Game Plans for Work & Life

It’s smart to learn more about saving lives by becoming an organ donor.  Here’s a brief overview:

Every day about 70 people receive an organ transplant, but another 16 people on the waiting list will die because not enough organs are available. Statistics for January to June, 2009 are 7,250 donors, 14,191 transplants, and 103, 495 candidates who are on active wait lists.

Contact the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the current contractor for the nation’s Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), at 1-888-TXINFO-1. or, visit their website at www.unos.org.  The OPTN Website also provides transplant and donor information at www.optn.lorg. 

On that website you can also review frequently asked questions and read up to date information about donating organs and tissue, separate myths from facts, read stories about donor and recipient families, review a donor card and a donor brochure.   

To launch the organ donation process: 

1. Indicate your intent to be an organ and tissue donor on your driver’s license
2. Carry an organ donor card
3. Most important, discuss your decision with loved ones.

 The following questions strike at the heart of the balance issue. 

            —What good is a high powered career if it makes you miserable? 

            —What good is owning a beautiful house if you’re never home?

            —What good is a passionate hobby if you have no time to pursue it? 

Check items that sound all too familiar. Add others that are unique to you. When it comes to work, I’ve been known to:

___Skip meals or eat lunch at my desk

___Avoid working out due to long commute or not enough time

___Cancel personal plans

___Reschedule medical appointments

___Be absent from children’s activities, sports events, etc.

___Ignore or not be aware of neighborhood or community activities

___Say yes to another project when my plate is already full

___Worry that I’m not doing enough 

___Go to the office on weekends

___Catch up by coming in early or staying after hours

 ___Cancel personal engagements 

___Take work home

___Take and make calls at home due to work related matters

___Attend after work meetings

___Stay awake worrying about work projects

___Wake up during the night worried about work matters

___Jot notes/reminders about work on a nightstand

___Talk consistently about work related issues at home

___Decline social gatherings because of work priorities 

___Juggle two telephones simultaneously to “get more done”

ADD YOUR OWN

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Now, review the list again and, identify which items, if you took action, would bring

about better work balance for you.  Here are some examples :

—Stop taking work home as a habit. Ask yourself “Is it urgent and important now?”

—Enlist a trusted colleague to help you break a “workaholic” habit.

—Leave work on time. Ask yourself “Is staying necessary? Why am I doing this?”

—Identify what must be accomplished and leave when its done.

—Plan a stop after work that will revive you (walk, shop, work out, visit a friend, etc.).

—Remind yourself that you need and deserve rest and relaxation.

—Find a way to include ½ hour of exercise in your work day (ex: walk at lunch, download an exercise tape to an ipod, learn chair exercises and do them during the day).

—Plan to take breaks with the funniest person at your worksite.  

Keep going…make your list your own.

PERSONALIZED WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION

Create your own wellness prescription using some ideas mentioned above and add more that are uniquely you. There’s no time like the present to start. Get a coach if it will help. 

Let us know what you’ve done to “kick the workaholic habit.” We’d like to hear your story. Or tell us  how you maintain balance between work and play during the workweek. 

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“People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged, sooner or later,  to find time for illness.” 

-John Wanamaker

“Staycation,” the current trend to vacation at or near home, is growing more and more popular these days. If you want to travel but haven’t the time or budget, bring the destination to you. Host a dinner party or evening at home where you enjoy the country where you want to visit by soaking up the music, sites, sounds, aromas, etc.  It takes some planning but a fab evening can be enjoyed by all. And if you want to spread the duties around, assign pieces of the festivities to your friends. Saves time and expense and gets everyone involved.  Here’s how it works:

1. Assume you want to go to Italy. Other distinations might be Hawaii, Switzerland, Germany, Africa, Greece, India, Tahiti, Mexico or Thailand, wherever! Pick your destination and get busy. Perhaps gather pictures to spice up invitations, create a table centerpiece, make placemats, crazy hats, gather regional recipes, etc.

2. Invite some friends to enjoy an “Italian Festival.” Plan a meal at home with your “destination” as the theme. BENVENUTI or VIVA ITALIA banner across the door, an aroma candle can set the mood, let upbeat music fill the air. Not interested in Italy….Other variations might be An Evening in Paris, Fiesta De Espana, Carnival in Rio, Aloha Luau, DownEast Clambake, to name just a few…give your imagination free reign! Prepare the meal yourself or assign each guest to bring a “piece” of the meal, similar to a “pot luck dinner.” Better yet, cook together by assigning parts of the meal to small groups. Consult favorite cookbooks and have ingredients ready to go. Experiment with flaming dishes, special breads, novelty desserts. Your guests help in planning, creating and carrying off the entire party. Costs are kept down, and its fun for everyone.     

3. Increase the mood and festivities with music, decorations, and drinks. Send “theme” invitations to spark creativity and interest (pictures cut from magazines, old posters, etc.). Or try some of these ideas:

·        Go to travel agencies and see if they have literature from a country, posters from that region of the world, pictures ready to be discarded, travel maps, etc.

·        Exchange “Italian” gag gifts

·        Encourage guests to bring a decorated “Italian theme hat”; provide gag prizes

·        Play music of that region or country

·        Serve wine or drinks from the locale

·        Enjoy a “Bocce” game outdoors before or after dinner

·        Organize a pasta bar with several pasta varieties and a few sauces; let guests create their own entree

·        Create an “Italian” centerpiece for the dinner or serving table 

·        Decorate a room in the “theme;” let candles light the way

·        Provide (or assign) individual favors (takeaways) for guests

·        Rent a movie filmed in that region for “after dinner entertainment”

·        Enjoy dancing from that geographic region before or after dinner

·        Host a sing along featuring songs from that region

·        Learn a folk dance from that locale

·        Post Italian phrases on a mirror

·        Build on these ideas; create better ones                                 

Your dinner might spark friends to host festivities during the year or sponsor other seasonal events such as a leaf raking soup and cider party in the autumn, a wreath or ornament making party during the holidays, skate fest in the winter, or a spring clean up pizza party.

Before you know it, your “VIRTUAL VACATION” may multiply to several “trips” throughout the year. So it’s not only cost effective but also extends festivities to other seasons.

If you get another “Italian urge,” drive over to Providence, R.I. on a summer Saturday night. Eat Italian on Federal Hill and enjoy Water Fire festivities downtown! (Check online to make sure WaterFire festivities are scheduled the night you choose to go). 

AAA has several evenings of pre-planning for a vacation. Includes a talk from an expert who has been to the area,

slideshow or video, Q & A, and different scenarios from cost to insurance. 

Amanda Cuda (connpost.com) wrote a great piece on ‘Travel to Africa without leaving Connecticut’ at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. ( Check it out, click here.)

Write and tell us about your virtual vacation ideas and plans.

What worked, what didn’t, and what you learned along the way.

Leave comments below.  

BENVENUTI!

Are you wondering “How do I find the next job in this uncertain economy?” For the most part, a lot of us are in a similar boat. Look to yourself for some important clues. Here are 12 points to ignite your job search: 

1. Ask yourself 4 questions:

• -What do you VALUE most at this point? Write your honest answers. Think about things like enjoy a challenge (or not), low work stress, having major accomplishments, being part of a team, working independently, etc. 
• -Take stock of TALENTS. List them. Which of your talents and skills do you still enjoy using on the job?
• -Which of your INTERESTS still intrigue you? Or are you open to learning something brand new?  
• -What are your PREFERENCES at this stage?  (length of commute, necessary salary range, other important things to you)

Create a master list of all the things that make you unique; place the list in priority order. 

EX:  I value working with people, using my tech skills, supporting a team. I want to use my talents in organizing, being creative, and problem solving. I want to commute within 30 miles of home and work in a positive environment… 

2. Now look for environments that can benefit from your value, skills and interests.

(EX: hospitals, universities, etc. Keep your options broad.  Identify employer names within those environments. Ask friends, family, or colleagues. You’re now a job researcher “mining for information” about possibilities and career options.

3. Contact a few of the organizations above. Ask questions about options that may be available now or might open up in the near future.

4. Expand your network to include people at church, acquaintances in your social groups, neighbors, local merchants you see regularly, etc. You never know when leads may emerge.

5. You’re on a roll, stay focused. Surround yourself with people who will support you and your job search in a positive way. Don’t let negative folks get you down. Remember, misery loves company; stick with those who support you and your quest.”  

6. Broaden your job search to include media and social networking. Search online, scan appropriate websites. There are many helpful career websites; some are listed at the end of this blog. If you’re looking for specific niches, send me an email and I may be able to suggest others more pertinent to your situation. Check out newspapers, stay current about goings on in local companies or wherever you’re conducting your job search.  

7. Widen your electronic inquiries to include profiles on LinkedIn.com, Plaxo.com, Classmates.com, or Reunion.com. Although LinkedIn is mainly a networking tool, it also includes job listings, some of which are only solely posted on LinkedIn. Reconnecting with former friends, neighbors, or classmates can often lead to options that you’d otherwise not know about. Remember, we move closer to the things we think about. Think broadly and positively; and expand your momentum exponentially.

8. Check out local business journals such as Fairfield County Business Journal and New Haven Business Journal, and organizations such as Southwestern area Commerce ad Industry Association (SACIA). Contact your local Chamber of Commerce. Ask if they’ve heard from member companies who need people for short term employment or other special projects. Get your foot in the door to prove your talent and skills as a segue way to longer term employment.  

9. Print media…Read articles of interest in your industry or profession; write to the author with an opinion. Ask if they have leads in your geographic area or if they have ideas on where to turn for advice or suggestions. People want to help if they know specifically what you’re looking for. That’s why you were asked the questions back in #1 above. Uncover at least 5 new leads every week. Turn your job search into a personal challenge or game.

10. Contact companies of interest directly; inquire about conducting an informational interview in the department of your choice.  Ask for 15 minutes of time to come and ask a few questions. Let them know you’re a job researcher at this point, not a job seeker.  You may learn more about the opportunity and say “This isn’t for me!” Or you may decide it is a great career fit and then ask to speak with someone affiliated with your interest area.

11. Learn salary ranges. If you don’t know where to begin, explore the website www.salary.com.

12. Update your resume or bio once you know what you want and can tailor your experience to that opportunity. Remember to create a short cover letter to send (or post electronically) with your resume. If you want to know more about informational interviewing, salary negotiation, interview do’s and don’ts, updating credentials  or related questions, send me an email. I’ll clarify or provide more detail in a future blog.  Next, we’ll focus on updating credentials and how the practice has changed in a nano second environment.     

Helpful job search sites (teeny tip of the iceberg)

www.careerbuilder.com and www.monster.com.Two of the largest online career and job sites; hosts career leads, job search info, resume writing, interviewing tips, post questions to the experts, etc. viewed by over 20 million people monthly.   

www.rileyguide.com  Directions and details on how to use the web for job search

www.jobstar.org . Public library service offering career and job search info; database of available jobs

www.Yahoo.com …Job search tips in local areas, U.S. Government, resume guide, and more

www.snagajob.com  Great for part time and hourly positions; enter your zip code or commutable range and options will pop up on screen.  

www.vault.com … Lists over 3000 individual companies; get knowledgeable about specific organizations and qualifications they seek. 

www.quintessentialcareers.com…Job search, career and college advice, career toolkit, job leads, resume service, cover letters, E-zine, and book references. 

www.Craigslist.com…An online classified with a plethora of community job leads

 www.simplyhired.com, Plug in your zip code and job search by multiple criteria

www.theladders.com Job postings $100K and above; free limited access; fee based for more in-depth; check out options by industry and location…

www.Jobfox.com, Free and fee based; create a profile, see job options matched to you; get introduced to potential employers

www.Hound.com, View available jobs by category or by city

www.jobster.com Post resume, promote your skills, and be contacted by potential employers

www.ctjobs.com Connecticut Media Group’s employment site

A friend recently asked about long term care (LTC) insurance. Her financial advisor reacted as if it were a “no brainer, a must have!” Part of his argument was he has three people in his family who need it, only two had LTC and the one who didn’t is struggling to pay for necessary care. My friend hates to pay for insurance that only has a 50 per cent chance of being used, although women tend to use it more often than men. 

The advisor’s thinking is that we never plan to use our auto or homeowners insurance, yet we all have it. The financial advisor makes a commission when a policy is bought so he’s not entirely impartial. One can make a case pro or con and the more we become informed the more confusing it gets…a tough call.

Here are 6 thoughts on the matter for your consideration. Definitely read the literature and become informed first. At the least, look up Long Term Care Insurance and review the pros and cons in light of your particular situation.

Then, consider the following: 

(1) The company that you buy LTC insurance from may not be in existence when you need it.

(2) The insurance that you buy may not cover the illness that you get which could require hospitalization.

(3) The premiums that you pay may be more than the cost of the care. Although we’re told the cost of an illness may be X annually, the stay is often less and LTC insurance becomes poorly spent funds.

(4) If one has saved regularly, its possible to financially manage your own health care. What you save and invest can be used for future health care expenses.

(5) Depending on the type of LTC insurance program selected, you may be required to pay first after which the program kicks in and pays later.  Contingencies may also exist such as the type of rehabilitation facility, daignosis, length of illness, etc. Because of the possible hidden stipulations, LTC may or may not serve you well.

(6)There are alternative care options that are gaining in popularity and should. at least, be explored.  One, in particular, is Home Health Care. With 76 million Baby Boomers marching through the lifeline confidently and vocally, they will, no doubt, continue to question, change and possibly revolutionize health care as we know it now in the United States.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK! 

What’s your experience with LTC insurance.? Share it with other readers and get more informed before you make personal choices and investments.

Stay tuned for insights on career transition in a downturned economy.