What is the work that works for you?

I’m Richard Taliaferro, and I’m a former senior news editor for The Wall Street Journal. I’m now a career coach, guiding mid-stage professionals to help them find the work that works for them.

My path to coaching has been one of managing and navigating transitions. I’m uniquely aware of the hurdles, and can guide you in making your transition to where you what to be.

Here’s part of my journey:

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It happened at the office one morning, years ago. And I knew at that moment, something had to change.

I remember what happened too clearly. A pen had dropped to the floor, and I reached over to pick it up. I struggled in that movement, and gathering up a bit more momentum, I grabbed it on the second try.

In the spring of 2007, I was in my mid-30s and I weighed 260 pounds. I had a bike, but barely used it. Cookware gathered dust, as trips to the grocery store meant buying prepackaged stuff I could easily microwave. Fast food was nearby, and too convenient. In other words, maybe without knowing it, I was slowly giving up.

But I came across a nutrition coach who was just starting her business. I happened to become one of her first clients. Some of the things she had me do made sense, like keeping a diary of what I ate. Some of the things seemed odd, like reading “The Alchemist.” That was weird, but I was game for it. Yet, the program I went through with her for 12 weeks changed the course of my life.

Now, it did take a bit of time for the changes to root in. After all, McDonald’s French fries remained a temptation. Yet, a new foundation had been laid down. I paid more attention to the food I was throwing in the grocery store basket. I bought a crockpot and a rice steamer. I tried to walk more. I drank weird green liquids before they became a thing.

While I said I was slowly giving up, there was a part of me, under that 260 pounds, that knew I could be more, and show up better. And rather than succumb to slowly withering away, I got curious. Curiosity changed everything.

This is what coaching can do. This is the magic of the work to, as George Sheehan said, re-enter my life by re-entering my body.

That moment of dropping the pen will forever be with me. Motivation? Inspiration? I don’t know. But a tool for us scribes became a touchstone for an altered way of being.