Book Review: Warriors, Workers, Whiners, And Weasels
June 30, 2010
We all know a Weasel. You know, that person that threatens to take down your organization by using every sleazy tactic in the book to advance their careers regardless of how it effects others. Warriors, Workers, Whiners, and Weasels: The 4 Personality Types in Business and How to Manage Them to Your Advantage by entrepreneur Tim O’Leary takes a refreshing look at the different personalities we encounter and how to handle them.
The premise of the book is that essentially everyone fits into one of four personality groups: Warrior, Worker, Whiner, or Weasel. O’Leary defines each as the following:
Warriors, who confront change, see possibilities, innovate and manage to win!
Workers, who deal with the ups, downs and challenges of everyday corporate life dependably, and who can reliably implement the change and direction established by the Warriors.
Whiners, who get through life by complaining about everything they do, who profess negativism and dissatisfaction wherever they go, and blaming others for their own shortcomings.
Weasels, who lurk everywhere and threaten your career and life-goals through their own deception and insecurity and who spread these feelings quickly throughout the organization.
10 Most Common Job Search Mistakes
June 28, 2010
By Carl Bradford
Here is a list of 10 very common job search mistakes and what you must do to fix them.
Relying on your own personal experience and philosophies
Most job seekers base their job search methods and techniques totally on their own set of experiences. To do so will only serve to limit your opportunities.
Think like a marketer. Marketing professionals do not design their product advertising around their own personal preferences; instead they test and utilize approaches that appeal to a broader audience. Job seekers should learn how to do the same.
Being Too Close Minded
Actually this is closely related to reason number one. Most of us have difficulty stepping outside our comfort zone and embracing new and/or alternative ways of doing things. This attitude will only serve to limit our job opportunities. Don’t rely on your own personal experience and philosophies, instead study and discover other methods that will open new career opportunities for you.
Using Only One or Two Resume Versions
One or two resume versions just won’t work. Don’t rely on a sample resume. I’ve written extensively about this subject and my central message is that you have to “get inside the head” of the reader of your resume. The best clues for how to tailor your resume comes from the actual language of the specific job posting that you may be answering.
If you’re providing a resume to an employer on an exploratory basis – when they may not have listed a specific job – research their website to see if you can find information about the areas of your specialty and use that language. If you still can’t find information on the employer’s website in such cases, take the most common ad language content from 10-20 job ads that you can find and use the most common words, phrases and ideas.
Get That Fab Job on a Cruise Ship!
June 25, 2010
By Julie E. Botteri
From the FabJob Guide To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship
Getting a job on a cruise ship is based on a simple equation:
Ships + Passengers = Crew Members
And, with more “homeports” now for cruise ships in America and Canada, there are increasing demands on the cruise lines to select staff from North America. What does this mean for you? Jobs are always available.
As long as the cruise lines are in business, they need staff and crew to serve and entertain the passengers. They need you!
Some simple preparation can help launch your career, so here are 10 steps to breaking into this fab job based on the FabJob Guide To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship:
1. Learn about cruising.
You aren’t required to know everything about cruising. However, employers are impressed by applicants who go the extra mile to show they have a sincere interest in the cruise industry. Do you know the difference between Port and Starboard? Aft and Forward? What are Tenders? These are everyday terms you will need to become familiar with. Reading travel magazines and books and watching the Travel Channel on television is a great start too.
What to Do When You’re Having One of “Those” Days
June 21, 2010
by Carrie Greene, CarrieThru, LLC, Coach & Professional Organizer
Last week was the week of job interview horror stories. One client was on his way to an interview when he got distracted and ran into a guard rail. Nobody was hurt, but his car was damaged and could no longer be driven. Another client got into her car for her interview with plenty of time and everything she needed, except her wallet and cell phone. This would have been bad enough but then her car broke down. She finally got the car started again, but was late to her interview and had no way to call.
I’m sure you can picture it, your mind is preoccupied with an upcoming meeting, event or project and suddenly, you’re thrown a major curve ball. Whether you threw the curve ball yourself or not doesn’t matter. What does matter is what you do next.
So how did these stories turn out? I am happy to report that both interviews went well. They allowed themselves to put their adventures behind them, let go of the self recrimination and focus on the task at hand – answering the questions the interviewer was asking. They decided that their interview would either go well or not, but not because of their morning.
So what does this mean for you?
When a situation suddenly takes an unexpected turn, take a deep breath and consciously decide to focus your attention on what needs to be done to move you forward. Later, after things have calmed down, take the time to figure out how or why you ended up in that situation and come up with a plan to avoid it next time.
Oh yeah, there were a couple of other lessons learned:
Don’t EVER clean the smudges off the car window while driving.
Double or triple check to make sure you have your wallet and cell phone with you whenever you leave one place to go to another, especially when changing purses.
About the Author
Carrie Greene is a Coach and Professional Organizer.
Work with Carrie to get places and get things done on time, figure out your priorities and get the projects that you start done. Cross things off your to-do list, get organized and keep the motivation and momentum going for the long run.
Break the hopelessness cycle! Work with Carrie to carry through on the steps it takes to reach your goals.
For free resources, including Carrie’s 4-part ecourse to help you get organized, please visit http://www.CarrieThru.com
Making Time for Your New Job and Your Family
June 14, 2010
One of the biggest challenges of going back to work is balancing your time. Before you accept that new job, think about the ideal number of hours you would like to work, in order to generate the income you need but still have time for your family.
If you can only work 20 hours a week, be honest when applying so the employer knows that up front. Some places of business prefer not to hire 40 hour a week employees so they don’t have to provide full benefit packages, so sometimes this is a plus. If you can manage up to 40 hours a week, put that down also. Be sure to mark down whether you can work morning shift, afternoon shift or evening shift. The employer may need people for certain shifts and not for others. If you can work any shift, mark that down too.
It will probably take you a few weeks to establish a routine that gets you to work on time and lets you stay on top of things at home. This is when the whole family needs to work together to share the load. Even younger children can handle minor chores such as picking up toys, dusting, and putting their clothes in the laundry hamper.
You have to remember that the kids still need your attention, even on the days you are tired from your day at work. Make sure that you allot some quality time for the kids each evening, whether it is helping them with their homework or playing a game with them. This still needs to be an important part of your day to make things work.
Try doing a load of laundry every day or so to keep you from being buried on the weekend. You can also do housework a little bit at a time throughout the week. By the weekend, you will have most of your housework done so you can spend more time relaxing.
Sit down as a family and talk about what meals everyone wants for the week as you make your grocery list. Giving kids a voice in meal planning when they are old enough is a good way to teach them about healthy eating habits as well.
These are just a few ideas to help you make the transition from stay-at-home mom to working mother. You’ll find lots more information in our e-book, Returning to Work for Moms.
Find the Career Within You
June 11, 2010
Career expert Ingrid Stabb has her finger on the pulse of Gen Y, as this generation seeks meaningful careers that incorporate their natural talents and personality.
Stabb, based in San Francisco, is co-author of The Career Within You, an engaging book that is helping graduates find the right career that will be rewarding and fulfilling. She also is the primary adviser to GenJuice, a global network of young college graduates and innovators going on tour to thirteen cities around the United States.
In her advisory role, Stabb is helping the Gen-Y trend-setting recent college graduates innovate and attract the tools and support they need to see their projects to fruition. Designed as a guide for young innovators of all stripes, The Career Within You helps graduates determine their greatest strengths and forge a path that optimizes their talents.
Recent college graduates can become dismayed if they find that their new career field isn’t a good fit for the long term. Stabb said that after college graduation, young people need inspiration, hope and fulfilling projects. Job satisfaction is at a decades-long low, under-employment is historically high and unfortunately 20-somethings are the worst hit. According to The Conference Board only 32 percent of people under 25 are satisfied with how they make a living. Twenty-five percent of employees are just “showing up to collect a paycheck.”
The Career Within You is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.
Have a Creative Career as a Cake Decorator
June 4, 2010
By Tag and Catherine Goulet
From the FabJob Guide to Become a Cake Decorator
If you love cake decorating, imagine getting paid to do what you love! You can when you start your own cake decorating business.
Jennifer James, author of the FabJob Guide to Become a Cake Decorator, says there are many benefits when you become a professional cake decorator and start a cake decorating business (also known as a cake design business).
“There’s never been a better time to start up a cake decorating business,” says Jennifer. “With the low-carb craze over with, there has been a return to the idea of eating for pleasure, thanks largely to the popular book French Women Don’t Get Fat. Single servings and the personal touch are in — cupcakes are very popular right now, as are gourmet mini-cakes.”
Cake decorators tap into the fact that people love to feel special, and are always looking for something new and unique. Clients who are tired of the supermarket’s tired-old sheet cake with a cartoon character are looking for handmade, out-of-the ordinary cakes that truly reflect the theme of the celebration… and when they do, they’ll come to you.
Cakes are getting more creative all the time, and the only limitation is your imagination. Three-dimensional designs are in vogue right now, resulting in cakes that look like pillows, animals, handbags, or whatever you can dream up. Contemporary cake towers rising up many feet in the air and can lean every which way, stabilized by mysterious forces known only to the cake decorator (that is, you!)
And it doesn’t stop there. How about a cake + cupcake combo, with each cupcake sporting a unique design, or personalized for each guest? Floral toppers or edible pearls just might complete an elegant look perfectly. The finishing materials (glazes and dusting powders) available on today’s market let you give your cake and decorations a look that is so real, your clients will hardly believe they are made of sugar.
10 Ways to Add Value to Your Company
June 3, 2010
by Olga T. Cordeiro MBA, CMA
1. Match your boss’s priorities to yours, so that you are in alignment with your company’s goals and vision.
2. Focus on the skills, projects, and assignments which will be used in your performance evaluation.
3. Exude trustworthiness. Under-promise and over-deliver on your assignments. Delivering on-time (or even early) shows that you are organized and dependable.
4. Keep knowledgeable about your industry. Attend company-sponsored training, professional association events, and read trade journals.
5. Show flexibility and team player spirit. Offer to help out colleagues when it appears that they need it. Never state, “that’s not in my job description”.
6. Take responsibility. Own up to your mistakes and focus on what you’ve learned rather than on what went wrong.
7. Make your boss look impressive. Produce superlative work and suggest ideas that will your help your boss out. Volunteer to implement these ideas.
8. Keep positive. Motivate your co-workers in their jobs instead of whining, criticizing, or complaining. Be courteous to everyone.
9. Live a balanced life. Take breaks as needed to gain energy and perspective. Leave your personal life at home; do not bring it to the office.
10. Take care of yourself. Productivity and ambition take a nosedive when you’re run down. Attend a coaching session to lift your spirits and bring you back up to speed.
About the Author
Olga T. Cordeiro, MBA, CMA, is an award-winning researcher, management accountant, life-work empowerment coach, trusted mentor, and dynamic speaker. Her mission is to enhance confidence levels, improve attitudes, and increase competencies in business development, financial management, and accompanying personal issues. Through customized training services and products, her clients’ efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of life are dramatically improved. For enhancements in both your personal and professional lives, you can reach her at admin@empowermentcoachingacademy.com. Feel free to peruse her website www.empowermentcoachingacademy.com and find the information needed to ramp up your life one notch.
