Friday
Jun 27, 2008

4:06 am

Dream Stealers

Years ago, I met someone who was my first KNOWN dream stealer.  I had just written my first book and was very protective of it.   I named it, “Hire Me Secrets Of Job Interviewing.”  I didn’t know if it was well written or would be successful, but that really didn’t matter to me at the time. The sole purpose was to help people  get  job offers. I owned  a Recruiting/Staffing firm in Phoenix Arizona. Every day it was my job to prepare our candidates to  interview with our client companies for  new career opportunities.  The book had all the ingredients necessary to show how to get in the game of interviewing, answer  questions that most of our clients asked, get the job offer, and make a decision. I didn’t market the book or even tell anyone about it.  Why?? Because I was so afraid that someone, especially someone in the same business I was in, would see it and make fun of me for writing it. Be careful what you focus on. A couple of months after writing the book the dream stealer entered my office…  She picked up my book and said very sarcastically,  “You have got to be kidding …YOU wrote a book?” Embarrassed I said, “Yes, all I am trying to do is help our clients get a job and to also be aware that interviewing is a game, so they shouldn’t take it personally.” In response, she said,   “I am also writing a book about interviewing.  At the present time it is all in my head.  It’s ok though because I have a mind like a computer.  All the chapters are compartmentalized, I even have a clear picture of my cover. I must say however MY book  is MUCH thicker than yours and much “meatier”   In fact, I noticed that  your  chapter on resumes is just a few pages, mine has over 100 pages so far.” I don’t know what came over me but I saw her for what she was in that instant.  A DREAM STEALER, AN INTIMIDATOR, A BULLY. “You know the difference between your goal and mine???” I said. “No what?” She replied. “Your goal is still in your head…..I wrote mine down in the form of a book.” Sweet revenge………….Is her book done to date……..NO! Did my book get picked up by a major publisher because it was simple, easy to read, and could help thousands of people get a job? YES! I tell you this story because I was reminded just weeks ago about all the Dream Stealers ™  that have come into my life over the years.  It was on this trip down memory lane that I realizedDream Stealers ™ are everywhere!!!  We must be aware and prepared to run… not walk away from them.  I knew I  had to share with others that Dream Stealers ™ come in all varieties. Teachers, friends, associates, even family members.  They might even tell you very good reasons why you should listen to them because it is “for your own good”. My last dream stealer was the force behind  this story.  Actually my last dream stealer I actually  PAID.  That’s right I paid him $1000 to TRY to steal one of my dreams. It happened in Las Vegas… My partner Debbie and I signed up for his seminar, paid our money, got on a plane, checked into a hotel, took a cab to his event and proceeded to have a dream stealer tell us what we can’t, shouldn’t and couldn’t do. When we decided to walk out on his training session after identifying him as a dream stealer we asked for our money back. (something neither of us have ever done in our lives.)  We were very uncomfortable with the situation but we promised each other that as soon as we got the money  we would both buy  items that would remind us of  future Dream Stealers ™. Debbie bought a small but perfect diamond that would remind her not to let ANYONE take the “twinkle” out of her dreams.  My reminder  was the famous BOSE  ear phones that would  remind me NEVER  listen to ANYONE who tries to steal your dreams through intimidation or wrong information. If either of these stories rings a bell for you or reminds you of any of the Dream Stealers ™ that have been in your life so far, or are about to appear, get a reminder that works for you. A reminder that will help you become aware…  everyday. Then GO FOR YOUR DREAMS Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 12% [?]

Saturday
Jun 21, 2008

9:06 pm

Are You Living Your Passion?

As I interviewed thousands of people over a 20 year period at the Executive Recruiting Firm I owned in Phoenix AZ, I discovered that the majority of people are NOT living their passion. Instead they are showing up for a “job,” collecting a pay check, counting the days until the weekend or counting the months until their next one week vacation. Let me share a couple examples of a few clients that learned how to design a lifestyle and a career so they could “have it all” and start living THEIR Passion.

Consider Mary:

She just turned 40 has three children ages 3, 8 and 12 and works part time out of her home as an executive recruiter earning approximately 30K a year. Mary wanted and needed to take her business and her income to another level but wondered if she had to get an office to do so or hire an assistant. That was not necessarily what she wanted to do. Her real passion was teaching, communicating and helping others.

Mary had her “Aha” moment during our first consultation when she realized that she had the knowledge and tools to share with other Moms who wanted to stay at home, work part time, while contributing to the family finances.

She started designing an internet based company to sell the “how to” formula that has worked for her for the past 13 years. This was using her creativity, her natural ability to organize, and her teaching skills. She discovered she did not need to go out of her home to make money. She called her new business www.youcanstayathomeandmakemoney.com

I think it is important to brainstorm with others until you find your “aha” moment about how you can start living your passion. You owe it to yourself to find out what is right for YOU to do with the rest of your life. To discover your passion and purpose.

Another client Ted (38)…… had been building an insurance agency for the past 15 years. When his wife asked for a divorce his world changed. He started asking himself “what do I want to do now, I never did love the insurance business.” However Ted also had what I consider the golden handcuffs ….How do you walk away from something that affords you a great lifestyle like Ted had?

You Don’t!

You keep that business going and growing as it always has even if you have to hire some part time or temporary employees to get you through the transition, but then start looking at what YOU really want to do?

Ted worked through the process of getting to know what HE really wanted in life. What he realized was he needed to be outdoors, and work in the soil, of course his insurance sales position never allowed him to do that. He started one little step at a time just by adding outdoor activities to his every day life while his cash cow continued to work for him.

Giving himself permission to be outdoors and working in the earth, Ted is now developing a part time landscaping company that he works in on the weekends.

I am sure the end of this story for Ted we will find him happier and more fulfilled than he has ever been in life because he found what makes him happy at the core of his being.

The days of working in a career for 50 years (as my Dad did) receiving a gold watch and retiring until it is time to die are gone forever.

One question I get asked all the time is:

How does a person know if they are on the right track with their career and if they are possibly living their passion?

Allow me to ask you 4 simple questions to know if you are on the right path.

1. When you tell others what you do for a living are you proud of what you do?

2. When you are at work does time fly by until it is time to go home?

3. Do you feel creative and productive when you are at work?

4. Do you generally look forward to going to work each day?

These are just 4 out of hundreds of questions to ask yourself so you can begin living your passion. One of the keys to future success with anyone’s career is finding out what you really want and who you really are. It all begins with simple questions and answers about You, Your needs, your desires.

ARE YOU LIVING YOUR PASSION?

Receive complimentary weekly e-zines from Patricia Noel Drain to grow your business, find your career passion, and set new goals! Go to: http://www.buildagreatbusiness.com/

Popularity: 16% [?]

Thursday
Jun 05, 2008

1:06 pm

BoomerGuide: What Should I Be When I Grow Up?

FOR YEARS, I INTERVIEWED hundreds of people at the staffing firm I owned to help them find a particular job. Almost daily I would hear people ask, “Now what should I be when I grow up?”

They thought this was a unique, clever question. But in reality, hundreds of people have asked that question over the years. As time went on, I noticed the people asking the question kept getting older and the question was asked more frequently.

That is why I chose to call this book — What Should I Be When I Grow Up Now That I’m 40, 50, 60?

What Should I Be When I Grow Up?

But why 40, 50, 60?

• Because there are 77 million baby boomers in the United States between the ages of
42 and 60, according to AARP Magazine’s October 2005 issue.

• Because 4 million (or so) baby boomers will be turning 50 every year.

• Because every second, another person is turning 50.

• Because today’s baby boomers face career challenges that generations before them never had to face.

Respectfully,

Patricia Drain, www.whatshouldibewhenigrowup.com

Popularity: 13% [?]