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Adding Value To Your Job
There's an old expression, "Work smarter, not harder" but what exactly does that mean? You put in a lot of hours at your job, but you may not be seeing the results you expect. This can happen because you may be focusing on the wrong activities.

Your tasks, activities, and projects need to be categorized so you have a chance at success. Look at things differently through the eyes of Impact vs. Effort. Target the big wins for your job. Make your time and effort count.

Find out if you're productive or just busy in today's episode.
As a bonus, check out the freebie with an Impact vs. Effort print-out!

Chapters
[00:36]
Are you exhausted at the end of your workday? Are you productive or just busy?

[02:15]
Craig asks some serious self-reflection questions. Think about what your answers might be.

[03:40]
We all have customers to serve. But do you know who your customers are?

[04:42]
Customer service is about WHAT you do, but also HOW you do it!

[05:54]
When it comes to change do you lead, follow, or get out of the way?

[07:06]
If you're not careful you can earn a NEGATIVE reputation.

[09:45]
Not only can email rob our time but our energy. Learn how to write and respond to emails that get read and get results!

[10:42]
To become productive you need to become more efficient. Apply yourself to high-impact tasks and activities.

[13:02]
A warning to high performers, gently sing your praises!

Mentioned Links
CGME: Effort Vs. Impact - Add Value To Your Job - Free Download
CGME: Ep 21 - Level Up Your Customer Service
CGME: Ep 45 - The Absolute Best Customer Service
CGME: Ep 33 - Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way
CGME: Ep 03 - Overloaded by Email & Text

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There Are Too Many Books On Leadership
With so many books on leadership, which ones do you bother to read? Why are there so many viewpoints and recommendations? It's hard to answer those questions until you understand the core principle behind leadership - effective communication. There's so much more than knowing what to say, it's important you understand how to say it. This requires critical listening skills and strong emotional intelligence.

Chapters
[01:13]
Leadership may be an area where many of us struggle.

[01:40]
Leadership is all about something key we use in our daily lives - communication.

[02:27]
Does leadership require a title or does it come from within?

[03:54]
For some, our backgrounds and childhoods can be a reason for pivoting and taking a leadership stance.

[04:45]
The book Linchpin by Seth Godin shares the following: [Linchpins] invent, lead (regardless of title), connect others, make things happen, and create order out of chaos.

[06:34]
Leaders need to watch out for things that rob their energy. Check out CGME Episode 038 - Things That Rob Your Energy

[06:45]
Leaders need to fuel their bodies both physically and mentally. Check out CGME Episode 039 - What do you fuel your body with?

[06:50]
Leaders need strong levels of emotional intelligence to navigate tough waters. To learn more listen to CGME Episode 040 - Becoming Aware of Your Emotional Intelligence.

[07:15]
The late Zig Ziglar's book, See You At The Top, shares "...Explaining step by step his time-tested formula for individual development and personal success."

[08:08]
You can display and use leadership characteristics in your day-to-day job even if you're not officially leading a team.

[10:02]
John C Maxwell's book, Winning With People, is sub-titled Discover The People Principles That Work For You Every Time.

[10:20]
Leadership requires critical communication skills, but you need to know the difference between assertive and aggressive styles.

[11:32]
You can use your strong communication skills to build a strong network foundation. It's not only your what when you communicate, it's also your how. How you deliver your message.

[12:45]
Stephen R Covey's book, Principle-Centered Leadership, chapter 1 section titles include They are continually learning, they are service-oriented, and they radiate positive energy.

[13:43]
Here's a leadership quote by Gene Mauch "You can't lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself."

Mentioned Links
Seth Godin's Book: Linchpin, Are You Indispensable?
CGME Episode 038 - Things That Rob Your Energy
CGME Episode 039 - What do you fuel your body with?
CGME Episode 040 - Becoming Aware of Your Emotional Intelligence
Zig Ziglar's Book: See You At The Top
John C Maxwell's book, Winning With People
Gene Mauch quote "You can't lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself."

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How many times have you received an email and rolled your eyes? As you scrolled down, you wondered when it would end. Are you guilty of sending lengthy emails as well? The likelihood of someone reading all of it is low. It's highly unlikely they'll find all the key points you wanted to make.

Why? Your important information may be buried. It's essential to write and respond to emails with the shortest messages possible. You'll use a lot less time and you'll get your message across loud and clear!

Chapters
[00:40]
The best email is only one page long. You don't have to scroll down on your computer or your phone.

[02:03]
In today's fast-paced world, we've fallen back to email as the primary communication device!

[02:57]
ALL CAPS MEANS THEY'RE YELLING AT ME

[03:58]
Today we're asked to do more with less. This ultra-fast pace can ramp up our emotions and sabotage our messages.

[06:00]
Listener Challenge for May: Try to make most of your emails one page or less - that includes writing and responding.

[07:30]
Check out Episode 3 for great tips on fixing email and text overload!

[09:24]
When you draft your next email start with a few bullet points to identify the key message. Next form your sentences around that content.

Mentioned Links
CGME Ep. 024 - Talk More, Email Less
CGME Ep. 003 - Overloaded by Email & Text

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Powerfully Placed Pauses
Do you know someone that simply talks too much? Maybe it's you. Maybe you could benefit from My 3P Rule: Powerfully Placed Pauses. Though It's natural to enjoy conversations, sometimes we take it too far and talk too much. Don't worry, knowing is half the battle.

You can use the 3 Ps to improve your listening and communication skills - and it doesn't just apply to verbal communication, but written conversations as well. So if you're overwhelmed by emails at work, this episode could be a double win for you!

Chapters
[01:11]
The Career Growth Made Easy podcast honored in Top 10 Resume Writing Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021!
[02:05]
Craig's 3P Rule: Powerfully Placed Pauses. This rule can be used for verbal and written conversations.
[03:15]
Talking too much has been widely recognized over the years. So much so that rap group Run-DMC created a song around it.
[04:28]
Our brains function just like computer programs that run in the background.
[06:41]
We're hard-wired, through our brains, to key off of familiar content and memories.
[09:15]
Craig's 3P Rule can apply to emails, too. If you're overwhelmed by email, this episode can help you immediately!
[11:27]
We're still celebrating our 50th episode anniversary! Sign up to our email for a chance to win!
[12:02]
Don't let your resume be an eyesore and hold you back!

Mentioned Links
Our Feature - Top 10 Resume Writing Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021
Run-DMC’s "You Talk Too Much"
CGME Ep. 03 - Overloaded by Email & Text
50th Podcast Episode Celebration
Craig Ancel's Resume Master Class

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Ultimate Career Growth Performance: Leadership
Are leaders born or made? This popular question has sparked debates for many years. While it may seem like some people are natural-born leaders, it's your characteristics and attributes that make you a leader, no matter where you are in life.

It’s about the person you are, not the position you have. Many times people aren’t promoted into a role to become a leader, but rather, they already exhibited leadership qualities, with the role promotion being a formality.

Chapters
[00:34] In celebration of our 50th episode of the Career Growth Made Easy podcast we're giving away 2 free Resume Master Classes!

[02:22] Is your current resume getting a few interviews, but you're not getting as many job offers as you'd like? Or are you getting low-ball salary offers?

[04:46] The Ultimate Career Growth Performance series: Transformation, Hard & Soft Skills, Interviews, Promotions, and Leadership!

[07:59] What does the word "Leadership" mean to you?

[09:41] Do people get promoted because they're "next in line"?

[10:42] Don't create problems by implementing a weak management structure.

[11:14] Leadership is not a position, it's a mindset.

[12:23] It's critically important to "attack the problem, not the person".

[12:41] Here's a master-level tip. Learn the difference between asking "What" and "Why" questions.

[15:11] Leadership is not about the position, it's about the person.

[19:56] In celebration of our 50th episode of the Career Growth Made Easy podcast we're giving away 2 free Resume Master Classes!

[22:01] Get the details from Craig Ancel's Resume Master Class students!

Mentioned Links
@CraigAncel on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram
Craig Ancel's Resume Master Class
Learn more about the 5 Whys
Book: Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Travis Bradberry

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Ultimate Career Growth Performance: Promotions
If you're interested in growth, it's important to know what your job role priorities are. All too often we improperly schedule what we're working on, and we take too long to complete it. Mastering skills like time management and prioritization are things employers look for when it comes to handing out promotions.

So how do you get a promotion? How do you get a pay raise? Sometimes it all seems out of reach - but nothing is impossible. Especially when you’re equipped with this week’s episode.

Chapters
[00:59]
Are you fed up with feeling unappreciated or underpaid in your current role? Maybe you'd like to become your own boss someday.

[02:00]
What are the top contributors to US employee happiness?

[03:10]
Do this little exercise to see how well you how you rank your work tasks.

[04:44]
It's human nature to remember and feel comfortable with tasks we've performed before.

[06:03]
Effective time scheduling and priority setting are critical if you want to grow.

[07:21]
Consider meeting with a high-performing peer or colleague.

[08:02]
Don't wait for your annual or cyclical performance review.

[08:55]
We all have customers, but they're not just the end, paying customer. We have upstream and downstream customers.

[10:23]
When we communicate, our word choice is critical. Always remember Less Is More.

[11:09]
Communication is about WHAT was said, but also HOW it was said.

[12:04]
Do a self-check on your time consumption. Are you someone that routinely overpromises and underdelivers?

[14:14]
A better way to handle responses when multiple urgent tasks come up!

[16:32]
Please visit CraigAncel.com. We're celebrating our 50th episode with some giveaways, but you need to be on our email list!

Mentioned Links
CNBC Survey: US Employee Happiness
Craig Ancel's website
Craig's Email List - Get on now for our free giveaway
Craig's Resume Excellence Download - Land Your Dream Job

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Ultimate Career Growth Performance: Interviews
Armed with your education, experience, and values you polish up your resume. You identify your hard and softs skills along with any potential gaps that may require improvement. Then you get "The Call", you have an interview. Will it be virtual or in person? How will you get ready? This week's episode walks you through the preparation process.

Chapters
[01:25]
How do you prepare for an interview? What do you wear? What research do you do beforehand?

[01:58]
Research the position and company you're going to interview with. Check their website, take note of any unique images, messages, or themes.

[03:31]
If your interview is going to be virtual then double-check your tech!

[05:11]
Be aware of your surroundings including background noise and activities.

[05:36]
For in-person interviews, I recommend performing a few test runs. Map out your trip including location, parking, and building entrance.

[06:26]
So, when does the interview truly start? Yes, it's a trick question. Do you know?

[07:19]
Are you someone that "Turns on the charm" in special situations? Or, are you open, honest, and yourself full time?

[07:48]
Craig recaps an interview story he recently watched. The moral of the story, you never know who's watching.

[09:49]
What's the dress code? How should you dress? Typically you'll wear the same level or "plus one".

[11:18]
This Glassdoor study identified the top 50 questions you'll likely be asked at your next interview.

[12:00]
There are at least a dozen ways to ask you about your strengths and weaknesses.

[12:40]
Learn how to use Craig's 3P rule, Powerfully Placed Pauses. It can help you read the room and check your interviewers for signs of hesitation or concern.

[13:40]
Everybody has at least one weakness, don't they? If so, what are you doing about it?

[14:56]
Another question that made it to the top 50: "Why should we hire you?"

[16:41]
Here's where the "T" from the SWOT acronym comes in. The "T" stands for threats. In question format, "Who are your biggest competitors?"

Mentioned Links
Our Website
Grab Your Copy of Resume Excellence Tips - Make Your Resume Land on Top of the Pile
Glassdoor’s 50 Top Interview Questions
Email Craig

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Ultimate Career Growth Performance: Hard & Soft Skills
Do you know the difference between hard and soft skills? Hard skills are your books smarts and education. What can set you apart, though, is how you use your soft skills, your communication skills. Have you ever been the most knowledgeable person on a topic, but struggled to convey your point? If you can’t hold your audience’s attention, you’re sunk.

It’s not only important how well we speak, it’s also how well we listen. Finally, there are some examples of great communication styles and a few that, well, could use some improvement.

 We’ll also share some great ideas on how to boost your hard skills through low and no cast options. Tune in to the 2nd episode of our Ultimate Career Growth Performance series to learn more now.

Chapters
[00:55]
It’s time to check your skill sets. We’ll focus on your strengths and your weaknesses.

[01:33]
Hard skills are an important asset. Your education, special training, and unique abilities can strongly position you for your next role.

[03:42]
Don’t forget about your local library. You can still grab a few books to focus on reducing your weaknesses. Thriftbooks.com carries a great variety of used books in varying conditions.

[04:56]
Continuing education is readily available to us now. There are even low and no-cost courses available online through MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) providers.

[07:02]
The US economy is starting to strengthen back up. Nearly one million jobs were added last week.

[07:31]
Soft skills also known as people skills can complement our hard skills.

[10:04]
Strengthening our soft skills helps us navigate our environments better, to work well with others, and to perform well.

[11:10]
Our listening skills are a critical component, too.

[13:03]
Word choice is also important. It’s not only what you say, but also what you chose not to say.

[14:11]
Check us out on social media @craigancel. Visit our site and grab our freebie!

Mentioned Links
Get Used Books at affordable prices – Thrift Books
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) – Edx.Org
Grab our Resume Excellence Freebie!
Email Craig

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Ultimate Career Growth Performance: Transformation
To start today’s episode let’s visualize where you want to go. You need to keep the end in mind. Think back to a time when you interviewed for a new job. Did you ever wonder what it would take to become someone that interviews future, prospective employees? That role might be a team lead, supervisor, or manager.

But for many of us, we’re starting at completely different points in our lives. So, it’s important to rewind and make sure we cover all the steps in our ultimate career growth performance series.

You may have suffered a job loss due to industry downsizing and a troubled economy or reduced hours or reduced pay.  With your job role eliminated it may be time to repurpose yourself and your resume.  

In future episodes, we’re going to cover career repurposing and interviewing.  From there we’ll talk about achieving high performance at your job.  High-performing employees should keep a current resume and be ready at a moment’s notice to apply for promotions and increased job responsibilities. You may land a new role in supervision or leadership.  This career-growth path may prime you for becoming your own boss someday.

Chapters
[00:23]
Thank you to Max Razumov for the Career Growth Made Easy intro and outro music!

[00:46]
In honor of approaching our 50th episode, we’re going to kick off The Ultimate Career Growth Performance Series.

[01:15]
Start by visualizing where you want to go. Keep the end in mind.

[03:37]
You might be interested in earning a promotion or pay increase. Do you aspire to be in leadership someday, perhaps be a business owner – be your own boss?

[05:00]
You need to determine how you’ll update your resume. Will you stay with your current job roles. Or, will you repurpose yourself and your resume?

[07:00]
Sometimes you have to use your background and experience in ways you never thought.

[08:22]
Take a deep dive into your background, experience, and capabilities. You may be able to repurpose and open new career paths.

[09:08]
How to turn skeptical, closed-minded thinking “This is all I know” into “Wow! This is ALL I KNOW!!!”

[10:45]
Craig’s ask to you! Please take something big away from today’s episode.

[11:55]
Are you struggling and could use a little career growth help? Reach out to us on social media @craigancel and email [email protected]

[12:13]
3 Resume Excellence Tips to Help Your Resume Land at the Top of the Pile

Mentioned Links
Our Website
Craig Ancel’s Resume Master Class
Craig’s Email

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The Absolute Best Customer Service
See how a recent fast-food restaurant experience helped create today’s show title. We all have received good or great customer service from time to time. Sometimes, customer service even falls short and you would rate it as poor. But, what does it take for The Absolute Best Customer Service?

Chapters
[00:44]
Find out the background as to why this episode was put together.

[01:49]
When you set yourself up early for success, it positions you in a powerful place going forward.

[01:57]
Unfortunately, you can only make a first impression one time. You do, however, have the ability to course-correct, over time.

[02:23]
Book smarts also called hard skills are important, but you need good control of your soft skills, your people skills, too! (Episode 9)

[04:44]
Most of us put our best foot forward when starting conversations. But what should we do when that doesn’t work out? (Episode 40)

[05:30]
Occasionally, we need to pull great customer service out of people.

[06:05]
Great first impressions and consistent high performance aren’t the only things needed for successful customer service.

[08:00]
It’s important to have recovery plans in our personal and professional lives. That way, we can provide improved customer service when issues do arise.

[10:15]
See how Craig used his customer service lesson to boost his performance.

[11:50]
Here’s a CGME episode you should tune in to if you want to boost your customer service! (Episode 21)

Mentioned Links
CGME Ep. 09 - 4 Year Degree NOT Required
CGME Ep. 40 - Becoming Aware of Your Emotional Intelligence
CGME Ep. 21 - How to Level Up Your Customer Service

Bonus Link
CGME Ep. 27 - That’s Not My Job! Closed Minded Thinking

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