Communication – Personal Development – Business

The Arizona Cardinals Matt Leinart learned very quickly how to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive outcome.  In 2004, he was the teams first round draft pick, fueled by his winning the Heisman Trophy presented to the outstanding college football athlete. Enter Kurt Warner to the Cardinals line, who was quickly assigned the starting quarterback by Arizona coach Keith Whisenhunt.

Leinart choose not to mope or become a distraction to the team’s success.  “It took me a little while just to sit back and say, ‘You know what, I can be a distraction. I can be all mad and point the finger and be that guy who is not supportive.’ Or I can say, ‘I’m going to be a good teammate.  I’m going to support Kurt and work my butt off and prepare every day like I’m the starting quarterback, ‘” Leinart says.  His attitude is adjusted because he understands that experience is the best teacher thinking, “I’m not a bad quarterback.  I just happen to be on the same team with this guy, Kurt Warner!”

What else do you think is important to keep your job?  Marsha

Tags: accountability, attitude, job success, success by Marsha
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Thought you would enjoy this!

Marsha,

Kudos for some good advice on resume writing!  As a certified professional resume writer for many years (I no longer actively market this service as I’ve moved onto other interests), your advice is quite spot on.  Even though resumes people have all the information that is necessary to create a resume, few have any clue how to create that “effective” document that will get them a second glance.  A well-written, concise and attractive presentation are critical, especially in competitive job markets.

One point that perhaps didn’t receive adequate comment was that prospective employers are interested in “accomplishments” over “responsibilities.”  I cannot tell you how many resumes I viewed that had these words:  “Responsibilities included …” Presenting factual data that supports what you actually achieved is far more powerful and enticing.

A final point I’d like to make is using the “less is more” principle.  People should not try to include everything about their lives in their resume and especially should exclude personal information, redundancies, unrelated information, hobbies (unless there is some direct correlation to the position), and information that is outdated.

There is lots of advice (some conflicting) available to people through the Internet, in resume books, and through professional resume writers, though often people cannot afford to hire a professional.

Thanks for passing along some great tips!

Becky

Tags: job success, resume by Marsha
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I was asked on a radio show what are the real secrets to getting a job in this economy. With so many people looking for employment, you must insure that your resume stands out.  There are 7 secrets that will insure that you are the star that your future employer plucks out of the sky. Remember that the goal of a resume is to get an interview, so take a leadership stance and total personal responsibility to make it a great one. Glad I’m not sending out a Resume!  There were typo’s in this post!!

1.    What is your job objective? You can’t scribe before this step. This is your hook, and the statement that most people don’t even consider.  It is the key that gets you noticed. And always write it from the employer’s point of view.
Self-serving objective: To obtain a responsible (as opposed to irresponsible?) and challenging (what, you don’t like dull work?) position where my education and work experience will have valuable application (like finding a cure for cancer?)
Attention-getting objective: Mid-level management position in sales where over 10 years of experience will add value to the sales department and company profits.
2.    Companies now scan your resume and will look for key words.  Pay close attention to the posting of the job and use their words that have been chosen by the hiring manager. If you use paragraphs, your resume will wind up in the circular file. Chose bullet points for your concise statements. You should always use %’s, $’s and #’s.  Percentages, dollar totals, and numbers stand out in the body of a resume.
Incorrect: Was the top sales producer for the region
Correct: Managed 20% of all accounts with sales in excess of $20M annually

3.    Customize your resume for each company. This will increase your chance of an interview and remember – that is the goal! It’s all about personal responsibility, and self-leadership for you to find your business success.
4.    Read a book about graphic design. Look at ads and pay attention to where you look first.  Design is important on your resume! Open space or “white space” is good. Font should be no smaller than 10 point and use Times New Roman or a similar style.
5.    Stay upbeat and positive.  There is no room for toxic behavior and negative stories. If you don’t want there to be an issue with your age, do not include your year of graduation.  Remember this also when listing your positions and companies.
6.    Focus only on what is relevant to the job you are seeking.  Leave off irrelevant information such as race, gender, and other personal statistics. Have someone else read and critique your resume with specific examples of why it is good or bad.  You are way to close to be objective. Remember to limit the resume to one page!
7.    Choose a high quality of 24-pound cream or white colored paper on which to print your resume.  Consider water marked paper and envelopes. Make sure the envelope is well formatted, the return address is clear and even check that the stamp is square in the corner.  It is all about first impression.
Now that your resume is done, email me for your copy of The Ten Commandments of Cooperation so your interview rewards you with a job offer!

Do you have any other great ideas?  Would love your comments.  Marsha

Tags: Job Interviews, job success by Marsha
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If you said no, I believe you are lying to yourself.  When you say, “I’m afraid to try that, or do this, or whatever,” you are being a difficult person.  You can’t lead a successful career or life if you are not able to take risk.  And the reason for this fear is that you don’t want to be blamed, either by yourself or others, for not succeeding.

This boils down to poor and undeveloped self awareness, accoutability and leadership. If you don’t communicate well with yourself and are not able to take risk, how can you communicate with others and get others to buy into your ideas?

Comment please – I’d love to hear what you have to say!!  Marsha Petrie Sue

Tags: fear by Marsha
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This story was just too good not to pass on.  I am not a professional football fan, nor a Cardinals fan, but I may just reconsider the later. This is all about personal responsibility, leadership, core values and kindness.
In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn’t possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn’t afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, “Well, let’s take the kids with us.”

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, “I still don’t understand why the kids can’t come with us?” Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities – just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary – - – he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the hunt for a Super Bowl ring. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

He has also been the NLF’s Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player.

And now, the rest of the story:

Today at church our minister mentioned that when Kurt, his wife and 7 children go out to eat he has one of his children pick out a family eating at the restaurant. Kurt then tells the wait staff he is picking up the tab for that family’s dinner anonymously. He remembers the days he was working nights in the grocery store and feeding his family on food stamps.

Makes it hard not to root for the Cardinals IN THE SUPER BOWL since they won yesterday…doesn’t it?

Thoughts???  Marsha

Tags: accountability, success by Marsha
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President Obama is to be congratulated for really making history today.  What courage and focus he has shown during his campaign.  Whether you voted for him or not, he is the President of our fine nation.  We must work together to fix the current problems. We must not judge anything and only look at the leadership, communications and problem solving provided by his position.

I met a gentleman this weekend that went to law school with President Obama and he said that Barrack was one of the finest minds he had ever encountered.  And this person didn’t belong to the same party either and was not a political hack.

Here is my problem.  Many people are looking for the quick fix for our current problems coming from the government, politicians and programs. In fact, President Obama said it will be the citizens that forge the change needed to solve our problems.  And again, I believe it’s all about personal responsibility.

Whether Republican, Democrat or Libertarian, we each have to keep a close eye on our expectations and understand that the only two helping hands you have are at the end of your arms. Expect more from yourself.  Work a little harder and smarter. And at the same time, remember to create joyous memories.

Want to hear me talk about how to stay up in down times?  I’ll be sharing my views on Saturday, January 24 and the call begins at 10AM Mountain Standard Time.

Dial in phone number: 646-519-5830
Caller pin: 7244

Marsha

Tags: accountability, personal responsibility by Marsha
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My husband recently retired.  So he has agreed to do some of the “chores” around the house.  This is requiring some cross training and accountability focus.  We agreed this morning that it wouldn’t be just me training him, but he would also enlighten me to some of his chores.

With our new front loader Washer and Dryer (I call them the Silver’s), I knew he was a little intimidated with all the bells and whistles.  But he learned like a champ.  Now it was my turn.  We went out to the garden and he picked up a dead mouse that was caught in the trap.  Holding the disposal sack, I said I would watch and learn. I haven’t mastered the setting of the trap yet, but I am closer.

I truly believe that part of your business success is the willingness to learn different aspects of the job, and to continue to take personal responsibility, create self awareness and improve communications.  These are skills that can always be improved and I truly think we just have to keep pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zone.

What have you done lately that stretches your limits?  Marsha Petrie Sue

Tags: counseling, cross training, relationships by Marsha
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I sit on the board of Reliance Loan and out fearless leader, whom I really admire, just sent me this link from Business Week Magazine

To me, this article proves the need to hold people accountable for their predictions and communications.  Many readers and listeners to these messages bought into them and I believe the reason is that most people don’t take the time to read and learn from different sources.  Belief is instilled because they focus on the “power position” of the person and I’ve learned to broaden your scope and question everything!

As Ronald Reagan said, “Trust but verify.”  Still true today.

Marsha Petrie Sue

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Tags: Uncategorized by admin
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Oops!  Hitting the Reply All button strikes havoc once again.  The State Department‘s email was almost shut down because of the size of an email. One person decided to hit this email choice, clogging the system to a noticeable level. So here are some considerations for better e-mail etiquette.

1. Select only the people in the cc: list that care about or need the information.  Rarely is it everyone on the carbon copy diatribe.

2. Re-title the message as the theme and topic changes. For the receiver of the message, it keeps the focus on what you are addressing.  For you, it makes it easier if you are searching for a message previously sent.

3. Obvious, but people still do it.  Don’t type in all caps.  It is hard to read and can be interpreted as shouting.

4. If you have a questions that has not been answered in two emails, pick up the phone or walk to other person’s office. This will save you time and build better relationships.

5. If you are upset and sending an email to address the situation, write it and save it as a draft.  Wait at least one hour, reread the message, and you will find that you need to rewrite part of the message and extract the emotion and anger.

6. Be concise and to the point. Think about using bullet points.  Most readers find this much easier to read, especially when you are receiving so many emails every day!

7. Make sure the original message (called a message thread) is included in your reply.  Otherwise the recipient may not have the context of your answer.

8. Use proper punctuation, structure and layout.

9. Do not use email to discuss confidential matters and consider adding a disclaimer to your message.

10. Try to read and proof your email before sending it. (This is one I’m working on!!)

Here a couple other posts on email that will help too!  http://www.decontaminatetoxicpeople.com/category/email/

Tags: communications, email by Marsha
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Headlines today: Job losses forecast to continue during ’09.  So here is the problem.

The number one New Years Resolution is to be more healthy and lose weight. Actually paying attention to your fitness and girth can help your business success. Here’s how. Did you know that some companies are penalizing people for being fat?  Outrageous you might say. The fact is companies are choosing this route in an effort to cut health care costs and reduce the number of people having to be laid off. It is a bottom line, business decision and has nothing to do with fat acceptance or non-acceptance. Does this resonate with you? Have you pledged to better self-awareness to manage your health?

Scenario: The manager has been told to lay off one person. There are two that have been identified as candidates and they both have the same skills and background.  One is fit and one is not. Which one would you RIF (Reduction in Force)?

If you are trying to deflabbify yourself, think about the TLC.
Take it: You know you need to drop a few pounds but right now you have so much on your mind that you choose not to tackle your over active fork.  You have a plan to tackle it in 30 days and mark it on your calendar. The decision is to tackle it from a life style change vs. going on another yo-yo diet.

Leave it: You decide not to take any action and to reject the idea of losing weight.  Dieting is such a drag and you are always hungry. Buying larger clothes isn’t so bad anyway.  Who is going to notice or care.  Look at Oprah.  She just continues to yo-yo and you don’t want to fall into that trap.

Change it: You pledge to yourself to make a life style change.  You want to replace your six-pack with a six-pack. Your thighs rubbing together and igniting on fire is no longer funny. You make a flexible action list that will be your guide to feeling better and being healthier.  It’s not about dieting, it is about taking personal responsibility for your choices.  You are in control of what goes in your mouth. Yes, you need to change some habits and that is a good thing.  Some of your affirmations can include:
•    I save money because eating more costs more.
•    When I eat fast food, which is be less often, I make better choices.
•    I feel better about myself and I know I look better.
•    My insurance premiums are reduced because I am not in a high-risk group.
•    I enjoy the children in my life and am a better role model.
•    I understand that being overweight is an unspoken issue in business. I am not overlooked for my next position because of my girth. Obesity doesn’t carry the same protections as race, gender, age, etc.
•    My productivity is improved because I will have more energy and better focus. I know this can chip away at my earning potential and efficiency, so I choose to control it!

According to a Stanford University study, obese people with health coverage may already be punished on the job. Those surveyed were paid an average of $1.20 less per hour than non-obese workers. Why? Employers may intentionally adjust overweight employees wages to account for health care costs. Bottom line: it costs them more so it will cost you more!

So the real info that can help you NOT get laid off, is to lay off the candies, goodies and junk food.  Any other ideas on this dilemma? I would love for you to post your comment or question!

Marsha Petrie Sue

Tags: bad habits, health, laid off, outsourced by Marsha
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