Episode 38 - Part 4: working and getting sucked in without considering your future and/or value Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License - I asked my boss for a raise but he said I didn't deserve it so I sent him my resignation letter. Now he is asking me to stay with a higher salary. Should I accept his offer? The experts will tell you - never - never - EVER accept a counter-offer. Your resignation has already placed you in the outer circle and you will remain there forever. Just leave.  - Want to know the best way to cover this? If you know the company likes you and your work, present them with the following: “You know, over time I’ve received a lot of offers to join other companies. I’m not really interested in any of them. I’m happy here. I like the company, the work, the direction we’re going, and I know the company can’t match some of these offers. I get it. All I’m saying is, my wife and I discuss these things, and she’s aware of the money I could make at these other companies. It’s a lot of pressure. My question is, even if the company can’t match any of those offers, could the company close the gap a little? If not, I totally understand. You’re running a business and will pay me what you think I’m worth. Let me know your thoughts.” - In this, we are appealing to their priorities without threats, resignations, or ultimatums. We are recognizing their priorities while sharing a reality - other companies think I’m worth more. We’re also showing we are committed to the company’s goals - we’re not interested in leaving and we are happy here. We’re also showing a spirit of cooperation in not requiring a “match” - just a bump.  "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. " -Eleanor Roosevelt - The first time I said this to a boss, I told him what I was being offered and he whistled. “We can’t match that.” - I said “I know, and like I said, I’m not asking you to. I’m just wondering if you can close the gap a little. If that’s my market value, seems you would want to take a stab at closing the gap. I’m happy here. I’m not interested in leaving.” - Every time I’ve tried this, the boss worked out a raise for me. Life went on and we went on to do a lot of things together. Non-threatening. No destroyed trust. No extortion. Asking for a raise isn’t particularly an art form. You need to think like your boss thinks - what are his priorities, goals objectives "I rebel; therefore I exist. " -Albert Camus

Episode 38 - Part 3: working and getting sucked in without considering your future and/or value Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License - So, what can you do if you are stuck in a dead-end job? “The most important thing is to take responsibility for your job quality and success,” Reynolds says. “Don’t blame a company for your situation. Rather assess honestly, take action and, thoughtfully, purposefully go where you can flourish.” - Here are eight additional tips: Speak up. If you’re in this quagmire and haven’t spoken up, now is a good time. Some employees avoid all challenging communications with their supervisors and could have enjoyed the upward mobility they sought. Know how much effort is worth putting forth; what will be your return on investment?  - Create a personal document to examine what can be done, if anything, to improve your current situation. Beware of hastily trading one set of problems for another "Time is a created thing. To say “I don’t have time”, is like saying, “I don’t want to”. -Lao Tzu - Identify a compelling future for yourself and use it as a motivator to take action. A positive impetus is healthier than a resentful one. Better to move towards buying that cool car you’ve always wanted than walk away from the rust-bucket that’s literally been driving you crazy without an alternative. - Continue doing your job well. If you’ve decided to look for a new job, keep doing your best work in your current position. You don’t want to burn bridges, especially if you’ll need good references. - Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Identify the things about your current job that would be useful to take forward into your next move and write down your successes. There are always good points, learning and achievements to draw upon from any situation. Also figure out what you could improve before you start searching for new opportunities. "Dreams have only one owner at a time. That’s why dreamers are lonely." -William Faulkner - Gain experience outside of the office. If your dead-end job doesn’t allow you to hone your skills, take a class to advance and develop the ones that will benefit you in the future. Self development is key. Another way to do this: Volunteer during your down time in an effort to further develop your leadership skills and résumé. - Examine the risks that are associated with leaving your dead-end job. Be sure it’s absolutely the right decision before you make any big moves. - Do your homework so that you choose well in your next job. You wouldn’t want to end up in another dead-end position. One way to do this: During job interviews, ask the employer about career development and advancement opportunities. - If you find yourself stuck in your position, try to carve out 30-minutes a day to focus on new goals, ideas and aspirations. Jot down your goals and steps to work towards them. Many people stuck in dead end jobs have started or launched their small businesses on the side. Thirty minutes a day can be found in your commute, waiting in car lines, or traffic. - Getting unstuck from a dead-end job is not about having a positive attitude, but about positive action. Don’t say there is no room for growth. Make new doors and explore new territories. Where there is no upward growth, go for lateral moves. Don’t wait for an acknowledgement; tell them and show them that you deserve better. It’s all about awareness, initiative and positive action.

Episode 38 - Part 2: working and getting sucked in without considering your future and/or value Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License -You’re not being compensated fairly. If you’re made to feel fortunate to receive a paycheck or that you’re being overpaid, those are red flags "A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live." -Lao Tzu -A machine can do your job. Your role is becoming obsolete, as the skills required are being replaced by technology. -There’s no praise in sight. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to please. “If you move mountains for the company, the silence that follows is deafening”  "We can see through others only when we can see through ourselves." -Bruce Lee

Episode 38 - Part 1: working and getting sucked in without considering your future and/or value Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License - Are you in a job where the only way to move up is to get out? Is your role becoming obsolete, as the skills required are being replaced by technology? Are your colleagues given opportunities that you’re not? If you answered yes to any of the above, there’s a good chance your career has come to a standstill. That’s right; you’re stuck in a dead-end job. "Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay." -Simone de Beauvoir - Almost everyone experiences this at some point in their career, says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant; How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job. “It is often difficult at first to discern if you’re in a stagnant position. The realization rarely happens overnight because oftentimes the employee has offered to take on more challenging assignments, but that falls on deaf ears. After hitting enough walls, however, you realize that those efforts and energy could be better placed toward a new job search.” Here are 20 tell-tale signs that you’re stuck in a dead-end job: - Your work offers no change in routine; it’s very mechanical. This is perhaps what you’d be doing five years from now, and your career goals do not align with what you currently do. - If your position feels static and you don’t see a way to earn further responsibilities or get ahead even after offering ideas on the subject, you’re probably in a dead-end job. - Your skills are not being tapped. Your supervisor doesn’t tap into your skills set or go beyond what you’ve been contributing for quite some time. You may have been passed over for promotion – or your requests to take on more challenging projects have been ignored. - They’re not interested in your career goals. You are not being asked about your professional goals or future plans "The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power." -Mary Pickford - They don’t support your career plan. You are asked about your goals and plans, but the boss pays no attention to them or doesn’t support you in reaching them. - You’re subject to unfair treatment. You notice your colleagues are getting opportunities you don’t get, says David Shindler, author of Learning to Leap and founder of social learning site, The Employability Hub. - You’re not challenged. You feel unchallenged by your job, your boss, or your co-workers with no welcome avenue to change things, Reynolds says. - Your thoughts and contributions are not valued. Your voice is no longer heard and your opinions are no longer valued, Shindler adds. - You can’t get time with the boss to move projects forward. Your projects seem to get lost in the abyss. Essentially, you are being ignored out of a job; e-mails go unanswered and you’re lucky if you catch your boss in the restroom. "The best way to predict the future is to create it." -Abraham Lincoln - No change in pay, title or tasks. You have been doing the same work for more than one or two years without a promotion, increase in pay, or increased responsibility. While some people may enjoy working on the same tasks, a tell-tale sign of a dead-end job is employees who are not being offered advancement or new training. - You get that Monday morning feeling nearly every day. What you used to enjoy doing is no longer enjoyable. No enthusiasm to get up and go to work is a sign you’re in a dead-end job. - Attempts to change or improve your job are not welcomed. If you’ve tried reinventing yourself at the company, modifying your job description or proposed a lateral move to no avail, then it’s time to look elsewhere. - Your values and the firm’s values are not aligned. Maybe there are cultural differences; clashes in environmental aspects of its operations; civ

Episode 37: Part 5 - Invest in yourself and your brand - who are you, like really? Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License https://www.thebalancesmb.com/creating-and-growing-personal-brand-2295814 - Personal branding is the process of developing a "mark" that is created around your name or your career. You use this "mark" to express and communicate your skills, personality, and values. - Why Personal Brands Are for Everyone. Personal brands should be important to everyone. Personal brands are not only for the entrepreneur that owns their own business. It is the secret sauce that can make you stand out of a stack of resumes. "A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer's decision to choose one product or service over another."– Seth Godin - A strong personal brand will impact your ability to get the right jobs, promotions, and increase your ability to attract talent and capital. So, let's look at these tips that can help you in creating your own personal brand: - Build Your Platform. If you are going to have a personal brand, you will need a website to create your virtual platform. Your website should be your name. You will also need social media accounts that represent your brand. You will use these platforms to share your voice. - Identify Your Uniqueness and Your Strengths. Think about the characteristics and strengths you've built in your career. If you are stuck, think about that "one thing" that everyone says you rock at. If you're still stuck, ask others. - Own Your Space. Once you've identified your uniqueness and strengths, perfect them. Learn all that you can and become the expert in that area. You can never stop learning. Read, absorb, and teach. "If you want to be truly successful, invest in yourself to get the knowledge you need to find your unique factor. When you find it and focus on it and persevere your success will blossom." -Sydney Madwed - Share Your Knowledge. It's not enough to learn it; you have to teach it and share your knowledge by helping others. This is where you prove you know your stuff and gain exposure from doing so. - Be Yourself. Find your own style. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing and just follow the crowd. Use your style and uniqueness to attract the jobs and clientele that you desire. Find your own style and create a new set of footprints for others to follow in.? "Personal development is the belief that you are worth the effort, time and energy needed to develop yourself." -Denis Waitley - Identify Your Values and Set Your Priorities. It's important to have a clear picture of your personal and professional goals, both short and long-term. This will help you to not only identify the most important things to spend your time on but will also have something to align new projects with. - Identifying your emotional appeal. What are your personality features? This can be as easy as saying you have a crazy sense of humor or that you are obsessively organized. Take a few moments, why do you think people are attracted to the brand of you?Describing yourself. When it comes to your brand who are you and why do people enjoy working with you? "At the center of your being you have the answer: you know who you are and you know what you want. "– Lao Tzu -Building a personal brand takes time and effort, but it's worth it. The need for a personal brand will continue to increase. It's the one thing that no one can take away from you, and it can follow you throughout your career.  "You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." - Henry Ford

Episode 37: Part 4 - Invest in yourself and your brand - who are you, like really? Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-personal-branding-4056073 - It used to be that creating a personal brand meant you had a bunch of business cards made up—and if you were really creative, you hired a graphic designer to create a logo for you. But, with the development of social media and an increasingly individualized society, the brand you build around yourself is perhaps the single most important way you can stand out in your spheres of influence. If you're just beginning to think about your personal brand, it's crucial that you understand that personal branding is the means by which people remember you. "Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead." -Morihei Ueshiba - It's more than a trademark or a stunning logo—it is how you present yourself online and offline to potential clients and customers. Your brand image is what you create to help build your business. Your personal brand centers around you as an individual. - Defining Your Personal Brand Means Knowing Your Audience. If you're looking to define your own personal brand, first you need to consider the kind of impression that you want to build and the market you want to target. Where do the two intersect? What does each look like and what does each want? What problems do they have? If you can build a solid personal reputation as someone who cares and truly wants the best for their clients, you'll succeed. "Personal development is a major time-saver. The better you become, the less time it takes you to achieve your goals." -Brian Tracy - Work the Offline World. Personal branding isn't bound to the internet. When you leave your home and interact with people around town, make sure you maintain a positive and professional appearance in keeping with your brand. Carry business cards with you at all times, and keep an eye out for potential clients. People love to support local businesses and other professionals, and if you make a good impression they'll be more eager to look into your services—and hire you or refer you to someone who will. "As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." - Andrew Carnegie - Consistency Is Key. One of the key components of successful of personal branding is staying true (i.e., consistent) to your brand. Clients will start recognizing your brand once they've encountered it several times. And, if you change your image mid-stream, clients will get confused, and ultimately not know (or trust) you. If you're using multiple platforms (e.g., a website and glossy color brochures), you need to keep your overall image and appearance the same. One way to accomplish this is to make sure your color schemes, logos, personal mottos, and your overview business look and feel are the same. "Once you realize that you have identified a passion, invest in yourself. Figure out what you need to know, what kind of experience and expertise you need to develop to do the things that you feel in your heart you will enjoy and that will sustain you both mentally and economically." -Martha Stewart

Episode 37: Part 3 - Invest in yourself and your brand - who are you, like really? Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License https://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-tull/top-10-ways-to-invest-in-_b_8406130.html - 4. Invest in building your confidence. People who know their value, have something to say and others will listen. You can invest in yourself by developing an understanding of the value that you possess and offer others. Learn to have the courage to speak your truth. The more you love yourself and own the value that you offer, the more confident you will become in sharing it with others.- Develop your skills. Improving your skills doesn't always mean investing in higher education, though that's surely an option, and perhaps a necessary one depending upon your career field. Investing in your knowledge and skills can take many forms. In addition, expanding your level of knowledge and skill isn't limited to the business arena and doesn't necessarily need to be formal. There are many “skill investment” avenues. - Advance your education – extra classes, advanced degrees, relevant certifications, are all valuable investments. Take classes, either in person or online. "Invest in yourself first. Expect nothing from no one and be willing to work for everything." -Tony Gaskins - Attend seminars and workshops to expand your knowledge and skills in your business and/or personal life. This will also give you the opportunity to meet and interact with individuals who are like-minded. -Take care of your health. Eat right each day, fueling your body with nutrients. When you focus on eating organic and healthier choices, you will feel better and have more energy. I know that the unhealthy burger or cupcake gives us instant gratification, but if you're like me, you regret it later, because you feel lousy afterwards. Exercise daily. Do something every day to get moving and get your heart rate up, even, if it's just walking the dog. Exercise gives you the energy to take on the day with confidence because of how it makes you look and feel. - Read – anything and everything. Explore culture – attend performances, listen to different style of music, travel, or join an organization or group comprised of people from different backgrounds. Open your mind – engage in conversations with those who disagree with you. Look at an argument and try to make a case for the opposing point of view. Keep your mind active – play word games, (yes, even Words with Friends counts,) board games that include strategy, or try using your brain to perform simple calculations rather than relying on a calculator. "Income seldom exceeds personal development." -Jim Rohn - Polish the exterior – translation: take care of the outside too. Many people dismiss this as frivolous and self-indulgent, but it's not, as long as you don't go overboard. We're not talking about facelifts and Botox, we're talking about getting a fabulous haircut, and wearing clothes that make you feel confident and attractive. "It hurts like hell when the world won't invest in you. But it's excruciating, almost more than you can bear, when you don't believe and invest in yourself."-Julia Cameron - Choose to be happy. Happiness is a choice. Happy people choose to focus on the positive aspects of life, rather than the negative. They are not held hostage by their circumstances. They look at all the reasons to be grateful. “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”- Abraham Lincoln - Work on your bucket list. If you don't have a bucket list, then it's time to start one. Your bucket list is meant to be a list of everything you want to achieve, do, see, feel and experience in your life. Your list may be ongoing, but you can start by writing 100 things down. Then each month or so, make sure you're knocking out at least, one of the items on your list. - Invest in a coach. A coach can assis

Episode 37: Part 2 - Invest in yourself and your brand - who are you, like really? Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License https://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-tull/top-10-ways-to-invest-in-_b_8406130.html - There's a wealth of benefits that can be gained from investing in yourself. Here's a look at just a few: Satisfaction. When you take the time, or make the time, to invest in yourself, you will be rewarded with a tremendous sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Whether you invest in fitness, health, or creative pursuits, the sense of accomplishment that comes when you achieve or finish something can be extremely beneficial and can do wonders for your mindset. - Confidence. Deep down, we're often afraid to say yes to self-investments because we feel that we don't deserve it, or that we won't be able to experience the full benefit. But saying yes and making that initial investment in yourself—whether it's signing up for a workshop, going in for that checkup, or hiking that mountain—can boost your confidence tremendously; improving your outlook as well. When you have confidence, you can achieve more things than you ever thought possible, and will be able to set your sights higher, and reach those goals that you may have once thought out of reach. - Stability. When you invest in something that will benefit you mentally—whether it's learning something new, or refining your skills, you'll be able to help to add more stability to your life. For many of us, we invest a lot in our employer, doing tasks that benefit them, at the expense of neglecting our own skills. But it's important to remember that no job is guaranteed. By developing and deepening your skills can work to create a more stable future. "The best gift, and investment, you can give your child is your time." -Kevin Heath - Connections. Investing in yourself can open the opportunity to forge new connections. Investing in relationships and people who mean a lot to you can help to deepen and strengthen others as well as yourself. Never underestimate the power of a good friend! - Top 10 Ways to Invest in Yourself 1. Set goals. Learn how to set personal and business goals for yourself. If you're not taking the time to set goals it's like driving in the dark with the headlights turned off. You will not know where you're going and you will waste precious time. Be sure to also set some time frames in which to meet them. Your goals should be SMART goals -Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked." -Warren Buffett - 2. Honor your intuition. You can show yourself love by trusting your gut and honoring the message that it's sending. Listening to your intuition, will allow you to make better decisions. Valuing your intuition, by not allowing the thoughts, feelings or statements of others to take away from what you know to be true is very empowering. By paying attention to how you feel, it will help you to make better, smarter and quicker decisions. - 3. Invest time in your creativity. Our creativity doesn't have to diminish as we get older. In fact, it is believed that the peak of creativity in most people is around 30-40 years old. (Lindaur, 1998, Marisiske &Willis, 1998) Creativity can be the catalyst in the manifestation of continual learning and lifelong activity. It allows us to be inspired, have fun and appreciate the beauty in the world. "Old men are always advising young men to save money. That is bad advice. Don't save every nickel. Invest in yourself. I never saved a dollar until I was forty years old." -Henry Ford

Episode 37: Part 1 - Invest in yourself and your brand - who are you, like really? Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License http://www.blog.daydesigner.com/invest-in-yourself/ "The best investment you can make is in yourself." -Warren Buffett - Why It's Important to Invest in Yourself and Why You're Not Doing It. When it comes to investments, one of the best you can make is in yourself! But all too often, investing in ourselves is a low-priority item; something we think about doing someday. Why is investing in yourself so powerful? Investing in yourself, sends a powerful message to yourself and the world. The message is: - Time and money are among the top reasons that we give for putting off things that would enrich our lives. But while it's true that you may not have a lot of extra time or money lying around, it's important to realize that often, we cite those reasons not because we really can't afford it or couldn't find time for it, but instead because we fail to recognize the real value in investing in ourselves. "Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune." -Jim Rohn - Whether it's because we feel that we won't benefit enough to make the investment worthwhile, or if we're telling ourselves that we're just not worth the risk—those are tremendously sad reasons when you think about it! The fact is that we are worth it, and if we don't venture out on a limb or try new things, we'll never be able to grow as a person. "Man’s life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self." -B. R. Ambedkar - Investing in Yourself: Where to Start? There are plenty of ways to invest in yourself and there really is something for everyone and every budget. Here's a look at a few worthwhile investments that can produce excellent rewards: FitnessEducationExperiencesReading more booksSpending time in natureCreative pursuits—Writing, sculpting, painting, drawing  "There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self." -Ernest Hemingway "An investment in education is an investment in our future." -David Wasinger

Episode 36: Part 3 - Procrastination: Time and tide waits for no one Music: “Just A Blip” by Andy G. CohenFrom the Free Music ArchiveReleased under a Creative Commons Attribution International License http://time.com/5322514/stop-procrastinating-tips/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-procrastination-is-good-for-you-2102008https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_96.htm - Procrastination is the habit of delaying an important task, usually by focusing on less urgent, more enjoyable, and easier activities instead. It is different from laziness, which is the unwillingness to act. Procrastination can restrict your potential and undermine your career. It can also disrupt teamwork, reduce morale, and even lead to depression and job loss. So, it's crucial to take proactive steps to prevent it. -But giving in to this impulse can have serious consequences. For example, even minor episodes of procrastination can make us feel guilty or ashamed. It can lead to reduced productivity and cause us to miss out on achieving our goals. If we procrastinate over a long period of time, we can become demotivated and disillusioned with our work, which can lead to depression and even job loss, in extreme cases. "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."- Abraham Lincoln - Step 1: Recognize That You're Procrastinating. You might be putting off a task because you've had to re-prioritize your workload. If you're briefly delaying an important task for a genuinely good reason, then you aren't necessarily procrastinating. However, if you start to put things off indefinitely, or switch focus because you want to avoid doing something, then you probably are.  - Step 2: Work Out WHY You're Procrastinating. You need to understand the reasons why you are procrastinating before you can begin to tackle it. For instance, are you avoiding a particular task because you find it boring or unpleasant? If so, take steps to get it out of the way quickly, so that you can focus on the aspects of your job that you find more enjoyable. Poor organization can lead to procrastination. Organized people successfully overcome it because they use prioritized To-Do Lists and create effective schedules . These tools help you to organize your tasks by priority and deadline. "Don’t wait. The time will never be just right."- Napoleon Hill - Step 3: Adopt Anti-Procrastination Strategies. Procrastination is a habit – a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior. This means that you probably can't break it overnight. Habits only stop being habits when you avoid practicing them. Forgive yourself for procrastinating in the past. Studies show that self-forgiveness can help you to feel more positive about yourself and reduce the likelihood of procrastination in the future.Commit to the task. Focus on doing, not avoiding. Write down the tasks that you need to complete, and specify a time for doing them. This will help you to proactively tackle your work. - If you're procrastinating because you find a task unpleasant, try to focus on the "long game." Research shows that impulsive people are more likely to procrastinate because they are focused on short-term gain. Combat this by identifying the long-term benefits of completing the task. For instance, could it affect your annual performance review or end-of-year bonus? "If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done." - Rita Mae Brown - At the same time, it can be useful to reframe the task by looking at its meaning and relevance . This will increase its value to you and make your work more worthwhile. It's also important to acknowledge that we can often overestimate the unpleasantness of a task. So give it a try! You may find that it's not as bad as you thought, after all! "It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the onl