How Are You Spending Your Time?

In the business world time is money, and how you are spending your time can mean a significant loss or an abundance of profit. It’s up to you. Taking responsibility from the beginning is the key. It doesn’t matter the position you currently hold; it matters what you are doing on a daily basis to keep you moving forward. Make it a habit to do the right thing.

I enjoyed working in a company and see the growth. I enjoyed going out on sales calls and making a difference. But, what I enjoyed the most was knowing that at the end of the day it was a productive day. I am very disciplined, now that I am self-employed and making a difference in many people's lives, I see time as an asset more than just money. Time is valuable and doing the right thing will always be rewarding.

How can you know if you are spending your time wisely? It is simple, just ask yourself this question, “is what I’m doing right now productive?” Below you will find ways to keep you on track and moving forward.

Analyze Your Actions
Always know why you are doing a task. Why are you calling that client? If you know the why of your actions, you can get good at eliminating the non-productive work that is distracting your ability to do the right thing.

Keep Your Tasks Manageable
Have you ever heard of The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson? If you haven’t taken the time to read the book, I highly recommend it. It’s all about deciding to do small things on a daily basis to get big results. Scale down your activities to manageable portions and do more in the long run. A little every day will help you stay focused.

Stop Doing Busy Work
Cut your losses. Don’t just do something to stay busy. It is much better to step back and see what you are doing and learn how to pick the work that has a purpose behind it. Only do what matters.

Track Your Progress
What did you accomplish at the end of the week? Get into the habit of knowing where you started and how you finished. Analyze what you did and where you can improve. Every week work on developing. You are only as good as your last activity, make it better next week.

Celebrate The Small Wins
It's time to get excited when something good happens. Don't forget to celebrate every victory.

In summary, it matters, know why you are doing something and take a good look at how you are spending your time. “Remember yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised and today is the present, give yourself the gift of time. Looking for me to be your coach? Contact me today. Have a fantastic week.

Happy New Year! Let's Go 2018....

Until next week,
Coach Barb
Certified Career Coach



What are you doing to stay focused at work?

How To Stay Focused In The Workplace

Let’s face it only if you are in a room all by yourself; you will not get interrupted. Well, that’s not the case, and we all know it. We have many sources of interruptions coming our way all of the time. The key is to understand how to get back on track and not lose focus. We all desire to be productive and efficient. But, not everyone stays focused. Today I will share with you several tips on how to get back on track.

The phones are ringing, applicants are coming in, your boss is standing next to you, and a client with current staffing needs is on hold. That is a day in the life of a staffing professional. I have my memories of working the desk, taking care of applicants and visiting prospects and clients. I had to learn how to stay focused and quick. It seems harder than it is, but it takes practice and commitment to follow through.

Let’s picture for one moment that you lost focus on your task at hand, and you want your momentum back, how do you get it?

Know why you are doing a task.  Everything you choose to work on must a have a purpose.

Be Organized
Everyone organizes differently, do it your way. Get organized and follow the same pattern, once you get the hang of having your tasks arranged, it will be easier to get back to your job after an interruption. Also, always plan your day the night before. It works.

Have A Task Board In Front Of You
Write out your daily work; a whiteboard works well, especially if you are a visual person. I have my board in front of me right now, and I schedule my week on Sunday's. By having my tasks in full view, it allows me to jump right into a function even if I have been interrupted. I suggest you give it a try.

Do The Hardest Task First
The mornings should be blocked off for all of your tedious tasks. The moment you finish the hard jobs, it’s a cake walk from there. That allows you to tackle everything else with ease and proper momentum. So, if you do get pulled at the last minute into a meeting, you do not have to worry about that one important task, because you completed it first thing in the morning.

Stay Away From Personal Social Media
Ok, this one is very hard. But, you have to practice staying away from your private Snapchat, IG, Facebook and many other social media accounts. It’s temptation every time you get a notification from your best friend about his or her live feed, but that will only take you a step backward from your focus. So, I recommend turning off your social media notifications to remain focused at work.

Bonus - Choose music that motivates, inspires and gives you energy.

There is nothing wrong with a little stimulation. Listen to your favorite music, make it fun, work is not supposed to be tasking,

Check out my favorite work playlist.

In summary, there you have it. Ways to focus in the workplace, make sure to put it into practice and have fun with it. If you are looking for a career coach, let's connect today. Have a fantastic week.

Until Next Week,
Coach Barb
Certified Career Coach


What do you do to stay focused at work?

How To Stand Out In A  Competitive Job Market

A new year is approaching, and you are still contemplating in making a career move. You are not alone, and that is why you have to have a plan in place to make the right decision. The job market competition is overwhelming; you can’t just sit and wait for someone to reach out to you, it’s time to take action.

My passion is people, and being a career coach, I get to interact with many individuals helping them sort out the difficulties of deciding what next move to take. Having the staffing industry background, I have had the privilege of working with top employees like you.

Below I will share with you five different ways that can get you closer to your desired position. Are you ready to take action?

Once you worked out a well thought out plan, it’s time to get to work. It’s important to stay positive throughout the process to help you stay focused and with an upbeat attitude.

Network
Start by building a referral list. Who do you know that can help you speak to the right person? Find different events that you can network after hours or early networking meetings. Always stay genuinely connected. Build a leads list and make sure to keep it updated.

Contact
Who are your potential employers? Have a plan to reach out to them. Keep in touch and stay informed about the market and the industry that interest you. Go ahead and contact those potential employers for that right opportunity.

Recruiter
Work with a reputable recruiter. Search for a staffing firm that specializes in your field, once you identify a service, speak to the recruiter that helps you reach your goal. Don’t settle, find the one that knows your strength and represents you the best way possible.

Research
Do your research and identify all of the specialized posted listings on the web. Carefully read through the job postings, and if it’s a fit with your skills and abilities apply for the position.

Job Postings
This is the least effective method because you are not the only candidate applying for that same position. The waiting game can be brutal, just stay attentive to that particular organization and see if there are opportunities to network. The typical job postings and applying online can be frustrating, But, if you are the right fit chances are that they will notice your application.

In summary, whether it’s in person, in writing or on the phone keep reaching out to potential employers and stay ahead of the crowd. Always remember to be professional, patient and confident. In the end, It all works out.


Until next week,
Coach Barb
Certified Career Coach


What are you doing to stand out from the crowd?

4 Tips On How To Maintain A Positive Work Environment

It seems that everywhere you read on the internet, everyone seems unhappy at work.  Why are employees feeling overworked and unappreciated? The root of the problem stems from poor communication.  Everyone is accountable, owners, managers, directors, employees and the customers.  Sometimes the blame game is played in the corporate world, and it doesn’t help us grow as a company or as individuals. It’s time to take action and start holding everyone accountable, and it starts with you.

One of my favorite topics is communication.  Think about it, all we do every single day is communicate.  The owner of the company is talking with the leaders, the leaders are interacting with the managers, and the managers are corresponding to the employees and the employees are communicating with the customers.  It’s a cycle that needs attention, and quick.

You get the picture; now I will share with you four ways you can turn your negative work environment into a productive full of happy employees environment.  Because let’s face it, happy employees are the best employees to have on your team.  

Personal Development

Gather your team and pick a public leader to get motivated. Like, Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Simon Sinek, there are many teachers and coaches out there with tools to help you transform and keep your team together.  Have a personal development meeting and get everyone on the same page.  Growing takes practice, dedication, and commitment.

Open Communication

It’s up to you to create an environment that is welcoming and free of tension.  Encourage your employees to open up and allow them to share with you ideas, comments, and frustrations.  If you are open, they will feel like part of a team.  

Respect

Demand respect.  Everyone needs to be attentive to others, it all starts from the top.  If leaders are not respectful, it will trickle down to managers all the way to your customers.  There must be respect amongst everyone, to work in a positive environment.

Assist

Always be willing to help those that need help.  Have a committee that allows managers, employees, and customers get assistance. Remember that you are striving for a better work environment, take action today.

Want a good read to learn how to deal with people? Read How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie - an inspiring and resourceful book.

In summary, is it your desire to work in a positive, creative and profitable environment? Remember that it all starts with you.  Keep your focus and keep on growing.  

Until Next Week,

Coach Barb

Certified Career Coach

Are you currently happy with your work environment?