It is time to break up with your boss!

Confucius said, “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

I’m still looking for that job or career which I love. How about you? Are you in a career or job that you love?

I subscribe to Dan Miller’s newsletter.  He is today's leading authority and personality on careers and 'Work You Love^TM'. He is also the bestselling author of 48 Days to The Work You Love, and No More Mondays. I really like the idea of looking forward to a Monday for a change and that drew me to his writing. Check him out sometime. I promise you that you will gain some wisdom which will help to get you through the work day.

I want to share some insights from one of his post today. He spoke about if you disliked your job ‘fire yourself’ and then ask yourself the following questions.

·         What are my highest areas of competence?

·         How do those translate into marketable skills?

·         What companies, organizations, or industries would welcome those skills?

·         What kind of business could I create to capitalize on those skills?

·         Knowing what I know now, do I want to work for the same company tomorrow? If so, I recognize it’s a good fit; I’m grateful for it and will make my finest contribution there.

·         If not, how can I create a plan to begin a better life?

We spend 8+ hours of our day at work. If you dislike or hate your job it is going to be reflected in the way you feel everyday and how you treat internal and external customers.

He also admonishes us though before we quit or change our jobs to think ‘Is it the job that we would like to change or is it the boss?’

These days, most individuals are not staying with the same company for a lifetime. Therefore, I suggest that we all keep ourselves marketable and relevant by investing in our personal and professional development. That might be by volunteering for a non profit or taking a class or doing tasks outside of our job duties at work.

Therefore, when we are ready to make that change or seize that new job opportunity we will be completely ready. I am trying to take my own advice. What are you doing today to invest in your development and to prepare yourself for a job you will love?

Optimism!

Hi

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog!

About five years ago, I joined this wonderful international organisation called Optimist International (there is probably an Optimist Club near you J - Do Join). The Optimist Club is a service organisation whose motto is ‘friend of youth.’ It therefore strives to reach out and help young people in various ways. In Anguilla, I served as a member under some great leaders and now it is my time to lead. Am I excited, am I nervous? Yes to both!

  I feel confident however in my new team/board and in the commitment of my Optimist family. There are many persons on whom I can lean on and learn from.

I will strive to be a committed, compassionate, inclusive, decisive, visionary and ethically bound leader because those are the characteristics I admire most in leaders.

What do you admire most in a leader? What characteristics do you seek to emulate? Whatever you choose, try to start working on developing that characteristic in yourself and practice the skill or characteristic when interacting with others.

Each day should provide an opportunity to build on a positive skill or characteristic. For example, when I experience completely mundane, frustrating days at work – I try to build the characteristics of patience and optimismJ. Don't laugh..its true :).

 

If you get a chance, Google the Optimist Creed...these are words to live by. It’s not always easy but it does contain many things we should strive for, many things we should ‘Promise ourselves.’

The theme for the Optimist Caribbean District for 2011 is ‘The Power of One.’ I have the power to make a difference. Guess what – YOU CAN TOO.  I really liked the following words I found online:

One step must start each journey

One touch can show you care
One hope will raise our spirits
One word must start each prayer
One voice can speak with wisdom
One heart can know what is true
One life can make the difference
And that One is ‘You’

Think about it. What are YOU doing to make a difference in your life, our community or our world today?

Is Your Life an Open Book?

Hi Everyone

The school year has started. As I watch the students in their uniform from the preschoolers to the sixth formers, I can’t help but smile as I recall my school days. I really enjoyed school. I had wonderful friends many of whom I am still close to. I was very involved in extra-curricular activities and I did relatively well academically.

I must say congratulations to the students who topped Cape and CSEC. You continue to make your parents and Anguilla proud. To those who worked hard and did your best in your subject areas congratulations as well! Continue to do your best!

I attended a church service earlier this week for students who were starting or returning to school. The guest speaker for the students was very good and even as an older youth the message spoke to me.

The guest speaker tried to impress on the young people that their life is like a book. He noted that every action or decision they made or will make is written in that book for anyone to read so they should try to make good choices. He said that we should all try to live a life which we would be happy to share with anyone and that of course God should be at the centre.

As I sat there, I reflected on my life thus far. Is my life an open book? Do I lean too much on my own understanding?

These are questions we should always ask ourselves. So today, take a second to look back; don’t dwell on the past though. Use the reflection as an opportunity to move forward strategically, positively and faithfully.

I certainly am!