Remain Positive

In today's challenging economy, it is easy to become discouraged. In my e-book entitled, "You're Fired! Now What?'", chapter 7 is dedicated to thinking positively, despite your current circumstances. An excerpt from the book reads;

"Donڈt give up! Stay positive! A positive mental attitude is one of the keys to your
success. Donڈt worry about what the circumstances look like- remain positive so
you are able to see opportunities when they present themselves. When you are
positive, you tend to be more creative.

This is perhaps the best advice I can give you in this writing. I am a person of faith.
My belief in Jesus Christ has gotten me through many tough times and turbulent waters.
You may not share my faith but I do believe that you need someone or something
to hang on to that is bigger than yourself. When the going gets tough, you have to
persevere.



Below are 3 tips to help you remain positive, especially in a tough job market.


1. Connect spiritually. I mentioned that I am a person of faith. It is my practice
to daily have a quiet time of Bible reading, prayer and meditation. This time
can be as little as 15 minutes for starters, but it is a source of inspiration,
confidence and encouragement.

2. Associate with positive people and (equally important) avoid negative ones!
Positive people fill you with positivity. They encourage you and believe in
you. They are an example to you as they are also headed in a positive
direction. Negative folks do just the opposite.

3. Listen to inspirational material whether on the radio, satellite, cds, tapes or
any other media. You must saturate your mind with positivity. Naturally,
thereڈs a time to unwind with lighter stuff; but a constant flow of junk in
your ears will not aid your growth. You know what they say-garbage ingarbage
out!

"You're Fired! Now What?" - free ebook

Your Legacy Begins Now

This picture was taken recently at our food pantry as clients, some desperate, waited patiently for their Thanksgiving basket that was about to be distributed, courtesy of one of our partners-Calvary Chapel of Boynton Beach. The situation reminded me of an article I just finished reading in the December issue of Success magazine. I want to re-state for you, because it echoes the sentiments of my heart.

It reads: "You don't have to build a school or start a foundation to make a difference in the world. And you don't have to be famous to be influential. Each of us is influential in our own ways.

With small kindness, we can impact a friend's or co-worker's day. By taking time to share our knowledge, we can improve someone's chances for long-term success. Beyond your immediate circle, you can make a difference by linking up with local nonprofits, such as museums or food pantries. Spend a few hours mentoring and playing with children at the nearest Boys and Girls Club, or use your PR or social media skills to promote a worthy cause.

Don't wait to make an impact - your legacy begins now."

Go out and do something today friend. It will make you feel a whole lot better about your circumstances.

Image is Everything

“You only get one chance to make a first impression” – Anonymous

In this post I want to delve a little further into image as it is not just about grooming, but more about a complete picture of your person-hood. One definition that I like states that an image is a mental representation, an idea; a concept. Therefore I think it is very important to project the right image, and even more so as you are on the hunt.

At the Career Center that I run, I see many negative first impressions. Luckily for my clients, I am there to correct their first impressions so that when they go on a “real” interview they have a chance. Most recently however, I had an opportunity to work with two women. Both were women who had held professional positions before and were seeking our assistance while looking for jobs. On the first day that these two women came in, within a couple of hours of each other, I happened to be looking for a candidate to send to a local company that was hiring and wanted someone right away.
Client A, and we will call her Lilly, came to our Career Center seeking help with a job search and she was impeccably dressed. She told our job counselor that she
was out looking for work that morning but nothing had panned out. My staff noticed how great she looked and thought perhaps I should do an on the spot pre-screen for the local company that was looking to hire.

I must admit when I saw her I was impressed because most of our clients always seem so haggard and beaten down. It was refreshing to see someone so put together and obviously seeking work. I interviewed her and sent her to the company that same day. She was hired within a couple of days by that company.

Client B, the second woman, we will call her Patty, also came in dressed for an interview. On paper, Patty was more qualified than Lilly and seemed more self assured and confident. I noticed however, that in the midst of summer, Patty was wearing a long trench coat. I would have said something to her about her dress, but unfortunately, Patty did not seem to have a teachable spirit. She seemed more “set” in her ways.

Based on her resume however, I did send her on an interview that matched her qualifications. She did not get hired. I am not going to say it was because of her dress or her attitude, but if her interviewer felt the way I did, then perhaps the interviewer also felt that Patty was impenetrable.

Image can be as subtle as the attitude you portray. If you appear to be upbeat, excited, friendly and flexible, you may find that more doors will open for you. Remember the saying that “attitude is your choice”. It is so important to work on your attitude. Ask some people who are close to you and who can be honest, to describe your attitude.If words like moody, sulky, anti-social, rude, snippy and the like are used, you have work to do. These attitudes will get you nowhere. You may have done okay up till now, but in this new job market, “the cream will rise to the top”. Like it or not, your image says a lot about you so it’s up to you to project the right one.

Crashing Through Obstacles

No one has to tell you that these are difficult times. If you are like most people, you have already made some adjustments to your life style over the past year or so. If you are one of the lucky few who is not affected by the sluggish economy, you need not look further than the television, the newspaper or at the "for sale" signs in many neighborhoods.

Charities and Houses of Worship all over the United States are facing major challenges as demand for services go up and donors cut their funding. Many non profits, most of whom operate on a tight budget even in good times, are having to find creative ways to stay afloat and keep their doors open.

The poor state of the economy is real, but I think it is compounded by the fact that many people are making decisions out of fear rather than out of their lack. The spirit of growth is dwindling in many industries, causing more job losses and more discouragement among those who are still fortunate to be employed.

I believe however, that we should not forget our pioneer spirit, that we should look to crash through our obstacles with enthusiasm and expectancy and believe for better days ahead. If we stop dreaming, if we stop hoping, if we stop trying, what will our country become? Remember, a country is made up of individual citizens, each of whom must do their part to benefit the whole.

We did. Oasis Compassion Agency recently stepped out in faith to open a much needed Women Center which will truly empower and train women to become productive citizens. Now its time for you to do your part, wherever that may lead you. God bless you, Sharon

Oasis Awarded Community Fund Grant

Oasis Awarded Community Fund Grant

Caught doing something good

Creating Meaningful Partnerships

In the previous post, I spoke about the Power of Partnership.Let’s get you started on creating meaningful partnerships:

1. Use discernment and judgment to select perhaps 2-4 individuals from your network who you feel you could develop into a more meaningful relationship. We will copy Napoleon Hill’s term and call these folks your personal Mastermind Team (from Think and Grow Rich-by Napoleon Hill). Explain to your group that you want to make this a win-win relationship and declare what skills you bring to the table. Everybody has something, even if you will be a gofer.

2. Commit to meet as a team once per week if you can. At your first meeting determine what skills each person has. This should be fun as some people have skills they are not even aware of. For example, in my personal Mastermind Team, I have a graphic designer, public relations person, teacher, HR personnel, beautician, image consultant, book-keeper, financial planner, and many more gifts too lengthy to mention.

3. Recognize that your partners have friends who are also talented and gifted who by extension, are now your acquaintances. I have been helped by many people who were not directly on my team, but who were friends of members of my team.

4. If for some reason you cannot meet, send group e-mails or do a conference call. You can sign up at www.freeconferencecall.com which provides a conference call telephone number and access code. Your calls can be recorded for playback for a member who was not able to be on the call.

5. Express gratitude often for what you are getting out of the partnership. Let your partners know this is not a waste of time. Report successes to your group quickly especially if it was the result of a lead from your team. This will endear your members to you and foster new leads.

6. Remember also to give as well as take. Your giving of yourself will not only help your partnership to thrive and to endear others to you, it will also give you a sense of personal power and accomplishment. It is also a spiritual principle that as you give; you will surely receive.