Get a Shot - Not a Virus

Winter approaches. Flu viruses are headed your way. GO GET A FLU SHOT NOW! No, a flu shot cannot protect you from every flu virus nor the brand new strains - some of which are killers - but what it can do is reduce the severity or duration of your symptoms if you DO get struck by a flu virus this winter.

If getting a flu shot gives you a fighting chance this winter, get one. With our extensive international contacts, we know that the bird flu isn't the ONLY virus causing folks a great deal of suffering this year (in those parts of the world where flu viruses are still running rampant), and we in the northern hemisphere have the prospect of facing these viruses this winter!

If you're a business owner, it may even be in your best interests to subsidize the cost of flu shots for your employees... if you value their productivity that is!

'nuff said! Go do as you're told!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

What Type of Fear is It?

For some people, some experiences, especially new experiences, produce fear in them. Fear of the unknown is not uncommon and explains why so many people prefer to stay where they are rather than explore opportunities.

Let's talk about two different kinds of fear: one is an exciting type of fear, and another is a more negative type of fear.

The exciting type of fear is the sort of fear you feel as you are about to parachute out of an airplane. (If you are reading this and the thought of parachuting terrifies you, substitute this with an experience that you would find fun, yet maybe a little scary, too. Maybe riding a roller-coaster will do it?)

The more negative type of fear is similar to how you feel when, for example, you are headed to your dental appointment for a procedure that worries you - like a root canal! (Funny how so many people can relate to that - so many comparisons are made to root canals!)

So next time you face a new experience, determine what type of fear it is that you are feeling. Decide whether it is justified. (Entering a lion's den at feeding time, with no protection would be a justified fear - watching the lion feed from behind the safety fence would not.)

Know that you CAN handle either type of fear, but it is your RESPONSE that will determine your success. Is yours the exhilarating fear of a parachute jump or a trip to the Dentist? Your goal is to have the exciting fears outnumber the negative fear experiences. When you face a new experience or challenge, a little fear-analysis can go a long way!

BUNGEEEEE!!!!!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

TIME WASTERS!

The last blog got me thinking... it's not always that we don't have enough time in our days to achieve everything... it's more that we don't have enough time in our days to achieve the things we WANT to do! By the time we've done the things we feel obligated to do, sometimes there is no time left over for us. Ever felt that way?

Despair not, dear blog reader! All you need to do is adjust your priorities and reevaluate your expectations. A little bit of reorganization and deleting hidden time-wasting elements from our days can free up more than enough time for the things we WANT to do. Truly!

So, where do you start on this project? Here are some tips...

1. Have a jolly good clean-out! Get rid of the junk and clutter - whether it be too many ornaments that take hours to dust, or a mountain of paperwork, most of which doesn't have to be kept but you haven't gotten around to sorting through it yet. The idea is to clear your space - it will help you feel better and the energy around you will feel freer.


2. Do you have a system in place for your important information? Many people are more organized in their office than they are at home! Get a second hand filing cabinet and start filing! Knowing exactly where to find an important document quickly will save you hours of searching and stressing.


3. Prioritize and schedule your day - but be flexible. Allow for unexpected events, visitors, mishaps, illness or just can't be bothered moments. At the end of the day, any of this unused extra time is all YOURS. If you have to, shut your door and take the phone off the hook so you can work uninterrupted.


4. Stop putting things off. If a task is so unpalatable that you keep finding excuses not to start it, just DO it! Get it out of the way and you'll feel a whole lot better when you don't have it hanging over you like a dark cloud.

Of course, time management issues may not be the only thing holding you back and messing up your days, but you won't know for sure what your time waster culprits are until you examine your days.

Hey, I have a good idea! Why not hire a coach to help you! You can find one here: http://www.coachinginstruction.com/findacoach.htm

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

DO YOU CONTROL YOUR LIFE OR DOES IT CONTROL YOU?

Do you feel caught in a perpetual tug-o-war between the needs of your family and the demands of your work? If so, you've got a lot of company. Balance has become the Holy Grail in the new world of work.

What is balance? Let's begin by talking about what balance is not. Balance is not about squeezing as much as possible into every second of every day. Balance is not about double booking your schedule or worshipping a ten page "To Do" list. Balance is not about being a slave to email. No, balance is about savoring life. Balance is about listening to your favorite music or eating lunch in the sunshine on a beautiful day. Balance is about making choices that allow you to be YOU in the best way possible.

Achieving balance begins with tossing out time management tools. Realize that time management tools are just that -- tools. Not "laws". They are only effective when used in the right situation. Would you use a tape measure to plug a leaky pipe? Probably not. Too many of us have blindly embraced a generic "one-size-fits-all" time management lifestyle in our quest to squeeze more things into our lives. But do you really want to do MORE things...or do you want to do MORE MEANINGFUL things?

Go for balance by building your life around what is truly important to you.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Avoiding Work From Home Scams and Pitfalls

Work from Home: a veritable cornucopia of self-employment opportunities exists, and for the unwary and unprepared, an equal number of pitfalls exist. There is so much hype about going solo, and there are also get-rich-quick schemes, pyramid schemes, scams, get-paid-to-surf or take surveys etc. to be avoided.

Don't quit your day job without doing your homework. Before considering any drastic moves, realize that it is going to require hard work and commitment. There is no such thing as easy money. Plan properly in the first place. Accept that you are going to make mistakes - nobody is perfect and nobody knows everything there is to know up front. Be prepared to learn from your mistakes and move forward. Don't expect instant results, instant fame, or instant fortune. There is nothing instant about starting your own business.

This means making sure you have money to fall back on during the lean or quiet times and having enough to start up with in the first place. If in doubt, get financial advice first - see a financial planner who can help you get things right from the beginning. Set goals and make sure they are realistic. Keep your focus on your goals and maintain a positive, "can do" attitude. When you have done your research and settled on a business, make sure you know the regulations governing your home based business. Do you need any approvals? A business license? Do you need a special permit to work out of your home? Check with your local authorities. Do you need to inform the IRS of your change in circumstances? Do you need to register your business?

Do some market research - is there a market for your product/service? Will it be profitable for you? What about the competition? How do you plan to stack up against the competition? Can you compete? How are your skill levels and knowledge or work-experience? Do you know enough to start your own business and be successful? Your skills and abilities will also determine what type of business would be most suitable for you. Doing something you love is the ideal, because you are more likely to work harder but still enjoy yourself so it doesn't really seem like work.

Do you really have what it takes to be self-employed? Are you the entrepreneurial type? Do you enjoy risk taking? Does it bother you that you don't know how much money you will have month to month? Do you realize that self-employed people often have a more difficult time trying to arrange bank finance? Remember you will also have to cover your own healthcare costs. And you will be working alone. Some people go stir-crazy just thinking about working alone!

Finally, are you self-motivated? Can you make yourself stay in your home office and work even though the sun is shining and there's a great movie on TV you haven't seen? Remember, you will be your own Boss now and your own employee. Various, independent surveys have found that the skills most lacking in new self-employed businesses involve sales, marketing, financial management, and record keeping (book-keeping). How will you cover these things? Can you afford to pay somebody else to look after these? Do you know enough about these areas to handle them yourself, or are you prepared to learn?

Perhaps the most important assets are self-confidence and ambition. Without these, you may be doomed from the start, but with them, you will be able to overcome your obstacles, climb your mountains, and enjoy the view from the top!

Until next week... have a good one!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

WHERE'S THE FUN IN GROWING UP?

We could be adult about this and present our thoughts and ideas in a logical and mature fashion, but where would be the fun in that? If you want a serious and sensible read to remind you how grown up you are or should be, check out the local library. But if you are here now, let's have FUN.

As "mature" adults, we tend to forget how to have fun. We put rules around it. Why should we have fun? Well, let me ask you, why shouldn't we have fun? When we reach a certain age is having fun illegal? Doing "child-like" things doesn't make us childish or children. How can it? What is the worst that can happen if this winter, you go outside with your children or grandchildren and make snow angels?

We're not suggesting you should start throwing tantrums, but we are saying fun doesn't stop just because you become an adult and take on solemn responsibilities. Why shouldn't CEO's run around in their backyard throwing Frisbees, and why shouldn't adult guests in your car wave to people out the back window, and why shouldn't we all do the things we loved to do when we were kids, if it makes us feel happy and alive inside and puts a smile on our faces? Perhaps we think it is childish? And somehow, that tag, when you're an adult, becomes an insult.

I want you to think about that this week... right now I'm off to a tea-party!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

When You're Not Good Enough - Part 3 (Final)

When you are feeling "down", this is when you are most likely to remember "down" experiences, which just makes you feel even more down. When you feel down, force yourself to remember happy events and successes - this will influence your brain and help lift your mood and self-esteem.

When you are engaging in self-talk - watch what you say. Most people say things to themselves that they'd never say to somebody else. To a friend we might say, "it's not that bad, don't worry about it." To ourselves, we're likely to say "You great @#*&#! - why can't you do anything right!" If you wouldn't say it to somebody else, don't say it to yourself.

Realize that self-confident people also have bouts of self-doubt... they just don't talk about it or advertise it. By pretending they're not, it helps them overcome it.

Failure isn't permanent unless you decide to let it be. But not everything you do has to work out... nobody is that perfect!

It's good manners to be obliging but it isn't a law. You don't have to please everyone all the time. You have a right to please yourself. If you weren't as important as everyone else on the planet, then you wouldn't be here.

You don't have to change to suit other people. Don't try to be somebody you are not. The whole world doesn't have to like you, and that's okay. For every person who doesn't like you, there is another one who does like you - for who you are.

Use positive affirmations. Start each day by saying them, and end each day saying them before you go to sleep.

Some food for thought...

"While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior." - Henry C. Link

"Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality." - Les Brown

"If you think you're a second-class citizen, you are." - Ted Turner

"Nobody holds a good opinion of a man who has a low opinion of himself." - Anthony Trollope

And if you're reading this blog, you can't be all bad! (smile)

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Next time you face a problem, try reversing the problem. Say you are hosting a seminar and need to increase sponsorship. Sit down and make a list of all the ways you know how to DECREASE sponsorship. Or say you need to increase productivity in your department... make a list of all the ways you know to DECREASE productivity. The answers to your problems will be found in your lists. You can find problems you may not have been aware of before, and identifying them makes it easier to fix them!

Often, the real problem is masked. When discussing problems, try stating the problem in different ways, and ask for differing viewpoints. Explaining the problem to others out loud helps clarify it. Sometimes exploring what you DON'T want to happen can be just as useful as exploring what you DO want to happen!

Sometimes it is a matter of asking the right questions when we want the answer to problems. Sometimes we need to ask "What if..." questions. This is where your imagination comes in handy. Brainstorm!

Study how others have handled similar problems. Adapt their "answers" to meet your needs, or add their solutions to your list of possible remedies!

Don't settle for the first solution offered. You may find you end up with several possible solutions and one of them will be better than the rest.

Keep notes of your possible solutions - they may come in handy for future brainstorming sessions when discussing new problems.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

The Mexican Fisherman

The investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The Banker complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, only a little while.

The Banker then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The banker then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."

The banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the banker replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then?"

The banker laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions... Then what?"

The banker said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

When You're Not Good Enough - Part 2

"I'm too self-conscious"
Think about a time when you were really having a great time and enjoying yourself, or when you achieved something special... I bet you weren't thinking about yourself then... you were too engrossed in the situation or moment. When you start to think about yourself and you feel your esteem slipping, turn your focus to something else - concentrate on the task at hand or whatever you are doing... and if your "self" continues to invade your thoughts, just keep repeating "This is okay, I'm okay", and refocus on something else.

"That was just good luck"
Was it? Or was it something more? When something works out well for you, don't just write it off as 'good luck'... realize that in most cases we create our own 'good luck' situations, so you must have done something to have earned the success. Start to take credit for your successes - pat yourself on the back and say, "Well done, self!"

"I just can't be bothered..."
Why not? If you are so lacking in confidence that it's got to this stage, start doing things you know you are good at - and it can be anything! Doing something you know you are good at, and doing it well because of that, is a surefire way of boosting your self-esteem. Do things you are good at often - keep your self-esteem up and it will make a difference when the times comes for you to do something new or different. Maybe you are good at cooking, or writing, or dancing, or arts... it doesn't have to be something serious.

"I'm too uptight"
Try meditation, exercise, Tai Chi, or relaxation tapes. It's hard to think straight when we're stressed or uptight and anxious. Relaxing helps you to get things back into perspective and think clearly.

"I'm never right"
Really? Never? You'd best contact the Guinness Book of Records then. Make a list of the times when you were right, and remember, nobody is right all the time... in fact, there are people who are wrong many times, but they don't let that stop them or their enthusiasm for life. You are allowed to be wrong... none of us are perfect and nobody is right all the time.

Stay tuned for Part 3 next week...

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

"Get a Life"

When one of my Assistant's daughters was just 6 years old, she said something that reminded us about the simple wisdom of children. One day, having an in-depth discussion about life, spirituality, goals, etc., when my assistant asked her daughter what she thought was the most important thing about being alive, she replied:

"Having a life."

And therein lies a lesson for all of us!

Here is what is not important about being alive...

1. Have the biggest house on the street
   
2. Driving the most expensive car
   
3. Owning more shoes than your friends
   
4. Earning more money than your rival
   
5. Being bigger, better, and more important than everyone else
   
6. Wearing designer label clothes
   
7. Looking like a Barbie Doll or a skinny model from Vogue

There's more but I'm sure you get the picture.

Now, here is what IS important about being alive...

1. Having a roof over your head - a place to call home, however humble.
   
2. Having transport whether it's public or a run-down old heap that saves you from having to walk long distances in appalling weather!
   
3. Having feet upon which to wear shoes and being able to walk on them!
   
4. Earning any kind of income that enables you to feed and clothe yourself and your family and living in a country where the Government will help you out if you're really down.
   
5. Knowing and feeling the connection and that you are part of everything there is... you are connected to the richest man in your city and the poorest... we are all part of the whole - we all belong here.
   
6. Having any kind of clothing on your back and not having to wear rags or beg for loin cloths!


7. Being healthy and being loved - regardless of what we look like. You know you're really loved when you're poor, you look like the bottom of a shoe, you live in a car and none of that matters to the people loving you! (The plastic-surgically enhanced Barbies and Kens of the world don't have this guarantee... and if you don't have their hang ups, consider yourself very lucky.)

So, be thankful for your feet, your eyes, your nose, your ears, your hands - everything. Then look around this beautiful world and appreciate the trees, the flowers, the sunsets, the birdsong, walks along the beach... take it all in... it's special, it's free and it's what having a life is all about!

Until next week...

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Trust and Commitment

As I contemplated on this theme of self-confidence, two qualities came up that go along with it and they are: Trust and Commitment. Having self-confidence is a reflection of our viewpoint in regards to how much we value ourselves, trust in our inner voices, and stay committed to this agreement we make with ourselves.

In our youth we are taught certain correct behaviors that are acceptable to society. Even though I acknowledge that in many ways this is an important part of maturing, being successful at these behaviors can also encourage us to slip into a performance based behavior rather than being authentic and true to ourselves.

I call this the strategic self - acting in whatever strategy is needed in order to bring about the result one wants. Think about a time when you were using anger to control a situation, pouting to show your unhappiness, alluring to be attractive, or yelling to get something accomplished. These "selves" are not your true self - which comes from working from the heart - they are learned behaviors, strategies so to speak. These are the selves created by the mind and also the ones in which we build our self-esteem around, mainly because they are so familiar to us (habits).

So, how does one shift from the mind to the heart? How does one build their self-confidence based on values, on love? It starts with commitment to focus on who you are rather than on what you do. Think about your gifts and strengths - parts of you that come from the heart. When we judge ourselves by what we do, what we wear, what our income level is, what car we drive, what house we live in, we are putting our trust in mind created, external realities. And does this bring joy?

Sometimes, but it's not long lasting because it's always in the state of change. Our looks change, our income changes, our friends and family come and go and we struggle to find balance. However, when we focus on being grateful for our sense of humor, our ability to forgive, our love for all of nature, whatever, this act of trusting opens our hearts and everything becomes effortless.

What do we get when we commit to focus on "being" rather than on "doing"? I have found I am more relaxed, peaceful, more playful and more confident. In short, I become empowered which gives me the strength to move forward, improve my life and have a constant flow of inner joy. So, be grateful for who you are, trust your heart to guide you and stay committed to make this awareness a top priority moment to moment. The feeling of overall well-being will be worth it.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com/

So, You're Not "Good Enough", eh?

Or maybe you are saying you're not pretty enough, handsome enough, smart enough, rich enough...?

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." And truer words were never spoken!

Not discounting those who may have been born with a predisposition to feelings of inadequacy, the majority of people who suffer poor self-esteem are the result of conditioning. Perhaps their parents or teachers were overly critical, and said things like, "You'll never amount to anything!" or "Is that the best you can do?!" or compared them unfavorably to brothers and sisters.

An inferiority complex goes hand in hand with lack of self-confidence and can be the difference between getting a great job or promotion or living a life of mediocrity. Here are some tips for handling and dealing with the different ways low self-esteem affects us and our lives.

"I'm not good enough"

Really? Can you prove that? Is this why you don't go for those great jobs or promotions or any of your dreams? If you aren't "good enough" in terms of skills or education, go and get the skills and education you need for the job or promotion you want. It's never too late - as the growing number of adult education centers bears testimony to.

Try to be realistic... are you really not good enough, or is this just something you've heard and have been repeating to yourself for so long that you can't even remember how it started? Take a look at your track record - list all your achievements, big and small - you'll find your plenty "good enough" after all! (Hey, now I'm a poet!)

You can always be "good enough" at work by simply being and doing the best you can. Arrive on time; don't take "sickies" unless you really are sick; be helpful and cooperative to others; learn your own job so well that you're an expert at it; don't loaf; don't dawdle back to work after lunch; make every effort to get along with your boss and fellow workers - display a cheerful, cooperative disposition. If you are stressed, learn how to handle it - there are books, tapes, websites, and experts who can help you identify and conquer the stress in your life.

If you are already doing these things, then you ARE good enough. If you aren't, you can start now and if you find some habits hard to change, just pretend, and soon you will have developed the newer, successful habit and will no longer have to pretend.

Next week, I'll tell you about some other ways in which we feel not good enough and how to conquer them.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF FAILURE

Failed recently? Or felt like a failure? You know, failing isn't the "bad guy". Sure, at the time it might not feel so wonderful, but there are benefits to be gained from failing that you can't get from success! Failing gets such bad press and I think it's time we reviewed that. Let's start by looking on the bright side:

• Failure strengthens us, making us more resilient and much harder to knock down next time.


• We really know what we're made of when the going gets tough or the chips are down. Failure gives us a chance to prove that to ourselves and the world!


• Our failures actually teach us what we need to do to succeed, because in failing, at the very least we know what DOESN'T work!


• It keeps us humble - nobody likes a big-head!


• Failure eventually leads to success... if you don't give up! It's a motivating challenge! Think of failure as a stepping stone. It is NOT permanent.


• We appreciate our successes all that much more after a failure or two and don't take the process for granted!

Next time you experience a failure, think of it as a right of passage and congratulate yourself on your progress! If you're failing, it just means you haven't quite got "it" right yet, but at least you're giving it a go and sooner or later you're going to land the big one!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Singing the "I ain't got no respect, so I can’t give you any either..." blues

This comes back to taking pride in yourself and in the job that you do. One of the biggest complaints from customers these days is the lack of customer service. You can get noticed (for all the right reasons) by providing excellent customer service. But don't just think customers are those external people who buy your company's products or services... your customers are also your fellow workers within the company to whom you provide services and information. In this context, your own manager is one of your customers. The people in the sales department are your customers. The people in the Accounts department are your customers. Treat all your customers with respect and give them excellent service.

If you're singing the "my boss doesn't care, the sales department doesn't follow up on leads and the accounts people are lax with the paperwork" blues... rise above them. Be the better person. Stand out in the crowd of blues singers and provide them all with excellent customer service. Sooner or later, people will start talking about you - in positive, bright tones! Your new attitude may even start to rub off on them! You will enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done... and of course, your fellow blues-singing workmates may still be singing the blues because there is no satisfaction in doing mediocre work... there is no sense of pride in a job poorly done.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

STILL SINGIN' THE BLUES...

This week it's the "I can't get no satisfaction..." blues.

Whilst we'd all like to believe Companies have become places of enlightenment, who finally realize their greatest asset is their employees, and providing them with fulfilling and satisfying career opportunities is on top of their agenda, sadly, this is not the case.

If you are in a situation where perhaps you cannot easily find a new job and temporarily, for financial reasons or whatever, must stay put, realize that every job has the possibility of providing you with the satisfaction you seek, and as it is YOUR life and YOUR job, it is YOUR responsibility to put "oomph" into it!

First, take pride in what you do. All jobs are important, otherwise they would not exist... therefore, what you do IS important.

Be very clear about what you expect from your job. List what you do like and what you don't like about your current job. Put on your thinking cap... can you do anything about the tasks you don't like to make them more acceptable to you?

Consider discussing your role with your manager. How can he or she help you brighten up your position so you get more enjoyment from it. If your manager doesn't know you are unhappy, he won't know you need help. It may be possible to incorporate a new and more interesting task to your job, something you'll look forward to doing. Or maybe you can re-work an existing task schedule to make it more interesting. Now, we're not saying every Company will embrace this, but you won't know, if you don’t give it a go!

You do have to take responsibility for your own job satisfaction.

Articles abound in various publications which indicate a rise in the numbers of people who are dissatisfied with their work or their career. Of course, many of these dissatisfied blues singers are going back to school to learn new careers, or jumping onto the self-employed, entrepreneurial bandwagon. Companies are becoming more aware of the need to provide satisfying employment and are willing to find ways to provide this... but sometimes you have to be the instigator and perseverance pays off.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Singing the "My job ain't goin' nowhere and I'm goin' with it..." blues

This comes back to your vision for your work. What do you want from your job? Do you WANT to climb a ladder with that company? Is your job something just to provide a pay packet? Do you have any aspirations? Are you prepared to re-train, even going back to night school, if necessary, to gain the appropriate qualifications to enable career advancement?

What are you prepared to do? Do you know what options exist for advancement? Have you discussed this with your Manager or with an appropriate H.R. member? Maybe you want to "advance" sideways into a different department?

Find out what your options are and if the company is prepared to assist you and train you to meet your goals. You won't know if you don't ask. By asking, you make them aware of your presence. When something which might be suitable for you comes up within the Company, you will then have the opportunity of trying out for it - but if you say nothing, and nobody knows of your aspirations, well, you'll just stay where you are, singing the burn out blues...

You don't have to settle for anything, but something better is not just going to be handed to you on a plate... that's like sitting near the phone just in case you get a call. You may never get a call and sitting there isn't going to make that phone ring by itself!

If you're that miserable, do something about it. Look for a new position in your company, or look for a new job. If you can afford it, hire a Career Coach! Alternatively, if your options really are limited, for whatever reason, get yourself a hobby. Create a terrific life outside of work. Life is too short to waste it being miserable!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Singing The "My Job Sucks and so do you..." Blues

If you or somebody you know at work hates their job and everyone they work with, realize that it is up to the individual to make a difference.

Make an effort to create respectful and friendly relationships with those you work with. Share smiles and be helpful. Share lunch. Creating meaningful relationships and enjoying the people you work with can sometimes make up for a less than satisfying job. Think about it... you go to an office every day to mingle with friends... what's not to like about that scenario?

In some organizations people don't care about creating meaningful work relationships, are unfriendly, and lack compassion. Some are outright arrogant and rude. The thing is, does this arrogance and rudeness give them job satisfaction and a zest for their work?

Why do you suppose they are such miserable blues singers? You don't have to join their ranks. If they are miserable, don't take it personally - that is their problem. Continue to be friendly to everyone. Even if you work with 100 miserable, unfriendly blues singers, the law of averages will ensure that at least one of them will recognize your shining light and want to be your friend. One friend is better than no friends at all. If you continue to be a bright and happy soul, your cheeriness will rub off eventually...

Keep the lines of communication open, smile, share kind and positive words, and give compliments, and even the grumpiest blues singer will look forward to your company!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

DON'T BE RUDE WHEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR FAVORS!

I've been too nice lately... think it's time I got on my soap box and stirred things up a little. Are you listening to me?

I don't know about you, but seems to me people are becoming ruder and forgetting their manners in business. I think the internet may have a lot to do with it. In the "old days", before email, we wouldn't dream of "speaking" the way some people do today in their email correspondence.

Gone are the Dear... salutations, and some people don't even remember to say thank you! Whatever happened to "please"? Sentences have become clipped, tones sound almost hostile... when we write old-fashioned letters we don't write that way. What makes people think it is okay to do it in an email, I wonder...?

If you are after favors from somebody, remember your manners. If you want to get anywhere in life you do have to be courteous.

Recently, I have been approached asking if I'd offer a free bonus for somebody's upcoming book promotion. That's fine. I don't mind doing that. What I do mind is the asker telling me that it must be an expensive bonus valued at $X or more! Hang on... they're asking me to give them a freebie - and they're telling me how valuable it must be?

And if you think that's "interesting", you'll enjoy this... another promotion for yet another author, yes I gave a bonus and yes I even annoyed my newsletter list by sending it to them mid-week... obviously nobody was interested because nobody bought... the author emailed demanding to know when we'd sent it, what it looked like, how many were on our list and why didn't anybody buy it! This person was cross with us! Hello?

I don't know what to say! Just remember this - if you want something from me or anybody else - please, remember your manners!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

What NOT to do at a Network Function...

When I say a Network Function, this can be a meeting of your local Chamber of Commerce, a Church meeting group, or any situation where you have an opportunity to meet people and drum up business. Of course, it also includes those events that are business oriented and you are expected to "network" professionally. Naturally, you want to give the very best impression of yourself and your business and you want to be prepared to succinctly and eloquently introduce yourself. You'll want to have your professional business cards handy to exchange. If you've read previous articles of mine about networking you already have a good idea of what you should do... so here's what you shouldn't do.

1. Don't join a mother's knitting circle and expect to drum up business. If you are a hobbyist and a member of sporting/hobby type groups, keep these as your "hobby" fun-time activity. When you are in "business" networking mode, you should look for organizations whose members include potential clients or associates with whom you can do joint ventures or develop strategic alliances. The right group can make all the difference to your networking success, so don't just join any group for the sake of joining a group and think you are "networking".


2. Don't just show up with your fingers crossed that it will be okay. Do your homework. What is this event about? Who will be attending? How many business cards will you need to take? How should you dress for this particular occasion? What can you find out about the other business people you will meet? What type of business are they in? How can you help them? Can you envision ways you could do joint ventures? What are some interesting questions you can ask them.


3. Find out the group's protocols and what is and isn't permitted and expected. Some groups are fussy about how members behave and you don't want to put your foot in it by not knowing what you can and can't do or say. Knowing this beforehand will prevent you spouting off at the mouth about how wonderful your business is and be met with stony stares of disapproval. Maybe there is a time and place for these self-promotional discussions - you need to know!


4. "Can I borrow your pen... and uh, have you got anything I can write on?" Hello! Does this sound professional to you? Go prepared! Make sure you have sufficient business cards, some brochures, and a pen that works! Oh, and don't take one of those cheap spiral bound notebooks in your top pocket! Use a professional portfolio. It doesn't HAVE to be pure leather, but it needs to look professional. You can also use an electronic organizer if you prefer.


5. Picture this... you hand over your business card and the recipient absent-mindedly shoves it in their trouser pocket. How does this make you feel? I hope YOU don't do that sort of thing! Use a business card wallet so when you receive a card you can present yourself more professionally by placing it inside the wallet and NOT in your trouser or jacket pocket like some kind of candy wrapper! How you treat a person's business card will demonstrate not only YOUR professionalism but also display courtesy.


6. Don't be an "in-person" spammer. You might be desperate for new clients but handing your card or brochure to every Tom, Dick or Harry is hardly the way to go about it! Not everyone will WANT your card and some will be offended by your attempts to push yourself on them. Offer your card sensibly!


7. Don't make them yawn and look for an escape! Don't bore people with long, irrelevant stories and don't use humor until you know who you're talking to. No two people have the same sense of humor and what you might think is funny may be downright rude to another. And I don't care how long you've practiced your "elevator speech" - don't use it as your "introduction" each time you meet somebody at the event. Relax and be friendly first. Get to know them. Ask them about themselves. Establish a "relationship" and wait for the right time to deliver your "elevator speech" - a good time is when you are asked, "And what do you do?" or "What line of business are you in?"


8. Sure, the person walking around serving the savories might look cute, and the door person might look bored, or you might feel sorry for the wallflower sitting behind the aspidistra trying not to be seen... that doesn'tt mean YOU have to go and keep them company! If you are there to network, make sure you meet and mingle with the right people. If you are new and don't know ANYBODY at the function, when the time is right you can go up to somebody you suspect is someone you should meet and break the ice with a simple, "Hello, my name is Joe. This is my first time here. Do they meet here often?" Or an opener of your choice.


9. Don't make promises you can't or won't keep! Write down anything you need to remember later, like if you have promised a new acquaintance that you'd fax them some information. Always follow up and follow through with anything you have said you would do for someone. Make the most of your opportunities with new people you meet. If you find an interesting news clipping about something you believe would interest someone you've met, send it to them. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness and the fact that you remembered this detail about them and you'll have taken the first step in establishing what could be a rewarding relationship. Not everyone you meet may need your services, but everyone you meet can refer others to you!


10. Well, I've been to that group once, don't have to bother with them anymore. Pardon me? Oh yes you do! Especially if you've met people with whom you can do business or who can refer business to you. How are you going to establish worthwhile relationships if you don't get to know them? Of course you will go again...unless of course you went to a mother's knitting circle, in which case, as I said earlier, you're not likely to drum up business there unless you sell knitting needles!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com