Why Lawyers Should Eat Bananas by Simon Tupman is a book that caught my eye both because of its unusual title and because I coach lawyers who are growing their practices. The book cover says it gives "Inspirational Ideas for Lawyers Wanting More Out of Life"
Much of what Mr. Tupman writes about is appropriate career advice for anyone, lawyer, business person or manager . He is an advocate of "Working smarter not harder" and so am I. I really liked his list of attributes for smart workers and number 8 on the list particularly appealed to me because it underscores much of what I say to my clients.
Number 8 says that smart workers "stay in S.H.A.P.E." Each letter of course stands for an element that he believes is vital in order to stay marketable.
Skills Today all workers have a responsibility to keep their skills up to date. If you are waiting for someone else to pay for your training you may wait yourself into obsolescence. If you are in business, someone else will take away your business if you let your skills stagnate. If you work for someone else, your employer may find that another employee who has more advanced skills can do your job better or faster. In my AT&T days the Internet was just coming into general use. Those people who could support it technically were the ones whose jobs were more secure.
Health It is something you may take for granted but you need to be proactive about your health. Proper diet, enough sleep, and exercise all help you to have the energy you need to do your job. Often my clients will say to me that they just don't have time to exercise or have a well-balanced meal. They say they have other priorities. I ask all my clients to make themselves their number one priority. You can't be good to others (clients, family, co-workers, friends etc.) unless you are good to yourself.
Attitude How do you approach a problem or something new? If you believe you can't do something, you won't be able to. As a sales manager I found it was so much easier to work with sales executives who were proactive and saw lots of possibilities rather than the ones who had a negative attitude and whined about their problems. People with positive attitudes attract success.
Persistence Life has its ups and downs. Everyone will have the experience of trying something that doesn't work out as planned. What do you do when this happens? Do you quit or do you use the failure to learn and grow? Thomas Alva Edison said, "Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work." Rather than being upset by failure regard it as just one more data point on the road to success.
Enthusiasm What is it that keeps you working at your job, business or job search? Somewhere in your mind you must have a vision of what you want to achieve that really excites you. Having enthusiasm for the end state (your vision) will get you through the toughest days.
As you can see the critical element here is knowing yourself. Look at each of the 5 elements and ask yourself how you stack up. Is there something that is holding you back?
Take action!
1. Identify the area that you would like to improve.
2. What is one step you could take to improve yourself in that area?
3. What are your challenges?
4. What steps can you take to overcome those challenges?
5. Take the step and start again.
Having difficulty? A coach may be able to help you to overcome the obstacles and move forward.
Alvah Parker is a Business and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. Parker's Value Program© enables her clients to find their own way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. Her clients are managers, business owners, sole practioners, attorneys and people in transition. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388.
Jobs and employment on the Costa BlancaThe Council of Europe... Read More
Looking for a job on the Internet can be daunting.... Read More
I agree with Brooker T. Washington, "Few things help an... Read More
The line between average and exceptional work performance is dotted... Read More
Here's a continuation of my article from a few months... Read More
Are you miserable at your job (or what you are... Read More
Sometimes a hiring process will include having lunch with the... Read More
Apparently, there are all sorts of reasons to be dissatisfied... Read More
I've never worked for a boss I didn't like or... Read More
Looking for work is an energy-devouring ordeal, often leading to... Read More
America may be the Land of Opportunity, but this is... Read More
Some interview questions are asked so frequently that they've become... Read More
Some people reserve the word "vocation" for religious calling. Contemporary... Read More
The evolution of technology is changing the traditional methods for... Read More
People work to live, but most also live to work.... Read More
Why Use Resume ObjectivesBefore we can discuss the pitfalls you... Read More
If you are thinking of breaking into the petite modeling... Read More
Writing a good resume cover letter is something you should... Read More
Going for a job interview can be a harrowing experience.... Read More
The heading of this article could just as well have... Read More
About four years ago a friend told me one night... Read More
According to a recent survey, 52% of job candidates polled... Read More
Working in ChinaWorking in China is very common now. Either... Read More
Even before I checked my calendar on Monday... Read More
These days most people accept that jobs are not for... Read More
The champagne corks have been popping to celebrate your promotion.... Read More
You may be astonished to realize that retrenchment may occur... Read More
Do these sound familiar?"I worked for?" "My responsibilities were?"... Read More
I manage a website for corporate flight attendants that features... Read More
These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More
Best Strategy using Internet Job Search EnginesThere are hundreds of... Read More
Current trends in business are conspiring to create a revolution... Read More
Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a... Read More
The US Government has just released last month's job creation... Read More
Recruiting firms, like most businesses today, must embrace technology in... Read More
Many people in the last decade have experienced for themselves... Read More
If you can hold on to an optimistic belief in... Read More
Having a great resume is the first critical step in... Read More
Lots of times I see and talk to people who... Read More
You've just received a call to interview with your dream... Read More
Meaningful work honors the deepest part of your being. It... Read More
Deciding on a resume format is the first major decision... Read More
Targeting your portfolio, (resume and cover letter) can get you... Read More
When there is an opening to fill, a company has... Read More
It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin... Read More
"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what... Read More
To learn a language for career advancement is one of... Read More
Throughout the past decade, workplace diversity issues have allowed organizations... Read More
How many people do you know who think they deserve... Read More
Complacency damages your career more than lack of qualifications. The... Read More
Ever wanted a job where you could spend all day,... Read More
To succeed in today's global marketplace, companies must hire the... Read More
The resume objective statement is typically something that trips people... Read More
The universal acceptance of computers into our daily lives, both... Read More
10. Understand all of the opportunities available to you. Don't... Read More
Q. I'm looking for a new job and plan to... Read More
You've just been granted an on-site interview in another town.... Read More
Too many job seekers set themselves up for failure before... Read More
The whole job search effort is completely exhausting and at... Read More
Is Monday the worst day of your week? Can you... Read More
Writing performance reviews can be an excellent way to earn... Read More
What is "flow"? Flow as described by the psychology professor... Read More
Having mistakes and gaffes in your job resume spell disaster... Read More
There are millions of people working extremely hard every day... Read More
When preparing for your interview, you need to be ready... Read More
Good things seem to come in bunches, especially in a... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |