A few weeks ago, Emily Walsh, Community Outreach Co-ordinator of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, contacted me to ask if I would be willing to make myself available to coach victims of this devastating disease. She approached me because of my coaching ability, but at that time had no idea that I was a cancer survivor myself. Fourteen years ago I had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. My attitude, my perspective on life, and the support I had made an enormous difference. I went through treatment with ease and was able to use my experience to support corporate clients who were going through similar experiences.
Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer. You will find a great deal of valuable information about it at www.mesothelioma.com
The Alliance provides resources and support for patients and their families. I promised Emily that I would share a link to the Mesothelioma site on this blog. Please visit the site and let me know what you think. If you have information about this disease that may be helpful to others, please contribute to this blog. If you have questions about it or want to know what helped me and in turn my clients, you have but to ask. Please check out: http://www.mesotheliomacanceralliance.com/
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Getting Unstuck
This month's Power Byte will be about Getting Unstuck. I gave several of the tools I use to help me. I use Angel Cards (Doreen Virtue), Soul Coaching Oracle Cards (Denise Linn), The Law of Attraction Cards (Esther and Jerry Hicks), Tarot Cards, the I Ching, Runes. I find them all useful. I'd love to hear about the tools that you use.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Transition - Part Two
Cover Letter
Use good quality paper
Mention the job you are interested in up front
Be brief
Include the same contact information as on your resume
Check and re-check your grammar and spelling - have someone else proof read it
Use a clear font - Arial and Times New Roman are often recommended
Sign your name
Don't:
Send copies
Use the same letter for different employers
Use slang or uncommon terms
Send a letter without a resume
Do what you can to find out the name and title of the person that will be receiving the application. You can usually find that out by calling the company and asking who your letter should be addressed to if it's not listed in the posting.
Use Ms. or Mr (Smith or whatever) in your salutation. Refer to the job, where you heard about it and when first. Then demonstrate with your words how your experience and background match the position's requirements. Since you've not done that particular job and possibly not been in that particular industry before, you may want to say that you can see they are looking for someone who has strong communication skills and you have proven excellence. You must give that evidence briefly in the letter. Pick the top qualities they are looking for and give them information that demonstrates you fulfill their requirements.
Let them know that you look forward to meeting with them to learn more about what their needs are. You are excited about the possibility of contributing to their success. Here's where you can be reached. If you haven't heard from them by next week, you will call them to set up a mutually convenient appointment. Thank them for their consideration. Sincerely, your name
Contact information
Enclosure: Resume
This is the opportunity to promote yourself, your writing, your special abilities - and to leave them with the thought that they "must" meet with you. Make sure you use powerful descriptive words, action words. Make sure when they read the letter they can see that you have what they want and more.
If you have specific questions, please send them to me at: infor@committedtoyou.org
The last part will be on Interviewing Skills. Stay tuned.
Use good quality paper
Mention the job you are interested in up front
Be brief
Include the same contact information as on your resume
Check and re-check your grammar and spelling - have someone else proof read it
Use a clear font - Arial and Times New Roman are often recommended
Sign your name
Don't:
Send copies
Use the same letter for different employers
Use slang or uncommon terms
Send a letter without a resume
Do what you can to find out the name and title of the person that will be receiving the application. You can usually find that out by calling the company and asking who your letter should be addressed to if it's not listed in the posting.
Use Ms. or Mr (Smith or whatever) in your salutation. Refer to the job, where you heard about it and when first. Then demonstrate with your words how your experience and background match the position's requirements. Since you've not done that particular job and possibly not been in that particular industry before, you may want to say that you can see they are looking for someone who has strong communication skills and you have proven excellence. You must give that evidence briefly in the letter. Pick the top qualities they are looking for and give them information that demonstrates you fulfill their requirements.
Let them know that you look forward to meeting with them to learn more about what their needs are. You are excited about the possibility of contributing to their success. Here's where you can be reached. If you haven't heard from them by next week, you will call them to set up a mutually convenient appointment. Thank them for their consideration. Sincerely, your name
Contact information
Enclosure: Resume
This is the opportunity to promote yourself, your writing, your special abilities - and to leave them with the thought that they "must" meet with you. Make sure you use powerful descriptive words, action words. Make sure when they read the letter they can see that you have what they want and more.
If you have specific questions, please send them to me at: infor@committedtoyou.org
The last part will be on Interviewing Skills. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Question & Answer Regarding Transition
Question: I am in a career transition. After working for the same company, in the same position, doing the same job for the past 10 years, I decided to embark on a new career in a different field I know very well and have some training in. It's just that I've never been employed or paid to do this. Do you have any tips on how to present myself on a resume, cover letter, and in a job interview?
Answer: This is a huge question. I will respond in three separate parts. Before even beginning part one let me say that there are many people in this very situation. For some it's just time to change careers. For others they are forced to change careers due to downsizing or layoff, and yet others have found that they must go back to work due to the economy and haven't been in the workforce for many years. I assure all of those people that their circumstances don't have to be related to as a problem, but merely an opportunity for a new adventure. The gift that they uniquely provide is the gift of enthusiasm, passion, and a willingness to get the job done.
Part one will address the creation of a resume. If you are needing to apply for a job that has been posted somewhere, you will likely be looking at the description of the job and the requirements of the ideal candidate. If you absolutely don't have the ability to get the job done, don't apply. The last thing you want is to be hired by a company because you misrepresented yourself and then have to deal with the pain that comes with failure.
From here on I will be assuming that in looking at what you have accomplished in your life to date, you have some qualities that are transferable to the position even though the industry is different. regardless of the position. Before you begin the process of creating a resume identify (make a list) what you excel at and what you are uniquely qualified to do (nobody could do it like you do), what you are passionate about and the kind of results you can be counted on to produce. Each job has results attached to it.
Your resume is your Marketing Tool.
Look carefully at the job description and the qualifications required. If you can deliver what they require, start your resume by heading it up and give it a title. If the job is to head up a training department it could be TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST.
Under that title a sentence that describes what you do so well (again it should relate to the job). For a training job perhaps: 10+ years providing indispensable support to CEO's, Presidents and Managers. Never say 25+ even if it's true. You don't want to be elimnated because someone thinks you're too old before you have a chance to enrol them in the value of your wisdom. (wisdom only comes with years)
If you haven't worked in years, and have been a stay at home Mom, you are a Project Management Specialist and you have had 10+ years providing structure and support that allowed those you worked with to excel. If I'm not being clear let me know. Send me a request for clarification at info@committedtoyou.org.
The resume is your marketing tool. It can tell the employer why they should hire you and validates who you are and what you have to offer. In transition I recommend a functional resume which begins by highlighting your competencies (of course the ones that are most valuable for the job you apply for). The first section of that resume is: Areas of Strength. In two columns list 10 or 12 strengths that would quickly have the employer "know" that you're perfect for the job that's being offered. You can change those strengths for each job you choose to apply for. Just be honest. Don't list strengths which you don't actually have.
Next: Highlights of Experience. Give some examples that demonstrate those strengths with measurables, always with measurables.
Then:
Professional Employment History
Educuation/Certifications
For someone in transition there are always competencies that allowed you to be successful in the career you're leaving. If moving into a new industry perhaps you love to learn and learn quickly, so even if you lack the skills (for instance you've never been in the printing business) - you may have the very qualities that that industry requires.
I just coached someone who was looking for a new employee for the printing business. She was replacing the old employee because he had lots of experience, had his own business in the past and had brought with him a lot of "but that's not how I did it, that's not how it's done". His experience made it difficicult for him to take direction and learn new ways. What this manager wanted was someone with the values that the company embraced and a passion for learning, an ability to multi-task, a lover of teamwork, and particularly someone who knew that quality and speed had to be important.
The person she was considering had come from a totally different industry and had no experience in printing at all.
Next part will address the cover letter. If you have specific questions, contact me at info@committedtoyou.org
Answer: This is a huge question. I will respond in three separate parts. Before even beginning part one let me say that there are many people in this very situation. For some it's just time to change careers. For others they are forced to change careers due to downsizing or layoff, and yet others have found that they must go back to work due to the economy and haven't been in the workforce for many years. I assure all of those people that their circumstances don't have to be related to as a problem, but merely an opportunity for a new adventure. The gift that they uniquely provide is the gift of enthusiasm, passion, and a willingness to get the job done.
Part one will address the creation of a resume. If you are needing to apply for a job that has been posted somewhere, you will likely be looking at the description of the job and the requirements of the ideal candidate. If you absolutely don't have the ability to get the job done, don't apply. The last thing you want is to be hired by a company because you misrepresented yourself and then have to deal with the pain that comes with failure.
From here on I will be assuming that in looking at what you have accomplished in your life to date, you have some qualities that are transferable to the position even though the industry is different. regardless of the position. Before you begin the process of creating a resume identify (make a list) what you excel at and what you are uniquely qualified to do (nobody could do it like you do), what you are passionate about and the kind of results you can be counted on to produce. Each job has results attached to it.
Your resume is your Marketing Tool.
Look carefully at the job description and the qualifications required. If you can deliver what they require, start your resume by heading it up and give it a title. If the job is to head up a training department it could be TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST.
Under that title a sentence that describes what you do so well (again it should relate to the job). For a training job perhaps: 10+ years providing indispensable support to CEO's, Presidents and Managers. Never say 25+ even if it's true. You don't want to be elimnated because someone thinks you're too old before you have a chance to enrol them in the value of your wisdom. (wisdom only comes with years)
If you haven't worked in years, and have been a stay at home Mom, you are a Project Management Specialist and you have had 10+ years providing structure and support that allowed those you worked with to excel. If I'm not being clear let me know. Send me a request for clarification at info@committedtoyou.org.
The resume is your marketing tool. It can tell the employer why they should hire you and validates who you are and what you have to offer. In transition I recommend a functional resume which begins by highlighting your competencies (of course the ones that are most valuable for the job you apply for). The first section of that resume is: Areas of Strength. In two columns list 10 or 12 strengths that would quickly have the employer "know" that you're perfect for the job that's being offered. You can change those strengths for each job you choose to apply for. Just be honest. Don't list strengths which you don't actually have.
Next: Highlights of Experience. Give some examples that demonstrate those strengths with measurables, always with measurables.
Then:
Professional Employment History
Educuation/Certifications
For someone in transition there are always competencies that allowed you to be successful in the career you're leaving. If moving into a new industry perhaps you love to learn and learn quickly, so even if you lack the skills (for instance you've never been in the printing business) - you may have the very qualities that that industry requires.
I just coached someone who was looking for a new employee for the printing business. She was replacing the old employee because he had lots of experience, had his own business in the past and had brought with him a lot of "but that's not how I did it, that's not how it's done". His experience made it difficicult for him to take direction and learn new ways. What this manager wanted was someone with the values that the company embraced and a passion for learning, an ability to multi-task, a lover of teamwork, and particularly someone who knew that quality and speed had to be important.
The person she was considering had come from a totally different industry and had no experience in printing at all.
Next part will address the cover letter. If you have specific questions, contact me at info@committedtoyou.org
Friday, August 6, 2010
Question and Answer
Question: I have been a consultant for small businesses for nearly 25 years. I'm very confident and comfortable when pitching my services to someone new, and love what I do so much that it really shows in my enthusiasm. However, when it comes to talk about cost of services, this is where I crash and burn. I know my fees are reasonable, but why do I lose my nerve when it comes to quoting a price? i always lows ball myself and end up doing the job for much less than my competition.
Answer: There is nothing wrong with charging less than the competition if that's your choice and that's how you have decided to go to market. However, from your question, it sounds as though you'd much prefer to get more for your services. You may be fearful that you will not get the business if you don't lower your price - I call that a survival act - an act generated from fear.
I will assume that you really do provide a very valuable service. Ask yourself what your value proposition is - what I mean is how much of a long-term return will the client really get for their investment in your services? What is the worth of that offering to them? What does it cost you to spend an hour with them and how much do you have to get for your services to actually "be in business"? When you have "chosen" a fee for service, stick to it. Trust that there are enough people who can afford your services and some "will" find you too expensive. The way to relate to that is "those people who can't afford my services will have to find someone who is less qualified". Remember that often people really do believe they get what they pay for. Take a stand for your value and design your fees accordingly. If you want to contribute to charity - write a check or do volunteer work - but we're talking about your business. Alan Weiss wrote a book Value-Based Fee. While he's talking about training consultants (coaches), it addresses this very issue. Check it out.
Answer: There is nothing wrong with charging less than the competition if that's your choice and that's how you have decided to go to market. However, from your question, it sounds as though you'd much prefer to get more for your services. You may be fearful that you will not get the business if you don't lower your price - I call that a survival act - an act generated from fear.
I will assume that you really do provide a very valuable service. Ask yourself what your value proposition is - what I mean is how much of a long-term return will the client really get for their investment in your services? What is the worth of that offering to them? What does it cost you to spend an hour with them and how much do you have to get for your services to actually "be in business"? When you have "chosen" a fee for service, stick to it. Trust that there are enough people who can afford your services and some "will" find you too expensive. The way to relate to that is "those people who can't afford my services will have to find someone who is less qualified". Remember that often people really do believe they get what they pay for. Take a stand for your value and design your fees accordingly. If you want to contribute to charity - write a check or do volunteer work - but we're talking about your business. Alan Weiss wrote a book Value-Based Fee. While he's talking about training consultants (coaches), it addresses this very issue. Check it out.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Good Monday,
I am interested in hearing if you are blogging at all. I am beginning to wonder if this has become too much of a good thing, or if there are really many who like to connect with others on blogs. If you don't participate via blog - is there another way that you do connect? Do you use twitter, facebook, linkedin?
And if you do blog, what subjects are you interested in reading about - and chatting about?
Alex
I am interested in hearing if you are blogging at all. I am beginning to wonder if this has become too much of a good thing, or if there are really many who like to connect with others on blogs. If you don't participate via blog - is there another way that you do connect? Do you use twitter, facebook, linkedin?
And if you do blog, what subjects are you interested in reading about - and chatting about?
Alex
Friday, July 10, 2009
Welcome to My Personal Power Blog
I finally joined the thousands, perhaps millions of people who are blogging. This is the Alex Blog. My intention is to explore, discuss, debate about all that it takes to be the powerful human beings that we're meant to be. Even more interesting will be the discussions and debates about what seems to be getting in our way. So, dear ones. I'm really interested in hearing from you. What do you think of exploring the challenges of being a human being? Happy blogging.
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