One-E-Anna Notes - Issue #053 February, 2008

A monthly newsletter to conduct you on the way to successful performance and harmony in your work and personal life. Every issue brings you tips for interviews, resumes, networking, and strategies for career advancement. Brought to you by E. Anna Watkins, MM, MBA, CPCC, CPT - Career & Life Coach Welcome! Welcome to all new and continuing subscribers! I am thankful for your support in reading, sending me your comments, and passing the newsletter to others. Please forward it today and help us increase our circulation to include even more friends. www.one-e-anna.com/newsletters.htm (Read past issues while you are there.) Life in New Mexico Yes, we have all four seasons in New Mexico. But - they are a bit different from those I experienced growing up in the Midwest and then living in the Northeast. What I have been noticing lately is the wind! It can really get my windchimes dancing on the porch. As I look out my dining room window, I can watch a particular tree with a row of leaves that managed to cling to the branch when the others fell off last autumn. Those leaves swing around wildly in the wind, like a daring trapeze artist. It is indeed mesmerizing, and sometimes I can picture myself taking that ride on the end of the branch. Ah! What freedom! Get My Books! Two of my books are now available in the Resources section of my website: www.one-e-anna.com Please click on the link to go there and purchase these useful and inexpensive guides: 64 Tips for Informational Interviews and the Master Mind Moderator Toolkit. Thank you! What's in this issue? Lead Article - Using Your Cue Cards Class Schedule - Tell your friends - New courses in March Information on Coaching Services Humor from Resumes Resources 1. Using Your Cue Cards "Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both." - John Andrew Holmes When you saw that title, you may have wondered, "What cue cards?" Who uses them? Many people pride themselves on the ability to speak extemporaneously in almost any situation, including job interviews. They feel that they can carry on an effective conversation with no special preparation. Unfortunately, what that often means is, "I can ramble on for many minutes, frequently straying from the main point of the discussion." If this description fits, the cue card recommendation is for you. Even if you don't think it applies to you, it can't hurt for you to try this. One of the important lessons you can learn as you progress in your career is that of writing and using notes with key words and phrases to assist your memory. There will be times, of course, when you do not find it appropriate to actually carry and use cue cards. However, you can benefit by practicing with them. As I researched this topic, I discovered that cue cards and teleprompters have a very secure niche in the entertainment world. They allow actors to maintain a strict schedule even when there is little time to learn lines, and they allow flexibility as actors can stay on track with essential information while choosing to leave out some material if they wish. You can make similar adjustments with your personal cue cards as you engage in various conversations. If you have ever written out a speech and read it word for word, you know that the effect can be dull and stilted. When you use a basic outline or cue cards, though, you can be much more natural and spontaneous. Some topic ideas for your cue cards: description of your career strengths and benefits you bring to customers or clients, answers to typical interview questions, key words to prompt stories about your achievements, or a description of your ideal client or work situation. In the process of writing cue cards, you can learn a lot as you focus on your achievements, expand on them, draw connections, and see the progression of your life and career. The simple act of writing or typing also serves as a stimulus to your thinking. Once you have these notes, they can serve multiple purposes beyond conversation prompts. The content can be used in cover letters, your resume, and biographical introductions for speeches. The notes can even be the beginning of your best-selling book! Rehearsing for interviews, speeches, and other opportunities is always beneficial. In your role as job candidate, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, or career networker - a script is your friend. And for this life role, you get to write your own script. So, go ahead. Consider this an open book test. You have permission to use notes. "Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood." - William Penn 2. Class Schedule for Anna Watkins "Got Goals?" Set of Group Coaching Sessions These sessions are for those of you who may not be able to be in a long-term group but would appreciate an accelerated program to quickly get you moving toward fulfilling your goals in a structured set of "lessons." Being in a group for this experience is a real plus since you can benefit from many perspectives. Yes, you can sign up for Group B even if you did not take Group A! Action Group B - March 4 - 25: Four consecutive Tuesdays at 8:00 PM Eastern time (7 PM Central, 6 PM Mountain, 5 PM Pacific) Only $25 for the group of 4 classes! Sign up for both Group A & B and receive the Master Mind Moderator Toolkit as a bonus. Keeping momentum - Stuck? There is nothing like a partner (or 2 or 3) to keep you moving forward. Enjoying NOW - When you focus too much on your future goals, you fail to appreciate what you have now. Learn and practice how to be 'in the moment' and to attract more of what you want into your life. Choosing what is next - Choosing is easier when your imagination is stimulated and you increase your awareness of the possibilities. Opening to new reality - Gain from other perspectives to expand your concepts of what is possible and desirable. Click here to Register through www.seminarannouncer.com New Master Mind Groups Are you in a Master Mind group? I am collecting interested (and interesting) people who want to join a new Master Mind group. Specifically, I have a writer/coach and a leadership consultant who are looking for a couple more people to join them in a Master Mind Group. They would like to meet regularly by phone, at least bi-weekly or monthly. Would you like to join their group? To learn more about Master Mind groups and how you can benefit by belonging, contact me at info@one-e-anna.com Watch for other classes in future issues of Notes. 3. Career Coaching Sessions I coach people who are looking to enjoy their work, whether that means moving up in a current job or building a new career. It doesn't matter where you live - I can coach you by phone. Want to find out more? You can easily arrange this. Please contact me at info@one-e-anna.com and I will follow up with you to schedule a free consultation - no strings attached! I am now focusing on group coaching via Master Mind Groups - a great way to have multiple "coaches" in a supportive atmosphere and at lower cost than individual coaching sessions. Please contact me with your interest in joining a group or to suggest a type of group you would like. My blog is all about Master Mind Groups, so please visit and join in the conversation there. http://mindblenders.blogspot.com 4. Humor from Resumes Humor from Resumes My sister sent this collection of excerpts from resumes and cover letters, printed in a 1997 issue of Fortune magazine. This is the first in a series. There were plenty of regrettable quotes! I demand a salary commiserate with my extensive experience. I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreadsheet progroms. Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year. Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave. Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions. Failed bar exam with relatively high grades. It's best for employers that I not work with people. Let's meet so you can 'ooh' and 'aah' over my experience. You will want me to be Head Honcho in no time. Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details. 5. Great Resources My Books! Two of my books are now available in the Resources section of my website: www.one-e-anna.com Please click on the link to go there and purchase these useful and inexpensive guides: 64 Tips for Informational Interviews and the Master Mind Moderator Toolkit. Thank you! Reminder - Amazon Associate! I am an Amazon Associate. That means that my website visitors can order books from my website. I am an Amazon Associate. That means that my website visitors can order books from my website. So, if you have been meaning to get specific books that I mention in the course of my newsletters or coaching sessions, please go to the Resource Links on my website and buy a book. www.one-e-anna.com/resources.htm By the way, once you have arrived at the Amazon site, you can order any books you like, not just the ones I have listed. Thank you and happy reading! Thinking about retirement? Check into the great resources and coaching available with Laurie Geary, Certified Retirement Coach at www.ingearcoaching.com Laurie also offers coaching for people in transition of all kinds. A Map for Joy by Teri Johnson contains lessons and exercises that truly lead you to a joyful life. Go to www.intrepid-communications.com to purchase your copy A terrific site for business owners - Maria Marsala, former Wall Street trader and now business consultant, coach, and trainer has classes and other resources that are well worth the visit to www.coachmaria.com Increase your personal productivity and get more time and balance for your personal life Subscribe now for your free "Timely Time Management Tips". Go to: www.topica.com/lists/timemanagement and click "subscribe" or send your email to: timemanagement-subscribe@topica.com Attention, Trainers! Many of our readers are in the training profession, so I am happy to tell you about a new ezine for you. Please visit the website of Ellen Dowling and subscribe to her monthly newsletter, "The Standup Trainer." www.standuptrainer.com Every issue will provide you with valuable training tips and a dose of Ellen's signature sense of humor. Enjoy! I recommend Jay Block Presents "Any Idiot Can Make It Through a Good Day" - a set of two CDS with Jay's program on how to think positive in difficult times. Learn the proven techniques of emotional channeling and the 10 Principles of Success. Go to www.jayblock.com for more information and to order. 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! http://tipsbooklets.com/new/index.php?p=235&s=interviews Please visit my brand new blog and leave me a message! http://mindblenders.blogspot.com 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/newsletters.htm THANK YOU!