May 2002

Welcome to the first issue of The Monthly Inspirer. It is transmitted only to those who have requested it through my new website www.career-in-your-suitcase.com. Over the last few years I have come to specialise in portable careers and, as you know, I write, speak and publish on this subject regularly.

This newsletter will aim to be brief, I know how busy you are. Each month, in addition to a short editorial from myself, I will be sharing information with you that I think will be of interest. If you know of any tips or inspiration that you think should be here, then please let me know. If you think you have any friends who might like to receive this ezine too, then just send them to www.career-in-your-suitcase.com to request their copy. Its free!

Jo Parfitt

Getting Passionate
Passion is one of my favourite words. I believe strongly that unless we can identify our own passions and values and attempt to live by them, we have no hope of being authentic. It is only when we live and work by what we believe in that we can be truly enthusiastic about what we do. And if we are enthusiastic, that enthusiasm is infectious. Other people start to believe in us too, and that, in turn, becomes success. This week, I was talking to one of the other mums in the school car park and I told her that I was specialising in helping people to find their passion.

Ah, you mean engagement, said Margaret. I went on a course on that at work yesterday. It was all about getting to know each other better in order to increase productivity in the office.

Margaret is absolutely right. If you can discover what inspires and interests your colleagues then you will build better relationships with them. Equally, if you get to know yourself better, you can increase your own personal productivity too.

Sometimes, finding out what we truly love to do is really difficult. Back in January I lost my main source of income when Woman Abroad magazine suspended publication. The job I loved as editor disappeared and I found myself with time on my hands. Realising that this was another opportunity for me to reinvent myself and turning what I loved into a career, I began to examine my passions once more. I soon realised that I had been working so hard as a mother, a daughter, a friend, a wife, a volunteer and an editor, that I had lost sight of myself. I had forgotten what I loved to do most. In order to rectify this, I started to keep a journal. Each night I would write down three things that I had to be thankful for. Then I would write down three more things I had done for other people that day. Finally, I wrote down the things I had done that had made me feel alive and happy, the things that had energised me.

Soon after, Helen Eriksen, the Danish coach, psychic and motivational speaker, came to England and I joined in her ŒWrite your Own Mission Statement workshop. After three hours of soulsearching I knew exactly what I wanted to do this time around. I would share what I knew in order to help other people to find the career of their dreams. And that is just what I am doing now. Just 12 weeks later I have a new book in production, a website, a new range of seminars and work as a careers consultant.

Keeping a daily journal is just one simple way to start discovering your own passions. Why not start yours now?

Click through to http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com/ workshops.htm and you will find some exercises to help you find your passion.

Read all About it
Books
Have you ever read Nancy Andersons ŒWork With Passion, her inspiring book will give you plenty more ideas. Or Barbara Shers ŒI Could Do Anything if Only I Knew What it Was? Try these books now, find out about other great books or add your own reviews at http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com/resource/reading.htm.

Expat Tips
If you are an expat you might like to subscribe to Canadian Nancy Morris inspiring new free ezine. Nancy is a life coach currently living in Ireland, who specialises in helping her clients to achieve a sense of balance through transition and she also runs a range of seminars by telephone, called teleconferences, from her site at http://www.puddlejumping.com.

Network Ink
Another Nancy, this time an American, Nancy Roebke, who also works as a coach and mentor, has a free ezine that provides networking tips. It has been going for a few years and is very useful. If this is of interest you will find it at http://www.profnet.org.

Expatica.com
Take a look at http://www.expatica.com/hrmain.asp?HRSite=&pad=235,242,&item_id=21813 and find out more about dual career issues. There is a particularly interesting interview with the authors of Xpat Medias new title ŒWorking Across The World, written by Kirin Kalia.

Watch Out For
17th May 2002
London
Great Departures
Robin Pascoe and myself are running another repatriation seminar. Find out more at http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com/ workshops.htm.

21st June 2002
London
Make It Happen
Gail MacIndoe and myself are running another careers seminar. Find out more at http://www.career-in-your-suitcase.com/ workshops.htm.

26-29 September 2002
Lausanne
WIN 2002
The fifth Womens International Networking conference is in Switzerland this year, after four hugely successful years in Milan. Robin Pascoe, Huw Francis and myself will be there speaking about portable careers. Find out more at http://www.winconference.net.

2-4 October 2002
Indianapolis
Families in Global Transition
People who care go to FGT. Robin Pascoe and myself will be speaking here, though separately this time. My topic is A Career in Your Suitcase and Ill also be running a poster session on getting published. Find out more at http://www.tckworld.com/fgt.