Libby Gill - You Unstuck Workbook
Libby Gill - You Unstuck Workbook
Libby Gill - You Unstuck Workbook
Libbys book, YOU UNSTUCK: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-taking in Work and
Life, which is the basis for this workbook, won an Independent Publishers Award. You Unstuck
has been acclaimed by business luminaries including Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh and Dr. Ken
Blanchard. States Blanchard, In YOU UNSTUCK, Libby Gill will help you understand the way
you look at risk-taking so you can start moving past your fears and excuses toward success. This
book is a powerful tool if you know you need to change but dont know how. Read YOU
UNSTUCK and get your life on track.
The proud mother of two fabulous sons, Libby lives in Los Angeles, California. A member of the
Authors Guild, she is an avid reader, hiker and gardener.
310.215.0222
Stay connected:
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at www.LibbyGill.com
Everyone gets stuck. Its part of being human. Maybe youre stuck in your career, finances,
health or relationships. Or maybe life dealt you a bad blow like a layoff or divorce.
The real question is this: What are you going to do about it?
In the following pages, I want to share some tools that Ive developed over the past decade to help
you create change in your life. Although you can use this workbook by itself, to get the best results,
I recommend that you use it in conjunction with my book You Unstuck. Youll find even more exercises,
quizzes and scientific research there to guide you on your journey. But if the You Unstuck Workbook is
your starting point, thats okay too. Putting pen to paper and actually taking the time to think deeply about
where you are right now is the beginning of meaningful change. So what are you waiting for?
You know what changes you need to make but youre not making them.
You know what you want but you have no idea how to get there.
When you think about change, you feel totally overwhelmed.
Your life is basically good, but theres one area that you keep avoiding.
You are living other peoples ideas about who you are and ignoring your own.
You are being held back by the same thing that held you back last year, five years ago,
maybe your entire life.
Youve lost a job, a loved one or a nest egg and its got you totally shut down.
Youre willing to change everything about your life except the one thing you know will
make the real difference.
Youre embarrassed to tell one more person what you want to do with your life.
No one wants to listen to you talk about what you want because they dont believe youll
ever change.
You feel like youre missing out on something and if you dont go after it now, you may
regret it forever.
Youre scared to go after the one thing you really want, because if you dont get it
what does that say about you?
Youre afraid that if you fail, it means that you are a failure.
Youre afraid if you succeed, no one will love you anymore.
You may already have an idea of some of the things in your life that need to change
in order for you to become unstuck. Maybe you want a new job. Maybe you want to
increase your sales or take on more responsibilities. Or maybe youre tired of feeling
like your finances are out of control. Whatever you need to change, identifying
exactly what is contributing to your stuck state is a great first step.
Success
I encourage you to take the time and energy to reflect on the consists of
following exercises. going from
failure to failure
Answer as honestly and thoroughly as you can. without loss
After all, its your future at stake! of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
WWW.L IBBY G ILL . COM YOU UNSTUCK {THE WORK BOOK} 3 ~
SUCCESS & SATISFACTION SELF-ASSESSMENT
Awareness is usually the first step in making any kind of significant personal or professional
change. Use this tool to assess the satisfaction youre currently feeling in ten key life areas, so youll
know where to focus your life change efforts.
Notes_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
After youve completed the ratings, enter the corresponding score and ranking from lowest to
highest number below. Assigning self-determined ratings can be very eye-opening because after youve
given yourself a 2 out of a possible 10 on Health its pretty hard to pretend that everything is OK with
your self-care. Conversely, even though you may grouse about your over-involved parents and sibling,
when you give Family a 9, its obvious that this part of your life is very satisfying for you.
Now, think of one action for each area that you can take within the next 24 hours that would
take that score up a level. Write the action down next to the category.
Relationship with
Significant Other | Immediate Action
Relationships
with Family | Immediate Action
Relationships
with Friends | Immediate Action
Finally, pick the lowest number (or the area you want to focus on first) and complete
that action step you indicated within one day. Forward momentum needs to take place
immediately. This is important because if you dont take that step now, the odds
increase that youll continue to put it off indefinitely.
After taking that first step, look at the other scores you gave. Take one There is no
action every day until youve brought each score up a level. Soon you will higher god
realize that you are increasing your life satisfaction--and you are doing it
than truth.
by just taking one step at a time.
Mahatma Gandhi
After youve done the exercise above a couple of times, write down your initial CSE plan by
filling in the following:
CLARIFY THE VISION ~ My vision for my best possible personal and professional life includes:____________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
SIMPLIFY THE MISSION ~ The most direct route to realizing my vision is: ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Practice the visioning exercise for a few minutes every day, when you wake up in the morning and as you
drift off to sleep. Allow your vision to become increasingly focused and clear.
Notes_________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
People get stuck in varying degrees. Likely, the rut you are stuck in is bigger or smaller than the rut
your colleagues are stuck in. In fact, most people fall into one of three categories when it comes to being
stuck: Short-Term Setback, Situational Stuckness, and Dangerously Deep Rut.
Yet despite the fact that everyone experiences being stuck differently, most of us feel similar
emotions toward being in that state. When you are stuck, emotions can range from discomfort to hopeless-
ness. When was the last time you gave any thought to how you experience your stuck state? Do your feel-
ings about being stuck spill over to other areas of your life?
In order to climb out of your rut you need to know how deep it is. Perhaps you lost a client or
didnt quite hit the mark on that last presentation you made. The way you feel afterward could simply be
signs of a short-term setback and will likely pass if you recognize it. Maybe youre experiencing a
situational setback because of cutbacks or layoffs and youve had to take on the work of a position that
was eliminated. Or, maybe you are in such a deep rut that you cant even put your finger on what you are
feeling. The following exercise will help you identify what you are feeling about your stuck state.
To get a sense of how you experience your stuck state, take a look at the following statements. Rate
each one on a 1-10 scale, 1 meaning you strongly disagree with the statement, all the way up to 10 mean-
ing you strongly agree with that statement. Pay attention to your emotions while answering the questions.
Allow any feelings of awkwardness, shame, or resistance to surface.
___________ TOTAL
Nothing in life
Now add up your scores and see where you fall on the continuum of is to be feared.
short-term setback to hopelessly stuck in a deep rut. If youre surprised or It is only to be
disheartened at your score, remember that awareness is the first step understood.
toward positive change. Marie Curie
The prospect of risk isnt always bad. With risk comes potential failure, thats true, but it also
has just as much potential for success. The opportunity that risk presents is something not everyone
sees. Lots of people just focus on the potential for failure that risk carries and they dont realize that
they have an equal opportunity to succeed. Thats because success or failure are outcomes that depend
on what you do after you accept the risk.
Whether someone eyes risk in that perspective depends a lot on his or her tendency toward
risk-avoidance or risk-advancement behaviors. Someone who has a tendency toward risk-avoidance
will obviously try to get out of taking that risk while someone who exhibits risk-advancement
behaviors embraces that risk fueled by the desire to move forward.
1. You are asked to serve as head of a project team at work. Although youre familiar with
the subject area, this is a more visible leadership role than youve had in the past.You:
a. Beg off, citing your busy work schedule.
b. Panic and quickly find a behind-the-scenes mentor to coach you.
c. Step into the role with pride, confident youll find any help you need along the way.
3. Youre twenty pounds overweight and fear that you might be turning into a couch/
computer potato. Youre finally ready to start that fitness plan youve been thinking about
for ages. You:
a. Go take a nap and hope the urge passes.
b. Take a brisk walk around the block to get your body moving.
c. Enlist your family in a fitness and nutrition program.
4. Your finances are a mess. Even though youre making decent money, youre late paying
your bills, you havent bothered looking into retirement funds and your credit rating is
not what it should be. You:
a. Ask your CPA uncle for some basic financial advice.
b. Hire a financial planner or business manager to help you clean up your financial act.
c. Decide to look into it after the next tax season.
5. After twenty years of doing the same kind of work at three different companies,
youre longing for a new career. You:
a. Start thinking about going back to school
b. Tell your boss youd like to take on some new challenges
c. Make a mental list of all the great things about your job
6. Even though you love your spouse, you have to admit that your sex life has
gotten pretty dull. You know you need to shake things up, but you dont
know how your partner will perceive your newfound friskiness. You:
a. Purchase some lingerie (for yourself or your spouse-or hey,
shake it up and buy lingerie for both of you!) and spring
the surprise one night Become a
b. Know your spouse will freak, so you keep your thoughts
to yourself
possibilitarian.
c. Tell your spouse youve had it with your lousy sex life Norman
and he/she better figure out how to jazz it up Vincent Peale
7. Youve had a serious argument with a family member that you fear could become a life
time rift. You and everyone youve obsessively told the story to over the past year agree
that its the other persons fault. You:
a. Decide youll break the silence when hell freezes over
b. Ask a sibling to broker a family meeting
c. Swallow your pride and make a conciliatory phone call
8. Youve just gotten your youngest daughter off to college and are beginning to enjoy your
empty nest when your 28-year-old son returns home after losing his job. From the looks of
his luggage (and dirty laundry) it appears that he may be planning to stay for a long time.
You:
a. Lay down the house rules, including how long the welcome mat will be out
b. Let your spouse deal with it
c. Welcome him with open arms, after all, he is your son
9. Since childhood youve harbored a dream about your adventure of a lifetime - making a
movie, writing a book, moving to a foreign country, or sailing around the world. Even
though you know it sounds crazy to most people, to you it sounds like heaven. You:
a. Confide in the one person whos sure to bring you back to your senses
b. Jump in and give it a shot
c. Talk to anyone you can find whos had a similar adventure
10. Youve wanted to have Lasik surgery to improve your vision for years, but ever since your
general practitioner said he wouldnt give it to his cat, youve been scared off. Finally you
decide to:
11. Youve been with your significant other for more than two years. Youre ready to
discuss marriage, but afraid if you bring it up, you might jeopardize the relationship.
So you:
a. Complain to everyone who will listen about your non-committal partner.
b. Break off the relationship because its not going anywhere.
c. Summon up the courage for a frank conversation.
Total ___________
Risk-Takers Tip
Within reason, fear is a good thing. It alerts us to danger and helps us respond appropriately. But
when our fears and anxieties stop us from taking life-enhancing risks, its time to identify and manage
those fears.
Give yourself plenty of time to recreate this image. Bring it to a natural conclusion and,
when youre ready, open your eyes in real life and return to the present. Describe your vision and what
it meant to you.
________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Ask yourself the following questions to get a quick snapshot to see if your stress is under control. Answer
the following questions with the scores: 4= always, 3= often, 2 = sometimes and 1 = never.
Now, add your scores and see how your stress levels stack up. The greatest
discovery of my
Total _______
generation is that a
human being can
alter his life by
altering his attitudes.
William James
Risk-Takers Tip
Although everyone experiences being stuck differently, most of us feel emotions ranging from
discomfort to hopelessness. Learning to become comfortable with feeling uncomfortable is a critical
part of the process.
Risk Reinforcement
Go back through the notes youve made so far. If necessary, catch up on any exercises
youve missed. Spend some time thinking and writing about the underlying fear thats got you stuck. Ask
yourself the best way for you to begin to move past it and start getting unstuck. After youve spent some
time consciously working on the problem, change your environment by going outside for a walk, turning
on a CD or doing some meditation. Prepare your brain for a aha moment and let it happen!
Even if you dont consider yourself a particularly visual person, human beings have an amazing
ability to think about a challenge, imagine an ideal resolution, and then manifest that outcome (or some-
thing close to it) in reality. If your cynic alarm is starting to sound, theres really nothing terribly mystical
about this process. Its simply the idea that form follows thought. Obviously, the idea of the airplane exist-
ed before the Wright brothers actually built the first successful one. Edison imagined the light bulb and,
after multiple failures, made it a reality.
Its no different for you. By harnessing the power of your imagination, you can see a positive
outcome for events such as landing a new job or becoming physically fit before that outcome actually
exists. By giving your brain a mental dress rehearsal, you not only release anxiety but also put yourself on
the pathway to success. If youve experienced this phenomenon of energy following idea, youll know
what Im talking about. If not, I want you to add this valuable skill to your risk repertoire. Heres a good
way to get started.
Get in a comfortable position sitting or lying on the floor (or even at your desk). Close your
eyes and begin taking slow, deep breaths. Feel the air go all the way down to the abdomen so youre not
taking shallow chest breaths. As you exhale, imagine yourself breathing out any negative feelings.
Concentrate on a word like anger, fear or exhaustion that sums up how youre feeling. Now, consciously
breathe that word out of your system with each exhalation. Continue this for 3-5 minutes, allowing tension
to drain away into the floor as your thoughts begin to slow down.
Now imagine a scene that youll picture in your mind, as though watching a mental movie. It
could be something that youll actually be facing that day, such as asking the boss for a leadership role on
a project or signing on a new client.
Take yourself through the scene, letting it play out as positively as you can imagine. Maybe its
the ultra-confident you pitching a client or closing a deal. Let the conversation or scenario unfold. Now,
put some obstacles in your place. Maybe the client throws you a curve ball or shuts you out and you risk
losing the deal. Or your boss isnt committing to meeting with you.
Continue to work through the scenario, giving yourself plenty of time to really feel what its like
to be supremely confident and in control that you breeze through the challenge barely batting an eye. See
the final outcome of the situation, whether its you confidently and strategically getting your bosss atten-
tion or masterfully bringing the client around, sealing the deal and becoming the office hero.
Bring the scene to a natural conclusion and anchor it with a word or phrase that sums up
your feeling and your mission for the day. It could be power, energy, win, passion, strength,
confidence, joy or calm.
Take several more deep breaths, focusing deeply on your word during the
inhalation. Continue this for 3-5 minutes until you feel energized and ready to take on
the day. Open your eyes with a stretch and a smile.
When the scenario you imagined or something similar actually takes Tension is
place (youll be amazed how often this happens), allow yourself to relax into who you think
your pre-programmed response. Let the sense of calm control, power, or you should be.
command take over and steer you toward the outcome you visualized. Relaxation is
Dont be frustrated if this doesnt happen the first time (or every time).
Just relax and have faith that by seeing the outcome you want, you who you are.
greatly increase your odds of making it happen. Chinese Proverb
Better yet, why not begin journaling to see if you can spot a pattern when stress creeps up and how
you feel when you consistently counteract and manage it.
Visualizing your ideal outcome is a terrific way to help control stress. Its an important part of
mastering the success cycle that allows you to relax into a risk, take the action, celebrate the success and
then move on to the next risk. Once you become comfortable doing this you will want to begin working
on your Escalating Risk Hierarchy.
Simply put, ask yourself where you want to end up. Creating a sequence for risk-taking is
an important part of the Escalating Risk Hierarchy. It allows you to set a clear plan that makes you
accountable for taking each step, but also allows you to build confidence as you move from low to
high-level risks.
Here is an example of a plan we created for Shirley, whose story I outlined in You Unstuck. She
was a Seattle-based technology lawyer whod grown so weary of courtroom combat that shed begun to
consider career alternatives for her post-fifty life.
Now, see how Shirley reprioritized her risk-taking activities so she could start with those that were
less daunting to her. By starting with the low-risk risks and working your way up to the tougher ones, you
build confidence and competence. Plus, you get a sense of mastery and success as you begin knocking off
the easier tasks. Win-win!
Shirleys Escalating Risk Hierarchy
Book a vacation
Make new friends
Schedule time for fun
Explore careers in nonprofit
Explore government service career
Start dating
Explore other law firm jobs
Internal work to unlock new passion
Using this plan as an example, take some time and write down your own plan. Remember, if it isnt
written down it isnt a plan.
MY CSE MODEL
Clarify your vision: ________________________________________________________________
Simplify your mission: _____________________________________________________________
Execute your plan: _________________________________________________________________
My Relaxation routine______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Developing a money mindset doesnt simply mean making money nor does it mean shunning it in a
search for more meaning in life. It means learning how your fears, hopes, and assumptions result in your
pattern of behavior toward money.
You need to get unstuck with your money by challenging your limiting assumptions and breaking the
patterns of past habits. Take this test to help you understand your mindset toward money.
Its time to do some writing. If you become anxious or fearful - and you might-stop and do some
deep breathing. You may even want to close your eyes and repeat a calming word or phrase like Calm,
or I can handle this, or whatever gives you enough comfort to continue. My job is not to make you feel
better, though eventually you will. My job is to wake you up and get you to challenge your beliefs and
change your behaviors, starting with awareness. Because if youre stuck in a negative Money Mindset, bet-
ter to get a wake-up call right now, rather than when the bank forecloses on your house or takes away your
credit cards.
Go back to the Self-Assessment at the beginning of this workbook. What was your rating in
Finances? Lets take that assessment a little deeper now. Rate yourself on a 1-5 scale (1 being dont
agree, 5 being completely agree) about your satisfaction and comfort level in these aspects of Money
Mindset:
Identify any negative limiting assumptions that may be driving your financial behavior today.
This is crucial, so give yourself plenty of time to nail down a succinct statement that captures
what is truly holding you back. It could be that you dont deserve anything nice; that you
are resentful and angry with your partner; that you feel alone and unloved; or that
youre convinced you have nothing of worth to offer the world.
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ Only those who
_______________________________________________________________
will risk going too
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
far can possibly
_____________________________________________________________ find out how far
____________________________________________________________ one can go.
T.S. Eliot
Awareness is the first step to getting you unstuck, so no matter how painful or scary, make sure to
do the above exercise. If need be, share your answers with someone close to you for additional perspective.
Once you identify your Money Mindset its time to become a Money Manager by learning to
manage money by changing your money habits. As you are forming a new vision for your financial future,
make sure you continue to focus on the things that give you joy. Be modest in your expectations, at least
initially, and be realistic about how your life may or may not change as you change your money behaviors.
This will save you from the mistaken belief that getting your financial act together will result in the
ultimate happiness.
Even if money cant buy you happiness, getting your negative habits under control can go a long way in
reducing stress and increasing your sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Now that youre beginning
to get a picture of your overall Money Mindset, including how your money memories have affected you
and where your limiting assumptions are keeping you stuck in destructive behavior, its time to start
working externally to create more awareness of your habits.
Starting today, I want you to keep all of your receipts - from a pack of gum to a new car - placing them
each day in a special box or file that youve designated your Money Manager. You should also get a
notebook (those speckled composition books are inexpensive and easy to carry) that will go with
you everywhere. If you make a purchase (like a newspaper) for which you dont receive a
receipt, write it down in your notebook at the time.
You can do this exercise on paper, or check online for one of the free apps that
will allow you to track income and expenses.
Live to the
point of tears.
Albert Camus
For example:
Enter everything on the right-hand pages, keeping the left-hand pages blank for now. Just this step
alone can be incredibly eye-opening (and often scary) in showing you where your money really goes, as
opposed to what youve been telling yourself. Next, each day go through all the expenditures and ask
yourself this question: Was this something I needed or wanted? In other words, was this a bill I was
obligated to pay for services rendered? For example, the phone bill is something you use and must pay
for, so thats a NEED. The newspaper is something you WANT. You may tell yourself its crucial for you
to stay on top of the news, and maybe it is, but you can go online, listen to the radio, watch TV or even go
to the local library to get your news. Lunch is obviously a WANT, even though you need to eat, you dont
have to eat out at a restaurant.
When it comes to spending on your kids, the same criteria apply. They dont need a movie and
you certainly dont need to pay extra to buy tickets online. Now, you may WANT to take your kids to
a movie and be able to afford a movie and, in that case, theres absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying
yourself and entertaining your children. This is only to make you aware of the vast difference between
needs and wants, which people who are stuck in negative financial patterns can easily disregard.
Week One:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Week Two:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Week Three:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
For example, maybe your limiting assumption is Ive tried everything and I just cant lose weight.
Ask yourself if thats really accurate. Have you tried working with a nutritionist, joining a weight sup-
port group, talking to your doctor, or starting a fitness program through your job or local hospital? Have
I made my point? I could probably give you dozens of suggestions, but it still wouldnt be enough if you
continue to cling to the belief that youve tried everything.
If you said, I dont have time to make nutritious meals, lets just take a minute to
see if youve got any hard evidence to back up your assertion. You probably dont leave the
house without taking a shower or brushing your teeth, so obviously you can find the time for
things that are important. And even if you are busy (like most of us) it doesnt take much
longer to prepare a nutritious meal to bring for lunch than it does to drive through your local
fast food outlet or dig into that plate of doughnuts on the conference room table. Maybe its
time to reframe your limiting assumption to something more like, Its important to make the
time to cook healthy meals so I spend a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon listening to
music and cooking my new favorite dishes, then freezing them for handy meals throughout
the week.
Decide on your primary form of exercise, including walking, jogging, running, biking, or
swimming. If youll have more fun and be more accountable in a class, try cardio kickboxing, aerobics
or spinning. Commit to that exercise for at least four of your five workouts.
Now, decide what will be your secondary form of exercise. You can pick from the list above or add
yoga, dance, tennis, weights, or anything else that will make you work to the point that youre sweating.
Remember if youve never exercised before or youre changing your program, you will want to check with
your doctor first, especially if youve had any injuries or illnesses.
Decide how you will hold yourself accountable. Designate someone you can check in with after
each workout for the next three weeks, including a spouse, friend, or exercise partner. Write out your
three-week plan below, including what youll be doing, where youll be doing it, when youll be starting,
and, who, if anyone (trainer, class instructor, friend) will be joining you:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Check back in three weeks and see how closely you stuck to your self-prescribed program.
In
Did you follow through? If so, what made it work for you? (Keep doing that and add to it!) If not, giving
what held you back? How can you remedy that moving forward? Be prepared that this can be very you
much a two steps forward, one step back practice. So just be patient with yourself and get back on are
track if you backslide!
throwing a
WWW.L IBBY G ILL . COM YOU UNSTUCK {THE WORK BOOK} 26 ~
YOUR WOW CAREER
Though you may work for a company that has a mission or value statement of its own, thats not
what were looking for here. I want you to create core values for you as a professional. Not just for a job or
a company, but for your very own wow career.
Take a moment to reflect on your work life, looking back at some high and low points youve experi-
enced over the years.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Now imagine wiping the slate clean of those low points and focusing on a
career that includes just the highs - all the things you love to do .
Keep your
fears to yourself
WWW.L IBBY G ILL . COM YOU UNSTUCK {THE WORK BOOK} 27 ~
YOUR WOW CAREER - CONT.
Take a few deep breaths and conjure up a vision of the career you really crave. A career that puts your
skills, passions, strengths, temperament, and personality to work. In a moment, I want you to list all the
things that you would need to flourish in your career, including the right balance of people, projects and
environment. But first heres an example. This is my list, by the way, and youre welcome to borrow from
it if it speaks to you:
Now, write out your core values list, which should include about 6-10 items. Make sure youve got
enough on your list to cover your career bases, but not so much that you lose focus or end up trying to be
all things to all people.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________ A big part of
financial freedom is
Take a day or two to revise your list, making sure that it accurately reflects having your heart
the core values that are truly authentic to you. You may want to ask for and mind free from
feedback from trusted friends or colleagues. When it feels right to you, worry about the
post it somewhere where you can reflect upon it often! what-ifs of life.
Suze Orman
WWW.L IBBY G ILL . COM YOU UNSTUCK {THE WORK BOOK} 28 ~
CLOSING THE VALUES GAP IN YOUR WOW CAREER
Having identified your core values for your WOW Career, lets
look at how present those values are in your current professional
Finding Your Professional Fit life. Rank them 1-10, one being not present at all, 10 being com-
pletely present.
Sometimes whats keeping you
stuck is that you havent found
a professional fit. It could be 1. ______________________________________________
you dont fit in your department 2. ______________________________________________
or maybe the company you
work for isnt a good fit. 3. ______________________________________________
Sometimes it could even be the 4. ______________________________________________
industry that you are in that no
5. ______________________________________________
longer fits. Its important to
discover exactly what isnt a 6. ______________________________________________
good fit so that you can deter-
7. ______________________________________________
mine the direction you need to
take to become unstuck and 8. ______________________________________________
find the fit. 9. ______________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________
Take a look at any values which you rated a five or less. Do you know the significance of each of those
low numbers? Is there some incident or overall feeling behind that rating? What is keeping the values gap
in place and are there steps you can take to close it? Is it even possible in your current job? If not, whats
keeping you stuck there?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ Id like to live
__________________________________________________________ as a poor man
__________________________________________________________ with lots of money.
Pablo Picasso
__________________________________________________________
If youre stuck in a job, company or career that doesnt feel like a fit for you, it may be time to
take a walkabout and do a little exploration to find a better fit. Whether you work for a corporation, small
business or own your own company, a workplace walkabout will give you the opportunity to explore
options you might not have previously thought were available to you. But it does require that you take
some risks.
HERE ARE A FEW WAYS YOU CAN APPROACH YOUR WORKPLACE WALKABOUT:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Risk Reinforcement
If you had one professional purpose to fulfill in your lifetime, what would it be? Imagine you have just
been given a lifetime achievement award for your career accomplishments.
Write an article for your industrys trade journal or hometown newspaper, stating all the achievements
youve made during your career.
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Now that Ive posed some questions to get you thinking, heres where the heavy lifting comes in.
After you read the rest of this paragraph, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and meditate on a
delightful image of your future for a few minutes. It may be you sitting in your fabulous new office, at the
dinner table enjoying a meal and conversation with your family, or lobbing a tennis ball on your local court.
Maybe its a combination of all those things.
Keep that future image in mind as you project yourself forward, exactly one year from today. Fill
out the following exercise from that perspective by looking back at all your accomplishments of the past
year. Take your time as you write out your responses, relishing each answer and making it as vivid in your
mind and heart as you possibly can.
Getting unstuck has helped me accomplish (or move toward accomplishing) my lifes true
purpose, which is:
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Having been able to accomplish so much in the past year makes me feel:
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I learned that the limiting assumption(s) that was stopping me in the past was:
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I feel fortunate to have met so many mentors, advisors, coaches and colleagues who have
helped me get unstuck and on track. These include:
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The specific risks I took to get unstuck and move closer to my vision include:
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The most wonderful thing I have discovered about myself through the
You Unstuck process is:
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