Shades of Success, Inc.

Boost Your Career During Summer Time

Summer time turns our attention to vacation plans and outdoor activities.  Use this down time mindset to prepare for any career plans you may want to accomplish during the remainder of the year.  Here are five ideas:

• Add motion to your life - Whether it is beach volleyball, hiking or power walking, engage in an outdoor activity. Creating a new routine will enhance your creativity as you connect with muscles, senses and experiences that are dormant during colder seasons.
• Reconnect with former colleagues - Summer time brings out the best in people.  It is the best season to rekindle relationships.
• Try a brand new activity - Take 15 minutes to make a list of activities or hobbies you would like to try this season.  Prioritize according to current commitments or budget. Having tried a new hobby (personally, I am thinking of golf) will give you plenty of stories to tell when you get back to work mode in the fall.
• Review your performance review - Evaluate where you are with accomplishing your goals in your performance review and develop an action plan while you are feeling alive, happy and creative.
• Organize a social event - Summer get togethers are usually informal and outdoors.  Hosting a barbeque, picnic or beach outing for a group of colleagues or partners will not only give you a chance to create a fun time for those in your network but will also increase  your visibility.

A Positive No? (Part 2 of 2)

It has been close to three months since I introduced the idea of a positive No.  Observing my own responses to potential No situations since then, I can safely say that I lean towards accommodating with hints of attacking when I feel cornered. Definitely not an avoider.

Intrigued by the possibility of a better solution, according to Ury, I read his book from cover to cover. Here is the gist of his message:

The Yes-No-Yes formula - Faced with a situation where you need to decline a request, before you say No, think of what you are saying Yes to.  The idea is to honor your own priorities (yes to you), turn down a request (no to them) while leaving the opportunity to reach a compromise (yes to us--reaching a mutually beneficial agreement). For example, a colleague asks you to join an employee group. You want to help him but your free time is currently focused on your family.  Your first Yes (to yourself) is to mentally acknowledge that your family comes first. Your No is to thank your colleague for thinking of you while remaining firm in your decision.Your second Yes is to reaffirm your relationship with your colleague while finding other ways to be involved.

Ury applies this 1-2-3 concept to each of the three stages of a positive No:  preparation, delivery and follow through.  So, there is a yes-no-yes step when you are preparing to respond; another yes-no-yes when you are turning down the request, and a last yes-no-yes to reitorate your position.

Think of it as a cha-cha-cha step.  The book is an easy read with lots of examples to guide you through the process.  I won't take No for an answer!

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Enhance Your Career... Volunteer!

Governor's Volunteer Expo - Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Come see the different ways you can have an impact on your community with over 50 non-profit organizations that will be showcasing their volunteer opportunities and recruiting volunteers.

Please join Governor Patrick on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at the State House Great Hall and Grand Staircase Boston between 11am and 2pm.

For more information, visit mass.gov or contact the Governor's Public Liaison Office at 617-725-4020 or christina.mills@ gov.state. ma.us.

Sponsored by the Governor's Office of Public Liaison and the Human Resources Division.

Declare Your Independence!

Declare your independence from:

Clutter - A cluttered office and workspace is an obstacle to creativity and clear thinking.  A cluttered mind lacks focus and will rob you from achieving your goals.  Declare your independence from clutter by setting aside time to organize your living space.  Consider taking up yoga or meditation to declutter your mind.

Complacency - Stagnation--whether physical or mental-- may give you the illusion of a safe place. It is not. By allowing yourself to step out of your comfort zone, you will reconnect with the kid in you. The kid who likes to explore, learn and laugh.

Contempt - People who are contemptuous usually are unhappy.  They feel insecure about themselves so they try to regain some control by looking down on others or acquiring and air of superiority.  These feelings have no lasting positive effects. Instead practice being thankful for any little occurrence in your life--even the hard lessons.  Appreciating small actions from others--no matter who they are--will help you build your gratitude muscles.

Vote for the New 7 Wonders of the World

On July 7 (07/07/07) Lisbon, Portugal will be hosting the commemorative ceremonies to announce the  New Seven Wonders of the World. Your vote could help choose the new seven wonders of the world  out of 21 finalists.  World sites being considered include the Taj Mahal, the Acropolis and Machu Picchu among others. For a complete list and to vote, click here for English and aquí for Spanish.

If you would like to participate, here is how: (important:  deadline to vote is July 5)

Go to the web site, New 7 Wonders and click on Vote on Online. You will see two options:
1. Register and vote - This link gives you the option to register as a user and vote for 7 candidates.

2.Vote and buy Certificate - This link allows you to vote for only one while buying a $2 certificate. (this option is fastest).

Come back to http://www.new7wonders.com/ on July 7, 2007 to find out the 7 sites that made it. I am keeping my fingers crossed for Machu Picchu!