« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

The 2018 MentorSF Spring Guest Blogger Series kicks off this week with #Storytelling

Posted February 6, 2018 By Frank Strona

Spring Guest Blogger Series

Excited to kick off my Spring Guest Series tomorrow with an interview from Louis Karim and his media storytelling efforts on “Where I Belong Now”.  Last month I put an open invite out letting folks know that I would be hosting “guest” posts that spanned a wide range of topics. And Louis was one of the first to say “I’m In”. I kept the framework flexible handset parameters for the posts to include narrative content, interview style, poetry, audio and media along with the invite to cross-link to any projects the folks were currently involved in.

Someone asked why was I being so willing to share my space with others. For me it was simple – storytelling isn’t something any one person can own. The “stories” may be unique to the person – but they share a more widely held human experience worth sharing. So why not open up my blog to share and cross-pollinate some thinking. Collaboration is the best way to experience new ideas, insight and sometimes even challenge your own thinking. In the end, it’s all about what our government leadership is lacking. The understanding that “diversity and strong opinions can still play nice together” and achieve some incredible outcomes when both sides take part.

Here was the original post:

I’m putting the word out that I am inviting people interested in writing a guest post on my MentorSF.com Engage blog. The content can be fluid and may, of course, link back to any projects of yours. I am especially looking for the following topics/themes;

– Workforce Development
– Diversity & Inclusion content
– Balancing life & work
– Social Media and Technology rips and tools
– Stories of how to thrive during scarcity
– Senior Transitions
– Storytelling
– Have an urge to teach or how to article?

Other ideas? Go ahead and pitch me …

If you are interested leave a comment below and how best to reach you or message me directly. The blogs can run 300-700 words.

If you missed the announcement, check out my MentorSFCA Facebook page or email me at [email protected] for details.

Stay tuned to read and see more on tomorrow’s Engage Post!

 

Filed in #MentorSFCA, 2018 Guest Series, Engage! Post | Tagged:
          

Guest Post; 5 ways to become a Creative yet Ethical Car Salesperson

Posted February 1, 2018 By Frank Strona

Ethics in business?

Since I am in the middle of teaching a health ethics course, the concept of ethics in business practices was on my mind this month.  This week I am sharing a guest post from Mark Schlatter, of Kansas City Ford, one of the MentorSF Engage! readers,  on the often made fun of and occasionally controversial professional roles; the car salesperson.

Let’s face it – buying a car can either be a great experience or a terrible one. I have had both – but I am also clear that it isn’t an industry thing so much of a way we ask people who live on commissions to hit high goals every month. For anyone who lives on a commission based role, to reach them often can put a person in an ethical dilemma.

Mark was willing to share some thoughts on his views of the creative yet ethical salesperson.    –Frank

How to be a Creative yet Ethical Car Salesperson

Due to negative media portrayals, car salespeople have built up a reputation over the years of not being in the most honest profession. People have walked away from car dealerships feeling lied to, conned, and even scammed out of their money. It has gotten so bad that people hate the experience and try to avoid car salespeople altogether.

This doesn’t have to be the case, however. There are some simple rules that every car salesperson can follow, to not only be ethical as a salesperson but to also be far more successful than they would have been otherwise.

#1 Be Honest

Rule number one is the simplest, yet the most commonly broken. Do not lie to the customer. Under no circumstance should the salesperson ever lie to their customer. Lying to the customer destroys the bond of trust that must be implied in order for the relationship between customer and seller to exist. Lying to the customer may seem like a quick and easy way to make a buck, but it only hurts the salesperson and ultimately the entire dealership in the end.

#2 Be Helpful

Rule number two is a little more nuanced. Be transparent. Sometimes it doesn’t take an outright lie to get a customer to believe something that is not totally true. When a salesperson sees that a customer has an idea about a vehicle that is false, it is incumbent upon the salesperson to correct this mistake. It may be tempting to allow the customer to go right along thinking something positive about the vehicle that isn’t really accurate, but by letting the customer know the truth, not only will the salesperson be making the ethical decision, but they will be strengthening the bond between seller and buyer, and putting themselves one step closer to finding the right car that the customer will love and be totally happy with.

#3 Be Disciplined

Rule number three is a matter of discipline. Do not shortchange the employer. This is an important rule at Kansas City Ford dealership Zeck Ford. As a car salesperson, it can sometimes be easy to slack off and not give their employer the hours of work that they agreed to. This is wrong, and they know it. Allowing themselves this lack of discipline is not only ethically incorrect, but it will seep into all aspects of their life. Taking pride in their work as well as their integrity will turn them into the kind of salesperson that every customer wants to deal with.

#4 Be in it for the Long Haul  

Rule number four is a strategy that not only applies to the car lot but also in all tasks in life. Play the long game. This means that is far more important to be looking to the future than to throw everything away for a short-term, one-time success. That one-time success, due to the sloppy nature of it, can easily backfire and lead to a person’s downfall.

In the situation where a car salesperson sees the opportunity to trick or pressure a customer into a sale, they should take a step back and not do it. Make sure the customer understands everything about the vehicle as accurately as possible and also make sure that the customer is completely ready to purchase the car. This will build long-term trust with the salesperson and the dealership. This long-term trust will soon turn into long-term cash.

#5 Be Reliable

Rule number five is to simply not make promises that cannot be kept. The salesperson must follow through with all agreements and guarantees made to the customer that led to the customer purchasing the vehicle. It is vitally important that the salesperson not start making promises to the customer based on something another salesperson told them at another dealership.

If a condition cannot be met, simply say so. Not doing so will create a situation where the dealership and the salesperson will lose their integrity, and inevitably, the trust of their customer base. However, showing the customer that they are only willing to tell them the truth will go a long way in making that customer feel comfortable with the salesperson and the dealership, and will eventually lead to repeat business.

#6 Believe in One’s Self

The final rule is not an ethical obligation to the customer, but an obligation to oneself. The salesperson owes it to themselves to obtain the best opportunity for long-term success that they possibly can. The final rule is for the salesperson to believe in themselves. There is no reason that they cannot continually improve and strive to be the best version of themselves that they possibly can.

There are a whole lot of customers out there just waiting to buy a car. All they need is a great car salesperson to guide them in the right direction. Customers don’t need to be told what to do; they just need to be helped. A car salesperson that understands that they owe it to themselves to keep improving and being the best that they can be. Word of their integrity and helpfulness will spread like wildfire. They and their dealership will soon reap the rewards of an ethical yet creative car salesperson.

 This week’s guest post by Mark shares his work as a versatile writer with extensive experience creating interesting, engaging, and unique articles in the automotive industry. You can follow Mark on twitter as @ZeckFord

Filed in Engage! Post | Tagged: ,
          

How to Reduce Your Own Anxious Feelings

Posted January 4, 2018 By GuestSpot

Anxious feelings…

We all have them but for those who experience an overwhelming feeling of being anxious or anxiousness around crowds, the feeling can be crippling. Wracked with self-doubt and gripped with the overwhelming fear of being viewed in a negative light, many who are more introverted and nervous around groups end up staying aloof from friends and missing out on vital life experiences. In the extreme cases, even missing school or work to avoid the discomfort.

But struggling with being anxious and anxiousness doesn’t have to be devastating to your life. Here are a few tips that will help you get back on your feet faster.

5 Ways To Reduce Your Own Anxious Feelings

 

 

1: Separate Thoughts from Reality

  • Though everyone has an inner dialogue of some kind, the type experienced by people who avoid social situations is particularly negative. Statements like “This presentation will be awful”, or “Everyone can see right through me” permeate the mind and create self-defeating thoughts that intimidate the victim before the conversation even begins.
  • To fight these thoughts, try to separate the reality from your inner voice. Most likely, there is no evidence or proof to back up these thoughts, so the feelings that you have to the contrary are baseless, and should be treated that way. Whenever you have a negative thought about a social situation, stop and think through it. Is there any way reality is backing that thought up? Make note of how often then thoughts crop up, and try to think through each one rationally.

2: Own Your Positivity

  • Though everyone has an inner dialogue of some kind, the type experienced by people who avoid social situations is particularly negative. Statements like “This presentation will be awful”, or “Everyone can see right through me” permeate the mind and create self-defeating thoughts that intimidate the victim before the conversation even begins.
  • To fight these thoughts, try to separate the reality from your inner voice. Most likely, there is no evidence or proof to back up these thoughts, so the feelings that you have to the contrary are baseless, and should be treated that way. Whenever you have a negative thought about a social situation, stop and think through it. Is there any way reality is backing that thought up? Make note of how often then thoughts crop up, and try to think through each one rationally.

3: Own Your Positivity

  • One of the best ways to reorient your mind to the task at hand is by relabeling the self-defeating thoughts into something more positive. Instead of saying, “I’m so nervous right now,” own the positivity by saying things like “I can’t wait to get started!” By taking ownership of your thoughts, you can change the narrative in your head. Turn your feelings of dread into excitement.

4: Try Breathing Exercises

  • In some cases, a simple breathing exercise may be the trigger you need to calm the body and mind. Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of four, then breathe out just as slow. This can help slow breathing and heart rates and will help to remind you to stay calm. If possible, use some doTERRA oil to help you relax. Put just a drop or two on your shirt sleeve or back of the hands to help ground you before any social experience.

5: Embrace Vulnerability

  • Experiencing anxious feelings around groups of people should not be crippling, and the more you allow yourself to be held back by it, the worse it will become. Allow yourself to be open, even if it’s just with a personal mentor who can help guide you through past situations, and embrace the discomfort that you feel when you put yourself out there. Keep it in moderation, but there’s nothing wrong with being you. Little by little, you’ll be able to feel more in control, even when you feel emotionally out of control.

Remember

Anxious feelings around lots of people are an uncertain and stressful experience, but fortunately, it gets easier the more time and practice you put into it. Implement these tips with a hint of courage, and you should feel yourself getting more and more comfortable in the outside world. As I have mentioned in the past – do not be afraid to ask for help! find support in many ways is a key part of moving through this process. For some ideas of where you can find more support, check out the Engage blog post “How to overcome your fears after an accident or significant emotional moment“. Which also lists some resources.

SaveSave

Filed in #MentorSFCA, Engage! Post, Learning Nuggets | Tagged: , , , , , ,
          

Getting that initial reading-list for 2018 started

Posted January 3, 2018 By Frank Strona

Reading-list 2018

Got my initial reading-list for the new year made last night. I usually keep two versions, one for more social and personal stuff such as the list I posted today on my personal blog BiteTheRoad.com today. Then I try to come up with a least 5 new books for professional goals that I want to include.

reading books

A few from 2017

The social read-list includes:

  • I know the first on the list will be Humility Is The New Smart; Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age (Hess & Ludwig, 2017)

SaveSave

Filed in #MentorSFCA, Engage! Post, Tips & Hints | Tagged: ,
          

5 Steps to Get Back on Your Feet After a Layoff

Posted December 27, 2017 By GuestSpot

Getting laid off is no joke. Suddenly losing your source of income can create a lot of problems, especially if you have payments to make and debt to deal with. You may feel overwhelmed or hopeless about your situation. This doesn’t have to last. You can get back on your feet, and it can happen pretty quickly. Here are five steps to help you do this.

Take a Deep Breath

One of the most important things to remember is that you are going to be okay. While this may be a difficult period for you, it is not the end of the world, and you need to realize that. Panicking is just going to make the situation worse and make you feel more overwhelmed. It’s okay to be upset and worried, but don’t let that consume you. Take some time to process your feelings and then put that aside so you can move forward.

Figure Out What Happened

Getting laid off usually comes as a surprise. It can be shocking to have to deal with something like this, but until you know why, you won’t know how to move forward. If you were laid off because of staff cuts, then it probably wasn’t your fault, and you can use that information when applying for a new job. The best way to figure out what happened is to talk to your supervisor. Make sure you approach this conversation properly. If you are angry or accusatory, it isn’t going to go over well.

Consider Your Next Move

Now is a good time to consider what your actual career goals are. Sometimes, you are lucky enough to be right where you want to be. If you enjoy what you have been doing, there is no need to change, but it not, now might be a good time to reevaluate what you want to do with your life. If you are looking to change careers, you may need to go back to school. When considering educational options, look for something that will give you versatility. There are plenty of online options that are much cheaper and faster than a more traditional university that are just as good.

Use Your Network

Connect with professionals in your industry and other areas by attending industry events, seminars, and other events. Networking has been proven to be one of the most successful ways of getting a new job, so don’t discard this part. You should make sure that you are constantly networking, even if you aren’t at an event specifically for that. Networking doesn’t have to be super formal, just talk about your interests and what you would like to do with your career. It’s about getting to know people. While networking, don’t hesitate to help someone else out if you can. They will be more likely to return the favor.

Prepare for the Next Step

When getting ready for job interviews, you need to make sure you practice. Even if you were good at interviewing at one point, your skills have probably gotten a little rusty, and they won’t come back overnight. It may be a good idea to sit down with a friend or family member and have a mock interview. This can help you prepare for sticky questions, like explaining why you are looking for a job. Getting laid off isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but it can be if you don’t explain it properly. Make sure you update your resume and cover letter as well.

It may take you a while to get there, but eventually, you will find another job, and things will become normal again. Until then, hang in there and trust that something good is coming your way.

References:

6 Ways to Make Yourself More Marketable

Best Tips for Updating Your Resume

Best Bet for Job Interview Prep

WGU Master of Business Administration

10 Steps to Surviving a Layoff

How to Respond When You Get Laid Off

Filed in #MentorSFCA, Engage! Post | Tagged: , ,
          

How to Use Anxious Feelings as Your Own Secret Weapon

Posted December 26, 2017 By GuestSpot

Most people think of an intense fear or an uncontrollable worry when they think of anxious feelings, but everyone experiences this differently. We all get nervous from time to time. Feelings of fear, worry, or distress can be disrupting and even hinder us from daily life, but they don’t have to. When properly directed, being anxious can easily turn from a fear, into one of your strongest motivators. Keep reading if you’re interested in finding out three ways to make your nervousness work for you.

Stop Fighting It

When you feel a bout of anxious feelings coming on, don’t try and pretend it isn’t happening. In fact, by struggling against your fears and trying to fight off anxious feelings, you’ll only overwork yourself and make it harder to be productive. If you want to accept your feelings of anxiousness, the key is to identify and accept the triggers that cause it.

When you feel your heartbeat increasing or palms sweating, you’ll likely want to make these feelings go away as quickly as possible. Instead, accept these feelings for what they are and consider how you’ll utilize them. Anxious feelings are a physical and mental response to perceived danger or risk. Identify what you find risky in your environment and logically consider how you can navigate it. After all, you can’t use something to your advantage if you’re fighting it.

Anxiousness Is Energy

If your body were a car, then feelings of anxiousness would be a hyper-efficient fuel. The key to using this as your secret weapon is to stop stewing over what makes you anxious and start acting on those feelings instead. The beauty of feeling nervous is that it presents you with only two options: sit and become even more afraid of your thoughts, or act until it goes away. By letting it push you into action, you’ll quickly find it is one of the best workplace motivators out there. Be sure to act fast, or your anxiousness will build until it’s uncontrollable.

Control It

The key to controlling anxiousness is knowing when it’s out of balance. Minor issues like light sweating or nervous tapping might not affect you too much. When you feel yourself losing control, try discussing your feelings with a trusted mentor or even talking to a therapist to help calm yourself down. After identifying common triggers, try to form a planned offense. Repeat positive phrases to yourself before entering a situation which will make you nervous. Before performing or presenting, remind yourself of past successes and visualize a positive experience. Alternatively, lavender and rose doTERRA essential oils have helped people to relax when they have anxious feelings, and you can find many other coping tricks and advice to help you control these feelings.

If you want to use your nervous feelings effectively, then you need recognize it for what it is, let it spur you into action, and be able to stop or control it. By using a few of the above strategies, you’ll be able to turn your anxious feelings from a hurdle into your own secret weapon.

SaveSave

Filed in Resources | Tagged: , , , , , ,
          

Pushing the Comfort Zone Envelope: Challenge your way to personal success

Posted December 20, 2017 By Frank Strona
Pushing the Envelope: Challenging Your Comfort Zone for Greater Personal Success

In order to grow, we must view a comfort zone as a way station, rather than a destination.

Remaining in your comfort zone is somewhat like standing on that one stepping stone just because it feels good, but it can also bring progress to a halt. It limits your exposure to the stimulus that can inspire and feed creativity. Success means learning how to move through the intimidating spaces separating plateaus of achievement. A former instructor of mine, Dr. Bradford Keeney, used to speak of this space as a form of “lived tension”. Back then I had a hard time understanding the concept until I took a step back and allowed myself to stop defining “tension” as a bad thing and consider it as an experiential processor “a series of moments in time” not good nor bad. The amount of time a person chooses to stay in it is both optional and fluid. Taking daily actions with one or more of the following suggestions may help push your horizons far beyond their present positions, when and if you are of a mind too.

Increasing Knowledge

How we view the world is determined only by what we have learned over a lifetime. All of our senses are enriched by the information we have absorbed. Some say that the night skies are more beautiful when we can point out stars by name. Plants become more interesting when we learn what the Romans called them or the unique properties they hold. Strangers evolve into fascinating representatives of exotic cultures when we learn their language or open ourselves up to our differences not as comparisons but as opportunities. Interests blossom into careers when we stop trying to “keep up with the Jones’s” and start wanting to make a difference in the work we do.  When you make a study and seek to make engaged self-education a daily habit, the entire world unfolds before you. No one ever succeded at work by staying within the boundaries of a comfort zone

Leaving the Beaten PathMentor Moment image of growing green native strawberries

The act of doing anything in an unfamiliar manner reaches up into the brain and moves things around. Old concepts are juggled, and new concepts are formed. The results prompt the mind to look at everything from a different angle. New ideas form. By not being able to do things reflexively, the brain awakens to a full state of alertness. What would usually go unnoticed is noticed and becomes lodged in memory. Try something new each day: Take the back door, eat peas with a knife, brush your teeth left-handed — anything to shake up your senses. It worked for me, when I taught at a local University, I was trying to reach students differently and noticed some growing research that indicated traditional seating could in fact limit learning, so I set out to explore other ways that would open them up. After the word “standing” popped out at me a few times, I took the hint. I had all the chairs removed and thought the whole class, with all of us standing up. What did I learn? When a student learns, then move, they smile, they gesture. The more focused they became on what I was sharing, the less it was a lecture to be memorized in between texts and facebook posts and the more it became an experience.

Service to Others

Donating your time and energies to a worthwhile cause can be as lucrative as a college degree. The knowledge gained from charitable efforts can be applied to just about any vocation. Learning how to assist others in a variety of circumstances easily translates into marketable skills. Showing a potential employer a resume that documents you as an enthusiastic and engaged volunteer in your chosen field increases your chances of getting hired. Regularly giving volunteer service helps you live knowing that you are helping to make the world better.  

Physical Well-being

Just as the above suggestions require daily attention, so does the act of maintaining good health. Engaging in physical activity on a regular basis lifts the spirits and sharpens the mind. All of the body’s processes are benefited. Proper circulation and respiration help to keep the organs functioning at peak levels. A few minutes a day is all that is needed to optimize your physique and keep you ready for life’s surprises.

Time and Space

You can envision yourself on Earth in the early part of the 21st century. You can also envision yourself in a boundless universe consisting of billions of planets spinning through immeasurable time. Your imagination is the device that limits or expands your concepts of eternity and infinity. Against such fathomless reaches, why not supersize your dreams? If you are going to push the envelope, push it in a big way. Consider your path and get started. Leave the comfort, at least for a time, and head into the empty spaces where there is ample room to build your dreams.

“Realizing goals is, by design, a challenge. Everything needs to be stretched in order to reach them. Flex the brain to increase intelligence. Work the body to gain the required strength to stay the course. Tighten the spirit to acquire the needed fortitude. Use your mind to enforce daily actions until your body accepts them as habits. Build each day on the back of the preceding day until your foundation is so strong that stopping is no longer a temptation. Learning to live outside your comfort zone will lead you to achievements, creating “greater satisfaction, career advancement, and income growth” (WGU).

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

Filed in #MentorSFCA, Engage! Post | Tagged: , ,
          

Our body reacts to the good, the bad and the ugly

Posted December 19, 2017 By Frank Strona

When your body responds

In my last few months, the body was a focal part of my posts as it often take the brunt of the wear and tear every day. I talked a lot about ways to cope with the good, the bad and now; the ugly.

Ugly is the one that always gets people at this time of the year; the dreaded ending of a relationship and navigating those changes. Even if you happen to be the one who initiates the change, it doesn’t mean it will be any easier in many cases.

But Instead of spending a lot of time with words this week, I happen to come across this infographic from HeyCrush.com. They do a great narration of the infographic so no need for me to rewrite it for you – instead

What is my body saying?

  1. look at the infographic.
  2. Make a list of which parts strike you as a “hmmm” and “ouch” or a “could I have caused that to someone“
  3. Decide which if any make sense for you to explore further
  4. Then head over to HeyCrush.com and check out the actual article “How to get over someone after a breakup?” from April 2017 and see what it says.

Filed in Engage! Post | Tagged: ,
          

How to Take Back Control of Your Life After an Injury

Posted December 5, 2017 By Frank Strona

Tips for an “after injury” strategy

The accident has happened and left you with an injury that has significantly altered your life. Sometimes you may feel immensely relieved and grateful to be alive, while sometimes you may feel that you are unable to cope and wish that you had died in the accident. Both of these emotions are normal after a traumatic event. At some point, you will have decisions to make on how to begin to live each day now as a different person, with new experiences and in many cases with a need for a new strategy that engages you to thrive. Thinking about the “tomorrows” can be overwhelming. Here are a few ways to maneuver and negotiate your next few months before staying “stuck” is the only safe place you have.

 

Take Care of Practical Matters

In the aftermath of a serious injury, you have to survive before you can thrive. Before you can regain control of your life, you must make sure your health, your finances, and your mobility are in working order. If you were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, this part of the process includes concluding pending legal action. According to John Page, this process “seeks to protect victims who are harmed by the action or inaction of another person or entity.” Depending on the nature of your injury, restoring mobility may require special tools, equipment, or modifications to vehicles. At the very least, it will involve making adjustments to your lifestyle for some amount of time. There is a frustrating learning curve when re-entering daily life, but keep at it! You’ve got this.

You may also have to start thinking about what structural changes you need both at home or the workplace. Will you need special accommodations at work? This could include software, ergonomic desks or chairs, different equipment or access or even working to get permission to work remote more often. Don’t try to play it cool and minimize these workplace needs. The stronger you get, and the more structural support in place to quicker you go back to working towards getting your professional life back. You will also have to look at your living spaces. What changes will you need from home? This is a good time to go back and start that journal I mentioned in the last Engage post. Several flexible and adaptable journaling/planners work well. Two that I lean towards includes one I use from BestSelf Co. (Hardcover 8. 25 x 5. 5) and the InnerGuide Goal & Life Planner but in the end, you have to look at a bunch to find your best fit.

Remember “journalling” doesn’t have to be written – they can also be audio notes if you find you aren’t able to do the writing. Lots of apps and software exists that will allow you to “write” what you need. Products such as Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking Home 13.0, English or Dragon Professional Individual for Mac 6.0, English for Mac users are two of my preferred ones. The ios app, by Nuance – Dragon Anywhere, while expensive at $15 per month, is pretty handy as well for dictating on the go.

Avoid Isolating From Friends and Family

If your injury has seriously affected you cognitively or emotionally, chances are the last thing you want to deal with is other people. Their well-wishes and get-well-soon can be tiresome and downright infuriating, and then you feel even worse about yourself for losing patience with them. You need to operate by giving yourself plenty of grace and patience, and others as well. During this critical time, you need to proactively build yourself a support system – even if that’s the opposite of what your instincts are telling you. Include in your support system a family member, a friend, an accountability partner, and a coach or mentor. Seriously consider including a mental health professional and physical therapist, if appropriate. For some additional resources visit my post from early November that has some suggestions.

Another good reason to avoid isolation after an injury is the potential issues with pain medications. Many of these prescribed medications are helpful as a way to manage discomfort. “These are also substances that affect the same brain pathway that helps you make reasoned choices from your own will,” psychotherapist and addiction specialist Luke Adams of EmergeATCF.org has noted, “Developing a severe substance use disorder with them—dependence or addiction—is always a concern.” Adams suggests that it can be very helpful to arrange to have people to check in with or be around you to help you negotiate how you use these medications—people you care about and trust. “We are in the midst of a national crisis with opiate and opioid pain medications,” Adams offers that, “and using these medications safely and correctly is crucial.”

 

 Accept that Injury was an experience and is a part of you.

 

An injury may change the way your body appears and functions, it may leave visible or invisible changes to you, a fact that is difficult to deal with. It is normal to wish that you could escape reality or try to ignore some of this new part of who you are. However, the first step in the process of getting your life back is to deeply and truly acknowledge the fact that you have an injury and that the recovery process will not be easy. This is extremely challenging, but it’s fundamental to success. As Jocko Willink says in Extreme Ownership, owning the moment “requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility”. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team.” Even if your injury was legitimately not even a little bit your fault, taking ownership of your situation is the only way to move forward. Once you take ownership, the next crucial shift is to take command of your destiny.

The second step is to recognize that there are things that are out of your control and there are things that also fall within your control. For instance, your injury and the circumstances that led to it may not be in your control but your attitude towards the recovery process is within your control. Therefore making the conscious move to deliberately choose to remain positive and focused towards recovery is within your power to navigate.

 

Diet, exercise and meditate can help you post injury

Your injury may obviously constrain you from doing certain types of activities. However, it is important to ensure that you keep the body (and mind) active with some form of exercise if possible. Of course, it is important to consult your physician to find out which exercises are the most suitable for you. Lots of small steps to movement can equal one large shift later.

It is equally important to get out – get exposed to fresh air and sun, try to get out at least once a day for some much needed Vitamin D. Even if all it means is sitting on your front steps and watching the cars go by. Looking at your eating habits will also be helpful. Eating a healthy diet will give your body the nutrients it needs to recover faster and energize you throughout that process. So those extra calories you used to work off being more active may add up without your making some effort not to move. To stimulate your mind, try  Meditating for at least 15 minutes a day while thinking of the things you are grateful for, however simple, will help you relax and control stress and depression. One of my favorites ios apps for this is called Headspace and serves as a daily trigger for mindfulness.

 

Look for new opportunities

 

When we experience misfortune, it is tempting to feel like our misfortune is a tragedy. It feels like the end of an old way of life. This is especially true of injuries that limit mobility or handicap your favorite physical activities for long periods of time. Jeff Davis defines insight as the ability to see past the obstacle and identify the hidden opportunity. In what ways can your injury be a new beginning? Are there habits you’ve been waiting to start, or stop? Are there talents and skills you’ve been wanting to cultivate? Are there dreams you’ve put on the back burner, waiting for a sign, or for your circumstances to change, or for an engraved invitation from God himself? Maybe it’s time to stop waiting.

Get a Mentor

 

The journey from tragedy to triumph is littered with pitfalls of self-doubt, self-pity, and self-focus. With all this self-ing going on, it’s important to have an outside voice who understands the habits of personal success and can help point you that direction. Let me be that mentor for you. Coming from a place that allows you the space to navigate the changes, yet help keep you grounded in reality is what I can offer. Sometimes the distance from those who know us best, also allows the a person to try on different perceptions for fit as a part of the learning experience.

 

Conclusion

Wellness is not only physical. It is also psychological, spiritual and emotional. If you take care of these other aspects of your life, you will be able to maintain a positive outlook despite your injury, and this will greatly assist in the process of taking back control of your life. Remember, you’ve made it this far and you have the power and strength within you to restore your life.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

Filed in #MentorSFCA, Engage! Post, Resources, Tips & Hints | Tagged: , , , , , ,
          

6 Ways to Make Yourself More Marketable

Posted November 30, 2017 By Frank Strona

Making Yourself More Marketable

Making yourself marketable has never been more critical than in today’s saturated and cutthroat market. For every job position you interview for, there are about a dozen active candidates who come from the same educational level and bear the same skill set and knowledge base. Here are six ways to distinguish yourself from them:

Marketable Tip 1: Be a Team Player

It’s about all the parts coming together as one

Technical proficiency is no longer enough to make it as a professional. Employers also look for recruits who can fit the company’s culture. Practice your social skills, mainly how well you work with others. Showcase to employers that you can be a team player by working on group projects and reaching out to people to either help them or ask for it. Being part of an effective team includes knowing for to share credit and when to step back so that others can shine.

Take-away reminder: Recruiters tell me that this is a place they often see candidates fail. They are so focused on themselves they forget to build into the responses the acknowledgment of how others added or supported successes.

Marketable Tip 2: Be Knowledgeable

From the fundamental concepts to the legal aspects of the job, showing that you are knowledgeable can impress a lot of employers obviously. If needed, talk to an employment attorney to ask about legal matters, such as standards and rights set forth by the state to protect employees. But knowledge is not a flat process, is it part contextual and part application and part process. Be sure to include elements of your responses to include all the aspects. 

Take-away reminder: There is nothing worse than “giving the answers only because you read it somewhere,  without any context on how “it” was applied and the lessons learned from the process.

Marketable Tip 3: Collect Online Courses

While stand-alone online courses such as those host on Edemy.com are still not recognized by some companies as an equivalent to a traditional two and four-year course-specific programs, with accredited training curricula It can still be an excellent credential to add to your resume. Online courses are well-suited for professionals who are working full-time or have other obligations to fulfill and cannot commit to a traditional immersive curriculum. A lot of these programs are usually done at the student’s own pace. Courses are also tailored to specific technologies, skills, or practices. Once you’ve finished a course, make sure to update your resume, then be sure and keep up with what you learned. Check out this article from LearningEvolution.net about alternative online course options beyond Edemy.com.

Take-away reminder: Once you take a course, practice your new skill. Create an online portfolio of projects that illustrate how you take what you learned and created something, or wrote something, etc. For instance, if you take a coding or web-design course; offer to do a small web project for a worthy non-profit. It will be good exposure and gives back to the community.

Marketable Tip 4: Work on Side Projects

This is a side project of mine that looks to create storytelling space around food & family memories for those without a blog source at BiteTheRoad.com

Side projects are especially prevalent if you are applying for a tech-related job, such as a web developer or software engineer, but can still be an applicable technique for other industries, like finance and social engineering. Work on side projects during your downtime, but make sure that it showcases the technologies and concepts you’ve learned and mastered throughout your professional career.

Take-away reminder: Don’t forget to create a portfolio of your projects!Self-promotion is part of the game. It will be even richer if you include clips, quotes or feedback from the clients/hosts.

Marketable Tip 5: Journal Everything

This is my actual journal that I use to plan holiday gatherings.

First get in the habit of taking notes. You can use the standard “Moleskine” notebooks I favor or any that fit your particular lifestyle. You can also use OneNote or EverNote programs (If you tend to use an Ipad – there are many that work great as well as these – these just happen to be my personal favorites), both great integrated tools for keeping track of notes and projects. This also ends up being your first draft of your thought process for later on.

From there, considering starting a blog and include anything and everything related to your profession. This includes hobbies that are relevant to the job position you are applying. Make your journal as detailed as possible. The more in-depth you can discuss your interests and passion, the better your employers can get to know you. This may lead to an invite for an in-person interview. Several tools are available as well as easy to do it yourself training on blog platforms such as WordPress.com and WIX.com.

Take-away reminder: Need help with getting your Blog online? You can connect with me for support or read my two-part post on getting started with Blogging Part 1 and Part 2 or read my post  “Have you blogged that?”.

Marketable Tip 6: Network, Network, Network

This is one of the cards I used to have printed.

Last but not least, don’t underestimate the power of a reliable network. Make sure to have glowing references from previous employers and colleagues. Be sure that you carry some kind of contact card; I have been happy with  VistaPrint, Cafepress, Moo, and PsPrint depending on the need. They all offer low-cost printing options and have special reduced rates you can take advantage of. Look for local and national organizations that share and overlap in your interests. Participate in online forums by making well thought out comments to blog posts. Allow yourself to stand out as a well-spoken and thoughtful person. This isn’t the time to be “right” rather you want to be recognized as “in the know”. Consider submitting for a conference. being part of a panel or workshop gives you a level of expertise and is a great way to shine (it also is something worth noting on the CV, social media profiles).  If you don’t have one – consider how you can create and polish up your LinkedIn.com profile. Aren’t using social media? I can help you get kick started with my Bootcamp program.

Take-away reminder: To get noticed and on the mind of those in the industry- you have to get out from behind your workspace and put yourself out there.

SaveSave

SaveSave

Filed in #MentorSFCA, Engage! Post, Resources | Tagged: , , , , ,
          
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »