Career Tips | Karen Girard

Let Your Heart & Intuition Be Your Guide

by Karen Girard

June 13th, 2012

What is familiar and known is comfortable. We know what to expect. We know how the story goes. And we know how we will respond.

Growth, though, lies just outside our comfort zone. It is hard to grow if you are not willing to risk - to try something new.

There are times throughout our lives when we must leave what we know, and venture into the unknown.

When you took your first steps as a child, you didn’t know about your “comfort zone” – you fell down, and just kept getting up, trying again and again until you succeeded. Then you learned to run, ride a bike…

Why is it that as we get older, we become afraid, we question things, we worry – what will others think, what if I can’t do it….. To heck with all that. It isn’t what others think that matters, it is what you think!

Mistakes are opportunities to learn and try again – retakes! Learn to overcome that fear, the negative thoughts, and take that leap of faith.

Although there is no map for this vast wilderness, you are not wholly unprepared. You have a guide: your intuition.

Instead of relying on a map to guide you, you learn to “follow your instincts.” And those instincts lead you on a journey that is all your own. By taking some risks and stepping out of your box, what you may discover along the way is who you really are and what you really love. Yes, sometimes you may have to give up on some old thinking or a negative thought that is holding you back (ask yourself – is that pride?)

Unrefined and unmapped, the wilderness of your intuition leads you to discoveries and experiences you never would have had if you stayed where you were comfortable.

What journey will you take that leads you to new discoveries and opportunities? Imagine what’s out there for you if you venture away from what’s familiar and comfortable and follow your intuition into the vast unknown.

If you are ready to try something new – here is a test you can’t fail…rediscover what is most important to you – take The Passion Test, contact me to learn more about the many ways you can!

To Living Life With Purpose, On Purpose

Karen

Karen Girard, CCDP, CEIP, CPRW, CCC
Certified Passion Test Facilitator

Categories Alberta, career, Career Tips, Passion, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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Tips to stop being a people pleaser – before it affects your health

by Karen Girard

May 19th, 2012

For those of you who have missed me, here is why…

I don’t know about you, but I am a people pleaser – I do battle with it all the time, because I know it is impossible to please everyone. Yet I still try!

I always want to help everyone, to have people like me, and I do sometimes find it really hard to say no. This has caught up with me more than once, and my body tells me I have to slow down. Which is where I have been lately…

My worst time is usually in February/March/April when things pile up – this year I ended up in the hospital – I have been forced to slow down…

Pleasing other people—who could find fault with that? Isn’t it a good thing to consider the needs of others, to be gracious, to be nice?

By all means! But for many, the desire to please becomes an addictive need to please others, even at the expense of their own health and happiness. It takes a toll on health, relationships and quality of life, and it drowns out the inner voice that may be trying to protect us from overdoing it.

“As a people-pleaser, you feel controlled by your need to please others and addicted to their approval,” writes Harriet B. Braiker, Ph.D., in The Disease to Please. “At the same time, you feel out of control over the pressures and demands on your life that these needs have created.”

Take this quiz to see whether you can benefit from learning to say no to others more often—and yes to yourself.

1. I put others’ needs before my own, even when the cost to me and my own happiness is great.

2. If someone needs my help, I can’t say no. In fact, I often find it difficult to say no. And when I do, I feel guilty.

3. To avoid reactions I’m afraid of, I often try to be who others want me to be, to agree with them, to fit in.

4. I keep my own needs and problems to myself; I don’t want to burden others with them.

5. It’s my job to make sure everyone else is happy.

6. I always have a smile on my face and an upbeat attitude, even if I feel sad or angry or hurt.

7. I go out of my way to avoid conflict and confrontation; it’s better just to keep the peace.

8. I am often on the go, rushing to get things done. When I take a moment for myself, I feel selfish, indulgent and guilty.

9. I should always be nice and never hurt others’ feelings.

10. I’ll do whatever it takes to get someone to stop being mad at me.

11. I hold back from saying what I really think or from asking for what I want if I think someone will be upset with me for it.

12. I want everyone to like me…all the time.

13. I feel like a failure if I’ve displeased anyone.

14. If I don’t make others happy, I worry that I’ll be alone and unloved forever.

15. I will change my behavior, at my own expense, to make others happy.

16. I spend a lot of time doing things for others, but almost never ask anyone to do things for me.

17. If I ask people for help and they agree, I’m sure they must be giving out of obligation; if they really wanted to help, they would have offered without my asking.

18. It’s difficult for me to express my feelings when they are different from someone I’m close to.

The motivations for being a people pleaser are varied and usually quite unconscious. Transforming these patterns requires that we understand our pleasing behaviors and motivations, and heal the childhood wounds that usually underlie people pleasing. If you answered True more often than False, you may need support in saying Yes to yourself!

Taking the Passion Test can be your first step in deciding when to say yes to. When I start slipping (that is, when I take the time to listen to my body before I crash), I re-take my own Passion Test – it helps me to determine what is most important to me, and what may have changed, so I can make my choices based on my passions. Remember, your passions do change at different stages of your life – if you have taken The Passion Test, you should retake it at least every 6 months.

Listen to your body, ask yourself what is most important to you, and remember it is OK to say no to some things so that you have the time to say yes to those things that are most important!

Are you ready to take the Passion Test? Contact me and learn more about how this can help!

To Living Life With Purpose, On Purpose

Karen

Karen Girard, CCDP, CEIP, CPRW, CCC
Certified Passion Test Facilitator
www.karengirard.com
www.careerplanningforstudents.com

USING PASSION TO INSPIRE ACTION

Feature image compliments of: secret-basketman-FreeDigitalPhotos.net_.jpg

Author’s content used under license, © 2008 Claire Communications

Categories career, Career Tips, Passion, Personal Growth
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Alberta Students: Start Looking for Summer Jobs NOW!

by Karen Girard

February 9th, 2012

I know it is only February, and you are still just getting over January exams, but employers are already advertising and hiring for summer positions. In addition to some that I have sent out already, here are a few more places to look for Albertans. Remember, high school students, if you get a summer job, ask your guidance department about getting Work Experience credits!

1. The City of Calgary hires students in a number of areas and will be posting new summer jobs February 6 – 15: www.calgary.ca/careers.

2. Junior Forest Rangers are recruiting for their 6 week summer program now – see your Guidance office or Career Center for information. Applications are open until April 1st.

3. Gr 11 Science Students may be interested in the HeritageYouth Researcher Summer Program (HYRS) and the Health Internship Program. See your Guidance Office for info.

4. Not in Grade 11 but want to work in health? Alberta Health Services also has new grad and summer student health programs: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/675.asp

5. Mount Royal is hosting a hiring fair on March 7. Contact them for more information.

6. Provincial government summer jobs are posted at https://jobs.alberta.ca/students/summer_employment.html

7. Many employers will start posting student jobs at Service Canada Centres for Youth, and they will be adding more and more each week as the time approaches. http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/

8. University Co-op, Intern, Summer & new grad opportunities from across Canada are being posted at Talent Egg and these places hire EARLY! www.talentegg.ca.

9. The Youth Employment Center in Calgary has a great job board for students ages 15 – 24, and in addition to regular full & part-time jobs, some seasonal jobs posted on the YEC job board too http://jobboard.nextsteps.ca They are also hosting their summer Job Fair in April at the Stampede Grounds. You will see more about this in a future newsletter.

10. Yes, Calaway Park is already hiring and they do offer transportation shuttles for employees. They have positions with salaries ranging from $9.75 – $12.75/hr. The higher paying jobs do require a valid driving license. http://www.calawaypark.com/employment.html.

11. For jobs in provincial or national parks, check www.albertaparks.ca or http://www.pc.gc.ca/agen/empl/emp1.aspx.

12. Near Cochrane and WANT TO GET PAID TO UMPIRE MINOR BALL? Cochrane Minor Baseball is looking for students who want to be trained to work for the 2012 baseball season (and beyond). The 2 day training clinic hours could also count as work experience hours if you are registered in a high school work experience program. Umpire training is done by certified instructors through the National Umpires Certification Program of Baseball Canada. After you have your certification, you will be able to ump games through the season. Contact ghabbump @ yahoo.ca

I will share more information for summer ideas in future emails.

To Living Life With Purpose, On Purpose

Karen

Karen Girard, CCDP, CEIP, CPRW, CCC

Certified Passion Test Facilitator

www.karengirard.com

Categories Career Tips, High School, Students, summer, Uncategorized, University
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Do you like your work?

by Karen Girard

February 7th, 2012

I love this little video - Ellen hates her work, doesn’t want to get dressed in the morning and is having ice cream for breakfast.. Cute little promo for The Passion Test but more than that, they speak the truth.

Now, as you know, I am a Certified Passion Test Facilitator – I love the process. But I am also a Career Coach – and many of us can relate to Ellen and Windsor.

What do you do when you aren’t happy at work? What fulfills you? Did you think that you were going to be doing something great by now? Do you wonder about your purpose?

Get a little giggle from this video, then think about how you can take just a little effort each day to help you get clear on what is most important to you…

Categories Career Tips, Passion, Personal Growth
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Believe and you can do it! Doubt it? Read this… MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!

by Karen Girard

February 4th, 2012

I tell people that if you put your mind to it you can achieve miracles. It really is a lot about your mindset.

I know all too well how hard it is to believe, but what if you know someone who actually did it? Well, I do!

My niece’s close friend, Natalia, was in a near fatal car accident. We watched the video and news in shock as they tried to extract her, and prayed that she would at least live, let alone ever walk again. Her initial injuries left her paralyzed from the chest down and her family was told she would never walk again… Friends and family kept spirits up, made visits and stayed by her side. Look at her now… She didn’t believe the doctors, she believed in herself!

It’s too hard… I can’t do it… we hear it all the time. If Natalia felt like that, where would she be now? Who knows, but instead she persevered, worked, built her strength, pushed through the pain, and discovered a new purpose in life.

Here is her story! Natalia, everyone is very proud of you – what an example you are!

Categories Career Tips, High School, Passion, Personal Growth, Students, Uncategorized
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Top 5 Tips for School Success

by Karen Girard

February 1st, 2012

If you are a student, (high school, university, college, or any other), school is your most important job. You are the only one who can determine how much work you are putting in and the results you get.

Life gets busy – it is a great idea to learn early, how to set yourself up for success so you aren’t caught off guard by an assignment that is due Monday when you have a hockey tournament all weekend, or an exam or quiz today that you forgot about.

SET A SCHEDULE AND WORK BACKWARDS

It may seem like a bit of work to start, but once you get the system, it is truly worth it!

Set up a Master Schedule
Every time you get a new assignment. due date or learn about an exam/quiz, mark it immediately into the schedule
Think about how much time you will need to do the work for each item (reading, research, writing)
Start working backwards and marking activities on your calendar so you can fit in what you have to
Be sure to schedule in commitments like work and sports/extra-curricular activities

BREAK THE MASTER SCHEDULE DOWN TO A MORE SPECIFIC WEEKLY, SCHEDULE

What deadlines are coming, what is due this week – assignments, exams
Note your progress, and re-evaluate your time every week to make sure you are on track
Schedule in review time for each of your subjects – if you have reviewed 10 minutes each day, this will be a bigger overview (see next section)

DAILY, CREATE A TO-DO LIST

Open your weekly schedule and prioritize for the day
What MUST be done today to stay on track
Plan 10 minutes a day to review notes you took from the day, and a quick review of the notes from the previous couple of days
Don’t leave the things you are dreading until last
Follow my one tip guaranteed to improve your productivity – the 60/40/20 rule (link to post)

TOP 5 TIPS FOR SUCCESS?
Some people write top 10 lists or top 10 tips, but we often don’t have the room to focus on ten things, so lets look at the top 5:

Find a quiet place to study away from distractions (No TV, no friends dropping by – ie away from residence…)
Turn off your cell phone and social media – don’t check facebook, don’t answer texts or emails, don’t StumbleUpon, or Tweet, or anything else (see 60/40/20 rule)
Set a regular time to study and do assignments, after you have taken a break, a snack, and are ready to sit and commit to what you have to concentrate on
Make study time a regular, committed part of your day – SCHEDULE it in
Use your social outings are REWARDS – earn them based on having accomplished what you planned to do. You know whether you actually did everything you should have – if not, you may need to cut back a bit there… but DO REWARD yourself!

Have a wonderful, rewarding semester, term…. Here’s to your success

To Living Life With Purpose, On Purpose

Karen

Karen Girard, CCDP, CEIP, CPRW, CCC
Certified Passion Test Facilitator
www.karengirard.com

Categories Career Tips, Exams, High School, Social Media, Students, University
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How Alberta’s New Math Curriculum affects student choices

by Karen Girard

January 26th, 2012

UPDATE: March 2013

When I wrote this article, we had been advised that universities were on board with the academic changes. This year has been a real test for us. While most Nursing Programs have said that they prefer Math 30-2, we are still doing battle with a couple to have them recognize it.

A couple of universities (University of BC – Okanagan (UBC-O)) – advised us last year that Math 30-2 would be acceptable for arts programs but have now withdrawn this indicating that our math is now under review. They will be accepting it this year, but may not next year.

In fact, another university has now advised that they will only accept Math 30-2 as a “grade 11″ math in place of Math 20-1.

Alberta Learning and school advisors are in conversations with universities all across Canada working to get this sorted out, but in order to be safe,

PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK WITH YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR TO SELECT YOUR MATH. If you know where you are considering going, they will be able to give you much more accurate information!

Lately there have been many questions with students/parents not understanding the changes to the new Math curriculum. We have become so used to the language, that the – 2 (Dash 2) stream has been viewed as a “lower level”. THIS IS NO LONGER SO!

With the new Math Curriculum, things are changing. We now have two “Academic Options” for our students – and both open different university doors!

1. Math 30-1 which emphasizes the development of Calculus (Math 31) and must be taken as a co-requisite to Math 31 will be needed for programs that require Calculus (ie Engineering)

2. Math 30-2 emphasizes academic skills that are not calculus based, such as statistics. This is no longer considered a “lesser/easier” curriculum.

Universities have been changing their requirements and adjusting to our new math curriculum. It will be interesting for many people to see that Nursing programs at certain universities (ie University of Calgary and University of Alberta) actually PREFER the new Math 30-2.

Universities obviously do have the final say on their requirements for admission, and this is why it is IMPERATIVE that students check with their Career Center/Guidance in choosing their courses. When we can see what programs and institutions students are considering, only then can we help them make the BEST choices for them to keep their options open.

For more information, please see the Alberta Education website:

http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/math/sequence.aspx:”

There is a visual for the math sequence at: http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program/math/options.aspx

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Categories Career Tips, High School, Students, University
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When My Life is Ideal…. keeping up with resolutions

by Karen Girard

January 23rd, 2012

As the first month of 2012 quickly passes, I realize that I have
not kept up with my own resolutions – to review and plan for my new
year… How many of us have the best intentions and then let life
get in the way?

My first step in the new year is to retake the Passion Test – and
yes, I do have a different Passion Test Facilitator to take me
through this process, as it is more difficult to be honest and
subjective when I am questioning myself.

I have spent the last couple of days writing out my thoughts -
journaling on what I want to have things look like for 2012. I am
preparing my own top 10 list to go through with my coach.

As I do this, I invite you to do the same. If you are interested
in having me take you through the Passion Test, please contact me.

But even if you aren’t ready, try to take some time over the next
week – just a few minutes a day – to jot down what you would like
this year to bring to you. What does it look like for your work?
Health? Family? Relationships? Home?

When you are clear on what you want, you are then able to make
choices that take you closer to those passions.

I would love to help guide you on your path.

To Living Life With Purpose, On Purpose

Karen

Karen Girard, CCDP, CEIP, CPRW, CCC
Certified Passion Test Facilitator
www.karengirard.com

Design My Best Life
Using Passion to Inspire Action

Categories Career Tips, Passion, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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I Have A Dream…

by Karen Girard

January 16th, 2012

I Have a Dream!

All big things in this world are done by people who are naive and have an idea that is obviously impossible. – Charles Hamilton

Everyone has a dream!

Sometimes we hold it so close to our heart, we don’t dare share it for fear someone else will say something to take it away from us… but it is there, living, simmering, and waiting to be brought out to the world.

When I wrote this, it was Martin Luther King’s birthday. A man with a dream – a big dream, and one that, to many, seemed impossible. But he was committed. He spoke it aloud, shared it with other like-minded, supportive people, and did not worry about what others said or felt about him – it was his PASSION.

If you speak your dreams out loud, share them with people who will understand and support you, you are far more likely to follow through. Sounds a bit scary, doesn’t it.

Do you make decisions based on emotions or worry about what others will think? How will I look? Will they still like me? Will they think I am crazy?

The difference between interest and commitment is how we choose to take action. If we are interested, we think about things, ask other’s opinions or permission. Some people back up decisions with logic, reasons for or against taking action. “It will be too hard.” “I don’t have enough time or support” “I can’t afford it.” When you start questioning your dreams and actions, it is very easy to talk yourself out of them by rationalizing. As Bob Burg says, we tell ourselves “rational lies” – giving ourselves logical reasons why something won’t work, or why we shouldn’t take the risk.

Your brain loves to answer questions, and your very thoughts are key to what you can and cannot do. When you tell yourself that you can’t do something, you are putting up a mind-block. Chances are you will prove yourself right – a “self-fulfilling prophecy”.

When you are committed to something that is important to you, you set the intention to do something, make a plan and begin to take action.

You don’t worry about what everyone else thinks – if it is meant to be, and you will do everything within your power to make it happen. Look at Martin Luther King – the impossible dream is reality.

Turn your voices around to the positive, think of the possibilities, and make a choice to commit, and the world opens up. Instead of saying ‘I can’t do it’, say ‘I have the ability, the drive and the desire to do it, and I will make it happen’. ‘I can afford to work part-time while starting my business” becomes ” I am willing to give up some of the luxuries to realize my dream.’ or ‘I will commit 15 hours a week to building my business.’

What is your dream? Come online and share it with us – speak it out loud! And if you need someone to help you focus on and pursue that dream, as me about Passionate Life Coaching.

To Living Life With Purpose, On Purpose

Karen

Categories Career Tips, Passion, Personal Growth, Uncategorized
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Archive for Career Tips

USING PASSION TO INSPIRE ACTION

SET A SCHEDULE AND WORK BACKWARDS

BREAK THE MASTER SCHEDULE DOWN TO A MORE SPECIFIC WEEKLY, SCHEDULE

DAILY, CREATE A TO-DO LIST

TOP 5 TIPS FOR SUCCESS? Some people write top 10 lists or top 10 tips, but we often don’t have the room to focus on ten things, so lets look at the top 5:

TOP 5 TIPS FOR SUCCESS?
Some people write top 10 lists or top 10 tips, but we often don’t have the room to focus on ten things, so lets look at the top 5: