New Years Resolutions

Today is the last Monday of 2009.  For many people, the start of a new year is a time to make changes.  Not me.  I don’t believe in making new years resolutions, and if you’re serious about your career, neither should you. 

I’ve made several changes in my life this year.  Earlier in the year, I quit smoking.  Currently, I’m working on not letting my dirty dishes sit over night.  These were areas that I needed to improve and so I took action.  There’s nothing special or magical about January 1st.  The new year doesn’t imbibe you with any extra willpower.  If you need to change something in your life, don’t wait until this weekend – do it today.  Right now. 

It generally takes 21 days to turn something into a habit so make today day number one!

Encouragement Part II

I previously wrote a post about the impact of encouragement on you and your career and I got some feedback asking for a more in depth look at the phenomenon of discouragement and encouragement and how it plays into your career.

I want you to stop whatever you are doing and think about five things you believe about yourself.

- Do you believe you are capable of earning a million dollar salary?
- Do you believe that you are capable of getting a promotion?
- Do you believe that you are on the verge of getting fired?
- Do you ALWAYS believe that you are on the verge of getting fired?

Okay, now I want you to think back to the origin of such beliefs. It is my guess that these sorts of self-perceptions have everything to do with the company you keep.

Have you ever watched an awards show like The Grammys or The Oscars? More often than not, you will hear the recipients of such awards doll out a long list of thank you’s. And they are also,  quite frequently, very long lists. This is an interesting bit of proof that the most successful of individuals do not do it all on their own. They do it with the encouragement and, more importantly, the belief of others that they can achieve such amazing feats.

Rarely, if ever, do you see someone go up on a stage after receiving an award saying they’d done it all on their own. In fact, I have never witnessed this.

My point is, you should take a step back and analyze your life in this way. Divide your friends and family into categories of those who encourage and those who do not encourage. Does your mother tell you that you are very intelligent. Does she tell you that she “knows” you can acheive anything you want in life? Then put her into the pile of those who encourage.

Conversely, do you have a father (or mother, even) who is always telling you that you cannot achieve this or that. Do they tell you that you need to revise your thinking to be more realistic? Do they say that you’re dreaming too big? Then put them into the other pile!

Once you’ve got your lists together, you have some serious soul searching to do. I do not believe that you should, or that it is realistic to completely excise these negative people out of your life; however, you do need to learn how to more or less ingore those people.

Positive encouragement is one of the most important tools you can possess in your quest for career. The affects it can have on your mood will increase your aptitude at work. They will even make those sleepy mornings easier by increasing your motivation for going to work. If you know that when you get to work, you’re going to achieve something great, then I have no doubt you’re going to be thrilled to get there.

On the other hand, if people are telling you that what you think you can achieve is unrealistic or that it’s not possible, then how do you think that will affect you at work? It will invariably diminish your ability to work to your full potential, and quite possibly leave you with a sense of depression and hopelessness.

Listen to me: You need to ignore those naysayers because we live in a world where anything is possible. And in your career the sky is the limit. That is, and always will be the truth.

When your outlook is positive, good things will happen. They may take time, but from the very moment you believe, you will start planting the seed of greatness. Your continued encouragement will act as the sunshine that lets them grow into beautiful flowers!

Tags: awards, Career, enocouragement, positivity, promotion, success

Looking For A Job? Start Here!

To all the members of the unemployed community, and there are quite a few of you, Employment Crossing has got you covered. You needn’t look any further than this extensive database of jobs. They’ve got positions in every field. They literally scour the internet searching for company websites with job postings, so you’re getting these positions directly from the source, and there all bundled up nice and neatly for you.

Signing up for Employment Crossing is inevitably a step in the right direction. It will help you get your resume onto the desks hiring personnel all across the United States. The unique thing about Employment Crossing is that they don’t charge employer to post, and because they do charge the job seeker a small fee, that means they are working directly for you!

They’ve got a help like you can call to get any of your questions answered and they’ve got quite a great track record. Thousands and thousands of people have found jobs through Employment Crossing ( me included), and it’s a painless experience.

You can search the internet for leads to brick walls, or telemarketing scams, but these guys keep track of what they post, and they only post quality job leads. Really, take a half an hour, set up with Employment Crossing and find the job you were looking for.

So many of these people scared about being unemployed aren’t taking the initiative it requires to step up and get hired. Employment Crossing will take you from the dug-out to being on-deck as far as getting a job.
Don’t just take my word for it. Check out the site: Employment Crossing

Encouragement

How’s your self-confidence? Are you feeling down and out? Can’t get anything right? Is work too hard, and you’re feeling overwhelmed?

I know exactly what you need!

It can’t be bought in stores and you won’t see it on any infomercials. You need some grade A encouragement from your friends and family!

Chances are that you might be one of the many who struggle with a discouraging inner circle. Friends can be jealous and family can be tough, but ask yourself, is there anyone in your life that encourages you.

This person doesn’t have to be a friend or a family member. It could very well be a co-worker or a even a boss! The point is to find somebody who believes in you

This is something I’ve always known, but had it reiterated to me by Harrison Barnes in his daily webinar. He is of the opinion, and I can’t help but agree, that in order for one to reach their full potential, they need the encouragement of those around them.

Just ask yourself how you feel when you’re encouraged. Do you feel like anything’s possible?

That’s because maybe it is!

Christmas Shopping for the Job Seeker

It’s that time of the year again, with Christmas just around the corner.  Whether you celebrate Christmas, Haunaka, or just like to spread around good cheer, it’s gift giving season.  So what do you get for that hip and trendy job seeker on your list?  Here are a few suggestions…

1. A document bag – Your favorite job seeker will look and feel more professional with a nice leather document bag to hold his or her resumes.  Prices range from $50 to $5000 but even an inexpensive document bag will lend an air of professionalism.

2. Spa treatment or a manicure – help your job seeker look and feel their very best.  When we look good, we feel more confident and that will translate into an interview win.  Home manicure kits range from $10 to $100 and a day at a spa can run a few hundred bucks.

3. A new pair of shoes – Shoes really do make the man or the woman.  Interviewers will notice a professional pair of well kept shoes.  Expect to spend a hundred or more on a pair of quality shoes, or treat your favorite job seeker to a quality shoe shine for a bit less.

Whatever you end up gifting, remember that first impressions count, and job seekers will appreciate the thoughtfulness of a gift that helps them make the best first impression possible.

Be Aggressive

Whether you’re in a high pressure sales position or do administrative work at a small start-up, there is one piece of advice that will apply everywhere: Be aggressive.

Now I don’t want you to start barking at your boss or co-workers, nor do I want you to cut-off every driver on the road, I simply want you to take control of your job.

When you go into work, get going! The best thing you can do is to have a list ready for you to work from. Start checking off the list right away. Your number one goal is to get things done before they HAVE to be done. Be on top of your tasks and you will see results.

Being aggressive also means finding things to do. Keep track of ideas you have to make your position more efficient and productive. Then, when you finish all of your tasks early, start implementing those ideas. Essentially, it all boils down to good ole fashioned hard work, but perhaps it will help you to think of it this way.

You want to make your way through tasks throughout everyday. Think of work like Tetris. You have to have a steady flow of completed lines to save room for all of the stuff piling on top. People around you will notice your hard work, guaranteed. You’ll be more likely to get promotions and raises because you will be seen as more dependable.
If you don’t have a job, then this methodology should apply to your job search. Sign up for sites like Employment Crossing. They have aggressive techniques of finding open positions all around the country. A month with them is sure to lead you toward some great work opportunities.

So get cracking!

Tags: aggresive, Employment, employment crossing, Job Search, job tips, work habits

Top 10 Things to do While Waiting for the Stimulus to Kick in

1. Read the health care reform bill – all 2000 pages of it.

2. Send Christmas cards to the HR departments of every company on the Fortune 500 list.

3. Create your own public works program – pay your kids to shovel snow.

4. Use babelfish to translate your resume into Spanish.

5. Count the number of Facebook friends you’ve actually talked to in the last year.

6. Call the rest of them to wish them Happy Holidays.

7. Learn to play bridge.

8. Volunteer to help at a homeless shelter or a Boys & Girls Club near you.  They could really use the help this time of year.

9. Make pointless posts on blogs, thus ensuring the moderators continue to have a job.

10. Check out employmentcrossing.com and find a new job.

Clean Your Room

I was visiting my brother at his house yesterday, and when I walked in, I was immediately in awe. No, he didn’t have a golden swan, or an ice sculpture of a large rodent; however, there may have been a real rodent living beneath one of the couches in his living room!

I took one fraction of a glance at that place, and I immediately started wishing my way out. I felt consumed by the filth. The carpet was stained beyond belief, there was trash all over the coffee table, the T.V. wore a thick (yes thick, not thin) layer of dust like it was a fur coat…

It was too much for any human being to be comfortable in. I asked my brother how he did it. He shrugged as though I were neurotic.

Keep in mind that my brother is a pretty smart guy. He’s got a great job at a great company and he’s extremely entrepreneurial. I just couldn’t understand how somebody with as much going for him professionally, could live in a disaster zone.

I soon found out.

He called me over into his room to show me the new website he was producing and when I crossed the threshold into his room, it was like stepping into another dimension. A cleaner, more organized dimension.

My brother kept his room almost immaculate. It was nothing like the scary living room or the horrifying bathroom. It was a calm, clean area. I could think clearly, and didn’t feel like bugs were crawling up my skin.

A turnaround forumula is the formula that will allow you to change your life. My mentor, Harrison Barnes, gave a Webinar yesterday about a turnaround formula that works 100% of the time. The key to this forumula, Barnes says, is to simply focus on one thing at a time. Put all your energy into something, anything, it can be as big as finding a career, or as small as cleaning your room.

A clean living space will make your morning smoother and your evening more comfortable. It is easy to avoid a dirty apartment, but it is also easy to take control of such a situation. Take control and give your room a deep cleaning. It will offer you peace of mind and provide you a clean slate (pun intended) with which to get yourself moving in a positive direction.

So get out the vacuum and throw away the burger you left sitting on your desk last week. A clean room is a sign of a clear mind. You deserve it.

Ask Not What Your Employer Can Do For You…

How’s the job going? So-so? Not so good? What job? Fear not members of the job market, you’re at the right place.

First, let’s start with those of you with jobs. After all, that makes up about 90 percent of you. (At least I hope the unemployment rate is still under ten percent.)

When you have a boss, you always want to make him or her happy. That is literally your primary reason for existing at that company. You need to figure out what it is that you can do to make your boss happy and do it as often as you possibly can.

What this also means is completely putting aside your own ego (or what you may call logic) and doing things you may think are useless. I could say that your boss probably knows better than you, and that you’re just not in a position to fully grasp everything, but the truth is, that’s not always the truth.

So let’s say you find a fatal flaw in the boss’ idea of a perfectly functioning company. As long as your boss is a reasonable human being, this will elate him or her. Remember, if the company goes under, so does the boss’ job. They want job security, too and if you can show them a way to better their job security, then you’re most likely on your way to a promotion.

Everytime your boss compliments you, you dig yourself a deeper nitch into the comforts of job security. Deep in the wonders of job security is where you want to be. After all, for most of us, job security is life security.

Now, for those of you without a job, and I’m sure there are lots of you (over 500,000 at least), you need to take these principles and apply them to somebody that you would like to be your boss.

Grab a freelance job from a company you love and do it well! Be innovative and proactive. Carve yourself out a job. Do some research on a company you could see yourself working for, and work for them! Propose them a service, show them you are an assett. Companies NEED assetts. So make them need YOU!

Interview Prep

So you’ve landed an interview – congratulations!  Now what?

It’s time to prepare.

Remember that in this market, the competition is thick and you want to make it easy for them to hire you.  Take the time to really research the company.  You should know what they do, where they do it, who does it and how.  You want to know where you will fit into the overall picture when the interviewer starts asking what you bring to the table.  Good research will let you tailor your answers to more directly address the needs of the company.  Good research will also show the interviewer that you care about getting the job, that you are interested in the company and not just a paycheck, and that you are self motivated.

Make sure you get a good nights sleep before the interview.  If the interview is in the morning, consider picking out what you will wear the night before.  Make sure everything you need is easy to find so that you don’t stress over it in the morning.  Give yourself time to eat a good breakfast.

Lay off the coffee or cut back to just one cup.  Make sure you arrive early enough to spend a few minutes relaxing.  Remember that hiring manager often hate doing interviews so put them at ease by being relaxed and confident. 

Good luck!