How to Use Google+ as a Social Recruiting Tool

How to Use Google+ as a Social Recruiting Tool The job markets of nearly all industries are heavily influenced by social media nowadays. Just about every job hunter has profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, so businesses have opened up to these social channels and found an effective way to find skilled candidates for job openings. However, recruiters seem stuck with these three platforms and keep neglecting one of the most prominent social networks: Google+. Reasons to Use Google+ as a Recruiting Tool Although this social network isn’t a specialized recruiting channel like LinkedIn and doesn’t have as many  users as Facebook and Twitter, there are valid reasons for recruiters and organizations to start using it. Instead of paying attention to the number of users on Google+, you should consider the average profile ofthese people. Unlike the Facebook and Twitter, Google+ attracts tech-savvy professionals. This network enablesyou to locate people with the right education, experience, and qualifications for your job opening. The thing that makes Google+ more attractive than LinkedIn is that you don’t get an artificial resume here.The interests and qualifications of these people aren’t inflated; you can easily get insight into the user’spersonality through the posts and comments they publish. Twitter is focused on random thoughts, Facebook is focused on images, and Google+ is focused on theuser’s personality. Enough said. When you think of Google, you immediately associate it to the largest search engine, an incomparable emailplatform, a leading blogging platform, and YouTube. If you are looking for a simple reason to start usingGoogle+ as a recruiting tool, think of this: all these important aspects are integrated into Google’s socialplatform. You can send emails to Google+ users even if you don’t have their email addresses. Google+ Hangouts is an excellent video conferencing platform. You can easily schedule an interview with afavorable job candidate as soon as possible and accelerate the recruiting process. How to Optimize Google+ for Recruiting? Now that you have more than enough reasons to accept Google+ as an awesome recruiting tool, it’s time to  learn how to use its full potential. Create an awesome profile. If you haven’t created a profile yet, then it’s about time you did that. If you are already on Google+, it’s time to  optimize your profile. Google+ (and Google in general) is all about information and content. Make sure to feature loads of interesting  information, relevant links and keywords in your posts. You shouldn’t forget to include links to all social  profiles of your company. This step also involves setting a good cover picture and a nice profile picture of yourself. The profile photo can  show you in an official or friendly mode, depending on the type of job candidates you want to attract. You can  never go wrong with a clean, smiling, but slightly reserved headshot. When writing the Tagline, Introduction and Bragging Rights, make sure to use specific keywords that your  target audience is searching for. Connect with the right people! Your Google+ social circle will determine the success of your recruiting campaign. Once you build a perfect  profile, you should focus on connecting with the right Google+ users. Don’t limit yourself on job hunters;  connect with different professionals and create circles by occupation or job position. You can send emails to all people added to a certain circle, which enables you to develop personalized  communication with a large group of people. The users will be notified if you add them to a circle, but won’t  know which circle you’ve added them to.  If you have no idea how to start building your Google+ circles, here is a hint: your inbox. This intuitive platform  will do most of the work for you. Don’t wait for job hunters to reach you! You are a recruiter after all. Although Google+ may seem confusing at first, it enables you to reach the right  audience quite easily. You don’t have to send a friend request and wait for the other party to accept you; you  can send messages to people without being added to their circles. Here is one of the greatest reasons for recruiters to give up on Google+: they don’t know how to search for the  right people. All you need to do is select the People and Pages tab under the search bar. Insert relevant  keywords, (for example “audit manager New York”) and you’ll easily locate the right users. Host Google+ Hangouts This is a feature that no other social network can beat. The main purpose of these hangouts is obvious: they  connect the users between each other. However, Hangouts is a powerful tool that connects you with potential  employees. The key to success is to add the right people in your circles, attract them with a nice offer via email, and  schedule a hangout to discuss the fine details of the position. You can record the Hangouts and analyse the  behavior of your candidate later. Reap the benefits of SEO When you start featuring your content through Google+, you immediately become more attractive for Google  Search. The authenticity of your content will be increased and more people will be able to access it.  If you want to attract the best candidates on Google+, outranking your competitors in this aspect is extremely  important. Now that you are aware of the recruiting potential of Google+, it’s time to start using it. The fact that this social  platform is still in its infancy should be taken as a benefit; it enables you to be ahead of your competitors! Author: Kelsey Green is a freelance writer and blogger. She is one of the co-founders of website for students Essay Wolves. She is an expert in social media and writing.

Professional and Creative Executive Resume Writing Service

Professional and Creative Executive Resume Writing ServiceThe best executive resume writing service offers not only professionalism but also delivers high-quality content in a professional and creative manner. The content needs to be professional and unique, having a carefully crafted headline and a short description of your achievements. However, this does not mean that the content needs to be eye-catching, catchy, and packed with marketing strategies.Research shows that not all companies need marketing strategies and gimmicks on their resumes. Most of the time, these companies just need a new perspective and a fresh perspective.If you are not looking for exciting job opportunities, but for the one that is right for you, then it is good to write what you know and have passion for. As you know, if you write about the job which is not exciting for you, then you might lose your chances to land on the best executive resume writing service. That is why before you start writing your resum e, make sure that it is something that you feel passionate about.Getting rid of the formalities in writing a resume is very important. You should be able to demonstrate how you can be an asset to the company and how you can add value to the work environment. This can also be done by showcasing your personal strengths and skills. In order to get the right impression, do not take your time in writing your resume, but go straight to the point and provide only the important facts.Another great way to get the right impression is to work with the service provider that offers personalized attention. They will give you feedback about your resume and how it was received. You will be able to get an idea of how you can improve it or how you need to reword it to make it a better resume.Always keep in mind that the content of your resume has to be aligned with the overall image of the company. Remember that your resume is the first opportunity the potential employer to see you and your capabilit ies. Therefore, if your resume is not aligned with the overall look and feel of the company, it will be seen as a waste of time for them and not just a good resume.If you are to get an idea of how your resume will look like in print, then get the services of a professional copywriter. Make sure that you understand every word and the formatting of your resume, to avoid any mistakes or technical glitches. A professional will help you navigate through the process and ensure that your resume gets the due recognition.Once your resume is approved, do not hesitate to ask for any changes that you need to be made in the resume. This is because most of the companies do not have the manpower to edit and polish their resumes manually. To avoid getting the wrong impression, you can be rest assured that your resume will be filtered and edited by the best executive resume writing service company so that you can have a streamlined and well-optimized executive resume that will be the first place for you to get noticed by future employers.

Career Lessons from Alton Brown

Career Lessons from Alton Brown Photo credit: Alton Brown Twitter account Food Network star Alton Brown brought his traveling show to Jacksonville on February 8, and my foodie husband and I attended.   We’d long been fans of Brown’s entertaining and nerdy approach to cooking, and we’ve learned a lot over the years about how chemistry, physics and engineering can affect the cooking process from his original show Good Eats. Brown puts on a smart, funny and entertaining show, part science experiment, part comedy show and part rock concert. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. His success also got me thinking about how to create a career you love. Here are three lessons I took away. Align your career with your passion. Brown loved food and cooking all his life, and was a serious amateur cook. But he pursued entertainment as a career, studying film at the University of Georgia and working as a cinematographer and video director in the early 1990s. He writes in his autobiography that he watched hour upon hour of cooking shows between takes on video sets, eventually coming up with a concept for a better cooking show, which was inspired by combining Julia Child with Monty Python. It’s your responsibility to work on your experience and skill gaps. Brown knew he’d need credentials to be taken seriously as a cooking show host, so he moved to Montpelier, Vermont to attend the New England Culinary Institute. In his Jacksonville show, Brown mentioned working in a Chinese restaurant and on a 3:00 AM shift baking bread to pay the bills and build his skills while he was working on his Good Eats   vision.  He gave up security and stability in order to prepare for his dream job. Stay hungry. (Pun intended.) Brown was one of the first Food Network Stars, and achieved fame and fortune with his show. He won both a Peabody Award and a James Beard Award.Although he’d been able to work at his dream job, he never stood still He has authored several books, including  Im Just Here for the Food, which won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Cookbook, and was one of the best-selling cookbooks of 2002. He walked away from Good Eats after 13 years to go on to produce and appear in several other Food Network shows, and now stars in a national live performance tour. He realized that he had to continue growing in order to remain marketable. Although you may not have the talent (or ambition) to be a Food Network star, your career is what you make it. Many workers believe that their success, earning power and employability are in the hands of others: their boss, their customers, or the market at large. Bust you can take steps to make the most of your work. Take on tasks (or a sideline) that allow you to perform tasks you really enjoy. Ask for stretch assignments that help challenge and engage you fully on the job. Or find a volunteer opportunity or consulting gig that will bring in income and allow you to do what you love. Make a resolution to master a new skill each year. Learn a language (or programming language.) Take a class or get a certification. There’s no such thing as standing still; you’re either growing or shrinking. Evaluate your career each year. Take an objective look at where you are and how competitive you are in the market. If you’re well compensated, challenged, and generally like your company and customers, stay. But if it’s time to move on, have the courage to be open to the idea. Stay hungry, my friends.

What is a Creative Career

What is a Creative Career The University of Warwicks    Creative Industries event  takes place tomorrow evening. It may provide the insight and inspiration to help you take that first step towards a career in  publishing, writing, television or any of the other exciting industries in this sector. Creativityrelating to or involving the use of imagination or original ideas to create something. It  takes different forms and is a strength that is prized in many sectors, industries and professions: creativity leads to innovation and new ways of approaching things. If you consider you are ‘creative’ and are seeking a ‘creative career’ then keep an open mind and consider how you could use your talents in the workplace â€" any workplace! In 2015 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport defined the creative industries as: ‘those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation   through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property’ The DCMS then goes on to recognise 9 creative sectors â€" which are: Advertising and Marketing Architecture Crafts Design: product, graphic and fashion design Film, TV. Radio and Photography IT, Software and Computer Services Publishing Museums, Galleries and Libraries Music, Performing and Visual Arts Creative careers require creative job seekers and the sooner you can start to get involved in the field you are interested in, the better. All of the careers are much sought after and therefore highly competitive. Routes into work in the industries featured are often unstructured and will vary for each individual. If you are lucky enough to have contacts in the business then use them. If not, digital and social media make networking within the industry much more accessible but it is important to be looking in the right places and meeting the right people. You need to be resilient and determined. Stay connected, use Twitter, use LinkedIn and use networks like Hiive and TV Watercooler. Read the industry press (like PR Week and CampaignLive,  and Broadcast. Find stories about employers on news websites, follow relevant people of organisation â€" those whose work you admire and those who are innovative. Find internships and jobs using employer websites, careers databases such as MyAdvantage and others like Prospects, Target Jobs and GRB. Find out where people in the sector look for jobs! Try speculative approaches for work experience to those organisations you like the look of, but have no jobs advertised. Approach them with a well-prepared CV and cover message to pitch to the employer: craft it well and use evidence of skills and motivation. Professional Associations (such as the Chartered Institutes) are useful and can help you find employers.   Some associations offer student membership and Directories like Guardian Media Guide are helpful. The Publishers Association has a really useful website, for example. If you are keen to earn a good salary and have a stable career path, then this is more evident in some creative work than others. Long-term permanent jobs do not really exist for performers â€" such as musicians and actors (apart from the soaps, but even then your character could be killed off without warning) Permanent, full time contracts are much more likely to be found in Web Design, Gaming, Marketing and the Education sector. If you do feel the need to perform, or create art and literature, your working hours and income is likely to be short-term and unpredictable. Most people with these creative instincts will be Freelance/Self-employed and used to pitching for work and being flexible in terms of location, hours and may even have to adapt their creative skills to deliver commission sales as requested. Alternatively, many ‘creatives’ will work in a stable, paid job in another sector and develop their Freelance career independently. Others will adapt to use their creative skills in other ways, working in commercial marketing departments, or communication teams for example. In fact, using your creativity in a different sector is a realistic option. Retail companies rely on visual merchandising to sell their products, both in the store and on-line. In the IT sector, there’s web development, software testing and game design. And most large, commercial multi-nationals have a Marketing and/or Communications department. So, keep an open mind about where your creative career may be, and continue to be creative!

How to Resume Windows 10 Using Different Programs

How to Resume Windows 10 Using Different ProgramsAlthough Microsoft Word and Microsoft Power Point are the most popular programs used by people to create a resume, you can still take advantage of how to resume Windows 10. There are other programs available, but these two have a number of features which you may not have realized, especially if you are not an English speaker. Microsoft Word has some quirks which can make it difficult to write a resume.The number one problem with Word is the formatting options. When you use Word for resume purposes, you often find that all your text is formatted as small fonts. You will need a high-resolution monitor for this to work properly. If you have a smaller monitor, then you will find that it is more difficult to get your resume looking professional. This is one reason why it is best to use Microsoft Power Point to help you create your resume.The formatting options in Word are limited to tables, tables and more tables. Power Point on the other h and allows you to format the media or documents that you are going to send to potential employers. With Power Point, you can easily create resume letters. You can also include attachments and graphics that can make your resume stand out.Another problem with Word is that you can only adjust font styles when you are working on the home page. However, when you use Power Point, you can choose different fonts for each page. That way, you can take advantage of the different fonts that are available, and you can use italics, bold and italic or even both to better define your skills. If you use only one font for the resume, then you will not be able to show the differences in font styles well enough.Another feature that is great with how to resume Windows 10 is the ability to change fonts. By using the Power Point formatting options, you can easily adjust font sizes and add italics, subscripts and even accents. You can even include arrows on the left and right side of the page. The one thin g that you cannot change, is the border color. Because of this, you will want to use the master page so that you can change the borders accordingly.A great feature that is available in the Microsoft Power Point resume window is the ability to go to the address bar and copy the address into the address bar. In order to use this feature, you will need to select the text and then click on the address bar button to access the bar. This way, you can actually type the address directly into the address bar without having to go to the page of the resume.However, some people may wonder how to resume Windows 10 is using Microsoft Power Point instead of Microsoft Word. The answer is simple: the selection of which program you use depends on the type of resume that you are creating. If you are creating an elaborate resume that includes color pictures, you may find that you are not going to need Microsoft Word. All that you will need is Power Point and all of the formatting options that you would expect to have, but you can still take advantage of the different fonts.If you are unsure about how to resume Windows 10 is using different programs, then you can consider hiring a professional to help you. The best thing to do is just invest in Microsoft Word and Power Point, since you will find that there are many other formatting options that are available to you. Not to mention, that they will probably give you tips for how to resume Windows 10, which you may not have known before.

9 Things to Consider when Choosing the Right Freelancer for Your Team CareerMetis.com

9 Things to Consider when Choosing the Right Freelancer for Your Team Full-time employees aren’t always the answer when you have a project that needs completion.Smart entrepreneurs hiring managers are quickly realizing the benefits of hiring freelancers, and this has led to an increase in both the number of available freelancers and the number of businesses willing to work with freelancers.evalHowever, just because working with freelancers is a good business move doesn’t mean that it’s an easy task. And many businesses have experienced problems while working with freelancers.You don’t have to make mistakes then learn from them. This guide will teach you the nine critical things you should consider when hiring a freelancer to ensure that you choose the ideal freelancer to work on your next project.1) Have a realistic budget beforehandAlthough finances aren’t the most significant determinant of who you should hire, they can put limits on whether or not you can hire a particular freelancer.Freelancers charge different rates, and there is no rea l criterion that freelancers use to set their rates. Some will charge way above what their services are worth, while others are willing to charge you peanuts for a day’s worth of work.As such, you should never let a freelancer determine your budget for you.Before dipping your toes into the freelancer market, get a realistic estimate of how much the project will cost and how much you’re willing to pay a freelancer.These two values will help you weed out freelancers who are charging way too much. As a rule of thumb, if you cannot afford them, don’t hire them.evalNevertheless, this does not mean that you should choose the lowest bidder. Most low bidders are amateurs in their fields and may not add real value to your business. You may think it costs too much to hire an expert, but you’ll be surprised at how much hiring a cheaper amateur can cost your business.2) Check for freelancers who have all the skills needed for your projectAll jobs or projects have some basic core compete ncies. It’s up to you to first determine the skills that a worker would need to have to be able to finish your project successfully. This should be done before you start screening freelancers.If you skip this step, you may end up with the wrong freelancer, and that means your project will not be completed satisfactorily.With a list of the essential skills needed, it’s time to screen all freelancers on your plate to determine who you should hire. If you have to ask your bidders to list their skills, do so in your job description. This will scare away freelancers who don’t have the required skills.evalIf you are hiring from a job platform, this step is more thorough.In most job boards, you post your job and receive bids from freelancers. Each bidder has their skills listed on their account page.By checking each bidder’s account, you can determine which freelancers have the needed skills and shortlist these to proceed with the hiring process.3) Vet each freelancer’s past proj ects to ensure they match what you needAll good freelancers have portfolios. If a freelancer doesn’t have any previous projects or sample projects to show you, it’s very challenging to determine their skill level.To determine the experience of a freelancer, you can start by checking whether they have a portfolio website. If they have one, visit it, and you will know the freelancer well before you start communicating with them. If you’re hiring from a job platform, you can check each freelancer’s account for past projects.Lastly, if all the above is not possible, just ask the freelancer to send you some details of their previous projects. The ideal freelancer will have worked on multiple projects that needed the same skillset as your project.The more their level of experience, the higher the chances that they are right for your business.4) Availability for follow-on projects: consider freelancers who can work long-termOutsourcing one project almost always guarantees that you will outsource a similar project in the future. As such it is a wise idea to consider hiring freelancers who are willing to work with you in the future.Continually hiring new employees can be detrimental to both your finances and your productivity.evalA 2012 study of hiring costsrevealed that replacing a retail employee being paid $10 per hour costs an average of $3328.Rehiring employees is very expensive regardless of whether you are hiring full-time employees or freelancers.You could save yourself from making losses by hiring freelancers who can be available to work with you in future.In addition to saving costs, some projects such as programming can require a personal touch. And the more hands that change the code, the higher the risk of mistakes. Hiring one freelancer repeatedly reduces the points of failure and increases overall project consistency.5) Testimonials and reviews tell you what to expect from a freelancerHiring freelance workers need not be a trial and error endeavo r.evalAlthough there is no guaranteed way to know whether a particular freelancer will be ideal for your business, there is something you can do to eliminate freelancers with a tendency of disappointing their clients.In most job platforms, clients leave reviews or testimonials of their experience with the freelancers. These reviews can tell you what you can expect when working with a freelancer regarding work ethic, experience and whether or not they keep deadlines.If you aren’t hiring from a freelancer platform, you can always check the freelancer’s portfolio websiteto see whether or not they have posted some reviews from previous customers.Only choose highly-rated freelancers and make it a point to avoid freelancers whose reviews have complains that can lead to project failure. For instance, if your project is time-sensitive, it would be very wise to avoid a freelancer who doesn’t keep deadlines.6) Availability: if they have too much on their plate, move on It’s very tempt ing to hire a freelancer based on their skills and experience. But if you need high-quality results, you need a freelancer with an open schedule.Given that most freelancers work remotely, there is no way of knowing how many clients your chosen freelancer is working with in addition to you. If you choose a freelancer who has a lot of work, it is a guarantee that they cannot invest too much of their time in your work. This may eventually lead to rushed work and low-quality results.A simple question goes a long way; start by asking them how many clients they are working with at the moment. Also, ask them whether they work fulltime or part-time as freelancers. Fulltime freelancers can invest more hours per day/week on your project.7) The freelancer’s location: think beyond localHiring a local freelancer can be beneficial when your project requires onsite input. However, not all jobs require being done on your premises.Many freelance jobs, such as writing, programming, data entry, and digital marketing can be done remotely. And this allows you to tap into a global workforce of freelancers from any region of the world.By having such a large pool to choose from, you can overcome challenges such as limited qualified freelancers in your locality.However, the biggest benefit of outsourcing globally is lower costs. Freelancers from developed countries charge very high fees because that is what their economies demand. But in other countries, freelancers are willing to work for a fraction of the cost, and they offer the same results.8) Create a standard test to vet a freelancer’s skillsHaving screened your freelance prospects using the above criteria, you should consider a thorough examination of the real value each freelancer offers.A good hiring test should gauge a freelancer’s ability in all the core skills required for the job. For example, if you need a python programmer, you could ask all freelancers to identify the error in a block of code. Similarly, you coul d give a test article to all shortlisted candidates.Always pay for the test as most reputable freelancers aren’t open to free tests. Also, these first payment creates trust in your business which is vital for your relationship with the freelancer.9) Have an NDA if you are working with sensitive dataNot all freelance projects are as straightforward as content writing. Some may require you to give the freelancer access to your company’s sensitive data. And if the freelancer was to share this data, it could hurt your business.This is where a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) comes in handy. The agreement gives a set of terms of the working relationship and also prohibits the freelancer from sharing your company’s information or data with other parties. Examples of sensitive information include customer details and user account credentials.Only hire freelancers who are willing to sign an NDA, and if possible, have them sign the agreement before sharing any sensitive information with them.Wrapping upAs you can see, choosing the right freelancer is not such a hard task after all. But to get itright, you have to screen them well and weed out the amateurs, then test the candidates to find out the best.Given that 23% of start-up failures are caused by not having the right team, you cannot afford to hire amateur freelancers. Be vigilant in your screening process and take advantage of global job platforms that can connect you with right freelancer regardless of their location.

linkedin notes - social networking for business

linkedin notes - social networking for business My current favorite LinkedIn feature is the Notes section located under the Contact Information section of your contacts. While this component is not new, it is one I find myself using more and more often. I make lots of connections via LinkedIn and I can not rely solely on my memory to recall the details of each one. In the Notes section, I write down where I met the individual, possibly what we chatted about, any next steps we discussed, and a follow-up date if appropriate. I am the only one who can view the Notes I write about each contact which allows me to use the Notes to trigger my memory without worrying the contact can see them. This feature could be extremely beneficial to individuals who use LinkedIn for social networking for business and building relationships. Some individuals keep a file with this type of information so they can appropriately follow-up with contacts and/or remember how they met each individual. LinkedIn replaces the need for this file because you can do this type of record keeping directly on the site. In addition, if your contact has a picture on their LinkedIn profile, keeping notes on the site will help you associate the information with both the individual’s face and name that is something I can struggle with. LinkedIn Notes is very beneficial as I continue to build relationships with individuals I have met. I hope you find it useful too! If you are interested in more help with Linkedin.com, ask about our LinkedIn writing and training.

Tips On Inventing A Job From Women Who Have Done It - When I Grow Up

Tips On Inventing A Job From Women Who Have Done It - When I Grow Up Want to invent a job thats just for you? Listen up. Every day I wake up and I think three things: 1. I have to pee. 2. What do I have to get done today? 3. How lucky am I that I get to do what I love?   Then, usually, I think about my incredible clients who took the brave and awesome steps towards finding or creating the business of their dreams.   Through my work as The When I Grow Up Coach, Ive had the unique opportunity to watch careers form where there was never once a career before. Ive seen clients design their own perfect, beautiful nichés in industries that are meaningful to them, and that made me think of these truly inspiring women.   Andi took her background in theater and killer interpersonal skills and became a Creative Communications Consultant. Molly took her passion for writing and her quirk of  enjoying online dating (for real) and became an Online Dating Profile Writer. Inge took her dream (and gift!) of helping people find exactly what theyre looking for and became a Shopping Sleuth. And theyre here to tell you that not only can you do it too, you can do it totally different and have it work better for YOU. Here is epic career inventing advice from women who have done it themselves. Seriously. Andi Fairbanks Creative Communications Consultant  Idea Champ On her a-ha moment: I can’t say that there was a specific “a-ha” moment, as Oprah says it was more of an evolution. I was volunteering as an ambassador for a running program while I finished my master’s degree (I thought I was going to be a corporate trainer SNORE), and the woman who runs it asked me to help with an adult education project, and then with some social media outreach. It was fun and I used all the skills I love to use. I started finding more opportunities, sometimes paid a bit, sometimes volunteer because I liked doing it. A little voice quietly began asking me “how come I can’t just do this?”. That voice started screaming when I got laid off from my corporate job. On some of the unexpected challenges: I think everyone expects that it’s hard work to find clients and stay motivated, but what you might not realize is how hard it is to explain what you do to others…and sometimes it’s hard to explain it to yourself! I recommend getting an elevator pitch down solid ASAP, and revisit it weekly. Michelle has a great formula for this, it saved me from throwing in the towel over and over. It’s also a constant internal struggle to not say, you know what I can make so much more money doing x, y, or z, even though I hate x, y bores me, and z would require 2 more years of school and loans. You gotta fight it every day. On self-motivation: I always ask myself, what do I have to lose? If you have a good escape plan and your finances are solid, there is no reason to not do this. I always go back to when I was 17 and wanted to go to theatre school. Sure, I could have made a different, safer decision but I would never have known if I could have been successful, and I wouldn’t be who I am today. I also often give myself what I call the “year out” if, in a year, I hate this and I’m miserable, I’ll stop and do something else. But if I don’t try it, in a year, I’ll still be wondering if I should have tried it.     On the surprisingly easy stuff: The technical stuff, like getting a domain name, creating a website, and deciding how to track your time and money is pretty easy. Perfecting them and keeping up with it is harder. On the change of  responsibilities since job inception: I tested out several job titles before settling on Creative Communications Consultant, but to be honest, I don’t even remember them anymore! Once I settled on that one, it felt so right that I never thought twice about it again. It’s open-ended but sounds official and makes people lean in and ask, “Oh, what’s that?” My responsibilities change with my clients’ needs and what I decide I’m willing to do! That’s the best part. I do a lot of social media posts that combine text and simple graphics, I write emails, I moderate Facebook pages, and as often as possible I plan outreach events and celebrations. Everything I do is based on my education in theatre and adult education I feel that combination is what gives me my flair for effective creative communications. I’m still early in this journey, so I will still take on some menial tasks like data entry if they are in a pinch, but I know as my business grows I won’t do that anymore. On what she would change if she could: Always, always, I’d be more organized and less of a procrastinator but other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m enjoying nurturing my own interests and learning more every day. Molly Quigley Online Dating Profile Writer On her a-ha moment: Working with Michele, she drew it out of me.  I wanted to write for a living and get paid, but having come from a life in retail management, I had no writing portfolio or experience.  But I could sell. So, why not try to sell others and promote them? This way I got paid to write while I chased other writing jobs. And Michelle was the best cheerleader. On some of the unexpected challanges: In some ways, its fun to think outside the box and certainly, your idea becomes a novelty as people introduce you at parties, etc.  You can have a great idea, but your greatest challenge will probably be getting people to know about you and your services. The marketing never ends in this role. On self-motivation: What do I have to lose? I was not afraid to fail. But people are, and it keeps them stagnant. On the surprisingly easy stuff: Owning what I did.  I thought I needed credentials to market myself as a dating profile writer, but, as Michelle coached me, I realized, all of this was in my head.  I was an English major, I could write and I could sell. No one expected me to be anything other than what I said I was. On the change of  responsibilities since job inception: I work full time now for a corporation handling all their corporate gifting.  It is the best job I have ever had.  But I would not be half as good at it  if I had never started this business because I know how to market my services.  I still write profiles and taught a private class just the other night for 6 ladies.  I love helping others find love. On what she would change if she could: My biggest piece of advice would be to have a job while doing the other job.  I was lucky that I had a husband to support me quitting a job and working on this one.  But then, I was constantly waiting to see when I would get a client, when this, when that. I know this much about myself now, I would have worked twice as hard if I was working, even part-time.   The years I hustled through building this business were the most character and confidence building of my life. Inge Geleyn Shopping Sleuth Thoughtful Gesture On her a-ha moment: I started thinking about a gift idea service ten years ago. My initial idea was providing people and businesses with book gift ideas, completely tailored to their family and friends or their customers’ reading tastes. And while I did work on a few book gift related projects, I quickly realized that the revenue model for that initial business concept wasn’t realistic. I put everything aside for some time, while continuing to work as a freelance translator and editor, but never stopped thinking and dreaming about starting a business that would allow me to do what I love (and do) best: helping people find things. With the help of Michelle and Laura, I expanded on my original idea last year, and decided that I could create a niche for myself specializing in gift ideas for people who want to show their love or appreciation through thoughtful gifts but don’t have the time or talent to find them themselves. And that’s how Thoughtful Gesture came about! On some of the unexpected challenges: The biggest one for me: The enormous freedom that comes with literally being able to start from scratch. It’s a huge advantage for sure (and I’m over the moon that I get to to this), but it can also feel overwhelming. My “sleuthing skills” are my main talent, and I have lots of extra ideas that I want to explore in the future (e.g. help clients shop for decor, planning memorable experiences and events, organize shopping tours…). I want to do it all!-) But to get the business up and running, I realized I needed to narrow things down and focus on one aspect at a time. With a new business concept especially, telling people I can do all those things, would have muddied the water, and made explaining how the business works extra complicated. On self-motivation: For me, the turning point came in 2016 when my Papa passed away. The death of a loved one really does put things in perspective, and it made me ask myself some hard questions. I was 45 years old, and yes, circumstances were not ideal, but what exactly was I waiting for?! So I said to myself: “Alright, you’ve had this idea in your head for 10 years now, high time to give it your all and see if you can make it work.” It’s funny, by the way: Just before I started writing to you this morning, I came across this Doris Lessing quote on Twitter that sums it up nicely:  â€œWhatever you are meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible. On the change of  responsibilities since job inception: I only just launched Thoughtful Gesture in November 2017, so not yet, no. I’m sure things will evolve, but at the moment I’m a one-woman show, and pretty much do everything myself, except for the bookkeeping because I was already working with an accountant for my translation business. On what she would change if she could: I would have started looking around for a business coach or some kind of business launch programme with built-in accountability much, much sooner. And I’m not just saying that because I participated in Michelle and Laura’s 90 Day Business Launch programme!-) For me, the objective input of an “expert outsider was invaluable. When you’ve been working intensively on your business for a while, it’s easy to get stuck in the same old thought patterns and just no longer see that there might be other options, or a different way to do certain things.”A second pair of eyes” got me unstuck and gave me loads of extra motivation. It also helped me tremendously with better communicating exactly what it is that I do (especially important because I was creating a new service that people weren’t yet familiar with), with coming up with a solid first offer, getting a better idea of how to market the business etc. If I had done this sooner, it wouldn’t have taken me 10 years to go from dream to reality!-) Last day to save 40% on my  Leave Your Job Launch Your Biz in 2018  workshop in celebration of my 40th birthday!