Tag Archive for 'Life Coach'

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Body Sensations and Vision Board Building: Who Knew?

For those who’ve never heard of a vision board or don’t know what one is, it is the process of cutting out pictures and captions of your deepest desires and goals and then posting them on a board. The idea is that you will attract those goals and desires into your life.

I made my first and only vision board about five years ago, and I must say that most of the goals I planned to accomplish were, in fact, accomplished. Some….not so much. It wasn’t until I read, “The Vision Thing,” by Martha Beck in this month’s issue of O Magazine that I realized there are some new techniques I’d like to try on my next vision board.

First, Beck talks about cutting out images that connect with your inner self. How do you know if it connects with your inner being? Beck says that you’ll know when your body responds to the image. Just like that, I knew exactly what she was talking about. There have been times that I’ve gotten ideas or have seen images and my heart beat a little harder or my stomach got butterflies. And it’s then that I know that I’m REALLY onto something. This is my first pledge to building my next vision board.

My second pledge is to follow Beck’s second piece of advice. She says to not put so much visual attention on the vision board, meaning not to look at it everyday. My last vision board was plastered on my wall. It was the first thing I saw when I woke up every morning. Since my recent relocation to Orlando, Florida, I decided to not unpack my vision board. And that’s what I plan to do with the next vision board I plan to make. Even in The Secret, one man told a story of how he created a vision board, put it away, found it a year or so later, and found that he had accomplished ALL of his goals

So what are you waiting for? As you randomly scroll the pages of magazines, newspapers, pictures, etc., take notice to what your body responds to. Then build your board and put it away. I know I’ll be doing the same.


Published on Friday June 18, 2010 in Broadcast, Life Purpose and Self-Discovery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Become a Networking Pro

“Only 13.2 percent of external hires in 2009 were made via job boards, according to a corporate study done by staffing consultancy CareerXroads,” said the U.S. News & World Report. The article entitled, “Why Job Searches Should Start-But Not End-On the Web,” gave shocking information about how job searches online are essentially not as effective as many people think (http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/05/04/why-job-searches-should-start-but-not-end-on-the-web.html).

The conclusion of the article was simply that job counselors and career coaches agree that networking is the way to go.

You don’t know how to network? Well, take notes and ask questions because job seekers MUST know how to network and network well if they want to be ahead of the game.

1. Do look for local networking events that are specific to your career field. You can use any search engine and type in your career field and the keyword “networking,” and you are bound to find some events. Also, look in your local newspaper.

2. Do not go in handing your resume and business card to everyone you meet. Networking is not an “all about me” type of event. It’s about making connections, getting to know people, and allowing them to get to know you. But don’t push yourself down people’s throats.

3. Do get to know the people in the room and figure out what their needs are. You may be able to connect them with someone you already know or another contact you’ve met. People like to talk about themselves. If you listen, they’ll want to hear more about you and may know a contact that will land you the job you want. If you connect them with a job, imagine how willing they’ll be to help you out.

4. Do not let fear get in your way of meeting new people. If you’re shy and hesitant to introduce yourself to other people, take someone with you who is more outgoing, whether he or she is in your industry or not. At least you’ll have someone with you of whom you are comfortable around, and that can ease the stress of feeling by yourself. Just make sure you don’t tell people that’s why your friend came with you…lol.

5. Make sure that as you collect business cards,  jot down notes on the back of that card to help you remember something about the person you just met. Write down something that made this person interesting to you and would make you to contact him or her.

For more networking techniques and practice, contact The Collegiate Career Coach.



Published on Tuesday June 15, 2010 in Broadcast and Choosing a Career. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

If You Died Tomorrow

I finally bought the book, The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow. I’ve heard so much about it for a couple years now, but I never made time to buy it.

So far, I’ve only read the introduction and the first chapter. I’m fully engaged in the book already….so much to the point that my evening plans are to curl up on my couch and dive further in.

As a professor who only had a few months to live due to cancer, Randy Pausch gave his last lecture. A last lecture is common for retiring professors, but this lecture was much different because this was a man in his 50s preparing to die.

Trying to figure out his lecture topic, he decided to right about being able to accomplish his childhood dreams.

It made me reflect on myself. If I died tomorrow, will I have accomplished everything I’ve ever wanted to do? What would my legacy be for the world, for my family, and for my friends? What haven’t I done that I want to do?

Think about it for your own life. If you died tomorrow, are you where you want to be and doing what you want to be doing? If not, why not? Create a “bucket list” for yourself and go after the desires in your heart.

Absolutely nothing is off limits unless you’ve  limited yourself. You can always find a million reasons why something can’t be done, but it takes a man or woman with courage to be determined enough to follow through on their dreams. Is that you?

Published on Wednesday June 9, 2010 in Choosing a Career, Life Purpose and Self-Discovery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

The Responsibility Factor

Often times teachers will say their students need to be more responsible. Many students will say that it’s their teacher’s responsibility to make sure that they pass the class. Who’s really responsible?

You are!

Whether you are a teacher or a student, your own responsibility lies within you.

One of my students came into class today without anything – without the textbook, without a pen or pencil, and without any paper or notebook. I asked him, “Where are your things?” He looked at me curiously and said, “At home….”

Just as my blood pressure began to rise over a student coming to class unprepared, I changed my perspective and my reaction. I said,” Well, just like it’s my responsibility to be prepared to teach you, it’s your responsibility to be prepared to learn. It’s like a pact we made when you signed up for the class. So, I’m going to be standing up here doing what I do, and hopefully you can take action right now to be as prepared as you possibly can with the resources around you.”

He said, “What resources? I didn’t bring anything.”

I said, “There are 19 other students in this classroom right now. What items do they have that you don’t have right now?”

He said, “They have everything I don’t have.”

I said, “Okay, so who might be able to help you get what you need?”

Then the lightbulb turned on in his head. He smiled. He asked the girl next to him for paper and a pen. Then he asked her if she could share her book. He raised his hand to answer every question I asked throughout the class period. And he was very eager to pay attention and participate in the discussion.

With both of us fulfilling our end of our own responsibility, learning happened for both of us. He learned his responsibility, and I learned not to let my blood pressure rise in a situation that seemed incomprehensible at the time.

Published on Monday February 1, 2010 in College Success and On the Job. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Answer is in You

A lot of people are always looking for answers outside of themselves, not realizing that every answer they’ve every needed is already there inside of themselves. Sometimes you just need the right question to draw it out. This is the power of having a life coach.

About a month ago I decided to take an online novel writing class. Anytime I share my writing experience as a journalist or express my desire to write a novel, people always say that’s something they have always wanted to do too. So…when I posted my status on Facebook and Twitter that I was going to take this class, I immediately got emails and comments congratulating me. In almost all of the comments sent to me, all of the people expressed a once upon a time interest in writing a novel.

One particular friend pursued the conversation with me a little further. He told me how passionate he was about always wanting to be a novelist and then asked me if I thought he should write a novel. My reply was, “If this is something that you are truly passionate about doing, the question is why AREN’T you doing it?”

Wow! That was all he needed. The next day he said he’s already included a thank you for me in his acceptance speech for the awards he’ll win from his novel. He asked me if I thought that was crazy. I said, “Absolutely not! I’m already ready for the several interviews I’ll have once I get recognition from the Oprah Book Club.”

Anytime I’m thinking about taking on a new project or participating in a new venture, I aways ask myself, “How is this going to compliment the dreams in my heart?” If it won’t, I don’t do it. I think the task is probably meant for someone else. If it does, I move forward.

Think abundantly and stay focused. If you think small, you’ll play small. If you think big, the possibilities are endless. Expect the best with every step of your journey and be mindful of not getting off track.

Published on Wednesday January 27, 2010 in Choosing a Career, Life Purpose and Self-Discovery. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .