You Are Not Your Brain

You Are Not Your Brain Remaining upbeat during a prolonged job search is not easy.   Uncertainty about the future can take an enormous toll on your self-esteem and your optimism, both of which are essential to making a good first impression on contacts and recruiters.   When something is not right in our lives, we tend to focus only on it. You may take comfort in knowing that our human brains are hard-wired to see negative things more clearly and focus on them more.   It’s a throwback to when we were cave dwellers.   Failing to notice a saber-toothed tiger lurking in the shadows was a possibly fatal error; failing to notice a rose blooming in the meadow was not.   We see things that are wrong in our lives and we obsess about them.  But as rational beings, we can also use tools to help us focus on other issues. Rebecca Gladding, M.D. and Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz have written a book called You Are Not Your Brain. Dr. Gladding says “Our brain often gets in the way of our true, long-term goals and values in life (i.e., our true self.)” Your brain is hard wired to worry and obsess, but your mind can override these signals, which are simply the result of your brain’s complex chemistry set releasing hormones. Dr. Gladding states that “The brains chief job is to keep you alive, so it tends to operate in a survival … mode.”   That’s good, but not an optimal way to manage your life or relationships. Dr. Schwartz, who works with people with Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, offers a four-step process for overriding your brain with the power of your mind. (Courtesy of Psychology Today.) Step 1: Relabel. Identify the deceptive brain messages (i.e., the unhelpful thoughts, urges, desires and impulses) and the uncomfortable sensations; call them what they really are. Step 2: Reframe. Change your perception of the importance of the deceptive brain messages; say why these thoughts, urges, and impulses keep bother you (its not ME, its just the BRAIN!). Step 3: Refocus. Direct your attention toward an activity or mental process that is wholesome and productive even while the false and deceptive urges, thoughts, impulses, and sensations are still present and bothering you. Step 4: Revalue. Clearly see the thoughts, urges, and impulses for what they are: sensations caused by deceptive brain messages that are not true and that have little to no value. So when your brain starts sending its negative messages, you can counter with positive thinking (more about that in the next post.)   Here are some thoughts that may feel rational, but are simply examples of the brain overriding the mind: (courtesy of Psychcentral.com) Exaggerating and extending the importance of an adverse event Blaming yourself for something that was caused by external circumstances Generalizing that whatever happened always happens Thinking bad things always happen, good things never happen Trouble tolerating mistakes, disappointment or losing Shutting down in the face of any obstacle Once you recognize the pattern of all or nothing thinking that is typical of your brain’s reaction, you can create deliberate practices to override these messages.   Dr. Tamar E. Chansky, (full disclosure: she’s a child psychologist) says that it’s also important to get some distance between you and your negative thoughts. Name the naysayer in your head, and cut her off (it IS almost always a her, isnt it?) when the messages become counterproductive.     My inner unhelpful voice is called “The BE-atch who Thinks She Can See the Future” (TBWTSCSTF for short.) She says things like: “No one will read that” and “No one will pay you for that” and “You’ll never make it to (that goal.)”   I work hard to drown out her voice. Next post: Ways to stay upbeat and overcome your brain.

10 Tips For Creating a Proposal That Gets Accepted CareerMetis.com

10 Tips For Creating a Proposal That Gets Accepted Source â€" Pexels.comProposals are necessary for business for a host of reasons, but the general purpose of a well-written one fits the same central theme: pulling all available information together in a concise and persuasive manner that helps you drive your point home.Proposals are typically confused with a similar document- a business quote- but there are many uses for a ‘proposal’ document in the modern business world. Here we will be focusing on the document needed when you are formally pitching an idea SSWM defines a ‘project proposal’ as “a detailed description of a series of activities aimed at solving a certain problem.’ Which brings us to our first tip:1) Pick a Good Problem That Needs SolvingevalDescribe to management why the problem is important. This problem could be any number of issues that a business faces internally: process improvements, cost reduction, or a new marketing strategy are a few examples. Be sure to describe what the problem is, exactly, what could be the consequence if the problem is not solved, and why the people you’re writing the proposal to should care.Be sure to describe The story you tell is not mechanics of what will be done, necessarily, but managers, stakeholders, and department heads alike will respond positively to what you will show, new ideas brought to the table, new insights presented. This is your chance to grab the decision maker’s interest and describe why the problem is important to the future of the organization.Note: the power of the story might be different in varying programs, so be sure to adapt your approach and tone of voice to fit your audience as you see fit.Go into depth as to why this story is important to the organization as a whole and how it affects the decision maker’s individual department. This is your opportunity to take a deep dive into the universal truths, surprises, or unexpected results surrounding the problem and how you see this being transformed by your proposed soluti ons.3) Describe WhatYou Will Do and How You Will Do ItThese are the most basic questions that every reviewer will ask, so it’s important that you get ahead of these questions when you can. Ask these questions of yourself and answer them in your proposal to satiate this basic curiosity from reviewers/stakeholders. Any time you can see an obvious ‘what’, be sure to answer that with a ‘how’.What: The questions that need to be addressed to reviewersHow: The methodology that will be used to address these questions4) Address Specific Research QuestionsevalWhen drafting a proposal to address internal organizational issues, it is important to use clear problem statements: pose questions that you identified from the above steps, show any initial results that you may have and demonstrate your methodology used to support any assertions from your research.At this point, questions alone aren’t enough information- anyone can pose a question. This is your opportunity to shine through t he proposal by demonstrating how you will address questions and problems associated with the proposal.This is also an opportunity to define near-term problems that you have an idea on how to attack. Take the time to explain these problems and how you plan on addressing them in the short-term.As much of an opportunity as this is to identify short-term issues and solutions, it’s also a chance to identify long-term problems- even if you only have a vague idea on how to solve them. This is an important step, it allows the reviewer to think about the problem critically and then provide guidance on some of these loftier, long term solutions as the situation develops.5) Do The Initial Work Before The ProposalevalLay the groundwork for your hypothesis before you even write the proposal for stakeholders and decision-makers. Doing this is extremely important as initial results demonstrate feasibility. This approach should be illustrative and explanatory to the reviewer in your proposal. Doi ng so provides supporting evidence and allows the reviewer to gain some amount of intuition behind your process and trust in your methodology.Illustrating the approachWhat is your motivation? Broadly describe the problem area and why it’s importantParagraph 2:Narrow it down- what is the specific problem you’re drilling into with this proposal?Paragraph 3:This is the most crucial paragraph- state your elevator pitch here “In this proposal, we/I…”Paragraph 4:At a high level, describe how this is different from past work or elevates previous work.Paragraph 5: Summarize the contributions of past work at a higher level and acknowledge how this contribution can change the organization from a long-term 10,000-foot perspective.eval8) Describe Broader Impact In OrganizationThis is an important criteria that will be utilized in the review of your proposal. It’s especially critical for large or medium sized proposals within an organization. Poor analysis of broader impacts can sink a larger proposal. The smaller the proposal, the more formulaic you can be with broader impact analysis.It’s important to understand what the broader impact of what you’re proposing to stakeholders will have on the entire department (or organization) so that you can speak to the higher level, long-term analysis of any problems that may be associated with your proposal once it’s been reviewed. Utilize any internal resources (including people and their ideas). You don’t have to be alone in this process- it can be an idea or an effort that you have collaboratively proven to work.9) Place Yourself In The Perspective Of The Stakeholder/ReviewerWrite to your audience. This is probably the broadest piece of advice that can be given, but perhaps the most effective. It’s crucial that you always remember who you’re writing to and why. In the case of a proposal, less is more. Take the time to be concise and edit down.Your reviewer shouldn’t have to dig to find the core story, un derstand the context behind the analysis, or any results of ideas that have been tested.Be sure to provide textual signposts to know where your higher level ‘story’ is going and provide context along the way so that they know where they’re at in the story. Clearly define problems, support with universal truths and facts and let the rest lie.Remember: write for the person you’re writing for, not yourself. Proceed to write your proposal with a thorough understanding of what the reader does (or doesn’t) know and provide only the information you’ve identified that they would want.10) Write From The Top DownThe majority of human beings tend to think this way, so it’s best to write for the way that we think! Clearly define your broader ideas, themes, and questions first and then dive into details. The importance lies in providing context and taking the time to clearly define problems with context often separates an approved proposal from a dismissed one.Even when you’re di ving deep into the details, continue writing from the top down to keep your writing clear and concise.Good Proposal Writing Takes Time!Don’t try to rush this process. The organizational structure wasn’t created in a day and changes won’t happen in a single day.Give yourself the time to reflect, write, review, and then refine your proposal before you send it off to stakeholders. Rely on colleagues and peer reviews before you submit a final draft to get a solid critique of the work you’ve put in.Don’t worry about contradictory advice- this is normal. Stick with the foundational aspect of writing for your audience and you should be fine.

Top 10 Things I Love About Running My Own Small Business - Kathy Caprino

Top 10 Things I Love About Running My Own Small Business I saw a neat HARO (@helpareporter) query today asking for the top things folks love best about running their own small businesses.   It felt SO good to think about this question, and to bring again to my heart and mind my gratitude for what Ellia Communications allows for me in my life. Heres my Top Ten list of what I love about running a small business: 1)           Making a Difference: I can make a difference in a way that matters to me â€" I’m not constrained by others’ agendas 2)           Leadership: I can lead and manage following my own vision, priorities, values  and standards of integrity â€" not someone else’s 3)           Creativity: I can create and deliver products and programs that are authentic, useful and need-based, and get them to market very quickly (no red tape) 4)           Authenticity: There are zero politics in my world now â€" I work only with people, partners and organizations that are aligned with my mission and purpose 5)           Control: I can say NO and YES! as I want and need to â€" I’m in control of my schedule, my endeavors, my professional life 6)           Management: I can hire and collaborate with exactly the folks I want to be in association withâ€" there are no other parties to cater to in my decisions 7)           Freedom of Speech: I can speak freely (hallelujah!), use my own voice and share honest views and perspectives without worrying about repercussions 8)           Balance: I achieve much greater work-life balance because I set my own priorities, which include time with my family 9)           Clarity â€" I know who I am professionally and where I’m going, with much greater clarity and focus than I achieved when working for others or larger businesses 10)     Passion, Power, Purpose â€" My own small business allows me to embrace everything that matters to me, and furthers me on my path of helping others reclaim their passion, power, and purpose. Yes, Ive made some big mistakes  and there have been deep challenges.   But I love Ellia Communications and am grateful for everything it makes possible for me. What do you LOVE about running your small business?   Lets hear it!

Resume Writing Services ToC

Resume Writing Services ToCResume writing services toc will help you grab the attention of your potential employer. Whether you are a recent graduate or an older employee, a resume is a very important document that can either get you a job or make it very difficult for you to get hired.Most services available online and offline to provide different services. For example, some of these services will offer you resume writing services to help you build a good looking professional resume. They will have the skills and expertise in writing a credible, impressive resume with just the right format, keywords and even their own personal touch.A lot of fresher and fresh graduates find this kind of service very useful in preparing a well-designed resume that is much more professional and useful than one prepared by an employee. These services focus more on the technical part and leave out the manner of writing which people usually fail to do. Because of this, these services always try to captur e the attention of the reader through the style and design of the resume. The basic idea is to get the attention of the reader as quickly as possible and retain it at the same time so that the reader chooses to continue reading the resume.One benefit of hiring such services is that it can help you get the attention of your potential employer faster because the writer will make sure that you get noticed by highlighting the most important parts of your job application. The recruiter will probably go through the resume to check whether you meet the required qualifications. Such services can help you capture the attention of the reader with impressive details and makes the content attractive. With all these benefits, how will you ensure that the services are of high quality?Before hiring the services, make sure that the writers have experience in the field of writing resumes because only such writers will be able to successfully write and customize resumes and other job application mate rials. In addition, make sure that the writers have their own personal touchso that you can trust that the services will have a similar point of view in matters like style, tone and the like. Check the skills of the writers to know how you can rely on them in creating a professional resume.If the writers know what they are doing, chances are high that they will produce very impressive work. They should also have great creative skills which are in great demand in the industry. You can ask for samples of the work done by the writers to know their capabilities. The writers should be able to understand the basic concept of resume writing, but at the same time they should not be able to develop your resume at the cost of creating something that will be difficult to digest.Resume writing services should be reliable because they need to do their work so that the information provided by the writer is genuine and honest. It is true that most writers know how to write a resume, but they also know how to deal with resumes. Therefore, if you find that the writers do not have experience dealing with resumes, it is best that you select another company. In addition, if you want to know more about them and their capabilities, it is best that you talk to someone who knows about resume writing services toc and ask for their feedback.As much as possible, try to avoid selecting a company that is known to do so-called 'extras' such as private consultation and training. When you work on your resume, you can also ask for the help of the company in other aspects like editing and proofreading the material. While using resume writing services toc, you are provided with the information and skills you need to improve the skills of your resume in terms of format, keywords and design.

How to Write a Resume

How to Write a ResumeHow to write a resume is a skill that many people who want to find employment. There are ways to make sure you get the most out of it, though.Start by defining what a resume is and what it is not. Most people think it is a piece of paper they fill out and submit to a company. This is definitely one part of it, but it is not the whole job application. A resume will not tell a hiring manager what qualities or experiences you have that are necessary for the position you are applying for. A resume only lists your name, the title of the position, and the year in which you graduated from college.A resume is also not an accurate portrayal of your ability to perform specific duties required for a job and that will directly affect your hiring decisions. A resume is a written description of you as a person and a summary of your education and training. It does not display all of these qualifications. It should be accurate, but it is only an 'official' summary of what you ca n do for a company or organization.When applying for a job, there are many companies and organizations that will hire you through an agency or through professional services. Many of these people are not hiring people specifically to go on as a resume, but in some cases, the agency does. You can still have a job by providing them with your resume if you provide a convincing and accurate one.Having a resume can lead to career growth opportunities. These can include positions such as sales, marketing, accounting, customer service, legal, health care, and other fields. These are all positions that could be right for you if you have the desire and skills required to succeed.The most important thing to remember about how to write a resume is that you need to put your best foot forward when writing it. This means you need to practice writing it and you should know how to take yourself seriously as a professional in your field. Everyone needs to be honest, so be sure to provide factual info rmation when writing a resume.Learning how to write a resume is something that can be taught and can even be learned online. As long as you keep these tips in mind, you will have a better chance of succeeding.

The Secrets of Resume Writing Job Gap Revealed

The Secrets of Resume Writing Job Gap Revealed In any event, freelance writing may be an enjoyable career that supplies countless opportunities to learn new things and make a reputation as a professional writer. As you can try that, it's stronger to list experiences or activities like training, volunteer work, or contract projects which are more directly related to your job search. Naturally, there are jobs out there for more experienced writers, so in case you've made a career for a writer, freelance or otherwise, you may definitely find decent work on the web, too. Finding out how to compose a freelance writing pitch is the launch of a lucrative career. The Good, the Bad and Resume Writing Job Gap Job gaps aren't the close of the world. For example, if you've got a substantial employment gap since your final position, you might want to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one. Make certain you're clear concerning the position you're applying for. Read each work description to comprehend what's very important to the specific position. Some of the advantages of a freelance writing job are exactly like any writing job, namely the possiblity to utilize your creativity and produce something which's never been made in the exact way before. It's very important to individuals to think of their resume as a marketing tool and to think about the skills an employer needs and to concentrate on the most relevant details. Include hobbies associated with the job you're applying for. If you're targeting work within the defense business, don't hesitate to use military jargon. The Pain of Resume Writing Job Gap In case you have any important employment gaps, you may choose to deliver a concise explanation. There's a list of jobs that you could filter by keyword, place, and job type. 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the considerable cost saving in comparison to traditional hiring methods. There are a lot of standard kinds of res umes used to make an application for job openings. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often they're utilised to secure new employment. They may be organized in different ways. They are fairly predictable in features and information, but some choices have to be made. The Battle Over Resume Writing Job Gap and How to Win It If you're targeting work beyond the defense arena, you'll need to civilianize'' your military language to demonstrate your abilities and experience match the employer's needs. The important issue is to identify how you have continued to utilize your business skills in the moment you have been out of the workforce. It is imperative to show you've got relevant work experience. You may have experience related to your job target, irrespective of whether you were paid. If you've accomplished things in work role, it's wasteful not to utilize it to your benefit to impress an employer. You also ought to tailor your resume to demonstrate the wa y your work experience specifically meets the requirements of the job that you're applying for. Even if your work experience is ideal, a subpar resume could sink your probability of getting a work interview. There are a few things that don't belong on a resume for work.

82% of Americans Will Stay Professionally Dissatisfied in 2011 - Work It Daily

82% of Americans Will Stay Professionally Dissatisfied in 2011 - Work It Daily QUESTION: 82% of Americans will stay professionally dissatisfied in 2011. Will you be one of them? Okay, so you’d assume given the current economy, people would be happy just to have a job, right? Wrong! Harvard Business School says we are experiencing a 23-year all-time low, and BusinessNewsDaily.com says 84% of Americans plan to look for a new job in 2011. The sad reality is I can guarantee 82% of them will either be: In the same exact situation and making the same claim in 2012. Will either up-and-quit or get fired due to their negative attitude about the situation, making them worse-off than before. Neither of those are good options, don’t you agree? And, why is the outlook so grim? FACT: Most people mistakenly think stating an intention is enough to make it happen. The first time I saw this TED Talk video by Derek Sivers, I disagreed with him. But now, I agree with him 110%: Here’s why only 2% of job seekers will actually succeed this year. I agree with Derek’s theory because I personally feel such pressure to achieve a goal when I state it I actually tend not to share my goals until I’m already well-underway to achieving them. Beyond that, this video made me realize something even more powerful: The people who join CareerHMO.com are one step closer to being in the rare 2% of the population of job seekers who will succeed in their goals! Why? When they become members of CareerHMO.com, they go beyond saying they want better careers in 2011 - they step up and join an expert program that holds them accountable and shows them how to take simple steps on a daily basis to reach their goals. More importantly, it proves they’ve chosen to stop looking at their career as a headache and a chore, and opted instead to devote their energy towards taking control and making things happen for themselves. That’s a rare person â€" but it’s the exact kind of person who best leverages a career development resource lik e CareerHMO.com to succeed in achieving their goals. 60 Minutes of FREE Career Coaching: Your chance to do more than just state your intentions. So, for those of you who aren’t CareerHMO.com members, here’s your chance to do more than just talk about what you want. I’m going to hold an open session on February 9, from 1:00 PM ET - 2:00 PM ET. In it, I’ll answer any career questions attendees have. Want to actually make your goals happen? Then come get answers and advice that can help you do the one thing that will truly get you results: Take meaningful action. Sorry, this event already happened! Click here » to watch the recording of this webinar. J.T. O’Donnell is the founder of CAREEREALISM.com and CEO of CareerHMO.com, a web-based career development company. Photo credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!