Passion, Success and Your Career

Passion, Success and Your Career “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.” -Walt Disney Have you ever found yourself sitting at a table with someone who only talks about themselves excessively and their theories about life and business are juvenile, overly simplistic and shallow? I happened to be sitting next to a friend of a friend at dinner last week who fit this description. He attributed to his success (success is a relative term, people) to being “passionate.” If only it were that simple. This theory does have merit, but it’s far from the entire story. Defining and Directing “Passionate” One of many flaws in the argument is that passionate is too nebulous of a concept to universally have an impact in the real-world. Yes, passion has the dictionary definition of an intense emotion, a compelling enthusiasm or desire for something. But in reality, I personally don’t know anyone who wakes up every day for their job with a compelling enthusiasm. After all, work is work. Some days are good and passion comes naturally. Others are tiring. Moreover, use of the word gives people who are not experienced in their career or who are down on their luck the thought that because they don’t love every day, their chances are zero. You can be passionate about painting, but if you don’t have the resiliency, curiosity, appreciation for what skill and opportunities you have and ability to control your inner monologue, that passion quickly turns into frustration. Therefore, being passionate and successful are mutually exclusive. Passion alone doesn’t put food on the table. Where you direct passion is more important. For instance, if you are passionate about improving your skills, and about acquiring the emotional reasoning to keep your chin up during the downs, then you have a shot at loving your job, because winning is fun. Success itself builds confidence, and is a key passion component. Passion as a Focus Foundation “It takes attention to retrieve the appropriate references from memory, to evaluate the event, and then to choose the right thing to do.” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, “Flow.” Passion fuels resilience and provides you with the ambition to learn and strive to become more competent at what you do. Most importantly than anything else, it affords you the ability to focus. In anything, focus allows you to achieve complex tasks. When you are able to achieve complex tasks, you: Become more indispensable as an employee. Become more respected around the office. Become able to negotiate higher pay for your services. These 3 facets build upon your confidence and overall satisfaction. Not only that, the feeling of success spawns better client and co-worker relationships because you are willing to take chances, speak your mind and both lead others around you and be self-assured enough to follow good leadership. Unfortunately, full attention is not possible when unhappy at work. When unhappy, much of your brain power and ability to focus on the task at hand are diverted by feelings of worry, anger, jealousy, resentment, or an overall sense of inadequacy. All of these kill attention span. Becoming a basketball player without the focus and attention to properly form your jump shot is a much more difficult proposition. In the End Passion means different things to different people, and in success it is far from the whole story. However, for any of us, passion does begin with appreciating what we have in life, doing things for others and understanding that if today isn’t perfect, there is always another one coming tomorrow. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Writing Your Resume Profile - Why You Should Put the Right Information First

Writing Your Resume Profile - Why You Should Put the Right Information FirstWhen writing your resume profile, it is vital that you choose the correct information in the right format. The wrong information can seriously sabotage your chances of getting the job you desire and you may even be overlooked for the opening you are applying for.A successful resume profile will capture the employer's attention immediately. Before writing your resume it is vital that you ensure the appropriate format and content has been recorded in the most appropriate way possible. This process is known as resume writing.If you want to write a resume properly, you need to ensure it has the correct grammar and structure. Grammar is important because grammar rules can make a big difference between an employer's decision to read it and not. If an employer finds it difficult to read your resume, he will never have the chance to see what you can do.You must also ensure that the information you put on your resume is correct. The information you include must be concise and make sure you use the correct spelling. If the grammar and format of your resume are not correct, it will not help you in getting the desired job.Your resume must also make you stand out from the other applicants. The best way to make you stand out is to add some interesting facts about yourself. Adding a little something about yourself will make you appear more appealing to the employer.Writing your resume profile properly requires you to write as if you were addressing a customer. If you can write in a way that resembles the tone of a professional letter, it will make you more acceptable to the employer. You can add your resume details at the end of your letter or during the first paragraph of your resume.Remember that a potential employer will be evaluating you based on your resume. Ensure that the resume you are writing has all the correct information needed by the employer for evaluation. A resume with errors on it wil l just be ignored and will not be read by the employer.If you are applying for an entry level position, you should put your resume details first. You do not need to begin your resume profile until you have taken the time to get to know the employer. In this way you can assure your resume details are correct and will increase your chances of being accepted for the job.

How to Get Over Your Speaking Fears (VIDEO)

How to Get Over Your Speaking Fears (VIDEO) Speaking in front of a crowd is the average persons worst fear.  Many introverts (like me!) would rather do anything else but speak in front of a crowd.  Today I am going to tell you exactly how I have been able to get over my presentation fears and how I prepare for presentations.  I actually have TWO presentations at University of Redlands and University of California, San Diego coming up so  I will be using these tips in the weeks ahead!:) People need to hear what you have to say.  You cant be scared because people will miss out on what you have to say.  The audience is pulling for you so dont be critical and scared of screwing up. They want you to succeed. the audience is SUPPORTING you. Tune in to learn exactly how to get over your speaking fears and prepare for a presentation: Here are a few tips you will learn in the video: Prepare ahead of time:  I write down my presentation beforehand in a word doc.  I do best when I know what I am going to say on each slide. I try to memorize and remember the key points of each slide. Focus on the intro and conclusion: These are the two most important parts of your presentation. The  introduction  sets the stage. If you forget what you are going to say in the intro, you are going to go  downhill  from there. You want engagement from the audience so you can get confidence in the very beginning. In the conclusion, you want to nail home your main points and the most import information from your entire  presentation. Scope  out the room and know where you are going to be speaking:  Get there early.  Visualize yourself giving a GREAT presentation. Engage and involve the audience as much as possible:  Ask questions and make them think.  Then it is more of a conversation and the audiences attention isnt just on you the whole time. Think positive:  Often we think about the negative and how we are going to fail and  what if we screw up. But, you need to get past those fears. Instead think, Yes, I am going to give a great  presentation! When I think about helping people in the audience that is when my fears are gone. If you keep practicing, it will get easier, I promise. It gets less scary. Ask to give a presentation at work, it will show your boss and co-workers so much about your expertise!  Don’t forget to subscribe to my  Youtube Channel  for more career related videos! P.S. VEDA stands for vlogging every day in April!

Classy Career Girls Magazine Round Up January Edition

Classy Career Girls Magazine Round Up January Edition Hi Classy Career Girls! So today I have a confession. I may have received something in the mail offering free magazines and I may have signed up for about ten of them at one time.my biggest piece of advice this morning, dont ever do that!  But, the good news is that I have lots to read and I am enjoying finding things to share with you! So, on that note I am going to put together a little round-up of advice that I find in the magazines delivered to my door every month.  I know we are all trying to simplify our lives so now you can check read magazine off your list because I will deliver all the good details straight to your inbox instead! Here is everything you need to know: Drink coffee! Women who drink 2-3 cups of coffee a day were 15% less likely to develop depression than those who drank 1 cup or less (Health magazine and Archives of Internal medicine) Simplify.  How? Simplify your schedule (turn off the bells, whistles and all alerts), make under your beauty routine (skip the blowout), streamline your goto meals (sip of glass of wine while cookingOK!), edit your news feed (who loves google reader!), lighten your handbag (take everything out and see how much lighter it is) and weed out your closet (toss, donate and try on whats left).  (Health magazine) Dont give up on your goals! How? Eat regular meals, anticipate roadblocks, choose a reward in advance, do the opposite of what you normally do and just chill. (Real Simple magazine) Get Ahead.  Estée Lauders President of North America, Thia Breens top 5 get-ahead rules never judge the customer, be fearless about setting goals, ask for what you want or need, assume you wont have a mentor along the way and do not underestimate the power of punctuality! (Marie Claire magazine) Motivate. 3 things that motivate employees more than money role models, recognition, small rewards and making your ideas theirs. (Inc. magazine) Have you read a good magazine lately?  Next month, let me know what you learned from a magazine and I will feature it here!

Finding the Best Online Resume Writing Services in Brisbane

Finding the Best Online Resume Writing Services in BrisbaneNot all online resume writing services are the same, so make sure you find one that will meet your needs before signing on the dotted line. No matter where you are, or what your resume is about, you will need to think about how a professional can help you achieve your goals and objectives. While it may seem that the costs of finding an online resume writing service are minimal, the truth is there are a lot of things that should be taken into consideration.In Brisbane, there are many employment agencies available. Before you sign up with an agency, you should research their portfolio, which should include work completed by other companies in order to see how they have been received. If you go with an agency that specializes in online resume writing services, they will be able to provide you with links to the many resumes that other agencies have received. This will give you a good idea of how well the agency performed.Before s igning on the dotted line, you should research their experience online and determine if they have any work with the organization that you are looking to hire. You may want to make sure that you get some references from past clients. Not only should you check on their experience, but you also want to check out their credentials, such as their license.The quality of work that an agency will provide you with should be very high, since online resume writing services do not have the time or resources to hire people to work for them. It would be much more costly to pay someone to come in and fill out resumes for you. In order to get the best results, the agencies that provide these services should have excellent communication skills and know how to market themselves.A lot of these services will have people that live in the area, so you will not have to worry about wasting your time or money going to one location and interacting with a person that does not want to talk to you face to face. You can let them do all the talking by emailing them directly or chatting online. Another advantage to hiring online resume writing services in Brisbane is that they are able to ensure that the information on your resume is accurate and reliable.You do not want to waste your time trying to communicate with your current employer, but you also want to be sure that you are getting a high level of service from an agency that you have chosen. Try to avoid agencies that are located in out of town areas, since they are usually cheaper, but they may not offer you the same level of care. You should be sure that you can trust the type of people that you are speaking with on a personal level, as well as through email.You will want to make sure that you can use the services of a professional to ensure that you are giving yourself the best chance possible. This will eliminate the risk of having someone you do not know to apply for your job. You may even consider the possibility of placing a col d call on the first name of the people you will be talking to.It is important to find an agency that will meet your needs before making a decision about where to use them, because no matter where you are, or what your resume is about, they will still need to know. With online resume writing services, you will have a selection of different types of resumes that you can choose from. You can set up your resume on your own computer, at your own pace, with a professional there to assist you.

The Benefits of Using Data Based Resume Writing Applications

The Benefits of Using Data Based Resume Writing ApplicationsIf you have been on the job search for a long time and are still struggling to land that perfect new job, then maybe it's time to think about using Big Data resumes writing software to help you. These applications are based on the idea that you can take large amounts of your existing CV (including all your academic information) and present it as a single document. This means you can fill out your online applications faster and save yourself time and money by combining your existing CV with the information in the application form itself.Not everyone will have the time or the resources to deal with all the resumes that are sent out when someone has a vacancy, but they should at least be able to screen them on their own. By being able to do this, the Human Resources department of a particular company can screen out any bad information and see if you really are suited for the job. If they feel that you are, then they will be mor e likely to hire you.The application forms themselves should be more user-friendly now than ever before. Gone are the days when you had to spend hours filling out forms just to get a response, whereas today, with the advent of the Internet, you can actually fill them in right there and then. You also don't need to worry about paying for any specialised software, because these applications are not different to anything you've ever used before.If you are still not convinced, just think of the amount of information that would be available to a recruiter if they had access to the enormous amount of data that is now available through the use of Big Data. These applications will help you keep your CV current, while at the same time you can give the recruiter's a true representation of your personality and abilities. When this happens, more people will be tempted to apply for that job, which in turn could mean an increase in applicants and even a higher hiring quota.Data is something that is very easy to accumulate over time, so your resume should be able to stand out from the crowd. When you combine it with the information contained in the application form itself, the final product should be incredibly professional and appealing. The final result will be something that stands out from all the other hundreds of candidates applying for the same position.The applications can also make the job seem more attainable. A recruiter wants to be able to tell a potential employer how difficult it would be to hire someone at the moment, and this is where the application becomes an important factor. If you can highlight your skills and experience, then this will not only give you a slight edge over the other candidates, but will also help the employer decide how much effort is required.It's now estimated that there are more than one million job vacancies in the UK alone, which is why it's so important to take advantage of the many tools available. Once the information has been ga thered, the recruiters can then decide if the job posting is right for you. This also gives you the opportunity to build up your online presence so that when the opportunity arises, there's no reason why you shouldn't have your resume ready to go.In short, Big Data resumes writing applications are a great way to increase your chances of landing that dream job. The applications themselves will take the hard work out of submitting your resume, whilst at the same time giving you a better chance of getting a call.

Summary Sunday Defining the New Workplace

Summary Sunday Defining the New Workplace Theres a movement happening you should know about. It can work in your favor- if you design it correctly. The movement includes an increase in freelancing, independent contracting, and demand for flexible work schedules. In other words, the workplace is changing and YOU can have greater control over how and when you spend your time working to better meet your preferences/needs. There are an estimated 53 million freelancers, or  34 percent of the entire workforce. This is growing. You can learn more by reading the research findings on Freelancers Union. 3 Workplace Changes You Need To Know The Death of the 9-to-5: Why Well All Work Flex Schedules Soon  by Alex Levit on The Daily Muse Millenials are driving this change or at least influencing it  because they have they want time to do their own thing and Millenials make up a large chunk of the workforce today.  Millenials want 1)  Work-Family balance  and  2)  Continuing skills education. The other reasons were moving away from 9 to 5 are  3)  Corporate offices are  disappearing  and 4)  Flexible work hours do make employees more productive. Why Were All Becoming Independent Contractors by Robert Reich on Huffington Post Reich  was  Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. He knows a thing or two. Is an Uber driver an employee? If you dont know who Uber is or the answer, you should read his article to learn the fate of  the traditional employee and what that means for you! The Origin of the 8-hour Workday and Why We Need To Rethink It by Leo Widrick on Buffer Blog This post is really about productivity.  But it does explain how the workday was established. Todays work is very different, therefore, its time we push to modify the silly 8-hour workday. Who is productive for all 8 hours anyway? Manage energy not time your energy and focus!  Are the important messages in this article. This all seems to make sense, but you need to put it apply it.  Go read the four recommendations to make this happen for you!

Dear Future Me (the 2012 edition)

Dear Future Me (the 2012 edition) Einstein Wisdom by Honeysuckle Art This is the third year I wrote a Dear Future Me letter. You can read the others here and here, and the idea behind the Dear Future Me letter from the amazeballs woman I stole it from (hi Jess LC!) right here. Like past years, I decided to keep some things private, like financial goals and yada yada yada but this is about 95% of the letter. Honestly, while I love this new Jan 1st tradition, it was tough tough tough for me to write this and tough tough tough for me to even reread it. I know that 2012 will be the hardest year for me yet, but it feels good to think about the good thatll come out of it, and of embracing Care in every way. Without further adieu January 1, 2013 Dear Present Michelle, I know it’s real scary to read this letter. You rang in 2012 with a deep breath, holding back tears and kissing Luke like your life depended on it. It seemed ridiculous ushering in a new year with the knowledge that it will be the hardest year of your life. It’s harder still to make the decision to celebrate it, but celebrate it you did partly out of tradition, partly out of spite, partly to be with others and let your extroverted self stop the moping that seems to happen when you’re in your apartment, thinking poopypants thoughts. I won’t mince words or hold punches: 2012 had big-time, long-term, super-lows. From 12 weeks of chemo to 6 weeks of radiation; to losing your hair and being stuck in bed for days at a time; to your life just being totally disrupted and doctors appointments happening more often than client sessions; to having to cancel your speaking engagements for The Declaration of You, SXSW and Spark; to have to put having a baby on hold it was not in any way, shape, or form easy or joyful or fun. But with all the stupidness, there were some Lessons Learned (you knew there would be!), and lots of good that came out of it. You know I’m gonna go into this now, right? Of course I am. You learned How To Take Good Care of You, from the diet and exercise changes you’ve made (more fruits veggies, only grass-fed meat dairy and only 3 times/week, less boozing it up) to only using natural products to leaving whitespace on your calendar to ensure you have self-care/rest/healing time every day. This was the year of fluidity, of Care, of having to go-with-the-flow more than any other year you can think of. As a Planner and a self-motivated person/business lady, this absolutely goes against the grain of everything you’ve done before. And while you had goals financial ones, business ones, personal ones you couldn’t organize and schedule and break them down as you’re apt to do, just because you knew the best laid plans can’t stick during a time like this. But these were all good things, which led to the Care that you desperately needed and know you want to build your life around in the future. There’s now a gray area that you’ve never really seen before. It really, truly sunk in just how loved and supported you are. My God Woman, I know there are tears in your eyes when you think of everyone who rallied to your side, from the closest of family to the far-away words from strangers. Knowing how many people are there for you when you need itit’s the relationship-building piece that you thrive on, the reason you write/coach/befriend/help others, the Secret of Life for you (if that’s not too dramatic). It makes it all worth it. You know that by sharing your journey armed with Lucille or otherwise was a bridge to build stronger relationships as well as hold a new perspective on dealing with news as devastating as boob cancer at 33. You had lots of people running, walking, and doing other athletically-inclined things in your honor. You even participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in October, heading a team and raising more than $2,000 yourself! It was such a great move to keep you training and motivated to exercise even during your treatment, and crossing that finish line was ranked among one of the best feelings ever. Your marriage is just the strongest thing in the entire freaking world. Whadda man you got there. In a way you know that the boob cancer affected him worse than you, and he was there for you in spades: emotionally, physically and otherwise. Sticking through this proves that you can stick through anything. The next 60 years will be cake, as you both rightly deserve at this point. Business-wise, you learned how to be a coach without having to work with everyone personally and how to make money in a hands-off way without feeling disconnected from the people you’re serving. Your Clubhouse (coming soon!) is a rousing success, bringing in enough money each month to allow you to work on putting out new, desirable content as opposed to focusing on big launches that you find annoying. Your Operations! still fill up whenever you run them, and the one-on-one clients are still on a 4-6 week wait list despite the fact that you raised your rates before 2012 started (and continued to do so throughout the year as you felt comfortable/necessary). 2012 was definitely a book-focused year (Freudian Slip: I just wrote “boob” instead of “book”. It was a boob-focused year as well, that’s for sure). Your proposal  was bought early on, and your book will come out in the next few months! It was such a freakin gift to be paid to work on something you can do on your own time, especially once your treatment started. You also released Operation: Creative Career Cheer! as a Kindle book, which is so so cool to see. Your streams of income actually look pretty different now than they did at this time last year, in the best way possible. Can you believe you met your annual financial goal without having to do 30+ coaching sessions each month?! Well believe it, because it happened. Add that to another Good Thing that came from stupid boob cancer. I feel like more needs to be said, but as of now I only wanna show you The Good Stuff and leave everything else for you to discover as you go. Remember, it’s all about perspective, choice, and care. How you choose to see your situation and respond to it, and how to keep your humor, play, and joy despite it. As your new Bible, Anti-Cancer, says: “In Chinese, the notion of ‘crisis’ is written as a combination of the two characters ‘danger’ and ‘opportunity.’” That’s how you live your life this year. Honestly, it’s not a bad place to be. With Big Love, Future Michelle -