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DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

This interview with Norm Amundson stands out among many because of the honest and self-revealing nature of Norman Amundson’s life story before and since his heart attack.  He did an outstanding job of weaving his valuable and meaningful academic contribution and excessive work patterns with the processes of self-assessment, commitment and personal change.  With the current state of “demand” on our time – this was a motivating interview that calls for a serious reality check in our lives.  His resources and exercises were deep, yet practical tools for evaluating the depth, breadth, and quality of our lives and activities. The heart as a poignant metaphor for meaning, love, and what we find truly important was not missed in his comments.

Cheryl Lynn Dratler

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Norman Amundson (now)

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Norm (2010)

 

Thursday, February 3, 2011, 10 am Pacific, 11 am Mountain, noon Central, 1 pm EST, 2 pm Atlantic,            7 pm Zurich, 8 pm Istanbul  


Living Well:  Integrating Life Stories with Health

 

In this interview Dr. Amundson will discuss how having a heart attack has influenced his views of career and living. Stories and metaphors related to living well will be discussed and expanded upon. Of particular interest in this discussion will be a statement made by his doctor, namely that “Your heart tells a different story.” In setting a context for the discussion,  Dr. Amundson will be presenting themes from two of his books – “Physics of Living” and “Metaphor Making: Your Career, Your Life, Your Way.”

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Bio

 

Norman E. Amundson is a professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of British Columbia. He received the Best Book Award from the Canadian Counseling Association for his book Active Engagement (Ergon Communications, 2003). It has been translated into Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Dutch. His research focuses on counseling methods, unemployment, and changes in working life, while his numerous lectures, articles, workshops and seminars emphasize the importance of imagination, creativity, and action in the career counseling process.

 

Norm received the Career Development Quarterly Outstanding Research Contribution Award from the National Career Development Association and an Honorary Doctorate Degree (October 2005) from the University of Umea, Sweden. Norm was Winner of the Best Book Award by the Canadian Counselling Association for "Active Engagement" and appointed as an Honorary Life Time Director for NETWERCC (a provincial employment counselling association). 

 

Contact

 

Scarfe Library 284
UBC,
2125 Main Mall,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

Phone: 604 822 6757
Fax: 604 822 3302
Email: amundson@interchange.ubc.ca


 

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Download Book Review

of Dr. Amundson's NEW Book on Metaphor Making to be printed in spring issues of the Canadian Journal of Career Development


Dr. Amundson once again brings a fresh, creative and compelling perspective on career counselling theory and practice... Sareena Hopkins, Co-Director, Canadian Career Development Foundation, Canada


Metaphor Making is excellent! I admire Dr. Amundson's ability to write with authority and yet in an engaging and welcoming manner...Dr. Jim Bright, Professor of Career Education and Development, ACU National; Parner of Bright and Associaties, Australia


In this exciting new book, Dr. Amundson uses material from Aristotle to Obama to illustrate the power of metaphors...  Dr. Spencer Niles, Professor and Department Head, Counsellor Education, Counselling Psychology, and Rehabilitation Service, Penn State University, USA

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Read chapter on SPACE-TIME DIMENSIONS from Physics of Living


Then do two exercises:

 

Exercise 1: My 3D Living Drawing

 

 

 

 

 

 



Exercise 2: Life Balance Wheel (click HERE to download article, including this exercise)

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Life Balance Wheel

 

Make a chart.  Across the top of the page, write "Things I Like to Do," then add a row for each thing you like to do and in that row respond to the questions for each thing you like to do.

 


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DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Significant Publications

 

Amundson, N.E. (1998; 2003; 2009). Active engagement: The being and doing of career counselling. Richmond, B.C.: Ergon Communications.
(Translated into Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Romanian and Dutch)

Amundson, N.E. (2003). Physics of living. Richmond, B.C.: Ergon Communications.
(Translated into Danish)

Amundson, N.E. (2010). Metaphor making: Your career, your life, your way. Richmond, B.C.: Ergon Communications.
(Translated into Danish)

Poehnell, G. & Amundson, N.E. (2011). Hope-filled engagement. Richmond, B.C.: Ergon Communications.

Amundson, N.E., Harris-Bowlsbey, J. & Niles, S. (2005, 2009). Essential elements of career counseling. Columbus, OH:Pearson, Merrill Prentice Hall.
(Translated into Greek, Korean, Slovakian)

Amundson, N.E., Borgen, W.A., Jordan, S. & Erlebach, Anne (2004). Survivors of downsizing: Helpful and hindering experiences. The Career Development Quarterly, 52, 256-271.
(Received best research article award for 2004)

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Opening Instructions for Listeners

Before we begin, here are a few instructions for listeners:

  • Save your questions until the end of the hour.   Norm will stay on the phone briefly after the interview to respond to questions. If you have a question, press 5* on your phone.
  • Directly after the interview, be sure to fill out the evaluation linked to your call-in instructions, especially if you want to earn CEUs. 
  • Please register at least 24 - 48 hours before the interview so we have time to send out the call-in information.
  • If you'd like to listen to more of these tele-interviews, and your organization is not currently a subscriber, contact me with someone I can talk with about subscribing your organization so you can listen for free (except for the cost of your distance provider). Email info@ careerwell.org or call 415.312.4294.
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Introduction

 

Norman E. Amundson is a professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on counseling methods, unemployment, and changes in working life. In his presentations around the world, he emphasizes the importance of imagination, creativity, and action in the career counseling process. Norm has received several awards in Sweden, Canada, and the U.S. and his books have been translated into many languages. Last May, at the top of his careers, as a world-renowned career and counseling expert,  he experienced a heart attack. Today he is going to share with us how he met the grim reaper head on and is moving forward with his life. Since there will be 30 more years of boomers who are spiraling into our later years, we are looking forward to learning from your experience.

 

 

 

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Interview Questions

 

  1. Norm,  it seems, with the increase in stormy weather in the U.S. and the Mideast political/social turmoil, that the world is becoming more and more chaotic, which makes us move faster and more stressed.  Is that what you have found in the countries you have lectured in? Do you believe that the accelerated speed of the 21st Century influenced your heart attack?
  2. What happened last May and what did you learn from that experience?
  3. How does it apply to the work you are doing?
  4. What did you learn about your need to help others, set limits, do sports?
  5. How do you see yourself working in the future?
  6. What was the meaning of success for you before the heart attack and what is the meaning now?
  7. You are so prolific in your writing, presenting, and teaching. How does what you say apply to what you do, how you model your values?
  8. What tips do you have for the rest of us?
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We're a bit early, but on behalf of all our listeners, I'd like to share with Norm - we're glad your are still with us, and here's a Happy Valentine's Day metaphor...


The heart has long been used as a symbol to refer to the spiritual, emotional, moral, and in the past also intellectual core of a human being. As the heart was once widely believed to be the seat of the human mind, the word heart continues to be used poetically to refer to the soul, and stylized depictions of hearts are used as prevalent symbols representing love. (Wikipedia).

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Upcoming Tele-Interviews

 

On February 10, Tristana Harvey will talk about environmental influences on social media, and on February 17 Terry Webber will discuss the value of state websites for finding work. Until next week, this is Dr. Sally Gelardin with Careerwell Tele-Interviews.

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