Newsletter 30 - June, 2005

A monthly newsletter to conduct you on the way to successful performance and harmony in your life.

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 going to the website www.one-e-anna.com.

What Is New in My World

I hope that your summer is bringing you welcome adventures. As the year goes on, I continue to experience more New Mexico 'firsts.' During the past month I saw roadrunners, swift-running crested birds of southwestern North America.
What were they doing? Running across the road!

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!

With apologies to my brother and other attorneys, here is actual courtroom dialogue from the book, Disorder in the Court: Great Fractured Moments in Courtroom History by Charles M. Sevilla. I invite you to send me jokes about other professions, too. What better way to look at careers?

Q.Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive, practicing law somewhere.

Words form the thread on which we string our experiences.

- Aldous Huxley

Recently I was listening to a set of coaching session tapes recorded by Thomas Leonard, the master coach. During one of the recorded sessions, the client expressed a limiting belief about herself. Instead of contradicting her and then reassuring her, Thomas simply asked, "Who told you that?"

After a pause, her response was a pretty weak explanation about common wisdom, everybody knows, I've heard that, and 'they' say. He was not convinced by her justification. Would you be?

Psychiatrist Daniel Amen has coined the wonderfully evocative acronym ANTS for Automatic Negative Thoughts. They are everywhere! I admit that I have certainly encountered them. It's easy to lament the habits and customs that cause these pervasive limiting thoughts. (Oh - ain't it awful how this society promotes negative, pessimistic messages! Et cetera et cetera et cetera.) OR - we can move on! We can choose to take control of ANTS by Dr. Amen's 3-step process:

The voice you hear when you receive these negative messages is yours! Throughout every day, you are constantly talking to yourself. Consequently, you are the one who can change the message! For some great guidance on how to do this, I recommend "The Self-Talk Solution" by Shad Helmstetter. In it he states:

Remember that the human brain is designed to help us function at our best. If it weren't, we would not have been given the inborn inclination for "doing better" in the first place. Striving to do better is part and parcel of the biological equipment we are all born with. Even at times when things aren't going right, most of us know within our selves that for some reason we are "set up" to succeed, not to fail.

You have the power to regulate all those messages going on inside your head every day. Your body, mind, and spirit are all pulling for you to create positive, affirming messages. Go for it! Stomp those ants!

The words you consistently select will shape your destiny.

- Anthony Robbins

a)	Print and cut out a picture of an ant - or a whole bunch of ants!
b)	Place the picture where you can easily see it as a reminder about ANTS.
c)	Follow through with the 3-step procedure whenever you recognize an Automatic Negative Thought entering your consciousness. Go ahead and yell at the ants if you want.
d)	Begin writing a list of affirming thoughts to replace the ANTS and post them in a prominent place.
e)	Become a champion ANTS exterminator!

In response to several requests on how to write a cover letter, I am offering a basic sample. (Thanks to Jay Block's "The End of the Job Search" for format ideas.) Please use this as a guide to get you started on your own personal cover letters. Beyond that, I will be happy to help you write an original cover letter for your situation. This is to get you started in your thinking and writing process.

Your Heading
(You can use your resume Heading for consistent look)
Date

Employer's Address

Dear Mr./Ms. Employer:
- or - if you don't have a person's name to use
Dear Hiring Manager:

(First paragraph - purpose of correspondence & your background)
I am writing to apply for the position as XXX for ABC Company. My background includes a degree in thermodynamics plus experience in both private industry and government agencies.

(Second paragraph that talks about their organization's needs)
You are seeking a person who understands the new directions for your industry and the challenges you face in expanding your market to international consumers.

(Third paragraph - what precisely can you do for them?)
Using my strong communication skills and my commitment to explore new uses for purple flubber, I can identify unique ways to market ABC's products to a diverse population of potential customers. I can also use my experience at launching innovative programs to create valuable results for you.

(4th paragraph - call to action)
I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how my qualifications can match the needs of your organization. Please call me at xxx-xxxx.

Thank you for your consideration.

[Choose one closing]
Sincerely,
Very truly yours,
With great interest,

Your Name

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!

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

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