How To Advance Your Career

Time to read: 45 seconds

Our puppy's litter when they were itty bitty.

Last year, I joined the Alumni Board of the College of Communication at Ohio University, where I completed my PhD. One of my dreams was to work with larger groups of young people, so when this opportunity came up, it was a clear YES!

For two semesters, I've had the chance to do career workshops with classes of juniors and seniors. The students are STRESSED OUT about their future, and my goal is to calm their fears and teach them to trust the process of their career and lives.

I thought you might also enjoy the content about trusting the process of your career and life. So for the next few weeks, I'll share one nugget at a time to help you advance your career, change jobs, refresh your attitude about your current job, and just generally feel calmer.

If you know someone who could use a solid dose of career advice, please forward this newsletter to them. They can join us here.

If you have specific career questions you'd like me to address, email me and tell me all about it. I want this newsletter to be relevant to you!

Your Amazing Ordinary Life

Time to read: 19 seconds

Birthday candles!

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago,and all day, people texted to ask if I was doing something special. My answer was no. I had a wonderful ordinary day.

I led two corporate workshops. I walked my dogs. My kids called. I was hungry for pasta, so my husband and I went out for Italian food. I talked to clients. I folded laundry. Honestly, it was the best birthday ever.

I love living an ordinary life. When I was younger, I felt the pressure to change the world...to solve poverty or war. Every day, I see extraordinary ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their ordinary lives.

There is something wonderful about the day-to-day act of living. Take a look around your life. What is extraordinary about your ordinary life?

Ooops!

Time to read: 21 seconds

Hello, World!

I realized at some point last Thursday afternoon that I never sent my weekly newsletter. In the years I have been writing to you, I've missed, maybe, 5 times. Early in this journey, I would have felt terrible, like I let you down and proved I'm not reliable. Those are the olden days of my striving and performing.

And now?

I simply noted that I was full with many priorities last week and decided to use the miss as a way to model humility, imperfection, setting priorities, and taking accountability. In the grand scheme of my life and yours, I know that missing a newsletter is a small deal. Believe me, there are many more painful accountabilities than this.

So, let this week be a chance for you to remember you are human. Humans miss things and make mistakes. Hold yourself with grace, whether those moments are big or small.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Do These 4 Things…

Time to read: 53 seconds

My pup on an airplane

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Personal things. Work things. Too much news. Darker days here in the North. If you're overwhelmed, keep reading to find some relief. If you feel great, this is information for another day.

Here are four things you can do right now to manage your overwhelm.

• Take a break: If you are truly overwhelmed, like your brain is short-circuiting and you can't think, you must stop. Take a walk. Go home for the afternoon. Snuggle your dog. Give your brain a chance to reset and refocus.
• Make a list: When you have a lot on your plate, writing it all down helps you break each thing into smaller, manageable bites. Checking items off the list feeds your brain and motivates you to continue. Sometimes, I write my list in small chunks of time, meaning the things I will get done in the next hour in the order I will do them. For example: gym, walk dogs, scoop litter boxes, shower, write newsletter. (That's my actual list from this morning.)
• Choose your #1 priority for the day: Make it the one thing you will (must) get done today. Make it something you can complete in one day, not "write the great American novel" or "design the project plan for xyz." Your priority might be, "call Mary to get the financial data for the project plan." My #1 priority today is this newsletter, and I'm doing it right now before the day runs off.
• Focus on one task at a time: When your plate is full, it's easy to be all over the place, distracted by all the things. Narrow your view and focus. When it's time to walk the dogs, you only walk the dogs. Then shower. Then the newsletter. That's exactly what I'm doing now. A friend just called and I ignored it to finish this newsletter.

And now my #1 priority is done, and I get the dopamine hit of checking it off my list. Then I can move on to the other hundred things on the list today. Anything else is a bonus.

Don't Be Fake

Time to read: 35 seconds

In a business like mine, I have to walk the talk. I can't teach you how to have better relationships or difficult conversations if I'm not striving for great relationships and stepping into difficult conversations. I must live what I teach.

(Darn, I guess this means I can't be an a&% at work.)

One of my roles is to create freedom. For you and for me. So, I share real stories from my life and my clients. I use photos of my dogs and charm bracelets instead of hunting for photos of random models around a conference table.

This same authenticity is the key to your happiness and power at work. To be clear, I get angry and sad. I disappoint myself sometimes. I don't bring everything into my business, and each of us gets to choose the line of appropriate privacy.

That is what it means to be an adult. You make choices about what to share and what to keep private. About what is needed from you in different contexts. And you show up authentically in all areas of your life.

There's really no other way to live. Being fake will suck you dry.

How about that as you go into your weekend? Love to you!

Does Generosity Matter In Business? Yup!

Time to read: 35 seconds

Last week, I spoke about generosity. Generosity matters in business, no matter your industry. If you work in medical devices, you aren’t going to give someone a free pacemaker with purchase, and you can always give your time and care.

I structure my business with many layers of support. This weekly newsletter is open to anyone and everyone. It’s free. I like communicating with you. I want people to have information that makes a difference, and this newsletter is a great format to share my best strategies and thinking.

I love it when people reply with stories, questions, and comments.

I offer group programs, team workshops, and 1:1 coaching as well. I know many of you will never reach out and never hire me. That's great! This community exists for however you want to interact with it and whatever you need.

Relationships are important to me, and that includes you, even if you quietly read this newsletter every week and never reply. I'm happy to know you!

My Opinion About Your #1 Priority. :-)

Time to read: 35 seconds

More custom charm bracelets for my daughter's scientific friends

Last week, I said I do humans. Humans are the center of my personal and professional life.

Remember? Humans are my favorite!

I’m rather old-fashioned about humans. I think humans need each other…live and in person.

We are a communal species. That doesn’t mean you have to live with other people or even like all other people, although it helps if you like a few other people. And, it makes things much easier and fulfilling to have other humans to share life with.

Good relationships create opportunities. Good relationships provide support. And entertainment. Wonky ones get in the way. My private clients know I always recommend prioritizing relationships at work.

• Pay attention to the personal aspects of people’s lives.
• Look for ways to help.
• Write HAND-WRITTEN thank you notes.
• Be generous with compliments.
• Be generous in general.

In case you need repetition for a message to sink in, relationships are crucial. So crucial, they are your #1 priority, today and always.