Author: moderncareers

  • Yes – You Do Have Talent!

    Step up to the mike... and tell us about your talent!
    Step up to the mike… and tell us about your talent!

    It’s a funny old thing ‘pride’ and the notion that pride is a sin, although designed to promote humility, isn’t helpful in today’s weary world. We need every ounce of grit and spit if we’re going to succeed in our Modern Career.

    We need to know that we’re talented.

    During the last month I worked with two clients who made the leap from being fed up and run down, to achieving great performance and increasing their happiness.

    The secret is that as we talked and considered their tangible achievements they realised for themselves that they are talented people. (Not ‘were’ talented people… they still are talented).

    Not boastful either. Just aware that the work they do requires skill and that success isn’t down to luck.

    So, this week if you, or a colleague, does well and says ‘oh it was just luck’ stop and think.

    It wasn’t luck. It was talent.

    We all have real talent and once we admit this to ourselves we can really excel and have a good life. And because so many people don’t do this, we can zoom past them and get good jobs, or make a career change, or follow an ambition.

    And I’ve done just that. My new radio show called ‘Business Life’ goes on air at 2pm UK time on Thursday 24th November.

    I’ve been practicing hard with my co-host, Julie Bishop, and we have a pacey, fun, informative show that we and Future Radio are all really excited about. It mixes chat with music and a studio guest. (Volunteers take one pace forward). Our 60 minutes whooshes by and we love it.

    And we started from knowing nothing about running the desks, producing content, working mics, timing ads and idents… the list goes on. We just had a love for radio and the knowledge that we’re determined, talented people. All the rest is just detail, waiting to be learned.

    You can listen live either on 107.8FM in Norwich or through the magic of the worldwide interweb thingy.

    And we promise not to play only 80’s music too! (We were told off for that when doing a demo. These young people have no respect!)

    Enjoy your week… and enjoy your talent!

  • Yes – You Can Find Your Voice!

    You don't need batteries to find your voice!
    You don't need batteries to find your voice!

    Sometimes life or work can spring a surprise on us and for a moment we waver and wonder what to do.

    In that long moment of hesitation all sorts of things rush through our head. Fear, worries, uncertainty about the future, what should we do next?

    And life is all about ‘moments and turning points’ …an elegant phrase that I wish was mine, but belongs to Alan Robertson, a Cranfield colleague and all-round good chap.

    In these tiny bubbles of time we have to think on our feet and remind ourselves that:

    1) We’re OK! We are good, worthwhile people at heart.

    2) We have a right to be here and a right to decide for ourselves what to do.

    3) We have a voice and can use it. We can pause and think and then we can speak and be heard – we can find our voice.

    Last week a friend of mine found her voice and resigned her job, to begin a new life as a consultant.

    Last week my colleague found his voice and asked for some help to choose between two exciting job opportunities.

    Last week a client practised his presentation skills and his voice moved from monotony to fluidity. He found his selling voice and secured a new job.

    Sometimes we want to say things to people, to be heard, to share our feelings and our voice catches in the back of our throat. When this happens, take a deep breath, remember that you’re a worthwhile person and speak out loudly and clearly. Maybe:

    …Ask for what you need.
    …Share your thoughts.
    …Say ‘no thanks’ or ‘not yet’.
    …Tell someone how you feel.
    …Take that decision.

    And enjoy the moment as you find your voice.

    When will you be finding your voice this week?