Author
Dr. Sally Gelardin

Whatever work you do is most effective when you are in your environment of choice. My environment of choice is a special garden where I counsel clients, write, and visit with friends. We can run around in circles trying to be successful in our work and personal lives, but if we want to be "human beings," rather than "human doings," then we need to slow down and reflect upon what is really important to us. Life is too short and frustrating or too long and boring for us to ignore our unconscious yearnings. Here is an activity to "Create Your Ideal Environment NOW!"

Icebreaker

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.

Dr. Seuss, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"*

Imagine yourself in your ideal work environment. Here's what I would write, " I sit in my writing garden under dappled sunlight, inviting others to share their life stories. Together we bask in filtered light, figuring out how to create the future by reflecting upon the past and being fully in the present. "

The clearer your vision emerges, the more likely it will come true! At least that's what happened to me. When you can articulate your ideal work setting to others, you are even closer to creating that environment.

Purpose of Presentation
Envision your ideal work environment by tapping your unconscious.


Learning Objectives
*Reflect upon your ideal live/work setting.
*Describe your ideal live/work setting.
*Discuss your ideal live/work settings with others.

Materials
Writing or drawing utensils and paper, preferably large sheets of paper.

Instructions
Envision your ideal live/work environment decade by decade for the rest of your life. Answer the following questions for each decade:

What does it look like?

What are the aromas?

Who is part of your ideal environment?

How much time do you spend with others?

Do you prefer groups? If so, are they large or small?

Do you prefer one-to-one interaction?

How much time do you prefer to spend by yourself?

What do you do when you are by yourself?

What do you do when you are with others?

What are your physical sensations in your ideal environment (i.e., do you sit, stand, move, write, work on the computer, how does your body feel, what are your emotions?)

What are the sounds? Tastes?

Do you work in a different location than where you live or in the same location as where you live?

Participants
Counselors and career practitioners who would like to help themselves and their clients find satifying work in environments of their choice.

Setting (classroom, group seating, etc)
Cafe-like setting - round tables, group seating

Time Required
Can be anywhere from one hour to a day-long process.

Concepts

Creating Space to Share with Others

I can't believe most people like to spend most of their time indoors in offices. Yet, that's where many people do their work. I can't believe that people like to stand on their feet all day. Yet, many teachers have knee operations by the time or before they are ready to retire. What are we doing to our bodies and to what end? Is there another way? By envisioning our ideal environment, maybe it will materialize, resulting in satifying work for ourselves and for those who enter into our environment of choice. That's what happened when I envisioned Cafe Philo (a philosophy cafe for career practitioners who were also poets or authors) several years ago at a NCDA Conference. Here's what happened at Cafe Philo.

Creating Space To Offer Career Services at Conferences

Even before Cafe Philo, I envisioned Cafe Vitae, an environment at conferences where I offer complementary job search tips "Vitae" is plural of "vita" which is a professional resume, often used by doctors and educators. "Vita" is derived from the Latin word, "life". Imagine creating a work environment to celebrate "life"! Every year, at the Professional Businesswomen's Conference, I offer Cafe Vitae, a career, caregiving, and self-care service.

Creating Personal Space

I created a collage of Cafe Gratitude (a real cafe in the San Francisco Bay area), which hangs on my dining-room wall. I feel gratitude for living in environments of my choice. My husband built for me a little garden filled with lavender and jasmine. I invite clients and friends to sit and talk at a canopied table in my garden. I also meet with clients and friends at outdoor cafes.

Creating Live/Work Communities

Have you heard the term "LiveWork Space?" I envision a live/work eldering community, in which active elders live in "green communities," within walking distance from the corner healthy food store, and provide educational workshops for the community. What is your "live/work space" of choice?

Creating Personal Space Wherever You Are

While your dream is formulating, you still need to live in the here and now. Creating a satisfactory environment in your current situation is equally important to creating an ideal space for the future. My little garden setting is available to me now. Even more immediately, I work at my computer near a window with filtered light casting patterns on a little balcony. My computer screen has images of nature. I listen to peaceful music as I work at my computer.

When I was helping my almost 88-year old mother move from a home she had lived in for 40 years, emotions were high and scheduling was tight. To maintain balance, I took a half hour every day to jog in the early morning, and listened to uplifting music on my IPOD as I was packing.

Exercise
Take few minutes to dream about your work or "live/work" environment of choice. Envision the colors, shapes, aromas, light patterns, how you move in the space, who else is part of that space, how you are interacting with others in that space, what sounds you hear, what you are feeling as you envision this ideal environment. What would you name this space in two to five words?

If you cannot think of what your ideal environment is like, reflect upon environments that you like - i.e., walking on a favorite path, window-shopping, looking out upon mountains or water. I recently received an email from "Yelp" in San Francisco. I had written a review on a shop for that blogging site of reviews of favorite places in San Francisco. The question of the day was
" Places of Reflection & Quiet in San Francisco?" Reading that question reminded me that I like to visit and often meet with clients at quiet outdoor gardens or public areas. Where do you like to visit or meet friends or clients?

Assessment of Learning Objectives
Draw your ideal enviroment on a large sheet of paper.
Name this space in two to five words.
Describe your environment of choice to others at your table.

Discussion
What was the experience of doing this exercise like for you?
Ask others at your table what it was like for them. Discuss what steps you might take after the workshop to implement your ideal workspace and to maintain balance in your current situation.

Footnotes
*Dr. Seuss was a philosopher who wrote children's books. Visit the Dr. Seuss National Memorial. He was born in my home town of Springfield, Massachusetts.

**An in-depth article on building a global community can be found in VISTA's online publication, which is posted on the American Counseling Association and National Career Development Association websites.

Family Caregiver Counselor Certificate Program

Introduction
More than 50 million people are both caring for their elderly parents and trying to keep their lives balanced. Elderly spousal caregivers who experience caregiving-related stress have a 63% higher mortality rate than noncaregivers of the same age. Learn how to help caregivers recognize their stress level and manage the needs of both loved ones and their own needs. Become familiar with a unique "career and caregiving wellness model" that emphasizes financial, legal, and home-modification skills, as well as physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual techniques.

Learning Objectives
1.Learn how to help caregivers balance personal and professional caregiving with self-care and career.
2. Become acquainted with a battery of resources to share with caregivers.
3. Learn ways to be financially remunerated for your work.
4. Practice a wellness model to help manage caregiving challenges.

Target Audience
Mental health agencies, Private practice, Family services

Bios

Presenter 1:
Dr. Sally Gelardin, International & Multicultural Education, NCC, DCC, GCDF Provider & eLearning Instructor, and Certified Life Transitions Counselor, has presented counseling and workshops for seniors for over a decade. She started the first job club for seniors in Marin County, California, where her oldest client (in her 80s) was the first person to secure a job. A year later, as Paralegal Career Counselor (University of San Franicsco), she placed her oldest client as a paralegal in the Office of the Mayor of San Franicisco. She has provided workshops for seniors at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco's Montefiore Senior Center and other senior facilities, and for the CA Dept of Aging. She was a founding member of the Spiritual Eldering movement in San Francisco, and has co-presented workshops on cooperative housing for seniors. She was interviewed on the topic of "Coping with Caregiving" on wsradio.com, wrote the introduction to “Aging-In-Place” (Christner-Lile, 2006), and has provided free job search tips to attendees at the Marin Assisted Technology Fair. Dr. Gelardin is Past-President of the California Career Development Association and is an active member of the National Career Development Association, the American Counseling Association, and the California Counseling Association.


Presenter 2:
Donna Christner-Lile, NCC, RPC, DCC, is an author and life transitions counselor. She successfully combines her experience and education from two life careers into a unique planning resource for boomers, caregivers, and elders. She has presented on talk shows and has been featured in professional publications, such as ACA's "Counseling Today," "Thrivent Magazine," and public media. She runs a nationally trade registered practice, Christner-Lile Consulting. From first-hand experience, Donna knows how life can change unexpectedly. During her own career change, she became a caregiver to her 92-year old mother. She was able to experience first-hand what many sandwich generation individuals go through to balance life and work. In 2006, she authored a best-selling book, "Aging-In-Place: Living safely in your own home until you are 100Plus." In 2006, she also became the Executive Director of Counseling Life Transitions, a non-profit organization affiliated with Tri-Valley Community Foundation. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and a California Registered Professional Counselor.

Contact:
Dr. Sally Gelardin
415.312.4294
counselor@jobjuggler.net

Introduction
One of the few areas of business growth is entrepreneurship. As a career professional, you need to develop your advising skills to usher in the new wave of entrepreneurs. At this workshop, you will learn how to grow your practice, and at the same time help shape the incubation of new businesses. In a collaborative café setting, under the guidance of leading career entrepreneurs, you will:
(a) identify entrepreneurial success factors
(b) define entrepreneurial style, and discriminate between potential and ability
(c) identify and map out solutions for instant implementation of your business or practice.

Learning Objectives
1. Become acquainted with a creative approach to entrepreneurial decision-making. Identify personal attributes (personality, skills, values, family influences, preferred learning style, inner motivations, lifestyle preferences) that impact entrepreneurial success.

2. Identify entrepreneurial success factors through an analytic assessment process.

3. Develop a valid strategic plan - Identify and map out solutions for instant implementation of your business or practice.

Bio
Sally Gelardin, Ed.D., is a certified eLearning Career Development Facilitator Instructor (CDFI) and a Provider of the Global CDF curriculum, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC), and a certified Job and Career Transition Coach. Dr. Gelardin administers the Job Search Practitioner Certificate and teaches the eLearning GCDF curriculum and Distance Job & Career Transition Coach (DJCTC) Certificate Program. She serves as Womens Studies Portfolio Evaluator at the University of San Francisco, and consults throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Dr. Gelardin earned a M.A. in Education, a M.A. in Counseling Psychology, and an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education. She is a former President of the California Career Development Association (CCDA) and currently serves as an active contributing member of NCDA's Leadership Academy, Publication Committee, and Professional Development Committee. She is creator of Job Juggler's Lifelong Employability Program and Entrepreneur Kits for career professionals and their clients, Gelardin is editor of "Starting and Growing a Business in the New Economy: Successful Career Entrepreneurs Share Stories and Stratagies" (NCDA, 2007) and author of "The Mother-Daughter Relationship: Activities for Promoting Lifework Success."

Contact:
Dr. Sally Gelardin
415.312.4294
counselor@jobjuggler.net

Listen to Entrepreneur Teleclass through August 14, 2007.

View VISTAs online article .

Register for International Career Development Conference Professional Development Institute: View #10: Invest in Your Career: Expand Your Services to Counsel Entrepreneurs, the Largest Growing Segment of the Economy .

Participate in upcoming series of teleconferences featuring interviews with leading career entrepreneurs, sponsored by the California Counseling Association. Dates/times TBA. For more info, email jim@cacounseling.org or call CCA Headquarters tool free at 1-877-602-8059 .

Participate in teleconferences to learn how to set up a web presence. Through the teleconferences, besides learning how to set up your web presence, you learn how to participate in an eCommunity such as the Entrepreneur eCommunity.

Learn about the Distance Job and Career Transition Coach Certificate Training.

The Entrepreneur Kits are very helpful for people who are thinking about starting a company. The material in the Kits are usually hard to find. What a great resource - all in one Kit, designed for what stage you are in building your business!

Christine Won, Director, Student Affairs Accounting Program, UCLA

Level of audience
All (Entry, Intermediate, and Senior Practitioner)

Conference focus track
all

Major goal of the session
Learn how to manage your web presence.


Learning objectives

1. Discover why you need to be aware of your web presence.

2. Learn how to search for your web presence.

4. Explore ways to take control of your web presence to get your meesage out ...your way.


Educational content

If you have something to say that you want others to know about, the best way to get the word out is through the World Wide Web. Whether you want to promote your business, your organization, or your private practice, the Internet can project your message immediately to employers and to prospective, current and past clients. You may have a web presence and not be aware of it. Learn how to control your web presence so that you can get your message out the way you want to, gain a competitive edge, and form alliances with your competitors so everyone wins.


Target audience and area of application

Counselors who are thinking about starting or buidling a private practice, those who counsel entrepreneurs and jobseekers, as well as "intrepreneeurs" (those who work as entrepreneurs within a business or institution), and organizational leaders.

Format
1. Ice breaker - Discover your web presence.
2. Introduction and rationale
2.a. Why it is important to manage your web presence.
2.b. What you hope to get out of this workshop.
3. Overview of agenda
4. Facilitator 1 presents how she uses the Web to promote her group practice, as a welll as to promote her unique offerings within her group practice and offers an exercise for participants to begin to establish their web presence.
5. Facilitator 2 presents several websites and eCommunities that she has set up to promote her private practice and career business and offers an exercise for participants to identify the message that participants want to get out.
6. Q & A
7 Resources and Next Steps

Materials
Each attendee will be given an agenda. Presenters will email to participants a web-linked powerpoint overview of the presentation in a bookmarked PDF format.

Presenters

Marilyn Harryman and Sally Gelardin co-authored a chapter on using cybertools in school counseling for an upcoming book by Jackie Allen on school counseling in the 21st century (Counseling Outfitters, LLC).


Marilyn Harryman

Dr. Sally Gelardin


Diversity
We shall discuss age, sex discrimination, and ethnic background challenges, as well as address multicultural issues.Both presenters serve a broad spectrum of clients, with a variety of ethnic backgrounds, sexual preferences, ages, and individuals with disabilities. Presenter 1's e-learning business is especially suitable for individuals who have mobility, cost and access challenges.

Content Description
Counselors are joining the trend of creating small businesses, either as a sole source of income, or with other work roles. Like our clients, we see growing a business as a viable way to meet the increasing demand for our services. Counseling professionals are no exception. If you have been serving as a counselor or career educator in an academic institution, or if you have worked for a public or private institution for many years, you may be thinking about going out on your own or desire to increase the visibility of the institution where you are employed. Gelardin and Harryman present easy ways to set up a web presence in your own business or for your organization.

References
[1] U.S. Census Bureau. www.census.gov
[2] Hopkins, J. U.S. entrepreneurial spirit remains steady, study finds, USA Today. Posted 9/22/2005 8:45 PM
[3] Fairlie, R. University of California at Santa Cruz
[4] New black businesses drive minority entrepreneur surge. (7/29/05). [Click to view link] . P. 1

Additional Resources
KQED Digital Storytelling
Gelardin, S. Starting and growing a business in the new economy: Successful career entrepreneurs share stories and strategies. NCDA, 2007.
Gelardin, S. Entrepreneur kits for entrepreneurs and for career professionals who support them. (entrepreneurkits.com).

Following are some ways that I have developed to manage loss. You are welcome to click on the links and try some of the activities yourself or contact me at info @agingworks.org .

1. Take a degriefing certificate training;
2. Edit a special issue of the Career Planning and Adult Development Journal on "career and caregiving;"
3. Start an online community for active seniors;
4. Create a program for Family Caregiver Counselors with my colleague Donna Christner-Lile, who recently wrote a book on "Aging-in-Place;"
5. Write a narrative recipe book dedicated to my mother, whom I moved this year from one state to another;
6. Compose a photo essay about my mother's dedication to education and community;
7. Create an exercise about broken plates;
8. Write a tribute to a person who was important to my family.

If you would like to use any of the material above, please contact me for permission, Sally@AskDrSal.com, and explain that the material originally appeared in an Internet post entitled, "Some Ways To Manage Loss," by Dr. Sally Gelardin. Web post: lifeworkps.com/agingworks/weblog/2498.html. Reprinted with permission.