Considering a Career Change-Should You Stay in Your Current Job?

By: Catherine Trebble

When it comes to considering a change in jobs or careers, there is nothing wrong with staying where you are, as there are many reasons that a job or career change might not be right for you, at least not right now.

There are many outside factors that can cause you to have to stay where you are right now, even if you are unhappy. One reason could be the timing. It could be that you need to get your finances in order first, you need the medical benefits your current job provides and you can't afford to risk losing those benefits for whatever reason, or perhaps you just need more time to get other aspects of your life in order before you think about making a change.

If you have felt unhappy with your job, it could be that you figured out it is due to something or someone in particular and not what you do for a living. Perhaps you feel you are just bored and would like to take on more responsibility. Maybe you have determined that you need more education so that you can transfer into a higher position within the company you are in.

If you have decided you want to work on getting a certain issue resolved instead of leaving your current job, a written plan of action can help motivate you to take the necessary action. If you work for a company, it is very likely that with some discussion with your supervisor or upper management, you can eliminate or minimize the source of your unhappiness. As you will see from the following chapter, a written plan can be beneficial to you no matter what changes you want to make in job or life.

If you find yourself wanting to stay where you are but know you need to make some changes, take the time to brainstorm the various options available to you. This will help you to know how to approach whatever issue it is that needs changing and create a plan of action.

But what if you aren't happy with your job but have to stay where you are for now? Even in a situation such as this, there are still certain steps you can take to make things better for yourself. Although there are many things that you feel are out of your control, we can control our own behavior. So if there is something about your job that you can't fix, look to yourself and see if there is a way you can adjust your own feelings or reactions so that you don't feel your usual negative feelings. Sometimes we can make ourselves feel a whole lot better with just a simple attitude adjustment.

It is also important to give your best. Just because you are unhappy with your current job doesn't mean you should slack off and act like a miserable employee. Instead, take time to think about what you could do better. How can you improve? The simple act of doing your best and applying yourself to everything you do can be very uplifting-really!

When you know you have done a great job at something and are giving your all, it will create a sense of pride within yourself and help you to feel better about yourself. Focusing on what you can do better will also help keep you from thinking about the things you are not happy about at your job.

And of course there's nothing to stop you from continuing to make plans for the future. Just because you have to stay in your current job for now doesn't mean you can't plan to leave at some later time. Creating an exit plan for later on down the line when the timing is better for you will not only keep you motivated and give you something to look forward to, it will keep your mind busy and give you something more positive to think about. It will also give you something to do, even if it's just typing up your plan and creating goals that you will carry out at a later date.

Job, Jobs, Career , Employment

Career Change For Over 40's

By: Catherine Trebble

Getting back into the workforce or changing careers after the age of 40 can be tricky, especially in this economy, but there is a great deal you can do to improve your chances.

As populations in the developed world are growing older and many countries are experiencing a crisis in the pension system, we are facing the prospect of having to work past the usual retirement age. Yet, at the same time, older people are not always welcomed back into the work force. Many also have difficulty finding a new job if they have an unbroken track record and are simply looking for a change in career after the age of 40.

There are a number of steps you can take to maximize your chances of getting a job, despite the negative views regarding age on the part of some employers.

When writing your CV or résumé, be sure to target it for the job in question. You can do this by highlighting all the skills and experience which are needed for the job and then proving that you have got them.

It is not necessary to put personal information on your résumé - in many countries it is illegal to ask about age so don't feel you have to volunteer your age on your résumé. You should either leave out your date of birth completely or put it at the end. Do not mention your marital status or the number of children you have or their ages. This is not relevant to the job!

The fact that you are older means that you have valuable experience in many areas and you need to make good use of this in your application. Don't worry if you are returning to work after bringing up children - soft skills, such as communication, time management and the ability to meet deadlines are crucial in the workplace today and all of those will be skills you have developed in the intervening years. So take a good look at all the skills you have acquired both at work and in other areas of life and make a list. You'll be surprised to see how many you have and how many of them are transferable.

If you find your particular career favors youth, consider the possibility of self-employment. Could you use your existing skills as a freelancer? If your computer skills aren't up to date, get your kids to teach you or find out about local classes, which are sometimes free. If there have been changes in your particular industry, look into refresher courses.

Many people make the mistake of assuming that they will get job satisfaction in one place, but this is the exception rather than the rule. So make a list of all the skills you'd like to use (or learn) at work and a list of the tasks which give you job satisfaction. Then consider the possibility of becoming a portfolio worker, that is, someone who has more than one occupation. You might, for example, work as a freelancer in your existing career for two or three days a week and set up a small business doing something completely different during the rest of the week. Or you might write about, teach or run workshops in one of the skills you have developed.

This doesn't have to be work-related - it could be a hobby you've been interested in for years, it could be a hobby you're passionate about. Look at everything you've done in your life so far and you'll find that there are several areas in which you are an expert.

If you are prepared to look beyond the conventional 9-5 job, you will find that there are many opportunities open to you, regardless of your age.

Job, Jobs, Career , Employment

Your Career Change Plan-Staying Motivated

By: Catherine Trebble

Motivation is very important when it comes to pursuing your goals and fulfilling your dreams. This is especially true when it comes to pursuing a new career.

One great way to stay motivated is to set up a reward system for yourself. Rewards are fun and give you something to work towards. When it comes to setting up a reward system, here are a couple of suggestions:

At the end of each week, if you completed your entire task list, reward yourself for staying on track and following through with your plan. My weekly reward is a massage at a beauty salon near where I live. I LOVE that massage, I really feel I've earned it and the very thought of it inspires me as I work through my to-do list each week.

But massage may not be your thing. So work out what your thing is. It can be something as simple as treating yourself to a special dessert, or having a guilt-free soak in the tub with scented candles.

Reward yourself whenever you accomplish a milestone towards your goal. Because these milestones are crucial to achieving your overall mission, go for something a bit more elaborate than your task list reward.

You may have to stash a little money away per week to save up for this one. My milestone reward of choice is a new pair of shoes. Shallow? Oh yes, but they make me feel so happy-and rewarded. Plan for whatever your "shoes" are. Go shopping at the mall for a new outfit, or take an afternoon off and visit with a friend. Accomplishing an entire goal is a big deal-you deserve something nice!

Just like the last example I gave here, not every reward needs to involve money. Sometimes time to yourself can be far more precious. If funds are tight, use your creativity to think up some fun and exciting rewards that are inexpensive or don't cost a penny. The important part of setting up a reward system is to treat yourself to something special for your hard work. You deserve it and you are worth it!

Another way to help keep yourself motivated is to post some of your favorite inspirational messages and quotes in various places. You can post them around your work area, on the bathroom mirror, on the fridge, next to your bed, and even on the sun visor of your car. Post them wherever your own personal space is. These motivational statements will come in very handy during times when you feel you are running out of steam or having a down day. We all have them.

From my own experience at creating written plans for myself and setting up goals, one of the most motivating factors for me was following through with my plan and keeping track of my progress. Each time I got to check off a task or larger goal as being completed, I felt proud and wanted to accomplish more. So stick to your plan and continue to take action-the sense of accomplishment itself will do wonders for your motivation!

Job, Jobs, career

Reputational Risks in Your Organization - Part 8

By: Peg Jackson

Relations with the Community

Organizations need to live and work harmoniously in their communities. Today's business and community environments can also contain individuals or groups that have their own political agenda which may not include living harmoniously with your organization. The actions of people and groups who might politically target your organization could also damage your brand and image.


Private sector firms such as Chiron and university researchers such as those at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz have been targets of animal rights and/or environmental activists who often break the law. These groups are some of the more extreme elements within a community, but honest, lower-key, non-violent political discord can also damage your organization's reputation.


Maintaining the organization's reputation as a good citizen can often center on simply maintaining good relationships with customers and the community at large. Strategies for effective public and media relations can be established in consultation with the organization's public relations advisor. This trusted advisor is essential in identifying those areas of your organization's relationship with the community that could trigger a reputational crisis.


Community relations checklist

• Location of your organization's offices, buildings, garages and/or manufacturing sites.
• Has your organization been the target of any community protest or complaints? If so, describe the nature of the complaints and/or protests.
• Actions that your organization's public relations department could recommend to improve the quality of the community relationships.
• Suggestions for the creation of a Community Relations Committee, task agenda and membership.

Some common problem areas include:

The organization does not handle complaints from customers and neighbors effectively.

The way in which an organization treats customers and neighbors establishes its reputation in the community. If customers and neighbors know that the only way they can get the attention of the organization is to have the media investigate, then that is precisely what will happen whenever there is a complaint. If you recognize your organization in this statement, you need to take action now!


The organization does not cultivate media relations.

If your organization does not have an ongoing positive relationship with the local media outlets, then, in the event of an emergency or crisis, your designated spokesperson will not have the advantage of working with reporters and media outlets that are familiar with the organization. Your public relations advisor can help you to establish this important set of relationships.


What are other issues that have either caused problems in the past or are causing problems now?

• Has the organization been targeted by community/environmental activists?
• Have these attacks created negative or adverse publicity?
• If this has not happened to your organization, has it happened to other companies in your industry?

Recognizing and identifying the issues behind community animosity is essential to doing what is necessary to maintain a positive reputation as an organization. Sometimes dealing with community issues takes the skill of a public relations expert. If your organization is having these problems without satisfactory resolution, your organization should add a public relations professional to your team of trusted advisors.

Job, Jobs, career

Developing Successful Leadership Practices

By: Riley Jones

Successful leadership practices and professional business management skills are proficiencies that develop over time. Actually, some people are born leaders, however there are certain areas which will be targeted on to develop leadership skills.

Mahatma Gandhi once said "If I have the idea that I can do it, I can surely acquire the capability to try and do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning".

Sensible leadership starts with a solid and clearly defined leadership philosophy. Why? As a result of your personal leadership philosophy defines a collection of beliefs that verify how you react to folks and situations.

Jim Collins and Jerry Porras describe the key parts of a leadership philosophy in their book Designed to Last. At the core of a leadership philosophy they place a group of beliefs or ideologies. It's necessary to define these for yourself to perceive your leadership philosophy. The three belief systems Collins and Porras define are what you think concerning individuals, what you believe concerning life and what you believe makes teams and organisations effective. These systems are expressed in your values and ultimately shape how you behave and your leadership style.

Martin Glenn is a leadership skilled and complete guru with demonstrable expertise and expertise. He and his team took Walkers Snack Foods from a relatively small regional operation to the most well-known supermarket brand within the UK in simply 5 years. By 2005, Walkers occupied forty five% of the ?2-billion salty snacks industry in the UK. Nowadays as the CEO of PepsiCo UK (the parent company of Walkers), Glenn has been tasked with making Pepsi a household name within the UK.

Martin Glenn has had wonderful teams behind him that have aided in his success. And while quality of product, branding marketing and distribution are the hallmarks of Walkers crisps' success - his account of this turnaround reveals many valuable lessons regarding successful business leadership practices, and his personal leadership philosophies.

In an eBook entitiled Successful Leadership in Apply, Glenn distils the various leadership lessons he's learned along the way. These embrace recommendation regarding managing teams and creativity, when to relinquishing, an uncompromising commitment to quality and excellence and engagement with every employee.

Martin Glenn provides some clear lessons in successful leadership practices. As an example, he says that in addition to having a clear leadership philosophy - it's also vital to know your business inside and out. A slip-up several folks in management positions create is just viewing the globe from their desks. Solely counting on data could be a huge mistake - and it's advisable to get out into the field yourself to work out what is really going on. Whereas you are out there, create time to speak to people. This is often one manner to elicit info from them that will give ways in which to improve or innovate.

He goes on to say that great business leadership strategies ought to not only keep individuals motivated, however conjointly ensure that the business stays contemporary and keeps moving forward. This does not mean that you must change for change's sake - this could be fatal to a brand that has been established over time. However, when marketing a product keep things additional-ordinary. This will guarantee that folks do not stop talking concerning your product or business.

Another lesson is that taking time to engage with each employee is very important to excellence in leadership. It is a well-established reality that deeper relationships and open internal communication channels with workers make every member of an organization not solely feel a lot of valued and empowered, however additionally motivated to try and do their job better and to create selections that are in the most effective interest of the organization.

Finally, and this could be a shocker - it's not all about profit! In Martin Glenn's example with Walkers crisps, yes, the profits doubled in five years however this was not the initial objective. This was simply a natural results of the means things developed as a result of of Glenn's specialize in doing his job properly and a specialize in growth.

Definitely taking these lessons in successful leadership practices on board will solely improve your leadership skills, enabling you to encourage teams and take your business to new heights in the data that you have a solid foundation on that to build.

Job, Jobs, career

10 Ways to be More Productive in Your Home Business

Working from home is a dream come true for most. Thoughts of simpler times and easier work - life balance, conference calls in your pajamas and uninterrupted focus on your work. Well, think again. Before you know it the lines between work and life begin to get blurred as you start to be pulled in multiple directions and are faced with choices such as "should I put in a load of laundry before I start this proposal", or "Should I plan dinner before inputting my business expenses". These are real world examples of what happens in home based businesses and before you know it, there are unforeseen distractions, lack of balanced time and sometimes, a lost identity since many relate who they are with want they do. But don't give up just yet; here are 10 tips to keep you on track and to be more productive in your home business.

1. Declare a specific work space

Maintain a separate and dedicated workspace that you can use when you are in "work mode". This is a place that you condition yourself that when you are in, you are to be 100% focused on work activities.

2.Set a work schedule

Make sure to structure your day so you are not pulled in different directions. Try to schedule your day and isolate a specific work schedule that works for you and your lifestyle. If you want to go to the gym everyday for an 11 o'clock yoga class, then work that into your schedule. Perhaps your workday starts at noon. One of the benefits of working from home is that you get to set your own schedule, just make sure you set a firm schedule and keep to it.

3.Outsource what you can

Streamline your business and outsource what you can. Hire a virtual assistant who can handle the administrative tasks which will allow you to focus on building your business. If you try to do everything yourself, you will soon realize that you are working long hours.

4.Stay focused

When you are at your workspace, stay focused. Make sure other members of the household know that you are in the "zone" and that you are not to be interrupted. Keep all of your personal stuff away from your workspace and stay 100% committed to getting your work done for the day.

5.Beware of the "needy" people

When people hear you are working from home, they often envision that you are lying around on the couch eating snacks and will begin to ask favors of you since they are stuck in their office. Don't fall into the trap of the needy people. During your work hours, you are working and be firm when your friends ask you to check on their pets, or wait for the cable guy or run errands for them. Treat your business as though you also have a job and set those boundaries up in the beginning.

6.Break for people

One of the benefits of working in an office is that you are around people. Don't isolate yourself from others. Take moments to join your friends for lunch or participate in classes. Surround yourself with others when you can so you can stay motivated, connected and engaged.

7.Group errands and tasks

Try to minimize your "out of office" time but grouping your errands together. Rather than a bunch of in and out of the house, set out to complete all of your errands in one complete swoop. This way, you will manage your time better.

8.Use technology

Be sure to use technology in your business. This will give the impression that you are bigger than you are and cut down expenses. Nowadays, you can have virtual meetings, send documents electronically and collaborate with others in an online environment. Just remember to have separate lines for yourself and your business.

9.Manage your administrative time

Checking emails, social media, returning phone calls, putting together reports and checking blackberry can be time wasters. Be sure to manage your time. Select three times a day that you check email s and that is the only time you check them. If you fall victim to checking emails as soon as they come in, before you know it, the day is gone.

10.Set your own pace to your own moods

This is your dream. Be sure to live it. Create a business that works for you and what you want just be sure to treat it as a business and stay focused and disciplined.

Employment, Careers, career

Do You Have the Courage of an Entrepreneur?

By: Sue Painter

Years ago, I heard the statement "the fastest way to personal growth is to open your own business." Thirteen years after opening my first business, I can promise that statement is true. Like many people who are self-employed, I came out of the corporate world, where I was used to having support staff, creative people around me to bounce ideas off of, and the big bosses over me to handle the heat. I also had janitorial staff to clean the office and technical support staff to handle an errant computer.

When I left all that to open my own business, I soon discovered that my support staff, creative people, big bosses, janitorial staff and technical staff was the person I saw when I stared into my mirror. My business was brand new and very small, one room in an office building. I had to handle everything, whether I was "trained" to handle it or not. I had to discover what I did well, what I enjoyed the most, what I hated to do, when I could afford to hire help, and what help I needed to hire first. I had to stretch and grow quickly.

Fortunately, because I had solid experience in growing a business, the Touch Therapy Center built itself quickly. Within the year, I could hire help for cleaning and laundry service. Next came a bookkeeper. Now, 13 years later, I manage the business while other staff do most of the therapeutic massage, I'm in a medical office building with multiple treatment rooms, and I have a practice manager to handle the front desk, errands, and most administrative tasks.

What I want to point out is the rocky path of personal growth it takes to get from year one to year thirteen, turning a profit the whole way. Here are some of the things I had to learn or consider.

• Watch my operating costs and bottom line - I had to remain profitable even if I was spending more money on getting help with cleaning, laundry service, and so forth. Watching my weekly financial statements was critical, or I could have worked myself crazy and not made a dime.

• Know myself well enough to figure out what I liked to do and was good at versus what I am not so good at and am not fond of doing. One of these in the massage business is laundry. I didn't enjoy dragging home loads of sheets and spending my evenings sorting, washing, drying, and folding them. And I wasn't particularly great at it, either. On the other hand, I'm very practiced and skillful at attracting clients. I didn't need or want to pay anyone to handle marketing for me, other than getting help with a design for my business card. It was easy for me and saved me money to develop my own brochures and press releases.

• I had to find out about my willingness to take risk and how to handle the good and bad that came from that risk. Should I move into larger office space and increase my rent? If so, how much more business would I need to generate to remain at my same level of profit? Could I get larger space, spend more money, and at the same time make even more money? Could I negotiate new lease terms that were favorable to me?

Before long, I had a very busy practice and was ready to hire other staff. Now, I could draw on my past experience as an Executive Director and use my past hiring skills. This time, if I made a bad decision, it was mind and mine alone to deal with, for better or for worse. After about 8 years, I had to make a decision about opening my second business, The Confident Marketer. Other entrepreneurs had been asking me for several years how I'd built my business, how I knew what to do when, and how I got profitable. I found that I absolutely loved helping other self-employed people be successful. So, about 5 years ago, The Confident Marketer was born. And with it, a whole new level of personal growth and challenge was necessary. It's one reason I keep myself always working with top coaches who can help me face up to the personal growth and new business skills I need to keep my business successful and innovative.

The point to my story is that it takes courage to be an entrepreneur. You have to be willing to find out what you don't know, get help with those things you don't do well, and become expert at a few things that are yours and yours alone. You have to be willing to step up to intimately knowing and watching your financial statements (something I find many new entrepreneurs don't want to do). You have to make decisions using both the facts and figures AND your gut feelings -- your intuitive skills. And when there is a problem, you have to be willing to meet it and work it through, taking time to consider whether and how much it affects your customer service and your bottom line. All this takes a great deal of courage and a willingness to grow both personally and professionally.

A great business takes three things - a solid business plan, a creative and well-thought-out marketing plan, and a willingness to engage in personal growth. Behind those three vital things is courage. Step right up, and see how quickly your business becomes unstoppable!

Employment, Careers, career