Friday, December 27, 2019

3 Reasons You Need Experience to Be Successful - The Muse

3 Reasons You Need Experience to Be Successful - The Muse3 Reasons You Need Experience to Be SuccessfulSo, youve got a bunch of friends who keep getting promoted and landing awesome new jobs (with accompanying awesome titles) and youre feeling like yur career is falling behind. You just cant stop asking yourself how youll ever catch up. Remember that old story about the tortoise and the hare? Well, as someone whos always been in a hurry to get to the next level, Ive come to realize that slow and steady is actually a really great approach. There is simply no substitute for hard-earned experience if you truly want to be successful in your chosen field. My careers journeyed for over 20 years through the airline industry, the music business as it was imploding, sports footwear, apparel, and nutrition where I ended up as auf der ganzen welt President of Gatorade, and finally my most recent role as President of Equinox, the leader in the fitness industry. Ive had some amazing team successe s on my journey thatll forever take me to that happy place in my mind- and Ive also had some epic, epic fails. Yeah, Im not talking the type of fail like when you mistakenly forward an email to a giant CC list and announce a crush on your co-worker to your entire company. Nope. Im talking the kind of fails where you get fired, laid off, and lose your legal right to work in this country. My path is certainly not one thats for the faint of heart And what I can say from my experience is that every time the big blunders happened, it was almost always when I had gotten ahead of my skis. Like when someone had promoted me to a big job with an even bigger title because I interviewed really well and came across as a smart thinker. But whenever that happened and someone had overlooked my lack of experience (no doubt because I had regaled them in the interview with my daaaaaarling neuseelnder accent and my witty repartee)- thats when I got into trouble.Now dont get me wrong , I dont have any r egrets. Because in the end, after lots of bumps and bruises, its all worked out. But what I do know to be true is that theres no substitute for experience. You cant jump the line of experience- you really need to get in there and do it to have the depth, resilience, and strength it really takes to be a powerhouse leader.Here are three big reasons why1. Depth Gives You CredibilityThe higher up you get in an organization, the more people will look to you for assurance that you actually know what youre doing. And heres the truth Theres going to be a lot of stuff that youre asked to weigh in on that you actually dont know much about and youre going to feel really unsure of yourself a lot more than youd like. But if you have real depth in just one specific area- what one of my bosses used to call your hit pocket skill- then youll have one place in which you know youre adding value to the team. And thats where you will turn when you need a confidence boost. This in turn will make you more comfortable to be more vulnerable and open to asking questions in the areas that are foreign to you. Leaders never have all of the answers, and one of the greatest traits of good managers is the willingness to acknowledge what they dont know and ask for help. So, if you know youre kicking ass and adding value because of your depth and expertise in one area, then youre going to be far more likely to ask for help with your weaker bits. And that will make you far more well-rounded and less likely to have big, ugly blind spots that could drive your team into trouble.2. The Power to Have Influence Comes From Real ExperienceLeaderships so much about your ability to influence others, especially with the pace of change in organizations today, and a major cultural shift away from command and control style leadership. Ultimately- even when you have a big title like President or Chief Something- people are not going to really follow you if you cant inspire and influence them to do so. And its not just the folks that report to you- very often the toughest audiences are your peers or other stakeholders you need to get onboard with your teams plan. Im a huge fan of Wharton Professor Adam Grants book, Originals How Non-Comformists Move the World. In it, he discusses his research around power without status. When people sought to exert influence but lacked respect, others perceived them as difficult, coercive, and self serving. Since they havent earned our admiration, we dont feel they have the right to tell us what to do, and we push back.It reiterates the fact that you really cant influence people until you have had the experiences that earn you the right to do so.I experienced this when I joined Equinox. Even though I came on board as the president of the company, I had this distinct feeling in my first year or so that people thought of me like a new seasons TV show. They might have DVR-ed me, but they hadnt yet committed to watching because they didnt know if I was going to be worthy of following So I spent time getting out into our field, working every position that I could in our clubs, from maintenance to front desk, to selling a membership and being a floor trainer handing out fresh towels to members. Not only did I have a blast, but by the time I came back to start thinking about the future of our company, I was so much more grounded in what really makes the business work. And, not surprisingly, employees were far more willing to give me eingabe knowing that I had experienced the business properly.3. You Need to Have the Courage of Your ConvictionsTo be a great leader, you have to be able to see a future that others are unable to see. And what that means is that youre going to come up against weeks, months, and probably even years of conversations with people telling you all the reasons why your ideas wont work. And let me tell you, its really freaking hard not to be affected by that. But if you have real depth of time and experience that enab les you to see that future so clearly, youll have light years more resilience and drive to get to the future than if you dont. In my case, leading Gatorade from the world of sports drinks to the world of sports nutrition, or seeing Equinox as an always on fitness lifestyle partner instead of a gym- both of those experiences were hugely necessary in teaching me the grit required to drive innovation and change, and giving me the courage to launch my own business, EXTREMEYOU. While Ive had countless people tell me why this might not be for me- mostly because starting a business presents a very different set of challenges to revamping an existing one- I know the time is right for me to do this. With 20 years of experience under my belt, I have the mentors and relationships that provide the kind of moralische verfassung support thats hugely needed when youre embarking upon something new and scary. And critically, I have legitimate subject matter depth on the topic of human potential, whi ch is the area my business idea is focused on.So, no matter where you are in your career Remember that story of the tortoise and the hare. Its important to keep feeling and encourage your restless desire to progress, but just remember, you cant skip over the important experience steps if you want to really get the most out of your own potential in the long run.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Harness the Power of 3 to Land Your Dream Job

Harness the Power of 3 to Land Your Dream JobHarness the Power of 3 to Land Your Dream JobHarness the power of three by using multiple job-search methods to find the most job leads.QIm not having much luck with the on-line application process. What else can I do to get my resume reviewed by employers? Eunice J., Babylon, NYAA while ago when I wrote the post about searching for a job while employed, I mentioned that you should use multiple methods in searching for opportunities. This means (1) applying to (and properly following up on) online job listings, (2) networking with your social and professional contacts, and (3) engaging with recruiters. By incorporating all three methods into your search strategy, you will maximize the number of leads published and unpublished you can pursue.Here are a few tips to help you take full advantage of each job sourcing methodOnline ApplicationsCareerXroads 2012 Source of Hire Survey showed that among the 200+ companies who were surveyed, 20.1 p ercent of their external new hires credited job boards with finding the job posting. What does that mean? If youve given up on job postings and applications, youre missing out on a lot of opportunities I recommend applying to around five well-fitted opportunities each week. There are a few things you can do to improve your return on investment with each application.Do your research. I know it can be hard, but fight the urge to apply to any job you qualify for before youve learned mora. Granted, this doesnt apply to confidential postings, but for jobs where you know the companys name, do the research. Review the employment section of the companys site, use resources such as Vault and Glassdoor, and talk to connections whove worked at the company to get a better understanding of its corporate culture. Its great if you have the right skills and experience to do the job, but chances are you wont make it through the interview process if you dont fit in with the team. And frankly, you pro bably wouldnt enjoy working there in the long run. Whenever possible, review the latest news articles using Google News and financial reports to get a better understanding of the health of the organization.Apply to the right jobs. Job descriptions often contain a laundry list of nice-to-have items the hiring manager wishes the ideal candidate would possess however, they rarely expect a candidate to have all of those. Your job is to zero in on the must-have core requirements for the role. If you possess these must-haves, apply away. (And dont forget to properly follow up.) I recommend using a T-format cover letter to spell out your qualifications, and make sure the key terms from the job description are woven into your resume. Your resume gets 6 seconds to make an impression with a recruiter make it as easy as possible for them to quickly see why youre a good fit for the role.NetworkingWhether you love it or loathe it, networking is an important part of any job seekers strategy in t odays job market. It will help you learn about job leads that may not be published anywhere else. Another benefit is the possibility of getting an employee referral from one of your connections for a position. This type of referral can be very powerful it can help you bypass the gatekeeper and gain valuable insight for the interview process.Map out your network and grow it. In a recent post I discussed the two types of network connections that are considered most valuable during your search professional connections youve made during your career, and the social butterflies amongst your group of friends who can connect you to other acquaintances in your current or desired line of work. Before you tap into this network, develop a strong professional online presence that aligns with your resume, supports your career goals and showcases your expertise. Make sure youre connected to all of your contacts online so you can easily view their work experience and other connections.Get involve d and show off your expertise. If you feel your current network is not very strong, then its especially important to get out there physically and virtually and develop new relationships with those in your field. This could be in the form of joining online groups and getting involved in discussions joining and participating in Meetup groups related to your profession reconnecting with alumni from your school or attending professional trade shows andconferences or membership meetings focused specifically on your targeted industry or line of work. Dont discount recruiting events, job fairs and other events dedicated to job seekers in your field. Not only will you meet recruiters, but you can also develop valuable connections with other job seekers, doubling your search efforts.RecruitersJob seekers are often skeptical about working with recruiters, either because theyve been burned in the past or cant stand the lack of response. I agree its not an ideal situation for a job seeker. Y ou cant expect the recruiter to treat you like the customer because in their world, youre not. However, they can be a valuable source of job leads and company insight when youre the right fit for their sourcing needs. There are two primary ways you can capitalize on recruiter engagementBuild a strong professional online presence so recruiters find you. If youre following the tips I mentioned for networking, you should be platzset from this perspective. When your resume is uploaded to sites such as Ladders and you have a polished profile on sites like LinkedIn, recruiters will find you as they search for potential candidates. Also, recruiters typically monitor online groups relevant to their recruiting needs in search of candidates. Your activity within professional groups and through online discussions will help you build your personal brand and establish yourself as an expert in your field.Develop a recruiter outreach strategy and put it to practice. This requires you to research w hich recruiting firms source for positions in your industry or line of work, to identify which recruiters at those firms can be contacted, and to send tailored messages to those people. I recommend using sites such as Oya to find the right recruiters, and then visiting their individual websites or LinkedIn profiles to locate contact information and reach out to them. Check out these sample messages to get an idea of how you can communicate with the recruiters. This is a numbers game, so make it a goal to reach out to three to five new recruiters each week, and follow up every couple weeks you never know when theyll have the right opportunity for you and will respond.Over the past two years, my team of career coaches and I have worked with hundreds of job seekers. One thing weve learned is that different job search methods work for different people. Some job seekers will get a great deal of response from their online applications, while others gain much more traction through working with recruiters. And then there will be others who find their personal or professional contacts to be the best source of leads.The key is to incorporate each method into your search and see where you gain the most traction. Give each method a good try for at least three months before you give up on it. For many of you, this will require you to go outside of your comfort zone. As you get a better idea of what works for you and suits your personality, you can move more of your job sourcing activities to that method. I dont recommend giving up any one method entirely you might miss out on opportunities that way. But you should spend the bulk of your time on the activities that yield the best results for you. Also, remember that these strategies can work in tandem. Its important not only to apply to a job listing, but also to utilize your network for insight and employee referrals.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Resume Recasts Bookkeeper as HR Powerhouse

Resume Recasts Bookkeeper as HR PowerhouseResume Recasts Bookkeeper as HR PowerhouseDebbie Ramirez was ready to trade in zu sichbei role in finance for a position in human resources. Selling her qualifications meant a rewrite to her resume.Debbie Ramirez was tired. Ramirez has been tired for a long time, which is what prompted her to come to OpsLadder for help in her job search.For the past 15 years, Miami-based Ramirez has been a financial-accounts officer at a local private school, where she has handled accounts receivable and payable, collection of delinquent accounts, and reconciliation of bank accounts. Ramirez also was tasked with preparing monthly income/expense reports, payroll, purchasing and budget control.She was ready for a change and hoped for a position in human resources. I am looking for a better job that would allow me to utilize my experiences better, Ramirez said. Im looking for something where theres room for me to grow.After such a long run in a finance role at a single company, however, her resume presented an impediment to HR positions.I want to get out of the financial end of the business, Ramirez said. I am the benefits administrator where I work now, and I do payroll and all the PTO Paid Time Off requests and everything. And I realize I really like that end of my work.Therein lies the challenge how to transform a bookkeeper into an HR specialist.The biggest challenge was about getting out what she has done over the years that focused on HR and administrative responsibilities, said J.M. Auron, a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders and helped Ramirez translate her resume for a new career in HR.To play up her HR capabilities, Auron led the description of Ramirezs current job with a focus on HR rather than bookkeeping.Ramirezs original resume presented skills that she called repeatable in another position such as HR, but she didnt talk about transferable skills.She also didnt highlight the HR skills she already had. Auron decided to shine a light on the HR accomplishments she already had, includingManage a wide range of HR operations. Ensure accuracy of all new hire documentation and personnel files, including W4s and I9s. Track vacation time, sick leave, and paid time off. Manage maintenance staff. Ensure compliance with all Federal regulations, including OSHA. Contribute to safety trainings. Manage recording of all professional development courses and requirements.Serve as Benefits Manager, research and analyze health insurance options, negotiate plans, ensure full coverage for employees, and serve as 1st point of contact for benefits issues and questions. Streamline personnel reporting procedures.Administer 403B retirement plan. Work directly with staff to determine needs, and ensures correct monthly payroll deductions.Ramirez, who had casually searched for a job for two years, now has a new resume and is close to finishing her degree in business administration. She is feeling very confiden t about her prospects.Im ready to move right now, she said. I am happy with my new resume. I think it adequately reflects my capabilities, and I really feel like I am ready to make a move.

Friday, December 13, 2019

Your phone might be the key to finding your dream job

Your phone might be the key to finding your dream jobYour phone might be the key to finding your dream jobYour phone might be the key to finding your dream job. Your smartphone can do it all.From making phone calls and checking emails to recording videos and reading the news, there are endless uses for your phone. And just when you thought your smartphone could do it all, theres actually another practical use for your smartphone Finding a job.According to MedReps 2014 Mobile and Social Medical Sales Job Search report, 90 percent of medical sales professionals use their mobile devices as an essential tool in their job search. Not only are they using their smartphones to network with recruiters, but theyre also using them to search and apply for jobs.Do you want to learn how to utilize your smartphone to find your dream job? Here are five ways you can use your mobile device to advance your career1. Download mobile job-search apps.Downloading mobile job-search apps can step up your game as a tech-savvy job seeker. The MedReps report found that 49 percent of respondents use their smartphone to search for jobs on mobile apps, and 29 percent use mobile apps to apply for jobs.Whether you use an iPhone, Android, or tablet, there are a number of job-search apps to consider downloading. You can begin with Ladders app, designed specifically for job referrals (which increase your chances of landing a job by 10 percent).2. Create alerts for job postings.Paranoid youll overlook your dream jobs listing? Never fear. With your smartphone, you can create mobile alerts to stay up to speed on job postings in your industry.According to the MedReps report, 71 percent of respondents use their smartphone to open job-alert emails, while 17 percent receive job alerts via text.3. Network with employers on social media.Your smartphone is necessary to keep in close contact with recruiters and employers around the clock.Download social media apps such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ to co nnect with employers. This way, you can engage in conversations with employers online, and build a network of recruiters so you are never without career options, no matter where life takes you.4. Search and apply for jobs on the go.Many companies offer mobile versions of their website to accommodate on-the-go job seekers. In fact, our study revealed that 56 percent of respondents search for jobs on mobile websites, and 35 percent apply for jobs on mobile websites.5. Track your applications and follow up with employers.As a job seeker, its important to keep your applications organized, and to remember which listings you responded to on which app.Your mobile device is a helpful tool for organizing your job search and keeping all relevant information in one place. Use your smartphone or tablet to save job postings and create bookmarks. And dont forget to follow up with employers via email or social mediaAccessible, portable smartphones and tablets are the becoming the platforms of choi ce for job seekers. And by following these tips, youll stay ahead of the game in your job search and unlock mora opportunities in your career.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Instant Solutions to Resume Help

Instant Solutions to Resume Help Odds are, your competition is, nor fool yourself, youve got competition. Its pivotal to find out whether youve got the skills you have to compose a winning resume, or, by doing this youll merely jeopardize your career. Earning Potential The salaries in the area of graphic design might vary greatly based upon whether youre working for a firm or are self-employed as an independent professional. With a small quantity of research, youll be in a position to arm yourself with the most up-to-date details on what employers are hunting for when they look through resumes. Employers have a requirement to fill, and theyre trying to find the ideal candidate that may fit the requirement. They want to see how you will benefit their companies. As an extra bonus, many employers choose to hire back their interns as soon as they graduate since they need little if any training. How to Choose Resume Help Resume help If youre planning to go for an interview then the first thing you want to understand is that your resume must be quite attractive in the feeling of words that are use in it and the other things that are given there. With some resume aid, you could find out which one is most appropriate for you and your specific situation. Getting attention ought to be your primary motive. If you would like to catch the interest of the employer there must be something which makes your resume stand out so it doesnt get lost among all the others. What You Should Do About Resume Help Starting in the Next 10 Minutes Neighbors that are weary just require safe shelter. Many, a lot of people do not understand how to compose a resume, despite plenty of information that can be found. Additionally, the local community college can be contacted to learn what free resources they offer for resume assist. If you are searching for resume templates or other sorts of resume help, then you need to visit your nearest Goodwill store. User experience desig ners enter the field for a number of factors. More Resume Help Resume help can be gotten from the works of a number of the very best fiction writers. It is possible to write the job winning resume only in case you have thorough understanding of resume writing. New jobs can help ex felons to develop into a region of the society. Resume Help the Ultimate Convenience While using the later method, employers are not going to read every detail in your resume. Figuring out the right profession is only the very first step. Resume objectives ought to be omitted when there are a lot of open positions, and you dont have a very clear option about which position youre interested in. Rule number one When tailoring a resume for a specific position, you should study and understand the work requirement. Definitions of Resume Help You Must Revamp Your Resume in the New Year if you would like to acquire the type of job you would like. Be strategic, and be ready to go the additional mile to land the job that you desire. You may later prove your work suitability at the right time of the personal interview. Some jobs in your present location might also be more available if you are eager to relocate later on. You dont need to produce a hiring manager wade through your resume in hopes of locating relevant info. The access to federal jobs also count on the agency and the location. Resumes are made to highlight the ideal side of an individual. Writing essays and research papers can acquire interesting in the event the student has the ideal motivation. Another thing to remember when creating your profile is to just include information which is correct, you are able to also use a professional cv writers. There are an infinite number of questions which you could be asked in an interview, so many that its really not possible to guess which ones which youll come face to face with. While no 2 resumes are the exact same, you require a person to figure out what sections you need resume assistance with. In the actual advertising world, theres a formula used to receive your message across. It isnt as difficult as one may think. A lot of people include info in their resume objective which is already known to the individual reading the resume. Whenever someone needs help, the very first thing they might do is try to work out which sort of service they need, then look this up. The Basics of Resume Help Deciding on the correct format is always important so ensure the format you select is associated with the job and reflects your personality and abilities. Templates will supply you the raw format of resume. They play an important role in your job search as it saves a lot of your time and provide you a better format for your CV. Template for resume is a typical layout which can be used for any work position.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Yves Makhoul - Social Media Manager

Yves Makhoul - Social Media Manager Yves Makhoul Social Media ManagerPosted December 14, 2017, by Jenny Sakr Yves is a social media professional with over seven years experience in a 10-year-old sector. He knows his way around that elusive reach and engagement, whilst aware the rules of the game are ever changing.Read Yves story as the social media manager for one of tertiary educations biggest players, The University of Melbourne.When did you first know you wanted to get into social media?As soon as I created a Facebook account in 2007 I saw the potential then and its exceeded all my expectations today.Tell us about what typical day may look like for youThere is no typical day at the Universitys social media team. Theres the general business as usual type work ensuring the content plan is up to date, our nachrichten and features are shared across channels, images are chosen for Instagram, events are attended for on the ground content and queries are responded to in a timely manner. Then theres the months-long recruitment, engagement or research campaigns, or the social media training delivery we provide across the University, the issues and escalations required (we often hear about it first) or the multitude of ideas pitched. Theres never a boring dayWhats the most interesting thing thats happened to you while working in social media?In a

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Executive Leadership and Support in Change Management

Executive Leadership and Support in Change ManagementExecutive Leadership and Support in Change ManagementSuccessful change management requires a large commitment from executives and senior managers, whether the change is occurring in a department or in a complete organization. Leadership from the senior team is the most significant factor in helping employees to buy into and support needed changes. One recent survey respondent said, a change effort cannot be optional for senior staff. They must lead or get out of the way. The new system will ultimately have to stand on its own feet, but every new system needs support and nurture. Reviewing an 18-month complete organization transformation with a senior executive, he said that his most significant mistake, as he had led the organization in a new direction, had been his patience with his senior team. He wished retrospectively that he had fired several of the most change-resistant members early in the change process. He had decided that keeping change-resistant people in senior positions had impeded the implementation of all of the goals that they had mutually agreed to and set. Executives play a powerful role in organizational progress- or not. He believed that he could have accelerated the changes that ultimately took 18 months if he had replaced change resistant leadership early in the change process. In his move from a traditional manufacturing facility and approach to one that emphasized employee empowerment, quality, and continuous improvement, he spent considerable time and resources trying to bring several members of his senior team along. What You Should Expect From Senior Leaders During Change Senior leaders can do the following to lead effectively during successful change management efforts. Establish a clear vision for the change management process. Paint a picture of where the organization will end up and the anticipated outcomes. Make certain the picture is one of reality and not what people wish would occur. When this vision and communication is done well, each employee should be able to describe what he or she will experience on the other side of making the change. For employees, the most significant factor is the impact of the change in their job. This is an often neglected step. Appoint an executive champion who owns the change management process and makes certain other senior managers, as well as other appropriate people in the organization, are involved. Change is easier when a large number of people who must change are involved in the planning and implementation.Pay attention to the changes occurring. Ask employees how things are going. Focus on progress and barriers to change management. One of the worst possible scenarios is to have the leaders ignore the process. Sponsor portions of the change or the change management process, as an involved participant, to increase active involvement and interaction with other organization members.If personal or managerial action s or behaviors require change for the changes to take hold in the organization, model the new behaviors and actions. Walk the talk. Senior leaders play a huge role in teaching their reporting staff expected and desired behavior.Establish a structure which will support the change. This may take the form of a Steering Committee, Leadership Group, or Guiding Coalition. Change the measurement, reward, and recognition systems to measure and reward the accomplishment of the new expectations. Make the recognition public so that you reinforce the behaviors that you really want to see with all of your other employees.Solicit and act upon feedback from other members of the organization. Whats working? Not working? How can you improve the processes? When you act on feedback or decide not to, make sure you have let the employee with the idea know what you did or why not. Recognize the human element in the change. People have different needs and different ways of reacting to change. They need ti me to deal with and adjust to change.Senior leaders must participate in the training that other organization members attend, but, even more importantly, they must exhibit their learning from the sessions, readings, interactions, tapes, books or research.Be honest and worthy of trust. Treat people with the same respect that you expect from them. Change is difficult and progresses when the people involved feel supported, respected, and that you care about them.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Inspirational Quotes about Procrastination for Business

Inspirational Quotes about Procrastination for BusinessInspirational Quotes about Procrastination for BusinessAre you looking for an inspirational quote about procrastination for your website, newsletter, business presentation, or meeting? Putting things off until tomorrow really matters. These procrastination quotes are useful to help employee motivation and inspiration at work. These quotes about procrastination will help you inspire employees to create business and management success. Remember that managing for results is only half of the leaders job. See the quotes about procrastination. Do it now. Demonstrate respect for people and time. Quotes About Procrastination The trouble is that you think you have time. Jack Kornfield Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait. The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply dont count. Robert Anthony Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. Will iam James Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday. Napoleon Hill Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle. Abraham Lincoln Putting off an easy thing makes it hard. Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible. George Claude Lorimer Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the someday Ill philosophy. Denis Waitley Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy. Wayne Dyer Neither a wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to zustrom over him. Dwight D. Eisenhower Know the true value of time Snatch, seize, and enjoy every mo ment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination. Never put off geschiebemergel tomorrow what you can do today. Lord Chesterfield Stanhope Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people cant buy more hours. Scientists cant invent new minutes. And you cant save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time youve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow. Denis Waitley The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once youve made up your mindjump in. Charles R. Swindoll It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the master work. Now, Im beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But Im happy at least that I didnt wait twenty years. Paulo Coelho ...the best pos sible way to prepare for tomorrow is to concentrate with all your intelligence, all your enthusiasm, on doing todays work superbly today. That is the only possible way you can prepare for the future. Dale Carnegie You may delay, but time will not. Benjamin Franklin The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination, those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. Theyre full of eagerness, zest, productivity. You can be, too. Norman Vincent Peale Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now There are only so many tomorrows. Michael Landon Jr. Following through is the only thing that separates dreamers from people that accomplish great things. Gene Hayden Dont fool yourself that important things can be put off till tomorrow they can be put off forever, or not at all. Mignon McLaughlin Anyone can do any amo unt of work, provided it isnt the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment. Robert Benchley So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just dont sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until weve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late. Lee Iacocca Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. Pablo Picasso Whatever you want to do, do it now There are only so many tomorrows. Michael Landon

Thursday, November 21, 2019

You need to do this more in your life (if you want to keep growing)

You need to do this mora in yur life (if you want to keep growing)You need to do this more in your life (if you want to keep growing)Sometimes we find ourselves on autopilot. Life settles into a predictable routine and we roll with it. The alarm goes off, we hit the shower, dress and face the day. Just like we did the day before.Theres leidhing wrong with routines. In fact, Im a big fan of routines and habits, because thats how we achieve our goals and objectives. But how do we know if the goals and objectives we adopted still stand? The answer?Personal reflectionOur hearts and minds have a funny way of getting our attention. Sometimes, they hit like a brick between the eyes. Other times, they emerge like a subtle but immer restlessness. Either way, we know when something feels amiss.Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind. - Nathaniel HawthorneA nagging little voiceIve clocked three moments in my life when I questioned everything. It started with a nagging little voice, wh ispering in the recesses of my mind.The first wakeup call was in my freshman year of college. I was away from home, living in the dorms and completely on my own. There were parties and beer and girls.I played keyboards and sang in a rock band. Fun times. I could have easily chased that for a while. But one night, after yet another college party, I found myself alone on a dorm room balcony, staring at the moon.Reflecting.I knew, deep down, that rock bands and parties would not get me where I needed to go. So, I left the rock band and began reading more. I focused intently on my education. As a result, I graduated with distinction, and went on to graduate school.We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see. - Zen sayingThe soul will speakThe second time that reflection saved my bacon was when I toyed with leaving police work to draw cartoons professionally.I was a police sergeant working night shift. I was married and had an infant son. I h ated shift work and felt my creative talents were underutilized. I had been drawing political cartoons for the local newspapers and loved it.A staff, editorial cartoonist position opened up at a newspaper in Albany, New York. The thought of drawing cartoons every day seemed like a dream job. I got swept up imagining a different life, as a full-time cartoonist.Then one night, I was rocking my infant son to sleep. In the quiet of night, I began reflecting. I had an excellent job with good pay and benefits. I had the support of local family and friends. I enjoyed helping people as a police sergeant.Even if I got the cartoonist job in Albany, I knew in my heart it would be a mistake. Newspapers were struggling. Many staff cartoonists were laid off, as papers opted to purchase cheaper, syndicated cartoons.Fortunately, I didnt get the cartoonist position. It was less a disappointment than a relief. I realized I had financial stability and security in my law enforcement job. And I could al ways moonlight as a cartoonist.Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak. - Ma Jaya Sati BhagavatiMy creative dreamsThe third time reflection changed my life was when I almost talked myself out of becoming a painter.As I rose in the police department, it became politically inconvenient to keep publishing political cartoons. So, I started to embrace landscape painting and took a local workshop. I loved it. Soon, I discovered the artist Scott L. Christensen, and thought about studying with him.The only problem was that I had a fear of flying and lacked confidence as a painter. Scott L. Christensen lived in Idaho, and most of the people who went to study with him were already accomplished painters. I came up with a million reasons not to study with Christensen.Fortunately, my wife had a serious talk with me about dreams. About pursuing the things that mattered in my life. She urged me to face my fear of flying, get on that plane and go study with Christensen.As a result of that talk I d id some serious reflection. I asked myself what I really wanted. And I knew the answer.I made several trips to Idaho to study with Scott Christensen. As a result, my painting improved considerably, and I realized that it was possible to keep my day job and still chase my creative dreams.I later made other plane trips to Franklin, Tennessee, to study blogging and writing with the author Jeff Goins. These conquests over my fear of flying led to where I am today. Making art, writing, and living a full-time, creative life.I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. - Nelson MandelaThe real texture of our livesIf you want to invite more reflection into your life, you need to push back against the cult of busyness. Modern life is awash in technical advances, but somehow our smartphones and non-stop texting have edged out the stillness.Peoples faces are immersed in the glow of their devices everywhere. People waiting in line (at Starbucks, the doctors office, the post office, etc.) have their phones out. You feel dumb if you dont pull your phone out, too.When we ask friends and associates how they are, they usually say, Busy. Ive got a lot going on. We view busy as a sign of success or importance. Except its not. Its more a sign that weve lost some balance.Weve forgotten how to connect with others. How to slow down and appreciate the real texture of our lives. Not the digital landscape, but the real one. Most of all, weve forgotten how to reflect more on our lives.Check out this short, moving video about the importance of slowing down.The deeper meaning of your lifeQuiet, personal reflection enables us to take stock of where we are. How we truly feel. When all the noise of life gets shut out, we can hear better the whispers of our soul. Deeper feelings, and even solutions, start to come into focus. Such reflection can correct your course. Maybe even invi te more happiness and peace.Wherever you are in your life, take the time to slow down and reflect. Take stock of where you are in your life, where youve been and where you want to go.You need to do this more in your life. You need to find quiet places. Turn off your devices. Breathe deeply. And then spend some time reflecting.Let the thoughts roam around a bit, freely, in your mind. If you havent done this in a long time, be patient. You might feel like youre wasting time, but youre not. Just as a vacation from work can recharge your batteries, quiet reflection can recharge your mind and spirit.Embrace personal reflection more in your life. Watch how it slowly heals your weary mind. Feel how it stokes the embers of past dreams, and reveals who you really are, or want to become.Google and social media can wait. The deeper meaning of your life is calling, and personal reflection is the lifeline to help you reconnect.Before you goIm John P. Weiss. I draw cartoons, paint landscapes, and write about life. Thanks for readingThis article first appeared on Medium.