Helene Lerner's Blog, page 204

Dare to Reflect: What's Really Important?

The holidays present the perfect opportunity to reflect on what's really important.  Many years back, when I worked for a large national newspaper, my office was next door to that of a man named Paul.  Paul was a white-haired Irish gentleman whose job was to oversee the distribution of the paper, and since the two of us would often work late evenings after others had gone home, I got to know him well.

One night, I stopped by Paul's office to chat a while before saying goodnight. When I arrived at work the following morning, his assistant, Gracie, was crying. I asked her what was wrong. She told me that Paul had died the night before of a massive heart attack. I couldn't believe it—he had just been talking with me a matter of hours ago! Paul's death had a profound influence on me. I began to ask myself whether I was doing enough of the things I truly valued. I questioned whether I was spending enough time with my friends—work had taken top priority for me. The shock of Paul's death led me to prioritize my relationships in a way I hadn't before.

I wish I could say that I've permanently broken those patterns, but I still need to ask myself from time to time, am I doing enough of the things I really want to be doing? Am I nurturing myself enough? Am I getting caught up in trivial matters? The good news is that we don't need to experience a crisis in order to get smart about the way we spend our time—simply making the choice to do something differently is enough. This weekend, ask yourself whether you're putting your energy into the things you truly value. You'll thank yourself in the long run.

Be All You Can Be

It's finally Friday, and we've got your weekly roundup of inspirational tweets. This week's message? Be all you can be! Step outside your comfort zone and tap into your inner superhero. This and more in our video, below. Follow us on Twitter to receive tips and encouragement all day, every day.

Enjoy the holiday weekend, and we'll see you on Monday!

Career Coach: Document Wrangling

 

If you're like me, you have career documents spread out across multiple devices: smart phone, tablet, laptop, maybe even a desktop. Have you bookmarked websites and blogs for future reference? Do you have an actual stack of paper on your desk with articles you printed but haven't read yet? After a while, these things can pile up, and the idea of overhauling your work space can seem overwhelming. Spring cleaning presents a great excuse to organize your career documents. Starting this week (and for the next month), I will outline some tips to help you more effectively manager your career tools. And you'll only need about 20 minutes a day!

1. Filing System: Organization

The first thing to do is get all your career documents together. Choose one place to keep everything, and start by consolidating all the documents from your secondary devices. If that's your laptop, go through the existing files. Delete old ones. Set up new ones. If you also keep paper files, be sure to read those articles and either file as appropriate or recycle.

2. Clean Up Email

Have you saved emails with attached career documents that you meant to read, but haven't? They are not going to file themselves (or maybe there's an app for that now?). Take a look this week and file or delete as needed. 

3. Cull Your Bookmarks

I'll be the first to admit that I love to bookmark! I try to get back to those sites, blogs and articles, but sometimes, I never visit again. There are many programs you can use to organize your bookmarks, but you still must decide what's a keeper and what's not. 

4. Back Up Your Documents

Once you have culled and re-organized your files, be sure to back them up. You don't want to lose important documents (like your resume), so upload them onto a flash drive or burn them onto a CD. 

This is the first step. Finally weeding through those files will make you feel amazing! Wake up 20 minutes earlier and do this while you have your coffee, and you'll be done in just one week.

Next week: Resume and Bio Updates

 

 

Career Spring Cleaning: Document Wrangling

 

If you're like me, you have career documents spread out across multiple devices: smart phone, tablet, laptop, maybe even a desktop. Have you bookmarked websites and blogs for future reference? Do you have an actual stack of paper on your desk with articles you printed but haven't read yet? After a while, these things can pile up, and the idea of overhauling your work space can seem overwhelming. Spring cleaning presents a great excuse to organize your career documents. Starting this week (and for the next month), I will outline some tips to help you more effectively manager your career tools. And you'll only need about 20 minutes a day!

1. Filing System: Organization

The first thing to do is get all your career documents together. Choose one place to keep everything, and start by consolidating all the documents from your secondary devices. If that's your laptop, go through the existing files. Delete old ones. Set up new ones. If you also keep paper files, be sure to read those articles and either file as appropriate or recycle.

2. Clean Up Email

Have you saved emails with attached career documents that you meant to read, but haven't? They are not going to file themselves (or maybe there's an app for that now?). Take a look this week and file or delete as needed. 

3. Cull Your Bookmarks

I'll be the first to admit that I love to bookmark! I try to get back to those sites, blogs and articles, but sometimes, I never visit again. There are many programs you can use to organize your bookmarks, but you still must decide what's a keeper and what's not. 

4. Back Up Your Documents

Once you have culled and re-organized your files, be sure to back them up. You don't want to lose important documents (like your resume), so upload them onto a flash drive or burn them onto a CD. 

This is the first step. Finally weeding through those files will make you feel amazing! Wake up 20 minutes earlier and do this while you have your coffee, and you'll be done in just one week.

Next week: Resume and Bio Updates

 

 

Dare to Do: Talk to Strangers

[image error]Hi there! I'm Emma, WomenWorking.com's new Web Editor. We're in the process of expanding our blog to bring you even more ideas and insight on how to extend daring behavior to every aspect of your life. This week's daring challenge? Talk to strangers. (Well, the right ones, anyway.)

If you graduated from kindergarten, talking to strangers is probably right up there with pulling hair and eating paste on your list of cardinal no-no's. While many lessons from early education will serve you wonderfully in your adult life ("please," "thank you," and the art of the power nap, to name a few), the old "don't talk to strangers" adage is one to toss out with those unfortunate corduroy overalls (what was your mother thinking?).

Cocktails may have replaced candy as our icebreaker of choice, but for many young professionals, the prospect of an unfamiliar interaction is as ominous as that of an unmarked van. Industry events provide a built-in excuse to mingle, but what about informal networking? Consciously engaging in everyday interactions casts an even wider net of opportunity. Serendipity puts us all in a constant do-si-do, and for all you know, your next big break could be standing next to you in line at Starbucks.

Informal networking means choosing to care about the world around you. Being in the right place at the right time is a start, but you also have to be in the right frame of mind. Think of an aspiring writer unknowingly seated next to a literary agent on the bus. As tempting as it can be to zone out with your iPod on the morning commute, a warm smile and a brief comment on a shared sensory experience ("Do I smell curry? I've been looking for a great Indian place in the neighborhood. Any thoughts?") can mean the difference between a missed connection and a life-changing introduction. (Use your judgment when it comes to safety, ladies—no informal networking on public transportation alone at 3am).

If the person is unresponsive, don't be annoying—but don't feel embarrassed, either. You'll probably never see them again, and you'll eventually feel less intimidated by the idea of putting yourself out there. Even if all you have is a brief conversation about the weather, becoming more comfortable with small talk keeps the mental muscles that allow you to spark more meaningful relationships alive, and practicing your professional charm on civilians will help give you the confidence to nail that first impression when it really counts. And if you do happen to walk away with the business card of your idol's sister's former roommate's dog-walker? That's serendipity in action.

Opportunity is like lightning. You never know when it will strike, and it rarely comes the same way twice. When you close yourself off to strangers, you're essentially erecting a bomb shelter around your professional network. You may avoid getting burned, but as another well-known adage reminds us—no risk, no reward. This week, think of every person you meet as a question mark card in Guess Who? (We're assuming you played that one in kindergarten as well). Recall the child who unselfconsciously struck up a friendship with whoever could master a one-armed hang at the jungle gym. Be interested in the world around you, and the world will be interested in you—and that's an emotional investment that just might earn you some interest.

—Emma Aubry Roberts

DARE TO: Talk to Strangers

[image error]Hi there! I'm Emma, WomenWorking.com's new Web Editor. We're in the process of expanding our blog to bring you even more ideas and insight on how to extend daring behavior to every aspect of your life. This week's daring challenge? Talk to strangers. (Well, the right ones, anyway.)

If you graduated from kindergarten, talking to strangers is probably right up there with pulling hair and eating paste on your list of cardinal no-no's. While many lessons from early education will serve you wonderfully in your adult life ("please," "thank you," and the art of the power nap, to name a few), the old "don't talk to strangers" adage is one to toss out with those unfortunate corduroy overalls (what was your mother thinking?).

Cocktails may have replaced candy as our icebreaker of choice, but for many young professionals, the prospect of an unfamiliar interaction is as ominous as that of an unmarked van. Industry events provide a built-in excuse to mingle, but what about informal networking? Consciously engaging in everyday interactions casts an even wider net of opportunity. Serendipity puts us all in a constant do-si-do, and for all you know, your next big break could be standing next to you in line at Starbucks.

Informal networking means choosing to care about the world around you. Being in the right place at the right time is a start, but you also have to be in the right frame of mind. Think of an aspiring writer unknowingly seated next to a literary agent on the bus. As tempting as it can be to zone out with your iPod on the morning commute, a warm smile and a brief comment on a shared sensory experience ("Do I smell curry? I've been looking for a great Indian place in the neighborhood. Any thoughts?") can mean the difference between a missed connection and a life-changing introduction. (Use your judgment when it comes to safety, ladies—no informal networking on public transportation alone at 3am).

If the person is unresponsive, don't be annoying—but don't feel embarrassed, either. You'll probably never see them again, and you'll eventually feel less intimidated by the idea of putting yourself out there. Even if all you have is a brief conversation about the weather, becoming more comfortable with small talk keeps the mental muscles that allow you to spark more meaningful relationships alive, and practicing your professional charm on civilians will help give you the confidence to nail that first impression when it really counts. And if you do happen to walk away with the business card of your idol's sister's former roommate's dog-walker? That's serendipity in action.

Opportunity is like lightning. You never know when it will strike, and it rarely comes the same way twice. When you close yourself off to strangers, you're essentially erecting a bomb shelter around your professional network. You may avoid getting burned, but as another well-known adage reminds us—no risk, no reward. This week, think of every person you meet as a question mark card in Guess Who? (We're assuming you played that one in kindergarten as well). Recall the child who unselfconsciously struck up a friendship with whoever could master a one-armed hang at the jungle gym. Be interested in the world around you, and the world will be interested in you—and that's an emotional investment that just might earn you some interest.

--Emma Aubry Roberts

How Will You Acknowledge Earth Month?

April is Earth Month. We've compiled a video of a few quotes about the environment for your contemplation. How will you appreciate the earth this month?

Video Editor: Victoria Ng

Highlights of Macy's Flower Show

Yesterday I was in the neighborhood of Macy's and stopped by their annual flower show — I LOVE flowers — I buy roses every week for my office.

Below are some of the highlights to share with you…

Fondly, Helene

Greetings WomenWorking.com!

Welcome to Spring 2012!  I am very excited to be April's Career Coach. April, the first full month of spring, is the season of renewal, and my favorite season. It's the time of year when the temperature warms up, flowers bloom, and spring cleaning goes into full swing. It is also a great time of year to "spring clean" your career management tools. I offer practical and easy to implement career tips to help you get organized no matter where you are in your career. 

A mini-bio on me: I was in Human Resources, and recruited and hired candidates in a variety of industries, at every level. I have hired Principals and interns, managers and admin staff, IT and web designers, and many more! I have recruited 1000's of candidates, and reviewed over, um...like a million resumes! No kidding. And I've written thousands. I have led seminars, panels, webinars, and workshops on everything from internships to social media to creating a digital portfolio.

In 2008, like so many others, I was downsized, so I started a career coaching and consulting service. One of the major reasons I decided to go this route was to share my knowledge of the recruitment and hiring process. I realized that making all the right career moves was no guarantee of getting hired! I share my insight so you may reach your career goals — faster!

In 2010, I moved to Vienna, Austria, with my husband (his native home). Since then, my perspective on employment and careers has changed considerably. No longer are we confined to one location to earn a living. I work with clients who are from Lebanon and work in Oman; from India and work in China; from the US and work in Germany. I know people who work everywhere from their laptops. The world is changing, and the nature and boundaries of work are changing too! As we move into an economy based on information, now is the time for new ideas, innovation and opportunity! Like Spring, it's time for renewal.

In April, a few of the topics I will be blogging about are: Career Spring Cleaning; Recruiters:The Insiders Guide; The Global Career: How To; Re-thinking Jobs: Work 360o, and Social Media Shortcuts for Busy Women. Let me know if you want something specific — I love suggestions! 

My website can be found here.

Moving forward,

Kristi Enigl

Are You a Catalyst for Change?

The 2012 Catalyst Awards Conference and 50th Anniversary Celebration was amazing. Several new initiatives were announced, like MARC (Men Advocating Real Change) and a bold new campaign for Equality in which Catalyst, the National Council for Research on Women (NCRW) and the White House Project, are committed to creating a culture shift on how Americans think, talk and take action around issues regarding pay, leadership and opportunities for women.

Today Ilene Lang, President and CEO of Catalyst, moderated a luncheon panel with speakers Denise Morrison, CEO of Campbell Soup Company, and her sister Maggie Wilderotter, Chairman and CEO of Frontier Communications. To the audience's surprise, their adult children were brought to the stage, as well as Ilene's daughter.

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Left to right: Maggie Wilderotter, one of her sons, Denise Morrison, her daughter

The adult children talked about how they benefited from having strong women as mothers who were there for them when it really mattered.

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Left to right: Ilene Lang's daughter, Ilene, Maggie Wilderotter's other son, Maggie

I asked Denise and her sister about their parents and how they supported them to be independent women (they also have two other sisters). Maggie and Denise shared a story from their early years when their father would come home from a long day at work and would talk about the details of his day. The two sisters consider their father a sponsor and through the years have learned business skills from him. They spoke about how important both their parents have been to them.

I am energized by the powerful work Catalyst is doing!