Goodbye Louie May You Rest in Peace My Little Buddy

Goodbye Louie May You Rest in Peace My Little Buddy Louie, in Kansas CitySeventeen years ago this week (Sept. 9, 1996), Louie, a beautiful red miniature pinscher puppy rode home on my lap. He was to become my first pet as an adult. Spirited and ornery, he also was faithful, tender and a loyal companion, through many life events, challenges and changes. Together, we celebrated Christmases, New Years and birthdays, and we also mourned losses such as the death of my grandma and my first marriage.During the past seven years, he has been an integral part of Robs and my life, as we fell in love, learned to sail, married and relocated our lives to North Texas Lake Texoma. Throughout all, Louie was adaptable, energizing and a willing participant. Along the way, he got lost a few times-escaping through fences or otherwise wandering offlearned to swim and found solace in the calm of a summer day. Despite his aging body, blindness and partial deafness that had been more visibly evident the past year, Louie always enjoyed his treats, lying in the sun and a warm, soft blanket. Always, for me, he was a source of joy, sweetness, comfort and companionship. He was an enduring friend who never judged and always loved.Immediately following his death yesterday, I felt a sense of deep loss, affection, sadness and remorse for how I could have comforted him more at the end, love, heartbreak and a deep well of other emotions and memories that Im still working through. My husband, Rob, has been great comforting and supportive, talking through feelings, and even brought home a spray of lilies to further celebrate Louies life. He also misses the little fellow. We buried Louie properly, and said a few words. I know that Louie is at peace.Following are a few memories of Louie from his most recent few years, illustrating his robust and wonderful 17-year life here on planet earth:Louie, Sailing!Rob and Louie, Swimming at Lake TexomaLouie, Summertime Repose (this summer)Louie, Hiding Out in His BedLouie, ContentmentLouie, at the Park (Rock Cr eek, Lake Texoma)Adios, my sweet Louie. Thank you for your inextinguishable love, the light in your eyes and the lively spirit that I will never forget. I will miss you forever.

Ladders Resume Writing

Ladders Resume WritingLadders resume writing requires the same training and preparation as the more conventional resume writing. It is all about the manner of presentation of one's strengths, experiences and qualifications.For this purpose, one may need to use many resources available online. Some of these resources can be as simple as using internet sources for career information or by resorting to libraries and educational institutions for publications. However, not all of us have the time to spend browsing through sites for answers to our questions.Ladders can provide you with all the answers you need at your fingertips. While most people are not fully aware of what a resume is all about, these institutions are usually equipped with a staff that is qualified to answer all your queries. In fact, many of them even work with some of the top companies in the world. You just have to spend a little bit of time on the Internet searching for the best answer to your queries.To begin your s earch for the answers you need, you may begin by learning more about the types of resumes that are available online. There are two main categories - the polished, or formal resume that has been made by a professional and people who wish to market themselves. These forms of resumes are typically utilized by companies in the form of an executive summary.The second category is the less formal, and more of a 'grass roots' or different approach to marketing oneself. This is usually a self-employed resume that has been created by the applicant on his own. This type of resume can either come as an online presentation or can be submitted directly to the employer.When beginning your research for answers, you will need to know more about the Ladders degree programs. The good thing about these programs is that they can give you the answers you need and more. It may seem odd, but the best way to find the answers you need is by simply asking those who are already successful in business.As an exa mple, some of the members of the business community will be able to share their advice or success stories with you. They may even be willing to give you information about the resources that are available online to help you in your career endeavors.Finally, a note of caution should be made regarding resume writing by those who belong to a less prestigious group. The only thing worse than an inexperienced resume writer is one that is hired to write the resume of someone who was a member of the top echelon of business.

Gratitude is an Attitude

Gratitude is an Attitude Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Qd9x22l5TG5_X-3ltYVVXA',sig:'Pg2IXO7Ne5Rbg_XYrVioO-DqkKlnvUvX6_UmsfL9hQ0=',w:'508px',h:'338px',items:'98942937',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); (This article originally appeared in the Florida Times-Union in 2014.) Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and not just because of the food. I love the fact that we dedicate a national day to being grateful for our blessings. If you’re working, here is a list of things you can be grateful for. First, be grateful that you have a job. Even if you’re feeling overworked, underappreciated, or just plain bored, be grateful that you are working and earning. This last recession taught us how quickly the economy and your employment status could change. Thousands of people are still looking for their next career move and many thousands more are working for less pay and fewer hours than they were before the recession. Many of them would gladly trade places with you.   It’s just not cool any more to whine about your job; find a better one if you’re really miserable, but in the meantime, be grateful for the opportunity you have. Be grateful when things change. Change, for the most part, means that your company is working on improving operations and responding to market conditions. Yes, learning new software, procedures or products is time-consuming and slows you down temporarily. But the tradeoff is in your favor. You learn more than new skills; you learn how to adapt and how to be more resilient. Having to master a new way of doing something takes you off automatic pilot and puts you into a mindful mindset. That will improve your performance in more ways than one. Be grateful for your customers, even when they’re cranky, unhappy, or make your job more difficult. They are the reason you have a job, and their feedback, both positive and negative, is the way you learn to deliver better results. Be grateful for the people who drive you crazy. You learn a lot from people when they are at their worst. You learn how not to handle situations, and you learn how to master your emotions and temper your reactions, or how to put disagreements behind you once they’re over. The key to gratitude for difficult people is trying to understand; asking yourself why she is acting this way, instead of simply condemning the behavior. Consultant Celeste Blackman calls this technique “becoming curious, instead of furious.”    Put yourself in your opponent’s place; what would you be feeling? How can you help him get to a better place? Be grateful when your plan doesn’t go smoothly. Problems show us the flaws in our thinking or execution, and they offer us the opportunity to improve both. It’s true that you learn more from your mistakes than from your successes.   Instead of asking “why me?” ask “what is the lesson in this?”   Focusing on what you can learn will take some of the focus off your frustration and disappointment. Failure also builds character and humility, both of which are essential for your success as a worker â€" and as a human being. Thursday, as I share a meal with my family, I’ll be giving special thanks for my job, which allows me to share my thoughts here with you every week. I’m grateful for the opportunity.      

Using Economics To Set SMART GOALS

Using Economics To Set SMART GOALS By now everyone is familiar with the concept of setting SMART goals, which are; Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely goals. You set out something you want to achieve, you find a way to go about achieving that something and you work towards it and then you assess, it’s as simple as that. there are some economic principles that will prove beneficial when developing your goal plan Opportunity cost This concept stipulates that; there is no win-win in any situation. Whatever you decide to do, you forgo on having done something else. Economics has been known as the dismal science. This principle tells us that everything we do comes at a cost. The cost is losing out on the benefits of having done something else instead. This can help you in setting your goals as you are able to track what sacrifices you are making to get to where you want to be. Do not do things in vain as everything you do is parallel to something else. Choosing to train early in the morning has cost you your sleep, so make it worth your while that you see your training through to the end. Starting your own business has cost you the comfort and luxury of a steady pay check. When you realize what a sacrifice what you are doing is, you will find the discipline you need to keep at it even when you don’t feel like it. Sunk costs These are costs that have been incurred and cannot be recovered in any way. This was inspired by the saying “do not cry over spilt milk.” This is basically a non-refundable deposit on your life. This principles states that, sometimes, there are just losses that you must face and move on. How can this help you when achieving your goals?Well for one, it stops you from living in the past or having too much regret to do anything else. We all have regrets about something in our past or a decision we made without much insight, its all fair and well but the problem is born when we dwell in there for way too long. there is no point in regretting having eaten that cheese cake, the only thing you can do now is make the best decision today. This also helps you let go of things, people and relationships that have reached their expiry date. Some people keep using their resources on a project that is dead in the water all because they have invested way too much into it. you need to learn to discern the sunk costs in everything you do so that you are able to preserve your time and talent for only your optimal use. The law of diminishing returns This economic principle states that, as investment in a particular area increases, the rate of profit from the investment, after a certain point, cannot continue to increase if other variables remain constant. The principle was designed for production and manufacturing houses but this is very much applicable to our everyday lives. Most things we do have an optimal point. Meaning at a certain point, the output decreases or may become counterproductive to the intent. This helps with goal setting so that you know how much time, resource and money you can invest in something. If you plan on studying, knowing your optimal studying point is necessary. Some people lose focus past two hours and anything after that is a waste as nothing is being processed, whilst that time could be put to more productive use than studying in a zombie state. A business deal may sound good on paper but at what point is the effort and resources you put in optimal and worth your while. What is the break-even point? Answers to these questions helps define the blurred line between persisting or cutting your losses. Time value of money This denotes that; there is greater benefit in receiving money now than in a later time. This principle is more corporate finance but can be applied to our everyday rituals. Is it more beneficial to do a task now, with the energy you have for it today than trusting the circumstances will be in your favor tomorrow? When you are working on a goal, timing is everything. When you are time conscience, you will seldom procrastinate or lack a sense of time management. The notion that time today is more beneficial than any futures will make you way more proactive and efficient when you are committed and focused on your goal. There is no blue print at how to go about life and neither is there a one size fits all recipe. as human beings, all we can do is try to organize the human and life experience as best as we possibly can to map out a way forward. The same can be said about setting a goal for yourself. Maybe this is something that completely challenges you or tests your limit. All you can do is believe to your best ability and make a decision with the information available to you at the time.

How to Write a Zipjob Resume - The Best Tips For an Effective Job Opportunity

How to Write a Zipjob Resume - The Best Tips For an Effective Job OpportunityZipjob resume writing can be the best way to get your resume noticed by prospective employers. But how do you make it stand out among the hundreds of other applicants? Here are a few common traits of a good zipjob resume.Zipjob resumes are easy to make. All you need is a great outline, an eye for detail and you're on your way. This means you should be able to get started as soon as you read the proposal letter and can make sure to set the tone early in the document by focusing on your own qualifications. You also need to be sure that your main points are clear and concise so that no one misses them.Once you've got the essentials down, it's a good time to refine your vision. Some people use a combination of the two steps: preparing the outline first and then filling in the details later. Others add a third step to the equation and say they get the outline first and then write down their thoughts for the actua l resume before they get the details.Another important thing is to avoid being too strict or exacting. You don't want to ruin the spontaneity of the document by being too formal. When you get a few ideas, use them and go from there.A really good way to do this is to have fun. Don't try to be too high tech or complicated, just be simple and straightforward. If you can convey a sense of humor, the zipjob could be a real winner.Something else to keep in mind is that you need to target a business level. If you're writing for the personal level, you might be better off skipping the resume altogether and just sending a thank you note to the person for their time. On the other hand, if you're writing for someone who will be calling or emailing you in the future, you will be better served with a formal letter.Writing a zipjob can be very different than writing a standard resume. Even though there is a lot of general information included, this doesn't mean you have to stick to the same forma t every time. Take some risks with your personal information and talk a little more about yourself.That personal touch is an important part of the zipjob, so don't skimp on it. In fact, if you take this route, you might find that the potential employer wants to get to know you more before they offer you a job!

3 Ways to Handle Scary Situations in Your Career

3 Ways to Handle Scary Situations in Your Career Since you're reading this, I'm guessing you’re an achiever. And as an achiever, you often have to do things that are scary. That is, scary psychologically rather than physically fear-inducing. The realm of psychological fear is a large space, which will look different for different people. For some it might be getting up in front of a big group and making a presentation or standing in front of the boardroom and doing a talk. It could be going to a big client pitch. For me, I had a recent scary moment of my own leading up to a big keynote I was delivering. Letting Fear Take Over What I used to do when I was in these situations was two things. The first is I would be unable to focus on anything else for the entire day before, sometimes a couple of days before, and on occasion even the entire week leading up to the event! The second thing I would do is to fill this time with preparations. I would drive my poor team to look at every possible contingency out of my own fear. Almost every single time the “scary event” would turn out fine. I would look back and wonder why I let all that fear take over. A Better Way to Face Fear As someone who was facing these types of situations frequently during my career, I thought that there's got to be a better way to face fear. That's why I've come up with these three ways we can better handle those scary situations. 1. Remind yourself why you’re in these scary situations The first thing is to remind yourself that it’s actually a privilege to be in these scary situations. You’ve earned your way into this situation because you’re doing something really important. You’re finding ways to play bigger and make a bigger impact. 2. Embrace those feelings The second thing is to learn to embrace those scary feelings. Embrace that delicious anticipation. Enjoy every single moment, whether it's that scary feeling or that anticipatory feeling. Engage with and feel every single one of those emotions in the lead up to the big event. Embrace that delicious anticipation leading up to a big event. You GET to be in these situations because you’re doing something important. 3. Create a sense of opportunity and excitement The third thing is to create a sense of opportunity and excitement around the event, not only for you but for your team as well. Your team can be so much more innovative and creative if you’re all preparing for an event with a sense of opportunity and excitement, rather than fear. You don't want to play tight, worrying about what’s missing and what might go wrong. You want to play free. I encourage you to keep doing things that scare you. Maybe a little bit. Maybe a lot bit, but keep on pushing those frontiers because that is how you're going to learn, grow, and develop. How I Faced a Recent Scary Situation I recently had a fearful situation where I was giving a big keynote speech. I was starting to feel all those feelings of nervousness and anxiety, and that’s when I remembered the three steps, which really saved me. Here’s how I applied them in that moment. First, I stepped back for a moment to remember and recognize that I am stepping out and playing big, and I'm doing something important. I'm getting to help hundreds, if not thousands of people. Second, I chose to embrace all of those feelings leading up to the event. Then third, I created a sense of opportunity and excitement for myself and among my team as we prepared for the event. I changed the way I was framing the situation in my mind and in my communication. Keep doing things that scare you. That’s how you’re going to learn, grow and develop. How about you? What's a scary situation for you and how will you handle your next one? I'd love to hear about it and how these steps help you. Leave a comment and let me know.

How to Crack the Job Interview with a Powerful Presentation - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to Crack the Job Interview with a Powerful Presentation If you have managed to negotiate your way through the preliminary selection processes and have been shortlisted for the final interview, you really need to get your act together so that you make the best impression on that day. Rather than putting your interviewers in the driving seat by allowing them to grill you, you could think of putting together a brief but forceful PowerPoint presentation about yourself and why you are more than suitable for the position applied for. Using a combination of visuals and text can be extremely effective for you to convey your capabilities. What Will the Panel Usually Be Looking For? Since you would have already submitted the details of your academic qualifications and your employment history, the panel will already be familiar with them. It is only because they have found your profile to be suitable that you have been shortlisted. At this stage of the interview, you need to prove to them that you are clear about your thought processes and that you are able to formulate a strategic perspective. The panel will also be keen to get a better idea of your communication skills, your ability to engage your audience, how well you manage your time, and have prepared for the interview. If this seems to be a tall order, make this your opportunity as others in the fray will also find it equally difficult to make an impression. Getting ready with a PowerPoint presentation that is structured specially to take care of all these points can give you an edge that can prove extremely valuable in getting you that coveted position. Ensure Clear Messaging and Structure of the Presentation Making a synopsis of the contents of your presentation is half the battle as it gives your audience a clear idea what to expect from you in the next few minutes. In just a few points indicate what you want to tell about yourself in the presentation and then follow it up by giving an outline of the main points that you are going to cover. Ensure that you structure the presentation logically as then this will allow you to present your arguments in the same fashion without getting lost. Make sure that that at the end of each chapter, you provide a one or two-line summary of your argument. The last slide of your presentation should invariably be a complete summary of your professional profile that suggests that you are the right applicant. Make Your Presentation Lucid but Minimalist Keep all the slides visually clear and steer clear of too much of text. Use a clean and professional-looking template for your slides so that your content does not float all over the place. You can access an internet resource like poweslides.com for a great selection of templates. Limit the number of slides to the bare minimum so that you are not constantly changing slides and interrupting the flow of thought of your listeners. If there are details that need to be shared for a better appreciation, make a handout and distribute it along with a copy of your presentation at the end of the session. Resist the temptation to use humor as a recurrent idea as it tends to destroy the professional stance of your presentation. What most people forget about making presentations is that you are there to speak and clarify on what is being displayed on the screen. Consequently, they fill up a lot of details in the presentation and then stand back and try to read it aloud to their audiences. This can be an annoying experience for the interviewers as the process is necessarily boring and time consuming. It is usually far better to keep the contents of your presentation crisp without being sketchy. Give details in your commentary and encourage discussions at the end, without bombarding them with a mountain of information. Time Management Is Crucial Remember that interviewers will not give you unlimited time for your presentation. Usually your will be required to wrap things up in less than five minutes. It is thus vital that you use the time to your best advantage by having done your homework on the profile of the company and the industry it is in and its competitive environment. Content structuring is vital otherwise you may risk being cut off in the middle without having being in a position to make a good impact. Ensure you conduct rehearsals a number of times so that you know that you can be in the command of the situation without a time overrun. Author bio: Michael Stevens is a senior human resource consultant working for a prominent placement agency. He conducts a number of mentoring sessions for young graduates preparing for their first interviews. He advocates the use of PowerPoint presentations with templates from powerslides.com for effective impact.