The 1-Day Interview Prep: Rocking an interview even with limited time to prepare

Today, I got a call from a family member/friend/professional associate: my sister, who was stressing out about a job interview that she had scheduled for tomorrow.  Oh Dear… Now usually, if I were officially coaching someone on preparing for a job interview, I would suggest at least a one week window for preparation.  With only a day to prepare, my tried and true 1-week program was just not going to work.  I quickly leaned on my Lean/Agile coaching techniques to offer her value that would take her a long way before the interview tomorrow.  Here I have laid out a 3 step strategy to assist her and anyone else who finds themselves in a time crunch to prepare for an interview and GET THE JOB!  Let’s go.

Step 1: Do a Full Self-Assessment

In this step, it’s all about being honest with yourself.  Review the job announcement for which you are interviewing, and honestly answer this question? Technically speaking, am I qualified to do this job?  If your answer is

The Empty, Empty Nest…

Reflections of a Single Mother

It’s a busy hectic work day as usual around my office (my kitchen table/will explain laterJ). Youngest daughter needs money for food before basketball game. Cell phone blowing up, email inbox pinging me.  Lingering thoughts about the conversation (argument) that I had with my older daughter last night. Trying my best to get through this yoga workout before anyone realizes I’m not actually online working yet… Workout finished, now trying to blend a smoothie and load a pod in the Kuerig® to make a cup of coffee at the same damn time. Email pings again, bang out quick response.  Multi-tasking at its best… wait cellphone chirps and vibrates simultaneously… special notification set up to let me know my daughter needs me.  I stop everything I’m doing to read her message, you know because everything she does is the most important thing that I have going on…let her tell it.

2014 Year in Review and 2015 New Year Message From the CEO

 As I sit back and reflect on the many amazing things that happened over the last year, I am truly amazed. One year seems so short until you really look at all that you have accomplished in that amount of time. It has truly been a year of ups and downs, but each down has truly been a blessing and has at times stretched me beyond what I thought I could take. But I am still ticking, life has certainly moved forward beautifully and one thing I know for sure, if you don’t stretch outside of your comfort zone, it is impossible to grow. And boy have I grown… personally, professionally, spiritually, academically, and all the other –ally words you can think of.

2014… Wow – The blessings

Almost 10 years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would travel each year to a foreign country. I have yet to break that promise and must give thanks to Gerald Smith, my daughter’s father, for making me get that passport back in 2004. He opened my eyes to living outside of the box and showed me a world much bigger than Atlanta, GA!

This year on the tenth anniversary of my promise, I decided to introduce my 15 year old daughter. I took her on a 3 week trip to Europe where we explored Germany, Switzerland and France! I hope her eyes and world are wide open and she realizes that there are no limits in life, just hard work and a strong desire to just do it!

Creamy Red Delight Smoothie

 

I, along with everyone I know, have jumped on the green smoothie train and have become really interested in finding a natural way to increase my libido, get beautiful radiant skin, purify my blood, maintain my blood pressure, feel more relaxed, yet have more energy.  Through my research, I have found an amazing super food that is readily available year round in your local supermarket...BEETS!!  I know. I know.  Nobody likes beets, right?  Well, let me tell you why you should start liking them.

Satya Nadella’s Advice on Raises Stirs Wider Discussion Among Women

Alexis Fritzsche, a member of Levo League, an online network

for professional women, says Satya Nadella's comments have inspired

women to ask for raises. Credit Jason Henry for The New York Times        

“The conversation around salary, the conversation around the art of women asking and how to ask are conversations that are happening organically already between my friends and myself,” she said. “For us, it only fuels the fire that they should be asking for raises.”

For one female engineer in Chicago, Mr. Nadella’s remarks were a reminder to ask not just for a raise but also for more challenging opportunities at work.

“The comments just reminded me that you have to keep up with it,” said the woman, who did not want to be identified talking about compensation. “I keep becoming more aware of how it’s not just