Meaningless Movement

I always marvel at people who find the time every day to spend hours at the gym, in a work out routine that has them bending, pulling, moaning and curling towards some sort of result.  That is not to imply that working out is a time suck but what if all of that movement actually produced something more than tight abs and a firm bicep?  I watched a bunch of stationary cyclists in Manhattan over the holidays under a tent in Times Square, spinning away only to realize all of their efforts were going towards powering the electricity that would allow the Times Square ball to drop at midnight.  I thought, “What if we were able to harness all of the collective man hours of those avid gym-seekers and actually produce “meaningful movement?”

I suppose much can be said for how you choose to power your career?  Floating from one job interview to another, passing out countless resumes and making it a “career to interview,” all seem fruitless if you can’t seem to find or focus on the job or career path that is right for you.  When we move from one direction or one job without meaning, we waste a lot of time, energy and effort that will yield little or no results.  Having a purpose in what you do especially if you spend a lot of time doing it is what will make or break your ability to succeed and garner real results.

Here are a few ways to avoid meaningless movement and make sure your efforts truly pay off:

  1. Be Ready:  Just because everyone is doing it does not mean it’s the right time or place for you.  Like following the herd whether you are graduating and looking for your first job or are employed but have to find a new job, being ready to make the move is as important if not more than actually making the move towards your next career.
  2. Know What You Want:  It’s good to test the waters and see what’s out there but exploring your options without giving a lot of thought to what you truly want from your career is as useless as hours at the gym walking the room and checking out the equipment.  You can look all you want, but eventually you are going to have to choose a career path that’s right for you.
  3. Make It Count:  Going from one interview to the next sure makes it seem like you are making the effort but make sure the jobs you are considering are the right ones for you.  Knowing the company, people and work that truly excites you is as important as accepting the first job offer that comes your way.
  4. Take Your Time:  Rushing through the process only looks like you are making progress but in reality you may be causing more harm than good and defeating the purpose of finding a perfect job.  Thoughtful, deliberate and considerate movement will help you not waste time. By choosing your movements carefully you will focus on what really is important to you.
  5. It’s OK To Say “No”:  Just because something sounds to good to be true chances are it just might be.  It’s okay to say “No” to something or someone that just does not feel right to you.  Honoring yourself in the process by knowing what you want from your next career move and by not accepting anything less is a way to know you are not wasting your time by accepting a job you truly do not want.

Realizing that every step you take is an important one in determining how successful you will be in finding and securing the job that’s right for you.  Wasting time is not an option when you are on a mission to find your perfect career.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

Share This:

Committing To Your Boss

Yes we all like to make a lot of money and want a great job we can go to every day.  But what may motivate you towards excellence is not always in a paycheck.  Most people find that it’s not what you do but whom you work for that makes a difference. When a company throws money at an employee in the hopes of retaining its star players, it may not have the right priority in order even though the intent is there.  What makes anyone commit to anyone else in the workplace is about wanting to work for a particular someone and not just wanting to work for the size of your direct deposit.

So, next time you go on a job interview make sure you are not just focused on the position but the person you’ll be working for and those you’ll be working with.  When you commit to a job you are not just committing to the company but you are actually committing to the person you will be working for.  Like any good relationship, there has to be chemistry, trust and respect.  This holds true for the people you work with as well.  You may not make it work with everyone you meet, but you’d better make sure the person you plan to work for hits all the criteria necessary in order to make your working relationship a success.

Here’s how it should work:

  1. Chemistry:   You’ve got to ask yourself one question “Is this someone I would want to have coffee with every morning and spend most of my waking hours with on a daily basis?”  If the answer is no, then move on no matter how great the job may seem.  You’ve got to be honest and know that you can’t work around a relationship if there is no foundation and nothing in common with the other person especially if s/he is your boss.  Liking the person you work with is as important as respect and trust because nothing will make it more difficult to stay motivated in the job if you can’t stand to be around the person you report to every day.
  2. Trust:  Like any good relationship you have to know that person has your back as much as you have theirs.  Being a good soldier in the workplace is great but if you don’t have a true “Commander In Chief” leading and guiding with clear direction and communication than all is lost. Trusting that your boss can make a decision means you have faith that your career is in the right hands.  No one wants to back a loser.  When trust is gone no matter how much you “like” the person, nothing will save the relationship and you will likely be placed in a difficult position asking yourself-should I stay or should I go?
  3. Respect:  Without trust there is no respect.  You cannot respect someone no matter how likable they are if you do not trust they can lead the company and you towards success.  It’s important you recognize this when you are interviewing or looking for a new job because knowing how others feel about the leadership in the company is a true sign whether you have an opportunity to succeed or fail in your next career move.

Working for a leader who can lead and manage the company as well as who can lead and manage the people is a winning combination.  You may have aspirations of leading and managing a company on your own one day.  Looking up to someone who leads by example is a good way to emulate the leadership qualities you admire.   So next time you are in a situation where you need to make a choice about your job, make sure you evaluate all the players on the team before you make a decision.  Liking someone is great but trusting and respecting they can manage the company as well as manage your career is as important as how big your pay check is.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

Share This:

Understanding Life Through Art

It doesn’t matter if you are a writer, producer, artist or accountant.  We all learn about what motivates our career choices through life, art and what chooses to inspire.  Even if you are not sure what you should be doing with your life and your career, there is something in watching a great movie, reading an award-winning novel or binging on great TV where you can find threads of your life in the art you experience that perhaps leads you to discover your career choices.

Call it inspiration, divine intervention, or just dumb luck, but what moves you to greatness is not always obvious in your everyday choices. When you are moved by the world around you through the art you experience, you are poised to choose a career that speaks to your soul.  Sometimes just a walk through a museum or through a snowy park may ignite a spark of inspiration that makes you consider an idea for a new business, a new concept or inspires you to choose a career that not only pays the bills but truly satisfies you.

When you check your surroundings and allow yourself to become absorbed by the art of life and what moves you, you open yourself up to a whole new set of choices and opportunities that allows you to find a career that feeds your soul.  It’s okay if you are not a “creative” type or you can’t sculpt, paint or write.  You can find inspiration in the simplest things.  Tapping your soft skills allows you to open up to new career choices. Whether you have hobbies you refer to as “tinkering” or you like to explore new ways of looking at things don’t dismiss your mindful meanderings they might just be a message from the universe that you might be onto something big.

When you know what motivates your choices no matter where you find your inspiration, you are poised to unlock the unique qualities and skills you possess. Understanding the lessons life offers when it comes to love, death, loss, joy, birth, etc., helps you to prioritize and find inspiration where you might least expect it. Your career is but a journey where life through art can offer you a road map to discover what truly makes you happy.

A life with purpose is more than just looking for your next job.  It’s what makes you feel joyous and want to get up each morning. It’s what propels brilliant thought, innovation and the next big idea.  The next time someone asks you to a movie, an art exhibit or to a concert, instead of just enjoying the show, let the experience absorb you and help you to discover what your next move is even if you aren’t the world’s best artist.  Finding who you are and what really moves you in the happenings of the world around you inspires you to make the most out of your surroundings and may lead you to your true life passion and your next best career move ever.

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50

 


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

Share This:

Wait & See

You may feel like the New Year has gotten off to a slow start.  You are just waking up from our holiday haze and wondering what day it is and what are you suppose to do next? Hard to believe another year, another set of resolutions and a new “list” of accomplishments awaits you.  Great you may think and all before you’ve poured your morning coffee!  When you think you can’t even start a new year let alone a new list of things to deal with including your career, maybe the best course of action is to wait and see?

Sometimes doing nothing is as good as plowing through a list of tasks, including personal and professional ones, only to discover you didn’t have to rush to finish anything because no one is ready for you anyway.  Making resolutions is as stressful as trying to keep them.  I don’t know about you, but being prepared does not always mean making a list of action items that loom over your head waiting to cross something off your list.  It’s okay to put some pressure on yourself but sometimes just focusing your attention on what you want and waiting to see what unfolds is not a bad strategy either.

When you feel the need to rush to the resolution list stop and wait.  Preparing yourself for the next step whether it’s a career change, a personal change or a spiritual reawakening requires your focus and attention.  Putting words down on a piece of paper may help you to focus but it can also distract you from your intended goal.  If you put your resolutions down on paper and place it in a draw or box hoping to manifest your dreams you are essentially shoving aside your goals and delaying any real results.

Like any plan of action you need to be ready to take the necessary steps.  If you are not ready no matter how noble and long a list you create, your intentions will not manifest.  This holds true whether one of your goals is to lose weight, buy a house or change your job.  Waiting and seeing what happens once you focus your intention helps you release the outcome and takes the pressure off of trying to jump start an initiative you are just not ready to undertake.

When you force yourself to come up with a list of resolutions no matter how badly you may want to change, you are essentially and unwittingly setting yourself up for failure.  It’s okay to wait and see what happens with your life, whether that’s with your career, your personal life or any critical life-changing decision you may have to face.  Nothing will work against you more than trying to force a decision, a change or a situation if you are not ready, able and willing to move forward.

So next time someone asks you what your New Year’s Resolutions are, tell them you’ve decided to wait and see what the great Universe has in store for you!

Looking for a job?  Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/lisakayeglj

Follow greenlightjobs on Twitter http://twitter.com/greenlightjobs

And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50


Copyright © 2024 Lisa Kaye - HR & Business Consulting - The Career Rebel

Share This: