June 14, 2013

Top Ten For Career Growth

Have you ever had a flying dream? The kind that makes you feel for an instant that you have super powers and can float three feet above the ground? I like that kind of dream.

Unfortunately, as we “grow old” we start to come down to the ground. Our flying dreams  get bogged down.

It reminds me about people at my work who say that in our company there is no room for career advancement. They think they’re stuck. They feel boxed in by their job description.

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I love where my career is going. I’m harvesting the fruit of 22 years of experience in education. I started when I was six.  I’m mentoring others and having a blast.  I have found plenty of opportunities for advancement and growth. I have found support from my peers and my leaders. I work for the same company that the people who complain about limited growth opportunities.

So here it goes, fasten your seat belt. Top ten strategies to grow in your career:

  1. Value. Go beyond your job description. Do you have a special skill that complements your job? I’ve found out that being bilingual is a great asset, even though it hasn’t  been a requirement to perform my job.
  2. Positive Attitude.  I don’t mean leaving a marshmallow trail everywhere but truly seeing obstacles as opportunities to grow and serve better. Instead of complaining about problems, come up with solutions.
  3. Initiative. Volunteer for special projects. Find new business opportunities. Bring in your networking skills to find a business partner or client.
  4. Collaboration. This is commonplace, but working well with others really goes a long way.
  5. Great communication skills. Don’t be the person who puts out “death by Power Point” presentations. There are zillion resources on YouTube and some (not all) TED talks on how to be a good speaker. Toastmasters or programs affiliated with the National Speakers Association will help you tremendously. Remember to speak well and listen a lot.
  6.  Goals. I struggle when the time of year comes to set goals, but they have helped me to focus on growth areas and do more of the things that have been successful.
  7.  Motivation. Your career growth depends on you. How many VP, Director or Management positions are available at your company? Exactly. Instead of climbing the ladder, grow your current position. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re already as high as you will get.
  8.  Generosity. Did you find a super awesome blog post? Webinars? Articles? Books? Pass them along! Same goes for your time and skills. Be generous and you will reap great rewards.
  9.  Don’t gossip. Self-explanatory. Keep negative comments out of your vocabulary and out of your head.
  10.  Reliability. Show your team they can count on you. All the time. This goes along with accountability. They will trust you if they know “the buck stops here”.

In conclusion, no one will grow your career for you. Your leader is not your mother and they won’t set goals for you. They should support the goals you have set for yourself, which by the way should be aligned with theirs. There are always creative ways to grow without spending a fortune. Your time and energy are your most valuable asset.

Question: What does career growth look for you? Do you think these top ten apply in other areas of your life?

Posted by on June 14, 2013 in Find, Keep and Love.

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June 12, 2013

Small Acts Make a Big Difference

Isn’t it amazing how small gestures in life can make a difference? I have a fun story to share today.

Holding Hands with Elderly Patient

Yesterday I was going about my usual routine. I parked my car and headed toward the commuter train platform. I saw a young woman and a boy and two older ladies standing by the platform. I asked if they were headed downtown and they said yes. I told them to follow me because they were waiting on the wrong side of the track.  As we walked together, I asked where they were headed and gave them instructions on how to get there.

At the end of the day, when I got back from work and got off the train, three older ladies were trying to figure out where to board the train to go downtown. They were also on the wrong side of the track.  I gave them directions and walked to my car. I looked back and saw them still standing on the wrong side. I put my bag in the car and walked back to them. I asked if they were having trouble figuring out where to go. They said they were waiting for their other sister who was running late. I asked if they were going to the Twins game. It was amazing. Their eyes lit up and they all had big grins. It was like going back in time and seeing three little girls underneath the wrinkles and white hair. They said in unison  ”We love baseball!”. I wished them a fun evening and headed back to my car.

Here is my reflection:

No one else approached either group even though it was pretty obvious they were lost and didn’t know where to go.

It took approximately 3 minutes of my time to help them.

I got to join in their fun.

Their smiles and gratitude made my day. Twice.

It makes me very sad that we have lost the art of being kind to strangers. It doesn’t take long, it doesn’t cost anything but a few minutes of your time and it can make a difference in someone’s day. Had these folks missed their train, they would have had to drive 25 miles or more; there were no more trains running later. I would think that it might have ruined their plans somewhat.

Question:  Has someone helped you get on the right side of the track, literally or figuratively? Have you helped someone else? How did that make you feel?

Posted by on June 12, 2013 in Life Lessons.

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May 7, 2013

A Leader’s Mission

dreamingMy 4-year-old daughter received a Bible for Easter.  It’s princess-pink and she loves ti. Every night she asks me to read her a story. Right now we are reading Proverbs.

The kids got a “Bible Heroes” movie for Easter as well. Emily loves the story of Esther, the girl who became queen. So, of course, we read the book of Esther in her princess Bible. This past weekend we watched Dreamworks’ version of Joseph, the King of Dreams. At the end of the movie, I had big tears running down my face. I had a huge revelation. They say that education is when you are in control and revelation is when God is in control.  I’ll explain.

As I read these stories to Emily and Matthew and watch the movies with them, I find the pattern that repeats in the leaders of the Old Testament:  Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Esther.

  1. The person is in a critical, sometimes life-threatening situation.
  2. They do not feel qualified at all for the task at hand and they are unlikely candidates to accomplish it.
  3. God asks them to do the impossible in a foreign land or an adverse environment.
  4. They are put in a position to do something that their people cannot do on their own.
  5. God blesses them and helps them succeed beyond their wildest dreams.

Back to the tears running down my face.  I suddenly felt overcome with emotion when I realized the main reason why God protected these men and women’s  lives and placed them in leadership: to act on his behalf and set his people free.   I know this is not breaking news, but to me, it all came together crystal clear.  They were appointed directly to lead an oppressed nation into freedom and help the oppressor change.  It is the same reason you and I have been asked to lead.

You may not feel all that smart, outgoing or brave. You may not think that you have much to offer or that you should be telling people what to do.  However,  you have the gifts. Use them.

You are being asked in some way to lead God’s people. That is the heart of your mission.  God told Joshua “Be strong and steadfast”  multiple times.  He is telling you the same today.

What gifts are you going to use to lead God’s people today?

Posted by on May 7, 2013 in Find your Dream and tagged , , , , , , .

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April 29, 2013

The Power of a Tribe

HandprintsAbout a month ago,  I attended EntreLeadership Performance Series.  I loved the content of the conference, but most of all I loved the connection with like-minded people and I loved the experience itself. Being there, where all the magic happens. Dave Ramsey’s organization is one that I have admired and stalked…er…followed closely for the past eighteen months.

When I got to Nashville, I had lunch with my friend Carol and we met again for dinner the day before I left.  In our conversation, we both agreed that it is sometimes hard to explain to others how we became friends.  We’re both part of the same tribe.   Our unofficial name is the CLo Tribe (or the Little LoCurtos).   We are part of a group of people who comment regularly and write guest posts on Chris LoCurto’s blog.    Seth Godin defines a tribe as a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea.  And that we are.  We all stumbled upon Chris’ work either through EntreLeadership podcast, or some connection to his work with Dave Ramsey.

I’ve been asked if I work for Chris (I don’t.  I work with him and the rest of the tribe to help people grow). I’ve been asked how did we become this group of people who support him.  It’s an easy answer. In Godin’s words, we took permission.  We were not hired or appointed or selected. We just started showing up every day to the online water cooler that the blog has become.  Then it became much more than that.  We now consider each other a friend. We’ve shared struggles, joys and doubt.  We’ve celebrated birthdays, babies, losses, job changes, health issues, family crises, new businesses.  Some of us, like Carol and I, have met in person.  I’m sure we will continue to seek opportunities to do that.

I can honestly say that this Tribe has enriched my life tremendously.  I’ve learned so much from each and every one of them. I have prayed for them and they have prayed for me.  We communicate almost every day through social media and keep up with each other’s blogs.

The good news is that you can also build a tribe!  Here are five simple tips:

  1. Find people who share similar core values. 
  2. Find a way to communicate with them regularly.
  3. Be genuinely interested in them and their life journey. Protect them from trolls and negative people.
  4. Offer each other support and wisdom. Sometimes it involves telling them a truth they may not want to hear.
  5. Love them unconditionally.

As you become part of a tribe or lead your own, you will realize that you get much more than you can give.  I’ve lost count of how many emails and messages have circulated in our group thanking one another for the support and courage to do the “unthinkable”. People in our group have started businesses, gotten promoted and hired for a different job, all in the last year.  And the message is always the same “your support and wisdom helped me”.

We are wired for community. Go out there and find yours.

Please Like, Share or Tweet.

Posted by on April 29, 2013 in Find, Keep and Love and tagged , , , , , , .

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April 18, 2013

Chris LoCurto’s Tips for Entrepreneurs

In a recent interview with Jen McDonough, Chris LoCurto shared some great, practical advice for entrepreneurs, leaders and really anyone who wants to grow personally and professionally.

Listen to the interview here.

And… I’m sharing my notes with you! 

Tips for Entrepreneurs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted by on April 18, 2013 in Find, Keep and Love and tagged , , , , .

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April 10, 2013

What If?

This is a slightly different post than what you are used to reading on my blog. Enjoy and let me know what you think, just click on the link below.

What If

Posted by on April 10, 2013 in Life Lessons and tagged , , , , .

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March 27, 2013

EntreLeadership Favorite Quotes

Does any of these resonate with you?

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Posted by on March 27, 2013 in Find, Keep and Love and tagged , , , , .

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March 25, 2013

Leadership Essentials

What do you think about this quote?  How do you apply this to your own leadership?
Leadership Principles

Posted by on March 25, 2013 in Find, Keep and Love and tagged , , , .

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March 22, 2013

Selling Hope

Selling Hope

At Lampo Group in Franklin Tennesse, saying hi to Dave Ramsey

Posted by on March 22, 2013 in Find, Keep and Love and tagged , , , , , .

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March 18, 2013

Are you a Fred 2.0?

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Today’s topic can change your life and the life of those around you for the better. I am certain that you will find the motivation to become a Fred. You will meet Fred, learn the principles for a Fred-like existence and find your own way to apply them.

Freds Are Everywhere

Meet Vince.  He is a conductor on the Northstar Commuter Train.  Vince wears his uniform with pride and serves his customers with joy. He is as happy on a Monday morning as he is on a Friday afternoon.  If you’re lucky, he will sing Happy Birthday to you on the PA system on the train and make sure everyone around you knows it’s your special day.  He holds a “guess the passenger head-count” game and winners are treated to a roll of Smarties to sweeten your ride.  He provides exceptional service and great entertainment to weary commuters at the end of their work day. He is a great example of what it is to be a Fred.

Meet Fred.  He is the star of a book called The Fred Factor. He is a postal carrier in Denver, Colorado. He has turned what could be a monotonous job into an opportunity for daily, extraordinary acts of service.

Meet Mark Sanborn.  He was Fred’s customer for 10 years. He is also a speaker, author and thought leader on leadership skill training who helps individuals and organizations turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. He wrote the book titled The Fred Factor and Fred 2.0, among others. He was so impressed by Fred’s extraordinary customer service that he started sharing with his audience what would later become the content for The Fred Factor.

Fred’s influence is so great on the people he serves, that his customers have become his family.  One time, a single mom was defeated by her own mother’s criticism of her parenting style. She confided in Fred when he delivered her mail and all he got from him was affirmation on the great job she was doing raising her daughter.

Do you have such a relationship with your postal carrier?

The Fred Principles

The Fred Factor’s principles are simple and yet powerful.  I will now teach them to you so you can apply them in your own life

Everyone can make a difference.  You don’t need a position of influence to influence others from your position.

Fred doesn’t have a big title, a corner office or a large paycheck. He does what he does because it’s the right thing to do.  Have you ever done something for someone without expecting recognition or praise? You are already on your way to be a Fred!

Success is built on relationships. A Fred’s encounters are not transactional, not relational. People like Fred recognize the importance of connecting personally with those around them.  How do you connect with those around you?

Create value without spending a penny.  Find creative ways to add value to peoples’ lives. Use your personality power, pay attention to detail, add enthusiasm, joy our laughter. It doesn’t cost a cent! Eliminate defects, waiting, waste or frustration from people’s lives.  Have you had this experience?  See, you’re a Fred and you didn’t even know

Reinvent yourself regularly. Grow yourself, improve yourself, read, learn, stretch and challenge yourself.

Practice the one-a-day plan. One kind word, one act of service, one unexpected act of kindness, and you’ll be more Fred-like every day.

A Call to Action

 I’ve met many Freds in my life, like Vince, the train conductor. His attitude has inspired me to look opportunities to be a Fred.  One time on the train, a lady had asked directions on how to head to the airport from Target Field station. I told her to follow the crowd up the escalator. She followed the crowd, alright…over to the transit center. She would have been lost and missed her flight. I ran to catch up with her and got her back on track (pun intended). Her smile made my day.

Well, I have great news for you.  I am part of the launch team for Mark Sanborn’s new book Fred 2.0,  available in stores now.  Here’s some great information on it:

Fred 2.0: New Ideas on How to Keep Delivering Extraordinary Results

Today, more than ever, delivering extraordinary results is critically important to not only obtain a competitive advantage but also to thrive personally and professionally. With Fred 2.0, Mark Sanborn equips us with new ideas to achieve more. You’ll not only be inspired by Fred 2.0, you’ll also have the tools and strategies to aim higher and achieve the extraordinary yourself, for your organization, your team and those around you. It’s time to transform the ordinary into extraordinary and Fred 2.0 will show you how.

SPECIAL OFFER: Visit www.marksanborn.com/fred2 now to learn more and gain instant access to a Fred 2.0 “EXTRAordinary Results” Resource Kit, free with purchase of Fred 2.0.

Please Like, Share or Tweet and don’t forget to thank a Fred today!

Posted by on March 18, 2013 in Find, Keep and Love and tagged , , , , , , , .

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