Archive for 2010

Book Review: Creating Careers With Confidence

book cover of Creating Careers with ConfidenceThis book is on my list of all-time favorite career books. It is an important and inspirational self-help career discovery workbook. “Creating Careers with Confidence” by Edward Anthony Colozzi will help you answer the question “What career is right for me?”

Dr. Colozzi walks you through a process that is grounded in career development theory. It is very insightful and lots of fun! His caring, creative, and intuitive style oozes through the page when he encourages you to trust yourself in self-assessment as he simplifies decades of complex career research to make it inspiring and practical.

The most exciting part about doing the exercises in Dr. Colozzi’s book is that you end up with a list of occupations that are a good fit with a thorough understanding of why. Also, you will have a step-by-step guide to occupational research. Even more impressive is that you will have a decision making process at your finger tips as he spends a whole chapter on “key concepts for making successful career-life decisions.”

There is a strong emphasis in this book on career-life roles. This is so important in combination with personal values. Without considering this aspect, all your career plans are more likely to get blown out the window as you enter different life stages. Dr. Colozzi also does a phenomenal job presenting stress tips and exercises which can help enable a higher quality of life.

His personal mission is worth noting as it influences every enthusiastic word he writes in the book, “I have devoted my life to dealing with people’s innate need to discover their callings and to be paid adequately for contributing their gifts in ways that provide meaning and purpose, to achieve more balance across life roles, and to learn how to believe in themselves again.”

The book is available at Amazon.com. You can learn more from Dr. Colozzi’s website CreatingCareersWithConfidence.com and find him on Twitter.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “Creating Careers with Confidence” by Edward Anthony Colozzi. I received no other compensation for this review.

On Ideas

I ran across this post from Seth Godin today which reminded me of one of my old favorites about where great ideas come from.

Long story short, make room for new ideas by controlling your focus and capturing them when they do show up. You capture an idea by journaling it, or sending yourself an email or voicemail, or using your digital recorder. It’s important to capture the ideas so you can refer back when you are ready to develop them further.

Special Report Example

I ran across this post from Hunter Edwards recently. It contains particularly relevant information for people looking to get hired in the accounting field. The reason it caught my eye though, is that it is a fine example of a special report. You could create something similar for your portfolio where you identify a relevant question for your industry, conduct the research, and write it up.

Book Review: Awaken Your CAREERpreneur

Awaken Your CAREERpreneur book coverI received a complimentary copy of “Awaken Your CAREERpreneur” by Alexia Vernon for review and wanted to share it with you because it reflects an idea whose time has come…everyone as CEO of their own career. I received no other compensation for this review.

Alexia Vernon gave us a lesson on personal networking and building your All-Star team in a previous audio post. After reading her book, I must tell you, she has got it going on as a trainer and expert in career development.

In her new book, “Awaken Your CAREERpreneur: A Holistic Road Map to Get from Your Calling to Your Career,” she pulls together a spectacular process to help you to your dream career and she offers spot on coaching insights along the way. Her process goes from creating the vision and overcoming barriers right on through to crossing the finish line. I really like the written exercises she has developed including, to name a few of my favorites: writing a letter from an employer offering your next perfect opportunity, the tolerations list, the first impression questionnaire, and the sticky factor top ten list.

She also organizes a step-by-step plan for interview preparation and personal network building that is top notch. Most importantly, she emphasizes the often forgotten step of attitude and mindset prep work as a daily habit. I just love the fierce concept that she creatively intertwines into the networking chapters too.

I recommend this book and Alexia’s other work. You can find the book on Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. Also see the book website at AwakenYourCAREERpreneur.com.

Tap into Your Power

Video inspired by this narrative written by Barbara Zarrella and reprinted here with permission.

Power
Just saying the word emits force. The emphasis on the first syllable, the way your mouth has to round out to form the word, the way the air pushes the word out into sound.

Power is everywhere. Consider the commercial airliner. Remember the thrust that pushes you into your seat on take-off. Think of how many people are riding with you. This huge craft can be lifted into the air by a single person! That’s power.

Power
Coveted since the beginning of time. Two generals standing in a battlefield posturing. One points to one of his men and requests that he fight and defend though it may mean certain death. That soldier runs brave and mighty to fulfill that task. The other general retreats. That’s power.

Power
Nature at her best. See the dark clouds, smell the cool dampness in the breeze. Take mental inventory of loved ones. Are they home? Safe? Check around the estate. Pick up, put away, tie down, close up. The soft dance of raindrops begin followed by battering hail, then the sound of a train. All of a sudden it is quiet and sunny as if nothing happened. The splinters and broken glass prove the devastation. That’s power.

Power
The miracle of new life. The anticipation of a new human being forming in the womb. Old life is changing forever. So many goals, so many plans, so many decisions, so many surprises. How could such a tiny creature hold our entire soul in its grasp? Nothing can match the power of a child standing with open arms looking at you. A tiny voice says “up”. That’s power.

Career Quotes Movie

Career quotes to boost your confidence. Relax and enjoy!

*** Video Transcript ***
Career Quotes

“Superior men and women trust themselves at a deep level. They are very sensitive to what feels right.” –Brian Tracy

“We move toward a kind of defining presence because, through our passions we are utterly present.” –Greg Levoy

“There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there’s only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.” –Wayne Dyer

“Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation of all abundance.” –Eckhart Tolle

“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” –Julia Child

“Just as the master musician may cause the most beautiful strains of music to flow forth from the strings of a violin, so may you arouse the genius which lies asleep in your brain.” –Napoleon Hill

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement nothing can be done without hope or confidence.” –Helen Keller

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing you will be successful.” –Herman Cain

“A career is born in public, talent in privacy.” –Marilyn Monroe

“Life is a process. Enjoy it.” –Stevie Puckett

“Burnout doesn’t happen when you are working long hours on invigorating activities.” –Marcus Buckingham

“As you become more clear about who you really are, you’ll be better able to decide what is best for you the first time around.” –Oprah Winfrey

“Follow your bliss.” –Joseph Campbell

“And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” –Marianne Williamson

*** End Transcript ***

The Rest Movie

Get your R&R, it’s important. Prescription: watch before turning in for the night.

***Video Transcript***
The Rest Movie, Quotes

“There are two things which will make us happy in this life if we attend to them. The first is never to vex ourselves about what we cannot help; and the second is never to vex ourselves about what we can help.” –Anonymous

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” –Ovid

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” –Sir John Lubbock

“A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.” – Charlotte Brontë

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” –Etty Hillesum

***End Transcript***

Change Your Image

Lori Bumgarner of paNASHstyle.com possesses a combined fifteen years experience in career coaching and image consulting/media coaching. She specializes in the areas of image consulting and interview/media coaching to assist a variety of clients including emerging and established recording artists, music industry professionals, job seekers, and anyone looking to improve their image!


Lori Bumgarner of paNASHstyle.com possesses a combined fifteen years experience in career coaching and image consulting/media coaching. She specializes in the areas of image consulting and interview/media coaching to assist a variety of clients including emerging and established recording artists, music industry professionals, job seekers, and anyone looking to improve their image!

Check out her ebook Advance Your Image. I reviewed it on CareerTipsBlog.com if you want to take a look at that.

In this interview, Lori answers these questions.

  • What difference can you make be being purposeful about your image?
  • How best to get started with creating or managing your image?
  • What is most important to remember managing your image?

How to Get Started Blogging

a blogger with a flag in red, the crowd in whiteIf you are thinking of starting a publicly viewable blog, you have a few important decisions to make. I will sum them up here an add my opinion along the way.

Self-hosted vs Free

Self-hosted requires some money to start. There is a less expensive way and a more expensive way. WordPress.org with one of their recommended hosts will cost around $85/year. A less expensive way is to use Blogger.com and buy a domain name through them for $10/year and it will still be hosted for free.

You’ll need to decide on a domain name too. You can use your name or something clever or catchy. I like to see people use their own name for personal blogging so it becomes a hub and electronic portfolio for their online presence. Choose that route if you intend to maintain a professional presence online with your new blog.

One reason to consider a different name is if you are wanting to build a community around a certain topic. Then you need a keyword in your site name. The free Google Keyword Tool is helpful in that case. For brainstorming self-hosted site names check out NameBoy.com and InstantDomainSearch.com.

Free blogging is available too and takes about 5 minutes to get started. The biggies are Blogger.com or WordPress.com. Both are very good options. I suggest you check both sites, see blogs build with each, and see which appeals to you most. I do think of WordPress.com has having better potential to grow with you but that may be just my personal bias. I have used both platforms though.

Comments or Not?

A blog doesn’t have to have comments turned on. Many people love having comments though because the feedback or interaction is important to them.

I usually do not take comments on my blogs mainly because I have no interest in moderating them, but also I like to encourage people to set up their own blog. There are a few reasons I think it is good for people to have their own blog.

  1. It helps you develop your online presence and personal brand.
  2. It encourages learning about online technology.
  3. You don’t need permission to say what you would like to say (many blog owners moderate the comments that come in deciding who gets through and who doesn’t).
  4. It helps you practice creating –which doesn’t only have to be done through writing…for example, you can have a blog of photos, you can have vlog (video blog), or you could have a audio blog (aka podcast).

The Rest of the Story

Even after you decide on the these initial choices there are still other decisions to make like deciding on the look of your blog and how to organize information. As you post to your blog, you’ll start developing your personal style which will happen as the process rolls along. Then you will need to decide on a posting schedule and topics to write about. There is a learning curve whatever route you choose but consider starting a blog to be the beginning of an adventure!

I began posting just once a month a few years ago on this blog and I can definitely recommend it as a low stress way to begin. If you want to start even smaller though, you can do microblogging with Twitter, Tumblr, or Posterous which are all easy and free.

Positive Thinking Tips

little cartoon guy with a big magnifying glassI have learned a lot over the past few months from Ester Hicks.

First and foremost is to care enough about myself to control my focus. I feel so good so fast by being aware and tweaking this one aspect about my thinking. What I do is imagine how I will feel when I have what I want and choose to feel that now. I get jazzed about all the experiences I want to have and what I want to create and I go with that feeling as long as I can.

Another huge change for me is clearly understanding that I cannot control what someone else is thinking or experiencing…and I don’t want to. What I want is to leave them to their creation and focus on mine. The freedom and heightened energy I have from this release is astounding.

I have also appreciated the idea of wellness as a natural state of being. I remind myself periodically throughout the day to relax, allow, and enjoy.

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