Helene Lerner's Blog, page 179

Career Coach: Unlock Your Inner Creativity

Do you ever worry that you’re not creative enough? You are, but you may be out of touch with it. The first step is to tune into your intuition. This is not just for spiritual seekers—many executives, business owners and professionals attribute their successes to perceptive clues. Your intuition can lead you into a world of big ideas and new experiments that will spark your innovation and activate your creative inner-self.

Intuition is your internal information and guidance source. It is the mix of “gut feelings” and perceptions that are unique to you. It is a way of knowing your inner-self. Too often, we are trained to discount that knowledge and purposely ignore it. Instead, use your intuition as a tool for illumination. Can you recall a time when it prompted you to follow a different course and surprised you?

A former client, Susan, remembers a time when her intuition prodded her to take an unfamiliar exit off the expressway. As she turned off, she felt foolish and almost turned around. But she followed the dimly lit road and passed a building with a “For Sale” sign on it. She stopped in a daze—this building fit her exact image of the retreat center she wanted to start. Here was her dream in reality. Now she had to figure out how to recruit the right partners to make her idea into a business. By following her intuition, Susan came one step closer to reaching her goal. So follow your whims and see where they lead. 

The best way to tap into your inner-creativity is with an excitement list. What fascinates you right now? What kinds of books, magazines or blogs do you read? What kinds of interests/projects are you drawn to in your leisure time? If you went back to school, what would you most like to study? Do you long to write, build or invent something? Write down everything and anything that comes to mind. No idea is wrong or silly. What is your inner-voice urging you to explore? Let this exercise be the beginning of a creativity journal. You will be surprised at the wisdom and guidance stored for you in these seemingly random thoughts. These will become the keys to discovering your creative self. 

–Gail McMeekin, Career Coach 

Do you lead with passion and purpose?

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending TD Bank's women's leadership conference. Senior women from across the country came to recommit to creating their own careers. I knew I was attending an extraordinary event when I saw the Gallery that lead into the main auditorium of TD University.

There were momentos, personal and professional, on the wall of several women who came. Each woman had a space that depicted objects of importance to her from photos, books, shoes, etc. The message: You are special and appreciated.

An amazing leader, Linda Verba, EVP Store Operations and Service Programs, created the half day. I thought I was at a taping of Ellen when Linda started the session by having the women stand up and dance. The women were encouraged to find their passion and have fun in the process.

The male leaders who addressed the group talked about being authentic, the need to see the big picture, to take the initiative and lead, at any level.

I felt I met my "soul sister" in Linda.  I couldn't agree more with her insights.  We can all benefit from her wise guidance. Here is some of it:

--You are responsible for your own career.

--Get honest feedback, and if you are not getting it, ask for it.

--Be your authentic self at work. It is good for you and the business.

--Lead from any chair. Don't wait, you can lead at whatever level you are at.

--Take responsiblity. If nothing is happening in your career, it's about you!

--Get outside your comfort zone and take some risks.

--You don't have to have all your skills in place to go to the next level.

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Linda Verba kicks off the event by dancing on stage.

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Celeste Donovan displays her favorite photos and other mementos.

Risotto: Worth the Thyme

Our food habits often change with the seasons. In the summer, all we want are light, healthy snacks that will get us through the day without feeling full in the hot weather. But now that winter has arrived, it’s time to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and fill your plates with hearty meals that will warm you from the inside out. Nothing matches that description more than one of my personal favorites, risotto. This Italian classic is versatile—feel free to mix and match with whatever veggies you please. For this dish, we went the traditional route and incorporated mushrooms, lentils, parsnip and pancetta to add full, earthy flavors. And while the risotto makes a perfect meal on its own, don’t hesitate to add a piece of grilled chicken on the side for some extra protein. And for any who haven’t made risotto before, be prepared to give your arm a workout! 

Risotto with Mushrooms, Lentils and Pancetta
Serves 4-6; 90 minutes to prep and cook

2 cups Arborio rice
2 TBSP freshly plucked thyme 
3/4 cup canned lentils, drained and rinsed
1/2 a medium onion, diced
1/2 pound of pancetta, diced
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1 parsnip, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 TBSP olive oil
1/2 cup dry red white
1 quart stock (vegetable or chicken works best)
2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano 
Salt and pepper, to taste

-Sauté the onion, garlic, thyme, parsnip and mushrooms in half the butter and the olive oil in a saucepan. As soon as the garlic begins to color, add the pancetta to the pan and continue to cook, stirring things about. 
-After a couple of minutes, add the rice; cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, and then add the wine. 
-When the wine has evaporated, begin to add the stock, 1/2 a cup at a time and cook, stirring vigorously throughout. 
-After 8 minutes, add the lentils and continue stirring, adding stock as it is absorbed, until the rice reaches the al dente stage. 
-Check the seasoning; stir the remaining butter into the risotto, as well as 1 cup of grated Parmigiano. 
-Serve dusted with the remaining Parmigiano. 

The key to good risotto is the stirring—you should be stirring vigorously throughout and your arm should ache by the time you’re done. It’s a labor of love. If you want to partner it with grilled chicken, try a simple but flavorful marinade of balsamic, olive oil, white wine vinegar, onion, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. 

–Lindsay Putnam

Combat Clutter During the Holidays

Sharon Lowenheim knows a lot about organization. The self-proclaimed “Organizing Goddess” has been fighting clutter since 2006, when after 25 years in corporate America she decided she needed a change. “I wanted to do something that would make me want to get out of bed every morning,” she says. “Many of my friends were on their second or third careers and I was still on my first—I wondered if there was a second chapter for me.”

Her passion, Sharon realized, was in creating order of out chaos. She accepted a severance package from her company, and the next day was at a street fair with a sign that read, “Don’t stress the mess!” to sign clients up for her new career as a professional organizer. Since then, Sharon has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Cosmopolitan, and below she shares her top tips to transform you into an organizing goddess of your own.

Simplify your schedule. Take a look at what you take on during the holiday season and ask yourself, “Is this a tradition that I really enjoy and want to continue, or am I not into doing this and would everyone be happier if we just stopped?” You will cut down on decorations and baking, and save yourself from events that cause too much stress.

Shop smart. Don’t give physical gifts, give experiences. It will be a much more enjoyable and everlasting memory. Grab a pair of theatre tickets or invite a friend to dinner. If you do need to purchase something, try to find it online. You will avoid the stress of packed stores and limit compulsive shopping habits.

Let go. When you start clearing out your closet for 2013, figure out what should stay and what should go. Let’s pretend we’re packing for a journey—this journey will start today and last for the rest of your life. What is in this apartment that you will need to make it until then? Keep the things you use every day, as well as a few things that you love—letters from a family member, a gift from a friend—and toss, donate or sell the rest.

Build up. If you’re in a city, your rooms are small and storage space is limited. Think vertically. Go as high as the ceiling lets you. Install shelves to make use of wall space, and invest in storage structures from the Container Store to maximize closet space.

Make a system. Remember that important paper you put in a special place so you would not lose it, only to never see it again? Every paper you need should have a home, and if it doesn’t, make one. Invest in a filing cabinet, and be sure to clean it out yearly. People are afraid to get rid of things, but if you get rid of what you don’t need, then the things you do need are easier to find.

–Lindsay Putnam

Career Coach: Take Control This Holiday Season

Seeing December 1st on the calendar gives us pause and sometimes a rush of fear: the dawn of December means that the hourglass of 2012 is about to run out. For some, it gives rise to excitement about the upcoming holidays, parties and connecting with friends and family. But for many women, the holidays stir up a sense of dread as their to-do list seems impossible. They feel stressed out, inadequate and unfulfilled. 

In short, December is a complicated month with possible extremes of both pleasure and sorrow and a close encounter with the finiteness of time. So how do you empower yourself during this time of year?

Think of yourself. Sit quietly and imagine an ideal December for you. Forget reality for a moment and make note of what you would really like to do to celebrate the end of the year. Which holiday or spiritual practices nourish you; what special people would you enjoy seeing; how can you honor your body and mind this month? 

Record your needs. Write down all of your ideas—even the crazy sounding ones. This way you have clarity about your wishes and can set up an action plan to honor them. Then zero in on the people, places, beliefs, etc. that cause negative stress for you and let go as many of them as possible. This is a time for celebration, not anxiety. 

Plan ahead. As January approaches, we are all thinking of how we want to set the tone for the New Year. Embrace December as an opportunity to pull out the weeds in your garden and design and fertilize the new growth you want in 2013. 

–Gail McMeekin, Career Coach

Are you dreaming big enough?

The time for change is NOW. The time for planning change is NOW. The time for reflection is NOW. Don't procrastinate.

As the year is ending, take time out to reflect on what you have achieved, and what dreams you still want to achieve. I have noticed that as I declare Big Dreams, it doesn't feel comfortable. It doesn't because I allow myself to step out of my comfort zone and imagine greater achievements.

Comfort is something our society values, so when we feel uncomfortable it might appear that we are doing something wrong--not true, we are doing everything right.

We need more leaders--at whatever level you are at, take a leap forward and make a difference.

Dare to Dream Big. Dare to step out in a new way. It takes courage to do that, but what you will get in return, whether you achieve your new goal or not, is self-respect.

 

Career Coach: Welcome to December!

Hi, I am Gail McMeekin, and I am excited to be the career coach for December. I have experience as a creativity coach and am a licensed psychotherapist and writer located in Boston, Mass.

For over 30 years I have helped entrepreneurs achieve their personal, professional and creative goals. I focus on leveraging your creative ideas into a prosperous business. I am the author of The Power of Positive Choices: Adding and Subtracting Your Way to a Great Life as well as other popular books.

I enjoy appearing as an expert on television and radio, and have been featured in Redbook, Shape and The Sunday New York Times, among other publications.

Looking forward to hearing your comments and supporting you as you move forward in your lives.

—Gail McMeekin, Career Coach

Hats Off to Beth Linskey

Beth Linskey knows what it takes to find success–this native New Yorker has been making her own jam since 1981 and runs a stand at the Greenmarket in Union Square. She discusses her experiences as a female entrepreneur in the 80s and 90s and what she enjoys about the holiday season. And look at that hat!

–Video by Nina Giordano

Career Coach: Move Forward After A Rejection

Nobody likes to be rejected, but as Wayne Gretzky famously said: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Rejection is part of life and certainly part of the workplace, especially for those who are striving to succeed. You didn’t get the promotion you were hoping for; your “big” idea was tossed in favor of someone else’s; your colleague was chosen to attend the conference that you asked to go on–if you have experienced any of these scenarios (and we all have), you know they leave you feeling dejected. Here are some tips to heal your bruised ego and keep moving forward:

Get some distance. If you have faced rejection, take a deep breath and walk away. Close your office door, take a walk or run out for a cup of coffee. Give yourself a chance to calm down and get some space from the offending party. 

Gain some perspective. Remember, this is your job–not your life. This situation will pass, and the person who “rejected” you is not your husband, best friend or family member. Try not to personalize the situation.

Evaluate the rejection. Once you have calmed down and have gained some perspective, think about the circumstances leading up to the rejection. Is there something you can learn for next time that is valuable? Perhaps it has taught you how to better present your successes at work or how to work more closely with your boss to gauge his feelings before he rejects your next idea outright.

Turn it into a motivator. Oftentimes getting rejected is a big push for future success. Nobody enjoys rejection, and once it happens, people work twice as hard to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Fear of failure is a huge motivator and can be used in the workplace by taking on that extra project, showing you are a team player and helping others do their jobs better.

Rejection is an unfortunate aspect of daily work life, but by following these tips you will be able to weather the tough times more successfully.

–Pamela Weinberg

From Trauma to Triumph: A Champion's Story

Standing atop the medal podium in London at the Olympic Games this past summer, Kayla Harrison beamed as the gold medal was draped around her neck. She is the first American, male or female, to bring home top honors for the United States in judo at the 78kg division. But it was a dream come true that almost never happened.

When Kayla was 13 years old, her former judo coach molested her.  After several years, she was able to find the strength to tell someone what had happened; her former coach is now serving a 10 year sentence. With her trust broken, Kayla considered quitting judo–but her love for the sport prevailed. “There are always ups and downs during your career, but it’s what you do in your downs, that defines who you are in your ups,” the 22-year-old explains. 

Kayla’s friends and family rallied around her to give the teenager strength during this difficult time. She relocated from her home state of Ohio to train in Massachusetts with her current coach, former Olympian Jimmy Pedro. “I heal every day, little by little,” Kayla says. “My advice to others who have experienced similar trauma is to surround yourself with people who support you, who will be there for you when you feel like you can’t go on.” 

Her victory in London has propelled Kayla into the national spotlight, giving her a taste of stardom that she never imagined. The attention, Kayla admits, is intimidating. “My greatest worry now is that I’m a role model; it’s an honor, and I just want to make sure that everything fans see me do is something positive that is going to make a difference,” she reveals. 

In January, Kayla will be back in the gym training to defend her title at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She has ambitious plans to also write a book, start a foundation to help victims of sexual abuse and marry her fiancé, Aaron. Kayla is an example that there is life after trauma: “You are only a victim if you allow yourself to be one; no matter how dark things seem, there will be a day when you can stand up for yourself and choose to move on.”

–Lindsay Putnam