Whether you want to lose weight, end emotional eating, overcome stress, or move beyond sadness and depression, creating any major change in your life can create feelings of discomfort. You are here, and you want to be there. As enticing as the outcome of your goal appears, you cannot instantly jump into a happy, motivation filled life.
Instead, achieving happiness and success means that you have to venture out of your comfort zone into an unknown journey. On your path between here and there, you will most likely face many obstacles, experience setbacks and failures, feel emotions you don't want to feel, and discover you must learn strange new ways of thinking, acting, and behaving if you want to reach your outcome.
One-step at a time you walk across the middle ground between where you were and where you are going. This middle ground tends to feel shaky and unknown. You may stumble along with unsure footing wondering if you will ever feel confident again. One of the secrets of achieving a happy outcome requires acknowledging and understanding that the changes you are asking yourself to make will be uncomfortable. Your success rests on planning ahead to give yourself the tools and support you need to make yourself feel safe even in the midst of change and uncertainty.
The following strategies are designed to help you find that trust and self-assuredness when you are in the midst of creating your happy and motivated life.
Acceptance of Your Journey
Whenever you are feeling uncertain, stop and take a moment to breathe deeply. Take several deep, slow breaths. When you breathe, you allow yourself to come back to center and your inner resourcefulness. From center, you can regain your larger perspective about the importance of the changes you want to make. You can remind yourself that you are in transition because you made the conscious choice to experience more happiness. You are not a victim of this change, and no one forced you into this decision. Although your journey from here to there may not be an easy journey, remind yourself that the joy and success you want to experience is important to you.
It's Okay to Fall, But Get Back Up Again
When you are walking across the transitional middle ground between where you were and where you want to go, there will be times when you may feel uncertain and doubtful about your ability to have what you want. Perhaps you encounter a roadblock or obstacle, or perhaps the amount of effort you must put forth on a daily basis was more than you bargained for. You will consider quitting. The question becomes, when you want to quit, will you curl up, tell yourself you can't have what you want, or desperately pray that someone comes along to rescue you? Or are you going to gather up all your courage and find some way to gain motivation move forward once again? It's okay to stumble and fall, we all do it at one time or another. It is even okay to lie in the dirt for a while. What is important is that you remember that you are still on your path, still facing forward, and you can still have what you want. What is the one step you can take right now that will serve to raise your level of motivation higher?
Choose Faith
Have you ever heard the expression, "Feed your faith, not your fears." I love how this phrase can boil down a complicated situation into a very simple choice. Use this phrase to perform a reality check on yourself. When you feel doubt or fear, are your thoughts and actions helping to build your self-confidence that you can have what you want, are they causing you to go further down a dark spiral of negativity and despair? The issue is not whether or not you will experience fear. Fear is a natural by-product of going on your goal journey. The issue is how you will deal with fear when it shows up - will you feed faith or will you feed fear?
Get Support
Your journey between here and there is your own unique experience that you must navigate on your own. No one can take the journey for you, and no one can pick you up and drop you off on the other side. The journey itself is what offers the strengths, insights, wisdom, and joy that you are looking for. Therefore, you must walk our own path - but that doesn't mean you can't hold hands with some friends for a awhile. Meet with a nutrition therapist, life coach, friend, or advisor on a regular basis to keep you motivated. Your support people can help you though periods of self-doubt and instability and remind you that being able to feel more happy and motivated is what you want most.
Words Are Powerful
Be acutely aware of the words you use. Do the words you speak to yourself empower you or leave you feeling powerless? Are your thoughts self-supporting or self-defeating? Do you encourage yourself when things are going well and when things are difficult? Learning to motivate your self with positive, self-affirming, resourceful, and loving language is what allows you to feel happy and gain motivation to take each next step. Look into your own eyes in the mirror and speak kind, persuading words. It is up to you to provide the motivation you need to achieve success.
Take A Risk
Change requires you to move from your smaller, confined circle of comfort to one that is larger and more expansive. To achieve ultimate success, you will need to move beyond the edges of your comfort zone. Like Columbus sailing off to explore the edge of the ocean, you too are exploring unknown new territory. Allow yourself to be a beginner again - this is how you grow and transform. If you take a risk and fail, learn from the experience and adjust your actions. Just don't give up!
Create A Ritual to Honor the Change
Symbolically acknowledge your journey by creating a ritual to honor the growth and changes you have been making. A ritual can be anything metaphorical that has meaning to you. Perhaps it might be burying your scale, donating all your larger clothes, giving your diet books to the local library, a celebration of your journey with friends, or even listing all the things that have been holding you back on little strips of paper and burning them. Take some sort of physical action to acknowledge the path you are moving along. Doing this creates a deeper sense of meaning and importance to your daily actions, and raise your motivation level. You develop respect for the transition that you are engaged in. A ritual may help you close a door that you are ready to close.
Get a Transitional Object
Your ability to feel happy and keep motivated can also be increased when you carry a transitional object. Your transitional object can remind you of your successes so far, and keep your vision on your overall goal. The object could be something that reminds you of your journey, or it could be an item that provides comfort.
Link your sense of touch to the feeling of being happy or motivated. For example, think of how a toddler is able to comfort itself with a stuffed animal or blanket, or how rosary beads can help move thoughts back into love. Find your own transitional object that you can touch, stroke, or hold to remind you of the importance of your journey and provide you with motivation to continue forward. Below is a list transitional objects you could easily carry in your pocket or on your body:
o Small smooth stone
o Crystal
o Special necklace
o Ring for your finger
o Sea shell
o Symbolic lapel pin
Your goals to end overeating, lose weight, overcome stress, or move beyond sadness and depression are important goals. Congratulations on your courage to move forward and make a better life for yourself. Use these tips and suggestions to keep yourself motivated, feeling happy about the changes you are making, and believing in yourself. Although your path may seem shaky at times, you truly can live the life of your dreams.
8 Secrets to a Happy and Motivated LifeIf you are in midlife and are afraid of having a crisis -- or are beginning to be afraid that you might -- what can you do? There are many potential solutions.
Seek professional coaching or counseling
Sometimes all we need to get through what looks like a 'crisis' in our lives, is have someone deeply listen to us. Skilled therapists and often a great life coach - especially one with a spiritual approach, can be there for you in a way that you can hear your own answers. Therapy no longer has the stigma it once did and it doesn't have to last forever. In fact, if your therapist seems to be 'keeping you' in therapy, MOVE ON. Unless you have had serious trauma in your childhood, you can be helped just by knowing someone else out there is witnessing your life.
Notice your reactions and see if you are over-reacting
Just taking the time to notice and acknowledge that you are reacting can be enough to change the course of your life. There is a difference between reaction and response. If you find yourself flying off the handle, or drinking excessively, or spending more money than you have or getting into drugs or sexual addictions, you may be running from something in your life rather than facing it. Midlife is an opportunity to really come to terms with your life and if you are avoiding the deeper questions, you are headed for trouble. Even a good friend can often be a great sounding board to explore your new feelings.
Approach midlife thoughtfully.
Look back to where you've been. Have you gotten through touch times before? I bet you have. We all have. Don't discount the value of your maturity and experience. You are most likely better equipped than ever to cope effectively with life's difficulties.
Reassess your goals and dreams.
Are some of those dreams actually a hold over from your teen years? If you haven't been practicing for sometime already, you are probably not going to make the Olympics at the age of 35. Go and root for someone who can. And, be sure to look for some things that you CAN do now. It's not too late to take up a musical instrument, for example, or to go back to school to get a degree. I'm not one for telling people to be realistic, because I believe we are capable of far more than we ever imagine, but it's important to 'know when to hold them, know when to fold them.' This is a sign of maturity in itself.
Find freedom in aging.
When you learn to be accepting of mortality, (really IMMORTALITY!), you'll start to truly enjoy the aging process. It's not over until it is over. So, stop acting as if life has ended. Maybe some of the things you used to do are not part of your life any more, but, I guarantee that if you put your mind and heart into it, you'll find things to be and do that you never could before. While science has come up with ways we can live healthier, longer, no one has found the fountain of youth, Make today count. You can think of midlife as an end or as a beginning. It startled me to realize that I still potentially have one third of a life to still live. If I look back to the first 30 years of my life, for example, I hardly recognize or remember myself. There's a whole new world out there and I'm excited about the possibilities that are open to me. Are you?
Midlife Transition - 5 Things You Can Do to Avoid a CrisisHow many times have you muttered these words to yourself? As a former practicing attorney who successfully transitioned out of law I KNOW the feeling. Sure, when you used to watch LA Law and Ally McBeal, it all seemed glamorous -sexy people litigating sexy issues. But that is not the reality of it, is it?
The reality is that you probably sit in your small, fluorescent lit office, speaking with annoying clients or claims adjusters, being berated by annoying partners, wondering why you let yourself be talked into this career path by your unwitting parents. You think, hmmmm....maybe I should have listened to every other attorney I ever met before graduating law school who told me to choose something else...anything else.
Desperate, you comb the Craigslist ads looking for a way out. You imagine that the next associate position at the next firm may be better - Trust me, it isn't. I had literally accepted and quit more than 50 associate positions in less than 7 years.
Well, I am here to tell you it is alright, and you CAN change your career path. You are not alone. As an Executive Management consultant and former litigator, I have worked with thousands of attorneys of all levels and fields. I have found that for most people the depression stems from the grind and monotony. When you're young and vibrant, you have the energy and drive to be a top litigator. You want to find camaraderie -- possibly an office romance? Quickly you find that unless your dream girl is a crabby 40-something divorced paralegal with a bad attitude...it's probably back to the bars for you.
In working with attorneys from all over the world, the stories all seem to share the same foundation: From day one, you were berated by a tag team of stale older attorneys and cantankerous paralegals who seek to drain your soul from your body. I distinctly remember sitting at my office after 2 weeks on the job thinking I hope the status conference calendar is packed so I can try to get priority without alerting the partner, scavenger out of the courtroom and into my car to smoke a joint and relax for a few hours (Sidenote: You are not the only attorney who smokes weed - they all do)
Once you're older, you start to take stock in your life and wonder if this is it. Is my life really drafting interrogatories, arguing semantics with opposing counsel and trying to collect a 0 retainer for a case I spent 40 hours preparing. But, the kids need dinner and the mortgage won't pay itself, so you continue down this road.
Here's the deal. There are things you can do to change it, but it takes the 3 D's Drive, Dedication, and Determination. You have 1 life - do NOT waste it!!!
Here are 4 things you can do to Transition out of Law:
1. Research Graduate Programs: For many of us, we chose law because it was simple. You were unsure of what to do with your life, and assumed being a lawyer would be a solid career choice. This time, really figure out what you want to do. If you want to be a manager, look up MBA courses, if you want to do real estate, look up MSRED programs. In other words, take the time to find what moves you. If that means taking some online or community college programs to find your interest, then DO IT!
2. Study for the GREs: The best advice I can provide is that this was the ticket. (Note: Most graduate schools will accept the GRE instead of the GMAT). Not that the GMAT is harder, but it is designed for people with analyst and finance backgrounds. The GRE is like the SAT for adults. I was a 9th year attorney with a passion for executive management. I knew that I had something more to offer, but I also knew that without a top school degree, it would be tough. So, I took 3 months to study for the GRE, cut back on partying, and scored a 1300+. For reference, my initial Kaplan diagnostic score was less than a 1000.
3. LEARN!!: It is important for you to show interest. While you may be short on time, you are not short on options. Apply for internships, obtain certifications, and take graduate school courses at various professional organizations and community colleges such as IREM or SPHR.
4. YOU NEED A GREAT RESUME. A resume is your ONE and ONLY Career tool. Most of the time, it is your only method for getting your foot in the door. If it has spelling or grammatical errors, it will be discarded. In this difficult market, it is also important to include essential search terms, as many employers use OCR software to scan your resume. By hiring a Certified Professional Attorney Resume Writer, you can guarantee that you will have a legal professional (Who has already transitioned out of law) help you achieve your goals.
GOOD LUCK!
I Hate Being a Lawyer - How to Successfully Transition Out of Law and Into the Career of Your DreamsLife is filled with a variety of transitions - changes, endings and new beginnings. Each of us lives through many such transitions. The transition of:
- graduating from high school or college and starting a career.
- leaving one job, career and moving on to another.
- leaving a relationship that is destructive or lacks a nurturing and loving foundation, and moving on to another that you hope will give you more of what you need and desire.
- marriage, leaving the single life behind.
- retiring and leaving behind the frantic, busy and often stressful life of the busy professional, executive, -manager or employee.
- moving from one part of the country to another or even from one city to another in the same state.
There are many major life transitions such as marriage, divorce, retirement and starting a business, and there are thousands of smaller life transitions that fill our days and years. Each of us handles and reacts to these transitions in many different ways. Let me pull a key concept from the best selling book Transitions, by William Bridges. Bill shares a simple concept in managing any major or minor life transition.
Declare an ending. Spend time in the neutral zone. New beginnings. Many people attempt to begin again - a new relationship, a new job, anything - without declaring an ending or putting closure on the previous situation. This will almost guarantee a premature ending to your new relationship or new beginning.
Spend time in the neutral zone. This is time of reflection, contemplation and self-evaluation. I have known people who have spent months in the neutral zone. Personally, after a previous divorce, I spent over a year in the neutral zone. This is a time of renewal and self-discovery. It is time well invested if you want to discover the who, what, why, how, why not and what if in your past and future.
New Beginnings. Start, begin and go for it with confidence, desire, passion, belief and a willing heart and mind.
No one escapes life's transitions. The key to happiness and inner peace is the ability to view both the transition process and its outcomes as in your long term best interests. Years have taught me that nothing happens without a reason. A life's transition enables a person to leave something behind and move into something better. The secret is to accept a transition with confidence and faith.
Some of life's transitions can be planned and prepared for while others come upon us suddenly with surprise and cause a great deal of anxiety due to the uncertainty of their outcomes.
Over the years I have observed many people who have resisted a life transition that would have ultimately been good for them, due to fear, stress and a lack of trust in their life process. If a transition is necessary for you to grow, you can anticipate it, plan for it and take positive action or wait for just the right time. But waiting isn't an effective way to face a transition that will create more inner peace, happiness or success. There is never the perfect time to; start a relationship, end one, start a new career or end one, or many other of life's transitions. If you wait too long, life has a unique way of interceding and pushing you whether you feel you are ready or not.
What transition are you experiencing at this time in your life, that you are not handling it with calm, confidence, courage and clarity?
What transition are you waiting to take action on due to fear or a lack of trust and faith?
Are You Ready For Something New?Transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce can be an exciting new adventure, but it does come with a few challenges. Aligning separation dates, maximizing the career potential of your military skills and making relocation decisions are no simple tasks.
Unless a separation date comes on very short notice, most servicemen and women have ample time to prepare for the adjustment. The first step is to avoid the temptation to delay creating a career action plan. Making good use of time beforehand is half the battle and the key to a smooth transition. Deciding what type of job you would like to pursue, and what you're qualified to do, both require stress-free consideration.
The good news is that you have many options. It might be a good time to return to school to further the skills you have or explore a new career altogether. It's not uncommon to want to take some time off as well. On the other hand, if you're ready to go directly into the civilian work force, there are dozens of resources waiting to assist you. Your Transition Assistance, Family Service, or Career Resource office is a good starting point. They can help you find a sense of direction and counsel you on what to expect.
The second step is to have a resume that specifically addresses the value of your military skills as they relate to the civilian workplace. Many resume writers are experts in this one field. There is even a new designation for those that specialize in putting together military-to-civilian resumes called the CMRW, or Certified Military Resume Writer.
These are only two suggestions to help you get started:
militaryresumewriters.com
military.com
There's also an impressive number of recruiting firms in the military-to-civilian transition career business. They can take you through the interview process and coach you on how to handle difficult questions. Many of these are staffed by veterans who've been down the same path and give credible advice that is based on first-hand experience. That can be reassuring to know when you don't know what to expect.
Bradley-Morris, Cameron-Brooks, the Lucas Group, and Orion International are a few highly recognized names that carry good reputations. Some of the most popular military transition websites available are offered by both government and non-government entities. You'll find an amazing range of services at some of these sites:
MilitaryJobZone.com
Military.LucasCareers.com
Transition Assistance Online
VetJobs.com
They are familiar with the wide scope of support you might need and many surprising extended resources. There are links to internet blogs just for making friendly connections with other veterans who are walking in your same shoes. You'll also notice a number of career fairs, salary calculators, newsletters, hotlines, and yet more job hunting tips.
Some of these websites emphasize the fact that many employers are hoping to only those candidates with military experience - in case you were wondering if there's a demand for your experience. In addition, none of the sites overlook the need for family support and serve to provide other encouraging news - so it isn't entirely job related information.
As you can probably tell, there's a wealth of resources available to help you make a smooth transition. It's important to find the right fit and determine which of those sources have what you need to make it all happen. The fact is, it can happen, and by now, you have a better idea of where to start.
Military to Civilian - Tips For Making the TransitionTransitioning
Transitioning refers to changing the conversational thread off of the opener and into a normal conversation. There are several techniques for transitioning. I call my technique, "shifted openers".
Shifted Openers
A shifted opener shifts the focus of the conversation from being about strangers, to being about the girls, to being about you, or from being about strangers to being about us. Schematically, it looks like "strangers-them-me" or "strangers-us". You do this by first running the opener, then by having the people in the conversation relate to the topic of the opener or a related conversational thread, then by again relating your experience to theirs via a similar conversational thread.
Here's an example of shifting the focus of an opener:
"Hey guys, my buddy Jon just broke up with his girlfriend, how long does he have to wait to date her friend?" - Opener
"Three weeks." - They answer
"Okay, check this out. Have you ever been in a relationship, where you were kind of over it, and you had already mentally written the person off, but not officially?" - Shift the focus to them, have them relate their experience. We can see that I'm having them relate their experience on a similar conversational thread (not the same one) to what the opener was about.
"Yes/no/maybe" - They answer
"Well I was in a similar situation, my ex girlfriend... Blah blah blah, off into an attraction story". I relate both their experience and my friends experience to me, and am off into an attraction bit about relationships.
You can see how the story dealt with a stranger to the group (in this case a friend to me but a stranger to them), then related his experience to their experience, then related their experience to my experience, and allows me to seamless transition into my attraction story.
Pros:
-Seamless transition into an attraction story.
-Can immediately start grounding my identity and experience via a well justified story.
Neutral (Depends on how you look at it):
-Requires them to minimally invest when they are asked to relate to their experience.
Con:
-If you do this wrong, you risk "milking the opener". This means that you can risk ending up talking about the opener too much without establishing a real conversation.
The way to avoid this is to 1) by shifting the focus from "stranger- them- me" and 2) every time you shift the focus, change the conversational thread slightly, but keep it on a general topic. For example, in the above paragraph, the general topic was dating, but I shifted the thread from "how long someone should wait to date a friend's friend", to "mentally writing off relationships", to this one relationship I had. You need to make sure you have a story or idea to express once the opener is shifted to you.
I really like this technique, and when executed well it's definitely one of the most natural transitions I've ever experienced in set.
Mav
How to Transition Into a Normal Conversation When Approaching WomenFrequently Asked Questions About Executive Coaching: The Interviews
Because of the growth in popularity of executive coaching many leaders are considering whether coaching is right for them. In order to provide a variety of perspectives on the philosophy, process, and benefits of executive coaching, I conducted interviews with three independent executive coaches, one sales coach, and two executives at America Online and Capital One, to lend their perspective on some frequently asked questions about executive coaching.
Dr. Cutts: What is your definition of Executive Coaching?
"Coaching has become a major leadership development investment and a pre-requisite for high performing, high potential executives, managers, and employees in a wide variety of industries. Top corporations look to executive coaching as a resource for accelerating leadership development, personal growth and enhancing organizational effectiveness." (Madelyn Clark-Robinson, President and Executive Coach, Executive Development Strategies mclark-robinson@comcast.net)
"A coach is a skilled motivator and one that asks provocative questions." (Le'Angela Ingram, Executive Coach and CEO, The Ingram Consulting Group, Inc. Consultla@aol.com)
"The coach does not provide 'expert' advice but rather provides a mirror for the executive to remain accountable to the executive's goals and objectives." (Don Sloane, Executive Coach and CEO, The Sloane Group, Inc. don@thesloanegroup.com)
"Executive coaching is synonymous with directing. A sales or athletic coach views the team and assesses its strengths and weaknesses. A good mentor allows the student to figure out the problem and brainstorm for ways to fix it." (Loretta Collins, Sales Coach and President, The Sales Doctor, LLC Loretta@thesalesdoctor.biz)
Dr. Cutts: What are some typical reasons why someone might engage an Executive Coach?
Ingram: A few of the reasons that individuals come to me include: career search, career transitioning; personal transitions and sometimes as a sounding board for ideas or difficult situations at work. There are times that I'm simply used as a confidante for clients exploring new things in life.
Sloan: Executives come to me to increase self-awareness, to augment existing capabilities, or for succession planning-"what do I want to do next with my life professionally and or personally".
Clark-Robinson: The companies that I work with are interested in and committed to sustaining success and know how crucial people are to that intention.
Dr. Cutts: What are some of the benefits of working with an Executive Coach?
"I gained a more holistic approach to my business and personal life. I learned to let go more, let other people contribute. He [my coach] helped me understand that I can't do everything on my own." (Marc S., VP, AOL Inc.)
"My executive coach has been a great sounding board to help me frame what I am personally looking for in my job and helping me align my goals with Capital One's goals. This process has then helped me to work on any weaknesses that would prevent me from achieving our common goals due to organizational barriers that play against those weaknesses." (Richard C., Senior VP, Capital One)
Dr. Cutts: What do executives look for when selecting a coach?
"Primarily I looked for someone who had a background in organizational psychology and experience in counseling to develop self awareness and maneuvering through organizational influences." (Richard C.)
"I looked for experience, personality, understanding of business and personal aspects, preferably African American-having an understanding of the unique needs of a Black Executive." (Marc S.)
"The most important thing to look for in selecting a coach is someone with whom you feel you can easily relate to and create the most powerful partnership." (International Coach Federation, http://www.coachfederation.org)
Dr. Cutts: What is your philosophy about coaching?
Ingram: My belief in every individuals' inherit excellence is what drives me to work with clients. We are all good at something, and some of us have eyes to see 'giftings' and can call those gifts forward from others to serve the world at great depths.
Sloan: The coaching relationship is not therapy, it is a relationship where the coach advocates for the client by providing clear, honest, and timely feedback while maintaining the dignity of the client at all times. Coaching is forward looking; where is the client now, where to they want to be, what is the path to get from here to there verses how did the client get to where they are now.
Collins: Give a man a fish he eats for a day. TEACH a man to fish.... My mother has always said that you teach your children the one thing you don't want them to do- and that's leave. Coaching is similar. You want to give your clients the techniques to recognize and fix their own problems. However, there is no shame in admitting you need help again. A coach's job is to be available but NOT do their job.
Dr. Cutts: What is your specific process for coaching?
Ingram: I don't offer a cookie cutter process. Each client is different in their need, and style. I have several models that I like to use and often take pieces of different models to meet the client's unique needs. The number of sessions and frequency of sessions vary.
Sloan: The initial meeting is face-to-face when possible but not required. Sessions also take place by phone and each session is typically an hour. A minimum of three months commitment is required.
Collins: I do a discovery session with the client asking what he or she thinks the problem is, and from there go through a step by step process of how a potential sale might go. It's important to see how the client thinks and how and why they think coaching will help. After that, I design a plan of action to help achieve that person's goal.
Between scheduled coaching sessions, the individual may be asked to complete specific actions that support the achievement of one's personally prioritized goals. The coach may provide additional resources in the form of relevant articles, checklists, assessments, or models, to support the individual's thinking and actions. (International Coach Federation)
What type of fees should one expect to pay for executive coaching?
Fees for executive coaching range from approximately 0-0 per sessions. Many coaches also offer packages for 3, 6, and 12 months.
What is a typical duration of the coaching relationship?
Three months to a year is average.
Dr. Cutts: Would you recommend executive coaching to others, and why?
"Yes if people want to be great at work or in their personal life and want to constantly develop and evolve then having a great coach is the way to go." (Marc S.)
"I would definitely recommend executive coaching to others for many reasons. First, it forces you to take the time to develop an understanding of the organization and get a perspective of the system in which you work. It also helps you to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of what is important to you individually and to the company. It also helps you understand how your personal weaknesses may be inhibiting your ability to achieve your personal or company goals. Finally, it provides a third party sounding board to develop and implement a strategy to achieve those goals." (Richard C.)
Executive Coaching - Frequently Asked QuestionsPlyometric exercises are usually thought of as being jumping exercises. In reality any exercise that takes advantage of the stretch shortening cycle is plyometric in nature.
The stretch shortening cycle refers to movements that involve a rapid eccentric (muscle lengthening) phase immediately followed by a rapid concentric (muscle shortening) phase. The stretch shortening cycle increases the potential for force production. This is because connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments store elastic energy during the rapid eccentric phase. If the concentric part of the movement immediately follows the eccentric phase then this elastic energy is released, allowing for greater force production. If there is a pause before the concentric phase starts then the stored elastic energy is lost, and cannot be released to allow for increased force production.
The requirements for increased force production through stretch shortening cycle activity are:
1) a rapid eccentric (muscle lengthening) phase
2) an immediate transition from the eccentric phase to the concentric (muscle shortening) phase
Sprinting involves a high level of stretch shortening cycle activity. The muscles of the lower limb rapidly lengthen as they absorb the impact of ground contact upon initial foot strike. In order to keep the ground contact time to a minimum there is a very quick transition from the eccentric phase of the movement to the propulsive concentric portion.
Many people assume that jumping exercises need to be included in the training programme in order to overload the stretch shortening cycle. Whilst it is true that traditional weight training methods will not directly improve the ability to generate force through the use of the stretch shortening cycle, this is not true of Olympic Weightlifting.
When performed correctly, a phenomenon known as the double knee bend occurs with lifts such as the clean and the snatch. The initial knee extension that takes place when lifting the weight from the floor results in a rapid lengthening of the hamstrings. The knee then 're-bends' as the lifter makes the transition into the second pull from the mid thigh, resulting in a rapid shortening of the hamstrings and lengthening of the quadriceps. As the second pull takes place there is a triple extension of the hip, knee and ankle joints resulting in a shortening of the major leg muscles. This is followed by a rapid lengthening of the same muscles as the athlete drops under the bar in order to receive it at the shoulders or overhead in the catch position.
As you can see, if the correct lifting technique is used there is a series of stretch shortening cycles that take place when performing lifts such as the clean and the snatch. This makes these lifts far more applicable to improving sprinting performance than just about any other weight training method.
In summary, the stretch shortening cycle is of great importance to sprinting since it allows greater force to be produced during the ground contact phase. Traditional weight training methods only improve force production ability as result of adaptation to the neuromuscular system. Traditional plyometric activity (jumping exercises) primarily results in an improved ability to use the stretch shortening cycle. Olympic Weightlifting results in adaptation to both the neuromuscular system and the connective tissues affecting the stretch shortening cycle. For this reason Olympic Weightlifting techniques should be included in the training programmes of all sprinters.
Sprint Faster With Olympic WeightliftingEvery year, thousands of men and women are "promoted" from individual contributor to a position where they're responsible for the performance of a group. It's one of the hardest transitions there is.
Even when the choice is a good one, consciously made by the individual, it's a tough transition. Job, role, and support group change in the instant of promotion. Habits developed over years to make a person productive now may have the opposite affect.
Most of the time, the new boss is give little to no effective training in how to handle all the newness. Most of the time, he or she is expected to be productive right away. Most of the time there is no built-in support system to help with the transition.
We would do things differently using an apprenticeship model. Here's how thing might work.
The transition period isn't measured in days or even weeks. It's measured in months. Specifically it usually has three phases. Each phase lasts three to six months, for a total time of nine to eighteen months.
In the first two phases, the new boss tries out different ways of being a boss. He or she will have a period where they act very "boss-like," ordering people around. He or she will have a period where the goal is to be everyone's buddy. Without guidance or help a leader may get stuck in one of those ways and stay there for the rest of his or her career.
When the new boss makes a successful transition, he or she will have a phase where, knowing what doesn't work, the emphasis is on balance. Effective training and support can help shorten the boss and buddy phases and help assure that the new boss moves into balance and a successful transition.
New bosses should receive some basic training and role orientation as soon after promotion as possible. There should be exercises that help the new boss understand his or her new role, and tht helps the new leader understand the transition process.
There should also be some basic training in the skills the new boss will need on the job. In every organization that will include setting clear and reasonable expectations, checking for understanding, following up to assure that understanding turns into performance, analyzing supervisory issues, coaching and counseling, and delivering consequences.
There should also be organization-specific training dealing with senior management expectations, recurring activities and administrative duties. New bosses should be able to hear from more senior and successful bosses about how to do a good job. The new bosses should be able to question the seniors.
After the initial training session, there should be short sessions every few weeks for the duration of transition period to deal with specific transition issues. Before they leave initial training, new leaders should have identified role models and learned how to assess and improve their own performance.
There should also be help waiting when they get back to the job. Second level bosses should receive special training in their mentoring role during the transition process.
There should also be a senior manager with responsibility to help the new leader learn to handle his or her new responsibilities, role and duties. The new leader should be part of a peer support group for all managers.
The transition from individual contributor to leader is one of the hardest in business. Part of the reason we have so many awful managers is that we don't select well and then don't help new leaders learn their role. Putting the effort into managing an effective transition process for new leaders will help assure that more of the people we promote will succeed in their new jobs and in all the jobs they move up to.
The Apprentice Leader - Making The Transition to LeadershipSome people have trouble recognizing that they are being abused. Recognizing abuse may be especially difficult for someone who has lived with it for many years. A person might think that it's just the way things are and that there's nothing that can be done about it. People who are abused might mistakenly think they bring it on themselves by misbehaving or by not living up to someone's expectations.
There is no one reason why people abuse others, although there are some factors that seem to make it more likely that a person may become abusive. Growing up in an abusive family, for example, can teach someone that abuse is a way of life. Fortunately, though, many people who grow up in abusive families realize that abuse is not acceptable and are able to break patterns of abuse.
Abuse is always about CONTROL. Whether it is verbal abuse, emotional abuse, or physical abuse, IT IS ABOUT CONTROLLING YOUR PARTNER, subtly or openly.
CONTROLLING behaviors such as those above are used by verbal abusers to gain feelings of power and control whenever the suppressed fear and pain in his own life start to "seep out" - terrified of not being in control, terrified of "feeling," terrified of her leaving.
People can occasionally feel so upset or frustrated that they say something that is abusive, but when they realize how they've come across they apologize and say what they mean in a non-abusive, healthy, way.
If there isn't a feeling of goodwill and understanding between two people in their relationship, if one is hurting and feeling constantly put down by actual comments, for instance, "You can't do anything right," You aren't listening," or is frequently yelled at, then that person is probably in a verbally abusive relationship.
For additional tips on recognising abuse, visit the Abuse Recovery Institute
Recognizing Emotional AbuseWhy Use Resume Objectives
Before we can discuss the pitfalls you first need to understand the reasons for including your resume objectives and how they relate to your resume and interview selection process.
Including an objectives section at the beginning of your resume provides a brief introduction to the purpose of the resume, highlighting your career objectives and the type of job you are seeking.
It is very common for job-seekers to include a brief objectives section at the beginning of their resume The objectives section can be an important part of a resume, and might be the first thing employers looks at. Therefore you should put considerable thought into constructing focused and clear objectives.
Look At These Resume Objective Examples
A resume objective does exactly what the name suggests; it highlights your objectives and states the type of job you are seeking.
Here are some examples of career objectives:
· To obtain an elementary education teaching position with upward mobility to a principalship.
· To obtain a position in manufacturing operations and development which will utilize acquired knowledge and collective experience.
· Public relations writer for a large metropolitan hospital.
· Auditor position in the public accounting field in the Philadelphia area.
As you can see, the objectives are short and sweet; meaning they are to the point in describing the purpose of creating your resume.
Doorway To The Interview... Resumes
What is a resume... usually it is the first contact you have with potential employers. It is also where you list your skills and create a marketable presentation so that companies understand the benefits of employing you.
Your resume is also the first (and possibly the last!) opportunity you have to persuade your prospective employer to give you an interview.
Clearly... it is in your best interests to ensure your resume is compelling enough to leave the recruiter with no other option but to invite you to an interview.
If you want to learn more about writing resumes that get interviews, visit a site such as Top Career Resumes where you will find numerous articles and tips.
Or, if you prefer... a cost effective alternative is to use a resume writing service to prepare your resume for you.
Pitfalls of Using Resume Objectives
You may have noticed that all previous references to objectives focus on you and therein lies the pitfall!
Employers are not interested in what you want...
If your objectives fail to match those of the employer, you will not even get to first base! So keep your options open until you find out more about their objectives.
Some people decide to omit the objectives section and use that space to highlight other abilities and accomplishments. Whether you choose to use resume objectives or not will depend greatly on your particular situation.
Reasons Against...
A few experts feel that the resume objectives section can be limiting to job seekers. It makes you be very specific as to your goals. This may be constraining if you want to be general and leave your options open.
Employers on average take only 30 seconds to look at a resume. The objectives section is the first thing that catches their eye. If you have a specific objective written, for example to obtain a managerial position, the manager may pass on your resume if he was looking for some other position.
If you are thinking about getting a professionally written resume, now would be a good time.
However, remember that the objectives section can disqualify you for jobs different from your stated objective... if you are not looking for a targeted job you can skip the section without many negative consequences.
It would be advisable to skip the resume objective section rather than be too vague. Unfocused objectives will put off many hiring managers. They may not end up looking at your experience and skills, which would of shown you to be a suitable candidate for the job.
Reasons For...
If you do include your resume objectives, you should construct several different resumes, each specifically tailored to the job you are applying for. You will want to make your resume relevant to each job. The objectives section may be the best way to create job specific resumes.
A draw back of not including the objectives section is that a hiring manager may not be willing to search your resume to figure out your job objectives and goals... and may bypass your resume.
If you have a specific job position in mind and are clear about your objectives, this section can be useful in informing potential employers about your reasons for applying.
In either case, it may pay you to seek professional advice before you make your final decision. The modest cost of doing this pales into insignificance compared with the cost of making a poor career decision.
Stating Your Resume Objectives
This has greatest benefits for career changers and recent college graduates. Your objectives should be concise and to the point, to quickly inform employers about your background and goals.
Entry-level workers can state in their resume objectives that they are recent graduates looking for positions in their particular field. Career changers should state how they can use their previously earned skills to make a transition into their new career.
Be Employer Focused
An alternative to resume objectives might be the 'Qualifications Summary' section. This is a section where you can briefly discuss your skills and how you intend to use them.
This can make your resume more employer focused, as the employer wants to find out what you can do for them. This might be more beneficial than having a self-focused resume, simply listing what you want to do.
Many employers prefer to have employees that are focused on their goals and motivated to achieving them. A well presented objective can be just the high-impact tool that can get a hiring manager's attention from the start.
Finally...
When writing your resume objectives you have to consider your career plans. If you have not already done so, now would be a good time to get assistance with career assessment and planning.
When you have completed your planning and taken some time to match your interests with your chosen career, your resume objectives should complement the results you obtained through your searches.
Resume Objectives - The Hidden Pitfalls