Accelerate Your Search™ Now

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”  ~ Seneca

You have declared your desire for a new job — at least to yourself.

You have ‘itchy feet’ and are ready to walk out the door.
You want more recognition, satisfaction and compensation.
You are flat unhappy at work — be it with your boss or the work — you name it and you’re not pleased about it.

What’s holding you back from searching for a new position?

Is it time?  Fear?  Or a concern about your next salary level?

Maybe you are unsure of what to do first.  You know the marketplace has changed since you last search for a job.

Good news is that a little focus, clarity and planning will help you accelerate your search.  Here are 6 questions to help you do just that:

1. Why do you work?
2. Why do you really want a new job?
3. What value are you known for in the workplace?
4. What type of organization do you desire to work for?
5. Who do you know in the organizations where you desire to work?
6. How will you connect with the people you know?

Taking the time to answer these questions before you start to update your resume will help you in your quest for a new job.  It is easier than you think to accelerate your search and reduce job search stress.

Of course, if you need more clarity, you can dig a little deeper.  Ask additional questions to help bring sharp focus and clarity to your next career move.  What questions would you add to the list above?

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends using the links below!  Post a note, share your question and thoughts in the comments.  If you want help accelerating your search and landing the job you want contact me HERE.

You did it.  You made a mistake.  Now what?

Trust me, it is not the end of the world — even if you did something illegal, immoral or unethical (though, if this is the case, it will be a bumpier road ahead).  There is life after being fired.

This does not need to be the end of the road.  You are not the first person in the world to get fired.

First, sort out your emotions.  Take a breath.  Tell your family.  If there is something you need to address or apologize for, get it done.

This does not need drag you through the mud or scar you for life.

Second, if there is a behavior or attitude you need to address, decide if you want to address it or not.  Only you can do that.

Know that if you are an ogre who eats people for breakfast or you are the world’s cruelest boss, you have two clear choices:  1)  Find a job where it is OK to eat people and be cruel; or 2) Take an honest look at your behavior and the feedback you received.  Then decide — do I want to learn to alter my behavior or do I deem this behavior as acceptable.  And, by acceptable I mean it will not interfere with your life and future career plans.

Or if you’re thinking, “I am not an ogre, this was a minor infraction.  I was late for work again.  In fact, I am so mad I could spit nails because this is so unfair.  I can’t believe someone would fire me for this tiny thing.”

Again, you have two choices:  find a job where this “tiny thing” is acceptable or learn from what happened, alter your behavior and move forward.

I get it.  MOVING FORWARD MAY NOT BE EASY, but you can do it.

This may be a very emotional time.  Being without a job is tough.

Even if you lost your job through no fault of your own due to a layoff, there will be stress and emotional highs and lows.  I will say it again, and I do it with love and concern, this does not need to be the end of the world as you have known it.

There are many resources and services to help you.  If you want help, you can find it.

The resources and services from Career Centers, counselors and coaches abound.

My hope and prayer for you is simple:  

May you move forward quickly.  May you never stop believing in you.  And, may you never feel that you must walk this path alone.

Today, may you pause and not despair, may you see value in your unique gifts.

May you share your amazing talent and skills with your family, a new employer and the world.

May your career shine bright and may you light the world with your gifts, your work and your life.

You CAN find help no matter the reason you are seeking a new job– even if you were fired.  Your first step?  Decide you are ready to move forward.  Then take specific, consistent action and land a new job.

Do you have a question?  Post it below or contact me.

“A leader may not have answers to all the questions, but knows how to ask the right questions” ~ Unknown

The above quote came to mind as I recently concluded a call with a former client.  He called to ask assistance with a challenging situation — he and his spouse were both currently unemployed.

With both of their children in college, they are empty nesters and felt at a crossroads.  They decided they wanted to talk to a career coach together.  This was a new request for me.  We agreed to set up a call where the three of us would discuss their specific situation and goals and determine if I, or someone in my network, might be able to assist them.

Oftentimes the stress of a job search can be exacerbated by the assumptions or expectations of a spouse/partner or other family member.  Having clear, calm, thoughtful conversations with your spouse or partner is one way to address this challenge.  Here are some powerful questions you can use to guide such a conversation:

• What are your concerns about my being without a job at this time?
• What are your hopes [or fears, or concerns] about the next position I will land?
• What type of financial planning or adjustments do you think are necessary at this time?
• In what timeframe do you feel we should review our financial situation?
• How would you like to be informed of my job search status?
• How would you like to help [or be involved] in my job search process?
• How will you feel if I am unable to find a job with similar status or salary?

An open conversation does not always result in immediate take-aways or agreements, but it will open the door to ongoing conversations that will will clarify your direction and help create a vision to inform your long-term career success.

Do you have a powerful question to add to the list above? Post it below.

Commit.  Plan.  Execute.  Those are three powerful words shared with me by  Hank Sullivan.  Even more powerful is the question he asked me, “What are you willing to do different?”

It was close to a decade ago that Hank asked me that question for the first time.  I had heard the question before, yet on that day, instead of offering a quick reply, I paused.  Why?  Maybe it was because I knew he was genuinely interested in my response.  Or, maybe I had grown wiser.  Perhaps it was the tone of his voice.  I don’t really know what it was.  What I did know was that I did not know the answer.

What was I willing to do different?

Maybe nothing!  Maybe I was not willing to do ANYTHING different.

Life was okay.  While not what I hoped for, business wasn’t bad.  I had a ready excuse when something was not completed or didn’t go as expected.  My most common excuse?  Lack of time.

The first answer that popped into my head was, “What if I’m not willing to do anything different?”  I respected Hank far too much to give that answer.  In all honestly, I don’t recall what I actually replied — or if I replied at all.

What I do know is that question remains a powerful one, even today.  This one question made me realize that if I was not willing to step outside my comfort zone very little would change.

So, in great times, good times and not-so-good times, I continue to ask myself, “What are you willing to do different?”

When my results are “fine” and I’m okay with that (a rarity!), I don’t feel the burden to change.  It always come down to what I am willing to do.  If I am not willing to do anything new, the results will not change.  When I create and execute a plan, the results are predictable.  If the results do not measure up, I can easily see what to adjust to bring me closer to my desired results.

Are you fine with your currently results?  Yes?  Fabulous!  Continue to commit, plan and execute.  Your year will be predictable and your results will remain steady.

Or, do you want to improve your results?  Then the answer is simple.  Dare to do something different.

2014 is almost 1/12 complete.  What are you willing to do different?

If you want to take different action, yet are unsure what to do or if you need assistance landing the job you want, contact me.

My wish for you is amazing abundance and success in the new year.  You possess everything you need to launch a fun, exciting and prosperous 2014!

Now, you might have a doubt or two.  We all do sometimes.  Turn all that doubt, fear and stress into belief, hope and absolute optimism.  Before you stop and say, “Forget it!” — remember your thoughts drive your beliefs, your beliefs drive your attitudes, your attitude drives your behaviors and your behaviors drive your results.  All results are impacted by your thoughts — your happiness, abundance, prosperity, who you are and how the world sees you.

If you don’t like your results, look at your thoughts first.  Your thoughts and your focus are the drivers of who you are and who you become.  Below is a four-step process to help you move forward with optimism:

1. Select one of your distressing thoughts.  For example, you made a call and the call was not returned.
2. Change the distressing thought into a successful thought, i.e., I placed a call and it was returned within 2 days.  Notice that finding successful thoughts is as simple as looking for the opposite.
3. For the next 24 hours repeat the success thought 7-9 times during the day.  You are on your way to changing your thoughts.
4. Repeat this practice for 21 days.  Yes, the average time to change a thought or a habit.  Warning:  it may take more than a few days before you repeat only the success thought.  The old distressing thought is a habit and you may repeat it before you check it and return to the success thought.  That is O.K. — just stay the course.

Change your thoughts, change your life.  May you have all the change and success you desire in the coming new year!

Have an amazing year!

Are you searching for a new holiday tradition?  Here is one worth serious consideration:

Join the movement #GivingTuesday . . . start a tradition . . . make a connection and share.

The holiday season has arrived.  Thanksgiving is already in our rear-view mirror and the retail frenzy has begun!  Searching for your next position during this busy season can certainly elevate your stress levels.  Even as you enjoyed a moment of quiet thankfulness last Thursday, you could feel your stress level increasing.  You began thinking about what came next — shopping, decking the halls, holiday networking events.  Or, you began to sense the New Year is almost here and you still don’t have the offer you want!

However, you can lower your stress level based on the decisions you make.

Choose to drop your stress level by helping others.  Yes, that’s right; lower your stress by sharing.

Today is the second #GivingTuesday.  What is it all about?  It is simple.

#GivingTuesday is about giving.  It’s about people making a choice to share what they have to help others.

You can learn more about this movement and follow updates @GivingTues on Twitter.  Also, here is a great post where you can read more about the movement.

You can make #GivingTuesday whatever you wish.  I am adding this tradition to my calendar and I invite you to join me.

Here are my Tuesday plans:

• 24 simple acts of kindness, shared within my community, to help others.  Simple choices that are easy to execute.
• Sharing a smile with everyone I see. Sharing a smile takes focus and all it will cost me is a few extra muscle movements during the day.
• At the end of the day, I will be sharing a brief presentation with Habitat for Humanity.  Why Habitat for Humanity?  Simple.  I believe having safe, affordable housing helps make a difference in the lives of others.

Will you join me on #GivingTuesday?  

No preparation is needed.  Just set the intention, focus and share.  You can simply share a smile, a tweet or a bit of your time.

I’d love to hear what you think about #GivingTuesday and, if you elect to join the movement, what you shared.

“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” ~ Muhammad Ali

Do you view the world differently than you did 30 years ago?  How do you view your career differently than you did 30 years ago?

Sharing — and owning — your story and life is an amazing and profitable journey.  It is not, however, without risk, fear and bumps along the way.

One of the bumps we all encounter is the need to adjust, adapt or change our point of view.  How have you changed your point of view?  Is your identity still tied to your career?

When I hear someone tie their identity to a job, title, or even a job loss, I immediately flash back to my 20’s and my point of view at the time.  Also, I recall how I felt when I lost the job I thought I would have forever.  I understand these emotions on a very personal level.

I have never forgotten those feelings, nor the lessons I learned due to my point of view at the time.    However, I did not waste 30 years, I adjusted my world view.

One of the shifts in my view is that I now believe I am enough.  I have and can access all I need to be successful.  The super cool thing is that you do, too!

I believe, without a doubt, that each person on earth is given unique skills and talents and is able to find a job that sustains their lifestyle and utilizes their gifts and talents.

You can find a job in tough economic times.  You can do work you enjoy.  You can move past a job loss.  You are not dependent on a specific employer or the state of the economy for your success.

Seeing, sharing and owning who you are as a person (not just as an employee) creates an amazing career and life journey.  You will never see the world the same.

Do you feel like you are wasting time?  Do you need some help to land the job you want?  Contact me and let’s talk about how I might be able to help.

I guarantee shifting your view will accelerate your search and will keep you from wasting years of your life.

There are talented professionals who work on their resume and their marketing message.  They spend days and weeks getting it “perfect.”  Yet, for some reason, the results don’t follow.

What is the impact of this?  Disappointment, frustration and often rejection.

Are you doing all the “right stuff’?”  Do you network, engage your contacts and set interviews, yet never get an offer?  Or, worse, continue to hear, “You’re overqualified” or “We hired a better fit for our needs.”

It is very disheartening when you believe you are doing all the right things, yet results do not materialize.  It wears on your confidence and sends your stress level sky-high.

If you received an interview, someone reviewed your resume and spent time checking you out online.  By copying your resume directly into your LinkedIn profile, it feels like you are in alignment.  Yet if these tools are out of sync with who you are, no matter how much they align with one another, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

The continued emotional stress may have you contemplating giving up on securing your dream job.  But, before you give up, get real with yourself.  Take a HARD look at your profile, resume and search-related marketing.

From the outside it may appear your search is going well, after all, you are producing a lot of activity.  But, internally, it is just not happening.  It is time to ask yourself, “What is going on?  What am I doing wrong?”

Many issues arise from two things.  The first deals with WHO you are targeting.  Most likely, your target employer list needs to be narrowed down or altered and the level of the position you are seeking needs to be more commensurate with your experience, expertise and aligned with your overall goals.  The second thing getting in your way, deals with WHAT you are talking about.  You must work to make your marketing message more clear and compelling.

Most of the time, the second thing is MUCH more critical because it involves looking internally, at your thoughts and beliefs.  I believe you’ll find your thoughts are misaligned.  This is fouling up your results.  I have come to realize that if you are working hard (and smart) and the results are still not showing up, your thoughts and beliefs are out of sync with your marketing.

Maybe you believe you want to find a job, land the interview and love your life again, BUT you actually don’t think it is possible or true.   Guess what?  It is not possible if you don’t think it is possible.

Why?  Until your marketing, actions and behaviors are aligned with your thoughts, feelings and beliefs it is not possible to find the ideal job you say you want.

Here is an example: Peter is a senior process engineer with unique expertise in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.  His experience includes project management, process improvement and operations.  He is good at what he does and he wants continue to contribute his time and talent to the industry.  Peter is networking and doing everything else he “should be” doing.

As we looked at his marketing, Peter realized there were several pieces that were not in alignment with what he really wanted in his next position.  As he examined his beliefs and actions, he noticed the subtle self-sabotage that translated into lack of appropriate tasks, follow-up and other actions that made him look and feel busy, but didn’t garner any results.

One of my mentors calls this “driving with the brake on.”  You are burning fuel, tires, and moving, yet what you are doing is very destructive.   With just a few quick coaching calls, Peter was able to release the brake.  The subsequent actions he adopted were not nearly as hard or time consuming and lead him to land four interviews in three weeks.  After a second round of interviews, he had two offers.  He selected a position he is really excited about and it is congruent with his gifts, talents and family goals.

What are the thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back?  Is it time for you to align your thoughts and beliefs and take actions that net results?

Are you tired of just hoping to be successful?  Contact me, together we can achieve results.

It is summer — even in New England!  To many, summer brings a slower or different pace.  A pace that often allows for reflection.

On a hot summer day, I love to lie in the grass and look up at the clouds, letting my mind wander about what is next for me and my career.  A clear vision begins to form and I use that vision to generate a plan for the coming year.

As a kid I would lie in the grass, usually over several days and I would envision my life, my career — everything.   Then I would have a clear picture of where I was going and what I needed to do in order to achieve my goals.  The vision always became reality when I executed on the priorities. Then the following summer I’d expand my vision and paddle forward.

This process shaped my view of creating, managing and fine turning my life and my career and, to some extent, my view of how others manage their careers.  As I see it, people often manage their careers as travelers on a river.  They are either Floaters or Paddlers.

FLOATERS let the river take them wherever it chooses.  They are content to watch the world go by at its own pace—with their progress and direction at the mercy of other forces. Floaters sometimes take an unexpected dip because they are not prepared for the currents. Floaters just let it happen.

There are floaters in the workplace, too.  They allow bosses, department heads and other forces to direct their careers. Unprepared for change, they can find themselves “in deep water,” trying to figure out what happened – wondering if that promotion will ever come and where their career is going. Floaters don’t take control of their careers; they don’t live their purpose.

PADDLERS, on the other hand, take charge of their direction, path and speed. Paddlers are going somewhere – with a purpose. Paddlers make it happen.

Paddlers have a distinct mindset and a purpose.  They think like the CEO of a business. They assess their strengths and weaknesses, develop their skills and hone an understanding of the currents, conditions and environment.  Paddlers, like kayakers, have a plan for the trip.  If they take a spill they have the ability, confidence and self-understanding to right the craft quickly and continue their journey. What might have been a disaster becomes a minor detour.

Are you a floater or paddler?

Does it matter?   That is for you to decide.

Consider the following:

It is still a very competitive workplace and marketplace.

Releasing your career and floating down the river does limit your ability to control and influence your revenue stream (or salary, if you are still thinking like an employee) and your happiness.  Floating can be stressful and unfulfilling.  Stress and lack of fulfillment zap both the fun and enjoyment out of life and, at least for me, impact happiness.

Owning your career and your vision allows you to control the pace at which you paddle, influence your revenue and kick in your fun factor.  Less stress, more money, the work you enjoy, and WOW, loving your life!  Paddling does take work, yet for me it is the best choice.

Comment below and let me know if you are a Paddler or a Floater and why your choice is important to you.

It is mid-year — time to review where you are, update your résumé and plan your career strategy for 2014.

Does your résumé share YOU and what makes YOU unique?  What should change?  Ask the tough questions as you review, edit or craft your branded résumé.

Performing a mid-year check of all your personal marketing tools, including social media profiles (LinkedIn) and your elevator pitch, is important in maintaining an up-t0-date brand and career focus.

Here are three tips to guide you:

1. Use your words.   Your words are the best words to describe your work and what others experience when working with you.  Repeating the words in a job description will tell someone you can read, yet it won’t help you stand out or create a competitive advantage.  You will sound like every other candidate.
2. Tell about your experience in short stories.   Share your current experience.  Write down your accomplishments and results in the last six months. Draft your short specific stories and be sure to include how you work.  Your stories will help you communicate to your boss, the CEO or a hiring manager how you work, the results you achieve and will provide evidence that you can solve the problems the manager, team or business faces.  Remember, a hiring manager wants to know you can do the job, how you will do the job and what the results will be.
3. Express why you do the work you do.   What is it about this work that excites you?  What is it that drives you, interests you and makes you want to jump up each day and engage in the work? Are you the architect who loves to create beautiful buildings? Sharing why your work matters is important – what is the emotional connection for you?

It is time to stand out, share what makes YOU unique and leverage your powerful competitive edge.

Additionally, think about who needs an updated copy of your résumé.

Help others keep YOU top of mind and quickly recall what you have to offer your employer, your next employer and the world.