Housekeeping

Housekeeping

October 14, 2013 Uncategorized 0

Earlier this summer, I was lucky enough to get hired to kvetch write for Huffington Post. My ancestors, in the Old Country (the Pale of Settlement, not Brooklyn) are turning in their grave to see another yenta getting such a mainstream audience, nu, such a brocheh!

Anyhoo, those articles have been sending a lot of new clients my way. So, with that in mind, I just wanted to remind interested people that if you’re considering hiring me, you can always start the process by becoming a fan of my Facebook page, “Carlotaworldwide Creativity Yenta,” and score yourself a free consultation, either in person or over Skype, Mac FaceTime, carrier pigeon, whatever. I also want to remind people that a free consultation is just that–a free CONVERSATION–so if you’re interested, and you know you have to make some professional changes, but maybe you’re not sure just what kind of changes, or maybe you’re not ready to recreate your entire life right this minute…hey, get in line. I woke up this morning craving hot chocolate, and everything else is sort of fluid. My point being, I’m here to encourage, not freak you out. (That comes later.#mwahhahah)

So, let’s say you’re thinking of using that free consultation…those of you about to rawk, I salute you! Here’s some things I’d ask you to consider:

1. What are you looking to achieve? What are your short-term and/or long-term professional goals? I can’t help you create a strategy, unless I know what it is you’re looking for. Otherwise, it’s not a strategy, it’s simply a waste of your time. (This is, of course, very different from getting started on a strategy to achieve one goal, and then the process opens other doors for you, doors to things you didn’t even know about but are intrigued by. That also happens. A lot.)

2. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, hey, come down off that ledge, Sunshine, and tell me: What do you dislike about your current situation, and why? What frustrates you? (Here, I’m just going to remind certain people, that a Dostoevskian manifesto about why your co-workers are all morons, while possibly accurate, isn’t super helpful. And I say that as someone who worked in TV news, wherein I spent a lot of time throwing phones at writers who missed their deadlines. As I continue to attempt to become a better person, I know that I should feel bad about that behavior…but no. I continue to stand by those choices. I continue to loathe incompetence. My point being,  I know allll about the levels of Unabomber-like rage that you may be experiencing on a day-to-day basis.) But to make positive changes, we have to think and act positively, so instead, I’m asking you to think about what did you expect to get out of your career, what talents and experiences were you hoping to use, that are instead being thwarted.

3. This is also a good time to connect with me on LinkedIn and send me, at carlotazee@gmail.com, a copy of your resume–it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be complete. By “complete,” I mean list ALL of your schools, honor societies, sororities or fraternities, awards won, languages studied and the like. Did you play sports? Were you on Dean’s List? Did you have any mentors? Talk to me about internships, summer jobs, EVERYTHING, because whatever your goals, we need to organize your network in order to achieve them. Also, before you start “editing” yourself and decide that no one cares if you speak Finnish, or dug wells in Angola, or was an intern for your local free community newsletter…STOP! How about you just list ALL of your experience, and let me remind you that depending on what your goals are, that crazy hippie chick named “Taragon,” you worked with that summer in Angola, could be extremely well-connected.

4. Before we actually talk, use this period to brood and try to identify, in your own mind, what are the issues that have been bothering you and why.

5. And finally, take the session for what it is, a chance to get organized, to talk, and ideally to get some clarity on your situation. Take it for what it is, and allow yourself to–whoa!–maybe even enjoy it. I frequently make clients giggle like school-girls. Many clients have been inspired to make huge, lasting personal improvements in their professional lives, and no, not just because I had them in a (loving) head-lock. Despite what some of my ex-boyfriends say, I am (usually) not the Wicked Witch of the West.  My parents frequently find me adorable. Especially, they say, when I’m asleep.

Hey, this is like a date, right? We both know you’re interested, time is passing, and now it’s all on you, you’re going to have to (wo)man-up and shoot me an email. Take the first step. We both know you deserve to love your life.

Besos,

C.

 

 

 

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