Take The Risk: Jump

Sometimes in life you have to just make the move. I jumped 14,000 ft from a skydive high above the sea. The open air, sea, and clouds were all I could perceive. No easy feat. Like a Rube garbed in Costume, I was as scared as ever. But, with a trained guide affixed to my back and the wonders of a reliable parachute, I did it! (yikes)!

Today, I encourage you to step out and do whatever you want to do. Simply plan it, and with wisdom…do it even when you’re afraid.

Here’s a synopsis of my journey through the eyes of my youngest.

Go, make yours happen!

Cheers!

The Top 6 Soft Skills That Will Make You Uniquely Successful….

Soft Skills – personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.

Adaptability
Culture Fit
Collaboration
Leadership
Growth Potential
Prioritization

Soft-Skills The Meaning defined

Adaptability refers to the capacity to be modified for a new use or purpose. Culture fit indicates the alignment of behavior between individual and organization. Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce or create something. Leadership entails the action of leading a group of people or an organization . Growth potential considers the potential an individual has to grow in an organization as their rising stars. Prioritization is the ability to put things to be actioned in order of importance.

Don’t be a Rube, consider these soft skills. Do some self-reflection. How do they compare when you reflect on your relationships at work, off the job, with friends, relatives, with your family and even while networking. If you find yourself lacking in area, take the time to improve. It will be worth it.

Need help? Lets Connect

What Makes You Happy?

Happiness… a state of well-being and contentment

What makes you happy? That’s the question that was asked. A state of well-being that most long for. To be at peace, free of lack, free of Lecture

Suspicious? The question was asked by the ‘Sharks’ of budding entrepreneurs to which responses came in various forms. Here I share exerpts as people chimed in.

Being able to think outside the box
Having my kids together
Getting back into fitness
Crying out my emotions
Little things
Living in the quiet country
Heated mattress pads
No schedule
Air bubble bath tub
Listening to my children at bedtime
Potato chips
Shoes that fit
Good health
A great cup of Coffee
Conversations with my wife
Disruptive-ness in the marketplace
My family
The next 5 days off
Being alive
Creating art
To be in Hawaii
A great run
Being loved

Do any of the above resonate with you? Missing any? Do share.

Cheers!

A Dream Never Quits…

No Lecture…just reminder that a Dream Never Quits

In Love With Your Career?

Give yourself a break. Conjure up the courage and let me take a look.

Cheers!

Top 20 Emerging Jobs….

“To Stand Still is to be left Behind”

Times are changing. Often what we think would last forever, changes in a moment–without warning, and without notice. No one is exempt. If you are a business leader, you may be contemplating industry changes and its impact on your business. On the other hand, you may be an individual thinking of a career change or better yet, if you are thinking of staying put in your career for many more years to come, it might be a good idea to take a look at LinkedIn’s Emerging Jobs report, that was recently published. The report provides information on the changes in jobs/careers. Jobs will grow to over 11.5 Million by 2026, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Technology…The Enabler

It’s no surprise that most industries are being penetrated by the enabling influx of technology. The areas covered are:

The high Growth in Technology jobs
The importance of Soft Skills
Jobs with High Mobility (Freelancing anyone)?
Jobs that exist with a Low Supply of Talent
New and Emerging Skills

But before you rush to cry out in alarm, may I suggest that you look deeper. Though your career path may be included in the evolution (see Mnemonic pictorial graph), check ways in which you may Conjure up the courage to go full speed ahead and embrace the change. This not only pertains to individuals, but to employers who must keep in tandem with the change to see what’s happening in the global and local marketplace.

Remember, to stand still is to be left behind.

If you are an organzational leader pondering what’s holding back your organization from achieving success, or an individual that wants to ensure you are prepared, let’s connect.

Cheers!

The Rear View…

You do not move ahead by constantly looking in the rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you. We must learn from the past, but not live in the past. ~Warren W. Wiersbe

Stop looking in the rear view mirror. That’s what the instructor would Insist when I was learning to drive many years ago. My goal was to look back to ensure I’m prepared for those crazies when they get too close to avoid being rear-ended. Good thinking? Hmm… not sure.

But now as I get older, I apply the same principle to life. If we constantly look back at the past getting angry at those who did us wrong, or constantly remembering past mistakes, we will never be able to focus.

I am a firm believer in looking back periodically whether its monthly, quarterly, or annually to assess changes for goals and to keep track of plans ahead. However, it’s important to Simplify and focus. Only with focus and direct steps will we be able to achieve our goals, dreams, and aspirations.

Today, take the time to reflect on your life’s goals. Whether you are an entrepreneur, writer, career enthusiast, or other, reflect on how you deviated in the past. Then learn from it. Put it aside and steer towards the finish line. Be a distance runner. Pace yourself then head towards the finish line. You will make it at the right time with steady speed, resilience, and concentration.

Cheers!

What’s Your Why?

Why do you Tend to do what you do? Think about it. Its important that you know. Otherwise…. create a Mnemonic practice, and learn it.

Cheers!

Managers Be Human – 4 Ways…

Are you a manager or leader of some sort? Harvard Business Review article shared 4 points to help managers be seen as more human. Here I share:

Be Personal
Be Self-Aware
Be Selfless
Be Compassionate

In my research on what makes leaders successful, self-awareness was one of the traits that stood out. But being of service to others depends on your own self-development.

Again, are you a manager, or leader of some sort? Take a moment and look at your leadership style. Do people working with you, whether at work or otherwise find you approachable? Easy to get along with? If not, you have some work to do. Enroll now. To be successful as a leader, your people should not fear you. So do what you have to do to improve.

Need help? Lets Connect.

Cheers!

6 Tips to Help You Succeed as a Leader

Christian heads many organizations and several Professional Associations. He was always respected. Whatever he says, goes. He retired recently, and decided to use his knowledge to start a renowned Group to make a difference to others in the community. He was successful. Within a year the group grew to several hundreds, with many eager to join his endeavor.

However, Christian has one problem. The group has grown and comprised millennials and others who expect a participatory leadership style. They shared ideas which little by little were shut down, avoided, or disregarded. The members now wonder whether it makes sense for them to be involved in the organization.

A Creature of habit, Christian exhibits the traditional authoritarian leadership style. Permit us to say that we are not sure if that is going to hold in today’s society.

Christina Folz in her article titled Lead From Where You Are, shared 6 tips to help you succeed as a leader:

Accept Failure
Embrace who you are
Build relationships early
Question Everything
Find People who Challenge you
Take initiative

Of the points raised my top three include, accepting failure because it means you have tried. You don’t wait around on your Sleeve until things are safe before stepping out.

Building relationships is also crucial to success. My own research on Success Strategies confirmed this when I interviewed leaders of several organizations to find out the traits that made them successful.

The third point concerned finding and working with people who challenge you. Doing this encourages creativity, and a creative team propels an organization or team’s success.

There you have it, my top favs selected. From the list, do you have a favorite, or two? Do share.

Cheers!

3 Directions. Which One Are You?

Do What you Can with What you have, Where you are. ~Theodore Roosevelt

~Melanie is at a crossroads in life. She graduated college, got a job and has been working ‘just because‘.

~David has worked as a senior manager for over 10 years but over the past three years he has been dreaming of more. His sense of purpose has been lost. He feels he is drifting.

~It’s been 4 years since Carol lost her job due to restructuring. Since then she has worked odd jobs, has big dreams but through fear hesitates to take the step to Enroll to accomplish her goals.

~Mark dreamed of his passion. Took the steps to achieve and now enjoys the benefits of his entrepreneurial ventures. Still he seeks more ways to learn, develop his skills, and grow.

We have all been there. Life’s crossroads beckons times of reflection pushing us to search deep within our souls to find out if there’s more to life. We ponder about the next step. Where should we go? What should we do? How should we do it? or should we do it at all? John Maxwell speaks about the 3 kinds of people when it comes to Viable directions in life. These are:

3 Kinds of People in Pursuit of Goals

1.People Who Don’t Know what they would like to do.

These people are confused. They dabble, drift, with no sense of direction. If they grow, it is without focus.

2. People who Know what they would like to do but Don’t do it

These people are Profusely frustrated. They worry, they fear. They want to step out but are afraid they won’t be able to take care of their responsibilities. Sometimes they are not willing to pay the price to learn, grow, and move closer to their dream. Sadly, these people also miss out on reaching their potential.

3. People who know what they would like to do and do it.

These people are fulfilled. They possess a strong sense of passion, they achieve their purpose, they grow, they learn, they develop. As they strive for more we Chuckle thinking they are perfect but they know better as they seek continuous development.

You may also like What Does Success Mean to you?

This was previously shared but it’s now time for a revisit. Look back on the list, which type resonates with you? Consider. Reflect. Share. Puzzled and need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!