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.
When you are unhappy most of the day. What’s the point of being unhappy doing what you do?
When the only way you can move up is when your boss retires. Oh well, need I say more?
When you get passed over for a promotion more than once
When your company is cutting back or your industry is shrinking. Astonished?Commonsense really…extinction is at hand. Be alert. Keep your eyes…
Changing careers can be hard and extremely stressful. It has been rated just below the death of a friend. Indeed it is a dreaded time of contemplation and decision making.
As such it is always a pleasure to share my knowledge and experience with new Graduates, mid-career changers as well as those battling retirement fears as I will do at the Lauderdale Manor’s Community event.
Here’s to connecting and making a difference in the lives of others.
Contactless – Not involving contact. Not requiring touching or interaction between people
Hungry? Order a meal. It’s not a problem, Uber delivers. Need a last minute birthday gift? An outfit to go on the town with your boo? These sure ain’t no problem these days. Amazon delivers, and if you have prime.., that’s even better. You get it in a day!
Smartphone, e-maps, e-mail on the go. Hit the pause button during a movie are things that our little ones can’t fathom living without.
Don’t call me. Text. WhatsApp. Not to mention the gazillion channels on our big screen TVs, yet we still can’t find the right one to watch. Netflix anyone?
Religious? Going to church? Overrated. That’s a thing of the past. Thanks to the pandemic, We meet online. Those old folk shut-ins ain’t got nothing on us.
These days it seems if you drink you can still drive. All you need to do is program your smart car to take you home – driverless… or so you think. I fathom you’re on your own if the cops catch you. And we could go on and on.
Our High Tech World
What has our society come to? Even the Bible has been translated into so many versions that I can hardly recognize John 3:16 anymore. Some versions have totally missed the meaning. But then again who reads the Bible anymore? After all, we are able to listen to all those famous preachers on demand. Who needs to read when we can listen to what they want to share with us. Let them preachers read it and tell us.
Sigh…
We have it all wrong. Our lives need the stillness and quietness that only comes from reading the word and listen to the still small voice. Only then we will be able to hear what’s said to those hurting and in pain. Only then will we be able to perceive what and how the good lord wants us to lead others to him for the peace that only he provides. Only then will we be able to comfort those who mourn. Only then will we be able to rejoice with those who shout with joy unspeakable when their blessings come through.
Going Solo
Our contactless society invites opportunities for :
Solo Sadness
Solo Mourning
Solo Fears
Going solo means no one has to know. But as often said, what’s done in quiet comes to light when those who are sad find themselves overwhelmed. The effects are the sad fruit of suicidal thoughts which become evident. And… before we jump to say that couldn’t happen to me… reflect on the signs of the rich and famous. Those who suffer in silence unable to face it anymore. Travel enthusiast Anthony Bourdain; Comedian Robin Williams; Miss USA Cheslie Kryst are just a few. We join with their loved ones as they still mourn.
Tis sad indeed. Our contactless society feeds aloneness, even in a crowd.
Let’s together do what we can in our small corner to connect with those behind closed doors. And if they won’t answer… that’s when you counter with direct help. Mental illness is a big thing that we can no longer sweep under the carpet and play hush-hush. Contact those trained to help.
Things To Do
Things we can do are:
Shut up and listen.
Pay attention. There is always a sign(s)
Check in on friends who go quiet or missing
Invade their privacy … but do it wisely, quietly and with caution
Be real. A genuine spirit can be felt just like the hypocritical ones
Don’t be afraid to ask “Are you okay?” It sounds simple but it’s the thing to do
Pray. It works. Ask for wisdom, guidance and that spirit of discernment
Here’s hoping this reflection motivates and inspires you to reach out to a friend or loved one today.
How are you coping in our contactless world? Do share. We would love to hear.
Sometimes we need a little clarification about what’s important these days. I pounced upon Denzel’s caution given to a reporter. It intrigued many so I thought I’d share. Read or listen. It’s yours to choose.
If you don’t read the paper you are uninformed. If you do read the paper, you are misinformed. So what do you do? What is the long term effect of too much information? One of the effects is the need to be first, not even to be true anymore. So what responsibility do you have? To tell the truth. Not just to be first. We live in a society now where its just first. Who cares? Get it out there. We don’t care who it hurts. We don’t care who we destroy. Just say it. Sell it. Anything you practice, you’ll get good at…including b.s. ~Denzel Washington
Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing and love ends when you stop caring
Unknown
When everything stops, or should I say…when everything should stop. More than a decade ago I lost my grandmother-the matriarch of our family. Cancer had returned in her three score and ten years. It didn’t stop her from being who she was…the be-all-and-end-all of our lives. But then one day the bank manager where I worked called me into her office, sat me down and told me the hospital had called. My grandmother was gone.
Perturbed, I looked around. Customers were still in the bank walking around doing their daily business. I could not understand. For me everything had stopped.
I reflect on what’s happening around the world. Threats and bombs going off explosively. Yet elsewhere, people go about their business as usual, posting on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. It begs the question…is there a bridge? Do we care? Yep, many really do care. Benevolence saturates the heart and for sure, with gas prices skyrocketing, the world will start feeling the effects.
So let’s not give up hope because fear stops life and love ends when we stop caring.
I pounced upon the study of Success by accident. I did so through pondering why some people succeed while others don’t. Then I took it a step further and delved deeper selecting it for my dissertation research on Successful leaders. My aim was to share it with those who seem to be living without hope.
That said, success is no Oversight. It is a result of hard work and dedication. Below I have selected 12 Quotes that provide some Exposure and motivation for those of us who dare to take the steps to succeed.
12 Success Quotes
1.Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful…
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Kara Barnett’s TEDx talk was intriguing. She spoke about combating the imposter syndrome. But personally because of who I am, I captured her talk focusing more on the Fear we feel. This is more so because I constantly speak to you–my audience about fear.
Fear detracts. Fear retards. Fear keeps us stuck from achieving our goals, dreams and aspirations. This can be professional or social.
Grab coffee or a glass of wine and listen into this brief TEDx talk as Kara discussed the things that are important to becoming more bold.
Now that you watched it, what did you glean? Do share, we would love to hear.
In their careers my friend and her hubby deal with fatalities everyday. She shared an incident of a woman whose car was severely damaged when it crashed into a Guard rail. The woman reported that she was trying to commit Suicide. She survived.
On the other hand my friend’s hubby who is in law enforcement shared reports about a man who after investigation, authorities discovered it was attempted Suicide. He succumbed to his injuries and died.
A Pastor in his message recently shared statistics of the number of police officers who have committed suicide since 2019, in New York. An unbelievable rate of 24% as at mid-year.
Those Who Smile
I share this to ask prayers for those who SMILE or laugh out loud with us outwardly but deep down inside are hurting or depressed due to finances, job loss, relationships, or for one reason or…
My greatest fear is dying without accomplishing my own dreams.
A middle-aged woman was deeply depressed. She had helped her children succeed in life. When they bought their first house, she was there. When they had their kids, she was there. A child needed to be picked up, she was there. However through a series of events, she began reflecting. She got stuck and locked herself away from others. When we finally spoke, she shared that she loves her kids and was happy with their success, but her greatest fear was dying without accomplishing her own dreams.
The Selfish Few
Aren’t we like that at times? We are always there for others to the detriment of our own dreams. Those who step out and go after their dreams without considering others are termed selfish. The challenge is for us to find the right balance. The balance to remember our own…
The pressures of winning was discussed in a post I wrote in 2021. Most of you may know about my involvement with Ignite Caribbean, Washington DC, where I have served as Chief Judge for several years. Through the 30 Under 30 initiative, we honor the outstanding achievements of young adults making waves in our society. But to make waves, it comes with hard work, dedication and sacrifice. And the biggest question is… what if the individual isn’t doing it for themselves… but for society?
Indeed cause for reflection as written in this very telling article … A Pageant Queen Reflects on Turning 30 penned by former Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst (now deceased). In it she shared the pressures associated with achieving and surpassing goals.
In your own quiet corner you lay at night. You dream about being in the nationals. You work your butt off and that dream finally becomes real. Then you start thinking is the Olympics possible? 4 Years of hard work and sacrifice and it comes through! Millions grin with joy and you cannot help but beam. Then another 4 years to go higher. Is it possible? Can you do it again? You get to work again but pretty soon you realize the dream is no longer yours. You want to back off but start thinking … what will they say? How will they react? But really you no longer want that dream (for you).
Is it worth it to deny yourself and go after their goal? One can only think of the Olympics and the predicament of the athletes who compete. Usain bolt was one. Armed with the birth name…
You get the job of your dreams. They said yes! You’re thrilled. Life’s meaningful. Hmmm but what if it’s terrible challenge? What if I can’t do it? Then fear steps in.
You engage in a new entrepreneurship venture. You’re excited. All seems well with your business idea. Plans go into place. Then you begin to wonder… can I do it? What if I fail? Then fear steps in.
By chance you met the person of your dreams. You date. Get to know each other. Then comes the decision of marriage. A lifetime together. The prospects of little Mini ME’s running around. Oh what joy! But then…what if he/she changes? The questions start mulling around in your head. Then fear steps in.
When Fear Takes Over What Do You Do?
When fear takes over what do you do? You face it head on, that’s what. Don’t let it sweat you. Do what you have to. Think positive. Gain knowledge. Build your confidence. There will always be good times and yep …bad ones too. Enjoy the good. Don’t fear the bad. It’s called life. And life has its ups and downs. But it’s your resilience that will help you get through–that will help you survive. If you are religious, pray. It will quiet your spirit. Exercise. Release those endorphins. Whatever you do face your fear head on in faith.
