One-E-Anna Notes - Issue #023 - October, 2004

A monthly newsletter to conduct you on the way to successful performance and harmony in your life. Brought to you by E. Anna Watkins, MBA, CPCC - Career & Life Coach Welcome! Welcome to all new and continuing subscribers! For many of my readers this is the season when the mornings and evenings are getting a bit chilly, but the sunny days and beautiful changing leaves make it a delightful time of year. My cat Sabrina recommends curling up in your favorite chair on the back porch. New on My Website We have recently done some content and cosmetic changes to www.one-e-anna.com - and we would like your feedback. Please click on the link and explore what's new. Take the Career Coach Quiz while you are there. Curious? Please take a look! New List Management Service As of this issue of the notes, we are using Ezezine to manage our subscriber list. See new directions to subscribe or unsubscribe. What's in this issue? Feature Article - The Power of Writing Your Coaching Assignment Interview Tip - Your References Class Schedule Information on Coaching & Resume Writing Services 1. The Power of Writing I couldn't resist reading the book Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser. That certainly sounded like a wonderful idea - but does it work? The book contains many examples from celebrities and others who achieved significant goals in this way. How does this magic happen? Scott Adams, creator of the comic Dilbert, says that when you write down a goal, "you'll observe things happening that will make that objective more likely to materialize." The act of writing helps you to define clearly what you want. As you write, your thinking becomes fluid and ideas build on each other. This enables you to break a formidable task into doable steps and solidifies your intention. Despite my own skepticism about this strategy, I tried it when I was just getting started in my role as a coach. I wrote in a journal that I would practice by offering free coaching to a successful person in a professional occupation. I put the journal back on the shelf and forgot about it. Within a couple weeks of writing that journal entry, I attended a workshop for training and development professionals. As we started our first small group activity, one of my colleagues at the table said, " Maybe I should get a coach." I made the offer for coaching as soon as I recovered from my shock. Thus began a very gratifying coaching connection. Hey - you never know. This writing thing may work! "I write only when I'm inspired. Fortunately, I'm inspired at 9 o'clock every morning." - William Faulkner 2. Coaching Assignment a) Write a detailed description of something you want to be, have, or do. b) That's it! c) Read the book Write It Down, Make It Happen to increase your inspiration. d) Write to me about your 'write it down, make it happen' experience. 3. Interview Tip - Your References When do you prepare your list of references? The day you apply for a job? The day you schedule an interview? Right after the interview? Be prepared! Always have a reference page ready, and keep it current. For a professional, consistent appearance I recommend that the heading on your reference page match your resume heading. Choose only those people who know you and your work well. Give complete contact information including job title, company name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. Always ask permission before listing a person as a reference. And - when you know that your references will definitely be contacted, give them a 'heads up' about the job for which you interviewed. They should never be caught off guard by a phone call from a prospective employer. Contact your references as soon as possible after your interview (or before if you are confident that they will be called) and give them information about the company and the job. This will help them to focus on your skills as they relate to that particular position. You can read more resume & interview tips at www.one-e-anna.com New Course! Career Champion 101: Choosing the Right Work for You Who is the best person to choose your career? You, of course! Are you working in a particular job because your parents, your friends, or THEY said it is the right thing to do? Have you planned for other options in case you and your current job part company? Time to take charge and focus on what really fits you! In this introductory course, you will clarify how your work aligns with your life, and you will begin to explore career possibilities that can bring you fulfillment. The agenda for the class includes articulating your values & requirements for work, learning methods to find good career matches, and identifying criteria for your career success. Career Champion 101 is for anyone who is serious about having a career that makes them feel proud and satisfied. By participating in this class, you can be more confident about your career choices and know that you are ready with a success strategy for the future.     4. Class Schedule for Anna Watkins October 5, 2004 - - Career Champion 101 FREE teleclass at www.teleclass.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time. October 6, 2004 - - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews FREE Teleclass at www.teleclassinternational.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time. October 12, 2004 - - Career Champion 101 FREE teleclass at www.teleclassinternational.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time. October 13, 2004 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews FREE Seminar at Shenendehowa Public Library; Clifton Park, NY at 7:00 PM Eastern time October 20, 2004 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews FREE Teleclass at www.teleclassinternational.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time. October 26, 2004 - - Career Champion 101 FREE Teleclass at www.teleclassinternational.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time. 5. Complimentary Coaching Sessions and Resume Reviews How about a free sample coaching session or resume review? You can easily arrange this. Please e-mail awatkin1@nycap.rr.com and I will follow up with you to schedule an appointment - no strings attached! Special Attention Helen Volk of Beyond Clutter has placed a wonderful donation section on her website called Pass It On! There you will find listings of organizations that will accept your donations of items you no longer use. De-clutter your environment and support a worthy cause. Please click on the link to contribute. http://www.beyondclutter.com/wishlist.htm Visit www.lifeafterlayoff.org to find resources for yourself or your friends who are in job transition. You may notice that they have recently been kind enough to add "Advice from Anna" as a feature on their site. Tips Booklets Online Paulette Ensign offers a vast array of tips booklets online for only $4.77 each! Check out her website at www.tipsbooklets.com and peruse the titles there. Examples: 101 Travel Tips for Women, 113 Ideas To Secure Your Financial Future, and Presenting Your Message Like You Mean It My booklet 64 Tips for Informational Interviews is also available in the Careers category. Informational interviews are one of the best investments of your time so you can meet your career advancement goals. This booklet is for anyone who is exploring a career change or who wants to breathe new life into a current career. Subscriber Note You may absolutely share the One-E-Anna Notes with anyone you think will enjoy it. When sharing, please forward it in its entirety, including contact and copyright information. Each time you receive an issue, forward it to two friends (or more!), and - please send comments that will help me to make it better. Click on the link here to read past issues of the newsletter at www.one-e-anna.com THANK YOU!