Articles by Alvah Parker on ArticleSnatch.com

Building Strong Relationships Begins With Networking

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:36:04 -0500

Several years ago I was asked to speak to a group of graduating seniors at a local college. I was going to give them some tips for their future careers. Don't use the word "networking" the woman who asked me to speak warned. They are so sick of hearing about it that they just shut down and don't listen once they hear that word. Networking is an overused term and just about every client I have had will tell me that he/she hates doing it. When pressed to say why they hate it, it is because that they think networking involves meeting a big group of people and "working a room". Guess what? I find that a little intimidating too! How can you make networking something that is fun and that you look forward to? I know I am so much better at doing something that I like then forcing myself to do something intimidating. Ultimately the goal of networking is to find a new contact within a target company, an active job seeker who can tell you about other jobs, or a person with lots of connections who is a willing referral source. **End Summary** Topics: Building strong relationships]]> relationship funnel]]> networking]]> making networking fun]]> tips for careers]]> building relationships]]> relationship building]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Ten Steps to Writing a Good Story

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:05:05 -0500

"Tell me a stowy, Daddy." My father loved to hear me say this when I was a child and quoted it to me frequently when I was growing up. I guess I always liked a good story! Even now one of the exercises I do with clients looking for meaningful work is to have them write their life stories. We look for clues of strengths, talents and values that show up throughout their lives. In those autobiographies are many stories. Frequently we find one that is the basis for their new career. Being a good story teller is an important asset for everyone. It enables you to easily make a memorable point for your audience. Lately I've been thinking about ways to tell a good story especially for people who are not natural story tellers. Here is a list of 10 steps for you to try: 1. What is your story about? Think of a situation you have faced during your life, a failure, an experience where you were doing meaningful work, an awkward moment, a difficult decision. 2. How can you capture the story? Stories are meant to be told so tell the story to someone else i. **End Summary** Topics: writing a good story]]> strengths]]> talents and values]]> draft of story]]> meaningful work]]> universal theme]]> memorable point]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

How To Be Happy at Work? Acknowledge Yourself

Thu, 12 May 2011 11:54:22 -0400

Making a list of your accomplishments at work is a way to acknowledge yourself and your work. In 1997 when I had just started my coaching practice another coach sent out a newsletter suggesting that her readers make a list of 100 accomplishments for the year in their personal and work life that they would like to acknowledge themselves for. Her theme was "celebrate your successes". The task seemed overwhelming to me. My business was just beginning. I had no idea if it would be successful or not. Leaving the corporate world and its secure salary to be out on my own was just plain scary. It felt like I would have trouble finding 10 work achievements for the year never mind 100. As a new business owner I was very good at identifying the problems. My inner critic was alive and well. She was busy telling me I could never make it. How many of us are more in tune with what is wrong with what we do than with what is right? The exercise of finding 100 accomplishments challenged me. **End Summary** Topics: : Happy at work]]> acknowledge yourself]]> work achievements]]> inner critic]]> celebrate your successes]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

A New Method For Finding Your Passion

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:58:18 -0400

Are 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, everyone has tough times at some time in their lives so this might work for you too. My mother who is 96 came down with bronchitis at the end of September. Two days after the doctor had diagnosed her she got worse so I called an ambulance to take her to the hospital. She spent a week in the hospital sleeping most of the time. She woke only for meals or to say hello to me when she became aware that I was there. She was extremely weak and tired. The next week they moved her to a rehabilitation hospital and diagnosed her with pneumonia. As her condition got worse she began to think she would always be bedridden. She told the doctor if she could not go to her bridge games each week she had no reason to live! **End Summary** Topics: passion]]> passionate]]> finding your passion]]> coaching]]> coaching clients]]> career coaching]]> newsletter writing]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Client Feedback

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:30:25 -0400

When 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 the work is complete. I recently had an experience with a hospital that is an example of how frustrating a poorly working team can be. I wish they had asked for feedback! My mother was in the hospital for 5 weeks. Years ago a friend who was in the hospital said to me, "I think everyone here is amazingly capable but it seems that they have never met each other." I know exactly what he meant. Everyone in the hospital has his/her own specific job. For the most part they do it well but they rarely give information to each other. Sure there is a computer with notes about the patient in it but I'm not sure who besides the nurse ever reads that. As a Practice Advisor to attorneys I always notice the operations of other professional service businesses. Do the same problems exist in my clients practices as exist in the hospital? How about your office? **End Summary** Topics: client feedback]]> practice advisor]]> professional services]]> work as a team]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

What Makes Me Happy At Work?

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:52:20 -0500

Waking up every day excited and happy to go to work has always been a goal for me. Some jobs were like that for me and others were not. I remember once literally dragging myself to my job because it was so stressful. It was easier for me to write this list when I thought about what I hated about that job. As a career transition coach I encourage my clients to know their requirements for a great job. It will help them to define their next move or make their current job better. The ultimate goal for anyone who works is job success. This is more apt to happen when a person is happy at work. 1. I am happiest at work when I am doing the work I love and work that I have a deep interest in. I've always enjoyed helping people reach a goal and I am especially happy when I can help them find meaningful and profitable work. This is exactly the work I do as a career transition coach. 2. One important part of my practice is that I want to work with clients I enjoy. **End Summary** Topics: happy at work]]> job success]]> satisfaction in work]]> meaningful work]]> profitable work]]> career transition coach]]> feedback is negative]]> positive feedback]]> paid wha]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Uncovering Your Passion So That You Can Be Happy At Work and Enjoy Job Success

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:15:16 -0500

Are you happy at work? Do you have passion for the work that you do? The notion of passion was something that mystified me early on in my career. I was usually happy at work but the feeling of passion eluded me. In fact up until I retired from AT&T, I only got brief glimpses of what got my juices flowing. What exactly was my calling? Because my style is low key I often have difficulty identifying and displaying the emotion I feel about something. It is one reason I have taken Improv classes. The emotion is there inside but never got exposed. Improv has helped me to display my feelings more easily and in a bigger way. Since the passion was there all the time, it was more about labeling and allowing myself to really experience it. Unfortunately during my career I was usually too busy making a living and focusing on job success to take the time to think about this. That was my loss. Now I can see that for the most part I was lucky to find jobs that were meaningful and important to me. **End Summary** Topics: passion]]> job success]]> happy at work]]> attorney]]> lawyer]]> passion for the work you do]]> feeling stuck]]> profitable and fulfilling practice]]> meaningful work]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Happy At Work - Want Professional Success? Ignore Negativity

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 16:20:44 -0500

Amy, my client (not her real name), set a goal when we began our coaching sessions to find a position where she could achieve professional success and be happy at work in 3 months. She had been working in her position for about 6 months and was miserable. The environment was toxic, there was little or no direction, and everyone was tense and unhappy. After 2 months of coaching she found a new job. Amy's friend, Claire, still worked in the old company and continued to call Amy at her home after Amy left the job. During each call Claire would complain that she was getting negative feedback about her performance from her manager. Claire thought she was doing what she was supposed to do and felt that the manager and his boss were out to limit her job success. Amy was torn between being a good friend and protecting herself from being drawn into the negativity of her friend's situation. Since the situation sounded dire, Amy did suggest Claire look for a new job. **End Summary** Topics: happy at work]]> career coach]]> job success]]> professional success]]> negative feedback]]> career coach]]> ]]> ignore negativity]]> job success]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Ten Ways To Display Passion For The Job Seeker

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:04:13 -0500

Many 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 shown enthusiasm for the job during the interview and that is how he came to his decision. Taking a behavioral assessment helped me to understand his comment. Some people are naturally passionate about everything they do. Others have a style that is dispassionate and often unreadable. I've learned now that my natural style is often unreadable by others. There is no right or wrong style to be. Having a very passionate team member can often be annoying to a team trying to view all sides in making a decision. During a sales presentation or a job interview being passionate is a positive however. Enthusiasm is contagious! While it is difficult to fake passion it was possible for me to learn to show my feelings more openly. **End Summary** Topics: job seeker]]> passion]]> job interview]]> sales presentation]]> behavioral style]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

How To Help Employees To Be Happy At Work

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 23:45:21 -0500

The 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 plane's emergency slide. Clearly he was not happy at work! He certainly found a dramatic way to give feedback to his employer and the rest of the world about how untenable his job had become. To me this is a really sad example of how difficult today's workplace has become. To many people meaningful work is just a dream. No wonder Steven Slater has become a folk hero. People are cheering him for telling the boss what he really thought. Too bad he waited so long and became so frustrated but maybe there was no other way. Companies do have a way of ignoring situations until someone blows up. I am sympathetic to Slater's rage. I worked for a large company where there was a yearly employee satisfaction survey. It gave the employees the opportunity to share their thoughts about the business with management. **End Summary** Topics: happy at work]]> career success]]> meaningful work]]> employee satisfaction survey]]> job satisfaction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Ten Simple Tips to Make a Good First Impression at a Job Interview

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:40:16 -0500

Recently at a social gathering two business men were saying that within the first 2 minutes of a interviewing a job applicant they know whether they will hire the person. I always cringe when I hear something like that. That doesn't give the job seeker much time and it doesn't allow for error on the part of the applicant. There is a standard they are looking for and you need to meet it. You want the hiring manager to see that you are perfect for the job, Here are ten tips that will allow you to make a good first impression in the first few minutes of the interview. 1. Be on time - That means not too early or too late. Always arrive just a couple of minutes early. If you get there too early the hiring manager may feel pressured. You want the hiring manager relaxed and in a good mood when he/she meets with you. Arriving late immediately gives the impression that the interview is not important to you. 2. Give a good handshake - If you have a weak handshake, the hiring manager is likely to think you are weak too. **End Summary** Topics: job interview]]> good first impression]]> job seeker]]> hire the candidate]]> high energy]]> enthusiasm]]> happy at work]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

10 Ways for Managers to Prepare for Interviewing a Job Candidate

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:39:04 -0500

Many 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 can't get it done on time alone so he/she looks for someone to help. Good hiring decisions are made with planning. Your goal is to find someone who find the job meaningful and will be happy at work. Here are some ways you will want to prepare before the interview. 1. Make sure that you are hiring for the right job. Take an inventory of all the necessary tasks in your office or department. Ask each person to initial the tasks he/she is responsible for. Make sure that the attorney is responsible for the tasks that only an attorney can handle all other tasks should be done by the person who is paid the least and is capable of doing the task. Where are the gaps? Often times you think you need someone to cover one group of tasks when in fact you need something quite different. 2. **End Summary** Topics: attorneys]]> interview preparation]]> good hiring decisions]]> best fit for job]]> happy at work]]> listen carefully]]> salary range]]> assessment]]> interview questions]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Can This Networking Group Help Me Build My Business?

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:25:49 -0400

So 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 said however some organizations may just be wrong for you and the sooner you decide that the less time you will waste and the faster you can move on to a group that will work for you. Here are some questions to ask yourself in order to evaluate the group. If you can say "yes" to at least 8 of these the group is right for you. 1. Are there enough people from your target market and/or possible referrers to make joining the group regularly worthwhile? Your goal is to meet people who can either give you business or refer business to you. There should be a certain number of potential customer/clients or referrers there to satisfy your goal. 2. Is the group large enough so that you get a diversity of ideas and people? **End Summary** Topics: networking group]]> networking]]> purpose of group]]> thought leaders]]> build relationships]]> relationships]]> referrers]]> clients]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

10 Tips for Writing Emails

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:29:18 -0400

This 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 embarrassed them both and was the subject of a lot of web conversation. In the other two instances I received a group email that was intended for only one person to read. One was harmless but the other made some really derogatory comments about a class that a member of the group was planning to give. The member whose class it was said that she was shocked. So was I. The sender of the email made a public apology and said in her confusion she sent the email to the list that was intended for someone not on the list. How embarrassing for everyone! 1. Avoid personal or private material - With the ease of a simple forward anything personal or private can be public very easily. If you don't want it published all over the Internet don't use email to send it. 2. **End Summary** Topics: attorney]]> associate]]> email]]> related documents]]> proof read]]> email tips]]> writing email]]> tips for writing email]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

10 Mistakes Job Searchers Make

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:27:02 -0400

You'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 told you to get your resume updated and that is where you begin your job search. You have no strategy for using it. You have no career plan and you haven't thought about your strengths and goals. Your updated resume is for the job you just left not for the job that will help you to move in the direction you want to go. 2. Using one generic resume - Using the same resume for each job may be the easiest approach but it doesn't show the hiring manager why you are perfect for the job. To do that you must match your accomplishments to the requirements of the job. 3. Not using the top part of your resume to grab the attention of the reader - The top third of your resume is the most important part. **End Summary** Topics: Job search]]> job searcher]]> resume]]> interview]]> strategy]]> follow up]]> thank you notes]]> proof reading]]> cover letter]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

10 Warning Signs That Prospective Client Is Not Right For You

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:31:30 -0400

In 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 worse one who is out a real energy drainer. Here are ten warning signs that tell you to avoid the client. 1. Not in your practice area(s) - The prospect has a seemingly simple matter. You could do it but it is outside your practice area. It may be easy or it may look easy because of your lack of experience. If it is outside your practice area it will take you extra time to understand the issues and do the work necessary. Use your time to solidify your brand and practice area(s) not something that will require research and study to learn something you are not used to doing and may never have a need for again. 2. Conflicts with other cases you or other members of your firm are working on. **End Summary** Topics: : warning signs]]> prospect]]> wrong client]]> ideal client]]> fee arrangement]]> listening]]> energy drain]]> angry client]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

10 Traps to Avoid When Starting A New Job

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:25:57 -0400

Everyone 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 see what works and why it works. Check out the undocumented dress code. What is acceptable and what is not? How do you communicate with others? Is news passed at the coffee pot, in email, or by dropping into their cube or office? When do people leave the office in the evening? Is it at 5pm, 6pm, 8pm or later? You may want to transform the culture but first find out what the norm is and then strategically pick your battles if that is what you choose to do. 2. Believing you are the savior of the company before you really understand who or what you are saving the company from. As Covey says "Seek first to understand." 3. Closing yourself off and sticking to your job heads down. **End Summary** Topics: new job]]> company culture]]> networking]]> update resume]]> 90day accomplishment]]> expectations of boss]]> manager's expectations]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

How To Create A Marketing Strategy That Insures a Constant Flow of Business

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:41:48 -0400

To better market your business you'll need to think about your marketing strategy. It isn't enough to do sporadic marketing activities. A successful plan will help you to establish a constant flow of new business and allow you to more accurately forecast your staffing needs. 1. Describe your target market in demographic terms (age range, income level, occupation, marital status, geographical location, sex). 2. Describe your target market in psychographic terms (life style, desires, perceived needs) This information along with demographic information will help you to find where your target market hangs out. What ever you choose in terms of marketing activities you always want to be sure you are in front of a significant number of members of your target market. 3. Estimate the size of your target market. The larger the target market the easier it is to reach them. That said however a target market that is too large may prove difficult to reach because there is a lot of variation within it. You want to choose a target market that is small enough so that when you speak or write to them, they feel you are speaking or writing directly to them. 4. **End Summary** Topics: marketing strategy]]> staffing needs]]> market your business]]> successful marketing plan]]> marketing actions]]> target market]]> demographics]]> psychographics]]> competiti]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Ten Habits for More Brain Power

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:49:05 -0400

A 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 take a step back and make sure that we are taking care of ourselves too. You may want to try a few of these 10 activities: 1. Go for a walk with a friend. The article suggests walking with a friend so that you talk as you walk. Social connection, physical exercise and mental stimulation are brain strengtheners. I'd add that the exercise is good for weight control and also stress control. 2. Add variety to your life. Do not follow a set routine day after day. Wake up your brain with something new. Try a new route to the office. Go to a new networking group. Memorize a new poem. 3. Be a Life Long Learner. Study something in depth. This is good for your brain and your career. Learn a new language and begin to speak and write it. **End Summary** Topics: brain health]]> brain power]]> habits]]> good health]]> diet]]> walking]]> life long learning]]> puzzles and games]]> checkups]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Is Your Personal Brand What You Believe It Is?

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:46:17 -0400

Ever had your kid swear in front of you? Mine did a few times. (Not at me. Just in front of me.) He claimed it just slipped out because that is the way he talked with his friends. At the time I warned him that if it "slipped out" like that in front of the wrong person it might jeopardize a job, a relationship or his reputation. Maybe I exaggerated then but today with the Internet, social media, cell phones that take pictures and inexpensive video cameras, you need to be really careful. Now it is not just about swearing but about any behavior that could damage your personal brand. Personal brand? Who thinks about such things? It is something for Proctor and Gamble or Johnson and Johnson. That was my feeling until very recently. Why am I concerned about this now? Because I, like my clients and you, am using the Internet in many different ways to get the attention of others. I want to be noticed by others in a good way - in a way that attracts my target market. (If you are looking for work, you will want to attract recruiters and employers. **End Summary** Topics: personal brand]]> social media]]> DISC assessment]]> Internet]]> communicate]]> stressful work]]> Google]]> Twitter]]> LinkedIn]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Work-life Balance Is Good For Your Health

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:38:24 -0400

Working more than 40 hours a week seems normal today - at least in the US. My clients tell me they consistently work into the night and over weekends.Blackberries and other smart phones enable employees to be on call at any hour day or night. It has become an accepted way of life here. Is it healthy? The latest research shows that working too many hours is not good for your health. The research, published online in the "European Heart Journal", found that, compared with people who did not work overtime, people who worked ten or more hours a day had a 60 percent higher risk of heart-related problems such as death due to heart disease, nonfatal heart attacks and angina. What happens to finding the balance between work and leisure when people work over 60 plus hours a week? I attended a meeting in which work-life balance was the topic of the discussion. For those with children who were present at the meeting working and having other family responsibilities is an important and difficult issue. No one there considered health issues (except maybe how to go to pediatrician appointments during the day). **End Summary** Topics: Work-life balance]]> good health]]> heart health]]> work hours]]> part time work]]> schedule time]]> time management]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Are You Engaged in the Work That You Do?

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:36:11 -0400

Let's talk a little bit about engagement. Not the kind you have before you get married. I mean engagement in the work you do. From my perspective that is what makes work interesting and fun. Are you really engaged in the work that you do? The latest Gallup survey shows that only 28% of Americans feel engaged by their work. If you are engaged in your work, you feel energized about the work and look forward to it each day. Sure sometimes the work is monotonous or stressful but overall you are emotionally connected to what you are doing. When I was a very little girl my father who was an engineer would come home from work each day and go for a walk. Often he would take me with him. My mother would stay home to finish making dinner but she always told me as we left for the walk "Don't talk to your father until he talks to you." As we walked my father was usually lost in thought. I followed my mother's directions and most evenings by the time we had turned around to return home he was talking to me. **End Summary** Topics: Engaged]]> add value]]> self motivated]]> job security]]> Gallup survey]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

Find Meaningful Work and Feel Fulfilled

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:22:03 -0400

Meaningful 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 traveler who journeyed all over the globe in search of wisdom and enlightenment. In the midst of one village, he came upon a great deal of noise, dust, and commotion. He approached the nearest laborer and asked, "Excuse me; I'm not from this village. May I ask what's going on here?" The laborer replied curtly, "Can't you see? I'm busting rocks. It's unpleasant dirty work but it's a job." The traveler approached a second laborer who was doing the same thing and seemed intent on the work and asked the same question. The second laborer replied, "Can't you see? I'm earning a living to support my family." The traveler then approached a third laborer who was also breaking up rocks and posed the question a third time. **End Summary** Topics: Meaningful work]]> engaging work]]> fulfilling work]]> mission]]> purpose]]> values]]> family values]]> profitable business]]> workforce]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

10 Mistakes Lawyers Make When Growing Their Practices

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:42:21 -0400

In law school lawyers are taught the law but not how to run a practice. They often start their practices with no business knowledge and no idea what skills and systems are required. Many have been successful in building a good practice by learning the basics on their own. Often however their practice reaches a plateau and they are not able to grow their revenue. The following is a list of common mistakes these lawyers make. Even one of these mistakes will interfere with the success and growth of a practice. 1. They have no written business plan. Most lawyers have thought about how they want to run their practice. The ideas are in their heads but rarely written down. Because these plans float around in their heads they are subject to change frequently and goals are nebulous. Having a written business plan is the first step in having a successful practice. (If the attorney is an associate in a law firm, it is very helpful to work as though he/she has his/her own business. The associate can write a plan for what he/she are going to contribute to the firm during the year and work the plan.) 2. **End Summary** Topics: lawyers]]> attorneys]]> mistakes made]]> growing practice]]> growth of practice]]> law schools]]> build a practice]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.

10 Mistakes Career Changers Make

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:41:04 -0400

Over the years I have talked to hundreds of people who dislike their job or know they are in the wrong job. Most are reluctant to make a change for lots of different reasons. The most common is inertia - the feeling that they know this job and can do it so why bother to make a change. In recent years many of these people have lost their jobs and are now considering making a career change. Others are currently in a job and waiting for the economy to turn around before making a change. In either situation this list of 10 Mistakes Career Changers Make will be useful. 1. Waiting until they are out of work before thinking about a career change. Making a career change takes time. When someone is out of work they usually want to get back to work quickly. Unless they have the financial resources or a temporary assignment to keep them afloat, doing the work necessary to find the right career change to make takes too long. 2. Deciding on what they are going to change to without research and self assessment. **End Summary** Topics: career]]> career change]]> career changer]]> career changers]]> career transition]]> transition plan]]> job search]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor for Attorneys and a Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine with career and business information. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website free monthly publications and receive a free values assessment along with your subscription.