Career Satisfaction

Shy Person’s Guide to Procrastination on Job Tasks

October 24, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

Do you procrastinate?

I write four to eight blogs per month. I have done this for the last six years. Why then does my marketing person have to nag me for articles every month? Why am I having trouble writing the Shy Person’s Guide to Procrastination?

I am procrastinating. Dragging my feet. Reluctantly taking on even the tasks I assign myself.

This morning I made breakfast, straightened up the house, updated a resume, did a load of laundry all while knowing that I missed my deadline. The marketing people are kicking at leaves, probably muttering bad things under their breath and still I procrastinate.

Procrastination is the art of avoiding what needs to be done. According to an article by Hara Estroff Marano in Psychology Today, “procrastinators sabotage themselves… (by choosing) paths that hurt their performance”. Sometimes this is a habit, a lifestyle. She says procrastinators are not born, they are made. This is a learned trait. Sometimes it is a form of rebellion. Sometimes a form of avoidance.

Shy people are often fearful of being in situations that might result in feeling diminished or rejected. If fear takes over, then it becomes easier to stay in place (procrastinate) than to take action. I recognize this feeling in myself. Not even putting the activity in my schedule will spur me to action.

Here are some tips for doing what needs to be done:

Give yourself a motivation, perhaps something that impacts someone else, not focused on yourself.
Plan a reward for finishing the task. Today I get to go to a Toastmasters meeting if I finish four blogs. I am excited about the meeting so I am writing my little fingers off to finish four articles that should have been completed two weeks ago.
Try the Pomodoro Technique. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Attack the tasks with full energy for 26 minutes. When the bell rings you get to take a break. This technique forces you to focus for short bursts to improve your attention span and concentration.
Break the activity down into smaller components then attack the smaller components bit by bit. That might reduce the fear while giving a sense of accomplishment along the way.
Try meditation. Tony Stubblebine of Coach.me calls meditation “pushups for the mind”. Meditation increases focus at the subconscious level.
Make a commitment related to the avoided task. For example, if I have to share the blog with someone for feedback on a certain date will almost certainly motivate me to finish so I don’t disappoint that person. With that said, I am aware that I am disappointing my marketing team. I did not say this was logical!

Procrastination for shy people is probably about avoidance. Consider the real reason why you are avoiding the task. There is probably something deeper going on that should be considered. Do I really want to keep writing blogs? If I did then I wouldn’t delay writing blogs. Hmmm… I need to explore that…

If you are shy or introverted there is no shame in that but it may be blocking you from getting the career you want. There is help for you! Get your free copy of the “7 Tips for Career Success for the Shy Person” and begin to step out, beyond these barriers, onto a new career path today.

Are Your Priorities in Order?

September 7, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

The signs are everywhere that the generation in their 20s, 30s, and 40s live life large.

Travel, outdoors, hobbies, activities with friends and family take top priority in their lives.

They look at life different from their parents. Parents like me worked until they dropped, seeking approval that often never came from bosses who never seemed satisfied.

Two ends of a work life spectrum. Which is better? “Better” implies judgement, that one way is wrong and another is right. We have enough of that kind of judgement in politics. It doesn’t have to be that way.

If we work to live rather than live to work, we draw boundaries around areas of life that are most important to us.

Brett chose to be a real estate appraiser. He is good at it. But he also loves the flexibility and freedom to work at home on his own time to accommodate his hobbies. He works hard but appreciates that he can draw a line and be done for the day in a way that I never could.

I appreciate this balance myself. For years as an HR executive I worked a million hours. My husband, mother and sister chauffeured the kids around. I stepped in where I could. I started my own company in 2004 to satisfy my professional interests, yes, but a big part was to give myself the flexibility to be near my daughter and mother when they needed me most. I could pick up my daughter after school to hear that chatter that only happens in driving conversations. Having breakfast with my mom in this relaxed manner allowed me to get to know her in a personal way I never imagined possible. I cherish those moments that only happened through a more healthy work life balance.

Work / life balance is NOT just a trend. It is a powerful need to give priorities to important life issues.

Young people have the right idea: work to live, not live to work.

How are you prioritizing what is important in your life? What did you do recently outside of work to make a difference?

Are you frustrated with little success trying to find a new job or career? Do you feel isolated because everyone you know is working and you have no one to share your struggles with? You are NOT alone! Join a group of people who face similar career issues as you do with the Free 5 Week Resume and Job Search Challenge to get your career search jump started today!

Just Say Yes to Career Adventures

July 25, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

What does the word “adventure” mean to you?

This article is an excerpt from our BizTV video, which can be viewed online, simply by clicking this link.

The word “adventure” is a dirty word in my house, usually interpreted as “Mom got lost again” or “We don’t have a plan” or “Sure, I know the way there”. The more control oriented folks in my family get annoyed when I jump ahead without a plan while I am very comfortable just jumping ahead.

I love to explore what makes my control oriented friends and family are so afraid of adventure. The response is usually some variation on fear: fear of losing control, fear of looking silly, fear of missing out on something else.

Everyone is different. What goes through your mind when I say the word “adventure”? In an informal poll of random acquaintances I took recently, responses varied from high risk sports to something as simple as driving on the expressway. We define adventure in very personal ways.

“Adventure” in your career can mean stepping outside of our normal work-a-day lives to do something different. This can be scary.

Career adventure can bring excitement, new experiences, rewards and recognition. My daughter Marissa left her career, went to business school for her MBA and just started a new career in a new city. Pretty adventurous, don’t you think? Yet she is one of my favorite control freaks, inclined to say no if left to her own devices. She had to be very unhappy in her former career to say yes to all those changes.

As adventurous as I am, sometimes it is easier and more comfortable to just say no and save the adventure for the weekends. We just slog on, day after day. Is that a way you imagined your career?

It seems to me that we say no to career adventure out of fear.

Do you fear over commitment? There is always a way to accommodate those things you really want to do if you are creative about time and resources.
Fear making a mistake? We all make mistakes anyway. Being careful and closed-in does not prevent you from making mistakes. So you might as well boldly go where you most fear.
Looking stupid? Think you don’t occasionally look stupid anyway? Why not revel in it?
Missing something else? Definitely a first world problem. Be here now and enjoy the “yes” in front of you this time. One “yes” at a time.

From the outside it looks like Shonda Rhimes, the creator of multiple successful TV series, has plenty of adventure in her life. One day she realized that despite her success, big opportunities were passing her by because unless forced, she said no to everything. She was afraid.

Shonda challenged herself to say yes to anything anyone asked to her to do for one year. This simple act changed her life! At her TED talk, My year of saying yes to everything, Shonda said, “The very act of doing the thing that scared me undid the fear” and opened Shonda to adventure she never imagined!

If Shonda Rhimes can do it, why can’t you? Why not start saying yes? What are you afraid of?

Here are three tips to confidently start saying yes:

Do something unfamiliar. Volunteer for a new project team outside your area. Be aware of your reactions. Revel in that strange tingling. That is just a preview.
Write “YES” on your hand as a way to remember to be open to possibilities.
Start small. Once a week, force yourself to say “YES” to one thing you would normally decline. Then every other day, then every day.

Push the fear away and just say yes. A world of career adventure will unfold.

Looking for more info on this topic? Check out my TV show to learn more about beginning your career adventure today.

Career Impact – Jim and the New Non-compete Agreement

July 5, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

A Must Read article about Signing Non-Compete Clauses.

Sometimes people think I make up the stories I share with you. I don’t have to make up anything. The world is filled with crazy stories like this sad tale I heard the other day.

Jim just celebrated his fourth year as a medical supply sales rep. He hit his numbers every year. Things were looking great for a rewarding career with this growing company, acquired last year by a larger competitor.

Until one week ago when every sales person received that fateful email. Everyone would be required to sign a non-compete by the following Friday. Out of the blue. No notice. No consideration for signing away his rights to work for a competitor or vendor or anyone who even sells batteries in a health care facility of any kind.

Jim was beside himself. The more experienced reps were terrified. No one was sleeping well.

I can imagine what prompted the new non-compete requirement. A good sales rep quit. The new president asked HR if that fellow had a non-compete. Upon hearing that the company did not require non-competes, the CEO ordered HR to make it happen immediately. HR, doing what it was told without comment, made it happen.

But these things should NOT happen. Not to hard working employees happy with their jobs and the company. This company did not have engagement problems or employee turnover. Sales were strong. Employees were relatively happy. Past tense.

The proper response from HR should have been, “Let’s figure out why that guy left. We will check our turnover and see if we have a problem then implement non-competes for all new employees. Eventually everyone will have a non-compete if that is what you want.” But that is not what happened.

Here is why this situation is a big problem for the company and the individuals.

Are the non-competes forced in this situation even valid?

A non-compete is a legal document that prevents employees from going to work for a competitor for a period of time. The purpose is to protect hard-won company assets, ideas and treasures from running off to competitors. Employees agree to forgo major employment opportunities to benefit the company.

This requires consideration: Like any legally enforceable contract, the side asking for the benefit (the company) should offer the person making the sacrifice (the employee) substantial consideration (that is a legal term) to waive future opportunities. Just keeping your job or receiving a bonus you would ordinarily receive is not sufficient consideration. It has to be something else, something special that makes the sacrifice worthwhile.

In Jim’s case, the company offered each sales person a guarantee that each employee would receive the commission they would normally receive anyway in their draw-versus-commission compensation plan. Any sales person worth their salt who make their quota would receive that commission anyway. How is that any kind of consideration for signing away Jim’s future employment opportunities?

Can’t be signed under duress: One side of the contract cannot force the other side to sign the contract without having time to review and consider the options. In this case, the company gave the employees one week to sign or be fired. Wow! Talk about pressure. One week is not even sufficient for the employees to seek legal advice much less decide to sign away significant future employment opportunities. Jim wasn’t sleeping or eating or even thinking clearly. He was a mess. The senior reps were in worse condition.

Could the new non-competes really bind the employees without proper consideration and being forced to sign under duress? It is hard to tell. The only way either side can really know is to take the case to court, an expensive proposition.

In the meantime let’s look at what the company achieved with this effort:

Sales go down. Employees are very upset and distracted. They are thinking and talking about non-competes rather than getting sales.
Employee satisfaction declines. Employees are talking about quitting or planning to get fired. Previously they were relatively happy and stable without a lot of turnover. Employee satisfaction is directly related to profitability.
Employee turnover increases. Employees are planning to leave even if they sign the agreement. Turnover is expensive. Calculate turnover at 1.5 times total annual salary. The idea is to reduce this cost, not take steps that will increase turnover.
Company brand takes a hit, impacting ability to recruit. Dissatisfied employees are spreading the word to friends, family and anyone who will listen. I heard about it at a social event because it is all Jim talks about to anyone who will listen. I didn’t even know Jim before that social event! Who wants to work for a company that treats people this way? I made a mental note of the name so I can tell clients to avoid that company.

My advice to Jim? SEEK ADVICE FROM AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE! This is what I would do. I would not sign the agreement unless they force me to. Then I would sign the agreement but cross out the two paragraphs about non-competition. The other paragraphs about trade secrets and confidentiality are fine. See what the company does. As a last resort, I would sign the agreement then start looking for a job because it won’t get better from here. I gave Jim a copy of my book, Job Search Marketing Plan.

My advice to companies? This is an object lesson. Learn from this foolish medical supply company. Avoid actions that undermine your brand and hit your bottom line.

My advice to HR? You don’t have to blindly do whatever the CEO says. Your job is to give good advice in a manner that convinces the CEO to do the right thing for the company AND the employees. Because after all, employees are your greatest asset. At least that is what we tell our employees.

I would be glad to help anyone impacted by this kind of situation in any way I can.

In the meantime, don’t settle for a mediocre career that you don’t want anymore! LinkedIn offers many ways to find the ideal job or career for you! Get your FREE copy of the LinkedIn Career Advancement Tips and find the perfect career today.

DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney. I am speaking from my own perspective. This article represents my own views and is not a substitute for legitimate legal advice. PLEASE SEEK ADVICE FROM AN ATTORNEY SPECIALIZING IN EMPLOYMENT LAW.

Find Opportunities for Career Growth

May 26, 2017 By Marta Goertzen

A fulfilling career is the intersection of something you find fascinating and something you are good at.

This article is an excerpt from our BizTV video, which can be viewed online, simply click this link.

In a fascinating Forbes article, Why you can’t find a job you love, author Louis Efron points out some reasons why so many Americans are unhappy at work. Setting the “my boss is a jerk” issues aside, much of the problem comes from a misalignment between passion and skill. That misalignment leads to communication and performance problems but also to boredom, a real career killer.

Passion alone is not the single path to career fulfillment. Passion might point us in a direction but skill and curiosity has to figure into the equation.

Here are five tips to find opportunities for career growth:

Start with passion. Identify one idea, activity or concept you find interesting about your current role. It could be a problem you see that others do not. This could be your niche.
Dig deeper. Can you see a solution that other people cannot? Do some research, identify resources, then put your idea in writing. Become the expert in your passion.
Raise your hand. Say “yes” to new experiences, particularly those related to your passion.
Share your ideas with a mentor for insight into how to put your ideas into action.
Stay positive. You can’t grow if you are grumbling about that glass being half empty.

Build career growth on something you find fascinating and something you are good at. The opportunities are all around you if you keep your eyes open.

In the meantime, check out this great resource to learn more about solving conflicts in your workplace or to view other videos featuring other strategic job search tips and tools from The Interview Doctor click here.