Career Brain Drain

Overcome Overwhelm in 3 Easy Steps

When I first started my business, I wanted to learn everything.  First up was coaching school and then I got certified in marketing and then I needed to learn web design (I didn't learn it by the way) and then I needed to learn underwater basket weaving and copywriting and...and.....Does this sound familiar?  Do you keep learning and learning and learning yet never quite begin the part of your business that is going to make you money (product development, marketing, article writing etc?)

Overwhelm is something we all have in common these days.  They say that we get more information in one day to process than our grandparents got in a whole year.  No wonder we are stressed, and unproductive.  The good news is we can overcome it and I have chunked it down into 3 easy steps.

1.  Mindset

We are overwhelmed because we choose to be.  Sorry, but it's true.  You have to make a decision that you will stop learning at some point and start developing.  This is hard for the learning junkie's (myself included). You don't want to miss out on the new, better, method that will take your business to the next level.  Guess what?  Your business won't go anywhere if you don't get off the e-mails, classes, and webinars and set some time aside to implement all the brilliant ideas the "gurus" of the month are teaching.  Get clear on what you want, do you want a business or do you want a hobby?  Make a decision, take responsibility and act.

2.  Sidekicks are Under-Rated

Batman and Robin, Lewis and Clark, The Lone Ranger and Tonto.  Do you spot the pattern?  Sometimes you have to accept the harsh reality that you can NOT DO everything yourself.  Yeah, I know, you don't have the budget to hire someone, you don't have the time to train someone to help you, you don't have enough work for someone to keep busy.  If you make the decision that you want to get out of overwhelm and create a business and not a hobby you will find a way.  Trust me, I did not have the budget to hire an assistant when I first started my business but needed to because I could not figure the technical aspect of my business out. It was taking me hours and hours to learn.  This time would have been better served on product creation, coaching, marketing, speaking....anything but the technical stuff that I suck at.  I decided (there's that word again) that I had to have someone help, so I had a garage sale to raise money (getting rid of my junk in the process was just a bonus).  You will do what you need to do when you make the decision to DO IT.

3. Time Vampires

You know you have these blood suckers around.  They can be in the form of e-mail, procrastination, perfectionism, interruptions, any number of things.  Let's be perfectly candid.  Sometimes it's more fun to check e-mails, organize your office drawer, chat with a friend than it is to hunker down and create what you know you need to do.  Sometimes I don't know how to do the technical aspect of something so I procrastinate and don't get the article, product, or project done.  By doing things this way I treat my business like a hobby and am literally sucking the life blood out of it.  Stop!  There really is no rocket science to this productivity thing, there's no magic pill or formula.  The only thing that is stopping you from getting things done is you.  Throw some garlic around your neck and start working on the things that matter in your business.

By making the decision to stop learning and start creating, accepting help and watching out for time wasters you are going to create the business that you always wanted.  Whatever the reason that you got into business for yourself, make the commitment to get things done.  My new motto is “get it done, change it later.”

The Top 7 Reasons to Quit Your Soul-Sucking Job

I have some bad news for you; they haven’t discovered a cure for death yet.  You’re going to die, that’s right, croak, expire, cease to exist, kick the bucket, depart, whatever you want to call it.  The good news is hopefully it is a long, long way off.

What does this have to do with quitting your job?  It has everything to do with it. 

So why should you quit your soul-sucking job? 

1.  Because your job is killing you.

There are a lot of people who work their whole lives in a miserable job only to retire and two days later drop dead.  Why would you continue to work in a job that gives you no pleasure, happiness, excitement or fulfillment?  You only have so much time in your career unless you plan on being a greeter at Wal-Mart so, go for the gusto!  Get a job that is fun, one that fulfills you, that feeds your soul or if you’re not job material, start your own business

2.  Getting great benefits is not an excuse to stay.

Don’t get caught in the trap of working solely for your company benefits.  If you get three or four week vacations and your job is sucking the marrow out of your bones than a long vacation doesn’t really benefit you.  You should wake up excited and eager everyday to do something you are passionate about.  

3.  Your boss.

If you are working for a real idiot, the time has come for you to part ways and get a new job.  A job you can be appreciated at.  Don’t wait around until your boss decides for you that it’s time to move on.  Move on now and reap the benefit.

4.  Make more money.

Use the skills and talents you have learned along the way to propel yourself into a new financial category, one that is on an upward trend.  I quit a 70 hour a week job and got a new one making 30% more with 50% less hours.  I lived in a small town at the time so don’t bother with limiting beliefs or excuses.   There are opportunities everywhere.  Seize them.

5.  Start your own business.

If you’ve discovered you are more entrepreneur than employee, start your own business.    You can work on your business while still employed at your soul-sucking job. Turn off the TV on nights and weekends and work on creating the lifestyle that you’re in control of. 

6.  Give yourself a deadline.

You know it is time to quit your job, whether you want to find a better job more aligned with your passion or you want to start your own business, put a deadline on it.  Put a date on your goal of quitting.  If you don’t move forward you won’t move at all and before you know it you will retire and wonder what happened to your life.

7.  You’re gonna die anyway.

Would you rather have a career or business that makes you laugh or one that makes you cry?  It doesn’t matter to the world either way, but it should matter to you.  There are only so many years we are given, do you want to spend the majority of them miserable in a job you hate or do you want to make a conscious effort to change and really live your life.  You can’t take a U-Haul to heaven, make everyday count!

It doesn’t matter where you are at in life, it is never too late to change, tweak, or start over your business or career.  All you have to do is make the decision to do it

HANGIN' WITH THE RICH FOLK

I had company this week.  I had to clean the toilets again (see previous post).  This time it was my sister-in-law who is a personal trainer and my brother-in-law who is a multi-millionaire visiting from Ohio.

Did I mention my sister-in-law is a personal trainer?  If I tried really hard, I mean, if I didn't eat for a week and sucked in all of my air I could probably slip my big toe into one side of her jeans!  So it was fun having her here...made me feel like the sideshow Fat Lady!

My brother-in-law was also here to meet with another gazillionaire who owns a huge company here in Phoenix .  They were having a meeting to see if they were going to work together in some hush hush millionaire-gazillionaire joint venture project.  I was privy and could share but then would have to kill all of you and frankly, I would rather have a nice nap.

Anyhoo, I showed my brother-in-law my products and talked about my joint ventures and watcha hoosies, blah blah blah.  He wanted to know my projected sales, channels of distribution and so on and so on, I couldn't understand him after that because my ears started ringing, or bleeding or both.  I don't know these things, I just wanted to have "show-and-tell" so that he would know that I too was a fancy pants entrepreneur.

I thought I would learn something from him while he was here and I did.  Do you know how he got together with this other gazillionaire that has 400 employees working for him?  He read an article in a business journal or newspaper or Playboy-I don't remember, but he read this article and said, "I have a brilliant idea that will make this guy money and make me money." He then proceeded to pick up the phone and make and appointment with him.

Sooooooo that's how the big boys do it!  Lesson learned.  In fact this week I am calling my new best friend Tony Robbins up and we are going to have lunch, he is eager to do a joint venture project with me!  I could share but then I'd have to kill you and I really just want another nice nap.

Procrastination Sucks

"How did it get so late so soon?  It's night before it's afternoon.  December is here before it's June.  My goodness how the time has flewn!"  Dr. Seuss

So there I was innocently getting ready for company for October, November, December, and January and I look up and "crap" it is February 5th and I haven't posted since September 28th!  Way to be an entrepreneur and savvy business person.

Procrastination sucks!  Procrastination lets you make excuses and helps you get away with why it's okay in the first place not do something you know you should be doing.

Kill procrastination, shoot 'em between the eyes!  Here's why I procrastinated:

1.  I had a lot of company coming and I previously procrastinated cleaning the toilets, the guest room, the general cleaning of the house.  Peeing in a clean toilet is priority one for guests.

2.  My to-do list was so huge I was overwhelmed and didn't do anything.  I mean I had things on my to-do list like:  drink wine, file papers, read book-this stuff is hard people!

3.  I was frigging burnt from launching a big product.  So hey, I know, let's not do anything to bring any money in woohoo!

4.  While guests were here had to laugh, nod, and participate in family dynamics even if I wanted to lock myself in my office or run my head over with the front wheels of my van (yes, I have a mini-van...shutup).

5.  Lived off fantasy that my "Transformer" auto bot would take care of things while I was away (Mom's with 3 year old boys will understand).

6.  Was away doing my Sports Illustrated bikini shoot while simultaneously modeling for Victoria Secret's.

7.  Performed karaoke after one too many shots of "Gold Schlaeger", was signed by record label and recorded my first album.  Buy it next to "William Hung's-Hung for the Holidays" at Tower Records today.

There you have it.  As you can see I was very busy but didn't do much for my blog or business over the holidays.   Maybe I'm normal, but I seriously doubt that.  Now that I've gotten rid of that pesky prick "Procrastination" I need to embrace my inner diva and blog more often even when it's perfectly imperfect.  "Get it Done, Change it Later."  My new mantra! 

I think I LOVE YOU and other Fairy Tales about your Career!

Every morning I would look up, see him, and smile. My ONE TRUE LOVE!  He was my husband of course, I should know, I practiced saying the name a billion gazillion times....Mrs. Shaun Cassidy!  You know, Shaun Cassidy from the Hardy Boys...David Cassidy's little brother?

Sure, I only had the poster on my ceiling of him in his blue satin jacket but I knew one day, if I worked hard enough to make it happen....he would be my husband!  Fast forward a billion gazillion years....It never happened!  Gosh Darn It....we were destined for each other right? Why look at him in action here.  Happy 49th Birthday Shaun Cassidy.

Now before you think I took a nosedive straight into a cement pond, I assure you this little story has a point or three.  Isn't your job alot like Shaun Cassidy?  You admire it from afar and hope one day you get that raise, promotion, corner office or husband (referring to Shaun again) and it never materializes.  Or maybe you go from job to job thinking the next one will be the one that feeds your soul-and it doesn't?

Why is that?  Even though you love your job (him), your job (he) doesn't always love you back.  Stop struggling to fit into a situation that was never a reality to begin with.  Maybe you don't love your job, maybe you hate your job, either way.....let it go.  Once you let go of something you open up a vacuum to let some extraordinary things come into your life.

When I was absolutely miserable at my job I quit with no backup plan. (I don't encourage this by the way.)  For me personally, I couldn't take one more day or my head would have exploded.  So I set my intentions for what I did want.  A boss that wasn't on top of me (not literally, that would be a whole other story!), better pay, more flexible hours.  Within days I got exactly that.  I can assure you it would not have happened if I had been tightly clinging to the job that I did have, and we do that from time to time even if it's a job we hate!  You don't necessarily have to be as dramatic as I was...start going on some interviews or start your own business and start working on a business plan.  The point is to let go of the resentment and attitude and start doing something else.

Maybe it is time you started your own business?  Have you thought of that?  C'mon you know you want to....what's holding you back?  Is it that promise of another week of vacation? Oooooh Ahhhhh!  Now you have ten days vacation, but you can't take it all at the same time!  When are you going to let it go and let something more fabulous come into your life.  Time is ticking....

As for me and Shaun, well I'm sad to report our wedding day never materialized but I am happy to report that since I took my poster off my ceiling and got rid of all my Tiger Beat magazines I met "my Shaun" (no that's not his name) and we got married.  The secret is the vacuum ladies...the vacuum...and I'm not talking Hoover here.  Vive Le Job Liberation Movement!

Breaker, Breaker 1-9

So there I was driving down the 405 in Orange County, California. My bright yellow transam had a giant fire bird on the front, t-tops and a rear spoiler. My car was"awesome" dude (and yes I used to speak like that).  My vanity plate was 1ShoBiz.  I thought, to take a frequently used expression from Paris Hilton, "that I was HOT".  I was driving fast (I was on the freeway after all) when all of a sudden "whoosh" my front hood lifted up and completely blocked my view!  I don't know if you've ever been to Southern California but driving completely blinded isn't really the way you want to go, especially when you're on the freeway!  My heart was beating a million miles an hour as I tried to maneuver blindly over to the side of the road.  I could see on the sides and behind me but I didn't know what was in front of me.  Luckily I pulled over to the side of the road and no one got hurt.

Do you ever feel like this when your in a job that you know is not quite right for you?  You can see behind you and maybe even to the side but you don't know what's in front of you.  It reminds me of the time that I worked at an aerospace company.  It was the absolute worst job I could have taken.  I am not a linear thinker by any stretch of the imagination yet I took a job with nothing but engineers!  Worse yet, I am left handed and think with the creative, artistic side of the brain.  I was driving absolutely blinded in my career and could not see what was ahead of me.

When I took the job, it was because I thought that I was (now) an adult (I was a kid) and had to work at a job (even one I hated) like the rest of society, not even thinking that I might have an alternative.  In fact, if your in a position where you cannot see what's ahead of you, you are doing yourself and your company a disservice by not playing to your strengths.  How about starting your own business where you can use your gifts or if your not ready to do that, how about going on some informational interviews and getting plugged in to your strengths.  C'mon, you know what they are, you just aren't acknowledging them yet or, stay in a position where your driving blinded, maybe things will get better (they won't). 

After I pulled over and tied my now "bent" hood down, I proceeded forward, albeit a little damaged but I was moving once again in the right direction even as my license plate "1 Sho Biz" prodded me forward to my next adventure and no it was not at another aerospace company.

Blowin' Smoke Up Your @ss!

"This job has the potential to make you 6 figures"!  "Why Billie-Bob here has only been with us for 6 weeks and he is already making a fortune, right Billie-Bob" snarkle...laugh....   Has this ever happened to you?

You interview with an employer and it sounds good, REAL good.  You decide to take the position only to find out they were blowin' smoke up your ass!  It has happened to alot of people I know, myself included.  The employer makes all sorts of claims about compensation, low turnover, and employee satisfaction and is basically lying to you.

For instance, I took a job where I inquired about turnover, something that was important to me at the time.  The employer told me most people had been there for 3-7 years.  Not bad!  I ended up accepting the position and finding out the company had about 80% turnover.  In fact, when I was in training for this company, the trainer told us to look around the room (of about 25 people), he said "most of you will quit and there will be about 3 people left a year from now".  Uh-Oh, I knew I was in trouble when even the trainer was telling people this!  I was lied to.  Nothing pisses me off more than an employer lying to you to get you on board.  I think some of them believe their own crappy sales pitches and other just want bodies to "turn and burn".

Another great reason for becoming self-employed!  If you need help figuring out your own successful home based business let me know-I can help.  Have you ever been lied to in a job?  I would love to hear your story.

Baby Steps

I recently reconnected with a friend that I had done a musical (Guys & Dolls) with and some other theater work.  He has made quite a career for himself in several different genres (music, theater, television) and has been on many sitcoms and dramas.  Currently he owns several production companies in Hollywood.

I also went the Hollywood route and had modest success but nothing really stuck, so I gave up the life of "glamour" for a college degree and a hum drum career.

What was the difference?  Baby Steps.

My friend put one foot in front of the other and never gave up.  He was passionate about the entertainment industry and he kept methodically plodding along.  Each success was built upon the other until he became a successful working actor.

I went the more "traditional" route (after my stint in Hollywood) of getting a college degree and working with what I like to call "the living dead."  Being a creative type this didn't work for me even though it took me years to figure out. 

Although I loved the entertainment industry, I didn't have the vision to continue on. I felt called to help others thru humor and communication-which is what I am doing now.  My point is, if you have the "calling" and recognize it, do the work necessary to make it happen.  If not, move on (quit) so you can find your true passion and take the baby steps necessary to become the highest vision of yourself.

Sometimes you're the Tortoise and Sometimes You're the Hare

As I've previously discussed in a post "slow and steady" wins the race.  Who wants to be SLOW?  Not me.  I was raised on fast food, I think we had the first microwave on the whole block, it was the size of a small space shuttle!  In this fast food, immediate gratification nation we expect it faster, better and NOW! 

It frustrates us when we have to go at a methodical pace, it frustrates ME.  Have you ever made a To Do list for the weekend and you had so many things on it that it was impossible to finish?  Another symptom of how we are bombarded with messages about multi-tasking and getting things done now.  It's not possible!  Damn the government banning cloning!  I could really use about a dozen of "me" right now. 

As I am getting ready to launch products and finish writing my book I also want to do another gazillion bazillion things that I find I don't have the time for, so I guess Slow and Steady will have to do!  I so wanted to be the "Hare" though!  The "Hare" in the Aesop fable got to take a nap, as a Mother of two toddlers, I would love to take a nap and still manage to come in at 2nd place! 

Kick ball-chain, kick ball-chain, transition transition transition

Transitioning you career is alot like dancing isn't it?  You take one step forward, two steps back, shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.  It reminds me of the time I auditioned for the Disneyland Electrical Parade and was promptly thrown out on my ass as were all the friends that went with me.  We pretty much danced across the stage and were immediately shown the door.   Why?  Because we weren't prepared.  People always want the end result first-the Academy Award (ok, this would be mine), the pay raise, the new position, the fantastically successful business, but is the due diligence done before we take action?  Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

The people that really seem to be successful have done their research, and have figured out a way to be successful by TAKING ACTION.  As a Career Transition Coach who specializes in transitioning people from working for someone else to starting up their own successful home-based business, I see all the time the work that goes into starting up even the most modest endeavor in entrepreneurship.  The point I'm trying to make is:  Do the work, research but START.  Make a decision, don't get bogged down in perfectionism or indecision-you'll be dead in the water if you do.

Baby step your way to your business one hour, one day at a time and it will happen for you, but you are the one that has to make the decision to get into the dance, even if you fall on your booty it's better than standing against the wall listening to Earth, Wind, & Fire hoping that the boy across the way will ask you to dance (oh wait, me again!)  Forget it, instead grab a girlfriend and dance together....don't wait to get in the Dance, just start dancing, you will be richly rewarded!