Why Should I Try When Im Sure Ill Fail

“Why Should I Try When Im Sure Ill Fail” Help from our Community “Why Should I Try When Im Sure Ill Fail?” * Karen feels like a hermit on a treadmill, trapped in a career with only spreadsheets for company. She's got a good idea about the leap she wants to make, but it seems impossible. So, how do you shift when it feels too big and scary to even try? What's your career history and current job? I help freelancers and small business owners manage their finances. I'm part accountant, part financial advisor, and part business consultant. I got my accounting qualifications in my early 20s, and started out working for an accountancy firm, where I stayed for 12 years. After that, I'd had enough, and set up on my own. How do you feel about your work? I feel lonely, boring, and unchallenged. I've been doing this for so long, I've fallen into a trap of routine, and I'm probably over-comfortable. I've got a set-up that everyone seems to envy: I work from home, I choose my own hours, my own clients, and I earn a reasonable living. But I feel like a hermit on a treadmill: always at home, always staring at spreadsheets, always tapping away on my calculator… There's so much more to life than what I do, and yet it's become all I do. What would you like to be doing instead? Two years ago, I had a client who was a freelance consultant in organisational change management. We got on really well, and I worked with her for a year or so before she moved to New Zealand and found another accountant. I've not been able to stop thinking about what she does ever since. She worked with non-profit organisations and charities to help them navigate periods of major adjustment â€" from disaster response programmes to the recruitment and settling-in period of a new CEO. It sounded fascinating, and I've done a lot of reading about the subject over the past six months. I'm always excited to find out more about it, and I'm pretty sure that my logical mind, level head and problem-solving skills would be great in that environment. I think that's what I want to do. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? This feels like such a huge leap. Little old accountant me, who works in her pyjamas from her living room, showing up for an interview in organisational change management? It just makes no sense. I want to believe anyone can do anything, but this just feels ridiculous. Admitting it out loud feels like I'm setting myself up to be laughed at. When I've got a big accounting job or a project, I take it little step by little step. But this… it feels like there are no little steps to take. It's a huge undertaking that has no guarantees and enormous risks. I want to be happy at work, and I'm fairly sure that this could be the move I've been dreaming of, but I'm terrified to even try. If I apply for a change management job and get turned down, it'll just confirm all my fears that this is an impossible dream, and I know I'll give up. So I don't do anything, and then I get frustrated that nothing has changed, but I only have myself to blame. What's the point in trying when it feels inevitable that I'll get knocked back? Can you help Karen? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Karencould 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 Karen a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

How to be Popular on Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to be Popular on Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Have you ever read the book How to Be Popular by Meg Cabot? (Probably not, because it’s a young adult novel written for 12-14 year-old girls, who probably don’t read this blog.) I read it this weekend as research for another project I’m working on, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. Meg Cabot is a wonderful young adult novelist â€" if you haven’t heard of her yet, her work includes the Princess Diaries, which became a huge Disney movie series and propelled Anne Hathaway onto the celebrity A-list. What I loved about How to be Popular (besides the cute, witty story) is it gives great tips for how to be popular in real life, that I think can be applied to social media. Here are some of Meg Cabots tips, directly from the book: Popular people always have a ready smile for everyone Even though you can’t smile via social media, the picture you post on all your profiles is extremely important because it makes an impression on people and helps them decide if they want to pay attention to you. Choose a photo that is inviting and happy. A smile goes a long way. Popular people show genuine interest in others and what they have to say It’s simple â€" comment on other people’s profiles, twitters, and blogs, and they will automatically know they have a fan out there who cares about what they are trying to do with social media. Don’t be just another lurker. Popular people call others by their names, and do it often Something about writing someone’s name makes your comment to them more personal. On twitter, I love when I get a direct message with my name in it, because it shows it’s not an auto responder. But beyond just using someone’s name, make all your communications personal. It’s the best way to remind that person you know (and care) who they are. Popular people always make the conversation about YOU, not about themselves When you’re writing in your blog or on your social media profiles, don’t forget to help others instead of just talking about yourself. Advice blogs are popular because they give value to the person reading â€" and in return, the person writing gets a boost in popularity as their content is shared. But people don’t share self-centric content. Popular people are the same people in private as they are in public Gen Y is known for extreme transparency online, and other generations â€" even when they embrace social media â€" are wary of putting themselves completely out there. But Gen Y knows something other generations don’t â€" that there’s no hiding who you are anymore. If you are mean, spiteful person in real life, people online will find it out eventually. So work on being nice in your “private” (offline) life, and you will naturally become more popular online. Popular people do what they want to be doing in life The social media elite have become that way because they shunned the corporate lifestyle and defined their own paths. You can’t be popular unless you are passionate about something. So write about your passions and the crazy things you are doing in your own life, and people will be drawn to you. Popular people are direct and honest, while always being conscious of the feelings of others It is okay to disagree with others â€" it’s inevitable actually. But instead of passing up a blog post simply because you disagree, go ahead and (kindly) engage the writer with your opinion! You will also get comments where people disagree â€" sometimes rudely. But you will get respect when you stand up for yourself without rising to their provocations. What do you think of these tips about popularity? You can find out more about How to be Popular (it really is a fun read!) here. Author: Monica O’Brien writes career advice for young professionals at her blog, Twenty Set. You can also follow her on Twitter (@monicaobrien).

Depression at Work Tips for Turning It Around

Depression at Work Tips for Turning It Around If you’re depressed at work or because of work, you’re not alone. Forbes observes that Millennials are very likely to suffer from depression and related anxiety and mood disorders at the workplace. After all, you are the group that was hit hard by the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 and is bearing the brunt of new trends in the workplace. New jobs are increasingly likely to be without benefits that older generations took for granted. There is a rise in jobs asking for engagement, like checking email or talking on the phone, in employees’ off-work hours. Jobs are not as secure and long term as they once were. All that can lead to depression and anxiety. So can individual job situations, such as demanding bosses or difficult colleagues. As a result of depression, you might find it hard to focus on the tasks at hand. You might be unable to summon the energy to deal with them. You may find yourself unable to relax or sleep without alcohol or drugs. If you’re depressed at work, there are many productive ways to turn it around. Here are five steps to move you out of depression and into a productive and happy life. Assess the Causes You need to figure out what is causing your depression. Usually, symptoms are pretty clear. You may find it nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning because you are dreading a conference with your boss, who is hypercritical. You may start to feel anxiety on Sunday afternoons because of the workload that faces you Monday. When you feel these symptoms, analyze what is causing them. Difficult relationships with your supervisor? A huge workload and no one to help? Dislike of the work itself? A stressful commute? A feeling that you’re stagnating and will never have the type of job you want? A salary below what you’re worth? Plan a Change One of the most helpful things you can do to turn work-related depression around is to plan to change the source of your depression. You can begin looking for a job with a more reasonable supervisor, a more doable workload, a better commute or a higher salary. You can take steps to work toward the type of job you want. Often, the fact that you’re working toward a better situation can itself lift the symptoms of depression. Try to Change Stressors in Your Current Job After you’ve assessed the cause of your depression, try to change any elements that are under your control. If there is no one to help you with a crushing workload, discuss it with your supervisor. See if some of it might be reassigned or temporary employees can be brought in. Ask if you can telecommute on some days to ease the commute. See if you can transfer to a different department. Make a plan to ask for a raise. It is important to work toward making your life better. At the same time, though, sometimes it is possible to change conditions at work, and sometimes there are forces beyond your control. Do not beat yourself up if these forces make it difficult to change your current job. Continue with concrete plans to change the source of the depression until the change occurs. It will if you keep working at it. Practice Self-Care One of the chief symptoms of depression is a turning away from good health habits. It might be next to impossible to motivate yourself to go to the gym. You might find it difficult to plan and shop for healthy meals, binging on potato chips and chocolate instead. If you gain weight or become more stressed as a result, it can reinforce the depressive cycle. If youre becoming stressed at work and falling into some addictive behaviors as an outlet for the stress â€" frequent happy hours, several glasses of wine each night to unwind, and so forth â€" you may find yourself more depressed and stressed than you were to begin with. So, make it part of your life to do activities to care for your health and well-being. Get yourself to the gym. Take a yoga class. Bicycle with friends rather than meeting up at happy hour. Plan meals with plenty of healthful food. Get a good 8 hours of sleep per night. It is important to work toward these, because depression will make you want to let them slide. Reach Out to Family and Friends Depression may be exacerbated by suffering in silence. Although depression may make it hard to talk about your feelings, it is important to let your family and friends know what you are experiencing. Tell them about the difficult conditions at work. Perhaps they will have suggestions to make it better! It can also be a great relief to hear stories of commiseration. Also, tell them that you are feeling depressed. They may interpret your withdrawal from certain activities as anger. If you have a lack of energy due to depression, let them know that it is the cause, not them or the activity. Depression at work is increasingly prevalent among the millennial generation. However, pinpointing the causes and making a plan to change them can alleviate depression. Share the circumstances and effects with your friends and family. Finally, be sure to keep a good exercise, eating and sleep regimen as part of your life, as depression can upend them. Depression can be turned around; the five steps above will help you do it. Images: Main  Martin Cooper   Yoga  Edson Hong

The Best Source of Personal Brand Success is Already With You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Best Source of Personal Brand Success is Already With You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” Napoleon Hill It’s been said that the most lucrative source of profit for most companies is in their existing customer relationships. And, that it takes more effort to get new customers than to keep your current customers happy and loyal to your brand. I do some selective executive coaching, and I witnessed this first hand recently.  I was conducting a phone consultation with my client who runs a mid-size, business-to-business service company. Right at the beginning of the conversation he told me that the most important issue he faces in 2009 is the challenge of finding new customers in this tough economy. I asked him what percent of his existing customers are giving the company all the business that is reasonably possible. His answer was typical: somewhere between 20 and 50%. Turns out that when scrutinized, fewer than 20% of most client relationships are fully developed. Sure, new customers would be great. But for many companies the quickest route to building business and increasing revenues will come from building on the relationships they already have. This applies to personal brand building as well. It’s not just number of followers Lets put this in the context of your personal brand and today’s business climate.  The economic downturn is affecting everyone.   Employers are laying people off, so the competition is not only fierce, but getting desperate.  And it’s not even the end of the first quarter! It’s harder than ever to rise above the noise and be noticed.  Even with the new tools â€" posting clever videos, using your social networks, etc. â€" you have to really work hard to get the attention of the decision makers. Are you just frantically trying to get new followers, fans, connections?  â€œI have 2,000 followers on Twitter!”   I have 500 Linked In connections! Terrific.  So here’s my question for you â€" are those fans and connections getting you the interviews and introductions you want?  Are you mining those relationships to achieve maximum effectiveness?   Or are you just madly trying to increase the numbers and neglecting the quality of the relationships? Let’s stop for a minute and take a page from business.   Consider enhancing your relationships with those who are already your brand fans. Give to get Remember that in today’s social media world, the motto is Give to Get.  Turn the concept around.   Are you giving all the help to the people in your network that you could? If you are like most people the answer is not really.  Heres the bottom line; we all have significant untapped potential in our existing relationships. So, the first, most important thing you must do to thrive in 2009 is not get more outrageous in trying to stand out from the crowd.   And you don’t have to step harder on the person beneath you to get ahead.    The most important thing you have to do is nurture and develop your existing relationships.  And start by GIVING help to others and then asking for their help in your situation. How business owners strengthen their existing customer base Take these suggestions from most any company’s playbook and apply them to your personal brand building efforts.   Obviously, they may not apply apply directly, but you get the point. Give to get, and use the fan, follower, and connections base you’ve worked hard to develop, both online and offline to help others and yourself. Develop and offer a customer loyalty program that rewards frequent buyers Send customers a personalized thank-you with a special offer attached Customer contact management system to follow up with customers to see if they are satisfied with their product Send a free surprise give with special product offer Offer a guarantee with the product Ask people in your network if you can do anything to help them make a recommendation, link to a blog, retweet on Twitter for them.   Thank them when they do something for you. Help out in any way you can and make it as personal as possible. Yes, a business needs new customers and you need new connections.  But this isnt about either/or, its about both/and”. See how you might help others and then how they might help you.  Nurture your existing relationships first and the your brand gets stronger. Author: Beverly Macy is the Managing Partner of YM Partners and teaches a social media class at UCLA. YM just launched the “Pay it Forward 2009” project.

The 4 Stages Towards Greater Office Productivity CareerMetis.com

The 4 Stages Towards Greater Office Productivity â€" CareerMetis.com Photo Credit : PexelsIn any business, it is important to be as productive as possible. That much goes without saying, but achieving it easily is another matter altogether.This is something that affects all businesses at some point. It doesn’t matter whether the business you manage is relatively young, and small â€" or if it is a huge international.Similarly, the industry you are working in makes little difference. The fact is, all businesses know what it is like to suffer from low productivity. Part of it is just to do with the natural ebb and flow of the workplace.evalAnywhere, with any people, you are going to have periods of relative lull. However, there are some solutions to these issues, and it is worth getting to know them well. Even if things are okay at the moment, it is possible that your business will suffer in the future. Being prepared for such an eventuality is no bad thing.With that in mind, let’s take a look at the four main steps towards achieving greater producti vity in your business.1) Set Clear GoalsevalOften, when things break down in the workplace, it is a communication issue. At any rate, this is a good place to start. Not least because it is something which any business owner could do with working on to some extent. Make it a tenet of your business that you and your management team are always clear about the expected outcome. Set goals, and be clear about them. That way, your employees won’t have much excuse not to get done what needs doing.2) Reduce WasteWastage is a serious problem for any business â€" and also for the world at large. Any business which wants to get ahead needs to have a proactive stance towards its waste management.There are a lot of different aspects to this, many of which are beyond the scope of this article. Suffice to say that you need to try and make your office as waste-free as possible. It might be worth giving some of your staff Six Sigma Yellow Belt training. This is a methodology that has a strong focus on reducing waste.3) Only Hire the BestIt is your business, so it is in your interest to hire people who are likely to be real valuable assets to the company. Often, a lack of productivity can be stemmed from one or two bad apples. While giving them the sack is not necessarily a fair option, you should bear in mind the importance of hiring the right people. When you are hiring, look for people who appear to be dedicated and passionate.4) Organize the OfficePhoto Credit â€" Pexels evalIt is also worth looking at the office itself, and the way it is put together. Too many workplaces are organized in such a way that the workflow is not allowed free reign.If you are serious about making your business more productive, then consider looking closely at the operations within its hub. If that means rearranging the entire building, then so be it.

Warning Shrinking Economies Shrink Job Opportunities - CareerAlley

Warning Shrinking Economies Shrink Job Opportunities - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. With the countrys high unemployment rate of approximately 8%, and an economy that is still shaky, its important to know which industries will provide job security and which industries are dying out. Macroeconomic study projections show that jobs requiring some postsecondary education will expand the fastest by 2020, but 18 of the 30 occupations projected to expand the fastest require no postsecondary education, so there are gainful employment options available for individuals of all skill and level of education. One industry to avoid is the United States Postal Service (USPS). According to data from the United States Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics, all occupations within the postal industry are on the decline. Positions for postal service workers are expected to decline 26%, resulting in a loss of 138,600 jobs. This decline is largely due to a drop in mail volume. The USPS received 49% of its revenue from First Class mail, the volume of which has dropped 20% over the last four years as many people migrated to electronic means of communication. The migration to electronic devices has been the catalyst for the decline of the publishing industry as well. Those employed by newspaper, periodical, and book publishers held 501,000 jobs in 2010. Projections for 2020 estimate a loss of over 61,000 of these jobs. Industry workers expected to be hardest hit are desktop publishers; this field is projected to experience a rapid decline of 15%, resulting in a loss of more than 3,000 jobs. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the health care industry, which is projected to add 5.6 million jobs by 2020. This growth reflects an expected increase in demand as the population ages. A health care option for an individual with little education is to become a home health aide. This occupation has no educational requirements and requires only short-term, on-the-job training after hiring, and it is projected to experience 70% growth by the year 2020. A more specialized health care career is that of physical therapy assistant. This job, projected to have a need for 51,000 workers by 2020, requires an Associates degree and state licensure. The typical route to licensure is graduation with an Associates degree, and a passing grade on the National Physical Therapy Exam. Alternatively, you could take it a step further and stretch yourself to aim toward looking at PETAP online information technology schools, but the education path tends to be a little longer and more involved. Construction/extraction is another expanding industry projected to be creating many jobs over the next decade. No formal education is required to become a construction laborer, but basic math and English skills are helpful. This position, expected to grow 25% and create 314,000 jobs by 2020, requires only short-term, on-the-job training. This industry also is expected to have an increased demand for electricians. Projected growth for this sub-field is 23%, which equates to 133,000 jobs. A high school diploma or GED is all that is required to become an electrician; training is completed through a formal apprenticeship leading to state licensure. To learn more about a formal apprenticeship, contact the National Electrical Contractors Association at http://www.necanet.org. The industries mentioned here are just a few of the many which are projected to undergo significant growth over the next decade. The United States Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics offers detailed information and statistics about every occupation. This information, found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, is available to the public at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook

Free Resume Writing Guide - What Are They?

Free Resume Writing Guide - What Are They?Everyone has heard of a free resume writing guide. But are they all the same or are there different ones for different jobs?Whether you're in the top 10% of your field or just starting out, it can be hard to find the right opportunity. When this happens, it's not uncommon for new applicants to settle on a job without really having a good idea about what it is they're applying for.The problem is that they don't know what it takes to become a strong candidate. They may even lack the confidence to start a job search, because they think they are too low-key to even be considered. So they settle on a job that is supposed to be perfect.Instead of trying to create a fresh new resume every day, why not have a free resume writing guide available for your next job search? Many job applications will ask for a few qualifications (not a standard two pages) and a basic skill set.Take the time to get one free resume writing guide and go over the basics. If they require that you have a degree, then provide the name of the school and its number. Show that you've completed college courses.Now that you've gotten a few free resume writing guides, you can start creating a solid resume. Don't expect that your next job will have a specific job listing or will have an application that is designed the same way. This is okay - provide a clear and detailed description of your skill set.Another great idea is to go through a hiring process. When you hire, make sure to provide a full resume. It doesn't matter if the person needs an internal hire or an external one - the resume should clearly list your skills and experience.Remember, a free resume writing guide is not for everybody. Some people need to feel comfortable doing it themselves. But if you take the time to get a resume writing guide that is simple and easy to follow, you'll be able to win more jobs with confidence and increase your odds of landing that dream job in no time.