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Do you have a Life Purpose?

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Have you ever had a dream where you are lost wandering down an endless road? The road seems to have neither a beginning nor end? You are stuck walking and walking but are going nowhere, you are disconnected from both ends. Now, when you wake, do you realize that you can parallel this dream with your life? Do you feel like there is an endless road, a disconnect between what you do for a living and what you want to do because it makes you feel good; your life purpose.

Why do you feel so disconnected from one aspect of your life to another? Why has what you do for a living become so unexciting? Take for example your school days. You often had the opportunity to pick one class you actually wanted to take – gym, music, art, or woodworking. You looked forward to that class every day because it was fun. All of a sudden, math has become your favorite class. Why? The teacher took boring, old math and made it fun with examples, team building questions, and games. The class you thought would be the most ‘work’ has turned out to be the most fun! You need start focusing on how you can make your work fun.

If all you think about each day is jetting out from behind your desk then you are probably not living your life’s purpose. You probably enjoy your work, but it does not fulfill the deeper hopes and dreams you see for yourself. This can often lead to a large disconnect and the feeling of leading more than one life, a two-face, showing one side at home and the other side at work. This is both energy and time consuming, and you need to refocus on your life’s purpose.

We all feel a deeper sense of purpose in our life and are drawn to activities that make us forget the hard work. This is your life purpose – a calling to do things that speak to your core values and goals. Your purpose can be many things ranging from raising your children, leading your department at work, volunteering with charities or spending your days photographing beautiful scenery. You feel drawn to your purpose like it has chosen you specifically. This is true because your purpose is part of your identity and you are drawn so strongly towards that purpose that you cannot deny the connection.

The dilemma then becomes how can you make your daily work and your life purpose become one, how can they no longer be disconnected? How do you bring the two ends of the road closer together? How can you make your work fulfill or contribute towards your life purpose?

Coach DQ’s Challenge

Take time this week, 10 or 15 minutes, to sit down and reflect inwardly. Reflect on what you consider your life purpose. Think about all of those dreams you only ever thought would be dreams. You may not have pinpointed your own ‘purpose’ yet but may have a number of interests that can help fulfill your deepest dreams. Have a piece of paper close by so that you can jot down any ideas that pop into your head. Make a ‘brainstorming tree’ and put each of these ideas as a branch. If you feel that you need help to fulfill your purpose then contact Coach DQ.

Don’t be discouraged, it is absolutely possible for you to take charge and begin living life to obtain your life purpose. This may take some help, and that is where your trusty coach comes into action! If you already feel a pull towards your life purpose but need some advice than contact me at http://coachdq.com/ to learn more!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE, BLOG OR WEBSITE? Please do, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Dawn Quesnel, CPCC, PCC, known as Coach DQ, is a professional coach, radio show host and workshop leader. Through the use of her B.R.I.D.G.E. programs she helps marketing, advertising, and creative entrepreneurs navigate career or business transition while maintaining a healthy career-life balance. Her core belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, consistently leads clients to uncover hidden resources and strengths. B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap and accelerate your career so you can love your life now! Visit www.CareerLifeBalance.net or http://www.coachdq.com today or for more information email me.

Helpful Hints for Job Seekers

Monday, September 19th, 2011

If you’re in a job search right now, you may feel like your resume is getting stuck in the pipeline, and that you’re not getting the attention you deserve. Here are some key points to help you get noticed in this crowded market.

Create a Profile Resume. Otherwise known as a Networking Resume, this is an overview of who you are and what you do. It lists your accomplishments, awards and accolades, and education, and gives a generalized summary of your previous work experience. When you meet contacts at networking events or online, this is what you should be giving them.

When interviewing or prospecting, don’t formally submit a resume until you’ve asked for the job description. When you know the specifics of the position you’re applying for, you can tailor your resume to match.

 Use LinkedIn to research the company or companies you want to work for. You can use the Advanced Search feature for this. See if you have any second– or third-degree links to the people who make hiring decisions, and use those connections to get your resume into the right hands.

When you schedule your interview, get the details. With whom will you be interviewing? What is his or her title or role in the current project? How much time will be scheduled for your meeting? These are very basic questions, but many people forget to ask them.  When writing a cover letter, don’t address it To whom it may concern. Yes, this is standard business letter-writing procedure but if you can get the name of the hiring manager who’ll be interviewing you, you’ll be able to personalize your letter in a way that gets you noticed. If you can’t track down the hiring manager, submit your cover letter to the head of the HR department. You can also use LinkedIn to search contacts who might be able to walk your resume to the hiring manager.

Don’t put yourself in a company’s database until you’re certain you’ve made a contact there. When you’re already in the database, you don’t get as much face or phone time. Once you’ve scheduled an interview, you’ll have plenty of time to enter your information.

Think of these strategies as good detective work. Get curious about the companies and people you’re considering an association with. Remember, when it comes to your pipeline, quality is always better than quantity. The better-prepared you are, and the more awareness you cultivate, the more likely you are to land the job you really want.

The Power of Positive Thinking

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

power of positive thinking Have you ever noticed that it’s a lot easier to say something negative about someone than it is to say something positive? We all want the people around us to do their jobs and do them well — but if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of criticism, you know that it isn’t always the best motivator.

People are more likely to work hard and give energy to a project if they feel as though they are a part of it, and as though their efforts make a difference in the grander scheme of things. Whether you’re a team leader, manager, or business owner, it’s important to hone your compliment-giving skills and practice employee recognition.

Here are some ways to make your positive feedback go even further:

Don’t wait. When you see something going right, say so with positive feedback.
Don’t be vague. “Good job, Bob” can sometimes feel like a pat on the head. Tell the person why they’re doing a good job, and why their efforts matter.
Don’t hush it up. Don’t pull someone into your office to congratulate him or her. Do it in front of a group — and if possible, in front of superiors.
Don’t be afraid to jazz it up. If someone’s efforts were a big deal, make the acknowledgement a big deal too. Balloons, a catered lunch, an applauding boardroom — all these go above and beyond to make sure the person knows he or she is appreciated. Just make sure that the scope of the acknowledgement fits the scope of the achievement, so things stay fair.
Don’t ignore the small stuff. Sometimes, it’s the little details that keep a big project on track.
Don’t say it just to say it. Insincere complements feel at best like lip service and at worst like insults. If you’re going to praise someone, make sure you mean it.

If you have a hard time giving sincere complements, ask yourself why. Do you feel that good work should be expected, not praised? Are you uncomfortable accepting complements yourself? Are you afraid that your employees will get “big heads?” If any of these are the case, just ease yourself into the practice of offering acknowledgement. And while you’re at it, make sure you’re giving yourself credit for your own good work, too.

Recognize The Signposts In Your Life & Stop Burnout!

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

I’ve worked with a lot of clients who have burned themselves out. Long automobile commutes and too much time spent sitting at a desk in front of a computer can lead to hip, back, and neck problems. Too much stress can lead to chronic fatigue, depression, and even adrenal failure. Too little sleep or eating on the run can cause digestive issues.

So how do you know when enough is enough? For most people, there are clear warning signs, known as “signposts”, that it’s all becoming just too much. And too often, these signposts are ignored, because we all think we can power through. Sometimes it takes a full-blown crisis to make us slow down and take a clear look at what’s going on. And what do we call it when that happens? Burnout.

A signpost by definition is a noun:

1. a post bearing a sign that gives information or guidance.
2. any immediately perceptible indication, obvious clue, etc.

Signposts come in all shapes and sizes and can be anything depending on how you look at it. For example:

loss of someone or something
a rare circumstance or situation
a word or phrase that keeps popping up
a person you keep bumping into
missing a promotion for the 2nd or 3rd time
a part of your body that gets sore around the holidays
a new manager or merger
a new idea or project/challenge

Signposts don’t have to be simply physical either. Sometimes, grace just taps you on the shoulder but it’s your choice as to whether you follow or stubbornly stick to what you’re supposed to be doing.

If you keep getting similar signposts perhaps it’s time to start paying attention!

I first learned about signposts right after my brother passed and someone suggested I read Cheryl Richardson’s book, “The Unmistakable Touch of Grace”. She’s a pioneer in the coaching industry, author of several books, was a regular on Oprah, and was recently inducted into the ICFNE (International Coach Federation New England) Hall of Fame. The book completely changed my perspective on everything and I’ve been recommending it ever since!

One of my personal signposts is my lower back. If I am in the car for too long or sit for too long for weeks on end, sciatica starts to kick in. I take that as a signpost to exercise and stretch more regularly. Often times I’ve noticed when my lower back is aching it’s due to lack of self-support and that I am spreading myself too thin. Anytime I’m not taking good care of myself, my lower back starts to nag me. Time for a massage, reiki, self care, spa day, etc! The message is clear that I need to take care of myself. When I listen, the pain goes away within a day or two. When I don’t, I can end up feeling crippled for weeks. And if I don’t give myself some down time every once in a while, my body will do it for me in a really spectacular way! Have you had a similar experience? Have you been noticing a theme, message, or signpost in your career or life?

It is common to have signposts happen in a series of significant events in your life. Could be positive and/or negative, all depending on how you look at it. After reading the book I viewed my brothers death as a signpost, I didn’t recognize at first how the book helped me to better cope a little more.

Something else I learned and are commonly missed as a signpot are intestinal symtoms which quite often are triggerd by stress or emotional upset. So, if you find yourself contending with intestinal pain whenever things get rough at the office, there’s a good chance it’s not just the cheeseburgers!

Learn to recognize your signposts and respond to them with compassion. You don’t always have to be the superhero. Except when you are Is the job you’re dying to get to really worth the pain to your body or the daily headaches that come along with it? Is the paycheck you get from your corporate position really worth that peptic ulcer? Is running your own company really enjoyable if you’re living on four hours sleep a per night? If the answer is no, it might be time to consider making a change before burnout forces you to. At least that way it will be a change you choose and not one that’s chosen for you.

In the end, it all comes back to balance. There’s no reason you can’t handle a long commute, an angry boss or a crazy schedule if (and it’s a very big if) you take the time to baby yourself when you need it. If you need further justification for self-care, studies show that workers who are under stress work at only 60% of their maximum capacity. If you think about it that way, taking an afternoon off to recharge can actually make the rest of your week more productive!

This week, try to identify your common signposts. Maybe it’s:

increased irritability at work
a physical symptom
that person you’ve been talking with about starting a new venture

Then, make an effort to care and set yourself up appropriately when these signposts present themselves.

Feel free to share your signposts and the lessons they’ve taught you below. I’d love to hear from you!

Are You an Innovator?

Monday, June 13th, 2011

It’s been said before: some people can sell anything! Whatever your passion, I bet you can find someone who has turned it into a business. All it takes is a little planning, and a heaping scoop of innovation. May these examples inspire you to take the next step in perusing your passion.

Here are some examples of business innovation from entrepreneur.com. Text is excerpted from the site. Click on the links to read the full articles.

A Social Entrepreneur Helps Homeless Dogs. “In November, [Shane O’Neill] launched Royal Bitch Couture, a clothing company based in Brentwood, Calif., to help homeless dogs by donating 50 percent of its profits to organizations around the country that spay and neuter animals…”
An Atlanta entrepreneur helps turn unmentionable business into a fancy affair. “Entrepreneur: Christine Sweeney, founder of Atlanta Watercloset, which offers boutique portable restrooms for outdoor events in the metro Atlanta area…”
Eco-Conscious Entrepreneurs Clean Up with a Soap Business. “A couple turns restaurants’ cooking oil into soap — and sells it back to the establishments.”
A Surprising Business Idea. “Entrepreneurs: Tania Luna, Kat Dudina and Maya Gilbert, founders of Surprise Industries, a New York company that plans surprise events for individuals and businesses. Think trapeze lessons, private beer tastings and a zombie birthday party complete with actors in costume and a terrifying alleyway ambush — the possibilities are endless.”

As you can see, even the most obscure crafts and hobbies can be lucrative with the right planning and support. From baking to crafts, from homemade cosmetics to homegrown activism, I’ve seen it all, and I’ve seen it work. Take a hint from those who are already living their business dreams, and remember: just because your business hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done!

3 Toxic Work Situations That Could Be Affecting You In Your Job

Monday, May 16th, 2011

I recently gave a seminar for MBA alumni at Simmons College. When we started the talk, I asked the attendees, How many of you are currently in a job search?. A smattering of them raised their hands. How many of you own your own businesses? Again, a few hands went up.

Then, I asked, How many of you work, or have worked, in what you feel is a toxic environment? Nearly everyone in the room raised their hands. When I asked, How many of you have been in that situation twice or more? the response was almost the same.

My immediate feeling was one of shock. But then, when I thought about how many of my clients struggle to free themselves from negative professional patterning, it began to make sense. Over and over, people end up in the same situations, with the same issues. It’s like that song by The Who: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

So, what makes us gravitate toward unhealthy work environments? Do we like being used and abused?

The answer may be yes. Subconsciously, we tend to seek out situations that reinforce our ingrained patterns and insecurities. We do it in marriages, in friendships, and at work. We develop a love-hate relationship with toxicity a co-dependence, if you will.

If you consistently find yourself in the same old boat with the same boss and the same stack of problems, it’s time to look within. The solution to your problems probably doesn’t lie in finding a new job, but in finding a new perspective about how you operate within your job.

Toxic Situation #1: You’re starved for recognition. No matter how hard you work, you can’t seem to get anyone to notice. Your solution is to work harder, faster, better, and longer because someone has to pay attention eventually. Possible Cause: Fear of Success. Maybe you think you want recognition but are you uncomfortable with complements when they come? Do you deflect praise with modesty? Are you afraid that, if your efforts are recognized, that you’ll have to step up and become what you know you’re capable of being? Is it easier for you to labor in obscurity than to admit that you’re not operating at your full potential?

Toxic Situation #2: You’re being abused. There’s a difference between a boss who fails to recognize your efforts and a boss who is outright cruel. If you’re in a situation where your superiors routinely belittle you, embarrass you, or take advantage of you, it’s time to take a good long look at yourself. While their behavior is probably a result of their own insecurities and issues, you’re the one who is putting up with it and therefore acknowledging that such treatment is acceptable to you. Possible Cause: Familiarity. Ask yourself why you feel it’s acceptable for others to treat you this way. What do you feel you’re proving by trying to please them despite their actions toward you? Be warned: these simple questions can bring up some deep issues. Most of the people I’ve worked with who endure abuse at the hands of their employers have also endured abuse in other areas of their lives whether at the hands of a parent, a sibling, or a spouse.

Toxic Situation #3: You’re always butting heads with your boss. Some arguments can be healthy. But if you’re always at odds with your boss, chances are there’s a power struggle happening there and that you’re contributing to it by engaging in it. Possible Cause: Jealousy. This works two ways: either your boss is threatened by your competence, or you’re threatened by your bosses competence. Sometimes, we deal with our fear of being wrong by shouting louder that we’re right. If your boss is intimidated by you, it’s really not your problem but instead of feeling superior about it, try to be compassionate. If you’re jealous of your bosses position, power, or prestige, ask yourself why you want these things. What do you feel you need to prove by sustaining conflict? Who do you hope will notice that you’re right and your boss is wrong and why is it important to you that they notice?

Of course, there are numerous other toxic situations that occur in the workplace; those above are just a few of the most common. Recognizing your own patterns in work and in life can go a long way toward helping you create a healthy, sustainable, and rewarding work situation.

If you want to learn more about how coaching can help you identify and release these patterns, read J.F.s case study[B1] . By getting to know herself, J.F. was able to move beyond the cycle of toxicity and into a job she truly enjoys!

Potholes — Tolerations Part 1

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

We all have stuff we don’t like to do. And when it comes to work, there are definitely some tasks that are more pleasant than others.

I call the things we don’t like to do “tolerations.” If you don’t stay on top of them, these things can puncture your success bubble as surely as a monster Massachusetts pothole can pop your front tire.

Potholes like tolerations can be deceiving. Metaphorically speaking, when they sit on your desk, your tolerations crumble away at your energy every time your mind drives over it, making your day less efficient. Instead of smooth sailing down a nicely paved highway, your daily route suddenly looks like an obstacle course. You’re constantly swerving around unfinished tasks, trying to avoid the potholes and bumps. The more tolerations (potholes) in your road, the slower and more challenging your progress becomes, plus, the longer it takes to get there. Or worse, you’re driving too fast and miss or get hit by a big one!

You own your own road. So you’ll have to fill in the holes yourself, hire someone else to do the work, tow you out, and/or pay the price in repairs down the road.

Here are some common tolerations that might be eating away at your pavement.

Bookkeeping
Budgeting
Collections
Editing your resume
Writing your business plan
Filing
Cleaning out your inbox
Organizing your desk
Accepting clients you call “P.I.A.” clients (Pains in the Ass*)

* You recognize the signs everytime, trust your intuition. Life is too short. Why tolerate it! Patch that business pothole

Sometimes, we can hang onto tolerations in order to justify our sense of suffering. When your road is full of ruts, you might feel a bit noble about your burdens — as in, “I have so much to do! Look how hard my road is to travel!” In the end, though, this is an expensive source of self-esteem, and it can block you from real progress. After all, what are you really getting out of martyrdom?

There can be a kind of joy in the menial and frustrating tasks that can become our potholes. When you finally do finish that bookkeeping, it will probably feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

A case in point: I’ve been meaning to populate this years budget, which means reviewing all of last year’s numbers and every month since December it would drive through my mind. Then I’d justify it by saying in my head to myself, “I’ll have a better sense after the 1st quarter.” I decided it’s time to fill in the pothole. So, last night I finally compared actuals to budget and to my surprise I am down $150 per month in expenses. When you sit down and bang out your business plan, the clarity you gain might supply the momentum to move you forward to the next phase. Now I can allocate those extra funds to something else and reinvest in my business.

Are you tolerating outstanding receivables? When you start making those collection calls, you might feel a sense of empowerment, because you know what? You do deserve to get paid!

Cataloging your tolerations can be really enlightening. Some of my clients have had transformational breakthroughs around this exercise. After all, seeing the potholes is the first and most important step toward fixing them!

You can take an inventory of your tolerations by downloading this exercise What Am I Tolerating and call me for your complimentary coaching consult.

The Robins Are Doing the Deal

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Spring in New England is a wonderful, busy time. When I look at my yard, all of nature seems to be networking, planting seeds and making new contacts. Everything is focused on renewal and reconnection.

“Spring Fever” isn’t just for lovers: there’s a real surge of energy in the air at this time of year, and that makes April the perfect month to jump-start your business. Everyone’s coming out of their winter hibernation, anxious to be part of the world again, and that makes this a prime time for networking.

Here are some steps to take to help you take advantage of Spring’s buoyant energy:

Confirm your goals for this year. Write them down, and post them somewhere where you’ll look at them often.
Choose a goal, and write down all the skills that you have to support it. These are the things that you do on a daily basis which will make your goal possible — things like providing great customer service, creating strategic visions, delivering projects on time, or organizing people or information.
Get some backup. Ask friends, colleagues, and existing clients for testimonials and other concrete support. Sometimes, just knowing that other people think you’re great at what you do is enough to pull you out of a muddy winter rut!
Network! Start talking about your goals, and reach out to people who can help you achieve them. Make a list of twenty-five people who you know have information, resources, or advice that will help you. Try to connect with at least five of them each week.
Play “Six Degrees of Separation.” You’re closer than you might think to the people who can help you achieve your goals. Start by making five columns on a sheet of paper.

o Column 1: The person you’d ultimately like to contact (i.e., VP of Marketing at Company X).
o Column 2: How you can be a great resource for the person in Column 1.
o Column 3: People you know who may be able to help you reach the person in Column 1. Get creative here. Utilize your whole social pool.
o Column 4: the date by which you will contact the person in Column 1.
o Column 5: The actual date of contact (and subsequent celebration!).

If you automatically get anxious at the thought of networking, remember that it takes practice — and that even Einstein consulted his colleagues when he was formulating the theory of relativity! And if you need a more earthy comparison, think about those robins bustling around outside your window, or the squirrels chattering in your trees. They work together to make like better. A “networking buddy” can be a great partner in accountability; share your goals and plans to keep one another on track.

For fun, here is the link to the Wikipedia Six Degrees of Separation game. It certainly helps us understand how close we are to anyone we would like to contact. Just promise yourself not to waste too much time playing with Kevin Bacon when you could be playing for your own success. Here is the link, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon.

Using Your Business Intuition

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

On February 2, Tara and I did an interview on BrainTalk Radio with Carrie Hart, author of A Call to Greatness. It was a great exploration into how intuitive thinking can serve the businessperson in very practical and tangible ways.

Carrie says that the expansion of her business began with getting in touch with her intuition. This didn’t mean denying her practical nature; rather, it meant incorporating her “right-brained” self into her left-brained business.

One of Carrie’s primary gifts is intuitive hearing: she quiets her mind, asks a question, and listens for the answer. She started with a “word of the day,” which she would write down without allowing her mind to ask any questions. While the word might not make sense immediately, she would understand it clearly by the end of the day. Every morning, she put herself “in the pocket,” until she was able to slip into that receptive state comfortably and easily. Then, she moved on to asking bigger, more complicated questions. Always, the answers she received guided her in the right direction.

Before a big interview for a consulting job, Carrie went into the ladies room with a scrap of paper, and asked, “How should I approach this?” The startling answer she got was, “Don’t let her get away with it!”

The woman Carrie was meeting with had recently left the job that Carrie was going to be taking over. She seemed so nice — but suddenly, Carrie realized that the plan the woman had been outlining was completely unsubstantiated. “She had written this project plan with these milestone dates with absolutely no possibility of hitting those dates, and no backup behind them. It was all because I had that message in my head…it opened up the whole project for me.” Carrie ended up working with the company for seven years. Her success was founded on the fact that she was able to approach the project from a realistic, grounded viewpoint, instead of basing her targets on the unrealistic plan her predecessor had thrown at her.

Later in the interview, Carrie gave another example of how her intuition served her in her relationship with her boss. “I had this one woman I was working with. She and I had an interesting connection. Before I met with her I would always tune in, and I would get this great advice…She was the senior Vice President where I was working and I had a weekly status meeting with her. One time, I had this long agenda of all these things I needed to go over with her. 10 minutes before the meeting, I went into my space, and asked, how should I approach this? The message I got was, ‘She’s very busy. You’ll have one minute. Just bring up one thing — that’s all.’ So I went through and changed my whole agenda. When I walked in, she said, ‘Oh, Carrie, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you. I have to cancel today’s meeting. I’m so busy.’ And I said, ‘That’s okay, I’ll only take one minute. I just have this one important point to talk to you about.’”

You can also use your intuition to prioritize tasks based on the demands of the day. If you have a list of people you need to call or e-mail, write it out on a piece of paper. Sometimes, names will just jump out at you, or appear to be ringed with light. These are the people you should prioritize. Also make sure the questions you ask of your intuition are open-ended, because sometimes the answer you receive won’t be the one you were expecting — as was the case for Carrie in her interview. “You’ll get answers at the level at which you ask questions,” Carrie says. “If I allow my intuition to truly be my guide, I can be led to things much grander than what my limited question might be asking for.”

Engaging your intuition takes practice, just like anything else. A short daily Q&A session is a great way to get in touch with those “gut feelings” that can guide you through challenging moments. To learn more about Carrie, check out www.carriehart.com. Her other web site, www.poweranimalsunleashed.com, is a great example of an interactive web site that melds technology with intuition.

Listen to the full interview http://www.blogtalkradio.com/coach-dq

What’s Coming Down Your Career Pipeline?

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

I always ask my clients what’s in your pipeline. Keeping your pipeline full and flowing is essential, whether you’re a business owner, a job seeker, or looking to advance in your field.

Basically, your “pipeline” is the channel through which new opportunities, contacts, and information flow to you. Ideally, it is full of new contacts from whom you’re awaiting replies, opportunities you’re following up on, and leads you’re following up on. It’s said that only 20% of positions are filled through advertising, while the remaining 80% are filled through referrals and networking. The percentages are slightly different for business owners generating new clients, but they still lean in favor of referrals and networking versus traditional advertising.

In other words, if there’s nothing in your pipeline, you’re far less likely to find the next job you’re looking for.

If you’re stagnated in your job search, or looking to drum up new business, here are some tips for getting your pipeline flowing:

Network, network, network! If you’re currently unemployed, you want be attending at least two in-person networking functions per week. If your budget and schedule allow, three or four events are even better. If you’re a business owner, you want to be attending at least two industry or networking events per month.

Send e-mails, and follow up. For job seekers, ten to twelve e-mails per week to new contacts is a moderate goal to shoot for. For business owners, it depends on your product or service, and your sales cycle — at least five per week, go for quality verses quantity.

Get on the phone. Ask questions, conduct informational interviews. Ask for referrals. Just do it.

Set up appointments and interviews: if you’re not currently employed, try to set up at least three face-to-face meetings per week.
Utilize social networking sites. You’d be amazed at how much you can find out about a company and people on LinkedIn. Use the advanced search functions to narrow your results.

Volunteer on projects which forward your skills. Volunteering is a low-pressure way to network, and it looks great on your resume.

Choose quality over quantity. Spend the time to create solid connections, and track down real leads. Blanketing your network with vague requests — like, “I’m looking for a job in marketing. Anyone have any suggestions?” — isn’t likely to get you where you need to be.

Keep a log. How many calls did you make this week? How many connected, and how many went to voicemail? How many introductions did you ask for? How many e-mails did you send, and how many did you follow up on? How many face-to-face appointments did you book? Set concrete goals for yourself based on the numbers you find to be manageable and effective for you. Make if fun! Life is too short and you only live once.

Remember, whether you’re a job seeker, a business owner, or employed, it’s important to keep your pipeline flowing steadily, even when you’re not looking. Think of it as preventative maintenance: when you decide it’s time to make a move, you’ll have all the resources you need at hand.

CoachDQ

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