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​I learn.

The Value of a Success List

12/29/2019

 

From "To Do" to "To Done"

Like many adults, I have what feels like a never-ending to-do list. No matter how much progress I make, I often dismiss what I have accomplished because I'm too busy focusing on all of the things I haven't done. 

A couple of years ago, I had a boss who encouraged me to make a success list on a weekly basis. This was a great way for me to remind myself that I am making progress--even if it doesn't always feel like it's the case. In addition to my weekly success list, I decided to take personal inventory and do a quick list for the past year.

This Year's Success List

1.  Added daily yoga to my wellness routine.
2.  Applied for 21 jobs and had 12 interviews.
3.  Bought running shoes I absolutely love and ran my first 5k.
4.  Celebrated my 10-year anniversary with my husband.
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My husband, Mike, and I after we ran our first collective 5k together.
5.  Connected with over 100 new colleagues on LinkedIn.
6.  Cut my daily commute time by 1 hour per day.
7.  Decided to quit doing roller derby for a while to focus on being a roller derby mom.
8. Didn’t totally freak out when my daughter was on a two-week trip to Asia with a school affiliated group.
9.  Enrolled my daughter a drivers ed class and started my role as a driving coach.
10. Found an awesome new chiropractor.
11. Got a new FitBit and finished 3 StepBet challenges.
12. Got our cat, Zippy, through ear surgery. (Now she has one ear hole, but two cosmetic ears).
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Post-surgery Zippy hated everything--including her dreaded cone of shame.
13. Learned how to slow down on hills in inline skates. (Next year I hope to have a little more style in my slowing down.)
14. Logged over 80 gym visits.
15. Outlined a book on job searching and job transition.
16. Published 18 blog articles.
17. Ran over 70 miles and inline skated over 250 miles on outdoor trails.
18. Saw “Die Hard”, “They Live”, and “When Harry Met Sally” at the Parkway Theatre.
19. Skated my first inline 10K event and didn’t die, then skated my first inline marathon and finished in under 3 hours.
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Here I am just after completing the Northshore Inline Marathon in like one millisecond under 3 hours.
20. Started a great new job as the Director of Training at a software company.  
21. Survived my second position elimination in 2 years and found a great new job in less than 2 months.
22. Tried spinning and enjoyed it. 
23. Vacationed in New Orleans.
24. Watched all the episodes of Will and Grace and Friday Night Lights.
25. Wrote my very first knitting pattern.
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I wrote a knitting pattern!

What About You? 

What is on your success list for this past year? Include your thoughts in the comments.

Learn More

  • Why a Success List is Better Than a To Do List
  • My Favorite Running Shoes Ever
  • Cunning Hat Knitting Pattern in the Mellow Fury Etsy Shop

An Unlikely Day of Reflection

2/2/2019

 

Looking Back​

There are several days each year where people typically look back and assess their lives. This could be the anniversary of a death, a holiday full or memories, or your birthday. For me, the day I look back at my life is Groundhog’s Day.
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A groundhog--shaking his angry little fist at the world.

February 2, 2006​

Early in 2006, my life was at a crossroads. My then-husband and I were in the process of getting divorced, and I was figuring out how to transition from a house to two houses and what co-parenting my 2-year old daughter would be like. The one stable thing I had was my job. I was happy to have one thing that I could count on not changing.

…and then February 2 happened.

That morning, I went to work. I took a few minutes between meeting to create a spreadsheet to figure out if I could afford to buy a condo I’d looked at the night before on my own. As I saved, I got a tap on the shoulder that I had an impromptu meeting. I grabbed a pen and a legal pad and walked into a conference room full of executives who informed me that position was eliminated due to restructuring because of the company being acquired. I was in shock. I returned to my desk, deleted the spreadsheet of my financial plans (which in just a few minutes had become irrelevant), told my coworker Brad “I’m gone,” and found myself sitting in my car with a box containing all of my formerly workly possessions.

From the parking lot of my ex-workplace, I called my soon to be ex-husband to tell him that I was now unemployed.  His only response was “huh.”

Then It Got a Little Worse

That weekend, I was on a road trip to visit some of my high school friends for a fun weekend of reminiscing and going to the Snowflake Ski Jump. On my way there, a local cop pulled me over for speeding. As I sat there, I glanced at the notification I’d just received from unemployment sitting in my passenger seat—the one that said I’d receive less money than the previous time I’d been laid off—meaning I wouldn’t be bringing enough money in to cover my half of the mortgage. As the officer came to my window, I could feel the tears well up. I could not get a ticket, too. I would cry (as I often heard people threaten to do), but this was no empty threat that would come to bear only through theatrics. I was legit going to fall apart if this happened.
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This moment—sitting in the car with indications of my life failures greatest hits smacking me in the face, was a low point in my life—second only to my dad’s unexpected death. 

Then It Got a Little Better

Fortunately, I think because of my street cred, which included being a native of a town nearby, I drove away ticket free. One thing had gone okay. Then I got to see friends, connect with new people, and spend more time with my daughter. I also had the time and space to figure out what to do with myself now.
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Mine and my daughter's roller derby skates. One of the things for which I am grateful.

The Transition Begins

It was an ugly, ugly few months.

I applied for countless jobs. I put our house up for sale. My daughter’s dad (new language from Mom’s House, Dad’s House) and I decided to move in tandem to Minneapolis, Minnesota from Madison, Wisconsin. I looked for jobs, made business connections, and stayed with friends on the way to and from my regular trips to Minneapolis. I didn’t sleep well for months. A tree fell down in my front yard the day of my open house, so I figure out how to have a giant tree removed while driving on I-90 from a job interview. 

That May, I found a job, a pre-school for my daughter, a new place to live, and reconnected with one of my best friends from high school. Later, her dad found a job and moved, too, with his new girlfriend (who was a lovely person who was good to my daughter). Then, I totaled my car, dated and broke up with a couple of people, and got Shingles three times in a row. Some days, after work, I would lie on my floor and look at the ceiling in my apartment, my low-cost therapy as I adjusted to all of the life changes. I adjusted to my new normal after going through every major life change (save a death in the family) I could think to experience. 

Then It Kept Getting Better

In October, on the same day, I was approved for a car loan and found out that my house in Madison had new owners. Over time, I made two great friends from my job and still spend time with them regularly. I got comfortable in a new city. I started dating someone who was great—then bought a house with and married that guy (who my daughter still calls “Mikey.”)

I got laid off again and got another good job, then got laid off again and got an even better job. My husband and I celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, my daughter is doing well, and my best friend and I get together most weeks to catch up. Life is pretty damn good.
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My now-husband with our kitty, Meathook, when she was sporting the cone of shame.

A Frame of Reference for Gratitude

Sometimes, I see people who don’t seem happy with what they have. The strange upside of having gone through rough times is that it gives you a frame of reference. It reminds me to be grateful for the house that I love, my husband sitting in the living room with our two cats in his lap, my healthy, happy teenage daughter (including her brown, purple and blond hair), and my challenging job that I absolutely love.

’m grateful for being active, able-bodied, and having a strong sense of well-being. I am grateful for heat in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, and automatic garage door openers. I treasure mother/daughter movie night, trips to the skating rink, and even playing chauffeur on the girl’s friend outings. I value my roller derby skates, my outside roller skates, and my inline skates. I appreciate my cats, Zippy and Meathook, and the combination of disdain and affection they have for me.  I am genuinely grateful for it all. Groundhogs Day is my annual reminder to remember all these things.
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Zippy looking particularly disdainful towards me as she angrily sits in my lap because my husband's lap was not available. That's cat love.

What Do You Think?

​What reminds you to take time to be grateful? Include your thoughts in the comments. 

Learn More

  • ​Mom's House, Dad's House (A great book on co-parenting and not messing up your kid)
  • The 10 Most Stressful Life Events (I didn't go to jail either, mind you)
  • Benefits of Gratitude

My Top 3: Life Changing Books on Health

1/2/2019

 

The Challenge of Behavioral Change

About a year ago, I began driving to and from work on a daily basis. Consequently, I have become an avid audiobook listener. I enjoy reading non-fiction, and I focus on topics including business, management, social science, and health.

I've read a lot of books focused on personal improvement. While the information is always beneficial, here are three books that stood above the rest. They include convincing arguments for making positive life changes, straight talk about personal accountability, and specific steps to take to take needed action. In fact, each of these books was so helpful that I initially listened to them, then bought them in a hard copy to have access to the exercises and as a reference moving forward. Here they are in the order that helped me to take best advantage of the information.  

1. Emotional Well-Being: Not Nice

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Full book title:
Not Nice: Stop People Pleasing, Staying Silent, & Feeling Guilty... And Start Speaking Up, Saying No, Asking Boldly, And Unapologetically Being Yourself

Author:
Dr Aziz Gazipura

What I expected:
I was looking for a book on being a better conversationalist. After a couple of false starts with other books that focused on rehearsing conversations and strategies for coping with severe social anxiety, I stumbled across this book. 

What I got:
This book is about being more authentic as a person, which can increase personal confidence and make it easier to move freely about the world--including having conversations with people you don't know very well. At it's core, it is about our misconceptions about being nice, and how we "nice" ourselves into insecurity, resentment, and unhappiness.

Dr. Aziz's personal stories resonated with me, and encouraged me to reexamine my attitudes and behaviors. The book includes exercises on everything from evaluating your personal "rules" for interacting with others to thinking through alternative ways to handle common situations. After going through these exercises, I am better at prioritizing what matters to me and living more authentically. As an extra added bonus, having a better sense of myself is helping me commit to the life changes I want to make. By giving myself permission to say no to things that don't appeal to me, and feeling more comfortable really committing to what I care about most, I'm making progress towards healthy eating and fitness.

2. Nutrition: ​How Not to Die

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 Full book title:
How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease

Author:
Michael Greger, MD

What I Expected:
I was looking for a book about nutrition. While I knew the basics, I wanted to eat better, and I thought having more information on nutrition would help. I also thought it had a high probability of being painfully boring.

What I Got:
I got nutritional information formatted in a way that I cared about it and decided to change my whole diet. Given family history of obesity, pain management, and limited mobility, I wanted to take positive steps to position myself for a long, healthy life where I could skip having to take multiple medications, increase my overall level of fitness, and bypass health issues.

This book guides the reader through health conditions and studies showing how healthier eating can minimize chances of getting the disease, or even provide treatment. Using scientific studies, and even acknowledging the shortcomings of some of them, this book lays out the "why" for the way of eating it advocates. The "why" is positioned not as fear mongering or shaming the reader into making positive life changes, but on the benefits of making eating changes that are completely within your control.

The author, Dr Greger, is an advocate for a Whole Foods Plant Based (WFPB) diet, which emphasizes leafy greens and lots of fruits and vegetables. He also mentions that even if people don't become strict in their adherence to this diet, including more fruits and vegetables will have positive results. I would have never seen myself completely change my eating, but this book gave tangible, specific reasons to upgrade my diet for the better and never look back. 

I got more than a dry book on nutrition. Instead, I got the motivation and key strategies I needed to make positive, healthy lifestyle changes. As an extra bonus, the Daily Dozen (also available as an app) is a helpful tool to make sure I'm planning my diet around these core requirements. 

3. Fitness: The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation

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Full book title:
The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation

Author:
Michael Matthews

What I expected:
I will be completing an inline marathon later on this year, and I am making plans for my workouts leading up to the event. I also know that the last time I signed up for an inline half marathon, I managed to not make a training plan and ended up not even doing the event. I went in looking for motivation (and not even really knowing what I expected that to be). I was also not entirely convinced that I could get motivation from a book, but I was willing to give it a shot.

What I got:
This book is the stern talking to I needed to commit to a goal, take steps to motivate me to achieve it, and the "just do it" mentality to take action towards that goal. The focus is not just on thinking positive thoughts, but on doing the work to make success happen. Like with many books focused on personal improvement, there aren't a lot of new and unusual ideas. It does, however, bring together useful ideas and package them together to motivate action. It includes useful tools and exercises to get from "I should maybe sort of kind of do a thing" to "I'm going to the gym right now, and I'll continue to fine-tune my plan as I go." 

There are a few helpful exercises to help empower people to get out of their own way. So often, people sort of, kind of commit to a goal, then find every reason not to follow through. Personally, I think of all the excuses I can come up with for not going to the gym. Using the techniques included in the book, helped me to eliminate many of those lame excuses and motivate myself to go even if I don't totally feel like it on a given day. 

What Do You Think?

What books have influenced you to make positive life changes? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Learn More

  • Not Nice: Stop People Pleasing, Staying Silent, & Feeling Guilty... And Start Speaking Up, Saying No, Asking Boldly, And Unapologetically Being Yourself​​
  • Supporting Materials for Not Nice
  • The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation
  • Supporting Materials for The Little Black Book of Workout Motivation
  • How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease
  • Supporting information from Dr Greger at NutritionFacts.org​
  • Dr Greger's Daily Dozen Challenge (Including App Link)

Gratitude for Personal Accomplishments

12/26/2017

 

Taking Time to Appreciate

One day at work, I told my boss I was stressed, and feeling like there were just never enough hours in the day to get everything done. She encouraged me to make a weekly success list to remind myself that really was accomplishing a lot. 

It worked so well as an end-of-the-week exercise, I started doing this for life in general as well. As we enter the time of year when people focus on their shortcomings and what they'd like to resolve to do better in the new year, I decided to first list 50 things, large and small, I accomplished this year. 
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Fistbumps to celebrate accomplishments!

50 Accomplishments This Year 

  1. Attended new high school freshman orientation with my daughter and lived to tell the tale.
  2. Booked my first Air BNB.
  3. Bought a new car.
  4. Braced for an emergency airplane landing during a work trip and walked away unscathed.
  5. Celebrated my 9th wedding anniversary with my lovely husband.
  6. Checked out two new grocery stores.
  7. Completed the 60-day fitness challenge at my gym.
  8. Created a joint email address for my household.
  9. De-crapped our entire downstairs by going through all drawers, cabinets and closets.
  10. Donated 23 bags of unneeded stuff to charity.
  11. Enjoyed seeing the Minneapolis skyline at night from the view at Windows on Minnesota.
  12. Enrolled in TSA Pre Check (which is the best $85 I have ever spent).
  13. Experienced a Cameron Carpenter performance.
  14. Finally snapped a picture of my cat, Meathook, in her Santa hat.
  15. Finished my first trail skate on inline skates.
  16. Found my daughter an orthodontist.
  17. Gave up meat and switched to a Whole Foods Plan Based (WFPB) diet.
  18. Got together with my best friend on a near weekly basis.
  19. Had a new luxury vinyl floor installed on the first floor of my home. (Thanks, Mike.)
  20. Heard Shawn James perform live at The Turf Club.
  21. Helped my daughter celebrate her golden birthday.
  22. Hired four, full time people to work on my team.
  23. Inline skated at US Bank Stadium for the first time.
  24. Joined a gym.
  25. Made my first smoothie in my very own smoothie maker.
  26. Met up with three former coworkers on a regular basis to keep those friendships alive.
  27. Painted the living room walls red and gray.
  28. Planned an upcoming vacation to New Orleans.
  29. Read 13 audiobooks.
  30. Rode the train from Duluth, MN to Two Harbors, MN.
  31. Rolled over my old retirement account.
  32. Roller skated at US Bank Stadium for the first time.
  33. Saved money for retirement in a 401(k) and Roth 401(k).
  34. Saw "Singin' in the Rain" at the Heights Theatre.
  35. Shared my employment success story with the White Box Club.
  36. Shopped for and bought my first inline skates.
  37. Signed up for my first inline marathon event.
  38. Started a new job as a training department manager at a growing SaaS software start-up.
  39. Started driving to work for the first time in 13 years.
  40. Stood in two states at once – Iowa and Nebraska.
  41. Switched banks.
  42. Took a foam roller class.
  43. Traveled to Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Atlanta, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, New York.
  44. Treated myself to monthly massages.
  45. Visited my mom and mad mother/daughter/granddaughter holiday lefse making day.
  46. Walked along the beach and watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.
  47. Watched Lethal Weapon at the Parkway Theatre.  
  48. Went to the gym at least 8 times a month from April through December.
  49. Won two Step Bets to and increased my overall activity level.
  50. Worked my first learning and development contracting gig.

What Do You Think?

What did you accomplish in the past year? Include your thoughts in the comments. 

Learn More

  • StepBet
  • Shawn James Music
  • TSA Pre Check
  • Whole Food Plant Based Diet: A Detailed Beginner's Guide

My Top 3: Motivational Videos to Get You In Gear

11/7/2017

 

You Can Do The Thing!

Adulting is hard. I think we all know that we need to make an effort to do things that will help our future selves to be successful. We all know that eating better, exercising more, not procrastinating and getting some sleep will make us better in the long run. Unfortunately, laziness pays off now. Who can bother to get motivated and actually do stuff when there are 10+ seasons of Doctor Who available for the watching at any time, day or night? 

So how do you motivate to do all of that pesky adulting you need to do? Here are three videos that may serve as the kick in the tail you need to get up and do something that doesn't involve  guarding the living room couch. 

If you just need a general affirmation of how awesome you are and how you need to just go do the thing, skip to video 3 because YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT! Otherwise, check out these videos and the articles at the end for even more motivation. I also realized that what I find motivating often includes some straight talk and a bit of adult language. Proceed with appropriate caution. 
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You can do the thing!

9 Life Lessons from Comedian Tim Minchin

Comedian Tim Minchin shares his comedic insights and 9 valuable life lessons. This is motivating on a greater level to live a good, meaningful life while also not taking yourself too seriously. It's also witty and amazing. (NSFW because adult themes and a wee bit of language.)

Daily Inspiration - David Goggins Find Your Drive

This video is inspiring on many levels from Navy Seal and overall badass human David Goggins. He talks about his upbringing and his firm belief that motivation is fleeting, but being driven gets you where you need to be. (FYI--he uses some offensive language, partly because he talks about being called the N word every day when he was in school.)

You Are Magnificent!

Are you lacking confidence? Feeling bad about yourself? Worried that you're not good enough? Let this woman set you straight. The core message of this video is that you need to just get up and do the thing. If you need a pep talk, here it is in it's intermittently foul-mouthed glory.  You are magnificent! (NSFW because, swearing.)

What Do You Think?

What motivates you? Include your thoughts in the comments.

Learn More

  • The Shortest Motivation Advice That's Actually Useful
  • The Emergency Compliment Generator
  • Need Some Motivation Right Now? Read This Immediately
    (Warning: NSFW and encouragement to quit whining and get over yourself)

My Top 3: Key Steps After a Job Loss

10/24/2017

 

Some Days You Go To Work and Come Home With a White Box

Recently, I was laid off from my job. It is the fourth time I’ve been laid off over the course of my 20+ year career in corporate training and development. It’s also the third job I’ve had in a row where the company, not me, decided when my tenure at the organization was complete. I have not actively decided to switch jobs in 13 years. Given my field of choice, training, and my penchant for working for companies that are acquired, struggling, startups or reorganizing, this is a part of my professional life (and also why I moved to a larger job market after layoff number 2). Given my track record, I know how to handle a layoff.

Even though I know the drill, it still sucks each and every time. There’s the loss of a daily routine, the changing of work friendships to acquaintances or regular friends, the excitement (and terror) of getting to find a new job, and the highs and lows of not knowing whether you’ll be unemployed for a week or for a year. It also comes with a new unpaid full-time job—which is finding a new full-time job.

Each layoff has also been a little different. My tenure ranged between 4 months and 8 years. My severance ranged from 2 weeks to 16 weeks. Twice, I could rely on my husband’s income and benefits, and once I was mid-divorce with nearly everything falling apart at once. Regardless of circumstances surrounding a layoff, there are a few good next steps to take.
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Some days, you go to work thinking you have a 10 am meeting with your friend Margaret, and find yourself with a white box being walked out of the building instead.

1. Process Your Emotions

Curse you, feelings!

Losing your job, even through no fault of your own, is an emotional roller coaster. Given how much of your life you spend at work, suddenly not having the same job is a huge change. In fact, it’s the same level of change as things like getting divorced, having close friend die or having to go to prison. You may feel fine one moment, angry the next, then ecstatic, then in tears. Realize this is completely normal.

​Just like dealing with a death in the family, you’re dealing with the death of the future you thought you had. Losing that imagined future, regardless of the role that your job plays in your life, is a big loss that needs to be addressed. Figure out how you will cope with these changes. You might choose positive ways (exercise, reconnecting with friends, journaling) or negative (overeating, overthinking, or a good old-fashioned bender). Find your emotional support people and confide in them. Talk to your partner, family and friends. Find a support group (in-person, or online, or both) to help you work through it.

As much as you may want to jump over the part where you have to admit you have feelings that influence how you live your day-to-day life, you need to address them—whether it happens now or later. Personally, two layoffs ago, I was going through a whole bunch of new and exciting (read "stressful”) life changes all at once. Then, I compartmentalized and focused on the business of moving and finding a new job. Once I was in my new job, I pretty much worked during the day and went through the process of dealing with all of the life changes at night. Do what works for you.

A Note About Social Media

As you process your feelings, be cautious about sharing too much on social media. Remember, the things that you share on social media are somewhere at least somewhat publicly available, forever. Even if you post things only to friends on the Facebooks, there is no guarantee that other people won’t see it given Facebook's ever-changing privacy parameters. Process those feelings in private, not in public on social media. You are not a Kardashian. You don't want prospective employers--or everyone ever--to see the dirty details of your process. ​
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This picture probably doesn't make any sense here. The cardboard dude is totally losing it, through.

2. Manage Your Finances

Disclaimer: (You know there has to be one of these now that we're talking about topics like money and health insurance.) While I know stuff, I'm not a currently licensed, authorized anything. Feel free to take my advice, but double check my facts (and everyone's facts for that matter). This is your life, and you will care more about your finances and health care than anyone else does. With that, read on. 
Whew! I'm glad we got THAT out of the way.
​
​Most of us work because we have expensive habits to support—like living indoors and eating on a regular basis. When a job ends, there are financial concerns that need to be addressed right away. While you won’t have the income from your job, you will receive your final paycheck, possibly vacation time that you have earned and, hopefully, severance. You may also have additional sources of income (from a spouse, partner, or additional work). If you receive severance, realize that it may be less money than you think because taxes are taken out of that sum. Depending on your severance package, and the length of your unemployment  you may also be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. While this may not be a lot, it will help to cushion the blow.

You also need to revisit your budget. Prioritize paying things like your housing and transportation, and plan to spend less on discretionary expenses like entertainment, shopping and eating at restaurants. If you have an emergency fund, this might be the time you start using that. If not, you may end up accruing a little debt. For most people, this isn't the time to buy a new car or build on to your house. This is the time to scale back and get through the yuck until you're gainfully employed again.
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This is my favorite bizarre piece of clip art anywhere. Apparently, as you think about your budget, figure out how the potato helps balance your money spoon. Obviously.

A Note About The Joy That Is Health Insurance

​Since many people rely on their employer for health insurance coverage, figuring out this aspect can be tricky. If you are fortunate enough to have a spouse/domestic partner/parent who can bring you onto their health insurance, check that out right away. In general, if you were covered by an employer's plan, and lose that coverage, you will be eligible to switch to another employer sponsored plan. At least ask that question.

If that's not an option, you have a few more decisions to make. If you do receive a severance package, health insurance coverage for some period of time may be included. Find out if your previously employer sponsored health insurance coverage is paid for by the employer, or if you will receive money to cover the cost of coverage. (These are two very different things.) You may also be eligible for COBRA coverage, which means that you would continue your previously employer paid health insurance, but pay for it yourself. Be sure to brace yourself when you see the amount that you will now be charged for that coverage--because it is usually A LOT more than you paid as an employee.

If you are not willing and/or able to continue with your previous employer's health plan, you may be able to go on the insurance exchanges to find coverage. Depending on your situation, you may also opt for the “be careful” health plan (no health coverage, but no sky diving either). Figure out what makes the most sense to you, and how to mitigate any risks you take.
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Health insurance can be confusing--but you need to think it through.

3. Start Your Job Search

Now that you are without a job, you need to figure out how to get a new job—which is no small effort. Think about what kind of a job you want and write it down. Take time to think about the job titles, possible employers and salary range you want to target. It’s hard to find what you want until you actually know what you want to find. Get your resume updated (if you haven’t already). You may even need a couple of different basic resumes if you’ll be applying for different types of jobs. (Personally, I have an instructional designer resume, a training manager resume and a program manager resume.) Figure out how to highlight your unique skill set and showcase what problems you can help your potential employer solve.

From here, start letting people know about your new status of being “in transition” (not unemployed) and ask people for help. Many times, people offer help. Letting them know specifics on how they can help will do wonders. Perhaps they can introduce you to people who work at one of your target companies. Perhaps they know about a position that has not yet been advertised. Perhaps they know someone who knows someone who you should talk to. Maybe they have a lead on an up and coming company who needs someone just like you. Rely on those working relationships that you have built and put them to work. (Also remember that this is a two-way street. Be sure to help your fellow job seekers, or people who are trying to fill positions. Creating mutually beneficial relationships helps everyone.)

Keep in mind there are additional resources beyond your current network. Just like with emotional support, there are groups that can help with job searching. Check out LinkedIn groups, in-person meetups and seminars on how to network. Find a professional group and meet those people. The more people you meet, the better chance you will have to find a new position that is right for you. 
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Networking: go forth and meet all the people!

Final Thoughts

Through my many, many layoffs, one thing has remained true. I have always ended up in a better place, both personally and professionally, than I would have expected. I learned new skills, met new people and made life changes that I probably needed to make, but I only did when life gave me the shove I needed. 

Learn More

  • Five Tips for Getting Through a Major Period of Transition
  • Seven Things You Need To Know To Deal With Major Life Changes​
  • Resume Tips From A Frustrated Hiring Manager

My Top 3: Advice on Adulting for My Teenage Daughter

7/30/2017

 
I am a parent to a teenage daughter. [Insert appropriate level of panic here.]

Personally, I don't think most people really know what they are doing when it comes to parenting. I always felt like there would be a magical day when I felt grown up and like I knew all of the secrets of the world. Suffice it to say that it hasn't happened. Regardless, I have a child, and she's growing up, so I've continued to make things up as I've gone along, and it's been going pretty well. So far, she's a likable, considerate person who gets decent grades, has a lot of interests, and has friends whose parents I don't hate. As an extra added bonus, she gets along with me as a mom and a tolerable adult figure. I consider that a win.

With that less than stellar resume of my parental qualifications, here are my top 3 pieces of unsolicitied life advice for my teenage daughter. Who knows. Maybe your child, or any random adult for that matter, will learn a little something.
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My daughter, looking only moderately angsty.

1. You actually don't "HAVE TO" do most things.

There are some basic life things that we all have to do--but there's a whole lot that we actually don't have to do, but that we do out of obligation. Let me rephrase. You do not  have to do everything people ask or tell you to do, like or try. ​You get to say no and you don't even have to give said person a reason why either. How cool is that?

You don't have to like a band, hate a person, identify as gay/bi/straight, try a drug, do a shot, dye your hair, eat food, take a dare or do anything physically that you don't want to do. People of all ages will try to tell you otherwise, and they are wrong. This also goes for hugging someone creepy, eating a dessert that a coworker made or having a second helping of casserole because someone says "You are too skinny!" People often want some sort of validation for how they live their lives, and they will try to get someone to affirm their own choices by choosing them, too. You don't have to be that someone. 

​The flip side of this is that other people also don't have to do everything you tell them they have to do either. We each get to make our own choices, and take a "No" or "No thank you" or "I don't think so" as a real answer. Set the personal boundaries that are right for you, and accept other people's boundaries, too. 
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Just because all the other girls in the forest are tossing their baskets in the air, you don't have to toss yours, too.

2. Plan ahead--at least a little bit.

Children and adults alike each deal with "emergencies" on a regular basis--many of which wouldn't have had to be emergencies with just a wee bit of forethought. Many day to day "emergencies" can be mitigated by having your cell phone, $10 in cash, and your house keys.

On the low end, here are a few super-easy tips from me to you. Bring a towel with you into the bathroom. Brush your teeth before you put on your lipstick. Put on your knee pads before your wrist guards. A little forethought goes a long way.

On to bigger and better things. Many other perceived "emergencies" have only become so because of neglecting to look ahead a few days to see what is coming up or a general lack of communication. On Sunday, look ahead at your week. Give me a heads up that you have a band concert, volleyball game, birthday party or sleepover at least 2 days before it happens. If I have to fill out paperwork, or give you permission to do something, or figure out any logistics, make that a week. All those activities that you are involved it don't just happen. It takes a bit to get a doctor's appointment for an athletics physical or request a copy of your vaccination records or lay hands on the special whatever-it-is that you want to get whats-her-name for whatever thing it is she's celebrating.

Also, just know that if you don't plan ahead, I am at the point where I'm done making your poor planning my emergency. I've got things going on too--must of which I had to schedule and arrange to accommodate all of your activities that I actually knew about.

Overall, take responsibility for your own life because no one is going to care more about your activities than you do. Get a calendar and write things down. While I'm temporarily still your chauffeur, I am not your concierge.
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Get a calendar. Write stuff down. Stop asking me what day it is.

3. Seek out help when you need it.

Everyone needs help from an adult sometimes. Everyone. You can talk to me, or if you'd rather, try out these people: your dad, your step-dad, my best friend, your best friend's mom, a teacher at school who you like. Talking to your friends is great, but sometimes you need an adult opinion. (I have 30 years of life experience on you--which means I've been through a few things that are totally new to you.) You are fortunate that you have many, many people who care about you who want you to be well. Even if you think it's the most horrible thing that anyone could ever do, let's talk and figure out what's next. Give me a chance to help before you do something extreme like running away, hurting yourself or hurting others. I am also happy to share my list of stupid things that I did as a child (and some after that) that I also thought were super horrible then that you will find laughably lame, now. 

​If you know of someone who you think needs help, tell one of us about that, too. I am happy to talk to your friends, their friends, other people's parents, or whoever else you think is struggling to help them get through it--whatever it might be. Life is often hard, and going through it alone makes it even harder. Let one of us help--which includes picking you up and helping you get out of a messed up situation at some god awful hour in the morning (which I will happily do whenever it is needed.) I'm also not going to yell at you or give you a hard time. Again. Here to help.
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Asking for help is not weakness. It's smart and shows strength.

"Adulting" Advice

What is your top "adulting" advice for others?

Learn More

  • Teaching Kids about the Harsh Realities of Life
  • Gameplan for Positive Parenting Your Teen

Budgeting Based on Personal Values

7/8/2017

 

Standard Personal Financial Advice

When it comes to basic financial advice, we all know what we're supposed to do. Spend less than you earn. Save for retirement. Pay down your debts.  This covers the what, and a little bit of the how, but skips the most important part: the why.

Your Values Impact Your Budget

 When figuring out how to budget your money, you need to know what you care about and how that influences what you spend your money on. Without thinking thorough the why, you may catch yourself spending money on things you don't really value just to keep up appearances--or because you think you should spend on those things. 

Most of us inherently know what we care about, but we have a hard time putting it into words. Fortunately, Think 2 Perform offers a free, online tool that can help you name and prioritize your values. For me, this tool helped me translate my ambiguous thoughts about what matters to me into a few helpful terms. 
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I'm not sure what's up with the potato, but I just had to use this picture somewhere.

Brenda's Values

Here are my top 5 identified values:
  • Happiness
  • Health
  • Autonomy
  • Relationships
  • Education

What Those Values Mean to Me

Here's what each value tangibly means to me: 
  • Happiness: For me, happiness means low stress, low hassle and low drama. It includes quiet time for me to recharge, and the time and money to do things that I want to do with people I  enjoy. It also means I have choices and options and I can decide what I want to do and when I want to do it. 
  • Health: After seeing friends and family members struggle with health issues that limited their mobility and quality of life, being healthy is a priority. Health means getting enough sleep, eating well, staying active, being functionally fit, having energy, not being in pain and making time for my mind and body to rest. It's important to me that I am able to take care of myself and my family and set a good example for my daughter so she doesn't have to struggle with some of these same issues.
  • Autonomy: I like to have options. I like having control over my schedule and being able to decide what to do on a given day. I like to be able to work from home and work shorter hours on some days and longer hours on others depending on work demands.  I like living in an area that has so much to offer and being able to have multiple possibilities for what to do in a given day.
  • Relationships: I work to maintain the strong relationships I have with my husband, my daughter, work colleagues, and friends I've made during different part of my life. My best friend and I get together weekly--even if it's just to run errands together or take a walk. My daughter and I have game night and go roller skating together. I make the time to participate in communities related to my current job, my profession, my daughter and my neighborhood. 
  • Education: In day to day life, I look at each interaction as an opportunity to pick up information--whether it's a new meditation app, a great place to buy a Vera Bradley purse or characteristics of the best roller derby wrist guards. I also do the standard things like take classes, attend webinars and re ad daily.  At my professional job, I create experiences to help individuals continue grow their knowledge after initial training has been completed. Overall, education is a big part of who I am.

How Values Translate to Spending

So how do those values translate to how I choose to spend my money? Here are a few examples on how this manifests itself :
  • Happiness: I budget for a monthly light rail train pass. Since driving in traffic stresses me out, I commute to work via train.
  • Health: I budget for monthly massages for myself. It  helps me make time for self-care and promotes my overall physical and mental health. 
  • Autonomy:  I budget for 2 vehicles.  In addition to my train pass, my family owns a car and a truck. We have a car because it's more comfortable for road trips and a truck so we can haul things. There is also less coordination of plans, and we have a backup vehicle if one needs repairs. 
  • Relationships:  I budget for roller skating. Since my daughter and I both started doing roller derby earlier this year, one of our mother/daughter activities is roller skating. We usually go once a week together, and sometimes she brings a friend or we skate with other people we know. 
  • Education: I budget for exercise classes. Recently, my best friend and I went to an all day yoga festival where we got to try out multiple yoga styles. 

So Now What Should You Do?

  • Take the values assessment (There's a link in the "Learn More" section).
  • Identify your top 5 values
  • Reflect on what those values mean to you. Write it down.
  • Look at your budget. Determine how your current spending fits in with your values.
  • Adjust your budget accordingly.
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Start with your values.

Learn More

  • Free, Online Values Assessment by Think2Perform
  • Money and Values Exercise from A Debt Free Stress Free Life​​

    Author

    Brenda is a dynamic training and development leader and an innovative learning experience designer. Brenda also enjoys learning all the things.

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