Alvah Parker Articles

10 Ways To Fund Your Business - Click To Read Article
1. Self-funding - You provide the capital necessary to start your business with your own savings and assets.

Working To Live - Click To Read Article
Over coffee a friend told me that her brother who is an attorney had given up his job in a large NY law firm to practice in a smaller firm. When I asked her his reasons for doing that she said he wanted to “work to live not live to work.”

Working Too Many Hours Is Counter Productive - Click To Read Article
Employees are working longer and longer hours. Companies need to begin to advocate some down time during the day, the week and the year. It is in the company’s best interest to do so. The stress of all this work leads to health issues both physical and emotional for employees. Companies need to reward their employees for taking all their vacation time annually. With health insurance costs so high perhaps this alone might inspire companies to pay more than lip service to allowing time to relax, regenerate and reflect.

Who is Your Perfect Client - Click To Read Article
When I started my coaching practice I believed that I could coach anyone. My marketing wasn’t targeted. Taking a few clients that were “wrong” for me cured me of that. I began to define my “perfect client” and then started to notice flags that told me that someone didn’t fit my definition.

Why is it so critical and yet so difficult for solos to ask for - Click To Read Article
Support can come in many forms. It is the people you hire, the software you use, the equipment you choose, the systems you put in place and/or the colleagues and vendors you refer to. All these resources are necessary in any business. For solos they are critical.

What is Your Competitive Edge - Click To Read Article
Carol had been out of work for 6 months and was frustrated by her inability to land a new job. She had had a few interviews but nothing had come through for her and her money situation was getting tight. Like many unemployed people Carol decided to seek work through a temporary agency

What Makes You Happy? 10 Habits - Click To Read Article
What makes you happy? Since we are responsible for our own happiness, I want to insure that I do whatever is necessary to keep me happy and healthy. This is my list of ideas. Which of these happiness ideas go on your list?

What about passion - Click To Read Article
What about passion?” said a woman in the back of the room after I had given a presentation called The 5 Secrets of Business Success. Obviously ‘passion’ was not one of the secrets and she thought it should have been.

What about a Franchise - Click To Read Article
I recently had an opportunity to chat with Michael Harrington, owner of The Entrepreneur’s Source in Beverly. He is in the business of helping people to identify and research franchise business opportunities that match their goals and needs.

Vision for Career and Life - 10 Powerful Questions - Click To Read Article
Having a clear vision of where you are headed is really important. If you have no vision then any direction will be acceptable even going round in circles! Use these 10 questions to open some amazing possibilities for you.

Values The Foundation of Your Business - Click To Read Article
A recent Boston Globe Magazine article (1/11/04) entitled Ballistic to Holistic written by Elaine McArdle describes a lawyer who initially envisioned herself in “a noble profession that would improve people’s lives.” While this lawyer wanted to practice a kind of law that sought justice and reasonable resolutions to conflict what she saw was a profession with lawyers intent on destroying their opponents by any means-hardly a way to improve anyone’s life and certainly not hers.

Top Ten Reasons to Partner with Someone - Click To Read Article
Partnerships come in many forms. There are legal ones such as in business or marriage and there are loose ones when two people come together to work or share ideas but then go on to work or share ideas with others too. With a really good partnership the total can be more than just the sum of its parts. Here are some ideas about what you can gain from a partnership

Top Ten Ways to Market Your Business By Doing What You Love To Do - Click To Read Article
Most business owners get so involved in the work of the business that there never seems to be enough time to do the necessary marketing. Even when business is good the owner must continue marketing because if he/she stops, the business eventually will stop too. Marketing your business simply means to nurture good relationships with your customers and potential customers so that they will buy from you again or they will refer you to others. Think about the kinds of things you enjoy doing and then use those activities in your marketing efforts. It is a great way to leverage your time.

Top Ten Tips for Improving Your Cash Flow - Click To Read Article
Cash is king-so they say. If you work for yourself or someone else, you need to be aware of ways to improve the cash flow. Budgeting and collecting are not glamorous but they are both key to having a successful business. Working in a successful business is much more fun than working for a struggling one!

Top Ten Ways to Manage Interruptions - Click To Read Article
So many people I worked with said they got more work done at home than in the office. That was because there were so many interruptions in the office. In fact lots of people come in early or stay late just to have quiet time to work. One way to have that same quiet time during the day is to manage interruptions. Look for ways to create a “Power hour” of work time. Maybe this will allow you to get home earlier!

Top 10 Ways to Avoid Identity Theft - Click To Read Article
As a business owner you have a responsibility to safe guard your customers/clients personal information. Here are some tips for you to do that.

Top Ten Business Systems Necessary to Run a Business Profitably - Click To Read Article
Good systems support the business owner by helping him/her to make good decisions. Every business has several key systems that when run properly will help the business to be profitable. Monitoring the systems and watching key measurements in the system will help the owner to know when to make changes and when to keep doing the same things. Having an operations manual for your business will allow you to have one place to go when you want to redefine a process or update a key measure. The operations manual is also helpful to new employees as they begin to learn how your business works.

Top Ten Answers to Prove You Are Never Too Old to Try Something New - Click To Read Article
Of all the beliefs that people have that limit them, the one I hear most often is “I am too old to do that now.” Here are 10 examples of people who had interesting achievements late in their lives. If you are truly motivated to do something, you can achieve it no matter what your age is. Happiness comes from doing what you love to do no matter what your age.

Top Ten Listening Techniques - Click To Read Article
Listening seems like a simple process and yet so many of us are more eager to talk than to listen. Someone once said we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. What better gift could you give to your family, friends, peers and bosses than to listen to them so that they feel really heard? Here are some tips to enhance your communication skills.

Time Management – Time for Quiet Reflection - Click To Read Article
Have you ever been so busy that there was no time to think? If you pack your days with activity so that at the end of the day you have a long list of accomplishments, read this article to learn how and why you need to take a break.

Top Ten Tips for Negotiating a Job Offer - Click To Read Article
One aspect of doing meaningful work is to feel adequately compensated for that work. For that reason it is important to negotiate a good job offer. Before you accept an offer make sure you understand exactly what the job offer is. This tip list will help you to prepare for negotiating and to understand the negotiation process.

To Do Your Best Work and Have a Joyful Life Ask for What You Need. - Click To Read Article
It is often difficult to ask for help getting our needs met. How do you get your needs met? Here is what others have done.

The Top Ten Reasons to Hire a Coach - Click To Read Article
You have a big goal and you want someone to support you. A coach has no other agenda except to help you succeed. He/she can help you to brainstorm ideas, act as a sounding board, help you overcome your fears, and hold you accountable for moving forward on your plans.

The Top Ten Client Feedback Questions - Click To Read Article
As program chairperson of my SCORE** chapter I am always looking for new presenters to address the group. I frequently ask my fellow business counselors to give me some ideas for topics of interest to them

The Top Ten Hiring Mistakes - Click To Read Article
Hiring a new employee is something that professionals often postpone as long as possible. It takes time. They do not do it often so it is an uncomfortable process. Here is a list of the mistakes often made and some suggestions on how to do it better.

Three Simple Ways to Get Job Satisfaction From a Job You Hate - Click To Read Article
If you are stuck in a job you hate, you are making a fatal mistake that can sink your career plans. There are 3 simple ways to energize yourself and your career. Without them you will remain in limbo with no way to save yourself.

Three Amazingly Simple Steps to Delegate Work - Click To Read Article
If you think delegating work is a big hassle and not worth the time, you are limiting the growth of your practice and the amount of work you can accomplish each day. Using these 3 key steps when delegating makes it simple and absolutely worth the effort.

The Three Things A Job Seeker Must Know to Use Social Networking as a Job Search Tool - Click To Read Article
Social Networking is the rage right now. Using them in a job search can be amazingly helpful or an incredible waste of time. This article gives some ideas of how to use these networks successfully.

The Push and Pull of a Vision - Click To Read Article
As a child I had this wonderful vision of myself standing in front of a class teaching. I even remember “seeing” myself surrounded by young students eagerly asking questions and then being energized by my answers -the students were so excited in fact that they went on to become great scientists, writers and statesmen or women. Yes, I dream in Technicolor!!

The Power of Questions to Attract Ideal Clients - Click To Read Article
Business owners realize that some clients are easier to work with than others. It is possible to have a practice or business full of clients or customers that are perfect for you. Asking the right questions before you ask for the business will help you do that.

The New Way of Work- Will It Be Meaningful Work? - Click To Read Article
The way of working is changing. The expectation is that after the recession there will no guarantee of long term employment. How will this affect your career and job search? Can you still find a way to do meaningful work? What plans must you make?

The Importance of Listening in Communication - Click To Read Article
At first glance communication with another person seems relatively easy. This month I had two different experiences that showed me how tricky it is to understand what a person does or doesn't say. Taking the time to listen to others is important whether you are lawyer, a manager or an employee.

The Importance of Marketing - Click To Read Article
Some people believe that just by being in business they will get clients or customer. They ascribe to the theory that “if they build it they will come.” It rarely happens that way. If you don’t let people know about your business, not only do you lose but so do they. Every business owner and solo professional needs to take marketing action steps.

Take Back Your Time Day - Click To Read Article
The work ethic in the US today seems to push us all into working harder and faster than we have ever worked before. The technology that was supposed to make life easier has just added to our work load. With email, instant messaging, Blackberries, and mobile phones we are all very accessible. There is almost no place that we can go where we won’t be disturbed!

Ten Ideas to Help You Keep Your Resolutions Or Goals - Click To Read Article
If you have some resolutions for the New Year or if you set some goals for yourself or your business for the next year, here are some ways to keep yourself on track and focused.

Ten of My Favorite Quotes About Goals - Click To Read Article
Duke (Edward Kennedy) Ellington (1899-1974) American Composer Bandleader and Pianist \"A goal is a dream that has an ending.\"

Ten Quick Marketing Actions - Click To Read Article
It is often difficult to manage to do marketing tasks when you have a busy business or professional practice. Here are 10 ideas each of which take 5 or 10 minutes and can be done between appointments or when you take a break from working on a large project.

Ten Tips on Delegating - Click To Read Article
One way to manage your time more effectively is to delegate work to others on your staff or to contract workers you hire for specific projects. How often I hear such comments as, \"It takes too much time to delegate.\" \"If I delegate the work there is no guarantee that the work will be done properly. It is just easier to do it myself.\" \"No one can do this as well as I can.\" If others who have a lower hourly rate can do the work while you focus on the work only you can do, your cash flow will be better because you can do more of the work that only you can do.

Ten Ways to Build Client Trust - Click To Read Article
Clients work with professionals whom they trust. Building trust is an ongoing process. Here are 10 ways to build trust with both old and new clients.

Ten Ways to Avoid Burnout - Click To Read Article
Business Week October 3, 2005 recently ran an article entitled The Overworked Networked Family. In the article was a list of 7 tips to avoid burnout. I’ve modified their list a bit and added some of my own to make 10 tips. The focus of the article was how professionals and knowledge workers can use technology to balance work and family life.

Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves - Click To Read Article
1. Do I have the persistence and patience necessary to be a business owner? It would be nice if once you wrote your business plan all you needed to do would be to execute flawlessly and everything would fall into place. Maybe it happens to a few businesses but usually in some part of the plan you get different results than you expected. It takes patience to wait for the result in the first place. It takes persistence to keep updating your plan and then trying something else until you find how to make it work.

Ten Methods and Resources to Obtain Market Research Information - Click To Read Article
The objective of market research whether you are starting a business or growing an existing one is to find out if there are enough potential customers for your product or service and if enough of them will be eager to pay your price for the product/service you have to offer. In writing a business plan you want to convince the reader and yourself that there are enough members of your target market to warrant your forecasted sales results. You also must convince the reader that that target market will pay your price for the product. Here are some ideas about how to do the research.

Ten Tips for Staying Connected - Click To Read Article
Many of my business clients tell me that what they missed most when they started their businesses was the camaraderie of an office setting. Small businesses often start with the owner as the only employee. To combat this sense of isolation here are some suggestions that allow you to connect and market at the same time

Ten Tips For Becoming More Self Assertive - Click To Read Article
This month I had the pleasure of hearing Johanna Skouras speak at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. Self-Assertion is something I have struggled with myself. Johanna says that to learn to be self assertive we need to learn how to serve our own needs without hurting others. As an only child I had no need to be assertive in my family. My needs were always acknowledged and usually served. The difficulty came for me when I was with other people. I smiled when I picked up Johanna\'s book at the library and the librarian, a friend, said, \"Oh Alvah, you don\'t need that book!\" I\'m still working on many of these tips. What about you?

Ten Ways to Cope with Stress - Click To Read Article
Diane Darling who wrote the book The Networking Survival Guide shared a list of 99 ways to cope with stress with folks on her email list. You can find the whole list at http://images.exacttarget.com/members/3987/99_Ways_Cope_Stress.PDF Here is a list of my favorite 10

Ten Ways to Manage a Rapidly Growing Business - Click To Read Article
While some new business owners face the issue of not enough customers, others face the issue of too many customers/clients. Both are serious issues and must be dealt with carefully. There are many lists on how to find new customers/clients. Here is a list of 10 ways to deal with a rapid influx of new customers. The goal is a steady flow of just the right customers/clients.

Ten Ways To Help You Recover From A Bad Mood - Click To Read Article
A bad mood can ruin your whole day! What techniques do you have to get over one? I recommend to clients that they create a list of ideas that they can draw on in difficult times. Here is an example of my list. What would be on your list?

Ten Tips For Starting A New Job - Click To Read Article
Get to know people. First meet those people in your department and then those in departments you interface with. Listen more than you talk. Ask lots of questions and get clarification if necessary so you truly understand how the office/department/business works.

Ten Characteristics of Leadership - Click To Read Article
These are quotes taken from an article by Bill George former chairman and CEO of Medtronic.

Ten Ways to Reduce Stress at Work - Click To Read Article
Stress free living is probably impossible. It is wise however to manage the stress so that we can work more effectively. Need help reducing stress? Use this list!

The Cost of Being a Perfectionist or a Workaholic for Attorneys - Click To Read Article
Are you a perfectionist or a workaholic? Many law firms and other businesses encourage this. Lawyers and other professionals often brag about it. What is it costing the business and the individual.

Ten Tips for Being a Productive Team Member for Attorneys - Click To Read Article
You have probably been asked to serve on a committee or team. When possible it is important to choose those teams wisely. (There are times when your manager appoints you to a team and you are not given a choice.) Being a team player can give you visibility and credibility but if you choose the wrong team or work with a less than productive group you will lose the benefits. How do you decide which committee to serve on and then how do you make sure that team is very successful? Here are some ideas to help you.

Ten Ways a Professional Can Take a Quick Break at work - Click To Read Article
According to the RealAge website “Researchers have found a strong link between chronic work stress and a nasty cluster of factors known as syndrome X (or metabolic syndrome). They increase your blood pressure, your belt size, and your odds of developing diabetes.” Programming a little relaxation time into your week is one way to guard against daily stress affecting your health. Here are a few ideas of ways to do this. You don’t need to do all of them. Choose the one or ones that resonate with you.

Ten Beliefs that Must Be Overcome to Find A New Meaningful Career - Click To Read Article
Making a career change takes courage. Most people hesitate to do it because of deep seated beliefs that they have. Some beliefs are empowering but the ones that hold you back are disempowering. The only way to move forward is to identify the belief and either overcome or change it. Here is a list of 10 common beliefs about career change that can derail your desire for change.

Ten Tips to Help You in Your Pursuit of Happiness - Click To Read Article
What makes you happy? Each of us is responsible for our own happiness. Here are ten tips on keeping yourself in a happy and positive frame of mind.

The Dreaded Elevator Speech – Important for Job Seekers and Attorneys - Click To Read Article
Life today is hectic and so is business. Everyone is in search of ways to make quick decisions on minimum information. Whether you have a business, work in a business or are looking for work you need to have a quick way to introduce yourself and grab someone’s attention. Hence – the elevator speech or the 30 second introduction.

Ten Questions for Career Changers - Click To Read Article
Are you planning to change jobs or careers? For some the move is to find work that is more fulfilling so that you will be happier. For others it may a step toward taking more of a leadership role. Whatever your reasons for the career change, you’ll want to do some self discovery work. These ten questions will help you to sort out what kind of work you are looking for and what you offer to a potential employer.

Ten Locations for Quiet Reflection for Busy Professionals - Click To Read Article
Increasingly we are all busy with our lives and we work at a hectic pace. Finding ways and times to just be quiet and contemplative is difficult. I know that I have to consciously carve out some time in my day for reflection and rest. When I do it, I have to resist the guilty feeling that tells me I “ought” to be doing something more “productive”. Here are 10 suggested places for quiet contemplation.

Ten Signs of an Impending Layoff - Click To Read Article
The news is full of announcements of layoffs. Most people are worried about their current jobs. How can you tell a layoff is coming? Here are 10 signs I've observed during my career.

Ten Actions Necessary for a Successful Job Search - Click To Read Article
How do you conduct a successful job search? Job Seekers frequently start in the middle. These ten tips will be invaluable after a layoff.

Ten Techniques to Stay Confident During a Job Search - Click To Read Article
During a transition and job search what you really need is confidence. If you have been laid off or out of work for a while, confidence often erodes. What can you do to bring back the energy and self assuredness you had before you became unemployed? Here are 10 useful tools.

Ten Ways for Small Businesses to Cut Costs - Click To Read Article
The process of cutting costs is necessary in a down economy to stay in business. What can be cut? Here are 10 ways businesses report they have saved money.

Ten Networking Tips For The Job Seeker - Click To Read Article
Networking has become an important part of the job search. It can be a great way to hear about job possibilities and companies that are hiring. If you are not sure how or where to network this list of ten tips will help you.

Ten Tips For A Good Billing And Collection System - Click To Read Article
Cash flow is critical to any professional service firm but especially small ones. How do you prevent clients from delaying paying their bills or worse not paying at all? Here are 10 tips.

Ten Ways to Sweeten the Job or Job Offer - Click To Read Article
One aspect of meaningful work is being compensated adequately for the work that you do. If it seems unlikely that your firm will raise your salary, then try negotiating other aspects of your job. Read this list of 10 ways to get other benefits incorporated into your job offer or compensation package for the year and to get ideas about how to improve a lackluster offer

Ten Characteristics Of Meaningful Work - Click To Read Article
What is meaningful work? If you are working 8+ hours each day, that work should add meaning to your life and thus make you feel fulfilled, satisfied and happy. Does your work do that for you? To help to identify meaningful work for you, I’ve written a list of 10 characteristics that make the work meaningful.

Speak to Me of Love - Click To Read Article
Dovid Grossman, a coach and father of nine, recently told me that his father and he had fought constantly through his growing up years. Through it all his mother was the referee. Finally when Dovid was 17 years old he sat down with his father and said, “I want to have a close relationship with you.” He was flabbergasted when his father said, “I’ve tried to do that my whole life but I don’t know how.”

Successful Marketing Requires Perseverance - Click To Read Article
My client, BJ, (not client’s name or initials) had a small website design business that he had started 3 years ago and worked at part time. He also worked for a large company in their IT department. In September of 2002 he was laid off. Looking at the job market in his area he knew it would take him many months to find another job. He thought that this was the right time to focus his energy on his website design business

Structure Builds Confidence - Click To Read Article
You have probably had some sort of structure to your day ever since first grade. Even having breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon and dinner in the evening gives form to your day. Why is this useful? How will having a structure help the business owner and/or the career changer?

Six Characteristics of Leaders - Click To Read Article
A friend invited me to hear Rudolph Guiliani, the former mayor of New York City, speak at a local college. The list below captures what he spoke about. Guiliani told us that after September 11th he had to make many decisions very quickly. He would make 4 or 5 and then close his eyes and pray, \"Please make this right.\" The first characteristic \"Strong Beliefs\" speaks to that as does my song title above.

Simple Marketing Tips to Do Marketing the easy way in 5 minutes a Day - Click To Read Article
Business owners are all aware of the importance of marketing to their business. Still many find it difficult to set aside time to do marketing. Here is a simple way to make marketing fit into a busy schedule and keep the flow of clients coming.

Setting limits - Click To Read Article
Have you ever found yourself doing something you didn\'t want to do just because you couldn’t say no? I certainly have had the experience and so have my clients. Here are a few examples of what I mean.

Self Assessment – The Key to a Successful Job Search - Click To Read Article
Most people start a job search by sending out resumes and talking to their network. They have forgotten a most important step that can make the difference between success or failure on the next job. This article addresses that step.

Self Awareness, The Key to Finding Meaningful Work - Click To Read Article
The key to having meaningful work and a fulfilling life is to become more self aware. Know what you want sounds simple doesn't it? But is it really? Here are 10 questions to ponder to become more self aware.

Rest Relaxation and Recreation - Click To Read Article
During a vacation this past year I came up with an exciting new coaching program (Value Program) for my business. I wasn’t planning to do this on my vacation. I hadn’t set aside some work time at my computer. I hadn’t even brought a notebook to jot down ideas. I really didn’t expect to have any notable thoughts! It just happened as I took my regular morning walk each day. The ideas just flowed in.

Relationship Building for Professionals - Click To Read Article
Building relationships is the first step to building a successful practice. How do you begin to build a list of referral sources? Where do you start? This article presents some ideas to create your own referral source list.

Relieving Stress by Getting The Work Done - Click To Read Article
Knowing that there are tasks on your “To Do” list that you are avoiding is very stressful. How do you get those tedious jobs done at work or at home that you keep putting off? This article has some tips others have used to get the work done.

Recession Proof Your Career 10 Ways to Keep Your Job - Click To Read Article
There is lots of talk of recession these days. Whether the talk is true or not here are 10 things you can be doing for your career to bolster your chances of working through rough times. The best time to start is right now!

Persistence Pays - Click To Read Article
How do you market yourself or your business? Do you give up too quickly? What activities do you do and are they working? Marketing is something you must do continuously. Why is it important to be persistent and how can you make yourself stick to it? Read this article to find out.

Planning for the Unthinkable - Click To Read Article
As a child I can remember going through the tunnel that connects East Boston with Boston holding my breath. Absurd behavior? Sure, but in my mind I was preparing for the time when the tunnel would run out of air.

Perfectionism Can it be a good thing - Click To Read Article
Last month I wrote an article on accomplishing goals. As most of you know I think it is very important to have goals and to work toward them. The article inspired one reader to write the following:

Pricing Predicament - Click To Read Article
How can I figure out how much to charge for my product or service? What is the highest salary (raise) I can ask for? Talking about money is a thorny issue. What do you need to think about when you set the price for your service?

Professional Success Tips - 10 Ways to Be Top of Mind With Past Clients and Referrers - Click To Read Article
While marketing to potential clients is important it is equally important to stay top of mind with past clients and referrers. Professional success is more likely when you get referrals from people who are already familiar with your work and find it valuable. Sometimes it is hard to come up with excuses to get in touch with referrers and past clients, here are 10 suggestions.

Motivation One Size Does Not Fit All - Click To Read Article
Managers continually try to find ways to motivate their employees. The most common way is to use bonuses and pay raises. What other ways work? Who else is responsible for finding what really motivates a person?

Mistakes and Weaknesses - Click To Read Article
First Paragraph Of Article“What mistakes have you made since 9/11?” the press asked the President of the US. “What is your greatest weakness?” the interviewer asked Amy on The Apprentice, a TV reality show. Both had difficulty answering. Frequently in an interview situation the interviewer asks some variation of these two questions. What would your answer be?

Meaningful Work - 10 Tips for Long Life and Career Growth - Click To Read Article
Hard to believe that managing your career can insure a long life but if you are doing work that is meaningful to you, it certainly can. Here are 10 tips that will not only insure that your work life is better but will contribute to a healthier and happier life.

Managing The Boss 10 Questions to Ask the Boss to Help You - Click To Read Article
How do you manage the boss that seems unapproachable? You need to know the boss' expectations to do a good job. Read the 10 questions you are entitled to ask the boss.

Managing Through Change - Click To Read Article
Some people adapt to change easily and even thrive on it. Other people resist change and fight it. What do you do when your company is moving in a direction that you do not agree with?

Making Conversation - Click To Read Article
Years ago when I was just starting my career in sales at AT&T, another new account executive in my group found it absolutely amazing that I had gone to lunch with a customer. She said to me, “What did you talk about? Wasn’t there a lot of dead air space?” A similar question about finding topics to talk about with clients came up recently at a program that I attended on Rainmaking for Women Lawyers presented by the Women’s Bar Association.

Living With Fear - Click To Read Article
“I’ve never been afraid to ask for money before, why am I so worried now?” Kate asked me. Kate and Mary were writing a business plan for a new elegant furniture store they planned to open. They had had a failed attempt to run a similar store in another state with several other partners. They told me they had learned a great deal from their failure. (“We got an MBA in retail in 6 months!”)

Making Active Choices – The Key to Success - Click To Read Article
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Benjamin Franklin said this originally. Sometimes we are aware that the results are not what we want but are unaware that we are stuck in a pattern of unchanging behavior. The first step to making a change is to first become aware of what we are doing.

Longing for Meaningful Work - Click To Read Article
Are you longing to do meaningful work? How would you describe this kind of work. Learn what research shows are the 5 must-haves of meaningful work.

Knowing Your Unique Gifts - Click To Read Article
When Bill became my client he had a very successful recruiting business but he could see the business environment was changing. He felt that he was not using his natural gifts effectively in his business and he wanted some help in identifying what he could do with those talents that would provide him with more fulfilling work.

Job Search Basics – The Five Actions Job Seekers Must Take In Order To Find their Dream Job - Click To Read Article
Finding your dream job is never easy. In a tight job market it is imperative that your job search be flawless. Forgetting even one of these five basic parts of a search can eliminate you from the game.

Interview Preparation Gives Confidence - Click To Read Article
Preparing for an interview. There is a lot to think about when you have an interview for a job scheduled. Here are some tips to keep you confident and well prepared.

Improve Your Life How to Hire A Coach - Click To Read Article
A reader writes, “I read your "Ten reasons to hire a coach" and, believe it or not, all the ten reasons apply to me. I am really interested in having more information about it. I do not know how or where to contact a coach here. What kind of background should a good coach have?”

How To Insure Job Security - Click To Read Article
The attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don’t have enough hours in the day to do everything they need to do. Most are working long hours and that \"To do\" list keeps growing not shrinking. So it is no wonder that when I suggest that they find time to market their practice they think I am just plain daffy!

How to Motivate Yourself to Plan With Enthusiasm - Click To Read Article
Business plans are important for starting and growing a business but often people are resistant to preparing them. Entrepreneurs need to envision the business they wish to build and then let their enthusiasm and excitement drive the planning process. Putting the plan on paper is the only way the entrepreneur can be sure the business will work.

How Do You Find Meaningful Work? - 10 Questions to Ask Yourself To Get A Good Fit - Click To Read Article
When looking for meaningful work, most people focus on the responsibilities of the job to find a good fit. There are three other pieces of the equation that should not be overlooked - your fellow workers, your manager, and the company. Here are 10 questions to ask yourself when you are seriously considering a particular job.

Go to the Head of the Class How to use the Internet for learning and fun - Click To Read Article
Several years ago when I was preparing to start my own business I decided to take an accounting class. I took the course at a local college. Each week I set out for the school which was in a nearby city after working a full day.

Happiness Is Doing Meaningful Work And Having A Supportive Community - Click To Read Article
When you lose or leave your job, you will need your friends for emotional support. Will they be there for you? Read this article to learn about building a support system that stays with you even after you lose your job.

Happiness Is Doing Meaningful Work and Getting Fairly Paid For It - Click To Read Article
Part of feeling as though you are doing meaningful work is feeling well rewarded for the work that you do. If you have been resisting switching to fixed fees now is the time to reassess your decision. Learn how fixed fees might improve your practice.

Getting in Shape - Click To Read Article
Why Lawyers Should Eat Bananas by Simon Tupman is a book that caught my eye both because of its unusual title and because I coach lawyers who are starting or growing their practices. The book cover says it gives “Inspirational Ideas for Lawyers Wanting More Out of Life”

Finding Your Voice - Click To Read Article
Finding your voice" means finding a way to express your ideas with passion so that you connect with others. We all have ideas and thoughts that we feel strongly about. Learn how important finding your voice is and how it relates to career and job fulfillment.

Finding Meaningful Work Starts With Self Awareness - Click To Read Article
Self Awareness is the first step in finding meaningful work. You must know your strengths, values and talents. More than that however you must be aware of your thoughts and how they affect the work that you do. Only by keeping your thoughts focused on the result you want will you begin to the journey toward meaningful work.

Feedback Say it Somehow - Click To Read Article
It’s January and I can’t help remembering it as a time of angst when I worked in Corporate America. This was the time that people were spending hours writing up their accomplishments for the previous year. Managers it seemed only remembered what happened in the last month or two. Evaluations were done on a year’s worth of work. If you wanted your manager to remember the many good things you did earlier in the year, he/she needed to be reminded!

Expect to Win - How To Use A Strong Vision to Win Business - Click To Read Article
Running your own business is a great laboratory for self discovery. I told many people when I first started my practice that I learned more about myself in 2 years of running the practice than I did in the preceding 50+ years. Many people say that to be successful in business you need lots and lots of training and knowledge. Others will tell you need to be really gifted. Do you ever look around and see “less qualified” people who are very successful? How does that happen? What are they doing that you are missing?

Enjoying the Moment - Click To Read Article
Many years ago my family and I used to go to my then husband’s parent’s home for holiday meals. His mother was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for us. She spent days preparing all the season’s delights and we came to the table eager to begin the festivities. Invariably when 20 minutes later we were happily full she would lament, \"It took me 3 days to prepare and 20 minutes for you to eat it!\"

Establishing Trust – How to Build Relationships and Make Them Work For You - Click To Read Article
After all that has happened in this economic turmoil it is no wonder that we all have become a little cynical. Building trusting relationships becomes more difficult for everyone. What are three things you must do to establish good relationships when you are networking?

Do You Over Promise and Under Deliver - Click To Read Article
A new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she often didn’t get to complete a client’s work until the client called to see if it was ready. I admired her honesty if not her time management skills.

Creating Your Vision - Click To Read Article
As a youngster I often pretended I was the teacher and my friends were students in my class. When my friends didn\'t want to play I just used my dolls and stuffed animals. In later years I would daydream in class about how I could make the topic easier to understand or the class more fun than the teacher up front. I didn’t know it then but I was creating a vision.

Controlling Your Inner Critic - Click To Read Article
“I’ve hit a wall,” Sally said to me. “I just can’t move forward.” If you are a sales person, business owner or job seeker, chances are you have had days when no one wants what you are offering. Some people are able to continue making their pitch enthusiastically and others find it really difficult to continue.

Can Pain Be A Motivator - Click To Read Article
Carol was a new client. She had been looking for a job for several weeks and wasn\'t having much success. As with most of my clients I asked her to envision herself working in the job she really wanted. As we talked she was really excited about the possibilities. I really caught her short though when I asked her what did she see happening if she couldn\'t find this job.

Can You Make Your Hobby Into A Business - Click To Read Article
My client, Jenny, showed me a small selection of knitted wool hats that she had made. She said she had dozens of them in her house. She wondered about the possibility of going into business selling these hats. Up to now she had sold a few to friends without any effort. Wouldn’t it be nice to sell them to others! Maybe-on a website.

Career Success – 3 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Bullet Proof Your Career - Click To Read Article
Position yourself for great career success by using these three simple techniques to keep you ready for a job search. Spending time each week doing these three activities can mean the difference gearing up for a lengthy job search and being in action immediately.

Can You Be Yourself At Work? - Click To Read Article
Who do you get to be every day at work? Not only is it important to do meaningful work but you must do it in a way that allows you to be your best self. Can you be your authentic self or do you need to change your behavior to fit the expectations of your environment? To get the most satisfaction out of your work you need to work in an environment where you are valued and allowed to be the person you are. If you are required to change your behavior too much you will be under a great deal of stress and a candidate for burnout.

Career Success – How to Be a standout! - Click To Read Article
Looking for a job is never easy but looking for a job when the market is saturated is even more challenging. Differentiating yourself from others is most important. Learn what others have done to stand out.

Building a Solid Network - Click To Read Article
A client who has a fine arts degree wanted to move out of his successful career in advertising and into the real estate development business. He had already enrolled in a top notch MBA program to learn more about the field. In addition he had found work with a bank doing real estate appraisals

Building Relationships A Lifetime Skill - Click To Read Article
Friends are always passing my name along to people who are doing a job search or building a practice. They usually tell the person about my coaching practice and recommend that the person call me. (I love referrals!!)

Believing The Plan - Click To Read Article
Mary had a delivery service business. Her idea was to market to senior citizens who couldn’t get out every day. She came to me as a SCORE counselor because her business was struggling and she thought she needed marketing help. She had been marketing to seniors for more than a year and was frustrated by her results. She hoped I would have the silver bullet that would change everything

Behavioral Styles and Communication patterns - Click To Read Article
Each of us has a different way of communicating to others. It isn’t just your words that deliver your message. In fact the words may be least important. Your tone of voice and body language are a big part of communicating. It is your behavioral style that others interpret and make decisions on. How do you find out about your style?

Be Prepared For A Job Change - Click To Read Article
My client, John, had recently lost his job. What was most puzzling to him was that up until he got his notice his manager had given him very positive feedback about his performance. The truth was the company had eliminated the budget for his job function. His work was good but they decided they did not need that work done any more.

An Example of Consciously Staying Upbeat Through Adversity - Click To Read Article
Wouldn’t you know it? While I had just written a list of 10 ways to stay upbeat and happy (Top Ten Tips To Help You in Your Pursuit of Happiness) when I had a challenge of my own.

Asking For Marketing and Networking Help - Click To Read Article
Whether you are looking for a new job or in business for yourself, being comfortable asking for help is essential. Job seekers and career changers need to ask friends, relatives, co-workers and anyone else who can help if they know people to help them with their search. Business owners, career changers and solo professionals must be comfortable asking family, friends and colleagues for networking and marketing help.

Be Happy and Healthy Take a Vacation - Click To Read Article
Did you take a vacation this year or skip it because of high gas prices? Americans have always been good at putting off vacations so this year they have a built in excuse. If you passed on a vacation so far and want to be happier and healthier, read this article to learn the reasons to schedule your vacation now!

An Error Free Resume - Ten Proofreading Tips - Click To Read Article
If you have worked to make your resume attractive and compelling, don’t ruin your chances of being hired because of careless errors in typing, grammar or spelling. Be sure to proofread your resume several times before you send it out. Here are 10 ways to insure an error free

Are You Doing Meaningful Work? - Click To Read Article
Most people work eight hours or more a day. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that work were nourishing and exciting! Meaningful works keeps us happy and engaged. Learn how to identify work that will be meaningful for you.

A World of Possibility - Click To Read Article
When I started my sales career over 25 years ago, I worked for a small company selling telephone answering equipment. Hard to believe it but in those days I had to explain to prospects what the equipment was for and why they might want to use it.

60 Hour Work Weeks Can You and Your Career Survive Them - Click To Read Article
In the 80s while I was an account executive for AT&T most people in my organization worked normal (for then) business hours. By that I mean they arrived close to 8 or 8:30AM and left between 5 and 5:30PM. By 6 PM the office was empty. No one seemed to notice or care how many hours people worked. I had a boss nicknamed \"Dry Cleaner Sam\" because they joked he was \"in by 10, out by 4\".

A born salesperson - Click To Read Article
For seven years I sold equipment and network services for AT&T. I even won several awards and twice was selected to the Council of Leaders, an honor given to the top 3% of the sales force. I am however not a typical sales type. Employers who use the DISC behavioral assessment would screen me out as a candidate for a sales position.

Accomplishments in 2003 - Click To Read Article
I’m so tired of reinventing myself,” my client told me. She had worked in a law firm, in a government agency, then in a corporate setting as a writer, and now she wanted to open her own law practice. With every change she had to try to uncover new skills that she had and it seemed exhausting to her. She told me each time she spent hours looking for new ways she might fit into a particular job. She felt like a pretzel being twisted into someone else’s job description.

A Vision Energizes and Motivates - Click To Read Article
A vision guides you in your career. It gives your life and work meaning. If you are working 8+ hours a day and feel stuck, thinking about your dream may be just the catalyst you need to feel inspired to move forward or to make a career change.

Accountability for your Career - Click To Read Article
Being accountable to someone else is constraining.  You can't just do anything you want. You must do it the manager's way and in the manager's time frame. After you’ve left a job being accountable to only yourself does feel freeing.  But eventually reality sets in and you will need to figure out how to motivate yourself to take some steps forward.

10 Ways to Handle a Client Complaint - Click To Read Article
Most professionals take pride in the work they do. Dealing with complaints is often challenging and upsetting. It is very natural to try to explain or justify what was done. The suggestions I have made in this list are not easy to do in the heat of a situation. So when you hear a complaint about you or your business/practice perhaps the best strategy is to count to ten and then do some of the following:

10 Lessons I Learned From My Mother - Click To Read Article
1. Establish and stay connected to a supportive community. My mother is genuinely interested in the welfare of her family and friends. She visits with them as frequently as she can and when visits aren’t possible she calls or writes them. She is a good friend, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin! She cares for others and they care for her.

10 Tips for Reluctant Networkers - Click To Read Article
These tips are from The Networking Survival Guide by Diane Darling and were in the Boston Globe on April 1, 2004

10 Ways To Leverage Your Time When Running A Business - Click To Read Article
When I use the word leverage I mean that you expend a certain amount of energy to accomplish multiple tasks or you conserve your own energy for other parts of the business. The objective is to save energy so the owner can focus on the most important parts of the business.

10 Ways To Make Your Business Unique - Click To Read Article
Largest Selection One way that you can make your product or service stand out is to offer the largest selection of products, services or programs. Example: Home Depot, E-Bay, Staples, Amazon.com

10 Ways to Build a Strong Spiritual Life - Click To Read Article
This list comes from an article I read several years ago (March 2001) that appeared in Prevention magazine written by Rev. Natalia Vonnegut Beck. This month I am departing from my career and business tips for a different sort of list. In this holiday season I think it is appropriate. Hope you do too.

10 Ways To Develop a Free Agent Attitude - Click To Read Article
Develop a vision of your ideal life. Include all parts of your life including your work/career, family, friends, lifestyle, spiritual endeavors, personal growth, leisure etc. Let that vision guide your choices and move you forward

10 Questions to find a business idea that is a perfect fit for you - Click To Read Article
What are your values? What are you committed to? What must you do in order for you to be you? What do you do that you have endless energy (passion) for? If all your life, you have loved to explore and you remember exploring even when you were 6 or 7 years old, then that is a value for you. Use the free truvalues tool to help you find your values.

10 Inexpensive Ways to Market Your Business and or Yourself - Click To Read Article
Have a compelling response to the question “What do you do?” or \"Tell me about yourself\" Make it brief and interesting. If you only have 30 seconds, give them enough of an idea about what you do so that they seek you out to hear more later. Even in a situation where you have more time, be brief but to the point and then allow them to ask questions. Their questions will give you an idea of their particular interest.

10 Ideas To Help You Create A Vision Of Your Ideal Work life - Click To Read Article
If you use all these ideas you may find you come out with two visions. One would be a big vision of what you want for the world and one would be a vision of the work you want for yourself. Ideally they fit together. At first they may not. Some people will prefer to omit 2 and 3 for now and start with 4 or 5. In all cases you need to do step 1. Finding a vision takes a lot of quiet time!

10 Lessons Learned During A Weak Economy - Click To Read Article
Quiet times allow us the time to grow and to be creative. A lull in the economy provides the opportunity to regroup and rethink plans. Farmers allow a field to lay fallow for a year before planting again. The soil produces more after the rest. New ideas often come when a person is not so busy.

10 Tips For More Effective Networking - Click To Read Article
Decide on the networking groups that make sense for you. Does the group attract your potential customers? Does it put you in contact with your strategic partners? Does it help you stay current in your field? Could you learn new skills that will help you find work or business? Meetings that involve potential customers or strategic partners get you in touch with your target market. Meetings that teach you new skills or keep you up to date can get you in touch with mentors and peers.

10 Ways to Refresh Yourself During The Holiday Rush - Click To Read Article
We get so busy during the holidays sometimes we don\'t have time for ourselves. I notice that when that happens to me I get cranky and resentful. Here is a list of what I do to refresh myself during the day as I rush to complete all my work and preholiday tasks.

10 Leadership Tips for Lawyers - Click To Read Article
Even if you don’t have your own firm or if you are not a partner, you can be a leader of your team or even yourself. All lawyers need a vision, mission, goals and business plan/marketing plan to be successful.Not a lawyer? These statements are applicable to anyone in the business world.

10 Tips To Make Your Networking More Rewarding - Click To Read Article
Good relationships are essential to any career. It doesn’t matter if you have your own business or work for someone else that network is critical. Lawyers, solo professionals freelancers, and sales professionals must constantly network and generate new business. Your network will be invaluable when you want to find a new job.

10 Tips for Sending Email - Click To Read Article
This week I was working with another coach on a presentation by phone. She wanted to see the description I had written of my presentation so I quickly sent it off to her in email or so I thought. When she didn’t receive it I checked my “Sent” file. Whoops! I clicked on the wrong person in my Outlook address book. Same first name but different last name! How embarrassing! Here are some tips for writing email. Remember your email could end up in the wrong hands so be careful!

10 Marketing Actions to Reconnect with Potential Clients or Referrers - Click To Read Article
Is everyone you meet a potential client or referrer? It starts with the conversation you have when you first meet the person. Focus on those in your target market and/or those people who know lots of people in your target market (influencers and strategic partners). It is with those two categories of people that you want to begin building relationships. To build the relationship you will want to stay connected with them. (You don't want them to forget you!) Here is a list of ways to help you stay connected.

10 Tips for Resume Writers - Click To Read Article
Whether you are happily entrenched in a job, engaged in an active job search or thinking about a career change everyone who is working today needs a current updated resume even if the job you are at is your first! It is worth the time and effort to update your resume at least once or twice a year. Those who have a ready resume can immediately respond when that perfect opportunity presents itself. Here are 10 ideas to remember as you write or update yours

10 Ways to Ask the Client To Do Business With You - Click To Read Article
It is difficult to know when to ask a potential client or customer if he/she is ready to do business with you. More than that, it is frequently difficult to find the right words. Here are some suggestions of ways to ask for the business. Let your intuition guide you as to the timing of the question.

10 Reasons Everyone Needs a Vacation - Click To Read Article
Off and on over the years I have taken vacation time. It is only recently that I have been conscious of its value. There have been times when I felt too busy to leave work. Other times I thought my work was at a crucial juncture and it wouldn't get accomplished without me. All solo professionals know that the revenue generation stops while the owner is away. For me that is yet another reason not to vacation. I know I am not alone in making excuses not to take a vacation. According to the Take Back Your Time organization (http://www.timeday.org/ ) "43% of American workers didn't even take a solid week off." What are the benefits of taking a vacation?

10 Tips for Managing Your Career - Click To Read Article
Here are some tips for those just beginning a new career and career changers. If you have been in a job for a while, these tips may be helpful in revitalizing your career or in focusing your attention on the need to make a change.

10 Ideas about Life Purpose - Click To Read Article
What is your life purpose? Is it helpful to know what it is? This list provides some ideas about life purpose that may be helpful to you if you have ever wondered about yours.

3 Lessons On Making More Money that Your Mother Never Taught You. - Click To Read Article
How do you get a raise in salary? Sometimes the beliefs you hold get in the way of doing what is necessary. Changing those beliefs is an important step in getting the money you deserve.

10 Quotes on Self Awareness - Click To Read Article
The key to meaningful work and a fulfilling life is first to become more self aware. Really understanding yourself and what is important to you in your life and in your work is the key to getting satisfaction out of work and life. Here are 10 quotes that express what others have thought about it.


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