benefits

Searching for the right position requires focus and a great deal of targeted job searching. If you would like to find the right job for you in a highly targeted manner, then you need to follow certain steps that may take you out of your typical comfort zone.

The typical job seeker will usually decide that they have to find the jobs that are available- - the ones listed on on job boards, in the newspaper, etc. This is a comfortable path to follow; it's one that we have tried over and over again. It has probably led us to the current position we occupy, or to the previous ones that were held.

If you're searching for a position, or considering the possibility, wouldn't you be interested in following a shorter path that will help you uncover the jobs that are available, and the ones that have yet to posted? Of course you would. If we can find ways to make the job search successful - - and shorter - - then all of us would be willing to follow a different

path.

In this article, I will provide 3 important steps to follow to help you succeed within your job search, and help to make it a shorter process.

Step 1: Target the company

Make a decision which company aligns with your career interests, path, advancement, goals. Create a list that includes 5 or more companies that you believe match with your goals and background. How do you find these companies? Some may be drawn from your familiarity of the types of businesses and industries in your area (whether local or regional depending on your relocation desires). Some may be currently seeking resumes and have posted available positions. Do the necessary research to review your targeted companies' background, objectives, position needs.

Step 2: Identify the business need

Using your list of targeted companies, use your research skills to identify the current and prevailing business need. For example, after researching a specific organization, I uncovered that the company had an extensive growth plan to be implemented over the course of five years. Through this company's website, I was able to uncover a pdf. file that tracked the anticipated staffing needs to ensure the company reached it's growth goals across the country. From this type of data, you can make general assumptions regarding how someone with your qualifications may fit in with a targeted company's mission or goals. Through use of the internet, track down company press releases, events, financial information to get as much information as possible.

Step 2: Market yourself BEFORE sending your resume

How do you get into your targeted companies? In cases where the position you're seeking has been advertised, you may be required to go through a screening-out process with the HR department. In this case, before you send your resume, contact the HR Manager, introduce yourself and your qualifications, and ask if it's possible to review the company hiring process with you. Ask if the position is still available for interviews. Ask for an email address to send your resume (especially if they requested online applications in the job posting). Additionally, be sure to courteously speak with any administrative staff who handle or forward your calls - - introduce yourself, explain your interest in submitting your resume. Develop the relationship and increase your name recognition prior to submitting your resume. Even if there has not been an advertised position, you can follow the above steps.

These are three key steps which can provide much needed help to get you in front of the right person at your targeted company. Next week we'll focus on how to network and use your research to reach hiring managers.

After 17 years of management, I decided follow a new pathway to reach my Career Vision and launched Beacon Career Management.

Is there a change you need to make that would help you feel less drained, more inspired, more confident and empowered? Is there a change you need to make in your business to be more efficient, productive or competitive? Are you in a rut that has become comfortable? Is there is something you've wanted to do, but just haven't done yet? If not now, when?

Change can be renewing, re-vitalizing and re-energizing! Nearly four years ago I made a major change when I decided to leave the corporate world to start my own business. This change required me to step out of my comfort zone and take risks with no guarantee of success. It required me to stretch and to take risks I would have never imagined Yet this change has given me the opportunity to excel and grow in new ways - and to do work that I love. Taking the risk to make a change has paid off in ways I had not imagined.

What change do you need to make? Do you need to end an unhealthy relationship or deal with a difficult client, employee or supervisor? Would you benefit from starting a fitness program, paying off debt, scheduling regular time off, taking a class or pursuing a hobby?

Making a change may seem overwhelming. It may cause you to feel uncomfortable, maybe even fearful and insecure. Try these Top Ten Tips for smooth sailing through transition.

1.Fear. Acknowledge that you may feel anxious at times when experiencing stormy seas. Seek ways to channel your fear into positive energy and to find opportunities that may be available. Ask yourself: What are my fears? What is one thing I can do to embrace this change positively?

2.Re-Energize. Extreme self-care is particularly important when you are experiencing change and the added stress that may accompany it. Ask yourself: What will I do for myself today to feel nurtured and cared for?

3.Obstacles. Clearing the obstacles that keep you stuck when facing change will create space and energy for moving forward. Ask yourself: What obstacles are preventing me from achieving my best?

4.Values. Get clear on what is personally important to you and what will ultimately inspire you to be your best. Ask yourself: What are my true values? Do I need help in clarifying them?

5.Environments. Our environments can support or distract us depending on what we create or allow into them. Ask yourself: What do I need to do to create environments that support me?

6.Acknowledgement. At the end of each day, take note of your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Ask yourself: What have I done today that I am proud of?

7.Set a Clear Course. Create a plan that will guide you to your destination and which is based on your true values. Ask yourself: Where do I want to go? When do I want to get there? What course do I need to set to get there?

8.Flexibility. Be willing to change your tack when the winds shift, but don’t be blown off course. Ask yourself: What can I do to build flexibility into my plan?

9.Partnership. Have a trusted partner, mentor or coach to guide and support you through your transition. Ask yourself: Who can I ask to hold me accountable and support me through this change?

10.Enjoyment. Enjoy the journey! Ask yourself: What will I do this week to have fun and add enjoyment to my journey?

Pat Morgan, MBA and Executive Coach, helps clients maximize their potential in today’s fast-paced environment. Her unique coaching programs inspire clients to achieve goals they may never have thought possible. Her focus draws from the inside out – helping clients become the best version of themselves they can be.

This article will show you that you recover from setbacks faster than you expect to and has tips you can use to increase your tolerance of risks. Using this information will help you set and attain higher-level goals, which will move your life ahead even faster.

Dr. Daniel Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard recently published results of his extensive research on how people process setbacks. He determined that people tend to overestimate how bad they will feel in the future regarding a negative event that has just occurred in their lives. People tend to think they will feel bad for months after a loss or setback, when in fact; most of us tend to bounce back to normal within several weeks For instance people whose candidate lost in an election overestimate how bad they will feel several months after the election. Somehow all those promises to leave the country if X wins never come true. Certainly people that have had a negative occurrence in their lives do feel bad about it, but for most people the bad feelings just don’t last as long as they think they will.

Because we anticipate pain in the future if we fail in something now and overestimate its impact on us, many people tend to avoid risks. It is not unusual to have the fear of psychological pain rank higher than the fear of a monetary loss. This fear of psychological pain causes many people to avoid risk taking in handling money, relationships, careers and so on. As a motivational expert specializing in getting fast results, I think this phenomenon is important for us to explore if we want to be as successful as we can be.

We need to take risks if we want to learn and grow and these things are required if we want to be successful. Without taking risks, we tend to limit change, and change is also required if we want to be successful. Just as in the stock market, where higher risk investments pay higher dividends; this is true in life as well.

So if we want to increase our level of risk taking, it would be helpful to use what Dr. Gilbert has discovered. When you are considering a risk and find your anxiety is at a high level, step back and ask yourself if this anxiety is related to the belief that you will feel regret and pain for a long time, over a failure. It will help to reduce the anxiety over risk taking if you reflect on other setbacks you have had in your life and consider how you feel about them now in terms of pain. Use this information to reduce the impact of anxiety on the risk you are currently considering.

Some people are so risk adverse, they don’t even see opportunities to take risks, they just blank them out. It may be helpful to deliberately look for places where you could take risks, without actually taking the risk. Go through your day and force yourself to consider different choices you could make and the risks that the other choices entail but don’t actually change your actions. You will be surprised to find options you have not considered due to avoiding risks.

When considering risks, it is helpful to layout the possible outcomes. Then look at the worst possible outcome and ask yourself if you could live with that if it occurred. This step will drastically reduce your anxiety about a decision.

In order to reduce anxiety regarding decisions, it is also helpful to take the attitude that everything happens for the best, even though it may not seem like it. To help accept this attitude, look back at some failures you have had in your life and study them to find some positive events that occurred due to the setback. Perhaps you gained useful new information, or you discovered you could cope better than you thought, or the new road you followed after the setback turned out to be better than the road you planned. For instance many people, who lose jobs and have reinvented themselves, would never go back to their old jobs. Business and Life Coach Theresa Smith finds that many of the clients she works with to change careers have reported increases in happiness and lowered stress, after they have taken the time to review the path they were on versus the other opportunities available to them.

In order to build your risk taking ability, it helps to practice taking risks on a very limited level and build up your confidence in risk taking gradually. Do things like going to a different restaurant or going to see a movie you might not be sure about. Regardless if it turns out to be a positive experience or not, acknowledge that you took the risk. Look for the positive things that can be found in the experience and acknowledge them and begin to track how you feel about the experience as time passes.

As you begin to build your risk taking skills, continue to look for small risks among the larger risks you are considering. Break a risk into as many smaller risks as you can and attack them one at a time. For instance buying a new house consists of many risks that can be looked at separately. The type of financing you use is one risk; the town you move to is another, the construction of the house is another, and so on. Taking the larger risk and breaking it into smaller risks make it appear less formable and easier to handle.

Begin to associate risk with reward rather than pain and take a positive attitude toward risk, while taking baby steps toward building your tolerance of risk. Once you do that, you will find yourself moving to higher and higher levels of success, and the key thing is to start doing it now.

Edward W. Smith is the author of Sixty Seconds To Success, he produces and hosts the Bright Moment cable TV and internet radio show, is president of the Bright Moment Seminars, is a motivational speaker specializing in fast results, and publishes the free, daily, email of the One Minute Motivator (quick peak performance tip). His website is www.brightmoment.com and his email is edsmith@brightmoment.com.

I don’t know why so many articles on life/work balance seem to focus on people who suddenly decide they’ve had it with working all the time and within one hour quit their job, buy a yacht or a jet, grab their family or their best friends or their dog and travel the world for a year or two. They then get touted as the role model for the rest of us who either like our work, can’t leave right now, or just want to enjoy life at home. Besides, being in balance is more than just what you do with your time, its also how you feel and think all of the time.

The reality is that wherever you go you take yourself with you. I can go to the woods for a week to meditate, but if I’ve never meditated, or gained some inner peace or learned to be happy with who I am rather than what I do, I’ll go up to the woods and count the minutes until I can leave or find some way to distract myself from myself.

Life balance is more than how we spend our time, its also how we feel about that time and how present we are each moment. It doesn’t always take one major event to want to change or to know something is not right for you. It's often a series of things.

I’ve studied the subject, changed my unbalanced ways and eliminated some major stresses, and there are still times when I know I need to slow down and reassess my priorities.

In this article I feature four people from very different backgrounds who realized they needed to jump off the never-ending treadmill of stress and overload, and make some concrete changes. These are four people who found different ways of achieving life/work balance without sailing the seas or flying the skies for a year.

Conscious Change

Ross Pike has been managing partner of Diversified Maintenance Systems, a facilities management company for the last year and a half. When I interviewed him, he was calm, and focused. I learned that he wasn’t always this way. There were times in the past when he didn’t take the time he wanted with his family, and when he did, he was often tied to his Blackberry. “Before I was with Diversified Maintenance, I was Division President for another organization. I was responsible for over 7,000 employees. I had no personal time It was always the customers time. My day started early and ended late. I had to keep up with east and west coast time."

“I was a hamster on a treadmill, always working, and always tired. I needed to make a change. I decided to be open to new opportunities where I could go home every night and spend real time with my wife.” Soon after a colleague one of the owners of Diversified Maintenance, called. When his friend told him they were seeking an additional partner for their company, and asked Ross for recommendations, Ross suggested himself. Within six weeks he had left his old job as Division President of a national organization and became an equity partner of a much smaller organization. “I left people that I really liked, and took a big cut in my annual salary, but I get to see my wife every night. I also get to spend more time with customers and less time with so much paper work. I was constantly tired and could barely stay awake until ten. Now I enjoy staying up with my wife and watching Boston Legal until eleven. I go to the gym now and take long walks, and my wife is happy because she can give me a longer to-do list.

Balanced and Beaming

Catalina Ganis is Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Elliot Executive Source Ltd. and Senior Vice President of Elliot Associates Inc., divisions of The Elliot Group LLC, a nationally recognized executive search firm specializing in the Hospitality, Food Service, Manufacturing, Distribution and Retail Service Industries. Catalina helps spearhead client development, long range strategic planning and is also responsible for managing senior level executive search assignments. She is the chairperson of the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance. Catalina has been active with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Westchester Chapter in New York and the Chinese School of Southern Westchester. She is married and has three children After speaking with her it was clear to me that she and her family know how to work together as a team and support each other in developing a good life balance.

Before she worked at Elliot Associates, Catalina worked in the hotel industry where she was on call 24 hours a day. “We worked too many hours and the wrong hours. I knew that I needed to change how I was working. Now, I have the luxury of being able to work at home when I want. I make my own schedule and the work always gets done. It's important to me that I am able to spend time with my family. When I travel I make sure that I take flights that allow me to see my children either in the morning or at night (I will leave the house at 4 am to make that early morning flight so I can be home by 8pm that same day). The work I have now also enables me to be involved in my children’s classes and activities.” Her parents and sister help her, and she and her husband support each other. “In order to have a good balance in our lives it is crucial that we learn to let go of things we can’t control and to not waste time complaining about the decisions we make." "I also made a conscious decision to take a position with an organization and people with whom I share a similar mindset and values and where I am able to be flexible After all, I want to attend my kids practices and sports games (its not just for them, I need to do it for me).” “I learned to be realistic about what I can do with my time, so we eat a lot in different restaurants. I don’t have to spend time cooking and our whole family can enjoy our meals together. I know I’m in balance now because I can sleep at night."

From Solo to Stability

Lia Shigemura has been the diversity director of ABM for a little over 6 months. While some people leave the corporate environment for their own business in order to gain a better life balance, Lia gave up her own successful business to get back into corporate life. "I loved having my own business and due to hard work and good fortune, I was very successful. Much of that success, however, meant that I was constantly marketing myself and selling. The cycle was unending and relentless. When I wasn't with a client or in meetings, I was on the phone. Life planning became difficult as I found that I often placed my clients' need over my own."

"I had been vaguely contemplating working within an organization for a while, but hadn't begun a serious job search when a former colleague, who had recently been hired by ABM Industries, asked if I was interested in applying for a challenging position as director of diversity, inclusion and training. I saw it as a terrific opportunity to become involved in the ground-up development of such important company strategies and initiatives. With the work I do now I can help create change that will positively benefit 75,000 people and their families. The scope of my position is tremendous and offers many opportunities. And the energy that I used to devote to marketing and selling (and worrying) is now better spent on productive aspects of work that I much more enjoy."

Lia misses some of her international travel she likes not living on airplanes, and gets to spend more time at home and on vacation with her partner of 14 years, Helen Zia. "I can now sign up for classes like yoga that are more than one session because I have a better idea of my schedule.. I can actually relax and be more present with my partner. This is a wonderful journey."

When I spoke with Lia, I knew she was serious about this because she was on her way to Carmel, California to relax for a week by the water.

Taking Flight at Fifty

Marcie Lee Thomas is a principal consultant for HCMS Group, Inc. (Human Capital Management Services), a health information company. She loves what she does which is developing educational programs and managing client accounts. “Since I began working for the founders and principals of HCMS (over 11 years ago), my life is a lot more balanced. I work with people who share the same philosophy and who treat people as assets and not as liabilities. Our clients also agree with our philosophy. I didn’t feel that way in other work environments”. Before Marcie worked with HCMS staff she worked for a county agency that provided health care programs for county employees.

“We were expending our intellectual capital, but received no recognition for our good work. There was no mechanism for employee appreciation or recognition. We provided for the care of others without receiving care for ourselves. It was stressful, and I always felt responsible for outcomes even without the necessary control to effect change”. I wasn’t fulfilled workwise and I realized that I was not in balance with who I was as a person.” Marcie went on to tell me she was contemplating leaving but hadn’t made any moves until “I saw someone get shot outside of the building where I worked. That was the moment when I said that all the benefits, job security and retirement were not worth the stress, nor could those things help me feel better about my job.” She was fifty years old when she embarked on a new career. Other people told her it made no sense to leave her county position at that age and couldn’t believe that she would take that risk. “From the minute I started working with the principals here, my stress began to lift. I finally felt that I was valued for my contributions and for the results I achieved.” When I asked her what she did outside of work she replied “I love to travel especially to Europe and Hawaii. I love visiting Paris. I exercise, dance, read, attend classes, and take time to go on spiritual/personal growth retreats. I used to take vacations to get a break from stress, but it was still there when I went back to work. Now, I’m feeling in balance when I start my vacation and I’m still in balance when I return.”

All four people Marci, Lia, Catalina and Ross are very different from each other but they all knew they were working too much, too hard and not getting what they needed to balance their personal and professional lives. Lia left her own business to work for a large corporation, and Ross left a large organization to become managing partner of a much smaller business. Catalina and Marci both knew that they needed more flexibility to put their life in balance, pursue other interests and feel in control of their time. Each person made a conscious decision to make a change, and be open to new opportunities. As we enter a new year, take an assessment of what you do and how you live your life. Do you complain about your job, relationships, or lack of personal time? As you assess your life, if you find any areas that you don’t like, make a conscious choice to change and be open and willing to try new opportunities. Don’t wait, start today.

Simma Lieberman is a consultant, author and speaker who helps organizations create more profitable cultures. She specializes in Diversity and Inclusion, Gender Communication and Power Living. Contact Simma to help your organization and the people in it be more successful. Simma Lieberman, 1-510-527-0700, Simma@SimmaLieberman.com, http://www.SimmaLieberman.com

You walk into a room filled with people. You look left. You look right. All you see are dozens of people wearing "Hi, My Name is ____" badges. You panic. You want to run and hide. "I don't want to make small talk with these strangers," you cry to yourself. But alas, you're here, at the dreaded networking event. Anxiety sets in. You want to go home and never go to another networking event again.

It doesn't have to be this way. We all make excuses for not networking: "I don't want to sell myself," "I don't want to impose on anyone," "It feels sleazy," "I hate small talk." There are many more excuses, but they all miss the point: Networking is a valuable tool that enhances your job search, your career advancement, and enables you to find a satisfying and rewarding career path and more. Overcoming the resistance to networking is crucial to your career, job search, and life.

Why Does Networking Matter?

In every area of your professional life, having colleagues, mentors, advocates and/or teachers benefits you. These individuals make up your network. They offer insight into challenges, connections with other professionals, an 'inside' perspective of an organization or support during a crisis. There are a multitude of areas where you need and use networking, from your job search to giving back to your community; and you may already be networking without realizing it. Read below to understand how networking works in everyday situations, and how to make it work for you.

Networking is Essential to Your Job Search

This use of networking is one that we're most familiar with. Whether you are unemployed or want a move from your current employer to a new organization, the assistance of others is critical. When hundreds of resumes are submitted for one position, having a personal endorsement or recommendation can get you the interview. Differentiating yourself from a pool of resumes shows your value to a potential employer. Also, when you speak directly with the hiring authority, as opposed to Human Resources or a Recruiter, you get an inside track to the hiring process.

Networking in this case starts with letting your close friends and family know you're in the job market and clearly defining for them what type of work you're looking for and the people you'd like to meet. Then, you ask for an introduction or contact information with permission to use them as a referral.

Making new contacts are much easier when your friend Bob connects you: "Mr. X, my colleague Bob encouraged me to call you to discuss Widgets International. I would appreciate a few minutes to talk to you about your company and my experience." With each contact, be sure to follow-up with a request for additional contacts as well as with a thank you note.

The networking naysayer is thinking: "I don't want to impose on Bob. Why would he want to connect me with his colleague? I don't have any connections useful for him." The networking pro knows that any connection is a valuable connection, whether or not you receive an immediate benefit. Most people enjoy connecting people they respect with others, and view the introduction as an opportunity to provide benefits for two people at once. It reflects well on the referrer...if it's a good match, everyone involved is thankful for the referrer's awareness and kindness.

Networking for Promotion

You're doing well in your job, you like the company you work for and you want more. You want more challenges, more opportunities, and more compensation. You're ready to move to the next step professionally. You boss constantly acknowledges your work and is very supportive, but she is not the only one who makes the promotion decisions.

This is where networking impacts the promotion process. When the decision to promote is being made you want everyone, especially decision makers, within your organization to know about you, the work you do and the contributions you make. Your direct reports, colleagues and supervisor think highly of you, but do others outside of your department?

How do you get people to know and endorse you if you don't work with them regularly? Here are just a few examples:

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volunteer for projects that extend out of your department,

•

seek internal training opportunities that expand your knowledge in other areas of

the company's business,

•

attend brown-bag lunches on topics that aren't directly related to your work and ask

insightful questions,

•

write a white paper on a topic which requires you to research other areas of your

organization and ask to distribute it or present it firm-wide,

•

attend an occasional social event and introduce yourself to someone who is doing

work you're curious about.

These examples are 'planting seeds' and each can grow in to an opportunity to allow others to learn who you are and how you enhance your organization.

We can hear the naysayer: "This will never work. It requires too much time and energy and takes me away from my job. I'm not good at schmoozing." The networking pro knows that this process isn't in addition to your job - this is essential to moving ahead. You build time in to your week to learn, connect and share. This isn't schmoozing, this is being genuine and curious, and therefore makes connections that are easy to maintain.

Networking to Build Your Business

If you're a small business owner or entrepreneur, networking can have a critical impact on your business and bottom line. You already know that you want everyone to know about your product or service and it's benefits, and networking helps bring this to fruition. As a business owner myself, I had the feared vision of attending a 'networking meeting' with 40 strangers trying to figure out how to give them all my business card. I didn't want to do that and I never have.

The way to use networking in this capacity is to find the activities and actions that fit with you, your business and your preferences. If you enjoy being in a crowd and introducing yourself to others, find lead groups and professional networking groups where you can mix and mingle. If you prefer one-on-one connections, arrange coffee or lunch meetings where you can share your business and provide something useful to your contact. And, if you prefer not to leave your office, you can utilize various networking websites (LinkedIn, Ryze, Ecademy) to help build your word-of-mouth.

The naysayer is moaning, "I hate this...I want to work in my business, not doing this stuff that pulls me away from what I do best." The pro knows if you don't get the word out about your business, it likely won't be around in the future. And, in order to keep up with this, you need to find methods that match with your personality and preferences in order to actually enjoy it.

Networking to Expert Status

You love your work and are feeling professionally satisfied - but you want a bigger impact. You want to share your knowledge beyond your department, company, profession or community and get recognition for your accomplishments. Whether you want to grow a business, get media coverage, run for elected office or become a star, the more people that know about you and your expertise, the more likely this will happen.

Once you are clear on the value you can provide, you take a similar path as stated above regarding promotion. This time, though, your targets will be broader. Look for opportunities to connect with other experts in your field or related fields, find professional associations who are interested in your knowledge, and speak with journalists that write about your expertise. As with all networking, provide them with something useful - information, presentations or other connections - and they will want to do the same for you.

The expert naysayer claims, "I'm too big for this...they should come to me." The pro knows that until you're Martha Stewart, Tiger Woods or Bill Gates, you may have to work to expand your reach, enhance your credibility and become famous.

Networking to Give Back

This time, it's not about you, your career or expanding your reach. It's about making a difference to someone else, your community or your world. Although networking and community service may sound in opposition, they go hand-in-hand. You may need to ask others for time, money, advocacy or information sharing. You need to spread the word about how you're helping others, so others can support you in the work you do.

Networking in this capacity means getting the word out about your passion, commitment and vision. Whether you're going to clean up a neighborhood park, help underprivileged children in your city or change national policy, you will want involvement from others. The best way to do this is to ask those who know you and your mission.

The giving naysayer says "my cause is important enough that I shouldn't have to ask of others." The pro knows that in order to get your cause funded and your dream fulfilled, you can't do it alone. The pro wants to tell everyone about their cause, because if you show others your problem you'll have more hands to help fix it.

Networking is a Service

What do all of the scenarios have in common? Networking is a tool that provides you access to people and resources that can support you in getting what you want. When it is only about YOU, getting what YOU want, the above naysayer may have some points.

Through the above examples, you can see networking is a service. Networking is something you provide to others, to help them while helping you attain goals. It is a give-and-take process that creates a better situation for all involved. A job searcher is connected with an employer, filling both parties' needs. A deserved promotion occurs highlighting the connector's ability to match resources to needs. Your business grows while providing valuable service. Your reputation grows while sharing your expertise to help others.

When I ask clients how they would feel if a friend, colleague or acquaintance asked them for assistance in any of the above situations, every response is always "of course, I'd be happy to help them." Remembering what you would do for others is important to keep in mind as you embrace networking.

When you next think about networking, ask yourself these questions:

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What value or service can I provide while asking for assistance?

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What type of interaction feels most comfortable to me regarding networking?

•

How can I incorporate the service of networking into my daily or weekly routine?

•

How can I stay curious and have fun with the people I want to meet?

•

How do I feel if someone else was asking me this same networking request?

•

If you feel comfortable with your answers to these questions, networking becomes a resource and a pleasure. Explore and have fun!

By Julie Cohen

Many people are talking about the secret and the law of attraction. The key to the law of attraction is that thoughts become things. But remember you have to combine the law of attraction with action! Taking action accelerates the law of attraction!

Start to take action. You cannot sit around acting all airy fairy and expect everything to just drop into your lap while you meditate on the wonderful new life you are going to have. You actually have to get off the couch and do something if you want to see results.

The concepts of the law of attraction help to give us focus. Once we know what it is we truly want, we tend to get a little more excited about life, we have more drive and find more purpose in what we are doing on a day to day basis.

The more clarity you have, the more receptive you become to opportunities as they present themselves. You might meet someone or stumble across some meaningful information, things and situations start popping into your life that help you to reach your desired outcome. It has a snowball effect, the more you achieve the more you receive, pretty soon you have an avalanche of opportunities coming your way! It isn’t that these things have miraculously appeared, they have always been there, but because your focus and attention has been fixed to something else these opportunities have previously passed you by.

Focus on what you want not what you don’t want. If you put more focus on your desired outcome rather than the lack that’s in your present situation, you start to tune in to the things that will assist you in achieving your goal.

So what is it that you truly desire?

An easy way to work out what you really want is to write a list of all the things you definitely don't want (they usually come through loud and clear) then next to each one write down the complete opposite. This will give you a list of what you truly desire in your life.

For example: If you want…

- To get out of debt - Focus on financial freedom, not getting out of debt.

- To lose weight - Focus on perfect health, not losing weight.

- To stop arguing with your spouse - Focus on harmony in your relationship, not stopping arguing.

Every time you catch yourself saying “I don’t want…” stop and think of the opposite “I now have…” Once you become absolutely clear about what it is you truly desire you can shift your focus from lack or failure to abundance and success. Another key to the law of attraction is gratitude. The more we appreciate what we already have, the more we can accept into our lives. By focusing on and being grateful for every good things already in our lives the easier it becomes to attract what we desire.

The law of attraction is…

- Having clarity about what we want.

- Being grateful for what we already have.

- Taking action towards achieving our desires.

- Being receptive to all good things and opportunities around us.

Remember, what we think about we bring about!

Author: Alison Bolger

by Sander Marcus

1. Recognize your motivational enemies in a job search. They are: constant rejection, constant failure, and lack of control. Don’t let them make you inactive and lacking in confidence.

2. Look forward, not backward: Every minute you spend thinking about your past job is a minute robbed from your future. And anyway, your previous employer is no longer paying you for thinking about them; you’re giving them free consulting time.

3. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses. It is human nature to spend more time thinking about your weaknesses than your strengths, but getting a job and being successful in a career depends more on your strengths than your weaknesses.

4. Turn your goal into a vision. The goal of “getting a job” isn’t enough. See in your minds eye the job you want, in detail.

5. Over prepare. Practice interviewing, get input on your résumé, get appropriate job search and career counseling and help. Remember, “good enough” isn’t good enough.

6. Network, network, network. About 70% of jobs are obtained through some form of personal contact (such as personal networking and utilizing recruiters). Less than 10% of jobs are obtained through the Internet; so why spend 95% of your time on the Internet?

7. Make your job search strategy specific. Make a specific schedule listing your resources, actions, problems, solutions, expected results, and deadlines.

8. Attack your own excuses. We all have excuses for why we’re not making the calls we need to make, or writing the letters we need to write. For example, don’t pamper yourself into thinking that you can make a job search call only when you’re “in the mood.”

9. Never give up. Getting a job is a numbers game; the more potential employers you get in front of, the better your chances not only of getting a job, but getting the kind of job you want.

10. Maintain your professionalism. Being a professional is not a function of how you are treated by others or whether they recognize your skills. Being a professional happens when you behave like a professional. And the most important time to behave like a professional is when you are NOT being treated like one.

11. Write your résumé and cover letter for a skimmer, not a reader. Everyone knows that, but then everyone tries to make everything stand out in a resume. Can’t be done! You have to be ruthless in deciding what is most important, and put that first. It will help your motivation.

12. Focus on your bottom-line value to the company. Sure, everyone talks about their experience and their skills, but companies hire because they need someone to help them solve their problems and achieve their goals. That’s what to focus on.

Recently, I consulted with a young professional who had completed an initial job interview, and was informed by the company that they were interested in conducting a second interview. The good news: the company was now considering the interviewee for a management position rather than the initial technician position. The bad news: the young professional was unsure what to expect during the second interview. Obviously, she had appropriately prepared for the initial interview. What she wasn't prepared for was an interview that focused on a different set of skills. However, if you fully understand how to interview successfully, you'll realize that a certain framework exists for all interviews.

What I will share with you are the five key steps, to be used in all types of interviews. These five steps are appropriate for behavioral interviews, group interviews, stress interviews, phone interviews, second interviews - - it doesn't matter the interview format. When you're able to understand the flow and structure of job interviews you're more likely to anticipate actions undertaken by the interviewer. So, if you're familiar with the way in which most interviewers attempt to learn more about applicants within the scope of an interview, then you're one step ahead of the rest.

Most interviewers need to be able to walk away from each interview with quantifiable and/or content-rich details regarding the applicant. It's not enough to merely say "this is a good candidate for the position because he works well with people." An interviewer has to be able to specify the exact reasons why this candidate matches the position qualifications. If it's difficult for you to explain your work-related results and tie them to the reasons why you're the right person for the job during the course of an interview, then the interviewer will mark your candidacy as "not a good fit." Within the framework of an interview, the interviewer is trying to "screen in" your candidacy and wants verifiable information that backs up, or confirms, your fit with the position.

If you're familiar with the STAR method of interviewing, then you're moving in the right path to successfully interview. The STAR method is outlined briefly below:

STAR = Situation – Task – Action – Results

Situation / Task: Describe a specific event or situation that you handled

Action: Detail the action or steps you took related to the situation

Results: Based on your action steps, what results were achieved? If the results can be quantified ("client base increased by 25%"), then you've successfully answered the question.

The STAR method is a well-known interviewing technique. It's one that's critical to your success within the interview. However, there is one step that's missing within this method. This additional step will put your responses to interview questions in a different light and increase the value of your candidacy. Providing specific action steps you've undertaken to achieve results is an important interview technique. However, there is always the chance that the interviewer is not able to accurately connect the dots and see how the results you've obtained in one situation will transfer easily within her company's structure and environment. Imagine explaining how you increased your former client base by 10% through specific advertising techniques - - and imagine the interviewer thinking, "not sure how that will work in our company."

Broad categories of skills (salesmanship, teamwork, detail-orientation, communication, etc.) require the detailed STAR method for you to be able to explain your capabilities in the workplace. The next step you should take will help you answer the question: "how will this candidate be successful in OUR company?"

So, here's the additional step to be added to the STAR method. After explaining the Situation/Task, Action taken, and Results achieved, describe exactly how this particular skill you possess appropriately transfers from one situation to the next. Here's an example of this enhancement to the STAR interview technique:

1) Provide a brief description of the situation: "One of my customers was unhappy with our XYZ widgets."

2) Add some detail to describe the specific task or role you were assigned to deal with the situation: "I was responsible for dealing directly with our department's major clients and so, I was charged with turning the situation around for this unhappy customer."

3) Provide one or two key action steps you took to handle the situation: "I contacted the customer directly and requested feedback. I authorized a refund or future discounts to this particular customer."

4) As a result of your action steps, what happened? "As a result of the refund and discount, the customer increased their orders by 25%."

5) Then explain how you will be able to achieve similar results within the interviewer's company: "I understand that your company values customer satisfaction, and I believe that I have the necessary skills to succeed in your company. The situation that I just described provides a good picture of my customer service capabilities."

The 5th step completely answers the question of how you will fit within the company. An additional benefit lies in the fact that you're further outlining how well you know the demands of the position and how well you know the company. Of course, the best way to use this technique is to make sure you have fully researched the company prior to the interview.

The five steps may be interchangeable - - you describe step 4 (the results) prior to step 1 (the situation), however, the key is to be able to list specific results that were gained. Most importantly, the results have to be tied directly to your action steps. Interviewers are looking for RESULTS, not just generalities ("I'm good with clients because I enjoy talking to others"). They need hard facts, verifiable data. And you're the most qualified candidate who is prepared to give it to them.

Why do job interviews make you feel uncomfortable and stressed? Because

interviews are designed to see if what you're selling is worth buying.

Usually you're treated as if you're the product, an advertisement. No wonder

most people feel uncomfortable and insecure during job interviews - - what if

they don't buy what you're marketing or selling?

To increase your confidence in job interviews, it's important to make a

direct, meaningful connection with the interviewer. Below I have provided 5

job interview tips that will help you minimize your anxiety and increase your

confidence in the job interview.

1) Be aware of how you present yourself as soon as you walk in the door.

The job interview begins as soon as you meet the front office staff (

receptionists, secretaries, administrative assistants, etc.) Present a

courteous and agreeable manner even if you had problems with finding the

location, or if you're feeling nervous.

2) Recognize that the first impression is formed in the first few minutes of

contact. This may seem unfair, however, this is still good information to

know in advance. Your knowledge gives you power and a sense of control.

The most important thing is to take a deep breath before you shake the

interviewer's hand. Relax, look the interviewer squarely in the eye, and

smile. Your muscle memory will now kick in and make a mental note that you'

re not in danger. The interviewer will be put at ease and your first

impression will be professional and composed.

3) Check out your interviewer's surroundings so you can find helpful cues

and signs. Even if the interviewer has brought you to a generic conference

room for the interview, he or she will still provide cues or signs to help

you connect. What is the interviewer wearing? If you're in the interviewer'

s office, what pictures are on the desk? What certificates are on the wall?

Look around as you are seated so you can begin to make that human connection

with this person. Your awareness of these physical cues will help you see

that this interviewer is simply an individual who wants to share a

conversation with you.

4) Stay a step ahead of the interviewer by analyzing their style. Every job

interviewer will provide you with keys to succeeding within the interview.

If you check out their voice and behavior you'll begin to see a pattern that

emerges. They may pause before asking the tough questions - - or they may

shoot them out quickly. They may keep the entire interview on a casual level

- - or keep it very formal. Your role is to check out the patterns of their

behavior and find a way to mirror what you see. You do not need to change

your entire personality for an interview, but it is time to match the mood

and tone. In this way, you begin to forge a connection.

5) Don't leave without asking some questions. I'd recommend taking mental

notes of a few things that you hear during the interview so that you can

bring up a related comment or question at the end. Yes, of course, you

should have prepared a few questions to ask prior to arriving. But, be sure

to double back to something the interviewer has said during the interview.

In this way, you will be able to reinforce the connection which has been

created.

I like simple, or in other words “basic.” I have found in my experience that basic ideas are easier to understand, and when I understand them I can implement them faster.

To this point, there are three basic or key components for “success” (how ever you define success.) They are: 1. A strategy 2. Tactics 3. Mind-set

The strategy is the “big picture” of what you’d like to accomplish. The tactics are the “how” you are going to get there. The mind-set is the catalyst for implementing the tactics.

There are hundreds of books, CD’s etc. that talk about the strategy, the tactics as well as the mind-set. What I’ve found is that the majorities of people focus on points 1 & 2 and give little attention to point 3…the mind-set.

So what is mind-set in relation to success?

Again, I like simple. Here are the four characteristics of a strong mind-set:

1. Knowing what you want 2. Committing yourself to your goal 3. Taking courageous action 4. Determination to finish what you start

That’s it!

Simple? Absolutely!

Easy? Not so much.

Let’s take a closer look at these.

Knowing What You Want: Many people can’t get pass this one. They THINK they know what they want, but as soon as they hit a little resistance...BAMB! They’re blown out of the water. Seth Godin in his book “The Dip” goes over the phenomenon in detail. Basically the book talks about that sooner or latter we will all come into a dip. Things just aren’t going to go as planed. It’s at this time that the most people bail. Seth discusses the importance of evaluating the worthiness of your goal. I won’t go into the details here…pick up the book if you want to find out more.

Committing Yourself to Your Goal: This point of failure is tied directly to “knowing what you want.” The reason most people won’t commit to their goal is they really don’t know if it’s what they want. Let’s face it, if you approach a goal with the attitude “it would be nice to achieve this” are you really committed? If not, why waist your time going after it!?

Taking Courageous Action: Notice I didn’t say timid action…I said courageous action. This means being bold, taking risk, putting yourself out there for the entire world to see. Sure ANY action is better then no action. But if you’ve got points 1 and 2 secure, you may want to take a closer look at this one. Nothing happens without action...period! Oh sure, I can hear the followers of “The Law of Attraction” pooh-poohing this one. Believe me, I’m a big believer of the LOA when it is used in conjunction with action. There are way too many couch creators taking about the LOA, but refuse to look at their results. Results are directly proportional to a persons vibration AND their action….no action, no results. Timid action = timid results. Courageous action = spectacular results!

Determination to Finish What You Start: This by far is probably the toughest to work through. With the emphasis today on multi-tasking and the “next best thing” right around the corner many become distracted. If they don’t become distracted, as soon as they hit a wall or a dip they’ll look for an easier way. This point is also closely tied to point #1 – “knowing what you want.” If you truly, deeply know exactly what you want you will find the determination to finish what you start. Here is where FOCUS comes in. You know…

F = Follow O = One C = Course U = Until S = Successful

When you FOCUS, finishing what you start will take care of itself.

So, how does all this fit into my statement about “The Number One Reason Why People Fail?”

After all I’ve given the three key components for success and talked about the four characteristics of a strong mind-set. I’ve haven’t given a single solitary point that absolutely points to the reason why people fail…or have I?

If you’ve been paying attention you’ll see that there is a common thread through ALL 7 points in this article.

Want to know what it is?

YOU!

Yup…you’re the main reason for your lack of success. I know this can sound pretty harsh. After all, the economy is bad, prices are going up, and I’m out of a job.

You know what?

There are many people out there in the same or worse condition then you and they’re making their dreams and goals happen.

“What one can do, anyone can do.”

OK…so I might have been too tough. It’s not YOU as the person; it’s YOU as the thinker. This is why mental strength coaching and training is so critical…especially in these days!

Mental strength coaching and training will help you develop the four characteristics of a strong mind-set. And presuming you have your strategy and tactics in place, with the development of the mind-set you WILL be able to accomplish your desired goals.

Author : Gregg Swanson is a mental strength coach and owner of Warrior Mind Coach and Training.

Staying motivated is not always easy no matter what you are trying to accomplish. For those that are trying to get fit, motivation can even be harder. Whatever it is that you are trying to get motivated to do; there are a few tips that can help. You can stay motivated to accomplish almost any goal.

Visualize and imagine your goals: When you have the ability to see your goals and imagine what the end results will be, you are more likely to stay motivated. You may feel more motivated by a picture of what you are working towards or need a daily visual reminder of that dream vacation you are saving money for. By keeping a visual picture in your mind and imagining yourself at your end result, you can stay motivated to accomplish any goal.

Reward and treat yourself: Staying motivated can be easier if you take the time to reward and treat yourself when you reach small milestones along the way. If you are trying a new fitness plan, try to reward yourself with a new pair of gym shoes or maybe new workout equipment. Knowing that there is something good along the way to your goal will help keep you excited about achieving your goals and you will stay motivated.

Watch a movie or listen to motivating music: You can get excited and motivated to reach your goals by watching a motivating movie or listening to music that will get you pumped about your goals. Look for movies that will help you see others work hard to reach their own goals. You will come out of the movie feeling ready to get busy and accomplish your goals. Music can also help you stay motivated. If you want to walk more, invest in a good portable music system and listen to upbeat music to keep you moving.

Set small goals and take a break: Whether you are working towards saving money for a new house or trying to eat healthy to lose a few pounds, set small goals for yourself and take a break every once in awhile. By setting small goals, you will not feel too overwhelmed at one time. You can work on each step that will equal to big results in the end. Also, if you do get overwhelmed, take a break. Achieving your goals will not happen overnight. If you feel frustrated, take a day off and rethink your plans.

Find a partner and do it for yourself: You can accomplish anything if you do it because you believe in yourself. If you work on a goal because you believe you can do it, it will be easy for you to stay motivated. While working on your goals, if you do need an extra push, find a partner who can keep you on track. You may have a friend who wants to lose weight or get in shape, too. Work with that person to motivate each other when your own motivation starts to sag.

Prove them wrong and impress others: Everyone is motivated for different reasons, but one way to stay motivated is to remember all the times someone told you that you couldn't do it. Prove the negative people around you wrong and accomplish your goals to show them you can. While you should never try to live your life for the approval of others, you motivation may improve when you try to impress others. Feel good about what you can do, and others will notice the hard work.

Do it because it is fun and you want to do it: You may want to achieve a goal that you find very difficult. It may help to stay motivated by finding something fun about what you are doing. Achieve your goals because you want to do it and not because others want you to. When you find intrinsic motivation, it will be easier to focus on your goals.

Take advice and help others: Talk to others who have worked hard to accomplish the goals you are working towards. Listen to what they have to say and take their advice. For people who have already been there, they can offer valuable advice and this should help you stay motivated. Also, help others while you are accomplishing your goals. If you know someone else is depending on you, it will be easier for you to stay on track.

Change your routine and do it for your health: This can apply for those who are trying a new fitness routine. Schedule time for workouts and start cooking healthier meals at home. Achieve your goals because it will make you healthier. Anything you can do to make your goals easier to accomplish will help you stay motivated.

Compare and critique: When you compare your goals to others and find what worked or did not work for them, you can stay motivated because you will find what will help you. Look at others around you and see the mistakes they may have made and try to keep yourself in line by not making the same mistakes.

Author: Bill Weaver

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