One-E-Anna Notes - Issue #029 - May, 2005


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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! I hope that you will enjoy this issue and will forward it to others. Tell your friends to subscribe by sending their names in an e-mail message to on-1535@ezezine.com

What Is New in My World

I hope you are all having a wonderfully merry month of May. Recently I attended my first Red Hat Society event as a member. What a refreshing change for me - an organization with the sole mission of having fun! The inspiration for this group came from a poem by Jenny Joseph that begins -

    When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

    With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

One of the great things about this society - when we agree to meet someplace, you can't miss the women in the red hats! It's nice to be at that point in life where you don't care if people are staring at you.

Tips Booklets Online

Too many heavy books cluttering up your house or office? Paulette Ensign offers a vast array of tips booklets online for only $4.77 each! When you order an online book, it often arrives in your e-mail within minutes! No waiting for the mail to arrive every day and watching for that book you wanted. And - you won't have to search for it on bookshelves if you save it into a folder on your computer. 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 available in the Careers category. You can get it today!

What's in this issue?

  1. Feature Article - Dressing for Success

  2. Your Coaching Assignment

  3. Job Application Tip - Customize!

  4. Class Schedule

  5. Information on Coaching & Resume Writing Services


1. Dressing for Success

The way we present ourselves in business affects our promotability, our effectiveness with associates, and how customers perceive us.

Susan Bixley, author of Professional Presence

I have titled this article "Dressing for Success," and I would like to you to think of that expression in very broad terms. Consider aspects beyond the clothing you wear. You project a tangible expression of your vision by the way you carry yourself, your mannerisms, facial expressions, your manner of speaking, and the way you approach the world. Most of us settle into a comfortable mode that we maintain for years. This could work well for us, or it might keep us from opening up to new opportunities. In order for growth and development to come into our lives, we need to change something about ourselves. And often what appears to be only a change on the outside produces a powerful inner change for us.

Jack Canfield tells about one of his early business experiences when his boss took him shopping at an upscale men's shop. He was very uncomfortable just being in the store but managed to buy one expensive dress shirt. He wore the shirt the next day and realized how well it fit, how the fabric felt better than a cheaper shirt, and how well he looked in it. This made him want to buy more! "Slowly my comfort zone had changed because I'd gotten used to something better."

One of my coaching clients who was preparing for an important interview at a university, purchased what she called her "dean's shoes." Wearing the shoes added to her confident presence in the interview. She did not get that particular job, but her impressive performance in conversations with those she met opened the way to an even better and more appropriate position.

Dressing and acting for success does more than impress others. When you behave as if you already have the job, the relationship, the house, the car, or whatever - this creates a change in you. It's kind of a 'rewiring' process for your body, mind, and spirit. What a powerful idea! You can choose the attitude and demeanor that leads to living the life you want.

How would you like to see yourself and your environment? Perhaps a new pair of shoes will get you on the right path.

If you're going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.

- Donald Trump


2. Coaching Assignment

a)

List one important goal that you want. This might be a new career situation or some tangible object you would love to have.

b)

Use these ideas or your own to feel what it would be like to have that goal:

  • Try on clothing that would be appropriate for the new job; purchase something if you can.

  • Imagine yourself in that job and adopt the posture and facial expression that fits. Repeat often. And yes, look in the mirror!
  • Do you really want that new car? Test-drive the brand and model of your choice! You don't have to buy to get the feeling of driving your dream car.
  • How about that beautiful new home you want? Watch for open house opportunities and start touring.
  • No matter what your goal - behave 'as if' you already have it by getting a taste of the experience!

c)

Call me for help in brainstorming. I would love to hear your stories.


3. Job Application Tip - Customize!s

Here's the scenario. You find out about a great career opportunity, and you retrieve your standard cover letter and resume. You insert the correct job title and organization name, print, sign, and race to mail it as quickly as you can. That should work - right?

A discerning person who has adequate time to consider your letter and resume would surely select you for an interview. However, let's look at what often happens at the organization. The person screening the stacks of resumes and letters arriving has been instructed to look for specific qualifications and key words. It is advisable for you to match their words so that you will not be screened out!

Please - take the time to read the posting for the position. Seek out additional information by checking the website. Call the human resources office for more detail on the job description. Use whatever means you have to find out exactly what they want and need for the position. Then respond to that need! Use their terminology so that they won't have to interpret when screening your resume and cover letter.

Beyond that, get them interested in talking with you. Let them know where you can provide additional value beyond what they have requested. I know it takes more time, but the return on your investment is worth it.

Every interview is a learning opportunity. Always debrief afterwards and use the knowledge you gain. Being invited to an interview affirms that you are a winner. Practice to win bigger every time!


4. Class Schedule for Anna Watkins

May 3, 2005 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews - FREE Teleclass at www.teleclass.com at 9:00 PM Eastern time.

June 11, 2005 - Informational Interviews: Connecting with People To Advance Your Career - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

June 18, 2005 - Take 3 Steps to a Successful Interview - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

July 9, 2005 - Informational Interviews: Connecting with People To Advance Your Career - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

July 16, 2005 - Take 3 Steps to a Successful Interview - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

Use These Links To Register for My Teleclasses

For my Teleclass International classes -
http://www.teleclassinternational.com/search_results.html?keyword=Watkins

For Teleclass.com classes - http://www.teleclass.com/classsearch.lasso
Use keyword Watkins


5. Complimentary Coaching Sessions and Resume Reviews
How about a free sample coaching session or resume review? You can easily arrange this. Contact me by e-mail info@one-e-anna.com and I will follow up with you to schedule an appointment - no strings attached!


Special Attention
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.

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www.one-e-anna.com

THANK YOU!