by Gina | Jan 27, 2023 | Blog, Leadership, My Life
A mentor posed that question to me a few years ago…
What have you changed your mind about lately?
The question struck me. What have I changed my mind about? I figured he wasn’t referring to my new found love for whiskey after years of turning my nose up. Or my acquiescence to the reality that yoga really IS an exercise and not just glorified stretching. Or that cats can make great… actually I’ve not changed my mind about that one… its a HARD pass on cats for me. (to all my cat-loving friends… you do you, boo)
The question my mentor posed wasn’t directed at the trivial preferences of life. His question targeted the core beliefs I’d held to that define…
how I approach life
how I see myself
how I see those around me
Better stated… What core beliefs have I changed my mind about?
What are Core Beliefs?
Core beliefs can be like those old, ratty sweaters inherited from my grandma. They may have served a purpose back in the day, but now they just take up space in my closet and make me look frumpy. But just like getting rid of that sweater, changing core beliefs seems daunting. I could “Marie Kondo” the thing and thank it for how it served me well back in the day… but did it really serve me well?
Or did it prevent me from seeing what’s true? (that’s a thinker)
How do I recognize Core Beliefs?
Identifying core beliefs isn’t as easy as we’d think. Just like digging through that metaphorical closet, it takes time and self-reflection. But finding those beliefs that hold me back, is like finally recognizing those cargo pants I ROCKED back in 2010… well, I don’t rock them any longer. Things have changed. And it’s time to question their validity. Are these core beliefs really true? Or are they just something I’ve been telling myself for so long that I believed to be true?
Now it’s time for some good old-fashioned evidence. Just like trying on grandma’s ratty sweater and realizing it’s not my style, I had to take a look at the evidence in my life that contradict that questionable core belief to which I clung. Personal experiences, stories of friends, feedback from others… all of these became tangible evidence that my core belief may not be as true as I thought it to be.
What story do I want to tell?
At this point, holding that ratty sweater in hand, I have a choice to make. Let go of what’s known, what’s comfortable, what’s familiar in order to embrace something unknown, uncomfortable, unfamiliar and yet true.
At this juncture, I’m faced with another question. What story do I want to tell?
In other words… on the other side of this conundrum, what do I want to say that I did? That I chose to white-knuckle this core belief I was given despite the mounting life experience telling me this core belief is not true? To cling to it because its familiar, safe, predictable… comfortable?
Or do I want to tell the story that I’ve changed my mind. That I embraced what is true over what is familiar. Risky over safe.
That’s the story I’m actively telling today. I’ve changed my mind about some things. And as I continue on this journey of self-reflection, I’m sure there is more to come.
Changing core beliefs is not a one-time process. It’s more like a progressive overhaul. It takes time, patience, and even a few mistakes. And mistakes are okay (said no Enneagram 3 EVER).
Because mistakes are evidence of asking hard questions, doing hard things and trusting you have what you need to face what lies ahead.
I may share more over time about some of these changes. Then again, I may not. I’m not entirely certain that is needed. It’s not about WHAT I’ve changed my mind about. It’s about the fact that I’m willing to do the hard work in order to change my mind.
I don’t want hand-me-down core beliefs to prevent me from experiencing what is true in this life. My faith tells me life has so much more to offer. And I want to experience all of it.
Love to all of you, my friends. What core beliefs are you clinging to that may be time to let go?
by Gina | Jan 24, 2023 | My Life
I’m six weeks into this job search journey. Up to my ears in resume submissions, cover letters and anticipation hoping that one of these hooks in the water will result in a job offer. An open door into the next chapter of my career.
And yet discouragement looms in the background.
How do I know what I’m doing is working?
Should I expect more progress from my work so far?
At what point do I consider adjustments or changes to my approach?
I wish I could say things are progressing smoothly. That I’m seeing traction on my resume submissions, going on interviews and fielding competing job offers. But that is the more fairly tale version of this job search narrative. That one only exists in my mind… right before the Spongebob meme pops up saying “One Eternity Later…”
The real life version of this story is far more… boring…. monotonous… bewildering.
My daily goals to submit a defined number of resumes, research the companies with which I’m considering and track feedback and next steps has produced a pretty extensive spreadsheet with valuable data points that could help me. What has me scratching my head now is… how can it help me?
First, let me share how I’m gathering my data points. Later this week I’ll share more about how this information is showing me what I need to tweak and where I can double-down.
Track the Work
Tracking job search activities is an important part of this process. It allows me to keep track of the companies to which I’ve applied, the positions applied for, and the status of each application.
There are a few key things I’ve found important when tracking this journey. I mention the spreadsheet template I use here. Why re-invent the wheel when someone much smarter than me is offering something so useful? On this magical spreadsheet, I keep my growing list of companies I’ve applied to and the positions applied for.
Application Status
I track the status of each application. This includes whether I’ve been invited to an interview, if I’ve received a declination or if feedback was provided regarding my resume. This feedback is invaluable because it can help me identify any weaknesses in my job search strategy and make necessary improvements.
And this is exactly where I am right now. Reviewing my progress and looking for opportunities to adjust. After six weeks, I’ve not seen the results I’d hoped to see. So, it’s time to consider tweaks and changes to see if I can improve results. (I’ll share more about those tweaks in a later post.)
In the meantime, just knowing where my resumes are and what my next steps might be is very clarifying.
Leveraging Who You Know
Next, I’m tracking connections. As a result of tracking feedback & connecting with those who respond to my resume, I’ve got a running list of people who may have opportunity to contribute toward my job search down the road. I’ve revisited a few of these contacts to see how one of their connections might be helpful. I’ve discovered people are pretty generous when it comes to introducing you to others that might give you “backdoor access”.
In fact, that is the most sobering part of this process. I can’t say its surprising, just a sobering reminder. It’s all in who you know.
And if it’s all in who you know, then how I follow up with these networking contacts is critical. I’ve got a few intentional steps that I take and am measuring my progress to see if it works. But I’m curious what you might suggest. Currently I have a running list of these contacts. As I apply for a position, I return to their LinkedIn profile page and look to see if they know anyone in that company. If there’s a connection, I request an introduction.
At first I found this difficult. But the distinct need to find someone with the ability to elevate my resume above the abyss of other submissions is invaluable.
Listening to Feedback
I’ve received valuable feedback along the way from these contacts I’ve made. Some are HR executives. Others are corporate recruiters. They know their sh… stuff. So, I receive their feedback and see how I might improve. If they offer their time for a conversation, I’m getting them on my calendar as quickly as possible. The time they offer is valuable in so many ways. I’m not about to miss out on it.
So… there’s my progress so far. Lots of resumes… a handful of conversations… a few interviews… and no job offers as of yet.
But I have to remind myself… this is a numbers and networking game. So learn how to play and play it well.
Just to recap, these are the ways I track my progress. What would you add or change?
- Create a list of all the companies and positions. This includes the date of the application, the method of application, and any follow-up actions I’ve taken.
- Track the status of applications. Including whether I’ve been invited to an interview, received a job offer, or received an “it’s not you, its me” rejection. This is where I note any feedback received to evaluate weaknesses in the job search strategy and make necessary improvements.
- Keep track of networking contacts. I’m hoping these steps can lead the way to opening doors that would otherwise be closed. But more than that.. after experiencing the value of collaborating with leaders outside of the organization for which I worked, I’m hopeful some of these connections will extend far beyond the transactional nature of networking.
by Gina | Jan 18, 2023 | My Life
by Gina | Jan 13, 2023 | My Life
You know… I’m a pretty visual person. If I can see it… I’m pretty sure I can make it happen.
Unless we’re talking about body building. That ain’t happen’. Nope
But when it comes to goals and getting things done, visual mapping and dreaming is a powerful way for me to clarify goals and focus my efforts.
[Enter stage left] The Vision Board
I don’t use this tool enough so my skills feel so rusty. But I recently dusted off those skills to see what they might produce. Recently I shared about my journey through career change and a vision board is one of my first steps toward wrapping my arms around an enormous task. Vision boards are not easy to do. Which is why so many don’t do it. But if you’re in to…
Investing your energy intentionally…
Giving focus to your plans…
Taking action that produces results…
…then a vision board might be a great resource for you.
The key to a good vision board boils down to patience. It’s not about copy/paste images on a digital board. It’s about honing in on what you want, what that looks like and what it might take to see it materialize. And it can be as simple as exploring 3 questions to unlock a better year ahead:
First, ask: “What do I want?”
Now… the Covey–Hyatt–Allen experts would ask a slightly different question. Something more like, “What do I want to achieve?” And, let me be clear, those guys are the gurus. Not me. And I won’t pretend to be. I’m simply sharing the question that works best for me. You see, the goal of the question is to prompt some dreaming. But for my crazy, over-thinking mind… asking the question “What do I want to achieve?” can prompt me to play it safe. I view my answer through the lens of what is possible… what is achievable. And (if I’m honest) often what is easier.
Asking, “What do I want?” opens things up a little. And I’m willing to dream more. I consider what is happening now and what I want to happen in 90 days, 180 days, 9 months, a year from today. In fact, I’ve begun writing them as small stories that are only a few sentences. The key is that each response to the question is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. (i.e. SMART goals).
Second, dream: “What does it look like to me?”
We all want different things. For me, when I consider what I want… it looks like leveraging resources to buy back time in small ways like paying someone else to deep clean my home, hiring someone to provide coaching & mentorship, having the influence to impact felt-needs in the community and funding my odd attraction to white tennis shoes. Success means different things to different people. The key is to get specific with this question. Because the answers help me identify images and phrases that are meaningful and motivating. [Copy/paste enter stage right…] Now, we can start capturing pictures.
I’m a fan of photography. So my vision board has candid shots to represent what I want. I’m learning to fill in the gaps with quotes but that’s a new step for me. I have a bad habit of skipping over that step in the past. Mostly because I’m impatient. (And this should surprise no one.)
Third, explore: “What do I need to do to make it a reality?”
This is where you see your time and energy pay off. Using my vision board, I can focus my attention and energy in the right direction. Time is the one commodity we can spend and never get it back. So, let’s not waste it. With such specified imagery, I’ve found that shaping strategic goals from this imagery takes a new level. With imagery attached, the goal feels a little more personal… a little more compelling. What kind of goals should you set? Great question.
I have a bad habit of breaking off WAY more than I can chew. For whatever reason, I’m still convinced you can row the boat while building it at the same time… while cascading down the waterfall. But let’s not get stuck on that.
When I set goals, I have to remember that I trend toward lofty thinking. My counter-strategy to this superpower is to invest a little more time breaking each step down to its irreducible minimum. By the time I reach that point, I have a very clear picture of critical things like…
What skills or resources do I need to acquire?
Who can I ask for help or support?
What obstacles do I need to overcome?
It’s not rocket science. But it can be magical. Especially when you see the image on the board become reality.
I don’t want to wait another year to see what I really want to see in life. If I’ve learned anything from the past few years, it’s that…
…time is precious…
…life is short…
…and there is more in me to offer the world.
🙂
Bonus Content
I’m the kinda’ gal that like the time and space to craft something like this on my own. I may need input… but I’ll grab it along the way. Yet I know people that feel this activity is better as a collaborative process. So, if you’re looking for ways to make it a little more fun… consider these ideas:
- Invite friends or family to join. Order the pizza, put a bottle of wine on the table and give the voices you lean on the most to give feedback and support.
- Make it a party. Invite friends over, play some music, and provide all the supplies you need and craft your own visions boards corporately. Imagine the laughter.
- Go 2-D. For many of us, a digital vision board is too easily forgotten. Make a physical vision board using markers, stickers, glitter, or whatever else you like to add some personality and creativity.
- Make it interactive. Instead of just pasting images onto a board, consider adding elements that you can move or change. Like… a vision board jar where you write your goals on slips of paper and add them to the jar. You could also create a vision board calendar where you can mark off the days as you work towards your goals.
The reality is… if you can’t see it in your mind, you’re not likely to see it in reality. So, set yourself up to see it clearly… then enjoy the process as you bring your goals into existence.
by Gina | Jan 10, 2023 | Blog, My Life
