Tag: personal-development

5K Run. 4 Tips To Prepare…

“Finish it, then take two Advil”. Words of encouragement from the point-marker.

At Five o’clock each morning, I’m up and running. Yep, that was me during my high school days. I was on the track team. Funny thing is I never did it as a requirement. Just thought I’d go with my dad (a professional boxing champ) and worked out while he worked out. 100-meter sprint, 400 or 800 meter distance running was nothing. The preparation worked. I captured many awards which I sadly I did not keep to show my kids. Why? Because the value was not in the awards received, but in the talent I used it to benefit my school’s track and field events. The value was in supporting my teams at school, business house athletic championships and in the community.

The Prep: How to Prepare For The 5K

Here are Tony’s tips for how to prepare in 4 Weeks

  1. Week 1: Brisk walk for 5 minutes. Jog slowly for 1 minute, and then walk for 1 1/2 minutes.
  2. Week 2: Brisk walk for 5 minutes. Jog slowly for 1 1/2 minutes, and then walk for 2 minutes.
  3. Week 3: Brisk walk for 5 minutes.
  4. Week 4: Brisk walk for 5 minutes.

In addition, Judith front-line head Nurse and 5K Expert shared her top 3 Points:

1. One thing that I tell people to do is download the App “Couch To 5K”. That App trains you to run. 2. Make sure you eat an excellent breakfast for energy (oatmeal with blueberries; a big bagel with some protein – peanut butter is great if you like it. You need the carbs for energy). 3. Hydrate well during training and also the day before the run (I alternate with water and Gatorade for the runs). Happy running!

How I Prepared

How did I prepare? Nothing. Nada. Actually, I decided I would go to support the worthy cause, take a picture and move on, back to the safety and warmth of my car, then return home. My mistake? I walked with the crowd of runners to the starting point. Then I decided to walk on just a little further…and a little further. As I progressed along the journey, the crowd seemed to have disappeared and my car was nowhere in sight. Father help! But then with no option to get back to my car on that very cold and windy morning, my high school coaching motivation chipped in. I walked slower and hydrated. Though the journey seemed never-ending, I got to the finish line …police escort and all.

Walk. Pray. Strategize

Yep! That’s what I did. I walked. Prayed and Strategized my year’s goals. This feat reminded me of my resilience. It started with my desire to support a worthy cause and ended with my learning to always be prepared (my girl scout motto). Although the journey seemed never-ending, the cheers and smiles of point-markers made it so much easier.

That said, be encouraged. Find your own point-markers to achieve your life’s goals–be it work, education, family or other. Keep advancing to your own finish line. Success awaits.

Cheers!

Experiencing On-The-Job Nightmares? 5 Ways To Ditch It…

Hate your job? Feel sick just getting up in the morning to go (virtual or in-person)? We certainly understand. Many have been there. Just don’t jump ship yet. Here are 5 Strategies to do it right when you are at that crossroad and wondering what to do.

5 Strategies To Do It Right

  1. Don’t leave (yet)
  2. Start your search to see the job options available in the market place
    • Like your current career? Stay with it
    • Hate your current career? Plan an escape
    • Take into consideration your current skills, qualification and experience.
    • Upgrade skills if needed to suit your new role
  3. Update your Resume to match the job you’re looking for and review your social media profiles to make sure nothing unprofessional exist
  4. It’s time to begin your search to Ditch it for the ideal career you want
  5. Keep Motivated. Prepare yourself psychologically. The going can get rough especially while you are still in the same miserable job. So plan an escape while you wait. This can be:
    • Bathroom run (to breathe while on the job)
    • Mental escape to your happy place (vacation getaway, home reno, time with family, time alone, time with your favorite hobby)

Above all, be flexible. Sometimes you may need to take an interim role to get to where want to go. This may come with lower pay, entry level path or internship to get on your new career path. It’s the sacrifice you must take to get to where you want to go.

Good Luck and Happy hunting!

Need help? Lets connect.

Cheers!

Job Hunting? 7 Ways To Prepare For Your Next Career Move…

The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

A colleague in the industry asked me to address concerns about the unemployment situation during the pandemic. So what do we recommend to people who are job hunting? To those who live from pay check to pay check and now feel frustrated because they have hit rock bottom? Here are 7 Ways:

1. Build Mental Capacity

Build your mental capacity. Be honest about your circumstances. Keep yourself motivated when the going gets rough.

2. Ditch that Miserable Job

Go for that change. Need a career change? The best time is now. Interested in starting a business? It the right time. Go ahead and do it.

3. Do your Market Research

Consider the job you like

Be flexible, take what you can get (for now). It might be lower pay and benefits. But build it as part of your strategy. Just don’t let it be a permanent thing like a lot of people do. Then later they look around and realize years have passed. What should have been temporary slowly became permanent in the rat race of time.

4. Clean up your Public Profile

Recruiters and Hiring managers will check you out. So lead them to what you want them to see. Clean up that LinkedIn, Facebook and any other social media profile that you are active on.

5. Prepare

Prepare your Resume. This should be tailored to the job you are looking for and not the job that you had before. Get professional help from a coach if needed or get tips from the book: Your Career: Ditch It. Creative careers in media and entertainment industry such as artists and content-creators need a professional website. Simple will do. Just get it done

Do contact your references. Ditch the surprize. Nothing worse than one of your referees receiving a phone call for someone they haven’t heard from in 5-10 years or more. I know because that’s what happens to me time and again. Then you are expected to provide a good reference. No surprizes guys.

6. Upgrade Skills

What skills will you need in your new career? Will you need to upgrade? If so, go do it. Take advantage of Free training that has become available during the Pandemic. This includes the government’s re-employment assistance. They offer Free training for many career options. All you need to do is register.

7.Avoid Toxic Friends

Align yourself with a network who is going in the direction that you would like to go. Avoid toxicity.

Apply these 7 tips and have fun while you do it.

Cheers!

5 Things To Give Up For The Love Of Success…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Renowned author Arianna Huffington announced her top 13 Things To Give Up for success. From her list, I’ve selected my top 5. Here I share:

  1. Give up on playing it Small
  2. Give up on Excuses
  3. Give up on Perfectionism  
  4. Give up on saying YES to things that don’t support your goals
  5. Give up on Toxic People

So those are mine, what’s yours? My intention is to set up an Allergic reaction every time I deviate to keep me on track. Accountability partner, I know you’ve got my back.

Remember to be successful in life you must be willing to do more, think more, and go beyond the call of duty.

Cheers!

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Can’t Get Your Child To Read? 13 Ways To Spark That Fire…

Books are knowledge. Books are reflection. Books change your mind,

-Toni Morrison

How do you get your child to read? Popular question 21st century parents ask. It can also be extended to adults. Booklovers find themselves lost in books facing curiosity for the reason many defy reading as avidly as a decade ago. Too many distractions most say. Parents have it the hardest especially during the era of virtual games. But as far back as my own family’s history, I can think of my uncle who was a school principal, I received books on birthdays and holidays. Didn’t like it at the time but appreciate it in the years that ensued.

So, parents there’s hope. Here are 13 ways booklovers shared to spark that fire.

  1. Don’t be a nag
  2. Read more yourself. Children live what they learn
  3. Limit screen time from early
  4. Read stories to them
  5. Make bookstore visit a habit
  6. Let them pick books of their choice
  7. Dramatize characters. Make them come alive
  8. Watch movies on books of real life events then let them decide which is better – book or movie
  9. Display books around the house – Easy access.
  10. Make reading a habit
  11. Read books with exciting stories, then visit museums for visual effect
  12. Share amazing stories and when they ask what’s next, let them read the book for themselves
  13. Lead by example

Any points missing that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

HBR’s What Happens When Your Career Becomes Your Identity?

Is Your Career your identity?

What happens when your career becomes your identity? This Happens to so many of us? Here are 3 of the Questions HBR’s contributor Janna Koretz suggest asking yourself.

1. How do you think about your job outside the office?

2. How do you describe yourself? How much of this description is tied to your job, title, or company?

3.How would you feel if you could no longer continue in your profession?

Great questions. Read the article for the full analysis.

You may also listen to tips as I chat with Patricia Reid-Waugh or get a copy of my book ‘Your Career’ Ditch It? Switch it?’ Both provide a deeper dive into how you can ditch it and gain the identity that brings lasting satisfaction.

Cheers!

Goals: Killing Me Softly…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Goals…There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. And there’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them. —Jim Rohn

Over the past few months we had lots of birthdays at the office. So we could all enjoy,  I bought candies! More specifically M&M’s with all the nuts and stuff. Yum! Staff was thrilled. Another liked to chew on pens when thinking. Don’t we all know someone like that? Anyway, I bought a pack of pencils in her favorite style and gave to her as a precursor appetizer to a group lunch. She found it hilarious!

Then as she was about to consume the M&Ms, she cried out omgeeee it has nuts! I’m allergic to nuts! The pencils were a trip but then she exclaimed ‘ you want me to die? I…

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What Inspires You? 38 Things Writers Share…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

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The Only Limit To Our Realization Of Tomorrow Will Be Our Doubts Of Today. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Music, passion, travel, the rain some shared.Once a staff member fell seriously ill. Apparently she hid it from most but as it progressed, it became more evident. Word finally reached me in my role as HR. That was when I called to tell her of the concerns raised by her co-workers. It was then that she shared her situation. It was grave… with a crescendo of physical issues, she wouldn’t survive. I immediately jumped into action-mode to assist in the best way that I could.

In reflecting on the question “What Inspires you?” I realized that what inspires me is the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Helping others inspires gratification. Here I share a brief synopsis from the perspective response of what inspires others.

  1. The random people…

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That Wretched Year…

My uncle sent me a New Years greeting that all my dreams will come through. Got me thinking about him. Retired, does he have a dream? Sure. We all have dreams. Then it took me back to a sports newscaster who retired the day before after decades in the business. It was his life. He loved it. And we love him.

But what’s next?

I thought about this wretched year as most people would describe it. Ravished by loss of life, hope, shame as most middle-class experienced wants and needs in a world rocked by a mysterious pandemic. Never before has cleanliness been so top of mind.

But what’s next?

Year Of Innovation & Creativity

Personally, 2020 was one of innovation. Creativity soared as mankind tried to survive. Children became computer wizards as they had to learn to use the tools that adults used in business to get things done. Seniors did the same. Those previously fearful of computer are now experts at zoom able to turn on or off their videos depending on whether or not they want to be seen during church services. Entertainment became virtual from tik Toc to Instagram and Facebook lives. Innovation Soared.

But what’s next?

There Is Hope

As we step into a new year, 2021, most are hopeful. They’re hoping that the wretched 2020 year will not repeat itself. For me hope is the most important thing. That being said:

I wish you health.
I wish your needs satisfied beyond what’s required
I wish you leftovers to share with others
I wish you smiles that goes deep within
I wish you a year filled with extravagant laughter
But most of all I wish you peace that only the spirit can provide.
I wish you solace that you will be able to stand firm holding onto the only one with strong support.

So as we wave this wretched year goodbye, we join together to welcome the new filled with renewed goals, dreams, aspirations. A future bright and beautiful beyond compare.

Cheers to you and yours as you cross over into a bright future.

Muah!

That Goal…Clutch It Up

My mom clutched it up! That’s what Jakob shouted when the news came of the neighbor’s new born baby on Christmas Day. To 10-year old Jakob, his goal is not to get just one gift at Christmas for birthday and Christmas. He wanted separated gifts. So he cheered his mom for clutching him up and giving birth early January.

Microwave Society

Caused me to reflect on our goals. Sometimes we give birth to our goals prematurely and it doesn’t last. Our microwave society want degrees in weeks. Marriage before couples meet. We have become so hastened that we find it hard to wait on the 30 second microwave heat. Yep. We have become an impatient society.

The Race Is Not For The Swift

But remember, the race is not for the swift. The race is for the steady. For those who are consistent in what they do. We are not talking about procrastinators. We are talking about consistent effort. Consider marathon runners and athletes, They work hard consistently and in the long run become winners. So let’s be patient and clutch up those goals. We too will achieve and experience success that lasts.

Cheers!

What Gets Measured…

What gets measured gets done

William Thompson, Scottish Physicist

A Mistake Repeated More Than Once Is A Decision…

Don’t touch that! It’s hot! That’s what I told my 4-year-old, years ago. Sure enough it intrigued her and off she went sneaking behind me. Touched the iron and a squeal ensued. No doubt I am not alone with that experience. That’s how children are. They go after risks even when warned. Then they learn.

A Mistake repeated more than once is a Decision

The point is, that’s just how adults should be. Go after new things. Try it, then learn from it. There is wisdom in recognizing a mistake and knowing when to move on. Here’s one Entrepreneur David Mullings who did just that.

Made a decision that didn’t work out? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

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