by Gail S. Bernstein, Ph.D.
When Diana sat down with her friends at their college reunion, she heard all about their careers. One was a lawyer, one owned a business, one was a computer systems analyst. Diana left feeling frustrated and disillusioned. She chose to be a probation officer so she could help people. However, the problems she faces are overwhelming, and the rewards are few and far between.
If you work in one of the human services, you probably want to help people. That's a good reason for choosing the work you do, but it's not very specific. It's important to know what makes you want to come to work every day, especially for people in human services. We often get mixed messages from the world at large about the worth of what we do. Most of us have been told, "That must be so rewarding," or "you must have so much patience." Those comments usually mean "I don't understand why you want to work so hard for so little money," or "It must be so awful to spend your days with people who are down and out."
People who work as helpers need to be able to identify the nonmonetary rewards they get from their work. That's important because monetary rewards will always be in short supply. However, sometimes people in human services feel guilty about wanting to get self-satisfaction from their work.
Those guilty feelings are unfortunate because there's nothing wrong with wanting to like the work you do. There are many different ways to help, and some people are not equally well-suited for all of them. It makes sense to look for work that is both satisfying personally and helpful to others.
Every career has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of what you do will be rewarding, and some will be unpleasant. Each of us is unique in terms of what we find rewarding and how much reinforcement we need to feel self-satisfaction from our work. That's why it's important to know yourself well enough to pick a job that is a good fit.
One useful exercise is to make a two-column list. On one side, list all the rewards you get from your current work. On the other side, list all the disadvantages and drawbacks. Then ask yourself whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. When you do this, remember to be honest with yourself.
Remember it's okay to have selfish motives as well as unselfish ones, and it's okay to have fun while you work. It is also okay to have unselfish motives such as making people's lives a little easier. On the other hand, it is not okay to do human services because you think you should find it rewarding, or because you believe people will think you are a good person. Whatever you do, do it because you want to, not because someone else wants you to.
Remember, people who genuinely like their work and find it rewarding usually do a better job than people who do not like what they do.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
INCOME AND PENIS SIZE:OVERCOMING MASCULINE DOUBTS
by Ray Bruce, Ph.D.
Eric, 26, has just completed his Ph.D. in applied digital engineering. He's wondering what he's going to do now. Out of school and out of work, he's questioning his relationship and his life. His girl friend, Kim, has just had her best year ever as a stock broker with a major NYSE Member Firm. She says it doesn't matter who makes the most money. He's not so sure.
Next to penis size, questioning his ability to provide anadequate income is the surest way to create doubt for a man. A man who believes he's at risk with either is vulnerable on all fronts. Why are sexual prowess and income so important? Because they provide men with the most obvious symbols of identity. Externals seem to be everything in our MTV paced, consumer oriented culture. Sound bites don't give much time for more than a passing glance. If you have the right clothes, the right audio/video link, and the right job, you must be Mr. or Ms. right. If you don't, you're out. It's the external law of the jungle.
But things may be changing. Beyond income, what does work have to offer? Fortune Magazine in it's December 26, 1994 issue asks the question "Why do we work?" Their conclusion is scary for many men. Fortune reports that personal satisfaction seems to come in four ways:
achieving technical excellence
serving a purpose larger than the individual
being a part of a team
by finding what your spirit needs
Here's the rub. Of these four springboards to satisfaction, only technical excellence deals with externals, the other three address inside issues. How can men develop tools to compete on the "insidetrack?" One place to begin is to develop a personal mission statement.
Stephen Covey in his best selling book, Seven Basic Habits of Highly Effective People says, "You see, once you can decide what you are about and what you treasure, what you value, you've automatically got guidelines. You've developed the criteria for making all of the decisions in your life."
Eric, 26, has just completed his Ph.D. in applied digital engineering. He's wondering what he's going to do now. Out of school and out of work, he's questioning his relationship and his life. His girl friend, Kim, has just had her best year ever as a stock broker with a major NYSE Member Firm. She says it doesn't matter who makes the most money. He's not so sure.
Next to penis size, questioning his ability to provide anadequate income is the surest way to create doubt for a man. A man who believes he's at risk with either is vulnerable on all fronts. Why are sexual prowess and income so important? Because they provide men with the most obvious symbols of identity. Externals seem to be everything in our MTV paced, consumer oriented culture. Sound bites don't give much time for more than a passing glance. If you have the right clothes, the right audio/video link, and the right job, you must be Mr. or Ms. right. If you don't, you're out. It's the external law of the jungle.
But things may be changing. Beyond income, what does work have to offer? Fortune Magazine in it's December 26, 1994 issue asks the question "Why do we work?" Their conclusion is scary for many men. Fortune reports that personal satisfaction seems to come in four ways:
achieving technical excellence
serving a purpose larger than the individual
being a part of a team
by finding what your spirit needs
Here's the rub. Of these four springboards to satisfaction, only technical excellence deals with externals, the other three address inside issues. How can men develop tools to compete on the "insidetrack?" One place to begin is to develop a personal mission statement.
Stephen Covey in his best selling book, Seven Basic Habits of Highly Effective People says, "You see, once you can decide what you are about and what you treasure, what you value, you've automatically got guidelines. You've developed the criteria for making all of the decisions in your life."
Cybersex - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
I have two experiences with net relationships that I'd like to share. The first was most of our worst nightmare... began online, moved to the phone..when I began feeling uncomfortable in the relationship ( a lot of what he'd told me hadn't added up) and tried to break it off.. things started getting ugly.
I didn't hear from him in a few weeks, and just as I began to feel that things were getting back to normal.. he called to tell me he had cancer. Being an investor (or so he said) he told me he had set up a portfolio in my name that I would get when/if he passed away. I told him I thought he was joking, that he couldn't possibly have done something like that without my social security number.
A chill went up my spine when he recited my social security number to me. I hung up the phone and debated calling the police. About a week later, he called me at work. (I'm an air-personality at a radio station) he called me while I was on the air, knowing full well that way he wouldn't have to get a receptionist who he knew would never put him thru to me. He told me he "knew" I was in love with him.. that he could hear it in my voice.
I asked him how that was possible, since he was hundreds of miles away. He turned up his radio.. and it was my station!! He was somewhere in MY TOWN! I refused his request to see him, hung up and called the police. He knows that the next time he contacts me could mean his arrest. This was about a year ago, and I still have nightmares.. I still feel that he is lurking. I've since changed jobs and location, but still am affraid.
You would think that would scare me off my computer forever.. and it certainly HAS scared me away from chat rooms. However.. around the same time that this was happening, I sent an email to a collegue of mine.. or at least, I thought I was sending him mail. It would up being a wrong number (similar screen name.. on aol).
The person who recieved my mail eventually became a dear friend.. he now has a strong presence in my life.. as far away as he is..we have been able to maintain a deep respectful friendship.. and we both know its limits. So, there you have it.. the bad, the ugly and the good, of online relationships.
I didn't hear from him in a few weeks, and just as I began to feel that things were getting back to normal.. he called to tell me he had cancer. Being an investor (or so he said) he told me he had set up a portfolio in my name that I would get when/if he passed away. I told him I thought he was joking, that he couldn't possibly have done something like that without my social security number.
A chill went up my spine when he recited my social security number to me. I hung up the phone and debated calling the police. About a week later, he called me at work. (I'm an air-personality at a radio station) he called me while I was on the air, knowing full well that way he wouldn't have to get a receptionist who he knew would never put him thru to me. He told me he "knew" I was in love with him.. that he could hear it in my voice.
I asked him how that was possible, since he was hundreds of miles away. He turned up his radio.. and it was my station!! He was somewhere in MY TOWN! I refused his request to see him, hung up and called the police. He knows that the next time he contacts me could mean his arrest. This was about a year ago, and I still have nightmares.. I still feel that he is lurking. I've since changed jobs and location, but still am affraid.
You would think that would scare me off my computer forever.. and it certainly HAS scared me away from chat rooms. However.. around the same time that this was happening, I sent an email to a collegue of mine.. or at least, I thought I was sending him mail. It would up being a wrong number (similar screen name.. on aol).
The person who recieved my mail eventually became a dear friend.. he now has a strong presence in my life.. as far away as he is..we have been able to maintain a deep respectful friendship.. and we both know its limits. So, there you have it.. the bad, the ugly and the good, of online relationships.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Make getting fired work for you
Getting a pink slip. Being downsized. Making adjustments. Reorganizing.
So many synonyms that mean the same thing: You're fired.
With the unemployment rate reaching 5.5 percent in May 2008, more and more employers are telling workers that they're out of work.
While losing your job unexpectedly is never good news, it doesn't have to be a setback. It can be a chance to change directions and find a better career.
The day you get fired, you can feel angry, sad and every other emotion that comes your way. The next day, however, take steps to make the most of the situation.
Ask the right questions
You got fired for a reason, so whether it was you, the job or the boss, you need to know what did and didn't work about the situation.
Todd Dewett, a management professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and the author of "Leadership Redefined," recommends asking yourself a variety of questions to assess your experience.
"Why did this happen to me? What functional or technical skills do I need to build in order to avoid this situation in the future? How does my professional network need to grow? Are there things about my interpersonal style or leadership skills I need to reconsider?"
Then, he suggests, take action. "You can innovatively and aggressively start answering these questions. The alternative is to blame others and stew in negative emotions -- and that never helped anyone get their career back on track."
You might discover that you needed to move on from that job but weren't willing to take the step.
Look at getting fired as your employer giving you a little push that now allows you to make some drastic changes, says Rachelle J. Canter, career expert and author of "Make the Right Career Move."
"Finding work you love is easily a full-time job. Virtually every career transition client of mine over 20 years has been dissatisfied and made some fledging attempts to find new work," she says. "The lack of financial and employment security provides more time to look and more inspiration to get serious."
It's OK to be happy about it
After hearing that you've been fired, you might be waiting for rage to bubble up or tears to flow, but your initial reaction to getting fired might not be as negative as you expect. You might even crack a smile.
Pamela Skillings, career coach and author of "Escape from Corporate America" has seen people expect to feel bad about their job loss only to realize the benefits of getting fired.
"Of course, most didn't see their pink slips as blessings right away," she says. "It's never fun to suddenly lose your job, though I have heard many say that they were surprised to feel a great sense of relief upon hearing the news that they were being let go."
What now? Once you've asked and answered the questions, you're left wondering what to do.
• Explore your options. Decide whether or not you want to stay in the same field, if you want to make a change or if you want to start your own business.
• Make a plan. Once you know where you want to lead your career, take steps toward making it happen. For example, you might need more training or education if you're going to switch careers.
• Commit. No job search is easy, especially one that you weren't planning, but you can't be deterred along the way when you don't get every position you want. You'll be tempted to return to the familiar if you're making a big move, but trust your decision to start fresh.
So many synonyms that mean the same thing: You're fired.
With the unemployment rate reaching 5.5 percent in May 2008, more and more employers are telling workers that they're out of work.
While losing your job unexpectedly is never good news, it doesn't have to be a setback. It can be a chance to change directions and find a better career.
The day you get fired, you can feel angry, sad and every other emotion that comes your way. The next day, however, take steps to make the most of the situation.
Ask the right questions
You got fired for a reason, so whether it was you, the job or the boss, you need to know what did and didn't work about the situation.
Todd Dewett, a management professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and the author of "Leadership Redefined," recommends asking yourself a variety of questions to assess your experience.
"Why did this happen to me? What functional or technical skills do I need to build in order to avoid this situation in the future? How does my professional network need to grow? Are there things about my interpersonal style or leadership skills I need to reconsider?"
Then, he suggests, take action. "You can innovatively and aggressively start answering these questions. The alternative is to blame others and stew in negative emotions -- and that never helped anyone get their career back on track."
You might discover that you needed to move on from that job but weren't willing to take the step.
Look at getting fired as your employer giving you a little push that now allows you to make some drastic changes, says Rachelle J. Canter, career expert and author of "Make the Right Career Move."
"Finding work you love is easily a full-time job. Virtually every career transition client of mine over 20 years has been dissatisfied and made some fledging attempts to find new work," she says. "The lack of financial and employment security provides more time to look and more inspiration to get serious."
It's OK to be happy about it
After hearing that you've been fired, you might be waiting for rage to bubble up or tears to flow, but your initial reaction to getting fired might not be as negative as you expect. You might even crack a smile.
Pamela Skillings, career coach and author of "Escape from Corporate America" has seen people expect to feel bad about their job loss only to realize the benefits of getting fired.
"Of course, most didn't see their pink slips as blessings right away," she says. "It's never fun to suddenly lose your job, though I have heard many say that they were surprised to feel a great sense of relief upon hearing the news that they were being let go."
What now? Once you've asked and answered the questions, you're left wondering what to do.
• Explore your options. Decide whether or not you want to stay in the same field, if you want to make a change or if you want to start your own business.
• Make a plan. Once you know where you want to lead your career, take steps toward making it happen. For example, you might need more training or education if you're going to switch careers.
• Commit. No job search is easy, especially one that you weren't planning, but you can't be deterred along the way when you don't get every position you want. You'll be tempted to return to the familiar if you're making a big move, but trust your decision to start fresh.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Unique Fundraising Ideas
Whether you're affiliated with a school, a church, or any non-profit organization, you are undoubtedly always on the look-out for fundraising ideas. There are so many options out there, it can be hard to decide what will work best for you. The internet has given us far more opportunities, but it can be difficult to navigate through the many, many sites to find something that will work for you. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:
Online Auctions:
With the state of the economy, more and more people are doing their shopping online so that they can find the best deals. Why buy something at a physical retail location when you can find it cheaper on the web? Your organization can hold a drive for items to be donated - everyone has items in their home that they no longer need but have yet to part with. As such, you should be able to get a decent amount of products donated that can generate money being sold online. Nearly everyone is familiar with E-Bay, but there are also many other online auction sites that you can utilize. In this way, you can take items that cost you nothing and raise money for your particular goal. Additionally, you can sell home-made items that are crafted by members of your organization. This allows your members to donate their time creating items that will generate funds, rather than donating money.
Personalized Christmas Ornaments:
This is a fun and unique idea, but it does take start-up money. You can purchase the ornaments from one of several wholesale companies - all you need are members of your organization with nice handwriting. Your members can carry the catalog, rather than the breakable ornaments, and take orders for the ornaments plus the personalization. This can be names, dates, or any other information that your customer might like to have on an ornament. All you need for the personalization is a few permanent markers (fine point) in several colors. You have now created for your customer an item that they will keep for years to come, and something that is of more value to them than the actual cost.
Happy Feet Slippers:
This is a truly unique idea, and doesn't require any money up front. Happy Feet are the oversized house slippers that look like tennis shoes, though there is also a line of animal slippers available now. They also offer licensed products, including over 70 colleges/universities and NBA and NFL teams. They will provide you with a flyer that you will fill in with your organization's information, and it will direct your customers to a website. You will then get a percentage of all orders placed, without ever handling the product or the money! This has only been available for a few years, so it's unlikely that your customers will already have been approached with this product. And of course, slippers are something almost everyone will use! The great variety of available products helps to ensure that there will be something for everyone.
Hopefully these ideas have helped you in your decision-making process! The idea of fundraising can be daunting, but don't let it get to you. There are a lot of good and profitable ideas out there - one of them is bound to be a perfect fit!
Online Auctions:
With the state of the economy, more and more people are doing their shopping online so that they can find the best deals. Why buy something at a physical retail location when you can find it cheaper on the web? Your organization can hold a drive for items to be donated - everyone has items in their home that they no longer need but have yet to part with. As such, you should be able to get a decent amount of products donated that can generate money being sold online. Nearly everyone is familiar with E-Bay, but there are also many other online auction sites that you can utilize. In this way, you can take items that cost you nothing and raise money for your particular goal. Additionally, you can sell home-made items that are crafted by members of your organization. This allows your members to donate their time creating items that will generate funds, rather than donating money.
Personalized Christmas Ornaments:
This is a fun and unique idea, but it does take start-up money. You can purchase the ornaments from one of several wholesale companies - all you need are members of your organization with nice handwriting. Your members can carry the catalog, rather than the breakable ornaments, and take orders for the ornaments plus the personalization. This can be names, dates, or any other information that your customer might like to have on an ornament. All you need for the personalization is a few permanent markers (fine point) in several colors. You have now created for your customer an item that they will keep for years to come, and something that is of more value to them than the actual cost.
Happy Feet Slippers:
This is a truly unique idea, and doesn't require any money up front. Happy Feet are the oversized house slippers that look like tennis shoes, though there is also a line of animal slippers available now. They also offer licensed products, including over 70 colleges/universities and NBA and NFL teams. They will provide you with a flyer that you will fill in with your organization's information, and it will direct your customers to a website. You will then get a percentage of all orders placed, without ever handling the product or the money! This has only been available for a few years, so it's unlikely that your customers will already have been approached with this product. And of course, slippers are something almost everyone will use! The great variety of available products helps to ensure that there will be something for everyone.
Hopefully these ideas have helped you in your decision-making process! The idea of fundraising can be daunting, but don't let it get to you. There are a lot of good and profitable ideas out there - one of them is bound to be a perfect fit!
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Some ways to find potential partners: by MANPREETKAPOOR
The best marketers receive a multitude of requests to do joint ventures regularly. You must either create a new approach or have a unique selling proposition to get to the head of group.
I find that working at building relationships with potential joint venture partner's works best. You will need to make a connection based on mutual possibilities. You will have a better chance of gaining what you want if you proceed with integrity and offer to help them in some way.
Some ways to find potential partners:
1. Search on search engines for the niche you are targeting for sites. Review the results. You will get more sites to look at than you can possibly want to review.
2. Visit websites you already know in the niche and look for testimonials. Contact the people leaving those testimonials. Testimonials are provided by happy customers. 3. Ask your current partners, clients and friends for referrals. 4. Research the events going on - speakers at the events make great potential joint venture partners. 5. Research the social sites for possible groups to join.
There are multitudes of ways to approach joint venture partners. Send an email; follow it up with a request for a phone talk works well. Use your subject line in your email to your advantage. If you have anyone referring you, indicate it in your email.
You must expect rejection. If you do not receive a reply to your email, you have the opportunity to decide if you chose to move forward. Make an effort to review your potential partner's website prior to contacting them. Find a reason that makes sense for the initial contact. Showing your knowledge of their efforts and/or expertise will help open the door for discussion.
If you make a good approach and it just isn't going to work, leave the door open for later contact. Building relationships takes time!
I find that working at building relationships with potential joint venture partner's works best. You will need to make a connection based on mutual possibilities. You will have a better chance of gaining what you want if you proceed with integrity and offer to help them in some way.
Some ways to find potential partners:
1. Search on search engines for the niche you are targeting for sites. Review the results. You will get more sites to look at than you can possibly want to review.
2. Visit websites you already know in the niche and look for testimonials. Contact the people leaving those testimonials. Testimonials are provided by happy customers. 3. Ask your current partners, clients and friends for referrals. 4. Research the events going on - speakers at the events make great potential joint venture partners. 5. Research the social sites for possible groups to join.
There are multitudes of ways to approach joint venture partners. Send an email; follow it up with a request for a phone talk works well. Use your subject line in your email to your advantage. If you have anyone referring you, indicate it in your email.
You must expect rejection. If you do not receive a reply to your email, you have the opportunity to decide if you chose to move forward. Make an effort to review your potential partner's website prior to contacting them. Find a reason that makes sense for the initial contact. Showing your knowledge of their efforts and/or expertise will help open the door for discussion.
If you make a good approach and it just isn't going to work, leave the door open for later contact. Building relationships takes time!
Time to go digital? by Keith Barrett
According to figures released in July 2008, more than 60% of UK televisions have now gone digital. That means that they are linked up to appropriate digital boxes, or else have them built in.
The figures mean that more than 80% of UK households can now receive a digital signal, with many opting for Freeview. There also seems to be strong demand for satellite and cable television services.
Why has there been an increase in the number of people choosing to go digital? Part of the reason will undoubtedly be that the advantages of digital TV have been hitting the mainstream media for some time.
In particular, it seems that many viewers are being impressed with the new interactive functions. These functions are being used to expand the reach of the existing channels.
Access to digital TV also means access to a greater number of channels. This will have driven some people to make the change, particularly given the new range of options offered by the BBC.
A final factor is that the government are publicising the fact that the analogue system will gradually be switched off. There's a timetable in place, meaning that viewers who don't make the leap to digital will simply face losing their TV signal.
So is it now the time to switch, if you haven't done so already? There are clearly plenty of advantages to making the change and there are some good deals on the market that are also making it much more affordable.
For my part, I've switched to make use of a Freeview box, with works extremely well with my Panasonic television. You'll need to shop around to identify the best deal for your own viewing needs.
There's no doubt that digital television has rapidly become part of life. What we once thought of as something that might appear in the future is now very much part of today.
The figures mean that more than 80% of UK households can now receive a digital signal, with many opting for Freeview. There also seems to be strong demand for satellite and cable television services.
Why has there been an increase in the number of people choosing to go digital? Part of the reason will undoubtedly be that the advantages of digital TV have been hitting the mainstream media for some time.
In particular, it seems that many viewers are being impressed with the new interactive functions. These functions are being used to expand the reach of the existing channels.
Access to digital TV also means access to a greater number of channels. This will have driven some people to make the change, particularly given the new range of options offered by the BBC.
A final factor is that the government are publicising the fact that the analogue system will gradually be switched off. There's a timetable in place, meaning that viewers who don't make the leap to digital will simply face losing their TV signal.
So is it now the time to switch, if you haven't done so already? There are clearly plenty of advantages to making the change and there are some good deals on the market that are also making it much more affordable.
For my part, I've switched to make use of a Freeview box, with works extremely well with my Panasonic television. You'll need to shop around to identify the best deal for your own viewing needs.
There's no doubt that digital television has rapidly become part of life. What we once thought of as something that might appear in the future is now very much part of today.
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