by Deborah Kintner
Publisher’s note: A personal note to all our readers from Fred Coon. Deborah Kintner, our friend, collaborator, resume writer, long-time counselor, significant contributor to Ready Aim Hired, Mr. Coon’s book and a most valued member of FEC Career Services staff, suffered a momentous life-changing event – a massive stroke and multiple seizures nearly seven months ago. When we visited her in the intensive care unit, they told us that her prognosis for regaining her abilities was highly uncertain.
Image, if you will, you are someone with an extremely high I.Q. who is an expert in psychometric testing, able to pen the most professional resumes, deliver excellent speeches to groups, are an outstanding trainer and coach and you are suddenly faced with a future in which you cannot speak, write or communicate. This is where Deborah was several months ago.
To all our readers, let me tell you that I have known Deb for over five years and can tell you without hesitation, she is a fighter and I have never seen her quit, ever! Through her strong determination and hard work, she has courageously embarked on a renewal of her mind and body.
Her advice bodes well for all job seekers faced with unusual hardships.
The following article written by Deb was sent to us only two weeks ago and was in her own handwriting. End Publishers Note:
Either Crumble or Re-create by Deborah Kintner
“Imagine someone who has totally lost the work abruptly due to a sudden medical problem. Often, some of these difficulties cause the person to no longer have the ability to continue to manage a career this person has enjoyed and performed well. Someone is likely to feel devastated, thinking, ‘My work is completely over. How can I move on and work if my abilities can no longer be used?’
When these problems occur, it’s not unusual for someone to feel doomed. In fact, both physical and psychological shock results in inability to consider how to ever work again. Consequently, you may totally stop doing anything. That’s fine for a little while. However continuing in this stymie does not enable you to move on.
Rather than focusing on what you have lost, consider what you still do well. Concentrate on your positive qualities and enhance them both to send to others and to strengthen your belief in yourself. Also sometimes you may require education or medical assistance.
Learn what you receive and further improve them. Eventually, you may discover that you perform the new abilities even better than your previous career resulting in happiness and satisfaction.
Don’t give up! Keep working and trying. You never know what will happen.
I personally received such an event. At the age of 52 years, I nearly died after a sudden stroke and seizure. However, I have written this article within five months after my stroke. If I could do it, you can too!”