If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first four hours sharpening my axe. Abraham Lincoln
Tag: inspiration
How I Became a Human Resource Manager
I never dreamed of a career in Human Resources. From an early age, I would look to the stars and dream of being involved in healthcare, or the airline industry. Of course these are two very different industries but my passion for people was evident from then. After graduating high school, I got the dream call for an interview as a flight attendant. I am always punctual, but for some strange reason I ended up being 10 minutes late for the interview, and was ‘disqualified’ from that opportunity.
I took it as a sign when I was hired by one of the nation’s big commercial banks. That opened the doors to human resource management for me; or as it was called back then—personnel management. I was exposed to benefits administration, performance management, and more. Being the fast learner that I am—I learned, and learned, and learned.
This boosted me into the next position with a major international pharmaceutical company, that further exposed me to human resource management at the global level. I learnt not only the facets of HR at the local level, but had to interpret laws and practices for different countries that fell under my portfolio of responsibility. In my job I had to travel across countries throughout the Caribbean, and Latin America.
Education
What about education? As I journeyed, I felt led to receive formal training. Armed with a Bachelors in Business Management, I pursued a Masters in Human Resource Management. I also decided to minor in HR Development, while studying Doctorate in Education, Major Organizational Leadership. This then propelled my current role as Coach, and Human Resource Consultant.
As laws, technology and people change, there is no doubt that it is an advantage to become a member of organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). This syncs with organizations such as local Human Resource Associations. Personally, I continue to participate in local, and national conferences. These days I conduct personal development Success workshops, backed by my research and subsequent publishing of book on Leaders and Success Strategies.
Success and Challenges Along the Way
Naturally, there have been challenges along the way. My most challenging feat arose during my first encounter with an international merger, between two giant pharmaceutical companies. Embracing two different cultures, employee relations issues, diversity, compensation, and benefits management in different countries was a challenge, to say the least. But as I look back and reflect on the Employer of Choice award, I am pleased. This experience molded me into my love for change management today. This passion has taken me across different industries including healthcare, hospitality, and others to name a few.
Even though there have been ups and downs since then, I have never regretted my decision to enter this profession. Every time I help a client improve their business, it makes me feel totally satisfied. Hearing the frustrations in their voices when they first contact me, and then seeing the satisfaction on their faces when things improve… is exhilarating!
In addition, The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shared the result of the annual compilation of the most in-demand jobs done by CareerBuilder, and Economic Modeling Specialist International. Not surprising, Human Resource jobs were included among the top 20 positions-yea! The article stated that Human Resource Managers require a college degree and that this career position has grown by over 14,218 since 2010. This confirms that yes, it is a fine time to get into Human Resources.
So if you have the people skills, the spirit of resilience, and other facets mentioned, then go for it! Despite the stresses of the position, the job is totally satisfying….and oh by the way, it pays too. So what are you waiting for? Get started today, and if you’re like me, you’ll have no regrets!
Interested in how others got into this profession, read SHRM’s https://shar.es/1CXf4p via @SHRM
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Seasons of Our Lives
Marriages. Births. Graduations. Careers. Deaths. To everything there is a season. Today’s prompt encouraged us to examine our lives. What season are we in? We plant in the Springtime, and in the Summer we nurture, support, develop, improve. Then reap the flow of our work in the Fall. In the Winter with its stabbing cold, we prepare the way for yet another springtime.
It’s the same in our lives. Laura speaks of her temporary rain. At times we experience sorrow and grief. At times both pain and happiness. If we are single, we want to get married. Then we want to have kids. Then we want them to grow up and get out of the house. Then we experience sadness because the kids are out, and we are lonely. We may smile but tis true. Seems we are never satisfied, always asking ourselves what if
To everything there is a season. What season of life are you in now? With the sickness of a loved one, the publishing of a book, and more… mine is mixed as depicted in this photo. What’s yours?
<a href="https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/flow/">Flow</a>
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What if?
The TIME magazine’s editorial article examined the question “what if” based on various scenarios of life experiences. What if robots went to fight war? What if your brain confesses in court? What if we live to be 100, or even longer? Interesting questions. What if?
What is your question? Is there something you long to do? What if you could do it?
Now think about it even more. What if you had all the resources in the world available to you, would you go ahead and do your “what if”?
I was chatting with an executive head of an entertainment business that has many locations worldwide. She said in the early days if she thought about all the things that could go wrong maybe she would not have achieved the success she has today. She simply had an idea and worked towards it defying business logic.
So Go ahead, think positively. Activate your what if. Activate your dream. It may just surprise you inspite of your questions, inspite of your fears. Be courageous. Act today. Accomplish your “what if”.
<a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/evasive-action/”>Evasive Action</a>
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Private Note to You My Love
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you. I miss your touch. I miss your love. I miss you. I long for the way you look at me, with longing of love so sweet. I miss our talks. Our walks. Your stares. Your smile. Oh how I miss you.
And though you’re far away in that unknown land that I’ve never been, I want you to know that my love for you remains strong with the warmth of Expectation that one day soon we’ll be together again.
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Opportunity. Don’t Wait, Create.
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BLOGGING 101
I began this blog a few years ago but have hardly been consistent. As an individual in the business of Human Resource Management, and organizational leadership, my passion lies in the development of entrepreneurs, youths and individuals in transition. For that reason, I conducted a study for my dissertation on Success Strategies and decided to publish it recently in my book titled “Success Strategies of Caribbean-American Leaders in the United States”. In the book I sought to answer the question Why Some Individuals Succeed, While Others Don’t. It is now available on http://www.amazon.com, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com.
I am still writing with the intention of publishing the Success Strategies Workbook, as well as another book titled “GreenLight: When God says Go”. My intention here is to decide on what my audience prefers to hear, then focus this blog on that. This could be under the topics of leadership, success, inspiration, or lighter moments.
From participating in this new developing experience, I hope to be able to learn how to (1) improve this blog; (2) gain strong insights on how to advance; and (3) confidently connect with and grow followers.
Check out my blog https://successfulleaders.wordpress.com and I would most certainly welcome your comments and insights! Thank you.
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SUCCESS STRATEGIES: Supersize Your Brand Free Seminar
Are you an Aspiring Entrepreneur? Do You Wish to take your Business to the Next Level? In Career Transition? Wish to Perfect Your Craft?
THEN THIS FREE SEMINAR IS FOR YOU!
YOU WILL LEARN:
• How to craft your own Brand Statement
• Build your Marketing Profile
• The Ultimate Interview Essentials
• Tools essential to reaching your career goals
• How to reflect your brand through:
• Building Your Digital Presence | Social Media
• Networking | Partnerships | Alliances
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016 |2:00-4:00 pm
African American Research Library & Cultural Center
2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
PRESENTED BY:
Dr. SHELLY CAMERON
Author | HR Consultant
GUEST PRESENTERS:
GREGORY TURNER
Author | Customer Acquisition Specialist
NORDIA CAMERON-CUNNINGHAM
Celebrity Make-up Artist
For more info: scameron@ccahr.com |www.ccahr.com
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What I Didn’t Do: Letter to My Daughter
We are stepping into a New Year! As always it is a time to reflect on the past where we have come, and the journey ahead. This year I didn’t get to do a lot of things I wanted to, but I experienced something new. I ventured into new territory and published my research on leaders and how they attained success! My book titled Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders in the United States is now available on Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and other sites. Can you believe it?
I am most excited because I started something that I believed in, persisted, and have completed it! I learnt a lot during the process.
This is my desire for you. To go after your dreams. No matter what it is—just simply Dream! Big or small! When you accomplish it, the feeling is exhilarating! As we approach the New Year, spend some time defining what Success means to you. What will it look like? How will you know when you have achieved it? Just Dream. But like I have always said, after you dream then you have to work that dream. Put the plans in place then step out and do what you must to make it real.
I’m not saying it’s going to be easy….no way am I saying that. But the most important thing is to persist. Never give up. When the going gets rough, have something or someone, (maybe a mentor), that will encourage you to keep going. You know I’m always here for you and anyone else that needs encouragement to achieve. I learnt this in my many years managing people. That’s what I do best. It brings me great joy watching people achieve their best potential…moreso you.
So darling, Dream big! Then step forward in faith! You will achieve Success if you never give up!
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Will Smith: Vigors of Success…
So What Does Success Look Like?
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Turn Your Career Around in the New Year
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My Mom…My Journey
The nerve! How could she? But her question stayed with me for years
I’ll never forget the sight. Standing in line more than a decade ago with hundreds of graduates awaiting the march into the ceremony, I saw my mom and dad walking in together a little late. She, with a basket of fruits too heavy for her to bear, but far too precious not to. Him, adorned in a bright red jacket as if to say “nobody is going to make me miss this special occasion when my daughter receives her Masters degree!” I must Confess
that I thought to myself…should I acknowledge them or should I shy away from this somewhat humorous sight? I dismissed the very thought and rushed to their side hugging them both. My action was met with admiration, claps, and with sounds of “awww”, as the waiting graduates stirred. Needless to say that this achievement was for both my parents as neither had college degrees. After the ceremony, my mom hugged and congratulated me with the question “when are you going to get the Doctorate?” The nerve! How could she? But her question stayed with me for years, even after the receipt of yet another Masters degree.
Years later, I finally succumbed to fulfilling her dream. She couldn’t do it so I decided to do it for her. A year into the program whilst en route to a mandated summer conference in Orlando, I received a call that she (with whom I spoke an hour earlier), had suffered a massive stroke!
That was the start of a year-long journey to be by her side through thick and thin. Ironically both our journeys were paths of learning. Hers being to learn to talk, to walk, to eat, to do life’s simple things, and to learn the basics of living all over again. Me, to face the reality of the situation that my mother was in, and to learn the skills to adequately provide her care. Along with my two sisters (one ailing with the ravages of cancer …now passed), we brought her to live closer so we could adequately care for her return to ‘normalcy’.
As I reflect on my Dissertation journey, on one occasion I remember receiving an important call from a professor while attending to her needs. I answered the call, got the coaching from the professor then returned to finish her care. This became a routine.
I remember being by her side at the hospital for hours, days, and weeks. She was my morning motivation. I couldn’t start the day without her knowing that I cared. It was the same at nights. I couldn’t end the day without visiting her, without her knowing that I was there for her. At work, the leaders knew that if they wanted my best then I needed an hour to be with my mom which was the fuel for the rest of my day. I happily worked that back during lunch or after hours. This went on for a year but sadly she never recovered. We later discovered that her body was wreaked with cancer unknown to our family. It was too much for her to bear.
After she passed this was my driving force. I had to finish my studies for her. I had to accomplish her dream, something she couldn’t do herself. I had to finish to show my two girls that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. I had to finish and leave something tangible behind. This culminated in my research that tracked the paths of immigrant leaders and their journey to success to achieve the American Dream. I accomplished that feat two years after she passed away.
My mom was someone who wanted and accomplished much, even after she had gone. She remains my motivation. Today I salute her. Today she receives my standing Ovation!
As you reflect, is there anyone that has influenced your life? Do share, we would love to hear!
Cheers!
