Continue reading »]]> If you have no one holding you accountable for your career – your role as a leader and what you are doing with your life, you are quickly slipping into failure.

I know how incendiary this statement is. I know, because I just received something similar in my email inbox from a business woman I admire.

But before you move into defensive mode, please take a quick breath and internalize this thought for just a moment.

Who is holding you accountable for your own success?

(Usually, the answer is “me.”)

Well, how is that going for you?

Did you hear the crickets chirping too?

Are you letting yourself serve up excuse after excuse after reason after defensive reason why you are not reaching your goals?

In other words, are you letting yourself stay a victim of things that happen to you or have you taken control to change your path?

For most of us, we need a COACH coach. One who will not let us get by on “reasons” and “excuses.” One who will motivate, encourage and push us to continue to aim for higher heights than we think possible.

I’ve worked with some wonderful clients, who are high-achieving, highly motivated individuals; and even they can use an unbiased ear. Even they can get stuck down in the minutiae and need help seeing the bigger picture.

I often get asked what a Career Coach is and what I do. Can I get that next job for you? Can I promote you to the next higher position? No, Unfortunately not.

What I am is your personal accountability partner, that helps you form that personal control and responsibility for you own path and journey. My job is to be an advocate for your dreams, and to encourage and motivate and to aid you in making those dreams come true.

If you feel like you’re stuck, and just don’t know how to get started again, let’s set up a time to chat and see how we can get your journey started again.

Continue reading »]]>  My coaching website is about to undergo a complete transformation and I need your help! If you haven’t already; please answer the following 6 questions (should take less than three minutes, I promise) for me. Thank you so much for your help as I use this information to transform my website to become more user-friendly and improve customer service.

 And for those of you who have already participated, thank you!

PLEASE TAKE THIS SURVEY 

Continue reading »]]>  Whether you are currently in a job search or happily growing in your current position, showing your appreciation for those in your network never ever goes out of style!

Sure, you know you’re supposed to keep in touch with that networking contact list, and not let those connections grow “cold,” but how do you do that? How do you keep folks from falling through the cracks?

Turn February into your own Personal Network Appreciation Month.

Designate February each year to give special attention to each person in your network. This will give you that extra boost to connect with those you haven’t heard from recently.

(Personally, I like to designate both February and November as “Appreciation Months.” Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving are great internal reminders, and this also serves as a biannual checkups with my contacts.)

The goal of this month is not to ask for anything, but to thank them for the help they have given you in the past, let them know how much you appreciate them today, and check and see if there is anything you can do to help them in the future.

How does this appreciation “work” for you and your career? Simple. Studies show that employees would rather work with a nice colleague than a competent, successful one. So even if you do not see them daily in your office, give them a reason to associate nice warm fuzzies with you. Allow your name to stay in the forefront of their minds when they hear of that the new position or project, and upcoming promotion. 

It boils down to the fact that people want to know that they matter. When they know that you care for them and not just for what they can do for you, that contact is more likely to bend over backwards to return the favor to you. All without you having to ask. And isn’t having to “ask” the most uncomfortable part of networking?

I guarantee that if you implement your own Networking Appreciation Month you will see solid improvements in your networking success within a few months. And in one year, your career path prospects will be utterly transformed.

Are you maximizing LinkedIn to manage those connections and find new ones? Email me at JulieMendez@jsmcareercoaching.com to find out more!

Continue reading »]]> This morning I clicked on a business “vendor” website, and while waiting to log in, this message popped up: 

“You’re awesome. We just wanted you to know that.” 

Sure, it’s silly, but it also started my morning with a smile. And one more thing. It made me want to pass the message along!

February Specials!

All readers of this newsletter can receive 20% off any resume package or coaching service this month!

Previous clients can receive one coaching session (on the topic of their choosing) for 50% off. Plus, if they prefer to “pass the love along” and refer a friend, that friend can also receive a coaching session for 50% off! (Please make sure they use your name, so I know who to thank!)

Special deals must be purchased in the month of February, and used before the end of April 2012.

I appreciate the support, enthusiasm and encouragement you all have given me and my business. Without you guys, this would be a very lonely job!

All this to say to you all: You are awesome! And I want you all to know that too!

Continue reading »]]> Success does not come to those who wait, and it does not wait for anyone to come to it.  -Author Unknown 

Success depends on previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure. -Confucius 

The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. -Benjamin Disraeli

Continue reading »]]> The key to happiness is having dreams. The key to sucess is making your dreams come true. -Author Unknown 

The sucessful always has a number of projects planned, to which he looks forward. Any one of them could change the course of his life overnight. -Mark Caine 

To me success would be to be able to do your very best in everything you do. -Paul Cummings.

Continue reading »]]> 1. Confidence calms nerves! If you can speak to a room of five hundred, then being thrust into a panel interview of ten people won’t throw you!

2. Networking Contacts Galore! At most networking events you attend, you be speaking to individuals one at a time. But if you were the “featured speaker” at that same event, you would be in front of everyone in the room at once, maximizing your connection ability! Not to mention that most attendees will at least come thank you for your talk, leaving a much more comfortable “opening” to start a conversation afterwards.

3. Expert Status! Giving a great presentation and having several speaking engagements under your belt can give you an informal ”subject matter expert” status within your industry. And that’s not a bad title to add to your professional reputation!

4.More Successful Interviews! Many of the same skills you practice and perfect during preparation for your presentations are then same skills utilized in interviews. And often, presentations or proposals are used as additional steps in the interview process.

Speaking at conferences, teaching workshops for local organizations, or giving online webinars can do wonders for your reputation and career portfolio. Start out by conducting a search for related associations, organizations, and consortia in your state and beyond. Pitch them a workshop or special-interest group talk. Soon organizers will be inviting you to speak at their events!

Continue reading »]]> Public Speaking is a great skill to add to your “tool belt.” If you’re interested in strengthening your public speaking skills or starting to speak in public for the very first time, visit www.AmericanSpeaker.com for more resources. One article addressed the “3 Steps to Better Public Speaking” to ensure that you’ll deliver a polished presentation:

• Prepare: Understand your audience, narrow your focus, create an outline, write a draft.
• Practice: Write detailed notes, take a dry run, watch yourself, enlist a friend.
• Present: Relax, position your notes, start smart, lay the ground rules, maintain eye contact, end with a bang. 

Not only can these steps help you in front of large crowd, they can also help you with networking and job interviews!

Other Resources:

• Toastmasters International
• Free Public Speaking Tips
• School for Champions, Speaking Resources