Become a CAREERTREPRENEUR with HOPE

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Foottapper

Hope is a feeling you have  “Hope is the feeling you have, that the feeling you have, isn’t permanent.” – Jean Kerr

There is a wonderful book in the Bible – actually it is my favourite book – called Ecclesiastes. Its central message is that everything changes, or as the writer (The Teacher) puts it, ‘everything is vanity – a kind of chasing after the wind’. In other words, everything is transient – it changes! Life changes! Everything must pass!

 The knowledge that nothing is permanent allows us all to have hope. No matter what the circumstances in our lives right now – things will change. And we can hope for better things! We can exercise faith – because God’s plans are slowly, surely and certainly coming to pass.

 For most unemployed people this sounds like some wishy-washy self-improvement advice. And I can blame them, when I was unemployed, I felt like I would never come out of that state – that nothing was changing.

 So why should anyone in that situation believe that it will change?  Because life is CHANGE.  Where were you before you became unemployed? Something obviously changed to bring you to the point where you are now. And something will change to take you beyond this point.

 The biggest obstacle is what to focus on – there is no work, having no money, bills piling up, etc.

 The only way is to become a CAREERTREPRENEUR.

 Most people know that the job hunting process as it stands today don’t work.  And I am sure we all know what that is, but let’s look at the steps – look for available positions, send your CV off, wait in vain OR send you CV to every available position you can find, wait in vain OR using a recruitment agency, wait in vain.

 If you are serious about change you need to take charge and change the steps to look like this – what is it you want to do, where do you want to do it, introduce yourself to them, leave you business card (CV), follow up.

 CAREERTREPRENEUR STRATEGY

 The best overall strategy is to do everything you can to turn yourself from a faceless member of a stereotype-laden group into a fascinating individual who is worth knowing and hiring.

 

  • Stay focused. You are the only person who knows what is best for you.  How can any company hire you when they don’t know about you?
  • Don’t give up. Finding a good position will take time, so commit sufficient time and energy to it.
  • Don’t fight the stereotypes. A lot of companies still do things the old outdated way, let them! They are the ones who will be losing out, not you.
  • Don’t do it alone! Find or create groups for emotional support and for sharing tips and resources. Surround yourself with others who affirm your worth and can help you build on it.
  • Reaffirm the value of your experience. Document your past work performance to lift your spirits and get you feeling very confident about yourself—ready to tackle the marketplace and to give specific, measurable, concrete examples of your contributions. 

Will this be easier than doing things the old way? Probably not, but I believe that it is worth a try, after all what have you got to lose? 

And if change happens, like it will, you might just be at the right place at the right time.

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HAVE YOU PERSONALIZED YOUR NUMBERPLATE?

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Foottapper

I often notice cars with personalized number plates while driving around Cape Town. And although I have no intention of getting some, I often wonder how much money and trouble those people went through.

A search on Google revealed that people in Eastern Cape have to pay R2 836; in Free State R1 800; in Gauteng between R2 200 and R3 800 and here in Western Cape between R1 750 and R10 000.

Now for the life of me I cannot work out why people would want to waste good earned money on something as silly as a number plate.  The only reason I can think of, is because people are so lost that they have to find strange ways of making themselves feel better.

On one site I read this: “If a person’s car is an expression of who they are, why should anyone settle for a number plate that doesn’t say anything about a person’s personality or sense of style?”

Since when have transport become an expression of you we are? Do you really believe that your car can tell people something about you, other than how much money you are willing to spend on something that takes you from point A to point B.

I suppose making a statement is important for all of us and this made me think of people’s CVs. How much money and effort have you put into your CV to make it a personalized document?

What would you do if I had to ask you to create a personalized number plate comprising of no more than seven characters and numbers to showcase your personal brand.

What would your unique word be…and why?

I am eagerly awaiting feedback.

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Coping with difficult people

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Foottapper

Anybody can become angry – that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way – that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.
- Aristotle

 We have all had to deal with difficult people at some time, or maybe we have been the difficult person to somebody else.

 How to deal with difficult people have dozens of answers, some good and some not so good.  So who do you listen to or believe?  I will give you some general answers and then some answers from the MAN who has all the answers. 

 Because you always have a choice, you can decide which you like best.

 GENERAL TIPS ON DEALING WITH ANNOYING PEOPLE 

  • You can only change yourself

The best way to address the situation is to change how you perceive it and how you react to it. 

  • Tell them how bothersome their behavior is.

Point out to them how ridiculous they are behaving and mirror their actions in a joking way. Tell them all the zooming here and there is making your eyes cross over. Or, ask them where the fire is – a classic but goody. 

  • Stand up to them

Don’t let an impatient person run roughshod over you. They should learn very quickly that you mean what you say and that crossing your limits is not on. Although this will vex an impatient person, it does tell them very early on in your dealings with them that you won’t ask “how high?” when they demand “jump”. Grudgingly, you’ll get respect. 

  • Impatient people are often selfish.

Once you recognize this, it helps you to deal with them. Generally they want to be served or get someplace else before anyone else and they want to be sorted, done with and through before others have blinked. They aren’t very good at waiting or stopping long enough to hear your needs. 

  •  Staying calm means you don’t do something you regret later

Sometimes when you get really mad, you may end up doing something rash. If you can stay calm, you’re more likely to choose constructive actions. 

  • Ignore them

Ignoring has to be one of the most common strategies you see people use. It can work well, but if the person is persistent, you can’t ignore them for long. 

  • Being Nice

The first response we have is to be nice towards everyone. Being negative in any way is frowned upon, but what most forget is that telling the truth is more important than being nice. You have to respect yourself.

Tips from the MAN who has all the right answers

When asked what he considered the most valuable skill in employees, John D. Rockefeller once replied, “The ability to get along with people!”

 Troublemakers come in all shapes:

THE SHERMAN TANK – will run over you if you let him.
THE MEGAPHONE – will talk your ear off.
THE BUBBLE BUSTER – deflates everyone’s enthusiasm.
THE CRY BABY – is a chronic complainer.
THE NIT PICKER – is the unpleasable perfectionist.
THE SPACE CADET – is on a different wavelength.

 What should you do with these types?

 Jesus had to deal with a lot of difficult people. Here are FOUR methods he modelled through his life:

 Realize you can’t please everybody (John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me). Even God can’t do that! One wants rain while the other demands sunshine.

  1. Refuse to play their game (Matt. 22:18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?). Learn to say no to unrealistic expectations. Confront them by “telling the truth in love.”
  2. Never retaliate (Matt. 5:38-39 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also). It only lowers you to their level.
  3. Pray for them (Matt. 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?). It will help both of you. Let God handle them.

 Make this Bible verse your goal this week, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Rom. 12:18)

 To sum up:

 1. Difficult people will always be with us, so don’t try to run away from hard situations; stick it out.

2. Understand that the difficult person is probably hurting, too.

3. Pick your difficulties wisely; where people differ from you in nonessentials cut them some slack.

4. When people make things hard for you, remember that the important thing is the relationship, not the issue.

5. Keep your sense of humor, and don’t take yourself so seriously.

6. Give the difficult situation to the Lord. Remember that you’re a sinner, too. God cares about you, but he also cares for that person who’s bugging you. Try to see things from God’s perspective.

 Difficult people?

Gotta love ‘em!

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ALWAYS LOOK ON THE INSIDE

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Foottapper

I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

 As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw.

 He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left and then it struck him.

 He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have had tens of thousands, but he just threw it all away.

 You know sometimes, it’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it; we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.

 But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure hidden in every one of us. We are wonderfully made. Not just our physical bodies, our spiritual selves, which are sometimes hidden from others by the *earthen vessel*

 But if you take the time to get to know that person, and if you ask the Holy Spirit to show you that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

 The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.

 ”Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.”

 Reflection by Martin B. Copenhaver

 Saint Augustine said that God is able to love each person as if he or she were the only person in the world. But we cannot do that. As human beings, we are limited in that way. Sometimes, however, we can love one particular person in that intensely focused way. It could be a spouse, or a partner, or a friend. And to love one person that completely is to catch a glimpse of how much God cares for each one.

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Fearing God is a choice

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Foottapper

Proverbs 1:20-30

(20) Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
(21) She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
(22) ” How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
(23) Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
(24) Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
(25) Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
(26) I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
(27) When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
(28) ” Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
(29) Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
(30) They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.

Each and every day of our lives, we are faced with many pressures, forces, and influences that compel us to react. We must make a choice: “Shall I go this way, or shall I go that way?” One way represents the fear of GOD; the other way represents the fear of men, the fear of the loss of pleasure, the fear of the loss of some other physical, social, or cultural “need” that we do not want to lose.

It is almost as if Wisdom is saying, “I told you so, but you would not listen!”

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ALPHABET OF HAPPINESS

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Foottapper

* A–Accept * Accept others for who they are and for the choices they’ve made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.

 *B–Break Away * Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.

 *C–Create * Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.

 *D–Decide * Decide that you’ll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.

 *E–Explore * Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you’ll learn more about yourself.

 *F–Forgive * Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

 *G–Grow * Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.

 *H–Hope *  Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.

 *I–Ignore * Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.

*J–Journey* Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you’ll grow.

 *K–Know * Know that no matter how bad things seem, they’ll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.

 *L–Love * Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there’s room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there’s room for endless happiness.

 *M–Manage * Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you’ll suffer less stress and worry. Then you’ll be able to focus on the important things in life.

*N–Notice * Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.

 *O–Open * Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there’s still much to be thankful for.

 *P–Play * Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.

 *Q–Question * Ask many questions, because you’re here to learn.

 *R–Relax * Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.

 *S–Share * Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.

 *T–Try * Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish.

 *U–Use * Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that’s wasted has no value. Talent that’s used will bring unexpected rewards.

 *V–Value * Value the friends and family members who’ve supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.

 *W–Work * Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.

 *X–X-Ray * Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you’ll see the goodness and beauty within.

 *Y–Yield * Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you’ll find success at the end of the road.

 *Z–Zoom *  Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rear its ugly head.

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ABC’s of MULTICULTURE

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Foottapper

A is for AWARENESS of those around us
B is for BEAUTY for all people
C is for CARING about each other
D is for DIGNITY that we all possess
E is for ETHNICITY of which we would be proud
F is for FEELING, important to us all
G is for GIVING of ourselves
H is for HOPE for a better tomorrow
I is for INTEGRITY, our standards tell so about us
J is for JOINTLY working together
K is for KNOWLEDGE which erases ignorance
L is for LOVE to be shared
M is for MANKIND, the entire human race
N is for NOBODY is unimportant
O is for OPTIMISM which enhances everyone’s life
P is for PROGRESS made toward understanding
Q is for being QUIET when asked
R is for RESPECT for oneself and others
S is for SELF-WORTH which we should never be without
T is for TOLERANCE toward others
U is for UNDERSTANDING different cultures
V is for VALUES learned along the way
W is for WEALTH gained by sharing our diversity
X is for X-RAY vision that helps us see the good in others
Y is for YOU. Make your life what you want it to be, forward and upward
Z is for ZEAL to appreciate a multicultural world
 

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St Christopher’s Prayer

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Foottapper

God,
thank You for giving me another day.
Let me face my troubles today
- the big and the small -
with a happy heart
filled with Your unending love.
Let me appreciate the moments of joy
You send me this day.
Let me see the cares of others
as an opportunity to bring
Your great compassion to those who most need it.

And God, I know that You see and know all things
- all of the world’s loveliness, and all of its harshness, too.
So on this day that You have given me,
I ask that I may bring Your joy with me
as I share myself with others.
And I pray that You will be warmed
by the happiness of Your children.

Finally, God, let me never forget
that in all things, in gladness or sorrow,
You who are all love and joy and hope
are always by my side.
Amen.

— St. Christopher

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Over 40?

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Foottapper

People over 40 should be dead.

According to today’s regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 40′s, 50′s, 60′s, or even the early 70′s probably shouldn’t have survived. Here’s why…

 Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.

 We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.)

 As children, we would ride in cars with no seatbelts or air bags.

 Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

 We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle… Good Grief!

 We ate cakes, bread and butter, and drank cold drinks with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing.

 We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

 We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

 We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on.

 No one was able to reach us all day!  No Cell Phones… Unthinkable!

 We did not have Play stations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes… no video games at all… no 599 channels on DSTV, video tape movies; surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms.

 We had friends!  We went outside and found them.

 We played Red Rover, and sometimes, the tackles would really hurt.

We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

There were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever.

Some students weren’t as smart as others, so they failed a standard and were held back to repeat at the same standard. Horrors!

Tests were not adjusted for any reason.

Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. 

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that!

If we got in trouble in school, and got punished… guess what?  We got punished again when we got home… even worse!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. 

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

 We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

 And if you’re one of them! Congratulations!

 People under 40 are WIMPS!

Pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow up as “kids” – before lawyers and government regulated our lives… for our own good!

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Two-Minute Management Course

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Foottapper

Warning… these lessons contain foul language – parental guidance is advised.

Lesson One

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.

A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing?”

The eagle answered: “Sure, why not.”

So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit, and ate it.

Management Lesson – To be sitting doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson Two

A turkey was chatting with a bull. “I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,” sighed the turkey, “but I haven’t got the energy.”

“Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull. “They’re packed with nutrients.”

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Management Lesson – Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.

Lesson Three

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold; the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.

While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.

The dung was actually thawing him out!

He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Management Lessons – (1) Not everyone who dumps on you is your enemy. (2) Not everyone who gets you out of the dwang is your friend. (3) And when you’re in deep dwang, it’s best to keep your mouth shut!

This ends your two-minute management course.

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