Word-Of-the-Week #1068: Talent
February 6, 2025 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1068: Talent
Talent – a special, often creative natural ability or aptitude.
Does your job make you excited to wake up each morning and go to work? What job would you want if there were no parameters?
This week features excerpts from Phil Blair, “Finding your gifts that let you dream big about your career.”
“When it’s time to change jobs, that can be your choice or your employer’s.
No matter what, the worst reaction would be saying to yourself, “I don’t know what I do want to do.”
The second worst is, “I’ll do anything.”
To which I say, “Every person has unique gifts, and these gifts give him or her the power and the opportunity to accomplish great things, if he or she learns how to use those gifts and channel them in the right direction.”
I wish it was my quote, but it’s from Zig Ziegler in his book “Born to Win.”
At times, it can seem like everybody else knows more than we do. They appear to have a job they like, a successful career path, or at least a career plan. They know what they want to do. They also know what makes them happy in their job, at least for now.
But workplace situations can change very quickly, sometimes when you least expect it. The trick is to be prepared for what’s next.
My favorite exercise with clients who are wondering what to do next is play-acting the game of “What’s Your Ideal Job.”
What job would you want if there were no parameters? No education level, experience, location, salary, comp package, or anything else.
Over the years, I’ve found that my biggest challenge is getting attendees to think big — really big.
- A practical choice
In a recent session, one of my middle-aged clients told me he wanted to be a warehouse manager, a very practical choice for him. But I wanted him to dream bigger, so I countered with “How about CEO of FedEx?”
He surprised himself by saying, “Sure, that’d be great,” which is what I hoped he’d say.
It’s best to do this with a small group of people who know you, but maybe not enough to have preconceived ideas about what’s best for you.
The first few questions are, why would this be your ideal job? And what are the aspects of the job that most attract you?
- Helping new and interesting people
I gravitated to being an HR entrepreneur. My favorite parts of my job are still sales, marketing, staff development, and meeting new and interesting people.
If you’re looking for a job, write down your top four career paths in pencil, so you can change them at any time.
That way, you’re proactively working toward finding what career will make you happiest, and how to get there. You’re excited and focused, yet continually flexible.
After one of our recent paddleball matches, a friend parroted back to me my mantra of finding a career that makes you excited to wake up each morning and go to work.
That needs to be your goal, too.
Not “I don’t know” or “I’ll do anything.”
This week’s focus is on career. Are you thinking of changing jobs? Do you know what your special talents are? What would your ideal career be?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1067: Planning
January 30, 2025 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1067: Planning
Planning – the process of deciding in detail how to do something before actually starting to do it.
How often do you think about your future? How easy is it for you to make plans?
This just in from, Steve Straus, author of STEVE’S 3-MINUTE COACHING, is a perfect follow-up to last week’s WOW.
Quote: Planning
(Quotes are capsules of information, reinforcement, or enlightenment.)
“Thinking seriously about the future can be a worthwhile exercise, not because the future is knowable but because the process is likely to make us wiser.”
Tim Harford – Economist
“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower – General
“Plan beats no plan almost every time.”
Sen. Elissa Slotkin
Coaching Point: The process of planning is more important than the plan it produces.
Thinking about what we may want for a future outcome. Trying the future on to see how it fits. And how it attracts us.
Considering alternatives and options that could expand the future beyond our original thoughts. Attracting us even more.
The energy and clarity of purpose you radiate on your journey attract others to assist you.
Follow the advice of the above folks. You will have better, richer, and more satisfying outcomes.
“Plan beats no plan…”
“…not because the future is knowable…”
“…planning is indispensable.”
Do you know how easy it is to plan?
See all past issues and subscribe here Steve’s 3-Minute Coaching
Copyright © 2025 Steve Straus, All rights reserved.
This week’s focus is on planning. Have you ever failed or ran into problems because you didn’t have a plan? Would you like to have better, richer and more satisfying outcomes?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1066: Amaze
January 23, 2025 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1066: Amaze
Amaze – to cause great wonder or astonishment.
When was the last time you felt great wonder or astonishment?
I am traveling this week and re-running this from, Steve Straus, author of STEVE’S 3-MINUTE COACHING, since I plan on being amazed!
Great Question: Amazes?
(Great questions lead to great answers; weak questions, weak ones.)
“What amazes me?”
Coaching Point: Children spend much of their time amazed. That’s because each day can be an introduction to something new, interesting, wonderful. For them there is a continual unfoldment of something they haven’t seen before, had no idea existed, and, well, amazes them.
And then they grow up. Adults busy in the routine of the routine.
Ah, but the delight of being amazed lies dormant in the heart of all adults, just waiting to blossom anew.
Why doesn’t it blossom? We forget to look. We’re busy on ‘more important things.’ We don’t remember the juice being amazed brings.
This is not to say we adults are never amazed, just that we’re amazed a whole lot less than when we were young, when the wide world was new to us.
What has recently amazed you?
See all past issues and subscribe here Steve’s 3-Minute Coaching
Copyright © 2025 Steve Straus, All rights reserved.
This week’s focus is amazement. How long has it been since you spent time in nature? Have you ever experienced the amazement of seeing migrating whales? Or flocks of migrating birds as they arrive at their destination?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1065: Acceptance
January 16, 2025 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1065: Acceptance
Acceptance – approval or agreement with the situation.
Are you able to accept things you have no control over? Has worrying or fretting about a situation ever made it any better? Are you able to move through a problem situation quickly and find a solution if possible?
The word Acceptance is my mantra for 2025 and ironically last week I received this from Amy saying, “Your emails are always on point! Thank you for your wonderful insight. This is speaking to my plan for the year. I went to a networking event this week and they asked everyone to pick a word for the year. Mine was “Explore”! Time to put off making vacation plans for “the right time”. Just do it. As you perfectly stated there is no Someday in the week.
Thank you for continuing to be inspiring and thought provoking.”
The key to acceptance is taking responsibility and being accountable when it warrants it. It is not about passing the blame to someone else and/or playing the victim. Some things are out of our control. Like aging! It is just part of life, and I am accepting that there are things I can no long do…and just don’t want to do!
And on a sadder note, the wildfires in LA are beyond devastating! We had one very near our home on Halloween that was vey scary. My heart goes out to all who have been affected.
This week I am going to share my favorite lines that have helped get me through and make me laugh instead of getting upset.
#1. “It is what it is.” – The phrase is not new. Although the origin is uncertain, it has been around for years. “It is what it is” has become the all-purpose alternative to the long-winded explanation.
#2. “Build a bridge and get over it.” – This quote came from Mary Ann, who was one of the Cookie Lee Consultants that I interviewed prior to speaking at their convention in 2004. This is particularly good for the whiners in your life!
#3. “Hakuna Matata” – If you saw Lion King then you know this one. It is a Swahili phrase that literally translated means, “there are no worries.” No problem. Or, as we say in California, “No problema.”
#4. “This too shall pass.” – Buddhist principle: Smile as abuse is hurled your way and this too shall pass.
#5. “Fagetaboutit” – pronounced FAH-get-about-it – This is a Mafia phrase and in English reads “Forget about it.” It is the ultimate line in every mafia movie or TV show that they all use which has multiple meanings. It can mean you will be forgiven. It can mean you won’t and will be killed. (Of course the person hearing it never knows which it means) It can mean whatever happened, happened. I covered for you. “You don’t owe me nothing.” It can mean you do owe me for the rest of your life, or you will be killed. (Of course the person hearing it never knows which it means)
This week focus on acceptance. How do you cope with situations out of your control? Do they cause you to worry, fret or lose sleep? Can you easily handle upsets and move through them?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1064: Someday
January 9, 2025 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1064: Someday
Someday – at some unspecified time in the future.
Is there something you’ve wanted to do that you’ve been postponing? How would it feel to take action on what truly matters?
This week’s WOW from Sam Horn felt like a great start to the New Year!
ANECDOTE
Years ago, a woman came up to me at a conference and asked, “How did you come up with the title of your book ‘Someday is Not a Day in the Week?’”
I told her, “I’ve met so many people over the past few years who talked about what they were going to do… Someday.
Whether it was spend more time with family, take better care of themselves, or pursue a passion project… They told me they planned to do it when they’re not so busy, when their kids go off to college, when they retire, when they have more money, when things aren’t so crazy at work… Fill in the blank.
The problem? Someday often becomes never and the future isn’t guaranteed.
The longer we wait, the harder it becomes to take action on what truly matters.
Let’s stop waiting and start initiating! After all, you will never regret doing more of what puts the light on in your eyes, you will only regret not doing it sooner.
ACTION
- How about you? What is something you want to do that you’ve been postponing for “someday?”
- What is something – even something very small – that could fill your life with joy, purpose and meaning?
- You don’t have to quit your job or abandon your responsibilities, just pick one thing each week that gets you closer to a happier and healthier life.
This week’s focus is on someday. Are there any things that you’ve said you were going to do “someday?” How would it feel to make today the day you start initiating and stop waiting?
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