Category Archives: Efficiency

Anyone Can Turn a Hobby Into a Career

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Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace Report found 70 percent of workers are either not engaged or actively disengaged in their jobs. In other words, a vast majority of Americans hate their work and are simply putting in time for a paycheck. This phenomenon is not only costing the U.S. business sector over a half trillion dollars in lost productivity every year but is also inhibiting individuals from discovering their true calling in life.

The report found the most engaged employees felt their jobs had a direct impact on the company’s success and were allowed to work from home on occasion, which translated into them logging four more working hours per week than disengaged workers. A job to an engaged employee is more like a hobby or passion they just happen to get paid for. This type of arrangement is possible for anyone willing to temporarily step out of their comfort zone and determine what it is they truly want out of life.

Sacrifice For The Future

Jayne Lawton was a horticulture lecturer at the University of Manchester for years. One day after helping a few students identify flowers by scent and texture, she came up with the idea of GroBox, a biodegradable ready-to-plant box anyone can use to start a garden. She invested £2,000 ($3,200) of her own money and seven years later, GroBox is sold internationally and used by charities like OxFam and Amnesty International, according to the Daily Mail.

Regardless of your passion, it’s best to invest your own funds to get started. You can always go to venture capitalists or banks for funding, but that adds the burden of debt to your enterprise. Borrowing money from friends and family can strain relationships and take the joy out of your new endeavor. Keeping overhead costs low and doing business within your means gives you the best chance of success. Shop around for the best business cloud storage deals when setting up your online presence and work with smaller suppliers that mutually benefit from your business. The more time and effort you put in from the beginning, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your passion later.

Anything Can Be A Career

“My only hobbies are playing video games and going to restaurants to try new foods. I can’t make money doing that,” says the proverbial Debbie Downer. But Marcus Graham, host and producer of TwitchTV, told CBS News there were a few gamers who live-streamed their games on said website that made six-figures last year. Further, websites like iPoll allow you to upload reviews of everything from fancy 5-star restaurants to food trucks and get paid for it.

The point is any hobby can make you money if you exercise due diligence, put forth the necessary effort and maintain a positive attitude. Is your only hobby working out at the gym six times a week? Take an American Council on Exercise (ACE) or National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) course and become a certified personal trainer. Do you love writing? Register at E-Lance to find jobs or search for them at Problogger.net. It’s all up to you.

It’s All About The Web

The Internet has made it possible to stumble across a passion and all of a sudden make money from it. Michelle Phan, on a whim, started uploading videos to YouTube instructing women how to shop for the right makeup and accessories. A few years later, she has more than 2 million subscribers to her channel and according to The Insider, was hired by a major cosmetics company as its official makeup artist.

The amount of money earned by people uploading videos to YouTube has doubled each year from 2009 to 2013, said Bing Chen, manager of YouTube’s Partner Program, via ABC News. Upload your weekend hunting videos or those of you training your dog to do tricks; anything that can teach people something and/or entertain them. You never know what could become of it.

Carl Culver

Carl is an HR consultant for midsize businesses. He is hoping to hike the Appalachian Trail next summer.

5 Resume Myths Debunked

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There are some resume myths that confuse some job seekers.  Here are some information to debunk some major resume myths. For instance: Does the resume absolutely have to be 1 page? Is a cover letter always necessary?
Below are 5 Resume Myths

1) Resume needs to be 1 page.

Resume can be 2 pages — but if the first page doesn’t keep the reader’s attention, the second page will not be read.

Your resume needs to capture the attention and interest (and keep it) throughout.

 2) Need to list all your employment history and tasks

Only highlight the employment history and tasks that are relevant to the current position that you are applying for.

Since your resume needs to capture and keep the attention right away, discussing how you flipped hamburgers in a resume that you are applying as web site designer position is distracting.

3) Need to reuse the same resume for all potential job applications

20 years ago, you often created one resume, created 60 copies and mailed the same resume out to everyone.

With the ease of electronics, you should customize each resume to the verbage, responsibilities and role that was documented in the position description.  Customerize your resume to perfectly match the positions descriptions (if you have the proper background for the job).

4) Stick to the job position and title that you’ve held in the past.
       One mistake is to think that you need to first get hired into a similar position and then expand into a different role after you are hired.
       By highlighting your transferable skills (instead of the job title), you can position your resume to fit alternative or adjacent roles.  For instance, if your work experience is in testing, you can highlight your trouble-shooting, test lead, customer orientation, usability focus group and customer advocacy background into a Technical Support Manager position or even Business Analyst position.
5) There’s no longer a need for a cover letter.
       A cover letter allows you to better illustrate your fitness for this particular job.  It is encouraged to expand upon the skills and tangible results that illustrates your value and contributions to past and future employers.  It’s also a good idea to highlight what additional benefits you bring to this particular company and position as well.
The bottom line is that there really isn’t just one answer or one type of resume.  Work with a business coach or recruiter to decide the best format and strategy for your individual goal.  It may be creating one format for one type of job; and a different format or strategy for another type of job or career change.
I am a business and career management coach that focuses on time management, project management, professional development and work life balance strategies.  I have authored several books, including “TimePeace: Making peace with time”  and “The Book of Answers: 105 Career Critical Situations.”  I also have an online Professional Development Toolkit program that goes into the who, what, where, when, why and how of all of the above.  If you are interested in the online program, please follow https://www.udemy.com/it-professional-development-toolkit/

What’s the best way to get promoted?

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What’s the best way to present/position yourself so that higher-ups will want to promote you. With many hiring decisions today made by more tha one person – particularly in larger companies – people need to make themselves “promotable”. So what strategies do you recommend for positioning oneself accordingly? 
Effective Business Networking is still critical for advancement. People do business with people they know, like and trust. As you mentioned in your question, committees are not only responsible for hiring and performance evaluations; but for re-organizational decisions as well.  If your manager is the only one that understands your value to his/her department, you are doing a disservice to yourself.

Quick things to keep in mind:
productyou

  1. Marketing and Branding of the product YOU.  Attack this as the CEO of your own career and the product you are promoting is YOU.
  2. Create a Business, Marketing, Branding and Networking plan that consists of the proper managers, mentors, customers, departments and even technical recruiters.  Include contacts associated with the groups and pay grade (employment level) of your desired promotion levels.  This should be your Marketing Plan to attract your prestigious projects, clients and promotions.
  3. Religiously schedule and follow your network and marketing plan.  Work with a business coach or mentors (of the same experience that you are trying to achieve).
  4. Understand the responsibilities of the pay grade or employee level that you have your eye on — and start accepting those roles.
  5. Align your personal business goals with the company missions/vision/goals – i.e. Actually generate revenue for the company through your performance.  Be able to quantify your performance with tangible numbers of how your direct results increased their revenue, lowered their costs, reduced their time to delivery or sale.
 Think like the owner of a very valuable product (YOU) and you want to get it into the right hands.
The Professional Development Toolkit online course goes into the who, what, where, when, why and how of all of these things.

Pay Raise Up Ahead

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There are some supplemental online courses available on this topic as well:

Get that Well-Deserved Raise at https://www.udemy.com/how-to-get-that-well-deserved-raise/
10 Career Boosting Resolutions at https://www.udemy.com/10-career-boosting-resolutions/
Professional Development Toolkit at https://www.udemy.com/how-to-get-that-well-deserved-raise/

Check them out to see if you are interested in more tips.

When You See Opportunity, Knock it Down and Make it Yours

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Why Wait?
When You See Opportunity, Knock it Down and Make it Yours

In the real world, opportunity does not knock. You have to go out, find it, drag it home and make it work for you. Building your life to suit your dreams means actively participating in the events happening around you.

Looking at the big picture

The job you work now looks like a dead-end, but the big picture shows a company you would like to stay with indefinitely. On the other hand, you find the company matching your dreams and begin campaigning for a job above the usual entry-level positions. With the right maneuvering and a little knowledge, you have a chance to get the job you want. You need focus, strategic planning and an aura of self-confidence that grabs the attention of those hiring.

Education and experience required or just a guideline?

Do not let the posted education and experience requirements fool you. The hiring manager does not want to waste time on applicants with no experience or knowledge of the job. If you come close to either requirement, apply.  Fill out the application, and narrow down your desired career path. As you apply, consider proven application and interview tactics:

  • Use concrete facts to back-up statements
  • State a potential job-related problem and solve it
  • Show how you stand out from the other applicants and prove it
  • Use your resume and cover letter to show your knowledge of the job

Prove it or do not include it

Statement without fact diminishes your employability so always back up your statements with facts. Anyone can say they enjoy working with others in a team environment. Prove you work well in a team environment by briefly describing an a personal experience with collaboration. State the team’s purpose, your contribution and the outcome.

Lie detecting through observation

Padding your resume with experience you do not have becomes obvious the first day you work. Never lie on your resume or cover letter. Applying for a job well out of your range of abilities places you in thin ice from day one. Apply for jobs just beyond your level of comfort and prove to the Human Resource Manager that you fit the job better than anyone else.

The ways of Bob Parsons

GoDaddy.com’s former founder and owner, Bob Parsons sold a portion of the world’s biggest domain name registrar for more $2 billion and reflects on his success by telling young entrepreneurs his rules for gaining and maintaining success.

  • Stay out of your comfort zone
  • Always move forward
  • Life is not fair
  • Make fun of yourself

Bob Parsons motivates young career seekers through speaking engagements. He encourages you to stay out of your comfort zone, to keep the edge and creativity flowing through your search for the perfect career while understanding you can never achieve perfection.

Roll or get mossy

Bob Parsons says you must always move forward. When you stop improving yourself, your company or the position you hold with the company, it starts to die. Everyday you must do something to improve your life and something to bring your goals closer to fruition. Without forward movement, progress cannot happen.

So what, if do not meet all the job requirements? Once you have the job, you will meet the requirements and anyone following will have to meet your requirements. You can accomplish your goals by taking the fear inside and changing it to motivation and positive action. You never know when opportunity is going to next, so go grab it and make it yours.

Do’s and Don’ts tips for turning intern or temporary positions into a permanent position

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temp

Tis the season for intern and part-time positions.  It’s a great time to get some extra cash but how do you turn these short-term positions into long-term gains?  Here are some quick tips for workers who hold a seasonal position, and are interested in turning it into a permanent gig.

 

Do’s and Don’ts tips for turning intern or temporary positions into a permanent position:

1) Don’t dedicate all your time and effort into “doing your assigned job well” — Do illustrate your value throughout the organization, not just at your assigned task.
2) Don’t continue to remind them of your end-date – Do talk about what you can do for the New Year, Spring and Summer projects.
3) Don’t act as if this is a temporary job – Do act as if this is your company by implementing process improvements, creating reducing cost utilites, increasing sale and sending referral/leads to marketing

 

The holiday season is a great time to focus on career management and professional development.  Think of it:

  • The workload is slowing down
  • Executives are preparing New Year strategies.
  • Performance evaluations are just around the corner
  • You have some time away from the office

Check out the new online and free course 10 Career Boosing Resolutions at https://www.udemy.com/10-career-boosting-resolutions/

Or How to Get that Well-Deserved Raise at https://www.udemy.com/how-to-get-that-well-deserved-raise/

7 Public Speaking Tip for Introverts

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of the business and time management book TimePeace: Making peace with time  and The Book of Answers: 105 Career Critical Situations– and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management and work-life balance strategies.  Steve Wynkoop and I talk a lot about designing and managing our professional careers on a weekly interview on SSWUG TV.

The IT Professional Development Toolkit DVD or Online Program  goes into further details on the who, what, where, when, and why of these topics.

As we rise up the corporate ladder, public speaking (whether in the form of presentations, proposals or seminars) becomes a large part of our advancement.  It helps us build our reputation, credentials and professionalism.  As our career develops, our professionalism and talent needs to become more public; therefore, public speaking will become a part of the job.
Even though public speaking is important to any career advancement, many are uncomfortable in front on an audience.

Here are some quick tips:

1) Consider ToastMasters to improve your public speaking.  It’s an unitimidating environment filled with people with the same goals.
2) Talk about things you are passionate and know about.  Everyone is excited to talk about their passions and experiences.
3) Practice, practice, practice.  Take every opportunity to stretch yourself.  At every interaction, make it a goal to tell one story to a stranger or group (just one story).

4) Think positive. Visualize the speech several times before you actually make it.  Screenplay it exactly has you want it to go.  While you are speaking, pretend that you are someone else.  Channel one of your role models and give the speech as he/she would do it.
5)  Everyone understands how difficult it is to speak in front of groups.  They appreciate what it takes to get up there and want you to succeed. Acknowledge that everyone in the audience is on your side.
6) Another thing that helps is to use your speech to speak well of someone else.  Sometimes it is easier to speak of someone elses’ endeavors and accomplishments because you are placing the spotlight on them (instead of on yourself).
7) Use a familiar prop.  Sometimes a prop helps with nerves because some of your attention is focused away from the audience and onto the prop.  Creating “how to” speeches or presentation is an easy way for introverts to ease into public speaking.  Make sure you know “how to” do that item.

3 steps to managing people you don’t like

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get back to workThe most effective way to managing people you don’t like is to focus on their positive attributes and not on their annoying habits. Everyone has idiosyncrosies. Everyone brings different things to the party. That is what makes the work force both rich and challenging.

  1. By focusing on the positive attributes and talents that the individual brings to the team, you can not only more easily manage around the uncomfortable areas; but turn those negatives into positives. For instance, if you feel that he/she is too much of a braggart and wanting the spotlight – assign him marketing and promotional activities in which his salesmanship is an advantage to your team. Send him to networking and marketing events. Have those attributes work in your favor.
  2. Also – often the thing you don’t like about someone is a mirror into something you don’t like about yourself. So doing some sole-searching on why you don’t get along with someone might help as well. Seek to improve yourself in those same areas.
  3. Lastly, understand that you can not change how other people respond to you, but you can chang how you respond to others. If the person is constantly late with his/her work (regardless of how little or how easy the task), never assign them a task in the critical path; never put them in the position of becoming the bottleneck of the project.

In my IT Professional Development Toolkit, I go into the: who, what, where, when and how to accomplish all of the above. I also have a transferrable skill worksheet. For more information about the toolkit, please contact https://www.udemy.com/it-professional-development-toolkit/

Or sign up for my weekly Time and Career Management Newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/cZ9_-/

 

What can an unemployed job seeker do to keep their skills sharp?

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What can an unemployed job seeker do to keep their skills sharp and relevant while they are searching for a new job?
There are several ways to keep your skills sharp:

1) Volunteer your services to non-profits and small businesses.  You need to make sure you are offering your services in the area of your job skills/expertise.  Example:  You are a web-designer.  Offer to redo a small business website with the understanding that you can place your logo and designed-by contact information on the pages.

2) Continue your education.  Use those training and certification classes as networking opportunities as well as keeping your skills sharp.  Most likely the people in that class are being sent there by their company to gain this new skill and may be looking for additional resources.  Add these people to your LinkedIn.com network and ask them for their recommendations, endorsements and possibly add them to your reference lists.
3) Develop/create your own utility or product that uses the skill you want to advertise and promote.  This could be a tool that you offer free on the internet – OR – a presentation video on YouTube – OR – a training video on YouTube, facebook, linkedIn, etc.

The goal is to come up with ideas that both keep your skills sharp and helps get you that job.  Each of these solutions have an affect on your resume and cover letters.  You gain additional work experience, recommendations, and references for your resume and cover letters.  You can also refer potential employers to your internet product or YouTube training videos.

How to Repair a Damaged Relationship with Your Boss

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Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of the books TimePeace: Making peace with time – and the Book of Answers: 105 Career Critical Situations.   I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in professional development, career management, time management, and work-life balance strategies.

Today we are going to talk about How to Repair a Damaged Relationship with Your Boss

get back to work

Everyone wants to work well with their co-workers and boss. But sometimes it’s difficult because of personalities or the way people like to work.

Here are some different strategies to consider:

1) How can you tell if the relationship with your boss is repairable? The best way to see if the relationship can be repaired is to better
understand how you work and how your boss works. Taking a personality test like Opposite Strengths System <http://www.oppositestrengths.com>,or * Myers Briggs* personality test. <http://similarminds.com/jung.html>  provides an objective and 360 degree assessment.

By understanding the different way people work and how to better relate to those personalities – you are well on your way to repairing the relationship. Since you cannot change how other people react and respond to you – you will need to be willing to make the change. If you are not willing to put in the effort, then the relationship will not change.

2) What if the relationship cannot be repaired but you don’t want to quit?
The best way to change positions within the company is to start business networking with others in the department or area that you want to move into. Start marketing your expertise in their area by volunteering your services, sending helpful articles that point to solutions or new techniques, present Brown Bag Lunch talks on topics of interest, ask to be mentored/coach by others in the other departments, take others to lunch to find out about other opportunities in their area, and schedule an appointment with your HR representative for additional ideas.

Okay – after some soul-searching; you have decided to repair the relationship.  What now?

 

Here are some quick steps:

1) Acknowledge your part in the broken relationship. Make improvements in your performance, stay positive; don’t place him/her in difficult situations; bring solutions to problems; be open to feedback; don’t take things personally, do what you say you would do and keep him/her in the loop when you can not accomplish it and always stay calm and professional (that means no drama)

2) Understand your boss’ point of view: Go the extra mile; anticipate his/her needs; protect his/her time; and  understand his/her communication preferences,

3) Focus on your shared/common goals and interests. Includes some personal interchange. Get to know them a little and give your boss the benefit of the doubt.  Another good reference book is Don Ruiz book “The Four Agreements.”.  This is a great personal and professional relationship manual.

4) Tommy Thomas, PhD  and leader in the Opposite Strength System suggests the following:  To improve your relationship with your manager, the main point to remember is to have an attitude of equality. The mistake most people make in their relationships with people they report to is that they confuse the authoritative position that the manager has in the organization with the value the manager has as a person.

So be sure to blend respect for the manager’s position and authority with conveying an attitude of equality.

The IT Professional Development Toolkit, goes into the who, what, where, when, why and how to accomplish all of the above.  The IT Professional Development Toolkit is covers a comprehensive set of development tools and techniques in less than 10 minutes per practice.  It contains audios, videos, articles, webinars, presentations and practice exercises designed to be less than 5-8 minutes in length.  It can be used as a reference platform or a 12 week course program.

 

The toolkit comes in two forms:  DVD and online eLearning program.

elearning versionDVD version

 

For more information about the toolkit, click on the above buttons or please go to my website at www.lauraleerose.com

For more information about Opposite Strengths System and relationships, check out Tommy’s Relationship Guide. This is a report that will give you detailed; specific coaching on how to approach your manager based on who you are and who your manager is and do so with an attitude of equality. Go to http://www.oppositestrengths.com to learn more.