Helene Lerner's Blog, page 152

Don't quit, just before the miracle

When you get the 20th No, it is discouraging, but if you keep on keeping on, miracles can happen.

In sales, you learn, "it's in the numbers." The more you put yourself out there and ask for the order, the closer you get to that Yes coming your way.  In fact, another No means that you are getting closer to that Yes.

Today, if you get discouraged because something you really want is not coming your way, just take the next right action, and another, and another.

Norman Vincent Peale would say, "Don't quit, just before the miracle is about to happen."  And reach out to a supportive friend who will encourage you to keep on going.

To a successful day!

Tips for Mini Vacations

 

An important part of your professional life is some downtime. If you can't fit a full 1-2 week vacation into your schedule this summer, you can still take time to relax and recharge. Even the busiest person can fit in a long weekend. The secret is to skip your regular weekend chores and make it fun. Specifically, turn off your smart phone and laptop for an entire 48-hours! (You'll survive).

Picnics
In every city around the world, you'll find beautiful parks. Take advantage of these public spaces and plan for a picnic on Saturday and a bike ride on Sunday. Many cities offer free concerts or festivals, so check your city's website.

Mini-Spa
Turn  your home into a spa! Pick up some “at-home” DIY kits for nails, facials, hair treatments, maybe a yoga video, some scented candles, and treat yourself. (You may want to ship the kids off to day-camp or Grandma's!)

Go to a Real Spa!
Treat your self to a hot-rock massage and a sauna. Grab a girlfriend and head to your local day-spa.

Double Feature Movie Night
Got kids? Have a fun Saturday Night at the Movies – home edition. Make some popcorn, get the soda order, and catch up on some recent releases or old classics. You can do this without the kids too.

Libraries Have Cool Things to Do
Have you checked out your local library lately? They often have activities scheduled over the summer, from author readings/lectures, to concerts, to children's activities.

Camping – in Your Backyard!
It's fun! Set the tent up, get the grill out and spend a little time outdoors. Or, if you can, head to a local campground. If you're near a local campsite, take advantage.

Head to a Food Festival or Farmer's Market
Never have time for your local Farmer's Market? Head over and make a day of it: hit the market, then meet up with some friends for brunch.

Check out a Museum or Art Gallery
These are typical vacation itinerary items, so why not check out the local scene?

Do Absolutely Nothing
Sleep in. Take a nap. Read a book. Listen to some music. Watch YouTube. Just hang the ”Do Not Disturb” sign on your bedroom door handle!

The point is all work and no play is not the way to go. You need to take a break, and not feel guilty about having some fun. Sometimes, just turning your phone off for 2 days is a vacation!

-Kristi Enigl, Career Coach

 

How to handle something unexpected

When good things come our way, we look forward to something that we did not anticipate.

But what about when you are up against a roadblock that you didn't anticipate. How do you handle that scenario?

This calls for "poise under pressure." Ask yourself, "What can I do to handle the situation, do I need to call upon others for help? What can't I change, and thus have to let go of?" These questions will come in handy.

If you let excessive worry take hold, it will escalate the stress you already feel. So, remember to practice deep breathing, and instead of rushing in to fix "it", pause and reflect.  From that position you are apt to take the next right action.

 

Want to Get Promoted?

Face it, you want a promotion and raise (who doesn't?) and now is the time! Why summer? It's a great time to get noticed, that's why. With many key personnel out on vacation, this is an opportunity for you to fill in and shine, or meet up with the boss for a long lunch. Here's how:

Volunteer
Be sure to raise your hand when they're asking for someone to take on extra work. Tackling a project over the summer could be just the ticket to a promotion.

Highlight Your Recent Contributions If your supervisor doesn't know about your recent accomplishments, how can she promote you? Invite your boss to lunch and be sure to have a document outlining all of your recent activities.

Meet With Your Mentor
Take the time to meet up with your mentor this summer, and strategize a plan. Having a mentor who can objectively assess your strengths and areas for improvement can be the motivation you need.

Blow them Away!
While you're aiming for a promotion, keep your own work on track and get noticed by doing an excellent job.

Know Your Target Job
Spend time with people who are currently in that position. If you need to acquire special skills, be sure you're on track and your supervisor knows that.

Know Your Career Plan
Climbing up the ladder is great, but it should be part of your overall career plan. If you haven't taken a look at your career goals lately, now is a good time.

Confidence is Your Ally
Getting promoted is about exuding confidence! Realize that you can project an air of confidence, even if you're not feeling all that confident. A smile, a good sense of humor, and remaining calm can often be thought of as confidence.

Realistic Expectations
Consider your company's culture and environment, and adjust your goals to fit. If they take a long time to promote people, or only give promotions around performance reviews, plan accordingly.

-Kristi Enigl, Career Coach

Never, Never, Never Give Up

When you have an idea whose time has come, don't give up.  You may get a lot of NO's till you get that YES.

Sometimes when you're out in the trenches and it seems like you are the only one that believes in it, go the extra mile.

Reach out to people who honor you for support. Have faith that you can pull it off. Be stubborn, prove to your doubters that it is possible.

Your insights are on target. Just keep on keeping on!

 

Signs it's Time for a Career Change

 

If you've hit a plateau in your current job or career, the summer months can be an excellent time for a re-evaluation. Earlier this year, a large survey reported that 80% of American workers wanted to change jobs and statistics show that employees will have 4-6 completely different careers in their working life! Not jobs – different careers. In my career coaching practice, I have recognized five indicators why people change careers:

 

1.The Passion is Gone
You dread getting up for work in the morning. Or perhaps your job is leaving you unfulfilled, and you know there is something better out there.

2.You're Not Progressing
You've worked hard for years, but you're not getting recognized or promoted.

3.You're Day Dreaming at Work
You find your thoughts wandering, wondering what else is out there.

4.You're Industry is Retracting
You're in a career that is not growing, such as Architecture, and you need to change for economic reasons.

5.Your Talents are Being Underutilized
You are more capable than your current role allows.

Staying in a boring or disappointing career can cause a great deal of personal unhappiness. However, the grass is not always greener, as the saying goes. So before you leap, explore:

A New Position in the Same Industry
If your company is large enough, perhaps there's a good fit for you in a different department or a new company/organization.

A Career in an Adjacent Industry
If your career sector is experiencing limited job growth, explore a new career which is related.

If it is time to explore a new career however, here are few things to consider.

Challenges
One challenge for professional woman is the struggle between what you really want to do (if known), your “dream job,” and the realities of financial/family obligations. Before you make any sudden moves, research potential new career paths and their job growth projections with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Changing careers is intimidating, so verify that your new career field is positioned to grow before you jump!

Assess Your Career Toolkit
A new career path may require new skills and the summer months are a good time to enroll in classes at a community college, as they offer shorter schedules including weeknight and weekend classses. You can check out university extension programs, where you can often complete a certificate or degree in 2 years or less. Also, many universities conveniently offer a variety of curriculum's online.

Changing careers can be a daunting endeavor. Success can be yours however, with due diligence, careful research, and a strategic plan. There's no time like the present!

- Kristi Enigl, Global Career Coach

Be Afraid but Take the Next Right Action!

Don't let fear stop you. What I have learned over and over again is that you can be afraid and taken the next right action anyway.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

What do you want to do that you've put on the back-burner? Have you done that because you are afraid to attempt it?

What do you see someone else doing that you would like to do yourself? Is it fear that is stopping you?

How do you handle rejection? Are you afraid to bounce-back and try it one more time? Is that because you think you will fail once again?

You are stronger than any of your fears! That's the truth. So resurrect those dreams, and start taking one small action at a time. Good luck!

Refuse to Worry!

What drains our energy and constricts our power more than anything else? Worry! Our worries escalate as we pay attention to them, and we can convince ourselves that something minor is major.

Did worrying about a situation ever solve the problem? NO! Worrying is a choice. You can either let it consume your energy, or you can focus on an activity you can do something about.

Reflect on the following: How have I diminished my power by worrying? Bring one situation to mind, and think about something else you could have been doing that would have been more productive.

Adapted from In Her Power: Reclaiming Your Authentic Self

Dare to Be Creative

Affirmation: I push through resistance and dare to be creative.

We are all born with the ability to create. But for many of us, our creativity may have been stifled by teachers and parents who didn't nurture our talents during our early years. As a result, we may think that creativity is a gift belonging to a select few, but that's not the reality. And with support, we can come to believe differently. My friend Blanche told me that she discovered her creativity with the help of her mother-in-law. "I was interested in redesigning my wedding band," she says, "but I was afraid that if I did it, it wouldn't come out right. My mother-in-law, however, was encouraging and offered to help. I did some research, and eventually we designed an antique-style gold band with diamonds that were made to look like leaves. When I picked it up at the jeweler's, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was."

At church, Blanche's minister noticed the ring and said, "There's space between the diamonds. A good marriage should have lots of space too."

“And he's so right," says Blanche. "Both my husband and I have needed room to grow."

We are creative if we believe we can be. And if we doubt our abilities, we can seek out friends to support us in exploring our hidden talents.

What have you created that you didn't think you were capable of doing?

Excerpt from In Her Power.

Reinventing Your Career? Try Temporary Work

Temping over the Summer

Looking for work this summer? Good news in the US! Unemployment numbers are down, as companies continue to add jobs - and one sector of the labor market that continues to grow is temporary or contract work. Temping is often short-term work and can range from one day to a few months. Summer is a great time to temp because many companies use temps to cover for vacationing staff members. It's also a great way to get your foot in the door of a company that you've targeted. If you have temped in the past, simply re-activate your availability for the summer.  If you are new to temping, it can be the answer to your summer job hunt.

Temping is also great if you're reinventing your career. It allows you to test the waters with multiple companies and sectors and figure out what you're most interested in.

Search for an Agency

Finding an agency starts with a search for jobs in your career field, such as marketing or administration. There are many well known staffing firms, such as Manpower, Adecco, and Aerotek. There are also niche, local, and temp recruiters, so you'll want to conduct research to find a good fit. You should register with at least 3-4 agencies to assure work assignments.

Attracting a Recruiter

Getting the recruiter to get back to you can be a challenge, so try all avenues, including social media sites LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and G+. Often, you only need to invite a recruiter to connect; if they have an assignment that you're a good fit for, they'll contact you. Make sure your resume is customized for temping, as well.

You'll be Tested!

Once you connect with a recruiter, you can often sign up over the Internet, where you will be required to register and take skills tests including Word or Excel. You will at some point meet with the recruiters.

Temp Jobs Available

Many jobs that are natural for temping are receptionists, office operations, management and administration, assistants, accounting, marketing, software development; and the hospitality sector such as bartenders, servers, and event planning.

Temping Benefits

Temping can offer numerous benefits such as schedule flexibility because you don't have to accept every assignment, so you can work a schedule that fits your needs. Also, if things go well with the firm you're temping at, you can move into other temp positions, or even be offered a permanent position. A few drawbacks is that you may not be eligible for health benefits, though most agencies do offer a certain level of benefits. Often though, the benefits are based on cumulative hours, and you need about a years worth before you can take advantage of those. However, if temping is for you, a year goes by quickly and you'll be able to have a job schedule you like and health benefits.

Tips

1. Be up-to-date on technology. Depending on the position, you'll be tested on Word and Excel, so brush up on, macros, mail merge and spreadsheets! If you're coding, you'll need to provide samples of your code.

2. You need to be proactive! Recruiters are busy, so set-up a check-in schedule with them, either via phone or email once per week. Take care not to appear desperate.

3. Use several temp agencies. You can register with five to seven and increase your odds of picking up assignments.

4. Be ready to work every day! Sometimes, you'll get a call at 10am for an assignment. If you're available for same-day work, you'll increase your chances of picking up work fast.

5. Once you start working, do a great job. Ask questions if you're not sure, and be professional.

6. Impress the management. By doing a great job, or going above and beyond, you can increase the chances of a job offer.

Temping may become a large part of the labor market, as many companies see the advantages of using a temp work force. Summer is an excellent time to test the temping waters!