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Author: Mary Ann Faremouth

Mary Ann Faremouth is a professional recruitment services specialist, a highly regarded speaker and writer, 2016 PRESIDENT of Houston Independent Personnel Consultant Group, and a member of the NASPD (National Association of Steel Pipe Distributors) and NAPCA. (National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators).

Her articles have been published in Oil and Gas Industry related publications and she has extensive experience in the national recruiting world. Mary Ann has a keen understanding of the marketplace and it's specialized needs and requirements.

Categories
Growth Human Resources Personal Development

Hunt For Meaning and Purpose

 

By Mary Ann Faremouth,

The Fifth Step of the Faremouth Method is “Be a Hunter.”  I truly believe there are times in our lives when we try desperately to hunt for meaning and purpose of experience, especially at a time when things and events around us don’t make sense.  An experience that might not always have been a pleasant or enjoyable one.  An experience that may have caused us to challenge and sometimes emotional and/or physical pain.  I’ve just had one of those experiences.  At a time when all of us are trying to deal with the challenges of COVID 19, I’m trying to search for the deeper meaning of this experience to be able to come out on the other end with more understanding, growth, and expanded awareness.

It was a Tuesday afternoon.  I was in my 6th-floor office working on job searches that had to be filled in a rather timely manner.  It was raining hard, thundering like the angels may have been playing an aggressive game of bowling in the heavens when all of a sudden I heard a strong booming crackling sound.  The lights in the adjoining office went out and then about 5 minutes later my own office lights went out.  I opened the door to the darkened hallway and people were scrambling for the stairs, frantically yelling, “FIRE!” – there is a FIRE in the building!  We need to get out FAST!”  The hot flames of fire outside the window shot up faster than a trio of lightning bolts as we all raced to the door of the stairwell.  I hurried down the six flights of stairs to the outdoors just as the firetrucks arrived.  The sirens were blaring repeatedly and I felt like I was on the movie set for a thriller in production.

I was told while standing outside with the other tenants of the building that the severe lightning had hit a transformer in the building causing a fire and sending blazing flames everywhere.

I thought to myself, how many times in our lives have we had our own “lightning bolt” hit our own ‘transformer of self” and it caused some kind of fire or flame to ignite within us? Usually, when the metaphorical lightning hits it’s not always a welcomed event but the aftermath of the event often does “transform” some part of the self and light a spark within us.

We always have choices in how we chose to respond to change.   We can resist by kicking and screaming or we can choose to respond in a more constructive way.

When I think of the fear that goes along with a traumatic experience like this, I am reminded of the quote by Cus D’Amato:

“The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear, only the hero confronts his fear and converts it to fire.”

Does the fear of this scary event force the hero to light a fire inside himself?   Does the fear spur him to do something significant and allow him to ignite his own passion and tune in to his own creativity in the midst of destruction and transformation? This is a time to dig down deep into our psyche and attach to our courage to go through this transformation and change with determination. This courage is what can separate us from success or failure. We have to own the courage to walk through the flames of fire to invoke that change towards success.

In many ancient teachings throughout the ages, fire was an obvious subject for contemplation.  Wherever there were people, there was fire; whatever change people wrought in the world, they did it with fire.  Fire is fundamental to the world and essential to any process of change.  Fire is clarity.  Fire transformed woodland into garden, clay into pottery, and ore into swords.    As the philosopher, Gaston Bachelard mentioned, “the hearth fire was no doubt for man the first object of reverie, it was certainly an object of inquiry. Around campfires, before hearths and beneath candles people talked, children learned, scholars read, poets sang…….”

Most ancient philosophies credited fire as an element.  Anything emanating heat, light or change (for humans, passion), could be classified under the doctrine of universal fire.  The analogies to life were particularly powerful.

We all have the fire of passion within us and sometimes even a destructive and challenging force like COVID can help us ignite that passion that may have been dormant and force us to TRANSFORM ourselves into a better version of who we are for the new work world.  When we come to that fork in the road, if we choose courage, we ignite our own personal flame in order to become a better version of ourselves.

Passion comes from the heart. Don’t expect anyone else to light the flame for you. That ultimate responsibility is yours. Everyone has to find their own source for their personal flame.  You alone must take responsibility for stoking your own fire.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  If the thought of a change in venue for applying your skills and experience makes you uncomfortable, that’s good.  Often, with new and untested territory comes renewed passion.  Embrace the uncomfortable.

To rekindle passion, redefine it.  What motivated you earlier in your career is not necessarily what will motivate you now.  You are not the same person you were before COVID for many reasons.  You are who you are at this very moment and your priorities have changed from earlier times. You must now respond with today’s passions for yourself and how to direct your new personal flame to create that necessary change.

I am happy to report that everyone in my building fire was able to get out of the building safely without harm, but that experience is forever embedded into my memory.  Perhaps the meaning and purpose I gleaned from going through this experience are that we all have our own “personal fires” to be ignited.  Those personal fires are becoming who we are going forward as we pick up that imaginary lightning bolt or torch, ready to exercise our courage to change and transform our new work world with new vision and purpose as we reignite our purpose.

Categories
Best Practices Growth Human Resources Personal Development

Dandelions: Turning Weeds Into Hope and Beauty

The Second Step of the Faremouth Method is “Ask Better Questions.”

Lately, I’ve been asking myself lots of questions as I came across a quote recently by Aristotle that really spoke to me:

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”  In these recent times, I’ve been asking myself how can we seek the light in perhaps the dark moments we are all experiencing during these uncertain times. Then I thought of Dandelions.

Dandelions, also known as Chicory, are masters of survival. They can take root in places that seem a little short of miraculous and I believe we all can do that, too.  We can survive the most difficult situations as our own masters of survival.

As a Recruiter in the midst of a pandemic, what are the possible lessons that Dandelions could possibly impart that would be beneficial to help people deal with these tough times?  I know we are all wanting to “make a wish” that Covid-19 would be over and we could resume life as normal.  Dandelions do have a legend that relates to blowing on the dried flowers and thinking about dreams coming true as the seeds blow in the air, sending our hopes in all directions.  I believe there are more lessons we can gleam from our friend the Dandelion and I thank my sweet Grandmother, Mimi, for sharing her wisdom with me when I was a child.

I am reminded of one hot summer day sitting on the front porch with Mimi and having a flashback to the conversation we had.  My grandmother lived next door in my childhood and we spent much time together.  As I try to settle into the whole social distancing restrictions, I find myself recalling the many lessons I learned from her.  Things I resisted as a young girl.  Habits I adopted as I grew into adulthood and ways of being that I am just now coming to understand from her wisdom.

The words “strong constitution” or the popular term we hear so much about these days, “strong mindset,” describes my grandmother. She had a strong mind of her own and taught me many things.  As we looked out over the lawn I told her that I was noticing all the Dandelions I saw.  She immediately informed me that Dandelions, or Chicottia as she called them in her Italian slang, were quite possibly the most successful plants that exist, masters of survival worldwide.

She continued to tell me that in current times they are the most unpopular plant in the neighborhood and considered a weed but it wasn’t always that way. In earlier times, the golden blossoms with lion-toothed leaves were praised as a bounty of food, medicine and magic.

As a food, I remember her picking the Chicottia with a long paring knife, washing them and eating them like salad. She told me the vitamins in them were unique and if you ate them often it would clean out your liver and keep you healthy.  In her youth Mimi always wanted to be a nurse to explore her healing potential and also had a big garden in her backyard, planting what would nurture her body, eating what came out of her nutritious garden.  She was never in the hospital and never had any serious illness, living to the ripe age of almost 90 and died in her sleep. Besides her diet of healthy food for her physical body, she had a heart of gold and was all about love and helping others that enhanced her mental and spiritual body as well.

Let’s look at some of the magical, meaningful lessons I learned from Dandelions and my Grandmother, and how those lessons might be applied during these challenging times:

1. Dandelions are Masters of Survival. How can we make a determined effort to master our own survival through this pandemic?  Stay strong, focused and ready to become the best version of ourselves we could ever imagine.  How can we plan to survive this experience and come out on the other side much more enriched with an expansive attitude and mindset?

2. Dandelions are more nutritious than most of the vegetables available.  Maybe we could try an herbal tea on occasion to keep our immune system strong.  Eating the right food with better nutrition for our physical and mental bodies is so important especially during these times for becoming our best self.

3. Dandelions are world-famous for their beauty.  Dandelions were a common and beloved garden flower in Europe and the subject of many poems.  How can we find beauty in what might be looked upon as the “weeds” in our life?  How can we take working from home and sheltering in place as a way of cultivating our own inner beauty?  By investing in online classes to enrich our mind, soul and heart to make a contribution to the greater good.

4. Things change. Just like the view of Dandelions over the centuries being considered a lovely flower and then a weed, so many things we see as weeds might turn into beautiful flowerlike qualities from the seeds we are plating at this time.

5. Sitting on the “Virtual Porch” of Life. We all sit on our own virtual porch of life and view the “dandelions” in our own life turning into a form of beauty from the preparation we are doing now.  That “virtual porch” might be Zoom or another online platform that gives us the chance to change something that we are all experiencing into some form of wisdom, growth and personal development.

6. Be Creative With Your Resources. How can you make the most of your resources right now?  Can you be more conservative with your available resources to not feel the pinch so much in the future?  Can you use what you have in the refrigerator, freezer and pantry to make an amazing meal?  Could you share a recipe everyone loves or share a good book you have read?

7. Find joy in the moment. Appreciate your relationships.  What can you do right now to find your own joy?  Perhaps call that old friend you haven’t talked to in a while and check on them?  Can you pull out those old love letters and read them one more time? Can you tell your son or daughter how proud you are for the person they have become and how they’ve helped you with a special project, taking time away from their own endeavors?

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light,” Aristotle said.  Let the lessons and strength of the Dandelion and my wise sweet Grandmother allow you to focus on your own inner light.  Don’t forget to make the WISH of the Dandelion lore as you are using your strength and hard work in your quest for making that wish become real.

Categories
Best Practices Growth Leadership Personal Development

Reinventing Our Careers

When I sat down to write this article about the First Step of the Faremouth Method, Do a Self Inventory, a song kept popping into my head.  It was the song made famous by Martha and the Vandellas, called “Dancing in the Street.”

I suppose my Detroit roots are showing, but I’ve always found the artists of Motown to have some pretty powerful words in their songs that always made me stop in my tracks and think.  Especially right now, with so many people thinking about reinventing themselves in one way or another, this song just spoke to me when it says:

“Calling out around the world

Are you ready for a brand new beat?

Summer’s here and the time is right

For dancing in the street…”

 

The word “Dance” as a metaphor evokes connection, creativity, improvisation, beauty, emotion and meaning.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been thinking about all of those things a lot lately, especially when I get calls from my applicants, clients, relatives and friends, who can’t see family, etc., or are not sure who they will be post Covid-19.  I think we are all going to have to Reinvent Ourselves in one way or another. I think we are all ready for a “brand new beat.”

Amid the chaos and loss of control, our own sense of self is one of the few things we CAN control.  Additionally, sheltering in place gives us a unique opportunity to do some personal observation, self-reflection, introspection and evaluation because we’re not losing time driving across town to an in-person meeting and then racing home to make sure we can take the kids to baseball practice or other activities which take us away from that small amount of personal time.

The first question a lot of us get stuck on is:  Where do I start?  Having gone through several personal and professional reinventions myself, I have found great value in doing a “Self- Inventory” into my own hierarchy of values.  The following important questions are ones that I have found have helped me and many of the candidates I have worked with through the years to help them in times of major change and transition. Take a look at these and see if they might help you as well:

  • What’s important right now for my personal and/or emotional development?
  • What’s important for my financial situation?
  • What’s important for my community/interpersonal and social needs which allow me to remain safe but not feel so isolated and alone?

Before we can make any real changes that will have important consequences we have to go within and do our own inventory.  All three are equally important and must be looked at in a three dimensional, holistic, and practical way.

We can evaluate how our lives were in pre-COVID-19 times and examine if we were really happy.  Our current lifestyles have led us to be in perpetual motion and, perhaps, for many of us, this pandemic has forced us to stop in our tracks and made us think about what is really important in our lives.

I know, for me, the pandemic has allowed me to get more exercise.  I try to walk at least five miles a day, three or four times a week, get outside in the sun and soak up that good Vitamin D, etc.  I’ve even made myself sit still long enough to listen to some meditation tapes that make me appreciate the present moment more.  How does that list look for you?

Getting clear on our financial situation is also a good thing to do. Were your spending habits such that you really prepared for a few off months?

Taking the time to evaluate your spending habits might allow you to review what non-essential spending you might not do in the future.  Do you really need another pair of shoes?  Maybe we find that rather than investing in material things, it’s more important to invest in ourselves, such as taking a class or workshop.

Additionally, reviewing your social/community habits is so important to feeling balance and fulfillment in our lives.

  • Has the pandemic and spending more time at home allowed you to read more good books, practice more mindfulness techniques like Yoga, Meditation, etc.?
  • Are there hobbies like painting, gardening, cooking that you didn’t have time for before which now give you more joy and fulfillment?
  • Has being at home so much more allowed you to connect with Zoom meetings where your reach of people has been wider and more enriching?   Recently, I did a Zoom class and was able to meet people from other continents like Australia where a previous in-person class would never give me that opportunity.

This might be an opportunity to examine the strengths of our relationships and family to gauge how we are performing as a wife, mother, friend, professional, student, writer, etc.  In this state of sheltering in place, without all the noise around us, what do we value, and how do we prioritize it amidst the go-go-go world we had before?

While considering the answers, it is important to not undervalue your career goals.  It’s a real balancing act but we need to be reasonable about what we have to do to survive, especially if we are a single parent or a family depends upon us to put food on the table.

To adjust your Career path, take this opportunity to learn new skills, and pursue interests that have been on the back burner.  The internet is full of instructional videos/coaching and or training platforms that are just a click away.  More and more are now being offered on the internet because of the pandemic.  Use it as a tool for REINVENTION, not just a vehicle for killing time as we wait for the economy to bounce back.

We all should be looking at our lives as a whole and reflecting on what changes we can make to provide for a better future.  In all of our constant motion activities of the past, it was easy to lose track of what’s important.

Take this opportunity to get ready for “a brand new beat.”  Do your own “Dance in the Street.”

“Oh, it doesn’t matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

It’s an invitation across the nation

A chance for folks to meet”

DON’T FORGET THE WORDS OF MOTOWN!

Categories
Growth Human Resources Personal Development

Hunting for Self Worth: Less is More

 

The Fifth Step of the Faremouth Method is “Be a Hunter.”  Lately, I’ve really been trying to hunt for meaning and purpose during these challenging times with COVID-19 among us. Not only for myself but to impart understanding and meaning for my many clients and candidates who are trying to cope with reductions in staff, job losses, and changing identities.  This step really leads me back to the First Step of the Faremouth Method which is “Do A Self Inventory.”  In searching deep inside of myself, it led me to the words of wisdom my grandmother always imparted, which was:

 

“Less is More.”

 

The origin of the phrase “Less is More” is a 19th-century proverbial phrase credited to Robert Browning’s poem which later was made famous by the architect Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe in reference to his simplicity of style, and the beauty of it.

 

Not having so much going on in the design of structures allows one to see the creation of the building and its beauty.  When we are able to strip away the excess and what is not necessary, then we are able to see the value of what we have.  As we simplify our lives and surroundings, we have a much better gauge of our value.

 

Maybe we can all translate that into how when we change our thinking on this matter, we are able to see a different kind of beauty within ourselves that is not so much tied to STUFF, possessions, titles, and material things. That is not to say that trying to become our best self and seeking to improve and grow and contribute to the world isn’t a good thing.  It is, for sure.  In my 30+ year career as a career consultant, I have been dedicated to helping people find the best jobs that compensate then well, have the potential for growth, and allow them to contribute their talents to the world in a meaningful way.

 

Maybe in these tough times, we are able to come to an appreciation of a new way of looking at things and, in so doing, we are able to craft a new way of being that allows us to grow in a different direction.   A new direction that even if our previous identities have changed, i.e., loss of a prestigious job tile, not able to afford to go out to eat at our favorite restaurant because money is tight and the fear of being in a crowded place is too risky these days, etc.  When we are changing our thinking on this matter, we free ourselves to pursue a life worthy of esteem and respect and are not restricted to a life we used to know.  We can improve our self-worth regardless of our net-worth.  We don’t make judgments about our own life value by the possessions that we own, and the wages we earn.  The wages we have earned in the past have provided for our lives, but they do not define our lives.

 

There is newfound importance on our self-worth where we shift our focus on our true intrinsic value. While high paying jobs can provide extras, we really have to evaluate what’s really important in our lives and what becomes a filler.  Those fillers do not provide happiness, self-worth, and healthy self-esteem.

 

Consider the following steps to improve your self-worth regardless of your net-worth.

 

1. Live a life of strong integrity. There is no greater feeling than to look at yourself in the mirror and be proud of the reflection you see looking back at you.  Make sure your dealings with others are always filled with strong integrity.  Always give more than you take.

 

2. Cultivate worthwhile endeavors. There is no limit to the amount of love and consideration you can show to others, the amount of hope you can spread, or the number of encouraging words and advice you can speak.  Cultivate these things in plentiful supply as they will be well-received and remembered.

 

3. Take Calculated Risks to Expand Your Sense of Self. If there is a job description that isn’t a direct match but would utilize your transferable skills, make sure the keywords in your resume highlight why you might take the risk and be a possible candidate for the job.

 

4. Don’t be afraid to take a step down now to take a step up later. Don’t get hung up on what was, but be realistic about what is.  If you have to take a job that you consider beneath you in tough times to pay the bills and provide food and benefits for your family at a reduced salary, do it.  When things turn around and a prospective employer sees that you did what you had to do to survive, they will applaud you.  It’s the people with big gaps on their resumes during these tough times who will have a harder time explaining their reasons than those that hustled.

 

5. Live courageously. Find the mental strength to accept new challenges without regard to the fear that may lie beneath.  If the prospective new job might involve new challenges, do what you have to do to be able to take them on.  The strong always are the ones to survive.

 

6. Be humble and kind. Call that old boss who gave you that great promotion and tell them how much you learned working for him.  Show gratitude every chance you get.  Call your Mother and check on her, and don’t forget that persnickety Uncle Bill who always makes you crazy.  He might need some help in these tough times, too.

 

Hunt for what you can do now to prepare for your future. Your true self-worth is up to you.  Don’t allow your life’s purpose to be only caught up in the acquisition of material things, etc.,   Its in the doing of those things that might be considered “less” that might end up being “more.”

Categories
Growth Management Personal Development Women In Business

Take the Time to Do It Right: There are No Shortcuts to Success!

The Fourth Step of the Faremouth Method is “Take The Time To Do It Right.”   In times of uncertainty and change, some may feel compelled to take short cuts.  Short cuts may seem to be the easiest way to get from one point to another but there will always be a price to be paid in that process.  The fear of the unknown might lead some to sacrifice their own morality for a perceived favorable outcome but, even that, creates more fear of the truth rearing its ugly head at a later time.  The truth will be exposed when you least expect it.

 

One of the ancient teachings by Buddha emphasizes three things which cannot be long hidden – the Sun, the Moon, and the Truth.  In other words, we must always continue to uphold our integrity.  Specifically, when looking for a job in these challenging times during the pandemic, integrity and honesty are non-negotiable.

 

This brings me to a real situation that happened just the other day.  I had been on a search assignment for one of my clients that involved a very specific skill set and background.  I came upon a resume that seemed to be “right on.”  The candidate had the exact skillset and tenure that the client required.  I did a video interview, which is now replacing the in-person interview, and the candidate seemed to really resonate with all the requirements and more.  The “more” part was the interesting twist in the scenario because, as I later found out, there was for sure more to the story.

 

After my preliminary findings, I sent the resume to the client and they reviewed and decided to interview the person for this job.  I then advised the candidate of the day and time requested, etc.  He agreed, and, at that point, decided to inform me he would send me an updated resume.  Being perplexed, I asked if he had taken a very short temp job.  His response was to let me just review the resume when received.

 

Upon receiving the resume, I noticed there were some major discrepancies from the initial resume that had been submitted.  I immediately called the applicant to discuss the differences on the resume and after a back and forth discussion, he confessed the reason for expanding the truth on the resume was out of fear.  Fear of not getting an interview if his real situation was revealed.

 

Unfortunately, when then submitting the updated resume, which I felt compelled to do, the client declined to interview the candidate.  No matter what the truth is, your resume must reflect the truth. By admitting your truth or stretching it, you could eventually cost yourself the job offer and respect.

 

The unfortunate part, however, is that if he would have taken the time to do it right, and presented the situation honestly, he would have had a better opportunity to get the interview and possibly a job offer.  The choices we all have to make, whether during or in the absence of the pandemic, have to be aligned with integrity.  In fact, integrity may be more important now than ever due to the enormous competition out there.  Employers are really looking for people they can trust, rely upon, and count on in these very uncertain times.  They are looking at everything under a microscope these days.  Knowing that might inspire one to become their best self and deal with challenges of the past in a new and innovative way.  It never pays to present a work history or details as to why you left a particular employment which is inaccurate.

 

In some cases, even, if a candidate is uncertain of how to present a challenging situation in their work history, it might behoove them to get the advice of a mentor, career counselor, or friend to know how to present it in an honest and truthful way.  At the same time, a challenging situation can be presented in a way that will shed a positive light and have the common denominator of the experience be laced with honesty and integrity.

 

Personal courage is not the absence of fear.  It is the ability to put fear aside and do what is necessary.  Courage takes two forms, physical and moral.  Physical courage is overcoming fears of bodily harm which we can all relate to with Covid-19.  Moral courage is a willingness to stand firm on values, principles, and convictions and to stand up for what you believe to be right, regardless of the consequences.  Allow your own personal light and compass to always shine on the real truth of who you are rather than what you want your story to be.

Categories
Growth Management Personal Development Women In Business

Asking Better Questions to Prepare for the New Work World

Becoming our best self is a life-long process.  Sometimes that journey is filled with many twists and turns along the way.  The thought occurred to me as to how we can expand and grow after the pandemic.  So often during our life, we are ruled by a fear of failure, disappointment, facing rejection, etc.  JK Rowling once wrote something like, “you will never truly know yourself or your strength until tested by adversity.”  It is only when our lives become challenging that we see how strong we truly are.

 

As we prepare for this new journey, we find that by asking better questions now will give you the time to prepare honest responses to ensure better results as well as educate yourself to secure a better job offer in the future. The world will eventually evolve to a “new normal” and, when it does, you need to do all you can to be able to compete in this post-pandemic world.

 

In the New Work World, if you are serious about securing a job or making a career shift, you will have to “put the pedal to the metal” to be proactive and make a strong commitment to being able to stand out above the competition.  As with any great setback in life, the real winners are those who have resilience and perseverance.  You really do have choices as to how you respond and dedicate your energies to create new opportunities for yourself.

 

The new prospective employer will not tolerate why your resume has formatting issues, why your references won’t return a call, why your LinkedIn profile is not up-to-date and professional, why you have been too stressed out with fear of Covid19, family, kids, etc.  These issues and attitudes could very well cost you the job offer later.

 

Asking Better Questions might allow you to look more appealing than the candidate with more experience who DID NOT prepare.  Doing a proper evaluation of yourself will better prepare you when you are competing for the same job with others who may be more qualified than you. Employers will be looking for a candidate with that something extra as they determine the best applicant for the job.  You can turn this into a time of reinventing yourself through discovery. Discovery will come about because of your self-analysis in preparation for re-entering the New Work World.  History has shown that gain can come out of destruction. The Phoenix will rise from the ashes.  It’s important to remember that not only are you, the applicant, going through a new learning curve on how to approach securing a new job, so are companies and employers. The qualities they are seeking are also changing.

 

Some things to consider are as follows:

 

  1. Do a realistic self-analysis to document your skills and weaknesses related to your job and desire to secure a new career.  Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Do research to target a new job or industry which will perhaps be more profitable and secure than the one you currently have or came from.
  3. Contact previous bosses, if you are NOT currently unemployed, of course, to secure reference letters, inform them of a possible prospective employer calling, and expressing gratitude for them taking the time out of their day to answer any questions about your past work performance.
  4. When asked why you might have been laid off, terminated, or furloughed in this pandemic, how will you explain? Remember to express gratitude for the experience, reserve any hard feelings about the loss of your unemployment, and omit any negative talk about a particular industry, boss or co-worker.
  5. Analyze your monthly household living expenses to see if there are ways to cut back so that you are not working for just a paycheck. You want to find employment that is going to satisfy your passion and utilize your skills. It can be worth taking a step back for perhaps a giant step forward.  Have you examined your realistic worth in the current market place?
  6. Clean up ALL SOCIAL MEDIA content. This is more important than you might imagine.  Your LinkedIn profile and social media pages should be professional.  Make sure all your content does not contain anything inappropriate.
  7. Find a trusted mentor, friend, previous boss, or family member who you can lean on for support when the stress of your job search becomes overwhelming.
  8. Engage in mindfulness techniques such as YOGA, meditation, prayer, or visualization to help you get centered and calm down during this process of seeking new employment in the New Work World.
  9. Make time to exercise, relax, and involve yourself in hobbies that you might enjoy and have something fun in your life.

 

This transformational time can be used as a very important step by re-introducing ourselves to the world as our mask is removed, and we are much more in touch with who we are and what we have to offer the world to make it a better place. We are truly finding our place within that new work world and our own world as we emerge a much better version of who we had been. In the process, we may find that our new life is better than the one we left behind.

Categories
Growth Management Personal Development

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone – Building Resilience in the New Work World

The Third Step of the Faremouth Method is “Step Out of Your Comfort Zone.”  Whether you are going into work or working from home, or have already been part of the cutbacks at your office, the Covid-19 pandemic has probably changed your work world in some way, shape or form. You have been forced to step out of your comfort zone where fear and anxiety about your life can be overwhelming.  When I was thinking about all the employee and employer concerns I heard this last week, a famous quote came to mind that has always given me hope in my life during times of extreme stress, loss or overwhelm. It’s a quote by Henry Ford that goes like this:

 

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

 

What that quote has always said to me is that we gain great strength and perseverance when we have some extreme challenge to overcome, not when things are easy and comfortable.  When we are forced to “Step Out of Our Comfort Zone” is where the real gold is to be found.  How do we build resilience and manage job stress effectively to be able to go to that higher place, that growth-oriented space, that new more fulfilling destination?

 

The following tips are ones that I feel may help you during these fearful times.  They are tips that I have heard from a variety of sources which have helped employees and employers cope with having to step out of their comfort zone and build resilience in the New Work World.

 

1. Increase your sense of control by developing a consistent daily routine when possible,

ideally, one that is similar to your schedule before the pandemic.

  • Take breaks from work to exercise, check in with your supportive network which may include colleagues, family, and friends.
  • Spend time outdoors, either being physically active or relaxing. Even taking a long walk might be helpful during these difficult times.
  • Practice mindfulness techniques that might include meditation, Yoga, prayer, visualization, etc.,
  • Do things you enjoy during non-work hours, such as listening to music, cooking, taking an online class that you always wanted to take.
  • If you work from home, set a regular time to end your work for the day, if possible.

2. Identify those things which you do not have control over and do the best you can with the resources available to you.

  • If you have lost your job, consider updating your resume to highlight skills that may be transferable.
  • Come to a realistic understanding that you might have to take a pay-cut in these uncertain times but continue to work hard and prove yourself to be in a position to get that raise and promotion when things do turn around. It’s important to remember to be grateful for the resources that you have available to you. There is a lot to be said for feeling grateful for whatever it is we have in our lives. There is an old saying that what we put into the world will come back to us. As we help others, others will help us.
  • Do research of available opportunities to seek the help of a career coach, advisor, or online resources to know what options are available.

3. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.  Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting and mentally exhausting.  Make sure you give yourself a break from all the news which may keep you from a positive mindset.

4. Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns. If you feel you need to seek professional help in a therapeutic setting, do it.

5. Remind yourself that everyone is in an unusual situation with limited resources.

6.Know the facts about Covid-19 and protect yourself and others by sharing accurate information to reduce stress and making a connection with others.

 

Understand that with the right mindset, support, and belief in your abilities, you will get through this.  In the last major downturn in 2009, wonderful new businesses like Air B&B, Uber, and others, were started because of new needs and alternatives brought to the surface. This can be a wonderful time of inspiration and motivation. Sometimes we can be in a career or job where we feel we are unchallenged and complacent. Then when there is a shakeup, we have that opportunity to reassess our own value and turn that into something better than what we had before the shakeup.

 

Just like the quote of Napoleon Bonaparte, “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have the strength.”

 

Do what you have to do in these challenging times to develop your own inner strength.  If you do that and have that solid resolve within, you will survive these challenging times and come out of this stronger, more determined, and dedicated to be the best you can be and even help to make a contribution to help others through the process to become better in our New Work World.  We have to have that mindset of feeling grateful, helping others, and doing what we can on a collective basis to turn this entire situation around into something more positive than we’ve ever had before but it will take everyone working as a team for the common cause.

 

As another famous author, Ara,  wrote:

 

“Maybe it’s not about putting roots down anywhere but driving them so deep in yourself that no matter where you are you’re home.”

Categories
Growth Human Resources Leadership Personal Development

The Commencement Address

Today, I was reflecting back to this time last year when I was preparing to give a Commencement Address to a local college.  I remember really trying hard to give these graduates solid “life lesson” information as they began their new journey, their new lives, their new entrance into the job market.  Big changes were in front of them as they moved into a new ERA of their lives. They would begin to apply what they had learned in college to the real world and hopefully do it with success.

I looked up the word “commencement” and the definition is really all about “a beginning or start.”

I think all of us are in a sense, GRADUATING to a “NEW NORMAL” if you will.  I think the five tips I gave these graduates just might be helpful to folks right now looking at beginning their own “new normal” and doing it successfully.  Just like these students pursuing their dreams and moving forward, we are all STUDENTS OF THE CHANGES in our lives right now.  How we choose to navigate these changes will determine our future.  Sometimes we have to take a few steps back in order to take a giant leap forward.

I remember the beginning of that speech went something like this:

“Like so many of you sitting in the auditorium today, when I graduated from college, I was excited but uncertain about exactly what my employment future would hold.  There are some times in our lives when the future looks fuzzy, or unclear, and it can actually be pretty scary to think through what might come next.

What I am about to tell you comes from a list of Five Lessons I have learned, not only from my over 25 years as a career consultant but also from what I have experienced as a human being trying to survive on this planet. These lessons are things I’ve witnessed, heard from employers, applicants, Moms and Dads, Husbands and Wives, Friends and Enemies, and even from my own kids.

  1. Take the Focus Off Me and Put it on We. I think especially during these times with the Coronavirus upon us, thinking of how we can help someone else might be of paramount importance right now.  It can also give us personally a feeling of benevolence and gratitude for having the health and ability to do it. Of course, we have to do it from afar or online, staying 6 ft. away and wearing a mask!
  1. You Have to Give to ReceiveOften, we have to surrender to something outside of ourselves to gain strength within ourselves. Sometimes we have to conquer our fears to get what we crave.  We are all dealing with the fear of the unknown right now.  Only focusing on ourselves can perhaps lead us into troubled territory. The irony is that sometimes our success can lead to the greatest failure which is giving into arrogance and pride while failure can sometimes lead to the greatest success which is humility and learning.  In order to fulfill yourself, you have to forget yourself.  In order to find yourself, you often have to lose yourself.I think we are all going through the “lose yourself” mode right now.  In this process, a true “rebirth” of who we are might take place.  We might come out on the other side with a new perspective, expanded awareness, and a more enlightened view of who we can be.
  1. Make Friends With Fear

Don’t be afraid of Fear.  Speak your fears out loud. Give your obstacles credit but don’t be limited by them. The challenges we face are what force us to grow and expand.  Fear is often the dragon within we have to slay.  We often need a powerful sword to slay that dragon.

I think we are all stuck in the Fear mode right now.  There are ways we can slay that dragon of fear by making friends with it and moving into more positive areas of our life.

There is a quote that says, “When I dare to be powerful to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” Fear must take a backseat when we envision our quest at this time and keep marching onward through the troubled waters toward our goal, overcoming challenges.

  1. Life’s a Dance, We Learn as We Go.“Sometimes we Lead and Sometimes we Follow.” That is a great song by John Michael Montgomery. We are all surely doing a “different dance” right now.  We can choose the steps we want to take.  Are we going to twist and shout through the experience of this pandemic or are we going to waltz through it?
  1. You hold the Personal Pen to Write a Great Story – You are the ultimate author of the book of your life.  I saw a post recently that said:

“You never have to fear the next chapter of your life if you know who the author is.” Perhaps we have to believe the story we all are writing at this time is a story of determination. We have to be determined to get through these tough times with grace and dexterity.

Let’s make our own personal “commencement or new beginning” one that will foster our own rebirth and a greater expansion of who we are and who we can be.  Let’s all graduate to this “New Normal” with a determination and perseverance to come out on the other side a graduate of the school of life with a renewed sense of awareness and a journey into our future that will allow us to begin or “commence,” if you will, this new journey with expanded success and rebirth.

According to Faremouth’s company website, “Mary Ann is the founder and CEO of Faremouth and Company. As a leader in the national recruiting community and a placement specialist since 1982, Mary Ann knows what it takes to get the job done. She is 2016 President of Houston Independent Personnel Consultant Group, is a member of the NASPD, NAPCA, the National Association of Personnel Consultants, and is also a highly regarded speaker and writer. Her articles can be found in various industry-related publications. She founded Jobs: Houston Magazine in 1997, one of the most popular employment magazines in Texas for over 7 years.”  She is the author of the critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning book Revolutionary Recruiting.