WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAREER?

Willette Coleman ©2017

When I composed this question, it brought to mind the perdurable career advice book,  What Color is Your Parachute?, I read in the 1970s.

As you search your heart for the answer to my question, consider the color green.  Green for money?, you ask.  Well, that and green – for Green Career.  Job seekers or entrepreneurs with education and training in STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & math) are uniquely prepared to take advantage of the green jobs boom.  Yes, boom, considering green jobs “added over 300,000 new jobs to the nation’s workforce growth” in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Energy 2017 Employment Report. 

Within the solar industry sector, alone, jobs jumped to over 73,000 and the wind sector added 25,000 new jobs in 2015, reported The Solar Foundation.  Employment grew by 123%, in both sectors exceeding workforce growth rate nearly 12 times faster than the overall economy.  And, when we consider diversity, DBL investors reported that, compared to the deadly coal mining industry, which is 87% white and male, solar installation alone employs

·        16K more Latinos,

·        4K more African-Americans,

·        5K more Asian/Pacific-Islanders and

·        10K more women.

The boom is global with Chile being among numerous countries leading the United States in solar/clean energy, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.   

Green jobs is the antithesis to environmentally and public health destructive jobs in fracking for natural gas, drilling for oil, mining for coal and other minerals (i.e., chrome, plutonium, etc.) and burrowing through Mother Earth to bury oil pipelines that have a propensity to leak toxic materials into the environment.  To date, there have been 220 'Significant' Pipeline Spills undermining our planet’s integrity.   In the green jobs industry the focus is on providing energy for our world and future generations with kindness. 

A Green Career that stands out is Water Conservation.  Fresh water is vital to all life and experts say there is a water crisis.  Contaminated water is deadly, which is why advocates are fighting (i.e., the Standing Rock water protectors.  See documentary Water & Power:  A California Heist).  Danni Washington of Big Blue & You takes her concern for water conservation to another level as a science communicator and protector of our oceans.  Mark Twain has been credited with saying, “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting over,” despite no substantive evidence he said it, according to quoteinvestigator.com.  Whoever said it should have considered that, to make whiskey, you need water.

 

Conceptualizing and creating are the fun parts of a Green Career.  Majora Carter, for example, conceptualized and initiated two non-profit organizations, Sustainable South Bronx and Green for All that targets “greening” under-served communities.  Despite challenges, Guy Negre, in India, continues to work on a zero-pollution car that rides on air.  Imagine filling your tank with air like you do for your tires.  With STEAM studies, you could marry art and science, as was done with the synthesizer, an instrument  musical genius, Stevie Wonder, uses to create his award winning, internationally celebrated, time-honored songs.  Or, work on set designs for science fiction movies like Star Wars.  Or, create shimmering new environmentally friendly headlights for the latest motor vehicle as Martin Davis, head of exterior lighting and design, does for General Motors.  Or, how about bamboo bikes like the ones designed and manufactured in Ghana?  Or, design toys as did Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the popular Super Soaker.  Or, design environmentally friendly clothes like Peopletree that says their garments are “made with respect for people and the planet.” Or, shoes like Adidas’ performance shoe made from artificial spider silk or Biosteel, a 100 percent biodegradable filament derived from the same proteins that spiders use to make their tough webs.  See more earth friendly designers at thegoodtrade.com and ecouterre.com.  How about opening an Eco-turism company like Jared Sternberg in New Orleans?  Or be an advocate like Lynn Griffith Taylor, Coordinator for Marylanders for Energy Democracy and Affordability (MEDA).  Clearly, the options and possibilities are endless.

Showing Mother Earth and our atmosphere some love also pays well.  In the environmental tech sector, computer coders - with no college degree - can average $70,000 annually.  Wind Energy Engineers - $50,000 to $95,000.  Green Construction Scheduler - $47,000 to $102,000.  Environmental Public Relations Specialist’s (an extension of the public relations profession) - $57,000.  Architect Environmental Consultant - $50,000 to $68,000.      

While the green workforce seems to be open only to college graduates (i.e., Environmental Lawyer and Environmental Scientists), non-degree jobs exist, such as the aforementioned coders and Landscape Architects at $60,000 annually.  As I said in my post, I Don't Wanna to Go to College!, while a degree isn’t absolutely necessary to earn a comfortable living, you still need training.  Training can earn you a certificate. 

You can get training and certification from Goodwill of Greater Washington, DC as an Environmental Field Technician.  Check the Goodwill in your area.  Take courses or earn certification for Energy Auditor from organizations like Building Performance Institute and the Association of Energy Engineers, according to bls.gov.  Some community colleges also offer energy auditing courses.  Nielson Environmental Field School, Inc offers training and certification and some environmental nonprofits, such as GridAlternatives, offer job training to residents in under-served communities.  LEED (for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,”) offers a certification guide.  Search more certificate programs at study.com and non-degree options at usgreentechnology.com, pennyhoarder.com and ecojobs.com.  A few other non-degree options are:

•  Odor Inspector.  Your sensitive olfactory could get state-certification to decipher whether a landfill meets odor control regulations.  Smells like an interesting career?  Courses and certification are provided at St. Croix Sensory Training, in Minnesota, (not the beautiful island of St. Croix, West Indies). 

•  Eco-Entrepreneurship covers a broad range of green business options, including the life-transition care industry.  Funeral homes owners can be certified by the Greenburial council. 

• The Environmentally Friendly Organic Food Industry is another eco-entrepreneurship option.   Search opportunities at thebalance.com and Natural Industries.com.

•  Recycling operations rely on truck drivers, sorters and mechanics, and technicians to inspect and repair automated equipment. 

•  Forestry Conservationists ensure resources are used ethically and in ways that don't damage forest systems.

If college is on your “to do” list, look for Green Scholarships, such as the one offered at Waterlogic.com.  (Get more scholarship tips on my post:  Forget Loans!  GET FREE MONEY!!!)  Search the Internet for colleges that offer environmental programs, including HBCUs, such as University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  Community colleges like those listed on environmentalscience.org offer both degree and certificate programs.

Tip:  Check the accreditation of any post-secondary school you

consider attending.  Legitimate schools are on the

Department of Education's list.

More and more elementary, middle and high schools across the nation (even some prisons provide coding courses) offer STEM and STEAM programs, as do nonprofits such as Metro Warriors STEM Organization, Code.org and #YesWeCode.  Metro Warriors’ youths have won 15 awards and trophies from national STEM competitions.  Even responsible rappers, like Ne-Yo, support coding education.

Internships or Volunteering are ideal paths to careers in any industry, including Green Careers.  The Natural Resources Defense Council is a good place to learn more.  Nearly all climate advocate non-profits, like the Sierra Club, need help with website design/maintenance and applications.  Interning or volunteering on Earth Day, Arbor Day or the United Nations’ World Environment Day (WED) would earn you the necessary skills to launch a Green Career on a global platform.  Options range from marine pollution and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.  WED has promoted a theme every year, since 1974, on June 5^th.  The 2017 theme is “Connecting People to Nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator.”   Over 143 countries participate annually including countries in Africa. 

The green jobs’ boom is projected to grow despite the current administration carrying out its vow to dismantle President Obama’s Clean Power Plan that would further increase jobs.  The action contradicts this administration’s “create jobs” presidential campaign rhetoric.  The new EPA director has oil industry ties and, as governor of Oklahoma, where fracking is common and experience record earthquakes, sued the EPA 14 times. The good news is that pull backs will be met by push backs says Michael Kraft, Professor of Environmental Studies Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay.  He told journalist, Tara Maclsaac, that he expects California, New York and other states, as well as the Natural Resources Defense Council, will file lawsuits.  Experts say that the process, alone, of actually passing new laws could take 3 years, maybe more.  Also, some states are exercising environmental protection powers, such as Maryland’s Republican governor who recently signed a bill banning fracking. 

Dramatic “green” activity is expected to increase.  “This is the beginning of a trend that will only accelerate,” said Chilean Energy Minister Andres Rebolledo.”  In fact, a survey, by the Center for Industry Research and Workforce Alignment, of clean energy employers found that 73 percent said it’s “difficult or very difficult” to find candidates with the necessary skills in the engineering technology sector (highly regarded in the environmental industry), suggesting that STEM/STEAM students are and will be in great demand!  You can see how much in demand when you look at environmental job sites like Environmentalcareer.com.  So GO FOR IT and prepare to color your career green!

Magic, Miracles & Blessings!

CAREER SUCCESS AND YOUR POSTURE ~ Is There a Link?

by Willette Coleman (c)2016 

Well… since scientific studies have proven that poor posture affects our health, it follows it can affect our attitude.  A poor or bad attitude can result in poor communication, leading to relationship discord with supervisors, co-workers, and, if you own a business, your employees and clients.  Hence, your career.

Poor posture may even affect our hormones and correlate to depression, stress, low-self-esteem and defeatism, concluded a Harvard Business School Study.  When instructed to either walk down a hall in a slouched position or skip, students that slouched demonstrated increased feelings of depression, in a San Francisco State University study.  The skippers displayed high energy and cheer.  Our bodies automatically “lift” when we skip.  You remember skipping; a natural, fun part of childhood.  Also, if you walk with a book on your head, your posture becomes like the regal carriage of women in Africa and India who carry vessels of water and other items on their heads. 

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) says micro-traumas build up over time from poor posture where our spinal discs and bones are not properly aligned, and muscles, joints, and ligaments take more strain than nature intended.  Misaligned spinal discs diminishes our circulation and silently stresses everything from our neck to our toes.  This makes sense when we recall the childhood song, “The head bone’s connected to the neck bone, the neck bone’s connected to the shoulder bone, the shoulder bone’s connected to the arm bone……” and so on.   

Our daily habits like slouching while looking at the many screens (TVs, computers, tablets, cell phones) in our lives reinforce poor posture.  Unconsciously, we give in to gravity’s downward push on our shoulders, rib cage and hips.  Consequently, our internal organs have nowhere to go but down and out, constricting the nerves and vessels.  And, we look fatter.  We literally “fold up our viscera (intestines)” says Steven Weiniger, author of Stand Taller, Live Longer.  For each hour that we watch television while slouching, our life expectancy is reduced by 21.8 minutes, concluded the Harvard study which also revealed that, chronic sitters more than doubled their risk of developing diabetes and had a 147 % increase in their risk for cardiovascular disease, even if they exercised.  Furthermore, testosterone decreased by 10% and cortisol, the stress hormone, increased by 15%.  Dr. Allan Tomson, chiropractor of NeckBackAndBeyond.com, says “sitting is the new smoking.”

To minimize my own sitting tendency, I stopped using a TV remote after it died (new batteries didn’t help), despite the inconvenience.  For over 2 years now, every 15 minutes or less, I’m forced to walk 20 feet to and from my TV to change channels, turn from annoying commercials or political ads, or mute the volume.  Twenty-twenty hindsight revealed I wasted a lot of productive time searching when it was working (“where’s the darn remote; I just had it”).  This old-school method keeps me mindful of my posture and moving, which experts say “resets” us.      

The inclination to lean forward over our computers’ and laptops’ keyboards also contributes to poor posture.  We add even more stress when we push our necks and heads towards the screens we stare at for an average of 10 hours a day.  Children form the habit of leaning forward and stressing their necks and spines from carrying heavy backpacks (some reported to weigh 16 pounds); adults do the same when lugging heavy handbags and shoulder bags (5 to 20 pounds). 

Good posture was found to increase testosterone levels by 20% and decrease cortisol by a 25%. The APA defines “good posture” as a balanced alignment of our body’s three natural curves - thoracic, lumbar, and lumbar hyperlordosis.  Unless we’re mindful, our sleeping positions also impact our posture.  For example, sleeping on our stomach flattens the natural spinal curve that can lead to lower back pain, according to Medicaldaily.com.  And, diabeticpick.com says, it also puts pressure on our organs and the nerves and muscles in our faces, possibly causing premature sagging and wrinkles. 

You can – gently - train your body into good posture and strengthen your core and back muscles (the lats and trapezius) when you do these Posture Mindfulness (PM) exercises.  “Mindfulness” is generally defined as being aware of/paying attention to what’s going on now.  There’s no need to force your body to be rigid.  Rigidity negates the benefits. 

1.  Sitting PM

While sitting anywhere - your desk, table, in an airport, on a plane, train, bus, car, restaurant, theater, movie, park, etc.~

• Place your hands in your lap, palms up

• Lift the bottom of your ribcage a half inch or so off your hipbone.

• Gently bring your shoulders back from your chest and keep them relaxed.

• Align your head (averages 10 to 12 lbs) and neck with your shoulders.

• Breathe in (pay attention to air filling your lungs); allow your belly to expand. 

• Hold the posture  and your breath 3 to 5 seconds

• Release/exhale for 2 counts (pay attention to air leaving your lungs), gently contracting your belly.

Repeat 5 to 10 times.  If possible, close your eyes. 

2.  Standing PM   

Standing has been proven to burn 20% more calories, strengthen our muscles, boost metabolism and increase bone density.  So, I set up my computer patterned after ergonomic workstations, to stand and write.

• While standing anywhere - in long lines to board a train or plane; in grocery or  clothing stores; waiting for a bus or subway - gently pull in your stomach/ abdomen muscles (inhale like in #1).  Do the same exercises in Sitting PM.

Keep doing the exercise as you move forward in the line.

3.  Butt Squeezes PM

These exercises strengthen your muscles in your hips and thighs (which carry a lot of stagnant “sit down” weight).  They also do a few other magic tricks like a) tightening and toning your derrière which helps get ahead of and minimize the middle-age “spread,” and b) keeps us balanced from stumbling forward or backward from lurches or sudden stops when standing or sitting in cars or on public transportation.

     Basic Butt Squeeze

• Inhale like in Exercise #1 and squeeze your thigh and buttock muscles.  You’ll feel your body rise up slightly. 

• Hold the squeeze for 5 counts. 

• Release/exhale same as in #1. 

Do this as many times and you want, sitting or standing.

          Single-Cheek Butt Squeeze

Do the same movements in the Basic Butt Squeeze, but squeeze one thigh and cheek at a time.  Left or right.  You choose.

          Butt Squeeze Dance

Do the same movements as described to each beat in your music.  Macy Gray’s There Is Beauty in the World is among my top 40 for a fast tempo.  Flexing to slow music feels good too.

Over time, as you practice PM, you’ll become more mindful and begin to catch yourself whenever you’re lulled into the old slouching habit. 

Good posture - the original “power pose” – in addition to improving your health, will help you succeed in your career since it is also critical to the perception of power.  The perception of power is even reflected in our language.  Anyone perceived as weak is labeled “spineless.”  Those perceived as being strong is said to have “backbone.”   

Good posture suggests a strong backbone and helps you walk into a job interview or meeting with confidence.  Janice Novak, author of Posture, Get it Straight, cautions “You don’t want to walk into somebody’s office slouching and bent over, because people really do perceive you as not as vital.”

Magic, Miracles & Blessings!

See more posture information.

*Cell phones and our backs.

How Bad Posture Affects Your Health and Happiness.

Improve Your Posture in One Simple Step