Pictures from Last Christmas

Strength Through Adversity

Strength Through Adversity

Tough times make tough people. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger. OK, those statements may not always be true - because we do know broken people or people that have not recovered from a tragedy, but I agree with them for the most part.

Let me give you some personal examples. I was born with Dyslexia. Of course, that was before it was a well-known problem and the Doctors told my parents that the wires in my brain were a bit crossed. I also spent years in speech therapy - I'm not sure if the two are related, but both do play an important role in communications and accuracy. So after many years dealing with these issues, what do I do for a living? I work with technical detail-oriented people and work as a third party facilitator and negotiator. Coincidence? I don't think so. I spent so much time working on these areas as a child that they come very naturally to me today.

I also believe that tough times strengthen your relationships. Again I will use my personal life as an example. I am more in love with my husband today than I was before we were married. It is a strong and deep love that has grown by the problems in life that we have experienced together. The way he took care of me when I was ill, the way he was there when I was having our children, the diapers he changed, the other unpleasant things he has done while we have been together just make me love him more. Just this past week he was my hero again dealing with the septic tank! Yes, bringing me flowers is nice and I love the thoughtful things he does. But what really makes me love this man is how he digs in when things are tough and is willing to do the gross stuff!

I can also say my best work relationships bloomed from bad environments. Most of the valuable lessons I have learned at work have been with the tough times, environments and situations.
I don't tell you all this to say I want more bad stuff to happen! I don't like bad stuff. I don't like to go through tough times! I hate adversity! I want everything in my life and the people I care about to be nothing but happiness. However, that is not reality. There will be tough times and people you care about and you will have heartbreak, loss and disappointments.

With that being said, as bad as it may get, remember that something good can and usually does come out of the hard times! You may not realize it when you are in the process of grief or even going to a job you do not enjoy, but know that you can find something worthwhile in almost any situation. When you come out on the other side of the problem or situation you will find that you are smarter, stronger and so are your relationships.

I don't wish for you hardships, but I do wish for you the insight in knowing that there is strength to be found in adversity!

How Goals Unleash the Superhero Inside You!

How Goals Unleash the Superhero Inside You!
- By Jill Koenig

Within every human being exists an infinite supply of creativity, strength, and wonder.







You are capable of more than you know.




Let me tell you about a real life Superhero I know named Mike Berkson.




Mike was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors told his parents that he would not be able to talk, and he would never be a student in a regular classroom. By the time Mike was 3, he was not only talking up a storm but had a thirst for vocabulary. Mike sets BIG Goals. Mike excels in English and history, is creative in writing short stories, and has ambitions in film making.

Because he is confined to a wheelchair, and has limited use of his arms and legs, he is paired with someone to help him through the day. For a few years, my friend Tim was fortunate enough to be paired with Mike and serve as Mike's aid and helper.




As Tim and Mike grew closer and Tim became a member of Mike's family, Tim felt a yearning to share with the world Mike's awesome attitude, and how Mike deals with prejudices, ignorance, and inconveniences despite his circumstances.




Tim was so inspired by the Superhero within in Mike, that last year he set a goal to write a book about Mike and run 1,200 miles from Florida to Chicago to promote it.




Just one tiny problem...at the time, Tim could hardly run 30 minutes and in order to achieve his goals within 4 months, he would have to write the book at blazing speed AND get into the kind of physical condition to maintain a pace of running 40 miles per day for 31 straight days.







Tim had the yearning to pursue a series of goals so much bigger than anything he had ever done before, that he just had to try. As a tribute to Mike, Tim had to push himself beyond anything he ever previously did, as Mike does every single day.




Some people in life believe you should only pursue goals you know you can achieve. Others believe the success lies in the growth that occurs from stretching beyond your previous wins, and that all growth is success.




How do you define success?




I interviewed Tim recently on my radio show. Tim explains how he found an endurance coach and transformed himself from a couch potato into an ultra endurance champion. Tim did not reach his goal of running 40 miles a day. You see, his plan was flawed. He made a lot of mistakes. His schedule for the run was so tight, that he did not allow himself any room for error, like weather, funding, or the hazards of running alongside traffic. His approach for raising money was limited. He had a skeleton crew of one to accompany him on the run.




He had to return home by a certain date, regardless of how far behind he was, so he had to drive the distances to catch up when he fell behind. Shortly after he started his journey, he realized he would not be able to achieve the 1,200 miles and still make it home on time. But he kept running, anyways; he wanted to Keep On Keeping On. He would rather continue stretching himself than consider quitting.




Why is Tim's journey considered a success by many? Because he dared to pursue it in the first place. Because he did finish his book about Mike in record time. Because he succeeded in transforming his body into an Ultra Endurance Machine for that time. Because he DID succeed in running an average of 24 miles per day for a total of 700 miles. Because he didn't quit, even when he realized he could not reach every goal he set for himself. Because he touched the heart of a young man who looked up to him. Because he inspired a lot of people to go beyond what they previously thought they could do.




Because for a moment in time, he tapped into the Superhero inside himself and unleashed more of his own potential.




Rising above circumstances like a champion inspires other people.




We must re-evaluate our perspective on what success really is.




Are you a success if you play it safe your whole life and never dare anything unless you are guaranteed victory?







When you set BIG Goals, it is important to set many smaller goals that coincide with it. Even if you fail to reach your deadline for one Goal, you will still succeed at many, and you will build your confidence to a much higher level. Give yourself empowering reasons for getting up when you feel down.There is a Superhero inside YOU.




What Goals can you set that will inspire you to unleash it?




Keep On Keeping On.




Live Your Dreams.

About the Author:

Jill Koenig, the "Goal Guru," is America's Top Goal Strategist. A best-selling author, coach, and motivational speaker, she is an expert on the subjects of goal setting, time management, and business success. A self-made millionaire, she hosts the Goal Guru Radio Show. Her passion in life is helping you achieve your goals and unleash your untapped potential. Find out more about her Cutting Edge Goal Strategies at http://www.GoalGuru.com

QUESTIONS TO ASK

QUESTIONS TO ASK

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE EMPLOYER

• What is the last person who had this job doing?




• What are the job responsibilities?




• What skills are the most important for the job?




• What kind of training is provided?




• What is the company's history?




• What are the company's goals?




• Where does the job lead?




• What is the management style of the company?
  

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

• Do I understand the job responsibilities?




• Will I have meaningful responsibilities that can be measured?




• Will I be visible to key people in the company?




• Does the position fit with my goals?




• Is there an opportunity for advancement?




• Does the personality of the company fit with mine?




• Can I work with this supervisor?




• Is the company growing and profitable?




• How does the company rank compared to its competition?




• What can I contribute to the company?




• Is the job location within a comfortable driving radius?




• If moving to another location, does the change in salary fit with the difference in the cost of living?




• What would the company need to provide in order to accept an offer?Do I really want this job?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (8 of 8)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (8 of 8)

176. How do you feel your subordinates would describe you as a delegator?

177. What specific behaviors do you think contribute to your effectiveness as a supervisor?

178. How important is it for you to move up in management?

179. How would you compare your oral skills to your written skills?

180. What's one thing that should never be communicated in a memo or e-mail?

181. Tell me what you have learned about reducing employee turnover.

182. Describe a situation that required you to use fact-finding skills.

183. How many projects can you handle at a time?

184. In what ways have you improved in your capacity for planning?

185. Do you have a favorite interviewing question?

186. How do you maintain discipline within your department or team?

187. How do you keep abreast of new development in information technology?

188. Do you have any questions?

189. When can you start?

190. May I contact your present employer and references?

191. When will you know it's time to leave this organization?

192. How do you handle rejection?

193. Were you ever dismissed from a job for a reason that seemed unjustified?

194. What kinds of things do you worry about?

195. Can you name three new skills, techniques, or methodologies you learned in the past twelve months?

196. Are you generally lucky or unlucky?

197. What do you do when your boss loads you down with a great deal of work and not enough time to do it in?

198. What do you do when there is a decision to be made and no procedure exists?

199. How would you finish this sentence: "Most people are basically...?"

200. Is there anything else I should know about you?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (7 of 8)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (7 of 8)

151. Are you able to predict a people's behavior based on your reading of them?
152. As a member of a team, how do you handle a team member who is not pulling his or her weight?
153. What's more important to you, truth or comfort?
154. At what time is it better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission?
155. Have you learned more from your mistakes or your successes?
156. Is honesty always the best policy?
157. How has your tolerance for accepting mistakes from your subordinates changed over the years?
158. You want to go swimming in a pool. The water is a little colder than comfortable. Are you the type of person who jumps in or do you wade in?
159. How will you handle the least interesting or pleasant tasks of this job?
160. Your supervisor tells you to do something in a manner you are convinced is wrong. What would you do?
161. What do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news?
161. If you were on a magazine cover, what would the magazine be and what would the headline say?
163. What kinds of things do you worry about?
164. Is the customer always right?
165. What is the most significant compliment anyone has ever paid you?
166. Are you the type of person who likes to make lists or strike items off lists?
167. What's the difference between a manager and a leader?
168. How can we best reward you?
169. What are some of your pet peeves?
170. How do you define employee morale?
171. What programs have you implemented to build morale?
172. How do you keep your staff informed of new developments?
173. How did you prepare for this interview?
174. Which spreadsheet programs do you prefer to work with?
175. Describe a problem that you solved using employee involvement?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (6 of 8)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS (6 of 8)

126. What have been the biggest success and biggest mistake of your career?

127. What was the most useful criticism you ever received?

128. Describe the best person you ever worked for or who worked for you.

129. If your boss could wave a magic wand over you, what aspect of your performance would be fine-tuned?

130. Please rank the following from most important to least: duties, hours, location, pay, work environment.

131. What do you do when things are slow at work?

132. How important is it for you to learn new skills?

133. What is more important to you: the salary or the challenge?

134. Do you generally clear your desk at the end of each day?

135. I'd like to hear about what you want to be when you grow up.

136. Would you rather formulate a plan or carry it out?

137. What was the last business or management book you read and what did you learn?

138. What strategies do you use when you have a great deal of work to accomplish and not much time to do it?

139. Do you anticipate problems or react to them?

140. Would you describe yourself as a risk taker or someone who plays it safe?

141. What problems do you have getting along with others?

142. What kinds of people do you prefer to work with?

143. What kinds of people do you find difficult to work with?

144. Tell me about a time when you said no to someone who asked you to drop everything to help out.

145. How do you operate as a team player?

146. How do you deal with people with different backgrounds and value systems different from your own?

147. What good or bad work habits did you pick up from your first job?

148. Describe your approach to evaluating risks.

149. What is one thing a teammate can say that is guaranteed to make you lose confidence in him or her?

150. Have you developed any special techniques for brainstorming?