The Power of U-Turns…

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Strive and Reach for what you can Achieve

My eyes caught the attention of an article titled “Giving up”. It quickly sparked my interest because I usually steer away from ever giving up. In my youth I did track, and for all those athletes out there, you know just how much effort it takes to get in shape. To stick to your goal. To become fit and ready for that race. As I advanced into maturity, the same held true for me. It became the very grain of my existence. During college, and career advancement, I never gave up. Now as a consultant and coach, I Mentor and encourage entrepreneurs, managers, and employees, to stick to their goals, dreams, and aspirations.

That article reminded me of another I had read about success and fear. Both fear and the desire to give up intertwine and cripple us, often fueling negative thoughts and actions. There are many individuals who throw away their lives becoming lethargic, stuck, wasted, straying away from their goals, get into trouble, end up self-imprisoned, or worse. Not to mention those dying at age 25, yet buried at 75.

I say burst that Bubble! It is delightful to strive and reach for what you can achieve!

The Power Of U-Turns

Enter the power of U-Turns. U-Turns remind us to get up, dust off, find a mentor or support system, and get back on track.

The writer in  the first article “Giving up” concluded with a twist. He suggested being wise enough to know when to stop, refuel, and get back on track. So make that U-Turn today. Shake off that fear. Shake off the very thought of giving up…and as Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Apply it to yourself. Be your change today.

Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

Career: When The Recruiter Calls… 7 Tips How To Evaluate…

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Success is where preparation meets opportunity. ~Bobby Unser

Align yourself with the right people. Be visible. Observe. Show up. Then you will be able to see and be seen. These simple insights will help propel you in the direction of recruiters on the hunt…and when they call, sure you will ponder if the opportunity is right.

If you have been with a company for three years or more, the decision may be easier especially if you are not seeing the light. But what if you have said ‘yes’ to another opportunity and have been on the job for less than a year, busy settling in, then a recruiter calls, how do you know if you should jump ship?

Recognizing The Right Opportunity

Here are a few 7 Questions to ask on how to evaluate an offer in order to make the right decision.

  1. Does the job fit into your long-term career goal?
  2. Consider the industry as well as the health of the company. Are they experiencing financial difficulties?
  3. Is the job high stressed with little or no work/life balance?
  4. Is the commute long and will make you miserable? Will it deplete your time, energy and resources?
  5. Does it involve travel? Often career seekers are happy at the thought of travel but will it be a weekly requirement? Will you have to be away from family?
  6. What about Benefits and Perks? Consider the options provided such as medical, 401K plan, pension plan, personal time off, tuition reimbursement and such?
  7. What about salary? Often job seekers are easily lured by higher salary but is there a plan for timely increases?

In summary, burst the Bubble. Know where you want to go. When you see the opportunity, you will recognize it. For example, getting a college degree must be done through knowing where you want to go and what you want to do. Once that’s done, you will be able to take the step to find the right opportunity. You can be assured that provided you made the right preparations, when you see it you will know it.

So don’t be Abrupt, evaluate well because at the end of the day, if you are not happy and hate getting up in the mornings to go to work, you’re sure to regret it.

Need help in making the decision or assessing an opportunity? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

It’s Time To Make That Move…

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. ~Tagore

Career: The 7 Signs That Tells You When To Look For New Opportunities…

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We have all been there. Times when we feel we are at a crossroad and don’t know whether to stay with the company, or whether to go. It’s not an easy road. Certainly a time for deep reflection and analysis. But it can be done using helpful strategies.

7 Signs That Tells You When To Look for New Opportunities

Extracted from theMuse, here are my top 7 WHENs that you can use to know when it’s time to move on.

  1. When you are unhappy most of the day. What’s the point of being unhappy doing what you do?
  2. When the only way you can move up is when your boss retires. Oh well, need I say more?
  3. When you get passed over for a promotion more than once
  4. When your company is cutting back or your industry is shrinking. Astonished? Commonsense really…extinction is at hand. Be alert. Keep your eyes open.
  5. When the skills you have been hired to use for the job aren’t a fit
  6. When the environment is toxic and the outcomes are meaningless
  7. When you believe that you’re meant for bigger and better things

There you have it. The top signs that tells you when it’s time to move on. Do any of the 7 resonate? Can you suggest other signs? Do Share. We would love to hear.

Need help to make that change? Get the book Ditch It Switch It or better yet, Lets connect.

Cheers!

The Grass Is Greener…

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The Grass is Greener when you read

Rivulet

Planning To Take Vacation This Year? 35 Percent Don’t. Here’s Why…

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Hawaii, Paris, Caribbean, Central America, Vegas, or a Simple Staycation. It’s amazing what a little break can do to our mental capacity. From the planning, organizing and more, all exude times of exhilaration, relaxation and joy!

Yet…The Society of Human Resources Associates (SHRM) shared that over 35 percent of Americans don’t plan on taking all their vacation days this year. A potential year of the Cranks in the making? Here are the reasons cited:

  • 43% Saving time for something later
  • 21% Too much work
  • 15% Don’t have enough money
  • 9% Feel guilty
  • 9% Other reasons
  • 3% Discouraged by their boss

In light of the more transient workforce, employers are trying various options to attract quality applicants. Such measures include a combined databank of employee time off which includes up to 4 weeks off on date of hire. Naturally, employees are ecstatic of this change and proves it’s a great methodology for recruitment. However, this databank represents a combination of paid time off including sick and vacation.

Paid Time Off

Do you plan on taking your vacation this year? If so, great! If not, why not? Does your reason fall into any of the above? Something to think about.

Need help with your workforce plans? Lets connect!

Cheers!

What You Need To Do To Achieve Success…

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Set your Goals High and Don’t Stop until you Get There

Richard Byerley was ‘officially’ the oldest person to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Byerley reached the summit in October 2010 at the ripe old age of 84 years and 71 days. However, his record was surpassed by Martin Kafer (85) and his wife Esther (84) in October 2012 (Kilimanjaro Guide).

Not to be outdone, the oldest woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m; 19,340 ft) Angela Vorobeva, reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, at age 86 years 267 days, on 29 October 2015 (Guinness book of records).

Naturally, these examples of goal achievement is no small feat. What of athletes, professionals, politicians, and more? We all have goals. But what really are they? Are goals just a wish or a figment of our imagination of some ideal place that we want to be in the future? Think carefully. A goal is not a simple wish that you had a better car, a bigger house, a better job, a more profitable business, or going on a great vacation. Though it may begin with those thoughts, they are way too Vague. Goals are so much more. Achieving your goal starts with understanding where you want to be and how you intend to get there.

A goal is defined as the object of a person’s ambition or effort, an aim or desired result.

Simply put, a goal is something that you are trying to do or achieve, not something that you bury. Now that we know what goals are, let’s consider why we should set them? Simply because they give our life a sense of direction. In order to achieve our goals we must take action. We must break it down into steps to achieve. If it is for your business, what business do you want to be engaged in? How much should you be earning per day to get to your goal to become profitable? Your goals must be concrete and clear. It is very important to be clear. Spend time  making sure your goal is clear. Enlist the help of a coach if you need help.

Create A Plan

The first step to achieving your goals is to have a plan. All runners know that each race has starting blocks and a finish line. They know exactly how long the distance is and how much time it will take them to get there. They have also mapped out what they will do at each stage along the way to accomplish their goal. It’s a step by step calculated plan to succeed.To achieve your goals, start with a plan.

Write Down Your Goal

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Take the time to think about the goals you want to achieve. Then write down your goal. Commit to them in writing. Writing down your goal is the first step to achieving it. It creates a contract with yourself to make your goals come true.

Don’t worry if the goal will take time. If you plan for it, you can do it. Don’t be afraid to dream big! Dream the impossible!

Goals Must Reflect your Values

Your goals must reflect your highest values. If you don’t believe in something, then you won’t do it. Take a moment and think about where you want your life to be, professionally and personally. See yourself doing what you dream. Make this a strong mental picture

Create a Map for Success

Next, create a map for your own destiny. By setting goals, you are acting on your life, rather than simply reacting. Make the goals Big and compelling! Something that will stretch you that when you achieve it, you feel completely satisfied. Heck, you will even motivate others!

Break into Measurable Parts

The next step in setting goals is to break it down into manageable, measurable parts. Let’s say you set a goal to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The first thing you would do is break the goal of the trek down into smaller steps. Find out things like… where is it? How high is it? How do I get there? What is the best time of the year to climb? What guide company should I book with? How can I prepare mentally, physically, financially? And the list goes on.

Once you do your research, you will find that each small accomplishment will lead you closer to your goal. Once you have done all your preparations and you find yourself in the middle of the trek, exhausted and overwhelmed, this step-by-step thinking will keep you on course and help you reach your goal.

Create A Deadline

Assign a realistic deadline to each component of your goal, and write the deadline in your smart phone’s calendar, or whatever instrument you use. Tell someone you trust about your goal and deadline. Enlist a team if you think it will motivate you more. Bestowed, doing so will further solidify your commitment.

Review Them Daily

Once that is done, you must review them daily. Look at them often so it stays on top of your mind. Don’t worry about not making all your deadlines. If you miss a deadline, set another. Keep setting deadlines until you complete it.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Keep a positive attitude in order to make your dreams a reality.

So there you have it. Now go, create your plan. Already started? Review to make sure you’re on target to be successful.

Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

I Hate My Job! How Can I Break Free? Is One Of The Top 3 Questions People Ask Coaches…

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Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen. ~Pete Carroll

Look around you. It’s obvious people live in a state of ‘I wish‘. I wish things were different then I would do this, or that; they often say. At birthday parties we blow out the candles and make a wish. But what is often overlooked is the fact that our private wishes CAN come through! Oftentimes, we are our own inhibitors.

If Only We Would Act

If only we would act. Act on our desires and our wishes, then our dreams would come through. One athlete at the Rio games shared a goal that he had written in his high school Year book years before. It said simply: “my goal–to become a world-class athlete“; and he did.

We can do it too. All we need to do is Act. We are not all able to do it on our own and that’s when it’s wise to Partake and seek the help of a coach. Someone who has your interest at heart. Someone who will be available to lead and guide you to take the right steps and make the right decisions.

3 Questions People Who Need A Coach Ask

Here are 3 common Questions people who need a coach ask.

1) I hate my job! How can I break free and have the courage to follow my passion?

  • Don’t walk away. Stay in your job if it pays the bills. You need that security.
  • Create a plan. Be patient, and wait.The time will come when you can walk away.
  • Trust the process. Know that with the right daily actions you are one step closer to doing what you love
  • Most important – Don’t give up. You are where you need to be right now

2) I get excited about starting something new! But then I give up. How do I make myself follow through?

  • First of all, do what YOU want to do, not what someone else wants you to do. If you go against your inner desires, it will create internal havoc in the long run
  • Reflecton why you began in the first place
  • Sometimes it seems too hard to achieve, or takes too long. Stick to it because it will be worth it
  • Take small steps. Do at least one thing each day towards your goal. Your future self will thank you

3) How do I find my passion when I don’t feel any?

  • When we don’t know what the future holds, naturally we get anxious. Anxiety is tied to the unknown. It restricts you and prevents you from finding your passion
  • Be open to learning more about yourself. It’s one of the most important things you can ever do
  • Allow yourself to enjoy the journey and be satisfied with your progress
  • Everything will fall into place at the right time

Need help? Lets connect.

Cheers!

You’ve Got What It Takes…

Don’t allow anyone to tell you it’s not possible.~Howard Schultz

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Don’t Be A Copy: Be You…

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Sometimes your thoughts are different and that’s the way it should be.  As you make your plans for the coming week, month or year, IGNORE the naysayers, Crank it, step forward in faith and just do you. Follow your dreams. It will be worth it!

Be inspired by the story of Dr. Suess and how he overcame his challenges to achieve success.

The Meanderings of Success…

People waste years trying not to waste hours. ~Michael Lewis.

Is that for real? Is being lazy a good thing? That’s what Michael Lewis said in this INC article why being lazy makes you successful. He argued that being lazy is the key to Success. But is it for real? Lewis achieved much in life so I’d hardly say he was lazy.

However, what I’d say is that he focused on things that were in fact important, and did not spend time being busy… for busy sake.

Deplete. Admit it…many of us are like that… especially the type A’s. If ever we find ourselves not doing anything we feel as guilty as ever. I have a colleague who broke her leg during a vacation trip and she found it like hell to be sitting in recovery…not being able to do the things she wanted to do.

So I encourage you the next time you find yourself being busy, look around you and ask the question, “is this adding value to my life…to my long term goals and dreams?”

If not, let it go. Refocus.

Need help? Let’s Connect.

Cheers!

Excited! Yet Terrified!

Sometimes you will have to do it Afraid

Excited, yet terrified! But does it stop us? No! The excitement! The Adrenalin Rush pushes us forward in spite of our fears.

I did a sky dive (tandem jump) which was maybe one of the most terrifying thing in my life. But though I was scared that certain death faced me 14,000 ft. below if anything went wrong, I did it anyway. I jumped and was able to share with my 2 girls (as worried as they were) that they can do anything they put their minds to.

Jump in-spite of your Fear

Sometimes we gotta just jump in-spite of our fears! Those difficult goals, those Luminescent entrepreneurial feat that tend to freeze us as we face life’s challenges! Our fears heighten because of what we foresee in the future if things go awry…. But, don’t let them retard your progress. Move forward and in faith do what you must. You may even surprise yourself in the relish of the amazing things you can accomplish once you step outside your comfort zone.

So go ahead, do it even when you’re afraid.

Need help? Lets connect.

Cheers!

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