The Hindi word for Balance is Santulan, something that is very challenging right now for many of us. Nobody can say I’m exaggerating when I say the world went upside down thanks to COVID-19.

If the first wave wasn’t bad, the second one wreaked havoc and especially in India in recent weeks.

Life became even more bizarre for many of us in Delhi but one soldiered on. My connections turned friends on LinkedIn shared equally upsetting stories about their countries.

We’re all sailing in the same ship, hoping the wind will change and take us in a better direction.

My 2 cents?

Stay positive and strive to find balance – even if it a new balance.

Normal societal and cultural traditions were swept aside during this second wave.

Many of us found ourselves in bereavement without the social support of friends and relatives who would normally be there during the funeral or cremation, condolence visits and the fortnight of rituals that are done to help the departed soul while bringing solace and comfort to the grief-stricken family.

Around that time, I had a chat with a professional who was looking to explore a greater meaning to his life and career.

The great ‘life happens’ had hit him, and all his plans have gone haywire. His Dad had a pain in the side and when they reached hospital, apart from discovering an inoperable problem in the torso area, he’d been diagnosed as having COVID-19 which means no biopsy was possible.

His priorities changed.

While the long-term vision and goal was still there, the focus was on the immediate now and how to find balance between work commitments and family responsibilities.

His story is not unique. Many of us were holding down jobs while looking after family members especially the vulnerable like children and elderly parents. We wondered what would happen next and if we had the resilience to deal with it.

The vaccine arrived but that wasn’t the shield to prevent catching COVID-19. It simply helped to lessen the impact from being a disease to an infection. Even then one couldn’t guarantee one wouldn’t die due to complications.

Like I said, many of us in that situation utilized the Payoff Method to prioritize our tasks and maximize the return on our efforts (read more about it here).

Balance – is it a myth?

If you think about life being balanced, you might envision a seesaw in the position of being directly balanced in the middle with no ups, no downs, and simply managing to stay in the middle ground.

Of course, life doesn’t work like that.

There are ups and there are most certainly downs. Sometimes you might feel as though you just want to jump off the seesaw and lay on the ground for a little while just to gain your equilibrium back.

What does it mean to be in balance, if life has its difficulties?

When you are in balance, you maintain your equilibrium while life’s ups and downs come to visit.

Of course, you go through the various emotions as circumstances both good and not so good work their way through your life.

However, being in balance means you get to choose how long you stay in the down position.

Of course, realistically, you can’t always stay up on the seesaw of life, but you can choose how you feel and what your action steps are going to be while you’re down.

Being in balance means intentionally, no matter how hard it is, choosing how you will show up under any given circumstance.

How do you really achieve balance?

You can achieve balance in several ways:

• Feel your emotions and move quickly through them – it’s perfectly fine to become emotional when the roller coaster of life gets too fast and too furious. Feel what you need to feel but move quickly on to the next step. The next step after feeling is action.

• Choose an action step to recreate the scene. If you’ve lost a job, fire up your resume. If your home needs a repair, start asking family and friends for referrals on contractors. Don’t just sit and stew about what happened but take the appropriate time to recreate what happens next.

• Don’t regurgitate facts and stories repeatedly – the more you talk about what happened, how unfair it was, and what a nuisance it was, the more energy you expend. This energy could be used for better purposes.

• If you find yourself faced with a problem, take the energy needed to create some sort of answer rather than dwell only on the issue at hand. Click the image below to download this worksheet – it will help.

Make a choice and make some change. If you really want to achieve your goals and enjoy life to the fullest, you must choose where your energy will go.

Make a choice that seems best in the moment and follow through with it.

Make a choice with the information you have in front of you and take action steps toward that choice.

And if you feel overwhelmed, use the Payoff method here to reduce the stress and get results.

5 Tips to give you enough energy to get through your day

Finding balance at any time, whether normal, during a pandemic or a world turned upside down requires not only energy but also making sure you have the required energy and don’t end up in burnout.

In other words, store the energy for the time when you need it most.

This energy needs to include all forms in order to help us stay balanced – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

What about you?

Is your typical workday more like a marathon than a short sprint? Has Work from Home and Remote working blurred the lines between work and personal life?

If you have a job with long work shifts—longer than the usual 9 to 5 workday—you’re not alone.

A wide range of jobs, from banking to auditing to IT services and many more, require workers to put in longer than average workdays. That’s a long time to have to be alert and at the top of your game and more so during lockdown.

That was my challenge not only during my Article days in London but throughout my corporate career when an 80+ work week was part of the requirement to climb up the corporate ladder.

I got into Transcendental Meditation which led to my interest in Chakra Balancing other metaphysical techniques. This was way back in 1988 – long before the internet exploded with gurus teaching all types of techniques.

I’ve detailed my techniques which I still use in my book Stress Management with Chakra Balancing Exercises.

But my game plan wasn’t all ‘woo woo’.

I had 5 more areas covered and I recommend you follow these tips.

Tip 1 – Make your sleep non-negotiable.

I’d say get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep but not everyone needs that much sleep. Determine your optimal sleeping time and stick to it. You’ll know what that is if you wake up refreshed in the morning.

Tip 2 – Get some exercise on a daily basis.

Many people have the wrong idea about exercise—they think it’s an energy drainer, and that working out will only make you tired when you’re through. However, the opposite is true!

A fit and active lifestyle that includes plenty of exercise on a regular basis will help kick your metabolism into overdrive and boost your energy levels—perfect for getting through those long work shifts.

Start small—try taking regular long walks and building upon your exercise routine a little at a time. Make sure you have your mask on!

Tip 3 – Eat properly!

Maintaining a regular balanced diet is also a powerful way to keep your energy levels high and consistent—this includes what you eat when you’re off duty as well as on the job.

Make sure that your diet includes plenty of high-quality protein and vegetables, and try to keep processed foods, refined carbs, and sugar to a minimum.

The former helps your body maintain a consistent and reliable level of energy throughout the day while a diet high in sugar and refined carbs (like candy and cola) causes your blood sugar and energy levels to peak and plummet as the day drags on—like a roller coaster.

Tip 4 – Learn to take breaks when you start to feel tired.

Strategic work breaks, even if it’s just for a few minutes to take a deep breath, stretch, and clear your head, can make a world of difference when you’re facing a long work shift.

I make sure that I get up for 5 minutes every hour and walk to the kitchen to get water or do something that gets me away from the computer.

Tip 5 – Store the extra energy you’ve created using meditation for use when you’re hitting a slump using the simple technique called Tan T’ien.

It works for spiritual energy created by prayers too. This post explains the technique.

It can be a real struggle to get through a long work shift and stay alert and at the top of your game—add in all the other things going on in your life that eat away at your time and energy and you may be facing an uphill battle.

It’s even more of a challenge during pandemic times when the world feels it’s turned upside down like the cruise ship in the movie The Poseidon Adventure.

But you can do it! Start with the tip which is easiest for you and build on it.

The bottom line is, you can find balance in a world gone topsy turvy. It means finding your unique equilibrium.

That requires commitment to yourself. Are you ready?

Additional Resource to help with time management and making your life a priority

The decision to change careers is easy but doing it successfully is where the rubber hits the road.

While it’s never too late to try a new career on for size, changing careers can be a significant challenge.

Are you ready for the career change?

A lot depends on your career of choice and whether you’ve done your homework on the 3 factors you need to consider and work out before embarking on a new career.

More often than not, the desire to change your vocation has more to do with filling a void between what you’re doing and what would fulfill you rather than having taken a wrong career decision in the early stages of your joining the workforce.

If you’re committed to make the transition in vocation work, there’s no reason you can’t find a new line of work that fulfills you and pays the bills.

But you have to take action and work towards the career change goal.

You will be embarking on a new adventure and need to be prepared not only for the wins but more importantly the misses and setbacks that may happen along the way.

Don’t brood over them for too long. Consider them a learning experience and move forward.

You owe it to yourself to make the best decisions and choices and make the change a fulfilling one.

7 Tasks You Need To Focus On Before A Career Shift

Years ago when I decided I wanted to change my career from a finance professional to an Executive Coach, I realized the shift was not going to be an overnight one but which required some serious thought and planning.

I identified 3 key areas with 7 activities that prove useful in making a career change and doing the work one was meant to do.

Focus on what drives you

The decision to change a career is your decision and you will need to take responsibility for your decision. What’s driving you?

Here’s we’re not talking about hating your job or the boss who drives you up the wall. We’re focusing on you.

Here’s how I would approach it.

1. Make a list of what you don’t like about your current position. If you’re considering a change, there must be something that’s rubbing you the wrong way. It might be your company, the people, or your position. Maybe you just weren’t cut out to be an automobile engineer, software developer or tax accountant. You have the skills and aptitude but it doesn’t make your heart sing or you’re no longer motivated. Consider the things you don’t want to see in your next career.
2. Make a list of what you do like about your current position. Nothing is ever black and white. There are shades of grey and your current position can’t be all that awful! What are things about your current company and position that you enjoy? What would you like to see in your next position?
3. Consider your values. Taking up a job for the great pay is good but there might be a conflict with your values. Perhaps your core value is helping people, but you spend your days as a debt collection agent. A position helping others directly might be more to your liking. List your values and consider careers that dovetail with them.

Need more help in this critical section? You want my free Tip Sheet on Changing Careers After 40.

Manifest your desire with a Road Map

Now that you know what makes you tick, it’s time to do some more research. I’ve covered some of these points in greater detail in this post.

4. Brainstorm a list of career possibilities that take into account your likes, dislikes, and values. Now that you’ve given some thought to what you like, don’t like, and your values, think of careers that can satisfy all of those requirements.
5. What else do you need? If you’re planning a significant change, you’ll probably need to learn a few new skills. You might even need to go back to school. Consider what you need to add to your resume and make a plan to make it happen.
6. Set a goal. Know what you want and put your vision to paper. Read your goal each day. Develop a reasonable plan to reach your goal in the near future. Create a goal that inspires you.
7. Tap into your network to learn more about your dream job and what may be required of you. Let everyone know you’re looking to make a change. Be careful not to burn any bridges at your current job until you’re ready to move on. This includes talking to headhunters who will be able to advise you on what companies are looking for right now.

Stay grounded in reality

I don’t want to burst your bubble but you do need to be realistic. Just because you’ve taken a decision doesn’t mean that things will miraculously fall into place.

Be prepared to take a demotion or a pay cut in order to change careers.

I remember working for a Big 4 firm that would hire staff at one level less than their actual qualification and experience if they came from any firm other than a Big 4 and even though the professional was competent, that was the price they had to pay to join the elite firm.

Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a small step back to eventually take a greater step forward.

You’ll also have to exercise patience. Finding a new position within your own field is usually challenging especially as your seniority increases or if the market is on the downturn.

Finding a new position in a new field is considerably more difficult. You must be patient and persistent. Expect that it will take some time, but keep working hard toward realizing your dream.

But it can be done. Take the time to make a wise decision and then put a plan in place.

And if you need more inspiration, read my blog post Second Inning Career Success Secrets – these ladies did it.

There is nothing more inspiring than seeing real people complete their career change journey and reach their destination successfully.

Sticking to a dead end job for the money or feeling dis-empowered because of financial commitments is more common than you would imagine.

I covered how to overcome that fear and do the right thing by you in my post What’s more important – Money or Your toxic Job?

But what about a situation where it isn’t the money?

When your heart has stopped singing, you’re dragging yourself to work each morning or you feel you’ve gone as far as you can in your career and want more?

Or you’re in a job that is being made redundant. This has triggered a thought that has been lurking in your mind. That you want to do something different but ambivalent about stepping out of your comfort zone.

It could also be that you’ve moved up the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and you’ve figured out your current career is not aligned with your new need. I’ve personally experienced this as I narrate in my Meet the Coach page.

It’s also the impression I get from the questions I’m often asked on Quora about mistakes in jobs or changing careers.

In the case of the former, the solution is easy. Find a new job but changing a career is a different kettle of fish and you need to be clear on what you want.

It’s apparent the answer seeker has already figured out they want to change their career but aren’t sure how to go about it.

Here’s what I feel.

Choosing a new career is never an easy choice.

Yet, following your passion is worth every effort that you put into planning a change in your career.

With adequate planning, the switch over can be exciting, motivating, and rejuvenating instead of fraught with worry.

If that’s your situation, consider the following factors for starters as you plan and implement your career change:

Assess your motives for the career change

The importance of this factor must not be underestimated. Changing a career, especially at a later stage of your career journey can be risky and might not be all that you think it is.

Hence, you need to unearth the reasons for your desire to change careers. Do you feel underappreciated, underpaid, overworked, or unsatisfied in your current position?

If so, dig deeper to discern whether your current employer or the career field as a whole is at the route of your dissatisfaction.

• If you discover that the source of your unhappiness is your employer, change employers rather than starting an entirely new career. It’s much easier to get a job within your current career field than to get your foot in the door of a completely separate career field.

• If your issue is being underpaid or overworked, it may not be necessary to change employers. Gather your information to support your view or make a business case for your request and have a talk with your supervisor. Tell them how your current position is making you feel. If you’re an asset to the company, you may be able to work out an agreement for a raise, promotion or fewer working hours.

Still not sure? Karmic Ally Coaching’s Changing Careers After 40 Tip Sheet will provide insights.

Continue your education and research

Continuing professional education and staying on top of developments in your field is a must.

But what about the new career?

If you’re considering a drastic career change, such as going from being an Internal Auditor to a career in Holistic Nursing, clearly you’ll need additional training. More common career changes may require less continued education, if any at all. 

• Consult with an admissions advisor of a local college or of one specializing in your new career field in order to discern whether any continued education or additional training is necessary. If so, discuss scheduling, whether it can be done online, tuition assistance, and so on.

• Search for job postings online which fit the career field you’d like to enter. Generally, the employer or recruiter will list the required education and experience necessary to be considered for the job.

• Connect with professionals in the new career field on LinkedIn and Facebook and request them for information. As long as you don’t pick their brains too much and are focused on the questions you have, you will get the information you want.

• In some instances, a certificate may not be enough to get your foot into the door of a new career field. You might also be required to do an internship or apprenticeship for a period that can range anywhere from 1 to 3 years which might not pay well. If your passionate about the new career field, you must work out the finances to support you during the apprenticeship if it is more than a one-year time investment.

• Consider the possibility that additional training may be all that’s necessary to improve your current career. Perhaps additional education will place you in line for a promotion or more challenging work. For example, if you’re working in a bank and aspire to a bank officer position, sitting the Bankers Institute Examination and passing them would position you for consideration for your desired job and step up the career ladder if you already have a good performance track record.

Take it slowly

This tip is based on my observation of amazing professionals who hire me for consultations after they have resigned rather than while they still had their jobs and could leverage their employment to appear desirable to a prospective employer.

The sad truth is it’s easier to get a new job when you have a job!

Hang on to your current paycheck for as long as you can, preferably until you can secure a position with a new employer. Set up interviews while you’re still employed and only quit your current position once you’ve found a job.

• When you’re currently employed with another company, you have more bargaining power in terms of salary when considering a position with a new employer.

• Once you’ve secured a position, it’s time to give notice to your current employer in accordance with your employment contract. Make sure your conduct is professional throughout this period. Be honest about your reason for leaving. This conduct, especially if it is a longer notice period of say 3 months increases the chances of a good recommendation. It will also prevent them from being surprised when someone calls to confirm a reference.

With the right research and planning that includes ensuring your family’s security, there’s no reason why you cannot explore a new career in a field that will make your heart sing and give you a new purpose.

If you’ve ever tried to introduce change in an organization or department, then hearing the phrase ‘we’ve always done it that way’ or ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it’ will irritate you- guaranteed!

You would be fully justified to think the employees are hiding their incompetence or are disengaged.

Sometimes, it’s the insecurity in the staff. They feel that if change is introduced, it would make them redundant or replaceable especially if the knowledge they possess isn’t available with anyone else in the department. I’ve seen that happen too.

But pause for a moment, it’s quite possible the person saying it isn’t defending a time inefficient task, they genuinely might not know of an alternative.

Contrary to the ranting I often see on the internet about people defending archaic or redundant processes because they are scared of change, sometimes, it’s the team that wants change or is open to new processes. But they don’t have a teacher or leader who can help them create a new status quo.

I used to think the same way until I took on a project where to my surprise, the employees asked me to implement a new way of doing things to make their lives easier!

True Story: How a secret bar stock room became an authorized storage room

Way back in the late 1990s when I was working as a consultant to a leading Adventure Group of Companies in Nepal, one of my jobs was to visit their Lodges and check for efficiency and productivity. The mandate was to strengthen the controls over food and beverages since we knew there was a leak somewhere.

You can read the background in my post Internal Controls: To catch Thieves, You need to think like one.

The employees at the first Lodge I visited were eager to co-operate with my audit exercises and wanted to plug the ‘leak’ too since they knew it was an area of complaint from Headquarters.

They asserted their innocence and instead of seeing me as the enemy from Headquarters, took my 2 week visit as an opportunity to create change.

They loved their employer, were loyal to a fault and welcomed my visit.

Interesting discoveries were made including a secret storeroom kept by the Bar Keeper who was unaware of the fact that all stock had to be kept in the centralized storeroom.

His explanation based on my observations made sense.

The tourists who came to the Lodge loved to drink at the fireside and there were times when he would run out of stock, so he kept a bottle or two in the so-called secret storeroom.

Sadly, despite having an Internal Auditor for the Group as well as an external auditor, nobody had bothered to find out what was happening. The forms in use had been there since the beginning of time. (Side story: Both were fired after I submitted my report).

The secret storeroom was legitimized and included in stock takes and a few forms were updated for modern times.

A team of staff members even sat with me at a meeting they had called for to give suggestions to improve the systems and tighten controls.

Mind you, these were not finance specialists or educated, but they had decades of wisdom in lodge management and could have put any hotel management graduate to shame.

One point I noted was the answer to each question was “we’ve always done it that way”.

It reminds me of an anecdote I had read years ago which apparently is based on a true incident.

What happens when we don’t question procedures?

A quality management consultant was visiting a small and somewhat antiquated English manufacturing company, to advise on improving general operating efficiency.

The advisor was reviewing a particular daily report which dealt with aspects of productivity, absentee rates, machine failure, down-time, etc.

The report was completed manually onto a photocopied proforma that was several generations away from the original master-copy, so its headings and descriptions were quite difficult to understand.

The photocopied forms were particularly fuzzy at the top-right corner, where a small box had a heading that was not clear at all. The advisor was interested to note that the figure ‘0’ had been written in every daily report for the past year.

On questioning the members of staff who completed the report, they told him that they always put a zero in that box, and when he asked them why they looked at each other blankly. “Hmmm.., I’m not sure about that,” they each said, “I guess we’ve just always done it that way.”

Intrigued, the consultant visited the archives to see if he could find a clearer form, to discover what was originally being reported and whether it actually held any significance.

When he found the old reports, he saw that the zero return had continued uninterrupted for as far back as the records extended – at least the past thirty years – but none of the forms was any clearer than those presently in use. A little frustrated, he packed away the old papers and turned to leave the room, but something caught his eye.

In another box he noticed a folder, promisingly titled ‘master forms’. Sure enough inside it he found the original daily report proforma master-copy, in pristine condition. In the top right corner was the mysterious box, with the heading clearly shown …… ‘Number of Air Raids Today’.

How does this relate to you the leader of your people?

Not knowing when to make changes in procedures, routines and habits results in time wastage which is not what executives wanting to demonstrate leadership do.

Good managers and executives appreciate the value of their time. They understand it’s what we do with our time to benefit ourselves and others that determines how well they manage this precious resource.

They know how to manage their time and work on priority recommending changes to save time without compromising quality of work.

In other words, they position themselves as Leaders.

Here’s how we did it back in the Lodge:

Step 1: I didn’t have a procedure manual at hand so I recorded how certain processes were done by the staff in charge of those processes including who checked the work.

The staff helped me identify those parts of procedures that didn’t add value to their efforts. I suggested new ones based on my knowledge of internal controls and industry best practice.

Step 2: We looked at the tasks that were not adding value to check if they needed to be improved or simply dumped as the steps had been set up 25 years ago. We also checked if there was technology that could be implemented to reduce wastage.

Step 3: We monitored our results with the new processes and procedures.

My first visit was for only a fortnight but the staff knew I would return at a later date and they were asked to monitor if things were better.

A month later, when I visited the site to continue on another aspect of the systems, I had 800 very happy workers waiting to greet me.

There’s a more comprehensive and systematic way to set up an operations manual and systems in my course Business Systems that encourage Growth – Guaranteed.

More Tips to shine as a good Leader in the Workplace

Quite honestly, as a consultant I didn’t have locus standi to order the changes. Sometimes I had to rely on the Lodge Manager who was the owner’s son to instruct change implementation, especially about the secret bar stock room!

The success of this project would not have been possible if the employees were not “team players.”

You may hear that so often that it becomes meaningless. But it isn’t – being a team player is a fairly broad term, and it can include an important attribute that employers appreciate: leadership.

Being a leader in the workplace does not necessarily mean being a boss, manager, supervisor, or other “official” position, although it can mean that.

It can also mean setting a good example for others and/or heading up office programs and projects.

Here are some tips and ideas on how to be a leader in the workplace that I learned from my experience at the Lodge.

Be Confident

There’s a saying that can serve you well in the workplace: “Never let them see you sweat.” Of course, no one is perfect; but appearing confident inspires others to trust you and take your advice.

One way to ensure that you appear self-assured is not to talk too much about your fears and concerns. Talk to friends outside of the workplace about your uncertainties.

See the Good in Others

Being able to see the good traits in others is a useful leadership trait in the workplace. If you need to put certain people in charge of certain tasks, it pays to know who will do well with what task.

You also may see potential in a co-worker and “stretch” him or her by requesting a task that might be a bit challenging. This improves the overall skill set of the workforce and helps build self-esteem in your co-workers.

Use the skill of effective feedback in all situations requiring improvement.

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

There’s a difference between being a people person & being a people-pleaser. Being a people person means you have a genuine love for people, but you’re not afraid to ask people to do things.

Being a leader doesn’t mean just doing everything yourself; it means you are comfortable giving up some control and delegating tasks to others.

Appreciate Co-Workers

No one wants to work for or with someone who doesn’t appreciate them. If you let everyone know you appreciate what they’ve done and how they’ve given their time and talents, it can go a long way.

It’s always good to remember that there would be no leaders if there weren’t any followers. People who are appreciated may be more likely to follow your lead next time.

Problem Solving

If you step up with ideas on how to solve dilemmas, problems, and have resourceful ideas about how to accomplish something, then speak up. Employers value the ability to think through a problem and find a creative solution. This is a valuable leadership quality.

The next time you’re faced with the ‘we’ve always done it that way’ phrase, do what I did. Don’t generalize or misread any grumpy expression.

Instead try being a leader.

Some time back an alumni of mine and I both noticed a new trend on LinkedIn of people openly asking strangers for help in getting a job without first building a relationship that would provide a basis for a credible referral or introduction.

Even though I’m not a recruiter or in the Executive Search industry, it doesn’t prevent professionals for wanting to connect with me on LinkedIn in case I can help them get a job or at least introduce them to someone who could.

Of course I give them guidance and tips and if there is someone within my network who can help, I make introductions and then allow the 2 parties to take it forward but I’m surprised that these professionals chose to contact a stranger on LinkedIn first rather than tap into the power of their Alumni Network.

What surprises me more is that the thought hasn’t occurred to them.

Alumni is not restricted to school or college but includes colleagues from previous jobs.

I remember my father’s robust University Alumni and how the ties were maintained decades after students graduated with annual dinners being held where even family were invited.

My own school Alumni is quite active on Facebook and there are often posts informing us of alumni member achievements or someone asking for a referral and getting a response.

One of the best practitioners of Alumni Networking is a colleague and friend from a firm where I started my accounting internship. He proactively reaches out to alumni and has helped reconnect many of us who have lost touch over the 3 decades since we were all youngsters with stars in our eyes. He is one of the most powerful referral sources I know.

In fact, when I changed career tracks, he was able to provide me with a referral client as well as 2 speaking opportunities at the Rotary Club to help raise my visibility.

I’m not the only one he has helped. This gentleman knows the power of networking with alumni and being a power contact. Likewise, when he needs something, his alumni respond.

Before you can reach out to your network, you need to make sure you yourself will be seen as a valuable contact, whether with your Alumni or to other potential connections.

Here is where my friend’s strategy is worth sharing.

1. Join your University or former employer’s Alumni, whether it is with them or in a social group on Facebook or LinkedIn.
2. Get involved in Alumni activity including volunteering for committees or events. It works to raise your visibility as well as give back through service.
3. Attend at least 2-3 events where alumni are also invited. Choose the ones that work best for you networking goals and be ready to meet people.
4. Reach out to fellow alumni, connect with them on social media and commit to keeping in touch with them in the offline world.
5. Become a valuable connection and referral partner. Networking isn’t adding more people to your network but being able to connect with people for mutual benefit and also introducing them to others for similar purposes. In other words, being a good netweaver.

In this post, I’m going to go deeper into the modern rules of networking because the internet has changed the way alumni networking operates.

Years ago, former schoolmates might be surprised and delighted to hear from anyone who attended the same university.

Today they’re more likely to feel overwhelmed by the number of emails they receive from strangers who found them on LinkedIn or Facebook via an Alumni search and who didn’t attend the university or work for an organization as a contemporary.

Does that mean you have to forget about the potential connections you created during your college years or employment?

No, it just means you need to take a more targeted approach with a 2 step action plan.

Your Simple Success Action Plan for Alumni Networking

Step 1 Identify Contacts in Your Alumni Network

A targeted approach means you don’t go to town inviting anyone and everyone in your alumni to befriend you on Facebook or connect with you on LinkedIn.

It means applying the same rules that you do to make new connections by identifying people who you can provide value to and vice versa.

People change over the years and may not wish to connect with others from their past. Respect their choice.

But first you need a database of potential contacts and then filter them down. Here’s how I would do it.

1. Browse LinkedIn. The world’s largest professional network puts you in touch with fellow graduates. Your alma mater probably has at least one alumni group you can join. Reach out to the group manager, participate in discussions, and send connection requests to other group members. Use the LinkedIn Alumni tool to research what your peers are doing now.
2. Explore university resources. In addition to the standard alumni directory, most schools now have online communities that make it easier to chat. Make sure you’re listed in the directory and keep your details updated.
3. Know your industry. Different fields of study may have their own special offerings. Use a Google search to find social networks related to your field of specialization and then hunt for Alumni who you can connect with.

Once you’ve identified Alumni you’d like to connect with, we move to Step 2 which often frightens people but it shouldn’t if done properly. If you’re going to use LinkedIn for this, then this resource will help you avoid common mistakes.

Step 2 Communicate with Contacts in Your Alumni Network

1. Introduce yourself. Let others know who you are and what kind of assistance you’re seeking. Mention the year you graduated and who referred you.
2. Ask for information and assistance. Even if you urgently need a job, slow down before handing out your resume. Most professionals can share advice and referrals, but will probably be unable to hire you directly, so avoid making them feel uncomfortable.
3. Think positive. Manage stress so you come across as confident and capable rather than desperate. Focus on your strengths and what you can contribute to any organization. (This post will help)
4. Schedule information interviews. Invite your contacts out for coffee dates and after-hour drinks. Be ready to pick up the tab.
5. Attend receptions. You can meet a roomful of alums at networking events. Rehearse your small talk and bring business cards.
6. Follow up. Cultivate the contacts you make by staying in touch. Show an interest in their careers, share interesting news articles, and provide updates when you have exciting news like landing a new job.
7. Express gratitude. Let others know how much you appreciate their kindness and generosity. Send handwritten thank-you notes and email holiday cards. Deliver a batch of chocolate chip cookies or post enthusiastic comments on their professional blog.
8. Return the favor. Networking is most effective when you’re willing to give as well as receive. Think of colleagues who you would like to introduce to each other. Ask a fellow job seeker if they want to join you for a workshop when you have an extra ticket.

Your alumni network is still a powerful resource even if you use it a little differently today.

Do your homework and focus on how you and your former schoolmates can support each other. Plugging into your alumni networks can help you access new positions, valuable information, and helpful mentors and advisers.

Are you tapping into this powerful network?

Do your activities support your major goals? Or do they add to a list of actions that are worthwhile in themselves but don’t provide a respectable Return on Investment (ROI) for the time, money and effort that you apply?

Perhaps it’s time to simplify your Life?

On Sunday evening, I hit the publish button on Amazon. An hour later, Cure Shiny Object Syndrome: The Quickest & Easiest Way to Reduce Spending became a reality.

I finally achieved one of many goals that I had set for myself last year and then Life happened. It forced me to step back and think about what I really wanted. Not only from Karmic Ally Coaching as a business, but also what was important for me as an individual.

It has been a Wakeup Call in many ways and honestly, the Adventure continues at many levels. But writing my 6^th Kindle book was a cherished goal.

That too on a topic that I know many of us suffer from that leads to clutter, wastage of time, effort and money.

80% of the content for this book had been ready way back in June 2017 when it was put on the back burner. I revisited it last week and found I had new insights to offer and took up the project again.

The final version has now seen the light of day and has done well on publication without any great launch or Kindle Promo.

If I’ve learned anything from this particular Wakeup Call, it’s the need to simplify one’s life and stop running after every shiny new deal or object that comes our way.

It’s about priorities and accepting that this too is a moving variable.

You don’t need another Productivity Hack – you need this

The truth is you probably don’t need another productivity hack.

In fact, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say your problem is not productivity related.

If you’re like many of the high achievers that I know, you’re probably incredibly productive.

But you’ve got so many ideas to share and tasks on your plate that you quickly run out of breathing room.

See, the key isn’t to find a way to squeeze more in, or to find “more hours in the day.”

Instead, what you need to do is focus on building a strategy that will allow you to maximize the effectiveness of the things you’re already doing. It means revisiting your tasks and checking if they are really helping you reach your end goal.

Are there any hidden Shiny Objects that need to be banished?

For example, when my recent Wakeup Call happened, I had a hard look at my activities, asking for each one of them if they were helping me reach my goals, whether business or personal or were they simply ‘nice to have’.

Did I really need to sign up for another Marketing or Visibility Challenge? Or any Challenge come to think of it.

Was I chasing the right metrics to determine the ROI on my activities? Or was I caught up in vanity metrics because somewhere I had adopted a herd mentality?

My website ranking dropped from 6,308,085 to 8,304,010. It didn’t bother me because I hadn’t been blogging and have changed my blogging strategy to be 1 or 2 epic well researched post a month.

I know I went MIA on the internet and wasn’t promoting my content. There were changes in search algorithms too which I needed to study.

I realized this was a vanity metric because during the same time, I had professionals join my mailing list and also take up some of my paid offers.

In other words, I was still reaching the right audience and building my tribe which is a better metric to measure.

It also means going back a step and doing some reverse planning and strategizing to figure out your end goal and results.

To quote Stephen Covey, Begin with the end in mind.

My end goal for my website and social outposts is to connect with the right audience where I can be of service and take the conversation to a more private setting like email or conversations.

This will help me identify their Bleeding Neck (better known as the 2 am butterflies in the stomach problem) and show them how to get rid of the painful problem and make progress towards their goals.

That’s exactly what’s happening now and I have lots of new ideas on how I can be of service by zeroing in on specific pain points.

I stopped hanging out so much on Facebook and spending time in Groups because the silent assassin FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) was on the scene.

In fact, I consider the new Facebook Algorithm change a blessing. I’m seeing more of what my friends who are scattered all over the world are doing. They are seeing my updates, especially those that feature the antics of my Furry Muse Miss Coco.

My Facebook Page reach has improved and guess what, so has engagement!

I mentioned priorities earlier and there is 1 more lesson that I learned.

It’s about simplifying life and focusing on what really works for you. Dodge the Guru bullets and give yourself some credit for knowing what’s best for you. Dump the rest of the stuff that clutters your schedule.

Take focused Action now for a simple stress-free Life

This week, I invite you to reassess where you are in term of simplifying your life. Take action with this 3-step approach.

You can watch my short video or if you prefer, read on for the steps.

List your top 4 priorities in your life right now. Are your activities in alignment with these priorities? Drop the ones that aren’t and replace them with ones that are.

List 10 things that are draining your energy in your life. Address one a week for the next 10 weeks. Notice the powerful shift in your energy just by doing this.

Ask yourself with each Activity “How can I make this easier and simpler?”  This in turn can lead to a new question – “Can this activity be eliminated completely?”

I’ve been doing this exercise since the beginning of the year and I’m seeing the results.

Are you game to try it? Remember to share your results with me.

PS. If Shiny Objects are playing havoc with your time and budget, get your copy of Cure Shiny Object Syndrome: The Quickest & Easiest Way to Reduce Unnecessary Spending with additional resources and start taking focused action today!

This week I’m celebrating the completion of a long-cherished dream. I finally wrote a book that simplifies Goal Setting and Achievement with a look back at my own childhood and my favorite activity of creating To Do Lists.

On being crowned ‘Miss To Do List’

Every family has that one individual whose antics are a source of amusement. In our family, I wore the coveted crown for many years until a pair of dachshunds joined our family.

Then their progeny gave enough competition for me to bail out gracefully. I could only mutter I had to make way for new talent!

One of my habits, which has since been adopted by my family related to my tendency to write things down. It did not matter what I was writing, it had to be done in style and in an eye-appealing manner.

I bought special colored stationery to prepare my To Do Lists. Goal Setting was done in an equally attractive manner. No wonder my father nick-named me Miss To-Do List!

Those were the pre-computer days (other than the big IBM machines and data card entry), yet I managed to inspire myself. Now my mantra for happiness includes PowerPoint templates and colored printouts.

But no one could deny the fact that I got things done, efficiently and effectively.

My tribe started with my family and went on to gather members from my friends and associates. I gather new converts whenever and wherever I can to the art of writing down goals. Yes, the famous To-Do List.

I read an article sometime back which mentioned that studies have found that only 5% of adults ever write their goals. It got me wondering, is there a correlation between written goals and goal achievement? I believe there is.

Why it makes sense to write down goals

The beauty of writing down goals and tasks for that matter is that one tends to look at them, think about them and finally action them. It is easier to monitor progress and adjust strategy before the goal goes for a toss.

If the goal is a mental one, it stays that way. The mind has enough to think about.

If the goal is overtaken by urgent and important matters, then the probability of it being pushed to the backburner increases. That’s until such time that the goal too acquires an urgent and important status.

Writing down goals can be a simple exercise and not an elaborate power point presentation. The point is to put it down in writing so that you can see the goal for what it is and not what you think it is.

We talk of SMART Goals but how would you know if your goal is SMART if you cannot see the pieces and the strategy for goal success?

Are there any missing pieces to your strategy jig-saw puzzle?

Write it down and look at it. Quite possibly the missing pieces may take you in another direction. Sometimes, more important goals or steps are required before starting on the goal you really want to achieve.

Once you have put your SMART Goals down in print, preparing an action plan is the next step.

It means breaking down tasks into smaller ones where the sum of the small tasks equals achieving the main task and perhaps even more.

You need to know where you might encounter roadblocks or need to tweak and improve your skills. More importantly, it means taking stock of your skills and strengths.

When the goal is in writing, there is a means of tracking your progress and maintaining accountability.

Written evidence of success helps to boost your self-confidence. It provides evidence of your achievements to pull you through difficult times when facing setbacks and a morale boost is required.

Monitoring your progress also helps to identify what is working and what is not. For the latter, be flexible and make the necessary adjustments while keeping your focus on the end goal.

Take heart and put pen to paper or fingers to computer keys and create your SMART Goals with an Action Plan.

Better yet, acquire a copy of my Kindle book by clicking on the image or here

Goal Achievement Simplified – When Your Actions Give Results

Do you write down your Goals and create Action Plans?