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One-E-Anna Notes - Issue #026 - February, 2005
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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! February is a short month. What a great reason to pack each day with intentional actions - whether for work or play! Since I have transplanted myself from the Northeastern U.S. to the Southwest, I am taking a conversational Spanish class and West Coast Swing dance lessons. Some new and exciting coaching and consulting opportunities are also happening. This is definitely a NEW year!
Welcome! Tim O'Toole added, "Your article on ARCHES prompts me to comment on an arch-related article on PBS news the other night - about how the mosques seemed to have survived the tsunami - due in part to their open-arch design, which allowed the flood waters to push through such buildings, but leave the walls intact." I love to hear from Notes readers! Thanks to Julie and Tim for their messages. Another alert subscriber noticed that a benefit for doing interviews is that people who make hiring decisions get to know you. That prompted the interview tip for this issue. Read on!
Subscriber
Contest - Who Wants $20? The person who refers the most new subscribers by March 31st is the winner, and your name will be announced in the April issue. (Look at www.amazon.com to see what you can buy with your card!)
What's in this issue?
Remember when you were a child and you heard the news that school was canceled for the day because of snow? For many of us, that is our first experience receiving a most valuable gift - an unexpected chunk of time that we can use in any way we see fit. How did you use that 'snow day' time? It's OK if you ran outside and indulged in some much-needed leisure time, playing in the snow. Some of you may have exercised your entrepreneurial skills by shoveling walks for neighbors - after you helped at your own house, of course. Believe it or not, some of us used part of the day to read another chapter in a textbook or write a report! That's OK, too. Even as adults, we get the occasional 'snow day' or possibly a 'snow hour.' When a meeting or event is canceled or someone doesn't show for an appointment, we suddenly are recipients of that wonderful gift of time. The important issue here is that we need to be ready for that occasion. If we have been moving through our days very predictably, we may be at a loss when we are suddenly confronted with unscheduled time. This is where some planning and the right attitude enter into the picture. First is the shift in thinking to gratitude for that extra hour or day and the positive approach to the opportunity it presents. "All right! I can prepare for next week's meeting!" There are many possibilities. How about the phone call that you have been putting off because you didn't have time? You may not be able to finish an entire project, but you could write an outline for a report, prepare the introduction or conclusion of a speech, or practice using that new software you just got on your computer. And don't forget the option to nurture a relationship with your friends or co-workers by connecting with them by phone or in person. Prepare for your 'snow days' by keeping a list of items at the ready, tasks that you can perform whenever you have just enough time. Oh - and here's the good news - you can create your own available chunks of time. Schedule appointments with yourself and keep them! What you choose to do is important. All of these 'chunks' add up to help you accomplish your goals and to make you feel more relaxed about the process.
3. Interview Tip - Who Knows You?s One of my most memorable conversations with an executive recruiter included his comment, "I never heard of you!" While it was certainly not the kindest comment, it did spur me into action. How could I make myself known? Obviously I could move ahead faster if more people did know me or had heard positive things about me. About 10 years after that encounter, I had a much more favorable situation. Two people on a panel of five interviewers already knew me because of my community activities. This was a much more pleasant and successful interview. What happened in between the two interviews? I followed an effective and enjoyable networking strategy. Here are some actions I recommend to you:
Those are a few tips to get you started. For more pointers, you may request my free article, "You and Your Door Openers." Simply send an e-mail to a.watkins00@comcast.net with Door Openers as the subject. Every interview is a learning opportunity. Always debrief afterwards and use the knowledge you gain. Being invited to an interview affirms that you a winner. Practice to win bigger every time!
4. Class Schedule for Anna Watkins March 8, 2005 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews - FREE Teleclass at www.teleclass.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time. April 5, 2005 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews - FREE Teleclass at www.teleclass.com at 8:00 PM Eastern time.
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Complimentary Coaching Sessions and Resume Reviews
Special
Attention
Tips
Booklets Online 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.
THANK YOU!
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