Relaxation/Vacation

Career cycles

Feeling burned out at work? Not quite sure where you want to be in your career? You are not alone.

CHAD HUCULAK

[ 2006-06-15 ]

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Feeling burned out at work? Not quite sure where you want to be in your career? You are not alone. Often we get so caught up in our lives that we never take a step back and try to comprehend where we are and where we're going in our careers.

CareerCycles is a unique chance to take that time to reflect and enjoy the soothing outdoors at the same time. Mark Franklin came across the idea of combining bicycle trips with career counselling on a B.C. ferry back in 2001.

"I just changed careers from engineering for 10 years to counselling," Franklin says.

"I was leading bike trips in Alberta and B.C. and there was this moment of serendipity on a B.C. ferry. I was talking to a guest and he told me how he was once a highly paid corporate lawyer and took some time off to reflect and he ended up quitting his job.

"I had a big 'a-ha' moment and thought, 'I'm the guy who likes outdoor activity and knows career counselling' and I figured I could combine outdoor activity and career renewal conversations."

Thus CareerCycles was born. After a short trial run in Cuba with a friend as a guinea pig, Franklin began his weekend outdoor getaways in 2001 and has continued with them since.

The cycle of life

At a special rate, small groups of people are taken to an outdoor environment where they are led on non-grueling bicycle and hiking trips while engaging in a career renewal program that includes structured conversations through questions such as "Who am I now?" "Where would I like to go?" and "How do I take the first step?" For three days they also get to stay in an inn with meals provided as well as being able to enjoy the lush outdoors that often leads to zen moments.

"People often find it's an unusual combination," Franklin says, "but they find out it works."