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You Don't Have to Go it Alone

2/27/2020

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Ever feel like you’re stuck and you’re not sure which way to turn? Or maybe you reach out to friends and family, but don’t feel you receive the input that will really help you move forward. I get it. For most of my life, I’ve been alone. I’ve had to make large, life-changing decisions without the benefit of someone else who was equally invested in the decision. Whether it was quit my job, sell my house and move across the country, or seek counseling for a toxic work situation in which I found myself, I’ve been there. And, just because I’m single, doesn’t make me any more ‘alone’ than you. I’ve worked with men who were laid off, but hadn’t told their wives and kids because they felt some sense of shame (which by the way, they shouldn’t have). So, no matter the circumstance, we do find ourselves alone at times, having to make a decision and not having a clue how we’re going to find resolution.

How do you get through it?

There are a number of ways to find a way through. Many pray, or lift it up to the universe, some just trudge on. I’ve learned through my own experiences, that speaking to an impartial professional is my fastest way to solution. It still doesn’t happen overnight, but I do reach a better decision with more confidence than if I’d arrived at it alone. This is why I’m drawn to add a new service to my coaching – Life Career Coaching. I want to provide that impartial sounding board that will listen to your situation and ask you the questions that will help you discover the answer that already lives within you. Doing so instills confidence in your decision and allows you to break through.

We won’t know where we’ll end up, but I am confident it will be a good place, that you’ll feel a weight lifted, and you’ll have a plan for moving beyond whatever is in your way right now.

You Can DO This!

Whether you work with me, someone else, or find another method to happiness, I hope that you do whatever it takes to reach that point. Life is short! We should all live our best life.

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Are You Benefiting From All LinkedIn Can Do For You?

2/21/2020

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photo courtesy of Esther Vargas: flickr.com

Nearly everyone knows they should have a LinkedIn profile. They may spend the 30 minutes to upload a profile photo, enter some jobs and maybe complete one or two other fields. Some will even take note of the profile strength LinkedIn provides on your profile screen. Few know to go beyond this. To really use the power of LinkedIn for networking, job searching, or anything else professionally, you need to do more. But take heart. I teach all of my clients how to use the power of LinkedIn to reach more people, to attract more recruiters and to grow their career with as little as 10 minutes a day. Ok, so enough of my meanderings, here’s what you should do.

Have a clear, professional looking profile photo. Dress to whatever level of professionalism is appropriate for the job you seek. Look straight at the camera, smile. Don’t include anyone else.
Keep your Headline (the most important field for LinkedIn’s AI engine) clear and concise. List your key skills relevant to your objective (Project Management | Product Development), or titles if they are precise enough (Software Architect)
If you are compelled to use the Headline to say you’re open to new opportunities (which I don’t recommend), at least be more specific. Use something like CPA/Auditor in search of new opportunities in real estate. Few recruiters are simply going to search for anyone “seeking new employment”.
Keep your information up to date. Add any new positions, skills, certifications, or projects. Be sure to include any software that you are skilled in.
Add a Summary, recently renamed ‘About’. This is your chance to speak directly to the reader. Write in first person, sharing with them what you do, why you do it, what you love about your work and some major accomplishments.
Grow your network. It’s commonly recommended that you have 10 connections for each year of life. 500 appears to be a magic number.
Secure at least 3 recommendations. This is important! Recommendations are your opportunity to share what previous managers, subordinates or peers have to say about you. People DO take note of these.
Use the Search feature to find people who do what you want to do. Connect to them. Ask them if you can meet to learn about their work.
Use the Search feature to find alumni who either do what you do or work in a company you’re interested in and ask them to chat.
Join Groups. This is a great place to learn about what’s new in your field, meet others in your field, and allow people to learn what you know. It’s great exposure to a limited number of relevant people.
Follow the companies you are interested in. You’ll stay up to date on their news in your News Feed and see any job postings they may share.
USE LINKEDIN REGULARLY. Believe it or not, how active you are on LinkedIn is important. Spend that 10 minutes reading through your News Feed and commenting on posts that are relevant to your work and will show people what you know. Be brief. Be constructive. Be positive.

Follow these steps, and your profile will not only look better, but it will share with the world what you bring to your work and expose you to more people. That next “out of the blue” job opportunity could be right around the corner!

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Getting Unstuck

2/15/2020

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It can sneak up on you and happen when you least expect it. Yes, you’re stuck. In all aspects of your life, you find yourself stuck at times. You’ve been looking for a new job, but not making any progress. In a job, in a poor performance, or with a difficult boss. Or maybe you’re wondering if you’re in the right career at all. These are all situations I love to help people with. There are many qualified people to help you through the more sticky life situations, but when it comes to career situations, it calls for someone who can relate, having been in most of these situations, but also someone who has made a career out of helping other people love their career.

I’ve written often about my own career challenges; how I transitioned from accounting to project management to leadership development and ultimately starting my own coaching business. Yes, it takes work, but the path to discovering what’s right for you and learning where you can be truly happy is worth everything it takes to get there.

I remember one particularly difficult time. I had returned to school to earn my bachelor degree in Accounting, landed a job at Microsoft for a few years and relished every challenge that came my way. After leaving Microsoft to move East for a software project management job, I ultimately found myself as an Accounting Manager and hating it. At first, I couldn’t understand why. I had enjoyed school and been at the top of my class. So why wasn’t I enjoying this career I had worked so hard to build? With a lot of introspection along with research, I learned that my personality is just not suited for detail-oriented isolated work. My previous accounting jobs had involved consulting, travel and lots of interpersonal work. I ultimately discovered the field of organizational development and pursued my masters degree. What a difference! Since my first job in this new career, I almost feel I haven’t ‘worked’ a single day. I truly love what I do, whether it’s developing new training for managers or delivering training on teamwork. As I’ve transitioned to coaching, I relish the opportunity to help others navigate through their own career transitions.

I truly believe there are a few different career choices we can make where we are truly happy. My commitment now is to help you make your own discovery. Getting unstuck takes work, sometimes more than others, but having someone who’s been there before help you through will get your there sooner, and very likely to the best possible place for you. When I need help with situations, I do just that. I seek out my coach and work with her through the issue. Very often in life, we can’t see through the weeds on our own. We need another perspective, an impartial voice. So if you’re stuck, no matter what the situation, seek out the right professional to work with so you can shine again!

Thanks to my brother-in-law Jan S Peterson for the fabulous photo here of a little blue heron taking flight.

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You Don't Have to Go it Alone

Are You Benefiting From All LinkedIn Can Do For You?

Getting Unstuck

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