Category: career coach

How to Actively Wait

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Sounds contradictory doesn’t it? Whether you’re job hunting, anticipating the next big customer or hoping for that promotion, here are 3 things you can do in the meantime:

Plant more seeds. Network like it’s going out of style. It’s a numbers game. The more connections you have, the better your chances to accomplish your goals. Attend networking events. Ask for introductions. Follow up like your life depends on it. You can never have too many connections. If you desire growth, never stop meeting new people.
Clarify your niche/offering. The average employer/recruiter looks at your resume for 6 seconds. That means you have a single sentence to communicate what you do. What are your strengths? What makes you unique? What is your brand? If you’re not clear, the recipient leaves confused which means you’re forgettable. Simplify your message. Now the receiver can make a decision. 
Ask for help. Seems simple, but most of the time your ego gets in the way. It’s not any less of an accomplishment if you collaborate. Can you think of one successful person who’s gone it alone? The more people you share with, the more eyes looking out for you. Think of it as a value proposition. What can you give that brings value to the customer?

Waiting is hard. Anyone who says otherwise isn’t ambitious. Timing is everything and you can’t rush that. Be proactive by reaching out, define your message and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t control time, but you can control how hard you prepare for the opportunity. What are you waiting for?

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Get Ahead in Your Career

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This guest post was written by Dean Vella
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Get Ahead in Your Career

People can be really good at getting stuck and staying stuck. Sometimes the rut becomes familiar and even comfortable. This comfort zone can hold people back from achieving their goals and living their dreams.

If you’ve been thinking you’d like to get ahead in your career but feel stuck and unsure about what steps to take, these tips might offer some motivation and guidance.
Tactics for Career Improvement
You may find it difficult at first but speaking up at work shows that you are interested in and enthusiastic about your company and its goals. Be sure to take part in meetings and add value to the conversation; bring ideas that are worth sharing.
It’s equally important to show management that you’re a team player by going above and beyond your work duties. If you find co-workers need help with a project, volunteer. If your own workload can handle it, take on additional tasks and duties, such as training new hires or organizing team events.
Take pride in your appearance. Dress for the part you wish to play. If you want to advance within your organization, project that in your attire. This will affect how you feel about yourself and draw positive attention to you.
Educational Opportunities Online
One of the best ways to realize your professional goals is to continue your education. Getting an advanced certificate or a bachelor’s or master’s degree could set you apart from the competition and advance your career and salary.
In that regard, earning a degree or certificate online can offer great flexibility in scheduling. Learn at your own pace from the comfort of your own home.
Before signing up for a certificate or degree program online, it’s vital to make sure the college is accredited. The accreditation process evaluates whether educational programs, both online and traditional campus settings, meet the highest standards.
It is important that the program you choose is accredited to ensure you get the best possible education and also because it’s common for employers to not recognize a degree or certificate from an unaccredited school.
To find out whether a program is accredited, check the U.S. Department of Education’s institutional database at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx.
Stay Motivated and Achieve your Goals
Setting goals is easy but reaching them is an entirely different matter. How can you stay motivated long enough to advance your career?
One powerful method is to realize that nothing in life is perfect and that includes your journey to a better job and salary. Many people wait for the perfect conditions in which to act or don’t act for fear of not doing things perfectly. This mentality will keep your goals out of reach every time.
Nothing is perfect. So don’t attempt perfection, just act.
Staying motivated also means staying in the present. It is common for people to get lost in thoughts of how they could have done something better in the past or how they will do something amazing in the future. In order to get where you want to go you have to stay focused on the task at hand.
The best intentions and efforts can be ruined by disorganization. Although your path toward a better career won’t be perfect, it doesn’t mean you should allow sloppiness to creep into your environment. Keeping things in order will make necessary tasks easier to tackle.
The future can be yours if you’re willing to put in the work to get there. Show others you can be given more responsibility, seek to better yourself through education and stay motivated.
BIO
This guest post was provided by University Alliance and submitted on behalf of University of San Francisco.  USF offers online marketing certificate courses including SEO training, search engine marketing, social media training, mobile marketing and more.  To learn more about University of San Francisco’s certificate programs visit www.usanfranonline.com.

No Excuses

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Would you rather try and fail or live with the regret of never trying? 
When trying any new idea, you hear doubts swirling around in your head. It’s up to you to silence your inner critic and re-focus your thoughts. Here are 3 ways to help:

Fact or Fiction? How much of what the negative voices are saying is actually true? Are you basing it on past experiences? Do you expect the past to repeat itself? No two situations are the same. Try focusing on a positive outcome. What you choose to focus on, usually comes to fruition. 
The Cost of Investment. Mark Cuban says, “Don’t follow your passion, follow your effort.” Anything worth doing is going to take hard work and sacrifice. If you’re not willing to put in the work, don’t start. The only thing you have control over is how hard you work. If you work hard first, passion usually follows.

Learn from your Mistakes. Ask for feedback. When given, take it with an objective filter. You can’t grow if you stay the same. Growth hurts, but it’s worth it. When knocked down, don’t play the victim. Get up, brush yourself off and move forward. Perseverance builds character. 

Self-talk is the #1 thing holding you back. Increase your ability to risk by re-training your mind. Successful people don’t let failure stop them from trying again. Embrace your mistakes, learn from them and move on. What will you try today?

What’s Your Plank?

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There are no original ideas anymore. Instead of trying to come up with a new idea, why not build off an existing one? 
Here’s some examples:
– iPhone accessories
– Mobile apps
– Fitness videos
You may be saying, “I’m not skilled in those areas,” so take the last product you purchased enthusiastically and build off that.
It’s much easier to tap into an existing audience versus trying to create a new concept (which probably has been done before). 
Successful businesses adapt and companies such as: Amazon, Google and Apple have transformed into “platforms” because of their various offerings to the masses. Each of the offerings is considered a plank.
Ask yourself, “What companies can I be a plank for?”
Imagine the partnership opportunities. Not only do you have a shared audience, but also a context to build off of. Exposure is crucial in today’s economy and you’d be foolish to go it alone. 

Creating a plank is much easier. So what are you waiting for?

Be a Connector

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“A connector is someone with an extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances.” – Malcolm Gladwell
Simply put, connectors know a lot of people. 
Why is this important? Successful career longevity is based on who you know. 
Here are 3 ways to become a connector:
Focus on helping others. It’s not always about you. Networking becomes less daunting when your goal is to help others. Be curious. Ask questions. Listen. Figure out how you can help them.
Ask for introductions. Start with who you know, share your goals, then ask your contact(s) to introduce you to someone they know. It’s like a game of connect the dots. Keep doing this and your network will grow significantly over time.

Track your contacts. Create a system that helps organize when you last contacted someone and what you talked about. The consistency of your follow up will determine your effectiveness. The same concept that SalesForce uses to track leads can work for you.

What if building your connection base wasn’t a “means,” but the “end” (of your goal)? How would that shift your approach to networking? Think of your network as investing in relationships. It’s a worthwhile goal that will reap benefits for a long time.

Pushing Your Limits

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Recently I tried a Crossfit and Heavy Bag class that pushed my limits physically. After completing the classes, I felt accomplished and realized how the process applies to our lives: 
Ready. Prepare your mind. When facing something uncomfortable or unknown, the easiest decision is to back out (trust me, I’ve done it many times). Your thoughts trigger your feelings and how you feel determines what action(s) you take. Being self-disciplined is key. What you choose to focus on usually comes to fruition.
Set. Put it in your calendar and be accountable to someone. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Don’t let your feelings dictate your behavior. Mark Cuban, argues “Don’t follow your passion, follow your effort.” 90% of success is follow through. Will your way through it even if you don’t want to. You’ll be glad you did after.
Grow. The hardest part is the start. For example, if you’ve ever tried a spinning class, the most difficult stage is the first 15 minutes. After that it gets easier. Growth is a painful process and most people would rather avoid the discomfort than push themselves. Don’t live with regret. Try and break through your personal barriers.

Doing the same thing over and expecting different results is insanity. Successful people don’t fear failure, they know it’s part of growing. Give yourself the best chance to overcome by setting goals, having an accountability partner and willing your way to victory. When’s the last time you pushed your limits?

What’s Your Platform?

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Your platform consists of your various offerings. You don’t need to be everything to everyone, but you do want to aim for the masses. Here are 3 ways to increase your platform:
Adapt and Change. Our world moves too fast to afford to be comfortable. Grow or die. It’s not about reacting, but be ready to respond. Understand the trends and adjust accordingly. What’s relevant today, may be irrelevant tomorrow. It’s hard to stay at the crest of the wave, but you still should be paddling towards it. Are you rowing or drifting?
Partner up. Nothing great is accomplished alone. Your personal network is your greatest career asset, so grow and strengthen it. Introverts are not exempt. We are social beings and in these days of information overload, so put down your smartphone and practice your interpersonal skills. No matter how much technology improves, referrals will always be your best source of “business.” Who are you planning to meet/talk with this week?
Grow Brand Awareness. Whether personal or business, you have a brand. Do what you can to increase exposure. The worker who puts his/her head down during work gets ignored. Give people a reason to look at you. Social media has changed the game for being creative with marketing/advertising. Not having a budget isn’t an excuse. How are you extending your brand?

Open your hand and picture each of your fingers as offerings. What are your strengths? What products/services are you proposing? What solutions are you providing? Innovate with your partners and consumers and watch your platform grow.

Leaving a Legacy

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In tribute to the recent trade of Derek Fisher from the Lakers, his impact went far beyond the court. Here are some lessons to learn from his example that you can apply to your career/life:

Be “Clutch.” When the pressure is on, whatever is inside of you comes out. The preparation you put in helps pass the tests life gives you. Nobody keeps you accountable for what you do on your own time, but when it’s time to perform you are judged. This is where your mental toughness shows. Your ability to cope and deal with stress increases through practice (similar to public speaking). Do the necessary work ahead of time so when opportunity arises, you’re ready.

Be about Winning. (No, not Charlie Sheen-like) You don’t have to be the most talented or smartest, but you need to know how to make your organization better. Sometimes that means stepping up. Sometimes it means doing behind the scenes work. If you’re willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team, you’re a winner. It’s not about you, but what value you bring to the greater team. Winning is about performing, but it’s also about knowing your role and working well with others.
Be About Character. People are hired for skills and experience, but fired for character flaws. It’s not all about performance…so what do others say about you? Are you trustworthy? Dependable? You communicate more through your actions than your words. It’s about showing over telling. Integrity goes a long way in people’s eyes. Based on your actions, how do you want people to remember you?

Derek Fisher’s abilities diminished over the past couple of years, but if you listen to his impact on his teammates, he has their utmost respect. His presence will be missed in team huddles, road trips and the locker room. When he spoke, people listened. When it comes to your career don’t just do your job, strive to leave a legacy. In the end, that’s what matters.

How Do You Work On Your Weaknesses?

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Gallup states, “There are no weaknesses, just overdone strengths.” Think about that statement for a second. In some areas you’ll always be mediocre at best. Does that mean you just don’t work on them? Here are a couple of suggestions:
Delegate. You are NOT superman/woman. Know your limits. In areas of deficiencies, ask for help (novel idea huh?) If you were great at everything, you wouldn’t need to interact with anyone. You have a couple of areas you have the potential to be GREAT in. Develop those strengths and you will be successful. In other areas, you need help. What if you don’t have the luxury of delegating tasks?
Study Success. If you HAVE to work in your weaknesses, find someone who thrives in that area and analyze them. Have access to them? Meet up. Don’t have access to them? Research him/her. Everything includes a process, so learning “how” someone succeeds gives you a visual strategy. I’d caution you to copy, but it’s an example to learn from. Success spurs inspiration. Turn it into action.
Complement Others. Find people that are the opposite of you. Different puzzle pieces fit together. For every weakness, there is a strength. That means focus on your strengths because someone else needs you to. It’s easier to be around people that are similar, but leaders surround themselves with people who round out their blind spots. Put your ego aside and partner up. 

It can be challenging to focus on your strengths, but what you focus on usually comes to fruition. Would you rather fear failure or be inspired by success? You can’t fully eliminate your weaknesses, but you can choose to shift your mindset towards personal talents. Go ahead, create your positive self-prophecy.

Career Diet

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Diet’s don’t work. Lifestyle changes do. 
No matter what new weight loss schemes arise, there’s no way around watching what you eat (nutrition) and working out (exercise). Hard work and discipline are key. There are no shortcuts. Just long term investments.
So what applications do these two areas have towards your career?


Nutrition. What you put in is what you get out. Body, mind, soul, etc. Head knowledge is good, but experience is better. You learn skills through doing them. There’s no point learning something if it just stays in your head. Get out there and practice what you know. You can learn through formal teaching, reading, researching or listening to others. The key is implementation. Use those “nutrients” you’ve absorbed towards benefiting others.

Exercise. When it comes to working out, it’s not about perfect attendance, but each day starting a new streak. Begin where you are right now. Think about your personal network. Is it where you want it to be? Can it be better? (The answer to the last question is always yes, by the way) You don’t have to grow your network daily, but you should have a weekly goal. It can be quantity (size) or quality (strength of connection). Either way, get to it. Your personal network is your greatest career asset (and always will be).

Try this “reframing” exercise. As a leader you have two daily challenges: 
What new skills are you developing? (task-related)
How are you growing your network? (relationships)

Ask yourself that at the beginning of each day and I’m positive you will be pleased by the results. In fact do that, and leave your progress in a comment below!