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Articles from Alvah Parker | Selfgrowth.com
- Career Success - How to Be a Standout - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2008 from Alvah ParkerEveryday we hear about more layoffs. You will want to be proactive by starting a job search before it happens. That is a smart move but you must be careful. If your current boss gets wind of it you might be the first to be laid off. Of course if you have already successfully lined up a job, ...
Views: 589 - Ten Signs of an Impending Layoff - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2008 from Alvah ParkerMany people are in denial about layoffs. There are many clues that one is coming but often people just choose to ignore the signs. Forewarned is forearmed. If you notice several of these signs in the place that you work, it is time to get your resume ready and identify your network. Here ...
Views: 729 - Career Success – 3 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Bullet Proof Your Career - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2008 from Alvah ParkerIn all the years that I have been working as a career and job coach I am always amazed at how many managers tell me they have no time to update their resume and keep their network active. “I know I should,” they often say, “but I just don’t have the time.” For continual career success these two ...
Views: 600 - An Error Free Resume - Ten Proofreading Tips - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2008 from Alvah ParkerYour resume must be error free – free of any typos, grammar errors and misspellings. Even a winning resume is in danger of being put in the reject pile if hasn’t been proofread. Certainly a resume with errors makes the job candidate look less qualified and it gives an unfavorable first ...
Views: 692 - Managing The Boss - 10 Questions To Ask The Boss - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2008 from Alvah ParkerHow do you manage a boss who seems unapproachable? I had one once. His office door was open but no one ever disturbed him. I was new to the staff but I noticed that he never came out of his office and no one went into it unless he called to invite them. I had a job that no one had had before. I ...
Views: 1481 - Be Happy And Healthy! Take A Vacation! - by Submitted on Sep 17, 2008 from Alvah ParkerDid you take a vacation this year or skip it because of high gas prices? Americans have always been good at putting off vacations so this year they have a built in excuse. If you passed on a 2008 vacation so far and want to be happier and healthier, now is the time to take a ...
Views: 706 - Three Simple Ways To Get Job Satisfaction Out of a Job You Hate - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2008 from Alvah ParkerJob satisfaction seems like a dream to some. It is amazing to me how many people really hate the job that they have. Feeling stuck can really make you feel depressed and discouraged. It is difficult to find a way out. If you are someone who is unhappy at his/her current job, try making a ...
Views: 632 - Three Surprisingly Simple Steps To Delegate Work - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2008 from Alvah ParkerIn all the years I have been working with attorneys I am always amazed at how many of them hate to delegate work. What frustrates most attorneys or any professional is the time it takes to explain what they need and then to review and correct the work once it is done. Most will concede that ...
Views: 745 - Recession Proof Your Career - 10 Ways To Keep Your Job - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2008 from Alvah ParkerThere is lots of talk of recession these days. Whether the talk is true or not here are 10 things you can be doing for your career to bolster your chances of working through rough times. The best time to start is right now! 1. Skills Proficiency - Be sure to be up to date in your skills. ...
Views: 798 - Interview Preparation Gives Confidence - by Submitted on May 17, 2008 from Alvah ParkerThese ten interview preparation tips will help you to prepare for the interview. There is a lot to think about when you have one scheduled. Following these 10 tips will allow you to feel more relaxed during the interviewing process. 1. Clothes - The day before the interview (or earlier) decide ...
Views: 971(1 vote) - A Vision Motivates And Energizes - by Submitted on May 13, 2008 from Alvah ParkerA vision of your dream can move you toward success. It can motivate and energize you. At our first meeting Terri told me she had recently broken off a relationship with someone. Her former fiancé was consumed with building a boat to sail around the world. His enthusiasm for the project was ...
Views: 935 - Time Management – Time For Quiet Reflection - by Submitted on May 12, 2008 from Alvah ParkerTime Management – Time for Quiet Reflection "It's been weeks since I've had a few minutes of time for quiet reflection." my client said to me. Have you ever been so busy that you too had that feeling? I know I have. As I begin to write on the topic of "quiet reflection" I can't help but notice ...
Views: 1275 - Accountability For Your Career - by Submitted on May 12, 2008 from Alvah ParkerWhen you leave a job after having had a demanding manager, you may feel like you just took off a tight pair of shoes. What a relief! Even if you have been laid off and you are not sure what your next step is there can be a feeling of freedom. Being accountable to someone else is ...
Views: 562 - Vision For Career And Life – 10 Powerful Questions - by Submitted on May 10, 2008 from Alvah ParkerHaving a clear vision of where you are headed is really important. If you have no vision then any direction will be acceptable even going round in circles! :) To begin finding your vision you must allocate some quiet time. Since I coach busy people I know that sitting quietly without doing ...
Views: 1053 - Finding Your Voice - by Submitted on May 10, 2008 from Alvah Parker"She found her voice?" the panel moderator stated questioningly. What does that mean? Shouldn't she have found it by this time? These were the questions posed by a TV program moderator after the New Hampshire primary election in the US. Of course he was referring to what the media was ...
Views: 673 - What Makes Me Happy? My 10 Habits - by Submitted on May 10, 2008 from Alvah ParkerWhat Makes Me Happy? My 10 Habits. What makes you happy? We are responsible for our own happiness so I want to insure that I do whatever is necessary to keep me happy and healthy. People are often focused on their goals. Instead these are habits I love to do and want to make sure I make time ...
Views: 733 - The Importance Of Listening In Communication - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2008 from Alvah ParkerAt first glance communication with another person seems relatively easy. This month I had two different experiences that showed me how tricky it is to understand what a person does or doesn't say. Taking the time to listen to others is important whether you are lawyer, a manager or an ...
Views: 2781 - 10 Tips To Make Your Networking More Rewarding - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2008 from Alvah ParkerGood relationships are essential to any career. It doesn’t matter if you have your own business or work for someone else that network is critical. Lawyers, solo professionals, freelancers, and sales professionals must constantly network and generate new business. You prove your worth ...
Views: 766 - 10 Tips For Using The Telephone - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2007 from Alvah ParkerAs a former telephone system sales person I have listened to many people as they make and receive telephone calls. Some people are really good at it and others need improvement. Today with so many cell phone users calling from just about anywhere we all can be authorities on what makes a good ...
Views: 735 - The Power Of Fans - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2007 from Alvah ParkerYears ago I had a good friend who loved to play tennis. Al wasn't a tennis star. He just loved to play and he especially loved to win! I'm not much of a tennis player myself but my son is pretty good and he enjoyed Al's company. One day the two of them went off to play a few sets on the ...
Views: 679 - 10 Ideas About Life Purpose - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2007 from Alvah ParkerWhat is your life purpose? Is it helpful to know what it is? This list provides some ideas about life purpose that may be helpful to you if you have ever wondered about yours. 1. Your life purpose is something you have always known either consciously or unconsciously. 2. Your life ...
Views: 890 - Structure Builds Confidence - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2007 from Alvah ParkerRemember the first day of first grade? Scary time! It felt very strange to be in a new school room with some friends but mostly new kids and a teacher you had met just that day. It probably didn’t take long to realize that things would be ok though. What did the teacher do to make ...
Views: 745 - Relieving Stress By Getting The Work Done - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2007 from Alvah ParkerAt a time management presentation for a group of paralegals one of the participants asked what to do with something on her “To Do” list that she keeps putting off doing. Procrastination! What a stress producer! Nearly everyone present said this was an issue for them too. I have to admit that ...
Views: 1079 - Can You Be Yourself At Work? - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2007 from Alvah ParkerWho do you get to be every day at work? Can you be your authentic self or do you need to change your behavior to fit the expectations of your environment? Oh sure, we all do change somewhat when we work. You dress in a particular way that perhaps is different from what you prefer, your ...
Views: 696 - 10 Questions for Career Changers - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2007 from Alvah ParkerAre you to change jobs or careers? For some the move is to find work that is more fulfilling so that you will be happier. For others it may a step toward taking more of a leadership role. Whatever your reasons for the career change, you’ll want to do some self discovery work. These ten ...
Views: 626 - Enjoying the Moment - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2005 from Alvah ParkerMany years ago my family and I used to go to my then husband’s parent’s home for holiday meals. His mother was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for us. She spent days preparing all the season’s delights and we came to the table eager to begin the festivities. Invariably when 20 ...
Views: 722 - Ten Ways to Build Client Trust - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2005 from Alvah ParkerClients work with professionals whom they trust. Building trust is an ongoing process. Here are 10 ways to build trust with both old and new clients. 1. Keep your agreements with your clients – If you promise delivery on a particular day, make sure to deliver when it was promised. Even ...
Views: 919 - Do You Over Promise and Under Deliver? - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2005 from Alvah ParkerA new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she often didn’t get to complete a client’s work until the client called to see if it was ready. I admired her honesty if not her time management skills. I’ve had times in my past sales career when my work load got so out of control I ...
Views: 906(2 votes) - Surviving Perfection – confessions of a desperate housewife - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2005 from Alvah ParkerRecently I read an article about an attorney who took paternity leave so his wife (also an attorney) could go back to work. He was a stay-at-home Dad from the time his son was 3 months until his son was 9 months. The article detailed how the attorney initially was sure he would have time ...
Views: 951(1 vote) - Top Ten Ways to Manage Interruptions - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2005 from Alvah ParkerSo many people I worked with said they got more work done at home than in the office. That was because there were so many interruptions in the office. In fact lots of people come in early or stay late just to have quiet time to work. One way to have that same quiet time during the day is to ...
Views: 843(1 vote) - Storytelling for Fun and Profit - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2005 from Alvah ParkerStorytelling for Fun and Profit Storytelling - It’s a hot topic these days. What do I mean by storytelling? One website says that it is “a narrative account of a real or imagined event or events” That same website (http://www.eldrbarry.net/roos/st_defn.htm) says “Stories connect us with our ...
Views: 1024 - Go to the Head of the Class - by Submitted on May 24, 2005 from Alvah ParkerSeveral years ago when I was preparing to start my own business I decided to take an accounting class. I took the course at a local college. Each week I set out for the school which was in a nearby city after working a full day. I drove during rush hour and left more than enough time to ...
Views: 1195 - 60 Hour Work Weeks -Can You and Your Career Survive Them? - by Submitted on May 18, 2005 from Alvah Parker60 Hour Work Weeks – Can You and Your Career Survive Them? In the 80s while I was an account executive for AT&T most people in my organization worked normal (for then) business hours. By that I mean they arrived close to 8 or 8:30AM and left between 5 and 5:30PM. By 6 PM the office was empty. ...
Views: 812 - Top Ten Reasons to Partner with Someone - by Submitted on May 03, 2005 from Alvah ParkerPartnerships come in many forms. There are legal ones such as in business or marriage and there are loose ones when two people come together to work or share ideas but then go on to work or share ideas with others too. I partnered with Dovid Grossman to come up with this list of reasons to ...
Views: 761 - Dads Are Heroes - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2005 from Alvah ParkerMy friend, Dovid Grossman, who is the father of nine children, told me he intended to have a website and teleclass series dedicated to the Hero’s Journey for Dads. He wanted to use the framework of a Hero’s Journey to engage in a discussion with fathers on parenting. I was somewhat aware of ...
Views: 801 - Parenting Success - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2005 from Alvah ParkerAt a Women’s Bar Association lunch one of the attorneys ordered a diet soda and then explained to the rest of us that her children were doing a “healthy living” program so she stopped buying diet soda to drink at home. She said having this diet soda was a real treat for her. She then ...
Views: 879 - Speak to Me of Love - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2005 from Alvah ParkerDovid Grossman, a coach and father of nine, recently told me that his father and he had fought constantly through his growing up years. Through it all, his mother was the referee. Finally when Dovid was 17 years old he sat down with his father and said, “I want to have a close relationship ...
Views: 1129(1 vote)