Creating a “No Excuse Zone” around your Home, Office and in your Thoughts

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Below is Part 1 of a 3-Part article designed to help IT and database professionals stay on top of their game in an ever-changing  trade.  Part 1 and 2 describe examples of how we inadvertently make excuses for our lack of progress in certain areas of our careers.

Part 3 offers several steps toward creating “No Excuse Zones” in our home, office and thinking. For more examples that fit your specific work environment, please feel free to contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info.

Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – Corporate Exit Strategist for the blooming entrepreneur – and I am a business and life coach that specializes in Time Management, Project management training and work-life balance strategies.  Over the recent weeks, I have met with several clients who got trapped in the ‘blame game’.  Oh, I’m not saying they were intentionally blaming other people or external circumstances for their current situation.  But they were relinquishing responsibility and ownership to feel better about their current lack of progress.  Therefore, today I am introducing the idea of creating “No Excuse Zones” in your home, work and life.

We all have ‘excuses’ as part of our normal, default speaking and thinking patterns.  It’s normal.  It’s human.  We often entertain ourselves with stories of how we got to where we ‘don’t want to be’.  We do not readily acknowledge these stories as ‘excuses’ or blaming something or someone external to ourselves for our predicament; we’re simply ‘explaining’ ourselves.  But the longer we stay in the ‘explaining’ stage of the current situation; the longer we are stalled and not making forward progress.

 

Thinking Like the Owner: Using Speaking Engagements

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This is part 3 in a 3-part series.

Laura Lee Rose, who is a business coach and corporate exit strategist, shares how testers, developers and project managers can think like an entrepreneur in their current corporate position. She explains how “thinking like the owner” paves the way for advancement within the company and beyond.

 

In my recent interview with SSWUG.ORG’s Stephen Wynkoop regarding ‘thinking like an entrepreneur, in any position’, I had several viewers ask me for additional examples to illustrate points that were made.

Let’s play with these three typical development scenarios.
1) There is an unhappy client that you are working with in regards to a reported defect in your code area.
2) There is a happy client after you have delivered a fix in a quick and professional manner.
3) You have been using speaking engagements to gather sales leads.

Previously we explored scenario #1: Unhappy Client and scenario #2:  Happy Client.   Today we will explore scenario #3: Using Speaking Engagements. Continue reading →

Thinking Like the Owner Sets You Apart: Part 2

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This is part 2 in a 3-part series.

Laura Lee Rose, who is a business coach and corporate exit strategist, shares how testers, developers and project managers can think like an entrepreneur in their current corporate position.  She explains how “thinking like the owner” paves the way for advancement within the company and beyond.

In my recent interview with SSWUG.ORG’s Stephen Wynkoop regarding ‘thinking like an entrepreneur, in any position’, I had several viewers ask me for additional examples to illustrate points that were made.

Let’s play with these three typical development scenarios.
1)    There is an unhappy client that you are working with in regards to a reported defect in your code area.
2)    There is a happy client after you have delivered a fix in a quick and professional manner.
3)    You have been using speaking engagements to gather sales leads.

 

Last week we explored scenario #1:  Unhappy Client.  Today we will explore scenario #2:  Happy Client.

Happy client

Every one encounters enthusiastic and happy clients from time to time.  We could meet them at a beta release, trade show, technical expo and speaking engagements.  We could meet them simply on the phone while we are downloading a “just in time” customized enhancement for them.  Whenever we meet them, take that extra step to think like the owner.

Taking that extra step and thinking like an entrepreneur: At this point, share information that your marketing team is looking for client stories on how our product was able to solve their issues.  Ask your happy client if they would be interested in sharing their story, advice or comments.  Most happy clients are open to sharing their success stories with others.  It’s just that it never occurs to them to offer.“What if they say ‘NO’?”  So what?  You are no worse off than if you didn’t ask.  And allowing them to give an anonymous testimonial or success story often resolves any official objections.

Next time we’ll explore scenario #3.

Defragmentation Isn’t Just for Computers

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The video below is part of the Professional Development Series by Laura Lee Rose.

 

 

If you are interested in more detailed professional coaching or a professional coach to help you stay on target with those goals, please consider one-on-one coaching sessions to propel you forward faster.   Simply send an email indicating your interest to: LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

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Corporate Exiting Strategies for blooming entrepreneurs.
Helping others to easily transition into their next chapter whether it’s the next ladder of success within their corporate environment or into the entrepreneurial playground.

Thinking Like the Owner Sets You Apart

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By Laura Rose

Laura Lee Rose, who is a business coach and corporate exit strategist, shares how testers, developers and project managers can think like an entrepreneur in their current corporate position.  She explains how “thinking like the owner” paves the way for advancement within the company and beyond.

 

In my recent interview with SSWUG.ORG’s Stephen Wynkoop regarding ‘thinking like an entrepreneur, in any position’, I had several viewers ask me for additional examples to illustrate points that were made.

Over the course of the next week, we’re going to explore three typical development scenarios:

1)    There is an unhappy client that you are working with in regards to a reported defect in your code area.
2)    There is a happy client after you have delivered a fix in a quick and professional manner.
3)    You have been using speaking engagements to gather sales leads.

 

In today’s post we’ll play with scenario #1:  Unhappy Client

The primary goal of our clients is to “get their job done” accurately, efficiently and effectively.  Toward that goal, the customer isn’t necessarily to use our product the way it was designed to be used; but to use it as they see fit to accomplish their task.  So, sometimes the way our product was designed and the way the client chooses to use it do not match.  When this happens, defects are logged and unhappy customers are created.  This is the nature of our industry.  It’s not a big deal.

Normally when we meet with an unhappy client, we thank them for pointing out the hole in our design.  We acknowledge upfront that we didn’t foresee that the product could be used in this fashion.  And we compliment them on their ability to see beyond the conventional use.

Taking that extra step and thinking like an entrepreneur:  At this point, share with your client the opportunity for them to be a part of an elite group of design partners.  This is a group of hand-picked, insightful individuals that has access to early prototypes and requirement reviews.  This group is considered part of your design group.  As such, they have access to early releases of your alpha and beta releases.  They are part of regular focus groups, usability studies and have regular meetings with your business analysts and marketing teams.

 

Ask this client if they would like more information about this elite group.  Your “unhappy client” will be thrilled to be considered an expert in this field and a candidate for this program.

“But we don’t have a Design Partner Program!”   So what?  When you pitch the idea to your manager and executives, you will have several clients already to participate.

Next time we’ll take a look at scenario #2.

Put the Spark Back Into Your Career

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Corporate Exiting Strategies for blooming entrepreneurs.
Helping others to easily transition into their next chapter whether it’s the next ladder of success within their corporate environment or into the entrepreneurial playground.

To sign-up for these tools, subscribe at  http://eepurl.com/gGZtP

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Putting the Spark Back Into Your Career: Part 2

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Corporate Exiting Strategies for blooming entrepreneurs.
Helping others to easily transition into their next chapter whether it’s the next ladder of success within their corporate environment or into the entrepreneurial playground.

To sign-up for these tools, subscribe at  http://eepurl.com/gGZtP

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If your career seems in a slump, it’s probably time to change your spark plugs.

Below is Part 2 of a 2-Part article designed to help IT and database professionals stay on top of their game in an ever-changing trade.  Part 1 describes the steps in general career perspectives.  Please review Part 1 before continuing.
Part 2 takes those same concepts and implements them in a specific IT scenario.  For more examples that fit your specific work environment, please feel free to contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

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When your career is stalling and your performance is losing power, it’s time to change your spark plugs.  The ceramic inserts in your career spark plugs have worn out and are no longer allowing that energy to arc across the gap between “who you currently are” and “who you want to be”.

Changing your CAReer Spark Plugs:

  1. Revisit your overall Career Goals and Vision plan
  1. Evaluate your current activities
  1. If your activity does not support you career goals, run the 4D diagnostics (Delete, Delay, Diminish, and Delegate). (*1)
  1. Often times we feel that a certain task is our role and responsibility, even though it doesn’t fit our current career path.  If you feel that the task is mandatory (demanded by upper management and job related), twist your thinking and participation level such that it does match your career goals.

(*1)  Feel free to contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info for more information on the 4D process for managing your affluent task lists.

There are many ways to accomplish this.  We will now illustrate how the IT Professional can implement the above steps. Continue reading →

Invitation to Join the 2012 Wish List Club

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – Corporate Exit Strategist for the blooming entrepreneur – and I am a business and life coach that specializes in Time Management, Project management training and work-life balance strategies.  Today I am spending time setting up for a magnificent 2012.  I am doing this by creating my 2012 Wish or Bucket list.

How would you like to create your own 2012 Wish or Bucket List?   Step one is to sign up for the 2012 Wish or Bucket List Club at http://eepurl.com/hQN3g   The intention is for those that want to succeed at even a faster pace to join this club to encourage and hold each other accountable.  Once you sign up, you will then receive additional instructions from there on where and how to write your 2012 Wish list.

Try to select 12 (and share only the ones that you feel comfortable with).  Once approved for the club,  we will each encourage and support each other in achieving those goals.   There will be no cost for joining this interchange. Continue reading →

Special Announcement: The 2012 Wish List Club is Here!

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Please follow this link:  http://eepurl.com/hQN3g   to be approved for the 2012 Wish List Club.

If you are interested in more detail professional coaching or a professional coach to help you stay on target with those goals, please consider one-on-one coaching sessions to propel you forward faster.

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Corporate Exiting Strategies for blooming entrepreneurs.
Helping others to easily transition into their next chapter whether it’s the next ladder of success within their corporate environment or into the entrepreneurial playground.

Career in a Slump? It’s Probably Time to Change Your Spark Plugs

Posted on by

Corporate Exiting Strategies for blooming entrepreneurs.
Helping others to easily transition into their next chapter whether it’s the next ladder of success within their corporate environment or into the entrepreneurial playground.

To sign-up for these tools, subscribe at  http://eepurl.com/gGZtP

———————————————————————————-

If your career seems in a slump, it’s probably time to change your spark plugs.

Below is a 2-Part article designed to help IT and database professionals stay on top of their game in an ever-changing trade.  Part 1 describes the steps in general career perspectives.  Part 2 takes those same concepts and implements them in a specific IT scenario.  For more examples that fit your specific work environment, please feel free to contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

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A car’s spark plug is quite simple in theory: It forces electricity to arc across a gap, just like a bolt of lightning.  The electricity must be at a very high voltage in order to travel across the gap and create a good spark.

Spark plugs use a ceramic insert to isolate the high voltage at the electrode, ensuring that the spark happens at the tip of the electrode and not anywhere else on the plug.#

The spark plug is essential to your car’s ignition. But spark plugs wear out over time. As they get older, they may not spark properly. The energy might be allowed to wonder and escape before it arrives at the appropriate place and level.  This affects your engine’s performance and results in a loss of power.

This engine concept is adaptable to our CAReers.

When your career is stalling and your performance is losing power, it’s time to change your spark plugs.  The ceramic inserts in your career spark plugs have worn out and are no longer allowing that energy to arc across the gap between “who you currently are” and “who you want to be”. Continue reading →