Tag Archives: career

Beth Nichols on Career Change

You are responsible for your own careers, plural. You need to be curious, to look for opportunities that interest you, and not be afraid to take risks – Beth Nickels 

With the economy changing, new trends and innovations arising at rapid pace and people living longer, it isn’t a question of if you’ll change careers but how often. Even if you stay within the same company, you’ll likely change roles.

Are you staying curious and alert to what is happening around you?

Are you staying updated on the news in your area?

Are you keeping in touch and adding to your connections?

Are you learning new skills and raising your hand for new experiences?

 

Chris Rock on Being Rich

Having money doesn’t make you rich. Having options makes you rich – Chris Rock

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI love this reminder about the importance of options, especially in today’s economy. For many people, salary from a career or business is the largest asset, and the market volatility indicates a steady paycheck is not at all guaranteed. Therefore the asset isn’t the paycheck; it’s in your ability to work, your valuable skills and expertise, your supportive network. To get rich, nurture your employability — your options.

What one thing have you done towards your overall career, not the current job you have now?

When was the last time you connected with a colleague outside of your day-to-day work or regular circle of friends?

Do you know what is trending in your line of work and your industry?

It’s a shame to be caught up in something that doesn’t make you absolutely tremble with joy – Julia Child

Now there’s a metric I can get behind – not just joy, but joy that makes you tremble. What if we made all of our decisions based on this:

  • Career
  • Money
  • Time
  • Relationships

What would you do differently if you had to measure your choices against the trembling joy they bring?

How to Be a More Nimble Entrepreneur – Purple Clover

In my business advice post for Purple Clover, I share tips for the executive-to-entrepreneur career change. There are habits, beliefs and behaviors from your corporate days that you do not want to carry over when you launch your business:

Most people recognize that traditional employment and entrepreneurship are different and therefore require different skills and temperaments. But surely, the corporate experience helps, right? You have extensive networks — you might even be able to sell into your former employers. You have skills and expertise — these could be your first offerings. You have the savvy that comes with navigating different environments — and therefore the savvy to navigate the different clients you might call on. However, there are also behaviors and beliefs that might be a holdover from your corporate days that no longer serve you when you strike out on your own.

“Sales is someone else’s job”

A former corporate colleague of mine who went into business for herself proclaimed assertively, “I don’t sell.” When I asked how she expected to get clients, she mentioned that she knew enough people from her corporate networks to keep her busy. That worked for a few months. Last I heard, she hired a copywriter for her site and was figuring out how to explain what she does.

In corporate America, you could focus on what you did best, and someone else was selling. If you were in sales, you could focus on that while someone else took care of marketing, finance, operations, etc. When you’re in business for yourself, you take on all jobs, especially sales. Even when you expand your team and can outsource functions, you still have to know enough about each area and be active enough in each to maintain oversight and quality control. Even when you can bring on a salesperson, you will still be the backstop in selling as no one will advocate for your business like you will. Whatever business you launch, you are in sales.

Read more Big Corporate behaviors and beliefs to avoid at Purple Clover: How to Be a More Nimble Entrepreneur.

How To Stop Attracting Deadbeat Clients – Purple Clover

In this business advice post for Purple Clover, I share three strategies for consultants, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to get clients who pay:

A Bureau of Labor statistic shows that by 2020, 40% of the workforce will be temporary. You probably already know someone who is a consultant or freelancer, and you may be one yourself. When you earn your salary project-by-project, it is critical that you get paid what you are owed in a timely manner. If you’re finding it difficult to collect, here are three strategies to follow:

Make collection a part of the process from the beginning.

Ask for a deposit. Charge a registration fee. The easiest way to avoid late payments is to make payment the first step in working with you. If you need to get started before money changes hands, ask early and ask often about getting paid. If you work onsite at the client’s office, ask to meet with accounts payable when you’re introduced to everyone else. Don’t wait till the end of a project before collecting on your fee.

Read two more strategies at Purple Clover: How To Stop Attracting Deadbeat Clients.