Friday, April 24, 2009

Lessons Learned from Susan Boyle

Lessons Learned From Susan Boyle

Thousands of people have watched Susan Boyle's incredible performance during her recent appearance on the television show Britain's Got Talent. If you haven't seen it , the You Tube video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg ....and if you haven't, what rock have you been living under?Susan is my hero and there are many lessons to be learned from her experience...I want to share a few with you:

1. Never give up on your dreams.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue and the dreams you dare to dream really do come true. ~ Lyman Frank BaumNo matter how long you've had your dream, keep it close to your heart and never let go. Never think that your dreams can't come true. Susan Boyle was born with her beautiful voice and she dreamed of being like Elaine Paige. At age 47, she marched on stage and all the world watched her dream become a reality.

2. Have courage
Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway. ~ Dr. Robert Anthony

Courage gives you confidence for every step you take. Courage recognizes challenges. Courage understands risk. Courage acknowledges fear. Courage is aware of the possibility of failure. Then courage gives you the confidence to move forward, to do what you believe is right and true. Courage urges you to reach your full potential. At age 47, Susan Boyle stood before the audience and had the courage to reach her full potential. Was she nervous? You bet!

3. Take risks.
Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go. ~ T.S. Eliot

Susan Boyle took a huge risk when she stepped on stage and looked Simon Cowle in the eye. Would he like her? Would she be embarrassed? Would she fail? Susan knew, though, that if you live your entire life playing it safe, you will never know what you can achieve. Sure, never taking a risk is playing it safe, but playing it safe is the greatest risk of all.

3. Never underestimate another person.
Don't judge a book by its cover. It's what's inside that matters. ~ Michael Green

Susan Boyle is not tall, she is not thin, she doesn't have great hair, and she would not win a beauty contest....but Susan Boyle is beautiful on the inside. Never be fooled by what you see. A person may look great, they may drive a snazzy car and they may wear the latest fashions. Those do not make them beautiful. Always look deeper for a person's inner beauty. If you did not look inside Susan Boyle, you you would miss her beautiful voice, her charm and her unassuming personality that make her a truly beautiful person.

4. Don't be afraid to leave your village (ie your comfort zone)
A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. ~William Shedd

Only by venturing outside her tiny village did Susan Boyle make her dreams come true. Her voice would have been heard at weddings and at funerals and at church on Sunday morning but the world would have been deprived of knowing her and Susan would not have accomplished her life goal. Yes, she would have been safe. Yes, she would not have risked failure. By stepping outside her comfort zone, though, Susan Boyle taught us all that we should never stay in our safe harbor but sail toward our dreams, no matter how frightening that may be.

5. Believe and you can achieve.
If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it. ~Jesse Jackson

If you are to achieve anything in life, you must first adjust your attitude and believe with all your heart that you can do anything you decide to do. When you do this, half the battle is won. Believing in yourself is even more important than your abilities. Susan Boyle believed in herself even when the entire audience was smirking with disbelief. Other people do not have to believe in you...but you must always believe in yourself.

6. Stay true to yourself.
He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away. ~ Raymond Hull

There has been much discussion about whether Susan Boyle should have a makeover. Should she have her eyebrows waxed? Her hair styled? Her wardrobe updated? Susan herself has admitted she might need to exercise a bit now that she's seen herself on national television. If she wants to change to suit herself, that's great. Goals for personal improvement are good. However, Susan shouldn't change herself to please anyone but herself or she will lose the person that everyone fell in love with. Had she walked on stage looking like Miss USA, no one would have been surprised by the beatiful voice...they would have expected it. Finding the unexpected in Susan Boyle has been the attraction.

7. Do not fear competition.
You learn so much from competition. You gain confidence every time you step up and perform. ~Natalie Gulbis

Just when Susan Boyle was getting accustomed to the limelight, competition surfaced...a twelve year old boy with an incredible voice and darling dimples whose name is Shaheen Jafargholi. Susan will have to march on stage and meet the competition head on. She should do this by remaining true to herself. Susan is not Elaine Paige and she is not Shaheen Jarfargholi. She is a simple, unassuming woman who will grow from this experience and who will know in her heart that the world loves her for who she is.

I hope that Susan's brush with fame will cause you to pause and consider your life, your goals, and your dreams. Know that if you believe, you can achieve. In closing, I will leave you with one last quote:

Only as high as I can reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be. ~Karen Ravn

© 2009 Vicki Voisin, Inc.
Do you want to use this article in your newsletter, ezine or Web site? You can, so long as you include this entire blurb with it: Vicki Voisin, "The Paralegal Mentor", delivers simple strategies for paralegals and other professionals to create success and satisfaction by achieving goals and determining the direction they will take their careers. Vicki spotlights resources, organizational tips, ethics issues, and other areas of continuing education to help paralegals and others reach their full potential. She publishes a bi-weekly ezine titled Strategies for Paralegals Seeking Excellence. More information is available at www.paralegalmentor.com

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Seven Strategies for a Successful Job Search by Vicki Voisin

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Seven Strategies for a Successful Job Search
In these times of economic difficulties, budget cuts and job loss, I hear daily from paralegals and others who certainly did not deserve to lose their jobs but who nonetheless find themselves updating their resumes and hoping for a new position before their unemployment benefits end.
When they come to me for advice, the first thing I tell them is that they DO have a job: they’re now self-employed and their job is finding a job. They have to treat this new job as though it is their own business and go to work every day. This is serious hard work!


Here are seven strategies for making your new business of job hunting a success:


1. Know Your Market. Do some research to determine what employers are looking for. You should craft your resume and your job search to be the perfect candidate for those jobs. Also, remember that many jobs are never advertised, but exist in the minds of the partners or Human Resources Director. If they view you as the perfect candidate for that position, they may hire you without ever interviewing any other candidates.


2. Do an inventory. Make a detailed list of your skills, experience, accomplishments, interests, goals and values. What are your strengths and where will they fit? You will need to be able to communicate, both verbally and in writing, how you are the unique and perfect candidate for a job. Your inventory should also serve as a road map to other areas where your skills and experience would transfer. Also, know your salary expectations and be prepared to have that discussion. Communicate this in a such a way that the value you would bring to the position is commensurate with that salary level. Know also that you may have to get real about what your next job will pay. It may be more important to get your foot in the door and have those all-important benefits.


3. Develop a Plan. Begin with a clear, concise resume and a concise cover letter that states how your qualifications match job requirements. Both your resume and cover letter should be designed to catch the potential employer’s attention. Identify potential employers and start sending those resumes, whether they are advertising open positions or not. Consider using an appropriate employment agency but sure you understand what the agency will do for you and if there is a cost. This can be an excellent job lead resource. Also think about doing some temporary or freelance work that may result in (a) additional contacts; (b) new skills and experience; (c) additional income to tide you over while you’re unemployed; and (d) put you in a position to be available when a full-time job is available.


4. Get the word out. Let everyone you can think of know that you are looking for employment. That includes friends, colleagues, neighbors, members of your professional association, former professors and classmates. It does not matter if they are located right in your hometown or living in Timbuktu, let them know. This network is an important piece of your job search plan. There is always someone out there who knows someone who knows someone else who might help you.


5. Boost your network. Sign up for job search newsletters and e-mail blasts. Post on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Take the time to actively participate in Internet discussion boards and forums. Done the right way, social networking can be priceless job search tool. Just remember that everything you post is public in some way and that, once on the Internet, it does not go away. These sites are used by people who are hiring to screen potential job candidates. You will want your posts to say positive things about you.


6. Do not wait for opportunity to knock on your door. This most likely will not happen. Instead, make your own opportunities by being persistent, assertive and proactive. As intimidating as it may be, make those cold calls to potential employers. This is important for two reasons: first, you need to beat your competition to the draw; and second, it demonstrates to the potential employers that you are serious.


7. Keep track of your progress. Maintain detailed records of the jobs you have applied for. This would include communications, interviews, referrals, and any follow-up actions you take. You are building a list of valuable contacts for current and future job searches. During this process, be sure to mind your ‘P’s and Q’s’ by writing thank you notes and speaking positively about the people who have interviewed you. Remaining polite and positive is key.
The job of searching for a job is hard work. It may be the most difficult job you have ever had and it is essential that you maintain a positive attitude. If you take steps to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the job-hunting crowd by developing some effective strategies and defining what you want and need, you will be on your way to losing your current job-hunting job (hurray!!!) and landing that full-time position.


© 2009 Vicki Voisin, Inc.


Vicki Voisin, "The Paralegal Mentor", delivers simple strategies for paralegals and other professionals to create success and satisfaction by setting goals and determining the direction they will take their careers. Vicki spotlights resources, organizational tips, ethics issues, and other areas of continuing education to help paralegals and others reach their full potential. She publishes a bi-weekly ezine titled Strategies for Paralegals Seeking Excellence. More information is available at http://www.paralegalmentor.com/

Friday, April 3, 2009

Relay for Life

Renee May sent out the following e-mail about her Relay for Life team. Be sure to check it out!


Hi! I'm writing you to let you know about a fantastic event I'm involved
with this year - Relay For Life - and see if you might be interested in
coming along side me in this fight against cancer.
Lisa Playter, attorney Deno Fotieo's paralegal, and I are putting
together a team of legal professionals for the upcoming Relay for Life
at Ab-Nab-Awen Park downtown. We are looking for anyone and everyone who
wants to join our team. Attorneys, Paralegals, Legal Assistants,
Receptionists, Interns, Clerks, anyone. If interested please shoot me an
email back and I will keep you in the loop on registration and
everything. Any and all participation is welcome. To join our team
click
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/strikeout

If you do not wish to participate but would like to donate, please visit
the link above to do so.


Relay For Life is a wonderful community event that raises money to
combat this disease and to spread awareness about how we can protect
ourselves from cancer. It is a fun-filled event that brings together
people of all ages to camp-out and take turns walking around a track for
24 hours to signify that cancer never sleeps. It's a time of celebrating
those who have battled the disease, remembering those who have died and
a chance to fight back against a disease that takes too much from too
many.
Please consider joining me in this fight against cancer!


Please forward this to ALL legal professionals in your contact list.

Thank you.

Together, we can celebrate, remember, and fight back. Please join us.


Have a great weekend, everyone!!

~ Nancy