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Reflecting On The Year of Covid-19
Just venture out in public and you’ll likely be reminded of Covid-19. It will start with the new norm, wearing masks, including when we enter banks. Then there’s the signage, my mask protects you, your mask protects me. In the US alone we suffered millions of Covid-19 cases, millions hospitalized, and over half a million deaths.

We’ve had no choice but to learn to adapt and support AWL & WFH (Alternate Work Locations and Work From Home). Many have been affected by reduced hours, pay cuts, and even job loss.  When these things happen we may need to repurpose ourselves and pivot to new opportunities.

In today’s episode, I briefly summarize some lows and some highs when it comes to the one-year anniversary of Covid-19.

Stay Healthy - Craig

Chapters
[00:36]
In the US alone there are over 500,000 deaths, 28 million cases, millions hospitalized due to Covid-19.

[01:16]
We learned how to increase our cleanliness and what “smear infections” were.

[01:52]
The use of alcohol to clean your hands became the norm in many places. While it’s meant to help, it also can be a hazard.

[02:55]
Covid caused an unexpected level of job losses, reduced hours, and even pay cuts.

[03:33]
Something we can celebrate about such as our ability to handle AWL & WFH (Alternate Work Locations and Working From Home)!

[04:31]
Use caution when performing AWL or WFH. Our work hours might pile up and we can overlook our breaks including inadvertently missing or shortening our lunches.

[05:44]
If you’ve suffered a job loss, there is hope. You can repurpose yourself.

[07:14]
We learned how to host online meetings effectively.

[07:54]
Is a 4-year degree still a common requirement to apply for a job? (Episode 9)

[08:42]
Here’s an example of how one Central Florida theme park repurposed some of its employees.

[09:19]
If you have a current job gap, there are ways to handle this on your resume and during interviews. (Episode 42)

[10:08]
If your position is being downsized or eliminated, don’t give up hope. You can repurpose yourself using your varied experiences and background. (Episode 43)

Mentioned Links
CDC Recommendations for Alcohol in Hand Sanitizers
CGME Ep. 09 - 4 Year Degree NOT Required
CGME Ep. 42 - How To Handle Unemployment Gaps
CGME Ep. 43 - Powerful Job Pivots To New Opportunities

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Powerful Job Pivots To New Opportunities
With a sudden job loss and downsizing sometimes you need to pivot. Digging back deep into your work history can make all the difference in the world. You can use your older experience to apply for current external jobs.

Tune in to hear a story of transformation. Learn how one of Craig’s Resume Master Class students powerfully pivoted to new opportunities.

Chapters
[00:00]
Listener request from Sean: How can you use your existing skills to pivot to new job opportunities?

[01:17]
When it comes to a pending job loss don’t get sucked into closed-minded thinking.

[02:48]
When you have lengthy employment experience you can struggle to build your resume for the outside world.

[04:27]
Feedback from one job recruiter confirmed David’s struggles. His resume was filled with too much internal jargon.

[05:22]
Sometimes for powerful job pivots, you need to reach deep into your work experience.

[06:12]
Are you currently out of work and unsure how to handle a job gap on your resume? Listen to episode 042 for some great resume and interview tips. (Episode 42)

[06:48]
Just like a good picture has a strong frame to accent it, so too must your resume.

[07:15]
Less is more. And there’s no exception when it comes to word count and resumes.

[07:37]
Bullets can be beneficial and effective if they’re used properly. Don’t let your resume suffer from ‘death by bullet’.

[08:48]
Job description content is one of the two areas people have the most trouble with on their resumes.

[09:37]
The other area people have the most difficulty with on their resume is the summary section, highlight, or branding statement.

[10:55]
Bonus Tip: Do this first if you’re struggling with writing your summary section, highlight, or branding statement. Create your job history first using accomplishments and benefits.

[11:15]
Avoid close-minded thinking, it can really shut down the creative brainstorming process. (Episode 27)

[11:37]
Transformations can come from powerful job pivots. This can open your eyes to new job opportunities.

[11:55]
There’s help if you’re still struggling to pull your work experience and accomplishments out of your head and putting them down on paper.

[13:06]
We’re always looking for your feedback and future show suggestions.

Mentioned Links
Free Resume Excellence Tips Download
Craig Ancel’s Resume Master Class
Our Website
CGME Ep. 27 - That’s Not My Job! Closed Minded Thinking
CGME Ep. 42 - How To Handle Unemployment Gaps
Email - [email protected]

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How To Handle Unemployment Gaps
It’s hard enough when you lose your job. What are you supposed to do with the unemployment gap when it comes to your resume and interviews? 

After coping with your job loss, you can be gripped with fear and frustration. You need to realize that a gap in your employment does not define you. Find out how to handle unemployment gaps in this week’s episode.

Chapters
[00:55]
A gap in your employment does not define you.

[01:41]
Prepare yourself to talk about and share regarding your unemployment gaps.

[03:46]
Use the time from your job gap constructively.

[04:38]
Learn the differences between hard and soft skills. Grow your soft skills to improve your communication.

[06:14]
It’s not the fact your unemployment gap happened. It’s all about what you do during that gap that makes the difference.

[06:56]
Perform a self-analysis using SWOT. Evaluate your Strengths and Weaknesses.

[08:15]
Here’s what to do if you receive advance noticed your job is being downsized.

[09:01]
Don’t suffer from close-minded thinking. When you’re facing a job loss, it’s time to repurpose yourself and your resume!

[11:09]
You can also fill your job gap time by giving back to others and in the community.

[12:14]
You could use your downtime to change or improve a habit.

[12:45]
Don’t forget to list your achievement on your resume.

Mentioned Links
https://www.toastmasters.org/
CGME Ep. 27 - That’s Not My Job! Closed Minded Thinking
CGME Ep. 18 - Coronavirus COVID-19 Are Your Habits Healthy or Hazardous? (Original Covid-19 Episode)

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Improving Your Financial Health
For the month of February, we had a health theme. We’re going to switch things up a bit and talk about your financial health. Don’t worry, this isn’t’ going to be some stuffy stock market or investor discussion. We’re going to get down to the basics.

Craig shares his past struggles with credit card debt and how he and his wife recovered.  He also touches on the basics of income and spending. That’s followed by understanding debt and learning ways to effectively pay it off. Finally, if you’re interested in earning more, either through a promotion or a different job, you’ll need a current, freshly polished resume. 

Chapters
[01:36]
Our finances can affect us on multiple levels – mental, physical, emotional.

[02:14]
Craig shares his frustrating story about his financial situation. Find out how he played the all too familiar credit card payment swap game.

[07:00]
Financial awareness is key to improving your financial health.

[10:35]
Craig expands on the term “swipe and go”. When we pay with plastic such as a credit or debit card this includes a process called friction. Listen to a brief story to better understand how it works and how it’s minimized to help you spend more!

[12:47]
After self-awareness of your spending patterns, it’s time to look at building emergency savings & getting out of debt.

[18:35]
To improve your financial health you could increase your income. For this, you should have a current, freshly polished resume to target a higher-paying job or a promotion.

Mentioned Links
Our Website
Craig Ancel’s Resume Master Class
Dave Ramsey’s Website & Financial Peace / Budgeting

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Becoming Aware of Your Emotional Intelligence

You may have heard of the 80/20 Rule. Maybe you know it as the Pareto Principle.

It means 80% of the results come from 20% of your effort or activities.
Do you sometimes feel that you work so hard yet achieve so little?
When you recognize how emotional intelligence plays a key role in your life, you can truly achieve great results.

Your life can also be impacted by your groups & networks.  There’s an old saying that you are the product of your environment. Meaning, if you’re in a happy, productive environment you’ll likely find yourself having the same feelings & performance.

However, as our environments change and become negative they can pull us down. Now, maybe they didn’t start out that way. But, over maybe time the compliments became less and the complaints more frequent.  This can lead us into a downward spiral and harness regular thoughts of negativity.

Learn the 3 steps to become aware of your emotional intelligence.

Chapters
[00:51]
There’s an old saying – you become the product of your environment. We can pick up other people’s habits, even if they’re bad habits.

[01:51]
Our networks can affect how we feel.

[02:36]
Becoming aware of your emotional intelligence is a 3 step approach.

[03:01]
Step 1 – Gain the capability to recognize your own emotions and those of others.

[06:55]
There are a few tools and techniques to help you get out of your emotional state and back into a logical mindset.

[09:24]
Step 2 – Categorizing your different feelings

[10:58]
Step 3 – Process your information to transform your thinking and behavior.
The result, you’ll become someone adaptable in different social environments

[12:03]
The emotions and behaviors of others.

[12:50]
Learn to pick up on other’s social queues and improve the way you respond.

[13:52]
CGME: Extreme Words: Always and Never

[14:30]
Put your emotional intelligence awareness to work! Become adaptable in different social environments

Mentioned Links
CGME: Toxic People
CGME: Extreme Words: Always & Never
Dr. Travis Bradberry’s Book – Emotional Intelligence 2.0

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What Do You Fuel Your Body With?
All too often we only think about the things we eat or drink. But, our mental and physical health are just as important! Do you take regular breaks during your workday to rest and recharge? Maybe you’re the kind of person that just ‘powers through’ your day from beginning to end. See what effects stress can have on your body. You can take corrective steps now to improve – listen in!

Chapters
[00:30]
When fueling your body, your mental and physical energy are key areas that can all too often be overlooked. What does your daily work routine look like? Does it help or hinder your energy?

[01:10]
What thoughts pop into your head and how early do they start in your day? If you feel overwhelmed and even sabotaged before you start your day, you’re now alone!

[02:03]
If you’ve ever been overloaded by email or text, this will help you! Find out how to 1) Draft clear, clean emails 2) Effectively write questions for better answer rates 3) Improved ways to handle attachments, and 4) Reduce confusion when forwarding emails

[03:08]
Working through your break time can actually be counter-productive.

[04:25]
Recommended break intervals change as we go through our day. Check out some recommendations for afternoon breaks.

[05:14]
What do you put into your body mentally when on break?

[07:00]
Prolonged periods of stress can negatively affect your body. Extreme periods of stress can damage your body, too!

[09:16]
Did you know chewing gum can help you relax and increase your focus?

[10:03]
Covid-19 second wave keeps many of us working at alternate locations or working from home. This can impact our daily routines and our awareness of time including break times.

[11:00]
Did you know that 81% of employees surveyed said they feel refreshed, invigorated, and more focused when they take a lunch break?

Mentioned Links
CGME: Things That Rob Your Energy
TheLadders.com Infographic Survey
CGME: Overloaded by Email and Text
Andy Andrews – Book, The Seven Decisions

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Things That Rob Your Energy
If you’re tired all the time this episode may help. It’s worth checking out your sleep habits, learning about caffeine and excessive screen time effects.

Have you ever felt like there were thousands of “to-do” items running around in your head? If these racing thoughts kept you awake or woke you up in the middle of the night then listen to this episode because there’s an easy way to fix it.

Many of us love coffee, tea, or soda but they all can contain caffeine. See what impacts caffeine might have on you.

With all our smart devices our screen time keeps increasing.  This can set us up for eye strain and feeling tired rather early in our day.  Find out how smart device blue light filters and a cool tip called the 20-20-20 rule can help reduce your energy drain, feel better, and potentially improve your sleep quality.

Chapters
[00:35]
How well do you sleep? It’s about duration and sleep quality.

[01:06]
Our brains don’t like unfinished tasks – they can keep us awake and tire us out!

[02:18]
How do you close out the end of your workday? Craig covers some tips to help you mentally detox and focus on a better night of sleep!

[03:45]
What do you fuel your body with? Do you enjoy coffee, soda, or tea? If so, learn about the effects of caffeine.

[06:18]
Learn about our bodies’ natural awake and sleep cycle called Circadian Rhythm.

[07:15]
We get saturated with screen time and it can be unhealthy, especially if we get too much blue light!

[08:12]
Smart device blue light filters to the rescue!

[09:53]
If you spend a lot of time in front of a screen don’t miss these tips!

[11:06]
Use the 20-20-20 rule to help reduce your eye strain when working long hours on computers.

[12:00]
Keep computer monitors at arm’s length.

Mentioned Links
Craig Ancel’s 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Boost To Your Resume
The 20-20-20 Rule To Reduce Eye Strain

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Don’t Just Exist, Be Present

Being present is key to great communication. There’s an old saying. You have 2 ears and 1 mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk.  When I say listen, I mean respectful, intentional listening with focus.

Being present just doesn’t affect spoken conversations, it also applies to writing, and that includes when you update your resume and cover letter, too.

I think our ability to be present is also affected by multi-tasking. It’s possible we’ve become comfortable with the concept of multi-tasking, but is it effective? My concern is that it removes us from being present.

What do I mean? We’re existing in space and time but our minds are elsewhere. When we multi-task, for example, we leave a lot of open-ended stories or open-ended tasks in our minds.

We actually don’t thrive that way. It’s best to close each and every story, each and every topic, so we can cleanly and clearly move forward to our next task, duty, or obligation.

Chapters
[00:38]
Now more than ever, communication is key!

[01:05]
Listen more and talk less! Use intentional listening and intentional focus!

[01:37]
Multi-tasking can remove us from being present

[04:20]
Are you up for a listener challenge? With your next conversation listen and resist the urge to interrupt or respond immediately.

[07:04]
Our brains naturally compare memories and our reactions to those memories to present day situations. This aids in our fight or flight reflex.

[09:55]
A big part of our communication is our word choice, vocal inflection, volume, pitch, and speed.

[10:53]
Being present, especially in conversations, is critical if you want to grow.

[12:22]
Who is your customer?

[13:30]
Being focused and present when you write can strongly improve your game.

[13:56]
Being present is absolutely necessary when you create or update your resume, too. Don’t let fear, anxiety, or frustration break your concentration.

[14:58]
Boost your resume and grab a future employer’s attention quickly!

Mentioned Links
Craig Ancel’s FREE Resume Master Class Webinars: 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Boost Your Resume. How to Grab a Future Employer’s Attention Quickly
CGME Episode 21: Level Up Your Customer Service
CGME Episode 03: Overloaded by Email & Text

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Assumptions Can Ruin First Impressions
Unfortunately, we make assumptions about people, things, and situations without even knowing it.  We’re all affected by something called unconscious bias.
Craig shares a quick story on how unconscious bias recently affected him.
This episode also inspired the subtitle “Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover”.
First impressions are important. Sometimes we don’t bring our “A Game” when it comes to meetings and preparedness.
Confidence plays a key role, too. If you’re interested in improving yours, listen to this episode!

Chapters
[00:29]
We make assumptions about people, things, and situations all the time. It even occurs without us knowing it, this is called unconscious bias.
[01:01]
What’s he got in the back, a dead body?
[04:03]
Today’s episode is subtitled “Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover”. When you walk into a room you’re already judged.
[04:42]
When you prepare for a meeting, what are your first thoughts? What steps do you take?
[05:46]
First impressions can be affected by what you chose to wear, your general appearance, your posture, and your confidence.
[06:38]
Sometimes meetings are booked back to back. How do you handle them? What impressions are you making exiting/entering meetings?
[07:29]
Some of us are extroverts and some introverts. For some, it’s easier to start or engage in conversations with others.
[08:20]
This could be a good time to consider changing for the better.
[11:11]
Do you need to work on your confidence? If so, use small steps to achieve your goals. Speaking about confidence, what’s your confidence you can find your resume? When is the last time you updated it?
[12:48]
The word “resume” can cause fear, stress, and even anxiety.
[14:02]
Coming in late January – Craig Ancel’s Free Resume Master Class Webinar

Mentioned Links
Craig Ancel’s FREE Resume Master Class Webinars. LOCK IN A SEAT NOW!
CGME Episode 11: Is My Resume Old?

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Which School is Right For You?

Which Higher Education Path is Right For You? Many don’t consider the costs and some don’t weigh the benefits.  Will you attend in-state, out of state,  a trade school,  go to a prestigious university or community college?

I recently spoke to a family friend that works with counselors at a prep school.  It seems most of the students focus on prestigious schools such as Yale, Harvard…There’s nothing wrong with that if you can afford it!

Student discussions are not focused on themselves or their personal growth. Rather they’re considered with the caliber and name of the school. And often they don’t look at or take into account local scholarships, state scholarships, or differences between in-state vs. out-of-state tuition.

If you have access to a state prepaid program do you know the benefits and the limitations? Make sure you identify and check out your career path options before assuming an education path. 

Finally, if you’re one of over 46 million Americans with college credit but without a degree there’s hope! Did you know that several Fortune 500 companies dropped the 4-year degree hiring requirement back in 2020?

Chapters
[00:43]
Cost isn’t the only factor when choosing higher education

[01:36]
The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition can be 2x, 3x, or more!

[02:28]
Listen to Craig’s painful and expensive lessons learned on state prepaid tuitions. This may help you and possibly save you thousands of dollars if you plan to attend college.

[05:33]
A concerning call from Craig’s college-age daughter. She said, “I’m in a car with over $400K student loan debt!”

[07:06]
Shout out to Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University. Learn debt awareness and reduction, budgeting, and long game-planning for retirement.
[08:00]
Are you one of 46 million Americans that have college credit but don’t have a degree?
[09:11]
What is the right school? Is it a 2-year college, 4-year university, or trade school?

[10:44]
What can you do right now with the information or education that you have? Can you switch career paths, earn a promotion, or change job positions?

[11:51]
Craig Ancel’s All-New Free Download for 2021: Resume Booster – 3 Simple and Powerful Ways To Boost Your Resume. How to Grab a Future Employer’s Attention Quickly

Mentioned Links
Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University
Career Growth Made Easy Podcast Episode 9: 4 Year Degree NOT Required
Craig Ancel’s Resume Booster – 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Boost Your Resume. How to Grab a Future Employer’s Attention Quickly

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