Use your strengths to work on your weaknesses

When you know your strengths, go in the opposite direction for growth. That means gently pushing towards your weaknesses, using your strengths as your basis, as your foundation.

For example, if you are big on doing things right all the time, allow yourself some slack but also keep doing (most things) right. OR- if you want to grow in your relationships and you are good at listening, try sharing and being more vulnerable for growth, at the same time, still asking good questions and practicing active listening.

A slash is someone who has more than one career and usually at the same time, and who perhaps has made a second career out of a hobby or passion.

A slash can transition you from one stage in life to another or it can accompany your other career through most of your life.

Networking can get you referrals.

Your best referrals will mostly come from people you know and I basically work from referrals. (former clients and present onew, remember to refer me, please)

To find more people who will refer you, will have to grow your network.

A web presence is nice, but, that’s where your referrals go to “check you out” after your name has come up. A website is not usually used by clients and customers to” find” you. They get referred, instead.

Thus, you need these ten tips for good networking practice.

How is happiness attained?

1. In a job well-done (and if at all possible, within the time and financial constraints)

2. In (finally) reaching a goal

But also in:

· Healthy activity for mind, body and soul (and all the underlying goals to be reached)

· Good (safe, fun, reliable) relationships where I can be myself and share myself

· Doing good to others, especially “strangers” (no kidding!)

· Being grateful for the past, savoring the present and looking to the future with hope

· Being happy about your job and what that job contributes to “the greater good”

Ury’s 6-Step Model:

1. Put yourself in your own shoes

2. Develop your inner BATNA

3. Reframe your picture of the situation

4. Stay in the Zone

5. Respect them, even if…

6. Give and Receive

How are you getting ready for the fall?

Are your emails paired down and ready for responses? Do you code/color-code them for “triage” and potential clients?

What about your to-do list(s)? Do you keep your old lists to make sure you haven’t out something under the pile of papers for too long?

What is your calendar like?

this gives us all a chance to think of how to make our working environment more positive, in general. Maybe I can be a friend so someone (unfortunately my work “best friend” recently retired, and now I would like to find someone, which isn’t always easy, as it is chemistry, etc.)- so, I wish you a god time reflecting and moving forward at work.

Finally, maybe you are still under lockdown or afraid that it will happen again at any time, if this is the case, what on the list can best help you deal with that uncertainty. Learning to deal with the uncertainty in life is the best we can do at this time.

Downsizing at the beginning of the fall/school year is a god thing (I will be doing this later, but for us here in the Argovian countryside, school began this morning).

Sometimes it’s time to downsize and also to look in new directions in our life. Maybe it’s time to make a list or two to remember what’s really important.

Our values are important and following them is one of the keys to success (and even happiness).

When our actions (and words) come into alignment with our core values, life is generally good, and we feel content, confident and satisfied. But when our behaviors don’t match up with our values, we soon begin to experience a sense of uneasiness and discomfort in our soul (mind and emotions). We are not living out of authenticity. We are not full of integrity. We need to know our whys, as Simon Sinek says so well.

Making a deliberate and conscious attempt to identify which of our core values are of greatest importance to us, is crucial if we are to keep your anxiety levels low and our sense of self-awareness high.

What makes good communication? It’s complicated to communicate, but it’s do-able.

Good communication is askill and art to be learnedthrough practice, knowledge and sometimes, through coaching.

Are you part of a circular (or sharing) economy? Do you want to learn more about this and the research behind these concepts?

Avoid awfulizing, us vs. them, and scarcity mindset thinking when making decisions to be successful.

Are you trying to make a decision about something and just can’t get past some of the “ish” factors? Or are you talking yourself into something that maybe you (or your trusted network) might not feel so right about- maybe you are wanting to just get that first deal? ALSO: Loss aversion can derail our plans, our business, our life. It makes us focus too much on the short-term and not the long-term. We tend to give up on things that we see as loss to us especially when we apply great meaning to that thing, whatever it might be. We need to remember to always think long-term.

When we make good choices, we want to be aware of our biases and think more clearly. Here are ideas to make better decisions:

We all are learning beings.

Life is all about learning.As a child we learn to speak and walk and soon enough we are running and chatting away… The main idea is to be open to feedback and even criticism, looking for even wee grains of truth. We all have something to learn. Let us keep on learning, even if we think “I know this”.

When you have change and conflict at work, what can you do and how can you make sure you are part of the solution(s), and not part of the problem(s)? Suggestions below:

What characteristics are needed to be a good coach? Authority, Authenticity, Integrity and Empathy.

Authority: Are you “able to do the job well”?

Authenticity, Integrity, Empathy: This begins with personal-awareness skills: self-awareness, self-management, and knowing that your own reactions are part of the method of coaching (and supervision). You as the coach are the most powerful “tool” and intervention.

I now have two more certifications, including the Cerny Smith Assessment Coach. Life is about learning and growing. Here is my latest update.

You can change your life, your work, your company. It’s a challenge and it’s possible to change.

When you start a business you need to consider all the scenarios, both positive and negative and have plans so you can succeed.