© Carole Kanchier, PhD
Who are Questers? What personality traits give them confidence and courage to take charge of their life careers?Are you a Quester? Could you become one?
Questers are highlighted in the 7th edition of award winning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life. https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963
Questers Dare to Change offers powerful, positive information for people needing knowledge and strategies to understand and control their lives. It presents a developmental, inspirational approach to lifelong growthand revitalization. Questers helps individuals understand how they grow and change through life, where they fit in the career and life cycles, and how to make lifelong decisions.
By referring to real life examples of “Questers,” representing varied ages and occupations, people are encouraged to move beyond traditional thinking about careers. Questers not only inspires readers to rethink their life careers, it shows them how to create their desired lifestyles.
Questers have been around for centuries. Famous Questers include Galileo Galilei, the Italian physicist who proved the earth revolved around the sun, Florence Nightingale, “The Lady with the Lamp,” who, during the Crimean War, made rounds of wounded soldiers at night, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill who had the foresight and courage to challenge Hitler, and inspire the British people to continue their fight against the enemy.
Many other Questers have courage and confidence to pursue other dreams. Jessie came to North America from China when she was 30. She took survival jobs while studying English and computers. Jesse was promoted in her computer job. Now 40, Jesse is reassessing values and goals. Jesse is experiencing her age-40 transition.
Although we have our own rhythms of change, growing adults alternate between transitional and developmental periods throughout life. Transitions, which generally begin in our late teens or early 20s and occur every decade following, are times for questioning who we are and where we want to go. Experiences such as marriage, divorce, illness or job loss precipitate and intensify appraisals during transitions. Jessie’s age-40 transition was triggered by a car accident.
Attuned to changes within and around them, Questers anticipate layoffs and know voluntary and involuntary career changes are a normal part of growth. Therefore, quitting a job during a recession may be smart. While his colleagues worried about being laid off, Mike upgraded his skills and contacted employers. He was offered a job the day he received his pink slip.
Questers create work that’s in harmony with their purpose. As a child, Fred loved fixing things so he studied mechanical engineering. He had been promoted to senior management within a large organization, but wasn’t happy. Fred realized he couldn’t express his passion – fixing things. So, he pursued his purpose by becoming a maintenance man in an apartment complex. “If you’re doing something you like, it’s not really work, and you’re making money…” Fred radiates joy.
Questers measure success internally. Fred had confidence and courage to create his own satisfying job. Success to Questers means moving up or down the occupational prestige ladder to achieve fulfillment and growth. Questers are productive because they enjoy work and set high standards.
Not all Questers live to work. Some work to live. Lorrie’s calling is to enjoy life. “I work to support my lifestyle…Although I get satisfaction from doing a good job, I devote my life to hobbies and volunteer activities.”
Retirement is obsolete to Questers. John, a professor, says; “I could retire, but choose not to because work is too much fun…”If I wasn’t paid, I would continue to work. If I retire, there is only one thing left!
We’re all born Questers. However, as we grow older, societal institutions inhibit development of Quester traits. Fortunately, we retain Quester traits within and can strengthen these, if we desire.
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Are You a Quester?
Check your Quester traits with self-scoring quiz: http://www.questersdaretochange.com/services-2/quester-quiz/
Nurturing the Quester Spirit
Security is an illusion.To prevail in changing times, strengthen Quester traits.
– Focus on the positive. Think about who you want to be and do. Look for and expect good things to happen. Avoid phrases such as, “I can’t.”
– Continue to learn. Read, take courses.
– Use intellect and intuition when making decisions. Research needed information, then use intuition. For example, ask dreams a question before falling asleep, journal, meditate, relax in nature.
– Do what you feel is right for you, not what others think.
– Manage Fear. Live in the present. Don’t worry about what might happen. Let go of “attachments.”
– Believe in yourself. You can attain your dream!
– Identify other strategies in Questers Dare to Change
Questers are described in the inspiring, award winnning, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/15r-Life/dp/08408963
Check audible version: htps://www.audible.com/pd/Questers-Dare-to-Change-Your-Job-and-Life-Audiobook/B07VZNKGJF?asin=B07VZNKGJF&ipRedirectOverride=true&overrideBaseCountry=true&pf_rd_p=34883c04-32e5-4474-a65d-0ba68f4635d3&pf_rd_r=TN801GRP49AWQSSYMDYC1
A complementary copy of chapter one is available from Carole Kanchier’s web site: http://www.questersdaretochange.com.
Author bio: Carole Kanchier, PhD, is award winning, internationally recognized author/columnist, registered psychologist, educator, and coach.
Uniquely qualified to write and talk about lifelong career and personal growth, Dr. Carole Kanchier challenges adults to realize their potential. In her acclaimed, life changing book, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life, Kanchier encourages people to review their views of career success, and strengthen Quester traits such as purpose, intuition, and resilience to succeed. Dr. Kanchier chaired the Career Change Committee, National Career Development Association, taught at University of California Berkeley and Santa Cruz, University of Alberta, and other institutions of higher learning, and worked with clients representing varied disciplines. Her columns have been syndicated by World Wide Media, CanWest Newswire and numerous print and digital publications. Dr. Kanchier has been a guest on varied North American media broadcasts. She is available for consultations, interviews, and speaking engagements.
