It’s a Stressful Time—Take Care

During these unsettling times, it is important to take care of yourself and your loved ones as best you can.

·         Take care not to let little aggravations overshadow what’s truly important.
·         Take care to count the things that are going right in your life rather than those going wrong.
·         Take care not to take on too much, especially with all the extra time extended during this crisis. Don’t wait until you feel yourself getting stressed or are overwhelmed before you take a break.
·         Take care to enjoy the interruption in the same old routine by doing something you enjoy like reading, meditating, baking cookies, enjoying family time, and the like.
·         Take care to use extra patience since people are under more pressure and stress at this vulnerable time. Kind words often work wonders in trying situations.
·         Take care of old negative business—mend relationships, forgive grudges, forget about unattained goals, and forgive yourself for personal failings.

What are you doing to take care of yourself?

Thinking Positively in a Negative Economy

How is your work attitude? Being out of work or stuck in a dead-end job is not the way most of us envision our work life; but in a poor economy, every employee must work hard to maintain a job or to land a new one. Unemployment or underemployment, however, can be devastating to self-esteem. That means each person in these situations will also have to work harder at maintaining a positive attitude. There is no other choice if you hope to be successful at work.

• Do not berate yourself if you have no job or a low-level position; rather, remind yourself that most people go through several jobs and careers.
• Do not tie your self-worth solely to your work; consider the sum of your talents, skills, and unique experiences.
• Believe in yourself and your competency; upgrade your skills if needed.
• Develop positive work habits.
• Strategize ways to find more meaning in your work or more meaningful work.
• Tell yourself you can conduct a successful job search.
• Display enthusiasm during an interview and while you are working.
• Set goals and persist in achieving them.
• Be grateful.
• Surround yourself with upbeat, positive people.
• Call on your network when you are feeling down or when you need help with a job search.
• Be positive; a positive attitude will help you move forward; replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
• Become a problem solver.
• Do something to improve your situation.
• Make friends on LinkedIn and other professional networking sites.
• Focus on what you have control over; forget about what you cannot control.

Time to Assess Your Career

The last month of the year is here—a good time to reflect on how our careers have progressed throughout the year. Through evaluations your boss and your company will hold you accountable for your workplace behavior and accomplishments. Be proactive and access your own behavior and accomplishments. Ask yourself if you have:

• Performed your tasks to the best of your ability, completing them efficiently and in a timely manner
• Done your fair share or more
• Maintained a positive attitude daily
• Encouraged and mentored coworkers
• Adhered to a strict code of positive personal behavior
• Kept skills up to date and learned new ones to increase personal performance
• Become an expert in your field
• Used good judgment
• Spoken kindly and tactfully

Assessing your career and taking personal responsibility for your actions and words will preserve your value to the boss and company.

POSITIVE LANGUAGE PROMOTES PERSISTENCE

One of the ways we can sustain persistence is by using positive language, both when speaking and when thinking. Negatives tend to wear us down and erode our persistence; whereas, positive language keeps us in a healthy state of mind—something necessary for pursing goals until they are realized.

Become aware of negative language. Whether you are listening to negative comments or speaking/thinking them yourself, tune them out or mentally replace negatives with positives. It may seem like an insignificant step, but it is one with a huge impact.

When the going gets tough, don’t tell yourself the path is too difficult. Tell yourself you can overcome difficulties and setbacks. Believe you can. You may have to adjust your goals and the steps you take to reach them, but positive thoughts and speech can help you make those revisions and persist in reaching the goals.

Become committed to all things positive. Instead of saying, “I give up,” say, “I’ll do it another way." Instead of “I might try…” say, “I will.” Instead of saying, “Probably…”, say, “Yes,” or “Definitely.”

A little tweak of your language may make a big difference in your ability to stick with something until you have accomplished your goals and dreams.

Enjoy the Holiday Season

The holiday season is once again upon us. It seems it comes around more quickly each year. Perhaps that is a clue that our lives are too busy. This holiday season, take time to enjoy the companionship of family and friends. Children grow up and move away, parents and other loved ones pass on. Don't look back one day and regret not having enjoyed the precious moments.

Take time to enjoy the holiday season.

• Listen to your favorite Christmas carols and holiday music.


• Enjoy the festive decorations.


• Bake cookies and fudge.


• Instead of thinking about all you have to do, sit back and relax for a few minutes.


• Visit shut-ins and the elderly.


• Dress in your holiday attire and accept those party and dinner invitations.


• Spread cheer wherever you go.


• Adopt an animal from a shelter.


• Attend to your spiritual side.

Balancing work, play, spirituality, and health is the best way to enjoy the holidays and every day.

Tis the season. Slow down and enjoy it.

Time to Assess Career Accomplishments

As we begin the ending month of the year, it is a time to reflect on how our careers have progressed throughout the year. Your boss and your company will hold you accountable for your workplace behavior and accomplishments. Go one better and hold yourself accountable. Ask yourself if you have:

• Performed your tasks to the best of your ability, completing them in a timely manner


• Maintained a positive attitude daily


• Adhered to a strict code of personal behavior


• Kept skills up to date and learn new ones as required


• Became an expert in your field


• Used good judgment


• Spoke kindly and tactfully

Taking responsibility for your actions and words will preserve your value to the boss and company.

Be Prepared--Create Positive Opportunities

It's still October, but snow has arrived in Pittsburgh, bringing with it a lesson--always be prepared. That's a good lesson for all of us to remember every day. Be prepared. You never know what opportunities or misfortunes might show up on any given day. I prefer to look on the positive side and think each day will bring new opportunities.

Many people miss opportunities they don't realize were presented to them until long after they are gone. Don't let that happen to you. Be on the lookout for opportunities that will improve your personal and your professional life. Here are some ways you can create your own opportunities or take advantage of ones presented to you.

• Help others improve their lives


• Bring happiness to others


• Assist coworkers with their tasks


• Assist the boss with special projects or find other ways to make his job easier


• Ask for help when you need it


• Reflect on the positives in your life and be thankful


• Focus on the important things


• Commit to being open to opportunities

With an awareness of what is going on around us, we can all be better prepared.

Thinking Positively in a Negative Economy

How is your work attitude? Being out of work or stuck in a dead-end job is not the way most of us envision our work life; but in a poor economy, every employee must work hard to maintain a job or to land a new one. Unemployment or underemployment, however, can be devastating to self-esteem. That means each person in these situations will also have to work harder at maintaining a positive attitude. There is no other choice if you hope to be successful at work.

• Do not berate yourself if you have no job or a low-level position; rather, remind yourself that most people go through several jobs and careers.


• Do not tie your self-worth solely to your work; consider the sum of your talents, skills, and unique experiences.


• Believe in yourself and your competency; upgrade your skills if needed.


• Develop positive work habits.


• Strategize ways to find more meaning in your work or more meaningful work.


• Tell yourself you can conduct a successful job search.


• Display enthusiasm during an interview and while you are working.


• Set goals and persist in achieving them.


• Be grateful.


• Surround yourself with upbeat, positive people.


• Call on your network when you are feeling down or when you need help with a job search.


• Be positive; a positive attitude will help you move forward; replace negative thoughts with positive ones.


• Become a problem solver.


• Do something to improve your situation.


• Make friends on LinkedIn and other professional networking sites.


• Focus on what you have control over; forget about what you cannot control.

Make Yourself Indispensable on the Job

Continuing with the "hang onto your job" theme, I have added more ways to keep your job and get ahead in the workplace.

• Speak kindly to everyone--every day.


• Go above and beyond for your customers. If there is something special you can do, do it.


• Go above and beyond for the boss by making yourself valuable to him or her.


• If you must offer criticism, say something positive first.


• Update your professional image.


• Maintain a positive attitude at all times.


• Maintain a "successful" mindset.


• Make a plan for your advancement and write steps you can take toward that goal.


• Look for solutions to problems.


• Hone your leadership skills.


• Stay away from troublemakers and gossips.


• Be a results-oriented employee.

Taking appropriate steps today can lead to a rewarding career tomorrow.

Look for Possibilities

Well, I can't believe it but the Pennwriters conference has been over for a week now. I enjoyed myself and learned from many wonderful, insightful speakers.

One thing I tried to get across to conference attendees, especially newbies, was to take advantage of ALL opportunities and to be open to ALL possibilities. The same can be said for every day living.

• Be open to people and things that come your way unexpectedly. The immediate benefit of a meeting or a piece of information may not be apparent at first.


• Build long-term relationships and store each piece of information for future use.


• Don't overlook the small things and the obvious things and people.


• Learn as much as you can every day from every situation.

Look around today and be open to all that you see, do, hear, and encounter. You never know what precious things await.

Take Time to Enjoy

Take time this Easter to enjoy family and friends and to renew yourself spiritually. Living a balanced personal and professional life is crucial to your successful well being. Too much attention to your professional life to the exclusion of your personal life will cause you to miss out on important "self" time. Too much attention to your personal life and not enough attention to your professional life will stagnate your career. Develop a routine that fits your lifestyle and make corrections when your life is out of balance.

• Take time to maintain a healthy physical and mental balance.


• Practice good time management and stress management techniques.


• Get organized and stay that way.


• Maintain a positive attitude.

When you think of balance, consider all areas of your life, including family, work, health, wealth, spiritual, hobbies, and everything else that fits together to make up your life plan. Balance in all areas of your life is the key to a contented life.

Assess Those Career Goals

How are the career goals coming along? Many people forget about their New Year's resolutions about now, so let's focus instead on goals. In keeping with the career theme, here are tips for setting career goals for 2011:

• Assess where you are at the moment in your career--are you satisfied in your position or do you want to move up or move out?
• Assess your skills and education as needed to advance in your position or to change careers.
• Research applicable positions and companies.
• Set specific goals that will lead you to your career desires.
• Keep a positive attitude with regard to attaining your goals.
• Take charge and do something to move yourself toward your goals--sign up for a class, send out resumes, research companies, network, schedule interviews, and so forth
• Assess your progress and make adjustments when necessary.

With planning and action, you have a good chance to reach your goals.