Well the day is finally here! I’ve been holding in my excitement for months now waiting until the day when I could feature this successful dreamer. After reading her 1998 book,”Seasons of Change : Using Nature’s Wisdom to Grow Through Life’s Inevitable Ups and Downs” I knew I had to feature her. Author of four books including her latest book, “Green Careers For Dummies
Since 1991 I’ve worked with professionals in the midst of career transitions. My passion is helping mid-career professionals identify the work they love that matches their values and their lifestyle needs. Over time my work has taken different forms from one-on-one consulting, teaching career self-assessment courses at the local university, facilitating workshops and retreats, training other professionals to use my career programs with their own clients, and writing books, but the purpose of my work has always remained the same.
In 2007 I attended a book marketing conference in Los Angeles with a colleague. I was searching, trying to figure out my next step. Throughout the conference two themes caught my attention.
- Don’t wait to make a difference – do it now! – I’ve always known I wanted to contribute more to the environment in some way. I’d been waiting to act on this passion until…until when?
- Focus on ONE thing – Throughout my business I’ve always been torn between two topics – the career transition work I described above and helping people through major life transitions using nature and the seasons as the guiding metaphor. Finding the right balance and priorities for these two themes has been a constant source of confusion for me.
As I was trying to choose which ONE thing to focus on – my career work or my work with nature – I was torn. I didn’t want to give up either one. I don’t mind admitting it; I felt anxious, frustrated, and confused.
As the conference drew to an end, my colleague and I took some time to reflect on what we wanted to take away from the conference. I was describing my dilemma of choosing one of my passions over the other. Her first question was, what if you helped professionals find green careers?
I felt an immediate shock of recognition. It was as if all of my business choices and decisions over the years had prepared me for this next step in my business. This direction allowed me to focus on ONE target market while weaving my two passions together in a unique way. In addition the business would allow me to contribute to the state of the environment in a significant way.
Driving home to the Bay Area from Los Angeles gave me plenty of time to consider my new direction. Ideas were popping open like popcorn! Now, three years later, I’m still implementing ideas that came to me during that brainstorming session.
As I reflected on my decision to refocus my business on helping professionals find green careers, I was struck by how consistently “green” topics showed up throughout my life history: from the toys and books I loved as a child, to my favorite memories of family road trips to National Parts, to school projects I chose to work on. Later in life my passions, volunteer activities, and most poignant moments all relate to nature and the environment in some way.
I’m thrilled to be helping people discover their own passions and how they can use their passions and talents within the green economy.
Thanks SO much Carol! For more information on green jobs, you can visit Carol’s site Green Career Central. And if you’ve got any questions for Carol about green jobs and her book, Green Careers For Dummies
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010, 8:00 am | 
job, Resources, Successful Dreamers | 
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March 24, 2010 at 9:16 am
Hi Brandi,
Thanks again for hosting me on my virtual book tour! I really enjoyed writing out my story of how I found my green career! I hope it inspires others to find their passion.
Carol
March 24, 2010 at 9:59 am
Thanks Carol! I’m excited for you to be here. Hope others will jump in with their questions and comments later on today.
March 24, 2010 at 10:42 am
Hi Carol,
Your story of finding where your two passions come together is truly inspiring! I am a financial software developer and also have a passion for helping to make our world more green. Any suggestions where I can find an intersection between the two?
March 24, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Hi Mark,
I love it when my story inspires people! The more innovative, creative minds we have working on the problems that face our world the better.
In terms of your expertise…a couple of ideas come to mind. Some may be more relevant than others.
1) With the advent of the smart grid come a number of software/telecommunication applications to help “pluggable” items have two way communications with the grid. There will most likely be a pricing of power component to this.
2) In addition companies are working on real time energy consumption tools so that companies, organizations and households can measure and adjust their energy use. I imagine that some of these tools would incorporate a financial component.
3) The third opportunity may come about with some sort of cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions. Although it’s unclear at this time what kind of system will be adopted at a national level, there are several regional systems that are in place or in the planning stages. These systems will require companies to track how much carbon they are emitting and to purchase additional credits if they’ve gone over their allotment. I’m guessing there’s have to be some sort of software to make this workable.
To learn more about carbon accounting, check out http://www.ghginstitute.com. They offer training and certificates in this emerging profession…might be worth your time to take a class or two to understand what’s involved.
I’d also track developments on the existing cap and trade systems to understand how they are working and what’s not working. Good info for future software!
In my book I do have a short side bar about cap and trade and where we are with it. I’d also pay attention to the Energy Climate Bill that’s moving it’s way through the Senate right now. Something is going to happen in this arena…it’s just not clear what the details are going to be. Learning as much as you can about it now will prepare you to be ready to jump in when the time is right!
Good luck!
Carol
March 24, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Thanks for the industry specific tips! I’ll keep my eyes open and hopefully something will fall in place for me to have a green career.
March 24, 2010 at 10:45 am
A friend is interested in Green tech industry. This would be good read for her. Thanks.
March 24, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Hi August,
Thanks! The green tech (or clean tech) sector is a huge one! Clean tech is actually a financial investment term that encompasses over 14 different industries from renewable energy and green materials to manufacturing and water conservation. A lot of opportunities that are likely to continue to expand!
Thanks for passing the article on to your friend.
March 24, 2010 at 10:45 am
Hi Carol!
I was wondering if you could give some examples of green careers? Also, what advice can you offer to someone who already knows their career path, but is looking to add the green into it? Thanks!
March 24, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Hi Raechel,
There are a couple of ways to add green to your current career path…from personal decisions to the work that you do.
1) You can green your own work habits – the amount of paper you use, the way you get to work, the way you approach your work tasks.
2) You can also get involved with your employer’s efforts to green the company business practices. This might involve working on the recycling program, looking for ways to reduce waste in the manufacturing process, or increasing energy efficiency in the building.
3) It’s also possible that your profession has a group of early adopters who are creating new standards for greener actions. For instance, there’s a sub set of interior designers that are focused on greener, more sustainable furnishings and design. Not all designers are taking this on right now, but a number of them are. Over them it’s likely these practices will spread throughout the industry over time.
I don’t know your current career so it’s hard for me to give you more specific info. You might want to take a look at http://www.greencareercentral.com/map to get a full scope of what’s included in the green economy. The book also has a description of over 50 industries.
Hope this is helpful.
Carol
March 24, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Great questions and answers guys! Keep it coming.
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April 5, 2010 at 7:06 am