• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

LifeWork Coaching

transition coaching for women

  • About
  • Coaching
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Order My Book
  • BOOK A CALL
  • Show Search
Hide Search

5 Strategies for Going Back to Work After a Career Break

Lai Han Sam · Aug 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Ever watch an athlete at the starting point of a race? You will see them warming up, stretching and keeping themselves calm but ready to go. When asked to take their positions, they approach their lane on the track, position themselves and look forward. When they hear the pistol, they push themselves as hard as possible to get that initial boost of energy to start the race. I will be exploring with you 5 strategies for returning to work after a career break. Like the athlete, the strategies I …

[Read more...] about 5 Strategies for Going Back to Work After a Career Break

How to do a quick reset of your life

Lai Han Sam · Aug 8, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Perhaps lately you feel run down, or frustrated or confused or burnt out. It feels like your life is messy and seems to be directionless. You go through your days like a zombie – feeling void, feeling numb. You wonder if there is more to life than this. Some days you are overwhelmed with too many responsibilities and on other days, you just want to stay in bed and hide. And you know it is not a medical issue. You are not alone. There are periods (pun not intended!) in a woman’s life that we go …

[Read more...] about How to do a quick reset of your life

Preparing for a Career Break

Lai Han Sam · Jul 31, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Recently I have been asked to do a keynote at a back to work event for women who have taken career breaks - either to take care of their children or their sick parents. Others take breaks to start a small business or simply to take a rest to nurture their health. Whatever the reason for taking the break, it is a huge change in lifestyle, priorities, and for many, financial status. I spoke to many who made the transition and they had a lot to share. Most of these were things they did not expect …

[Read more...] about Preparing for a Career Break

How do you know if you have succeeded?

Lai Han Sam · Jul 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment

I was at a work discussion when this question was asked. "How do you know if you have succeeded?" Indeed how do I know? How would I know if I have been successful as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, work? How would I know if I have succeeded as a person? That was something I was still thinking about on my way home that day. Was there a ruler, a measure of sorts that would tell me I have succeeded? What does success even means? In God's eyes? In society's eyes? In mine? Am I successful …

[Read more...] about How do you know if you have succeeded?

6 Tips For A More Productive Life

Lai Han Sam · Jul 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment

In our modern life, busyness seems to be a badge of honour. When asked "How are you?" in a business or social setting, the answer that is so often heard is "Busy!". The mentality of busy is equated to productiveness or even importance. I have a different perspective to offer. Prolonged unstructured busyness is a sign of the mismanagement of time. We all know that there are times in our lives when we are genuinely busy - a tight project timeline, a sick child, or frequent business trips. If …

[Read more...] about 6 Tips For A More Productive Life

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Welcome!

 

Hi, I’m Sam, founder of LIFEWORK – a transition coach working exclusively with successful women who want better work-life balance, fulfilling relationships, productive careers and financial freedom.

LEARN MORE

Recent Posts

  • The Lost Art of Reading Books
  • Courage and Fear
  • Knowing Your Values Will Help You Grow
  • Benefits Of Simplifying Your Life Dramatically
  • How to Discover What Makes Your Heart Sing

Order My Book!

Finding Joy in Transitions Book Cover

LET’S CONNECT

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @LIFEWORKGLOBAL

I have a client who often laments that she has a h I have a client who often laments that she has a heavy work load and she can’t possibly tell her manager that she cannot work past 6pm. As a result, she often feels regretful about the loss of her time with family or being not fully present with her children. After work, she is drained, feel obligated to continue to work overtime and don’t know how to find time to rest. Thus, the quality of her life and relationships deteriorated over time. 

During our sessions together, it is revealed that she often accepts all the work her manager assigns her without question. And since everything is urgent, she works overtime on many days to get the work done. It also dawned upon her that the workload never reduce no matter how hard she works! 

There was also a lot of fear around getting a bad performance review or getting pass over for a promotion. These are signs that the culture is not a fit for her. If she is afraid at work, perhaps it is time to think about what she really wants in her life and explore other opportunities. 

Her behaviour and handling of her boundaries taught her manager and colleagues how to treat her. As she is always breaking her own boundaries, she is giving others the permission to do the same.

In the end, she realised that: 
1. She needs to protect her own boundaries at work so that she can have a balanced and sustainable life. That responsibility is hers and to stop wasting energy complaining about the work or her manager. 

2. She does not have to carry the responsibilities of others. Often she wants to be seen as cooperative and nice, thus she would say yes to everything, even when it is not her responsibility. It is okay to say no.

3. Her bigger responsibility is to herself and to her family. That’s one of the big reasons why she work! So making sure she can continue working, feeling fulfilled and healthy in the long run benefits everyone!

#careercoachingforwomen #careertransitions #boundariesatwork #powerfulquestions #worklifebalance
During a coaching session with a senior leader, sh During a coaching session with a senior leader, she was apprehensive about her desire to transition into a new role in a different industry. She was also worried about the length of time she had spent in her current job and feared that she is rusty from the interviewing process. She was also concerned that she may be stereotyped from her current industry. 

As we talked, it was clear to her that her thinking around interviews stopped at when she first started as a fresh graduate rather than where she is at as an experienced senior leader. It was more about helping the interviewer see her as a suitable candidate - thus, the pressure to “sell” herself. It was also from the position of scarcity instead of abundance. 

At the end of the session, she realised that:
1. I don’t need a new job, I want a new experience. Thus, I can enjoy the interview process rather than focus on the outcome. This helps me to relax and be the best version of myself. 

2. This is a 2 way process. The interviewer is interviewing me and I am also evaluating the role. It is important to understand the partnership and expectations clearly. I see it as a conversation rather than an interview. 

3. I am enough. I have a lot to contribute and I don’t have to be able to do 100% of the role in order to take it on. I have a positive attitude towards growth and learning so I will succeed with a suitable role in any organisation. 

#careercoachingforwomen #careertransitions #interviews #powerfulquestions #leadership
“The safe choice is not always the best choice.” 
.
Because we have to live with it.
.
Life is not without difficult situations with sometimes impossible choices. Does a mother choose to save both her twin babies but has a higher risk of losing both versus saving just one? Does a man choose a more aggressive cancer treatment with higher risk of death or a less aggressive route knowing it may come back in the future?
.
How about leaving a mediocre relationship where nothing is seriously wrong or staying in one because it is easier to settle? What about the secure job that is leaving you unfulfilled versus the new job with a possibility of it being worse?
.
We cannot change the past and our lives are the sum of our decisions. Make one that you can live with and make peace with it. Only then can you move forward with 100% conviction to make it work, to accept your journey ahead. 

#decisions #acceptance #choice #conviction #lifework
Our education has taught us how to use our brain. Our education has taught us how to use our brain. Skills, knowledge and credentials form a strong part of who we are. The more we know or learn, the more respect and credibility we get. We get better jobs, salaries and more opportunities. 
.
We often focus on our goals, how we get there and what mistakes to avoid. We make decisions, plans and targets. 
.
While being cerebral is good, what about the human side of us? What about how we feel and how we make others feel? What about intentions of our goals rather than just a goal in itself? 
.
Feelings give texture and depth to who we are. Achieving a promotion makes one person feel proud of his achievement, to another makes him feel relieved that he can pay for his child’s medical bills. 
.
Even if she is okay to go along with her husband’s practical decision, it does not mean she feels good. She could still feel worried about it. 
.
If we choose not to ask about the other person’s feelings, we are missing an opportunity to understand the other person, to truly help them feel heard and understood. 
.
How do you feel about what you just read?

#feelingsareimportant #understanding #deepening #awareness #intentionalliving
Things are never what quite it seems. They also do Things are never what quite it seems. They also don’t always go the way you plan or want. Life has a life of its own. Thus, wanting 100% control may not always be the best way to live. 
.
The word “control” can be positive or negative.
“I am taking control of my dreams.” or “I have control of the situation.” are empowering and reassuring to say and hear. 
“He is a control freak!” or “She wants to control my decisions!” may be perceived as disempowering and disheartening.
.
So how then do we balance this two sides of the same coin? I can say to myself, “I am taking control of the plan, and I accept that there are parts that I cannot control. When these parts happen, I will go with the flow and do the best I can. I know it may be difficult and I also know I can ask for help.”
.
What areas of your life do you struggle with control? What other ares if your life can you let go of that control to have a better quality of life?

#lifeworkcoaching #hansamlai #transitioncoach #change #transition #lifecoach #motivation #lifecoaching #coaching #love #coach #mindset #inspiration #selflove #life #lifestyle #selfcare #mentalhealth #mindfulness #personaldevelopment #goals #happiness #loveyourself #fitness #healing #lifequotes #motivationalquotes #positivevibes #careercoach
My son is about to make an important life transiti My son is about to make an important life transition decision. And here I am struggling between wanting him to be happy and wanting the best for him.
.
They should be the same thing but in this situation it may not be. On the one hand I THINK I know what decision will give him a better future; on the other it is HIS decision. 
.
The anxiety I feel is not new to me. After all he is my third child. And yet every single time, I struggle. I often ask myself this - am I doing it for him or am I doing it for me? Truth be told, it is probably a bit of each. 
.
Ah but I know this is his transition and not mine. So I have chosen to help him see what he needs to see, know what he needs to know and let go of the need to control this. I know this decision is not mine to make. And whatever the outcome, I will always be there to love and support him.

#lettinggo #transition #trusting #knowing #motherhood

Copyright © 2022 · LIFEWORK COACHING · FGD