Winning Strategies

Celebrate Equal Pay Day

Today is equal pay day! In 2007, women’s earnings were 78 cents on the dollar for full-time work. Visit AAUW Web Site for details http://bit.ly/15d0NE and support equal pay initiatives!

There Will Come a Day

There will come a day when the ones you love will no longer grace the earth. We walk through life as if there were an eternity of tomorrows, forgetting the mortality of our lives. We forget to be thankful, to hold the hand of a loved one, make a phone call, or enjoy a meal together. We fight over insignificant things and say things we regret.

We live our lives as if work were most important and as if our days were re-doable. We walk through life missing out on the roses- missing the glistening in the rain drops and forgetting to say 'I love you' to those we care about.

So -on this day- my message is simple. Walk to the nearest flower and inhale its fragrance. Hug the first loved one you come in contact with. Hold your spouses hand or a childs. Quit working one evening well before bedtime. Take a walk to enjoy God's wonders around you. Compliment the next person you talk to. Call your mother/father or a loved one that needs to hear from you.

Enjoy this moment. This moment is your life.

A Day in the Life

Today was a busy day. Life has been hectic, it seems, since the stimulus plan. Healthcare organizations are busy working to 'make the grade' and the number of meeting requests has become a little hard to manage. I'm sure it will settle down soon.

Michael and Caleb just returned from Florida where little Caleb succeeded in getting his scuba certification. Great job Caleb! While they were gone, I had a ladies night and enjoyed a fantastic night of female company and great conversations.

Brandon is heavy into skateboarding these days. I need a skateboarding dictionary just to understand his lingo (ollie, fake ollie, heel flip, ect). Boys are certainly different to raise than girls. The 8th grade formal is coming up soon. I wonder what kids today wear to 'dress up'.

Dina Bar-el just phoned me. I miss her desperately. Why do we have to live so far away? She lives in California and I in Dallas. She is always trying to get me to move to California. I couldn't afford to live (and put 3 kids through college) in California (unless I sell A LOT more books) (laugh).

Michael and I are planning a second honeymoon for our 10 year wedding anniversary. We are planning a trip to St. Kitts in May. I am ready for a vacation and for an opportunity to step away from a few of my responsibilities for a brief period of time.

Life moves forward and we step in place. We stop ocassionally to concentrate on our position and evaluate if we have moved forward or backwards. The best thing that we can do is to surround ourselves with people that are beautiful on the inside and that fill our lives with joy. I have that. I hope you do- or that you decide to begin building it. Hugs! Til I write again...

Congrats to the women on Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare List

Congratulations to the women who made Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare list.  You make us all very proud.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CH&Date=20090420&Category=FREE&ArtNo=420009998&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1

Concentrate on RESULTS!

You are panicked.  Your employer is laying people off.  Several of you are in single wage earning families.  My best advice?  CONCENTRATE ON RESULTS!  Will it guarantee you a job forever?  No.  It will put your mind in the right mindset to PERFORM at the LEVEL that it takes to be in a good position for job retention.

Keep your focus on results.  It will help you manage the fear that you are experiencing and put your focus where it should be, CREATING RESULTS at work.  Create a mindset of the 'Business Owner'.  Look at work tasks and expenses as if you owned the company.  How do the processes, people, and areas around you make you feel from an owners' perspective?  Speak up.  Create a company that you'd be proud to own and call yours.

Focus focus focus.  Don't be distracted by mundane tasks and time consuming activities that keep you from PERFORMING.  Evaluate each day.  Did you use your time wisely?  Did you push the ball further in the right direction?  Did you make progress?  Your employer is making an investment in you.  Are you using that investment wisely?    Is their investment in you paying off? 

Look harshly at what you've accomplished.  Put it down on paper.  Does the value of that add up to your compensation (plus benefits (which would be aprox 30% additional))? 

It is never too late to re-focus your attention on GETTING things DONE!  Ask your peers and leaders for constructive feedback.  We can all improve.  We can all be more productive.  Be an employee that is seeking out continuous ways to improve and add value to your organization.  I promise you that you will be rewarded.

Next Job CEO

Want to be CEO? Don't let the economy alter your aspirations. If you have a 'next job' in mind- continue to prepare for it: use mentoring relationships and continue to hone your skillsets. Those of you that write me are honkering down because of the recession. You can continue to work hard and produce value while still preparing for your next role. Don't SETTLE/give up on your dreams.

Know what position you want to have.  This will be an important part of getting there. Many times career pathing is weak within companies. You shouldn't let that stop you. Create your own career path. Create a vision for where you'd like to be. Once you have a clear vision, it is easier to see which opportunities push you towards that vision and which ones push you further away. It also will help those around you to help you in your journey.

What is the vision that you have for yourself? What does your nest job look like? Create a vision and a career path that drives you into your future.

You Lost Your Job- Now What...

You didn't expect it, but you were blindsided by a notice.  What should you do now?  Read these steps to start on your next journey.

The road hasn't ended.  It has just begun.  There are new challenges, new opportunities, and a new job waiting for you.  Where should you start?

1. Chin Up- This is a good time to keep your chin up.  It seems hopeless if you let your mind go there.  Don't.  A positive attitude will go a long ways.  You can 'think' yourself into a better role, a better job, and a new opportunity.  Remain positive. 

2. Be Physical- You have probably been working too many hours and surrounding yourself by work work work.  What have you been leaving off your list?    I challenge you to make a list of physical activities that you love (or at least you use to love) doing.  It could be rollerskating, batting cages, walking in nature, jogging, jumprope, hoola hoop, kayaking, etc.  It could even be something you've always wanted to try but never have.  Find a friend with the gear, borrow it, and get going doing something physical.  Try to pick something that you can work into a daily or twice a week routine.

3. Be an Entrepreneur- If you are worried about money, be very creative.  What are you great at?  Are you good at planning vacations, cooking, grocery shopping, organizing, clothes shopping?  Your working friends have needs that they cannot fulfil.  Maybe they want to schedule a golf game or an outing but never have time.  Offer services to ALL your friends and to your network for rates that you think work for them and you.  You may be surprised at what you accomplish.  Think outside the box.  Maybe a working friend has an elderly mother or father than needs checking in on occasionally; figure out an arrangement that works.  Remember, the definition of entrepreneur involves 'risk and considerable initiative'.  Take initiative.  You will find a way.

4. Socialize- In many ways you need to socialize. 

   1. Investigate social media.  It could be your key to getting your next job.  If you aren't on LinkedIn, create a free profile.  Create a page on Facebook.  Create a Twitter account.  Begin linking to people you know online.  Start 'connecting'. 

   2. Lunch.  Coffee or lunch with your old co-workers from a previous employer.  Connect with people that you had strong working relationships with in the past.  Ask for their advice.

   3. Like Minded Groups.   Find a like minded group with which to join.  It could be a trade organization, a cultural club (like the Italian Club), a church, or any other group that allows people to bind together for a common cause.  Consider volunteering some of your time at your favorite charity.  You will meet great people.

   4. Friends.  You want to hibernate.  Nope, not allowed.  Reach out to your friends to support you.  It's a requirement.

5. Read Up.  You have been too busy working to read up on all the latest news in your work area.  Spend this time educating yourself on the latest trends and discussion tracks.  Research and investigate the companies that you'd like to work for.  Read their annual reports.  Search the web and read the bios of their leadership team.  Look for posts on them in blogs.  Become knowledgeable. 
6. Organize.  Organize your house, your closet, your kitchen and everything around you.  Find things around the house that you don't need.  Either choose to donate them or sell them on ebay.  Organized environments lead to more organized people. 
   
   1.  Create a Work Success Folder.  Create a folder that documents every piece of success that you have ever attained in the work setting.   Gather emails of praise and letters/notes from clients.  Find documentation of classes that you completed and education that you've achieved.  Even if you don't use it for the interview, it will help remind you of your accomplishments. 
7. Family.  Life is short.  You've probably missed family events and gone without visiting in some time.  Plan a visit.  Take a trip home.  Life's events happen for a reason.  Make this a positive event in your life. Plan a connection.

Let me hear how your journey is going.  I'm rooting for you!

Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl- Heather Michelle Carter, 22 y.o.

22 years ago  I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl that brought love, warmth, and a precious gift into my life.  She has given me a never ending pure love that has surrounded me and filled my heart with joy.  I can't imagine life without her.  God blessed me beyond belief when he placed her into my life.

I can still envision her as a five year old, peddling her bike to the beach.  I think back to the dances, the proms, and all the events that have made up her life up to this point.  I think of the good times, the rough times, and still think often of the nights that I rocked her to sleep in the rocking chair- singing to her and trying to help her not to miss her daddy so much.  I think of how fast she grew up- losing her dad at the age of 8. 

I see her, the beautiful woman that she has grown into and I'm proud.  I'm proud of the woman that she has become.  I'm proud of her big heart and adoring nature.  I'm proud to be her mother.  With all my faults and shortfalls, I'm proud of her for loving me just the way that I am. 

Happy Birthday my sweet sweet baby girl.  Enjoy being 22!    It is a fabulous age.  I love you.

Mom

A naked woman in the woods

A couple weeks ago we took the kids camping at Petit Jean State Park in Morilton, Arkansas for Spring Break.  It is about a 5 1/2 hour drive from Dallas deep into Arkansas.  The drive, once past Texarkana, turns into a winding beautifully scenic route.  The landscape turns into mountains and valleys of green pastures, farms and animals.  We had headed out late, so part of the trip was in the evening, hiding some of the beautiful views.

The boys were excited about sleeping in a tent.  I rented a 'Rent a Camp' setup that included a fully stocked tent on the water complete with mats to sleep on, a propane cooking stove, the tent all set up, a picnic table, and fire pit.

Michael and I cheated a bit with a cabin rental down the road (complete with heat, real beds, and an in-room toilette) (grin). 

The first day after breakfast we headed to a trail to hike and get in a little family time.  The boys were complaining for the first 1/2 hour about having to hike with the 'family'.  The only one not complaining was the dog who seemed to delight in the adventure.  We hiked up and down the trails for over an hour until we were deep into the trail.  It is at the base of the Ozarks, so it feels mountainous.  As we rounded a curve in the trail, we spotted a naked woman and 2 photographers.  It was as if the hike, for the boys, suddenly became interesting.  I think their eyes popped out of their heads a bit.  Funny, it was the last thing I expected to run into on our 'family time'.  I guess she was doing a photo shoot in the beautiful wooded area- but it certainly made for an unexpected encounter.

We hiked every day that we were at the park, but none of the other hikes ranked as high as the hike from that first day (from the boy's perspective).  I think hiking will be seen as fun for them from this point forward.  Laugh. Laugh.