The Executive Ladder

F.r.e.e. Goal Development Teleseminar

Did last year’s resolutions become a distant memory by February 1^st?

Join us for a F.R.E.E. teleseminar on January 18^th to learn the secrets of establishing goals that you will actually achieve this year.

If you would like to:

§         Lose weight or create a healthier lifestyle

§         Boost your success at work

§         Increase your effectiveness at home while reducing your stress

§         Guide your children to create and achieve their own goals

You’ll want to join us on Friday, January 18^th at 1:00pm Eastern (10:00 Pacific) for a F.R.E.E. teleseminar on The Power of Goals:

Forget New Year's Resolutions - Create New Year's Solutions:

How to Establish Goals That You Will Actually Achieve in 2008

Suzanne Freiberg, Jill Frank, and Lisa Silvershein will take you through the principles of effective goal setting so that you can:

§         Eliminate guilt and reduce your stress

§         Finally lose that extra weight you’ve been carrying around

§         Create a healthier lifestyle for you and your family

§         Increase your salary as you become more successful at work

§         Enjoy the time you spend with your family

§         Coach your children to challenge themselves, to feel empowered and to be able to take charge of their success.

§         Support your children in becoming confident and successful adults

There is no charge to attend this teleseminar – but spaces are limited so register early.  Go here to claim your spot!

Working Mom, Super Mom - Is there really a difference?

Lately, it seems that everyone wants to accomplish something, just look at sites like www.43things.com. The ambitions posted on these sites run the gamut from wanting to get more organized to traveling the world to earning more money.  If you are a working mother, you know you are just as ambitious as everyone else out there. You also know that your career is the vehicle to achieving those aspirations.  Unfortunately, you probably feel like you are barely able to keep your head above water much less establish any professional goals beyond bringing home a paycheck.  Complicating matters even further, working mothers have hurdles to jump that their counterparts probably don’t even have on their radar.

Working mothers have two jobs – being a mother and being an employee.  There is no way to keep your family life from seeping into work.  You may be able to leave your work at the office but you can’t ever completely leave your family at home.  How many times have you left work early to take a sick child to the doctor or to attend a parent-teacher conference?  Do you feel like you have to ‘sneak’ out of the office right at five o’clock (whether your work is finished or not) so your child won’t be the last one picked up at after-school care – again?  Do you feel like your commitment to the company and your career is being questioned when you put your family first?  As if all of this juggling isn’t tiring enough, the second shift begins as soon as your “outside the home” job ends.  There is dinner, homework, little league, dance class, scouts, and on and on and on.

Another equally important challenge you face is the delicate task of having to weigh each decision you make between the needs of your family and the good of your career.  Do you entertain clients or have drinks with the boss after work or do you go to your son’s baseball game?  Do you apply for the promotion that will relocate your family across the country or do you put your career on the back burner until the kids are grown?  There is never an easy choice and I bet you tend to second guess your decisions and feel guilty no matter what choice you make.  In fact, I would guess that there isn’t another segment of the population who feels as much guilt as working mothers.

Let’s face it, mothers work because they need to – either they need the income, they need to fulfill their desire to work, and/or they feel the need to provide a better life for their children than is possible on one income.  But, if you are stressed out, always on the run, and don’t have quality time to spend with your kids, is having a career fulfilling that need or is it causing undue hardship on your family?  This is one of those times when it pays to do it right.  If you are going to work, shouldn’t it be for a career that is rewarding, both intrinsically and financially and that also allows you to enjoy your family life?

For working mothers, life is exhausting (as if I need to tell you)!  You are constantly being pulled in multiple directions, expected to perform miracles that few could accomplish, and take care of everyone around you – all without dropping a single ball and a smile on your face.  And somehow, we manage to pull it off, day after day.  Not always with a smile and occasionally a ball or two drops, but the ship stays afloat – even if it means that your own goals get sidelined.  But wouldn’t it be great if it wasn’t so difficult?  It is possible to have it all – a great career and a meaningful family life – without having to work even harder than you already do.  The key to success lies in:

• Prioritizing.  What comes first, right now?  How do you know where to focus your attention if you don’t know what is most important?
• Finding time for those priorities.  How do you fit it all in– time for your family, your career, and yourself – without sacrificing? 
• Goal setting. How will you know what direction to go in if you haven’t established solid goals?  You’ll quickly wear yourself out running in circles. Do you know what you want out of life, personally, professionally and financially?
• Planning.  A comprehensive plan to achieve your goals will keep you focused and on the right track.
• Making choices that are aligned with your priorities.  This is the number one key to eliminating your guilt and feeling good about your decisions.
• Surrounding yourself with a supportive community. Have you ever noticed that when you are around people who are drowning in misery that they bring you down with them?  The opposite holds true, as well.  If you surround yourself with people who are positive, goal-oriented, and supportive, your attitude soars and the possibilities really are endless. 
• A rolodex full of resources. No one can, or should try, to do it alone.  Having access to resources that can pick up where you want to leave off makes all the difference in the world.

By taking these steps, you are empowering yourself.  You are taking control of a chaotic situation that will result in a positive, meaningful life and a career that is both rewarding and affords the lifestyle that you want – all with less stress and guilt.  That means a better mom for your kids, a better partner for your significant other, and a happier YOU.

Your Assignment:

The first step to taking control of the chaos is to prioritize.  What is most important to you right now?  Is it finding more balance between work and family?  Making more money?  Spending more time with your kids and significant other?  Whatever is at the top of your list, come up with three action steps you can take to get closer to your goals.  Keep your priorities at the top of your mind at all times and you will see that your decision making process will get easier and the guilt you struggle with will begin to fade. 

Do you want to be a mom that has it all – the great family AND successful career?  Are you ready to get out of overwhelm, lose the guilt, and take control of your professional life?  I’ll be announcing a new program soon, just for working mothers like you.  We will address each of the success factors above plus much more so you can do more than just keep your head above water.  Spaces will be limited, so if you would like to receive priority notification, register here and you’ll have a chance to sign up before I announce the program to the general public.  Don’t want to wait?  Call me at 813-839-5752 to discuss individual coaching options. 

FIVE TIPS TO ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER

1.      Take an action-oriented approach to your career.   Establish goals and strategies that will allow you to leverage your talents.  Leveraging your talents can be the difference between meaningful success and mind-numbing mediocrity.  Align your professional goals with your strengths, interests, and experience and then chart a course for success by creating a plan that will allow you to utilize your talents to achieve your goals. 

2.      Make important decisions that will support your priorities.  We all have different opinions on what is most important in life. There isn’t a right or wrong answer, whether it is money, family, or advancement.  Always take these priorities into consideration when you have a decision to make.  Ask yourself, “Will this enhance that which is important in my life?”  If you don’t make conscious effort to assert your priorities in the decision-making process, you will find your career and your life going in the wrong direction.

3.      Remove the word failure from your vocabulary.  Successful executives don’t limit themselves to the status quo.  From time to time, calculated risks must be taken.  Unfortunately, a fear of failure prevents many professionals from such risks, holding them back from all they are capable of accomplishing.  Try something new and if you don’t get the results you desire it doesn’t mean that you failed.  Consider it a learning experience, reassess the situation, create a new plan and move forward. 

4.      Become an expert in your field.  When you are leveraging your talents at work, you have the greatest opportunity to excel.  Take this one step further by immersing yourself in the learning experience. Read industry publications and reports, stay informed of changing trends, and position yourself accordingly.  Share your knowledge when appropriate and you will become the go-to person for advice in your specialty.   

5.      Build up your self-confidence.  If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.  Self-confidence is vital to achieving the greatness within you.  Acknowledge and then eliminate any self-doubts that are standing between you and success.  Surround yourself with people who will provide you with support and encouragement and stay away from those who erode your confidence. 

Leverage Your Talents for Maximum Success

We live in a cookie cutter world.  In my neighborhood, the new homes have the same floor plan, the preteens all wear the “Abercrombie” uniform and the moms drive one of five acceptable SUVs.  It’s no different in the business world where getting ahead involves following a prescribed set of procedures.   Why is our uniqueness a liability?  Is it because the alternative to following the crowd gives way to the potential for rejection?  And who wants that?  Not me and probably not you.  Everyone wants to belong somewhere. 

No matter how accepted our ‘sameness’ is, it can be detrimental to our career and to the continuity of our organizations.  The expressions “don’t reinvent the wheel” and “every good idea has already been thought” are contributing to the decline of originality and inspiration in the workplace.  Each of us brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives to our jobs.  When we rely solely on the established “wheel” we are giving up the opportunity to bring that uniqueness to problem-solving, creating and executing and we are setting ourselves and our organization up for failure. 

Let me give you an example.  Having never been a successful business owner before, I have come to rely on the wisdom of those who have come before me to establish, market, and run my business.  This advice has been invaluable – without it, I never would have gotten off the ground.  It’s with the marketing advice that I have experienced difficulty.  Everything I hear and read says that you have to do x, y, and z to effectively market your products and services.  While I may not have trouble with ‘x and y,’  ‘z’ is another matter altogether.  After much procrastination on my part and during one of my own coaching sessions, it became evident that some of these techniques would force me to shore up my weaknesses rather that build on my talents.  No matter how much I try, the most I can hope for is competence.  What’s so ironic is that my core message to my clients is to leverage your talents to achieve maximum success and I’m trying to make a one-size-fits-all approach work.   

You will never be truly successful taking this approach.  If you are always developing your weaknesses (especially with activities you don’t enjoy and don’t really do all that well), it will be harder and harder to find the motivation you need to achieve your goals.  You will spend your life spinning your wheels and feeling inadequate.  Think about it – Albert Einstein never would have discovered the theory of relativity if he wasn’t mathematically and scientifically inclined.  Wouldn’t you rather have a small hill to climb than Mount Everest? 

I’m not suggesting that you abandon all efforts to develop your weaknesses.  I’m suggesting that you stop trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.  When you choose a career path, select the one that is most aligned with your talents.  When you prepare your development plan, select activities that will leverage those talents.  Then, you will be setting yourself up for success instead of failure. 

Do you want to develop a comprehensive career plan that leverages your talents to help you reach your professional goals, but don't know how?  Register for the promotion planning eClass.  In eight weeks, you will learn about corporate advancement, find out what success factors are crucial to your targeted position, understand and address the obstacles standing in your way of success, and create a plan to build on your strengths.  Learn more and register at www.leverageyourtalent.com.

A tip for professional success

I spent the majority of my career in recruiting and selection and it has been my experience that most candidates for a promotion fall into one of three categories:

Category I - These candidates are enthusiastic about their work, perform at a high level, and take the initiative to develop their skills so they have the best chance for success in their new role.  These candidates are incredibly ambitious and are making their mark in the organization.

Category II - These candidates are solid performers, seem to enjoy their work and think they are ready to be promoted however; they've done nothing to ensure their success.

Category III - These candidates have outgrown their current position and because of this, their performance is inconsistent.  They assume that additional responsibility would be enough to get them excited about their career again.  Their motivation for getting promoted is more about getting out of their current situation than their professional development or making a contribution to the organization.   

Now, put yourself in the shoes of the person making the selection decision.  Assuming that all candidates met the minimum requirements, who would you promote?  It's not a tough decision, is it?  Let me let you in on a little secret; there aren't many candidates in the first category, which makes it easier for them to shine.

Become the candidate everyone wants to promote by selecting a career path that leverages your talents and creating a plan that will help you to reach your professional goals.  Don't know how to create a comprehensive career plan?  Register for the promotion planning eClass.  In eight weeks, you will learn about corporate advancement, find out what success factors are crucial to your targeted position, understand and address the obstacles standing in your way of success, and create a detailed plan to build your skills.  Learn more and register at www.leverageyourtalent.com. 

What's Holding You Back?

Let me ask you – are you exactly where you want to be in your career?  If you’re receiving this newsletter, chances are that you still have unfulfilled career aspirations.  So, what's holding you back?  Are you unhappy with your career path?  Do you lack direction or resources?  Or, is fear holding you back? 

Fear comes in many shapes and sizes; sometimes it’s more obvious than others.  Look at what you are avoiding and how you can make changes.  Personally, I found that I was doing everything I possibly could to avoid speaking in front of groups.  Knowing that this phobia can have a major impact on my business, I've identified ways that I can accomplish my goal without breaking out in cold sweats!  Since reading the following quote, I've started looking at my fears differently and found that I'm much happier with my decisions and the results that I get. 

"I think we should follow a simple rule:  If we can take the worst, take the risk." - Dr. Joyce Brothers 

Most of the time, the worst isn’t nearly as bad as we think it will be.  So get out there and do something – anything – that will take you closer to achieving your goals.  If you happen to fall down, get back up and try something else!

Should You Quit Your Job?

I’ve conducted hundreds of exit interviews for departing employees and the majority cited a “better opportunity” as their reason for leaving.  While I was able to save a number of valuable employees, most had completely disengaged themselves from the organization and were ready to move on by the time I talked to them.

Are you considering changing jobs?  Is career advancement important to you?  If so, you may want to rethink your decision.  Jumping ship at the first sign of rough seas isn’t always the best move.  Companies are more likely to take a chance promoting an internal employee than they are to hire an external that doesn’t meet all of the minimum requirements.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What is missing in your position that you hope to find in a new job?

What would need to happen for you to be satisfied with your current career path?

If you want to advance, are you overlooking opportunities in your current organization?

Have you taken the initiative to manage your own career or are you waiting for someone to do it for you?

Once you have the answers to these questions, you’ll be better equipped to make a decision about your career.   

Career lessons from Little League

I was at my son’s baseball game yesterday when I realized that there was a connection between career success and little league.  There are basically three types of players (and employees):

1. The superstars that possess both talent and a passion for the game.
2. Those that possess the talent but not the passion.
3. Those that “technically” aren’t great players but want to play baseball more than anything. 

With twelve players and only nine positions, someone is going to spend a lot of time on the bench.  Who do you think gets the most playing time?  Of course, the superstars get the majority of time in the field but after that, it’s the players with passion.  Surprised?  What they lack in skills, they more than make up for in effort. 

Do you want to be a “Superstar” in your career?  Find a way to align your passion with your strengths and experience and you’ll have the right formula for a successful career.  Has your career stalled?  Discover the 7 unintentional actions that can slow your climb up the corporate ladder and how to get your career back on track. 

My website, www.leverageyourtalent.com is finally online!

I am thrilled to announce the launch of my new website, www.leverageyourtalent.com. 

It provides you with access to the latest and most effective approach to career advancement, coaching.  The power of two isn’t just twice as great as one, it’s exponential.  No longer do you have to go it alone in your climb up the corporate ladder.  Imagine how much you would achieve if you had a dedicated collaborator, skilled in corporate advancement, to guide you. 

Although career coaches are knowledgeable in a number of areas, I have committed to focusing solely on internal career advancement so that I can bring you the strategies and resources you need to achieve your career goals.  The services currently available are individual and group coaching.  In the fall, I will be introducing eClasses, as well as, a membership site with monthly seminars, resources, and laser coaching call-in sessions. 

Are you ready to take your career to the next level?  If so, I invite you to visit my website to find how you can launch your career up the corporate ladder.  My schedule will only permit me to accept five new clients this summer.  Don’t miss out!

Passion Pays Off

Do you know someone who is passionate about their work?  How can you tell?  Do people see passion in you when they observe you at work?  If not, you might want to make some changes. 

While reviewing a backlog of email this morning, I found something worth sharing.  An announcement about an internal promotion at TypePad.  Here it is:

New Leadership for TypePad

"I'm pleased to announce that I've asked Michael Sippey, our VP of Product, to become the General Manager for TypePad. He has been a key part of the executive team at Six Apart since August 2004. Michael's a veteran blogger who is a longtime user of and advocate for Six Apart's products. His love and knowledge of TypePad is as impressive as his passion for delivering a great product, and I'm confident that having Michael serve as GM will lead to amazing things for TypePad and its community of users."

-- Barak Berkowitz, Chairman and CEO, Six Apart, Ltd.

When you work with passion, you get noticed -- and promoted.  Have you "lost that lovin' feelin" for your job?  What steps can you take to get it back again?  Figure that out and soon you could be the subject of an announcement like this one.