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Articles from Alvah Parker | Selfgrowth.com
- 10 Tips for Writing Emails - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2010 from Alvah ParkerThis article was written because this past week I have seen three examples of emails that were read by people other than the intended recipient. In one case an attorney published a whole email exchange between the attorney and an applicant for an associate position in her firm. It should have ...
Views: 2612(1 vote) - Can This Networking Group Help Me Build My Business? - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2010 from Alvah ParkerSo many of my clients tell me they go to a networking meeting or two but give up because nothing happens. My response is usually that you must give the group a fair trial. Building relationships takes time so you will need to attend a few meetings of one organization to see any progress. That ...
Views: 1416(1 vote) - Ten Ways To Display Passion For The Job Seeker - by Submitted on Jan 07, 2011 from Alvah ParkerMany years ago I was turned down for a job at a company that I really wanted to work for. I was surprised when the interviewer told me that he did not think I wanted the job. He could not have been more wrong about that. I was puzzled by his conclusion even after he explained that I had not ...
Views: 1735(3 votes) - 10 Tips for More Effective Networking - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2010 from Alvah ParkerWhether you are a business owner or a job seeker you have probably been told to network. Networking is often an important part of a marketing plan. Frequently people resist networking because it seems overwhelming and they are not sure how to do it. Others try it once with little success and ...
Views: 1048(1 vote) - Feeling Grateful - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2010 from Alvah ParkerHow many times were you asked as a kid, "What are you thankful for?" You probably got that question frequently around Thanksgiving. Being a good child when I was asked I always answered it in the expected way without much thought or passion. My list always had my parents and teachers first ...
Views: 2501(1 vote) - Self Awareness, The Key to Finding Meaningful Work - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2009 from Alvah ParkerThe key to having meaningful work and a fulfilling life is to become more self aware. Know what you want - sounds simple doesn't it? But is it really? It takes time for self reflection to get in touch with yourself. If you are looking for meaningful work, gaining self awareness is the first ...
Views: 1252(1 vote) - Speak to Me of Love - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2005 from Alvah ParkerDovid Grossman, a coach and father of nine, recently told me that his father and he had fought constantly through his growing up years. Through it all, his mother was the referee. Finally when Dovid was 17 years old he sat down with his father and said, “I want to have a close relationship ...
Views: 1132(1 vote) - Ten Habits for More Brain Power - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Alvah ParkerA recent issue of a magazine includes a list of 10 activities to boost your brain health. The list includes many activities I would call important for overall wellness. In this competitive environment there is a tendency to forget health and focus intensely on a job search. It is important to ...
Views: 2249(2 votes) - Top Ten Tips for Negotiating a Job Offer - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2009 from Alvah ParkerOne aspect of meaningful work is being compensated adequately for the work that you do. It is important then to negotiate a good job offer. Several people have told me recently that they had job offers. I hope that means that the economy is improving. Some tell me they were willing to take ...
Views: 1608(1 vote) - Career Changes Take Courage - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2010 from Alvah ParkerCareer transitions create discomfort. Often times it is not clear where you are headed. At other times you aren't sure if you really want to make a change. Like a snake shedding his old skin you had adjusted to the "old skin", your current career, but it just doesn't fit any more. As you get ...
Views: 1235(5 votes) - A New Way of Working - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2010 from Alvah ParkerWhen I got my job with AT&T in 1982 my father told me I was set for life. His generation really admired Ma Bell as AT&T was called. Having lived through the Depression job security was very important to my father. I was pleased my father was happy for me but I wasn't quite sure I wanted a "life ...
Views: 1462(4 votes) - 10 Quotes on Self Awareness - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2009 from Alvah ParkerThe key to meaningful work and a fulfilling life is first to become more self aware. Really understanding yourself and what is important to you in your life and in your work is the key to getting satisfaction out of work and life. Over the years many people have talked about different aspects ...
Views: 1309(4 votes) - How Do You Find Meaningful Work? - 10 Questions to Ask Yourself To Get A Good Fit - by Submitted on Oct 06, 2009 from Alvah ParkerWhen looking for a job, most people focus on the responsibilities of the job to find a good fit. While getting hired to do a job that is interesting and well suited to your background is important, there are three other pieces of the equation that should not be overlooked - your fellow workers, ...
Views: 1461(4 votes) - Ten Warning Signs - Time To Look For a New Job - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2010 from Alvah ParkerIt is no secret that it is hard to find work these days. That makes it doubly difficult if you are still working and are miserable at your job. Other people will tell you that you should be happy to be working and bringing in a pay check. Being unhappy at work makes your whole life feel ...
Views: 1365(4 votes) - Do You Over Promise and Under Deliver? - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2005 from Alvah ParkerA new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she often didn’t get to complete a client’s work until the client called to see if it was ready. I admired her honesty if not her time management skills. I’ve had times in my past sales career when my work load got so out of control I ...
Views: 908(2 votes) - Finding Meaningful Work Starts With Self Awareness - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2009 from Alvah ParkerAbout three years ago I began to work with an Alexander Technique teacher. If you are not familiar with this technique it is a method of working with the body to insure that you are in proper alignment. People use it to strengthen their voices, get rid of chronic back pain, and improve their ...
Views: 982(2 votes) - Interview Preparation Gives Confidence - by Submitted on May 17, 2008 from Alvah ParkerThese ten interview preparation tips will help you to prepare for the interview. There is a lot to think about when you have one scheduled. Following these 10 tips will allow you to feel more relaxed during the interviewing process. 1. Clothes - The day before the interview (or earlier) decide ...
Views: 975(1 vote) - Longing for Meaningful Work? - by Submitted on Oct 06, 2009 from Alvah ParkerRecently one of the women attorneys in a mentoring circle that I facilitate expressed her dissatisfaction with her current job. She worked in a small firm where the partners brought in the work and distributed it to the various attorneys in the firm. The partners then checked the completed ...
Views: 1375(4 votes) - Surviving Perfection – confessions of a desperate housewife - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2005 from Alvah ParkerRecently I read an article about an attorney who took paternity leave so his wife (also an attorney) could go back to work. He was a stay-at-home Dad from the time his son was 3 months until his son was 9 months. The article detailed how the attorney initially was sure he would have time ...
Views: 955(1 vote) - Ten Characteristics Of Meaningful Work - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2009 from Alvah ParkerIt seems to me if we are working 8+ hours each day, that work should add meaning to our lives and thus make us feel fulfilled, satisfied and happy. Leaders lead first by example (find meaning in their own work) and then by inspiring others to find meaning in their own work. What are the ...
Views: 1782(1 vote) - Top Ten Ways to Manage Interruptions - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2005 from Alvah ParkerSo many people I worked with said they got more work done at home than in the office. That was because there were so many interruptions in the office. In fact lots of people come in early or stay late just to have quiet time to work. One way to have that same quiet time during the day is to ...
Views: 847(1 vote) - Managing Through Change - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2009 from Alvah ParkerMy client told me her department was being reorganized for the hundredth time. The call center she managed was being converted to an email and chat response center instead of a telephone call center. She was sure customers would be angry when they found that they could not get their technical ...
Views: 1976(9 votes) - 10 Ways for Managers to Prepare for Interviewing a Job Candidate - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2010 from Alvah ParkerMany attorneys and other business owners start interviewing people for a job without clearly understanding what kind of person would best fit into the organization. Hiring is often done out of desperation. The attorney or business owner has a large amount of work to complete and knows he/she ...
Views: 1403(4 votes) - 10 Warning Signs That Prospective Client Is Not Right For You - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Alvah ParkerIn difficult economic times it is easy to let go of standards and take on a client who does not fit your vision of your ideal client. When few clients are in the pipeline it often looks attractive to take the ones that show up. When you do this you run the risk of having an angry client or ...
Views: 1263(2 votes) - How To Help Employees To Be Happy at Work - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Alvah ParkerThe Internet was abuzz this past year with the Steven Slater incident on the Jet Blue flight. He was the flight attendant who got annoyed with a demanding passenger and announced his irritation on the plane’s PA system and then quit his job by dramatically taking a beer and sliding down the ...
Views: 1226(1 vote) - 10 Ideas About Life Purpose - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2007 from Alvah ParkerWhat is your life purpose? Is it helpful to know what it is? This list provides some ideas about life purpose that may be helpful to you if you have ever wondered about yours. 1. Your life purpose is something you have always known either consciously or unconsciously. 2. Your life ...
Views: 892 - 10 Mistakes Job Searchers Make - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2010 from Alvah ParkerYou've started a job search. You are excited about the prospects of finding the perfect job. Of course you have a concern about how long the job search will take but you want to make sure your job search is effective. Here are some mistakes you'll want to avoid. 1. No strategy - Someone ...
Views: 1964 - 10 Questions for Career Changers - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2007 from Alvah ParkerAre you to change jobs or careers? For some the move is to find work that is more fulfilling so that you will be happier. For others it may a step toward taking more of a leadership role. Whatever your reasons for the career change, you’ll want to do some self discovery work. These ten ...
Views: 629 - 10 Tips For Using The Telephone - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2007 from Alvah ParkerAs a former telephone system sales person I have listened to many people as they make and receive telephone calls. Some people are really good at it and others need improvement. Today with so many cell phone users calling from just about anywhere we all can be authorities on what makes a good ...
Views: 737 - 10 Tips To Make Your Networking More Rewarding - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2008 from Alvah ParkerGood relationships are essential to any career. It doesn’t matter if you have your own business or work for someone else that network is critical. Lawyers, solo professionals, freelancers, and sales professionals must constantly network and generate new business. You prove your worth ...
Views: 768 - 10 Traps to Avoid When Starting A New Job - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Alvah ParkerEveryone wants to start a new job on the right foot. Having a strategy for making your mark in the first few weeks is a great idea. Here are 10 traps that can undermine your efforts during your first couple of months on the job. 1. Going against the cultural norms before you've looked to ...
Views: 1827 - 3 Lessons On Making More Money that Your Mother Never Taught You. - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2009 from Alvah ParkerIf you are looking to earn more money working for an employer, there are lessons you learned that may be getting in your way. Do these warnings sound familiar? • Don’t brag about yourself • Don’t be a job hopper • Don’t be a “social ...
Views: 932 - 5 Actions Job Seekers Must Take in Order to Find Their Dream Job - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2009 from Alvah ParkerThere is a big payoff to a successful job search and that is finding the job of your dreams. Imagine being asked to work at a job that seems totally suited to your skills and talents. Better still you find that the work environment of the company is one in which you know you will thrive. So ...
Views: 1081 - 60 Hour Work Weeks -Can You and Your Career Survive Them? - by Submitted on May 18, 2005 from Alvah Parker60 Hour Work Weeks – Can You and Your Career Survive Them? In the 80s while I was an account executive for AT&T most people in my organization worked normal (for then) business hours. By that I mean they arrived close to 8 or 8:30AM and left between 5 and 5:30PM. By 6 PM the office was empty. ...
Views: 816 - A New Method for Finding Your Passion - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2011 from Alvah ParkerAre you having a hard time finding your passion? Many of my career coaching clients wrestle with this. It was hard for me too. This month though I discovered a new way for my career coaching clients to find their passion. Although the circumstances are not what I would wish for anyone, ...
Views: 1291 - A Vision Motivates And Energizes - by Submitted on May 13, 2008 from Alvah ParkerA vision of your dream can move you toward success. It can motivate and energize you. At our first meeting Terri told me she had recently broken off a relationship with someone. Her former fiancé was consumed with building a boat to sail around the world. His enthusiasm for the project was ...
Views: 939 - Accountability For Your Career - by Submitted on May 12, 2008 from Alvah ParkerWhen you leave a job after having had a demanding manager, you may feel like you just took off a tight pair of shoes. What a relief! Even if you have been laid off and you are not sure what your next step is there can be a feeling of freedom. Being accountable to someone else is ...
Views: 566 - An Error Free Resume - Ten Proofreading Tips - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2008 from Alvah ParkerYour resume must be error free – free of any typos, grammar errors and misspellings. Even a winning resume is in danger of being put in the reject pile if hasn’t been proofread. Certainly a resume with errors makes the job candidate look less qualified and it gives an unfavorable first ...
Views: 697 - Are You Doing Meaningful Work? - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2009 from Alvah ParkerPerhaps like me you chose a major in college or had graduate work in a field that you sort of fell into. It is hard to know exactly what you want when you are 16 or 17 years old. In my day the choices for women were nurse, secretary, or teacher. I chose teacher because I couldn't type and ...
Views: 1044 - Be Happy And Healthy! Take A Vacation! - by Submitted on Sep 17, 2008 from Alvah ParkerDid you take a vacation this year or skip it because of high gas prices? Americans have always been good at putting off vacations so this year they have a built in excuse. If you passed on a 2008 vacation so far and want to be happier and healthier, now is the time to take a ...
Views: 708 - Can You Be Yourself At Work? - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2007 from Alvah ParkerWho do you get to be every day at work? Can you be your authentic self or do you need to change your behavior to fit the expectations of your environment? Oh sure, we all do change somewhat when we work. You dress in a particular way that perhaps is different from what you prefer, your ...
Views: 700 - Career Success - How to Be a Standout - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2008 from Alvah ParkerEveryday we hear about more layoffs. You will want to be proactive by starting a job search before it happens. That is a smart move but you must be careful. If your current boss gets wind of it you might be the first to be laid off. Of course if you have already successfully lined up a job, ...
Views: 591 - Career Success – 3 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Bullet Proof Your Career - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2008 from Alvah ParkerIn all the years that I have been working as a career and job coach I am always amazed at how many managers tell me they have no time to update their resume and keep their network active. “I know I should,” they often say, “but I just don’t have the time.” For continual career success these two ...
Views: 602 - Client Feedback - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2011 from Alvah ParkerWhen was the last time you asked a client for feedback about your services and how your office staff works as a team? You might turn up some useful information by doing a client feedback session when their work is complete. I recently had an experience with a hospital that is an example of how ...
Views: 1338 - Dads Are Heroes - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2005 from Alvah ParkerMy friend, Dovid Grossman, who is the father of nine children, told me he intended to have a website and teleclass series dedicated to the Hero’s Journey for Dads. He wanted to use the framework of a Hero’s Journey to engage in a discussion with fathers on parenting. I was somewhat aware of ...
Views: 807 - Enjoying the Moment - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2005 from Alvah ParkerMany years ago my family and I used to go to my then husband’s parent’s home for holiday meals. His mother was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for us. She spent days preparing all the season’s delights and we came to the table eager to begin the festivities. Invariably when 20 ...
Views: 726 - Establishing Trust – How to Build Relationships and Make Them Work for you - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2009 from Alvah Parker“You don’t have to like your banker, you just have to trust him”. I read this quote of Honore Balzac in an article on the web and thought it would be perfect to start an article on trust. Trust is the key to building relationships even today. Balzac, a French writer, was born in 1799. Some ...
Views: 1179 - Find Meaningful Work and Feel Fulfilled - by Submitted on Jul 26, 2010 from Alvah ParkerMeaningful and engaging work is the key to a profitable business. When people feel their work is meaningful the end result is a more productive office with a satisfied and fulfilled workforce. What do I mean by meaningful and engaging work? Here is a story to illustrate: There once was a ...
Views: 2078 - Finding Your Voice - by Submitted on May 10, 2008 from Alvah Parker"She found her voice?" the panel moderator stated questioningly. What does that mean? Shouldn't she have found it by this time? These were the questions posed by a TV program moderator after the New Hampshire primary election in the US. Of course he was referring to what the media was ...
Views: 678 - Go to the Head of the Class - by Submitted on May 24, 2005 from Alvah ParkerSeveral years ago when I was preparing to start my own business I decided to take an accounting class. I took the course at a local college. Each week I set out for the school which was in a nearby city after working a full day. I drove during rush hour and left more than enough time to ...
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