ExecuNet

Mindfulness Practice - Do Nothing for 2 Minutes!

I believe it is vital that we take moments away from the pressures of daily living.  In order to:

• improve performance
• reduce stress
• be more resilient
• reduce overwhelm
• boost our emotional fitness and
• be present and discover hidden opportunities in our work and life

we need to be more mindful, more accepting, more forgiving and more present!

Here is a tool to help you be more mindful and refreshed in as little as 2 minutes!

1. Go to http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/
2. Take 5 deep breaths to take you out of your head and into your body
3. Let go of whatever came before this moment and set aside whatever is calling to you do DO, DO, DO and instead
4. Be quiet and listen to the sounds of the ocean and
5. BE, BE, BE

Email me the benefits you experience after even just one visit with the ocean and your Self by clicking on my email address gail@inspiredchoice.com.  If you like this experience, set a timer in your phone for at least one daily mindfulness break!

Inspiration for those tough job search days

Staying on course and remaining positive during job search is an admirable goal.  Sometimes it isn't possible.

On those days when you are not getting returns on emails or calls, when you are not finding it easy, when you fearful thoughts creep in, consider that circumstances, events, reactions are all happening to open you up and take you to a new level. 

The ancient poem, The Guest House, has comforted and inspired me, my clients and came to me as a gift from a coach I love and admire, Faith Curtis.  Notice your feelings before and after considering the message.  Take 5 deep breaths and see how you can welcome ALL the guests entering your guest house today.

If you would like help interpreting how this fits in your life, call me at 773.477.4012 or email me.

Read this inspiring poem or listen to a reading with a listening guide here:

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing .
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~ Jelaluddin Rumi ~

From Essential Rumi

by Coleman Barks

13 century Persian poem

Don't hire that slouch - Article on impact of posture

The following article first appeared in Red Eye and included Gail Sussman Miller as an expert to comment on the power of the body to impact the way we think. 

Here is the same article repeated in the Bellinham Herald. 

What does the research say to you?  What might you apply in your job search, career building or life enhancing activities?

Don't hire that slouch - Wire - Lifestyle - bellinghamherald.com.

Interview: Becoming an 'accidental' consultant on purpose

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Bruce Hutchison, a marketing executive who has been a frequent participant at our Chicago ExecuNet networking meetings.

Along the way, and still on the path to a full-time job, if it happens, Bruce accidentally became a consultant with his own business!  I invited Bruce to share his success at building a business around delivering his brand of market research and solutions for marketing-related problems for businesses.  He calls himself a "reluctant consultant" as his first preference has been to find full-time employment.  Along the way, Bruce's networking approach uncovers needs and he has been successful at providing solutions by being client-driven. This is a great example of a purposeful way of being that uncovers opportunity.

Our speaker at the August 4th meeting of ExecuNet urges seeking contract and pro bono work in your field to fill the gaps and create a new career because the economy is not likely to return to the same corporate hierarchies and top-heavy business models.

Bruce is a great model on the mindset with which to succeed at adapting to this new economy by placing being of service at the top of his list of priorities.  As further signs that this lifestyle may be here to stay, Bruce has a website under construction at http://www.dbhmarketing.org/.  Stay tuned!

Thanks, Bruce!

Listen to this recording here or download the MP3 file.   

Learn to Leverage LinkedIn to Network with Heart

Learn to master using LinkedIn for career advancement and transition

 

Private 1-hour session (ExecuNet rate $50)

 

Learn to Leverage LinkedIn for your search in a private one-hour training, available by telephone or in person in Chicago. Improve your chances of being found by making yourself visible in today's social media world.  Recruiters and hiring managers rely on LinkedIn and less on traditional job postings! Boost profile and keywords, get inside companies, use marketing approach.

Learn how to be real in a virtual world and warm things up online. You'll learn how to use LinkedIn to find contacts and then create conversations that are personal and effective.

How is this training different from others?  Make LinkedIn more real than virtual and minimize your steps to a live conversation. Even if you know some of the mechanics of using the system, I will share a more holistic, big "connection-oriented" way to present your best Self and take advantage of being 2-3 degrees away from ideal contacts!  Learn to:

• show up powerfully, with personality and authenticity (which differentiates your offering)
• improve your profile's appearance, marketing messages and keywords to be found 
• use groups and the Q&A feature effectively
• leverage your status statement
• personalize the giving and receiving of invitations to get linked
• use the company search to pen doors
• ask for introductions with a motivating mindset, how to write a good introduction invitation and the mechanics
• use the add-on applications to feature your ability and interests. 

Private one-hour session at ExecuNet rate $50

 

Optional:  This call can be recorded for your personal use.

Resource: Behavioral Interviewing Strategies

Melissa Stevens, of Ripple Effects Coaching & Consulting, recently spoke with us at the previous ExecuNet meeting in Oakbrook on May 19th. She handed out a valuable resource that gives some key points to follow in a behavioral interview.

Click on the link below to download the resource Melissa has made available to the group.

Click to download: Behavioral Interview Strategies

Tips on Warming Up Your Bio/Profile by a Marketing Expert

This is a well-written, candid SHORT newsletter I've received for years.  It's designed for people who market their businesses.  The same message applies to job seekers and their LinkedIn profile, cover letters, email tagline, etc.  See if these tips stimulate some ways to let your personality shine through in your “marketing” materials.

What advice do you like best?

What will you put to the test?

Post a reply here and share your feedback.
Gail

The Marketing Minute 
by Marcia Yudkin, Marketing Expert and Mentor
http://www.yudkin.com/markmin.htm

On your "About" page, in conference materials, in media kits
or elsewhere, a business bio should not be a cold, dry list
of qualifications, with every fact in its appropriate slot.
 
Nor should it be a chronology of your career.

Workshop: Is it time to reinvent YOU?

On Saturday, May 8th Kendall College's School of Business will be hosting a free workshop with featured guest speaker Susan Fignar. She will be talking in regards to strategies to reinvent and re-brand yourself at any stage in your career.

As many of you know, I am on the Senior Advisory Board for Kendall College's School of Business. I am an avid supporter of real time learning and networking and would like to pass on a workshop that Michelle Coussens, Dean of the School of Business passed to me.

Michelle has been a very active supporter of our monthly Chicagoland ExecuNet meetings, one of which is held at Kendall, and has been a fountain of information for our executives.

Kendall College

900 N. North Branch Street

Chicago, IL 60642

To download the workshop flier, please click the link below.

Download 05-08-10 Susan Fignar workshop

Article: You’re downsized…..now what?

Posted below is an article fellow career coach and recruiter Dwain Celistan has generously agreed to share with me and fellow executives. Dwain is a executive recruiter with the Gundersen Partners which is a global boutique firm which focuses on marketing, sales, supply chain and general management leadership talent.

Dwain recently spoke as one of our featured speakers at the Oakbrook ExecuNet meeting on Wednesday, April 21st. He gave us an inside look as to what recruiters are looking for.

As a coach, Dwain focuses on the leadership talent aspect helping those who need to modify their skills in order to improve. For more information regarding Dwain, please click here.

Facebook Cheatsheet

I am sharing something a colleague of mine shared with me that may be valuable to you.  This is a wonderful visual mind map on how to use Facebook.  Enjoy.

Source: Andy Wibbels

For many of us Facebook has become part of our lives. As many have noticed formats for Facebook have changed several times and often it is hard to locate where various features are.

Click on the link below to download a useful cheat sheet to help you better navigate and understand Facebook.

Download Facebook-Cheatsheet