Stop Working On Your Couch! How to Create Your Home Workspace in 7 Steps - Classy Career Girl

Stop Working On Your Couch! How to Create Your Home Workspace in 7 Steps So… you started a business. You are super excited, you have the next three months planned out, you’re growing and psyched for this new life. Or maybe you have a business thats already quite big, maybe you already know how awesome you are and the huge impact you can make. Heck, maybe you even found the inner superstar of YOU. Whatever the case may be you use a workspace. And for most of us (let’s be honest), that workspace is our couch. But what if I were to tell you that just by changing up your workspace your actual work value can explode? Well, I am doing just that. I am an interior designer, and I know how much the space around us influences our brain space. So I am writing this to every single awesome persona out there who wants to bring out the best brain space they have by changing up their workspace. Home offices are tricky. We want them to be focused, driven, and motivated. Getting work done and all that jazz. We also want them to be comfy, happy and matchy-matchy to our home. So where is the line? Read on my friend, read on. Stop Working From Your Couch! How to Create Your Home Workspace in 7 Steps 1. Location, location, location The “office” should be in a quiet, set off area. Away from the TV, the snack cabinet, and the kids. We want to be comfortable but not to the point where we forget why we are there. Make sure the area is near a window with natural light since we spend hours and hours in here and don’t want to be depressed I mean that is why we started our own business in the first place. Lastly, when choosing the space, make sure there is some stretch room a little walking path so to speak so you are not cramped into your little corner all day. 2. Your Personal Work Needs Before buying the furniture for this new and improved office of yours, think about how you work. Do you sit with your back straight typing non-stop? Do you have project boards on the wall you need to keep studying? Do you use up a ton of space and have a craft table? Think about your personal work and the way you do it and then buy furniture to fit those needs. So, if you need lots of space and zero to no clutter- don’t buy huge surfaced furniture. If you have a ton of THINGS and they are all important- get a lot of storage. Make this optimal for you and how you work so that it becomes the best place for your brain to be. 3. Seating One more note on the furniture, buy an awesome chair. Besides for the fact that you will be sitting in it for the majority of the workday, its also what you will see first thing every morning. When you walk into that area you are headed to the chair so your eyes will automatically be looking for it. We want the find to be a happy find that will put your emotions in a positive vibe. Before you look at the desk and see the long to-do list. [RELATED: 5 Simple Ways to Create a Productive Home Office] 4. Decorating the Office Now, the decor. People like to go to the psychological aspect of this and pick the color that increases focus, or cheerfulness, or whatever mood they are looking for. However, be careful with this as it can go wrong. For example, lets say you want a really focused and intelligent room. Great. Now the room palette is blue. But what if you hate blue? What if blue makes you cringe? You aren’t going to feel focused, you are going to feel cringed. So before picking a color based on science (I know, backward) pick a color based on you. What color makes you happy? motivated? creative?   Awesome, run with it. 5. The All-Important Layout Another important detail to think about is the layout of the room. When positioning your desk, make sure you are facing something inspiring and awakening. Don’t go placing yourself staring at an ugly wall so that by the end of the day you want to smash it in. And if theres no choice and you have to face the wall put a really inspiring message on that wall or a gorgeous piece of art to wake it up. 6. Making It Personal Now, make it your own. Bring in the accessories that get your mind flowing. Little items that remind you why you are here in the first place. It can be a picture of your dream house, art projects from your kids, or a letter from your mom. Whatever it is that keeps you going when the going gets tough, it should be in your line of vision. 7. Keeping Your Head Up And one last thing, look up, not down. Try to focus the decor of the room in an upward direction. Placing everything on the floor without using height will draw the eyes down to the decor below, which does not help the brain be its best. Hang art, cool lighting, tall storage- whatever you need to bring those eyes upward and the brain working at its optimum level. I really hope these little tips help you create the best space for you to work in. Being an entrepreneur is hard, especially when you are just starting out. I wish you the absolute best of luck my friend.

5 Ways to Find the Right Career Coach CareerMetis.com

5 Ways to Find the Right Career Coachâ€" CareerMetis.com You’ve made a difficult decision. You’ve accepted that you need help.Are you a frustrated job seeker who’s qualified, but can’t find work?evalFailed to get that promotion? Again?Fed up with your current career and want a fresh start in something completely different?Do you want to pack it all in and become your own boss?You’ve tried everything yourself, but you’re still left feeling stuck. You did some research and realized the best plan of attack is to hire a career coach.However, there’s so many out there â€" how to choose the right one? You’re handing over your hard-earned money to improve your career. You want to make sure the career coach does what they promise, not take your money and leave you high and dry. They should put you not only on the right track â€" but see you through to the finish line.Our list of 5 ways to find the right career coach, will break down all the main things to look for in a career coach, and set you on your way to changing, and improvin g your life.What Does a Career Coach Do?evalA career coach works with people in all kinds of industries, positions, and stages of career. Career coaches focus on career research, gaining an understanding of the current job market, organizational processes, and complicated psychological doctrine to create a specific plan just for you.Amongst many other things, they will help:Optimize your resumeProvide cover letter writing tipsTrain you for interviewsImprove your professional social media presenceNetworkManage your timeWhere to Find a Career CoachIt’s easy enough to go online and search for “Career Coach Near Me.” No doubt you’ll find hundreds, if not thousands of entries. However, there are better ways to find a reputable professional.1) Word of MouthevalevalHave any of your friends, co-workers, or family members ever used a career coach? Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and the advice will be coming from someone you trust, not just taking the word of someone w ho wants your money.2) Check with a Local CollegeColleges have trained professionals on-site to assist students with their career choices and future employment. If you’re part of the alumni, these resources may be free of charge to you. If you’re not a graduate, referrals may be provided.3) Go Direct to the BoardHead to the National Board of Certified Counselorswebsite. You will find a list of fully vetted, licensed, and certified counselors in the US.How to Choose the RightCareer CoachOkay, now you know where to look, and you have a list of possible coaches. However, how does that help you find the right coach to suit you.A career coach has to be a good fit. They need to understand you, your goals, your personality, and what you’re looking to achieve.Many types of career coaches specialize in different fields. Some work with people in executive roles; others work with job seekers; others are more focused on transitioning.To find the right coach, you need to check:a) Experienc eLook for a career coach who has been in the same boat as you at some point in their life. Whether that’s changing careers, becoming his own boss or going back to school. They will be in a relatable position, which means they can share what they’ve learned from their experience, with you.evalDon’t be afraid to ask how many one-on-one coaching hours they have completed, rather than asking how many years they’ve been a coach. You’re looking for someone with strong coaching experience, not just someone who has the qualifications but not much one-on-one time.evalb) QualificationsCareer coaches are professionally trained in their field, so you should expect certifications and degrees to prove their worth.Look for coaches with a degree in counselingand one of the following credentials:CCSP Knowing the career coach’s methods will give you an indication of the means the coach will use to help get you on track. If you’re not satisfied with their way of doing things or think the y’re not suitable for you, move to the next coach on the list.d) Self-ImprovementA supportive career coach will keep an open mind to new ideas and practices, stay up-to-date with new coaching methods, continually strive to provide better coaching for their clients and agree to regular internal assessment and evaluation by their own company. A good coach works on their own development via the valuable feedback provided by clients.e) The Right FitProfessional career coaches have embraced the technological age, and these days, many have their own blogs, vlogs, and podcasts. You can see for yourself what their particular style is, how they think, and how they might approach a situation.You may be looking for someone more serious and reserved, or someone who cheers you along the way. By checking out their online content, you’ll get a great idea of who they are and if they can help you. Then, meet them in person, do you feel comfortable talking with them, or does it feel awkward and f orced? Your career coach is a person who will help you shape and improve your career, and you’ll be spending much time with them. It’s critical that you feel relaxed and feel comfortable.Virtual career coaching is possible if you’re unable to, or would prefer to communicate via video chat.Similar to career coaching, life coachingis just as important but is more focused on achieving personal goals.Life coaches are helpful if:you want a better work-life balanceYou want to improve your mental physical or spiritual mindsetYou crave change, but don’t know how to go about itA life coach will assist you in creating structure, support, and give you the tools to help you break through what’s stopping you from achieving results.You’ve taken the first step toward change. You’ve recognized you need it. Now, you have the tools to find the right career coach, and you can put your plan into action. It won’t be easy â€" anything of importance never is. However, once you achieve your goal, the blood, sweat, and tears will have been worth it.Go out and find your career coach and take control of your career, and your life.

My 52 Mistakes - Kathy Caprino

My 52 Mistakes (Or: How I’m Turning My Mess into a Message Every Day) Bottom line â€" “Embracing and loving who I am and what I’ve done is not a fixed state â€" it’s a long work in progress.” As many of my friends know, I’ve immersed myself in a 9-year life reinvention, and shifted from a miserable and chronically ill corporate professional to an author, consultant, speaker and entrepreneur who absolutely loves what she does for a living and what she’s focused on, despite the enormous challenges. It’s been one heck of a ride, with pitfalls, bumps, highs and transformations, that I barely recognize myself from the individual I was 10 years ago.   The core essence of me is still there, of course, but there’s been so much shifting and morphing that now I  see much more clearly what I truly value and need to have in my life and work and family experience.   I “get” myself a lot more deeply than I did before. The other day, I was talking to a new friend, Justin Krane, about some of the mistakes I made in business and in life, and he mentioned that he’d be really interested in hearing my top ten mistakes in business.   And that got me thinking… So I’ve decided to come clean with My 52 Mistakes. Today, I’m starting a new blog/vlog project called “My 52 Mistakes” Project.  These are the biggest mistakes I’ve made in my life and work thus far. I want to share them so you won’t feel alone in your mistakes, and you can learn from mine.   (Ive created a new Facebook page for  My 52 Mistakes, so please join me there and add your stories!). The goal of the My 52 Mistakes Project is to give brief look at the havoc each mistake wreaked in my life, and the breakthrough that emerged from it, so my mistakes can be of use to others.   Im also hoping this will provide a needed, open forum for women around the world to candidly share their mistakes, what theyve learned, and how theyve grown and healed from them. For this project to help as many people as I hope it will, I need more than just my experiences, I need yours â€" your stories, lessons, mistakes and breakthroughs â€" I need it all!   We’ve spent a good deal of time here together building our community, and now we can help each other with our collective wisdom.   Which of these mistakes resonates for you?   What other mistakes would you add to your list?   Show me your lists, and tell me your top three.   (We’re getting honest here people!)   And please pass this along to anyone you know who’s committed to learning from mistakes and experiencing breakthrough.   Comment here or email me. Let’s do this together!   Let’s turn our messes into messages of honesty, forgiveness, and acceptance.    I hope Ill see you the Facebook page My 52 Mistakes.    And all along the way, know that I love you, my friends â€" mistakes, warts and all!   xo Here goes… My 52 Mistakes… As a professional… 1) Letting my ego lead me around by the nose 2) Believing the myth, “Build It and They Will Come” 3) Letting the “pendulum effect” rule my life (Waiting too long to take action, then being devastated and running to the opposite extreme) 4) Spending too much money on my business before learning how to earn 5) Listening to people who claimed to be experts but who are in fact full of sâ€"t 6) Putting all my eggs in the Plan A basket without having a Plan B 7) Holding back from sharing my insights, wisdom, and knowledge for fear I’ll give too much away for free  8) Not listening enough to my instincts and my gut feelings about people and directions 9) Ignoring my husband when he said, “This is not working!!” 10) Running around thinking I’m God’s gift to the world 11) Wasting time in the company of people I don’t adore and respect 12) Comparing myself to others instead of figuring out exactly what I want to offer, to whom, and why 13) Staying too long in a job I hated, not realizing it will, eventually, hate me back 14) Hiding from my fears instead of getting in the cage with them 15) Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome (thanks, Einstein!) 16) Taking on a narcissistic “goliath” expecting to be a successful “David” 17) Remaining in toxic, miserable situations believing that I had good reasons to do so 18) Letting my salary define me 19) Feeling like an “impostor” because of my flaws and mistakes 20) Thinking that this just “happened” to meâ€" not realizing I co-created it As an author/writer 21) Believing I’d get rich writing a book 22) Launching my book and work into a vacuum 23) Letting my accomplishments blind me 24) Thinking my personal story was enough to generate a bestselling book 25) Mistaking myself for a writer when I wasn’t writing and reading every day 26) Longing for national recognition from writing a book 27) Being overly attached to one idea, approach, or outcome that I thought was amazing (as journalists say, it’s time to “kill the baby”) 28) Keeping the truth from myself about, “What do I want, and what do I really want?” from my writing and my work 29) Not having had the guts to say what I mean â€" to a whole slew of people 30)  Being wholly unprepared for the transformational process of writing and launching my book As a coach/therapist 31) Believing the hype of “experts” about the earning potential of coaching (sorry folks, there’s very little money in it) 32) Not having sufficiently powerful boundaries to protect myself from the pain of helping people who are suffering 33) Letting people walk all over me because I felt badly for them 34) Wasting months not liking my therapy work but thinking I should (if you don’t like it, you’re not supposed to be doing it!) 35) Believing having my own coaching business would be an easy way out of my miserable corporate job 36) Not understanding,” If you don’t LOVE your clients, you don’t love your work” 37) Stuffing myself into another person’s “model for change” when I wanted to create my own 38) Not healing my wounds sufficiently before being in service of others 39) Coddling my clients instead of helping them turn their mess around by themselves 40) Limiting myself to seeing only one way to make a living As a woman 41) Wasting precious time not speaking up for myself 42) Waiting for my Prince to come and rescue me (and being really pissed off when I realized my husband wasn’t the Prince) 43) Letting my mistakes devastate me 44) Being exactly the perfectionistic overfunctioner that I write about 45) Spending more time complaining about my situation than changing it 46) Worrying about polarizing people and alienating other women (it happens â€" get over it) 47) Not accepting that having it all means I’m working non-stop and so busy that my head’s going to explode 48) Waiting too long to find amazing, awesome people to connect and engage with 49) Believing I didn’t need or want great female role models 50) Letting my gender, generation, upbringing, traumas, cultural baggage, beliefs, fears (my “whatever”) keep me from accomplishing what I wanted to As a human being on this planet today 51) Listening to my mind to the exclusion of my heart and soul 52) Not understanding until my forties that I’m unique, special and powerful and can make the difference I long to make *   *   *   * OK, friends, your turn!   Please share your top mistakes on My 52 Mistakes on Facebook, and what youve learned from them below or email me at Kathy@kathycaprino.com.   Lets get this going!  (Special thanks to my dear friend Krista  Carnes  for getting me going!) Youre awesome for sharing! xo

How to Write a Scientific Resume That Helps You Succeed

How to Write a Scientific Resume That Helps You SucceedIf you are a budding scientist or professor, do not consider writing a scientific resume that is at odds with your personality and career goals. Although it may seem obvious, putting your best foot forward when applying for jobs in science is one of the most important steps you can take toward success.So, how can you keep your personal and professional life in balance with a scientific resume? You should think about where you want to go and who you want to become while creating your resume. Consider what interests you and what you would love to accomplish.For example, if you wish to find a position that requires a highly creative mind, think about unique abilities you have that are highly valued by employers. If you have a passion for art, consider that the position of the artist may be right for you. Try and think about what careers you would enjoy. What career paths would you enjoy, whether it be a less traditional path or more in the vein of an academic field?Make sure that your resume reflects the scientific career you wish to pursue. When it comes to specific skills, if it is important to you to be able to do X, then include X on your resume. This means that you should list the skill on your resume that you are most interested in, or are aware of, instead of including it as part of your overall scientific qualification.Once you have written the resume, you will also need to include what your educational background includes. If you have had specific training in a particular area, you will need to make sure this is reflected on your resume.Your letter to the employer must clearly show the strengths and weaknesses of your resume and then call for an interview. However, you will want to leave yourself enough time to do further research and apply for the job once you are a few days into the interview process. In the meantime, you should be gathering all your documentation and gathering evidence of your prev ious work experience.The key to making your scientific resume reflect your best possible self is to show that you are an asset to the company. You want to make sure that you are not making a mistake by making yourself look bad or under qualified. Rather, you want to draw attention to your strong traits and potentials that you have demonstrated throughout your career so that your potential for success is obvious.To help create a better scientific resume, you should follow these suggestions: Be sure to write clearly and honestly. Include your interests, skills, and qualifications on your resume.

How to Write a Resume For Google

How to Write a Resume For GoogleWriting a resume for Google Engineering Group can be easy if you know how to format it correctly. If you have to do it all over again, then it will definitely take more time and effort. In fact, you need to have the proper timing in order to make sure that your resume will be one of the most preferred among the applicants for the position you applied for. However, it is not difficult to write a resume for Google.The first thing that you should do is to check the options that are available for you. Do not just think that there are so many choices. The company is more than likely going to provide you with plenty of options when you apply for their positions. The first thing that you need to do is to identify the job that you wish to apply for. If you are looking for a job related to engineering, then this job must require specific qualities.To write a resume for Google, you may take the example of any of the positions that they have already filled. You c an even take the example of someone who has already been hired. They may give you the name of their previous recruiters.Although this may seem to be a little complicated, once you have found the position that you wish to apply for, you can start drafting your resume. Begin by choosing a heading which you think will be memorable for your future employer. Choose a title that will tell your employer what your primary concern is. Just keep in mind that you should always keep your head level with your shoulders in order to make it easier for your employer to read your resume.Write a paragraph that describes why you were selected for the position in a particular section. Also, keep in mind that your resume is not just for you. It is also for the applicant who was selected. Also, always put in the credentials of your employer. This will also be a good way for you to prove to them that you are someone who is qualified for the position.The next step is to think about the keywords that you wo uld like to use in your resume. If you have read about resume writing in the past, then you know that these keywords are the ones that you should put in your resume. Keep in mind that you need to use these keywords.Writing a resume for Google will not be hard if you have prepared well. However, there is still a little bit of effort involved so don't lose your patience.

Sample Resume Summary Tips

Sample Resume Summary Tips Sample Resume Summary - Is it a Scam? Since a resume summary statement is read by means of a recruiter, it ought to be written for their advantage. An executive summary is a brief statement near the top of your resume that quickly summarizes what makes you the ideal candidate for the job. In truth, it is even more crucial to tailor your summary since that is the 1 part the recruiter is sure to read. Now imagine whether that SAME resume had had a summary statement on top clearly outlining why you're the ideal candidate. There isn't anything wrong with needing to pay a person to think of a professionally written resume for you but it is almost always better to do it yourself. A strong summary statement at the peak of your resume can increase the probabilities of them noticing what you've got to offer from the beginning. What's more, the majority of people don't bother writing an expert summary. An expert summary is the very first thing people will se e on your resume. Life, Death, and Sample Resume Summary A resume summary statement is comparable to an objective statement in that it's a quick way for a work seeker to catch a hiring manager's attention by summarizing critical information at the peak of your resume in a simple to read format. So it is essential you put the absolute most important information they should see up front in an executive summary. The summary goes at the exact top of the webpage. An executive summary has to be your very best friend since they are extremely essential in a business proposal or research study for examples. The main purpose of an expert summary is to create your most important abilities and experiences immediately noticeable to hiring managers. An overview of qualifications is utilised to highlight the range of work experiences you've built up as time passes. Typical skills become ignored. The Sample Resume Summary Game At first, writing a resume summary statement appears easy. A specialist summary for your resume ought to be detailed. Nowadays you get a rough master list of whatever you can set into your resume summary statement. 1 A resume summary is a brief, snappy introduction paragraph that gives you a summary of your very best work. Lies You've Been Told About Sample Resume Summary There ought to be a featured keyword section which offers an overview of your expertise. When it has to do with writing a resume, you might be knowledgeable about the resume objective as the preferred section to start out with. Please get in touch with us if you would like us to add sample resumes for any particular category or whether you want to submit an example for particular category. Perhaps while trying to find examples you noticed poor samples all around the internet. If you're applying for at least 1 position or career field, utilize a different summary for each position to make sure that you keep on topic. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obvi ously offer you an advantage. Based on who you ask and the way you're using it, summary statements can be a whole waste of space or an overall game changer.

5 Ways To Reconnect With An Old Network - Work It Daily

5 Ways To Reconnect With An Old Network - Work It Daily Here are 5 suggestions for how to go about reconnecting with people from your old network: When you are in job-search mode, you become acutely aware of the fact that you need to start networking and making new connections as quickly as possible. You also become aware of the fact that your old network is valuable, but if you have not cultivated your old network you may feel something akin to panic. Dr. Ivan Misner of BNI (Business Network International) says “Networking is more about ‘farming’ than it is about ‘hunting.’ It’s about cultivating relationships.” So whether you are in job-search mode or not, cultivating your network of connections should always be a priority. Related: Has Your Network Abandoned You? 10 Tips To Win Them Back What if you haven’t been cultivating relationships with your old network of contacts and connections, however? How do you reconnect with members of your old network without coming across as disingenuous or overly needy? After all, people don’t like feeling that they are being used. They would like to think you value them for who they are, not for what they might be able to do for you. Here are 5 suggestions for how to go about reconnecting with people from your old network: 1) Social media. A great way for you to reconnect with members of your old network. LinkedIn is especially conducive to finding old work colleagues that you haven’t seen for a long time and simply reconnecting. Don’t assume, however, that everyone will be thrilled to hear from you out of the blue, especially if it has been a few decades since you last worked together. You may need to remind them of how you know each other, and you should not ask for anything other than to connect at first. The value of a connection anywhere, whether it is through LinkedIn or somewhere else, is that the people with whom you are connected are in a position to share their network of contacts with you. You are dealing with a potential gold mine, but you will blow it if you are presumptuous or if you don’t take care to approach people with respect for their personal and professional boundaries. 2) Association meetings, conferences, and professional conventions. These are great places to go and reconnect with old colleagues and other people from your industry. Social media is great, but there is no replacement for meeting people face to face. Your presence at such a meeting indicates your interest in staying up to date with the trends in your industry or profession and puts you in place to meet with old colleagues and connections as well as to make new friends and connections. If there is a conference or convention coming up, plan to attend. Consider the cost of attendance as an investment in your professional future and a place to network, network, network. 3) Set up informational meetings or make coffee dates so you can catch up with people from your past. When you are working full time, keeping up with people through coffee dates or just a quick meeting may feel like a burdensome intrusion on your day. In terms of keeping your network healthy and strong, however, there is no better way to do that than to be intentional about keeping up with people from your work past. Talk about personal things, too, like family and hobbies as well as what is going on at work. Be interested in them as a person rather than as someone who might do something for you 4) Don’t forget that you have something to offer. Networking is a two-way street. Many job seekers who are intentionally networking using these various methods and tools may forget that they have a lot to offer, too. Be generous with your own network, and don’t forget that you may be able to help someone else as much as you feel like you need their help. 5) Don’t neglect the follow-up. Once you have reconnected, don’t forget that farming metaphor from Dr. Misner. Every relationship requires continued care and nurturing. If you truly care about building your network and keeping it strong, you cannot consider your meetings or new connections as “one and done” affairs. Follow up if only through social media by staying in touch through LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. You can stay top of mind by liking someone’s articles or posts, commenting on their status, sharing their articles or sending them links to articles of interest that they might find useful. Just as you wouldn’t plant a garden and then leave it to chance to grow, you should consider that once you have created a connection that it will never flourish with no action on your part. Following up and staying connected is critical. Otherwise, you will always be in the position of feeling like you are falling behind in your networking efforts instead of feeling that you have a thriving and vibrant network that is full of possibilities. Networking can feel challenging… especially for those who identify with the Introvert personality type. Networking events are often viewed through the lens of dread as opposed to anticipation. It doesn’t have to feel that way, however. Approach it as one who has much to offer and may be seen by your connections as a valuable asset to their network. Go to events prepared to listen more than to talk, and be generous in what you share and provide. You will soon build a reputation as a great asset and a wonderful contact to have. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a Work It Daily-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Bigstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!