3 Keys to Create Increased Success in the New Year! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Keys to Create Increased Success in the New Year! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The transition to entrepreneurship is not an easy one. Personally, I was accustomed to having a team around me with whom I could confide challenges, ask for advice and discuss new ideas to improve my selling effort. I found being a solo-preneur lonely and filled with much uncertainty. Through the years I endured many trial and error scenarios. But I always examined all angles of the poor situation for what might work better. This past year I discovered the three keys for success. Key #1: Belief You must believe with your heart and soul all the ways down to your toes that you will be successful. You may not yet have found the way but it’s around the corner. With continued education you know you will find the success you desire. Key #2: Vision Unless you have a vision of what your success looks like, the strong belief will be in vain. You must always know what is on the horizon and where you want to be one, three, five, and then years out. Included must be the recognition of the legacy you are building. Key #3: Plan Without a plan, the vision and belief are just nice thoughts but will not come into being. So now that you do have the vision of where you wish to go and the belief you will get there, what is your plan to make this happen? As I stated above, not everything in your plan will work to perfection. Occasionally you might even experience a setback. Will you still hold your vision and the belief you will get past the disappointment? Belief, Vision, and Plan are a team! I had to come to grips with the fact that entrepreneurship requires all three. And I’m willing to say that for entrepreneurs the most difficult adjustment to make is the belief in oneself. Should you too have difficulty believing success is around the corner, the best thing you can do is to document your success monthly. Every six months review them for what worked best and celebrate how far you have come. Use the documentation as a planning tool, especially for the New Year. In honor of the New Year around the corner, what new services or products might you create to put you into higher visibility? Consider all you have done in the past is there a possibility it may be combined to offer a more attractive package for your clientele? For example, over the past 7.5 years, I have created several types of training programs and a complete product line. I will be combining these services into a business retreat in Sonoma County by end of first quarter. By presenting a bigger picture and knowing past clients have been very satisfied, I have the belief this program will be hugely successful, the vision for how it will unfold, and the plan to make it happen. Beyond the retreat, bigger and bolder visions and planning are in the works for increased success in the New Year. Wishing you a most Joyous New Year! Author: Elinor Stutz is the CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC a motivational speaker and the author of the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results” published by Sourcebooks. Elinor’s new book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews” is based upon years of community service teaching job-seekers how to land the job they desire. Elinor provides team sales training, private coaching to grow you business, and is available upon request for consultation.

Strategies for a sleep-deprived workday

Strategies for a sleep-deprived workday Chances are half of your colleagues at work are desperate for a nap. Many adults dont get enough sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation, the problem particularly acute among younger workers: one in three struggle to get out of bed each morning. Whats keeping them up at night? Not work worries. Marie Gagnon, 24, is a regular at Rumor, a nightclub in Boston. Though shes employed in a 9-to-5 job at an insurance company, she cant imagine staying home every weeknight: I dont want to be bored, she says. I love the energy of Rumor. What time does it get rolling? Midnight. Gagnon says clubgoers with jobs go home at 2 a.m. and the college kids stay later. Maybe theyd all get to bed earlier if they knew that research shows lack of sleep can make you dumb and fat. Those who get fewer than six hours of sleep a night might as well be drunk. The Sleep Foundation determined that people who remain awake for 18 hours straight function similar to drinkers with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, the level states use to determine whether someone is legally impaired to operate a car. And, when you dont get enough sleep your brain starts thinking it needs to store food, according to Eve Van Cauter, a researcher at the University of Chicago. Leptin, a hormone that helps regulate hunger and body fat, drops from lack of sleep, triggering hunger. What to do about sleepiness? The most obvious solution is to change your lifestyle. I used to try to go out every night in college, says Gagnon, but now that Im in the real world, Ive cut back. Her job as a claims representative starts at 9 a.m. She says as long as shes home by 2 a.m., she can get to work on time. This leaves her short of sleep most people need seven hours a night. To compensate, Gagnon sometimes puts in longer hours and drinks coffee five or six cups at a minimum. But this is a risky strategy; after so much caffeine, the bodys response to the stimulating effects of coffee can become dulled. Which is why even after six cups, she still feels a slump in the afternoon: I usually have to go in early the next day or stay later to manage my workload. Sleep researchers advocate alternatives to Gagnons strategy. A bright light will keep you awake, says Daniel Kripke, professor of psychiatry at University of California San Diego. For those of you in the light bulb market, look for a bright white or bluish light. Fluorescent without ultraviolet. Administer the light to yourself in the morning, when it is most effective in the battle against sleepiness. But it probably has some benefits if you use it later in the day, too, he says. Napping works. However, napping is considered an office disruption, so you might have to book a windowless conference room to get away with this one. But a nap is well worth the risk. It will rescue your lagging performance, according to Sara Mednick, sleep researcher at the Salk Institute. Mednick currently is studying two groups of people in her lab. Those in one group do not get a nap, and their performances decreased as the day progresses. The other group napped and their performance not only did not go down, but it sometimes goes up after the nap. Mednick, not surprisingly, is gung-ho for naps, and in fact, she says, you can actually train yourself to be the kind of napper who can shut your eyes for 10 minutes and wake up refreshed. You only need to practice for a couple of weeks, says Mednick. Alas, the chronic under-sleeper probably does not have the discipline to nap efficiently and so risks waking up feeling more tired than before. Luckily, theres the caffeine nap. Caffeine can clear your body of the chemical adenosine, which makes us want to sleep. Researchers at the Sleep Research Center at Loughborough University in England were investigating ways to prevent drivers from falling asleep at the wheel and causing car crashes. They found that the best way to regain alertness if you feel like youre falling asleep is to chug a cup of coffee and then immediately take a 15-minute nap. The idea is to get the sleep in before the caffeine takes effect. So you have to start napping right after that cup of coffee or a can of caffeinated soda goes down. Not a bad solution, but certainly not long term. The only long-term solution is to get a regular seven hours of sleep. So among all this research, the advice that stands out as the best is from Kripke: If you dont like how you feel the next day, then dont stay up too late.

How To Use A Professional Resume Writing Service For Teachers

How To Use A Professional Resume Writing Service For TeachersIf you want to increase your chances of getting your dream job, you should hire a professional resume writing service for teachers. This article will teach you how you can use this kind of service to make sure that you get a job.A professional resume writing service for teachers is an excellent way to get a job if you have professional writing skills. Most educators know the value of quality resumes and they know that you have to be experienced in writing professionally in order to get a good job. However, you can also consider a resume service for teachers, but only if you have no experience writing resumes.After all, no one wants to hire someone who has only been teaching for a short period of time, so you may want to hire a service that hiring people with experience and expertise in this field. A good resume service for teachers can easily help you craft a winning resume that will land you a very good job. Let's see how a professional resume writing service for teachers can help you land the job you have always wanted.The first thing you need to do is get yourself prepared for the interview. Tell your interviewer's all about your education background and your teaching experience. You also need to talk about the specific skills that will help you do your job well. The main key to good professional resume writing service for teachers is that you must show that you are a good candidate for the job you are applying for.So, what should you look for in a service? The first thing you need to look for is the list of potential employers. This should include the universities where you will be applying for jobs, as well as the national agencies and corporations that you would like to work for. A good service will also give you information on those job openings that they believe have the highest potential for hiring. You can choose the career fields you would like to apply for by listing them on the resume ser vice you are using.A professional resume writing service for teachers should also tell you about the online applications they recommend. These include Job Bank, My Online Profiles, and Live Chat. These services make it easier for you to search the job listings by filling out your profile information and uploading your resume. With these applications, you can get a head start in submitting your resume to hundreds of different companies at once.After you've submitted your resume, the next step is to go through the resume carefully and get feedback from the reviewer. That's when you learn more about the company that you are working for and about your professional standing in the field. In addition, you can find out about their policies regarding personal references, as well as their employment policy regarding educators' employment rights.A professional resume writing service for teachers will help you create a winning resume that will help you land a job in your desired field. After a ll, there are thousands of schools needing teachers, so you really don't have any other choice. You must find a service that can help you in your quest to find a teaching job.

How to Write an Excellent Cover Letter - CareerEnlightenment.com

How to Write an Excellent Cover Letter Follow a Simple Yet Professional Structure Many employees fail to understand the amazing benefits that an excellent cover letter could bring them. Unfortunately, this lack of understanding will cause them to “miss” many job opportunities. When you apply for a job post, you first send your resume, and along with it, the cover letter. Throughout the cover letter, you are selling yourself and you bring additional critical details that are meant to complete your entire pitch.You should keep in mind that a remarkable cover letter will put you in front of your competition. You can prove your worth in words, and you can detail on what makes you the perfect candidate by letting the employer know more about you and your personality. Moreover, display your genuine reasons for applying, and showcase the potential value that you’ll bring to the company.In order to develop a perfect cover letter, you should first know what you’re doing. In today’s post, we’re presenting an effective process that will help you write remarkable cover letters for all your future applications.Follow a Simple Yet Professional StructureWhen you write your cover letter, you should always acknowledge the fact that you’re writing it for a person who expects nothing less than professionalism. The way you choose to present yourself will show your level of interest. Therefore, we advise you to follow the following simple yet professional structure:1. Contact DetailsIn the top right spot of the cover letter, leave your contact information, preferably in this order: full name, complete address, phone number, and email, followed by your employer contact and the date. If you want to make it look professional don’t write a single sentence. Place the information in the header, one under the other. Make sure the information is precise and updated!2. The Introductive ParagraphMost cover letters are addressed to the employer or the recruiter who is hiring. So, it should begin like this: Mr./Ms. followed by the last name. Sometimes you m ay not know who is hiring, but who is stopping you to find out? Call and ask. Retain yourself from using “For Whoever May Concern” as it sounds very unprofessional.Throughout the introduction, you should begin to present yourself. In this paragraph, you have to catch the reader’s attention. So once you mention the post that you are applying for, you should present your professional career in a few words.After you mention your area of expertise, relevant experience, and certifications, show the interviewer that you’ve done your research by mentioning how your skills, experience, and personal goals are aligned with the company’s goals.3. The Persuasion ParagraphIn this paragraph, you have to convince the manager that you are the perfect job candidate. Show them how your experience skills earned from your previous professional occupations match the current post description.Do not write vaguely. Instead, emphasize your most relevant traits and talents, along with your unique v alue proposition. Keep in mind that every skill or quality that you mention should be backed up by an example.Moreover, if you had done your research, be smart and show a unique initiative to increase the company’s productivity by suggesting several suggestions, solutions, and ideas concerning the aspects that you believe to be improvable. By the way, you can split this paragraph in two. It looks more professional and it is easier to read. Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. 4. The Closing ParagraphAt the end of the cover letter, you should restate (in just a few words) why you’ll be a valuable employee and why you actually want to join the company. Mention that you are looking forward to their response and that you’d really like to discuss further important details duri ng a live interview. Furthermore, let them know that you are thankful for their time and attention.This paragraph is always followed by your signature. Keep it formal. Use something like “Respectfully, / With appreciation, / Yours sincerely,” followed by your full name and your handwritten signature.Use a Proper Text FormatThe structure of a good cover letter is not the only thing that matters. The aspect is also important. Choose a simple and readable font, with a size no smaller than 12 points. Align the text to the right and put all the margins at 1”. Do not make it longer than an A4 page or shorter than a half A4 page. Stand out from the crowd with both the quality of your content and the aspect of your letter.Finishing TouchesThe last thing you want is to send a letter full of grammar issues, misspelled words, and wrong use of punctuation. I’d suggest you carefully proofread and edit twice. Also, put your text in a grammar app to detect extra mistakesMost importantly, m ake sure that all your sentences make sense and that you always present concise information. Making such mistakes will only showcase your lack of professionalism. Be careful because the devil is in the details.ConclusionWith all of this being said, you are now ready to craft an excellent cover letter. Do not forget to think outside the box, as no one likes to read the same basic cover letters over again and again. However, you shouldn’t step out the line, for your intentions may not be appreciated. Good luck!

Career positioning with your sweet spot - Hire Imaging

Career positioning with your sweet spot - Hire Imaging In my last post, I talked about the importance of crafting a strong positioning statement so that you can clearly and briefly tell others what they need to know to help you in your job search. Sometimes people get stuck on how to differentiate themselves from the competition. Often, it’s your passionâ€"or sweet spot that will shed light and bring answers. Client’s sweet-spot positioning story Ted had spent 12 years as a corporate accountant at a Fortune 500 medical technology company, until he was downsized out. He really loved his work, but was having a tough time drafting his positioning statement. “It just seems so â€" I don’t know â€" dull. There’s no sparkle to it,” he told me. “Okay. I’m an accountant. I have skills in auditing. Working in the division providing state-of-the-art diabetes devices, I audited multimillion dollar contracts with major healthcare systems.” Ted’s voice then trailed off. “Frankly, it’s not very exciting.” I could sense Ted’s frustration. I asked him: “What did you enjoy doing most at your last job, Ted? What excited you about it?” “I love finding mistakes. I really enjoy discovering that one wrong number in a stack of spreadsheets or reports. I get great pleasure when at the end of the day, I know I’ve found an important error,” Ted answered. “That probably sounds weird, but it’s the truth,” he said. “And …” As he was about to go on, Ted’s voice morphed, taking on an excited edge, with louder volume and a higher pitch. “I hadn’t thought about this in awhile,” he told me. “I found an error that saved the company $5.6 million over just 7 months! I’m very proud of that,” Ted said with a smile in his voice. “So, why don’t you include that in your positioning statement, Ted?” I asked. “It’s a given that your positioning statement should convey what you do wellâ€"your profession, your particular skills. But, it canâ€"it shouldâ€"also paint a vivid picture of how you are unique, what you really love to doâ€"your sweet spot,” I added. I’m not sure if it was my imagination, but it seemed that when Ted finished our call that day, his previous shy demeanor had switched gears dramatically. He sounded like a man with conviction and purpose. He was off to rewrite his positioning statement. What’s your professional sweet spot? My friend and colleague, Julie Walraven shared a great definition from Adrianna Llames, “When passion, purpose and skill intersect, you find the ultimate career sweet spot that makes it easy to commit yourself to success.” Julie often prods her clients with a great question: “What sets you on fire?” I love this one! What sets you on fire? Ted’s epilogue When I last connected with Ted about two months ago, he was pleased with how his search was going. He was landing interviews and felt an offer would come soon. “Oh,” he said in that last chat. “I wanted to let you know that I have another sweet spot. A new Harley that I’m taking on a weekend trip up north. Not sure if I’ll work it into my positioning statement; but you never know!” Photo: gotgenes

Link Love October 2009

Link Love October 2009 Go AheadJump In: by Kim Creagan found via pecannoot (this is another great post. Just click on the photo title to read!) Im sorry, but what?! Its time for another Link Love post? Its the end of October? Crazy nutballs. As Im getting ready to move (Saturday out, next Wed or Sat in!) keep yourselves busy with my top 25 gems of the month (yes, I starred/tweeted almost three times that many): an awakening three years into painting by kelly rae roberts Um, everything on white hot truth this month. Its just the first page thats up now. I honestly couldnt not include every single one of her feature articles. It technically counts as 7 entries, but Im cheating just putting the blog name to count as one. Im sneaky like that. Pouring Concrete on awake at the wheel risk free life by keri smith my interview with kath younger four days left the last day on follow my bliss. Its my new favorite blog, Im a total stalker. Just One Page on Ivy League Insecurities The Meaning of Life? Oh the Terror Glory of it All The Godliness of My Tattered Life on Warrior Girl, Youre a Warrior Mama Now Overcome Your Natural Sticking Points on Magpie Girl Invitations on Swirly Girl perfect vs good enough on makeunder my life A Boss Lady We Love: Jeannette Ordas on Boss of You (Im buying their book, BTW, it looks awesome!) What is Your Purpose? Artists Dont Have to Suffer on Unscripted A Case of the Creative Munchies How to Feed Them on Freelance Switch Unplugged Recharging Your Creativity on Leo on the Loose How to Pick Yourself Up When Youre Utterly Demotivated on Pick the Brain Make a Decision on Seths Blog Where Are You Spending Your Time? on Intarsia Concept Owning Accepting What Is on Owning Pink ( yes, this sparked my Tough (Question) Tuesday this week) Letting your Freak Flag Fly by the Communicatrix (OK, its from her newsletter, but I couldnt not include it. Read it, then sign up for it here. You will super thank me). Also, I have to pimp out my Oct appearances (doesnt it sound like Im a starlet?): my radio interview on Daily Whip lead to awesome discussions about hippies, strippers, actors, my logo people (Bruce the Stumming Businessman Nancy the Ballerina Nurse), branding, bringing your skills interests into a new career you love, making your own recipe, other such funness. You can listen anytime here. my exercise video debut with Coach Andi of Hit Runners. We had such fun even though I hate sprawls more than anything. Have you read anything great this month, or written anything awesome? Post about it in the comments I wanna see!

Using Skills and Personal Qualities to Help Your Resume Writing Process

Using Skills and Personal Qualities to Help Your Resume Writing ProcessThere are many things you can do to help get your resume written faster and more effectively. This article will give you some practical advice that you can apply to help with that as well. Each person is different and each resume is different so knowing how to create one will benefit everyone.First of all you need to consider what kind of resume you are trying to create. This can be difficult as there are many different things you could be looking for. Instead of creating one that is too large you can create one that is focused and to the point.You want your resume to be something that is focused so that your employer knows how committed you are to the work. Your ability to follow directions, follow time and manage yourself will come across and this is something that is always appreciated. Make sure your personal qualities and skills are mentioned as well.You will find that there are many different things that can help with your resume. You can combine your personal qualities and skills with your job skills to create a great resume.People love to know that their skills are always needed in your job as you have an important role in the company. Your resume will show you how you are appreciated and have a job that you love and is important to you.You will find that your resume will be helpful to your potential employer. By seeing that you are looking for a job that is important to you and an employer they are more likely to consider you when interviewing and getting the job.You can make your resume look much more professional and easy to read. Youcan get your resume edited for you by a professional resume writer as this is very important to make your resume really stand out. Your resume will be different so make sure that your job skills and personal qualities are included.