Pep Thoughts: Psyching Yourself Up

1. You may be in a job-searching rut.
2. You may be a clock watcher; wishing for the end of each day, intensely disliking your job, your boss, or both.
3. You may be taking on something new to further the career you already have or to move your career in a new direction (e.g. volunteering for more responsibilities so as to secure a promotion, joining a Toastmasters club to improve your public speaking skills, freelancing in order to change careers, or starting a new business)

What is the common denominator among all 3 scenarios?

While there is surely more than just one, I would like to bring fear into the light:

1. Fear stops us from hanging in there and keeping our eyes on the prize when jobs are hard to find or interviews keep slipping through our hands.
2. Fear stops us from embarking on the tough journey of self-discovery that leads to discovering what our true life calling is.
3. Fear can stop us from feeling confident in our talents and abilities when it counts, especially when we are trying something new that is out of our comfort zone.

Time for some "Pep Thoughts". What are they? Think someone giving you a pep talk but doing-it-yourself when fear shows its face. Here's how to fashion your own:

• Think of someone whose opinion you value tremendously. Someone who always gives you good advice. What would he/she say to you if you talked about the desperation that often comes with job hunting? Or the daunting journey of finding a new career? Or, when you are shaking in your boots trying to start a new business?


• Write down what this person would say. Then, add to it. You know yourself best. What do you need to remind yourself of when it comes to your talents? You know what you are good at. Now is the time to revisit that resume and remember all your accomplishments. If you're not happy with your resume, email us at trueprofessions@gmail.com and we will help you feel proud of it.


• Summarize these thoughts, whether in bullet point fashion or put it into a lengthier document. Whatever works.


• Put this in your wallet, paste it to the wall above your computer, put it in a desk drawer where you can easily access it every day, make it the first document you open when you turn on your computer....YOU GET THE DRIFT! The point is: look at it. And look at at it often.

The more you deliberately visit these "Pep Thoughts", the more ingrained they will become and the more they will help you psych yourself up to send out one more resume...take a career assessment to evaluate new careers....or simply go for it.

It's like that old saying "practice makes perfect". You have to do just that: practice. Practice thinking those thoughts but better yet, practice believing in yourself and all that you are capable of, casting nerves, frustration, and stress aside.

Remember that we all need someone on our side to help motivate us - why not let that be YOU?

Labor Day Exercise

So Labor Day weekend has come and gone. How does it make you feel? Do you miss summer already or are you looking forward to the last 4 months of the year?

I, for one, am always happy that summer is over and that September marks the start of cooler temperatures, changing colors and fewer mosquitoes (they were REALLY bad this summer!) I feel like Labor Day offers that last bit of relaxation, fun and freedom before I feel inclined to take a look at my goals. Here is an easy Labor Day career assessment that I take part in every year:

- What do I want for myself and my career for the rest of the year?

- What can I realistically accomplish and what is better to delete from my list?

- How can I meet my goals and what specific actions do I need to take to make sure I reach them?

This Labor Day exercise is not only necessary for proactively managing your career, it is also extremely gratifying. Are you looking for a new job? Then examining your career strategy and how it has been working so far is imperative because when the holidays arrive, there's not much hiring going on. Are you unemployed? Same thought process applies. Are you dissatisfied with the job or career you have? Seriously, why wait? I know plenty of people who think, "Oh, the holidays are coming and I'll just wait until next year to get a jump on changing my life". Um, no. Wrong idea entirely since you will be just as miserable although more behind the 8 ball than ever when you decide 2010 is the right time to make a move.

So look at your goals, and don't be too hard on yourself. 4 months is not a whole lot of time, but what can you realistically do to change your circumstances? Start with writing it down, or, finding that old to do list and shaping your goals from there. If you start procrastinating just think of it as an exercise program: the more you do it, the better you will feel about both yourself and your career.

What Is Coaching?

Lately I have been getting calls from people who have heard about coaching but are not entirely sure what someone like me does for a living. Simply put, coaching is about improving performance. An important aspect of this lies in the accountability factor.

Coaches can only help people meet their goals, whether it is finding a more satisfying career, growing a business or fulfilling a lifelong dream, if they are accountable or answerable for what they say they will do. Reaching a goal always involves work and it can be easy to blame someone else, or something else, when you don't reach that goal. So hiring a coach who ensures that you (the client) are very much responsible for your success is a must.

Here are a few more tidbits about what specifically a career coach can help you achieve:

• Pinpoint why you are dissatisfied with your career or job and help you discover greater satisfaction. This may mean correcting an existing or ongoing issue in your current job or identifying new careers or jobs that suit your interests and skills.


• Assist you with a successful career transition. A career transition may come in the form of leaving your career altogether and finding a new one, or, helping you transition to a much different situation, such as staying at home with young children or caring for a family member while helping you keep your resume and career prospects fresh.


• Job search strategically. Coaches can help you significantly improve your job search by teaching you how to hunt more strategically and apply methods that work. Most jobs are found not by submitting resumes online in response to job advertisements, but instead using tried and true tactics that work.


• Rewrite your resume. While resumes are not the only thing that will get you through the door, they are the universal medium through which employers get to know you. A first impression can make or break your chances, and while resumes are just one vehicle in the quest to get hired, they are often the very first impression you will make.

• And much more!
  If you are interested in learning more about what coaching is and isn't or hearing about how we can help, please email us directly at: trueprofessions@gmail.com.

The Sound of Someone In Love (With His Job)

It all started with: "What an EXQUISITE morning!" Me: "What?" As I lifted my head from my pillow and squinted at the clock I heard my better half practically singing about the beauty of the morning. It was almost poetic. Why is this so odd you ask? Because a statement like that came from a person I know very well who loves to sleep, barely utters a few words before showering, and just got back from vacation. Why so happy? And alert?!

It made me grouchy. Then I started wondering why and how this added up.

There are few times in my life when I have heard the words: "I love my job". Granted, most people do come to me when they are dissatisfied with their jobs or careers but sometimes I do hear those 4 words even when people are at a crossroads. In fact, many people do love their jobs but they can't stand the people they work with, or their commute is a killer, or they dislike the company they work for.

I remember my husband telling someone recently that he loved his job. "Loved it" I thought? That was powerful. Then I started thinking about everything he has said about his employer since starting his job earlier this year: Successful company. Takes care of its employees and treats them well. Great communication flow from the top down. Fun environment. Stimulating work. Sense of community. Making a difference. Great boss.

What more can you ask for?

So while this took me aback (after all, it was the morning after we returned from the beach), I thought, wow. Bounding out of bed, giving praise to the new day and whistling his way out the door. It dawned on me how lucky I was to live with someone who loves his career. So the sound of someone in love with his job....well, it's beautiful.

Getting Away From It All

Well, I haven't posted in awhile and I wish I could say I have been on vacation since February but alas...that isn't true. Getting ready to take a vacation proved to be work in and of itself and I found myself consumed with all the planning involved in getting away from work and the routine of everyday life. It definitely makes sense when people say you need a vacation from your vacation.

First let me say there are crazy deals out there if you want to get out of town. Next let me say that although great deals on airfares, cruises, and vacation spots exist, I was still surprised by how many people are vacationing in this economy. And I thought no one was spending money???

But I digress.

These are very difficult times. The stress of losing a job, worrying about losing your job, or assuming (involuntarily) more job responsibilities due to layoffs in your company can seem insurmountable. If you are not affected, you surely know someone who is. It is that bad.

So this is a great time to do something for yourself, like take a vacation. Even if you can't afford a trip abroad or a jaunt to Hawaii, think about where you can go to get away from it all. For example, we have a family friend who lives in cold, upstate NY. She loves the beach but she can't get to the beach easily - or often - and instead she relaxes in a special room in her house where she dips her fingers and toes in sand borrowed from her favorite beach and listens to the sound of crashing waves. It brings her relaxation and the feeling, if only for a little while, that she is getting away from it all.

Think about how you can shake the stress of these tough economic times. Even if it's only for an hour or two....it will do you a lot of good. And if you have to get away, check out those crazy promotions. Seriously.

The Economy: Making Career Decisions During Tough Times

Well, the news only seems to get more and more grim. Almost 600,000 jobs were slashed in January and forecasters predict that things are sure to get worse. Maybe even double digit unemployment numbers which are currently sky high at 7.6%.

Although you may be crossing your fingers and hoping you won't be affected by the mass shedding of jobs taking place across every industry, you might think twice about relying on luck instead of doing something. I know it's scary to think about the possibility of losing your job, yet in my experience, it is far better to face this fear head on. Here are a few questions to help you get started:

• What will I do if my position is eliminated?
• How does my resume look?
• Who can I call today and start networking with?

These are just a few things to consider instead of taking the "wait and see" attitude in case things do get worse.

Since I will be talking a lot about making over your career, I thought I would provide an example of how I reinvented my career during the recession in the early 2000's. During this time a lot of organizations were battening down their hatches. This was true of the company I was working for where restructuring and layoffs were rampant. Not only was my department restructured, but I participated in conducting RIFS and exited more than one tearful (and shocked) employee who had lost his or her job (yes, I was in Human Resources).

Unfortunately (and fortunately!!), I was not at all happy with my job and the turn my career had taken. I felt like I was at a dead end. So, not to sound cliche (but unfortunately doing so), I turned lemons into lemonade.

First, I knew it was time to leave. I had known for months. The position was wrong for me and I was dissatisfied. Since I really loved the organization, I decided to make my mission twofold: seek available, suitable jobs in a different department (Goal 1: explore changing careers while still in my current job) and do a whole lot of informational interviewing internally within my profession (Goal 2: gather valuable information from my mentors and people willing to speak with me within HR) before leaving.

Alas, there were no jobs available at my company that I was interested in (during this time I became very interested in marketing and corporate communications.....but my gut said I shouldn't abandon my profession and my experience). So that decision was made. No new job at my company.

After doing a lot of informational interviewing within my department to see what else the HR profession had to offer, I decided that I wasn't sure another aspect of HR would be suitable for me to move into, or, to specialize in. I took all of this information and sought advice, counsel and coaching from everyone from my colleagues to my Dad, and I made my decision: I became an independent contractor.

Right away, I. LOVED. IT. I had new found freedom. I was breathing more easily. I was independent. I was reconnecting with my strong entrepreneurial side. I set out to make it work.

Almost immediately my external networking activities landed me my first contract. I told friends, colleagues, former employers, neighbors, you name it that I was taking my career in a new direction. Word of mouth helped my first contract find me, and I had a 3 month gig performing HR duties while the HR Director was on leave. From there it only got better. My name was passed around and that, along with a simple marketing piece which outlined my services (I marketed myself as a strategic HR consultant and an "extra pair of hands") I found that I was making it. I was thriving. I was happier.

The biggest bonus I received from making this move and reinventing myself was this: I learned what I really wanted to do with my career. Contracting for 2 years revealed more information about my strongest and weakest skills, my likes and dislikes, the type of organization I liked working for the most, and the special ingredients that made a job great (for me).

So.....what will you do? I say don't count on luck. Instead, bet on yourself. Being proactive about your career means that you want only the very best for yourself. These are no doubt some very tough times, and organizations make decisions every day on letting good employees go. So think about how you can put some of the decision making back in your court, and if you want to share your story or your challenge with me....I'd love to hear from you! trueprofessions@gmail.com

Sunday Night Solace

Since this is a blog about helping you with all aspects of your career, I thought I would start with a Sunday night post for those who dread Monday mornings. It's a sad, sad thing to talk yourself into another sick day when Sunday night rolls around. I really think there should be an actual diagnosis (you know, like SAD disorder only this could be MAD (Monday Affective Disorder) for people suffering from the Monday blues.

But here's the thing: you don't have to despair. The more in control you are of your career and the more clarity you have about the choices you make, the better you will feel...every night of the week.

So start tomorrow, or, I should say - tonight. Decide what you will do tomorrow to take a step toward improving your situation. Whether it's becoming gainfully employed....figuring out how to advance your career at your organization....or getting a new job, what is one thing you will do tomorrow to change things? You will be surprised at how much better you feel almost immediately when you start realizing that you are in control and you start taking action.

And who wants to spend ANY part of their weekend being sad?? Or MAD.