Not long after I left Luck Stone and started the relatively insane process of starting my own business, I had a random conversation with someone at the Greater Richmond Chamber. That conversation continued in various forms through the holidays, and has culminated in a new Chamber program called "Next Steps." Next Steps is focused on helping recently unemployed make an intentional transition to whats next in their careers or lives.
I'll be facilitating that program for the Chamber in February and March.
Essentially, the idea behind Next Steps is that there can be huge value for people who hit the pause button as they hit the unemployment line. Sifting through -- perhaps for the first time -- your personal values and vision, and your skills and experiences, and aligning them with your job search can be as valuable as networking, or carpet bombing Monster.com with resumes and inquiries.
The pilot is limited to 32 people who have recently been displaced from Chamber member companies. (There is an application process.) There are four sessions over four weeks. Participants will work primarily in small groups of four -- building relationships, setting commitments, and holding one another accountable.
