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Three Words to Guide Us in 2024

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Another Peak-Careers INTERVIEW  on our Three Words to Guide Us in 2024

My guests today are Scott Woodard – Executive and Leadership Development Coach, Marcela Mesa – Psychologist and founder of Orientarte in Colombia, and Belinda Wilkerson – Founder and principal counselor at Steps To The Future, LLC

We discuss how they choose their three words and what they mean to them.

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Dr. Belinda J. Wilkerson is the founder and principal counselor at Steps To The Future, LLC, a college and career counseling service serving students worldwide. A lifelong educator, she held teaching, school counseling and counselor educator positions in Rhode Island before relocating to North Carolina. Wilkerson is an adjunct professor at Providence College (RI) in the School counseling program. She is a former Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center and presently serves as the Vice-President of the Cumberland County Friends of the Library. She is in the second year of her Presidential cycle for the North Carolina Career Development Association (NCCDA), serving from 2023 -2024 as President. Belinda served on the Board of Directors for the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Board from 2016 – 2022 and was the VP for Ethics & Standards of Practice from 2019 – 2021. Currently, she is a member of the IECA’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee and a co-founder of the Black IECs Affinity Group.

Wilkerson earned an EdD in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University, holds an M.Ed. in School Counseling and a BA in history/ secondary education from Rhode Island College. Besides IECA and NCCDA, she holds memberships in the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the National Career Development Association (NCDA), the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the Career Counselors Consortium (CCC).

Married with two adult sons, she enjoys her fur family, reading, and traveling. Connect with Dr. Wilkerson on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindawilkerson/.

Scott Woodard is an executive and leadership development coach, helping leaders transform from strong to superb. He frames issues so people can take action and achieve their goals – for themselves, their organizations, their communities. He works with individuals and teams to see new patterns and create alternative ways to move forward. Together they identify small actions that lead to big changes.

Scott has conducted workshops and trainings for leaders and teams, to identify their strategic goals and develop measurable outcomes. 

He has coached people from all walks of life: corporate executives and elected officials challenged to transform their organizations; Boomers trying to determine the “second acts” of their lives; and new graduates starting out in their first career.

Prior to his professional coaching career, Scott enjoyed a long career as a successful policy advisor to state and local elected leaders in Colorado, helping key decision-makers frame these issues in ways that they could move forward with actionable strategies. He was honored to receive a German Marshall Fund Fellowship in recognition of problem-solving leadership for public sector leaders.  He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a BA in history.

He lives the ex-pat life in Ajijic, Mexico with his wife, a psychotherapist — so he is truly in touch with his feelings.

Scott can be reached by email at [email protected]. He can also be contacted via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwoodardcareercoach/. 

Marcela Mesa, is a Psychologist, GCDF and FCD Instructor in Cali, Colombia, with 24+ years of experience delivering career services in private practice, passionate about helping people make good career decisions from a broad diversity of social contexts. Trained as a Psychologist in the Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen in Germany, Specialist in Gestalt Therapy and Human Talent Management, founder and CEO of Orientarte in Colombia (www.orientarte.com) and now Orientarte LLC (www.liveyourdreamcareer.com ) in the US, aiming to deliver career services for Latinos living in the US. She is also co-chair of the NCDA Global Connections Committee. She can be reached at linkedin.com/in/orientartemarcelamesa and [email protected]

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Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move and the recipient of the 2020 Kenneth C. Hoyt Award from National Career Development Association.

Sign up to receive my TOP 10 TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH AN UNDECIDED PERSON. You will also receive the career practitioner’s weekly email on a variety of career topics, industry news, interesting events, and more. (Sign up)

Three Words to Guide Me in 2024

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For nine years now, I have chosen three words to guide me throughout the year rather than creating New Year’s resolutions. Writing and thinking about the words daily inspires me and gives me the power to start each day. For example, in 2023 when I wrote the word Joy, I would stop and think about what I could do that day to bring joy. Throughout my day I would look for where the word Joy could be found. It was amazing how often it came to fruition in some form. 

To choose my words this year, like the past eight, I scheduled a day-long tech-free retreat during which I could read, write, reflect, meditate, and take walks away from my distraction-filled home. I turned off my social media and phone and found that in and of itself to be cleansing. I spent the morning in one cafe and early afternoon in another. 

It is amazing how by simply changing location I can be inspired to see things differently and be motivated to write. Being in a different environment helps me to think differently. I encourage you to try it if you can. Even a half-day can be powerful, but I recommend trying a full eight-hour day.

Peace. This word feels right to me as I look ahead in my life and with hope towards our country’s future. I was choosing my words shortly after the Hamas and Israeli fighting started, and as the war in Ukraine was coming up on two years since it broke out. So sad. 

I try to start my day with stretching, walking, and reading before I begin working. This helps me start each day slowly and this year, I hope, peacefully. I am looking for ways to be more content with myself by incorporating meditation into my day and finding ways to be calm and kind to myself.

Catalyst. This word jumped out to me as I was reading J.P. Michel’s new book, The World Needs You. He is calling for career coaches to be career catalysts and help propel our students/clients to their future careers. My passion in life now is to give back to our profession by being a Trustee on the NCDA Board of Directors. I want to use my three-year commitment to NCDA to be a catalyst for our association.

Another passion of mine is offering a mentor relationship to people new to the field. Over the past few years, I have worked with several people who had various questions about how to get into the career development field, how to create a company that is currently centered in Brazil and move it to the US, what types of jobs are available for someone with the Certified Career Service Provider (CCSP) credential, or how to start their own consulting business. I want to help every one of them in whatever way I can, and I believe I can be a catalyst for them. 

Discover. This word has several different layers to it. I like that the word feeds my love of learning. I am always looking to discover new information through reading, podcasts, listening to news shows, talking with people, or watching TV. I simply love learning. The layers include looking at ways to improve Peak-Careers and thinking about what I’d like to do with the business over the next few years.

The word Discover also has great meaning for who “Jim Peacock” is and will become over the next few years. I am in my mid-to-late 60s and find life is constantly evolving as my family grows (more grandchildren), my siblings are all facing retirement and we talk about how we can get together despite living 1000s of miles apart, my lifelong friends and I are closer now than ever, and my wife and I are traveling more. 

I look forward to seeing how these words develop throughout the year.

Do you choose three words to guide you?

If so, please share your words and a little about what they mean to you.

Here are all my words from 2016-2023

2016 – Health ★ Mindfulness ★ Focus

2017 – Intentional ★ Authentic ★ Wellness

2018 – Reach ★ Capacity ★ Consistency

2019 – Reflection ★ Purposeful ★ Gratitude

2020 – Philanthropy ★ Rebalance ★ Strategic

2021 – Be ★ Kindness ★ Understanding

2022 – Community ★ Balance ★ Positivity

2023 – Joy ★ Humility ★ Exploration

2024 – Peace ★ Catalyst ★ Discover

If you’d like to read about how I choose past years words and/or watch some interviews with other people who choose three words, check out my website here.

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move and The Adventure of Finding Me in New Zealand. He is also the recipient of the 2020 Kenneth C. Hoyt Award from the National Career Development Association and the Mid-Atlantic Career Counseling Association’s Professional Contribution’s Award in 2020.

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Interview – Guiding Words in 2021

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Each year I choose three guiding words that I focus on each day. Sending this “out to the universe” and thinking about these words seems to create opportunities that build on each word.

Listen to this interview with four other people who also do this practice of choosing guiding words. Learn what their words are for 2021 and how they choose them.

powerpoint slide 3 words to guide me
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Read my blog explaining my guiding words and how I choose them this year. (READ NOW)

BIOs of the interviewees

Candina “Dina” Janicki is a Global Career Development Facilitator , Certified Career Services Provider, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer with a specialty in the Military Community. Dina works as a Project Operations Manager and Career Development Manager, aiding transitioning service members through the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA). She has been a military spouse for 20+ years and volunteers her time to aid other military spouses and veterans through mentorship and career development assistance. She has also authored the article, “Opportunity Found: Chaos Theory for Military Spouse Employment” which talks about the Advantages of Chaos Theory of Careers for Aiding Military Spouses. (Opportunity Found: Chaos Theory for Military Spouse Employment (ncda.org)) . Connect with Dina on LinkedIn

Renée Beaupré White is passionate about helping individuals explore their interests and develop their skills. With more than 30 years’ experience in career counseling in higher education, Renee is highly skilled at assisting students and adults in career exploration, development, transition, and the job search process.  As the current Director of Career Services at Castleton University, her alma mater, Renee is also a part-time career coach at Proctor Jr. Sr. High School.

Celeste J. Hall, M.Ed, currently works with the Virginia Community College System providing training and support to their state-wide career coaching program for students in high schools and community colleges.  Her education career includes classroom teaching and roles as a school counselor and career counselor in high schools and a technical center. She is currently a Trustee representing School Career Counselors and Specialists for the National Career Development Association. Celeste has been involved in the Virginia Career Development Association, her local counseling association, the Virginia Counselors Association, Virginia School Counseling Association and a member of the American School Counseling Association. She is a FCD and SCDA Instructor and holds both the CCSP and GCDF career credentials.

Rob Hatch is the co-founder and president of Owner Media Group, providing strategies and skills for the modern business. He brings a unique blend of knowledge and background in the field of Human Development with his experience as a successful business leader and executive coach, and his weekly newsletter is read by tens of thousands of individuals all over the world. As a speaker, trainer, and coach, Rob works primarily with business leaders and teams, guiding them through critical transitions in their organization. He’s the best-selling author of “Attention! The power of simple decisions in a distracted world.”

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching.

He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move and the recipient of the 2020 Kenneth C. Hoyt Award from the National Career Development Association.

Sign up here to receive my  TOP 10 TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH AN UNDECIDED PERSON.  You will also receive the career practitioner’s weekly email on a variety of career topics, industry news, interesting events, and more. 

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INTERVIEW: My Three Words to Guide Me in 2019

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Another Peak-Careers Interview

Three Words to Guide Me in 2019:
Why, How, and What for..

I have been choosing three words to guide me now since 2016 and my guest has been doing it for a few more years. Learn Why, How, we choose words and then listen to the words we both choose and the meaning they bring to us.

My guest today is Scott Woodard. Scott is an executive and career coach. (see full bio below)

What we will explore today:

  • Why do you choose 3 words to guide you?
  • How do you do it?
  • What are you 3 words and why?

Look for my blogs on this same topic at 3-Words Blog

Scott Woodard

Scott is an executive and career coach. He frames issues so people can take action and achieve their goals. He works with individuals and teams to see new patterns and create alternative ways to move forward. Scott has coached people from all walks of life: corporate executives and elected officials challenged to transform their organizations; Boomers trying to determine the “second acts” of their life, and new graduates starting out in their first career.

You can reach him at [email protected]
Learn more about him at www.scottwoodardcoaching.com

Jim Peacock is the Principal at Peak-Careers Consulting and writes a weekly career news email for career practitioners. Peak-Careers offers discussion-based online seminars for career practitioners focused on meeting continuing education needs for CCSP, GCDF and BCC certified professionals as well as workshops for career practitioners and individual career coaching. He is the author of A Field Guide for Career Practitioners: Helping Your Clients Create Their Next Move

Sign up to receive my TOP 10 TIPS WHEN WORKING WITH AN UNDECIDED PERSON. You can also receive the career practitioners newsletter which includes a variety of career topics, industry news, interesting events, and more. https://peak-careers.com

Peak Careers - Professional Development for Careers

INTERVIEW: With Chris Brogan on choosing 3 words to guide you

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INTERVIEW with Chris Brogan

I had the pleasure to interview Chris Brogan from Owner New Media Group who has been doing this practice of annuallychoosing 3 words to guide him. He’s been doing this now since 2006.

– Do you struggle with New Year’s Resolutions?
– Do you find developing goals to be cumbersome?

Learn more about “Why and How” Chris chooses three words each year to guide him

Look for my blog on this same topic https://peak-careers.com/3-words-to-guide-me/


Chris Brogan

BIO: CHRIS BROGAN provides strategy and skills for the modern business. He is CEO of Owner Media Group, a sought after public speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of nine books and working on his tenth. Ask him about it!
He offers webinars, courses, podcasts, and great advice.
Learn more about him at chrisbrogan.com

Learn more about Jim Peacock and Peak-Careers Consulting at https://Peak-Careers.com

Special thanks to Chris Brogan for doing this interview

Tech Free for the Day – The Power of Turning Off

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At the end of December I took a tech-free day to write, think, process how 2016 went, and explore my vision for 2017. The first part of this day was shoveling snow, truly a tech-free event, as we had about 14 inches of very wet snow. This delayed my mini-retreat by two hours but I did get my upper body workout in 🙂

As career coaches and practitioners, we can provide better services when we slow down and take time to think, prepare, create, and be mindful of each moment. We serve our clients best when we are in the moment with them. I strongly encourage you to consider a tech-free day. Mine typically starts at 8am and ends around 5pm.

The first thing I worked on was coming up with my 3 words to guide me in 2017, inspired by Chris Brogan who has done this for over 10 years. I then moved to my budget, online seminar offerings, business plan review, and finally to my short and long range “to do” list. One thing I decided on this retreat is that I want to do a tech-free day every month. Last year I had three tech-free days spread throughout the year, plus a 100 mile backpacking trip that was completely tech-free and cleansing. Each time I discovered a renewed sense of purpose. I need to do this more.

I find that life just keeps getting faster and ever more filled with technology creating a sense of being busy. You have to choose down-time daily to take control over this busyness and regain a more peaceful and thoughtful routine.  I’m thinking about this a lot as I will be speaking on March 2nd in Brunswick Maine for the first “To Live For” Evening of Stories and Music where I will talk about ‘Taking 10’ minutes daily to regain our lives. I also had a conference proposal accepted by National Career Development Association on a similar topic for the June annual conference. 

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