Tag Archives: SHRM

26 MILLION…WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?

Personal Development, Professional Development, , ,

What would you do with 26 million minutes? If you are 50 years old or older, you have lived 26+ million minutes. 

Twenty-six million minutes! Marinate on that for a moment. It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? It makes you pause and ask, “What have I done with 26+ million minutes?

These questions came to mind recently while reflecting on my life in San Antonio, Texas between meetings. In my silence, the answer came from a deep place within me. Time doesn’t go fast, as we often assert. We spend our time doing the wrong things with the wrong people creating a gut-wrenching feeling that we are missing out on something. With each passing day, there’s a feeling of loss. The swiftness of time is an easy criminal to point to.

The truth is this: The refusal to acknowledge, seek answers and take responsibility for unanswered yearnings, mystical dissatisfactions, and unhappiness points to our lack of confidence, courage, and willingness to embrace our competence is the real culprit of loss time.  

Time doesn’t go fast. It escapes those who disregard their power to use it wisely.  

I can’t tell you how to spend the next two seconds, minutes, hours, months, or years. But I can tell you this: without a clear mission and a plan on how you’ll achieve what you want, you’ll be close to where you are right now. If that works for you, don’t do one thing to change. If it doesn’t, and you have difficulty taking a step in the direction of your dream, let me help. 

In my book Harness the POWER of Personal Branding and Executive Presence: Elevate Your Life and Career Now! I give readers the strategies for change and then remind them of their ability to change by encouraging them to answer these questions.

  1. Think about a time when you had to change. Why did you need to change?
  2. What did you need to change?
  3. How did you feel when you realized you needed to change?
  4. How did you feel after the change?
  5. What steps did you take to embrace change?
  6. Write a statement about your ability to change and the value you get from changing.

So you see, you’ve changed many times in the past. You can do this. Don’t waste another moment with people and situations that are below your competence for success. Click here to order your copy of Harness the POWER of Personal Branding and Executive Presence and start building a plan for personal and professional success.

2019 © All Rights Reserved S. Renee Smith. S. Renee is a nationally recognized self-esteem, branding and communication speaker, author, and coach. You can learn more at www.srenee.com. 

WHY SOME PEOPLE’S MISTAKES DON’T MATTER: Overcome Your Flaws By Communicating, Connecting and Committing

Personal Development, Professional Development, , , ,

We all have flaws. Some more forgiving than others; regardless, they are flaws. However, why is it that two people can make the same mistake, yet suffer a different consequence?

While each may experience a backlash, one will have an active group of supporters that will come to their rescue compassionately justifying their actions. They’ll call on the community for backing while the other person will lose their career and life–as they know it. So why are the consequences so different? Politics, you say? What would you say if I told you that I believe that a person’s likability factor is at the core of their ability to escape condemnation?

Studies show that there is a connection between the level of punishment people believe you deserve and how likable you are. The New York Times article To Be Sued Less, Doctors Should Consider Talking to Their Patients More is just one example of how communication and connection increase your likability factor.

So how can you increase your likability factor?

Communicate: Don’t you enjoy a conversation about you or a topic that is important to you? Of course, you do. That’s why you join specific communities. You want to connect with people who will talk about subjects that are close to your heart.

And we all appreciate words of affirmation or encouragement. They remind us that we have a purpose, we’re making a difference, and someone sees us. Open up and have conversations with people, even the tough ones. As SHRM is leading the charge to ignite conversations that will change the workplace, we all must start with having a conversation with ourselves about ourselves. Consider my new book, Harness the POWER of Personal Branding and Executive Presence: Elevate Your Life and Career Now to start an internal dialogue.

Connect: This is why I’ve decided to partner with SHRM–because their message is courageous and bold–we have to connect with each other to create better workplaces and world. But, what does connect mean? I believe to sincerely want to know, understand, and like another human being. When we know and like ourselves, that charge is more desirable and easier to achieve.

Commit: We need one another to reach unimaginable levels of success. Being open to helping others reach their potential will undoubtedly help you reach yours–that’s what I know for sure.

If you enjoyed this article share it with others. Thank you!

S. Renee, the author of Harness the POWER of Personal Branding and Executive Presence: Elevate Your Life and Career Now, is a nationally recognized self-esteem, branding, and communications speaker, talent development trainer, and certified professional coach. Book her for your next event by calling 888-588-0423 or visit www.srenee.com.

I CHOSE COURAGE; WHY YOU CAN TOO!

Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development, , , ,

Do you ever have doubts that you can achieve the success you desire? Do you want to take advantage of opportunities, but don’t because you fear you aren’t ready? I know how you feel, I’ve been there.

I received the call in 2014 to consider co-authoring, Self-Esteem for Dummies. I couldn’t believe it. Me? Really? Wiley? Wiley is one of the top publishers in the world, “Do I have the writing ability to meet their standards? I’m not on that level,” I thought. Being fired from a job 15 years earlier for allegedly being a poor writer didn’t help my confidence.

I remember, all the negative emotions within me surged from the place where I had suppressed them. Have you ever noticed that past hurts often haunt us at a time when our past successes should empower us? At the time of the call, I had produced two self-published books and had been on the speaking circuit for nearly a decade. I was being hired to develop and present many self-development programs for organizations, coach hundreds of one-on-one clients, share national platforms with international leaders, and give advice to the readers and viewers of media outlets. My measurable results for clients were indisputable, plus a 98 percent return-customer rate made my brand credible. Still, I didn’t think I was qualified to write for the world’s best-selling reference brand series.

The thought of putting my writing under a microscope for industry experts to judge made me feel vulnerable. As I battled these demons, I secretly wanted to accept the opportunity. For weeks, my faith in myself and my ability wavered.

Have you ever been in that situation? You want to go to the next level, and an opportunity has been extended to you to get there, but fear paralyzes you? Despite my doubts, I decided to move forward. The book’s co-author and I submitted the requested writing sample separately. After reviewing our submissions, the acquisitions editor asked me to write the introductory chapter for the editorial board’s review. Our literary agent said, “Never in my 20 years in the business have I seen an introductory chapter approved by an editorial board on the first submission.” I exhaled.

I learned some treasured lessons from that experience. I want to share a few with you:

Nothing is arbitrary. People don’t deliberately make stupid decisions. Whether on a job or in an industry, no one pulls your name from a hat. Either a reliable source highly recommended you, or in their search, they accumulated a substantial amount of evidence about you that led them to believe you have the ability to help complete a task. They’re connecting with you because they believe you can make them look good.

Challenges set you up for success. Challenging experiences set you up for great opportunities. It was a long and hard journey for me to move past the mental, emotional, and physical impact of working for a boss who bullied and then fired me. She wasn’t a good leader, but her insults challenged me to be a better writer.

Mental shift. It’s a mental leap. When you’re standing on the ground and looking up, the sky looks vast, endless, and unreachable. From an airplane, although still amazingly massive, it appears to be within your grasp. Did the sky change, or did your position and angle change? Of course, it was your position and angle.

Now is the time for you to build a mindset for success and a plan for your brand. Consider Harness the POWER of Personal Branding and Executive Presence. You can pre-order your copy for half-price at www.srenee.com/author. Join S. Renee at SHRM’s Annual Conference for Powerful Leaders: Transform Your Personal Brand and Executive Presence or MEGA SESSION Defining and Communicating Your Personal Brand to Increase Your Visibility, Credibility and Career OpportunitiesR

© 2019 All rights reserved S. Renee Smith. S. Renee is a nationally recognized self-esteem, branding and communication speaker, author, and coach. You can learn more at www.srenee.com.