Archive for the ‘Business’ Category

Inspired by a client, I’m prompted to address the fear associated with Cold Calling. For those that maybe haven’t heard of this term, it is used in marketing. It means that you get in touch with someone either by phone or face to face, that you don’t know, with the intention to market your product or self.

I can tell you honestly, it is my least favourite thing to do. I’m always in awe of those that have no problem promoting and marketing. What came to me in the midst of helping my client with her job search was even the words cold call holds negativity. It sounds just like it is, “Cold.” It doesn’t project that there will be a happy, positive, productive outcome from making that call. It doesn’t scream “This is going to be a healthy conversation.” Instead, cold usually conjures up rigidness, freezing, a sense of “just get me out of here so I can warm up.”

We make calls on behalf of ourselves, family and business to people we don’t know all the time. We chat with people momentarily, whom we’ve never met, to gain information or to just share an observation. However, if there is even a hint that it may be a ‘cold call’ for job search or product/service marketing, fear sets in. This fear can be really huge for some people, sweating, tenseness in the throat, butterflies in the stomach…Yuck!

Well, here are some ideas that may help us all find some success:

1. Let’s change the name – I say “Cold Calling has to go!”  Make it more personal and find something to call it that conjures up a good image.

Strategic conversation ——-An invitation to know you or your product —-A helpful connection

Something that makes you feel less cold and more optimistic. (Maybe some of you have some ideas around alternative names, feel free to add in a comment)

2. Set yourself up before making that call with exactly what you need. Have a script that you rehearse and when it feels more natural make that first call. Keep the script in front of you, it’s a place to land when and if you feel a twinge of uncomfortableness. Have a glass of water there for a dry throat and eat before you start this; empty stomach means empty brain. Get pens and paper ready just in case you receive information for follow up.

3. Pick a no distractions room for your base of operations. Surround yourself with things that make you feel comfortable in that space. Let everyone know, including the dog that you are not to be disturbed!

4. Be yourself. In all other dealings your personality shines through. Sure, there is a professional voice and a hang out with your friends voice but that professional voice is still YOU. This is a brief interaction normally between you and another person, it isn’t like you have to recite the constitution.

5. Think about times when you have enjoyed talking with others in business. Most the time I have found, as was the case with my client, that people are making those type of connections with others and not realizing the essence of what they did would have been called a cold call.

6. Set yourself a goal of how many people you will contact and when that is obtained, regardless of the outcomes, give yourself a reward! Treat yourself to something – I’m big on treats for accomplishing both the large and small things in life and career.

7. Realize the  majority of people you are calling feel the same as you do. We are human, there is nervousness and all sorts of things going on no matter what side of the desk or phone you are on. Don’t take any rejection personally. That rejection, any way you look at, was the best thing that could have happened. (Personal growth or protection of your product it is all good)

8. Keep records of your contacts. This is your business and knowing who, why and when you spoke to someone is essential. If life happens right in the middle of this new found drive to connect, you don’t want to lose track of that hard earned information.

So, let’s make a movement to change cold calling to something more user friendly. Keep in mind, if you have troubles with marketing yourself then ask for help. I, and many others, are happy to help you see the value that you bring to our communities. Ultimately, you are the expert on you and once you discover that, you will never be left out in the cold.

It seems that every time I travel or even watch a travel show on television I can’t help but wonder, what it would be like to work abroad. For me, it’s not so much the idea of ‘working’ but that I would get the opportunity to explore a country and its people for more than just the standard week or two vacation time. Of course, there is the added benefit of honing my skills, expanding my career and coming back home with a greater base from which to work from in the future.

There are two websites I found for North American readers who may be interested in finding out more about working outside your country but where ever you are the best thing to do is Google ‘working abroad.’ For Canadians, Foreign Affair and International Trade Canada has Working Abroad – Unravelling the Maze . There is downloadable information along with plenty of advice on what to consider before booking that flight to your dream work destination. The United States Government website offers a list of resources at their International Jobs – Working Overseas page.

One of the things that currently stops me from exploring this further is family commitments. I’m not sure I can be away from those I love very long. Clearly, I’m not as adventurous as I would like to think I am or maybe just to loyal to move on, just in case I’m needed. Still, the idea comes up in my mind from time to time and I go off dreaming about what it might be like to pack up and spend some months or years abroad. Living, loving, working and learning.

Have you packed up and moved somewhere else for work? How was it?

or

Have you always wanted to work in another country? and What is preventing you from acting on that desire?

I want to feel fulfilled at the end of the day. I want to feel what I do matters. I want to feel like I’m living up to my potential. I want to make a difference.

All of these statements, and more, represent what I have heard from others and have even uttered myself. They are at the core of our reasons for working but how we get to them is often the challenge. What we should know, going in, is that we don’t work solely for money. If it was about money the Oprah Winfrey’s and Donald Trumps of the world could have quit a long time ago. However, there was a time perhaps when money was a strong motivator.

Remember that first JOB you received? That was most likely born out of a need for pocket money or to keep a roof over your head. I remember my first “real” job as a retail sales clerk, I needed it! I had left home and survival was my only true reason for dropping off resumes. Soon into my job, I quickly realized there is more to this than just a paycheque. At the end of the day I went home going over my experience and realized “Hey! I like this” or “Hey, I don’t like that.” I became aware that I had ethics…I didn’t know the definition of the word so much but I knew the feeling and I had preferences that made me strong in certain areas of my work. It was important to me that what I did mattered and that I was authentic in my dealings with people.

There are so many examples of how we go from the “job” to developing  our careers; shaped in profound ways. The definition of ourselves and those around us expands expediently through the career, which as I have mentioned before is the sum total of all your life experiences. How magnificent that you, unique in all the world, gets to contribute your talents to the betterment of our communities. Whether paid or unpaid, it does not matter, as you are welcome to make a difference. Having said that, “making a difference” should not be something you painfully strive for. I see and hear about so many people tortured by the question “How can I make a difference?” You already are! You are here. That may seem so insignificant from your perspective but not from those who have come in contact with you, been loved by you, been nurtured by your spirit.

To feel fulfilled at the end of any day is to look for one thing you learned that you didn’t know yesterday. It can be about yourself, someone else or the world. In taking in that piece of information you may well be enhancing your career, let alone your personal life. How many times have you used something you have learned personally and applied it to a professional situation. In that moment, in the success of that one moment, you have fulfilled something you were meant to do. Things don’t have to be grandiose in order to be impressive; simplicity fits wonderfully in our space.

To live up to your potential, I believe, you must be truly open to possibilities; not strangling its energy in ‘should be’s’ nor marring it in unrealistic timelines. A while back I had a young man in my classroom that was worried that he was not living up to his ‘purpose’, he felt God had a plan and he was not hearing what that plan was. It was painful to see in his face that he believed time was ticking away and he wasn’t getting things right. He was in his early twenties. What struck me in the course of our discussion, is that while he toiled over his perceived shortfalls he was unable to devote energy to hearing the answers to his own questions. He is a brilliant, talented, intelligent young man, already doing incredible things for his family and community but that in itself was not enough.

We have all the answers we need inside ourselves. If we truly are open to the natural rhythms of our life than we can trust that we live in harmony with what is possible every day. If we listened without the noise of “yes buts” and “what ifs” our potential would not seem so dependent on outside entities. We often get in the way of ourselves, restrained by fictitious outcomes and old voices in our heads.

We live up to our potential the minute we break free from those chains and begin to open up the question “What’s next?” with the enthusiasm of a child rather than being stunned by the veracity of our experiences.

At the end of the day if you really want a fulfilling career you must be very clear about what you value. Be open to learning in all of its forms, which includes, through people you initially did not perceive were your teachers.

You must be aware of that emotional blueprint that exist within us all, which is manifested most when you are doing something you love to do. That twinge of excitement, relaxed state, pure bliss moment; times when you have dropped all guard.

Don’t look to others to validate your existence or direction because many will surely let you down. Instead, trust that you came into this world to learn your own lessons and everything that comes your way is already in service of realizing those goals.

Don’t compare yourself to others, they have very distinct paths they are to follow. If you really want to see the magnificence of living your purpose or potential look to nature.

From the mightiest tree to the smallest insect everything matters – it truly is a sacred circle.

I would like to do a little promotion for two business women who are very good at what they do. 

The first is Jessica, owner of Young Seagull. I was recently referred to Jessica by a client and upon speaking with her I was just blown away not only by her knowledge but her enthusiasm! Speaking to Jessica by phone did not interfere with receiving the energy she brings to potential web projects. Shortly into our conversation I felt as though a picture was being created immediately before my eyes and it was framed in a way that I did not need to stand way back to interpret it. Beyond the ideas I already had for my website and blog came a plethora of logical and visual necessities for those pages. Jessica was straight to the point, professionally directed and wonderfully magical in her approach. When someone exceeds my expectations in terms of their expertise and support I am compelled to recognize them. Anyone who is looking for a web designer may want to speak to Young Seagull. She has given me lots to think about and she can do the same for you!

The second person I want to introduce you to is Christine of Scully Love Promo. I have known Christine for about two years now, never met in person but you know how that goes in today’s world…we all find each other some way. What is so neat about her work is that she meets and promotes amazingly talented people. Artists, Musicians, Writers and Business people all benefit from her drive to market. Social Media is definitely something this woman embraces which she highlights not only in her services but also in articles; giving helpful tips to use social media effectively. What is really cool is your exposure to books and other artists that maybe you would have never discovered on your own. If publicity is something you need, Christine might well be the person to talk to or you can just enjoy her posts on the latest discoveries that make business and entertainment exciting.

Do you know anyone who seems to be perpetually in a state of chaos? That somebody who constantly spreads their negative energy around; infecting everyone who comes within ear shot of their latest drama. Yes, there are drama Queens and Kings everywhere.

The following statement resonated with me the first time I heard it…“Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space.”  I heard this through an interview Oprah was doing with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor who after having a stroke, suffered severe cognitive and motor skills damage. In the hospital, where she lay, she could not talk with others but she could feel peoples energy. Out of that experience and her subsequent eight year recovery came the realization of just how powerful our own energy is.

Read the rest of this entry »

How can I help? As an employment counsellor and consultant it pains me to see the suffering that befalls many people in the United States; in addition to our own unemployed in Canada. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics  over 13 million people in the US are unemployed; this has devastated families and communities alike.

We have all seen the reports about people who are now living in their cars, hotel rooms, shelters and on the streets. People who are desperate to find any work as well as a roof over their head. We watch as parents try to keep their kids in school and avoid any possibility of their children being taken away because they can’t provide as they once did. It is truly a helpless feeling and I often find myself trying to decide what can I do that would make a difference?

What I have decided to do is use this blog to offer free counsel to those in need:

If there is someone out there that requires help with career options,  job interview techniques, resume writing or cover letter development who resides in the United States, meets the criteria of unemployed or underemployed, who is struggling to find service in their community and has no other means of accessing these services, then contact me. We will talk and decide whether I can be of help with 3 free of charge consultations. (I  will extend this offer until March 2012)

I have been blessed to work with hundreds of people over the years and continue to believe that everyone has something unique to share that benefits our community. I also believe that it is not all about the money and I must give back whenever possible. By using our talents in the service of others without any thought of monetary compensation we give even greater meaning to our existence in the working world.

Some of you may have skills that would benefit these individuals and their families too so I encourage you to see what you might do. Maybe there is a partnership of  services we can provide. No matter what transpires here in this offer I felt compelled to throw it out there. It doesn’t hurt to extend a hand regardless of whether it is needed at this time or not. There are no guarantees either, just an offering of support when its needed most.

Please feel free to reach me either on this blog or through private email located under the Contact icon at the side of this post. Also, you can see more about my services at Jennifer Chandler Consulting.

Moving toward healing -

Are you in a place where the questions are greater than the answers?

Are you feeling depression is slowly taking over your life?

Are you dealing with a fear that won’t let you go?

Are you reliving a trauma with seemingly no escape from a stream of memories and feelings?

These are only a few of the reasons why people seek the help of professional counselling and most people, from my experience, use this resource as a last resort. It is in our nature to want to fix things ourselves and we often have learned by example what techniques we might use. Employing supposed coping strategies that seemed from the outside to work quite well but when the same feelings or experiences return we are left to realize “this ain’t working.” We are all good at finding distractions, blaming others, believing we are strong enough to handle this alone or we simply pull the sheets over our heads and ride it out. Some people use alcohol, prescription and illegal drugs or other forms of abuse in order to divert temporarily from reality. All of these things are short term fixes to a larger problem.

There comes a time when we need to realize we are too close to the situation and that the counsel of someone who is objective will be valuable.  This person may be a Counsellor, Psychologist, Specialized Therapist, Psychiatrist or Social Worker. No doubt, it can be a very uncomfortable or fearful prospect; calling someone and saying “I need help.” However, it really is about feeling the fear and doing it anyway because making that call is our first step toward freedom. By releasing ourselves from the burden of carrying the problems on our own and clearing the clutter, there is far more greater chance that the answers we seek have room to surface.

Within in my own life I have used the services of others to help me make sense of the seemingly impossible tangle of thoughts, situations and memories. I also refer clients, friends and family members to counselling resources when I feel it is appropriate. This is an important gift to give someone because as much as we would like to be the sounding board, sometimes issues are outside of our expertise and we could cause more harm than good.  Whether personally or professionally our egos can make us think we can fix the issue but what most often happens is that we take the proverbial same actions expecting different results.

We all have times in our life when we have to take a leap of faith that someone may be able to help us see something we can’t. All that we need to learn is stored away and it is a counsellors job to help you get to the answers and move toward healing. Check with your doctor for referrals, phone a health center in your community, check directories or associations. Counselling BC offers resources for people living in British Columbia. Also, I have recently met through networking a wonderful woman by the name of Karen Laskey who offers Counselling and Hypnotherapy services. Check out her website for further information.

Finding the right person to work with you may take time but it’s worth it. Free yourself and let your story rise to the surface to guide you through all the trials and tribulations of life!

On Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and Websites we are letting it all hang out and that’s not always a good thing. Many people who are attempting to find basic employment or running for more high level positions have found themselves scrambling to either remove or explain their actions or words. Recently, Jason Lamarche who is a Non-Partisan Association Vancouver Council hopeful found that his past caught up to him after a site he created called “Date Matrix” became newsworthy. Rating his dates, when he was in college, has made some people question his integrity. His woes are still not over as the media digs for more dirt and his current way of handling the situation is not instilling confidence.

Overly scandalous it is not at this point. Trashy, classless, demeaning and immature? You bet. Regardless of how it turns out, it is a lesson on the impact of putting yourself out there on the web. We can all be short sighted and the Internet generation, in particular, just doesn’t seem to grasp the enormity of the problem as it pertains to the personal use of social media and their ever developing careers. Whether we like it or not people pass judgement, companies try to build a team of similiar values and public office holds people to a higher standard. As we know, that doesn’t mean we are going to get people of honesty, integrity and civility but we like to keep hoping for it.

Even in my own writing I often have thought, “Can I live with this?” “Will this statement or observation be offensive and cause some backlash at a later date?” However, I’m not actively rating my ex-lovers, posting nude pictures of myself or swearing in every sentence. Anyway, my Mum would kill me! We all have to be cognisant of the fact that we are being watched, evaluated and at some point need to compete to build up the career of our dreams.

It is not in anyone’s best interest to think it doesn’t affect your chances; because it does. What separates us all is not just our credentials or our work experience. It is our personality that can put us over the winning line in a neck and neck race.  Do we have the attributes people are looking for? Employers can build upon our skills, invest in our education but they aren’t going to spend time trying to change who we are. If you don’t jive with the culture, you don’t jive.

If you are on any form of social media be aware of what you are doing and saying. You have a long life ahead and who knows what opportunities you may explore in the future. Don’t have it screwed up by a stupid, incentive act or words that come back to haunt you. Think before you Tweet. Factor in the consequences before you share on Facebook and Be careful with your Blog. None of these things should ever be the reason that you miss an opportunity to shine… for the right reasons!

In my latest column for TimeFinders Magazine I decided to speak about my own educational upgrading that has focused on the ins and outs of business marketing and development. If you are a small business owner you know that every once and awhile you need to check in to see whats working and whats not. Capturing clients with your product or service in today’s world takes a heck of a lot of work and resting back on same old marketing techniques is not the answer.

As I describe there have been some head exploding moments on my way to branding enlightenment. If you asked me to even fully describe what branding really is I would probably would defer to other experts for the answer. I am a babe in the woods whacking my way through a myriad of “must do’s” and “should haves” for clients to get to know and reach me. In between all of this learning, I’m working diligently with my clients on their own self and professional development. UGG!

There are days when I have to admit that after all these years it might be great just to work for someone else and hang up all the hats I wear in order to keep this business upwardly mobile. However, I then remember the reasons why I made the move to self employment.

* I could use a holistic approach to working with clients, not dependent on prescribed time lines; uniquely tailoring service for their needs. They become partners in a process not a numbered file.

* I love autonomy – an idea is born and I can run with it or toss it.  Also, I choose who I work with.

* It speaks to my need for self care and fits my lifestyle.

* I have the freedom to change direction at anytime.

* I’m not limited to one area and therefore continuously meet fabulous people; colleagues and clients that are inspiring on so many levels.

So, if you are like me, in business and thinking about how to freshen it up and think outside the box, maybe take that precious little moment you get to read my column and see what you think. Maybe there is something in it for you to take away and use. Of course, the next step is for me to implement what I have learned….it never ends!

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

A recent conversation with someone reminded me how many people struggle to have an authentic relationship with their parent or parents. Do you have the parent you wanted? or Do you have expectations that were never fulfilled? It seems that hurt feelings and heat of the moment rants can carry forward and in this case is placing a burden on everyone who is close to the situation.

As I progressed through our talk I remembered my own struggle to let go of the parent I wanted and see that parent I had. It was a road traveled with the help of a good therapist early in my adult life; after I had left home. I was out there beginning a new chapter but what I was reading was the same book I had read a thousand times over. I felt cheated, I did not want a relationship with my parent and I carried a lot of anger.

I wore the memories like a badge depicting survival. I cried out the questions that started with “Why?” or “Why not?” I combed through every piece of evidence that my parent wasn’t right until I exhausted myself. I gained small victories in the beginning just by voicing my feelings but over time I came to realize the depth of my pain and anguish was harming me. I was leaving the door open for more of the same to come my way and I was just plain tired.

There came a point when words of wisdom were imparted that allowed me to see another side. I could spend my life pining for the parent I wanted growing up or I could let go, forgive and see the parent that stands before me now. From that point onward I made a concerted effort to recognize the person behind that “parent” title and practice forgiveness and compassion. I came to see that my parents did the best they could…they really did. Each came with a set of upbringing and circumstances of their own that they needed to navigate and as such we were all growing up together.

The questions became “How long am I willing to carry all of this?”— “Do I really want to spend my life looking backwards rehashing where I came from instead of where I’m going?”— “Is there anything that my parent could say that would erase it all?”— The answers came back NO, NO and NO, I’m not willing to carry this all of my life! In that moment I was freer than I had ever been. I saw my parent in a whole new light. I began a relationship that lasts to this day with an understanding this person grew and so did I.

We don’t get to pick our parents and we all have an image of what we believe they should be. Relationships in general  are like that… full of unrealized dreams and wonderful surprises. We have a choice to forgive, we have an opportunity to learn and we have chance to move forward. We can see them as works in progress and grant them ability to live their life accordingly. We can set boundaries and recognize our own triggers and we can choose to engage or walk away. We can set aside the preconceived notion that they could have been anything than what they were/are.

At some point, most parents deserve a pass. Only those that have been severely neglectful may not receive that courtesy. I believe it is important to talk to someone outside the family to gain clarity on your feelings and then I think there comes a time when one needs trust their own judgement.

The truest of connections can only come through invitation and what I discovered was the invite didn’t need to be extended to the other person but more importantly to myself.

“I invite you to be free and to know that you make the call as to whether this hurt will continue to travel down your life path. I invite you to note that your parent is as flawed as you are. I invite you to accept that your parent is having experiences that are just as meaningful to their evolution as yours are to you.  I invite you to be at peace.”