Ditch It. Switch It. 8 Steps To Relaunch It…

Ditch it. Switch it. Relaunch it. Ditch? Switch What? Your career! That’s what.

A recent article shared Goalcast 8 steps to a successful career change. I reflected on which were more important, but coming from a place of experience in HR Leadership. I must agree that all is important. No step can be omitted if you want to do what you love.

Need a job to survive? Get one. You’ve gotta survive but once that’s done, don’t take your mind off where you want to go. Don’t settle. Each step is a journey to success. Here I share the 8 points with my own twists to get you moving.

1.Reflect on Why You Want to Change Your Job

Been doing the same thing for many years. Want a change. Got married. Started a family and you want to be available for the initial growth of your kids. Empty-nester who wants to go on a different path. To try a new thing. To go on a different direction. Or you need personal growth.

Whatever the situation, reflect on why you want to change.

2.Think about what you would like to do instead

What do you really like to do? What brings you the most satisfaction? What drives you to jump out of bed in the mornings? When do you feel like you’re working hard but not feeling it? Not realizing that time is passing by? Think about it. Then do that.

3.Think How you Can Achieve It

What can you Do to achieve it? Think about it. Is there a gap in the skills that you have and the skills that you’ll need to get into the new career that you want? If you don’t know go to the next step.

4.Research

Go do your research.

If it’s a new career then find out what you need to be successful. Do you have the skills? Certifications?

Don’t know what you want to do? Search. Do assessments to get to know you.

5.Investigate the Job Market

Are there jobs available for your desired career? Are you relocating …or do you need to consider relocating? How much does the job pay? Will it meet your desired standard of living? Investigate things like that.

6.NarrowDown your Options

Gather the data you researched about your career. Reflect on it. Analyze it. Picture yourself doing it, then make your decision. Select a path.

7.Create a plan

When will you be able to make the switch? Do you have enough money to make the change. If not plan it.

8.Create a Resume

Now it’s to time to create your resume to suit the job you want. Need help there are lot of resource out their from career counselors, google, resume writers to templates online.

Consider your skills. Pull together those skills relevant to the job you want. Tailor your resume to match the job You want.

Need help to make the leap? Let’s Connect or do it yourself through gleaning through my new book Ditch It. Switch It.

Cheers!

Writers: 50 Productivity Hacks For Entrepreneurs That You Can Use…

Paper, electronic or a combination of both? No matter your preference, you’re sure to find John Ramton’s 50 Productivity Hack’s For Entrepreneurs a great source of inspiration. Of his 50, here are my top 13 favs:

Top 13 Time Hacks

  1. Plan your day around your energy levels
  2. Optimize notification
  3. Schedule the time you actually need
  4. Plan themed days
  5. Pump up the jams
  6. The 2-minutes rule
  7. Don’t break the chain
  8. Just time learning
  9. Plan for interruptions
  10. Every Friday, review your calendar for the past week and the week coming
  11. Pencil in time to do nothing
  12. Unsubscribe and unfollow
  13. Give yourself a break

Which of the 50 did you like the most? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Goals: Sometimes You Will Just Have To Show Up Without An Invitation….

Sometimes you will just have to show up without an invitation where doors were never opened for you. Just Go. Don’t let anyone deny you the Opportunity. ~Henry Fernandez

Encouraged by this. Hope you are too.

As the sun rises daily without an invitation, we should rise in pursuit of our Goals. Let no one stop you. Go. Reach for the opportunity and if it doesn’t exist, create one. For only you can accomplish what you will.

Cheers!

Resignation. Knowing When It’s Time…

The Royal couple’s resignation and their desire to make a huge change, has turned the world upside down. So many questions. What will happen next?

Knowing when it’s time.

It’s no secret that resignation from anything is hard. Be it resignations from public office, volunteer roles, relationships (yikes) or other.

A few years ago I wrote about the process of resignation. It’s a serious thing and one that has been thrown into the spotlight again with that Royal Resignation.

The Way To Turn It In

But is there a right way to resign? Having managed the Human Resource role for over 25 years, I have seen many. Besides the common letter, I have seen post-it notes from recent grads to their supervisor, text messages, and a call to say “I’m out”.

Reflecting on the Royal couple’s resignation or their desire to make a huge change, its as though the world has been turned upside down. So many questions. What will happen next? How will they function? Where will they live? How will they perform their various roles? So many questions.

But there are correct ways to resign. Most companies have formal procedures to be followed including putting the resignation in writing (not on post it …smile). Companies often advise employees of the pertinent notice to be given to the employer if and when they intend to leave. This varies from company to company and may be anywhere from a day’s notice for new hires still on probation, two weeks or a month depending on state laws. Again this all depends on the capacity that the incumbent holds.

A Sigh Of Relief?

When it’s finally done employers may decide to have the employee leave the company immediately or stay until they hire a replacement for training and handover should they do desire. It might very well be a time to shake things up a bit, negating handover to replacement.

Reports are that the royal couple announced their resignation on social media…more specifically, Instagram. This has alarmed the Queen as well as members of the royal family.

The Divide

There’s now a divide about whether it should have been done and how. Oprah’s name has been called and she has denied providing advice or her opinion on this very royal matter.

I’ll only conclude with encouraging you to do it the ‘proper’ way. That means, give the required notice to the powers that be. But then again Millennials consider the decision to be the couple’s because of the bureaucracy involved, while older generations support to follow the traditional route.

It’s your decision. But whatever route you take, be prepared for the next steps as the receivers of the resignation respond.

Good luck to you as you make your own changes this year. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask me how either through my newest book Your Career: Ditch It or Switch It or simply contacting me here.

Cheers!

Where Are They Now? Here’s One Word Used To Describe Their Journey…

img_0313.jpg

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
― Søren Kierkegaard

A sprint. A jog. A run. A walk. I sat on a bench in the park stretching. I watched health and fitness enthusiasts do what they love. I stretched more, then reflected on life. Where are we now? The tethered years fly by …up close slowly; looking back, it’s a flash. I then began scrolling, and there popped the question from a social media forum:

Describe Your Life in ONE Word

Curious, I scrolled through the list of responses. Some were positive, some nonchalant, while others were filled with a bask of the negatives. Here I share a few of the comments:

  • Surprising
  • Destined
  • Stuck
  • Perfect
  • Open Book
  • Confused
  • Determined
  • Focused
  • Blessed
  • Challenging
  • Change
  • Sucks
  • Fortunate
  • Tears
  • Observant
  • Progressive
  • Persistence
  • Purposeful
  • Growth
  • Making
  • Incredible
  • Awesome
  • Evolutionary
  • Adventurous
  • Waiting
  • Meaningful
  • Beautiful

Does any of the above responses resonate with your life right now? Can you add any that’s missing? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

 

New Mayor’s Historical Appointment. Success And The Challenges He Had To Overcome…

I was flying out of the Fort Lauderdale International airport to Washington DC for a conference when I heard the familiar voice of Broward County’s newly appointed Mayor VC Holness announcing welcome to visitors. Mayor Holness made history recently when he was unanimously voted to become the first Black Mayor to lead the county. Indeed an achievement.

Success Strategies Research

Personally I extend my own congratulations because years ago when I conducted my research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders in the United States with Nova Southeastern University, Mayor Holness quite willingly agreed to participate in the phenomenalogical study. At the time he was Commissioner. In the research he shared the strategies he used to become successful as well as the challenges encountered along the way.

Regardless of how we feel about politics, his appointment signifies a goal he went after and achieved.

Mayor Holness continues to strive. To work hard to show those who wish to achieve that it can be done through hard work and dedication.

More of his story as well as those of other industry leaders in healthcare, aviation, education, media and more can be read in the book Success Strategies of Immigrant Leaders In The United States.

Thanks again Mayor VC Holness for your willingness to go beyond the call of duty to share your experience to benefit rising millennial leaders.

Cheers!

5 Things To Quit Right Now…

Don’t mope. Don’t Give up. Just quit a few things.

We know our bad habits. We all have them. Lifehack shared a few that if we act on, will go a long way to improving our lives and mental capacity.

  1. Trying to please everyone
  2. Fear Change
  3. Live in the past
  4. Putting yourself down
  5. Overthink. Overthink. Overthink. Stop it.

We Reach Our Goals When We Focus

So follow these tips and start your journey to revive, refresh, and renew as you step forward into the new year. Only you… can do it.

Cheers!

Dreams. Here’s How To Make Them A Reality…

A Dream written down with  a date becomes a Goal. A Goal broken down into steps becomes a Plan. A plan backed by Action becomes Reality. ~Robert Herjavec

For The First Time…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Mid-life she decided to move to Paris. A dream she always had. With kids grown and little or no responsibilities she decided to take the plunge! She bought a house exclaiming “it’s my first time”.

Adventure

I thought about that. I have had many first times. An explorer and lover of adventure, I have sky-dived for the first time. I have moved to different states and countries for the first time.  Not to mention my first time at writing and publishing my research on Success Strategies. A book that has helped many others for their first time.

I remember the first time I experienced childbirth…exhilarating yet humbling experience. 14 years later I did it again for the first time and the experience was no different. Wonders of the world! A little me was born again for the first time.

Travel

I now look forward to my own…

View original post 86 more words

Silence…

Be silent, or say something better than silence. Pythagoras

My three-year-old nephew was playing hide and seek with the other boys when one of the boys came over to hide near where I was sitting. He started giggling. I told him not to because it’s a secret. Maybe that was his first time being exposed to the word because he started shouting secret! Secret! It was hilarious!

Think Before You Speak

But what about us? Do we do the same in our daily lives, jobs, business or entrepreneurship endeavors? Do we publicize or quietly share what others tell us in secret? Do we know when to speak and when to be silent? Do we know what to to share and when to share it? Communication is key to relationships and knowing the right time to speak is even more important.

Many are the secrets that have been espoused that have destroyed organizations, relationships and families. Remember speech is silver, silence is golden.

Let’s make it a habit to think before we speak.

Cheers!

Try A Thing You Haven’t Done 3 Times…

Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.”
— Virgil Thomson

What Advice Would You Give To Your Younger Self? 17 Professionals Share…

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Life changes. We evolve, make decisions, choose careers, relationships, and enlarge our own space to embrace and create our own circle of influence including nuclear families. Recently I came across the common question about life and pondering the changes you would have made if you had the chance to advise your younger self. In deep thought I decided to ask professionals what their thoughts were. Most reflected. Here are excerpts of those who quickly chimed in:

  1. Stop and smell the roses. Life passes by in a flash. Children grow up. Relationships mature, evolve, change. Enjoy life. Appreciate the little things.
  2. Take more adventures. Let go of traditions.
  3. Enjoy life more along my journey. To be fearless and take more risks.
  4. Slow down, travel, start a business, invest, read more.
  5. Things don’t need to be perfect or need the approval of others. Dream big and go after your dream.
  6. Believe in Yourself
  7. Start walking with the Lord earlier
  8. Take great risks. Step out in faith. It has put me in a shrunken box…away from a life I was used to….but I am satisfied and firmly believe I will get to the dream I desire, despite the tough road I tarry. Perhaps I would not have known God the way I now do.
  9. Always have courage as life is not linear. Even if you don’t think it makes sense stop reflect and listen to the universe. The path is already defined
  10. Be bold
  11. Don’t give up and push for the reality of your dreams
  12. Be bolder in your steps. Everyone is trying to pave a path for themselves in life and are also facing their own doubts and struggles. They may act out in both love and hate so don’t react to either and never be discouraged when you don’t always hear what you want or allow naysayers to erode your confidence.
  13. You’ll get there. Everything doesn’t have to happen right away. Don’t dwell on the worst parts
  14. Pray more and listen to people less.
  15. Experience Peace and happiness always
  16. Be more patient. Do not feel so rushed all of the time. Give things a chance.
  17. Put your energy into things that can truly change or improve. Don’t spin your wheels on dead-end projects.

 

What about you? What advice would you give to your younger self? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Travel with Intent

A photographer's view of the world - words and images to inspire your travels and your dreams

Answering daily prompts

In this blog I'm attempting to answer wordpress daily prompts

Alex Tafur

Property Maintenance

Poesy Perspectives

embrace the magic

GREENLiGHT

When God Says Go

HEALTH | INSPIRATION

Mind • Body • Life

My Sister My Friend

Family. Youth. Parenting

Kamileon Photography

Your Focus. Our Lens.