Discovery

"He who never made a mistake never made a discovery."  ~Samuel Smile

What have you discovered about yourself lately?

Steve Sanduski & Ron Carson Book Review: "Avalanche" (2007) Favorite Lines

"I had no fellowship community, no group of friends I could lean on and turn to during tough times. I was absorbed with work, obsessed with money, and distant from her and our two kids. My formula for a successful like developed a greedy crack, and it split my relationship with Sandra and the kids."

"Perhaps the American dream is not something you own. It's something you are."

"What is your life purpose? Think about what really burns inside of you. What can you do that uses all your skills, interests, talents? What do you feel like you were put on this earth to do?"

"I came up with a few affirmations that I wrote down and posted above my desk:
1.) I put my family first and they bring great joy into my life.
2.) The price of progress is the pain of change, and I am willing to endure the pain.
3.) Each day, I find happiness in doing something nice for someone who can never repay me.
4.) I learn as though I'll live forever, and I'll live as though I'll die tomorrow."

"I wondered why Sandra put up with me. I had definitely taken more from her than I had given in return. Her love really drove home the meaning of the words 'Til death do us part."

"Finish these lines:
Be a living example of ...
Stick to ...
Be driven by ...
Be accountable through ...
Cherish your ...
Value your ...
Wisely use your ...
Find ways to ...
Be open to ..."

"True Wealth is what money can't buy and death can't take away. So, here's what I've learned:
1.) Be a living example of the transformational power of love.
2.) Stick to your core values.
3.) Be driven by your purpose. Find the intersection of what you love to do and where you can make a difference, and you will find your purpose.
4.) Be accountable to your goals. They stretch us to think bigger and try harder.
5.) Cherish your relationships. Nothing in life is more enriching than having those close, genuine relationships with those you love. Relationships are not easy. They require attention, commitment, and a sincere desire to be close to another human being.
6.) Value your health.
7.) Wisely use your financial resources.
8.) Find ways to be compassionate with the world. St. Francis said, 'Where you see despair, bring hope; where you see darkness, bring light; where you see sadness, bring joy.'
9.) Be open to wise counselors.

What can you commit to changing? How can you make the world a better place? 

Applying for a Job? Don't Forget These 8 Steps

You need tips that are better than 'don't make any spelling errors.' As a young professional, you want your future boss to know that you would make the perfect addition to his/her team.

Here are seven steps to make sure your resume goes to the top of the stack and your interview makes an impression:

1.) Your resume should only be one page. Only someone with 20+ years of experience should have a resume more than one page. Decrease the font size, add a second column to split a long list of bullet points, change the margins to 0.5" rather than 1". Don't delete your references because they don't fit.

2.) Speaking of references, always ask your references for permission before you list them. It's a courtesy to prepare your reference for a phone call they might receive about you. If an employer is serious about hiring you, don't make them work harder by writing 'Reference Available Upon Request.' They don't have time to email you back for a list of your references. List them. And ask permission first. You're one step closer to the job you want by making it as easy as possible for your future boss.

3.) Explain what you did at your past positions. Instead of just listing 'Worked at a restaurant,' tell them the skills you learned while you were there. What set you apart from the person working beside you? List details like 'Met and exceeded goals by 20% every month,' 'As shift manager, counted the till and prepared deposit,' 'Kept database of inventory as requested by manager,' or 'Took customer service training to answer phones and attend front desk.' List any communication skills, leadership skills, team-building skills and time-management skills that make you look valuable.

4.) Instead of listing past jobs in chronological order, list them in order of relevance. Just because you mowed lawns as your first job, doesn't mean you should list that first. Employers scan a resume for 20 seconds to a minute, so you want your most relevant job to be the first thing they read.

5.) When listing scholarships you've earned or positions you've held in extra-curricular activities, don't bury the most important parts in your resume. You have 20 seconds before you lose their interest, so instead of listing your activities like this: September 2004-May 2008, Advertising Club, list it like this: President, Advertising Club, Led 20 members to a district competition award, 2004-2008

6.) Design your resume for the job you're applying for. If you're hoping to get a job at a bank, modify your resume so it's tailored for the position. If you're applying for a graphic design position, you have permission to break some of the rules. Be creative. You're designing an ad for yourself.

7.) Be honest but positive when answering the questions about your three weaknesses in an interview. Don't sound rehearsed, but practice explaining your answers. Don't get caught off guard by not anticipating a few standard questions. When answering about your three weaknesses, be honest, but polished. Instead of answering, "I suck at presentations," be ready with an answer like this: "I would like get better at public speaking. I've looked into joining a Toastmasters group." The interviewers can spot a "fake weakness" from a mile away, so be honest and be positive.

8.) Have questions ready for the interview. You want to be interesting AND interested. Ask questions about the company, about how your interviewer got his/her position, about if you'll be working in a team or individually, and about anything that piqued your interest during the interview.

by Renee Halgerson

Smart Presentations: Logic vs. Emotion

What would it take if your goal was that nobody looked at their watch—or Blackberry—during your entire presentation? Audiences have a short attention span. You can’t waste their time. They’re always thinking ‘what’s in it for me?’. Admit it...you get restless during a rambling, vague speech too.

Here are some tips from John Windsor (Manage Smarter, July 10, 2009) for using EMOTION rather than LOGIC for better interactions:

You’re using logic if you:
• Say “We’re the industry leader”
• Have a slide detailing your company’s background
• Use a list of features and benefits
• Take two minutes to say what could be expressed in 20 seconds
• Include product or service names in your title slide

You’re tapping emotion if you:
• Say “Here’s why this matters”
• Have a slide detailing their issues and objectives
• Drill into what they can achieve
• Engage them in a conversation—not a dissertation
• Use pictures instead of text

Click here to read the entire article.

What can you do to make your presentations more engaging?

How to Give a Lousy Presentation

As a member of Toastmasters, I’ve seen some exceptional presentations. They leave you wanting more. 

Having a new sense of what goes into a captivating speech (or discussions in general), I find myself noticing the ‘ums’ and restarts, and disconnected thoughts in others’ speech. They’re distracting. So distracting that the habitual mistakes are making them an ineffective communicator.

Click here to read Carmine Gallo of Business Week giving “15 Ways to Give a Lousy Presentation.”

How are you challenging yourself to be a better speaker?

Advice for Young Professionals (#3 in a Series)

Advice. Her top 10 list:

1. Go the extra mile: Always give more than what is expected. 
2. Take risks: Try new things and don't be afraid of failure. 
3. Share your vision: Others will help you accomplish it and hold you accountable. 
4. Surround yourself with good people: Don't be afraid to hire people smarter than yourself. 
5. Communicate effectively and frequently: Poor communication is the root of most problems. 
6. Show empathy: Get to know your team and walk in their shoes. 
7. Give back to your community: You will always get back more than you give and may learn some new skills you can use at work or with your family. 
8. Exercise regularly: You will have more energy, be more successful, and be healthier. 
9. Never stop learning: Expose yourself to learning opportunities each day such as networking, reading, attending seminars, job shadowing, etc. 
10. Love what you do: Find a way to get paid for what you love to do and 'live the dream.'

~Tammy Miller, CEO and Board Chair, Border States Electric
Prairie Business Magazine, 2009

Advice for Young Professionals (#2 in a Series)

 

"There are many great opportunities in the world so don't sell yourself short. Gather a team of confidants that will give you honest feedback to be successful and to achieve your goals personally and professionally. Take a holistic view of yourself; you need to take care of your physical and mental presence in order to be all you can be."

 ~Cathy Clark, Community Bank President, Wells Fargo Bank
Prairie Business Magazine, 2009

Advice for Young Professionals (#1 in a Series)

"I believe in two principles that have carried me throughout my career that I would like to share with any young leader. Focus on your job, own it, work it, and be accountable to the people you serve and you will go farther than you can imagine. It's the old adage, the more you give the more you'll receive. If you spend more time worrying about your title, your salary, or your status your work will suffer and you're not being fair to your organization, your colleagues, co-workers, and those who rely on you for leadership. Second, as a leader it is critical to listen to others. Listen with the willingness to be influenced, and do as you say you'll do and you'll go far."

 ~ Becky Nelson, Senior Vice President, COO, Sanford Health
Prairie Business Magazine, 2009