Option Solving Blog

In our last Option Solving blog, we explored the way young or more seasoned job hunters can create a pictogram of their career options and then, through emotional distancing, draw upon the wisdom of their extraordinary intuitive mind to choose their best career option. Once they have decided on the career of their choice, now they can use peeling the onion to find the best means of getting started in that career.
Using the same option solving technique as before, their first step in Peeling the Onion is to come up with an appropriate question. You can view our Latest Example to see a preferred question like: “What is the best way for me to pursue the career of my choice using Peeling the Onion, considering the difficulties of getting onto the ladder, the need to get a solid entrée, a tough market for starter positions, and the need to make the most of every opportunity” The given four considerations are at least 50% of the drawn-up listing.
Now you set about producing two bookends (find out more about these from the book). The most likely bookends could be: 1) Do nothing and just hope the right job comes along. 2) Follow the career path decided by my family and friends, as per the previous career choice blog. The idea behind bookends is to choose extremes the young or seasoned job hunter is least likely to follow: hence the ones stated above. As extremes, these bookends prompt one’s mind to come up with the most realistic but creative options.
With these in place, now the career seeker can determine the five or more reasonable options for getting their chosen career started. By referring to our latest example, you will see that one option is to:” Offer to work pro-bono in organization of career choice and hope to be given a paid opportunity after trial period”…Option E. The four other considered options are there. Maybe you can see other options.
Now you pursue some “emotional distancing,” whether that be for 10-20 minutes or you decide to sleep on it. After that break, quickly look through the pictogram and decide on your optimum choice. Once done, you should now put together an “action initiative,” while things are still fresh in your mind, in order to proceed.
Once decided, don’t let family and friends put you off. No matter the challenges or obstacles, this is the best career sub-step for you. You should pursue your dream career at all costs. Remember, “He/she who lets go is the one who loses out.” Best of luck with your chosen career! (Note: Get your family and friends to visit this blog, too!)
If you have an option solving example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area.
Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Next posting in 2 weeks: “What is our best alternative toward running more effective meetings?’” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger.)

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At this time of year, many young people, having completed their high school or college education, are struggling with what career they wish to pursue. This blog is about Option Solving and option solving is a much better way for younger folks to make their career choices, than so many of the traditional modes. In a moment you will see why.
By working the option solving exercise through with them, they feel they are steering events rather than you as a parent or career advisor.
Younger folks have picked up a tremendous amount of intuitive wisdom in their lives to date –from friends, family, schooling, college, early work experiences, and so on. Intuitive wisdom provides an incredible bank of information to draw upon when the time comes for choosing careers. The trick is to access that bank of information in the most effective way: how do I access that mind boggling level of intuitive wisdom this younger person has gained over the years? That’s where Option Solving comes in.
The first step is to come up with an appropriate question. Perhaps one like: “What’s the best career choice for me now?” You can learn more how to pose the right questions from the book, although this also should include some vital considerations; like…how far can I travel, my minimal compensation package needs, and what is my dream job?
Your next step with Option Solving is to set your mind an additional framework known as bookends (find out more about these from the book). But two likely bookends could be: 1) Do nothing and just hope the right job comes along. 2) Follow the career path decided by my family and friends. The idea behind bookends is to choose extremes the young person is least likely to follow: hence the ones stated above.
With these extremes their incredible intuitive wisdom will kick in, as it wants to reject these bookends. Then you should map out 5-8 alternative choices of career that appeal to him/her in some way – see example under Latest Example tab.
Once you have laid out these options encourage your young subject go to bed and sleep on them – as a younger folk that will probably mean from 2.00AM to 2.00PM the following afternoon! However, before he/she closes their eyes, they ask themselves exactly the same question as you posed to them earlier: “What is the best career choice for me now?”
The first choice (of all the alternatives) that pops into their head when they wake up is the career choice they should pursue. This sleep break is known as “emotional distancing” (more in the book) and allows their intuitive intelligence to work at its best.
Once decided, don’t let them be put off by family and friends. No matter the challenges or obstacles, this is the career of their dreams and should be pursued at all costs. Remember, “He/she who lets go is the one who loses out.” Best of luck with their chosen career! (Note: Get your family and friends to visit this blog, too!)
Please refer to the Latest Example to view the overall picture of a potential
solution. If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area.
Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Next posting in 2 weeks: “Using Peeling the Onion to decide on ‘What is the best way to pursue my chosen career?’” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com to connect with the blogger.)

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