Ive Figured Out What I Want To Do. How Do I Take The Next Step

“I’ve Figured Out What I Want To Do. How Do I Take The Next Step” Help from our Community “I’ve Figured Out What I Want To Do. How Do I Take The Next Step?” * Karolina finally knows where she wants to shift to in her career. But while she's clear about the 'what', she's not so sure about the 'how'. What do you do when you can see your destination, but there's no clear path to get there? What's your career history and current job? I've been working as an accountant for an international marketing company for more thanfive years. Initially, when I started out, I thought it was a fantastic career path. It's financially rewarding, it's secure and there are lots of job opportunities. I studied hard to get my qualifications, even though I don't enjoy studying, because I knew it was the right thing to do if I wanted to move up in the industry, which I did at the time. How do you feel about your work? The more time goes by, the more I'm realising that this isn't the right role for me. Day after day, month after month, year after year, it's the same routine. It isn't challenging or fulfilling, and it doesn't excite me. People tell me I should be happy because the money is good and the work is flexible, but that just isn't enough. I'm approaching 40, and I wonder if that's partly why I've had trouble with anxiety during this time, but it's also more than that â€" I don't want to turn 50 and find that all I've done in my life is accountancy. I know I'm capable of so much more. I've been seeing a career coach, listening to a lot of motivational talks and attending some workshops, and I've started to make lots of small steps towards working out what I want to do. I know now that in order to be happy, you first have to be open minded about your options. I'm feeling positive about the future now. I believe in myself and the path I'm about to take. What would you like to be doing instead? I have a passion for fitness, healthy lifestyles, and for helping people. I want to inspire people to have a positive mental attitude towards their own fitness goals by moving into coaching. I'd like to start up my own business providing some sort of fitness coaching services, to be able to help people find the solutions to their problems. Even though I'm stepping into the unknown â€" this is so far removed from accountancy â€" I finally feel good about it. I do still have my down days. It can feel overwhelming and I doubt myself sometimes. There are people out there with more experience and qualifications than me, why should I get anywhere? But I'm 100% sure that this is what I want to do. I'm using myself as a guinea pig, in a way: applying the different techniques that I have learned to cope with change and increase self-belief, so that I can be sure that the service I provide will be valuable for other people. I'm doing a sports psychology diploma and have also done a course in how to deal with anxiety. I may do courses in nutrition, and possibly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), too. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? I don't have a deadline, or an actual plan. I've never created a business plan before. There's so much information out there; it can be overwhelming deciding what to do next. I spend a lot of time thinking about everything that is involved, but I get confused and don't know how to approach it. I think I need some help to create a structure. I'm confident that I can deliver the fitness coaching services, but I don't know anything about marketing, business plans, insurance, or any of those things. I wonder if having a mentor would help. I feel like I could work well with someone in a similar position to me, someone who is also starting out in an area of business that I don't know about and who could use me as a guinea pig! How do I execute my ideas? How do I make money from them? How do I take the next step? Can you help Karolina? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Karolina could move her shift forwards? Do you know anyone she could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Karolina a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

It?s All in the Timing How to Manage Interview Candidates?

It?s All in the Timing How to Manage Interview Candidates? The interview process can often be a long and laborious one. The effort of going through the same questions again and again for hours on end can be exhausting. It can be akin to going on an 8-hour speed dating session, but without a bar present to help you get through it. Therefore, when it is all over it can be tempting to wrap up all the loose ends as quickly as possible. You can then put the whole experience behind you and move on to something else until the chosen candidate (if there is one) is about to start. But be warned: being too keen to reject fallen candidates can very easily backfire! The interview veneer: We are all guilty of masking our true feelings or putting on a show. I am sure we have all muttered the phrase ?Lovely to see you again?! when the in-laws pay a visit and it is exactly the same in interviews. When you ask the candidate of choice if they have any other questions and they respond ?When do I start?? you desperately want the sentiment to be genuine. But don?t be fooled no matter how enthusiastic the interviewee seems to be it may simply be a façade. You may fall at the first hurdle following the initial offer with a ?Thanks, but no thanks? but if not, you also have references and counter-offers to negotiate following the verbal acceptance. It is not a done deal until a contract has been signed. So, don?t reject worthy candidates too soon as there is every chance you may have to go back to them in a rather sheepish manner or even start the interview process again when it could have been avoided! ?So when am I likely to hear?? It is better to give yourself some wiggle room when it comes to managing candidates? expectations regarding when a decision is likely to be made. Ideally, make a decision quickly and give yourself a few days to allow enough time for the references of the chosen candidate to be checked, the offer to go out and counter-offers to be negotiated. If it doesn?t work out with your first-choice candidate then it is better for the second-in-line to think that there has been a slight delay in the decision-making process rather than them knowing for certain that they are the second choice. This knowledge may even put them off considering the job altogether, as no-one likes to be 2nd best! Don?t be disheartened: It is often difficult to move on when you have been rejected by your chosen candidate as sub-consciously you have already imagined have them sitting in the office, and fantasized about how well they are going to fit in with the team and what a great job they are going to do. But, don?t despair! Your back-up candidate maybe equally as good you just haven?t yet pictured them in that scenario. It has happened to me on several occasions when a position has gone to my second choice candidate and, in hindsight, it has often turned out for the better. However, on the flipside, only appoint them if they are actually suitable. It is not worth taking on someone you have doubts about just to save you from going through the interview process again. You will always regret it in the long run as they will cause you problems further down the line. It is beneficial to score candidates on key criteria throughout the interview process as a reminder of their suitability as your memory of each candidate?s performance will fade fast following the interviews. Using a competency framework to great effect will ensure that all candidates are considered against the same criteria and are scored fairly. Never say never: High performing candidates are very difficult to identify and attract. If you are in the luxurious position of having to reject a candidate who you would have happily employed, then pay them just as much attention as the chosen candidate. Having fulfilled the role you have been working hard to fulfill, it can be easy to forget the future and your future hiring requirements. Another role may materialize that the rejected candidate would be perfect for and by putting in the groundwork at the rejection stage and leaving the candidate with a positive impression of the company will increase your chances of them accepting a role in the future. ?Were not worthy: It seems to be standard practice these days for businesses to state that ?If you haven?t heard from us by [this date], you haven?t been successful?. It is understandable why companies introduce these practices when everyone is so very busy, but it is worthwhile contacting rejected candidates and providing them feedback even if there will never be an occasion when you would potentially hire them. They may have talented friends who may be put off applying to your company because of their experience. Also, if you are a B2C organization the candidate and her friends and family may be current or future customers and it would be beneficial to have them as advocators of the business. So put yourself in the reject candidates? position and treat them how you would like to be treated if you were in their situation. After all, we have all been there (yes, ?even you!) and you may even save yourself time and resources in the long run.

8 Ways for Realtors to Build their Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

8 Ways for Realtors to Build their Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Author Bio: Sabrina Clark is a marketing professional specializing in startups in the technology and Internet space. Sabrina is the Director of Marketing Corporate Communications at BrandYourself, helping people take control of Google search results for their own name and establish a positive online reputation. The world of real estate is unique to many other industries in that it is commonly more about the individual realtor than the company or firm. For the most part, potential clients focus on your individual brand and reputation when deciding whether or not to do business with you, even if you are part of a larger company. With many realtors vying for clients, staying one step ahead of the competition can be a constant challenge. As an experienced realtor, you probably already have a personal website perhaps in addition to a profile on your company or firm’s main site (if you don’t have a website, free tools such as WordPress and snagging a good domain name will help get you started!) Your website is frequently your first impression to a potential client; it conveys who you are as a real estate professional and as a person. Below are 8 steps you can take to maximize your website so you can better promote your personal brand, make a positive first impression and, ultimately, attract more clients. 1. Get Organized When a potential client or buyer comes to your website, it’s important that the site is informative, accessible and easy to navigate. The last thing you want to do is drive them away with a website that’s difficult to use. Organize your website in a way that makes sense to the information you’re trying to convey with appropriate categories and landing pages. For instance, you may have individual pages in the site’s navigation for an ‘about me’ section, property listings, contact information, areas of service, etc. It’s important that you categorize this content onto different pages rather than trying to cram all the information onto the home page. 2. Don’t Forget any Info The Devil’s in the Details Make sure to provide all relevant information including areas you work in, accolades, expertise (commercial, residential, rentals, etc.) and contact info. You wouldn’t want to inundate visitors with pages of block text, but make sure all the important details are there. For instance, not only put your contact info but also the best method and time to reach you. Subsequently, make sure to harness the power of keywords. Don’t go overboard, but if you want people to find you in Google search results for residential realty, make sure to mention “residential realty” and other variations throughout your site. TIP: 69% of home shoppers who take action on a real estate brand website begin their research with a local term. By listing what regions you work in by town/city name as well as zip code, your website will show up in Google results when people search for realtors in a specific area. i.e. “Houston homes for sale” or “real estate agents 77002”. 3. Get Visual No matter how you look at it, real estate is a visual business, especially for the buyer. You can describe a property all you want, but unless potential buyers see and experience the property, they probably won’t be interested. Walkthrough-videos, photo slideshows and galleries engage visitors that come to your site and give interested buyers the next best thing to visiting the property in person (and could lead to scheduling a showing with them!) Also, post videos/images of popular neighborhood destinations and attractions to personalize the listings. In addition to current listings, showcase properties you’ve already closed. This will give potential sellers a sense of the types of properties you’ve worked with. They’ll find comfort in seeing you’ve had success with properties similar to their own. 4. Use the Power of Search When you’re dealing with multiple properties at one time, it can sometimes be difficult for potential buyers to sift through all of your options and find properties that fit the criteria they’re looking for. Therefore, it’s a good idea to utilize search functionality to allow people to filter through your various properties and find what they want. Many realtors use a third-party service (such as Google Maps) to put this feature on their websites. 5. Link to your Social Media Profiles Link to all of your social media profiles from your website and vice versa to help them all show up higher in search engine results for your name. If you’re not already on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Zillow, Trulia, etc., start creating some profiles. It’s no question that social media is a valuable tool for networking and promotion as well as an opportunity to showcase your personality to potential customers. 6. Use Online Feedback (Good or Bad) Online feedback and reviews can make or break a realtor’s reputation. Have an area on your website that allows clients and buyers to give feedback, whether it be a forum, comment section in a gallery, contact form or links to feedback on your social media sites (as per step #5). Positive testimonials and success stories can be used to build up your reputation and add to your credibility. Worried about public negative feedback? Address any negative reviews in a professional and articulate way, without your emotions getting in the mix. Potential clients will appreciate your honesty and professionalism. TIP: Set up the option to moderate any comment sections on your site to filter through spam comments. 7. Start Blogging (If you Aren’t Already) And link your blog to your website. It will help to establish credibility and show that you’re knowledgeable and active in the industry. As with social media, it’s also a chance to let your personality shine through. People like to know they’re working with someone who can relate to them and understand their needs. Post about top tips for buyers and sellers, local events/destinations in the area you service, local real estate trends, tips for the moving process, etc. 8. Link From your Profile on your Company’s Website If you’re part of a company whos website features profiles of their agents and brokers, see if you can put a link to your personal site from your profile. This will give interested clients a more in-depth look as to your professional achievements, especially if your company profile is just a summary of your bio. While the real estate market is highly competitive, following these simple steps for your website can help you maintain and grow your reputation as an established realtor and get a leg up on the competition. To see some of these steps in action, check out Brad Hanks’s website with RE/MAX Whatcom County. Do you have any tips to help realtors leverage their website in order to build a positive personal brand? Sound off in the comments!

How to Interview Someone on Camera

How to Interview Someone on Camera Every interview is an exercise in psychology, with YOU playing the therapist. Here are techniques to get the best responses when you need someone to spill their guts…or just explain something, on camera and in full sentences, whether its for a corporate video, your website, or YouTube. The Basic Outline of a Good Interview Warm them up with easy and broad questions. For example, Tell me what you are working on? or What was your last project? Make them describe the situation. Ask for specifics: Give me an example of what its like to bake bread (or whatever)? or How common is whole grain baking? Dare them to take a stand on the subject. If they say, There just isnt enough whole grain baking in the US! Follow up with a why question: What makes you say there isnt enough whole grain baking? Open-ended questions always elicit more than a yes or no answer. Save the tough questions for the end. For example, if you are producing an internal video, ask: What would you say to employees would are concerned about layoffs? or finish with broad questions that move the conversation forward like, Whats the most challenging part of your job right now? or Where do you hope to see this situation a year from now? Wrap up by re-asking your big question, when the interviewee is on a roll: Just to sum up, why is this issue so important right now? The key to any great interview is research. Dont walk into an interview to get facts that you can get online. Your interviewee will take you more seriously if you come across as educated and prepared. If you arent, you could end up like Kathie Lee Gifford when she asked Martin Short how his wife is doing (shes dead). Men: What You Should Wear on Camera Gents, looking good on camera is extremely important! Whether you are creating a video for your website, running a meeting via Skype, or appearing on the local news, every viewer will make a snap judgement about you based on your looks. Here are some rules and tips to keep you looking awesome on air or online . . . and stop the audience from being distracted by your outfit! Go for: A well-cut (NOT baggy) suit and consider pairing it with a bold orange or purple tie rather than the usual conservative red or blue (unless you are running for President). Casual shirts can work but skip the colors white, gray, or light brown. A T-shirt is fine if you are a surfer or doing home repairs but go for a collared casual shirt if you are an entrepreneur or business owner. If you are appearing on camera because you are a doctor, fireman, or some other recognized role, then wear the uniform. Play the part. Avoid Wearing: Green if you are in front of a green screen. Your body will be invisible. The color of your backdrop. For example, if you are going to be a guest on Charlie Rose, dont wear black. The black background will make you look like a floating head. Sometimes red. A red that is too bright may look oversaturated and smudged on video. Bright white shirts (unless you are wearing it under a jacket). Its too risky. The white might glow, making you look like you descended from heaven. Unless thats the look youre going for. Some patterns: You may need to reconsider a checked, thinly striped, or herringboned top or tie. Sometimes video cant accurately read a pattern. Your clothes may look like they are vibrating, givingyour audience a headache. The Bottom Line: I know several TV reporters who only wear ill-fitting ensembles composed of grays and mud browns. Snooze fest. If you want to come across as dynamic, look dynamic. Wear clothes that fit you well and add a bit of color so you pop off the screen! Manoush Zomorodi is the author of  Camera Ready: How to Present Your Best Self and Ideas On Air or Online, on-camera expertise comes from years of producing and reporting for BBC News, Reuters Television, and other media outlets. She moderates conferences on digital technology and hosts live video events, in addition to doing media coaching.

The Latest Trends in Resume Writing

The Latest Trends in Resume WritingSince so many people need a new job or promotion, the latest trends in resume writing will definitely be the hottest topics in the job search. These trends will certainly be found through some of the article writing services or other resume writing services. In this article, we will try to see if the trend of current trends is the right one in terms of resume writing and how it can help you make it better.First of all, let us look at some of the recent trends in resume writing and see what direction they are heading. Some of the resume writing services have started making it an organized process and in this case, it means a step further down the road towards professionalism. In fact, in some of the recent trends in resume writing, there was not even a need for a special certification like a degree or certificate, which means that some of the resume writing services will be trying to make it an easier process and a more professional one.Then, there w as a shift from interview questions to what is referred to as an overview. This means that the interviewer will focus on the personality and values of the applicant and not just the skills and accomplishments. The outlook on the future career of the applicant will be different because there will no longer be any interview question regarding the company's future plans. Interview questions will be replaced by a more general overview of the applicant's character and ability to interact well with others.The next thing we can say about the latest trends in resume writing is that they emphasize that the candidate should put some things aside, such as having an idea about the different career opportunities, having a different career path, and even using of different experiences. This means that the candidate will be able to make a better selection. This may be true, but it could also mean that the applicant is not prepared enough in terms of preparing for a career change.And the last trend we can say about the current trends in resume writing is that the contents will be less formal. This means that the resume is not going to be full of formal documents such as certificates and degrees. In fact, the content in the resume is going to be more of the personal side and that is not written formally. This means that the applicant will not be able to state the exact date of their graduation but will only state when they graduated.The reason for this is that it is less formal, which means that it has become easier to write a resume that is less formal. This means that more people can write a more serious resume. For example, there is no need to have a formal title such as 'Master Degree in Business Administration' because there are so many professional title out there now. Just stating the profession will suffice.As for the outline, it is important to state the various skills and experiences that the applicant possesses so that the interviewer can see that they can make a ne w career path. It is important to highlight the different aspects of these skills and experiences, such as management skills, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills.In summary, if you do a little bit of research, you can already see the trends in resume writing being used these days. It is important to make sure that you get your resume professional and keep it as simple as possible. Remember that professionalism only mean that it is important for a resume to convey a message to the employer and not necessarily an overly professional one.

How To Be Loved And Respected

How To Be Loved And Respected Today, I want to talk to you about 10 things I learned from my mother that will help you to be a better person, and to succeed in a bigger, better way, no matter what you’re doing. Now, everyone loves my mother and they respect her, and that’s the Holy Grail for all of us â€" we want to be loved and respected. So, here are some of the ways that I’ve observed and heard from her as to how she does this. 1. Give people a way out This is about taking their feelings into consideration, and giving them a way to save face. They’ll really appreciate it even if they never say anything, and if you do the opposite, if you corner them, they may resent it forever. It’s like if you have a thief in your house, you don’t want to stand in front of them and block their exit. You want to be clearing a path so they can get out gracefully, and nobody gets hurt. 2. Praise in public, criticize one-to-one in private Second, she says to praise people in public, and criticise only when you’re one on one and in private. This relates to the saving face point as well and, for example, she says you never want to criticize your children in front of their friends. The same thing applies at work. 3. Confrontate This is a term that my mother came up with that says you want to deal with issues and not let them fester. Being in confrontate does not mean being confrontational. In fact, it means the opposite. It means you want to address the issue in a constructive way, but you do want to address the issue. 4. The 3 C’s This is advice my mother gave me when I was going away to college, and she tells me that this is advice she gives all hyper competitive achievers. The three Cs are: avoid unnecessary conflict, comparison and competition. If you can do those things, and remind yourself whenever I do and I catch myself, it helps me so much because it changes the negative tape in my head and it just makes me feel better, and it makes me a better person to be around. 5. Listen to people Sometimes, my mother says, “People just need to talk it out”. So you just sit and listen, actively listen, and they’ll really appreciate it. I still remember my mother sitting at the kitchen table with all kinds of friends and relatives, and that’s what she would do, and they always left feeling better. 6. Show them how it’s done You can think of this as role-modelling the behaviour, or showing rather than simply describing. Where this comes up is, my mother is a paediatrician and when she would be showing new mothers how to love their babies, she would pick them up and demonstrate, “This is how you love a baby” â€" she would give them what I call a full body hug. She’d pick up the baby, hold the head and just love the baby, so her whole body would be against yours and she was cradling the baby’s head. From that, the new mothers could see it’s not just pick up the baby, make sure you’re supporting the neck, but it was you love the baby. You show the mother how to do that. I’m sure there are places in work where we can all do that too. 7. Be a positive force When my mother came to the US, she shortened her name to KC it’s actually Kuang-Chung. So, she is so positive and spontaneous. She is so herself and comfortable in her own skin, and makes everybody around her feel really comfortable, happy and positive. She does this just by interjecting and injecting this huge amount of positive energy. She says things in a positive way, she makes people feel great, and people have now started to call this the ‘KC factor’. So let’s all try to put some more KC factor' into our lives. 8. See the possibilities Alongside that KC factor' that we just talked about, this is about seeing the possibilities and seeing a way to get around the issues and the problems. For example, when we were little, we’d be cooking and we’d say, “Oh, we want to make this dish with teriyaki sauce, but we don’t have teriyaki sauce. Oh no, we can’t do it.” She’d come around and say, “Well, why not use some soy sauce and some sugar, and we can make our own teriyaki sauce?”, which of course worked out great. And as any good Chinese family, we always had soy sauce around. She was like the female version of that TV character “MacGyver” â€" you know how he would be able to use tape and string and whatever was lying around in the garage where everybody was being held hostage, and create an airplane so they could fly out and escape and catch the bad guys. So see the possibilities, be resourceful and imaginative. 9. “Dog is dog” I know, almost impossible to argue with the woman, right? I mean, dog is dog, how can you argue? What she means by that is, you can only expect a dog to behave like a dog, and not like a cat or a squirrel. When you apply that to people, it’s that people will tend to behave as they are and they will revert to type. So we shouldn’t be surprised when people do things in a way that is consistent with how they are, even if it’s not what we expect or would like. It also reminds me of the story about the frog and the scorpion, where the scorpion wants to get to the other side of the pond. The frog says, “Why should I take you? You’re just going to sting me and we’ll die.” The scorpion says, “Of course not, it’s in my self-interest not to sting you.” They get to the middle of the pond and, of course, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog goes, “Why did you do that?” The scorpion goes, “Well, I couldn’t help it, I’m a scorpion.” So, dog is dog. 10. Don't be pressured by your own potential This is something that applies to all achievers. My mother used to watch me struggle and work so hard because I had this potential I was trying to achieve, and I had so many things that I wanted to do. This was her way of saying, “Hey, you also have to enjoy life. Don’t be pressured by what society tells you what you have to do â€" it’s your decision”, or my decision whether I want to fulfil my whole potential or not. If I decide to do it, great, go for it. And you want to be happy doing that but don’t be pressured by what other people’s expectations are of you fulfilling your own potential. You get to choose, you decide, it’s your life. She also reminded me that there’s this Charles Schulz Peanuts cartoon where he has the cartoon character â€" I can’t remember which one it was; maybe it was Lucy â€" where the caption is, “The heaviest burden is your own potential.” So, don’t be burdened by your own potential. Now, which of these could help you be even more successful, personally and professionally, and what might you add to this list?

Hop on the Social Media Bus

Hop on the Social Media Bus Could it be as simple as it seems? Joining free virtual networks to share information with people you have something in common with? A while back I read an article I saw tweeted on Twitter. 10 Ways Social Media Will Change in 2009. It is an interesting review of what needs to change. The author, Ravit Lichtenberg,makes a couple of observations: Meaning and connection two key anchors of all things social media are corroding by the day as peoples ability to organize their experiences and find the relevance of their networks declines. Social media, in essence, is bumping up against its own ceiling, no longer able to serve the needs of those living within its walls; and for these reasons, social media as we know it is changing course. Social media has forever changed the way people use technology to interact with others, but it can no longer satisfy peoples needs in its current form and must change course. We will surely see some interesting changes over the next year as companies and individuals do more than just do it, but implement strategies and truly usable interfaces. As egocentric as we are, these social networks offer learning opportunities as well. And remember, you dont know what you dont know. It isnt too late or too early to take a ride.