Status: U Return-Path: Received: from noehlo.host ([127.0.0.1]) by mx-taint.atl.sa.earthlink.net (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1j5UxW6Y33Nl36L0; Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:57:04 -0500 (EST) Received: from wsmarth-hairy.pas.sa.earthlink.net ([207.217.120.115]) by mx-taint.atl.sa.earthlink.net (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1j5UxW7C43Nl36L1 for ; Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:57:04 -0500 (EST) Received: from domrl-ground.atl.sa.earthlink.net ([207.69.231.199]) by wsmarth-hairy.pas.sa.earthlink.net with smtp (Exim 3.36 #4) id 1J5uXY-00042W-00 for merileek@earthlink.net; Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:56:40 -0800 X-ELNK-Loop: merilee@kerncommunications.com Received: from dukecmmtar01.coxmail.com ([68.99.120.48]) by domrl-ground.atl.sa.earthlink.net (EarthLink SMTP Server) with ESMTP id 1j5Uxo4Dj3Nl5vF0 for ; Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:56:30 -0500 (EST) Received: from Merilee ([68.15.13.44]) by dukecmmtar01.coxmail.com (InterMail vM.6.01.06.01 201-2131-130-101-20060113) with SMTP id <20071222025630.ZKOB26830.dukecmmtar01.coxmail.com@Merilee> for ; Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:56:30 -0500 Message-ID: <031401c84447$0a187180$0401a8c0@Merilee> Reply-To: "Merilee Kern" From: "Merilee Kern" To: "Merilee Kern" Subject: Fw: South Florida Sun Sentinel placement Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:58:45 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_01AB_01C84403.8306A2E0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409 X-ELNK-AV: 0 X-ELNK-Info: sbv=0; sbrc=.0; sbf=00; sbw=010; This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01AB_01C84403.8306A2E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/columnists/sfl-flzmarcia1220sbdec20,= 0,1969852.column=20 Tips for a happier, healthier career Marcia Heroux Pounds | Business Strategies=20 December 20, 2007=20 Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama knew he wanted to be president as = early as kindergarten. "I want to become president," he apparently wrote = as a 5-year-old in an essay.=20 Most people are not so driven or disciplined. "Failing to have a life plan is the single biggest mistake," says John = McKee, author of Career Wisdom - 101 Proven Strategies to Ensure Career = Success. Recently, he identified "fatal career flaws" workers tend to = have and addressed how they can be avoided. "Really successful people are clear about what they want. They can tell = you what they want to do with their career," he says. "About 14 percent = of the world has a plan. The rest of the population gets up every day = and hopes for the best." Luwin Sanchez, career adviser at TheArt Institute of Fort Lauderdale, = says she has noticed that successful students tend to visualize what = they want and make a plan to go after it. "They assess it on a six-month = to yearly basis: 'Am I going the right way?'" Such individuals also are not afraid to take risks, she says. "They're = willing to leave one job to go to another job that gives them another = opportunity." Life has a way of causing twists and turns in our careers and personal = lives. But planning helps a worker stay on course, McKee says. Leaving = your career up to fate can be dangerous. "That's becoming a riskier = proposition with every new layoff and downturn in the economy," he says. So, with a look toward the new year, here are McKee's strategies toward = a happier and healthier career: Write a life plan. Start with a pad of paper, breaking down the = components of your life: career, personal and financial. Write what you = would like to see happen in your life. Successful people create such a = plan, review and alter it. "The first thing you need to do is define your purpose in life. What is = it you love," McKee says. "What is it that makes you different from = everyone around you."=20 Update your skills. "Most of us know people who had great skills when = they entered the workplace, but they never bothered to update them," he = says. Take community college classes, enroll in professional programs or do = whatever it takes to stay current with peers coming out of school. "If = you're not growing, you're in danger of failing," McKee says. Deliver results. There's no resting on your laurels, even if you have = delivered results in the past. "People have a tendency after they've had = a few successes to believe they're bulletproof," he says. Focus on effectiveness. "A lot of people judge how productive they are = by how many meetings they've had," McKee says. Make sure what you're doing matters to your boss, he says. "If you can = make your boss more effective, he'll end up giving you more resources." Remember no one is irreplaceable. There is no room for the "diva" in = today's workplace. As soon as you convince yourself that only you can do = the job "right," your star will surely start to fall, he says. Promote yourself. Let colleagues throughout your industry know about = your success through case studies, promotional bulletins or other such = tools. This is not bragging. It's recognizing the importance of letting = others know about your accomplishments. Failing to self-promote "is a really big issue for women," McKee says. = "It has a lot to do with the way we raise our girls and boys. ... Guys = want to take credit for everything. It's exactly the opposite for women. = They think it's unbecoming." Keep your perspective. At the same time, McKee says workers also need to = be aware of their shortcomings. "Encourage people to give you honest assessments," he says. "Get a = couple of peers to agree to compare notes once in a while and be open to = that feedback. Don't be defensive." Tips for a happier, healthier career Marcia Heroux Pounds | Business Strategies=20 December 20, 2007=20 Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama knew he wanted to be president as = early as kindergarten. "I want to become president," he apparently wrote = as a 5-year-old in an essay.=20 Most people are not so driven or disciplined. "Failing to have a life plan is the single biggest mistake," says John = McKee, author of Career Wisdom - 101 Proven Strategies to Ensure Career = Success. Recently, he identified "fatal career flaws" workers tend to = have and addressed how they can be avoided. "Really successful people are clear about what they want. They can tell = you what they want to do with their career," he says. "About 14 percent = of the world has a plan. The rest of the population gets up every day = and hopes for the best." Luwin Sanchez, career adviser at TheArt Institute of Fort Lauderdale, = says she has noticed that successful students tend to visualize what = they want and make a plan to go after it. "They assess it on a six-month = to yearly basis: 'Am I going the right way?'" Such individuals also are not afraid to take risks, she says. "They're = willing to leave one job to go to another job that gives them another = opportunity." Life has a way of causing twists and turns in our careers and personal = lives. But planning helps a worker stay on course, McKee says. Leaving = your career up to fate can be dangerous. "That's becoming a riskier = proposition with every new layoff and downturn in the economy," he says. So, with a look toward the new year, here are McKee's strategies toward = a happier and healthier career: Write a life plan. Start with a pad of paper, breaking down the = components of your life: career, personal and financial. Write what you = would like to see happen in your life. Successful people create such a = plan, review and alter it. "The first thing you need to do is define your purpose in life. What is = it you love," McKee says. "What is it that makes you different from = everyone around you."=20 Update your skills. "Most of us know people who had great skills when = they entered the workplace, but they never bothered to update them," he = says. Take community college classes, enroll in professional programs or do = whatever it takes to stay current with peers coming out of school. "If = you're not growing, you're in danger of failing," McKee says. Deliver results. There's no resting on your laurels, even if you have = delivered results in the past. "People have a tendency after they've had = a few successes to believe they're bulletproof," he says. Focus on effectiveness. "A lot of people judge how productive they are = by how many meetings they've had," McKee says. Make sure what you're doing matters to your boss, he says. "If you can = make your boss more effective, he'll end up giving you more resources." Remember no one is irreplaceable. There is no room for the "diva" in = today's workplace. As soon as you convince yourself that only you can do = the job "right," your star will surely start to fall, he says. Promote yourself. Let colleagues throughout your industry know about = your success through case studies, promotional bulletins or other such = tools. This is not bragging. It's recognizing the importance of letting = others know about your accomplishments. Failing to self-promote "is a really big issue for women," McKee says. = "It has a lot to do with the way we raise our girls and boys. ... Guys = want to take credit for everything. It's exactly the opposite for women. = They think it's unbecoming." Keep your perspective. At the same time, McKee says workers also need to = be aware of their shortcomings. "Encourage people to give you honest assessments," he says. "Get a = couple of peers to agree to compare notes once in a while and be open to = that feedback. Don't be defensive." ------=_NextPart_000_01AB_01C84403.8306A2E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/columnists= /sfl-flzmarcia1220sbdec20,0,1969852.column=20


Tips for a happier, healthier = career
Marcia Heroux Pounds | Business Strategies
December = 20,=20 2007

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama knew he wanted to be = president as early as kindergarten. "I want to become president," he = apparently=20 wrote as a 5-year-old in an essay.

Most people are not so driven = or=20 disciplined.

"Failing to have a life plan is the single biggest = mistake,"=20 says John McKee, author of Career Wisdom =97 101 Proven Strategies to = Ensure=20 Career Success. Recently, he identified "fatal career flaws" workers = tend to=20 have and addressed how they can be avoided.

"Really successful = people are=20 clear about what they want. They can tell you what they want to do with = their=20 career," he says. "About 14 percent of the world has a plan. The rest of = the=20 population gets up every day and hopes for the best."

Luwin = Sanchez,=20 career adviser at TheArt Institute of Fort Lauderdale, says she has = noticed that=20 successful students tend to visualize what they want and make a plan to = go after=20 it. "They assess it on a six-month to yearly basis: 'Am I going the = right=20 way?'"

Such individuals also are not afraid to take risks, she = says.=20 "They're willing to leave one job to go to another job that gives them = another=20 opportunity."

Life has a way of causing twists and turns in our = careers=20 and personal lives. But planning helps a worker stay on course, McKee = says.=20 Leaving your career up to fate can be dangerous. "That's becoming a = riskier=20 proposition with every new layoff and downturn in the economy," he=20 says.

So, with a look toward the new year, here are McKee's = strategies=20 toward a happier and healthier career:

Write a life plan. Start = with a=20 pad of paper, breaking down the components of your life: career, = personal and=20 financial. Write what you would like to see happen in your life. = Successful=20 people create such a plan, review and alter it.

"The first thing = you need=20 to do is define your purpose in life. What is it you love," McKee says. = "What is=20 it that makes you different from everyone around you."

Update = your=20 skills. "Most of us know people who had great skills when they entered = the=20 workplace, but they never bothered to update them," he says.

Take = community college classes, enroll in professional programs or do = whatever it=20 takes to stay current with peers coming out of school. "If you're not = growing,=20 you're in danger of failing," McKee says.

Deliver results. = There's no=20 resting on your laurels, even if you have delivered results in the past. = "People=20 have a tendency after they've had a few successes to believe they're=20 bulletproof," he says.

Focus on effectiveness. "A lot of people = judge how=20 productive they are by how many meetings they've had," McKee = says.

Make=20 sure what you're doing matters to your boss, he says. "If you can make = your boss=20 more effective, he'll end up giving you more resources."

Remember = no one=20 is irreplaceable. There is no room for the "diva" in today's workplace. = As soon=20 as you convince yourself that only you can do the job "right," your star = will=20 surely start to fall, he says.

Promote yourself. Let colleagues=20 throughout your industry know about your success through case studies,=20 promotional bulletins or other such tools. This is not bragging. It's=20 recognizing the importance of letting others know about your=20 accomplishments.

Failing to self-promote "is a really big issue = for=20 women," McKee says. "It has a lot to do with the way we raise our girls = and=20 boys. ... Guys want to take credit for everything. It's exactly the = opposite for=20 women. They think it's unbecoming."

Keep your perspective. At the = same=20 time, McKee says workers also need to be aware of their=20 shortcomings.

"Encourage people to give you honest assessments," = he says.=20 "Get a couple of peers to agree to compare notes once in a while and be = open to=20 that feedback. Don't be defensive."
Tips for a happier, healthier=20 career
Marcia Heroux Pounds | Business Strategies
December 20, = 2007=20

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama knew he wanted to be = president as=20 early as kindergarten. "I want to become president," he apparently wrote = as a=20 5-year-old in an essay.

Most people are not so driven or=20 disciplined.

"Failing to have a life plan is the single biggest = mistake,"=20 says John McKee, author of Career Wisdom =97 101 Proven Strategies to = Ensure=20 Career Success. Recently, he identified "fatal career flaws" workers = tend to=20 have and addressed how they can be avoided.

"Really successful = people are=20 clear about what they want. They can tell you what they want to do with = their=20 career," he says. "About 14 percent of the world has a plan. The rest of = the=20 population gets up every day and hopes for the best."

Luwin = Sanchez,=20 career adviser at TheArt Institute of Fort Lauderdale, says she has = noticed that=20 successful students tend to visualize what they want and make a plan to = go after=20 it. "They assess it on a six-month to yearly basis: 'Am I going the = right=20 way?'"

Such individuals also are not afraid to take risks, she = says.=20 "They're willing to leave one job to go to another job that gives them = another=20 opportunity."

Life has a way of causing twists and turns in our = careers=20 and personal lives. But planning helps a worker stay on course, McKee = says.=20 Leaving your career up to fate can be dangerous. "That's becoming a = riskier=20 proposition with every new layoff and downturn in the economy," he=20 says.

So, with a look toward the new year, here are McKee's = strategies=20 toward a happier and healthier career:

Write a life plan. Start = with a=20 pad of paper, breaking down the components of your life: career, = personal and=20 financial. Write what you would like to see happen in your life. = Successful=20 people create such a plan, review and alter it.

"The first thing = you need=20 to do is define your purpose in life. What is it you love," McKee says. = "What is=20 it that makes you different from everyone around you."

Update = your=20 skills. "Most of us know people who had great skills when they entered = the=20 workplace, but they never bothered to update them," he says.

Take = community college classes, enroll in professional programs or do = whatever it=20 takes to stay current with peers coming out of school. "If you're not = growing,=20 you're in danger of failing," McKee says.

Deliver results. = There's no=20 resting on your laurels, even if you have delivered results in the past. = "People=20 have a tendency after they've had a few successes to believe they're=20 bulletproof," he says.

Focus on effectiveness. "A lot of people = judge how=20 productive they are by how many meetings they've had," McKee = says.

Make=20 sure what you're doing matters to your boss, he says. "If you can make = your boss=20 more effective, he'll end up giving you more resources."

Remember = no one=20 is irreplaceable. There is no room for the "diva" in today's workplace. = As soon=20 as you convince yourself that only you can do the job "right," your star = will=20 surely start to fall, he says.

Promote yourself. Let colleagues=20 throughout your industry know about your success through case studies,=20 promotional bulletins or other such tools. This is not bragging. It's=20 recognizing the importance of letting others know about your=20 accomplishments.

Failing to self-promote "is a really big issue = for=20 women," McKee says. "It has a lot to do with the way we raise our girls = and=20 boys. ... Guys want to take credit for everything. It's exactly the = opposite for=20 women. They think it's unbecoming."

Keep your perspective. At the = same=20 time, McKee says workers also need to be aware of their=20 shortcomings.

"Encourage people to give you honest assessments," = he says.=20 "Get a couple of peers to agree to compare notes once in a while and be = open to=20 that feedback. Don't be defensive."
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