Accelerate Your Search™ Now

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.

Do you fret about rejection as you prepare or send your résumé?

Are your thoughts so focused on rejection that your résumé is ambiguous, general and plain?

Hopefully, your fear is not driving you to send out a boring résumé.  If it is, it is time to revolutionize the way you think about your résumé. (Remember, not every employer or hiring manager is going to like you or your experience — and that is OK!)

At the end of a recent presentation, a woman approached me and shared how frustrated she was having to spend endless hours targeting her resume to the large list of job openings found on the internet.  She shared her disappointment that after 100’s of applications, she had received a handful of rejection emails and not one interview.

Her kind soul, bright smile and brief words led me to believe that she was an organizer of projects, people and things.  She was someone who knew how to keep customers happy and projects moving forward.  I knew this in just a 3 minute conversation.

With tears and a crack in her voice she asked if I would look at her résumé.  I did.   The skills and personality that I experienced in our brief meeting were totally absent from her résumé.

I inquired if my impression of her was correct.  She confirmed it was.  Then, I inquired why she had elected to omit her uniqueness from her résumé.

In a bolded voice she stated, “Rejection is awful.”  She pulled her résumé from my hand, saying, “I am old school and what you are asking about does not belong in my résumé.”

Standing out, sharing who you are and how you deliver value can feel uncomfortable.  Clearly, this was outside of the woman’s comfort zone.

I smiled – I do get it.

Many people like to play it safe.   Innovation can feel risky.

For years, I was afraid to stand out or to share how I am different and unique.  Why? I didn’t know how to communicate my unique value in a way that worked for me.

Therefore, I took the safe, blend in, be the same as others, approach.  It seemed far less risky than standing out and facing the ridicule I feared.

Here is what I discovered — there is far more acceptance of my unique value when I genuinely share who I am.  It doesn’t mean everyone likes me or that I don’t experience rejection, I do.   Not everyone likes me, wants to work with me or hire me.

Are you leaving YOU out of your résumé?  WHY?

Is it fear of rejection?  Fear of ridicule?  Not sure how to communicate your unique value in a manner that is comfortable for you?

Here is a activitiy to help you revolutionize your thinking:

• Write down all the possible rejection and ridicule you might experience in a week, a month, in a year.
• Beside each item, note how many times you experienced the specific rejection or ridicule.
• Describe the rejection or ridicule experience in detail, then note how likely the same experience is to occur again.

The discovery for me?  The odds that the response I feared would actually occur were minimal.

Here are additional questions for you:

What is the real risk of genuinely sharing what makes YOU unique in your résumé?

Will sharing your unique value really increase the number of times your résumé is rejected?

What are the potential benefits of taking the risk and sharing your unique value?

Last Thursday evening I was in New York City and joined the authors of “Ditch. Dare. Do!“, William Arruda and Deb Dib at the launch party for their latest book – “Ditch. Dare. Do!“  What  a blast!

It was a warm summer evening topped off by a late evening summer shower of rain.  The book launch party was fun, amazing and the room was filled with boundless energy.  Why – that’s simple it is hard to be in the presence of so many people who are so passionate about the work they do and not feel the waves of energy all around you.  The smiles and sparks of imagination and talent in the room were as brilliant as fireworks over the Washington Mall on the 4th of July.  What a joy to be among that energy.

If your 4th of July celebrate is only half the fun of the book launch party – you will be in store for a great celebration.  Enjoy your holiday!

Want to add some fun and great reading?

Whether you are headed for the beach, lake or anywhere that calls for a book to read or if you have a few minutes and want to boost your career pick up your copy of “Ditch. Dare. Do!”   It is a wonderful guide to help you ‘supercharge your career’.

Many of you have heard me share tips from “Ditch. Dare. Do!“.  I know the tips will help you learn how to become influential, indispensable, and incredibly happy at work.  Read the book and share your comments below.   Did you like the video?  Share your thoughts on the video too.

Getting your résumé noticed and in the hands of the right person is tough.  You can’t afford to waste time or make mistakes.

Boring, plain and empty résumés don’t grab attention and they don’t get read.  If you want to get an interview, you must gain favorable attention.

Are you ready to be happy, make the money you deserve and land your dream job?  Then it is time to avoid the BIG mistakes.

Are you making the biggest mistake?

Failing to address the problems you solve is among the biggest mistakes employers note when talking about résumés.  Hiring managers don’t have time nor do they want to stop and try to figure out if you can solve the problem most important to them.  Grab their attention by sharing how you can solve their problem!

Here are 3 tips to avoid making this mistake:

1. Use all your fire power to quickly and clearly identify what you can do for the employer.

2. Set your résumé apart by telling the reader about the extraordinary manner or method you use to solve problems.

3. Offer an unambiguous picture of what your new boss will experience when working with you as you solve the problems.

Finally, it is not enough to have a great résumé.  You must also be able to avoid this BIG mistake during an interview. If you’re boring or never gain the interviewer’s attention with the problems you solve, you won’t be in the running for the job.

Is a résumé mistake keeping you stuck in a job you have out grown?  Will your résumé knock you out before an interview even occurs?

Do you have a résumé comment or a question?

Please post it below.

We make hundreds, maybe thousands, of choices every day — some critical and others not so much.  Grape jam or strawberry jam on toast is a choice.  Is it critical?  Generally not.

Confidence is also a choice.  A choice I put in the critical bucket.  The “critical bucket” holds the most important areas of your life, the areas where you need to make intentional, conscious and informed  choices — those that include your career and personal brand.

Confidence is that simple acceptance and certainty in your ability to succeed.  You can see and feel confidence.  Confidence has a clear, positive and powerful vibration.

Confidence is one of those qualities we admire when we see it.  It is that quality of self-assurance that we see from both afar and up close.  You see confidence, or the lack of it, as someone walks into a board room, onto a football field or even when a small child begins to peddle a bicycle down the sidewalk without training wheels.

Confidence is a mindset, a belief and an attitude.  For me, that mindset comes from doing what I believe is right.  It is also acquired by taking risks, learning, improving and graciously receiving feedback.

Sometimes confidence just shows up, but for me, at least at this point in my life, confidence is a choice.  This has not always been the case and there are still times when my confidence wanes — like when I try something new or dare to step out of outside of my comfort zone.

I understand the power of  personal branding on my personal and professional success, yet it was once a BIG struggle for me to have confidence in my own personal brand.

Clarity did not come as I thought it would.  As I grew and evolved as a person what once fit no longer did and that created an internal struggle for me.  The process was much like hanging out in the morning fog on a day when the fog never clears.  I struggled and wandered through the fog because I lacked the confidence to share my uniqueness with the world.

If I did that I would stand out — what if someone laughed or thought I was nutty?  What would that do to my career, my stable business, and my self-esteem?  I wasn’t sure I wanted my apple cart turned upside down.

Then, I lacked the confidence to share myself in a bold manner — for all the reasons above and the additional fear of ridicule.  Years ago in high school, I had dared to do be bold.  I was met with laughter and mocking from the very girls I considered to be my best friends.  When I reflect on that experience, the pain still pieces my heart.  So, what would be worse?  An upside-down apple cart or ridicule?  I voted for neither.  I was stuck — with no clarity and no confidence.

I had made the intentional choice to move in a direction.  I wanted to move on to a more satisfying, fulfilled and happy life.  Yet there it was – that one little ounce of doubt, showing up again.  Where did it come from?

Was it a look backward?  Was it my strong fear of ridicule or another past experience?  Did I fear failure or was it success?

Any thought could lead me to dwell upon that distraction.  After all, distractions and making excuses saved me from making a choice.  It saved me from taking action and moving on to either success or failure.  While I did not enjoy feeling in limbo, it was easy and held less risk.

That place of inaction became a place of comfort.  Fear, worry or concern shook my confidence just enough to send me back to my comfort zone — to the place of inaction.  I didn’t have the confidence to leverage who I was becoming and to share it with the world.

Rather than take action, I convinced myself I could do it own my own.  I used every excuse and then judged myself for the excuses.  I was not ready to step out and be confident in my ability to succeed.  The excuses and inaction allowed me to not select success.

It was very hard to ditch the “go it alone” attitude, to seek honest feedback, to engage an expert to help me and to choose to be successful.

It took me a long time to gain the necessary confidence and make the choice to pick up the phone and engage the expert I knew could help me.

So, I absolutely understand the excuses.  I know the fear of getting feedback — wanted or unwanted.  I, too, hear that little voice that begins to chatter and causes confidence to wane.  I answered no to the question, “Do you have the confidence to leverage what makes you unique ?” many, many times.  I did it all — wandered alone in the fog and plodded along for years hoping to sort it out  — before I got tired of holding success at bay and ditched my fear and finally said “yes” to success.

Post your comments below – what is holding you back from leveraging who you are and building a strong brand?

Do you look for ways to be indispensable?   If yes, that is wonderful.   If not, you should be.

Pause today and list some of the ways you are indispensable to your current — or future — employer and to the world.  Do you maximize relationships?  What is your unique place within the business model, organization or industry?  Do you bring new ideas or ways of doing things?  Do you produce the best widgets?  Are you the master of quality?

There are unlimited ways you are indispensable in the world.  Use your imagination and ask others for feedback.

Becoming vital to a client, boss or organization creates a bond and a relationship.  When the people you work for and with have a connection to you and to what make you vital, your value changes.  As those in your closest circle experience who you are and what you do best, you strengthen your bonds and your circle of influence expands.  These relationships open doors and provide you with valuable assets — people who tell your story and share your vital skills. 

These people naturally share, with excitement, how critical you are and what make you so valuable.  As this occurs, more and more people and organizations discuss you, what you do and how helpful your presence would be in other situations.

Simply, once your story is told, you stand out and your value shines!

Be vital, it is a smart career strategy.  Be vital and maximize your value.  Be vital and you will watch with amazement as doors open and the ease at which others want to share your story.  Be vital and soar!

Post in the comments below and let me know what makes you vital and who will help share your story.

Bonus Tip:  If you want to learn more about how to be vital, I recommend you read:  Ditch. Dare. Do!  3D Personal Branding for Executives: 66 Ways To Become Influential, Indispensable, and Incredibly Happy at Work.  

You can learn more about the book at www.ditchdaredo.com  or purchase it at “Ditch. Dare. Do!”  

Recently, a client called and asked, “How bold is too bold when seeking a new job?”  My answer was, “It depends, can you share some details?”  There was a laugh and acknowledgement that, of course, the details were important.

Her situation?  After three interviews (where she had developed, prepared and made major presentations to groups of up to 20 people), an invitation was extended for a fourth interview the following Monday.  This interview required her to develop a 4^th original presentation on a topic specific to the work she would be doing for the organization.  And, this time, to deliver the information to a group of 50, including senior staff and investors.  My client, a highly credentialed and published professional in her field, admitted that after the last required presentation and subsequent conversation with the hiring manager, she was feeling a bit unappreciated, used and overwhelmed with self-doubt.

Her questions included : Did I already mess up this opportunity?  Do they not value me and the skills I bring?  Did the potential employer expect her to work for free?   Additionally, she began to wonder:  Maybe I can’t do the job; maybe they don’t see my skills; or maybe they have no plans to hire me after four interviews.

As she recapped the events and the conversations of the week, her emotions bounced from self-doubt to frustration to anger.  She shared she had it! Enough!  She needed to stop the doubt train, but how?  She took action.  She called the hiring manager and said in a  bold tone, “Hire me and I will make the presentation for you on Monday, your investors will love you, and if I don’t work out, you’ll know and you can let me go.”

What followed was the voice in her head screaming, “Oh no!  What did I just do? I was too bold in that statement and now I may never get hired!”

Quickly, she realized the real issue was not being too bold.  The real issue was addressing her doubt and frustration and learning how to managing her emotions in a productive manner.

She was right.  She needed to learn how to manage her self-doubt so she could deliver the same message, in more constructive way, to the hiring manager to obtain the outcome she desired.  In this situation, she was too bold for this particular hiring manager — a job offer did not materialize and the hiring manager stated in an email he was disappointed she declined the final interview.  Her emotions got the best of her at a critical point in the conversation.  She reacted instead of responding.

Do you ever find yourself in this type of situation?  It can be a tough call, especially if you are feeling like enough is enough.  I imagine you have experienced similar situations — I certainly have.  And, for a long time, I always seemed to handle them in a less than ideal way.

What finally helped me?  Working to manage the situation before I arrive at the “enough is enough” place and to be intentional and clear about what I will do when a similar situation arises.  I wish I could tell you that these days I am always good at managing those situations, but I can’t – it is a work in progress.  However, I am much better and rarely do I cross the line to very bold and direct without it being an intentional choice.

Here are the steps that work for me:

1. Get Clear.  Think about what you want and what you’re willing to do to achieve what you want.  Example: For my dream job, I am willing to commute, but not willing to relocate.
2. Write it down.  Write down what you want, why it is important and your intentions.  Example: Do you want a job offer?  Do you want to be liked?  Do you want to be seen as the new director and the next VP of Operations?
3. Think about what to say.  Does your message match your personal brand?  Does your message help you achieve what you truly desire?  Does your message fit your target audience?  Is there better way to say it?  Does your message come across the way you want it to?  Draft your message on paper, if needed, and ask your coach to help you fine tune it.
4. Take Action.  State your message, share your value, be open and continue the dialogue.  Example:  Mr./Ms. Hiring Manager, we have been talking for over 8 weeks.  During that time I have prepared and presented three very solid presentations during 3 separate interviews demonstrating my skills, knowledge and expertise, wouldn’t you agree?  <wait for reply>  What is it you have not seen or learned about my qualifications that you hope a fourth interview/presentation will provide for you?  <wait for a reply>  Normally, for the type of presentation you have requested I am compensated as a consultant or speaker.  Should we discuss my joining your team in this manner or for a trial period as an employee?  <wait for reply>

These four steps serve as my guide and help me focus on the desired end result.  They help me manage my self-doubt (real or imagined) so that I may perform at the top of my game.

I learned and fine-tuned these steps several years ago by asking for my coach for help.  I needed a process to help me refocus and be more effective when low-vibrating emotions and self-doubt arose.  Through this work, I replaced the “enough is enough” attitude and quick, bold replies with steps that helped me achieve my goals.

Are you looking for support to overcome your own self-doubt or blind spots?  Working with a coach can be very helpful in achieving amazing results of your own.

During the month of May I was asked to conduct staff training for professionals in the employment services field.  As I conducted individual interviews to prepare for the training program I was astonished at how many people lacked the desire to stay current and proactively adjust to the changes happening within the organization.  This disinterest in learning and for staying current in their professional field was interesting.

It immediately brought to mind a quote from Jack Welch, former GE CEO, “If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.”   I could not help but wonder if, indeed, the end was near for the organization or at least some of the team.

Change is constant and learning is critical in today’s workplace.  Those with a strong personal brand understand staying relevant is a fact of life.   Successful people evolve, grow and continue to add value.

Keep in mind, most people are at least a little resistant to change — including me.  I like my comfort zone as much as the next person.  Embracing change is not always fun, yet it is necessary part of continued success and effective brand building.

What are you currently doing to develop new skills?  How will you evolve to add value and stay relevant now and into the future?  Are you learning and shifting as your environment changes -OR- are you holding out, digging in or hoping the change will simply go away?

One of the easiest ways to stay relevant is to take action.  Learn.  Find a new way or a better way to create value.  Be a change agent.

Staying relevant, developing new skills, embracing new technology and tools will place you in a position to take advantage of new opportunities.

What will you do this week to help you remain relevant?

Everyone has a special niche – their little corner of the world.  Are you known in your corner of the world?

If not, why not?   Did you elect to stay a secret?

Are you a secret because:

• You don’t have the time to figure out your value?
• You don’t have the confidence to share it with the world?
• You don’t have the time to share your story?

Odds are you are very good at what you do.  And, the odds are just as great that very few people know much about you, your niche and what makes your work so special.

We are all taught, “don’t brag” and “let your work speak for itself.”   Those are great sayings and I ‘m sure, when shared with us as children, the intent was to help or protect us from something.

As a career coach, I talk to so many people who not only don’t know how to describe or share their unique niche, they have no clue what the value of their special skills are in the marketplace.  Are you one of those people?

If you are, you are limiting your income, happiness and success.  Companies, peers and potential hiring managers are looking for confidence and for people who add value to their teams by knowing who they are and what they can do.

If you are confident and known in you niche, you will be looked for and found.  If you hide your value or simply fail to share it, others won’t seek you out and you will always find yourself running to stay even or just one step ahead.

In today’s marketplace, those who enjoy the most success, have the most fun and are the most influential in their industry are recognized in their niche and by the people who need them.  They have a strong brand and they enjoy life every day.

It’s really not difficult to achieve this status, do the work you love and have clients value your skills.

If you are ready to join the ranks of these confident and talented people, I highly recommend you read:  Ditch. Dare. Do!  3D Personal Branding for Executives: 66 Ways To Become Influential, Indispensable, and Incredibly Happy at Work.  

You can learn more about the book at www.ditchdaredo.com  or purchase it at “Ditch. Dare. Do!”