Facing Your Fears

This week, we are heading to social media to share our inspirational posts designed to help conquer your fears and stretch yourself outside your comfort zone. 

Bring Your Own Possible Solutions. Stop Asking Others.

The Living on Purpose Project has received lots of questions about what things people should be “doing now” to enhance their career readiness and advancement. Although the answer will vary from person to person, one thing that’s universal is everyone should focus on personal problem-solving.  

No one should expect others to fully solve their problems.  It’s far more effective to bring a problem to someone ALONG with a possible solution to solve it.  Here are seven common problems you may be experiencing in your job or career – along with seven possible solutions to solve them:

1.   If you feel you’ve been overlooked for a promotion, start the memo with a respectable, “I would like to formally request to be considered for promotion to XYZ position.  Following is a brief summary of my recent accomplishments.”

2.   If you’ve been looking for months or more than a year but haven’t found a job, create your own.  Freelance or work for free for friends and others. Find ways to create opportunities to do what you want to pursue.  

3.   If you feel left out because you aren’t invited to attend key meetings – ask your supervisor for 10 minutes of their time. Instead of venting to your boss about why you feel excluded, explain the reasons for why attending, having the information, and spending time with the staff would help you better support and work with the team.

4.   If an internal “client” or senior colleague isn’t responding to your emails, ask your boss if you can initiate a call to them OR if your boss/supervisor can put in a call on your behalf. 

 5.   If you feel stuck in your current job/position, figure out what advice you would give to someone in your exact position. Then give yourself that advice and think of three things that you can do to get unstuck.  More than likely, they will be the same things that someone would suggest to you.      

6.   If you want to transfer to another department at your current employer but are told that you don’t have the required experience, see if your company will pay for you to go back to school or enroll in a professional certificate program.  Even if you don’t get the opportunity to make a lateral move, you’ll have a new degree or skillset that you can use at another job/position.   

7.   If you start your own business but things are moving very slowly, find at least three things that you can do for the FIRST time or that you can do in a NEW or unique way. 

If you are currently facing a problem, instead of just asking your friends or family for advice - take 30 minutes to FIRST come up with your own possible solution and/or advice.  Often, we know the thing we need to do but we ask for advice from others for validation. Be known at home and at work as the person who always has a possible solution for every problem.    

Creating Change Today

As we collectively protest police brutality and racial injustice, many of us wonder what we can do today.  How can we use our voices or actions? And, can they actually make a difference?   

This week, The Living on Purpose Project challenges you to take inventory of your skills and think of three (3) specific things that you can do to create positive change now.  

Have the courage to start a difficult conversation about race;  reach out to someone to let them know that you are thinking of them during this difficult time; or simply ask yourself how you can use your skills, knowledge, or resources to help create opportunities for others.  

Change is not something that we must always “wait” to happen.  Sometimes you simply need to create the new opportunities and change that we seek – one small action at a time.  

There’s Something Happening Here

There’s something happening here. America is bruised, battered, and in many ways broken. Depending on who you ask, some will say this problem of “brokenness” goes back 400 years ago. Others think it’s a new issue that started this week with the brutal police killing of George Floyd.  What you believe (and where you fall on this spectrum) may largely depend on your race, socio-economic background, or even your political party. However, what is clear and undeniable is that fear, rage, hatred, and racism exist in America.  Things have to change.

As we individually and collectively navigate the overwhelming challenges affecting our country, remember that nothing changes on its own. People must change “it.” WE must change how WE think, feel, believe, and do.  We must use our talents, voice, and professional skills to hold people accountable and to help others see and do things in new and different ways.

This week, the Living on Purpose Project is heading to social media to spread so much needed love and positivity.  Join us in sharing your most inspirational and uplifting photos, quotes and messages to remind us that we can create the change we want to see – one person at a time.