Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

Abundance

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It is something I have known for a long time. Practicing gratitude creates abundance. Off and on over the years I’ve kept a gratitude journal and it always works to focus me on the many wonderful things in my life.

Unfortunately, for a lot of different reasons, the practice slipped through the cracks of my busy days. But the universe intervened and I’ve been reminded several times – in random e-mails, on facebook and in conversations with friends – of the importance of expressing gratitude.

So I did what we all do when we want to incorporate something into our very existence: I found an iPhone app for it. Interestingly, several gratitude journal apps are available. I chose the free one called Gratitude Diary to start but may ultimately buy one with a few more features.

In the description of one of the apps it says studies have shown that writing down what you are grateful for each day will improve your life in unforeseeable ways. Even though I’ve not actually read any of this research, I believe it because that has been my experience as well.

And for that I am grateful.

If you regularly practice gratitude, I would love to hear how it works for you. If not, give it a try and let me know what happens.

What do you think?

Transparency

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vector image of magnifierIt’s happened again, the fourth time in the last six months.

I’ve encountered a professional who is fudging their credentials.

Each is a little different. One is claiming to be something but their professional training was not that specialty – kind of like a doctor trained in cardiology who finds dermatology more to their liking so they call themself a dermatologist and set up a dermatology practice.

Another person is stretching their years of employment and their title. I like to refer to these as tenure stretch and title stretch.

The other two have Linkedin profiles that present them as an expert but they don’t have formal training, credentials, or certification to support the professional title they use (title stretch). You may think I’m being picky or petty but I know one of these “experts” did some “expert” work for an organization and the results were catastrophic.

This is the 21st century and in the new world of work you can be what you want to be. It is possible to be self-made and self-educated and trained in the school of hard knocks – that’s fantastic! In no way do I mean to de-value that path to success. However, in some professions, there are ethical principles governing what you call yourself and in some states there are laws regulating professional titles.

I don’t have close personal relationships with the people I described above but there is enough information on the internet that I can easily find what they claim does not check out.

Reminds me of the plot in daytime soaps where the new doctor moves to town, commences doing surgery and treating patients only for it to be discovered several months or years later that they have no medical degree. Of course, much drama ensues.

Fiction is one thing; however, reality is another.

Message to individuals – you can fool some of the people but other people know. Be transparent. Yahoo, Radio Shack, and Notre Dame are just a few high profile, instructive examples.

Message to organizations – background check, background check, background check.

What do you think?

Readiness

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I’m writing this on August 29 as we ride out the storm named Isaac. The worst is not yet here but we are ready.

I did not witness a bunch of freaking out in prep for this one. Most people I know have been through hurricanes before and like us, live in a state of semi-preparedness. We always have batteries, flashlights, radios, a five-day ice chest, containers to fill with water, etc. The only things needed were gas and ice.

Did you catch Drew Brees’ message as the storm approached? “We’ve been through this before. Obviously, do everything you can to keep yourself, your families and those around you safe. I know we’re ready. We’re prepared for this. We have been for a long time.” Yes, we have been ready for awhile.

Makes me think of careers in the 21st century. You must be ready. Sometimes the opportunity is visible from afar and slow moving (like Isaac) but often the window is only open for a brief second and you have to jump at a moment’s notice. (Sorry for the mixed metaphors but you get the drift.) Once in my career I had only a split second to make a move. I was ready, I knew it and I’ve never regretted that decision.

Living in a state of perpetual readiness may sound exhausting but once you become accustomed to it, the security is reassuring and gives you strength.

Similar to a storm readiness checklist, here is my career readiness checklist.

  • Up-to-date resume. Your resume is never finished. You should regularly be updating, tweaking, and enhancing it as you gain experience, develop, and discover your strengths. If you had to send your resume out today, could you do it?
  • Knowledge of strengths. Build on them. If you are unsure of your strengths, consider doing some assessments.
  • Knowledge of developmental areas. Work to strengthen these. Create a specific, doable plan. If you are don’t know where to begin, contact me for a copy of my development planning grid. Or, consider coaching.
  • Experience. Sometimes your job provides career-relevant experiences, other times you have to find them. Volunteering is an excellent source for developmental experiences.
  • Regular networking* –  in-person. Attend your professional association meetings but also find other events in your community. Meetup.com is a way to find interesting gatherings and meet new people.
  • Regular networking* – virtually. The usual suspects – Linkedin, twitter & facebook are the holy trinity for virtual networking.
  • Eyes open for opportunities. In your company, your industry, your community and online. Be ready for them.

None of us wants to go through storms, whether natural or career, but being ready makes it easier.

*Cultivating a large network takes time. Don’t wait too late. It’s kind of like looking for D batteries when a storm is already in the Gulf. They just may not be available when you need them.

 

What do you think?

History Buffness

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History Buffness

While in Chicago recently we saw the show Million Dollar Quartet Live, a fascinating look at the night when Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis were all at Sun Records in Memphis with legendary producer and discoverer of great talent, Sam Phillips. A lot of stuff went down that night including Johnny Cash’s split with Sun, Phillips opportunity with a major label, the shenanigans of Jerry Lee and the Blue Suede Shoes drama between Elvis and Carl Perkins.

I’m sure much of it was fictionalized but I left knowing a lot more about the history of rock and roll than I knew when I arrived. Because I am a huge fan of music (and would be a rock and roll star myself except for a complete lack of musical talent), I loved this show. Knowing the history, really of anything, makes me feel more a part of it.

This translates to some good career advice as well. Learn everything you can about the history of the industry in which you are interested. Read biographies and autobiographies of those who pioneered it or shook it up or caused controversy. Some really amazing stories are out there. You can start this even before you are actually working in the industry and through your public library, it’s no-cost professional development! If you know the company you want to work for or are already employed, study the history of the company and its founders in the same way.

There are few guarantees in this world, but I can say with confidence that studying the history of your industry and company will help you succeed.

 

What do you think?