Networking has recently become a very popular-and very powerful-concept. It can benefit individuals who are working within a sales team, as well as startups, the unemployed and those who are seeking new opportunities. Networking is an excellent way to meet new people in both social and business contexts to achieve personal and professional goals while having fun. There are many types of organizations and based on your intentions, finding the right one is integral in making the experience positive and valuable. Some examples of these groups include:

1. Strong contact networks such as BNI where you meet weekly, give updates on your business and send referrals to the members.
2. Casual contact networks such as the chamber of commerce wherein meetings are usually held monthly and relationships are built.
3. Service organizations such as the Rotary club or HR/PR/ Technical and other knowledge networks.
4. Social/Business organizations which could include a singles group or a neighborhood group such as Lincoln Park Young professionals.
5. Online networks where the event takes place without having to leave your office or home computer (Blitztime.com, for example).
“Where do I begin?” is usually the first question. I recommend searching the following sites for groups in your area and opportunities that fit your budget and needs:
1. Meetup.com
2. Networkingmonkey.com
3. Biznik.com
4. Blitztime.com (online networking through your computer and phone)
5. Linkedin.com
6. Join a Yahoo! Group; BNC is excellent for Chicagoans

“How do I prepare?” is often the next question and the answer is simple:

1. Know your intention
2. Come prepared with an elevator pitch
3. Bring business cards

“What happens next?” and “what is the secret?”:

1. Share first! Be sure to ask others about their business and their ideal client so you can follow up with a resource, tools or a referral. If you want others to remember you and refer potential clients or business opportunities, you must be the first to give.
2. Follow up with everyone and ask them if they’d like to meet for coffee. This will give you an opportunity to get to know them better and understand their needs. Then come up with a “stay in touch” process for following up periodically.

Networking is simple however there is also a science to being successful. Be sure to look out for others and in return, others will look out for you.

Written by: Fulfilling Future – Julia

Expert in: Career Coaching, Confidence Coaching, Life Coaching,Relationship Coach

What could you accomplish if you had more time?  A friend of mine who was a college professor gave an assignment to his students, “No television for two weeks, and through journaling, I’d like to know how you’ve spent that extra time.”  The changes, results, and impact on the students were miraculous.  They spent more time reading, interacting with friends, staying active (sports and gym activities), and most importantly they were engaged in something that helped them grow. Television is just one example of how we spend our time; what happens in the office when TV isn’t a distraction?

Often times, distractions are so common that when the day passes you by and at 5 pm, you wonder why you didn’t get anything accomplished. Do you recall learning the 80/20 rule?  This has been interpreted in many ways including, 80% of the work is completed by 20% of the people, or 80% of the revenue is brought in by 20% of the clients. Regardless of how you interpret it, let’s make the most of the 20%! Here are some suggestions to maximize your time and feel more accomplished on a daily basis:

1. Plan your day-Failing to plan is planning to fail so create a to-do list.  If necessary, break up your day by time blocking so you know if you’re on track.  If you have a large project due, break it up into manageable tasks.
2. Complete a time journal-This will help you evaluate where you are spending the majority of your time and how long it takes to complete tasks.
3. Do the toughest or most daunting thing first-Once you get the toughest task out of the way, it’ll no longer weigh you down and you’ll feel less anxiety about what’s ahead.
4. Keep your desk clean-The typical office worker wastes two hours per day on distractions, one being the messiness of their desk.
5. Keep email un-cluttered-Many people use email as their to-do list.  Instead, read, mark on your task list, and then file in a folder.  This way, you can prioritize based on importance and urgency within a centralized place instead of having two separate to-do lists.
6. Have a good file system- It’s important that things are organized and filed away so they can be easily accessed when necessary.
7. Get a speakerphone or headset-This will allow you to multitask while on the phone.
8. Limit call times-Keep track of call times by having something else to look forward to, lunch, another call, or a project you’re looking forward to completing.  You can always call people right before their lunch or dinner time; this way you know the call can’t last more than 10 minutes because they’ll be rushed to prioritize their meal over the phone conversation.
9. Delegate-If possible, utilize the resources around you by outsourcing work that others can complete.
10. Time Management Matrix-Use the matrix below and sort your tasks based on importance and urgency.  If you find that tasks belong in the forth quadrant, think about eliminating them all together; there’s no need to spend your time on unimportant, non-urgent tasks.  Eventually you should be spending the majority of your time in quad 2.

When it comes to time management, ask yourself these questions to confirm you are doing the tasks that will help you feel good about how you spend your time: Why am I doing this? What is the goal? Is this the best utilization of my time?

Written by: Fulfilling Future – Julia

Expert in: Career Coaching, Confidence Coaching, Life Coaching, Relationship Coach

We experience so many daily challenges and obstacles which cause stress and prevent us from living a peaceful and enjoyable life.  Given the current economy, real estate market, and high unemployment rates, stress levels seem to be at an all-time high.  Relieving stress and finding the calm and clarity to make important decisions and enjoy life to the fullest is imperative.  Since we can’t re-do what’s already done, let’s make sure to enjoy the daily journey that we create-with as little stress as possible.  Having a friend, family member, or coach could really benefit in discussing daily pressures and brainstorming solutions.  In the meantime, here are some suggestions for alleviating stress and manifesting tranquility:

1.       Live in the present!  How does living in the past and focusing on regrets help you fulfill your life’s purpose and allow you to enjoy your existence?  Learn from previous experiences by living smarter today.  When things don’t go your way, look at the benefits of being spontaneous and take yourself out of your comfort zone.

2.       Meditation can clear the mind to help you relax while yoga, tai chi, and qi gong will also provide physical exercise.

3.        Do something enjoyable on a daily basis and schedule it as though it was a required task.  This might include volunteering, time in the sun, walking outside, art, writing, crafts, or watching your favorite TV show.

4.       Workout by joining a gym or becoming part of a team (softball, volleyball, running group).  Not only will physical activity release tension, joining a group will provide motivation and a greater sense of belonging.

5.       Wind down before bedtime (minimum of 1-2 hours).  Most media sources (TV, radio, and computer) cause our mind to race which prevents us from falling asleep peacefully.  Give your body and mind some time to relax by reading a book, journaling, or organizing the activities for the following day.

6.       Have some reflection time.  Write down your concerns, what’s causing stress/fear, then brainstorm potential solutions, and also be aware of worst-case scenarios.  Then visualize the ideal situation, problems solved/eliminated, and feel yourself enjoying the rewards of your hard work!  Being able to visualize a solution is very important in relieving stress because it allows you to see and feel a resolution, which means that peace is possible and potentially around the corner.

7.       Get enough sleep, 7-8 hours at minimum will help you feel rejuvenated and prevent the little things from adding to the stress.

Regardless of the stress relieving method, finding and removing the source of the problem is ideal.  If that’s not possible, it’s beneficial to find ways to balance the negative with positive or change your perspective about the stress causer.  As mentioned earlier, having a friend, family member, or coach to share another view or perspective is valuable for promoting change and empowering you to think differently.

Written By: Fulfilling Future- Julia

Expert in : Career Coaching, Confidence Coaching, Life Coaching, Relationship Coach

High self esteem allows for healthy relationships, effective communication, personal and professional growth (due to the high value placed on development and belief in one’s self), and positive societal behavior (treating others with respect). What happens when an individual has low self esteem? How does it manifest and appear to the outside world? Often the lack of self worth manifests as a doormat where the person allows themselves to be taken advantage of and never taking a stand. Others are constantly involved in conflict because they feel attacked and need to protect themselves, therefore appearing very defensive. Another possibility is having a very high ego to counteract the lack of self worth which manifests as arrogance or over confidence. Are there benefits in having a low self image? Although it’s clear that having high self esteem allows individuals to further in their careers and personal lives more efficiently, challenges arise(including recession and unemployment) which immediately contribute to changes in self image. Here are some suggestions on how to work through what’s blocking you, followed by ways to focus on your strengths to help overcome these obstacles.

Need to:
1.    Understand exactly why you’re feeling low, where did it come from? What specifically is getting you down?
2.    When things don’t go your way, don’t automatically label the situation as negative. Ask the question: What is the positive in this? What lesson can I learn from this experience?
3.    Understand the harm that’s being caused from the destructive feelings… Create a support system to share your concerns and then map out the potential solutions.
4.    Find effective ways to be aware of these negative situations in the future, see the lesson and create a plan of action.

8 tips to build your self esteem:
1. What makes you feel proud? What are your achievements? Write them down when you’re feeling good about yourself, when you’ve just finished a very productive day or when you’ve achieved a goal and feel accomplished.
2. Do a SWOT analysis- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities (options including activities, job opportunities, contacts), Threats (people and things getting in your way of accomplishing your high self worth).
3. Associate with positive, self confident individuals, they will rub off on you and also show you the light in every dark situation.
4. Ask for feedback, be vulnerable and open to change.
5. Plan ahead. Self-confidence comes from being prepared and aware.
6. Take action. High self esteem comes from taking action and putting things into motion, just thinking about it doesn’t do anything. Break down your challenges and start working through them one step at a time.
7. Role-play and rehearse for success-  To handle conflict, confrontation, reprimanding an employee, job interview, negotiating a raise, or making a presentation, it’s so much easier once you’ve practiced it.
8. Celebrate your success and share with others.

Written By:  Fulfilling Future-Julia

Expert in : Career Coaching, Confidence Coaching, Life Coaching, Relationship Coach

The process and challenges associated with accomplishing goals involve a level of personal development and introspection. Introspection involves overcoming your nature to step outside your comfort zone and take risks with potential rewards that will forever change your life. Our belief systems are often the cause of the results in our life. If we have an association that money only comes to people with a certain level of education, then we’ll never have money without that education. Given this level of consciousness, how do we change our belief systems to empower us and improve our lives? How do we change our behavior or the situations around us? Remember, the only thing you have control over is yourself; create the possibility to have everything. What would that look like? How would that negate the belief system instilled in you? Are you willing to look within, do some work and change yourself and the outcomes in your life? If so, you must start by doing some self reflection and having the willingness to be aware and make changes. Here is a step by step process:

1. Identify what is hard… What pushes your buttons? When do you feel immediately reactive or defensive?

2. Acknowledge that this situation is placed in your life for a reason, to help you develop and be the best individual you were destined to be in this lifetime. This situational test is to help you realize that there’s something you need to learn to help yourself grow and develop.

3. Identify your reaction… Do you feel like lashing out? Are you upset, hurt, mad, angry, frustrated, or do you feel helpless? Why are you experiencing this? Would others react this way? Are you taking it personally? What are your assumptions as it pertains to the situation?

4. Restrict. This might be very difficult but you must stop yourself from reacting and allow the process to happen and reflect on what went wrong. How did this situation arise? Don’t take things for granted; appreciate the opportunity to change through this experience. This is an opportunity to learn from your own experiences, change your reactions and become a better person. What is your blockage?

5. Deal with the situation differently and change your consciousness! Stretch yourself by changing the results. Be aware of your reactive nature and what is causing this reaction within you. From this point forward, appreciate this learning experience and be prepared in the future to handle things differently.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results. In order to change the results in your life, changing your actions, reactions and routine are the only ways to successfully influence the outside factors that influence your happiness and sense of fulfillment. So start by looking within and being aware of how you view and handle situations in your life.

Written by: Fulfilling Future

Expert in:  Career Coaching Confidence Coaching Life Coaching Relationship Coach