When Willpower Isn't Enough...

It's coming.  The new year is a traditional time to take stock of ourselves, set some resolutions to do better, and inevitably slide into failure and depression as we break each resolution, one by one!  Maybe that's because we depend on willpower to keep our resolutions.  This article from the NY Times suggests that planning for keep yourself motivated and rewarded will outperform willpower every time.

Building On Your Personal Strengths | Lifescript.com

Building On Your Personal Strengths | Lifescript.com

Here's an interesting article to help you focus on your strengths today.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Today, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day, a day to remember and be grateful for all the good things in our lives.  As a fan of this page, you're likely a problem-solver personality.  Problems solvers tend to focus on, what else, problems.  But sometimes this focus can skew your view.  You don't have to be an American to stop and appreciate what works well in your life, and the good things about you.  For today, think about the good stuff you have going for you, and be thankful.  After all, gratitude is the engine of an abundant universe.

Making the Move…

Studies show that as many as 55% of Americans are unhappy with their current job and thinking about changing to another. Are you one of them? Perhaps you’re one of those people who are thinking about making a big move. In today’s challenging economy, a job change can be a big deal. Finding the opportunity is the first challenge, but don’t underestimate the issues of fitting into a new environment. Sometimes, it may make more sense to work on the job opportunities where you are currently situated.

Taking some classes, perhaps achieving a degree, or even improving your communication skills – all can help you advance and succeed even in your current job. Old professions are withering away and new fields are being created every day. To stay up with the changes, you need to know your goals and your marketability perfectly.

So how do you know when it’s really time to move on? Here’s a little self-assessment to assist you in making your decision. There are no right or wrong answers, just interesting ones.

Part One – Are You Really Ready

1. Are you making a decision based on impulse or careful reflection?

So you’re thinking about moving…to a new job (or maybe a new house, or even a new city). Is this a decision you’ve made on the spur of the moment or have you been giving it a lot of thought? Studies show that people who think a lot about what they are looking for before making major changes come closer to reaching what they sought than those who made changes without much thought beforehand.

If you’ve been thinking about a new job for a long time, gathering your skills and abilities and maximizing your resume for best “curb appeal,” you’re probably ready to go. But if this is a new idea, perhaps it’s best to roll it around for a little while longer. Give some real thought to how you’ll feel in a totally new and unfamiliar environment. What is irritating you today at your current job might be nothing compared to how tough a new job could be.

2. Have you had a conflict situation which makes you temporarily angry enough to leave?       

Never make decisions based on anger. It clouds your judgment and obstructs good decision making. If something has occurred at work that’s made you angry, first and foremost, cool off. Then think about what happened. Could better handling on your part have avoided the situation? Are you totally satisfied that you were not partly responsible? Great leaders recognize when they’ve made a mistake, and are never afraid to take responsibility. We’re all only human after all. A simply apology can remedy some of the most serious situations.

But if the situation was not your fault, and is truly unfixable and intolerable, don’t just quit. You put yourself at a disadvantage and in this economy you might never recover. You’ll almost certainly be tempted to take the first job that comes along rather than a truly better one. Instead, begin doing your research and making your transition plan and fly low. When the time is right, you’ll spring free to a steady platform of a great new job.

3. Do you feel a sense of urgency to make a move?

Is a new job something you daydream about when you’re bore, or do you feel a daily pressure to make a move? Does your stomach twist up in knots every morning as you travel to work? Or maybe you’re just convinced that there’s something better for you out there.     It might seem a little backward, but while a sense of urgency can help by getting you into action for your job hunt, it can also cause you to move faster or with less preparation that is best for you.

4. Are you looking for a way for your employer to finally recognize you and your hard work?

We all want the recognition we’ve earned. But few employers will appreciate you leaving. If recognition is what you seek, a job change may not be the answer. Studies show that most people don’t recognize what isn’t put in front of them. If you’re accomplishments are routinely overlooked, perhaps it’s because you haven’t learned how to properly illuminate them. Some people call it marketing; I call it shining light on the things you’re proud of.

5. Do you feel that giving your employer a shock by resigning might get them to see things your way?

Forget it. In this labor market, you’re more likely to give them a chance to replace you for less money that you make now. Don’t use ultimatums or threats of resignation to get your way. If logic or merit won’t make the case, little else will be more effective. Instead, check yourself. The impulse to “show them” may be powerful, but a better solution is to reevaluate your proposal and see better understand why it’s being rejected. And realize that even the biggest executives don’t get their way all the time. If not this time, perhaps next time will be yours.

6. Have you exhausted all options for advancement where you are presently?

OK, so you want career growth. That’s a good thing. But have you really looked at where you are now? Most people overlook all kinds of resources and opportunities available at their current jobs, assuming they’re irretrievably stalled. But perhaps volunteering for a tough project will demonstrate your abilities where you are now. Seek a mentor; ask others how they entered their fields. Have you actually applied for other jobs at your company? Have you spoken to someone in human resources? Be sure you’re company is a dead end before you write it off your list.

A lot of time - the employer's and the candidate's- can be wasted in interviewing  a person  who really isn't ready or serious about making a move, and who is only going through the motions to get a better deal where they are, presently. Please be sure that you have weighed both the pros and cons of leaving and that you have made up your mind to do so.
But once you’ve decided you’re going to make the move, make sure you’re as prepared as possible. The first task is to examine you the way a potential employer will see you. Then make sure the picture is as attractive and compelling as possible.

Part 2 - Taking Inventory

1. Know yourself - your strengths and weaknesses, both professionally and personally.

Name your three top strengths. How do they relate to the positions you’re seeking? What are your greatest challenges and what strategies are you using to overcome them? Remember, this is a job interview. If your strengths don’t relate to the opportunity, an employer won’t be impressed.

2. Where do you shine and where do you need to improve your skills/abilities?

When you look at yourself and your resume as if you were the recruiter instead of the job seeker, how do you rate yourself? Be brutally honest. Those things that most impress the recruiter should be polished and detailed. Look for things that can be improved. Where you are weakest, fix it or deemphasize.

3. How do you define your value and your worth to your employer?

What would you tell an employer to demonstrate that hiring you is a smart decision? What benefits did you bring your current employer? What projects did you successfully lead or how did you improve the work you do now? Employers like specific examples.

4. How effective a communicator are you?

What are your strengths as a communicator? How are your interview skills? This is one area where practice definitely makes a difference. If you get tongue tied, or speak smoothly? Consider taking a class at a local community college or other venue.

5. How effective a listener are you?

The most interesting people are usually the best listeners. Even in a job interview, or perhaps especially in a job interview, good listening is critical. To give the best answers, you need to hear and truly understand the questions. By listening with all your senses – reading body posture, hearing tone as well as words – you will understand the context of the question and give the best answer.

6. How do you react in handling problems and finding solutions?

What’s your problem style? Are you the calm and collected one, or do you get crazed? Understanding how you react to problems provides valuable information on the kind of job you should consider. Every job has problems, but some require immediate answers and some allow time for critical thought. Be sure you know which is best for you.

7. Success means different things to different people - what does it mean to you?

If you’re not clear about your goal, you’ll have trouble knowing how to get there or even if you’ve reached it. Besides a new job, what are you really seeking? Better to get it clear in your mind now, instead of finding out at your new job that it wasn’t what you really wanted.

8. What do you derive the greatest personal satisfaction from in your work?

Is it solving problems? Being creative? The only way to make your work more satisfying it to spend some time thinking about what satisfies you.

9. Determine what is most important to you in making a move and in what order:
Advancement, recognition, security, money, benefits.

Once you’re sure it’s time for a change, you need to begin a campaign as deliberate as any marketing campaign. Rank the things you are looking for from your new job, and ruthless pare off any opportunity that doesn’t meet your specifications.

10. What sort of company appeals to you - Large, medium, small, start-up?

Each size has its benefits and disadvantages. It’s easier to be noticed in a smaller company, but often hard to move up because there are fewer opportunities. Larger companies offer greater opportunities, but it’s often harder to get them and easier to be lost in the sea of employees. People who are excited by a start-up can find themselves bored to tears in an established company.

11. What degree of risk are you prepared to take to progress in your career?

Sometimes an opportunity doesn’t bring financial increase with it, or might even require a reduction in salary. If you’re thinking about changing careers, it’s likely that you may initially lose some financial ground. You are banking on your ability to establish yourself quickly in the new field, and advance rapidly.
If you’re headed to a start-up, you need to balance the potential financial rewards with the risk of the business not continuing. Not all start-ups are successful.

12. How well do you handle uncertainty and change?

Some people thrive on uncertainty and constant change. Other people loathe anything not stable and predictable. Know where you fit. If change is difficult for you, be careful making too great a change all at once and becoming overwhelmed. If you get bored easily, don’t tie yourself down in a position that’s too routine and predictable. Consider the same factors when selecting potential organizations to offer your services to.

13. What compromises/sacrifices are you willing to make to progress in your career?

Most great opportunities come with a price tag. Getting an education these days costs as much as a small house. A career that includes travel means time away from friends and family. Many of us find that we’ve made unintentional sacrifices only by looking back. Better to consider up front how important your career is, and how it will fit in with your other priorities. There are times when career must come first, and times when for many people, it comes second to other priorities. Each of us is unique. What’s important is that we know ourselves.

www.ManifestationCoaching.com

300!

I reached 300 fans today on my Facebook page.   I am especially thankful for those of my fans who are referring me to their friends.  Keep it up, and in celebration, here's a weekend brain squeeze.  Click the pic, print it and go for it.

My Audio Experiment...

Check out my experimental first audio posting.  I've decided to investigate joining the podcast crowd.  My first audio post is a brief biographical sketch and basic summary of my manifestation coaching approach.  Listen and let me know what you think!!  http://www.manifestationcoaching.com/html/audio.html 

The Unread Book...

I spent a lot of time in trouble during my early school years. Don’t misunderstand; I wasn’t a bad kid. But I was a troublesome kid. I talked too much, asked too many questions, came back with too many impertinent remarks, argued with my elders, and read too much (which basically means I was reading anything but the textbooks I was supposed to be reading. My passion has always been science fiction, and even in grammar school I found the genre more interesting than geography).

In fact, when I finally graduated from Immaculate Conception grammar school, I was given the seven books that had been confiscated from me during my four years there. Each one was taken for reading in class. I had good grades, but reading was an addiction for me very early in life.

Today, it is typical for me be reading three or four books concurrently. Out of economic necessity, I shop at a wonderful used bookstore in the San Fernando Valley called The Iliad. I start there on a Saturday morning with the bargain counter near the entrance. Tons of books under $5. I get all kinds of books I would have passed by before. I don’t want to risk $35 on a book I’m not sure about. But for $1 I’ll buy anything that looks intriguing. That bargain price has lured me into some fascinating reading. But most especially historical reading.

Recently, I’ve started reading another $2 book published in 1916. It’s called A Diplomat’s Wife in Mexico covering her diplomatic stay in Mexico around 1912. Written by Edith O’Shaughnessy as a series of letters back to the States, it presents a fascinating sometimes troubling picture of the American viewpoint at the turn of the century, and our relationship with Latin America.

As I reached near the halfway point of the book, I started having the cut many pages. For those not familiar with this, many times, older books would have pages that were not properly cut along the outside, preventing you from turning the page. In the day, it was typical to have a letter opener or some other knife-like tool handy when reading a book for the first time, to be able to “cut” the pages when needed.

I suddenly realized that if I was cutting pages, I was the first one to turn these pages. That meant this near 100-year old book had never been read all through until I did it myself this week. For almost 100 years, this book has lain fallow, its message locked between its covers just waiting from someone to cut the pages open and release the story.

For some reason, it made me sad. I wondered how many of us are like that book. It has a lovely dark green cover with the Mexican eagle emblem embossed in gold on the front, along with the title and a reproduction of Mrs. O’Shaughnessy’s signature. It’s quite a pretty book, actually, and still it’s never been opened.

So many of us put on our best face, dress up real nice for the world, and still end up standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching everyone else have fun – our book unopened.

But my little book had no choice. It couldn’t jump up and cry “read me!” and it couldn’t read itself. You and I have more going for us. We don’t have to wait for someone to find us finally on the bargain counter at The Iliad.

With a little bit of courage and a little bit of daring, we can speak up for ourselves, create our own readers, and tell our story to the world. Whether it’s creating a compelling resume, giving an Oscar-worthy job interview, or writing the next great novel, we have the power to create without waiting for permission.

I know doing the unfamiliar is scary and daunting. But after my bittersweet encounter with Mrs. O’Shaughnessy’s book, I have a new inspiration. Every time I think about giving up I’ll think about that poor little book just waiting, waiting, waiting, and I’ll know that nothing is scarier than that. No risk of failure is worse than the thought of being like that book, unread, unappreciated, just waiting.

Trying is better. Trying and failing is better. Anything is better than just sitting there.  And that's a great feeling.

Once you reach that point, you have found your power. Find your focus next and blast off. Don’t be that unread book!

http://www.manifestationcoaching.com/