Memorial Day is a great time to sit back, have fun, and kickstart an amazing summer. This week The Living on Purpose Project is taking a break. Next week, tune into our June 5th post on “What Does Your Resume REALLY Say About You?”
How is Your Work-Life Mental Health?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This week we are taking a look at three (3) ways to improve your mental and physical health, boost your professional-personal life balance. And, in the process help you enhance your career readiness and advancement potential.
1. See a therapist: There is no shame in taking care of your mental health. By age 25, everyone needs a good understanding of your credit and a plan to pay down your debt; a healthy outlet to relieve stress; and a good therapist! If you don’t believe in talking to others about your problems – get over it! From time to time, everyone needs a “check up from the neck up.” Everyone! Having a professional to discuss the challenges and frustrations in your job, and relationships in your life, is a win-win for your personal happiness AND professional success.
2. Gym memberships: Many companies and employers (of all sizes) offer their staff a free or low-cost place to work out. If your employer does not, ask if they would contribute towards a gym membership. Even the smallest employer understands the many positive benefits to their employees. Twice a week, schedule a quick swim, yoga class, run or workout. Think of this perk as time your company owes you for all that you do.
3. Massage therapy: Work is stressful. Why not take advantage of your employer’s perks and benefits that can actually help you relieve and minimize the stress? Some insurance companies offer limited coverage for sports and therapeutic massage, and holistic treatments, such as acupuncture and acupressure. Also, explore massage therapy schools in your city to find free and highly discounted services.
As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, this week do just one thing to focus on and enhance your mental health. Remind yourself that having a trusted, objective professional to discuss your life and career challenges with is a strength, and never a weakness.
Things to Think About When It Comes to Not Taking “No” and Professional Rejection Personally
As a Gen Xer, one of the things I will always associate with growing up in Philadelphia is listening to the radio. Today, despite having thousands of songs on multiple I-Pods, I still enjoy listing to the radio when I commute every day. Last week, one of the six (6) radio stations I listen to (99.5 WPLJ) announced that it is going off the air on May 31, 2019. The 48-year old radio station and all of its programs simply will no longer exist! Starting June 1, 2019, the new Christian radio station that bought WPLJ will broadcast its own programming.
Listening to “morning drive” radio every morning with my son has been a tradition that we will both remember forever. It’s something that I did with my parents growing up. There is something about radio that allows you to connect to the voices and personalities who you listen to every day and the music and entertainment you share together.
Although it was sad to hear the 99.5 morning show team share the “news” of not only being fired but now having to face it so publicly, it should remind us that there really is no such thing as “job security” for anyone.
At some point we have all been or will be fired, let go and/or been told that someone else has been chosen to do our same job/role. This week we are offering some great advice to successfully navigate professional rejection, and to not take “no” personally.
1. It might be just the “kick out of the nest” that you need: Many successful entrepreneurs and business owners have shared that the only reason they started their successful business and/or brand was because they had to. Suddenly being let go of your job, career and/or livelihood creates a sense of urgency, necessity and motivation required to take a risk and finally start your own venture.
2. Reminds you that you are not alone: Like almost everyone, you have been and/or will be fired at some point in your professional life. The first step to not taking professional rejection personally is to remind yourself that you aren’t the first person to be fired, and you certainly won’t be the last.
Celebrate the fact that you may not have liked your job that much anyway and they did you a favor. Google “famous people who triumphed over tragedy” to motivate yourself. Remember that other people (much more famous than you) dealt with the same reality/situation and survived – you can too.
3. It’s making room for something better: It’s a cliché but, in life and career, things do happen for a reason. It sucks to be passed over for a promotion, told that your part-time position is not going to become permanent or simply being informed that your services as a freelancer or full-time employee are no longer needed. In trying anything new, especially changing careers you must remember that people get hired for opportunities and sometimes, things simply don’t work out. Nothing, even a DJ/host job that you’ve had for 28 years, last forever. Do your best to not be blind-sided by keeping your resume updated. Then remind yourself that there is a much bigger and brighter opportunity awaiting you down the road. So, roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Being fired sucks! And, losing a professional opportunity is never easy but it is something that happens to almost everyone. This week take time to appreciate the job that fired you. Appreciate the lessons learned, the great people you met, and then move on. Use the experience to create new opportunities, positions and/or projects that will help you advance in your career and move to the next level.
P.S. And, if you ever need a conversation starter at a professional networking event or even dinner party – share your personal “getting fired” story. Doing so will help you bond with others who have experienced the same thing.
Everyone loves the underdog, don’t they?
There is a great line from the movie The Hurricane that says something like – we don’t pick books but rather they pick us. Any book lover knows this to be true. Often you stumble upon a great book in a second hand store or during a friend’s move. And, it is those books that can leave an imprint (even a temporary one) on your life and career.
This weekend a book picked me.
My hand literally hit the book display near the chair where I was sitting. It was Fearless: How an Underdog Becomes a Champion by Doug Penderson – Head Coach of The Philadelphia Eagles.
As the title states, it’s a book that speaks to the underdog in all of us. Here are three (3) great lessons I took away from my 20-minute quick read. Each will remind you that even underdogs get big career breaks and the opportunity to prove haters wrong!
1. “Negotiation is something you can and should do:” Penderson shares a great story about how he carved his own path to do things differently, even when it came to negotiation. At the time Penderson played professional football, the NFL players union had negotiated a minimum salary of approximately $750,000 for every player. Towards the last years of his career, Penderson opted not to pay his agent the standard 3% and instead accepted the minimum salary and secured an uncommon clause that would pay out his salary, even if injured. In the process, he saved $22,500 by not paying the agent for doing what he could do himself. Sometimes you must pay people for their professional services, advice and counsel. However, there are also times (especially early in a new career) when you can represent yourself and negotiate the same if not a better contract or employment agreement.
2. “Haters gonna hate, so ignore them:” There was a sports journalist who went out of his way to say Penderson was one of the most unqualified coaches he had seen in 30 years. Penderson, however, did have the last laugh when as Head Coach he led the Philadelphia Eagles to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history in 2018. Penderson did share that the mean-spirited reporter later sent him a two sentence (professional but generic) apology after he won Super Bowl LII.
3. “Do what you love, when you want to do it – no matter what others say:” Penderson spent what many may call his prime professional coaching years working at a private high school in Shreveport Louisiana. After four years, he accepted an NFL coaching position that eventually led him to become head coach of the Eagles. Many people would have waited to coach a high school team AFTER they retired from the NFL. Penderson shows us that you should follow your heart and do things in your own way and in your own time.
Everyone is the underdog at some point in their life and career. This week celebrate all of the times you achieved, created and triumphed despite being the underdog! Think about how you WILL do it again in the future.
Is the 9-to-5 job dead? Part 3 – Moonlight while you hustle to create or find something better.
Whether or not you work a traditional gig – the question becomes how can you freelance and consult while working full-time? Here are three (3) ways to work smarter and work towards your dream one day at a time.
1. Spend one (1) hour daily AT work on your side hustle or business idea: I will start by saying, you don’t want to use your employer’s ISP, email and other technology to work on your side ventures. However, you can and should use your Notes or other apps on your personal devices. Use this hour to do small parts of larger projects such as, working on your marketing plan, sketching ideas for your new logo, or designing the template of your website content.
2. Work the “work” network: Everyone has (or needs) a work BFF. Tap into a great network of potential leads and opportunities by connecting with close co-workers who you know and trust. The fact is, most people are loyal to their co-workers and could care less about the companies they work for but, be discrete and careful about when and who you share information with. Truth is, very few jobs are guaranteed (even those with million-dollar golden parachutes) so be “loyal and committed” first and foremost to yourself.
3. Take a 2-hour lunch every two (2) weeks: Unless your time and attendance are closely monitored, take a long lunch every two (2) weeks – you deserve it. Use long lunches to connect with a former co-worker or business associate. Interviewing is like dating, sometimes you need to feel each other out first over coffee. Schedule phone or in-person screening/informational interviews during your long breaks. If you need more time, say you have a doctor’s appointment and use this time to meet face-to-face with others in your field or industry.
This week take a few minutes to develop a plan for how you can work on your side hustle or dream while you get a regular, steady paycheck. Think of ways that you can work smarter and soon you will find yourself closer to your goals. Soon that side hustle may lead you to a new career path or position.