Happy Sunday, ladies!
Spring has finally come and I hope you've all had a chance to enjoy the weather.
I noticed that no one has RSVP'd for the May 17 meetup as of yet, so I wanted to remind you to please do so and to as many of the future meetups as you can. This will allow me to plan better since I know how many are interested and able to attend. Also, if not enough members want to or can attend any given month, I may cancel that month's meetup and if it's one with a guest speaker, I need to give them advance notice.
In addition to lovely weather, spring makes me think of spring cleaning. It's all about throwing out the trash and giving yourself a fresh, clean start. And this kind of cleaning need not just be physical (i.e., actual trash), but can be mental, spiritual, or in any aspect of your life that needs a cleaning.
I recently ordered a book called The Stop-Doing List. I haven't received it yet so can't tell you much more about it, but the title does speak for itself. As I mentioned at the last meetup, every time you say yes to something, you're saying no to something else, so it's equally as important to decide what to stop doing.
And those decisions aren't always easy. There's generally a reason you started doing something—and probably a good one—but that doesn't mean you should keep doing it. Just like you shouldn't go along with what's "right" for someone else.
So let's use the lovely spring weather to inspire a spring routine cleaning so that you have more time to work on your career change journey. And I'd love to hear the things you decide to stop doing, so please share that here or in our Facebook group.
Until next time!
Happy Holidays and Recharging
Happy Sunday and Holidays, ladies!
I know it's hard to slow down and take a break when there's so much to do, so consider holidays a gift to yourself that forces you to slow down, reconnect with family and friends, and recharge.
Because burnout is to be avoided at all costs. Not only will recovery take much longer than you think, but the knock-on effects on your health are not to be minimized.
Also, when you're rushing from task to task, you don't have the time to process everything you're learning and trying.
So be kind to yourself, take a long walk in the glorious weather we're having, and think back and forward. What's been working? What has not? What can you try differently?
And don't forget to acknowledge and make time for the things that give back and keep you motivated, since those are critical.
So enjoy your holidays, as will I, and here's to coming back stronger, recharged, and more focused on where our career change journeys need to take us.
Until next time!
I know it's hard to slow down and take a break when there's so much to do, so consider holidays a gift to yourself that forces you to slow down, reconnect with family and friends, and recharge.
Because burnout is to be avoided at all costs. Not only will recovery take much longer than you think, but the knock-on effects on your health are not to be minimized.
Also, when you're rushing from task to task, you don't have the time to process everything you're learning and trying.
So be kind to yourself, take a long walk in the glorious weather we're having, and think back and forward. What's been working? What has not? What can you try differently?
And don't forget to acknowledge and make time for the things that give back and keep you motivated, since those are critical.
So enjoy your holidays, as will I, and here's to coming back stronger, recharged, and more focused on where our career change journeys need to take us.
Until next time!
The Choices We Make
Happy Sunday, ladies.
It was so great seeing some of you last week and thanks to a new member, Christina, we have a great new location for upcoming meetups.
Our topic last week was time management since regardless of where you are in your career change journey, or how successful you are, you still only have the same 24 hours as everyone else.
One thing that came up is that every time you say yes to one thing, you're saying no to another. In other words, every choice made leads to one road rather than another, which reminds me of a favorite poem of mine, Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken."
If you haven't read the poem, you can find it in its entirety here, but below is the last stanza and the one that speaks to this point:
Isn't that what we're all doing in our career change journey; i.e., course-correcting a previous choice made?
So let's choose to be kind to ourselves as well as brave in our decisions. And if you're stuck on a choice, post it in our Facebook group so that we can help you out.
Until next time,
Karina
It was so great seeing some of you last week and thanks to a new member, Christina, we have a great new location for upcoming meetups.
Our topic last week was time management since regardless of where you are in your career change journey, or how successful you are, you still only have the same 24 hours as everyone else.
One thing that came up is that every time you say yes to one thing, you're saying no to another. In other words, every choice made leads to one road rather than another, which reminds me of a favorite poem of mine, Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken."
If you haven't read the poem, you can find it in its entirety here, but below is the last stanza and the one that speaks to this point:
I shall be telling this with a sigh/Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.This isn't meant to be scary; it just is. The opposite of making a choice is still a choice: you've just chosen to do nothing. And most choices are not final or even necessarily long term, so can be reversed or changed if the need arises.
Isn't that what we're all doing in our career change journey; i.e., course-correcting a previous choice made?
So let's choose to be kind to ourselves as well as brave in our decisions. And if you're stuck on a choice, post it in our Facebook group so that we can help you out.
Until next time,
Karina
Preparation for Meetup: Questions to Ask Yourself
Happy Sunday, ladies!
I look forward to seeing you Wednesday and if you haven't RSVP'd yet, it's not too late: https://www.meetup.com/Women-Career-Changers-Networking-Group/events/236318918/.
As mentioned in an earlier blog post, we'll be discussing time management at this week's meetup, in addition to your stories and progress/hurdles.
Some things to ask yourself between now and then:
I look forward to seeing you Wednesday and if you haven't RSVP'd yet, it's not too late: https://www.meetup.com/Women-Career-Changers-Networking-Group/events/236318918/.
As mentioned in an earlier blog post, we'll be discussing time management at this week's meetup, in addition to your stories and progress/hurdles.
Some things to ask yourself between now and then:
- Do you know where you spend most of your time?
- Do you have enough time for what's most important to you? And if not, why not?
- How do you decide what to do and when? Do you plan ahead or go with the flow?
- What tools do you used to stay on time and schedule (e.g., calendar, lists, etc.)?
- What time(s) of the day are you at your best?
- Looking back at the last week, how much of your time was spent as planned and/or you'd like it to and how much were things you felt you had to do and/or came up unexpectedly?
Given that regardless of who you are, you only get the same 24 hours as the rest of us, learning to better manage your time is critical to success. The first step is to be more mindful and these questions will help.
I look forward to hearing your answers on Wednesday and us all helping each other get a better handle on how to get time to be our ally, not opponent.
If you can't make Wednesday's meetup, feel free to post your answers here or in our Facebook group and I'll respond.
Until next time!
Communication Is Key
Happy Sunday, ladies,
I'll be announcing our venue for the upcoming meetup this week and hope to see you all at our April 5th meetup. It'll be a great chance to share your progress and concerns, and learn from each other.
If you recall from an earlier post, Kelly Hoey taught us that everything we do is networking. If you take that further, everything we share is communication.
Whether an email, your resume, a blog post, an interview, or even a chance encounter, they all involve communication and when you're trying to make a good impression, it's not only what you say but how you say it. There are many good books on the topic and I summarized one a while back for Actionable Books, but it also takes practice and preparation.
Do you know what you're looking for? Your strengths? Do you have an "elevator pitch" ready if someone asks what you're doing and/or looking for? If you don't know or can't articulate this clearly, people won't be able to help you.
We will be starting our April 5th meetup with everyone introducing themselves and why they're transitioning, so this will be a good opportunity to practice your story. And since practice is important and does make it easier, please join us for this safe practice opportunity.
Until next time,
Karina
I'll be announcing our venue for the upcoming meetup this week and hope to see you all at our April 5th meetup. It'll be a great chance to share your progress and concerns, and learn from each other.
If you recall from an earlier post, Kelly Hoey taught us that everything we do is networking. If you take that further, everything we share is communication.
Whether an email, your resume, a blog post, an interview, or even a chance encounter, they all involve communication and when you're trying to make a good impression, it's not only what you say but how you say it. There are many good books on the topic and I summarized one a while back for Actionable Books, but it also takes practice and preparation.
Do you know what you're looking for? Your strengths? Do you have an "elevator pitch" ready if someone asks what you're doing and/or looking for? If you don't know or can't articulate this clearly, people won't be able to help you.
We will be starting our April 5th meetup with everyone introducing themselves and why they're transitioning, so this will be a good opportunity to practice your story. And since practice is important and does make it easier, please join us for this safe practice opportunity.
Until next time,
Karina
Managing Your Time Well Is Critical
Happy Sunday, ladies,
I just emailed everyone asking for help finding a new venue and wanted to repeat that request here. If we can't find a good venue to host us, we'll have to meet at a quiet cafe and although that's great—and I won't have to bring food—it's not conducive to guest speakers or panels.
Since I'm juggling two part-time jobs, a few smaller jobs, and two meetups, I've been spending a lot of time organizing, prioritizing, and just thinking of the best way to manage my time. And regardless of the cliche you prefer (whether time is money, your most valuable resource, etc.), we can all agree that how we spend our time is critical not only to our success, but also to our energy and overall mood.
Instead of scrambling from task/job to the next, hoping you don't forget anything critical, it's best to list everything coming up. Whether you prefer to do it in a to-do list app, on paper, in a bullet list, or your calendar, make sure you're not keeping it in your head, since that's a huge drain on our limited mental bandwidth.
I personally am using a combination of tools. I've blocked off chunks of time on my calendar so I'm sure I have enough time for each of my clients, and then tasks associated with each go into a productivity/task management app. Currently my favorite is NirvanaHQ, which is based on David Allen's GTD (Getting Things Done) system. I've used many others both personally and professionally, but this is what's working for me now.
Another thing important to keep in mind when organizing and prioritizing is your personal energy rhythms. When are you at your sharpest? If you're a morning/evening person, that's when you should be doing the more challenging tasks and save the easier ones for when you're not so mentally alert. A great book that lists these and other productivity tips is The Daily Edge by David Horsager. (My blog post highlights some of my favorite takeaways from his book.)
For all of you job searching, working on your side hustles, or figuring out what your next career transition will be, your time is probably spread thin between whatever pays your bills currently (or finding something to pay those bills) and the other responsibilities you have. As we heard from our panelists, it's critical to give yourself time to recharge and to think and plan, so let's talk about this topic and how we can better manage our time and energy at our 4/5 meetup.
I'd love to hear what's working or not working for you, so feel free to share either here or on our Facebook group.
Until next time!
I just emailed everyone asking for help finding a new venue and wanted to repeat that request here. If we can't find a good venue to host us, we'll have to meet at a quiet cafe and although that's great—and I won't have to bring food—it's not conducive to guest speakers or panels.
Since I'm juggling two part-time jobs, a few smaller jobs, and two meetups, I've been spending a lot of time organizing, prioritizing, and just thinking of the best way to manage my time. And regardless of the cliche you prefer (whether time is money, your most valuable resource, etc.), we can all agree that how we spend our time is critical not only to our success, but also to our energy and overall mood.
Instead of scrambling from task/job to the next, hoping you don't forget anything critical, it's best to list everything coming up. Whether you prefer to do it in a to-do list app, on paper, in a bullet list, or your calendar, make sure you're not keeping it in your head, since that's a huge drain on our limited mental bandwidth.
I personally am using a combination of tools. I've blocked off chunks of time on my calendar so I'm sure I have enough time for each of my clients, and then tasks associated with each go into a productivity/task management app. Currently my favorite is NirvanaHQ, which is based on David Allen's GTD (Getting Things Done) system. I've used many others both personally and professionally, but this is what's working for me now.
Another thing important to keep in mind when organizing and prioritizing is your personal energy rhythms. When are you at your sharpest? If you're a morning/evening person, that's when you should be doing the more challenging tasks and save the easier ones for when you're not so mentally alert. A great book that lists these and other productivity tips is The Daily Edge by David Horsager. (My blog post highlights some of my favorite takeaways from his book.)
For all of you job searching, working on your side hustles, or figuring out what your next career transition will be, your time is probably spread thin between whatever pays your bills currently (or finding something to pay those bills) and the other responsibilities you have. As we heard from our panelists, it's critical to give yourself time to recharge and to think and plan, so let's talk about this topic and how we can better manage our time and energy at our 4/5 meetup.
I'd love to hear what's working or not working for you, so feel free to share either here or on our Facebook group.
Until next time!
Tips from Our Expert Panel
Happy Sunday, ladies,
I hope you've all remembered to set your clocks one hour forward, although ironically our weather is feeling anything but spring-like.
And it was great seeing those of you who could make it to our Wednesday expert panel. I've messaged everyone our panelists' contact info and also posted it on the meetup page and our Facebook group.
They were kind enough to share three tips for those of you who could not join us, and I've also shared one memorable takeaway per panelist (see below).
Avery's Tips
Lot's of great food for thought and for those who attended, would love to hear what resonated with you.
Until next time,
Karina
I hope you've all remembered to set your clocks one hour forward, although ironically our weather is feeling anything but spring-like.
And it was great seeing those of you who could make it to our Wednesday expert panel. I've messaged everyone our panelists' contact info and also posted it on the meetup page and our Facebook group.
They were kind enough to share three tips for those of you who could not join us, and I've also shared one memorable takeaway per panelist (see below).
Avery's Tips
- Give yourself room to unplug from your previous job, get quiet, and begin to listen to what you really want.
- Work with a coach for structure, accountability, a conclusive direction, and to accelerate your journey.
- See this process as part of your growth and cherish it. You are moving toward the best version of yourself. Believe that what you desire is possible and take small steps every day, and you will soon see results.
Patty's Tips
- Fear is there to protect you. It doesn't care if you have a meaningful life. When you feel it, ask "What are you protecting me from? Are you helping me in my mission?"
- Don't make stuff up to worry about. Life is too short to have imaginary, vicarious, outdated or irrelevant fears. Let them go.
- Question your gut. If it sounds like my Chinese mother, it's fear talking, not your true self. Thank your fear, then put yourself in charge.
Kelly's Tips
- Life is short. Always remember you can be, do and have whatever it is that you want in life, if you are willing to work hard, be dedicated, be patient and persistent.
- Your mindset is powerful, every situation is not happening to you it is happening FOR you. Ask yourself what is the opportunity in this moment and/or situation? What can I learn from this?
- If you don't ask the answer is always "NO." Always ask for what you want because there is a 50% chance you will get what you are asking for, and keep trying until you get a YES!
My Takeaways
- From Avery: first "flare" to capture all the possibilities than focus based on your north star and values and give yourself time to decide on change.
- From Patty: determine whether you're dealing with fear (real), anxiety (imagination of future), or stress (feeling overwhelmed). Deal with the fear, prioritize to deal with stress, and settle your imagination to deal with anxiety.
- From Kelly: find balance with a power hour that's all about you and keep believing.
Lot's of great food for thought and for those who attended, would love to hear what resonated with you.
Until next time,
Karina
Make Time for Recharging
Happy Sunday, ladies,
For those who have not RSVP'd for Wednesday, it's not too late to do so and you won't want to miss all the great tips our expert panelists have to share with us.
And I hope you all had a good week. Mine was good but unusual in that I actually read more fiction than nonfiction, which was much needed. And this reminded me of an important lesson.
Change is tough and takes its toll. We all know this but do we recognize how it effects all of us who are going through a major change? Do we make the time to take a break and recharge?
Since we don't know how long our career transitions will take, nor where this journey will lead us, we need to treat this as a marathon instead of a sprint (I borrowed this phrase but can't remember from whom).
In other words, pace yourself. Find the balance. Recharge. Don't lose track of who you are and the things and people that inspire you to keep going. Don't forget to exercise, eat well, sleep, read...or whatever it is that you need to refuel for the journey ahead.
And with us nearly ready to "spring forward," more sunlight will hopefully help us recharge too.
Until next time,
Karina
For those who have not RSVP'd for Wednesday, it's not too late to do so and you won't want to miss all the great tips our expert panelists have to share with us.
And I hope you all had a good week. Mine was good but unusual in that I actually read more fiction than nonfiction, which was much needed. And this reminded me of an important lesson.
Change is tough and takes its toll. We all know this but do we recognize how it effects all of us who are going through a major change? Do we make the time to take a break and recharge?
Since we don't know how long our career transitions will take, nor where this journey will lead us, we need to treat this as a marathon instead of a sprint (I borrowed this phrase but can't remember from whom).
In other words, pace yourself. Find the balance. Recharge. Don't lose track of who you are and the things and people that inspire you to keep going. Don't forget to exercise, eat well, sleep, read...or whatever it is that you need to refuel for the journey ahead.
And with us nearly ready to "spring forward," more sunlight will hopefully help us recharge too.
Until next time,
Karina
Learn from the School of Life
Happy Sunday ladies,
I hope you've all had a good week and are looking forward to our next meetup, only a week and a half away. I was working on the questions I'll be asking the panelists and can't wait to hear their answers. And there will of course be time for your questions too, so come prepared.
My Sunday was more and less productive than hoped for. Less in that I didn't do everything I wanted to; more in that I made an important decision: I decided to drop out of an MBA program I was going to start in a month.
I already have a Master's, although in publishing, and have four certificates in business-related topics. For years I wondered if having an MBA would make a difference and help me break out of publishing. So I started an online program, took three semesters (and did well), and then put it on hold since I had been let go and couldn't afford tuition. Truth be told, it had been somewhat disappointing anyhow.
Fast forward a couple of months and I hear that University of the People now has a free MBA. It sounded perfect, so I applied. It's all volunteer run so they're a bit slow, but I did eventually hear that I got accepted and was going to start in April.
But I've been dreading the semester's start instead of looking forward to it, and today officially withdrew from the program. I finally had to admit that I was doing this for all the wrong reasons and that my time could be better spent elsewhere.
Recently reading Not Taught: What It Takes to be Successful in the 21st Century that Nobody's Teaching You by Jim Keenan also helped. Part of what made the original more prestigious (and expensive) MBA disappointing was that it was too academic and not practical enough. I read so many business books and consider myself a student of life, so school just doesn't cut it for me anymore. And that's okay. Jim points out how there are many things we need to learn that school doesn't teach us, including how to sell, brand ourselves, network, think, and handle change, just to name a few.
But the ultimate deciding factor was that I'm not looking for a corporate job and the kinds of opportunities I'm interested in don't require (or care about) MBAs.
I think we all have things we think we need to do or pursue, either because it's what we were taught to do or because it seems like a shortcut. But time is money, and especially when you're juggling transitioning plus working, time is a very precious commodity and sometimes even more precious than money.
So reevaluate all the things you're doing. Is there something you're spending a lot of time, effort, or money in that you don't enjoy and feel you must do? Why do you feel this? And is it really serving its purpose or are you better off doing something else? Transition times are a great opportunity to reevaluate all aspects of your life and to "clean house" wherever needed.
Just some food for thought. Let me know if this resonates and/or helps.
Until next week,
Karina
I hope you've all had a good week and are looking forward to our next meetup, only a week and a half away. I was working on the questions I'll be asking the panelists and can't wait to hear their answers. And there will of course be time for your questions too, so come prepared.
My Sunday was more and less productive than hoped for. Less in that I didn't do everything I wanted to; more in that I made an important decision: I decided to drop out of an MBA program I was going to start in a month.
I already have a Master's, although in publishing, and have four certificates in business-related topics. For years I wondered if having an MBA would make a difference and help me break out of publishing. So I started an online program, took three semesters (and did well), and then put it on hold since I had been let go and couldn't afford tuition. Truth be told, it had been somewhat disappointing anyhow.
Fast forward a couple of months and I hear that University of the People now has a free MBA. It sounded perfect, so I applied. It's all volunteer run so they're a bit slow, but I did eventually hear that I got accepted and was going to start in April.
But I've been dreading the semester's start instead of looking forward to it, and today officially withdrew from the program. I finally had to admit that I was doing this for all the wrong reasons and that my time could be better spent elsewhere.
Recently reading Not Taught: What It Takes to be Successful in the 21st Century that Nobody's Teaching You by Jim Keenan also helped. Part of what made the original more prestigious (and expensive) MBA disappointing was that it was too academic and not practical enough. I read so many business books and consider myself a student of life, so school just doesn't cut it for me anymore. And that's okay. Jim points out how there are many things we need to learn that school doesn't teach us, including how to sell, brand ourselves, network, think, and handle change, just to name a few.
But the ultimate deciding factor was that I'm not looking for a corporate job and the kinds of opportunities I'm interested in don't require (or care about) MBAs.
I think we all have things we think we need to do or pursue, either because it's what we were taught to do or because it seems like a shortcut. But time is money, and especially when you're juggling transitioning plus working, time is a very precious commodity and sometimes even more precious than money.
So reevaluate all the things you're doing. Is there something you're spending a lot of time, effort, or money in that you don't enjoy and feel you must do? Why do you feel this? And is it really serving its purpose or are you better off doing something else? Transition times are a great opportunity to reevaluate all aspects of your life and to "clean house" wherever needed.
Just some food for thought. Let me know if this resonates and/or helps.
Until next week,
Karina
Network with Purpose
Happy Sunday ladies,
I hope you all got to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.
Today I want to touch on a topic we know is super important but may also be super intimidating to many of us: networking. As we spoke of at our last meetup, attending our group is many of your first step to networking more, since you know how important it is. And to be honest, that's in part why Kat and I started the group too: to make it easier for us to network with others going through what we are.
I had the opportunity to listen to Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World, speak at a Women's Media Group event. (You can read my brief review of her book here.)
Kelly started out as a lawyer, then moved over to the training/development side of the business, where she had to become a networking guru to reconnect with alumni of her company. She became involved with a women's networking group that was then called 85Broads (it's now called Ellevate), ended up becoming their president, and then moved on from there to becoming a startup investor and accelerator founder. Each of her moves was done with the help of her network and via targeted outreach.
The six major takeaways I took from Kelly's talk and book are:
I hope you all got to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend.
Today I want to touch on a topic we know is super important but may also be super intimidating to many of us: networking. As we spoke of at our last meetup, attending our group is many of your first step to networking more, since you know how important it is. And to be honest, that's in part why Kat and I started the group too: to make it easier for us to network with others going through what we are.
I had the opportunity to listen to Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World, speak at a Women's Media Group event. (You can read my brief review of her book here.)
Kelly started out as a lawyer, then moved over to the training/development side of the business, where she had to become a networking guru to reconnect with alumni of her company. She became involved with a women's networking group that was then called 85Broads (it's now called Ellevate), ended up becoming their president, and then moved on from there to becoming a startup investor and accelerator founder. Each of her moves was done with the help of her network and via targeted outreach.
The six major takeaways I took from Kelly's talk and book are:
- Networking should be targeted to be effective—know why you are attending any event and/or reaching out to any person so you can help them help you;
- Every interaction we do is networking—all our social media, our email signature, our voice mail message, and any time we connect or respond to someone;
- If you don't have a personal email signature (which I didn't until after listening to her speak), then create one now;
- Always follow-through on any new connection you make, and this does not mean just the day after, but a few week's later too so that you're top of mind;
- It's no longer about who you know but who knows what you know, so make sure you get content and ideas out there;
- Don't wait until you need a job to network—always be connecting and paying forward.
Kelly was really inspirational, as was her book, and her lessons are really timely given our career change journeys. So let's think of ways we can be more thoughtful in our networking and targeted in our outreach, and how we can help each other as well.
Until next time,
Karina
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