How Do I Convince Them Im Not Crazy

“How Do I Convince Them Im Not Crazy” Help from our Community “How Do I Convince Them Im Not Crazy?” * Mel's been doing some blue-sky thinking, but her family see only rainclouds. How can she follow her dreams without risking her relationship with the people she loves? What's your career history and current job? I'm an Accounts Manager for a PR and Marketing agency in south-west London. I've always worked in this field, but I've been a bit of a job-hopper, moving from agency to agency and company to company. I've been in my current position for two years: the longest I've ever stayed anywhere. How do you feel about your work? It's a bit strange, really. I know what I'm doing at work, and that feels good. I like being the go-to woman for my newer colleagues, and I enjoy interacting with our clients. I get on reasonably well with the people I work with, and I make a decent salary. My job is fine, really. But it's nothing more than that, and that's slowly starting to be more and more of a problem. I don't really want fine. Fine is boring. What would you like to be doing instead? It sounds crazy, but I want to lead tours abroad. Four years ago I went to Peru for a couple of months on a group tour. There were about ten of us, mostly strangers, and we went from the northern tip of the country to the south, stopping at different landmarks and places of interest along the way. The guy who led the tour was amazing; he knew about the history of all the places, came out and partied with us, and helped us with anything we needed. It looked like such an amazing way to make a living â€" meeting new people, learning new things with the tourists, problem solving, and being able to talk about these incredible cultures and stories all day long. When I think of my dream job, that’s what I keep coming back to. So, I've started looking into it as a career, and going to Spanish classes in the evenings to build up my language abilities. What is the biggest obstacle you're facing? My family think I'm crazy. In fact, they're quite angry with me for considering it as a career path. On the surface, they're behaving reasonably and supportively, saying all the right things, but there's an underlying resentment and disapproval that's really starting to come between us. My dad keeps letting little barbs of anger slip out, about how I can't stick at anything, and how, if it all goes wrong, they're going to be the ones who pick up the pieces. My sister's angry too; she's four months pregnant and has been relying on me to help her out when the baby arrives. I only get one shot at life, and I want to be true to myself, but I don't want to lose my family in the process. Plus, their criticisms make me doubt my own judgement. What if I really am being irresponsible and selfish? Can you help Mel? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How can she be true to herself without damaging her relationship with her family? Do you know anyone she could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Mel a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

Writing a Resume to Get Into the Coast Guard

Writing a Resume to Get Into the Coast GuardWriting a resume to get into the Coast Guard isn't hard, if you have done your homework and are prepared to follow the simple guidelines. If you know how to do it correctly and follow the simple guidelines listed here, your chances of getting in the Coast Guard will be higher.As you probably already know, there are many ways you can write a resume to get into the Coast Guard. Although many people prefer to go with resumes that are on-line or even used from college, it is much easier and safer to send a resume using paper.This doesn't mean that you should choose to send your resume via snail mail. You should instead take advantage of the ease of the Internet. There are websites that will assist you in writing a resume for the Coast Guard, and many of these websites allow you to choose which form of media you want your resume to be sent in.Other than the websites mentioned above, the easiest way to send in your resume is to simply use the Int ernet. Most websites that provide this service have all the forms you need to fill out. These include a cover letter, curriculum vitae (a personal statement), as well as different sections which allow you to place a resume format into.Many websites also allow you to enter your career objectives and criteria which will help to determine which form of submission you should use. This will ensure that the right form of submission will get you to the job interview you desire.The first thing you need to realize is that sending a resume through the Internet is not an easy process. It is important that you familiarize yourself with the different Internet writing services, so that you can customize a resume to get into the Coast Guard in the best way possible. It can be frustrating if you try to do all of the work of finding the appropriate service and then setting up a resume, only to find that you do not receive a response when you ask them to send it to the recruiter. Be prepared for this , because your time could be wasted if you don't get to the recruiter before the deadline.Even after finding the best service, it is important that you adhere to the guidelines when writing your resume. Some require specific types of resumes, while others allow you to write one that fits the criteria.

Dear womens demin makers . . .

Dear womens demin makers . . . Dear womens denim makers Would it really be so hard to make pants that fit?   This has become an epidemic. Cheap pants, expensive ones- it doesnt matter.   Every woman I know struggles with how jeans fit nowadays.   And this is universal- tall and skinny, short and fat, average, boxy, hourglass, etc etc. Its not like guys jeans.   Men can go to any store, look at the size tag, buy them and be done. In and out.   And they fit!   Noooo.   Its at least a 4 hour excursion for women to get new jeans.   Scouring through every store in the mall , trying on  every. last. pair. that are in the three size range of what you usually might wear (except on your fat days, then everythings uncomfortable anyway).    And you  have to try on every pair.   Even if its the same brand, different cuts that are labeled the same size still fit different than the last pair.   I even go so far as to try on the  same cut of the same brand.   Quality control much? My one beloved brand, one that was previously made in the US and Canada, moved manufacturing to China a few years ago.   They are the same price, but the quality decreased dramatically.   They arent as thick or durable and every pair available has LOTS more stretch.   I fit -comfortably- in two different sizes, depending on, again, the cut. Then theres this thing called vanity sizing.   Eyeroll! SMH! Facepalm!   It doesnt make me feel like Im  a smaller size when I try on 5 pairs and they all fit different.   It makes me want to go home and curl up with a tub of ice cream! How Jeans Fit . . . and Then . . . Or what about those ones that fit perfectly, feel good, look great except they make this weird popping noise in the crotch when you walk.   A friend of mine calls them her fart pants LOL! Personally, Id like to see less stretch in my jeans.   No offense to the jeggings lovers out there, but when I want to wear jeans, I wanna wear  jeans.    When I want to wear leggings, I wear those.   I dont get the hybrid thing,   I think its just a marketing ploy.   A way for the manufacturers to go a little cheaper.   I like a little stretch, but if its anything less than 97% denim (per the tag) its too much stretch.. and more chance of popping. I get there are countless body shapes and sizes out there, but how about just start with standardized sizing?   At least give us a starting point so we dont have to go through a three size range of 20+ pairs to end up getting  one pair, if were lucky. So, jeans people- standardize sizing, make some jeans with less stretch.   Start with that.   Then well work on the other issues later, like bringing manufacturing back to the states.   ??

Its About Life - And The Role You Play Today

Its About Life - And The Role You Play Today “You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Harper Lee,  To Kill a Mockingbird I remember this from when I was a kid.  Along with some admonition to walk a mile in someone elses shoes.  So the seeds of this piece of wisdom were planted a long time ago.  Sometimes, seeds take a long time to germinate.  And even longer to ultimately bear fruit. Im a little less clear on when it was I first noticed something else of this nature.  But Im sure there was a distinct feeling of deja vu, because its been there every time its happened since then.  And its led me to believe that some mystical and unseen part of the universe must be at work.  That, or the plot for a television sitcom. The Role You Play What Im talking about is the role I and you play in the dramas of our lives.  Kind of like those silly plays back in school, in which someone got to play the hero or heroine and someone got to play the villain. You played your part, and when the play was over, that was it.  Except in real life, the play isnt over.  Not until youve played both roles. I suspect that Ms. Lee, and others before and after her, may have noticed the same thing. Its A Good Thing When I was in college, I worked for a successful contractor.  I started out doing menial tasks, and ended up as his personal assistant.  I guess he liked me.  But his attitude towards those he employed was universal.  Although comfortably well-off, he was unusually generous.  While he expected a lot, he gave a lot. I remember the first Christmas I was there.  Things were tight financially, trying to go to school, work, and raise a young family.  Christmas was looking to be pretty meager.  Shortly before Christmas, he called me and another girl who also worked for him into his office.   He said he had some frustrations with income taxes, and of course were immediately thinking uh oh.  But in his next breath he told us that rather than give it to the IRS hed rather give it to us, and handed us both an envelope.  As we opened them and peeked in, our mouths dropped open.  A $2,000 Christmas bonus! As the years have passed, Ive tried to follow his example  in my dealings with those I work with.  While its not a perfect science, Ive played the other role.  Ive seen the world through both sets of eyes. But Sometimes, It Breaks Your Heart Weve all had our heartbreaks.  It sucks.  Those feelings of being hurt are unforgettable.  And we usually say to ourselves or even those around us, I could never do that to anyone.  Or, if were on the other end, we act in ways that deliver immense hurt to someone else and maybe dont even fully recognize it. I walked out on my first marriage.  Sure, I had plenty of my own justifications.  And, technically at least, I didnt cheat.  But I went well into the gray area.  And I know it was an emotional blow to my ex.  I regret the way it all unfolded. The other side of that little drama?  Just a couple years later, I serendipitously found my new flame in a motel room.  For no reason, Id taken a route home that I never took, and as I passed by a motel my eye caught a glimpse of a car that shouldnt have been there.  As I knocked on the door of the room, I was fully immersed in the same kind of pain Id  delivered to someone by my actions.  Check.  Both roles played.  Empathy and lessons learned. Choose.  But Choose Wisely. As the Indiana Jones Grail Knight said, you must choose, but choose wisely.  The good news is that while the story may be written in the annals of life, the script isnt written in stone.  As the image above suggests, living consciously allows you to edit the lines, and hopefully make the lessons a little easier to learn.  And sometimes, the lessons are the greatest value that come from our experiences. If you like to read stories about how people unwittingly, and unexpectedly, ending up playing both roles, Pauline Robertson has written an engaging book called I Have Worn Both Pairs of Shoes.  Its a good reminder that our lives unfold in surprising and unplanned ways.  And to be careful about using that well-worn phrase   Oh, I could never do that. Images:  Ocean  Thodoris N   Script  Stephen Curry

Create A Model Resume To Get That Job

Create A Model Resume To Get That JobIf you have taken the time to create a model resume for yourself, you are already one step ahead of the game. If you were not born into the 'model' family, chances are you need a degree or two to get into the industry. Don't be afraid to put in the extra effort and even extra dollars to become a professional. You are not alone.For those that aspire to become models, they often come from humble beginnings. No one is born knowing how to stand up straight, how to walk or even how to make eye contact. Becoming a model is often the culmination of years of hard work, patience and determination.When you are creating your resume, it is important to remember that it has to be professional and professionalized. Models are required to carry with them professional clothes, makeup and even hair styling products. Modeling is often a profession that requires expensive art supplies.If you have chosen this style career, you are going to be building an image that r epresents your entire being. You will be modeling your look, your body and most of all, your voice. It is important to develop a brand that can be associated with the amount of money that you are making. As a result, you want to include all of the information that will allow potential employers to view you as the best candidate for the job.The most basic part of a model resume is an introduction. This should include how long you have been modeling and when you first started out. It should also include why you want to become a model. Think about how you felt when you were at first hired by an agency.Next, you want to talk about the agencies that hired you and how they came to choose you. Find out what was different about working with each agency. What drew them to you?You should also talk about the location of your works. Where do you live? What are your favorite places? When did you last go to the beach?Finally, make sure that you talk about any professional skills that you have dev eloped during your modeling career. It may be tough for your potential employer to notice that you have an extra minute to your name, but they may notice that you have mastered the art of lip syncing in the spare moments you have. Be professional and confident, and you will make a good impression on the people who will be looking over your resume.

Better meetings - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Better meetings - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog One of my passions is better meetings. Meetings can be productive, energizing, creative and fun. Or they can suck the life out of you faster than a brief stay in vacuum without a space suit. I stumbled upon a very simple and effective format that Ive been using for shorter meetings with fewer people. Say 1-2 hours and up to 6 -8 people. At the start of the meeting everybody who has a topic writes it on a piece of paper, announces it briefly, and places that piece of paper on the table. When no more topics come up, dialogue begins. We look at the potential topics, and decide where to start. People can break into groups or not as they choose, most of the time we tackle all of the topics together. Once a topic has been dealt with, you can put that piece of paper aside. The good thing about this format is that it takes almost no time to do the agenda planning, and the agenda is visible to everyone, as is the progress since the number of outstanding items on the table keeps shrinking. Im not sure why, but this works much better than writing down the agenda on a piece of paper. I should probably note that I use this format with people who are already used to open space meetings that may be part of the reason why it works for us. Try it! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related Better meetings - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Heres an amazing resource for leading good meetings. Meetings aims or purposes should be at the top of every agenda. These are the key decisions that must be made or actions that must occur at the meeting. If you arent clear on aims and purposes, dont meet. All so you can avoid this :o). Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

5 Reasons Your LinkedIn Profile Isnt Working - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

5 Reasons Your LinkedIn Profile Isn’t Working By now, you’ve  certainly heard why  a polished, professional LinkedIn profile  could actually be MORE important than your resume. However, you could spend  hours perfecting your profile, and still not receive results from it. But don’t give up! Here are five common reasons your LinkedIn presence isn’t drawing attention for your  job search  or business: Problem #1: You Forgot To Apply The Principles Of SEO A fantastic LinkedIn profile is still like the proverbial tree falling in the forest,  because if you fail to  make it easily searchable, no one will actually  find it. The best way to do this is  to conduct some due diligence on the keywords used by others who are looking for new hires.  Recruiters and employers often  look for  candidates with a particular  job title, and specify a city as another parameter. Think of a recruiter  intent on finding a Senior Vice President of Sales in San Francisco, and you’ll have the right idea. So, you’ll want to pop that desired job title or career level into as many parts of your profile as possible, in addition to skills that describe your experience. Problem #2: Your Profile Text Looks Like A Dry Bio Your digital presence should do more than merely exist, pulling in the reader with a narrative that lets you explain your unique selling proposition (USP) in detail. Therefore, if you dump the contents of your resume summary or biography into LinkedIn, it’s not going to work. In fact, pasting sections of your traditional resume straight into any online social networking site is asking for trouble, because these documents are written for print, not the Web. Online copy is fresh, concise, and a bit more energetic than your resume, and it should be written in first-person to engage your reader as an individual. Problem #3: You Gave Away The Store I’m commonly asked where and how to attach a resume to a LinkedIn profile. Well, there IS a way, but don’t do it! Generate  a little intrigue by refraining from providing every last bit of information to employers and recruiters. Think of your profile as the introduction (with almost the same purpose as a cover letter), where you can add just enough data to make employers want more. Then, then back off and make it easy to connect with you (or contact you directly) so you don’t commit problem number five. Problem #4: Your Dates  Aren’t  Working To Your Advantage Searching for a job in your late 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s? Don’t give employers reason to filter you out by including all that work history dating back to the 1980’s or 1970’s â€" please! In fact, assuming your resume  has a great strategy for combating age discrimination, be sure to employ the same techniques on your LinkedIn profile. You’ll quickly find employers are most interested in your last decade of experience, and adding too much information leads to problem number three. Problem #5: You Didn’t Pay Attention To Contact Settings Yes, LinkedIn is a social networking site (with a business purpose, of course). Then what’s the idea behind preventing others from contacting you? There’s nothing worse than finding a great professional contact on LinkedIn, only to see the message,“Bob is not open to receiving invitations or InMail.” The Contact Settings section allows you to give a brief blurb about the best way to reach you, and this is a great place to list either an e-mail address, a phone number, or both. However, you’ll also want to ensure the parameters within your Contact Settings are checked so you can receive any combination of Introductions, InMail, and OpenLink Messages. So, if your profile isn’t generating enough interest, I recommend going back over your content and ensuring you’re using a well-thought-out strategy to draw the world to your digital door. About the Author: Laura Smith-Proulx, founder of  An Expert Resume, is a resume expert and former recruiter who wins interviews for C-Suite leaders using powerful resume strategies.