What you like should influence how you serve!

Show Notes:

Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach

Probably the most often used career interest tool is the Self-Directed Search developed by Holland. You probably took one in high school or college. In working with career change clients, I find that most people remember taking it, but often didn't learn much about themselves in the process because they only looked at the specific careers it pointed to rather than what it tells you about what kinds of things you like and don't like. I think the real value of the tool is what it tells you about yourself -- and how that can guide you into finding a career that is satisfying and fulfilling. It can do the same thing for someone choosing an area of service or ministry.

The research behind the tool indicates that each of us identify most strongly with three of the six "types." Click here to find a short description of the types.

You can take the Self-Directed Search online at a cost of $10. You can get the same result by doing the Party Exercise in What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles. In fact, you may be able to learn just as much by studying the six type descriptions on the previous link and choosing which are most like you.

The point is, if you prefer working alone on rather analytical things, you will be most effective and fulfilled serving in areas requiring primarily that type of work. Conversely, if you prefer large groups working together on creative ventures, you will be most effective serving in areas that have that environment.

Part of the glory of how God made us is that he made each of us different. He gave us different likes and dislikes, different skills and abilities, and different experiences for a purpose. That is so that there are people equipped to do everything that God would like to see done in his Kingdom. What kinds of service has God equipped you for? What you like gives you great insight!

To learn more about how Christian life coaching might help you prepare for and plan your retirement, visit Mapmaker Coaching.

You have transferable skills!

Show Notes:

Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach

All of us have transferable skills. Transferable skills are not about expertise, knowledge, or experience. Transferable skills are the basic ways that we get whatever we have to do done.

We each have favorite transferable skills -- our favorite ways to get things done. That's part of the special way God made us.

You can determine what your favorite skills are by writing stories about a problem or goal that you faced. The story should tell what the goal was, what the obstacles were, then step by step very specifically what you did, and finally what the result was. You should pick times when you really enjoyed what you did and were pleased with the results.

For a detailed description of how to write and process the stories, and for a list of the physical, information, and people skills, see this link on my "Making Career Changes" blog. While you're there, you might find other posts that are helpful as well.

Vocation: What God Has Given You to Do

Show Notes:

Vocation: What God Has Given You to Do

Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach

Transcript of this show.

What will you do with YOUR retirement?

Show Notes:

Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach

Statement from Dave Phillip's wife as he was preparing to retire in 1994: "I'm not going to live with you unless you know where you're going to go on September 1." The rest of the story is that they went on to co-found Cincinnati Works.

We all deserve to have someone ask us that question: What are you going to do with your retirement -- and I want specifics!

If you can't answer this question with specifics, then now's the time to get busy developing your plan!

Halftime for Ordinary Folks

Show Notes:

Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach

Link to Gordon McDonald's article "Leader's Insight: A Halftime Calling for Ordinary Folks"

• What does one do with the gift of all those extra years?
• Halftime may not be for everyone -- aimed at people who want to be social entrepreneurs
• Ordinary folks can serve in many effective roles during retirement
  

Finding Your Ideal Ministry

Show Notes:

Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach

Your Ideal (Dream) Ministry is defined as a ministry where:

• You use your favorite skill
• In a ministry defined by your favorite interests
• In an organization having your favorite people environments
• Serving your favorite ministry values
• With your favorite working conditions
• With appropriate salary and level of responsibility
• In your favorite geography.

This definition is a straightforward adaptation from the one Richard Bolles gives as the definition of your ideal job in his book, What Color is Your Parachute?

Your favorite skills, interests, etc. are important because God made you the way you are for a reason -- to serve his purposes in ways that only you can do.

To learn more about yourself and how you're "wired," do the Flower Exercise in Bolles' book -- just apply the results to ministry instead of career.

Finding Opportunities to Serve

Show Notes:

Host: Jim Hughes, Christian Life Coach

Finding opportunities to serve means getting out and networking with people who are tied in to organizations that are serving. One in Houston that I like is "The Get-Together."

The ministry I talked about today is part of the City of Refuge church, and here's a link to their community development website.