Change: The Only Constant in Life

June – can you believe it? Time is flying and the pace of our world seems to continue its increase. New technology, information, activities, choices, and decisions keep us on our toes and demand our attention in order to stay at the top of the workplace game. My friend and mentor, Barbara Eldridge contributed this issue’s article about what she calls the “2009 Dilemma” – planning and changing in order to keep up. Read below for her insight and suggestions.

Are you keeping up with the pace of change? The pace of technology? The pace of your industry? The pace of your competition? The 2009 Dilemma is how much do you have to change to keep pace? During these challenging times you need to have information at your finger tips that help you make the best decisions.
Planning is a hands on process. You might start by asking some tough questions:
Do you recognize the need for change?
Are you prepared to look reality in the face?
Are you willing to change yourself?
Will you turn a plan into action?
Do you have the guts to take yourself in new directions?
I would like to lay out a road map that will get you to view your career through a lens that eliminates the distortions of everyday business. Let me warn you, you may not like what you see. But if you are going to meet 2009 head on it is a necessary process. Let’s look at what a new strategy could do for you.

1. Develop a statement of purpose. What’s your purpose?Sometimes why we started in a career is not the same as why we continue to work it. One of my long time clients over the years has added staff, and possibly her successor, so that now she can travel more. The business was started so she could support her family.
2. Conduct a SWOT analysis. This will help you evaluate your internal strengths and weaknesses, along with the opportunities and threats you face in your career market place. It will give you a basis for developing a plan.
3. Crystallize your thinking - Determine what specific long range goals you want for yourself. It is never enough to just want more money. They should cover all aspects of your life.
4. Create benchmarks, with specific results for meeting those goals. It is easier to make adjustments along the way without losing sight of the long range goals.
5. Brainstorm strategies for reaching each of the results. There is more than one way to achieve a result, ask others for ideas.
6. Develop a Plan of Action. Plan the progressive steps, along with when you want to accomplish them. Nothing ever happens without action, but there is a world of difference between mere action and constructive action.
7. Be confident in yourself and your own abilities. Be determined to follow through on your plan, because without determination the plan will deteriorate.
The 8th step is to track your progress. Write out your numbers (yes I said write), the steps you have taken. It is a sure way of staying focused.

Barbara Eldridge is President and Founder of Mind Masters a membership organization for business owners. Her advisory experience includes leading businesses into growth, reengineering business systems and processes to accommodate the changing market place, and refocusing businesses that needed to change to survive. Contact her at Barbara@MindMasters.com or www.mindmasters.com. © 2009 Mind Masters, Used by permission.

June is a perfect time to re-evaluate your career path and progress you’ve made to date. This week, follow Barbara’s advice and steps. Revisit your 2009 goals and congratulate yourself on achievements or make some adjustments to get yourself back on track.

Springtime Brainstorms

I attended a Career Management Alliance conference in San Antonio, Texas a couple of weeks ago and came back with so many great ideas to implement. One especially stands out – that of Brainstorming – and its value in opening up new possibilities, creating bonds within a group, and providing focus. Read below for more on this powerful creativity tool.

Brainstorming is defined by Webster’s as “the unrestrained offering of ideas by all members of a group to seek solutions to problems”. In the session I attended on business development, the group of 15 attendees contributed ideas on topics such as time management, maximizing productivity, branding, prioritizing marketing efforts, sales, and so on. Scribes were assigned to document the ideas and then commit to the ones they would personally focus on for improvement. When all was said and done, we had a list of at least 12 ideas for each of the 8 topics, providing us with possible actions we would not have come up with on our own. Some really resonated and made sense to me; others could work in the future.

And to make Brainstorming really effective, there are rules to abide by*:
1. Go for Quantity – produce a large number of ideas
2. Postpone Judgment – save evaluation until after all ideas are out
3. Encourage off-the-wall ideas – use imagination to list all possibilities
4. Welcome and record all ideas – record the actual words people use
5. Write all ideas where people can see them – write legibly
6. Eight to Evaluate rule – generate a minimum of 8 ideas before moving on

(*Special thanks to Louise Kursmark and Wendy Enelow of Resume Writing Academy for this enlightening session)

See how you can use this tool to come up with creative solutions to nagging problems at work, define your next ideal job, or re-energize a business? How about even at home when deciding how to tackle the next home improvement project or vacation destination? Get a group of co-workers, friends, family or associates together. Pose the problem, review the Rules of Brainstorming, and let ‘em go! At the end of your session, prioritize the ideas and create an action plan to propel you forward.

This week: think of an issue where Brainstorming may be the perfect tool for finding the right solution. Follow the method outlined above and have some fun with your group!

Share the results here - we'd love to see your success stories!

Balance and Goals...Goals and Balance

Here are a few words on one of my favorite topics, Goals and its sidekick, Balance. As you know, my focus is on work and career related goals; those in others areas oftentimes take a backseat to things I want to accomplish in business. When overwhelm creeps in, along with that creepy procrastination, it’s a good time to re-evaluate where I’m spending my time. It brings up that phrase we’ve heard over the years – “Life-Work Balance”, which not surprisingly, I’ve not yet mastered. You?

What to do? Write these goal categories on a piece of paper: Career, Financial, Family, Personal, and Spiritual. List what you want to achieve in each of these areas in the coming months or by the end of the year. This helps remind you what else matters to you besides work and realign how you spend your time – doing things that are most important to you in all areas of life. And then, each day, and definitely each week, spend time taking steps toward those goals in those areas.

Wise words from the Mayo Clinic website: “Remember, striking a work-life balance isn't a one-shot deal. Creating balance in your life is a continuous process. Demands on your time change as your family, interests and work life change. Assess your situation every few months to make sure you're keeping on track.” (read here for their article on work-life balance: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/work-life-balance/WL00056) Goal setting is imperative to succeeding in life…all areas of life. Don’t forget to balance out your goals among them.

How do you achieve balance while working toward your goals? Please post a comment!

Stress Relief in Job Search and Job Security

I ran across a good internet article last week when researching “job search stress”. It discusses primary causes and ways to decrease anxiety. I think the information applies to not only people stressing about being out of work, but also the numerous others stressing over job security. It all boils down to one’s thoughts about a situation – we create our experiences by what we think. Read on and be sure to pass it along to someone who can use some de-stressing tips right about now...

The author, a resume-writing specialist, says that by avoiding these 5 things, more peace of mind is possible. I agree and have added some of my own thoughts:
Perfectionism – creating an outstanding resume is important, but don’t obsess about it. I’d add that focusing about the possibility of losing a job or going way over the top with overzealous performance in order to keep it are also forms of perfectionism and detrimental in the long run. Do your best. That’s good enough.
Procrastination – letting things pile up during a job search simply add more stress to the mindset of joblessness. Same goes for job security – putting things off at work and home adds more worry to the situation. Focus on what’s right in front of you rather than projecting into the future. I like the author’s two mottos: Touch it once and Do it now.
Powerlessness Feelings – thinking that others are in control of our destinies with regard to hiring and firing decisions wears a person down, no doubt. Instead, focus on what you do well, concentrate on strengths and accomplishments. Keep a positive attitude and recognize that you are in charge of your life and most definitely are not helpless.
Problem People – Avoid them. Plain and simple. Others’ negative attitudes do you no good so protect yourself especially while in a sensitive situation. When they start talking about the bad economy, unemployment statistics, and who’s laying off, walk the other way or change the subject.
Pessimism – staying positive may be easier said than done when in uncomfortable employment circumstances, so it’s very important to take a break and pull your mind away from this one overwhelming area of life on a regular basis. Schedule time to exercise, garden, chat with positive friends, work your hobby. Volunteer and help others reach their goals. Find those spots of enthusiasm and optimism – let them grow and enter into to your work life.

Whether in job search mode, worrying about possible lay offs, or even business building in a tight economy, I believe these are indeed good things to keep in mind. Protect yourself, take a break from burdensome tasks, optimistically forge ahead with a solid plan for building your future, and create the live you’ve imagined.

This week: Take it easy on yourself, Do it now, Know you are in control, Avoid the naysayers, Build on your optimism and pass it along to others in need.

Got some other stress busters while in job search mode or overcoming job security worries? Post them here!

So What do You Say to Yourself...at Work??

I just received this book, first published 20 years ago, in the mail and find it to be so timely and still relevant – What to Say When You Talk to Your Self by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. He says “Self-Talk is a way to override our past negative programming by erasing or replacing it with conscious, positive new directions. It is a practical way to live our lives by active intent rather than by passive acceptance.” I love that. Read on to learn about 4 levels of Self-Talk and how to move through them:

Level I – Negative Acceptance (“I can’t…”)
This is the lowest, least beneficial, and most harmful mode of Self-Talk. Not only do we say bad things about ourselves, we go on to accept them as truth. Unfortunately it is the most frequently used. Be aware of your “I can’t’s” and move toward replacing them.

Level II - Recognition and Need to Change (“I need to…I should…”)
This level recognizes the problem but offers no solution, instead it recognizes that you need to make a change but are stuck in that place of recognition without any action steps, creating guilt and disappointment in ourselves. “I really should get up earlier”, “I need to enroll in that training class”.

Level III - Decision to Change (“I never…I no longer…”)
The first level that begins moving you in the right direction – you know the need for change and also make the decision to do something about it. You are beginning to rephrase the old “can’t’s” into more positive, present-tense statements. “I no longer argue with my coworker about our responsibilities” “I never speak crossly with my employees”.

Level IV - The Better You (“I am…”)
The most effective level that is used the least and is needed the most. Here you are creating a new picture of how you want to be and giving the words to your subconscious mind as its new program, replacing old “cannots” with “Yes I can’s”. These messages inspires us, encourages us, excites and pushes us forward. “I am organized and efficiently get things done easily and effortlessly”, “I am worthy of promotions and recognition.” “I believe in and respect myself.”

This process helps break down the years of negative programming that our brains are used to and begins feeding it new directions. He says that the “subconscious mind will believe anything you tell it if you tell it long enough and strongly enough. It will simply go to work to carry out its new directives.”

Helmstetter adds, “just listen to anything you may be saying to yourself that could be working against you, turn it around, and start using the Self-Talk that works for you.”

This is only the tip of the Self-Talk iceberg. Pick up a copy of the book and see for yourself. It’s an easy, beneficial read guaranteed to make you look closer at what you say to yourself.

What we say to ourselves sets us up for success or failure, creates possibility or shuts us down in the face of choices. This applies to perfectly to our work lives as well as personal. The messages you give yourself during the day affect your interactions with customers and colleagues, your ability to get things done, and ultimately to be doing the work you absolutely love to do.

This week: catch what you’re telling yourself and eliminate and replace that negative Self-Talk. Write it down and consciously work through the levels above. Put a positive message on a stickie note and place it where you’ll see it daily. (“I approve of myself” was in my car for many years) Begin reprogramming your brain to think highly of yourself and that you are capable of achieving your goals. Live the life you have imagined.

Drop me a line about what you say to yourself during the workday!

What are you telling yourself?

In my work helping people make successful career transitions after being laid off or making their own decision to do so, I hear many excuses: “I’m too old”, I’m too young”, "I don’t have a degree”, “My dream is too unrealistic”, “I’ll never be able to do it”, “In this bad economy…”. These are typical reactions to change, ways we humans adapt, or don’t, to the unfamiliar. So there begins my work with clients – helping them take a look at what they’re telling themselves and realizing there are always ways around perceived obstacles. In matters related to you making that change you’ve got in mind, what are you telling yourself?

Undoing our Excuses
Here are some different ways of looking at excuses, which are really self-imposed limitations that hold us back from realizing our own potential:

“Too old” – consider the years of accumulated experience learning ways of the business world or an industry, knowing how to get things done, having established a reputation and good work habits.

“Too young” – there is a lot of energy and freshness associated with youth, new ideas and an understanding of how today’s technology can help existing processes, and a hunger for learning from more experienced colleagues.

“I don’t have a degree” – experience speaks volumes in most cases and what is gained from actually doing the thing can overshadow having the piece of paper; a degree can be completed while learning the job.

“Too unrealistic” – wisdom throughout the ages says that if you have the idea to begin with, you have the ability to make it happen; asking tough questions and building a business plan around an idea will shed light on its viability.

“I’ll never be able to do it …” – you get what you think, so your attitude must be open and willing; setting goals, creating action plans, monitoring progress, and appreciating any size of step taken is how many a dream is realized.

“In this bad economy…” – there are still people thriving and businesses having their best months ever – we just don’t hear about them much. Yes, careful consideration is in order along with a reality check on finances, but nothing says you can’t start making moves now.

“I won’t make as much money” – that remains to be seen – with a goal and a good marketing plan, whether self-employed or not, there may be more money available than you think.

“I don’t have the skills” – related skills may just be buried in years of experience; if you’ve learned new things before, you can do so once again; volunteer, take classes and show your enthusiasm for getting the skills you need.

By the way, here’s my own overused excuse, “I don’t have enough time” – maybe my schedule is filled with tasks better left for later (or in my case, too many details that don’t really warrant doing) and events that won’t help me reach my goal. Time to re-evaluate and reprioritize.

The point is, we all have excuses for not taking action on something that could lead us to more success, more happiness, peace of mind, self belief and confidence than we can imagine possible.

If we really want something and make the commitment to get it, we will find the ways to overcome our excuses and make it happen. As Henry Ford, that great American industrialist said, “Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.”

So what's holding you back from reaching your dreams? Identify that old excuse and counter it with what you can do, even a baby step, to get past it.

Back to "Old School" in the Workplace

A lot of my time is spent these days helping people individually and in groups get back to work. In my Career Transition Clubs, we cover a variety of topics including social networking’s role in job searching, recommended resume styles, and doing work we love. Twice a month, I conduct job search workshops at Interfaith Community Services where topics include basics such as interviewing skills, goal setting, and networking. One thing has become very clear – to succeed in today’s job market and workplace, one must stand above the crowd, or as a Club member recently put it, "we need to use old-school techniques”.

“Old School” Tips & Techniques
From the Urban Dictionary, “old school” is defined as “anything that is from an earlier era and looked upon with high regard or respect”. Some of these old-school workplace tips are seemingly common sense, though I’m sorry to say, not frequently put into common practice.

* Sending hand-written thank you notes after interviews and meetings
* Hand-delivering requested materials, such as resumes, and enclosing them in a larger
envelope so no folding of the document is required
* Doing follow up by placing a phone call rather than emailing or texting
* Taking care to dress professionally and neatly for interviews and presentations
* Taking the time to arrange for face-to-face interaction vs. phone or email
* Going back to clarify when you feel miscommunication may have occurred
* Paying attention to detail, especially spelling or abbreviations others may not understand
* Being an attentive listener and “being present” with the person speaking
* Initiating a handshake, saying “thank you”, and making eye contact
* Acting on something personal about a colleague, manager or client – their birthday, favorite
foods, children’s names, things you have in common.
* Sharing the credit when things go well and accolades are flowing
* Apologizing when you’ve erred, in person whenever possible

Yes, it’s true - by ensuring you do these “old school” things as often possible, you will actually stand out from the crowd. All are common courtesies, yet not commonly practiced. Today’s fast pace and technology laden workplaces can prevent us from getting back to these basics. Nothing can ever take the place of the human touch in our high tech world.

To Do this Week: Check yourself on the list above and make sure you’re covered. Focus on one you might improve upon and put it into play. Work on it consistently, make it a habit and enhance your reputation. Then pass this list along to someone who’s in the job market so they can really make an impact on potential employers.
Have a great week!

Please post a comment or another "old school" idea that you'd like to see become more common practice!