Blog Post: Three Ways to Keep Your Personal and Professional Momentum

Each of us and everyone we know has been impacted by the economy.  Hours have been cut, jobs eliminated, responsibilities added, homes lost and retirements postponed.  Let’s face it; these challenges can be utterly depressing.  What are your strategies for pushing forward?  It is exciting to witness entrepreneurial spirit rise in folks challenged with adversity.  

On Friday, former Denver Broncos running back, Reggie Rivers gave a compelling lunchtime speech to the Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council.  Reggie asked the audience to imagine a woman outside a store next to a large box.  What would you do?  Most folks would pass her by assuming she was waiting for someone.  What if that same woman was struggling to get that box into her car?  Most able-bodied individuals whose parents raised them right would rush to lend a hand.  The moral of this tale is that most of us are drawn to people taking action and working towards a goal.

Here are three ways that have helped keep me on track:

 

Volunteering and Giving – If you have lost your job or you are working fewer hours, maybe you find yourself with more time on your hands.  Do something that you are passionate about.  Volunteer at your church or your kids’ school.  Get involved in a committee for an association related to your career.  If you know someone who is working longer hours due to additional responsibilities added to his/her job, offer to watch their kids after school or walk their dog.  Do you have things you have no use for anymore?  Donate them to a charity or offer them for free on craigslist.  Helping others makes us feel good and is a nice way to forget our own challenges for a while.  One never knows when serendipity will occur.  That next career may be the result of a volunteer effort.

Networking – Networking is not just about how many Facebook friends you have.  Although having a presence on sites like Linkedin and Facebook are critical for job and business opportunity searches, face to face connections are just as important.  Consider joining networking groups related to your field or even an outside interest.  Meetup.com is a useful source to find groups in your area.  Offer to inter-connect folks you know.  Organizations that are hiring are getting bombarded these days with applications.  A referral can make someone stand out from the crowd.    When it comes to on-line networking, ask and give recommendations on Linkedin.  Don’t post anything publicly on the Internet that you would not want a hiring manager to read.

Challenge Yourself – Don’t just step, but leap from your comfort zone.  Maybe it’s time to go back to school, try a new career, start your own business, try your hand at public speaking or even train for a marathon.  If you are contemplating a career change, I highly recommend reading “Now, Discover Your Strengths” by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton.  To be in fighting shape for that next interview, try joining a local Toastmasters group.  Not only will you learn to deliver prepared speeches, you will have the opportunity to improve your off-the cuff speaking while increasing your vocabulary.

Have fun and good luck!