Career Success Partners

Your Career Success Partners Welcome You to Our Media Center, Where ....

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Helping YOU love what you do for a living and achieve incredible career success!

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"Choose a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." - Confucius

Is the Life You’re Living Your Own?

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Weekly Wisdom on Effectively Managing Change with M.J. Ryan
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

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A colleague of mine once worked with an engineering firm, helping the staff understand their team’s thinking talents and how to use them on behalf of their business goals. One middle-aged gentleman stood out. His partners complained that, while they admired Jim as a person, he seemed to be just “going through the motions.” When their talents were plotted, his were very different than all the rest of the group. Jim was strong in empathy, caring for and about the feelings of others. But he spent all his days in a mechanical world. When asked how he ever became an engineer, he said it was because his high school guidance counselor said it was a good profession for him!

This story has a happy ending. Once Jim realized that he was miserable not because there was something wrong with him but because he’d been living a life designed by his high school teacher, he became the human resources person in his firm. Spending his days helping to solve people problems, he began to blossom. He was happy because he was doing what he was meant to do and the firm was happy because he was contributing his gifts in a useful way.

I believe it was Joseph Campbell who once said that the spiritual imperative to be ourselves is so strong that the soul would rather fail at its own life than succeed at someone else’s. The great poet Kalil Gibran said, “God has placed in each soul an apostle to lead us upon the illumined path. Yet many seek life from without, unaware that is within them.” The more we are able to listen to the apostle within, the more we end up fully ourselves, joyfully living our own dreams and answerable for our own choices.

Original article posted my M.J. Ryan can be found HERE.

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M.J. Ryan is a widely recognized Change Expert and author of the book, Adaptability - How to Survive Change You Didn't Ask For.  She is also one of the creators of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series and the author of The Happiness Makeover (nominated for the 2005 Books for Better Living award in the Motivational category), Attitudes of Gratitude, The Power of Patience, Trusting Yourself, The Giving Heart, and 365 Health and Happiness Boosters, among other titles. Altogether, there are 1.75 million copies of her titles in print.  Learn more about M.J.

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Another excellent article by friend and Career Success! Partner, M.J. Ryan -- a regular contributing expert to our blog site. M.J.'s insights, ideas and wisdom on the subject of Dealing Effectively with Change will hopefully resonate with you in your journey to achieving incredible career success.

Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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Weekly Wisdom on Effectively Managing Change with M.J. Ryan
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

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A colleague of mine once worked with an engineering firm, helping the staff understand their team’s thinking talents and how to use them on behalf of their business goals. One middle-aged gentleman stood out. His partners complained that, while they admired Jim as a person, he seemed to be just “going through the motions.” When their talents were plotted, his were very different than all the rest of the group. Jim was strong in empathy, caring for and about the feelings of others. But he spent all his days in a mechanical world. When asked how he ever became an engineer, he said it was because his high school guidance counselor said it was a good profession for him!

This story has a happy ending. Once Jim realized that he was miserable not because there was something wrong with him but because he’d been living a life designed by his high school teacher, he became the human resources person in his firm. Spending his days helping to solve people problems, he began to blossom. He was happy because he was doing what he was meant to do and the firm was happy because he was contributing his gifts in a useful way.

I believe it was Joseph Campbell who once said that the spiritual imperative to be ourselves is so strong that the soul would rather fail at its own life than succeed at someone else’s. The great poet Kalil Gibran said, “God has placed in each soul an apostle to lead us upon the illumined path. Yet many seek life from without, unaware that is within them.” The more we are able to listen to the apostle within, the more we end up fully ourselves, joyfully living our own dreams and answerable for our own choices.

Original article posted my M.J. Ryan can be found HERE.

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Weekly Wisdom on Effectively Managing Change with M.J. Ryan
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

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Weekly Wisdom on Effectively Managing Change with M.J. Ryan
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

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Weekly Wisdom on Effectively Managing Change with M.J. Ryan
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

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A colleague of mine once worked with an engineering firm, helping the staff understand their team’s thinking talents and how to use them on behalf of their business goals. One middle-aged gentleman stood out. His partners complained that, while they admired Jim as a person, he seemed to be just “going through the motions.” When their talents were plotted, his were very different than all the rest of the group. Jim was strong in empathy, caring for and about the feelings of others. But he spent all his days in a mechanical world. When asked how he ever became an engineer, he said it was because his high school guidance counselor said it was a good profession for him!

This story has a happy ending. Once Jim realized that he was miserable not because there was something wrong with him but because he’d been living a life designed by his high school teacher, he became the human resources person in his firm. Spending his days helping to solve people problems, he began to blossom. He was happy because he was doing what he was meant to do and the firm was happy because he was contributing his gifts in a useful way.

I believe it was Joseph Campbell who once said that the spiritual imperative to be ourselves is so strong that the soul would rather fail at its own life than succeed at someone else’s. The great poet Kalil Gibran said, “God has placed in each soul an apostle to lead us upon the illumined path. Yet many seek life from without, unaware that is within them.” The more we are able to listen to the apostle within, the more we end up fully ourselves, joyfully living our own dreams and answerable for our own choices.

Original article posted my M.J. Ryan can be found HERE.

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Weekly Wisdom on Effectively Managing Change with M.J. Ryan
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

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Weekly Wisdom on Effectively Managing Change with M.J. Ryan
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

Quality and Personal Excellence .... NOT an Option!

Quality and Personal Excellence are two key elements of your Personal Brand. The degree to which you fully embrace the importance of these elements is communicated to others on a continuous basis and is incorporated into others' vision of who you are -- i.e., the Personal Brand that you broadcast . Those who are fully aware of this fact can definitely undertake action to broadcast a Personal Brand that elevates their professionalism through conscious focus on Quality and Personal Excellence.

Quality and Personal Excellence are broadcast by you through all of the following activities:

• Every email message you send to someone else.
• Every voice mail message you leave for someone.
• The voice mail message that others hear when they try to reach you.
  Your email "signature."
• Any and all profiles you have on social networking sites online: LinkedIn, Spoke, Facebook, etc.
• Every written deliverable -- report, analysis, memo, white paper, article, newsletter, letter, brochure -- you submit to anyone else.
• Any presentation you make in front of anyone else.
• Every business card you hand to someone else.
• The manner in which you greet a stranger or anyone else you meet for the first time.
• The manner in which you present yourself physically - your style of dress and grooming.
• Every conversation you have with another person.
• Every meeting in which you participate.
• The quality of the people you "hang around with."
• The role you play in community and professional organizations.
• The degree of kindness and compassion you communicate to others in every interaction you have.

Remember....Everything counts!

Each of the above activities represent an opportunity to communicate a high level of quality and personal excellence. Missing the beat on any one of these activities represents a chink in your chain of successfully offering a consistent message of your commitment to quality and personal excellence.

Take an inventory of how well you are broadcasting your personal brand elements of quality, excellence and professionalism through all of the above activities. Commit today to a personal program of continuous improvement. 

In today's market, there is no question that the personal brand elements of quality and personal excellence are more important than ever. The value you add to your employer, your clients, your professional network and your personal network will be significantly enhanced through relentless attention to these elements.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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10 Ideas for Keeping Your Skills Transferable and Broadening Your Career Options

I definitely noted a situation faced by all too many laid-off employees and job-seeking  -- having been in an specific job area or industry area for a number of years developing a set of skills that end up being limited in terms of transferability or "usability" in a new job or new career.  Many of these individuals find themselves unable to land a new job, sometimes being unemployed for extended periods of time.  This situation CAN be prevented or at least significantly mitigated with proper planning and foresight.  ARE YOUR SKILLS TRANSFERABLE?  Are you significantly limiting the options that might be available to you should you lose your job or decide to change jobs?

Consider the following 10 IDEAS to help you develop and implement a plan for maximizing the transferability of the skills you develop while employed:

• Plan ahead; anticipate -- Recognize the possibility that you may be developing and deploying a set of skills that are limited in terms of their transferability.  KNOW that employment changes -- layoffs, downsizings, acquisition-related reorganizations, etc.-- are common.  Be prepared.

• Inventory your strengths now and identify the ones that WOULD BE transferable.  Focus on developing and strengthening those that are more likely to be transferable.

• Broaden the scope of what you do on a day-to-day basis.  Look for ways to expand your work duties.  Volunteer for assignments and projects that expose you to new skill areas.  Make this idea an ongoing part of your career development.

• Become an expert in an area that transcends industry sector and is highly likely to be in high demand in the market place.  Write about the latest thinking in this area; blog about it; talk about it; brand yourself as a "go to" resource in this area.

• Nurture and expand your network reach -- strengthen the breadth and depth of your business and professional network. Use your network as an "R&D" source for identifying trends and areas of development that you should strengthen.

• Obtain transferable skills outside of your job -- get involved in outside organizations and seek opportunities to develop new skills or strengthen those you have that are transferable.

• Incorporate emerging "tangential" skills INTO your day-to-day job.  Become a resident expert in a process, methodology or tool that you see as an emerging skill that might become in high demand.  Could be a software application, a social media application, some area of new technology that you believe may become "hot" or in sustainable demand.

• Take advantage of all training and learning opportunities available. Enroll or volunteer for training courses in areas you believe will be in demand.  Be proactive about "managing" your professional development.

• Focus on obtaining certifications, licenses or other credentials for which their might be broad-based demand.

• Go back to school NOW -- Attend evening courses, weekend courses or enroll in "executive MBA" type programs.

You don't want to wake up one morning and discover that although you are GREAT AT SOMETHING -- that "something" has limited use and does not position you adequately for future career options.

Plan, prepare, be proactive .... stay ahead of the curve and be ready for the unexpected.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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Networking Tip: Setting up for Successful Follow-up

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Weekly Smart Networking Wisdom of Liz Lynch
Contributing Expert and Career Success! Partner

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The follow up process is one of the areas of networking that still seems to confuse some people. Most realize that meeting someone at a networking event for five minutes isn't enough to build a relationship, and that follow up is critical.

The fortune is in the follow-up

But while they may have good intentions of following up with the contacts they meet at events, once they're back in the office they find themselves staring at the stack of business cards they collected and wondering what's the next step?

Follow up can be awkward if you don't have a plan. Sun Tzu once said, "Every battle is won before it's ever fought," and I feel the same could be said about the follow up process. What you do BEFORE the follow up will make it easy or hard.

6 steps to make follow up happen

To make the process as smooth as possible, before you end a conversation with someone you want to follow up with later, make sure you follow these steps:

1) Find a reason during the conversation to follow up. It's always easier to make the follow up call or send the follow up email if you know the other person is expecting it. Ask enough questions during your conversation to learn about their goals and what's important to them, and listen for ways you can help.

2) Make sure the reason to follow up is a value-add for them. Look for a reason to give information that will have value for them, not just something that benefits you. In other words, unless they specifically asked for it, promising to email your sales brochure or your resume doesn't count.

 3) Once you find an opening, make the follow up offer. When you find a way to connect them to a resource or contact in your network, speak up. You can say something like, "I have a contact who may be able to help you with that. I'd be happy to send you her information."

4) Ask how they would prefer to be contacted. Ask for a business card so you have their contact info, but also ask what's their preferred method of follow up. Some people like email while others prefer the phone. They'll appreciate that you asked and are likely to be more responsive.

5) Follow up soon after the event. Do your best to send the information you promised within a few days of the event. Not only will it clear up your to-do list and mental bandwidth, but it will also show that you have your act together and that you care about the relationship.

6) Stay in touch. Connecting with each other on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter allows you to stay in touch unobtrusively and follow what is happening with them so that you can continue to find ways to add value and strengthen the relationship.

Follow up doesn't have to be a numbers game. You don't have to spend time meeting hundreds of new people every year hoping that a handful of them will convert into good contacts. By following some simple steps, you can turn just about any contact you make into a lasting connection.

Read the original post on the Smart Networking Blog.

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Liz Lynch is author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online (McGraw-Hill, 2009) and a sought-after speaker who brings a practical and insightful perspective to networking that has connected with a global audience. Liz is also founder of the Center for Networking Excellence, a company that develops products, programs and seminars to help entrepreneurs and professionals get clients, build their businesses, and accelerate their careers through networking.

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Career Success! Partner Liz Lynch is a regular contributing expert on our blog site.  Visit us every Friday for Liz's insights, ideas and wisdom on the subject of Smart Networking -- building powerful connections -- offering information that I hope will resonate with you in your journey to achieving incredible career success.

Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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Deploying "Out of the Box Tactics" in Your Job Search Campaign

It’s Definitely Not “Business as Usual” in the Current Job Search Market.  Today’s employment and job search market can easily strike fear in the heart of anyone who’s recently lost their job.  Finding a job in this market IS a challenge …. No question.  This is the toughest and most competitive job market that most of us in the career and employment profession have ever seen.  Jobs, however, ARE out there, firms and companies ARE hiring, key positions DO need to be filled …. The challenge is FINDING those jobs and SELLING YOURSELF – surfacing those “hidden” opportunities and presenting a clear and compelling case for why YOU are the best person for the opportunity that appeals most to you.  FINDING A POSITION and SELLING YOURSELF requires a new approach in this market….

“Out-of-the-Box” Tactics Are Key.  The process deployed by most job seekers for FINDING jobs and SELLING themselves simply does NOT work effectively in the current job market.  The “tried and true” processes of the past, even those of the very recent past, must be dropped in favor of some truly innovative, aggressive and “out of the box” job search tactics and strategies.   This article discusses a number of those tactics and strategies, but first …. be aware that ….

Common Mistakes Abound.  So what are the things that most job seekers are doing that simply don’t work in this market?  – i.e., what are the common mistakes that most job seekers are making that are getting in their way and producing little or no results?  Consider these very common mistakes:

• Failing to work within the framework of a structured and organized job search plan

• Lack of clarity in definition of the position being sought – unable to clearly articulate to others exactly what you’re looking for.  This is a HUGE mistake that many job seekers make

• A poorly written resume that does not emphasize RESULTS and value you’ve added in previous positions

• Failure to devote sufficient time to the job search process

• Too shy about soliciting “help” from ALL of your friends, family, neighbors and contacts

• Over-reliance on the on-line job boards – heavy dependence upon “post and pray” tactics

• Ineffective and nominal use of personal and business contacts

• Failure to differentiate yourself in the marketplace in EVERY STEP you take in the job search process

• Failure to effectively communicate your value in ALL of your correspondence, communications and conversations

• Poor preparation in advance of interviews

• Ineffective interviewing and “closing” skills

Time to get OUT of the "Same old, same old" BOX 

and try something DIFFERENT!

 Some Out-of-the-Box Tactics That Work:

The effectiveness of your job search and the results you achieve will correlate directly with how well you deploy tactics and strategies that nobody else is doing (or most are not doing).  Consider the following  tactics to super-charge your job search:

• Aggressively Utilize Social Media Applications – Immerse yourself in becoming fluent in using social media applications in your job search: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.   Recent stats from Nielsen Online show that by the end of 2008, social networking had overtaken email in terms of worldwide reach.
  

• Make Yourself Very Easy to be Found –  Employers and recruiters are using a variety of online tools to seek out and find potential employees.  Ensure your resume and information is available online by posting your resume to major job boards and relevant niche job boards.  Use services like VisualCV.com to give you web presence and searchability through Google.  Keep your LinkedIn profile current and compelling (your LinkedIn profile will also give you a very high Google search ranking).  Make it as easy as possible for others to FIND YOU.

• Aggressively Target a List of Companies and Employers –  Once you’re crystal clear on your job and career interests, conduct thorough and comprehensive research to identify a list of the top twenty companies you want to target -- this is your job "Shopping List."  This gives you DIRECTION and FOCUS -- critical components of your job search.  Seek out contacts at those companies through your network or make contact directly. Clearly communicate your value proposition.  Consider offering a “temp-to-perm” alternative to give the employer a “trial period.”  Be aggressive with follow up and follow-through; don’t leave any stone unturned.

• Clearly Communicate your Intentions and Interests -- Have a VERY Clear Picture of What You Want To Do Next -- It is absolutely essential that you have a very clear understanding of what you want and intend to do next, how your background and experience aligns with and supports those intentions, to whom and where you can target your intentions, and when you want to be "in the seat" in a new position.  Clarity of intention and interest provides direction for your job search and enables you to effectively communicate your interests to others -- providing them with the information THEY NEED to help you.  Your contacts CAN and WILL help you if you "make it easy" for them by clearly painting the picture of your intentions.

• Utilize a Job Search Planning and Management Tool –An effective job search requires a PLAN and a structured course of action.  A properly conducted job search also requires accumulation and organization of information, tracking of activities, scheduling of important events, and timely follow up.  Organization is KEY -- you've got to stay on top of every detail throughout the process.  You're setting yourself up for failure and disappointment if you do not adequately organize the process with a SYSTEM that you trust.  Two web-based applications that I highly recommend for this purpose are: JibberJobber.com and VirtualJobCoach.com.

• Devote a Minimum of 30-40 Hours Per Week – OK....take a deep breath....Your job search IS YOUR JOB....period.  If you're unemployed or are about to be very soon, you've got to devote 40+ hours a week to your job search.  Set up a home office area where you can be organized and productive.  Establish rhythm and routine to your daily and weekly schedule.  Immerse yourself in the job search process.  40 hours includes the time you spend in your office and the time you spend outside of your office.  Getting "outside" and meeting people is ultimately how you need to be spending the majority of your time.  Human contact and interaction are essential and must be ongoing.

• Create a Compelling Resume that “Wow’s” the Reader –I have an upcoming blog article dedicated to this very topic.  The average resume reader spends less than 30 seconds (initially) reviewing your resume.  Your value therefore has to leap out at the reader.  Focus on measurable results that you achieved, highlight spectacular accomplishments, and ensure you frame your presentation from the standpoint of perceived value to the READER. 

• Enlist the Support of Everyone You Know –This is not the time to sequester yourself away from friends, family and the general public.  Enlist the support of everyone you know.  If you've done an excellent job of nurturing your network in the past, your supporters will line up to help you.  Tell everyone your intentions and interests.  Share your resume with everyone.  Attend as many networking functions as you can.  Aggressively look for opportunities to get "out there" and ask for help in your job search.  Even the waitress at your favorite restaurant could know someone at one of your target companies.  Think transparency -- share your story. 

• Prepare and Practice for Each and Every Interview – Practice, practice, practice.  It's impossible to over-prepare for an interview or important meeting.  Research your prospect ahead of time.  Role-play with your spouse, a friend or a coach.  Always be prepared to answer the "softball" questions -- "So, tell me about yourself."  "Why are you interested in our company?" "What exactly are you looking to do next?" "Why are you a great fit for this opportunity?"  Plenty of books and resources are available -- at the library, at the bookstore and online.  DIG IN and be fully prepared .... there's no excuse for blowing an interview due to lack of preparation.

Remember: Be memorable, be professional, show enthusiasm, communicate your value and deploy innovative techniques, including those noted above.  Plan .... and focus on the important things.  Visualize yourself in your new position and create the activities to make it happen.

A few final words.....KNOWING this stuff is one thing.  Actually DOING IT and EXECUTING on these tactics and strategies is another thing.  BE A DOER .... Become part of that 5% out there that is going "above and beyond" the norm.  It's ultimately up to you.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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Step Out of Your Comfort Zone! - Time to Tread on New Ground

Growth -- personal growth and professional growth -- is all about change -- stretching yourself beyond your limits, trying new things, embracing new ways of doing things and adapting to new circumstances.

Make it a point this week to LOOK FOR opportunities to step out of your comfort zone and jump back on a growth curve.  Accept the idea that you may open yourself up to risk, to making mistakes and even "embarrassing" yourself, but step out of your comfort zone anyway.  Growth is all about falling down, getting back up again AND learning something new.

 Consider these ideas for stepping out of your comfort zone this week:

• Volunteer or be aware of opportunities to speak in front of a group of people.  Throw your personality at others in a setting that you have a bit of control over.
• Take a different route to work this week.  You may happen upon something or someone new that has meaning to you.
• Say "NO" to something that you would normally accept -- Use the time to take care of something more important.
• Speak up in a group situation -- share your thoughts, your ideas, your opinions -- the impact on the topic at hand COULD be significant.  
• Attend a "networking" event that you would normally avoid.  Take the opportunity to meet new people and possibly spark a new business relationship that could lead to something "big" for you.
• Leave work one hour earlier and use the time to spend with a family member.  Surprise your kids at an event or treat your spouse to a surprise dinner out.
• Force yourself to get up 30 minutes earlier this week.  Use the time to plan your day or read inspirational material.  
• Turn off the news, give your newspaper to your neighbor.  Remove yourself from the negative energy that seems to pervade the media these days.
• Ask for the business.  No more dancing around this week. Close the prospect meeting by asking for their business.  

Make your own list of ideas for stepping out of your comfort zone.  Reflect back on these things at the end of the week and consider their implications going forward.  You may end up lighting a fuse that ignites a growth spurt.

I hope you have a wonderful week!  All the best to your Career Success.

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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How to Successfully Navigate 12 Very Common Career Situations

Be Prepared!  Time to Take Action .... NOW!

Proactive career planning and career management are key career success elements, but even our best laid plans can get side-tracked if we don't keep our eyes on the horizon and be prepared for unexpected changes and detours in our career path.

As an executive career coach for the past 15 years, I have noted 12 common career situations that present themselves to us at both expected and unexpected times in our career.  You will likely recognize all of these and have probably experienced many in your own work life.  Learning how to effectively deal with these common career situations is absolutely critical to optimizing your career success.  

How many of these have you personally experienced?  

Are any of these looming on the horizon for you?

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12 Common Career Situations That You MUST Be Prepared for:

• Unexpected Job Loss - What Do I Now?  What's Next?  Where Do I Start?

• I've Got a New Boss - How Can I Tee Myself Up for Success with Her?

• I've Just Begun a New Job - The 90 Day "Probation" Period Challenge is Upon Me.

• I'd Like to Post for a Great-Looking Internal Position - How to I Rise to the Top of the List?  What Can I Begin Doing RIGHT NOW to Improve My Chances?

• I'm Thinking About Leaving the "Corporate World" and "Going Solo" - Should I?  Can I? How Do I Decide?  What Should I Do First?

• I Was Just Passed Over for a Promotion! - Why Did This Happen? What Can I Begin Doing RIGHT NOW to "Pass the Test" Next Time?  Who Do I Need to Have a Stronger Relationship With?

• I'm 90 Days Out from My Annual Review - What Can I Begin Doing RIGHT NOW to Ensure I Receive the Highest Marks?  Is it Too Late? (No!!)  How Have I Added Value This Past Year?

• I'm Ready to be Promoted - How Can I Maximize My Chances?  There's a Promotion Opportunity on the Horizon That is PERFECT for ME!

• I'm Ready for a Job/Career Change - What Do I Do Next?  Should I Leave or Should I Stay? How Do I Decide?  What Do I Do About It?  First Steps?

• My Job Search is Stagnated.  I Can't Seem to Get ANY Traction - How Can I Re-establish Momentum?  How Can I Generate Some Viable Opportunities?

• My Weak Areas Are DEFINITELY Holding Me Back.  I've Tried to Improve But I'm Not Making Progress.  What Do I Do?

• I'm Assembling a New Team .... Or I'm Teaming Up with a Business Partner - How Do I Ensure the Success and Sustainability of the Team?

So ..... What do you do about these?  Any of these sound familiar?  

If you haven't run into many of these .... Listen Carefully .... you DEFINITELY will!  Consider the following ideas to help you effectively deal with these situations when they present themselves:

• Find a Mentor or Mentors.  Find someone who HAS experienced the circumstance that you're experiencing -- someone you trust and someone you can confidentially speak with.  Ask your friends; ask your family members; ask your other trust advisors if they know of anyone. Talk to the mentor(s) about exactly what they did.  Have them walk you through their thought process and action plan.  What did they do right?  What do they WISH they had done?  What should the have NOT done that they did?  Listen, take notes and formulate your own plan.

• "School Up" On It.  Read about it!  Because these circumstances ARE common, there is already LOTS of material out there that talk about it -- Books, magazine articles, blog articles -- believe me....it's out there.  Dig in and locate some resources.  Read, learn, take notes and APPLY what you learn.

• Approach It Like You Would an Important Client/Work Project.  Formulate a realistic and achievable action plan -- write it down; get granular with it; flesh out the details.  Set SMART goals and milestones; find an accountability partner (a friend, your spouse, etc.) to help hold you to task.  Plan .... and take action!

• Approach an Experienced Career Coach.  Find an expert in the field, someone you have good chemistry with, someone who's been through these circumstances as an advisor to others.  Have them help you map out a plan, have them teach you what you might not know, have them help hold you accountable to the plan, have them INSPIRE you to action.  

• Do ALL of the Above!  None of the above are necessarily mutually exclusive -- some combination of all of the above is probably the ideal solution.  Remember .... it's your career .... it's ultimately up to you.  Make it happen.  Proactively plan and manage your career.  Keep your eyes on the horizon and be ready to deal with these common career situations.

All the best to your career success!

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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Empower Your Career Success with a Sense of Urgency and Bias for Action. Get it Done!

With the pace of change we're currently experiencing, it's more important than ever to embrace a personal philosophy of commitment to a strong sense of urgency and a bias for action.  We've got to get the important things DONE -- check it off and move on.

  

Waiting, deferring and indecisiveness will likely put you at a competitive disadvantage in today's super-competitive marketplace -- you're very likely to be passed by those who act and move forward with a heightened sense of urgency.

Think carefully about where where you want to go and how you'd like to get there.  Formulate a plan, and then begin taking action toward that plan immediately.  Encourage your team-mates to do the same.  A sense of urgency applied across an organization can have a transformational impact on your Company.

Commit to day-to-day action and progress toward your plan.  Ask your self daily -- "What ACTION did I take TODAY to advance in the direction of my plan and move toward accomplishing my MOST IMPORTANT goals and objectives?"

Are there any important things that you're putting off doing or not generating momentum on?

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Andy Robinson, Executive Career Coach
Co-host, Career Success Radio Show
A leading authority on career success; 15-year executive coaching veteran
Contact: Andy@CRGLeaders.com, 239-285-5575

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