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Yesterday I accompanied Robert Manolson, a career development professional, to help facilitate a Communication/Leadership session for about 16 youth, aged 12-15 years. I spoke to them about my project, various things that I have learned throughout the experience, defining success with terms such as meaningful contribution, passion, courage, and how each new challenge we are presented with is just another opportunity to learn.

It was awesome talking to kids about life skills that I feel are so important, and to hear them taking positive things away from the experience, made it so worthwhile. It is an important message and it will definitely be something that I will be doing in the future. One of the kids actually wanted my autograph afterwards which was really cute, so I signed my name a long with a reminder note: “Keep it real!”

Only one day left before I teach my first yoga class. There will also be a camera crew in as well just for some added pressure!

-Sean

I think I mentioned yesterday that by Friday I was probably going to be pretty sore. Well, it is now Wednesday morning and guess what? I am sore. Justifiably so though as I participated in four different sessions yesterday, five and a half hours of yoga in total!

I am sitting in on as many classes as I can and will be co-teaching a class on the Friday. Am I nervous? Yeah, and that would explain the five and a half hours of yoga training I participated in yesterday. I had a teacher who would say, “if you are going to do something, might as well do it right!” This is also why it was necessary I visit Lulu Lemon on Whyte Ave in Edmonton who generously donated some clothing so I would at least look the part. Everyone working there is so nice and we had lots of fun picking out the outfit.

I am meeting great people each day and working with some amazing individuals (come and meet them!) who breath life into me when I am finding it difficult to stay on top of everything with the project. Seeing people excited about what I am doing, wanting to get involved and help out in some way is quite empowering and it continually reminds me of the unique opportunity I have to positively influence the lives of many.

If you are in the Edmonton area, be sure to drop by the studio and say hello!

-Sean

The first day of my crash course to becoming a Yoga Instructor went very well. I haven’t done much yoga practice in my time and was quickly reminded that it is quite challenging and that I am definitely going to be sore by the time Friday comes around.

I wonder how many people arrive to work on the first day with a suitcase full of clothes, their computer, and day pack all in hand? Well that was me yesterday. Just another typical Monday morning; time to make the transition into a new working environment, new challenges, new co-workers, new housing arrangement, all over again.

I was asked recently what skills I find to be the most consistently necessary through my jobs so far. I think that I would have to say ‘Transitional Skills.’ More on that in a post later this week, yet first I want to tell you about an amazing talk I had with Henri Ferguson, an incredible man and Yoga Instructor at Lotus Soul Gym, the Yoga Studio in Edmonton, Alberta where I am working for Week Seven.

Although we are only entering Week Six of One Week Job, I have already seen myself grow and develop in ways that I had never thought. Sean is developing professional skills!

In launching One Week Job, it was my way of taking the leap into the working world, the “real world” so to speak. I think it proves to be a scary thought for many, it sure was for me, yet it is getting easier each week. It seems as if every single day I am putting myself in unfamiliar situations, continually out of my comfort zone and am presented with new challenges, more uncertainty.

I think a big thing preventing me from taking that initial leap was a fear of failure, self-doubt, and this inevitable uncertainty that comes a long with any situation which requires us to step out of our comfort zone. Yet seeing these changes in myself as a result, having only completed Week Five, is truly incredible and I suddenly find myself seeking out new challenges as I know that I will be all the better for it.

I am also realizing that my teachers were right when they said they were teaching us “life skills” and I am beginning to recognize how the skills that enabled me to be successful in previous areas of my life, namely school and sports, are in fact the same skills that provide the framework for us to be successful in the “real world.” How everything that we do in life, the various skills and aptitudes we have developed, our many diverse life experiences, the challenges we have overcome, all come together and help formulate our “career” or “life purpose.”

The implications of this for me are really quite exciting; anything becomes possible! The realization that we create our own reality, and that I too, like everyone else, has an innate value to offer the world.

By finding the courage to take the initial leap and continually pushing myself to discover my potential, I am beginning to recognize the pieces of a much larger puzzle.

Now it’s simply a matter of finding out just how all these pieces fit together!

-Sean

I have been in contact recently with a great guy, Robert Manolson, a Career Development Professional based in Edmonton, Alberta. We had a great chat last night about how the priorities of my generation entering the work force are different to that of generations before.

I am really excited about my generation entering the professional world as I feel we are realizing how important it is to be in a career that we love doing, one that challenges us, and we are demanding more out of a career than just a pay check. As we enter the work place with this increased awareness, we immediately start questioning everything, seeking a greater meaning in all that we do, something that makes sense. To be in a situation in which we feel like we are contributing to some greater good, some vision that we can buy into. How is what I am doing helping the world, helping those around me, helping my neighbourhood, how can I be more socially responsible, what can I do to make a difference?

Bringing this mind set into the work force early on in our careers will have huge implications on society and will greatly contribute to an increased overall level of happiness in the work place. In the process, this will inherently lead to increased productivity and positive personal development. Very cool!

I have also had a recent revelation that I will have to tell you about but I am having difficulty getting my thoughts in some coherent form so I will have to get back to you. If I get my phone number up on the site before I make the post, give me a call and I’ll explain it to you!

So I am heading to Edmonton the week of April 2nd, and am looking for a ride! If you have any ideas, suggestions, or know anyone who is heading anywhere in that direction, please let me know!

Thanks,

-Sean

I had a great week up at Mount Seymour! Everyone I was working with love their jobs and were really easy to get a long with. This made for a fun atmosphere and I had some great talks with co-workers about careers, decisions and life in general.

I hadn’t really discovered snowshoeing before, and now that I have, it is definitely something I will be doing again and am even thinking about getting my own pair!

If you are looking for a fun way to get some exercise and get outdoors, I would be sure to get up to Mount Seymour for a snowshoe tour before the season is over. The guides are great, the scenary is awesome, and you will also get to try out that great hot chocolate I have been talking about! They have all sorts of programs, check them out here:
Mt. Seymour Snoeshoe Programs

Here is a video of an interview that I did with Garry Rathbone, the IT guy turned Snowshoe Guide that I spoke about in an earlier post. It is pretty interesting and he has some great things to say:

As for next week, Week Four, I will be working with Volleyball BC and helping coach a kids volleyball camp for the week. I was hestitant to take the offer at first, as it is something that I have previous experience with and so is not too big of a leap for me, but it is something I enjoy doing and will have fun with!

I will most likely start heading East in the next couple of weeks, perhaps make a stop in Edmonton then I have a job offer in Quebec for mid-April so I will be heading out that way.

How you ask? Good question, anybody willing to sponsor the project out there check out the ‘sponsors‘ page. I think I will be using a combination of ride-sharing, bus, and perhaps some good old fashioned hitch hiking. Who knows really, but I am sure it will be interesting!

Send your offers my way! Anybody out there have any connections with a Sled Dog company, or know any fisherman?

-Sean

Seth Godin defines ‘sheepwalking’ as “the outcome of hiring people who have been raised to be obedient and giving them a braindead job and enough fear to keep them in line.” Hmm, not for me thanks!

I am getting a great response to the project so far as I think it is really something that everyone can relate to. Whether you are in my generation – lost, confused with an uncertain future ahead or whether you have been in the working world for 20 years.

I think everyone, at some point in their lives, have been in a situation where they had to make a life altering decision regarding their career path. It is a big decision and I am not going to make the wrong one. I had an inspiring teacher that would always say, “Aim for the stars and at least you won’t end up with a handful of mud!”

I was on CBC Radio One: The Early Edition in Vancouver on Monday morning and it was interesting to see the different views of One Week Job through the generations. For an older generation, it seems to be difficult to comprehend the concept as it is just so far out from the norm they are used to or how they were brought up: Go to school, get a job, start a family, buy stuff, retire. The host of the show, Rick Cluff, could not get over how ‘wacky’ the idea is, and so was not able to grasp what I am trying to achieve.

I think far more wacky is the amount of people who get out of bed in the morning and absolutely dread going to work because they hate their jobs. I find it incredibly sad that so many are wasting their lives away doing something they don’t enjoy doing.

I am committed that I will not be one of them and am looking to inspire my generation to make the same commitment before they fall victim to a situation in which yearning for weekends and the illustrious two week vacations a year define our lives. I agree that on the surface it might appear to be a ‘wacky’ idea, yet dig a little deeper and I think we will all agree that it is not so wacky after all.

Are you in a job that you hate doing or that you absolutely love? Leave a comment, and tell us your thoughts and any advice that you have!

- Sean

PS — I have decided where I will be working for Week Two and will announce it sometime next week. As a hint, you will be able to see me on television every day;) Week Two is the week of March 5th.

Yesterday morning, my interview on Breakfast Television in Vancouver went pretty well. It was an earlier start than I am used to and I definitely can’t remember the last time I was out of bed when it was still dark outside. But I think I was able to get my message across.

I am coming to the realization that this project is not about what specific jobs I will end up doing, or where they will lead me. But
rather it has to do with what I feel the whole project represents — just finding the courage to take the leap in itself, putting myself out there, and saying “Alright world, let’s do this.” In the process I hope I am able to inspire all those in my situation to do the same.

At this point I have no idea what the ideal situation for me would look like, yet I do know what it will feel like when I get there. A feeling where my career and personal life merge. I want to get out of bed each day and say, “woohoo, time to go to work!”

I think in some ways we all know what that ideal situation would feel like. It is just a matter of whether we choose to act and decide to seek it in spite of the self doubt and uncertainty.

I think a good start is promising ourselves not to settle for a situation that doesn’t truly make us happy and to go after our passions. I am glad that I have made this promise to myself at 25, rather than when I am nearing retirement at 60.

If we don’t make this promise today, then when will we?

How am I going to get there? I don’t know and I am not sure it really matters. I think it is far more important that we start by making this promise, taking the leap wherever it leads, and finding the courage to walk in the face of fear with the confidence that it will be okay.

I think if we can do this today, we will then be able to make those decisions that will align our lives in a manner that will eventually make this feeling a reality.

They say that taking the initial leap is the hardest part, and that once we start, things will get easier and appear more clearly. I guess you could say I am banking on that!

Anybody got any offers for me? Send them my way! oneweekjob@gmail.com

-Sean