What an amazing night was had on Thursday night! We celebrated the book launch for Naishadh Gadani “Big Book of Career Doodles” and Anamika Sharma “Your Career Journal”
I’m still pinching myself that I was invited along with 45 other amazing talented professional Career Practitioners and other professionals from other industries from all around the globe to have a humble small part of Naish’s Big Book of Career Doodles!
It has been such an exciting opportunity and wonderful experience to write my thoughts and reflections of these 3 doodles about career reality vs expectations, career coherence and also being unique and finding a place that embraces your uniqueness.
This experience has been one that helped me navigate through some real challenging low points in my life last year and more recently.
Naish asked on the night “what have I unleashed?”
You could tell during the launch, something truly unique has been created.
What Naish has unleashed, is a truly inspirational treasure trove of a resource that is not only for career practitioners, but anyone who wants to contemplate and/or find out more about job search strategies, career exploration, career development, career transitions, personal branding, social media networking and self development.
I love the curiosity, possibility thinking and creative engagement that comes from these resources, which I believe are important approaches for the field of career development…. let’s light the spark for curiosity.
On the way home from work on Friday, whilst everyone else on the train were staring at their screens, I couldn’t help but have my nose buried in the Big Book of Career Doodles. All of the contributors work really speaks from their heart.
And a bonus unplanned surprise from collaborating on Naish’s book was bringing together Anamika and I once again. During the launch we were both looking at each other, thinking “I know you from somewhere”, and we did . . .. we worked together as part of my previous role! I’m looking forward to having a proper catch up with Anamika soon 😊
I’ve read the thoughts and reflections of the doodles other contributors wrote about, which are so inspiring, you can feel how they write from their heart. Naish has created something special with his ‘Big Book of Career Doodles – 87 Visual Ideas to Inspire a Great Career’
Taking the plunge, I took a friends advice about public speaking and put my ‘big girls pants’ on and volunteered to do a reading on the night. Not only did I have someone record me whilst I read to the audience one of my pieces of writing, but am taking the plunge and posting the recording (I know the audio quality is not the greatest) 
It’s not quite sinking in yet that I am now published (It’s only 3 chapters, but it’s a start), with also an article due to be published in a Career Development journal later this year.
Serendipity- take the opportunities when they come your way, and don’t let self-doubt gremlins sneak in 
So, how did the book launch help with my sense of wellbeing?
💚 ‘Be kind to you. Do something that brings you joy’. . . ‘Look for something good in a difficult situation’ 💚
I’m going to be honest. With the winding down of my current work contract, winter cold weather and also in my personal life, still waiting for mum’s estate to be finalised, life has thrown some real curve balls at me recently, leaving me this week feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and wanting to curl up under a blanket whilst the world marches by.
Thankfully, I dug out this month’s ‘Action for Happiness’ Org’s calendar and the 2 daily actions I’ve mentioned above have really helped my wellbeing.
💚 ‘Look for something good in a difficult situation’ – The thought of helping Naishadh Gadani and Anamika Sharma celebrate their books launch on Thursday night, gave me something to look forward to. Taking time for some self-care and getting “dressed” for the event, lifted my spirits and helped push my worries to the side for a few hours at least.
💚 ‘Be kind to you. Do something that brings you joy’ – After the book launch, I had arranged to stay at my good friends apartment in the Docklands overnight. it felt like a mini mid-week break. It was great catching up with them, having a laugh and sharing my reflections in the Big Book of Career Doodles with them.
It was lovely getting up before dawn yesterday and sitting with a cup of coffee watching the reflections on the water and slow changing colour of the sky over the city as dawn approached. This time to myself helped me take a back swing and to see outside the box options and possibilities for moving forward
(I’m so glad I always keep a notebook nearby, and jotted down clarified ideas for resources I’m working on developing around Hope Action Theory and military transitions lifelong career management)
It also helped to put into perspective relationships that are meaningful to me. That spot in the Docklands is one of my ‘happy places’ and I hope one day I can share that experience and view with someone who I care about ( I have had some amazing New Years Eve experiences there with friends 😉).
For now, I made self-care as a priority this weekend. After all, just like a car, you can’t run on an empty battery.
Jenn Barfield - Holistic Career Development Coaching 