Sunday, October 7, 2012

Maintain Self-Confidence

There is a vast difference between one’s calling, career, and job. God equips us to carry out our calling by equipping us with a set of talents and gifts, and the passion to use them in his service.

JaNee' Yeates reminds us that we have to trust our talents, that we should never second guess our innate gift and passion. These are something that is specifically designed and earmarked just for each person by God Himself. They are tailor-made to suit a particular individual. When your critics speak, they base their opinions on their personal thoughts and opinions. However, just like a suit or dress, it will never make sense to them because they can not fit it.

Read more of what JaNee’ has to say:
http://informationanthology.net/CareerMentor/Self-Confidence.html.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Encouraging Education and Training

Regardless of the economy, most companies have difficulty hiring and retaining quality personnel. One cause lies in the education and training of people that companies wish to employ. Historically, companies ran extensive laboratories and training programs. Some few even ran entire universities. As these companies increasingly focused on producing and selling commodity products, these laboratories, training programs, and universities dried up or were spun off. Companies’ expectation now is that people will arrive fully ready to be profitably engaged. While one should expect to have a background suitable for employment at a given company, it is clear that balance has been lost and that the current approach is not working. This short article I wrote posits means by which companies can encourage the education and training of potential employees while creating win-win circumstances that benefit all concerned.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Tips for your First Job

Narayani Karthik has some excellent advice for those beginning their first job. She says that as your first day begins, you realize it is fun primarily because the feel good factor is still sinking deep inside you. However, this very job will also decide a lot for you, career wise. Your most important learning from your first job experience will be to strike a balance between your personal and professional life. She discusses several tips:

·       Observe more, listen more and talk less
·       Do not get judgmental
·       Learn, Know your job
·       Expand your network
·       Work when you should and play when you are relaxed

Read more about what Narayani has to say at:
http://informationanthology.net/CareerMentor/Advice-for-First-Job.html.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Personal Responsibility

Two authors came to my attention recently. The first author gave a straight story on personal responsibility. The other author gave specifics on how to go about carrying out one’s responsibility for one’s self relative to career building. I wanted to share their thoughts with you. Dr. Ron Haskins presents clear and objective statistics on what happens when basic life decisions are not made well. He tells us we have to take responsibility for ourselves and make those decisions wisely. Dr. Lagena Bradley gives crisp guidance on how we can carry our personal responsibility for building a productive career. Read more of their thoughts. They are quite good.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Avoid Burnout

If you think that Hell does not exist, put yourself through burnout. That is what happens to workaholics. With faith in God and self-discipline you can recover and find yourself on a firmer foundation with a much more effective and successful style. How do I know? I have been through burnout twice. Be Warned.

Elaine Bailey has also survived burnout. She lists five delusions workaholics suffer from:

1. I'm keeping the boss happy
2. I'm a hero
3. I'm better than others
4. I accomplish more
5. Successful people work long hours

Elaine does a good job of explaining each item in her full article.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

People to Avoid

One component of success is avoiding those who will ultimately avoid success. Benjamin Franklin described that kind of person very pointedly. He gave four things to look for in the person's behavior. Mark Bowser first brought these to my attention.

1.  Whenever possible, they engross the whole discourse; and when other matter fails, they talk much of themselves, and their Education, Knowledge, Circumstances, Successes in Business, Victories in Disputes, their own wise Sayings and Observations on particular Occasions. It goes on and on.

2.  If anyone tries to seize the opportunity of saying something, they watch that person's words carefully. If possible, they find something either in that person's sentiment or expression, immediately to contradict and raise a dispute upon. Rather than fail, they criticize even the person's grammar.

3.  If another should be saying an indisputably good thing; they either give no attention to it; or interrupt him; or draw away the attention of others. If they can guess what he would say, they are quick to say it before him; or, if he gets it said, and they perceive the company is pleased with it, they quote Locke, Bayle, or some other eminent writer. Thus they deprive him of the reputation he might have gained by it, and gain some for themselves, as they thereby show their great reading and memory.

4.  When modest men have been thus treated by them a few times, they will chase ever after them to be silent in your company. They thus seek to shine on without fear of a rival; pressing modest people at the same time for their dullness, which will be to them a new fund of wit.

Read Mark's discussion of these four points: http://informationanthology.net/CareerMentor/Rules-For-Failure.html.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Becoming Happens Before Having, Doing, or Being

The title's insight is provided to us by Andrew Horton. He has found that career success happens when we invest our time into becoming, rather than acquiring. Experience has shown him that anything we pursue will elude us, whereas, as we grow and become, everything needed for achievement tends to be attracted to us. The people, resources and everything needed tend to gravitate toward us. He finds also that the real reward for setting goals and getting clarity about what we want in our future, is that we have the information necessary to finally develop a clear picture in our minds, about who and what we need to become, in order to attract success into our lives. The success, results, and outcomes we get to enjoy are merely the by-product of our becoming.

Read more of Andrew's remarks on this topic: http://informationanthology.net/CareerMentor/Become-Someone.html.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Micro-Tasking – A Productive Use of the Internet




Shopping areas, restaurants, colleges, libraries, and even governments strive to make internet connectivity available to the public. Along with connectivity, these entities also tend to provide space for people and their access devices. Once connectivity and working space are established, the possibilities for their use are unlimited to someone with suitable (yet inexpensive) equipment, imagination, and energy. (Some libraries even operate complete internet cafes that are free to the public.)
Micro-tasking is one way of bringing extra cash to the unemployed, students, retirees, and others seeking supplemental income. It is also a way of learning meaningful work habits and entrepreneurial engagement while one is in training for secure life-supporting jobs, a stepping stone on the way to a good career.
 
Micro-tasks are components of a larger project. They are small and short-duration activities, conducted by numerous people, that add up to a larger result. Such tasks expand on ideas such as day-labor, cargo load boards, and contracted professional effort. Taken in the broad sense, micro-tasks do not necessarily require internet access.
 
It is said that dreams come true when preparation, opportunity, decision, and action meet. Micro-tasking is an opportunity. My article helps you to engage. The decision and action are now up to you. Take responsibility for yourself and move forward to your future success. You can read more information at my website. A 5200-word electronic-format article on the topic can be purchased for $0.99. A free reader for your computer, laptop, or other device can be downloaded. Nook format is also available. None of these opportunities require a membership or registration fee.


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

No Substitute for Hard Work

There is no easy way to have a successful career. One can not just float down the river. Usiere Uko has recognized this. He says that, many take “work smarter, not harder” to mean that there is a lazy way to achieve success. If you tried short cuts before, you know that nothing could be further from the truth. There is no lazy route to the top. For sure, effort can be wasted if not applied intelligently. Working smart should be the norm. Hard work comes into play within the context of working smart. Without hard work, you cannot go far.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Success Through Action

If a person is not worth their word, then what is their worth? If their actions do not match their words, then what? We all know someone like that; all talk, no action. To earn success, focus on what you can do to ensure that all the things you say you are going to do get done.

This advice from Elliot Zovighian comes with four categories of effort:

Conviction

Perseverance

Action

Documenting Goals

Read more of Elliot's thoughts on this matter: http://informationanthology.net/CareerMentor/Success-Through-Action.html.