Mindfulness Moment: Start with the decision to try

Mindfulness Moment: Start with the decision to try

 

What sets apart the successful people from the unsuccessful people? It boils down to one thing: Successful people keep trying.

Anyone has the ability to be successful at something. We tend to place a monetary value on things but success is much more than being rich or running a company or being famous.

How do you define success?

Success is being the best you can be with the resources you have. Have you made the effort to be better than you were yesterday? If so, then you are a success.

Many times people give up trying because they aren’t seeing results. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes hard work and perseverance. What are you doing in this moment to be a success? Are you thankful? Are you learning something new? Are you going to stop letting your life pass you by?

Right this very minute decide you will keep trying. That’s when the good stuff starts to happen..

Are you interested in receiving weekly mindfulness moments by email?

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Jenny is a dynamic speaker, coach, and blogger and is passionate about helping people integrate their personal and professional selves.

Jenny helps organizations empower their employees by implementing tools that help manage stress, achieve self-awareness, and challenge mental barriers that may hinder behavior change.  Learn more about Jenny

.
CONTACT INFO:

jjacobs@executiveexcellence.com 
877.223.1428
@JennyJacobs

Mindfulness Moment: Start with the decision to try

5 Steps to Getting the Most From Your Mentor

When we think of career advancement and leadership development, a good option is the use of a mentor. Whether you are a senior executive or an emerging leader, there is never a bad time to ask for the assistance of a mentor. Just as Plato had Socrates and Bill Gates has Warren Buffett, mentoring is an excellent opportunity for learning from a role model.

 

By definition, a mentor is someone with knowledge and experience that you can benefit from and is willing to share his or her acquired wisdom. The underlying idea is to improve yourself by connecting with their experience and insight. To get the most out of the relationship, here is a short list of things to keep in mind:

1. Define your need. Take the time to define your mentoring needs. Are you a technically-minded person who could polish your relationship-building skills? Are you a junior executive who could benefit from the experience of someone more seasoned? Once you have a solid understanding of your mentoring needs, make a list of those who can potentially fill the role.

 

2. Build the relationship. Learn as much as you can about the people on your list. Which ones have values that closely align with yours? Get to know them in a casual setting over coffee or lunch to see if you have a natural rapport. Don’t lead with “Will you be my mentor?” (That’s like asking someone to marry you on the first date.) Instead, get to know them. Start small and see where it goes.

 

3. Set expectations. Once you’ve found a good match, take the time to set expectations for the relationship. Will you meet informally to chat over business challenges? Should you set up a weekly call to discuss an initiative? Maybe you’d prefer an interview style where you go over a set of questions. Choose the style that best meets your mentorship goal.

 

4. Be prepared. If you’ve chosen wisely, there is a good chance that your mentor has just added you to an already busy schedule. Be respectful by showing up to your mentoring sessions on time and being prepared. If you agreed to do some homework, make sure you honor that commitment. If you chose an interview format, bring a list of carefully prepared questions.

 

5. Move on. The ultimate goal is to arrive at a stage where you will no longer require the services of your mentor. Just as you set expectations going into the relationship, be clear when you feel it’s time to move on. Don’t allow the relationship to end in an awkward fizzle, but bring it to an honorable close. Thank your mentor for taking the time and caring enough to invest in your growth. Chances are, your relationship will evolve into a long-term trusted friendship.

 

If you are the type of person who takes on challenges, you’ll likely have a series of formal and informal mentors along your career path. If you make the effort to manage these relationships well, they can be some of the most important connections of your lifetime. And when you get an invitation for coffee from a junior colleague, be prepared to use your positive experiences to pass it on.

Mindfulness Moment: Start with the decision to try

Mindfulness Moment: Break out of your comfort zone

 

Our comfort zone. Ahh… It feels so good. It’s familiar. It is soothing. It makes us feel safe. But only temporarily. 

Living in one’s comfort zone for too long often leads to discontent, anxiety, and powerlessness.

The surest way to break out of our comfort zone is doing something, anything, out of the norm.

From writing down why you want to accomplish something to making the choice to forgive. It can be something as simple as drinking more water or giving a heartfelt compliment to a coworker. Any success you will ever experience begins with one tiny step.

Do SOMETHING in this moment. Once you make that first step out of your comfort zone you are that much closer to getting something you have never had – the life you were meant to live.

Are you interested in receiving weekly mindfulness moments by email?

Send us a message at info@executiveexcellence.com and we will add you to our
Mindfulness Moments subscriber list!

Jenny is a dynamic speaker, coach, and blogger and is passionate about helping people integrate their personal and professional selves.

Jenny helps organizations empower their employees by implementing tools that help manage stress, achieve self-awareness, and challenge mental barriers that may hinder behavior change.  Learn more about Jenny

.
CONTACT INFO:

jjacobs@executiveexcellence.com 
877.223.1428
@JennyJacobs

Message From Our Founder

Message From Our Founder

SheriNasim_Headshot

Welcome to the tenth issue of CEE News!

Believe it or not, one in three people don’t trust their employer. That’s according to the 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer. What’s more, only about half believe their employer is open and upfront with them.

One of the major underlying causes of this trust gap is a lack of transparency in the workplace. Consider these three examples of companies that are trying to close the trust gap through workplace transparency practices.

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Business in Focus: Warby Parker

Business in Focus: Warby Parker

A closer look at companies executing leadership excellence

Warby+Parker+EyewearYou’re probably already familiar with TOMS Shoes One for One® program.  For every pair of
shoes purchased, TOMS gives away a pair to a child in need. You may not be as familiar with Warby Parker, a hip eyewear company founded in 2009 by four Wharton Business School friends.

(more…)