“We’re in a new era, are you?”

 

This timely question was the subject of a recent e-mail from a real estate service provider. The question however can pertain to nearly everyone who’s in their third quarter of the employment or employable phase of their working life.

I recently had occasion to meet an inspiring young lady whose career is in the coaching field. Her zeal and determination to impart current skills to clients is so exciting! Social media, catch-phrases that we aren’t familiar with, and even the “how-tos” of cold-calling for new client opportunities can be overwhelming.

Whether we are business professionals, changing careers, or getting back into the work force we all have what are called “transferable skills”. In particular, I felt enthusiastic about new catch phrases – particularly in letter writing for business purposes, which are nouveau and of the new era.

Inter-generational marketing of ourselves clearly requires that we are in the know and current. Real estate professionals are encouraged to find a niche and focus on that aspect of their business – in some marketplaces however, such as Muskoka where I work, there are a wide variety of prospective buyers and sellers who have real estate needs.

Being familiar with and comfortable in the understanding of new lingo that is current gives us a sense of confidence and ability to integrate rather than being on the proverbial “outside looking in”.

Inspiration, for me, comes from the question “We’re in a new era, are you?” 

It’s The Secret…

I recently had occasion to overhear a woman commenting about a book that was assigned to Book Club – not a subject of her personal choosing but nonetheless to be discussed by attendees.

It was too much of a coincidence that I actually had an extra copy of the video – still unseen; and I had not read the book either.

Last week I was able to borrow this same book and sat down with intention to at least make some headway. Names of many contributors were familiar to me – I was surprised and delighted. Here are just a few who come to mind: Esther and Jerry Hicks (the Teachings of Abraham), Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup …series), Marie Diamond (Diamond Feng-Shui), and Norman Vincent Peale.

If you type in The Secret on Google™ there are refuting comments included from learned and effective people, well established in their own right.

Lest you feel derisive or disagreeable, the universal message is positivity in every way we can conjure it. We’ve all heard accounts close to home, and perhaps it’s happened to us, that a Random Act of Kindness has brightened someone’s day.

How “a smile is your umbrella…” or looking at life from the “sunny side of the street”.

Honeysweet smiley-face Emoticons in text or e-mail messages can be nettling (or not) – depending on who they are from or the subject matter! For me, the probabilities and pitfalls of feeling and looking downcast are far outbalanced by the promise of possibility.

 I have yet to finish reading Rhonda Byrne’s best selling 2006 book entitled The Secret, and will view the video afterward. The woman I overheard speaking somehow seems to have a brighter outlook…so who’s to say what?

The power of positive thinking, however mustered, manifests as a feel-good, do good emotional boost.

It’s The Secret.

A Double Take…

Television newscasters present a wide variety of subject matter to their viewers. The subject matter included in an hour-long program varies widely, and includes specific segments peppered in between with commercials.

Developing stories or follow-ups to yesterdays’ events keep people informed and in synch. Dinner table conversations following the early news can include the sharing of differing opinions, outright debates, or conservative deference to noisiness.

The world of Sports includes analyses, discussion and a lot of biliousness after the games are lost, players are traded, or free-agency is in place. All the what ifs, whens and whys is fodder for anyone who earns their living by encouraging dialogue and discussion.

The sputtering and exclaimed remarks might be thought of as philosophizing – last night I learned a new adjective however... A slip of an overly-excited tongue blurted out the word “fossilizing”; which indeed caused me to do a double take!