I Have Served My Family Purpose – It’s Time for Me

For many women, I believe a time comes when we realize that we have done the best for our families. We have endured the late nights encouraging or nursing someone back to their normal self. We have risen early to shuffle people out of the home; providing a great start to the day just like a well-rounded breakfast would provide necessary nourishment. We have taken the second job or not taken a job to help the family unit thrive (or at least remain stable, whether that’s financially or emotionally).

But perhaps we have poured out this protectiveness and tolerance only to find out that these actions of love have hurt our families by making them more dependent and less self-sufficient. Does this sound familiar? When women reach this epiphany, and the feeling persists after deep reflection, it is time to make a change.

Many feelings can surface during the transition. Guilt that we are doing something we shouldn’t do. New concerns for the welfare of the family. Doubt, both in your abilities to navigate the transition as well as doubt in your actual abilities to land a job or launch a new career. But perhaps one of the most challenging feelings to process is regret. There can be sadness that creeps up and reminds us that we could have done more when we were younger and had more energy. All of these feelings should be acknowledged but not obsessed on. Acknowledge them, yes. But then redirect your thinking to what you are doing now and in the future. Shifting focus like this is the key to moving past these challenging feelings.

Putting yourself first is thinking about your desires, needs, and aspirations as you think about others that are close in your life. We have a tendency to put ourselves last as we are planning or reflecting on what needs doing. If you are at the stage where your need for change has persisted, it is time to ask the question: What do I need in this situation? Ask this question when planning vacations, financial responsibilities, allocating your time to activities, and many other areas.

When we begin to put ourselves first, we may believe that this decision will take us far from home, our children. Or at worst that our closest relationships will be strained. Those that have come from a strong spiritual background may believe that women should rule the home while men provide. I believe this can be one woman’s truth but not a final truth. All of these beliefs can be adapted over time with clear and consistent communication with our loved ones.

Before clear communication can take place, we must be clear on where we are going and what we want. A good network of other women who have varied experiences and are willing to listen and encourage is a great start. Utilizing the many assessments (personality, work interest, Myers, work values, skills, and aptitude) are good data points for self-knowledge. Working with a life, health, or career coach can also be a great aid.

Here are some steps to ensure that you transition well and your family survives intact:

1. Be clear about what you want. Spend as much time as you need to figure this out.
• Do you need more time for personal pursuits?
• More time for career pursuits and less time doing housework/paying bills?
• Do you want more time pursuing what is directly in line with your core values?
• What are your core values?
2. Believe you can achieve.
   The vision board process is a great mindset shifting tool that works over time. Once you establish what you want, create a visual example of that vision.
3. Communicate your desires to your family and support system. Delegate!
   Help your family see how your transition will benefit you and them. No one likes change, especially those that are comfortable. But creating a picture for your family on how this change will help the family unit is key. It might be as simple as you will be “happier” and more agreeable. Share with your stakeholders (family) that this transition will result in more income for the family, more stability for the family, or simply more life satisfaction for you (because you are slightly miserable). Have faith and patience that if we do not understand it now, we will in the future. Spend time thinking about how the family will adapt and grow in ways we may not have considered. Share this vision with them and let them add their expectations to this new way of life. For example, a certain family member might be enticed with the idea of having their favorite dishes more often since the need to cook or meal plan might fall on them in the future.

This transition will not be easy, but it will be rewarding if you hold to the truths you uncover about yourself. Choosing you does not mean that your family will drown or fail without you. Keep communication (speaking and listening) strong and everyone can work together to fulfill the entire family’s needs.

Work-Life Balance: Whose Responsibility Is It?

Work-life balance is the new focus, and rightfully so. It is the daily balancing act of juggling one’s working time (paid or volunteer) and the other activities that are important to you.

These other activities could be anything; like having the time or mental space to paint our nails with green nail polish, walking through a sunflower garden, or working out to prepare for a climb in the Nepali Mountains. It could be having bandwidth to attend your child’s awards ceremony in the middle of the day or the flexible schedule to leave work and check on your elderly parent during the workday.

This flexibility to balance our work and engage in meaningful activities benefits workers in many ways. It allows workers to be peaceful and able to meet company goals. Workers that are able to seek work-life balance feel mentally grounded or in-control. In addition, workers see physical benefits, such as the ability to maintain a desired weight, good sleep, more stable blood sugars, lower blood pressures, and a decreasing risk of Alzheimer due to high stresses.

According to a 2009 Wisconsin Marshfield Clinic Study, women who vacation more than once a year have less depression and tension as well as greater marital (or relational) satisfaction than other groups.

Employers benefit when employees are able to give their all in the workplace and fully commit to reaching the company's goals or mission. With sufficient paid, sick, and volunteer leave offerings, employers also have the benefit of seeing less unplanned absenteeism and retaining skilled employees over time. When policies are in place to allow for flexible working arrangements, employees have the opportunity to arrive and leave work with less stress. They come to work more refreshed and better equipped to tackle the day's demands.

Google recently implemented a policy to increase their paid time off from 12 weeks to 18 weeks and found that new mothers leaving the company decreased by 50%.

Both employers and employees see the benefits of work-life balance, but whose responsibility is it?

Employers (C-Level executives in conjunction with HR) have the strongest influence because they can change the work culture from the top down. The culture can be changed by implementing training and policies that enforce and support work while balancing personal life. These initiatives that companies pledge to implement should be structured to affect all individuals and not just certain groups of the working population (such as just women). When the policies are created to encompass all individuals, the culture can change for the better. Influencers are creating initiatives and policies like subsidies for child care onsite at the workplace, funding for paid parental leave (for males and females in the event of birth or adoption), and initiatives that support single parents.

This does not mean employees have no power or say in enforcing this balance. Employees retain the right to call the shots on where they work. Perhaps they may not be able to make immediate job changes but they can be strategic about their next job move. Rest assured, there is an employer putting benefits in place to support work-life balance for their workforce. In order to stay competitive and retain their workers, it is critical. Moreover, an employee might not leave the company, but they may decide to change roles, request an alternative work schedule, or even a job share to allow for more balance. Communication is key. How will an employer know the needs of their workforce if it is not shared? Participation in surveys, communicating with HR respectfully, suggesting strategies where everyone wins are all critical.

Work-life balance is the responsibility of BOTH the employee and the employer because it affects everyone. Employers need to focus on creating this environment through policies and initiatives, all based on consistent input from regular employees who come from varying backgrounds and with different needs. This will ensure that employees can thrive and still stay energized and excited about contributing to company goals. Employees need to communicate openly with influencers about their needs and stay abreast of work-life balance initiatives in other organizations. When both parties work to do their part, everyone wins!

Is Photography Still a Good Career?

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a client who was interested in a career as a photographer. She completed her assessments and learned about herself. She found that she was already skilled at visualization, oral, and written comprehension. Along with the required skills that she had inventoried, she realized she was quite creative and had previous experience and success in photography.

However, while working through our validation section, we determined that "photographer" had a low outlook according to Career One Stop and other Career Exploration sites. This meant this career was not expected to grow and could be shrinking. The outlook growth was projected to decline by 8% in NC and decline by 6% in the US over the next 10 years. It was very disappointing.

I thought it was unusual that Career One Stop had made a new video for this occupation but the outlook data was still poor. Why would they invest in making a new video for an ending profession? It didn't make sense. Luckily, I had individuals in my network that were able to help us better understand what was going on within the industry. So, we reached out to an individual that is very immersed in the field to shed some light on this career.

During our informal information interview, he confirmed that the profession of just being a photographer is declining. Job seekers need to have more skills than just taking pictures to gain employment and stay competitive. A job seeker must be able to write well, edit pictures, use software (Adobe or Corel), and be able to manage projects.

Careers in computer generated imagery (CGI) are hot! Product designers and stylists must be versed in photography and designing 2-D and 3-D images. From a cost perspective, many companies are finding that it is cheaper to create an image from CGI versus using props etc. which are needed for a still photo. Read this great article on how Furniture marketers can use CGI.

Other careers that have roots in photography but a much better outlook are:

• Multimedia Artists and Animators
• Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
• Search Marketing Strategists
• Cartographers & Photogrammetrists

Other job occupations to consider are: Social Media Strategist & Multimedia Storyteller

Many of these occupations are employed by companies and organizations that hire in a full-time or part-time capacity. There are many freelance opportunities as well.

If you have a desire to be a photographer, it is still possible to find stability and make money. However, you must be open to other job titles and develop a complementary group of skills to be successful.

Randolph Community College in Asheboro, NC has a strong Photography program. They work to ensure that their graduates have the photography skills as well the employability skills to land a job when they finish their 2 year program. Visit Randolph Community College to learn more.

Be Grateful for Your Network!

Your network is critical to your success. During this Thanksgiving season, pause and be grateful for your network. Whether it is big or small, professional or social, your network is valuable.

To read more tips, check out our post on Networking Made Simple.

I am Secure with My Job but Not Fulfilled. Now What?

Job Security is defined as the chance that a person with a job will become unemployed. Potential job security can be influenced by the economy, political environment and the type of profession. According to an article published in US News in July, 2017, the jobs that have the MOST job security are: Database Administrator, Dentist, Sonographer, Mathematician, Actuary, Nurse Practitioner, Midwife, just to name few. Just with these 7 occupations, you can see why these jobs have high Job Security. They are tied to healthcare, crunching numbers and managing data. Key elements that are needed to make our world function.

Job Fulfillment is defined as the happiness you experience when you use or develop your abilities on a job (as defined on thesaurus.com). Many individuals have different interactions that make them feel happy, energized and motivated when they do their work. For some it could be a pay checks, helping others, recognition or a sense of achievement.

So the BIG question: Do you have both?

If you're lacking in job stability, there is an easy fix by studying outlook data, career ladders and understanding your transferrable skills. Once you do this quick work, you can develop a career plan that will get you to a more stable career.

If you're lacking job fulfillment let's dive deeper.

Quick Questions (Take your 7 min ME BREAK):

What makes you happy when you are doing work? Keep in mind, this can change. Over the years, what initially made us happy changes. To become aware of your job fulfillment ask yourself the following 3 questions:

1. If your salary was decreased by 30% would you immediately begin looking for another job?
2. Can you see yourself doing what you are doing 5 years from today?
3. Do you have enough TIME to engage on the job in ways that bring you joy?

If you answered NO to 2 or more of these questions, then you may be challenged with lack of job fulfillment.

Here are the follow up questions for you to answer in your 7 minute ME BREAK:

1. In response to quick question #1, what job would you look for if your money was decreased?
2. In response to quick question #2, you had more TIME at work to engage in more meaningful work what tasks/functions would you do?

Do you feel you have both job security and job fulfillment? If so, let's celebrate!

If not, perhaps it is time to explore how to increase your job satisfaction by completing a detailed assessment or working with a career coach. These steps can help you develop a Career Plan that will include both.

If you feel you need a Career Coach to get better results, Smart Moms can help. Complete the Interest Form and we will be in touch.

If Apple Comes To RTP: What Job Could You Land?

There is a lot of talk that Apple may come to the RTP area. The reasons are numerous but the biggest ones include:

1. Apple Has Created Support Infrastructure In NC - An Apple Data Center already exist in Maiden, NC since 2010. It is about 2.5 hours from Durham and located near Hickory, NC. This data center is providing Apple with a major East Coast infrastructure hub to support its iTune music store and iPhone app store. Apple has already invested close to $4 billion to Catawba county and provided state level tax breaks to set up shop in Catawba county. They have also built 3 large solar farms in Maiden, Conover and Claremount to power the data center. The 200-acres photovoltaic solar panels supplement power from Duke Energy and Bloom Energy. In summary, Apple has already made significant financial and construction investments in the State of North Carolina.
2. Apple Leadership Has Roots In NC - Tim Cook is the CEO of Apple and prior COO. He has an MBA from Duke University and recently spoke at the Commencement Address for the Duke Class of 2018. Eddy Cue is Apple’s senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services and has a Bachelors in Computer Science and Economics from Duke University. Jeff Williams, COO holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Duke University.
3. Raleigh-Durham Has the Business, Research, and Academic Environment to Support Apple's Growth Goal - Our community is rich in Environment Technology and had 5+ surrounding IT/High Tech colleges to provide people and strategies for success. In addition, our RTP community houses more than 250 companies where Apple can leverage ideas, workers and resources.

Should Apple decide to launch in NC, this would be their 2nd Headquarters with their main headquarters located on the West Coast. Their growth goals include a national pledge to create 5k - 20,000 jobs within the next 5 years somewhere within the US.

Top Positions that could come to RTP are:

1. Research Positions (Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Robotics, Big Data Tools)
2. Technical Support Staff
3. Operations (Program Mgmt, PMI, PMP, Agile Tech, Business & IT/CS degrees)
4. Software Developers/Engineers (PHP, Javascript, HTML, CSS, SQL, SCRUM, Objective-C, or C++)
5. Customer Support/HelpLine (CCENT, CCNA, Python, Go, Pearl, HR)

If these positions come to RTP, those with required certifications and relevant experience should have a strong chance of landing one. Visit the Apple job listing page and research the requirements for jobs occupations posted in other regions to prepare and understand Apple's requirements.

In addition, CEO Cook, also alluded to his "top-down" requirements in a 60 Minutes Overtime interview in 2015 when seeking ideal candidates. In essence they are NOT looking for "YES" men and women. They are looking for individuals that are able to defend their point of view and still possess a "passion" to change the world. Apple seeks individuals that are "Wicked smart people who have a point of view, and want to debate that point of view, and people that want to change something," Cook said. Expect to be interviewed by many people before landing the job and the ability to show your work.

Additionally, Machine Learning and AI experts are currently of deep value to Apple.

Need help preparing for interviewing or recognizing your strengths through an Employer's eyes? Smart Moms can help! Submit a career coach interest form and we will be in touch.

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The content in my blog post was compiled from the following articles and websites.

https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/06/29/apple-idatacenter-set-for-maiden-nc
https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/data-center-faqs/apple-data-center-faq-part-2
https://www.wral.com/north-carolina-apple-negotiating-deal-on-triangle-campus-second-site-in-cary/17558985/
https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-to-get-a-job-at-apple-according-to-ceo-tim-cook-2015-12
https://www.rtp.org/

Why Understanding your Company’s (or Client's) Objectives Is Critical!

Somewhere in our lives, we all experience a need to make career goals and plans for ourselves. Perhaps they are spurred by the need to fund a dream career, make more money to fuel retirement or to help pay for a child’s college education. The action could be promoted by the need for a more fulfilling job or one that has more career growth. The list can go on about our reasons for setting career goals and making moves.

Even when you are not focused on making career moves for yourself, if we are working for someone (and we all are working for someone in some fashion), we must stay abreast of our company’s (or client’s) goals and objectives. Being left in the dark and “out of the loop” is a very scary feeling. Decisions that can drastically effect you are being made at a level where you may not have visibility. Outcomes and resulting actions are not going to filter to you until initiatives are being implemented. Stay informed.

Scenarios to Ponder:

Consider that your company’s objective is to be bought out by the end of 2018. You may never know this objective because it was not relayed to you personally. Yes, being bought out might be a good thing for the company and maybe for you (stock options, retention bonus, etc). But it could also mean that the company will experience a layoff, or there may be a duplication of responsibility and some positions will have to be eliminated.

Perhaps you learn your company is spending a fair amount of research dollars and efforts to develop a new line of products. You are not in the area where company’s revenue is being invested. There is a chance you could become obsolete or devalued as the company's focus changes? Many industries and services have been obsoleted. Consider the film developing industry – gone! Phone books, dictionaries and encyclopedias – gone! All within the last decade.

How Do I Understand My Company Objectives:

To stay abreast requires being proactive. Schedule the time to read, research, and engage with others. Here is my list of suggested actions:

1. Read/Listen to news articles (Reference USA, Hoovers, The Motley Fool, local online newspapers, HBR Ideacast)
2. Read press releases and annual reports. Look for what is not being said or addressed. Consult with people in your network to fill in the information gaps.
3. Flag and read all emails coming from your company’s communication department, marketing teams, president/CEO’s office. Set a reading time i.e. Saturdays 9 am over coffee in your favorite coffee shop/reading room.
4. Attend staff meetings, functions involving higher level staff, gatherings involving partners, and suppliers. Meet someone and have a meaningful connection at each gathering. Do your best to stay in contact with each person periodically.
5. Stay abreast of what other departments are working on. Note which technology, techniques, processes and staff have been obsoleted.
6. Note who has retired and/or left the company. Are you noticing any departure trends? Can you explain their departure? Is it tied to any company objective/goal?

Understand Their Objectives & Goals - Now What?

Are the company’s objectives inline with your goals or some of your goals?

YES - Identify the skills, networking efforts, attitude adjustments that you need to continuously work on to be a part of the companies’ objectives.

How do you give yourself the training, experiences, and knowledge to be of value when your company makes a major shift?

NO – Identify your strongest skills and reflect on your level of interest in using them. If your interest is high, then determine the companies in your area or outside that value this skill set. Use your networking and begin to strategize on how to move. No company options, consider an entrepreneur/consulting launch.

Need help exploring your career goals? Smart Moms can help. Please submit an interest form and we will be in touch.