Tag: stuck

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!

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!

Keep Pushing…

Keep pushing

Steve Harvey was teaching his little grandson to ride a bike for the first time. He kept repeating the words “keep pushing“. As I watched the short clip that his wife Marjorie posted, I reflected on the lesson in that clip.

Life’s Challenging Quests

In life we need to keep pushing. Sometimes we don’t push hard enough and want to give up when the going gets tough or rough (whatever word you want to add to those grueling times). But then it’s at those very times that we need to keep pushing.

We achieve success one push at a time.

Cheers!

Even On A Team Dreams May Differ…

If I had planned my life, it never would have ended up like this. So maybe it’s kind of fun not to plan. Maybe it’s more fun just to see where life takes you. ~Joanna Gaines

In a relationship, dreams may differ. In a striving organization, dreams may differ. On a professional team, siblings growing up together…in all these scenarios, dreams may differ. Each person has his/her own goals and objectives which contributes positively to the end result. Negatively? Not so.

Let’s consider Marie and Alex, both managers who are working on a marketing project to achieve their department’s goal. Marie wants the project to succeed because she has her eyes on that coveted promotion. Alex wants to succeed because his family is growing and he’s hoping to get that mega increase to move into a bigger space to suit his family’s needs.

Goals Should Align

Goals should align though. How we get there may differ but they should align.

But as Joanna said … be open. Plan it but let it flow in whichever direction it chooses. You’ll get there if you don’t give up

Cheers!

A Lesson Will Keep Repeating Itself Until It Is Learned…

A lesson will keep repeating itself until it is learned. Life first will send the lesson to you in the size of a pebble; if you ignore the pebble, then life will send you a brick; if you ignore the brick, life will send you a brick wall; if you ignore the brick wall, life will send you a demolition truck.”- Oprah

The Greatest Mistake You Can Make…

The greatest mistake you can make is to believe that you have to do everything on your own power. Do not assume that asking for help or guidance is to admit defeat. In fact, it is just the opposite. To ask for help or to accept help to accomplish a goal is to also ingrain into your own spirit that you will help others over obstacles or hurdles as well. ~Catherine Pulsifer

11 Epic Christmas Movies…

Just love the holidays! Absolutely love the holidays! The air is different. The spirit of Christmas is evident. Family, laughter, fun, and cheer fills the atmosphere. Lights everywhere brightens the sky ushering the spirit of the season. Not to mention the gifts; the fun; the parties and so much more.

Movies

Though I write and it brings me joy, there’s nothing like a good movie. I’m not talking the hallmark type where we can predict the end. It’s always the ideal ending. I’m talking real entertainment. Fun times with the family. Here I share 11 epic holiday movies.

  1. A Christmas Story
  2. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  3. Home Alone
  4. The Holiday
  5. Scrooged
  6. A Christmas Carol
  7. This Christmas
  8. Jingle All The Way
  9. Christmas With The Kranks
  10. The Family Stone
  11. Miracle on 34th Street
  12. Die Hard
  13. Elf

Curl up with popcorn, your favorite blanket, dog or your love and enjoy the delight of these unforgettable holiday movies.

From the list, how many have you seen? Any missing? Add your fav.

Cheers!

Get your copy of book GreenLight and start planning for your holiday gift list.

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!

If You Haven’t Found It Yet Keep Looking…

If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. ~Steve Jobs

Thought provoking Motivational Quote shared on a Social media platform. A curious patron followed up with the Question:

But isn’t it true that you should know when to go with the wave and when to let it go?

While responding briefly, I decided to reply in more depth here.

It’s True

Yep it’s true. In short, if it’s a goal that you really want, there are many avenues to get there. Sometimes a u-turn is necessary. Sometimes it’s a detour. Other times it’s a revamp. Same goal but different route. Get my drift?

But delving a bit deeper, let’s examine each point.

Sometimes it’s a U-turn

Let’s face it, things happen. I remember when I was writing what was supposed to be my first book which coincidentally turned out to be my fifth. My usual adage is to write about leadership, success, career and personal development. However, this one was different. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out the type of book it was supposed to be. Then one day I decided to make a U-turn. To go back to the beginning. I printed the manuscript, scattered it on the floor, then sat and examined what it was all about. That’s when it became clear that it was simply a book of inspirational short stories, exhortations, and encouraging prayers for difficult journeys. Today, the book GreenLight sits on the shelves of Barnes and Noble, Amazon and elsewhere with reviews of encouragement and blessings gleaned.

Sometimes A Detour

In pursuit of our goals, we encounter obstacles that forces us off course. We are forced into a detour. Most often we get angry, sad or depressed. This happens most often when we’re traveling.

For me it was my career. I started working in the financial industry. After 6 years I lost my grandmother… the bedrock of my family. It took me on a world wind spin. I traveled to numb the pain. After a year, I decided to head back to banking. At the time it was seen as a ‘prestigious job’ and the only thing I knew. Suffice it to say I was steered to what I considered a small organization which I thought was quite a bore. With no challenge evident, an opportunity arose within less than a week and I went back to work in the bank. Days later, I was approached about an opportunity that existed. Turned out to be the same job. I rolled my eyes…not interested. A few weeks later one of my close friends shared with me about an opportunity outside of banking. I wasn’t interested but decided to humor her and go. Guess what? It was the same job! Detour after detour routed me back to what I now know was the  ideal job I was looking for… but because it was sealed in a different package, I resisted. Also, what I perceived as a small organization was a subsidiary of the #2 International Pharmaceutical company worldwide. I led their human resource division in that region for over 14 years. Oh what a detour!

Sometimes A Revamp

I love the movie “Under The Tuscan Sun”. In it the main character lost her life of success as she knew it. Her friend gave her a ticket to getaway for a while. She eventually accepted… and on a whim, bought a house in Italy, which a year later, turned out to be a life change…a total revamp from what she was accustomed to. She became an entrepreneur stepping out into the unknown and it worked out for her. Same goal but different space.

So yes, sometimes we have the same goal, but when things happen we may be forced to make a U-turn, detour, or a total revamp. Same goal but a different route. If it hasn’t happened for you yet…keep looking, or if needed let’s connect.

What about you? In pursuit of your goals have you ever had to make a change that took you on a different path? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

 

 

Writing Woes. Writers Share 21…

Time. Overthinking. Distractions. Those were some of the thoughts from writers as they reflected on the issues encountered when they want to write. Here I share 21 as writers chimed in response to the forum question:

What do you struggle with the most when writing?

    1.Time
    2.Starting
    3.Grammar
    4.Self-doubt
    5.Ideas
    6.Focus on one topic / idea at a time
    7.Setting
    8,Remaining focused
    9,Getting paid
    10. Revising
    11. Knowing when to stop
    12. Taking what you’ve learned and start another book
    13, Marketing
    14, Losing traction
    15. Sitting down to actually write
    16. Starting but not completing a story
    17. Editing
    18. Writing
    19. Distractions
    20. Being left alone
    21. Overthinking

As a writer, can you identify with any of the above Struggles? Any missing? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!