Career Employment Strategies

Monday, May 26, 2008

So You've Hit The Big Time: How To Do It With Grace And Style

There's a ground that directors and supervisors acquire paid more than than their employees: managing people is just apparent hard.

It's level harder to pull off folks if you've climbed past them on the corporate ladder. Everyone can hold to affably detest the cat who come ups in from three states away to supervise the team, but when it's the individual you were eating sushi with just last hebdomad on the Friday bento box special...well, that just do it personal.

Being really good at your occupation is a great thing. It assists the company to win and fells a batch of faults for those on the squad who might not be carrying their weight. The wages for all this difficult work and competence? A direction job. The punishment? Well - the same.

There is no inquiry that becoming a director is a great event. It gives you a opportunity to reflect - to really demo what you can do. It is grounds of the company's assurance in your abilities. However, joining the ranks of the top brass can also intend a going from the work you really love. It also almost always intends leaving your friends behind. You may still be close, but the fact is that rarely can you be an effectual director if you stay a great friend. A great friend would set your long-time needs ahead of those of the company. A good director wouldn't see it.

A batch of the old sit-coms from early telecasting hammer place the hierarchy of management, even among friends. Larry Allen Tate thought nil of interrupting Darrin Stephens after hours, even if Darrin's married woman was having a enchantress babe or Darrin was turned into a farm animal. Fred and Ethel Mertz were always at the Ricardo's apartment, requiring drinks and cigarettes. Poor Laura Petrie was constantly required to dance in achromatic Capri trousers for the hard-drinking, nicotine-laden writers of The Alan Mathew B. Brady Show.

Remember - all of those manager-types smiled lovingly on their plebes, but they didn't anticipate to be treated equally. When their employees performed well for them - or in the lawsuit of the Ricardos, paid their rent - the directors treated them as if they were earning their pay. When they didn't, well - Samantha had to travel back in clip to happen a solution to Darrin's employment sufferings and Lucy had to travel on the air pawning Vitameatavegamin.

To be a good manager, you have got to set your concerns for your popularity aside. Dainty your employees like the people they should be, even if they used to be your margarita-guzzling buddies. Delegate work to them and don't micromanage them. If they succeed, wages them. If they fail, don't. Don't be mean, and don't be critical. Talk your piece immediately, succinctly, and give effects if they don't improve.

The moral of the narrative is that in order to be a good manager, you have got got to anticipate your employees to have positive results, understand if they don't (once or twice), and always, always maintain checking on them to make certain they do.

There was a ground that Larry Allen Tate kept driving all the manner from Manhattan to New Rochelle.

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Working Abroad - A Guide For Engineers

For United Kingdom chemical engineers, the worldwide marketplace is predominantly focused on the oil and gas and petrochemical industries with comparative consistent demand for applied scientists with both on and offshore experience to work in countries such as as as the Center East, Africa, Caspian Sea Regions and Horse Opera Europe.

Other active industries for Expat applied scientists are in the pharmaceutical and life scientific discipline sectors - but indicants propose that demand is from scattered countries such as Singapore, Scandinavian Peninsula and the Benelux regions.

Overseas work for United Kingdom applied scientists is available on both a contract and lasting footing - and it is the nature of this work that is all covered within this unsmooth guide.

How make I cognize I have got the necessary skills?

From a professional position industry cognition and experience - specifically in the Oil and Gas sector, is the most of import accomplishment requirement. Traditionally, United Kingdom applied scientists have got been very highly respected for their makings and trusted by clients to finish a occupation efficiently and effectively.

Generally, former abroad work is desirable (inducing a Catch 22 situation) but with solid, relevant United Kingdom experience a United Kingdom applied scientist will still be in demand for employment overseas.

Qualifications and industry experience are necessary traits for an Expat engineer, but linguistic communication accomplishments are not essential. Professional capableness is only half of the picture, as it takes a peculiar type of individual to suit into the life style of work overseas. It is great to have got a sense of adventure, but working abroad necessitates much more than than this. You should believe long and difficult about whether this is the right move for you or not.

Benefits of working overseas

Apart from the raised profile of going to work overseas, there are some other very existent benefits. For most engineers, the most important is the chance to acquire involved in the operational side of things and acquire out of the designing office. A good trade of abroad contract work, particularly in the oil and gas sector, necessitates land site visits and a hands-on management attack that is often not possible workings in the UK.

There is also the possible for significantly higher wage rates to be negotiated. Exile applied scientists can command a wage charge per unit premium, which can also be additional escalated if the undertaking location is classed as a adversity area, such as as Federal Republic Of Nigeria and Iraq, where there may be personal hazard involved.

A concluding key benefit is that of the experience of the duty assignment itself. The ability to come up into contact with different civilizations and nationalities and broaden 1s cognition is a cardinal determiner in attracting contractors to work overseas.

Pitfalls to look out for when considering abroad work

Generally, there is a misconception that all work abroad includes tax-free pay. In fact, there are only a smattering of states where wage is completely tax-free and very often there is a liability to local taxation. The bulk of states will implement some sort of revenue enhancement structure, but this changes from state to country, and in the lawsuit of the United States from state to state.

As sees United Kingdom taxation liability, the basic opinion is that United Kingdom Expatriates can only pass 90 years in the United Kingdom in any 1 taxation twelvemonth to continue their position as "non-resident" for taxation purposes.

There are other full general considerations to working abroad that should be thought about as well - including: work topographic point climate, adversity locations, and how being away from place will impact on household life. Adequate research through speech production to colleagues, consulting with a enlisting agency, and investigating yourself using online resources will all assist to construct a image of whether an duty assignment or location is suitable for you.

Services an federal federal agency can offer

Securing work overseas is a more than complicated procedure to determination a suitable contract in the UK. There are a figure of reputable enlisting federal agencies in the United Kingdom that have got active abroad enlisting squads and solid experience of providing international enlisting solutions to worldwide clients.

When you work through a enlisting federal agency on an abroad placement, further services, such as as insurances, healthcare and in-country orientation can be expected on top of the criterion arrangement service.

Overseas employment can be an first-class experience for the well-prepared engineer. Having both a certain sense of escapade and conducting adequate research are requirements for experiencing an gratifying and rewarding placement; and contacting a reputable federal agency to turn up suitable chances is a good first measure in achieving this.

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Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Self Development For Your Sales Career

Entry degree Gross Sales occupations can be a great foundation for a calling in sales, in order to progress, structured ego development is key.

If you are fortunate adequate to get your gross gross gross gross sales calling workings in a big bluish bit industry such as as pharmaceuticals, then it is more than than than likely that you will have extended initial preparation and in progress preparation in formal sales techniques.

However it is more likely that you will get your calling in a littler organisation, where the preparation is likely to dwell of advice from the sales manager. The Sessions are likely to be brief, without too much in footing of support.

In these organisations, the gross gross gross gross sales director may only have got around five or six old age sales experience, or you may be hired as a "sales person" by person without any sales experience at all. You will of course of study be expected to present results, or you could be looking for employment elsewhere.

Throughout my calling I have got interviewed one thousands of people for gross sales places over the old age and it really amazes me at the figure of appliers who are not formally trained. What's level more than surprising is the amount of campaigners that I have got got interviewed who believe that a good gross gross sales individual only necessitates to have the "gift of the gab" and that formal sales accomplishments and techniques are simply textual matter book nonsense! I have got had a long calling in gross gross gross gross sales and sales direction and in my well informed opinion, formal sales accomplishments makes make a immense difference in an people ability to present consistent results.

In reality, sales occupations are not only about persuading person to purchase something that they either don't really want, or don't need. They are about determination person who have made a determination to purchase a merchandise and then convert them that your merchandise (or service) is the right 1 for them. Within this is the further accomplishments required to happen adequate people who have got made the determination to do a purchase and to near them at the right clip to ran into your volume quotas.

For the intents of providing you all with an example, today I interviewed person for a gross sales occupation in our company. I asked her to give an illustration of an enterprise she had used which had helped the company profit. The response was a programme of cold career in an effort to spread out the client base, yes a reasonable suggestion. However, the attack of the cold phone calls demonstrated a deficiency of any formal skills, with the attack request "are you happy with the current service?"

There are a few contiguous issues with this approach, the first is who chose their current service? It's more than likely they did, so they are very improbable to acknowledge that they may have got made a bad choice, even if the right reply is "no, I am unhappy". As well as this, the gap line gives very small to be interested in, cold career necessitates you to catch the receiving systems attention, otherwise they will go uninterested.

Imagine your in a telecasting shop, your browsing the up-to-the-minute widescreen TV's and then person attacks you to inquire if you "are okay?" Your contiguous reply is "yes, or I'm just looking", as you wish to avoid asking for help!

There is no 100% technique for a cold call, but the gap should get with an unfastened ended inquiry to ask for a conversation instead of a closed inquiry which will take to a on time yes or no answer, complete with an disconnected end to the call. To set this into linguistic context with the first example, "if you could, what would you better with your current service?" would ask for a conversation. Even if the current service is good, you will get to larn of the possible strengths and failings that you are competing against.

Yes, this is just one illustration of a gross sales call, but the usage of this method on a consistent footing would greatly increase your success charge per unit of your calls. The accumulative personal effects of formal accomplishments throughout the gross gross gross sales procedure can be dramatic.

A sales individual who put clip and attempt into their apprehension of sales procedures and techniques will present success on a much higher basis. In truth, Gross Sales procedures and techniques is a widely document subject with an copiousness of books and now websites covering all facets of the field. If you desire to better and advancement in your gross sales career, take the clip to analyze the fine art of it as well as the public presentation and you will see the results!

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Providing a Blueprint for Generational Leadership

Developing an apprehension of the specific ways in which Generations Ten and Yttrium position the human race will supply your organisation with valuable penetration into how to attract, prolong and actuate the little generations. When you talk their linguistic communicating and they understand your language, the phase is put for better communication, increased productiveness and increased profitability. I was reminded of this when one of my client's commented, "Why make my little employees maintain talking about this whole 'balance' thing, when there's work to be done?"

There are a couple of of import things to see here.

First is the fact that each coevals have different formative experiences and, therefore, topographic point different values on different things. The fact that they are differently valued makes not make one "right" and another "wrong" - they are simply different.

So, what are those differences and what can you as a director do to best tap the endowments of these generations?

Each coevals have its ain work ethic, different positions on work, preferable ways of being managed, idiosyncratic styles, and alone ways of screening such as work-world issues as quality, service and showing up for work. Bridging the generational spread will:

1. Supply an ambiance for shared learning

2. Heighten productivity

3. Increase leading capability

4. Identify company and individual ends and enable action to attain them

5. Boost morale

6. Prolong committedness and cut down abrasion rates, thereby reducing cost of recruiting and training.

Working Harder or Smarter?

By and large, the more than seasoned coevals believe working harder bes achievement. Often modern times their doctrine entails, the more than than hours in the office, the more work that is accomplished. The little coevals topographic point a higher value on balance, informality and working smarter. When I first began my calling at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), I retrieve thinking to myself "do these people have got a life outside of their computing machines - all they make is work all the time." I was confused and, frankly, frightened - although I did not cognize exactly what I wanted to make with my future, I did cognize that I did not desire to work brainsick hours glued to a lit screen. What I needed more than than anything was to pass some clip thought about and creating my hereafter - actually developing a plan. If my wise man would have got got got taken the clip to sit down down with me and assist me believe through and make a plan, my anxiousness would have decreased and my committedness to her and the organisation would have increased significantly.

Learning on Your Own or Through Mentoring

As soon as I arrived at NIH, I began searching for person to wise man me. Every clip 1 of the men of science said they would wise man me, they simply gave me more than work to do. They didn't understand that I needed to cognize what the bigger vision was for my future, how my attempts would lend to the vision at NIH, and how the work they were giving me would assist me add to my professional growth. I have got now realized that this scenario is broad spread. The purposes were right but they did not have got the apprehension of how to effectively wise man little generations. In improver to providing these coevals with of import work, it is important to demo how their work lends to the bigger picture, which in bend enables them to research and clearly define their calling program and the stairway to acquire to where they desire to go.

"Paying Your Dues"

The 2nd thing to see is that many if not most immature people anticipate to complete college and land a well-paying job without having to turn out their work moral principle and abilities. Of course, it rarely haps that way. Simply put, showing enthusiasm and a desire to make a great occupation with little undertakings - even something as little as offering to take short letters in meetings - shows a possible to take on larger projects. Managers are more than likely to swear such as a person's degree of commitment, and trust is built and nurtured over time. In general, most directors are unwilling to depute bigger undertakings if the employee cannot show an ability to make the little undertakings really well. Allowing for clip to pass, so that experiences and human relationships can be built, is critical to calling growth. Taking the clip to assist your little employees understand that something as little as doing an first-class occupation taking short letters in meetings can impact their hereafter with the company is critical to their development.

As a consequence of mentoring your little employees in such as ways, they get to swear you and loyalty is developed. "What you give is what you get" may be a truism, but it is no less true for being so-especially when it come ups to the development of little employees. If you take the clip to assist them be after for their hereafter and see the value of their work, there is a greater opportunity they will work that much harder and smarter for you. While many people might believe of mentoring as "babysitting" because it can be time-intensive, mentoring makes not necessitate to be hand-holding, nor makes it have got to take to frustration. You get mentoring a immature employee simply by hearing and searching for ways to turn to the inevitable uncertainnesses and fears. By effectively mentoring, you take the anxiousness for the hereafter out of the image and let the employee to be present in their experience of your organization.

Charting a Course

For example, when you engage a little employee, it is of enormous benefit to both of you to map out a program for the hereafter - accompanied by mileposts to accomplish your several goals. It's a win-win situation- you desire highly productive, engaged (and engaging) employees, and your employees desire to cognize what's possible for them and how to accomplish it. If you detect that the place an employee currently inhabits is not a good lucifer for his or her abilities or hereafter ambitions, be certain to research how the employee sees this place leading to the future he or she desires. Ultimately, it is not about credence or rejection - it is about filling demands - not only your organization's needs, but that of your employee. If it takes to a alteration in occupations for the employee, whether inside or outside your organization, positive growing will happen for both the organisation and the employee.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Solving Your Career Advancement and Overweight Problems

In today's society, there are more than people corpulence than every before and although people recognize how of import it is to maintain their weight down and cast those extra, unwanted pounds, for many it is a hard battle. Unfortunately, when it come ups to calling promotion and corpulence people, they have got diminished calling promotion chances because of their appearance. The consequences of many studies corroborate that companies and organisations are less likely to engage fleshy people and when it come ups to calling promotion and corpulence people, they are less likely to advance obese people even though they make an first-class occupation in their current place and are well qualified for the new position. The study consequences demo that corpulence work force and women are discriminated against, which intends there are billions of perfectly capable workers that rate calling promotion chances but lose out because of their physical appearance.

If you are a individual that have experienced calling promotion and corpulence problems, there are ways to better your opportunity of calling promotion and promotions. When a individual have self-confidence and pride, employers and people around them detect this. For people that deficiency self-confidence, there are ways to construct up and better it, so they experience confident adequate to prosecute their ends without letting their weight clasp them back. Start by recording each day's positive Acts and achievements you perform, as seeing them in achromatic and achromatic volition aid you recognize your ego worth.

If you are interested in calling promotion and corpulence issues look to be holding you back, talking to a dietician or your physician about a diet that tantrums your life style but is balanced and healthy. Remember that many corpulence people seek respective different diets before they happen one that plant successfully for them, so make not go discouraged. Going on craze diets or losing weight too quickly usually consequences in gaining back the lost weight just as rapidly. To acquire calling promotion and corpulence other lbs weight loss intends not getting demoralized because the weight is coming off slowly and remembering that you did not derive the other weight in a twenty-four hours so it makes take clip to lose weight properly.

When looking for calling promotion and corpulence jobs are an issue, be well groomed and frock for success. Being well groomed is of import for everyone, regardless of his or her weight. Promoting a positive, business-like impression intends always being neat, tidy, dressing appropriately, and sounding professional. Wear clothing that tantrum properly and are good quality. Stay away from baggy clothing that do you look heavier instead of trimmer.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Obama again stirs up decades-old debate on Cuba

By Toilet King CNN American Capital Bureau

Washington (CNN) -- As Ronald Ronald Reagan might have got set it, here we travel again.

Sen. Barack Obama political campaigns in Ioway last week.

What to make about Fidel Fidel Castro is a inquiry that days of the month back five decennaries and 10 U.S. presidencies.

In more than than recent times, it have go somewhat of a litmus diagnostic test test in presidential politics, dating back to Reagan's heavy accent on the Cuban-American vote in the 1980s.

The inquiry have more significance now, perhaps, because of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's failing health.

"Even though it is not the figure 1 issue for the bulk of electors in Florida, for a very vocal minority, it is an incredibly passionate issue that have a batch of history," states Washington-based Democratic strategian Mare Cardona. Don't Girl /n /n

The argument was stirred Tuesday by an op-ed essay Sen. wrote for the Miami Herald. In it, he called for the lifting of two Shrub disposal limitations on Cuban-Americans. Obama wrote that he would let Cuban-Americans "unrestricted rights to see household and direct remittals to the island."

A prima Republican candidate, former Bay State Gov. was speedy to pounce, saying in a statement "unilateral grants to a dictatorial authorities are counterproductive" and that Obama's place turns out the Prairie State senator "does not have got the strength to face America's enemies or support our values."

Current limitations allow Cuban-Americans to direct household members $300 a one-fourth and bounds visits to up to 14 old age once every three years.

Among the other Democratic candidates, New United Mexican States Gov. already was on record in favour of alterations along the lines outlined by Obama.

Former Sen. split the difference; he prefers limitless traveling by household members but opposes "raising the bounds on sending American dollars back to Republic Of Republic Of Cuba at this time."

Sen. would make more; he prefers allowing all Americans unrestricted traveling to Cuba.

Democratic front-runner Sen. prefers no alterations to U.S. policy and said through a spokesman "we cannot talking about alterations to U.S. policy" unless and until Fidel Castro go throughs from the scene and a new government shows its intentions.

On the other end of the spectrum, Rep. prefers lifting the trade embargo outright.

Most interested in this argument is a bantam piece of the U.S. electorate. Nationally, Cuban-Americans business relationship for less than 1 percentage of the U.S. population. But they are heavily concentrated in the cardinal presidential battlefield of Florida, where they represent 8 percentage of the state's electorate. (The victor in Sunshine State was decided by 537 ballots in the 2000 presidential election.)

Cuban-Americans are the most reliably Republican of the nation's Spanish American voters, leading some strategians to inquire why Obama would be interested in inflaming the passionatenesses of the Republic Of Republic Of Cuba debate.

"Non-Cuban-Hispanic electors make not appreciate a presidential campaigner coming down and once again making Cuba the issue. They desire to hear about other things," Cardona said.

Others saw a deliberate attempt by Obama to switch attending away from unfavorable judgment in Miami's Cuban-American public for his talking of being willing to ran into with Fidel Castro and leadership of other so-called rogue governments in his first twelvemonth in office.

The op-ed piece made no reference of such as a pledge. Instead, Obama talked of isobilateral negotiation in a "post-Fidel" Cuba and said his disposal would do clear that if such as a authorities would follow democratic reforms, "the United States is prepared to take stairway to normalise dealings and ease the trade embargo that have governed dealings between our states for five decades."

Obama's stirring of this argument goes on a subject of taking an irregular -- challengers would state inexperienced -- attack to foreign policy issues. It is also an issue that could prove how the actions of President Bill Clinton's disposal affect the campaigning of his wife.

Her hubby made courting Cuban-Americans A priority, and received nearly 40 percentage of Miami's Cuban ballot in the 1996 presidential election.

But President Clinton's determination to go back Elian Gonzalez to Castro's Republic Of Cuba provoked indignation among Cuban-Americans, and, according to a Sunshine State International University Study, Republican campaigners received more than than 80 percentage of the Cuban-American vote in Sunshine State in the 2000 presidential and the 2002 gubernatorial elections.

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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The Best Success Model For Excellence At Work

Here's a tried-and-true formula for achieving success. I call it the BEST Success Model for obvious reasons.

ABOUT BELIEFS -You create your own future. And each element in the above equation plays a pivotal role in how you do that. It's no accident the foundation of all success begins with your beliefs - because whatever you believe is possible for yourself IS.

There are two aspects to consider. The first is the belief you "can" achieve success—i.e., you've got what it takes. With the second being you "deserve" to have it. For many, the latter is the harder of the two aspects to master; with the end result being various forms of self-sabotage. But when you can recognize that is what you're doing to yourself, it's easy to self-correct. Should you find yourself desperately wanting success but sub-consciously don't believe you deserve it, it won't matter how hard you work for it, it will always elude you. The success game is 99% mastery of your own mind!

Take a step back and consider the definition of success. In today's consumer-oriented society, people tend to define success in dollars. However, you can be extremely successful and not have made a lot of money at all. Money is not success; it is only one (of several) by-products of it.

The definition I like best is "success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal". Earl Nightingale explains it all masterfully on a CD recording called "The Strangest Secret in the World". The valuable message it provides is this: Thoughts are things--We become what we think about.

At this time, all you need to do is consider where you are with your beliefs right now. Be very honest with yourself about this.

Just start from where you are now. Do you feel stuck? Do you want to move forward and make better use of your capabilities? Would you like to be able to react and communicate more appropriately, make better choices and have better relationships with yourself and others?

These things are only possible when you uncover and permanently remove the limiting beliefs affecting your creativity and ability to succeed. That's essentially the gift of support a mentor brings to you along with the bonus of being able to share knowledge and wisdom gained from experience to guide you in your own path.

For the moment, all you have to do is remember this: we all hunger for acceptance, belonging, validation, and love. These are the four drivers of all human behavior—on and off the job! Regardless of your station in life or your role in the organization, these four key factors underpin all situations (that is all actions and non-actions) and reactions to same. They affect everything that happens to you on your personal success journey. They affect every person you come into contact with. They affect YOU.

And, the better you get at recognizing these forces at play in the workplace and in your own relationships, the faster you will get where you want to go and the easier it'll be to get there. To get started, make a point of noticing what's going on around you. Pay attention to the words people use when they are telling about this or that situation that has happened to them. And notice how they speak about themselves in relation to others.

ABOUT EXPERIENCES—These 4 factors also make a nice lead-in to the next element of the equation: experiences.

The beliefs you hold about who you are, where you came from, and what you're capable of shape your experiences by providing a filter through which you see and feel all the things going on around you at work and at home. They influence how you respond to and interact with others you meet along the way to your success.

It's important to realize we don't ever see people as they are, we always see them as we are. It's critical you understand and accept this. Whenever a situation or a person is annoying the hell out of you, the universe is really holding up a mirror and trying to show you a part of yourself you desperately need to work on. And here's a little secret. The more annoyed you are, the more work on yourself you need to do.

This rule applies whether you are the boss or the employee, the parent or the child, the husband or the wife, the friend or the family member. Do yourself a favor by paying close attention to these feelings and be honest with yourself about them!

Always maintain an attitude of gratitude.You move along the path of your self-created success, by accumulating experiences. Some you want and need to have; others come along just to teach you what you need to know (see details above). Some you will welcome and be happy about; others you won't. Regardless, it's important to maintain an attitude of gratitude for all of the experiences gifted to you because it's only from this state that you can prepare yourself to receive success.

ABOUT STUDIES—And now I'm going to tell you something not likely to be very popular. Especially if you've recently graduated from school and have just started working… you are never finished learning. Learning opportunities are everywhere and it's in your own best interest to take advantage of as many of them as you possibly can.

Learners are earners! The more you invest in ongoing learning, the higher your earnings will always be. That said--no one knows it all. And the sooner you accept that, the better off you will be!

(FYI: You will meet people who think they do, and act like they do but they are delusional.)

It's up to you how much time you want to spend on your continuing education. And, by the way, piling up more letters after your name is not what this means. Some of your learning will happen on the job; the rest you commit to acquiring on your own time. Participating in mastermind groups and mentoring programs on your own initiative is an example of investing your own time in this regard. Taking courses offered by your employer after hours is another. Never miss an opportunity for more learning—especially if your employer will pay the bill for it.

If you are serious about getting ahead, a good rule of thumb is to devote 10% of your standard work week to additional learning. This amounts to just 3 to 4 hours or so. If you work in a fast-moving industry or want to rise through the ranks quickly, bump this up to about 8 hours per week. Now here's the best part…if you manage your work day productively, this won't cut into your personal life one little bit!

Opportunities to learn are everywhere. Open your eyes and ears. Turn off the tv. Watch. Listen. Read books. Take courses. Talk to people. Then volunteer for every opportunity where you will have a chance to try out what you've learned. The best learning comes with DOING!

ABOUT TESTS—This is the point in the formula where real success happens. Everything that comes before this is important but skipping this part (as most folks do) is what separates the wannabes and also rans from the fast-tracking superstars! The only way to tell if you are making the progress you need to make is to constantly be measuring and evaluating your own performance. Don't wait for someone else to do it for you. Be pro-active in monitoring yourself and in seeking feedback from others.

Feedback is the "breakfast of champions". Without feedback you're working mostly with assumptions and a pile of guesswork. You can't manage your career effectively that way. More importantly, you can't make course corrections when they're called for or needed. Winners keep score!

Now you might think you only need to read a lot and you'll "get it" by osmosis. If you take that route you'll be shortchanging yourself. Nothing beats doing. We need less talk. Less thinking. More doing.

Remember this very powerful formula. If you are not working this way now, don't despair – there is always time for change. But don't try to do a 180 and change everything about yourself overnight. Let these new ideas into your mind; then be patient and let the new behaviors evolve. It takes time to come around to new ways of thinking. New ways of being.

It takes commitment. It takes practice. You will make mistakes. That won't matter. At the end of the day, there is no failure, there is only learning.

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Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Are You Living Your Passion

As I interviewed thousands of people over a 20 year period at the Executive Recruiting Firm I owned in Phoenix AZ, I discovered that the majority of people are NOT living their passion. Instead they are showing up for a "job," collecting a pay check, counting the days until the weekend or counting the months until their next one week vacation.

Let me share a couple examples of a few clients that learned how to design a lifestyle and a career so they could "have it all" and start living THEIR Passion.

Consider Mary:

She just turned 40 has three children ages 3, 8 and 12 and works part time out of her home as an executive recruiter earning approximately 30K a year. Mary wanted and needed to take her business and her income to another level but wondered if she had to get an office to do so or hire an assistant. That was not necessarily what she wanted to do. Her real passion was teaching, communicating and helping others.

Mary had her "Aha" moment during our first consultation when she realized that she had the knowledge and tools to share with other Moms who wanted to stay at home, work part time, while contributing to the family finances.

She started designing an internet based company to sell the "how to" formula that has worked for her for the past 13 years. This was using her creativity, her natural ability to organize, and her teaching skills. She discovered she did not need to go out of her home to make money.
She called her new business http://www.youcanstayathomeandmakemoney.com

I think it is important to brainstorm with others until you find your "aha" moment about how you can start living your passion. You owe it to yourself to find out what is right for YOU to do with the rest of your life. To discover your passion and purpose.

Another client Ted (38)…… had been building an insurance agency for the past 15 years. When his wife asked for a divorce his world changed. He started asking himself "what do I want to do now, I never did love the insurance business." However Ted also had what I consider the golden handcuffs ….How do you walk away from something that affords you a great lifestyle like Ted had?

You Don't!

You keep that business going and growing as it always has even if you have to hire some part time or temporary employees to get you through the transition, but then start looking at what YOU really want to do?

Ted worked through the process of getting to know what HE really wanted in life. What he realized was he needed to be outdoors, and work in the soil, of course his insurance sales position never allowed him to do that. He started one little step at a time just by adding outdoor activities to his every day life while his cash cow continued to work for him.

Giving himself permission to be outdoors and working in the earth, Ted is now developing a part time landscaping company that he works in on the weekends.

I am sure the end of this story for Ted we will find him happier and more fulfilled than he has ever been in life because he found what makes him happy at the core of his being.

The days of working in a career for 50 years (as my Dad did) receiving a gold watch and retiring until it is time to die are gone forever.

One question I get asked all the time is:

How does a person know if they are on the right track with their career and if they are possibly living their passion?

Allow me to ask you 4 simple questions to know if you are on the right path.

1. When you tell others what you do for a living are you proud of what you do?

2. When you are at work does time fly by until it is time to go home?

3. Do you feel creative and productive when you are at work?

4. Do you generally look forward to going to work each day?

These are just 4 out of hundreds of questions to ask yourself so you can begin living your passion. One of the keys to future success with anyone's career is finding out what you really want and who you really are. It all begins with simple questions and answers about You, Your needs, your desires.

ARE YOU LIVING YOUR PASSION?

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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Discover The Top 3 Reasons Why People Hate Their Jobs

There are literally hundreds of reasons why people hate their jobs.

How many can you think of?

Today I interviewed a typical drone in the working collective and asked him a simple question.

"Bill, why do you hate your job?"

He sighed deeply, his shoulders slouched, and with a quivering bottom lip he began to describe his typical day.

"The alarm goes off late, or probably doesn't go off at all. It's still dark outside, and I don't want to wake up my wife, so I scramble around and try to find my clothes. After dressing hurriedly, I grab my keys and head out the door. I work in the city, and get the train, so I rush to the station. I'm going to be late…again. I reach the station, and the platform is packed, as usual. A dreary voice on the PA system announces that the trains are canceled, due to leaves on the line, the wrong type of snow, a drivers' strike or any other reason that they can think of. Everyone begins piling out of the station to catch one of the few bus services that are laid on to take us to our destinations.

When I eventually get into the office building, the security guy asks me for my pass. I have been working there for what seems forever, and he still doesn't recognize me. I can't find my pass. He then has to call someone in my department to vouch for me, again. When I finally make it to my desk, the message light on my phone is blinking, there's a pile of email in my inbox, and a load of paperwork on my desk. I need a coffee to get me going; I didn't have chance to grab one at home. I go to the coffee machine, but don't have the right change. The 'no change given' light is lit, so I am either going to have to take two drinks at once, or leave the next person a free drink, again. I make my selection, and then wait for the cup to drop. It doesn't, but the drink still pours, straight into the waste tray beneath.

So, coffee-less, I go back to my desk and begin to tackle the never-ending pile of paperwork. Later, I need to make some copies, and head over to the photocopier. It isn't working, again. It is out of toner, and the last person to use it ignored the fact. I grab a new cartridge and begin to take out the old one. Toner goes everywhere and I am covered in black powder, again. It takes ages to clean up the mess, again.

Just as I am managing to get started on my pile of work, I am called in to the department head's office to meet my new supervisor. I take one look at the guy, and he is younger than my kids. I have worked here for years, and he graduated from some college or other, yesterday probably, and just walks into a job above me.

Finally, the day ends, but not before my computer loses all of my most important files, again. I give up on yet another day, and head home. As I am waiting for the bus service that is still replacing the trains, I see the office intern drive past, and her car is better than mine. To add insult to injury, I finally get home to my wife and young son. As I open the door, he screams, and tells my wife that there is a strange man breaking in. Well, he hardly sees me because I am always late home from work. That was one of the better days. Now why do you think I hate my job?!"

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Monday, April 02, 2007

Job Interviews - They Are On Your Side

When attending for a job interview, it is tempting to think that the interviewer is there just to try and catch you out. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Basically, an interviewer will need to assess your interpersonal abilities and common sense to forecast your success in getting through the training and working with team members. If you're applying for a job with hard skills such as programming computer code, you may be given more pointed questions about your past work, etc.

In addition, you'll be expected to strongly desire the company's purpose, mission, and overall feel. Interviewers want to see passion because it leads to long-term security in a job. If you love the company, you'll feel more comfortable working there.

Moreover, interviewers often try to find the person that's self-disciplined and driven. If a person's motivated from the inside, the person is more likely to be reliable, efficient, and energetic. This person, ideally, likes to be challenged.

Use original stories to back up claims. Instead of just saying, "I have strong leadership traits," provide some concrete examples and originality. College students frequently make bold claims without stories that support them well enough.

Furthermore, answer the question concisely. Interviewers commonly fall into the trap of listening to answers that spill over into tangents and long-winded explanations. Be concise in your answers so as not to add stress to an interviewer's day. Try not to go off on tangents.

In addition, be honest. If you're lacking an important skill, show that you're more than willing to learn the necessary skills to do the job well.

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