October 4, 2008
Work Smart, Not Harder
In a time of declining employment, job and client seekers need not work
harder, just smarter.
Over the past 12 months, unemployment has increased to 9.5 million and the
unemployment rate has risen to 6.1 percent as reported by the Bureau of
Labor and Statistics in September 2008. The long-term unemployed (those
jobless for 27 weeks or more) rose by 167,000 in September to 2 million and
accounted for 21.1 percent of total unemployment. Areas of decline continued
in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, while jobs were being added
in the fields of health care and mining.
Additionally, 1.6 million more persons wanted and were available for work over
the last 12 months but were not included in the numbers above because they
had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
Health care employment continued to increase in September with a gain of
17,000. Job growth in the industry averaged 30,000 a month over the prior 12
months. Mining employment expanded by 8,000 jobs in September and by
241,000 since reaching a low in April 2003.
Do you hold skills and accomplishments that could be used in these
industries? You don’t have to be a miner to work for a mining company. They
need accountants, human resources and communications professionals, and
analysts. You do not have to be a nurse to work in health care. Health care
organizations need marketers, business development specialists,
fundraisers, office managers, and strategic planners.
There were 467,000 discouraged workers in September; the number of
discouraged workers has increased by 191,000 from a year earlier.
Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work specifically
because they believe no jobs are available for them.
Employment in retail trade dropped by 250,000 over the last 12 months.
Department stores lost 70,000 over the last 12 months.
In the month of September employment also continued to decline in motor
vehicle and parts dealers (-10,000); this industry has lost 48,000 jobs in the
past 4 months. Gasoline stations also lost jobs in September (-6,000).
Employment in transportation and warehousing declined by 16,000 in
September and by 57,000 since its peak 12 months earlier. Over the month,
job losses occurred in trucking (-12,000) and air transportation (-5,000).
In September, employment in financial activities fell by 17,000, with nearly half
of the decline occurring in securities and investment firms. The financial
activities industry has lost 172,000 jobs since its employment peak in
December 2006.
Employment in professional and business services continued to trend down
over September (-27,000), largely reflecting further job cuts in employment
services. Computer systems design services and management and technical
consulting services each added 9,000 jobs in September.
Do you hold transferable skills that could lateral into these industries?
Remember, transferable skills fall into three areas: Communication,
Organization of Information, and Building/Fixing Things. Make a list of your
skills and accomplishments that could benefit another industry.
Bureau of Labor and Statistics data show that the total labor force is projected
to increase by 8.5 percent during the period 2006-2016, but when analyzed by
age categories, very different trends emerge. The number of workers in the
youngest group, age 16-24, is projected to decline during the period while the
number of workers age 25-54 will rise only slightly. In sharp contrast, workers
age 55-64 are expected to climb by 36.5 percent. But the most dramatic growth
is projected for the two oldest groups. The number of workers between the
ages of 65 and 74 and those aged 75 and up are predicted to soar by more
than 80 percent.
Between 1977 and 2007, employment of workers 65 and over increased 101
percent, compared to a much smaller increase of 59 percent for total
employment (16 and over). The number of employed men 65 and over rose 75
percent, but employment of women 65 and older increased by nearly twice as
much, climbing 147 percent. While the number of employed people age 75
and over is relatively small (0.8 percent of the employed in 2007), this group
had the most dramatic gain, increasing 172 percent between 1977 and 2007.
By 2016, workers age 65 and over are expected to account for 6.1 percent of
the total labor force, up sharply from their 2006 share of 3.6 percent. Full-
timers now account for a majority among older workers: 56 percent in 2007,
up from 44 percent in 1995.
What are your transferable skills? What have you done to define them? Start
now!
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August 25, 2008
Don't Put an Age Limit on Your Dreams
Two weeks ago most of us did not know the name ‘Dara Torres.’ Last week
she infused a breath of fresh air into every person over 40 who ever faced a
challenge. At the age of 41, this single mother of a two-year-old daughter was
the first US swimmer in history to compete in five Olympic games. She made
America proud and anyone over 40 want to pound their chest when she won a
silver medal in each of her three races in Beijing: the 50 meter freestyle,
4×100 medley relay, and 4×100 freestyle relay.
This week Dara reunited with her daughter Tessa after having been separated
for seven weeks as Dara prepared for the Olympics. Tara reminded America
upon her return that the most important place for her is home with her
daughter. Unmistakably Dara has exceeded the pinnacle of achievement as
an athlete yet she has not lost sight of what is most important. She
understands good life balance.
Dropping off her daughter for her very first day of pre-school, Dara was
cheered by the teachers for her three silver medals which was bitter sweet
because she lost out for the gold in one of her races by only one one-
hundredth of a second. How does one even measure that?
"It doesn't gnaw at me a little, it gnaws at me a lot!" she said in a recent
interview, and hinted she's considering swimming at the 2009 World
Championships in Rome. Clearly, Dara hasn’t lost her edge.
I think the most meaningful quote in all of the Summer 2008 Olympic Games
was the one Dara Torres made as her relay team was interviewed by NBC
after she won her third medal for the 4×100 freestyle relay. She was asked
what she would tell Tessa about that night in the years to come.
Dara took a thoughtful pause and said, “You don’t have to put an age limit on
your dreams.”
Pretty much says it all.
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July 21, 2008
How to Remember People's Names
Have you ever been introduced to someone and realized that within seconds
that you have forgotten their name? This can be a problem in business where
much of success is based on your ability to connect with people. You can’t
connect with a prospective client if you have forgotten his or her name.
One of the reasons we forget people’s names is because our brain is
receiving input from too many sources when we meet them. Brain
researchers have discovered in the last few years that your internal dialogue
occupies the same auditory nerve as external sound. It’s hard to remember a
name when you are having an internal conversation with yourself about what
you are going to say next or how you are being perceived.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a master at recalling names. Asked how he did it,
he said he saw the person's name written out on their forehead. Over the
years simple memory techniques involving sensory integration have evolved to
improve name.
1. Stay externally focused on the person speaking – no self talk. It distracts
the memory.
2. Sight – Picture the name of the person written on their forehead in you
favorite color of magic marker.
3. Sound – Say the name over in your mind and then out loud. “It’s very nice to
meet you, Jason.” Use the name three times in a conversation.
4. Touch – Move your finger in little micro-muscle movements as if you were
actually writing the person’s name or in your mind’s eye, see and feel yourself
writing the person’s name.
5. After you leave a meeting, write down the names of the people you want to
remember with a distinguishing note about each. Since you already have
imagined their name on their forehead, tie the note to a distinguishing part of
their face and list other relevant information on why they are important to you.
If you are meeting large groups of people the technique of “chunking” is
helpful. Most people learn information by chunking it down. Think about your
social security number and telephone numbers.
When it comes to remembering large groups of people, you can group the
names into clusters. Repeat their names back in groups of four or five as you
code each one of them into your memory through your three primary senses of
sight, sound, and touch.
Practice will refine these techniques into habit. Start now!
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July 5, 2008
Recession Resistant Careers
In a recent CNN opinion research poll of voters nationwide, the top three
issues on voters’ minds are the economy, the situation in Iraq, and gasoline
prices. So in a failing economy with increasing energy costs and great
national investment in the war, where does a job seeker look for stability?
Some industries are continually vulnerable during a recession such as retail,
manufacturing, finance and technology, but some industries seem "recession-
resistant," based on different trends at the time of the slowdown.
Look for the opportunities. Thirty-two percent of employers plan to add full-
time, permanent employees in 2008, according to a CareerBuilder.com
survey. Most employers are cautious, but expect a slower, yet steady hiring
environment.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that only those with industry-specific skills
will be in demand. Hospitals not only need nurses and physical therapists,
they need administrators, marketers and information technology workers.
Middle and high school math and science teachers continue to be in demand.
Other hard-to-fill positions in the education field include special education and
English Language Learner teachers, along with administrators, school
counselors, and teacher aides.
The need for national and cyber security is booming. Bank-card merchants
must comply with increasing federal regulations, state privacy legislation, and
industry standards. Security failures can be very painful for businesses; the
theft of customers' personal data can result in lawsuits and nightmarish PR.
Renewable-energy manufacturing projects (such as solar and wind turbine)
are creating new jobs. Environmental engineers are in demand because of
crumbling infrastructures and climate change resulting in floods and droughts
that need solutions.
Due to a fast paced American culture, eating and drinking establishments
continue to grow and a high rate of turnover is a problem for restaurant
owners. These jobs cannot be outsourced and serve as an opportunity for job
seekers.
Many healthcare services are essential. Patient care can’t be outsourced. The
aging US population ensures a continued heavy demand.
So don’t let a downturn in the economy mean an abysmal turn in your career
search. Be smart about seeking opportunities. Start now!
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May 18, 2008
I've Made a Mistake - What Now?
This week I was asked to present to high school students as part of a
program entitled “Pittsburghers That Make a Difference.” My topic was Goal
Setting. When first asked to do this all I could think about was how boring a
topic this would be to teenagers. It was even boring to me. And then when I
found out that one of the other presenters was the veterinarian from the
National Aviary who was bringing the Froot Loops bird I knew I was in trouble.
So I decided to focus my talk on something kids and many adults tend not to
think about – failure.
What happens when you set a goal, are working toward it and then realize the
goal was a mistake?
Forty-four percent of college graduates change their major between the
second semester of their freshman year and graduation day. Eighty-three
percent of the 2001 graduating class of Duke University were working for a
different organization within five years of graduation and 43 % had changed
careers at least once.
Setting goals and readjusting them is an ongoing part of life.
Remember two things with respect to setting goals:
#1. Begin with the end in mind – Know where you ultimately want to be.
#2. It is important to fail early – Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks.
If you have made a bad career choice, define your transferable skills and start
researching other opportunities. If you are in school and majoring in
something you feel will ultimately not make you happy, diversify your course
selection and change majors or minor is something new if it is too close to
graduation.
Your job, your ongoing education, your relationships, your outside activities –
they are like a boat at a dock. You will get one. You will get in it. Your boat will
start to pull away from the pier. If you have a set of oars, you will drive the
boat. If you don’t the boat will drive you. You probably won’t sink – unless
there is a terrible storm where faith and self worth will come strongly into play.
But you will more likely find yourself in the same inlet circling the same waters
over and over never being able to pull out of the harbor and into the sea toward
a destination.
Think about people whom you have heard repeatedly say, “I hate my job.”
They haven’t taken hold of the oars.
Goals are specific, measurable and time framed. “I am trying” is not a goal.
“I will do it within this amount of time” is.
So ask yourself, if circling the inlet good enough for you. Who is driving your
boat?
In the words of Christopher Columbus, “You can never cross the ocean
unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
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April 20, 2008
The Best Careers of 2008
US News and World Report recently released it list of “The Best Careers for
2008.” The flowing careers were selected because of their strong outlooks
and high job satisfaction. Interestingly, they also profiled jobs that were
“Ahead-of-the-Curve” and would be in even greater demand in coming years.
Non-college careers were a part of the list and may be rewarding even to
many college graduates, especially because college grads are likely to stand
out against the competition. Those added careers are: biomedical equipment
technician, firefighter, hairstylist/cosmetologist, and locksmith/security system
technician. Other skilled blue-collar careers that scored well in their selection
criteria: machinist (manufacturers report a shortage), nuclear plant technician
(few people are entering the field, yet plans are on the books for building more
plants), and electrician/electronics tech (above-average pay, and it's easier on
the body than many other blue-collar careers). The takeaway: Many college
graduates might be advised to consider skilled-trade careers.
Government is becoming an employer of choice. Corporations are sending
jobs off shore. Nonprofits are increasingly strapped because of donor fatigue
and continued scandals. Government, beneficiary of increased tax revenues in
good times and often able to raise taxes in bad times, has the luxury of
continually paying employees well, whether it's an economically sound
practice or not. Government offers good pay, ample sick days, holidays,
vacation days, health insurance, and retirement benefits. With signs pointing
to the Democrats taking control of the White House plus both houses of
Congress, government hiring of nonmilitary personnel can be expected to
increase. The official site for federal jobs is: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/.
The biggest surprise, however, may be in magazine’s list of “Most Overrated
Careers.” That list is subjective, and, indeed, many people are happy in those
careers. But these conclusions were derived from a review of books, articles,
websites, forums, and blogs about people's experiences in careers,
supplemented by confidential counseling sessions with 2,600 people over a
period of two decades.
Enjoy the lists as you plan your next career move. Start now!
The Best Careers for 2008
Audiologist
Biomedical equipment technician
Clergy
Curriculum/training specialist
Dentist
Editor
Engineer
Firefighter
Fundraiser
Genetic counselor
Ghostwriter
Government manager
Hairstylist/cosmetologist
Higher education administrator
Investment banker
Landscape architect
Librarian
Locksmith/Security system technician
Management consultant
Mediator
Occupational therapist
Optometrist
Pharmacist
Physician assistant
Politician/Elected official
Professor
Registered nurse
School psychologist
Systems analyst
Urban planner
Usability/User experience specialist
Ahead-of-the-Curve Careers:
Asian Business Development Specialist
Behavioral Geneticist
Computational Biologist
Data Miner
Emergency Planning Manager
Green-Collar Consultant
Health Informatics Specialist
Immigration Specialist
Offshoring Manager
Patient Advocate
Simulation Developer
Wellness Coach
The Most Overrated Careers:
Advertising executive
Architect
Attorney
Chef
Chiropractor
Clinical psychologist
Medical scientist
Nonprofit manager
Physician Police officer
Real estate agent
Small-business owner
Teacher
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April 13, 2008
Where can I find a job other than the classifieds?
There are a number of places where jobs are available that you may never find
without a little resourcefulness. But since you are resourceful, that won’t be a
problem for you. Below I have listed a number of sources outside of the local
newspaper that you might want to try.
Where to Find Job Openings:
Personal contacts
Former employers and colleagues
State employment service offices
Federal Government
Alumni from your alma mater
National newspapers
Professional journals
Trade magazines
Internet resources
Professional associations
Labor unions
Community agencies
School career planning and placement offices
Private employment agencies and career consultants
Internships
Remember, the government is generally one of the largest employers in a
region. Try visiting these sites to review the government jobs in your area.
Official Site for Federal Jobs: www.usajobs.opm.gov/
Federal/State/Local Government jobs: www.federaljobsearch.com/
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April 8, 2008 Blog
Tips for Graduates
Soon-to-be college graduates in a questionable economy can take some
simple steps to improve their chances on getting hired:
1. Network in Person Write down on a piece of paper relatives, friends and
anyone you know that is in a profession you admire. Don’t be afraid to ask for
a meeting and then for their advice. They will be flattered and will want to help
you. Social networking may have been something you did online but work is
done in person. Create relationships.
2. Use Online Networking to Meet Alumni Alumni feel linked to new
graduates and remember their plight. Myworkster.com is a good site to
connect with alumni from your college. Or try Linkedln.
3. Think Outside Your Major Healthcare, education and insurance are
growing markets. Does your major enable you to be a support service in
these industries. Hospital systems need marketing, security, and finance
employees.
4. Make Your Resume Reflect Accomplishments Not Just Skills You didn’t
just learn how to create a marketing plan. You implemented a marketing plan
that resulted in 4500 products being sold to first time buyers.
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April 6, 2008 Blog
How to Make a Career Move in a Failing Economy
With the job market buckling under the weight of the housing credit and
financial crises, job seekers need to be especially savvy in their pursuit. Pink
slips stacked to nearly a quarter million in just the first three months of 2008
jolting the economy staggeringly into reverse. There is little doubt on
recession. So if you are one of those whose job has been eliminated, fear you
might be or just are someone wanting to make a career change at what some
might say is the worst time since the recession of 2001, can you find the right
career and actually land a good position? Or maybe you want to start a
business. Is it the right time in this failing economy? The answer to all of
these questions is a resounding “yes” if your quest capitalizes on the trying
times. The right plan with concrete goals and a sound savings will insure
quicker success. Even as the economy slowed significantly in the fourth
quarter of 2007, American employers made well more than 4.5 million hires
according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, yet still down from 4.99 million
the year before. Certain industries are particularly vulnerable during
recessions, including retail, manufacturing, the financial and investment areas
and technology. Health care, education, energy and security are industries
where the demand for workers is at its greatest right now. This may be the
time to go back to school or get an advanced degree if you have the interest
and the time. If you are employed, and fear there may be layoffs in your
company, it does not hurt to be prepared. Update your resume. Make sure that
you are still networking with old bosses, coworkers, and business contacts.
Don’t wait until you are laid off to keep your contacts and resume fresh. In
order to stand out in interviews and even within your existing company there
are some important things you can do now. First: Show that you are
innovative in identifying waste, cutting costs and increasing income. Second:
Be visible and positive. Be noticed in a positive way. This is not the time to
fade into the background. Third: Do much more than is asked. Produce
beyond what is expected. Fourth: Be hungry to learn new things. You want to
be known as a go-getter who gets the job done well. Take the time now to
update your resume, network, learn new things and get noticed. This will pay
off in any economy. Click here to get the FREE Worksheet: It's Not Who you
Know, It's Who Knows You
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March 22, 2008 Blog
Are Your Goals Nutritious?
March is National Nutrition Month and I hope that you are not only feeding
yourself a healthy balanced diet but that you are nurturing your goals and life
balance as well. The American Dietetic Association advises that you select
food from the four basic food groups, watch caloric intake, be physically active,
eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, choose low-fat milk and limit
salt for a healthy life.
I suggest in addition that you select goals that meet the 5 basics requirements
of a SMART goal, relieve stress with a brisk walk, call the people close to you
just to say, “Hi!”, do something for someone without anybody knowing it,
arrange dinner with friends you haven’t seen, and read a book on
investments.
People do not like to set goals for a very basic reason. If you set a goal, you
may not reach the goal and then you will feel like a failure. The trouble with
this philosophy is that it is simply an excuse. If you don’t set goals, then you
don’t have to achieve. Success only comes when you have defined what it is
to be successful. So why wait?
Make sure the goal is a SMART goal. The 5 Basic Requirements of a SMART
Goal:
S – SPECIFIC
M - MEASURABLE
A - ACHIEVABLE (but challenging)
R - RESULTS ORIENTED
T - TIME FRAMED
“I am going to look for a new job,” is not a SMART goal. A SMART goal would
be, “I am going to apply to five agencies for which I want to work by next
weekend.” Rule Break: Some say that you are not a success unless you
reach your goals. I say you may find that some of your goals end up being
unattainable or that you just plain change your mind about what you want.
This is ok. Throw out bad goals.
You are the one sailing your own ship and the course you take is at your
discretion. Learn to decide if a goal is bad early so that you don’t waste
precious time. Start now! Look what you’ve already accomplished!
Click here to get the FREE Worksheet: The Life Balance Chart and Goal Cards.
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March 2, 2008 Blog
Six Questions to Answer "Yes"
In the book First Break All the Rules, authors Buckingham and Coffman
summarized 80,000 interviews done by the Gallop Organization into what
successful leaders and managers do differently. They understand that any
organization’s best asset is its talent. What I see as a critical facet of this book
is how you can translate this information into success for yourself as a
potential employee or business owner.
Gallop concluded that if an organization’s employees can answer “yes” to 12
key questions, the organization would attract, focus and keep the most
talented people. Of those 12 questions, they reported that the most powerful
ones are those six with a combination of the strongest links to the most
business outcomes. So I say if you are looking for work or building a
business, look for companies or build a culture where people can answer
“yes” to these six key questions:
1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. Do I have the opportunity to do what I do best?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a
person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
Rule Break: If you are already employed and are unhappy, frame a discussion
with your manager with the questions above, as managers understand how
“no” answers to these questions affect business outcomes. Don’t tell your
manager you need more employees in your department. Tell her that you can’
t do what you do best which is produce more for the organization because you
are doing something less productive than your skill set. Decreased
productivity is always a red flag for managers.
And when you become a manager, if your employees can answer “yes” to
these questions, you will be running a very productive operation. Which
translates to greater success and more peace for you!
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March 1, 2008 Blog
It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You?
Every major city has a wide array of business networking opportunities –
Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis, professional associations and
more. These represent a wonderful source for meeting people in business.
Those seeking employment or new clients attend these meetings, pass out
their business cards to as many people as possible and collect equally as
many as if there was a prize at the end of the lunch for the most cards in hand.
I encourage you to build relationships, not a Rolodex.
Spiritual venues may also serve as good sources to meet people who may
have traveled a similar journey to yours. Church choirs, bible study groups,
and church event groups are comprised of people with a calling to a spiritual
purpose. You may have special interests that are not as well known as those
listed above but are important to you none the less. You may be interested in
reading and seek a book club. You may be interested in gardening or politics
and seek a club for those interests. All of these serve as good sources to
build relationships.
Small talk is important at any event where you want to meet new people. Aim
to spend a maximum of five minutes with each person.
Rule Break: Don’t just network – connect. Traditional clubs and organizations
are good sources for meeting people with similar interests. But I say that
everything you do everyday presents an opportunity to meet people who may
be part of your new road. When you are standing in line at the coffee shop, the
person in front of you or behind you may have a background similar to your
own and has built a successful empire. A person in your workplace cafeteria
may have dealt with challenges similar to yours but you never knew it. How do
you get to know these things about people? Genuinely show an interest in
them. When they hear your name you don’t want them to say, “I’ve met her.”
You want them to say, “I know her.”
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February 10, 2008 Blog
Does Your Resume Look Weathered?
Dust off your resume and make sure it reflects what employers today are
seeking. You have a lot to offer. Has your resume grown to three or four
pages over time? Is your first job after high school graduation still listed? Are
you still displaying the date you graduated from college? Include only the
most recent 15 to 20 years of work history. The emphasis today is on
capabilities, qualifications, and achievements.
Don’t tell prospective employers that you can just use various software
programs. Give examples of how you helped the bottom line of a company in
doing so. If your relevant accomplishments are three jobs back – don’t list a
chronology of your work history on your resume. Employers may not get that
far. Lead the professional section of your resume with your list of
accomplishments. If you have been at home raising children for several
years, call attention to your lifetime of experience – at home, in the community,
and at work.
Think of accomplishments in terms of transferable skills: those in the areas of
communications, organizing information, and fixing things. You haven’t simply
been a stay-at-home mother. You have managed a budget that saved for
family vacations, college tuition funds and retirement. You organized a
fundraiser at your children’s school that raised $11,000 for new computers.
You wired all the electronics in your home including computers, printers, and
scanners, as well as set up all the software programs for such.
Focus on what your attitude is. Employers want to know that you have a deep
openness to learning new things. They want people who are willing to learn,
adapt, and be stable, who aren't looking for the next job before they start this
one. This describes you! Just be sure to communicate these strengths in
your resume. You can do it. Get started now!
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February 1, 2008 Blog
How Do I Get Motivated?
This week I spoke to a group of wonderful women at Dress for Success in
downtown Pittsburgh. They asked some very intelligent questions with a
similar theme that I hear often from people going through a transition. “How
do you get motivated when you just can’t seem to get going?”
First understand that if you are going through any life transition whether it be
death of a loved one, divorce, children moving away, or any number of
challenges it is very difficult to expect great fulfillment in anything until you
ground yourself with a sound foundation of beliefs. And those beliefs should
center around one theme…You already have everything you need to do
anything you want. Accept that you control your own destiny.
Know that if you are dedicated, you can accomplish anything. Believe that
greatness is in your future. Then set specific steps to get there. And don’t
expect to know what those steps are if you still doubt everything I have said
above. The path will not be clear to you. It will be foggy.
Dedication trumps motivation every time. If someone assaulted your child,
would you sit around and wait to get motivated to do something about it? Of
course not. You would be dedicated to doing whatever it took to give your child
back esteem. Success is the same.
When you are as dedicated to achievement as you would be to protecting your
child, you will not need to get motivated. In order to get there, ask yourself,
“How badly do I want my life to be better? And “What am I willing to do to get
there?”
If you are struggling with a particularly challenging time in your life, don’t be
hard on yourself. Don’t expect to know all the answers. You cannot set a new
and clear path while you are in a storm. You can hardly see the road.
Remember, you already have everything you need to do anything you want.
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January 27, 2008 Blog
Millionaire Women Look Ahead
You might be surprised to learn the general profile of a millionaire woman.
In the book “Millionaire Women Next Door,” Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D., the New
York Times best selling author of The Millionaire Next Door, found that many
people cast millionaire women in a stereotypical light – wed to their
businesses, uncaring, unmarried, unliked, undesirable, a bunch of angry
revenge-seeking workaholics.
The data says it ain’t so.
Of the millionaire women he studied, the median age was 49, they work about
49 hours a week and exercise three-and-a-half hours a week. Only one in 20
has never been married. One in five is currently divorced. Of those who are
married, half had been divorced at least once. Many report that their former
husbands were exploitive and narcissistic.
For those who are married, only one in 20 reports that her husband is in
charge of the household budget, financial planning, investing, selecting
financial advisors and the like. But 46 percent said that these decisions are
made together.
About one in four attended college but never finished. Sixty percent are college
graduates. Just over half of those who are college graduates paid their own
tuition.
Fewer than one in five ever attended a private school, but 54 percent have paid
private school tuition for their grandchildren. Nearly all are homeowners.
They are significantly more likely than their male counterparts to detail
household expenses, research stock purchases, hold stocks longer, use
investment counselors, and have defined short and long term investment
goals.
They donate seven percent of their income to noble causes, 3½ times more
than the average for U.S. households.
They are frugal. The most they’ve spent on a suite is $400 and more than four
in five develop a detailed shopping list before going grocery shopping. They
are twice as likely to have spent time looking for a foreclosed property as a
new home and are more likely to have furniture reupholstered or refinished
before buying new. They have switched long distance companies more than
the average American and are significantly more likely to have clothes mended
or altered instead of buying new.
Most are not members of country clubs nor is anyone else in the household.
Nearly 69 percent took on leadership roles before becoming teenagers.
What I find most important about Stanley’s research is that these woman have
disciplined themselves to look forward to the future but almost all of them had
some adversity and reversals in life. However, only one in five ever spends
time thinking about how things could have been.
The lessons here? All of these women built financial independence without
allowing strife to get in their way. We can learn from their strategies. A wealthy
background, private school education, a college degree, and a wealthy family
or husband are not essential to building financial independence. Frugality,
generosity and a focus on the future are. Do you have a household budget?
Have you analyzed it lately? What causes do you actively care about? Do you
have personal, career and financial goals?
Only you can do it. Start now!
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January 21, 2008 Blog
Setting Goals
This week I received confirmation of the two classes I am teaching this spring
on Starting Over. It made me reflect on what I could tell my students is the
most important thing to remember when embarking on a new enterprise. I’d
have to say from my experience it is setting, monitoring and re-evaluating
measurable goals.
When I was starting over in my life I knew that I had a very short time to pull it
all together because I had four children that needed food, shelter and the
minimum necessities. I didn’t have time to go back to school for something
new. I didn’t have the money to start a high profile business. I didn’t have the
background or support to land a well paying job that would cover adequate
childcare.
So I focused on what I could do. I set goals for myself. The first was to learn
to sell because I could see that people who did work that directly influenced
the bottom line like sales, were higher paid than those in areas that I preferred
such as communications. During this time I specifically sought out work-from-
home or flexible schedule opportunities because I still had pre-school age
children at home. Most of my work was freelance writing for newspapers. But
I also found a mentor in the advertising specialty industry that allowed me to
work part time for straight commission while shadowing him to learn the
trade. That’s where I learned to sell. Then I studied for a certification that had
a broad range of appeal for work in the non-profit and management sector. I
also taught myself how to fundraise by attending classes, spending a lot of
time in the library, and offering to write a grant proposal for a non-profit without
being paid in order to get the experience.
Had I not set the goals of finding a sales mentor, seeking a certification, and
teaching myself a marketable skill that affected the bottom line, I’d have never
gotten to where I am today. During that period of my life, that I call “in the
meantime” I had time to pursue things that once gainfully employed as an
executive single parent with four children, I’d have never had time to seek.
Set goals. Insure they are measurable by making them specific with an end
date. Monitor your progress on them every three months. Re-evaluate if they
are good goals and change them if they are not. Then watch your life unfold
as you planned and not envelop you as if you were a bystander. Start now!
RESPONSE: January 25th 2008
This blog was awesome and right on time!
La Shaune' Scott Rostagno
"If you want to find your true purpose in life, know this for certain: Your
purpose will only be found in service to others, and in being connected to
something far greater than your mind, body or ego."
Dr. Wayne Dyer
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Work Smart, Not Harder
In a time of declining employment, job and client seekers need not work
harder, just smarter.
Over the past 12 months, unemployment has increased to 9.5 million and the
unemployment rate has risen to 6.1 percent as reported by the Bureau of
Labor and Statistics in September 2008. The long-term unemployed (those
jobless for 27 weeks or more) rose by 167,000 in September to 2 million and
accounted for 21.1 percent of total unemployment. Areas of decline continued
in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, while jobs were being added
in the fields of health care and mining.
Additionally, 1.6 million more persons wanted and were available for work over
the last 12 months but were not included in the numbers above because they
had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
Health care employment continued to increase in September with a gain of
17,000. Job growth in the industry averaged 30,000 a month over the prior 12
months. Mining employment expanded by 8,000 jobs in September and by
241,000 since reaching a low in April 2003.
Do you hold skills and accomplishments that could be used in these
industries? You don’t have to be a miner to work for a mining company. They
need accountants, human resources and communications professionals, and
analysts. You do not have to be a nurse to work in health care. Health care
organizations need marketers, business development specialists,
fundraisers, office managers, and strategic planners.
There were 467,000 discouraged workers in September; the number of
discouraged workers has increased by 191,000 from a year earlier.
Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work specifically
because they believe no jobs are available for them.
Employment in retail trade dropped by 250,000 over the last 12 months.
Department stores lost 70,000 over the last 12 months.
In the month of September employment also continued to decline in motor
vehicle and parts dealers (-10,000); this industry has lost 48,000 jobs in the
past 4 months. Gasoline stations also lost jobs in September (-6,000).
Employment in transportation and warehousing declined by 16,000 in
September and by 57,000 since its peak 12 months earlier. Over the month,
job losses occurred in trucking (-12,000) and air transportation (-5,000).
In September, employment in financial activities fell by 17,000, with nearly half
of the decline occurring in securities and investment firms. The financial
activities industry has lost 172,000 jobs since its employment peak in
December 2006.
Employment in professional and business services continued to trend down
over September (-27,000), largely reflecting further job cuts in employment
services. Computer systems design services and management and technical
consulting services each added 9,000 jobs in September.
Do you hold transferable skills that could lateral into these industries?
Remember, transferable skills fall into three areas: Communication,
Organization of Information, and Building/Fixing Things. Make a list of your
skills and accomplishments that could benefit another industry.
Bureau of Labor and Statistics data show that the total labor force is projected
to increase by 8.5 percent during the period 2006-2016, but when analyzed by
age categories, very different trends emerge. The number of workers in the
youngest group, age 16-24, is projected to decline during the period while the
number of workers age 25-54 will rise only slightly. In sharp contrast, workers
age 55-64 are expected to climb by 36.5 percent. But the most dramatic growth
is projected for the two oldest groups. The number of workers between the
ages of 65 and 74 and those aged 75 and up are predicted to soar by more
than 80 percent.
Between 1977 and 2007, employment of workers 65 and over increased 101
percent, compared to a much smaller increase of 59 percent for total
employment (16 and over). The number of employed men 65 and over rose 75
percent, but employment of women 65 and older increased by nearly twice as
much, climbing 147 percent. While the number of employed people age 75
and over is relatively small (0.8 percent of the employed in 2007), this group
had the most dramatic gain, increasing 172 percent between 1977 and 2007.
By 2016, workers age 65 and over are expected to account for 6.1 percent of
the total labor force, up sharply from their 2006 share of 3.6 percent. Full-
timers now account for a majority among older workers: 56 percent in 2007,
up from 44 percent in 1995.
What are your transferable skills? What have you done to define them? Start
now!
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August 25, 2008
Don't Put an Age Limit on Your Dreams
Two weeks ago most of us did not know the name ‘Dara Torres.’ Last week
she infused a breath of fresh air into every person over 40 who ever faced a
challenge. At the age of 41, this single mother of a two-year-old daughter was
the first US swimmer in history to compete in five Olympic games. She made
America proud and anyone over 40 want to pound their chest when she won a
silver medal in each of her three races in Beijing: the 50 meter freestyle,
4×100 medley relay, and 4×100 freestyle relay.
This week Dara reunited with her daughter Tessa after having been separated
for seven weeks as Dara prepared for the Olympics. Tara reminded America
upon her return that the most important place for her is home with her
daughter. Unmistakably Dara has exceeded the pinnacle of achievement as
an athlete yet she has not lost sight of what is most important. She
understands good life balance.
Dropping off her daughter for her very first day of pre-school, Dara was
cheered by the teachers for her three silver medals which was bitter sweet
because she lost out for the gold in one of her races by only one one-
hundredth of a second. How does one even measure that?
"It doesn't gnaw at me a little, it gnaws at me a lot!" she said in a recent
interview, and hinted she's considering swimming at the 2009 World
Championships in Rome. Clearly, Dara hasn’t lost her edge.
I think the most meaningful quote in all of the Summer 2008 Olympic Games
was the one Dara Torres made as her relay team was interviewed by NBC
after she won her third medal for the 4×100 freestyle relay. She was asked
what she would tell Tessa about that night in the years to come.
Dara took a thoughtful pause and said, “You don’t have to put an age limit on
your dreams.”
Pretty much says it all.
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July 21, 2008
How to Remember People's Names
Have you ever been introduced to someone and realized that within seconds
that you have forgotten their name? This can be a problem in business where
much of success is based on your ability to connect with people. You can’t
connect with a prospective client if you have forgotten his or her name.
One of the reasons we forget people’s names is because our brain is
receiving input from too many sources when we meet them. Brain
researchers have discovered in the last few years that your internal dialogue
occupies the same auditory nerve as external sound. It’s hard to remember a
name when you are having an internal conversation with yourself about what
you are going to say next or how you are being perceived.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a master at recalling names. Asked how he did it,
he said he saw the person's name written out on their forehead. Over the
years simple memory techniques involving sensory integration have evolved to
improve name.
1. Stay externally focused on the person speaking – no self talk. It distracts
the memory.
2. Sight – Picture the name of the person written on their forehead in you
favorite color of magic marker.
3. Sound – Say the name over in your mind and then out loud. “It’s very nice to
meet you, Jason.” Use the name three times in a conversation.
4. Touch – Move your finger in little micro-muscle movements as if you were
actually writing the person’s name or in your mind’s eye, see and feel yourself
writing the person’s name.
5. After you leave a meeting, write down the names of the people you want to
remember with a distinguishing note about each. Since you already have
imagined their name on their forehead, tie the note to a distinguishing part of
their face and list other relevant information on why they are important to you.
If you are meeting large groups of people the technique of “chunking” is
helpful. Most people learn information by chunking it down. Think about your
social security number and telephone numbers.
When it comes to remembering large groups of people, you can group the
names into clusters. Repeat their names back in groups of four or five as you
code each one of them into your memory through your three primary senses of
sight, sound, and touch.
Practice will refine these techniques into habit. Start now!
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July 5, 2008
Recession Resistant Careers
In a recent CNN opinion research poll of voters nationwide, the top three
issues on voters’ minds are the economy, the situation in Iraq, and gasoline
prices. So in a failing economy with increasing energy costs and great
national investment in the war, where does a job seeker look for stability?
Some industries are continually vulnerable during a recession such as retail,
manufacturing, finance and technology, but some industries seem "recession-
resistant," based on different trends at the time of the slowdown.
Look for the opportunities. Thirty-two percent of employers plan to add full-
time, permanent employees in 2008, according to a CareerBuilder.com
survey. Most employers are cautious, but expect a slower, yet steady hiring
environment.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that only those with industry-specific skills
will be in demand. Hospitals not only need nurses and physical therapists,
they need administrators, marketers and information technology workers.
Middle and high school math and science teachers continue to be in demand.
Other hard-to-fill positions in the education field include special education and
English Language Learner teachers, along with administrators, school
counselors, and teacher aides.
The need for national and cyber security is booming. Bank-card merchants
must comply with increasing federal regulations, state privacy legislation, and
industry standards. Security failures can be very painful for businesses; the
theft of customers' personal data can result in lawsuits and nightmarish PR.
Renewable-energy manufacturing projects (such as solar and wind turbine)
are creating new jobs. Environmental engineers are in demand because of
crumbling infrastructures and climate change resulting in floods and droughts
that need solutions.
Due to a fast paced American culture, eating and drinking establishments
continue to grow and a high rate of turnover is a problem for restaurant
owners. These jobs cannot be outsourced and serve as an opportunity for job
seekers.
Many healthcare services are essential. Patient care can’t be outsourced. The
aging US population ensures a continued heavy demand.
So don’t let a downturn in the economy mean an abysmal turn in your career
search. Be smart about seeking opportunities. Start now!
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May 18, 2008
I've Made a Mistake - What Now?
This week I was asked to present to high school students as part of a
program entitled “Pittsburghers That Make a Difference.” My topic was Goal
Setting. When first asked to do this all I could think about was how boring a
topic this would be to teenagers. It was even boring to me. And then when I
found out that one of the other presenters was the veterinarian from the
National Aviary who was bringing the Froot Loops bird I knew I was in trouble.
So I decided to focus my talk on something kids and many adults tend not to
think about – failure.
What happens when you set a goal, are working toward it and then realize the
goal was a mistake?
Forty-four percent of college graduates change their major between the
second semester of their freshman year and graduation day. Eighty-three
percent of the 2001 graduating class of Duke University were working for a
different organization within five years of graduation and 43 % had changed
careers at least once.
Setting goals and readjusting them is an ongoing part of life.
Remember two things with respect to setting goals:
#1. Begin with the end in mind – Know where you ultimately want to be.
#2. It is important to fail early – Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks.
If you have made a bad career choice, define your transferable skills and start
researching other opportunities. If you are in school and majoring in
something you feel will ultimately not make you happy, diversify your course
selection and change majors or minor is something new if it is too close to
graduation.
Your job, your ongoing education, your relationships, your outside activities –
they are like a boat at a dock. You will get one. You will get in it. Your boat will
start to pull away from the pier. If you have a set of oars, you will drive the
boat. If you don’t the boat will drive you. You probably won’t sink – unless
there is a terrible storm where faith and self worth will come strongly into play.
But you will more likely find yourself in the same inlet circling the same waters
over and over never being able to pull out of the harbor and into the sea toward
a destination.
Think about people whom you have heard repeatedly say, “I hate my job.”
They haven’t taken hold of the oars.
Goals are specific, measurable and time framed. “I am trying” is not a goal.
“I will do it within this amount of time” is.
So ask yourself, if circling the inlet good enough for you. Who is driving your
boat?
In the words of Christopher Columbus, “You can never cross the ocean
unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
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April 20, 2008
The Best Careers of 2008
US News and World Report recently released it list of “The Best Careers for
2008.” The flowing careers were selected because of their strong outlooks
and high job satisfaction. Interestingly, they also profiled jobs that were
“Ahead-of-the-Curve” and would be in even greater demand in coming years.
Non-college careers were a part of the list and may be rewarding even to
many college graduates, especially because college grads are likely to stand
out against the competition. Those added careers are: biomedical equipment
technician, firefighter, hairstylist/cosmetologist, and locksmith/security system
technician. Other skilled blue-collar careers that scored well in their selection
criteria: machinist (manufacturers report a shortage), nuclear plant technician
(few people are entering the field, yet plans are on the books for building more
plants), and electrician/electronics tech (above-average pay, and it's easier on
the body than many other blue-collar careers). The takeaway: Many college
graduates might be advised to consider skilled-trade careers.
Government is becoming an employer of choice. Corporations are sending
jobs off shore. Nonprofits are increasingly strapped because of donor fatigue
and continued scandals. Government, beneficiary of increased tax revenues in
good times and often able to raise taxes in bad times, has the luxury of
continually paying employees well, whether it's an economically sound
practice or not. Government offers good pay, ample sick days, holidays,
vacation days, health insurance, and retirement benefits. With signs pointing
to the Democrats taking control of the White House plus both houses of
Congress, government hiring of nonmilitary personnel can be expected to
increase. The official site for federal jobs is: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/.
The biggest surprise, however, may be in magazine’s list of “Most Overrated
Careers.” That list is subjective, and, indeed, many people are happy in those
careers. But these conclusions were derived from a review of books, articles,
websites, forums, and blogs about people's experiences in careers,
supplemented by confidential counseling sessions with 2,600 people over a
period of two decades.
Enjoy the lists as you plan your next career move. Start now!
The Best Careers for 2008
Audiologist
Biomedical equipment technician
Clergy
Curriculum/training specialist
Dentist
Editor
Engineer
Firefighter
Fundraiser
Genetic counselor
Ghostwriter
Government manager
Hairstylist/cosmetologist
Higher education administrator
Investment banker
Landscape architect
Librarian
Locksmith/Security system technician
Management consultant
Mediator
Occupational therapist
Optometrist
Pharmacist
Physician assistant
Politician/Elected official
Professor
Registered nurse
School psychologist
Systems analyst
Urban planner
Usability/User experience specialist
Ahead-of-the-Curve Careers:
Asian Business Development Specialist
Behavioral Geneticist
Computational Biologist
Data Miner
Emergency Planning Manager
Green-Collar Consultant
Health Informatics Specialist
Immigration Specialist
Offshoring Manager
Patient Advocate
Simulation Developer
Wellness Coach
The Most Overrated Careers:
Advertising executive
Architect
Attorney
Chef
Chiropractor
Clinical psychologist
Medical scientist
Nonprofit manager
Physician Police officer
Real estate agent
Small-business owner
Teacher
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April 13, 2008
Where can I find a job other than the classifieds?
There are a number of places where jobs are available that you may never find
without a little resourcefulness. But since you are resourceful, that won’t be a
problem for you. Below I have listed a number of sources outside of the local
newspaper that you might want to try.
Where to Find Job Openings:
Personal contacts
Former employers and colleagues
State employment service offices
Federal Government
Alumni from your alma mater
National newspapers
Professional journals
Trade magazines
Internet resources
Professional associations
Labor unions
Community agencies
School career planning and placement offices
Private employment agencies and career consultants
Internships
Remember, the government is generally one of the largest employers in a
region. Try visiting these sites to review the government jobs in your area.
Official Site for Federal Jobs: www.usajobs.opm.gov/
Federal/State/Local Government jobs: www.federaljobsearch.com/
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April 8, 2008 Blog
Tips for Graduates
Soon-to-be college graduates in a questionable economy can take some
simple steps to improve their chances on getting hired:
1. Network in Person Write down on a piece of paper relatives, friends and
anyone you know that is in a profession you admire. Don’t be afraid to ask for
a meeting and then for their advice. They will be flattered and will want to help
you. Social networking may have been something you did online but work is
done in person. Create relationships.
2. Use Online Networking to Meet Alumni Alumni feel linked to new
graduates and remember their plight. Myworkster.com is a good site to
connect with alumni from your college. Or try Linkedln.
3. Think Outside Your Major Healthcare, education and insurance are
growing markets. Does your major enable you to be a support service in
these industries. Hospital systems need marketing, security, and finance
employees.
4. Make Your Resume Reflect Accomplishments Not Just Skills You didn’t
just learn how to create a marketing plan. You implemented a marketing plan
that resulted in 4500 products being sold to first time buyers.
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April 6, 2008 Blog
How to Make a Career Move in a Failing Economy
With the job market buckling under the weight of the housing credit and
financial crises, job seekers need to be especially savvy in their pursuit. Pink
slips stacked to nearly a quarter million in just the first three months of 2008
jolting the economy staggeringly into reverse. There is little doubt on
recession. So if you are one of those whose job has been eliminated, fear you
might be or just are someone wanting to make a career change at what some
might say is the worst time since the recession of 2001, can you find the right
career and actually land a good position? Or maybe you want to start a
business. Is it the right time in this failing economy? The answer to all of
these questions is a resounding “yes” if your quest capitalizes on the trying
times. The right plan with concrete goals and a sound savings will insure
quicker success. Even as the economy slowed significantly in the fourth
quarter of 2007, American employers made well more than 4.5 million hires
according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, yet still down from 4.99 million
the year before. Certain industries are particularly vulnerable during
recessions, including retail, manufacturing, the financial and investment areas
and technology. Health care, education, energy and security are industries
where the demand for workers is at its greatest right now. This may be the
time to go back to school or get an advanced degree if you have the interest
and the time. If you are employed, and fear there may be layoffs in your
company, it does not hurt to be prepared. Update your resume. Make sure that
you are still networking with old bosses, coworkers, and business contacts.
Don’t wait until you are laid off to keep your contacts and resume fresh. In
order to stand out in interviews and even within your existing company there
are some important things you can do now. First: Show that you are
innovative in identifying waste, cutting costs and increasing income. Second:
Be visible and positive. Be noticed in a positive way. This is not the time to
fade into the background. Third: Do much more than is asked. Produce
beyond what is expected. Fourth: Be hungry to learn new things. You want to
be known as a go-getter who gets the job done well. Take the time now to
update your resume, network, learn new things and get noticed. This will pay
off in any economy. Click here to get the FREE Worksheet: It's Not Who you
Know, It's Who Knows You
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March 22, 2008 Blog
Are Your Goals Nutritious?
March is National Nutrition Month and I hope that you are not only feeding
yourself a healthy balanced diet but that you are nurturing your goals and life
balance as well. The American Dietetic Association advises that you select
food from the four basic food groups, watch caloric intake, be physically active,
eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, choose low-fat milk and limit
salt for a healthy life.
I suggest in addition that you select goals that meet the 5 basics requirements
of a SMART goal, relieve stress with a brisk walk, call the people close to you
just to say, “Hi!”, do something for someone without anybody knowing it,
arrange dinner with friends you haven’t seen, and read a book on
investments.
People do not like to set goals for a very basic reason. If you set a goal, you
may not reach the goal and then you will feel like a failure. The trouble with
this philosophy is that it is simply an excuse. If you don’t set goals, then you
don’t have to achieve. Success only comes when you have defined what it is
to be successful. So why wait?
Make sure the goal is a SMART goal. The 5 Basic Requirements of a SMART
Goal:
S – SPECIFIC
M - MEASURABLE
A - ACHIEVABLE (but challenging)
R - RESULTS ORIENTED
T - TIME FRAMED
“I am going to look for a new job,” is not a SMART goal. A SMART goal would
be, “I am going to apply to five agencies for which I want to work by next
weekend.” Rule Break: Some say that you are not a success unless you
reach your goals. I say you may find that some of your goals end up being
unattainable or that you just plain change your mind about what you want.
This is ok. Throw out bad goals.
You are the one sailing your own ship and the course you take is at your
discretion. Learn to decide if a goal is bad early so that you don’t waste
precious time. Start now! Look what you’ve already accomplished!
Click here to get the FREE Worksheet: The Life Balance Chart and Goal Cards.
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March 2, 2008 Blog
Six Questions to Answer "Yes"
In the book First Break All the Rules, authors Buckingham and Coffman
summarized 80,000 interviews done by the Gallop Organization into what
successful leaders and managers do differently. They understand that any
organization’s best asset is its talent. What I see as a critical facet of this book
is how you can translate this information into success for yourself as a
potential employee or business owner.
Gallop concluded that if an organization’s employees can answer “yes” to 12
key questions, the organization would attract, focus and keep the most
talented people. Of those 12 questions, they reported that the most powerful
ones are those six with a combination of the strongest links to the most
business outcomes. So I say if you are looking for work or building a
business, look for companies or build a culture where people can answer
“yes” to these six key questions:
1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. Do I have the opportunity to do what I do best?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a
person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
Rule Break: If you are already employed and are unhappy, frame a discussion
with your manager with the questions above, as managers understand how
“no” answers to these questions affect business outcomes. Don’t tell your
manager you need more employees in your department. Tell her that you can’
t do what you do best which is produce more for the organization because you
are doing something less productive than your skill set. Decreased
productivity is always a red flag for managers.
And when you become a manager, if your employees can answer “yes” to
these questions, you will be running a very productive operation. Which
translates to greater success and more peace for you!
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March 1, 2008 Blog
It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You?
Every major city has a wide array of business networking opportunities –
Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, Kiwanis, professional associations and
more. These represent a wonderful source for meeting people in business.
Those seeking employment or new clients attend these meetings, pass out
their business cards to as many people as possible and collect equally as
many as if there was a prize at the end of the lunch for the most cards in hand.
I encourage you to build relationships, not a Rolodex.
Spiritual venues may also serve as good sources to meet people who may
have traveled a similar journey to yours. Church choirs, bible study groups,
and church event groups are comprised of people with a calling to a spiritual
purpose. You may have special interests that are not as well known as those
listed above but are important to you none the less. You may be interested in
reading and seek a book club. You may be interested in gardening or politics
and seek a club for those interests. All of these serve as good sources to
build relationships.
Small talk is important at any event where you want to meet new people. Aim
to spend a maximum of five minutes with each person.
Rule Break: Don’t just network – connect. Traditional clubs and organizations
are good sources for meeting people with similar interests. But I say that
everything you do everyday presents an opportunity to meet people who may
be part of your new road. When you are standing in line at the coffee shop, the
person in front of you or behind you may have a background similar to your
own and has built a successful empire. A person in your workplace cafeteria
may have dealt with challenges similar to yours but you never knew it. How do
you get to know these things about people? Genuinely show an interest in
them. When they hear your name you don’t want them to say, “I’ve met her.”
You want them to say, “I know her.”
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February 10, 2008 Blog
Does Your Resume Look Weathered?
Dust off your resume and make sure it reflects what employers today are
seeking. You have a lot to offer. Has your resume grown to three or four
pages over time? Is your first job after high school graduation still listed? Are
you still displaying the date you graduated from college? Include only the
most recent 15 to 20 years of work history. The emphasis today is on
capabilities, qualifications, and achievements.
Don’t tell prospective employers that you can just use various software
programs. Give examples of how you helped the bottom line of a company in
doing so. If your relevant accomplishments are three jobs back – don’t list a
chronology of your work history on your resume. Employers may not get that
far. Lead the professional section of your resume with your list of
accomplishments. If you have been at home raising children for several
years, call attention to your lifetime of experience – at home, in the community,
and at work.
Think of accomplishments in terms of transferable skills: those in the areas of
communications, organizing information, and fixing things. You haven’t simply
been a stay-at-home mother. You have managed a budget that saved for
family vacations, college tuition funds and retirement. You organized a
fundraiser at your children’s school that raised $11,000 for new computers.
You wired all the electronics in your home including computers, printers, and
scanners, as well as set up all the software programs for such.
Focus on what your attitude is. Employers want to know that you have a deep
openness to learning new things. They want people who are willing to learn,
adapt, and be stable, who aren't looking for the next job before they start this
one. This describes you! Just be sure to communicate these strengths in
your resume. You can do it. Get started now!
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February 1, 2008 Blog
How Do I Get Motivated?
This week I spoke to a group of wonderful women at Dress for Success in
downtown Pittsburgh. They asked some very intelligent questions with a
similar theme that I hear often from people going through a transition. “How
do you get motivated when you just can’t seem to get going?”
First understand that if you are going through any life transition whether it be
death of a loved one, divorce, children moving away, or any number of
challenges it is very difficult to expect great fulfillment in anything until you
ground yourself with a sound foundation of beliefs. And those beliefs should
center around one theme…You already have everything you need to do
anything you want. Accept that you control your own destiny.
Know that if you are dedicated, you can accomplish anything. Believe that
greatness is in your future. Then set specific steps to get there. And don’t
expect to know what those steps are if you still doubt everything I have said
above. The path will not be clear to you. It will be foggy.
Dedication trumps motivation every time. If someone assaulted your child,
would you sit around and wait to get motivated to do something about it? Of
course not. You would be dedicated to doing whatever it took to give your child
back esteem. Success is the same.
When you are as dedicated to achievement as you would be to protecting your
child, you will not need to get motivated. In order to get there, ask yourself,
“How badly do I want my life to be better? And “What am I willing to do to get
there?”
If you are struggling with a particularly challenging time in your life, don’t be
hard on yourself. Don’t expect to know all the answers. You cannot set a new
and clear path while you are in a storm. You can hardly see the road.
Remember, you already have everything you need to do anything you want.
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January 27, 2008 Blog
Millionaire Women Look Ahead
You might be surprised to learn the general profile of a millionaire woman.
In the book “Millionaire Women Next Door,” Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D., the New
York Times best selling author of The Millionaire Next Door, found that many
people cast millionaire women in a stereotypical light – wed to their
businesses, uncaring, unmarried, unliked, undesirable, a bunch of angry
revenge-seeking workaholics.
The data says it ain’t so.
Of the millionaire women he studied, the median age was 49, they work about
49 hours a week and exercise three-and-a-half hours a week. Only one in 20
has never been married. One in five is currently divorced. Of those who are
married, half had been divorced at least once. Many report that their former
husbands were exploitive and narcissistic.
For those who are married, only one in 20 reports that her husband is in
charge of the household budget, financial planning, investing, selecting
financial advisors and the like. But 46 percent said that these decisions are
made together.
About one in four attended college but never finished. Sixty percent are college
graduates. Just over half of those who are college graduates paid their own
tuition.
Fewer than one in five ever attended a private school, but 54 percent have paid
private school tuition for their grandchildren. Nearly all are homeowners.
They are significantly more likely than their male counterparts to detail
household expenses, research stock purchases, hold stocks longer, use
investment counselors, and have defined short and long term investment
goals.
They donate seven percent of their income to noble causes, 3½ times more
than the average for U.S. households.
They are frugal. The most they’ve spent on a suite is $400 and more than four
in five develop a detailed shopping list before going grocery shopping. They
are twice as likely to have spent time looking for a foreclosed property as a
new home and are more likely to have furniture reupholstered or refinished
before buying new. They have switched long distance companies more than
the average American and are significantly more likely to have clothes mended
or altered instead of buying new.
Most are not members of country clubs nor is anyone else in the household.
Nearly 69 percent took on leadership roles before becoming teenagers.
What I find most important about Stanley’s research is that these woman have
disciplined themselves to look forward to the future but almost all of them had
some adversity and reversals in life. However, only one in five ever spends
time thinking about how things could have been.
The lessons here? All of these women built financial independence without
allowing strife to get in their way. We can learn from their strategies. A wealthy
background, private school education, a college degree, and a wealthy family
or husband are not essential to building financial independence. Frugality,
generosity and a focus on the future are. Do you have a household budget?
Have you analyzed it lately? What causes do you actively care about? Do you
have personal, career and financial goals?
Only you can do it. Start now!
To post a Comment on this Blog, please click here.
January 21, 2008 Blog
Setting Goals
This week I received confirmation of the two classes I am teaching this spring
on Starting Over. It made me reflect on what I could tell my students is the
most important thing to remember when embarking on a new enterprise. I’d
have to say from my experience it is setting, monitoring and re-evaluating
measurable goals.
When I was starting over in my life I knew that I had a very short time to pull it
all together because I had four children that needed food, shelter and the
minimum necessities. I didn’t have time to go back to school for something
new. I didn’t have the money to start a high profile business. I didn’t have the
background or support to land a well paying job that would cover adequate
childcare.
So I focused on what I could do. I set goals for myself. The first was to learn
to sell because I could see that people who did work that directly influenced
the bottom line like sales, were higher paid than those in areas that I preferred
such as communications. During this time I specifically sought out work-from-
home or flexible schedule opportunities because I still had pre-school age
children at home. Most of my work was freelance writing for newspapers. But
I also found a mentor in the advertising specialty industry that allowed me to
work part time for straight commission while shadowing him to learn the
trade. That’s where I learned to sell. Then I studied for a certification that had
a broad range of appeal for work in the non-profit and management sector. I
also taught myself how to fundraise by attending classes, spending a lot of
time in the library, and offering to write a grant proposal for a non-profit without
being paid in order to get the experience.
Had I not set the goals of finding a sales mentor, seeking a certification, and
teaching myself a marketable skill that affected the bottom line, I’d have never
gotten to where I am today. During that period of my life, that I call “in the
meantime” I had time to pursue things that once gainfully employed as an
executive single parent with four children, I’d have never had time to seek.
Set goals. Insure they are measurable by making them specific with an end
date. Monitor your progress on them every three months. Re-evaluate if they
are good goals and change them if they are not. Then watch your life unfold
as you planned and not envelop you as if you were a bystander. Start now!
RESPONSE: January 25th 2008
This blog was awesome and right on time!
La Shaune' Scott Rostagno
"If you want to find your true purpose in life, know this for certain: Your
purpose will only be found in service to others, and in being connected to
something far greater than your mind, body or ego."
Dr. Wayne Dyer
To post a COMMENT on this Blog, please click here.
StartingOverNow.com
BLOG
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FREE Resources
to help you:
1. JASPER - Personality
Profile Survey to Help You
Chose a Career Path: www.
monster.com Click on “My
Monster” and then “JASPER”
and then register.
2. Salary Estimates in
Specific Cities: www.salary.
monster.com
3. Organize Your Job
Search - Post a Question
etc.: www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After
Divorce: www.
womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for
Women: www.
makingbreadmagazine.com
6. Self Improvement: www.
selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources: www.
careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.
org/business_toolbox.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs: www.
federaljobsearch.com
10. Free legal help and
qualified attorneys in your
area: www.
theattorneysforum.com
to help you:
1. JASPER - Personality
Profile Survey to Help You
Chose a Career Path: www.
monster.com Click on “My
Monster” and then “JASPER”
and then register.
2. Salary Estimates in
Specific Cities: www.salary.
monster.com
3. Organize Your Job
Search - Post a Question
etc.: www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After
Divorce: www.
womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for
Women: www.
makingbreadmagazine.com
6. Self Improvement: www.
selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources: www.
careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.
org/business_toolbox.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs: www.
federaljobsearch.com
10. Free legal help and
qualified attorneys in your
area: www.
theattorneysforum.com
Mary Lee Gannon's work
as a newspaper reporter,
trade association
executive director, public
relations consultant,
entrepreneur, and hospital
foundation president and
CEO are the basis for this
BLOG and her classes
"Starting Over Without
Starting at the Bottom."
For the Class Schedule
click here.
as a newspaper reporter,
trade association
executive director, public
relations consultant,
entrepreneur, and hospital
foundation president and
CEO are the basis for this
BLOG and her classes
"Starting Over Without
Starting at the Bottom."
For the Class Schedule
click here.
Be featured in
Mary Lee's
Book: Mary Lee's
Book on "Starting
Over" advice will be
released in
November of 2009
and she is looking
for testimonials to
feature in the book.
Send your "Starting
Over" story to Mary
Lee at
info@startingovernow
.com
Mary Lee's
Book: Mary Lee's
Book on "Starting
Over" advice will be
released in
November of 2009
and she is looking
for testimonials to
feature in the book.
Send your "Starting
Over" story to Mary
Lee at
info@startingovernow
.com