibly cross; your facing an ocean bigger than your canoe; a cliff that gets taller each step of the way. You’re finished – done. It’s over. Or so it seems right now, anyway.

“How will I ever get there?” you wonder.

Oh, it seemed like a good idea when you set out, such a long time ago. It was a noble vision; a worthwhile goal. You were going to make a big difference and change the world, for the better. Yes, sir. It felt good to say where you were going. Friends offered their encouragement and support. Momentum was building. Things were coming together. This was going to be great! And it was exciting to talk about. Such a lofty purpose you had. Right to the top, that is where you were headed. Straight up. And you were their friend.

Nods of approval were noticed. You would be the next Mother Teresa, the next Hudson Taylor, the next Winston Churchill, the next Dorthy Day, the next…glancing back down, you’re not even half way there – and now, you’re all alone.

“Did I aim too high?” “Is it time to settle for something else?”

These questions, and others like them, seem to have taken over your mind – that is, when you can even think. Confidence has been crowded out; confusion has settled in. “What in the world am I doing way up here?” you ask again, hanging your head. Why did it have to be Everest when it could have been Kilimanjaro, Mount St. Helens, or even the K2? No idea. You had no idea what you were getting into, what you were signing up for, what this was going to cost you. Too much. That is how it feels right now. It is costing way too much.

Youthful idealism has been overcome by cold, hard, reality. And it hurts.

But you have come so far. Does it make sense to turn back now? Is that even possible? Bridges have been burned. Commitments have been made. People are counting on you now. You are needed, necessary. Your duty must be done. When it comes to options, there are really very few. What would happen to you, to others, if you stopped trying, stopped moving ahead? What would it mean to go back now?

Frozen, staring, stuck – slowly you begin to move.

Resolve begins to build as you inch ahead. Rome wasn’t built in a day. There must be others, somewhere, just like you – struggling, straining, trying again. And maybe, just maybe you will make it after all. No, you will make it. That’s right.

“I will make it!” echoes across the canyon walls. Have to make it. Must make it.

A deep breath, and you lunge forward, scattering shale that crackles on its way down. Another foot or two and you just might reach that ledge. The rope is taut, and your whole body aches. But finally, you pull yourself over the edge and are perched on a small platform, high above the canyon floor, catching your breath.

Looking around, suddenly you notice the beauty of the valley far below. It is striking, stunning – really. And the sun seems to be shining straight at you. It is quiet, so quiet, and it feels like there is someone else present, right there with you. Strange. How could that be? Was that an eagle that just flew by?

And it is all coming back to you now: the dream, the vision, the goal, why it matters, why it is worth the cost. Nobody said it was going to be easy. Nobody said it would always feel good. They didn’t and it doesn’t.

But you have come this far, and you will carry on. You will finish this journey one way or another. Somehow you will reach the top.

You can do it!

Asking for wisdom

Getting what you need to grow

One interesting, encouraging, and humbling thing to do on a daily basis is to ask God for the wisdom you need to navigate your way through life. You can ask for wisdom about your career and life direction. You can ask for wisdom about anything at all. If you are interested in a reference point for this advice, try the book of Proverbs or the book of James. And If you are sceptical about this opening suggestion, give it a try; you might be surprised what happens.

“It is a great big stupid world,” as Randy Stonehill used to sing. Not a flattering thought to be sure, but all too true nonetheless. With so many advances in human understanding many people are tempted to meditate on how smart and intelligent and brilliant and wonderful and self-sufficient we all are. But we are not. Not really. Here in Saskatchewan, there is enough uranium to keep the lights on around the world for years to come. But, knowing humanity, we are probably going to use it – some day – just to blow ourselves up. Even the best and the brightest among us is a complete fool compared to God. We need help. Sorry to be so blunt.

Coming to life

Over the years I have grown weary of all the God-talk, including my own. There’s often an emptiness and a lack of ringing reality about it all.

Depends who you are talking to and when; it isn’t always like that to be sure. But most of us are usually better at talking (or writing) than actually living. The living part – that is the hard part. But all the god-less talk isn’t much better either. Really, it isn’t. If you are like me, you have listened to enough secular sermons during the past 10 years or so to sink a ship. And a large one at that; about the size of the Costa Concordia. How this figure of speech got started, I have no idea. But you know what I mean. Day after day, god-less preachers pontificate habitually from some media and university pulpits. Wave after wave of endless chatter, produced by people who often appear to be warm and attractive and sophisticated and lively and completely oblivious to God.

Doing a lot by doing a little

Life is confusing and complicated. On the one hand, a lot of day-to-day details are straightforward and plain. You make a list of things to do and then cross them off when they get done. You set your alarm clock and then wake up early in the morning. You determine a few goals and then go after them. You take charge and take action. Pay and purchase. Plan and progress. Seek and find. Work and succeed. Study and graduate. Ask and receive. Pursue and woo. You do what you plan on doing and it gets done. Simple. Right? So many things in life seem to required focused energy and 20/20 vision. Even when it comes to God. Part of the plain teaching of the Bible is that if you want to know God, if you really do, you will.

John Holland’s hexagon

Draw a picture of a hexagon in front of a group of career counsellors, and someone is sure to mention John Holland.

You will soon hear about a famous sociology professor at John Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland, USA) whether you want to or not. You can count on it. Someone will eventually blurt out something about Holland’s Occupational Themes – whatever they are. You will become aware of 14 different RIASEC tests you could take in no time flat. I wonder if anyone has ever been so closely identified with a specific shape?

The small island nation of Bermuda may rightfully lay claim to the triangle, but one solitary individual in the whole wide world has the hexagon; that would be John Holland.

John and his trusty hexagon have been around for over half a century. And while John Holland is now gone, his hexagon remains. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression: I am thankful for John Holland and even for his hexagon. For his occupational interest tool – and illustration method – has helped many career-confused souls gain a greater sense of self-understanding.

Knowing who you really are makes it that much easier to make major career and life decisions with confidence. But if you can’t identify core areas of interest it becomes very difficult to know where to begin.

So picture a pristine hexagon in your mind, with one of the following letters, RIASEC, parked proudly at each particular point. Traditionally, the “R” is placed on the top and to the left, with the rest of the faithful letters following in a clockwise direction. Got it? Then, in order to avoid the build up of too much suspense, quickly fill in the following information beside each letter:

Realistic: This is the “‘Git’er’ done” group
Investigative: And here we have the “Reflect & dissect” group
Artistic: Followed by the “Creative/artsy” types
Social: And the “I-just-love-hanging-out-with-you-guys!” crowd
Enterprising: Not to forget the “Make-it-happen-management-type-people”
Conventional: And finally, the “Faithful-background-organizers”

You should be aware that you are dealing with my interpretation of John Holland’s theory. But although we are just scratching the proverbial surface here, I think I am getting pretty close to what he was trying to communicate.

So what is all the fuss about? John’s theory suggests that each person reading this fits into some of these categories better than others. Apparently, most people usually find that they fit in three out of the six categories. In other words, three of these letters probably won’t describe you.

Let’s say that you just read this description and instantly gravitated to the artistic group; point number three on the hexagon. And let’s also say that you are actually a hard-core Artistic-type person, very creative indeed, who has just signed up to spend the next four years studying to be a Conventional accountant. Oh, no. John Holland’s theory would suggest that you might as well sign up for a four-year prison term, and that whoever you end up working for may wish that you had.

Okay, so I may be overstating things just a little bit, but you get the idea. Does it make sense to try to ram your artistic self into a conventional-shaped role? No. If you really enjoy working outside with your hands, accomplishing important and meaningful tasks, would it be a good idea to train for a career that involves sitting at a desk all day? Hardly. And if you are as sanguine and social as the day is long, would you really want to commit to a career that involves working alone most of the time? Unthinkable. That would be crazy. If you haven’t been the life of one single party as long as you have been alive, why would you ever commit to a highly relational career? Why?

Sure, you may need to tough it out and do what you have to do sometimes. Many people, particularly in poor countries, don’t have much of a choice when it comes to what they do for a living. But if you can choose, be sure to choose wisely and choose well.

In case you are wondering, I have taken one of the 14 RIASEC tests mentioned above and came out as an IAC. And what am I doing right now? I am focused on typical IAC type work while developing and managing this website. If I was more of an enterprising individual, this website would likely be much farther along than it is right now. But that is alright, because I like to analyze; I like to create; I like routine. I enjoy writing and working at a computer day after day.

How about you? Where do you see yourself? Where do you fit? Click here to find out more about your occupational profile and John Holland’s hexagon.

Building a website

Getting started

If you have access to a computer that is connected to the Internet, and you have an e-mail address, you can set up your own website for free. Free is good. And you can do this no matter where you live. You can begin to establish a personal online presence fairly fast, if you really want to.

Today, I am going to tell you how to set up your own free website using a popular blogging platform known as WordPress.

This process is easy looking back, but you will likely feel like throwing your computer out the nearest window at least a couple of times, the first time around. Be prepared to be frustrated, for these things often take longer than you expect. Stay with it, though, and you will have your very own blog/website eventually.

Caring for creation

Being a bear wouldn’t be such a bad gig. Working in the Rocky Mountains, I bumped into a number of a bears over the years, a few grizzlies but mostly black bears. Quite a life. One adolescent black bear we named “Elvis” used to just sit, or occasionally wander around, by the edge of the treeline while our tree planting crew was hard at work. Day after day we would come to work, on a large cut-block (an area that had been logged) in British Columbia, and day after day Elvis would come and watch us work. Fill up on berries when it is warm, hang-out in the forest, watch the people, hibernate when it gets cold…not bad. Not bad at all.