legsStepping forward into a transition or transformation may feel uncomfortable.  When you have been doing something for a long time, feeling pulled to explore something new and different may find you feeling unsteady — without your sea legs.  For many successful people stepping forward in this way is an act of courage and vulnerability.

Brene Brown tells us, “Vulnerability – the willingness to show up and be seen with no guarantee of outcome – is our greatest measure of courage.”

You get to choose whether or not to step forward.  For those of you with a track record of success, I offer these words of caution:  Beware of your judgement.

Being really seen and showing up does not guarantee a specific outcome.  However, not stepping forward DOES guarantee that you will stay where you are.

If you love where you are now, great, you are all set.  Keep doing what you are doing.

But, if you are searching for meaning, purpose or more satisfaction and find yourself in a place of judgement, look around.  You may be your first and most harsh judge.  Use this week to look at how you show up to yourself.

At the end of the day, assess your work.  Look at your physical space.  Write down what you see.  Then, write down your judgements of what you saw.  Question those judgements.  Ask yourself, “What did I learn about how I am showing up?”

Post your comments below.

Are you ready for more meaning and satisfaction?

Is it time to stretch yourself and be visible?

Updating your LinkedIn profile and being visible online is an easy place to start.  Join us for a conversation, “Be Visible on LinkedIn-Start Your Shift.”

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move forward

Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are“― Brené Brown

The above quote is from a book by Brené Brown.  Her book ‘The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are’ is, in my opinion, a must read — as is her newest book Rising Strong that was published at the end of August.   Brown is a researcher, author, and at least in my view, a person who likes herself.  She is willing to speak, write and share the challenges of her own journey and what she learned from others during her research.

Brown speaks and writes about having the courage to step forward in the world — embracing and telling your story.

If you are someone ready to move forward, embrace it!

Stepping authentically into the world, the marketplace and your next position is not just about using the right tools, connecting and networking, it is also about being who you are, embracing it, and sharing it with those who need to know.

You can like the work you do.  You can step forward and tell the world you like yourself and do so in a positive, productive way. You can also enjoy the journey, have an impact and be fulfilled.

Are you ready to smooth out the peaks and valleys in your life, career and business?  Would you like to ditch the stress, have impact and do work that supports your purpose?

Embrace your story; share who you are and what you do.  Need a little inspiration?   Read any one of Brené Brown’s books.

Need an action plan?  Maybe is time to pause and ask, “What is holding me back?”

If you are ready to move forward isn’t it time your embraced who you are on LinkedIn, in the board meeting, and in those important meetings with senior leaders in your organization.

What will you embrace this week?  I’d enjoy hearing about your work, purpose and impact.  Share your comments below.

Need support to step forward to the next level?  Let’s talk.

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mining 2 A common question I hear is, “How do I add a part-time job to my resume and/or LinkedIn profile?” 

The deeper, often not asked, questions are:

What will people THINK?

Will this hurt my reputation [personal brand]?

If you are “mining the gap” and hesitate to tell the story of your part-time job, ask yourself WHY?

Does it feel too risky?  Or just too vulnerable?  It’s okay, I get it.

First, I recommend reading the body of work by Brene Brown or at least watching her TED talks.  She is an author, speaker, researcher and Texan.  Yes, that final fact would make her cool in my book, even if her body of work was not amazing!

Brown’s research is on connection, vulnerability and shame.  Tough topics, right?

My bet is you will come to a new understanding of your feelings and concerns about telling the story of your part-time job by watching the TED talk “Listening to Shame”.  Stop and invest 20 minutes in yourself right now.

Second, for most of us, telling our story is hard.  And, when the story is not unfolding as you planned or wished, it is HARDER.

At least that’s the way it was for me for years, and sometimes still is.  It is also what I hear over and over again from my clients who are seeking a new job and the road gets a little bumpy.

You see, I deal in facts first.  Then, I sort out my feelings, which come from my thoughts.  I own my feelings and feel I am accountable for those feelings.  I don’t (at least I try not to) play the blame or shame game.  This was not always the way it was for me.  It is how I choose to live my life now and I love life that way.

I grew up with the “What will people THINK?” question.  It was a question I learned to ask myself out of habit.

The habit, by the way, included asking the question and then not bothering to find out what people really thought.  Instead, I answered the question with my own thoughts.  If you wonder what people are going to think — go ask them!  That way you will actually know what they think.

If you can’t, or don’t want to ask people, here is a process to help shift the feeling of “OH MY GOSH!  What will people THINK?” to something more positive:  think of what questions an interviewer might want to know about your part-time job.  Questions such as:

  • Why this part-time job is important to you?
  • How does the job align with your goals and values?
  • What problems do you solve on this job that connect to problem the potential employer needs solved?

Finally, I think the easiest way to “mine the gap” and tell the story of your part-time job is to look at the data, sort out your thoughts and emotions and decide how to tell your story.

Telling your career story is sharing your data and your soul, and that can be and feel vulnerable.  Stories are merely data with a soul.

Facts alone don’t always paint the whole picture.  When people read or hear ‘just the facts,’ questions may come up, allowing data to show its soul within a story, helping answer the unanswered questions.  Bottom line?  A story helps bring the data alive and helps create a connection — a human connection.

Sometimes the connection will be positive, sometimes not. When you are able to understand your feelings, you will be better able to listen to what the interviewer is THINKING about and you have a better chance to connect.

Understanding your feelings and why you took the part-time job, as well as how and what it says about you, will help you tell the story.  Ask yourself the tough questions.  Your answers will help you tell your story.

Post the story of your part-time job or comments below.  If you need help to tell your story contact me.

 

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