Category Archives: Thrive at Work
January 6, 2016 Finding Your “Wow” Factor
It’s winter. This is the time of year when many of us wish we could morph into a bear and hibernate for a few months. Instead, I propose we use this time to reflect on the past year and consider any changes we might like to make in the future. What is one of the most common desires? A career change.
This move can seem daunting and risky, but the risk can be worth it. Being stuck in a career that doesn’t let you shine is more detrimental to your personal well being than trying something new. It can dim your light and leave you feeling more like that sleepy bear. It doesn’t have to be a complete career overhaul; it can be small steps such as taking on a new project more aligned with your interests.
How to get started? By finding your niche, that “wow” factor that allows you to shine brightly.
Listen to your heart; what did you love to do as a child, when the world seemed full of endless possibilities? Discovering your true self is where you should focus your attention first. Do a personal inventory of your passions and skills and see if you can turn any of those into a rewarding career.
To truly move forward in your endeavors, take note of anything holding you back. Are you anxious about finding people who can help you on your journey? Are you nervous about your lack of experience? Start a journal to get these fears out of your head. To create balance, make a list of the positives, such as more satisfying work, better health or less stress.
Once you have weighed the pros and cons, take action! Researching career possibilities is important, but you will learn more by putting yourself out there. Try to enjoy the process and reach outside of your comfort zone. This will open up more opportunities to ignite your niche.
Don’t hibernate your true passions. Being your authentic self will help you stand out above the rest and lead to a successful career and life!
Check out my blog post next week to learn how to market your niche.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: authenticity, career coach Margaret Smith, create a wow factor, don't hibernate, finding your wow factor, follow your passions, shine, take career to next level
December 30, 2015 How to Make a Resolution That You’ll ACTUALLY Keep
It happens to all of us, doesn’t it? We start out the new year with the best of intentions: “I’m going to exercise and eat better!” “I’m going to get more sleep!” “I’m going to learn another language!” But by week 3 or 4, we start to lose steam. Then, February hits and the resolutions of the month before begin to fade. By mid-February, most people have given up their resolutions and carry on as normal…
It doesn’t have to be that way! You CAN keep your resolutions; you CAN make permanent life changes this coming year. How? Here are four steps to set you up for success, but ultimately it all boils down to you. Do you want to succeed? Do you want to make a long-term difference? Then you can, and you will. Let’s get started…
1. Don’t bite off more than you can chew
You might have lofty goals (and I’d certainly like you to achieve them!), but it is crucial to be realistic. Don’t resolve to go to the gym every day, only eat fruits and vegetables, and cut out television entirely if you don’t think those goals are sustainable. Don’t aim to go “all out” for a month, and then crash back into your old habits. It’s much better to work towards something (i.e. start by going to the gym twice a week, and then increase your attendance as the year goes on) then to plunge in and back out again.
2. Break your goal into twelve parts
A year may seem like a long time, but a month goes by in the blink of an eye. If you have a substantial goal for the new year, break your goal into smaller pieces so that you feel a sense of accomplishment each month. For instance, if you’d like to write a book this year, make a plan like this:
January: Complete book outline and attend one writing class
February: Write chapter one; attend one writing class
March: Write chapter two
ETC.
Don’t forget to reward yourself in some small way after you achieve your monthly goal!
3. Hold yourself accountable
There are a few ways to check in on your goal progress. One effective method that I’ve used is to enlist the help of an “accountability partner.” This is a person who will check in on you every once in a while and make sure you’re on track. This could be a close friend, your mother, a co-worker, etc.–someone who isn’t afraid to keep you on the ball. In turn, you can offer to be their accountability partner.
If you’re a more private person and would prefer to tackle your resolution solo, consider setting up a series of notifications in your Google calendar, iCalendar, or whatever program you prefer. Create an event that says something like, “Have you completed X this week? Keep going!” and set a notification to remind you of the “event.” These regular check-ins will help keep your resolution top-of-mind. Just be sure they aren’t so frequent that you’ll simply delete them without a second glance.
4. Make your game plan
Really, this should be step number one, but I’m closing the list with this one so that it’s the first thing you do when you finish reading this post. MAKE A GAME PLAN. Don’t go into the new year with a vague resolution and no idea how you’ll achieve it. Take the time to sit and reflect about your goal. Ask yourself why you want to make a positive change in your life and then ask yourself how you are going to make that change. The how is important. This is where all the action comes into play. How will you reach your goal this year? What steps will you take? How will you accomplish those steps. Only by really thinking about the logistics of your resolution will you be able to achieve it successfully. By crafting a game plan (and posting it somewhere that you can see if every day), you’ll start to turn a vague wish into a reality.
Start today! The new year is coming up and I’d love for you to dive into it with confidence, knowing that you have the tools to achieve great things this year.
If you’d like additional help creating a road map for this year, please give me a call anytime and we can discuss your strategy.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: accountability partner, career coach Minneapolis, keep your new years resolution, make your new years plan, margaret smith career coach, new years resolutions 2016, resolution strategy, tips for keeping your resolution, UXL
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- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Changing Your Life, Thrive at Work
December 16, 2015 Little Affirmations: 10 Ways to Brighten Your Life Every Day
If you are constantly exposed to negative comments or pessimistic outlooks, that will begin to eat away at you over time. The same is true (in the opposite sense) with affirmations. If you surround yourself with daily affirmations and positive perspectives, you’ll be more likely to see the sunny side of life. How do you fill your life with light and optimism? Here are 10 quick ideas:
ONE:
Change your passwords on all your devices to something positive and uplifting (this is a trick that tennis great Serena Williams uses)
TWO:
Follow Twitter feeds that give you daily positive messages (like @Life_Affirming or @affirmationlove)
THREE:
Put a sign with a positive message over your work desk
FOUR:
Tape a fun affirmation to your mirror (i.e. “Hey good lookin’!” or “My, what a beautiful soul you have!”)
FIVE:
Read a book with a positive message. Check out Louise Griffith’s book, You Are Worth It.
SIX:
Follow an “Inspirational Quotes” board on Pinterest
SEVEN:
Write in a gratitude journal. If you’d like some guidance with getting started, take a look at this post on gratitude.
EIGHT:
Practice confronting your negative self-talk. When a pessimistic thought pops into your head, acknowledge it and firmly tell it to go away. Replace that negative thought with a positive one.
NINE:
Lift up others. A sunny attitude is contagious–when you empower and affirm those around you, that positivity will circle back to you.
TEN:
Wake up with a smile! Set your alarm to play your favorite song and see how it energizes your morning.
BONUS: Surround yourself with uplifting friends. If you find that someone is constantly dragging you down, it may be time to distance yourself from that individual.
Have fun with these little, daily affirmations! Change your attitude; change your life.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: 10 ways to brighten your life every day, affirm your life, banish negativity, career affirmation, career coach Margaret Smith, career optimism, little affirmations, make your life shine, optimism, Personal Growth, positive messages, positivity
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