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Working Women's Newsletter
- including entrepreneurs, managers and career transitioners -

This newsletter is specifically designed for you, the busy working woman, to assist you in personal and professional development and spiritual renewal and to help you better manage your career, your projects, and those you work with.

Laurie Sheppard, MCC

Vol 7 Issue 4 July-August 2010

"It's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome. That's what defines your career." ~ Carlton Fisk

Articles For Your Work

Invite Laurie to write a short article, blog or newsletter column for your website or group's newsletter or bulletin. Laurie will write on the topic of career or personal change for Entrepreneurs, Managers or Women Re-careering.

Email her at info@creatingatwill.com

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Personal Renewal

"L.A. Choralettes" - join this volunteer singing group of women who meet in Culver City 2x a month and sing fun, jazzy songs.

They'll perform holiday songs in public venues locally this year. Maybe you have a location or event you'd like to propose?!

This group was started by Laurie. You don't have to read music to get started. Call for more details. 310.645.2874

AND - if your company or friends who work at companies have a holiday party annually, please let us know so we can talk to them about us singing for it.

Food for Thought-Hire a Coach

"I'm really glad I hired Laurie. My work approach has improved and its due to the clarity I've received through her career coaching."
- Sharon K.

Call us today or tell a friend about Laurie's coaching and ask about our summer special!
310-645-2874

People talking.jpg Invite Laurie to join your social networks on LinkedIn and Facebook. Follow her on Twitter.

You can login and search for her name.

Current Trends

Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals:

Job Openings and Labor Turnover - as of May 2010. View the pdf.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2010-11 has a state-by-state guide: Click Here to view it.

6 Tips to Handle Tough Deadlines

I've felt anxiety when I've seen a deadline looming, as my clients have and most of us have, at one time or another. We typically panic unnecessarily because we either impose our own curfews on projects, or our deadline has suddenly arrived and we lost track of time because we didn't put in the upfront planning.

Here are a few tips to help you overcome the panic of deadlines and deal with them step-by-step:

1. Decide if you're really the one to do the task in the first place. Is this a volunteer option or not? Is there someone else more qualified to handle it than you? You don't have to always be the ring leader gathering the wagon trains into the circle. If you're not the best equipped for the job, don't have the know-how for it, or you're able to pass on it and would like to—share the wealth and give someone else their turn.

2. Find out the expected date and if there is any leeway with that date and time or not. In either case, make a list of exactly what's expected by the final date in order to stretch out your efforts in a systematic approach. Be sure to consult your existing schedule and your availability to handle this. Let your new list guide you rather than carrying around details in your head and causing you to unnecessarily worry it will get done. Don't let procrastination govern your planning and writing phase, for without it, you'll be at the deadline sooner than you expected.

3. Ask what's really necessary to pull it off. Are you being too detailed? Maybe you're missing the more important pieces? Get clear on what's needed and cut out what's unnecessary. If you've done #2 correctly, here you'll fill in the time line for each important action. A recent party for my Mom's birthday had ten people emailing ideas back and forth (which was great for the initial brainstorming period). But when there was any consensus, I pointed to it and built on it right away. Others rallied and we could go forward. Don't get too stuck in planning, move into clear action.

4. You won't always feel like doing what's in front of you. There could be a myriad of reasons, including feeling tired. Be sure to... CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THIS.

Let Laurie hear your COMMENT on this.

Career Success - Ask the Coach

I've got 3 great ideas to do with my work, but I'm not sure which one to launch first (I'm an entrepreneur by the way) David

Hi David. Nice of you to write in as a male voice in the majority of women I serve. Happy to assist

• Assuming you have equal interest and research on each idea, what else do you know that will make them successful? What is the market need? Have you examined your competition on these?
• If one idea really interests you more or you have equal interest, plus your analysis shows that you can accomplish it sooner or less costly than the rest, plus it's the most unique, then I'd suggest you begin there.

True, there's something to be said for striking while the iron is hot, but in order not to get burned, do your best investigative work upfront and also talk to others with similar successes who've already learned what to do/not do. Laurie

Have a question you'd like answered? Send emails directly to Laurie: laurie@creatingatwill.com

Practical Working Women's Tip

Tips for a Working Woman, Colin Ong, TS
(scroll down to read this when you click on the title here). A variety of useful categories and short tips for in and outside the job, including communication w/your husband.

Resources

Book: Seeds of Wisdom. For Women Entrepreneurs by Women Entrepreneurs. Answers questions about what experienced entrepreneurs would do differently if they only knew then what they know now. See link to this site on Laurie's homepage and contribute to Haiti too: http://www.creatingatwill.com/

Article: For fun - view Andy Rooney's comments on Women Over 40 (later resubmitted as Women Over 50). Here on Hubpages

Career-related Films for fun: The Devil Wears Prada (What not to turn out like as a professional woman), exellently acted by Meryl Streep. Miss Potter, Renee Zellwegger, Bee Movie, with Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellwegger. A few suggested to me: Clockwatchers and Office Space, though I haven't seen them yet. Your recommendations?

Articles via Excelle (Monster.com): 10 Ways to Make Yourself Unfireable; The Secrets Behind the Ten Happiest Jobs; 10 Ways to Make Your Interviewer Love You; Is Starting Your Own Business the Answer

Article: Going to School at 50, AACE online