Three Powerful Words

We all like to play games, right?  Well, an easy game to play is using three words that make sense in a cohesive phrase.  This game is called “Three Powerful Words”, and the good thing is that it’s as easy as it sounds.

Ask your partner, your work buddy, your gym friend, etc… which best describes their life right now.  You’re bound to get a different answer depending on the person, the mood, the activity, the environment, etc…  The beauty is that there are no right or wrong answers.  It just enables us to peek inside each other ever so slightly and see how we each are feeling at the time of our 3-word impulsion.

So, at this moment I can describe myself as – “getting it done”.  Those are the words that best describe me at this time and place.  And of course, the words and feelings are subject to change (and absolutely will change).

If you are so inclined, you can play this game with index cards that have these words written and/or illustrated to better explain how you are feeling.  Sometimes “mopeyness takes over”, or “happiness is catchy”.  These are some of the 3 words that I have used in the past to describe myself.

It also enables me to succinctly identify how I’m feeling, and I know pretty quickly if an attitude adjustment is in order!

So, how are you feeling at this moment in time?  Which three words best describe you?

Adding Courtesy Back Into Our Lives

Several years ago I remember being troubled by the lack of courtesy in our daily actions.  I remember being faced with rude people who appeared not to have the time or gumption to treat people (and animals) with respect.  Don’t get me wrong, I, too, occasionally showed my impatience and lack of courtesy in many things that I did – I sometimes cut people off when driving; I shouted obscenities (in silence) at people who moved too slowly; at times, I treated servers, wait people, and cashiers poorly; and the list goes on and on.

Thankfully my then teenage son, told me that I was rude and people deserved more courtesy and respect than I gave them.  I took it to heart and remember making a conscious effort to add courtesy back into my life.

Everyone has a job to do – some people are not happy with their decisions to work at a certain job, but do so nonetheless.  Especially in this economy!  And we can make their tough jobs and days a little easier by smiling and acting politely.  It takes so little to treat others as we would like to be treated – sounds biblical, eh? I am not a religious person, nor do I read the bible, but I do try treat others with courtesy.

As a 2010 Census Enumerator I have had doors slammed in my face and some people go out of their way to avoid me.  I’m not sure why.  I have a job to do, and I always smile and engage with others when I can.  The few minutes that are spent to speak with your local census worker are so painless, while it takes more time (and the government’s money) to avoid participation.

Next time someone knocks on your door, calls you on the phone, cashiers for you, or serves you food, etc… – try to remember to smile and act politely.  Remember they are human beings too, and your smile may just help them through their otherwise routine day!

Privacy – How Are You Handling Your Public Profile?

A lot of people are concerned that today’s 24/7 electronic environment encourages a lack of privacy in our daily lives.  A major complaint with the  current 2010 Census is that our privacy is being jeopardized when we answer the short questionnaire that is used to reapportion our government districts and the financial backing of our local schools, and the federal financial support that we all use.

I admit that our privacy efforts have taken a hit as a result of our Social Media involvement, our fight against terrorism with Privacy Agreements at every corner, and 24/7 phone and email availability.  The good news is that we can control our online exposure if we’re diligent.  I, for one, am an avid Social Media user, but I do try to control my online profile.  My Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and blog posts are consciously controlled and readable by all – potential clients, employers, and friends!  I make sure that NO “too” personal information is shared.  I make use of a readily available “google search” about my name and see what is being said about me.  Thankfully I have not seen anthing bad “out there”.

My 20-something son tells me that people just want to be left alone.  Government is too big, too intrusive, and it seems that our lives are an open book.  Yes, compared to 20 years ago, it may seem that we can no longer hide in our homes, but I am taking the necessary steps to ensure that my public persona is as controlled as possible, and you can too!  And by the way, I completed and submitted my 2010 Census form right away.  I am not afraid to be counted and want my district to be properly apportioned and financed.  I take advantage of my local resources and invite you to do the same.

Be aware of your online profile,  keep information relevant and current, and remain aware of your electronic persona by performing an easy Google Alert and Search of yourself.

Let’s control what others see about us.  And if you have not returned your U.S. 2010 Census form, please give a few minutes of your time to the Census Enumerator who will no doubt knock on your door.  Here’s your chance to control that information!

What are you doing to control your public persona, and simultaneously maintain your privacy?

Writer’s Block?

I have so much to say and for some strange reason I can’t put my thoughts into a blog.  Is this what Writers’ Block is all about?

I’ve started and stopped many different blogs, just not happy with the content, the direction, and the end result.  So here I am, with a multitude of blogs that I’ve already written, thoughts on networking, Social Media, job search, community organizing, and reinventing oneself during this tough economic time – and my computer screen seems empty and uncooperative.

So, just like the title of this blog says… I’ll give myself a Permission Slip to come up blank.  With all the noise and chatter that comprises our daily lives, sometimes having nothing to say, speaks volumes!  I just need to be ok with the silence.

I’m working on it!

Social networking is the king of communi

Social networking is the king of communications now! http://bit.ly/bziVFH

LEARN TO DO MORE WITH LESS – Try It, You May Like It

We’re doing more with less, and hopefully learning to enjoy ourselves along the way.

It’s no longer hip to be an overt consumer and to show the world how large a footprint you can require.  The Hummer is a great example of this.   The Hummer went out of style because it offered such low gas mileage and was so big and (in my mind) intrusive, it’s market-share was too low to sustain it as a viable car option.  Perhaps it still makes sense as a military vehicle, but not as a pleasure one.

The recent economic downturn is giving people much appreciated permission to eat at home, have game night (at home), turn off the lights and save money as well as energy, take public transportation which hopefully saves money as well as is good for Mother Earth, give smaller and more meaningful gifts… the list goes on and on.  For special occasions, my 83 year old mother no longer gives me a sweater or belt that I don’t need, but rather, she gives me a meaningful piece of her jewelry.  Things that I’ve seen her wear for years; items that I know mean a lot to her, and thus her gift to me has significant meaning attached.  I would much rather take possession of a gift that was given with thought behind it, rather than a gift from our local retailer that was just given to me because it’s my birthday.

Many of us recently celebrated Earth Hour where our collective goal was to turn off our lights for one hour, save energy, be more sustainable, and show our care and appreciation for this planet by “flipping the switch”.  Some people were more successful than others, but it was indeed humbling to see a darkened Las Vegas Strip, Egyptian Pyramids, Empire State Building, etc…   People of the world united to ultimately share a common goal of doing more with less, and showed the onlookers that we survived and perhaps even liked it!  Can you imagine if people took this a step further, and regularly turned the lights off to save energy and be more sustainable.  What a great idea!

Even though I live in the “land of plenty”, I enjoy getting off the consumer bandwagon and learning how to be more satisfied with what I have.  Hopefully you are learning how to be happy and satisfied in this new era of spending less and consuming less, and being grateful for what we have.  Let’s give this a try, we may like it!

Organizing and Networking – Yes, You Can Do It!

Yes, it remains hip to be a Community Organizer.  I know that I always admired people who could put themselves out there.  By out there, I of course mean, in front of people – trying to persuade others to join, believe, clean up the mess, be on the front lines of a cause, and always putting one foot in front of another and staying positive even when the cause seemed to be losing steam.

Community Organizing always looked good from afar and I would think about it for a minute, an hour, even a day or two.  I always felt too busy (yeh, right) to walk the walk even if I occasionally talked the talk (while walking mini steps).  So when I was laid off, during the heat of the 2008 Presidential campaign, I finally decided to walk, really walk the walk.  It felt great and was the impetus of what would become a wave of volunteerism on my part.  And I continue to love it!

While looking for work I’ve found that I love helping people and sharing what I’ve learned (about many things) with whomever wants to listen.   I currently teach “Using Social Media” at the UCI (University of California, Irvine) Women’s Opportunities Center – Career/Life Planning.  That’s a long name for a hidden gem in the University that is part of UCI Extension and helps people fine tune their career goals and skills with the help of one-on-one Career Coaches and pertinent workshops.   I was a volunteer at Experience Unlimited – OC, which is a fantastic government sponsored program under the auspices of the EDD.  That program is filled with hundreds of talented people, looking to network and improve their skills, while looking for work.  I no longer volunteer there because my plate was too full, however I highly recommend the Orange County One Stop, and Experience Unlimited, for those that are looking for great community resources.  My ongoing pride and joy is the Career Networking Group that launched last year at my local synagogue.  We continue to tackle issues that every person, in transition, needs to address – Effective networking, Social Media, community resources, etc…  In addition to helping people become better job-seekers, I want to help them learn how to navigate the struggles of being in transition, learn about the tremendous amount of available community resources, learn the art of networking while remaining positive and engaged, and most of all, pay it forward by joining forces with a cause of their choosing.

For me, I am choosing to help people stay positive and perhaps reinvent themselves (while I reinvent myself) during this tough economic time.  With that in mind, I remain interested in the Americorps WECARE program which focuses on helping people over 50 gain new skills, meet new people, learn about aging issues and community resources for eldercare and participate in cultural and social activities.  Keep in mind that an annual volunteer commitment with WECARE comes with a small living allowance, and a lot of personal satisfaction.

What are you good at?  What do you want to try?  Lot’s of groups can use your help.  Being a volunteer looks good on your resume, and you may even make a connection that earns you a paycheck.  Watch daytime TV or sit on a steering committee – you choose.  I find that it helps my mood, my resume, my electronic profile, and my networking to remain out there among ‘em rather than in front of the “boob tube”, so you know what I’ve decided to do.

Organizing and networking is fun and challenging, and can make you feel somewhat like a Community Organizer.