Rabbi Yitzhak Miller

Managing Your Career and Life

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Career and Life By Ev Nucci.

Over the last ten to fifteen years, have you worked for the same organization? If so, are you motivated by new accomplishments year after year? Do you still love your job and the people you work with? Do you exude optimism? Are you elated with your career prospects and your boss?

Or are you in a different chapter and unaware of it? Has your excitement been replaced with monotony? Is your life comprised of routine tasks and boredom? Do you remember what it was like to excavate the unknown within?

If any of the above rings true, you could be stale. Unfortunately, most people do not recognize this unnerving chapter in their lives–going through the motions without an ounce of passion or excitement. You no longer live in a world of possibility. Your enthusiasm has transformed into complacency. You have metamorphosed from a passionate apprentice and achiever into a detached and aloof employee.

The truth is you are bored, burned out, or frustrated. You keep doing the same thing, whatever it is. It’s what you know. You are in your comfort zone. And you do whatever it is with your eyes closed. Life is simple.

You know what I’m talking about… you have experienced those burned out teachers, or nurses, or doctors, or front desk clerks. Or better yet, the bitter postal clerks that make you want to scream. My personal favorite is the school administrator that tells a parent that they are parenting wrong instead of saying they can’t deal with a special needs kid.

Or the engineer that spent his cross country flight harassing an African American couple in the seat in front of him. Or the housewife that introduces herself by telling you what her husband does for a living, “Hi, how do you do, my husband is a doctor…” That’s the saddest statement of all. She defines who she is based on her husband’s occupation?

So what do you do? Do you do nothing because you hope the feeling will pass? Do you buy a sports car and trade-in your spouse for a new model thinking that it is just a mid-life crisis? Or do you change careers, look for a new job, or move to Africa and work as a missionary?

Consider managing your career and life as CEO of You, Inc. Your life is filled with chapters. In each chapter, the CEO explores new challenges, experiences new feelings, establishes different priorities, and stretches themselves beyond their own expectations.

Who is responsible for managing your career? Is your boss responsible? Is your company responsible? There is only one person responsible for managing your career—-and that is you.

Frequently, people delude themselves into believing their boss is also their daddy. They obscure reality—mask their intentions and expectations. And often forget that it is business. No matter how much your employer cares about you, his primary responsibility is to his stockholders. He has a fiduciary obligation to them. Nothing more, nothing less.

A classic example of the “paternal myth” is Jim Smith who work for ABC Company for fourteen years. When another company bought ABC, Jim was extremely upset. He was angry, felt betrayed and was incredulous that his boss “would do this to him—how could he?” His anger and rage overwhelmed him-he had been loyal, he had done a great job and ABC was trying to destroy him. The treachery was beyond anything he ever imagined. The company did nothing to him; they simply made a business decision.

Another classic example of the veracity of corporate promises and business realities is the case of Bill, Chairman of the Board, of Smith, Inc. NCG pursued Bill and his team for a lift-out for one of our clients. Another firm bought Smith during our discussions with Bill. Irrelevant of what was said; Bill was convinced the take-over companies’ promises would be met. His people would receive equity, compensated handsomely, expand their services worldwide and no one would be laid off. Unless you get it in writing, it never happened

Within twenty-four months, every business decision we had predicted played-out throughout Smith worldwide. In other words, most of Bill’s staff was laid off, they never achieved worldwide expansion, no one received equity, and compensation was less than impressive.

Your Career Plan–Think Like A CEO

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Career Planning Guide By Elizabeth Lengyel.

You’ve been going 6-to-late; exhausted by running the supersonic treadmill of life and wish you had a different job. But you can’t because you have no time and you’re left spent at the end of every day. Conversely, you’re gut tells you that everything would be different if you could only find the right career match. You could stop hitting the snooze button every morning and get back into enjoying the game of life.

You might be surprised to learn that thinking like a CEO will teach you a lot about career planning. Wonder how? Then read on and learn how being a CEO has everything to do with mapping out a successful career.

1. As a Chief Exploration Officer, your first step is to engage in self-exploration. It is the key to career planning and decision-making. The better you know yourself, the more informed career decisions you’ll make. One of the best ways to hone in on your natural talents, interests and strengths is to re-visit your childhood years, dreams and passions. What did you love to do? Who did you enjoy being with? What did you like to play most? What were your favorite sports and interests? Did you have any hobbies? Where did you picture yourself in the future? The past often holds the best clues. You might also want to seek the help of a trained career counselor or coach to help you define career options that fit your talents and interests, and help you explore current and future labour markets and trends. Narrow down the choices and seriously examine one or two career options that fit you. Trust your heart or intuition. It most often leads you in the right direction.

2. As a Chief Educational Officer, you need to examine the competencies and skills required in your choice of work. Once you determine one or more career options, list the skills and competencies you need to move forward. What do you need to know? And what do you currently know? Make a plan to fill the gaps whether through school, apprenticeship, reading, volunteering, etc.

3. As a Chief Experiential Officer, you need to talk to the people who are actually in the career you’ve identified for yourself. It takes you from dream mode to reality check. Seek out at least 5 people who are working in the career field you have identified. Hint, the more people you interview, the better. You will find common themes and information that will be invaluable to your career planning process and final decision. Don’t hesitate in making the calls. Most people love to talk about themselves and their expertise. If possible, ask to meet with them in person. It provides a more high touch approach. When you meet, be candid and curious. This is your opportunity to learn from people who are working what you’re still thinking about. Preplan some questions carefully. Do they enjoy their job? What kind of education and experience do they recommend? What do they like and dislike? Ask for their recommendations and what they think you need to be successful in the career. You might also want to think about inviting one of them to be your mentor as you move forward in your personal career aspirations and goals.

4. As a Chief Engagement Officer, you will have to stay on top of your game. Stay self-motivated, energized and engaged in the career planning process. Here’s the truth. Career planning, exploring and making career choices take energy and time. Think about what you will need from yourself, as well as from your environment, schedule and support network to keep yourself engaged and moving forward. Think about what nourishes and nurtures you. What feeds your energy level?

5. As a Chief Employment Officer, you are your greatest resource in finding the right employment. In the end, the career planning process leads you to finding the right job for the right money. A combination of statistics and interviews continue to prove that networks are the number one resource to finding your next job. Stay well connected and share your plans. In the end it is you who’s going to turn career planning and aspirations into reality.

Business Career Advice: Stop Feeling Guilty About Time Off!

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller Business Career Advice By Paul Megan.

Are you sitting at your desk dreamily imagining yourself on a South Seas vacation? Or maybe a rollicking holiday with the family? Or maybe you’d prefer to stay home and watch some DVDs.

Wanting to take some time off shouldn’t make you feel guilty. In fact, in her new book, “Time Off for Good Behavior,” Mary Lou Quinlan writes that seven out of 10 people fantasize about leaving work for a few months.

What’s more, she reports that taking a break can help you feel less burned out. It can help you organize your life goals. Most people don’t realize that taking time off–guilt free–isn’t as difficult as it might seem.

So don’t feel like you’re condemned to remaining chained to your desk. Here are six options you can check out:

1. Make a plan. Think about why you want time off. Do you just need a few days to relax? Or are you looking to completely assess your career?

2. Figure out how much time off you’ll need to come back fully refreshed.

3. Count your days off. Figure out how many vacation days you have. Add in any remaining sick or personal days.

4. Check out company policy. You may be eligible for a sabbatical with full or partial pay. Or you may have the option of re-entering the company after an unpaid leave.

5. Talk to your employer. If the company doesn’t have a policy or spell out the details of flexible time off, now is the time to find out what the company can offer you.

6. Negotiate for what you need.

The point is you shouldn’t be afraid to take some needed time off. It may be just what you need to get your life back in focus and prioritize what really important.

Furthermore, if you are a valued employee, your boss expects you to come forward with recommendations that show how the company will benefit from your time off.