Author Nick: Alvah Parker
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Are you having a hard time finding your passion? Many of my career coaching clients wrestle with this. It was hard for me too. This month though I discovered a new way for my career coaching clients to find their passion. Although the circumstances are not what I would wish for anyone, everyone has tough [...]
When was the last time you asked a client for feedback about your services and how your office staff works as a team? You might turn up some useful information by doing a client feedback session when the work is complete. I recently had an experience with a hospital that is an example of how [...]
Waking up every day excited and happy to go to work has always been a goal for me. Some jobs were like that for me and others were not. I remember once literally dragging myself to my job because it was so stressful. It was easier for me to write this list when I thought [...]
Are you happy at work? Do you have passion for the work that you do? The notion of passion was something that mystified me early on in my career. I was usually happy at work but the feeling of passion eluded me. In fact up until I retired from AT&T, I only got brief glimpses [...]
Amy, my client (not her real name), set a goal when we began our coaching sessions to find a position where she could achieve professional success and be happy at work in 3 months. She had been working in her position for about 6 months and was miserable. The environment was toxic, there was little [...]
Many years ago I was turned down for a job at a company that I really wanted to work for. I was surprised when the interviewer told me that he did not think I wanted the job. He could not have been more wrong about that. I was puzzled by his conclusion even after he [...]
The Internet was abuzz this past year with the Steven Slater incident on the Jet Blue flight. He was the flight attendant who got annoyed with a demanding passenger and announced his irritation on the plane’s PA system and then quit his job by dramatically taking a beer and sliding down the plane’s emergency slide. [...]
Recently at a social gathering two business men were saying that within the first 2 minutes of a interviewing a job applicant they know whether they will hire the person. I always cringe when I hear something like that. That doesn’t give the job seeker much time and it doesn’t allow for error on the [...]
Many attorneys and other business owners start interviewing people for a job without clearly understanding what kind of person would best fit into the organization. Hiring is often done out of desperation. The attorney or business owner has a large amount of work to complete and knows he/she can’t get it done on time alone [...]
So many of my clients tell me they go to a networking meeting or two but give up because nothing happens. My response is usually that you must give the group a fair trial. Building relationships takes time so you will need to attend a few meetings of one organization to see any progress. That [...]
This article was written because this past week I have seen three examples of emails that were read by people other than the intended recipient. In one case an attorney published a whole email exchange between the attorney and an applicant for an associate position in her firm. It should have embarrassed them both and [...]
You’ve started a job search. You are excited about the prospects of finding the perfect job. Of course you have a concern about how long the job search will take but you want to make sure your job search is effective. Here are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid. 1. No strategy – Someone told [...]
In difficult economic times it is easy to let go of standards and take on a client who does not fit your vision of your ideal client. When few clients are in the pipeline it often looks attractive to take the ones that show up. When you do this you run the risk of having [...]
Everyone wants to start a new job on the right foot. Having a strategy for making your mark in the first few weeks is a great idea. Here are 10 traps that can undermine your efforts during your first couple of months on the job. 1. Going against the cultural norms before you’ve looked to [...]
To better market your business you’ll need to think about your marketing strategy. It isn’t enough to do sporadic marketing activities. A successful plan will help you to establish a constant flow of new business and allow you to more accurately forecast your staffing needs. 1. Describe your target market in demographic terms (age range, [...]
A recent issue of a magazine includes a list of 10 activities to boost your brain health. The list includes many activities I would call important for overall wellness. In this competitive environment there is a tendency to forget health and focus intensely on a job search. It is important to take a step back [...]
Ever had your kid swear in front of you? Mine did a few times. (Not at me. Just in front of me.) He claimed it just slipped out because that is the way he talked with his friends. At the time I warned him that if it “slipped out” like that in front of the [...]
Working more than 40 hours a week seems normal today – at least in the US. My clients tell me they consistently work into the night and over weekends.Blackberries and other smart phones enable employees to be on call at any hour day or night. It has become an accepted way of life here. Is [...]
Let’s talk a little bit about engagement. Not the kind you have before you get married. I mean engagement in the work you do. From my perspective that is what makes work interesting and fun. Are you really engaged in the work that you do? The latest Gallup survey shows that only 28% of Americans [...]
Meaningful and engaging work is the key to a profitable business. When people feel their work is meaningful the end result is a more productive office with a satisfied and fulfilled workforce. What do I mean by meaningful and engaging work? Here is a story to illustrate: There once was a traveler who journeyed all [...]
