Tag Archives: Minneapolis career coach
March 30, 2016 Hope is Powerful
What are your deepest hopes? Where do you ideally see yourself in your career and personal life? What’s holding you back?
Hopes can be big and ambitious–you may hope to change your career, make a difference in the world, or overcome a fundamental personality challenge (such as low self-confidence). Or, hopes can be modest. Perhaps you simply hope to appreciate others more fully or use your creativity more often.
No matter how lofty or humble your hopes may be, they are POWERFUL and WORTH PURSING.
Recognize that your hopes are important and take the time to reflect and consider them. Make a list of your hopes (no matter how small!) and figure out which ones are most urgent–the ones you’d like to pursue first.
Keep in mind: hopes are only the beginning. They are the catalysts that spur you to act. Use them to light your fire!
How can you turn hopes into reality? One of the ways to hold yourself accountable for pursuing your hopes is to share them. Meet with a trusted confidant and tell her about your hopes and what you’d like to achieve. Let her know that you’re serious about bringing your hopes to life and that you’d like her help as an accountability partner. Check in regularly.
Need help articulating your hopes? Or, do you need guidance with developing a plan to achieve your hopes and goals? Feel free to contact me today and let’s get started!
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: career coach Margaret Smith, goal setting, hope is powerful, hopes as a catalyst, Minneapolis career coach, overcome fear with hope, turn hopes and dreams into reality, twin cities, use your hopes
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- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Changing Your Life, Goals, Thrive at Work
March 23, 2016 The Worst 4-Letter Word
It’s the thing that holds you back. It stifles growth, discourages you from trying new things, and forces you to stay in a rut, even when you know things should change. It’s the worst 4-letter word of all: FEAR.
Fear is a debilitating force. It pulls you out of the present and into the unknown territory of the future. Don’t waste your time worrying about what might happen. Instead, focus on the present. Look internally and ask yourself some tough questions:
- How is fear limiting my hopes and dreams? What would I like to accomplish, but am afraid to attempt?
- Why am I afraid? What’s holding me back from speaking up, making a change, or attempting something new?
- How can I minimize fear and shift my focus to determination and action?
Acknowledging your fear is the first step to taming it. Confront your obstacles and have confidence that you can and will overcome them.
How can you brush aside your fear and start taking action?
Start small. Do one thing that scares you today–whether that’s talking to a stranger in the grocery line, presenting an idea to a co-worker or boss, or enrolling in a class at your local gym, library, or community center.
Then, as your confidence grows, grow your ambitions. Make an action plan and start mapping out how you’ll follow-through with your goals. Remember to set deadlines for yourself and find an accountability partner (click here for more on effective goal-setting).
REMEMBER: You owe it to yourself to face your fears and work at overcoming them. If you don’t, you’ll never stretch yourself or try new things. You’ll forever wonder, “What if…” Don’t let fear lay claim on your life! Start confronting it today.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: advice from a career coach, career coach Margaret Smith, confront fear, fear is a 4 letter word, live your dreams, make an action plan, Minneapolis career coach, overcome fear
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- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Changing Your Life, Thrive at Work
February 10, 2016 Go Ahead! Apply for a Position that Doesn’t Exist
Image courtesy of Pixabay
Have you ever considered sending your resume to a company that wasn’t hiring? Or applying for a position that didn’t have any current openings? It may sound crazy, or even like a waste of time, but applying for your dream position—whether it exists or not—shows courage that other job-seekers don’t have. When taking the initiative to send an unsolicited resume, you convey the message that you’re not just looking for a job and a paycheck, but rather a career with a company that excites and interests you. If you take this plunge, here are a few things to know…
Use the Element of Surprise to Your Advantage
Your email to the company’s HR department or recruiter should explain why you’re contacting them, what you know about the company, and how you would fit into their current operation. Research the company and learn about their strengths and potential challenges they face. Show them how your skills and experience could remedy, or even prevent, future issues. For those reviewing resumes, seeing something like this can be a refreshing and welcomed surprise, and that can create a lasting impression.
Don’t Hold Your Breath, But Do Cross Your Fingers
When you invest your time and energy into submitting an unsolicited resume, know that you may not receive a response right away, if at all. Don’t take it personally. If the company has current job openings that you aren’t applying for, recruiters or hiring committees must fill those positions first. Follow up a few weeks later, but don’t be too discouraged if nothing comes of it.
When you submit your resume, send it to a real person, not just the generic catch-all email for the company. Don’t be afraid to drop off or mail a copy of your resume, too. Call their office to follow up. Since it’s so easy to email your resume without much thought, you can distinguish yourself by putting your face or voice to the name they see.
Think of This as an Investment in Your Future
When a job opening does occur, that recruiter may have a spark of recognition when they see your name among the other applicants. Better yet, he or she may contact you to let you know that a position is opening up. Perhaps you may be considered to take on some freelance work or they may contact you down the line for a job your talents are more aligned with.
In the end, putting your name out there and trying to make new connections is not going to hurt.
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: apply for job that doesn't exist, apply for nonexistent position, career coach Margaret Smith, connect with HR, contact HR, Minneapolis career coach, risk taking in the job hunt, send in your resume
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