I met Richard (Dick) Knowdell in the mid-nineties when I joined the California Career Development Association and participated in the International Career Development Conference, which he co-founded almost 25 years ago. When I met Dick, he was already a legend, a Robin Hood of the career development and counseling professions, who challenged "accepted assumptions and operational rules" (Feller, 2007). Dick was at that time, and still is, a member of that special group of career professionals who are

"resless thinkers, impatient doers, and intuitors who hear the wants of those without a voice." *

Dick is an unabashed career entrepreneur, whose only work role is to add value to the career development profession, ...and thoroughly enjoy the process.

Listen to Dick tell his story of becoming an entrepreneur and "intrepreneur" (individual with an independent and risk-taking behavioral style who works within a formal organization) in the early 1960s, when his entrepreneurial behavior clearly emerged. Dick will describe his straightforward, no-nonsense path to business success. Feel free to ask questions. For almost 50 years, he has been at the forefront of the career development profession, consulting with Fortune 500 companies and launching several
career training programs for career professionals, including the following:

Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC)

Distance Job and Career Transition Coach Training (DJCTC)

Career Development Facilitator Training (eCDF)

Career Development Facilitator Instructor Training (CDFI)

Starting or Expanding a Private Career Counseling or Coaching Business

Discover how his motivated skills and values have influenced his career success.

Sample Interview Questions

I would like to hear your questions, too. If possible, it would be helpful if you email to me your questions in advance, so I know how much time to set aside for your questions and so I can make a point of calling on you to ask the interviewee your question (it is difficult to take questions during the tele-interview when we have many participants).

Sally

What is your personal definition of lifework success?

How have your motivated skills influenced your career success at different stages of your adult life (give one or two examples).

Several of our listeners have asked for specific tips to running as successful business; for example, how much should you charge clients?

How did you develop the idea of producing motivated skills card sorts?

Do you have to be a creative person to be successful in private practice?

Do you believe that there are any essential skills needed to be successful in private practice?

What are your top two or three recommendations for individuals who are thinking of starting or expanding a career or counseling business?

*Quote at the beginning of this post is by Rich Feller, Ph.D., in Gelardin, S. (2007). Starting and Growing a business in the New Economy, National Career Development Association. P. iii. Available at EntrepreneurKits.com.

The following questions are based on a presentation by Dr. Mark Savickas at the 2007 National Career Development Conference, Seattle, WA.



A. How can I be useful to you as you construct your career?

1. Whom do you admire? Who would you like to pattern your life after?

Who did you admire when you were growing up? Why?

How are you like _____?

How are you different from_____?

2. Do you read any magazines regularly? If so, which ones?

Why do you like these magazines?

How about TV? What shows do you really enjoy?

What is your favorite story line?

3. What do you like to do with your free time?

What are your hobbies?

What do you enjoy about these hobbies?

4. Do you have a favorite saying or motto?

Tell me a saying you remember hearing.

5. What are your three favorite subjects in junior high and high school? What subjects do you hate?

Why did you love _____, _____, and _____?

Why did you hate _____, _____, an _____?

Introduction, Christner-Lile, D. (2006). Aging in Place: Safely living in your "Home Sweet Home" until you're 100 Plus.

Chapter 27,  "Staying Current:  Using Cybertools To Reach More Students" (Gelardin & Harryman, 2008) in 21st Century School Counseling (Allen, J. 2008).

Contribution, Kiernan, B. (2007). Behind the School Wall. 2nd Edition. Website, BJKiernan@ Gmail.com .

Contribution, The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos (Mann, M.A. & Bombela-Tobias, M., 2005)

Cited numerous times in Family Matters:  The Influence of the Family in Career Decision Making (Chope, R., 2006).