Posts from the Miscellaneous Category
How Do You Want To Be Remembered?
December 13th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
December is one of those months filled with mixed feelings for many. It is supposed to be,”The most wonderful time of the year.” For many people with this challenging economy…work has been extremely stressful and for others, job hunting…the process is more frustrating than ever.
How is a coach going to inspire individuals during this time of the year? There is a coaching exercise that is used by many life, career and leadership coaches. It is called the epitaph. The exercise is for the individual to write down how they want to be remembered at their funeral. Sounds very simplistic but can be an extremely powerful exercise. I had a Manager once change his entire staff meeting because he realized he was running the group like a Sergeant with no flexibility to anybody. I remember the session when he shared with me, the changes he made and how his employees were actually getting more done now. Imagine that! This time of the year there are many Christmas shows that remind us that we should try to focus on bringing joy to others… The Christmas Carol is a great example and another is How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
When we are going through changes…we really need to focus on what is the opportunity factor. For some of my clients out of work…I challenge them to really start that exercise program that they have dreamed about and how about getting together with some of those friends that you think about, but never make the next step.
My Father, Richard Benatti was also an entrepreneur. He ran a family owned moving business, Steinway Movers in Astoria, New York. At his wake many of his customers came and introduced themselves to me and said you would not believe the wonderful things your Dad did for me. I felt really fortunate to hear these stories but I also felt great that why he was alive, I was able to learn from his work behaviors and what he saw as success, in modeling my own business. My Dad was someone who lived a very good life and still at every family function his name will come up…with some incredible positive story!
This is the season to think of how we want to be remembered and ask ourselves the important question….How am I living my life? As Oprah says, joy should not just be for the month of December…it should be all year long! Wishing you lots of joy & the success you want!
Beth
Balance as the Holiday Season Begins
November 24th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
I really focus on my family and my business and believe you can have a balance!! I definitely am at a point in my life where I feel that I am really living my dream!! I am my Daughter Kaitlin’s Brownie Leader and we spend November and December doing alot of community service – fruit baskets for Beverly Bootstraps for Thanksgiving and we decorate mini table top Christmas trees for the Senior Citizens in our town that do not have trees in their apt or home.
How do you find balance during the holiday season?
Beth
Stress Management, Parrotheads & Passion!
September 13th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
Went to see the Jimmy Buffet concert at Jones Beach on Long Island, NY this summer! We first tailgated with my family and celebrated my Niece’s birthday! I was once again struck by how nice and welcoming people can be! Everywhere my seven year old daughter went people were giving her fun free beach stuff – what is better than a parrot pen or Marino’s Italian Ice when your 7 years old?
When the world is filled with so much stress and anxiety how refreshing it is to be somewhere so focused on fun! To watch Buffet sing his heart out, with the ocean behind him, reminded me of the magic he brings! It was my 11 year old daughter’s first “real” concert and to see the smile on her face was priceless!
I can’t help being someplace like this and seeing how passion can bring such happiness to so many people. Whether your gifted like Buffet or just passionate about music or something else…..it is such a reminder to me how important it is to follow your passions whatever they may be!
Strive For Success
July 12th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
When striving to be more successful at work, or in your personal life, here are some steps to follow:
1. Make stress management a habit
2. Seek positive support
3. Focus on weekly goal setting
4. Monitor your progress
5. Maintain personal time as well as business time and keep them separate
6. Believe in yourself!
Spark Success Now!
Career Rediscoveries 2009
March 23rd, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
Wow! What a year 2009 has been for change. I recently was asked by the Director of The Beverly Senior Center if I could teach a career workshop for individuals who are 60 and over, dealing with being laid off. They received some feedback at one of there last activities that some of their Seniors had been laid off. I was so impressed they were being so proactive and focusing on this developing need.
I taught the class on 3/17 – St. Patrick’s day – I figured it may bring everyone some extra luck! I gave the group the option if they wanted to share their personal situation and most did. I admired the courage it took but also their personal motivation to engage all the activities and learn some new career strategies.
I ended the workshop with the 7 most important strategies for job search success. One of them was how important it is to connect daily with individuals you trust to share your situation and get insights. I want to thank the class, because I learned a great deal from their honesty and job loss situations. We all need to think of our careers as if we are self employed. You never quite know when your going to get the tap on the shoulder and all of a sudden you see your life change right before you. The more we can make time for relationships, focus on our own personal and professional development and take good care of ourselves…the easier these challenging transitions will be.
“When your in your nineties and looking back, it’s not going to be how many awards you’ve won. It’s really what did you stand for. Did you make a positive difference for people? – Elizabeth Dole
Love Your Heart!
February 14th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
My family and I found out on January 30, 2009 that my sister would be having open heart surgery on February 6, 2009 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. A strange coincidence, the day of her surgery just happened to be National Heart Day. The lobby was filled with hundreds of red heart balloons when my Mom and I brought her in that morning for the surgery. The week as you can imagine was filled with all sorts of emotions. Thankfully, the surgery was a success. On our daily visits I found myself not only being thankful for all the little things in life, but but I really thought a lot about leadership and careers in health care.
I was able to observe the health care practitioners that really had a great fit! I observed their passion, customer service, presence to the patient and the great follow up they provided. My sister’s doctor, Dr. Stelzer was a true example of leadership. He provided 100% ++ customer service, he provided recognition to nurses and other floor staff, and he made such an effort to connect with every person. I observed some doctors that spoke to the nurses as if they were from a different planet with a lack of respect.
Leadership skills are so important in every career and unfortunately lacking in many professionals. We need to ask ourselves:
- “How do I want my customers to describe me?” “What is my reputation?”
- We each have an opportunity to challenge ourselves and focus on how we can be a leader and spark success in ourself and others!
Change & Transition….the continual process!
January 26th, 2009 by Beth Kennedy
I recently facilitated a training in Boston called, Individual Transition in Organizations. I really like the class because it focuses on effective strategies to get through transitions and it is based on William Bridges Transition model. The positive feedback from class participants made me realize how important this subject is right now!
We are all going through changes on a daily basis especially with what is taking place in this economy right now. The question we need to ask ourselves is how is our transition tool kit?
- Change is just an event. Transition is all the psychological elements that take place as a result of the change.
- We need to really look at how every transition is effecting our life and make some positive action strategies.
- Career coaches find that individuals in career transition actually get a job quicker when they have resilience and focus on positive healthy life strategies besides just 6 – 8 hours a day of networking and on line job search.
- Ask your self today….What changes are taking place for you right now and how are you dealing with transitions? What positive transition strategies are you using to keep yourself motivated and engaged?
“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” Karen Kaiser Clark
Prepare for Success in any Economic Environment
November 23rd, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
Let nationally-recognized coaches Beth Kennedy and Marshall Brown show you how to overcome the barriers that are preventing you from achieving true success in your personal and professional life during these economic times and beyond.
In just 60 minutes, you’ll learn:
** How to market yourself, know what your skills are and how to go about developing a job search strategy during challenging economic times
** How to create a vision of your own success in any economic environment so that you can set goals that lead to greater happiness and more energy
** How you can dramatically increase the chances for your success by taking the ideas and insights from this audio conference and using them to formulate your own unique personal action plan
And so much more!
Don’t let talk of economic downturn deter you from achieving success!
Join coaches Beth Kennedy and Marshall Brown on Monday December 1, 2008. They will work with you to focus on specific solutions to particular issues, challenges and opportunities.
Seats are limited, register now!
Beth is co-hosting this session with Washington DC Leadership Coach, Marshall Brown. To register: visit http://www.mbrownassociates.com
7 Strategies for Career Success: #5 – Ask For Feedback!
May 15th, 2008 by Beth Kennedy
It is so important to ask for feedback on your performance from individuals you trust. Many of you, may send out a 360 assessment to get feedback from colleagues, customers and other individuals that can assess your performance as part of a training class or once a year. It is your responsibility to meet with your Manager at least once a quarter to ask them for specific feedback.
Success results because their are no surprises when it is review time and if their is an area of concern you can actively begin to work on it and make the changes necessary! If you have not recently asked for feedback this may be the time do it!
Challenge yourself to ask for feedback on a more regular basis!!