Peter F. Drucker wrote the following in the Wall Street Journal (March 29, 1995): “Most resumes I get … list the jobs the person has held. A few then describe the job that the person would like to get. Very few even mention what the person has done well and can do well. Even fewer state what a future employer can and should expect from that person. Very, very few, in other words, yet look upon themselves as a ‘product’ that must be marketed.”
Are you guilty of this error? Do you simply list your jobs in chronological order putting the name of the company in first place rather than what you did for the company? Do you dismiss some of your skills as worthless because you are not being paid to do them? Do you neglect to include all the skills you developed in volunteer positions, or while in school, or while raising a family?
Most people have serious misconceptions about what, exactly, a resume is meant to do. Prepare yourself for a shock: The vast majority of resumes are completely ignored.
A resume is not a single document that you can write once and consider “finished”. A resume needs to be targeted to a specific job and/or a specific employer.
A resume is not an affidavit. It is an advertisement, a marketing tool to get you in the door where you can impress the interviewer with your experience. Think about the flyers you see from furniture stores. They show you some of the items they have and let you know that there is much more, just “come on down”.
A resume is meant to be scanned quickly. Long, dense blocks of type are difficult to read, so it is important to present the information in a way it can be easily scanned such as bullet points. You only have a few seconds to make a good impression. Most people scan for key words and spend between 30 and 60 seconds on your resume. Check yours out. Ask a friend to take only 30 seconds to read it and then tell you what they know about your skills.
A resume is a convenience for the hiring official. Often it is used as a way to screen you out of the organization, particularly at job fairs. If they are looking for a certain level of education, they scan your resume and put it in the plus or minus pile. If they are looking for a particular skill set and don’t see it, then it doesn’t make the “interview” pile. Often they may not even accept it.
So, what is a resume? A resume is an opportunity for you to leave the reader wanting to learn more about you.
Fran
P.S. Contact me if you woult like some help in targeting your resume.
Resources used: WOW Resumes - Leslie Hamilton
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Want to Work at Home?
10 All-Time Best Work At Home Mom Tips
by S McIntyre
To work from home profitably it involves taking these top 10 work at home tips and implementing them into your business and life.
Organization
If you don’t know whether you’re coming or going in your home life, your home business or telecommute job is going to suffer. Being organized and having some structure is essential when you work at home. When it’s time to disconnect, do so without guilt. Being organized is finding a balance between work and play.
Preparation
Preparation and organization are the two most important steps in achieving success from home. Do you have an equipped and designated area to work your at home job or business?
Research
If you’re offering your own products, services or looking for a virtual employer, you have to do your research. Companies aren’t made the same and what’s suited for many people may not work for you. In a home business it’s imperative to know who your target market is, how well the product is perceived and if a service is needed. On the telecommuting front, there are a variety of things to look for like pay structure, employee or IC status, daily quotas etc.
Business Tools
What do you have to make your work at home job or business easier? Do you have the necessary tools to help you get ahead or to simplify your work? Is there ongoing training, monthly conferences, and mentoring etc.?
Patience and Perseverance
Growing a home business or searching for a telecommute job all requires patience and a lot of it. Success needs to be nurtured, tweaked and watered to make it grow. You have to work through the highs and lows before you find what you’re looking for. Mistakes and slow growth can only make you stronger and better.
Goals
Work on setting daily achievable, but flexible goals in your home life, business or in your job.
Support
It’s important for your family and friends to know your job at home is the same as a person who works outside the home. There should be set boundaries on the times you are working. It’s also important for your family to know exactly the kind of work you do at home. With this understanding they can then offer the support you need from them.
Ingenuity
While there are a lot of people willing to lend a helping hand and offer support, you must also meet them halfway. The more resourceful, creative and independent you are, the better you will grow as a strong business leader or a telecommute employee.
Passion
If you don’t love your home business or telecommute job then at least like it a lot. Like it enough that you are excited to work your business or job.
Belief
Having a YES and CAN do attitude will propel you to achieve greater things in life. Believe in yourself.
There are no secrets or shortcuts just hard work, determination, faith and these 10 tips to guide you to working prosperously from home.
About the Author:
S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommute job leads, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics. Sophia co-owns WorkAtHomeBusinessOptions.com, a comprehensive work at home business resource focusing on helping others who are looking for opportunities and ideas to work from home. You will also find tips and articles on how to balance work, family and play in your daily life. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
by S McIntyre
To work from home profitably it involves taking these top 10 work at home tips and implementing them into your business and life.
Organization
If you don’t know whether you’re coming or going in your home life, your home business or telecommute job is going to suffer. Being organized and having some structure is essential when you work at home. When it’s time to disconnect, do so without guilt. Being organized is finding a balance between work and play.
Preparation
Preparation and organization are the two most important steps in achieving success from home. Do you have an equipped and designated area to work your at home job or business?
Research
If you’re offering your own products, services or looking for a virtual employer, you have to do your research. Companies aren’t made the same and what’s suited for many people may not work for you. In a home business it’s imperative to know who your target market is, how well the product is perceived and if a service is needed. On the telecommuting front, there are a variety of things to look for like pay structure, employee or IC status, daily quotas etc.
Business Tools
What do you have to make your work at home job or business easier? Do you have the necessary tools to help you get ahead or to simplify your work? Is there ongoing training, monthly conferences, and mentoring etc.?
Patience and Perseverance
Growing a home business or searching for a telecommute job all requires patience and a lot of it. Success needs to be nurtured, tweaked and watered to make it grow. You have to work through the highs and lows before you find what you’re looking for. Mistakes and slow growth can only make you stronger and better.
Goals
Work on setting daily achievable, but flexible goals in your home life, business or in your job.
Support
It’s important for your family and friends to know your job at home is the same as a person who works outside the home. There should be set boundaries on the times you are working. It’s also important for your family to know exactly the kind of work you do at home. With this understanding they can then offer the support you need from them.
Ingenuity
While there are a lot of people willing to lend a helping hand and offer support, you must also meet them halfway. The more resourceful, creative and independent you are, the better you will grow as a strong business leader or a telecommute employee.
Passion
If you don’t love your home business or telecommute job then at least like it a lot. Like it enough that you are excited to work your business or job.
Belief
Having a YES and CAN do attitude will propel you to achieve greater things in life. Believe in yourself.
There are no secrets or shortcuts just hard work, determination, faith and these 10 tips to guide you to working prosperously from home.
About the Author:
S McIntyre is the founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommute job leads, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics. Sophia co-owns WorkAtHomeBusinessOptions.com, a comprehensive work at home business resource focusing on helping others who are looking for opportunities and ideas to work from home. You will also find tips and articles on how to balance work, family and play in your daily life. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Friday, January 29, 2010
More Videos
Here are some more videos for you.
http://video.success.com/from-the-magazine/excuses-begone/
http://video.success.com/experts/sing-the-blues/
http://video.success.com/experts/loretta/
Fran
http://video.success.com/from-the-magazine/excuses-begone/
http://video.success.com/experts/sing-the-blues/
http://video.success.com/experts/loretta/
Fran
Videos
Here are a few videos you might find helpful
http://video.success.com/experts/importance-remembering/
http://video.success.com/experts/john-maxwell-passion/
http://video.success.com/featured/define-success/
http://video.success.com/experts/connie-podesta-success/
http://video.success.com/experts/change-life-2/
Enjoy
Fran Watson
http://video.success.com/experts/importance-remembering/
http://video.success.com/experts/john-maxwell-passion/
http://video.success.com/featured/define-success/
http://video.success.com/experts/connie-podesta-success/
http://video.success.com/experts/change-life-2/
Enjoy
Fran Watson
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Are You Where You Want To Be?
Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life - STARTING TODAY!
by Jack Canfield
This isn’t a trick question.
Certainly you know the answer—the person who has been responsible for the life you live right now: YOU.
Everything about you is a result of your doing or not doing... Your income. Debt. Relationships. Health. Fitness level. Attitudes and behaviors.
I've often said that you are either creating or allowing everything that is happening in your life.
I think everyone knows this in their hearts, but often times people convince themselves into thinking that external factors are the source of their failure, disappointment, and unhappiness.
External factors do not determine how you live. YOU are in complete control of the quality of your life, by either creating or allowing the circumstances you experience.
When I hear people complain about the state of their life (be it their problems with personal finances, weight, their jobs, or general dissatisfaction), I like to help them see things differently.
If they feel “stuck” and unable to move forward for whatever reason, I ask them to scrutinize both what is working well and what isn’t working well in their life and see how they’ve arrived at where they currently are.
For example, if a woman tells me she’s unhappy with her weight—she travels frequently, and has no to time to exercise or seek healthy foods—I point out that her weight is not a result of her travels and schedule. It’s an outcome of what she chooses to eat and how she chooses to move, regardless of her daily agenda. Why not make a conscious effort to pre-plan healthy meals and snacks, even if it’s on the go, and sneak in 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there to be physically active (hey, I know some frequent flyers that make it a habit of running through airports!).
If you’re frustrated with any area in your life, then it’s time to take a little inventory.
Certainly there are wonderful things happening, whether it’s your job, your romantic relationship, your children, your friends, or your income level. Your accomplishments are just as important as your missteps.
First, congratulate yourself on your successes; and then take a look at what isn’t working out so well. What are you doing or not doing to create those experiences?
Watch out! If you find yourself beginning to complain about everything but the choices you’ve made, then you need to take a step back. See if you can stop blaming outside factors for your unhappiness.
When you realize that you—and only you—create your experiences, you’ll realize that you can un-create them and forge new experiences whenever you want.
How empowering is that!
You must take responsibility for your happiness and your unhappiness, your successes and your failures, your good times and your bad times.
All too often we choose to claim the successes and blame the failures on others or other circumstances. When you stop blaming, however, you can take that energy and redirect it to focus on shaping a better situation for yourself. Blaming only ties up your energy. Imagine roping all the energy into a positive effort.
Some ideas to make this happen:
1. Believe, Believe, Believe! Have unwavering faith in yourself, for good and bad. Make the decision to accept the fact that you create all your experiences. You will experience successes thanks to you, and you will experience pain, struggle, and strife thanks to you. Sounds a little strange, but accepting this level of responsibility is uniquely empowering. It means you can do, change, and be anything. Stumbling blocks become just that—little hills to hop over.
2. Take no less than 100% responsibility . Successful people take full responsibility for the thoughts they think, the images they visualize, and the actions they take. They don't waste their time and energy blaming and complaining. They evaluate their experiences and decide if they need to change them or not. They face the uncomfortable and take risks in order to create the life they want to live.
3. Stop complaining . Look at what you are complaining about. I’m fat. I’m tired. I can’t get out of debt. I won’t ever get a better job. I can’t stand the relationship I have with my sister. I’ll never find a soulmate in life. Really examine your complaints. More than likely you can do something about them. They are not about other people, other things, or other events. They are about YOU.
4. Make an immediate change. Are you unhappy about something that is happening right now? Make requests that will make it more desirable to you, or take the steps to change it yourself. Making a change might be uncomfortable for you. It might mean you have to put in more time, money, and effort. It might mean that someone gets upset about it, or makes you feel bad about your decision. It might be difficult to change or leave a situation, but staying put is your choice so why continue to complain?
You can either do something about it or not. It is your choice and you have responsibility for your choices.
5. Pay attention. Looking to others for help and guidance is helpful, but don’t forget to stay tuned in to yourself—your behavior, attitude, and life experiences. Identify what’s working and what isn’t. If you need to, write it all down. Then…
6. Face the truth and take action for the long term . You have to be willing to change your behavior if you want a different outcome. You have to be willing to take the risks necessary to get what you want. If you’ve already taken an initial step in the right direction, now’s the time to plan additional steps to keep moving you forward, faster.
Isn’t it a great relief to know that you can make your life what you want it to be? Isn’t it wonderful that your successes do not depend on someone else?
If you need just one thing to do different today, than you did yesterday, make it this:
Commit to taking 100% responsibility for every aspect of your life. Decide to make changes, one step at a time. Once you start the process you’ll discover it's much easier to get what you want by taking control of your thoughts, your visualizations, and your actions!
© 2010 Jack Canfield
* * *
Article Used with permission:
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Are you "stuck" in this area? If you'd like me to personally help you clarify your vision for the year, align your goals with your purpose, and develop a detailed action plan to turn your dream into reality... www.TheSuccessPrinciplesWorkshop.com
by Jack Canfield
This isn’t a trick question.
Certainly you know the answer—the person who has been responsible for the life you live right now: YOU.
Everything about you is a result of your doing or not doing... Your income. Debt. Relationships. Health. Fitness level. Attitudes and behaviors.
I've often said that you are either creating or allowing everything that is happening in your life.
I think everyone knows this in their hearts, but often times people convince themselves into thinking that external factors are the source of their failure, disappointment, and unhappiness.
External factors do not determine how you live. YOU are in complete control of the quality of your life, by either creating or allowing the circumstances you experience.
When I hear people complain about the state of their life (be it their problems with personal finances, weight, their jobs, or general dissatisfaction), I like to help them see things differently.
If they feel “stuck” and unable to move forward for whatever reason, I ask them to scrutinize both what is working well and what isn’t working well in their life and see how they’ve arrived at where they currently are.
For example, if a woman tells me she’s unhappy with her weight—she travels frequently, and has no to time to exercise or seek healthy foods—I point out that her weight is not a result of her travels and schedule. It’s an outcome of what she chooses to eat and how she chooses to move, regardless of her daily agenda. Why not make a conscious effort to pre-plan healthy meals and snacks, even if it’s on the go, and sneak in 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there to be physically active (hey, I know some frequent flyers that make it a habit of running through airports!).
If you’re frustrated with any area in your life, then it’s time to take a little inventory.
Certainly there are wonderful things happening, whether it’s your job, your romantic relationship, your children, your friends, or your income level. Your accomplishments are just as important as your missteps.
First, congratulate yourself on your successes; and then take a look at what isn’t working out so well. What are you doing or not doing to create those experiences?
Watch out! If you find yourself beginning to complain about everything but the choices you’ve made, then you need to take a step back. See if you can stop blaming outside factors for your unhappiness.
When you realize that you—and only you—create your experiences, you’ll realize that you can un-create them and forge new experiences whenever you want.
How empowering is that!
You must take responsibility for your happiness and your unhappiness, your successes and your failures, your good times and your bad times.
All too often we choose to claim the successes and blame the failures on others or other circumstances. When you stop blaming, however, you can take that energy and redirect it to focus on shaping a better situation for yourself. Blaming only ties up your energy. Imagine roping all the energy into a positive effort.
Some ideas to make this happen:
1. Believe, Believe, Believe! Have unwavering faith in yourself, for good and bad. Make the decision to accept the fact that you create all your experiences. You will experience successes thanks to you, and you will experience pain, struggle, and strife thanks to you. Sounds a little strange, but accepting this level of responsibility is uniquely empowering. It means you can do, change, and be anything. Stumbling blocks become just that—little hills to hop over.
2. Take no less than 100% responsibility . Successful people take full responsibility for the thoughts they think, the images they visualize, and the actions they take. They don't waste their time and energy blaming and complaining. They evaluate their experiences and decide if they need to change them or not. They face the uncomfortable and take risks in order to create the life they want to live.
3. Stop complaining . Look at what you are complaining about. I’m fat. I’m tired. I can’t get out of debt. I won’t ever get a better job. I can’t stand the relationship I have with my sister. I’ll never find a soulmate in life. Really examine your complaints. More than likely you can do something about them. They are not about other people, other things, or other events. They are about YOU.
4. Make an immediate change. Are you unhappy about something that is happening right now? Make requests that will make it more desirable to you, or take the steps to change it yourself. Making a change might be uncomfortable for you. It might mean you have to put in more time, money, and effort. It might mean that someone gets upset about it, or makes you feel bad about your decision. It might be difficult to change or leave a situation, but staying put is your choice so why continue to complain?
You can either do something about it or not. It is your choice and you have responsibility for your choices.
5. Pay attention. Looking to others for help and guidance is helpful, but don’t forget to stay tuned in to yourself—your behavior, attitude, and life experiences. Identify what’s working and what isn’t. If you need to, write it all down. Then…
6. Face the truth and take action for the long term . You have to be willing to change your behavior if you want a different outcome. You have to be willing to take the risks necessary to get what you want. If you’ve already taken an initial step in the right direction, now’s the time to plan additional steps to keep moving you forward, faster.
Isn’t it a great relief to know that you can make your life what you want it to be? Isn’t it wonderful that your successes do not depend on someone else?
If you need just one thing to do different today, than you did yesterday, make it this:
Commit to taking 100% responsibility for every aspect of your life. Decide to make changes, one step at a time. Once you start the process you’ll discover it's much easier to get what you want by taking control of your thoughts, your visualizations, and your actions!
© 2010 Jack Canfield
* * *
Article Used with permission:
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Are you "stuck" in this area? If you'd like me to personally help you clarify your vision for the year, align your goals with your purpose, and develop a detailed action plan to turn your dream into reality... www.TheSuccessPrinciplesWorkshop.com
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Don't Let Procrastination Keep You From A Good Job
Do you believe that you have to wait until things calm down a bit before you get your act together?
Do you keep telling yourself that tomorrow you will get at that chore you’ve been putting off, that course you’ve been wanting to take, that phone call you’ve been going to make, take some time to look after yourself, go to the spa, take a hot bath, etc. etc.?
Well then, you are normal. Most of us are waiting until tomorrow, but the truth is, as Sarah Ban Breathnach says, “life never calms down long enough for us to wait until tomorrow to start living the lives we deserve. Life is always movement, always change, always unforeseen circumstances.”
So, what are our options? How do we begin working on this life of ours to make it more satisfying? Sarah says “We can accept, bless, give thanks, and get going. “ Wow, what a concept. Accept things as they are. Give thanks for our circumstances and then just get on with things.
As I read the thought for January 25th from Sarah Ban Brethnach’s Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, I was struck by how many things I have let slide. How many times procrastination has crept in and how many opportunities this has cost me. How many times have you had a thought, “I should call so and so”, but then let it slide only to find out later that something happened to that person, they moved away, or they died and that opportunity will never come again. How many friendships have you let slide? How many times have you turned down the chance to do something just for yourself – taking a nice long bath for instance. I can hear you now - “Oh, I couldn’t do that, there is laundry to do, dishes to be done, the house to clean, etc., etc., etc.” Well, those things will always be there. It’s time to stop making excuses. You will NEVER FIND THE TIME to do anything. You need to MAKE THE TIME to do what it is you want to do.
Sarah encouraged me to “Call a friend for lunch, begin to read or even write that novel, organize your papers, try a new recipe for dinner, smile at everyone you meet, sit and dream before a blazing fire, pick up your needlepoint again, act as if you’re grateful to be alive, scatter joy.” Simple things to get us started on LIVING out life instead of letting it pass us by.
Now it is your turn. Think for a moment about one thing that you can do that will bring you genuine pleasure…and then do it.
Think about one thing that will move your job search forward…and then do it.
Think about one thing that will improve your relationship (if you are in one)….and then do it.
Simple things, and easy to do…IF we just go ahead and do them.
What will you do today????
Fran Watson
www.franwatson.ca/SFIsplash.html
Do you keep telling yourself that tomorrow you will get at that chore you’ve been putting off, that course you’ve been wanting to take, that phone call you’ve been going to make, take some time to look after yourself, go to the spa, take a hot bath, etc. etc.?
Well then, you are normal. Most of us are waiting until tomorrow, but the truth is, as Sarah Ban Breathnach says, “life never calms down long enough for us to wait until tomorrow to start living the lives we deserve. Life is always movement, always change, always unforeseen circumstances.”
So, what are our options? How do we begin working on this life of ours to make it more satisfying? Sarah says “We can accept, bless, give thanks, and get going. “ Wow, what a concept. Accept things as they are. Give thanks for our circumstances and then just get on with things.
As I read the thought for January 25th from Sarah Ban Brethnach’s Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, I was struck by how many things I have let slide. How many times procrastination has crept in and how many opportunities this has cost me. How many times have you had a thought, “I should call so and so”, but then let it slide only to find out later that something happened to that person, they moved away, or they died and that opportunity will never come again. How many friendships have you let slide? How many times have you turned down the chance to do something just for yourself – taking a nice long bath for instance. I can hear you now - “Oh, I couldn’t do that, there is laundry to do, dishes to be done, the house to clean, etc., etc., etc.” Well, those things will always be there. It’s time to stop making excuses. You will NEVER FIND THE TIME to do anything. You need to MAKE THE TIME to do what it is you want to do.
Sarah encouraged me to “Call a friend for lunch, begin to read or even write that novel, organize your papers, try a new recipe for dinner, smile at everyone you meet, sit and dream before a blazing fire, pick up your needlepoint again, act as if you’re grateful to be alive, scatter joy.” Simple things to get us started on LIVING out life instead of letting it pass us by.
Now it is your turn. Think for a moment about one thing that you can do that will bring you genuine pleasure…and then do it.
Think about one thing that will move your job search forward…and then do it.
Think about one thing that will improve your relationship (if you are in one)….and then do it.
Simple things, and easy to do…IF we just go ahead and do them.
What will you do today????
Fran Watson
www.franwatson.ca/SFIsplash.html
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Employee or Solution Provider???
Are you an employee or a solution provider?
posted by: rich trombetta on 01/10/10
“I’m Winston Wolf. I solve problems.” - Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction
Are you an employee or a solution provider?
By Rich Trombetta
TweetMyJOBS
http://www.TweetMyJOBS.com
@tweetmyjobs
There is no question that the number of unemployed people in America is at a staggering number – 10%. Due to this situation, many job seekers are working on their resume, networking, and using new job tools to look for opportunities. There is one very important thing to remember when looking for a job – you need to position yourself as solution provider, not simply a potential employee.
One of my favorite scenes ever in a movie is in Pulp Fiction. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson have gotten themselves into quite a predicament (no need for the gory details here) and they need help badly. A couple of phone calls are made and within minutes Harvey Keitel arrives, he rings the door bell, the door opens, and Keitel says, “I’m Winston Wolf. I solve problems.”
That is what you need to be to an employer – Winston Wolf. Regardless of the position, you are being hired because there is a need. There is a gap. Someone needs help.
The more you realize that you are solving a problem or addressing a need, the more valuable you will be perceived. For example, I was once in a group exploratory interview where about 20 of us were involved with a question and answer session with some leaders at a company. Everyone was asking the typical boring questions. “What type of background do you look for?” “What makes a successful candidate.” Blah, blah, blah. I asked, “looking at things from a very high level, what are your three biggest needs? What if you could wave a magic wand and make these three things happen today. What would those three things be?”
There was silence.
The leader actually paused and said, “wow, that’s a great question.” Then after a few more seconds of silence, he went into all sorts of detail around competition, dealing with market changes, and needing new ideas.
Boom! The tables had turned. It was not about me – it was about HIM. And the more he talked about HIM, the more I identified ways I could help be a problem solver for his major issues. Could I help with all of them? No. But were there some that I could say, “Oh, I have done that.” You bet there were.
Just how impactful was the question I asked? The NEXT DAY I received a phone call from the company saying they wanted to meet with me to learn more about me and areas I could fit.
The lesson? Be Mr. Wolf. Solve problems.
Take this lesson to heart and improve your chances of finding a job.
Fran
posted by: rich trombetta on 01/10/10
“I’m Winston Wolf. I solve problems.” - Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction
Are you an employee or a solution provider?
By Rich Trombetta
TweetMyJOBS
http://www.TweetMyJOBS.com
@tweetmyjobs
There is no question that the number of unemployed people in America is at a staggering number – 10%. Due to this situation, many job seekers are working on their resume, networking, and using new job tools to look for opportunities. There is one very important thing to remember when looking for a job – you need to position yourself as solution provider, not simply a potential employee.
One of my favorite scenes ever in a movie is in Pulp Fiction. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson have gotten themselves into quite a predicament (no need for the gory details here) and they need help badly. A couple of phone calls are made and within minutes Harvey Keitel arrives, he rings the door bell, the door opens, and Keitel says, “I’m Winston Wolf. I solve problems.”
That is what you need to be to an employer – Winston Wolf. Regardless of the position, you are being hired because there is a need. There is a gap. Someone needs help.
The more you realize that you are solving a problem or addressing a need, the more valuable you will be perceived. For example, I was once in a group exploratory interview where about 20 of us were involved with a question and answer session with some leaders at a company. Everyone was asking the typical boring questions. “What type of background do you look for?” “What makes a successful candidate.” Blah, blah, blah. I asked, “looking at things from a very high level, what are your three biggest needs? What if you could wave a magic wand and make these three things happen today. What would those three things be?”
There was silence.
The leader actually paused and said, “wow, that’s a great question.” Then after a few more seconds of silence, he went into all sorts of detail around competition, dealing with market changes, and needing new ideas.
Boom! The tables had turned. It was not about me – it was about HIM. And the more he talked about HIM, the more I identified ways I could help be a problem solver for his major issues. Could I help with all of them? No. But were there some that I could say, “Oh, I have done that.” You bet there were.
Just how impactful was the question I asked? The NEXT DAY I received a phone call from the company saying they wanted to meet with me to learn more about me and areas I could fit.
The lesson? Be Mr. Wolf. Solve problems.
Take this lesson to heart and improve your chances of finding a job.
Fran
Thursday, January 07, 2010
How People Find Jobs
The job hunt requires four families of skills: self-assessment skills, detective skills, communication skills, and skills for selling ourselves. Since some people have jobs which demand those same skills, if they are good at their job, they will probably be good at job-hunting. They may have a head start on the rest of us, but these skills can be learned.
How to conduct a successful job search campaign
1. Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most enjoy and perform the best. This requires self-evaluation, looking at your interests and abilities.
2. Write an effective resume: Focus on your qualifications for the type of work you want to do. Show where you are headed, not where you have been. Indicate your qualifications for the position you are applying for. Look at it from an employer=s perspective....what qualities do they need for the position.
3. Prepare your references: Call or visit each person and tell them exactly what you are looking for. Ask them to let you know if they hear of anything, or to make a referral for you.
4. Research: Make a list of potential employers and research each company. Check your library for information. Check the Renfrew County Resource Directory for a listing.
5. Network: Talk to everyone you know about the kind of work you are looking for. You never know what contact will result in a job offer. Consider neighbours, relatives, parents of friends, teachers, paper route customers, etc. You can even Tweet your job search information. Check out www.tweetmyjobs.com and look up information on how Twitter is helping employers and employees find each other.
6. Set up job and informational interviews: Either by phone contact or by sending a letter with your resume and indicating that you will follow up to arrange an interview.
7. Practice interview techniques: Plan what you are going to say. Discuss WHY you want to work for that particular company, WHAT you can do for them, and HOW you will fit in with the company, then practice, practice, practice. Get a list of questions and write down your answers to each one, then practice with a parent or friend. If possible, videotape yourself so you can see how you present to an employer. You can use your webcam, or a small video camera to do the job.
8. Send a follow up letter: Tell them again about your interest in the job or the company. Thank them for taking the time to interview you. Point out your special qualifications or mention something you forgot in the interview that is relevant.
9. Follow up: In person or by phone to check out the results of the interviews, and if you are not the successful candidate, ask how you could improve your chances for next time.
People who are good at job-hunting are willing to change strategies. They spend lots of time doing homework on themselves, researching organizations in detail, doing informational interviewing, building their contacts, and other methods that require work..
People who are good at job-hunting:
can name their individual skills.
can describe their favourite interests.
target small organizations as well as large organizations.
go after any place that interests them.
approach organizations through their personal contacts.
If you need help, read some of the articles I've posted, and/or get in touch with me.
To your success
Fran
How to conduct a successful job search campaign
1. Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most enjoy and perform the best. This requires self-evaluation, looking at your interests and abilities.
2. Write an effective resume: Focus on your qualifications for the type of work you want to do. Show where you are headed, not where you have been. Indicate your qualifications for the position you are applying for. Look at it from an employer=s perspective....what qualities do they need for the position.
3. Prepare your references: Call or visit each person and tell them exactly what you are looking for. Ask them to let you know if they hear of anything, or to make a referral for you.
4. Research: Make a list of potential employers and research each company. Check your library for information. Check the Renfrew County Resource Directory for a listing.
5. Network: Talk to everyone you know about the kind of work you are looking for. You never know what contact will result in a job offer. Consider neighbours, relatives, parents of friends, teachers, paper route customers, etc. You can even Tweet your job search information. Check out www.tweetmyjobs.com and look up information on how Twitter is helping employers and employees find each other.
6. Set up job and informational interviews: Either by phone contact or by sending a letter with your resume and indicating that you will follow up to arrange an interview.
7. Practice interview techniques: Plan what you are going to say. Discuss WHY you want to work for that particular company, WHAT you can do for them, and HOW you will fit in with the company, then practice, practice, practice. Get a list of questions and write down your answers to each one, then practice with a parent or friend. If possible, videotape yourself so you can see how you present to an employer. You can use your webcam, or a small video camera to do the job.
8. Send a follow up letter: Tell them again about your interest in the job or the company. Thank them for taking the time to interview you. Point out your special qualifications or mention something you forgot in the interview that is relevant.
9. Follow up: In person or by phone to check out the results of the interviews, and if you are not the successful candidate, ask how you could improve your chances for next time.
People who are good at job-hunting are willing to change strategies. They spend lots of time doing homework on themselves, researching organizations in detail, doing informational interviewing, building their contacts, and other methods that require work..
People who are good at job-hunting:
can name their individual skills.
can describe their favourite interests.
target small organizations as well as large organizations.
go after any place that interests them.
approach organizations through their personal contacts.
If you need help, read some of the articles I've posted, and/or get in touch with me.
To your success
Fran
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
New Year's Resolutions
Well, it's that time of the year when people think about changing their lives in some way. Some people opt for making a big list of things they are going to do and then find themselves so far behind by day 2 or 3 that they give up on everything.
Some people pick one or two small things to change and work at them for a few days, but then their old lives take over and they forget about their resolutions.
Others make one or two general resolutions that they can stick by the whole year such as; "doing things that make me feel better", so if they go for a walk, or have dinner with a friend, or watch a favourite show, they are successful.
The important thing is to have a goal, something to reach towards.
For job seekers, it is also important to have a goal. You need to know exactly what you are looking for in order to obtain it.
For instance; "I'm looking for a job." is just too vague. "I'm looking for a job as a mechanic." is much clearer and lets people know exactly what you are looking for. They are then more able to help you identify a particular employer who might be looking for a mechanic, or someone with mechanical skills.
If you are currently employed and thinking of leaving your job, you too need a clear cut goal. You need to identify what skills you want to use in your new job, the type of work you want to be doing and the type of employer you want to work for. Once you have done that, you can select two or three employers and then target your resume for them. You may need to send your resume more than once and follow up on a regular basis, but it will be worth it to get the job you want.
I challenge you to set a specific goal for the month of January and share it with me by making a comment below. Then follow up and let me know whether or not you achieved your goal. Then do the same thing for February. Set a goal, let someone know what it is and then follow up with them to let them know how you did. You don't have to face the whole year at once. Take it in bite sized chunks and you will be more successful.
To your success.
Fran
Some people pick one or two small things to change and work at them for a few days, but then their old lives take over and they forget about their resolutions.
Others make one or two general resolutions that they can stick by the whole year such as; "doing things that make me feel better", so if they go for a walk, or have dinner with a friend, or watch a favourite show, they are successful.
The important thing is to have a goal, something to reach towards.
For job seekers, it is also important to have a goal. You need to know exactly what you are looking for in order to obtain it.
For instance; "I'm looking for a job." is just too vague. "I'm looking for a job as a mechanic." is much clearer and lets people know exactly what you are looking for. They are then more able to help you identify a particular employer who might be looking for a mechanic, or someone with mechanical skills.
If you are currently employed and thinking of leaving your job, you too need a clear cut goal. You need to identify what skills you want to use in your new job, the type of work you want to be doing and the type of employer you want to work for. Once you have done that, you can select two or three employers and then target your resume for them. You may need to send your resume more than once and follow up on a regular basis, but it will be worth it to get the job you want.
I challenge you to set a specific goal for the month of January and share it with me by making a comment below. Then follow up and let me know whether or not you achieved your goal. Then do the same thing for February. Set a goal, let someone know what it is and then follow up with them to let them know how you did. You don't have to face the whole year at once. Take it in bite sized chunks and you will be more successful.
To your success.
Fran
Monday, November 02, 2009
Time for a Career Move?
Internet Business - Is it Time For a Career Move?
It's time for a career change, but to what? Affiliate Management is definitely the way to go! It is a growing and exciting career. It requires a combination of skills such as organization, creativity and leadership to work together in harmony. Best of all, it is a highly sought after position. A successful Affiliate Manager can create an enormous income stream for an internet business or offline companies and are handsomely rewarded. The top 3 benefits of being an Affiliate Manager are income level, networking and hiring demand both in internet business and offline.
Normally, affiliate managers get a base pay plus incentive income based upon performance. They usually get a bulk monthly payment, retainer, or base salary. Typically, the monthly base payment will range between $2,000-$5,000. Then, they also get paid a pre-determined percentage, usually 5%-10% for every sale that is generated through the affiliate program as a result of their efforts. As an affiliate program grows and gets bigger, it can become highly financially rewarding for both the affiliate, affiliate manager and the owner of the internet business or an offline company. This payment structure allows for the affiliate manager to have the best of both financial worlds; security from a base and increased financial opportunity due to performance.
As in most industries, including internet business, a quick way to climb the latter of success is to get in with the big dogs! It is important and beneficial to meet and network with lots of powerful people. The pure nature of affiliate management does exactly this. To run a successful affiliate program, it is required that the individual work closely with affiliate; those who own their own businesses. Many times, affiliates are already making sales which, prequalifies them as being someone with a level influence and success. As with any business, one's success is often times related to the people you know, can learn from and are influenced by.
Affiliate management is not just a position in internet business. It is becoming increasingly popular in the offline world due to the revenue generating power of the system. Most large offline companies have affiliate programs and need skilled affiliate managers. Take a look at monster.com or other job posting/seeking sites and you will see that companies are posting jobs and hiring affiliate managers all of the time. It is a position that is in high demand right now, both in internet business and offline.
Tellman Knudson, CEO of OvercomeEverything, Inc., is a master list builder and well-known for his List Building Club. Tellman teaches students how to build a successful online business. Create your successful business from his step-by-step videos at: http://listbuilding.com
Fran
It's time for a career change, but to what? Affiliate Management is definitely the way to go! It is a growing and exciting career. It requires a combination of skills such as organization, creativity and leadership to work together in harmony. Best of all, it is a highly sought after position. A successful Affiliate Manager can create an enormous income stream for an internet business or offline companies and are handsomely rewarded. The top 3 benefits of being an Affiliate Manager are income level, networking and hiring demand both in internet business and offline.
Normally, affiliate managers get a base pay plus incentive income based upon performance. They usually get a bulk monthly payment, retainer, or base salary. Typically, the monthly base payment will range between $2,000-$5,000. Then, they also get paid a pre-determined percentage, usually 5%-10% for every sale that is generated through the affiliate program as a result of their efforts. As an affiliate program grows and gets bigger, it can become highly financially rewarding for both the affiliate, affiliate manager and the owner of the internet business or an offline company. This payment structure allows for the affiliate manager to have the best of both financial worlds; security from a base and increased financial opportunity due to performance.
As in most industries, including internet business, a quick way to climb the latter of success is to get in with the big dogs! It is important and beneficial to meet and network with lots of powerful people. The pure nature of affiliate management does exactly this. To run a successful affiliate program, it is required that the individual work closely with affiliate; those who own their own businesses. Many times, affiliates are already making sales which, prequalifies them as being someone with a level influence and success. As with any business, one's success is often times related to the people you know, can learn from and are influenced by.
Affiliate management is not just a position in internet business. It is becoming increasingly popular in the offline world due to the revenue generating power of the system. Most large offline companies have affiliate programs and need skilled affiliate managers. Take a look at monster.com or other job posting/seeking sites and you will see that companies are posting jobs and hiring affiliate managers all of the time. It is a position that is in high demand right now, both in internet business and offline.
Tellman Knudson, CEO of OvercomeEverything, Inc., is a master list builder and well-known for his List Building Club. Tellman teaches students how to build a successful online business. Create your successful business from his step-by-step videos at: http://listbuilding.com
Fran
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Awesome Adventures
"The Universe provides for us all every day, no matter how much we have or don't have. We deserve to feel that we are, have and do enough in our lives."
--SARK
If you have never heard of SARK, then you are in for a rare treat. Susan Kennedy (aka SARK) invites you to join her on an adventure!
What vibrant activies have you always wanted to try???? Try them now! Come along with us. See where the road leads. Click here to view more details
I have loved SARK since I found one of her books back in the late 1990's and she has been a part of my life every since. She is real and she encourages everyone else to also be real, to do and be who they truly are.
So, come along with us on our adventure. Take the road less travelled.
Fran
--SARK
If you have never heard of SARK, then you are in for a rare treat. Susan Kennedy (aka SARK) invites you to join her on an adventure!
What vibrant activies have you always wanted to try???? Try them now! Come along with us. See where the road leads. Click here to view more details
I have loved SARK since I found one of her books back in the late 1990's and she has been a part of my life every since. She is real and she encourages everyone else to also be real, to do and be who they truly are.
So, come along with us on our adventure. Take the road less travelled.
Fran
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
11 Things Your Boss Won't Tell You
source Reader's Digest
Here are the 11 things your boss won't tell you.
1.The company is in trouble. There are rumours of redundancies and tough financial times ahead. Until things are really dire, we’re likely to remain tight-lipped.
2.You deserve a pay raise. If you feel you are due more money or a promotion, be proactive and ask for it. Don’t wait around for us to pat you on the back and make the offer. It’s not going to happen.
3.Dress to impress. Just because the workplace has a casual dress code, it doesn’t mean you should dress like a slob. If you speak with firm command, you will be seen as authoritative and if you arrive early and act keen, you’ll be perceived as a hard worker. So dress, act and talk for the position you want, not the one you’re in.
4.You’re too keen. Just as bad as lazy workers are the painfully over-eager ones. We don’t want to spend time listening to your wild plans to improve the company or find extra projects for you to work on.
5.Your best career move is not in my best interest. You may be well and truly ready for a step up the company ladder, but if you are excelling in your current position, we’d probably prefer it if you stayed exactly where you are.
6.You run your personal life from your desk. We will rarely pull you aside if you are always on Facebook, eBay or the phone organizing your personal life, but do you honestly think we don’t notice? Rest assured we do!
7.Solutions not problems. Don’t come marching into my office with a problem if you haven’t got any suggestions about how to fix it. That’s called whining. Come prepared with some ideas if you want change.
8.You smell. We detest having to pull an employee aside and tell them there have been complaints made about their scent. Remember the deodorant and avoid making us, or your colleagues, feel awkward.
9.Stand your ground. Don’t let people dump work on you. If you can delegate and are capable of being assertive, we’ll be impressed and see you as management potential. Respect is more important than popularity.
10.You should resign. Do you feel like you’ve hit a dead end in your current position? Unless you’re seriously underperforming, don’t wait for us to show you the door.
11.I’m busy worrying about me, not you. We’re busy doing our own job, so if you need help, training or support, then you have to let us know. Tell your boss what you need and take responsibility for your training.
You are your own employer...treat yourself well
Fran
Here are the 11 things your boss won't tell you.
1.The company is in trouble. There are rumours of redundancies and tough financial times ahead. Until things are really dire, we’re likely to remain tight-lipped.
2.You deserve a pay raise. If you feel you are due more money or a promotion, be proactive and ask for it. Don’t wait around for us to pat you on the back and make the offer. It’s not going to happen.
3.Dress to impress. Just because the workplace has a casual dress code, it doesn’t mean you should dress like a slob. If you speak with firm command, you will be seen as authoritative and if you arrive early and act keen, you’ll be perceived as a hard worker. So dress, act and talk for the position you want, not the one you’re in.
4.You’re too keen. Just as bad as lazy workers are the painfully over-eager ones. We don’t want to spend time listening to your wild plans to improve the company or find extra projects for you to work on.
5.Your best career move is not in my best interest. You may be well and truly ready for a step up the company ladder, but if you are excelling in your current position, we’d probably prefer it if you stayed exactly where you are.
6.You run your personal life from your desk. We will rarely pull you aside if you are always on Facebook, eBay or the phone organizing your personal life, but do you honestly think we don’t notice? Rest assured we do!
7.Solutions not problems. Don’t come marching into my office with a problem if you haven’t got any suggestions about how to fix it. That’s called whining. Come prepared with some ideas if you want change.
8.You smell. We detest having to pull an employee aside and tell them there have been complaints made about their scent. Remember the deodorant and avoid making us, or your colleagues, feel awkward.
9.Stand your ground. Don’t let people dump work on you. If you can delegate and are capable of being assertive, we’ll be impressed and see you as management potential. Respect is more important than popularity.
10.You should resign. Do you feel like you’ve hit a dead end in your current position? Unless you’re seriously underperforming, don’t wait for us to show you the door.
11.I’m busy worrying about me, not you. We’re busy doing our own job, so if you need help, training or support, then you have to let us know. Tell your boss what you need and take responsibility for your training.
You are your own employer...treat yourself well
Fran
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Your Career Health
"Somneone who hates details is not a good candidate for being taught how to scrutinize contracts. Somone who loves details is not a great trainee for sales. Being people-oriented is a characteristic that rarely goes hand-in-hand with being detail-oriented. It's not uncommon for companies to deal with the arduous task of training sales people to pay more attention. Telling a client to hire someone else is difficult, since detail-oriented people-persons simply don't exist. It may be a hard pill for HR to swallow, but accountants don't usually relish selling. What to do?" -- Roger C. Schank, President and CEO of Socratic Arts
*************************
Test Your Career Health by Jim Clemmer
Many of us invest time once a year for an annual checkup of our physical health. But what about a regular career checkup?
Canadian author and literary icon, Robertson Davies, once wrote, "Weigh up your life once a year. If you find you are getting short weight, change your life. You will usually find that the solution lies in your own hands."
Here are six questions to help you discover whether your career is healthy — and, if it isn't, to help put it back on track.
Can I be real at work?
I am all for professionalism. I also like the assurance that whether I am working with colleagues in my field or buying professional services, I am dealing with a true pro that really knows his or her "stuff." But too often "professional" is another name for impersonal. We often equate professionalism with being unemotional or not showing our true selves.
While few people want us to throw a temper tantrum or break down in tears when we might really feel like doing just that, if we can't be real and bring our true selves to work we may be selling our soul (or at least our mental health) for a few bucks every two weeks.
When we can be open, transparent, and not put on a "professional" act, is often when we're the healthiest and most balanced.
A key element of "knowing thyself" is sorting out what's really important to you. Through study, meditation, contemplation, talking with close and trusted friends, consultation with your spouse, keeping a journal, taking a personal development workshop, or whatever works for you, develop a written list of your four to five top principles.
Reputation is what people think I am. Personality is what I seem to be. Character is what I really am. Our goal should be to break down the barriers between the three until they are one.
Am I growing with change?
The popular goals of security, stability and predictability can be deadly. They can lead to stunted growth and reduced learning. In today's fast-changing world, if we fail to change, it is we who will likely be changed. If we don't control our own future, someone else will.
Only a mediocre person is always at his or her best. If you are getting very comfortable with your expertise and skill levels, your learning may have leveled out.
You may not be stretching and challenging yourself enough. Your comfort zone could be fossilizing into a complacency zone. Are your personal habits stepping stones or stumbling blocks?
Use Benjamin Franklin's "method for progressing." He identified 13 virtues he wanted to develop. Each week he worked on one of the virtues for a total of "four courses (cycles) in a year." Each night before retiring, Mr. Franklin reflected on and recorded his progress on that week's virtue.
Join the Daily Reflect and Plan Club. You need at least 15 minutes and ideally 30 to 45 minutes each work day.
Use this time to read or listen to spiritual, inspiring, or educational material, write in your journal, day dream, review the previous day, set your priorities for the next day to sort out the urgent from the truly important, pray and meditate, continue developing your vision, values, and purpose, etc.
Experiment with many of these activities until you find the ones most meaningful for you.
Develop or join a network of colleagues who are as interested in personal learning and development as you are.
This can be a powerful source of learning from other people's experiences. It's also a great place for you to reflect on your own experiences and articulate your improvement plans.
Stretch outside your comfort zone a bit at a time. It will never go back to its original size.
You might try analyzing a problem in a new way, developing a new skill, meeting new people who operate at the performance level you're aspiring to, watching or listening to an educational television or radio program, or making that tough phone call right off the top. Daily or even just weekly small stretches accumulate into powerful new habits and ever stronger discipline muscles.
Skill building starts with assessment. Develop your skills performance gap by identifying what skills you need to fulfill your vision. Then get feedback on your current skill levels.
Have I become a victim?
It's so easy to get stuck in Pity City. Since misery loves company, Pity Parties become popular as everyone points fingers at their favorite targets on the other side of the we-they gap found in many organizations. Problems, setbacks, and disappointments are often wailed about in a rousing game of blame storming: "They're doing it to us again."
We can't choose the sometimes disastrous changes that whack us on the side of the head. But we do choose how to respond. We can try to change or influence the environment to navigate difficult changes. Or we can try to work around the situation and succeed despite "them."
Take the initiative to keep communication channels open with your boss or other colleagues. Outline your roles and responsibilities. Set your top three to five goals. Get your boss' input and adjust accordingly. Meet periodically to review progress and reset priorities.
Try to better understand the bigger picture that "they" are operating within. Do you know what keeps them awake at night? What their key goals and priorities are? How can we align our efforts?
Learn how your organizational game is played. Any organization of five people or more is political. Politics involve relationships, trust, power, persuasion, and influence.
Don't succumb to the "Victimitis Virus" by allowing more senior managers to disempower you. Leadership is action, not position. Be a leader. Make things happen. If you know it's right for your team and the organization, learn how to play the system to get done what needs to be done. Remember the Jesuit's Rule — It's always easier to get forgiveness than permission.
Is there a moose-on-the-table?
Imagine a team meeting around a conference room table. They are reviewing progress and making plans. Charts are reviewed, slides are projected, documents are handed out, and calculations are made. Now imagine that standing in the middle of the conference room table is a great big moose. No one says a word about the moose. Everyone carries on polite conversation as if this situation is very normal. Meanwhile the moose is eating papers at one end of the table while plopping out moose pies at the other end of the table.
The moose is a problem that everyone knows about but won't address. People are trying to carry on as if things are normal. Meanwhile, the problem is blocking progress and has caused some team members to tune out of conversations. By failing to confront the problem, they empower it. The moose grows bigger.
In some organizations, identifying the moose-on-the-table can be a career limiting — or ending — move. The most effective teams regularly ask such questions as: What should we keep doing? What should we stop doing? What should we start doing? These questions identify the moose and move the team forward.
Play with the moose-on-the-table concept. It's a powerful and fun way to get serious issues out in the open. You could get team members at a meeting to write down and hand in a few of the biggest moose they feel are present. Cluster the similar issues and hold a secret ballot on the top clusters. If you suspect people aren't being open during a discussion, ask: "Is there a moose-on-the-table we need to talk about?" Or if you see a potential issue emerging you might say: "I'd like to put a little moose-on-the-table."
Contribute to authentic conversations in an authentic workplace. Speak the truth as you see it. Obviously the time and place needs to be appropriate. Diplomacy and tact are also critical. Help others (especially your peers and those above you) to see the moose-on-the-table.
Is work a four-letter word?
Years ago, I worked in a company with an emotionally intelligent CEO. A favorite motto of his was: "If you love what you're doing, you never have to work again."
We all have our doubt days, when we're not sure we're in the right job. But our jobs aren't work unless those doubt days become as routine as getting up in the morning. If your work has become work, you've lost the passion. Meaningful work goes well beyond what you do for a living; it joyfully expresses what you do with your living.
Identify your strengths and passions. Assess how often and in what ways your current job is aligned with these. If the gap is large, look for ways to make changes in your work, change the work you're doing in your organization, or leave and find work that is in stronger alignment with your strengths and passions.
Our passion for what we do — or our lack of it — tells us if we're in the right place. To be passionate about our work, that work has to keep moving us ever closer to expressing who we truly are. The more closely "who we are" is aligned with "what we do," the deeper is our passion and commitment.
Flight attendants instruct passengers traveling with young children that should the oxygen mask ever drop from the panel above, put the mask on yourself first, and then help your child. Our parental instinct is to do the reverse. Assess whether you're so busy attending to everyone else's needs that you're failing to oxygenate yourself.
Ensure you plan and hold sacred the time to do those activities that recharge and revitalize you. It's the only way you'll have to maintain the energy for your work and to help others in your personal or professional life.
Do I have a job, career or calling?
In the movie "City Slickers," Billy Crystal plays Mitch, a middle-aged man in crisis who has lost his direction. He and his friends go to a dude ranch to participate in a real cattle drive and search for the meaning of life. Jack Palance plays Curly, a crusty old cowhand whose job it is to babysit the city slickers along the dusty trail.
In one memorable piece of dialogue, Curly asks Mitch: "You know what the secret of life is?"
"No, what?" Mitch responds.
Curly holds up his index finger. "This." Mitch looks confused. "Your finger?"
"One thing. Just one thing," Curly growls. "You stick to that and everything else don't mean sh-t."
"That's great," Mitch replies, "but what's the one thing?"
Curly smiles. "That's what you've got to figure out."
In typical movie fashion, of course, Mitch solves his problems by gaining new perspective on his life and knowing what changes he has to make. He learns that "it" — the one thing — varies for each of us. As Mitch tells one of his fellow searchers, "It's something different for everybody. It's whatever is the most important for you."
At least once a year, spend a quiet evening of uninterrupted time "daydreaming" with your spouse or life partner. Take turns fantasizing, seeing, and describing an ideal life together while the other person takes notes. Look at family, house or home, your careers, your physical health, your financial health, community involvement, spiritual growth, and social life. Now start setting goals and improvement plans to turn your fantasies into reality.
To find the core of your deepest and truest inner desires and vision, you may need to keep a running "dream list" for awhile. Record every dream, desire, or goal that pops into your mind. Once the list is complete and exhaustive, start sifting through it to look for patterns or clusters. Begin to group and prioritize your dreams until they're narrowed down to a manageable number. This is your personal source of energy and passion. The next step is unleashing that incredible power through visualization or imagery.
Build your confidence and reinforce your vision by keeping a private "blessings and brag list." It should contain every accomplishment, strength, or success you've ever had along with all the blessings you've enjoyed — no matter how small. Keep adding to it. Review it frequently, but especially when you're doubting or down on yourself.
Balance is a popular and elusive goal for many of us today. Well-balanced people pause periodically to review their progress. They know how easy it is to confuse busyness with effectiveness.
Jim Clemmer’s practical leadership books, keynote presentations, workshops, and team retreats have helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide improve personal, team, and organizational leadership. Visit his web site, http://www.jimclemmer.com/, for a huge selection of free practical resources including nearly 300 articles, dozens of video clips, team assessments, leadership newsletter, Improvement Points service, and popular leadership blog. Jim's five international bestselling books include The VIP Strategy, Firing on All Cylinders, Pathways to Performance, Growing the Distance, and The Leader's Digest. His latest book is Moose on the Table: A Novel Approach to Communications @ Work.
*************************
Test Your Career Health by Jim Clemmer
Many of us invest time once a year for an annual checkup of our physical health. But what about a regular career checkup?
Canadian author and literary icon, Robertson Davies, once wrote, "Weigh up your life once a year. If you find you are getting short weight, change your life. You will usually find that the solution lies in your own hands."
Here are six questions to help you discover whether your career is healthy — and, if it isn't, to help put it back on track.
Can I be real at work?
I am all for professionalism. I also like the assurance that whether I am working with colleagues in my field or buying professional services, I am dealing with a true pro that really knows his or her "stuff." But too often "professional" is another name for impersonal. We often equate professionalism with being unemotional or not showing our true selves.
While few people want us to throw a temper tantrum or break down in tears when we might really feel like doing just that, if we can't be real and bring our true selves to work we may be selling our soul (or at least our mental health) for a few bucks every two weeks.
When we can be open, transparent, and not put on a "professional" act, is often when we're the healthiest and most balanced.
A key element of "knowing thyself" is sorting out what's really important to you. Through study, meditation, contemplation, talking with close and trusted friends, consultation with your spouse, keeping a journal, taking a personal development workshop, or whatever works for you, develop a written list of your four to five top principles.
Reputation is what people think I am. Personality is what I seem to be. Character is what I really am. Our goal should be to break down the barriers between the three until they are one.
Am I growing with change?
The popular goals of security, stability and predictability can be deadly. They can lead to stunted growth and reduced learning. In today's fast-changing world, if we fail to change, it is we who will likely be changed. If we don't control our own future, someone else will.
Only a mediocre person is always at his or her best. If you are getting very comfortable with your expertise and skill levels, your learning may have leveled out.
You may not be stretching and challenging yourself enough. Your comfort zone could be fossilizing into a complacency zone. Are your personal habits stepping stones or stumbling blocks?
Use Benjamin Franklin's "method for progressing." He identified 13 virtues he wanted to develop. Each week he worked on one of the virtues for a total of "four courses (cycles) in a year." Each night before retiring, Mr. Franklin reflected on and recorded his progress on that week's virtue.
Join the Daily Reflect and Plan Club. You need at least 15 minutes and ideally 30 to 45 minutes each work day.
Use this time to read or listen to spiritual, inspiring, or educational material, write in your journal, day dream, review the previous day, set your priorities for the next day to sort out the urgent from the truly important, pray and meditate, continue developing your vision, values, and purpose, etc.
Experiment with many of these activities until you find the ones most meaningful for you.
Develop or join a network of colleagues who are as interested in personal learning and development as you are.
This can be a powerful source of learning from other people's experiences. It's also a great place for you to reflect on your own experiences and articulate your improvement plans.
Stretch outside your comfort zone a bit at a time. It will never go back to its original size.
You might try analyzing a problem in a new way, developing a new skill, meeting new people who operate at the performance level you're aspiring to, watching or listening to an educational television or radio program, or making that tough phone call right off the top. Daily or even just weekly small stretches accumulate into powerful new habits and ever stronger discipline muscles.
Skill building starts with assessment. Develop your skills performance gap by identifying what skills you need to fulfill your vision. Then get feedback on your current skill levels.
Have I become a victim?
It's so easy to get stuck in Pity City. Since misery loves company, Pity Parties become popular as everyone points fingers at their favorite targets on the other side of the we-they gap found in many organizations. Problems, setbacks, and disappointments are often wailed about in a rousing game of blame storming: "They're doing it to us again."
We can't choose the sometimes disastrous changes that whack us on the side of the head. But we do choose how to respond. We can try to change or influence the environment to navigate difficult changes. Or we can try to work around the situation and succeed despite "them."
Take the initiative to keep communication channels open with your boss or other colleagues. Outline your roles and responsibilities. Set your top three to five goals. Get your boss' input and adjust accordingly. Meet periodically to review progress and reset priorities.
Try to better understand the bigger picture that "they" are operating within. Do you know what keeps them awake at night? What their key goals and priorities are? How can we align our efforts?
Learn how your organizational game is played. Any organization of five people or more is political. Politics involve relationships, trust, power, persuasion, and influence.
Don't succumb to the "Victimitis Virus" by allowing more senior managers to disempower you. Leadership is action, not position. Be a leader. Make things happen. If you know it's right for your team and the organization, learn how to play the system to get done what needs to be done. Remember the Jesuit's Rule — It's always easier to get forgiveness than permission.
Is there a moose-on-the-table?
Imagine a team meeting around a conference room table. They are reviewing progress and making plans. Charts are reviewed, slides are projected, documents are handed out, and calculations are made. Now imagine that standing in the middle of the conference room table is a great big moose. No one says a word about the moose. Everyone carries on polite conversation as if this situation is very normal. Meanwhile the moose is eating papers at one end of the table while plopping out moose pies at the other end of the table.
The moose is a problem that everyone knows about but won't address. People are trying to carry on as if things are normal. Meanwhile, the problem is blocking progress and has caused some team members to tune out of conversations. By failing to confront the problem, they empower it. The moose grows bigger.
In some organizations, identifying the moose-on-the-table can be a career limiting — or ending — move. The most effective teams regularly ask such questions as: What should we keep doing? What should we stop doing? What should we start doing? These questions identify the moose and move the team forward.
Play with the moose-on-the-table concept. It's a powerful and fun way to get serious issues out in the open. You could get team members at a meeting to write down and hand in a few of the biggest moose they feel are present. Cluster the similar issues and hold a secret ballot on the top clusters. If you suspect people aren't being open during a discussion, ask: "Is there a moose-on-the-table we need to talk about?" Or if you see a potential issue emerging you might say: "I'd like to put a little moose-on-the-table."
Contribute to authentic conversations in an authentic workplace. Speak the truth as you see it. Obviously the time and place needs to be appropriate. Diplomacy and tact are also critical. Help others (especially your peers and those above you) to see the moose-on-the-table.
Is work a four-letter word?
Years ago, I worked in a company with an emotionally intelligent CEO. A favorite motto of his was: "If you love what you're doing, you never have to work again."
We all have our doubt days, when we're not sure we're in the right job. But our jobs aren't work unless those doubt days become as routine as getting up in the morning. If your work has become work, you've lost the passion. Meaningful work goes well beyond what you do for a living; it joyfully expresses what you do with your living.
Identify your strengths and passions. Assess how often and in what ways your current job is aligned with these. If the gap is large, look for ways to make changes in your work, change the work you're doing in your organization, or leave and find work that is in stronger alignment with your strengths and passions.
Our passion for what we do — or our lack of it — tells us if we're in the right place. To be passionate about our work, that work has to keep moving us ever closer to expressing who we truly are. The more closely "who we are" is aligned with "what we do," the deeper is our passion and commitment.
Flight attendants instruct passengers traveling with young children that should the oxygen mask ever drop from the panel above, put the mask on yourself first, and then help your child. Our parental instinct is to do the reverse. Assess whether you're so busy attending to everyone else's needs that you're failing to oxygenate yourself.
Ensure you plan and hold sacred the time to do those activities that recharge and revitalize you. It's the only way you'll have to maintain the energy for your work and to help others in your personal or professional life.
Do I have a job, career or calling?
In the movie "City Slickers," Billy Crystal plays Mitch, a middle-aged man in crisis who has lost his direction. He and his friends go to a dude ranch to participate in a real cattle drive and search for the meaning of life. Jack Palance plays Curly, a crusty old cowhand whose job it is to babysit the city slickers along the dusty trail.
In one memorable piece of dialogue, Curly asks Mitch: "You know what the secret of life is?"
"No, what?" Mitch responds.
Curly holds up his index finger. "This." Mitch looks confused. "Your finger?"
"One thing. Just one thing," Curly growls. "You stick to that and everything else don't mean sh-t."
"That's great," Mitch replies, "but what's the one thing?"
Curly smiles. "That's what you've got to figure out."
In typical movie fashion, of course, Mitch solves his problems by gaining new perspective on his life and knowing what changes he has to make. He learns that "it" — the one thing — varies for each of us. As Mitch tells one of his fellow searchers, "It's something different for everybody. It's whatever is the most important for you."
At least once a year, spend a quiet evening of uninterrupted time "daydreaming" with your spouse or life partner. Take turns fantasizing, seeing, and describing an ideal life together while the other person takes notes. Look at family, house or home, your careers, your physical health, your financial health, community involvement, spiritual growth, and social life. Now start setting goals and improvement plans to turn your fantasies into reality.
To find the core of your deepest and truest inner desires and vision, you may need to keep a running "dream list" for awhile. Record every dream, desire, or goal that pops into your mind. Once the list is complete and exhaustive, start sifting through it to look for patterns or clusters. Begin to group and prioritize your dreams until they're narrowed down to a manageable number. This is your personal source of energy and passion. The next step is unleashing that incredible power through visualization or imagery.
Build your confidence and reinforce your vision by keeping a private "blessings and brag list." It should contain every accomplishment, strength, or success you've ever had along with all the blessings you've enjoyed — no matter how small. Keep adding to it. Review it frequently, but especially when you're doubting or down on yourself.
Balance is a popular and elusive goal for many of us today. Well-balanced people pause periodically to review their progress. They know how easy it is to confuse busyness with effectiveness.
Jim Clemmer’s practical leadership books, keynote presentations, workshops, and team retreats have helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide improve personal, team, and organizational leadership. Visit his web site, http://www.jimclemmer.com/, for a huge selection of free practical resources including nearly 300 articles, dozens of video clips, team assessments, leadership newsletter, Improvement Points service, and popular leadership blog. Jim's five international bestselling books include The VIP Strategy, Firing on All Cylinders, Pathways to Performance, Growing the Distance, and The Leader's Digest. His latest book is Moose on the Table: A Novel Approach to Communications @ Work.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Finding Energy
How to Find Energy for Your Dream When You Work Full-Timeby Suzanne Falter-Barns
www.getknownnow.com
A recent Canadian study of 1,100 employees, polled across North America, found that one-third loathe their jobs. That’s loathe, as in detest, hate and otherwise despise. So here’s the good news: it’s entirely possible for these folks to overcome the usual obstacles, and actually find a more suitable line of work. The key is in managing energy – one of the key things people say keeps them from actively pursuing their dreams in life.
Here are some energy-saving tricks to help that process.
Dedicate your peak time of day to your dream. Are you a lark or an owl? Do you tend to spring out of bed or hug your pillow when the alarm goes off. Get clear on this key fact, then add an extra hour in this time zone for work on your dream. In other words, get up an hour earlier if you’re a morning person – or stay up an hour later if you thrive at night. Write it into your schedule and stick with it.
Indulge in a Four o’clock protein bar or shake. Replace the guilty candy bar in your desk drawer with a snack that’s actually got enough protein to tide you well into the evening hours. Protein bars, such as Balance, Clif, Luna and Power Bars have only slightly less sugar than conventional candy bars, but they’re loaded with soy protein that metabolizes more slowly for an even energy burn. (Ideally, the bars shouldn’t have more than 13 grams of sugar, say experts.) Shakes made with soyprotein powders available at health food stores work even better, and last longer.
Keep a lean office/work space. Nothing drains energy faster than clutter, especially that which accumulates on desktops. Jeffrey Mayer, author of the e-book, How to Win the Fight Between You and Your Desk, says that our energy is literally bogged down every time we see a pile of papers we have to deal with. So he advises parking everything out of sight in appropriate files. Then he suggests keeping a running to-do list on a pad, with items to check off each day as accomplished. This sense of order and accomplishment can breath new life into dreams that feel long in the tooth.
Stop working at least an hour before bed. Even if you’re a night owl who loves to create deep into the night, give yourself some true down time at least an hour before bed. Experts say this is critical unwinding time that will help you sleep better, and hence renew your energy for the next day’s tasks. Use the time to reconnect with your family or spouse, peruse some fun, non-work related reading, or sit in a room with low light simply listening to relaxing music. This is critical energy recharging time.
Avoid junk food; drink water instead. It’s an old saw, but it bears repeating. Nothing depletes your system quite like junk food. The excess sugars speed up your system so it eventually crashes; the excess salts just drive your thirst. They’re fun, but have not substance. Your body craves the good stuff: carrots, salads, light proteins, whole grains, because digestion of such is so much easier on the system.
Add large amounts of water, and you’ll be running at peak. Take your iron. Grains and vegetables provide us with only about seven per cent of their iron, while meat gives us close to 30 per cent. Added to that is the fact that drinking tea and coffee interferes with iron absorption. So, all in all, you're best off with a supplement, preferably about 18 milligrams per day. Author and nutritionist Elizabeth Somers says you'll see improvements in energy and mental clarity within three weeks.
Refresh your mind. On a regular basis, try to offer it something stimulating, fun and not work or dream-related. Consider playing an instrument, or going to a weekly dance or yoga class. Or taking a walk in an entirely new place. Museum exhibitions, browses through bookstores, hang outs in cafes and uninhibited strolls through the Web are all good for this purpose.
Take brainstorming walks. This is a daily exercise walk in which you clear your mind, and use the time for either a little reflection on what you’re creating, or for possible spiritual connection. As the exercise causes your brain to release feel-good endorphins, you can relax enough to really let your mind wander as your stroll. So this becomes a great time to work out little problems that crop up in your dream work. Be sure to bring along a small notepad, or electronic ‘instant messager’ for recording your ideas. If time’s tight, use this time to walk to or from the office, even if you have to park the car a few miles away.
Eat your lunch at your desk. It’s a simple solution, and remarkably effective. The simple act of bringing a sandwich to work, pulling it out, closing the door, and doing a little work on your dream mid-day can deeply increase your commitment to your dream. And that in turn can really fuel your dream, so making time for it becomes easier, not harder. If it’s hard to work at your desk, take your sandwich and dream work to a nearby café, your parked car, a public library carrel, or any public space where you can work.
Long to lead your own creativity workshops? You can with Suzanne’s Joy
Facilitator’s Training – the turnkey program that helps you create, book, fill and lead your own creativity workshops! Based on her best-selling creativity books, from Ballantine.
©2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns.. www.howmuchjoy.com & www.getknownnow.com
For information on how to find the time, energy, money to live your purpose in life, download Suzanne’s free workbook, The Living Your Joy Companion Workbook And get a daily blast of joyful tips from the Blast o’ Joy blog at www.blastojoy.com.
********************************
Keep your energy at its peak to get the best out of life
Fran
www.getknownnow.com
A recent Canadian study of 1,100 employees, polled across North America, found that one-third loathe their jobs. That’s loathe, as in detest, hate and otherwise despise. So here’s the good news: it’s entirely possible for these folks to overcome the usual obstacles, and actually find a more suitable line of work. The key is in managing energy – one of the key things people say keeps them from actively pursuing their dreams in life.
Here are some energy-saving tricks to help that process.
Dedicate your peak time of day to your dream. Are you a lark or an owl? Do you tend to spring out of bed or hug your pillow when the alarm goes off. Get clear on this key fact, then add an extra hour in this time zone for work on your dream. In other words, get up an hour earlier if you’re a morning person – or stay up an hour later if you thrive at night. Write it into your schedule and stick with it.
Indulge in a Four o’clock protein bar or shake. Replace the guilty candy bar in your desk drawer with a snack that’s actually got enough protein to tide you well into the evening hours. Protein bars, such as Balance, Clif, Luna and Power Bars have only slightly less sugar than conventional candy bars, but they’re loaded with soy protein that metabolizes more slowly for an even energy burn. (Ideally, the bars shouldn’t have more than 13 grams of sugar, say experts.) Shakes made with soyprotein powders available at health food stores work even better, and last longer.
Keep a lean office/work space. Nothing drains energy faster than clutter, especially that which accumulates on desktops. Jeffrey Mayer, author of the e-book, How to Win the Fight Between You and Your Desk, says that our energy is literally bogged down every time we see a pile of papers we have to deal with. So he advises parking everything out of sight in appropriate files. Then he suggests keeping a running to-do list on a pad, with items to check off each day as accomplished. This sense of order and accomplishment can breath new life into dreams that feel long in the tooth.
Stop working at least an hour before bed. Even if you’re a night owl who loves to create deep into the night, give yourself some true down time at least an hour before bed. Experts say this is critical unwinding time that will help you sleep better, and hence renew your energy for the next day’s tasks. Use the time to reconnect with your family or spouse, peruse some fun, non-work related reading, or sit in a room with low light simply listening to relaxing music. This is critical energy recharging time.
Avoid junk food; drink water instead. It’s an old saw, but it bears repeating. Nothing depletes your system quite like junk food. The excess sugars speed up your system so it eventually crashes; the excess salts just drive your thirst. They’re fun, but have not substance. Your body craves the good stuff: carrots, salads, light proteins, whole grains, because digestion of such is so much easier on the system.
Add large amounts of water, and you’ll be running at peak. Take your iron. Grains and vegetables provide us with only about seven per cent of their iron, while meat gives us close to 30 per cent. Added to that is the fact that drinking tea and coffee interferes with iron absorption. So, all in all, you're best off with a supplement, preferably about 18 milligrams per day. Author and nutritionist Elizabeth Somers says you'll see improvements in energy and mental clarity within three weeks.
Refresh your mind. On a regular basis, try to offer it something stimulating, fun and not work or dream-related. Consider playing an instrument, or going to a weekly dance or yoga class. Or taking a walk in an entirely new place. Museum exhibitions, browses through bookstores, hang outs in cafes and uninhibited strolls through the Web are all good for this purpose.
Take brainstorming walks. This is a daily exercise walk in which you clear your mind, and use the time for either a little reflection on what you’re creating, or for possible spiritual connection. As the exercise causes your brain to release feel-good endorphins, you can relax enough to really let your mind wander as your stroll. So this becomes a great time to work out little problems that crop up in your dream work. Be sure to bring along a small notepad, or electronic ‘instant messager’ for recording your ideas. If time’s tight, use this time to walk to or from the office, even if you have to park the car a few miles away.
Eat your lunch at your desk. It’s a simple solution, and remarkably effective. The simple act of bringing a sandwich to work, pulling it out, closing the door, and doing a little work on your dream mid-day can deeply increase your commitment to your dream. And that in turn can really fuel your dream, so making time for it becomes easier, not harder. If it’s hard to work at your desk, take your sandwich and dream work to a nearby café, your parked car, a public library carrel, or any public space where you can work.
Long to lead your own creativity workshops? You can with Suzanne’s Joy
Facilitator’s Training – the turnkey program that helps you create, book, fill and lead your own creativity workshops! Based on her best-selling creativity books, from Ballantine.
©2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns.. www.howmuchjoy.com & www.getknownnow.com
For information on how to find the time, energy, money to live your purpose in life, download Suzanne’s free workbook, The Living Your Joy Companion Workbook And get a daily blast of joyful tips from the Blast o’ Joy blog at www.blastojoy.com.
********************************
Keep your energy at its peak to get the best out of life
Fran
Should You Quit Your Job For Your Dreams?
Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?
A Questionnaire by Suzanne Falter-Barns
The next time you’re moodily sitting in your office, wishing you were living your dream instead, answer the following questions… or answer them now! They’ll give you a sense of whether or not now’s the time to make the break.
1.My job is making me crazy; so crazy I’d do anything to quit.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
2.If I left my job for my dream, I’m not sure what I’d do first, or even
how I’d begin it.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
3.My boss runs my life … or ruins it. I feel completely misunderstood and trapped by this job. I don’t even know if I could quit – how would I survive? Who would even hire me?
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
4.I hate this job but I really need the money. I don’t see any other viable alternative.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
5.If I stay at my work just a little longer, I stand a good chance of getting a promotion and a raise. Then I could find my way clear to saving a little money for my dream.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
6.Yeah, I could quit my job for my dream, but I could run off to Tahiti, too. That’s way too much risk for my taste.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
7.My spouse/partner is okay with the thought of me quitting my job for my dream. We’ve talked it through and he/she sees it as the next thing I need to do.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
8.My spouse/partner fully understands what life will be like when I make the leap to begin my dream. He/she will be there for me, emotionally and even financially if necessary.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
9.I have a business plan for my dream all organized and ready to go. I’ve even scoped out sources for capital, and necessary space and materials to get to work.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
10.I have a savings account for my dream with enough to get started, plus an emergency savings account worth 6 months of my general living expenses. I’ve also scoped out alternatives to my current health care and insurance.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
11.I’ve been developing a systematic plan for leaving my job for a while now … I feel I’m almost ready to go.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
12.I have an adequate support system in place to really help me move ahead with my dream. It includes good friends and advisors, adequate child or elder care, a supportive spouse, and even a coach or mentor.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
d) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 1-4, you’re stuck. Your job has forced you to forget about essential pieces of yourself – it’s time to get some career coaching now.
If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 5 and 6, you’re a borderline case. You haven’t yet decided whether your dream is all that important to the quality of your life. Just an experiment, you might want to sit with a blank piece of paper and really brainstorm what it would be like to live your dream.
If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 7-11 … what are you waiting for? You’ve got a plan, you’ve set up the necessary support and you’re good to go; you should be able to weather the inevitable ups and downs. Be sure to allow your company enough notice to make the transition smoothly, so you can leave with glowing reviews. Congratulations!
Long to lead your own creativity workshops? You can with Suzanne’s Joy Facilitator’s Training – the turnkey program that helps you create, book, fill and lead your own creativity workshops! Based on her best-selling creativity books, from Ballantine.
©2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns.. www.howmuchjoy.com & www.getknownnow.com
For information on how to find the time, energy, money to live your purpose in life, download Suzanne’s free workbook, The Living Your Joy Companion Workbook And get a daily blast of joyful tips from the Blast o’ Joy blog at www.blastojoy.com.
***********************************
So, is it time for you to move on? Do you need some help? Contact me
Have a great week!
Fran
A Questionnaire by Suzanne Falter-Barns
The next time you’re moodily sitting in your office, wishing you were living your dream instead, answer the following questions… or answer them now! They’ll give you a sense of whether or not now’s the time to make the break.
1.My job is making me crazy; so crazy I’d do anything to quit.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
2.If I left my job for my dream, I’m not sure what I’d do first, or even
how I’d begin it.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
3.My boss runs my life … or ruins it. I feel completely misunderstood and trapped by this job. I don’t even know if I could quit – how would I survive? Who would even hire me?
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
4.I hate this job but I really need the money. I don’t see any other viable alternative.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
5.If I stay at my work just a little longer, I stand a good chance of getting a promotion and a raise. Then I could find my way clear to saving a little money for my dream.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
6.Yeah, I could quit my job for my dream, but I could run off to Tahiti, too. That’s way too much risk for my taste.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
7.My spouse/partner is okay with the thought of me quitting my job for my dream. We’ve talked it through and he/she sees it as the next thing I need to do.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
8.My spouse/partner fully understands what life will be like when I make the leap to begin my dream. He/she will be there for me, emotionally and even financially if necessary.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
9.I have a business plan for my dream all organized and ready to go. I’ve even scoped out sources for capital, and necessary space and materials to get to work.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
10.I have a savings account for my dream with enough to get started, plus an emergency savings account worth 6 months of my general living expenses. I’ve also scoped out alternatives to my current health care and insurance.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
11.I’ve been developing a systematic plan for leaving my job for a while now … I feel I’m almost ready to go.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
c) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
12.I have an adequate support system in place to really help me move ahead with my dream. It includes good friends and advisors, adequate child or elder care, a supportive spouse, and even a coach or mentor.
a) Highly agree
b) Mildly agree
d) Don’t really agree
d) Strongly disagree
If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 1-4, you’re stuck. Your job has forced you to forget about essential pieces of yourself – it’s time to get some career coaching now.
If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 5 and 6, you’re a borderline case. You haven’t yet decided whether your dream is all that important to the quality of your life. Just an experiment, you might want to sit with a blank piece of paper and really brainstorm what it would be like to live your dream.
If you answered mostly a) and b) to questions 7-11 … what are you waiting for? You’ve got a plan, you’ve set up the necessary support and you’re good to go; you should be able to weather the inevitable ups and downs. Be sure to allow your company enough notice to make the transition smoothly, so you can leave with glowing reviews. Congratulations!
Long to lead your own creativity workshops? You can with Suzanne’s Joy Facilitator’s Training – the turnkey program that helps you create, book, fill and lead your own creativity workshops! Based on her best-selling creativity books, from Ballantine.
©2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns.. www.howmuchjoy.com & www.getknownnow.com
For information on how to find the time, energy, money to live your purpose in life, download Suzanne’s free workbook, The Living Your Joy Companion Workbook And get a daily blast of joyful tips from the Blast o’ Joy blog at www.blastojoy.com.
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So, is it time for you to move on? Do you need some help? Contact me
Have a great week!
Fran
Friday, September 04, 2009
No Jobs???
Think there are no jobs out there?
Think again
Are you reading the papers and thinking, “there are no jobs”?
Do you know that approximately 80% of the available jobs are not advertised.
Are you spending 40 hours a week on your job search?
If you are looking for a full-time job, you should be spending 30 – 40 hours a week on job search activities – reading, researching, networking, preparing resumes, practicing interview techniques, etc.
Do you know how to use the computer/internet to help you in your job search – to look up information on employers and careers?
If not, sign up now and attend a local free computer workshop.
Is your resume up to date and targeted to a specific job or employer?
If not, you may be losing out on jobs you are qualified for. There really is no "one size fits all" resume.
Some of the biggest mistakes made on resumes are: distortions or lies (be truthful in everything), too much information, messiness and typographical errors (typos), lack of specific information, irrelevant information, failure to list job accomplishments.
Proofread your resume carefully. A poll of Fortune 1000 executives revealed nearly one-third of them wouldn’t hire an applicant whose resume contains a typo.
Have you practiced your interview techniques with a friend or family member? Do you know what to say when the employer says, “Tell me about yourself?” If not, sit down and list all the things you have done in every job and every volunteer activity. You may be surprised by all the things you have accomplished and forgotten about. The next step is to summarize your accomplishments to target the skills the employer is looking for.
Put your best foot forward....good luck
Fran Watson
Think again
Are you reading the papers and thinking, “there are no jobs”?
Do you know that approximately 80% of the available jobs are not advertised.
Are you spending 40 hours a week on your job search?
If you are looking for a full-time job, you should be spending 30 – 40 hours a week on job search activities – reading, researching, networking, preparing resumes, practicing interview techniques, etc.
Do you know how to use the computer/internet to help you in your job search – to look up information on employers and careers?
If not, sign up now and attend a local free computer workshop.
Is your resume up to date and targeted to a specific job or employer?
If not, you may be losing out on jobs you are qualified for. There really is no "one size fits all" resume.
Some of the biggest mistakes made on resumes are: distortions or lies (be truthful in everything), too much information, messiness and typographical errors (typos), lack of specific information, irrelevant information, failure to list job accomplishments.
Proofread your resume carefully. A poll of Fortune 1000 executives revealed nearly one-third of them wouldn’t hire an applicant whose resume contains a typo.
Have you practiced your interview techniques with a friend or family member? Do you know what to say when the employer says, “Tell me about yourself?” If not, sit down and list all the things you have done in every job and every volunteer activity. You may be surprised by all the things you have accomplished and forgotten about. The next step is to summarize your accomplishments to target the skills the employer is looking for.
Put your best foot forward....good luck
Fran Watson
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Lost Your Job?
Check out Sam Crowley's new video
Click here
Follow your heart
Fran
P.S. Check out what else Sam has for you
Click here
Follow your heart
Fran
P.S. Check out what else Sam has for you
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Virtual Competence
Are you virtually competent?
I just read an article by Jennifer Kavur in the August 17th issue of ComputerWorld Canada which talks about this term - Virtual Competente, the new softskill - a term coined by Haggerty and Wang from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
Virtual Competence consists of three skill sets:
- Virtual Social Skills or an individual's capability to build online social relationships
- Virtual Media Skills, which are the actual capabilities in using a range of tools and features, and
- Virtual Self-Efficacy or self-confidence.
If you don't have these skills, you might want to develop them as in the same issue, there was another article by Jenniver about employers seeking proof of Web 2.0 savvy in new recruits. She highlighted a recent job posting for Best Buy which requested a graduate degree and a "minimum of 250 followers on Twitter.
So, how virtually savvy are you? Do yolu Twitter? Do you use Facebook? Do you participate on any social media networking sites? If not, better start brushing up now!
Happy job hunting
Fran Watson
P.S. You can find me on Facebook
I just read an article by Jennifer Kavur in the August 17th issue of ComputerWorld Canada which talks about this term - Virtual Competente, the new softskill - a term coined by Haggerty and Wang from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
Virtual Competence consists of three skill sets:
- Virtual Social Skills or an individual's capability to build online social relationships
- Virtual Media Skills, which are the actual capabilities in using a range of tools and features, and
- Virtual Self-Efficacy or self-confidence.
If you don't have these skills, you might want to develop them as in the same issue, there was another article by Jenniver about employers seeking proof of Web 2.0 savvy in new recruits. She highlighted a recent job posting for Best Buy which requested a graduate degree and a "minimum of 250 followers on Twitter.
So, how virtually savvy are you? Do yolu Twitter? Do you use Facebook? Do you participate on any social media networking sites? If not, better start brushing up now!
Happy job hunting
Fran Watson
P.S. You can find me on Facebook
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Amazon help
Have you gone store to store trying to find a specific item? Have you been frustrated at the time and expense? Amazon is the place to go for many of your personal and office needs. Find what you want and place your order. Quick and easy.
Have a great day!!
Fran
Monday, August 10, 2009
Procrastination
If you suffer from procrastination a good time management strategy for you is to make procrastination enemy number one in your life. Procrastination deprives you of satisfaction, success, and happiness. It causes unnecessary stress, frustration, and pressure in your life. Procrastination is the biggest unnecessary and controllable time waster that exists. So how do you know if you are a procrastinator, and what do you do about it if you are?
If you are a procrastinator, you have probably made procrastination a life-long habit. Your time management strategy is never do today what you can put off until tomorrow. You don’t even start something until it’s almost impossible to complete the project by the deadline. When you finally make the commitment to take action you are a whirl of activity and you don’t allow anyone or anything to interrupt you because you have a deadline to meet. If your time management strategy was to approach all your projects with that level of fury and commitment from the moment you were first aware of the project you would have it done far in advance of the deadline and could move on to other things without having to deal with all that unnecessary stress.
Your negative attitude may be the cause or source of your procrastination. Your attitudes drive your behaviors and your behaviors drive your results, so if a negative attitude is fueling your procrastination including affirmations in your time management strategy is a good plan. Affirmations are positive statements about your ability to do the task at hand, the value of the project, the speed with which you can complete the project etc. All re-enforcing the positive impact of successfully completing the project on time or even ahead of time in your life.
Have you ever found that sometimes you procrastinate because of your fear of failure? This one may not be one that you openly admit to yourself, but if you start thinking back to the times you didn’t follow up with a potential client or didn’t submit your work so it could be considered for an award or whatever you have put off in the past you may realize that part of you didn’t want to get things completed because of your fear of what might happen if you failed. A time management strategy for you is to ask yourself what the potential outcomes are when you take the action you are supposed to take, and then make sure you are comfortable with those outcomes.
The opposite of fear of failure is fear of success. Your fear of success can be another reason for your procrastination. You may worry what others will think of your new found success. As part of your time management strategy you may want to explore the impact of succeeding and prepare yourself for the consequences.
Do you find that its hard to complete things because they’re just never quite good enough? Perfectionism can really get in your way. Recognize that perfectionism can never be achieved and that you can only do your best. It is a better time management strategy to just do something than to just keep putting it off. Zig Zigglar is frequently quoted as having said, “anything worth doing is worth doing poorly”. Perhaps his advice is something for you to take to heart.
Do you ever find yourself just stuck because you aren’t quite sure how to handle the task at hand? Yet, as you think about when you were in those situations in the past, when you finally got started did you find that it wasn’t as hard as you thought it would be? Whether you think it will be hard or if you get stuck working on the project a good time management strategy is to reach out quickly and get the help you need rather than just hoping you will somehow be able to work through it on your own.
Would you like to learn more about your time behaviors? Try this Time Management Analysis and find out where your opportunities for improvement are. When you absolutely must have measurable results to consistently and predictably get where you want to go for Superior Success...visit CoachingMegaAgents to start on your journey for superior success.
Let's get started!!
Fran Watson
If you are a procrastinator, you have probably made procrastination a life-long habit. Your time management strategy is never do today what you can put off until tomorrow. You don’t even start something until it’s almost impossible to complete the project by the deadline. When you finally make the commitment to take action you are a whirl of activity and you don’t allow anyone or anything to interrupt you because you have a deadline to meet. If your time management strategy was to approach all your projects with that level of fury and commitment from the moment you were first aware of the project you would have it done far in advance of the deadline and could move on to other things without having to deal with all that unnecessary stress.
Your negative attitude may be the cause or source of your procrastination. Your attitudes drive your behaviors and your behaviors drive your results, so if a negative attitude is fueling your procrastination including affirmations in your time management strategy is a good plan. Affirmations are positive statements about your ability to do the task at hand, the value of the project, the speed with which you can complete the project etc. All re-enforcing the positive impact of successfully completing the project on time or even ahead of time in your life.
Have you ever found that sometimes you procrastinate because of your fear of failure? This one may not be one that you openly admit to yourself, but if you start thinking back to the times you didn’t follow up with a potential client or didn’t submit your work so it could be considered for an award or whatever you have put off in the past you may realize that part of you didn’t want to get things completed because of your fear of what might happen if you failed. A time management strategy for you is to ask yourself what the potential outcomes are when you take the action you are supposed to take, and then make sure you are comfortable with those outcomes.
The opposite of fear of failure is fear of success. Your fear of success can be another reason for your procrastination. You may worry what others will think of your new found success. As part of your time management strategy you may want to explore the impact of succeeding and prepare yourself for the consequences.
Do you find that its hard to complete things because they’re just never quite good enough? Perfectionism can really get in your way. Recognize that perfectionism can never be achieved and that you can only do your best. It is a better time management strategy to just do something than to just keep putting it off. Zig Zigglar is frequently quoted as having said, “anything worth doing is worth doing poorly”. Perhaps his advice is something for you to take to heart.
Do you ever find yourself just stuck because you aren’t quite sure how to handle the task at hand? Yet, as you think about when you were in those situations in the past, when you finally got started did you find that it wasn’t as hard as you thought it would be? Whether you think it will be hard or if you get stuck working on the project a good time management strategy is to reach out quickly and get the help you need rather than just hoping you will somehow be able to work through it on your own.
Would you like to learn more about your time behaviors? Try this Time Management Analysis and find out where your opportunities for improvement are. When you absolutely must have measurable results to consistently and predictably get where you want to go for Superior Success...visit CoachingMegaAgents to start on your journey for superior success.
Let's get started!!
Fran Watson
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