Time to Celebrate!
Ah! Those were the good old days! Where has the time gone? Another holiday is coming and will soon be gone. I love and always have loved celebrations: holidays and birthdays and anniversaries with family and friends getting together, writing to and hearing from friends near and far.
But there is something different these last few years. I literally tell myself to capture and hold on to the memories.
Is it because I’m older? Maybe.
Is it because too many loved ones, my parents in particular, have died? Maybe.
Is it because my brother and his family have moved out of state and it’s too many years since we celebrated the holidays together? Maybe.
Is it because I cherish my two aunts and one uncle who are still living and are a wonderful link to my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins? Maybe.
Is it because we had to move to Boston after September 11 and I miss my friends? Maybe.
Is it because I’m blessed to have new connections and new friendships and new traditions in and around Boston? Maybe.
Is it because we still have those great belly laughs over something silly? Maybe.
It’s probably all of that and more that makes me treasure the ordinary and the special occasions. I am a mush and I admit it. So this holiday, as usual, I visited my aunts and uncle, I went to a holiday party in New Jersey–saw all my teacher friends, put the grave cover for my Mom and Dad and my Grandma and Grandpa, wrote my cards, called family and friends who live far away, wrapped the presents, and look forward to our family Christmas Eve Dinner. No one will know but I will look around and treasure every moment…getting the food ready (one year my Mom dropped the turkey on the kitchen floor…we still laugh about that one) going to church together (someone has to go early to save seats), kids smiling (like the food and presents), kids crying (don’t like the food and presents), someone complaining about something (we’re eating when?), wishing my brother et al were celebrating with us (why did they all move to North Carolina?), missing my Mom and Dad (even though lots of years have gone by)…and remind myself to hold on to…capture it all and hold on to the memories!
Hold on to and cherish your memories whatever holiday you are celebrating.
For me it’s a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012!
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Career Transition: Do you know your value?
How many women don’t know their value in the workplace? Or know their value but don’t demand it? Or negotiate for it?
How many women don’t ask for the salary they deserve? Or don’t know how to ask for the salary that justly belongs to them.
I was at the Massachusetts Conference for Women this past week and heard Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough from “Good Morning Joe” talk about Mika’s journey to getting the salary that was rightfully hers. We hear and read about the inconsistencies between men’s and women’s salary but here it was plain and clear Joe Scarborough was making 14 times as much money as Mika. Are you kidding me? How can this be happening in the entertainment industry? Guess what? The gender inequality happens in every industry.
Mika explained her story about how she learned to ask for and get the raise she deserved. It was not easy for her. She tried four times and almost quit and then got her salary upgrade when she was committed to asking for what she deserved and putting her job on the line. That meant Mika was ready to walk!
How many of you can do that? Be ready to walk or get the salary you want and deserve? It’s not easy so I advise you to begin as Mika did with asking for it.
Here are some do’s and don’t's.
Do your due diligence.
Do ask in an assertive and direct manner.
Don’t ask apologetically. ‘I’m sorry I just want to ask….”
Don’t use weak or disempowering language such as “I just want to ask…. My kid needs braces…and so on.”
Don’t be swayed by words about restructuring or it’s not the best time to talk money.
Mika came to the realization that she was her own worst enemy. Then she wondered how many other women were in her same boat. Mika realized that she was not the only woman who was “Undermining herself. Undercutting herself. Undervaluing herself.”
Read Mika’s new book: Knowing Your Value: Women, Money and Getting What You’re Worth and learn about her journey and the journeys of other women in a variety of industries. Learn to value yourself and get the salary you deserve.
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Grateful for Everything…Even Obstacles
I realized the other day that everything shifts in my life whenever I look at an obstacle as an opportunity to learn and grow. I know a lot of gurus spout that philosophy but guess what? It works. Try it and let me know how it shifts your energy and your life.
The second thing I love about Thanksgiving is I don’t have to say “Happy Holiday” to anyone. Everyone wishes everyone else a happy Thanksgiving. We are all on the same page celebrating pretty much the same way: Families getting together. watching the parade, dinner, football games. No presents necessary just being with family and celebrating gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving!
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Excellent Power Point About How Not to Use Power Point!
How often do you give a Power Point presentation? I really don’t like to use Power Point but some people and companies require it for presentations. I prefer to talk to my audience and not let anything get in the way of our communicating. I know that there are times a PP or Keynote presentation would be beneficial but I’m just explaining what my preference is.
Imagine how happy I was to see this YouTube post. I loved it and thought it substantiated my feelings about “those kinds” of presentations.
I’m still smiling when I think of some of the points made! At a minimum I hope you had some laughs and maybe learned some tips about how to use power point for a presentation! Let me know what you think.
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs 1955-2011
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.
Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”
Does social media help your career?
Check out this article about social media and your precious time.
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
At the Leading Edge of Career Transitions
Got to this link and check out how the Apple iPad is affecting businesses. How does this affect your career or your career transition? Keeping up with the latest technology can be overwhelming. Sometimes it can feel like an assault on your adaptability, your dexterity, and your brain power. Turn that around and make it positive. Take one step at a time and focus on the convenience, the portability, the user-friendliness, the high productivity, the speed, the functionality because these features combine to give the user an unequivocal competitive edge.
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Failure Leads to Better Career Transitions?
Watch this video that shows how successful people fail and then succeed. Failure–it’s the secret to success.
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Building Motivation for Your Career Transition
How do you build your motivation? Remember motivation is why you do something. It’s what inspires you to achieve your goal. How do you make your why bigger and better?
Here are some steps to keep motivated. Write everything on a sheet of paper.
1. Describe your goal using a lot of details so it’s very clear.
2. Write down all the reasons why you want to accomplish this goal. Post it so it’s visible to you every day.
3. Read your goals and your reasons why at least 5 times in the morning and then another 5 times at night.
3. Identify the possible obstacles that might get in your way and write a solution for each of them.
4. Join a mastermind group or have an accountability partner or a coach or mentor to help you stick to your plan.
5. Surround yourself with positive people; do not associate with negative people.
6. Manage your time. Start keeping track of how long it takes you to do a task and how long you spend procrastinating. I guarantee the amount of time you waste will surprise you.
Do these steps and see how you stay motivated for a longer time and get more goals accomplished in a shorter time.
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Career Transition: What’s Your Motivation?
Motivated! Self-motivated! Unmotivated! What is motivation? What’s the secret behind it? Do you need it? How do you get it? How do you keep it?
Motivation is why you do something.
Think about the times you don’t want to go networking or talk to clients, or change careers, or send out a resume, or discuss something with your boss or coworkers. Why you don’t want to do those things will reveal a lot about your motivation. On the other hand, why do you take action?
There are two kinds of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic.
1. Intrinsic motivation is motivation that comes from within yourself. It’s something you want to achieve that gives you personal satisfaction or personal enjoyment.
You practice playing the piano. Why? You love playing the piano.
At work, you complete projects well and on time. Why? You enjoy your job and like what you do.
You network for work and for yourself. Why? You enjoy meeting new people and learning about them.
And the reverse is true if you are not motivated. Why don’t you do something? There is no personal satisfaction or internal reward for you.
2. Extrinsic motivation is motivation that comes from the outside. It’s a reward you get for doing something.
You practice playing the piano. Why? You perform and receive money, accolades, maybe even a standing ovation!
At work, you complete projects well and on time. Why? You can get recognition, accolades, more money, a promotion.
You network for work and for yourself. Why? You get more clients, make more sales, make more money for the company and yourself. Maybe get a promotion or a new job!
The first step to being motivated for a career transition or any action is to be aware of why you are motivated. In the next blog learn some tips about how to build your motivation and stay motivated to accomplish and achieve your goals.
To your successful transition!
Pattie Rydlun
Your Career Transition Expert
CareerTransitionExpert.com
617-948-2323
PS: Get my free report on “7 Steps to Reinvent Yourself” at HowToReinventYourself.com.
Want to wake up in the morning and have a job/career that you love and make the money you want? I help people figure out what they love to do and then set a plan in action to do it. Check back for strategies and suggestions and steps to help you achieve your goals. 
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