Fear - Silent But Crippling . . .

I.A.M. Resumes -  http://www.IAMresumes.net
By: Carolyn Lee, CPRW, CEIP

It is that doubtful inner voice that can be crippling for some and a motivator for others.  On the negative side of this word, individuals are taking their inner fear and allowing it to spill over into other aspects of their life. That is where the crippling portion comes into play. It influences their career, relationships, stifles their successful growth to reach self-actualization. Unfortunately, they can proceed through life never realizing what is silently holding them hostage. It is with awareness when positive results will be created, and eventually confidence will follow, opening paths that will develop into an exciting adventure.

The opposite side of this is when fear becomes a motivator. Some individuals need that extra push that assists them into excelling, but all the while the real reason for this is not understood. In fact, it is less understood because the individual is successful. Why fix what is not broken? Or, should you?

I tend think that it is important to understand why we are motivated, or why we are not motivated and to learn what is holding us back. Is it an abusive past, negative past relationships, negative experiences with co-workers, lacking coping skills, carrying the burden of past experiences unable to move past this, the fear of success and what might happen once in the unknown and out of the comfort zone, is it negative comments that play over and over in your mind? 

Not everything is negative, so perhaps you were never taught the skills to build confidence and to be successful. These are building blocks of your future and this is something that you acquire over time. There are too many scenarios to mention, but one thing is for certain, to go from Point A to Point B you need to have a thorough understanding of where you have been and where you would like to go.

The wonderful thing about this, is that you do not have to go through this alone. There are support systems to assist, consultants in specific fields (i.e. career, life) that can help work through these situations with you to promote awareness and move beyond the fear.

With understanding we create awareness. With awareness it will lead to solutions, the solutions will lead to accomplishments, and through the implementation of planning it will lead to success. Soon going from Point A to Point B will bring a sense of freedom.

Customer Service - Joining the Circle of Strength

 

By: Carolyn Lee, CPRW, CEIP - -

It is most unfortunate that companies have grown to be so large in most cases, that they have failed at investing in their most valuable asset - employees. CEO's have failed to recognize that it is not them alone building the outcome of the business branding and profits. One way or another everything trickles down to the customer. I am not so quick to blame the employees that we encounter making the errors or when they provide poor customer service; although it is extremely disappointing.

It is the employer's responsibility to set the criteria for employees by leading through example. Employees like to feel that they are able to take pride in their work and that what they do matters. With a lack of leadership from the top of the company down to the bottom, there needs to be a combined effort to implement a common focus. No matter where you are working within an organization or what your salary is, they are all employees within the same organizational framework working to fulfill a common goal. When is the last time you actually witnessed this in any organization? If you do find this shared mindset it will be a rare commodity.

With the economy changing, large companies are not necessarily safely holding the same status with prime positioning. Think back to when there were the mom-and-pop shops that provided excellent customer service with a centered focus. Oh, the good old days! Everything evolves in life, and what we are going to find is that there will be many more individuals starting their very own version of a mom-and-pop business model. To ensure their niche within the market they have an opportunity to bring customer service back to the glory days. It is time to learn from history and stake your claim, to improve upon what has been broken to excel within the market, providing a clear focus to a target market with branding.

Not everything can be fixed, but the tide could change course for the better. As a customer it is our choice to use our voice to demand the service we deserve for our hard earned dollars, and to call companies on the problems within their organization to make them accountable. Everyone of us has the ability to commit to making change a possibility. During the course of trying to stimulate an awareness you will encounter opposition as your message falls on deaf ears. Take to heart, you do not have to tolerate a lack of customer service and I encourage you to give your business to a company that understands that their employees are their most valued asset. Also, that you as the customer have value.

To follow a simple basic rule: "Supply and Demand"

When there were many jobs available job seekers had many to choose from, and employers were on the demand end (needing knowledgeable employees). Now there are many more job seekers than there are jobs, and the potential employer is on the supply end being very selective as they hire to fill minimal openings.

The same holds true for those that will start their own business as they weather the storm within this economy. They are empowered and able to promote change. As a customer, let us work together to send a strong message that we are no longer tolerating this type of service. You see, although companies and potential employers might be on the supply end of the cycle for employment, we as customers are on the demand end of business. This happens to be a very strong status within the consumer market.

As job seekers always strive to be the best that you can be no matter what an employer values. Know your own worth, develop your career and be proud of what you are accomplishing.

I.A.M. Resumes
www.IAMresumes.net