Latest figures put the US unemployment rate at approximately 10 percent.  That can be a daunting number for those hoping to find a job.  The nightly evening news paints a desperate picture of unemployed America.  Interestingly enough most of the job seekers I know are upbeat and hopeful.  Many have been at dead end jobs for years, just going through the motions of keeping that job.  They have told me that losing their jobs has been liberating.  One client who had been at the same mind numbing job for ten years said she was looking forward to reinventing herself and very optimistic about her options.  One thing that the 10 percent rate of unemployment has done is to remove any stigma about being unemployed.  Liberation and acceptance - unemployed is a powerful and creative place to be.

Many unemployed individuals are coming up with inspired ways to re-enter the work world.  Some are choosing to go back to school for an advanced degree or specialty, such as nursing.  Others are taking a closer look at what their strengths are and what makes them happy.   As a coach it is very gratifying to help someone discover their talents and passions and develop a plan to use those to earn an income.  One of the best ways to jump into unknown waters is to volunteer your talents.  “Volunteering and pursuing avenues where you excel…can ­help career-changers make the best of the situation”, said Mary Beth Sammons, author of “Second Acts that Change Lives: Making a Difference in the World.”  (Alban, 2009)  Not only do you get some experience under your belt, but the enthusiasm you feel when doing something that is worthwhile and exciting can really accelerate your career move.  Not being tied to that 40 plus hour work week allows you to explore, create and network. Take advantage and enjoy.

Unemployment may not be a welcomed situation, but we are learning that it is not always a bad situation either.  Remarkably, we are seeing a recent trend where some top managers of large companies are up and quitting their jobs without having another offer lined up.  These mavericks are announcing to the business world that they have higher aspirations and they have the courage and self confidence to pursue them.   “The decision to quit a senior position to look for a better one is unconventional, to say the least. For years executives and headhunters have hewed closely to the rule that the most attractive CEO candidates are the ones who must be poached.” (McGregor, 2009) Changing the rules of the game and making it your game- that is exactly the type of attitude I strive to uncover in people.

As a result of hard economic times we realize that employer provided health care coverage and 401K matching may be a thing of the past.  What we aren’t hearing is that now is the time for the American worker to define who they are and where they want to be.   Whether it is a career change, a company change or starting a small business, we Americans are overcoming fear and leaping towards advancement and self-fulfillment.  The shame of unemployment, the allure of company benefits and panic of the unknown no longer imprisons the American worker.  I find this an exciting time for all of us.  As history has taught us, Americans will persevere and inspire.  I urge you to think about your aspirations and encourage you to invest in yourself.  No time like the present to be proactive.  Define, commit, achieve – let’s do that together!

Alban, D. (2009, July 6). Laid-Off Workers Find Fulfillment in New Careers. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from CNN: www.cnn.com/2009/living/worklife/07/06/career.change/index.html

McGregor, J. (2009, November 5). Top Managers Are Quitting Without a New Job. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from Business Week: www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_46/b4155072824076.htm?chan=magazine+channel_what’s+next

Talking with a business coach can do a lot for you. It can make you more confident, give you a good idea of which of your plans will work and which may not, and more. However, as a business owner, you always have to keep an eye on the bottom line. To that end, you have to know the answer to a very important question: will using a business coach increase your business’s profits?

The answer is almost always yes, but it’s sometimes hard to see. If you and your business coach discuss your business and he or she notices areas where you can improve, then you may tangibly see an increase in profits. Making your business more cost-effective is one thing a business coach can help you with that will obviously result in profits. Your business coach may be able to uncover places in which you can slash a budget or change a business practice so that you can make more money.

However, you may not always be able to see an actual dollar increase from your business coaching sessions. This is because business coaches often work on areas that don’t directly correlate to budgets. For example, they may help you work on your management style or discuss some of your visions for your business. These abstract ideas can’t be measured in profits, obviously, but they can be measured in other ways. The continuing success of your business is often the best measurement.

When I work with my Business Coaching clients, the results are often directly related to their bottom line in terms of increased sales and/or profits. But for every time I can help a client financially, I can help them many times over in less directly-measurable ways such as hiring the right positions and people, leading more effectively, better managing of work load and work flow, or utilization of outside resources to best leverage my client’s time. All business problems have some level of impact to the bottom line and often it has to do with something that my client can’t accomplish because roadblocks are in his/her way. Quickly figuring out how to remove those barriers is often an essential aspect – maybe the most important aspect — to improve business profitability.

If you’re thinking Business Coaching may be right for you and your company, please call Carroll King Schuller at 804.288.0099 to set up a time for your complimentary first consultation. My client’s success is critical to my success and you can read testimonials on my website.

You may not be sure of what working with a business coach will entail. In fact, many people don’t realize that a business coach isn’t going to simply tell you how to change your life to make it perfect. Instead, a good business coach will work with you to identify issues on which you need to work.

Business coaches don’t always meet face to face with their clients. In fact, you may never actually meet your business coach in person. You may choose instead to have all of your business coaching sessions over the phone. This method can actually be just as effective as sitting down with your business coach in an office.  However, you must be willing to focus on talking with your coach—don’t allow yourself to multitask during this time.

When working with a business coach, don’t expect everything to change right away. You may need to work with a business coach for several months in order to work through all the issues you wish to cover.

In fact, some people maintain their relationship with their business coach for years, although they may decrease the frequency of their meetings. Keeping in touch with your business coach can help you constantly evaluate your business and life decisions.

Don’t expect to look too much at the past beyond identifying behaviors. Business coaching is not therapy, after all—it’s much more focused on moving ahead. You will need to examine past business decisions and behaviors, of course, to learn what you need to work on. However, once that’s done, you’ll start focusing on your future and on moving ahead.

Ready to start working with an experienced business coach? Call me today at 804-288-0099 for your free consultation!

Some people are uncertain if they need a business coach. After all, if you can’t get ahead in business on your own, isn’t that a sign that you aren’t meant to succeed? Experienced business people know better—asking for assistance is always a smart business move.

Working with a business coach can be challenging at times. You must make a commitment to yourself to keep an open mind in order to get the most out of your sessions.

You must be prepared to listen to what someone has to say about your business and your life in general. A business coach will make suggestions on how you can change your life, and if you aren’t open to hearing any sort of criticism, you will spend more time arguing with your business coach and not enough time discussing how to work on your weaknesses.

Likewise, a business coach may make suggestions that you simply don’t like. However, these suggestions may be the best advice you could get on a topic. If you’re not willing to at least consider them, you are wasting both your time and your business coach’s time.

Be ready to listen to everything your business coach suggests, even if it’s something you initially think is not a good idea. You may be surprised to realize that something you at first thought was horrible is actually the best solution.

One of the biggest parts of working with a business coach, especially at first, is learning about your weaknesses and areas in which you need to improve. While no one likes to hear that they’re doing something the wrong way, you can’t get back on track in the business world without learning what you need to change.

Keep an open mind and be honest with yourself and your business coach, and you might see your career—and your life—turn around faster than you ever thought possible.

Ready to start working with an experienced business coach? Call me today at 804-288-0099 for a free consultation!

What is holistic business coaching?

You may have heard of business coaching before, but what exactly is holistic business coaching?

While a business coach can help you overcome any issues that are holding you back in the business world, holistic business coaches know that your life is not just limited to your business, and the issues holding you back may actually be something outside your business life.

A holistic business coach will help you learn how to play to your strengths and minimize your weaknesses in all areas of your life. This will allow you to not only become more successful in business but also make all areas of your life more stable and make you happier all around.

Another benefit of working with a holistic life coach is he or she can assist you in preparing for new, difficult transitions in your life. This is, in fact, one of the things on which people often have difficulty getting perspective.

Transitioning into a new business, new position in your company or changing your job completely can be very frightening and unsettling. This is because it’s something new and different, and that is enough to make anyone nervous. However, a holistic business coach can help prepare you for that transition.

Holistic business coaching, then, is almost a form of life coaching with a focus on business. It can include learning how to manage time, how to budget, how to eat correctly and how to manage employees.

Want to learn more about how working with a holistic business coach can help you? Call me today at 804-288-0099 for more information and a free consultation!

So, you’re working from home. Or maybe you have a work-from-home arrangement with your employer that allows you to stay home virtually all of the time. Either way, the freedom is helping you get more done than you even expected.

But you feel dull. You’re missing the banter, the break room
conversations, the walks to and from the car with coworkers. Maybe you went out to lunch with folks from your office in the past, but now you’re stuck at home every day. And the after-work beer with coworkers is tough to pull off when you don’t have any around.

What are you missing? Interation and external stimulation. You don’t get it just by accident anymore.

But that’s not so bad to plan for. You just have to set aside regular time for getting out of your home. What about these ideas:

• A weekly visit to an amusement park
• Run or ride on a country road
• Exploring new routes to get to familiar places
• Shopping without spending
• Lunch at a new place with a new person

Instead of the same faces you see every day at work, take this
opportunity to set up a lunch and get to know someone you connected with in the past month. Think of it as just another part of your exciting new job!

“A Recession Is Here.” “Companies to cut jobs.” “Fed Cuts Interest Rates.” Every few years the headlines give you reason to be afraid for your job and your lifestyle, and it seems that time is here again.

This is going to sound counterintuitive, but here’s my advice: Don’t worry about the headlines.

“What?” you’re asking. “That’s crazy.” But, for most people, closely following economic news is just an easy way to let things affecting other people cause you personal stress.

The truth is, jobs are being created and lost at all points in the cycle. You can be laid off in a boom, and you can find a fantastic new job in a recession. Respond to business changes and prepare for the unexpected, but, unless it’s part of your job, don’t worry too much about how quickly the GDP is increasing.