Deanna Doss Shrodes

Recently the coaches at our company were asked to compile a list of our special skills and give to our boss. My boss already realizes I am able to give people career direction, write resumes, help with marketing and interviews, etc. but I had the assignment of adding some other items aside from the typical career coach things. I sent this list:     Compassion-ista!     Lover of people     Able to talk people down off the cliff     Diffuser of angry persons     Able to work with people who don’t own computer or know how to even turn one on.     Feel what is underneath that the job seeker isn’t saying and get them to speak it and be glad they did     Grief Counseling (I’m not a licensed counselor so I prefer to say Grief Wisdom, ha!)     Listener and Hearer     Engager     Cyber hugger     Love to help hurt...

“I'll take fifty percent efficiency to get one hundred percent loyalty.” Samuel Goldwyn, U.S. Film Producer I often share with those I'm coaching about loyalty. In job coaching we talk about hard skills vs. soft skills. Things like knowing Microsoft Office or how to operate a forklift would be a hard skill. Things like honesty and loyalty are soft skills. It really doesn't matter how skilled you are, if you aren't loyal nothing else matters. I can teach someone to do a lot of manual skills. Matter of fact I could instruct someone who isn't even a Christian how to present the Bible in a compelling way. But I can't manufacture a pure heart.

I ponder the subject of success all the time. Probably too much. I'm intrigued by it. Curious about what works and what doesn't. After a lot of observation, I've concluded that initiative is one of the most important ingredients to success. In my book, JUGGLE , I talk about the importance of having an initiative list. I believe successful people are not only clear on their initiatives, they take initiative to get them done. They don't wait around for other people. I've been coaching for a while and it's interesting to me that when I formulate agreements with clients, they will agree to pretty much anything but then look to me for what I'm going to do next.  It's never about what the coach is going to do next. It's about what you're going to do once you and the coach have agreed upon  plan. People that keep waiting for the coach fail. People who take initiative succeed. Initiative is really, really important.

Okay my friends, this is big! I'm personally offering a prize of a coaching package which will include the following: 1 Hour Career Direction Consultation 1 Hour Resume Consultation/Rewrite  This package is valued at $300.  The winner can also choose to modify the package, making it a 2 hour career direction package, or a 2 hour resume package. It can be used for you, or any friend/family member you choose.  It is virtual, meaning I will be doing the consultation by phone and computer -- and this means ANYONE ANYWHERE CAN WIN!! How do you enter? Starting today, your name goes in the drawing EACH AND EVERY TIME   you announce JUGGLE (Manage Your Time, Change Your Life!) on Facebook, Twitter or your personal blog and encourage people to get the book. Along with each announcement/advertisement, you must include the address of the Juggle website , or the Juggle page on Amazon. Each time you talk about JUGGLE in any one of these places, send me ...

Did you know that half of all American workers do not use all of their allotted vacation time? Another recent poll by Hotwire.com reported an even larger number of unused vacation days -- more than a week's worth, with older Americans taking even fewer days off. I realize the fears you may have about putting in a request to take vacation -- time that already belongs to you, at that. Some believe it's just too risky to be off the radar for a week or two in what is an extremely volatile job market. A friend of mine recently remarked that they won't take off right now even with a large amount of time accrued because they don't want to be "out of sight, out of mind" with management. I understand all that. There were a few years, Larry and I took no vacation time. Absolutely zero. It was easy to slide into that mode because times were tough and we thought not taking off was the best solution. It's one of my biggest regrets. If I had it to do over ag...

Breaking free from debilitating work stress takes not only doing things out of the box,but breaking the box, getting rid of the box, and living another world away from the box! We are stressed with our jobs partly because we look at how other people do the same job. And we think that's how we need to operate. This extends to not only watching how others fulfill the items on their job description to their work/life balance. This leads to so much trouble because we pigeonhole ourselves into a paradigm that just doesn't work for us. Take the issue of "ministry" as a vocation. I hear from many people who are so stressed they are  having issues such as heart attacks, yet they feel if they make a change they are "abandoning the call." What constitutes "the call"? Must the call be lived out exactly like your pastor lived it? Or your grandfather? Or your mentor? We have dear friends who are about our age who have been lead pastoring for 10 ye...

I've weathered staff relationships that were so out of sync it took more than prayer to manage the working relationship.  I needed a prescription from the doctor to deal with them until they resigned or were fired. Just keepin' it real. Who you work with is just as important as what you're working on. If you aren't in unity with who you work with, it wears on you. Horribly. It affects your work so much, it can become unrecognizable. Ineffective. Bland. Being out of alignment with those you work with causes you to lose your creative edge like nothing else. I'm not saying you have to think alike on everything, or be carbon copies of one another. That's really boring in itself to think about. You know in your heart of hearts exactly what I'm talking about. There are times you just gel with people in a working relationship or you don't. Money doesn't always define what brings happiness in a work situation. There are times I've be...

Most of what I do in my role as a career coach is over the phone and online. Inevitably during resume work, I have to tell a client, "okay, I'm just letting you know, when I get quiet, I'm very much still here. I am working hard on your behalf, as you'll see in a moment..." After a few minutes they'll say, "Are you still there?" "Yep, sure am..." I reply. "I'm sending something to your e-mail right now..." And in a few moments they read something I just wrote based upon what we've been talking about and they respond with something like, "Wow. Um, just wow...that's really good. You've just truthfully stated my experience and accomplishments in a way that makes me sound like I should be running for president or something..."  Mission accomplished! There are so many thoughts running in my head right now, so much I'm processing, much of which I am writing. I'm putting the finishing touches...

The life of a writer can be really rollercoasterish (I'm aware that's not a word) and if you let it get to you, it could put you permanently between a case of Prozac and a dozen donuts. Lucky for me Dunkin Donuts is less than a mile away. Remember yesterday when I talked about there always being a next? Well, I know what I'm talking about, from experience. They say a man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument. I think that works for a woman too.  I'm sure there's always a next. As sure as Chick-fil-A has the best iced tea... As sure as this presidential election has shaped up to be the lamest ever... I'm confident, absolutely sure , 100% positively certain there is a next. Are you breathing? Then there's something for you to do next.  You're never, ever through. Even when you die, you're not through. No, that wasn't a typo. You aren't through when you're physically dead, because you will live forev...

Every week I coach people who are unemployed. I also pastor people who are looking for jobs. One thing I hear often is, "I've done all I can do." Enter truth. Most people have not sent out all the resumes they could send out. Most people have not called every company possible. Most people have not made an in-person visit to all of the businesses in their vicinity. Most people have not contacted every person in their network. Most people have not maximized social media in their search. Most people have not made it their full time job to find a job. Most people have not spent even 20 hours that week to find a job let alone 40. Most people have not broadened their horizons beyond their current field to consider other options, even temporary ones. Most people who begin a meeting with me by telling me they've done "all they could do" this week, have not made an accurate statement. Most people follow their initial statement by saying they are fr...

Do you wish you would have had the confidence in middle school that you have now? Maybe you don't have as much confidence as you would like to have right now as an adult, but you probably have more than you had as a pre-teen or a teen. Are you ready to face your fears? Each week I'm confronted with this question as my walking partner Liz and I are out on our journey in the neighborhood. On our walk we stop at "Bold Venture Dr." and turn around and go back home. We didn't pick this street because of the name. We simply chose it as our turnaround point because of the timing of our walk. But each time we see the sign, it reminds me of what most people do. Most people get to the edge of a bold venture and turn around and go home. They go home because thinking big is scary. Bold ventures aren't anything you are totally prepared for, have figured out completely, or have the power to do all on your own. When Liz and I go on walks, I reach Bold Venture and...

Surrendering your schedule to God is so important for two reasons. First, the most important thing we do in all of the roles we carry is to point people to Him.  Second, seeing the hand of God move in hearts and lives makes the mundane or difficult things we go through worth it all. Tuesdays are very busy days for me and my working day doesn't typically end until late as I'm doing a full day of ministry stuff and coaching.  On Tuesday nights I always have a meeting with my boss Kathryn to give a report on all my job seekers and assignments. Last night I called and she  said she was still on the phone with a client, and asked if I had the flexibility in my schedule to give her 30 minutes grace. I was thrilled because I realized I could squeeze in time to ride my bike at sunset. I said, "Can I have 35 minutes because my bike route takes exactly that long..." She said, " take all the time you need, you're doing me a favor..."  I was pedaling along...

In your business, or ministry are people eager to take your calls or do you play endless phone tag? Do people get excited when they hear your voice on the phone? How quickly do people return your calls? Do people want to help you?  Are you the family member that makes other family members praise the Lord that caller ID was invented? These are things you might want to think about. Nobody's responsibilities are peachy 100% of the time. We all have parts of our job or our life that we may not enjoy as much. A lot of people procrastinate or put those things off, simply because they aren't looking forward to it. I'll admit, I do it too at times. Today I had a draining call and after I hung up needed an Advil. And I thought to myself, "What's the takeaway from this? What can I learn from this?" Rather than ruminate about the call and how I thought the other person should change, I decided to relate it to improving myself which is the best thing any...

Are you facing roadblocks on the way to your dream?    God gives people creative ideas to get things done in an unconventional way. Think about the biblical account of the  four people who wanted to bring  their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing,  but couldn't come through the door because the room was already so full.  They brainstormed to think of how their goal might be reached to get their friend to Jesus, and ended up cutting a hole in the roof and lowering him down to Jesus. It worked! Maybe today you're in a situation where conventional things aren't working. You can't get through and when you try, you encounter "Catch 22's". Things like being told, "you've got a lot of talent but no experience."  You think, "How am I supposed to get experience if somebody won't give me a chance?" You can stand there and get frustrated. You can complain. You can quit. Or maybe... it's time to cut a hole in the roof.

This is another one post where I share with you another great insight I learned from Kathryn Kemp , my boss and one of my mentors. We are up to 21 posts now of things I've learned from her although it's actually been a lot more than that. Kathryn loves text messaging and does it often, even for business purposes. Years ago when we were first starting to work together she texted me about something important she wanted to ask me about for work - something above and beyond my normal course of duties.  I am often blessed to do special projects for work, and never lose sight of the honor it is to be asked and entrusted. When we got on the phone to confer about things she quickly apologized for texting me and said she was reminded never to do it again when it is something important she wants to ask me about. I never complained about her texting me but she knew from previous personal conversations we've had about our lives in general that it's my least preferable form of...

Many people ask me this who are new to leadership or ministry, or those who are headed to a new location and with it a change in responsibilities or opportunities. My advice is always the same.  I would encourage you to not seek a role. Just focus on making a difference.  In doing so the role takes care of itself. Have I ever cared about roles?  Yes. It was a waste of time. Hindsight is 20/20.  Today I could care less about roles and quite frankly sometimes I'm sick of them.  I'm terrible at role playing, but never tire of making a difference. I believe it's the same for most people whether they know it or not.  Roles tend to be prescribed and since God has made us all so uniquely, rare is the person who fits the prescription exactly. Just something to think about.

People who are most effective in life have in common that they get things done regardless of what comes up.  Dependability is one of the most important soft skills a person can possess. Right now you may not feel like you're at your optimal best with hustle and bustle and holiday stress. I know the feeling. The other night it was all I could do to get through a rehearsal, I was so physically and emotionally exhausted from the extra holiday load.  Then a few days ago a cold sore showed up on my lip -- always one of the telltale signs that I'm stressed. But I know that my success depends on me pushing through the more challenging days and doing what needs to be done in spite of the way I may feel. Your success depends on that too. Here are five things that help me to press on when I feel like stopping or procrastinating: 1) Start the day with a bit more self care For me this means extra time to get ready in the morning.  I like to start my day quietly with just ...

Image courtesy of http://www.psiquilt.com/2011/07/pinterest.html I have preached against "fatal distractions." I've given motivational talks on getting beyond distractions so one can "get down to business and accomplish your goals and dreams." This is something I excel at -- focusing to achieve. Unfortunately it's also partly responsible for my blood pressure being higher than it should be, and some other not-so-positive outcomes. I have friends who accomplish a bit less than me, however they are generally healthier. And I've realized if I keep going this way they may outlast me.  Not that I want my friends to die, but I really would prefer that none of us be missing. :) So, I started thinking maybe I need a distraction now and then.  A friend recently told me they take a break from working at their computer every 20 minutes, get up and walk around, just for the benefit to their vision alone.  They are one of the most successful people I kno...

If you don't change the small things first you probably won't get around to the big things. Too many people wait for someone to draw them out, and compel them to change.  The truth is no leader is going to spend as much time drawing you out as will be required for a next level. Leaders gravitate toward pliable people. The "want to" has to be there. Don't expect a leader to keep investing when you haven't followed through on what they've already asked you to do. Nothing big is ever going to change until you change something you do daily.

One Sunday after church we went to a local Applebees with about 30 people.  We waited about half an hour for another large group to finish eating and leave so we could take their place.  Once they finished and left , the manager came over and told us it would take the servers about 15 more minutes to clear off the tables in front of us to prepare them to seat us.  I was incredulous.  Seriously?  Fifteen minutes to clear off some tables? What were they smoking? I was a server.  I know what it takes to do it.  And 15 minutes is waaaaay too much for servers who are on their game whether you have a bus boy or not. I didn't complain.  But I also didn't ask.  I just acted. You know, a little less talk and a lot more action!  (Someone should write a song about that...)  I knew I was overstepping my bounds, but figured that forgiveness was better than permission.  While they putzed around, I proceeded to clear the tables my...