From Telecoms to Weddings

From Telecoms to Weddings Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From Telecoms to Weddings “I was making myself ill by keeping myself stuck in a job I didn't like. I knew I had to do something.” * From Telecoms to Weddings Ilaria Petrucci didn't make one big shift. Instead, she did it in stages â€" easing her way out of her corporate job and into her own business. Here's how she made it happen. What work were you doing previously? I was a project manager in the telecoms industry and then, more recently, the pharmaceutical industry. What are you doing now? I'm a wedding photographer. Why did you change? I always felt I was meant for something big in life. Being in a office all day and working for someone else left me uninspired and disempowered. I knew that at heart I was a creative, free spirit and that to follow that call I had to make a change. When was the moment you decided to make the change? There wasn't a particular moment; it was more like a series of events. I was making myself ill by keeping myself stuck in a job I didn't like, so I knew I had to do something. The belief in the calling I had in my heart became greater than the reality I'd created for myself. Are you happy with the change? I am very happy! I'm honoured and so blessed to do what I do. I work with the most amazing people and I am so grateful for every single person that steps into my life as a result of me making this change. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I don’t miss anything. I love managing my own time. I love the peace and quiet to work in my own beautiful office space. I love being part of groups of other wedding industry professionals to network and spend time away from the office with. I love that I can be outdoors whenever I want, meet new people and connect in so many new ways. How did you go about making the shift? I started building my business from scratch while still working in my full-time job. As the business grew, I gradually found myself working two full-time jobs; I had to put in everything I could to make it work. I've never been afraid of working hard, so that, in a way, was the easy part. Then there came a point where I felt that my office job was no longer helping me fund my business, but instead holding me back from growing it even more. So, I decided to reduce my contract to part time. Six months ago I walked away from my corporate office desk for the last time and a month later I officially started my journey as a full-time wedding photographer. So far it has been beyond amazing. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? I made a few mistakes starting up, but I like to think of 'mistakes' as good and necessary lessons rather than things I did wrong. One thing I still find challenging is the workâ€"life balance (I'm sure a lot of entrepreneurs would agree). It's difficult to switch off and stop looking at and replying to emails, to find a balance where I take 'me' time during the day instead of working extremely long hours non-stop. I'm realising that the more I look after myself and the more I spend time with family and loved ones, the more efficient I am in my business. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? Initially, I invested most of my finances into my business I'm grateful that I had a good full-time office job that allowed me to do this until the day I eventually left. I made sure I had enough savings and work coming in to keep me going a while. Since going full time with photography I have been more aware of where I spend my money. What was the most difficult thing about changing? I think getting used to a new routine. I realised that I can easily make myself feel guilty for not being at my desk at least from 9â€"5, which is crazy because I always hated that structure! What help did you get? I'm surrounded by an amazing network of women and fellow professionals that inspire me to be better every day. My husband is also a huge inspiration and support. He's believed in me from day one and still reminds me that I can do it, even when I'm pretty convinced than I can't. What have you learnt in the process? Wow. I've learnt so much and I keep learning every day. I've learnt that it's not about perfection, it's about taking action. I've learnt that it's not about not feeling the fear, but rather acknowledging it and taking action anyway. I've learnt to start before I'm ready, as 'ready' never comes. I've learnt to have fun and enjoy the process rather than stressing about the outcome! What would you advise others to do in the same situation? My best advice would be to do YOU. Whatever business you're in or whatever you're struggling with, go back to basics and focus on your purpose and why you do what you do. Use your uniqueness to set you aside from everyone else and don't apologise for it. Fully embrace who you are and build a business that is a true extension of that. To find out more about Ilaria's services, visit www.ilariapetrucci.co.uk. Images © Cristina Rossi Photography. What lessons could you take from Ilaria's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Is Writing a Skill Resume Just a Trick?

Is Writing a Skill Resume Just a Trick?Is writing a skill resume just a job interview trick? If you're about to graduate from college, you may want to consider trying your hand at writing a skill resume.Just because writing a skill resumes sounds too easy doesn't mean it is. In fact, the skill of writing is a lot harder than writing a well written resume, but it can pay off in the end. Whether you're an individual looking for a job or a business trying to recruit, a skill resume can help you get the job that you need.Skills are defined in a number of ways, including education, experience, certifications, etc. As far as hiring managers are concerned, the general idea is the same. They look for two things when they hire a new employee: one is the person learning and growing, and two, is the person using the skills and knowledge that they learned during their schooling.Resumes are used to collect all sorts of information about an applicant. If the applicant is being hired because of ski ll, the information collected can be used to determine whether or not they can do the job. The first factor is pretty simple, but the second factor is usually not. A resume that's an accurate reflection of the individual will have every facet of the job history considered.Skills are not the only thing that is considered in determining whether or not a resume will be accepted. The employer also needs to see if the applicant has potential. A resume that features all of the skills and experience listed can mean nothing if the resume is devoid of other credentials or training. Even someone who majored in business can be rejected if they lack some sort of certification.Writing skill resumes also helps boost a person's self-confidence. Writing is a skill that can be mastered and improved upon. Once the skill is developed, it becomes easier to write a resume that has a well constructed layout. The person may not know everything about resumes, but they'll know what kind of writing work is r equired.There are certain types of resumes that are better suited for applicants who do not have the ability to learn a specific type of writing. A broad category of resumes includes technical and non-technical resumes. Technical resumes focus on information, whereas non-technical resumes focus on communication. A technical resume will usually consist of the candidate's educational history and related work experience, along with his or her work experience in a given field.While writing skill resumes can be a challenge, it's a skill that can be mastered. If you're determined to improve your resume writing skills, remember that it takes work. Those who have a knack for it usually have the best resumes. To learn more about how to improve your resume writing skills, visit our website.

Efficiently Email Every Time - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Efficiently Email Every Time - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Emailing. It has become our default communication used for almost everything. With that in mind, how influential are you in your emails? Do you consider the format or just write free-flow like in a verbal conversation? While many people think email saves time, if the email is not written properly, you can actually end up wasting time with back and forth, or even worse garner no reply at all. In order to make writing emails with impact and purpose commonplace, first you should know your audience. For the purpose of this piece, we are focusing on business related emails. The key to writing a successful email is to keep it short, to the point, and broken up into key areas to draw the reader’s eye and maintain their focus. We have all received long, rambling emails and know how easy it is to miss key points, delete the email without finishing it, or be frustrated with having to pick up the phone for clarity. An effective email should broken into the following areas: Personal Introduction (only if you have not met before) Emails purpose and “What’s in it for me” (recipient) Bullet points supporting your cause Action Items and/or deadlines Close with a statement Intro If you have not met the recipient before, your first paragraph should include a brief 2-3 sentence introduction. It is amazing how many people have a hard time, whether over email, phone, or in person, highlighting themselves and what they do. This is something that is worth spending time on. I call them IGOs (Impact Generating Overviews) and have touched on them in more detail  in this post. Purpose/Recipient WIIFM If you have met before, the first paragraph should briefly state the purpose of the email and the WIIFM (what’s in it for me) for the recipient. The WIIFM can be anything from a true benefit for them financially and personally, to the benefit of knowing how appreciative you would be for their help. If there is an attachment, explain here if it should be looked at before reading the email or used as a supplement to the bullet points listed in the next area. Bullet Points The second area of the email should include bullet points or key facts relating to your first paragraph. The most persuasive email bullet points are those that are statement or sentence length, not full paragraphs. Action Points/Deliverables The next area should be action points. State what needs to come out of this email and from whom. Your expectations should be set clearly so that all are on the same page. Use dates and times when necessary to showcase respect for the recipient’s planning and make clear your deliverable needs. If there are hurdles to overcome, these should be highlighted here as well. The Close And finally, close with a statement of next steps. Don’t ask a question such as, “ If you are interested, then please give me a call.” Instead use a true closer approach, “Email me a time this week that would work for you so that I can come by and discuss in person.” Signature Include a signature on EVERY email, even if it is a reply. It should have your name, contact info, and any website address tied to you or your business at the very least. If you have a saying or a quote that you feel helps give identity to your brand, then include that as well. As a parting point, remember that most people are reading emails on their smartphone while multitasking. An email following the above format will not only increase your chances of getting a response, but also the time it takes to get one….and isn’t that one of the most crucial element in todays world? Author: Katie Marston  is President and Executive Director of DYME Branding , a personal brand development company focusing on professional athletes, celebrities, and executives. Follow her on Twitter at  @ktmarston

How do you work full-time while you homeschool full-time

How do you work full-time while you homeschool full-time Parental Advisory: Earning all the money and taking care of the kids by yourself at the same time is hell. And only crazy people do it. Really. Less than 1% of white college-educated women raise kids alone. That statistic makes sense to me. Because 2% of white college-educated women get divorced. All these statistics come from the Bureau of Labor.  Most of the women in this demographic get remarried. I am convinced that the women who do not remarry and actually do the whole child-rearing thing alone all have Aspergers. Public Service Announcement: Any woman who raised kids alone instead of remarrying and thinks she does not have Aspergers should just email me. I will diagnose you myself. I dont care that Im not a doctor. Because,  hello!, doctors freely admit they have  no idea how to diagnose women with Aspergers.  You are lucky to have me diagnosing you instead of a doctor. A lot of people ask me how I can possibly do all that I say I do each day, like there arent enough hours or maybe I am embellishing a little. Then they ask me to break my day down into a schedule so they can see how I do it. The short answer is no, I cannot break down my hours for you. I’m like a chicken with my head cut off. Sometimes. Other times I drink to cope with the stress and then I fall asleep. Which, actually, is similar to a chicken with its head cut off, just after a little more time has passed. My point is, how would I count those hours? Also, before you get upset about me saying that I drink to cope, drinking alcohol is the coping mechanism of choice  for rich suburban moms  and also  for high-powered women. And while I am not really either of those, I’m almost both of them, so that equals a predilection to deal with stress by drinking. So anyway, I am really good at adapting my money earning to whatever time I have in between kid stuff. So, for example, when we were driving back and forth to cello lessons and spending 20 hours a week in the car, I changed how I earned money to be less about going into TV studios and more about being on the phone. I could work on the phone in the car. When I ended up having to be on the phone 100% of the time in order to make enough money, I hired a driver. (Only after I totaled two cars in one year.) When we moved from the farm so we didn’t have to travel for cello lessons I changed how I made money again. In Swarthmore Id let people come to our apartment for a few days in a row and wed take over the dining room table as I showed the person how they could build a business from scratch. Now, in Boston, the boys study at the dining room table and mostly manage their own schedules. Homeschooling for me is lurking in the background to troubleshoot and keep them on track. Otherwise, theyd do things like punt on the bow tie and perform with an open collar. So, I hired two people and I am working with a team, because managing a team requires checking in quickly throughout the day, which fits in nicely between the kids. In each instance, I looked for tools to make things easier. When I coached two or three people a day I automated my calendar with  Calendly. When Melissa got married I bought PicMonkey and told my son hes promoted to my photo editor. Right now I’m looking at  CloudPhone, because I have tons of people working on contract and part-time and I hate having to be the phone operator for everyone calling  Quistic. One of the things I worry about is that I’ll commit to the wrong business solutions for the wrong time in my life. Doing something like CloudPhone means I’m getting ready to grow a bigger company. And I can’t tell if you do the software first and then the guts, or guts first then software. In each phase of my kids lives I have tried to adjust so I could do both kids and work at the same time, so I wouldnt have to choose. I thought I was killing two birds with one stone, but often I was just blindly hurling stones and killing nothing. And also, I’m aware that PETA is asking us  to stop using idioms that are abusive to animals. So I am telling you that I know I’m doing it, because the first step to change is noticing there’s a problem. I think I did not answer the question about how to work and homeschool at the same time. Maybe I showed how not to do it. But this post is actually a good example of how I get so much work done: I do a bad job and hope a bad job is enough. And I keep going. Sometimes that works.

Resume Writing Services and Huntsville

Resume Writing Services and HuntsvilleThere are many companies offering resume writing services and Huntsville. Before you hire a professional for your next job search, it is important to know what these services can do for you. You should also be aware of the responsibilities that come with these services, as well as the qualifications of those who provide them. Also be sure to interview several different companies to see which one fits your needs the best.Most companies who offer resume writing services and Huntsville work as a full-time employee for another company. These professionals do not have the same restrictions as traditional employees. They can go to work as they choose and, unlike traditional employees, they are not necessarily employed for a set period of time. They are in charge of creating and maintaining resumes for their customers.A resume is an important document that can determine the individual's career path. For this reason, it is extremely important that they a re written accurately. By choosing a company that has extensive experience in the field of resume writing, you can be assured that your resume will be professionally done and that it will meet all of the necessary standards.Many businesses in Huntsville also offer a variety of professional services. Some of these services include: creating or revising resumes, website development, and marketing to a targeted audience. These professionals can help create a resume that shows a potential employer exactly what you have to offer. This allows you to show them the specific skills that you possess and give them a more detailed description of what you can do for them.Not only do these professionals create a professional resume, but they also review it and take it to the next level. Your resume is just a start, however. It is important that you also have a list of contacts who may have a need for your services. The contact information will be included on your resume, and you will need to make sure to include a link to your website so that you can connect with prospective clients.The number of resume writing services in Huntsville varies from one company to the next. While some companies are known for their high quality and have many years of experience under their belt, there are others that are new to the business. Since so many people go online looking for a resume, this means that there is a chance for them to provide you with a very good product.When you look for a company that offers resume writing services and Huntsville, you will find that there are two options. If you are looking for a company that will do the writing for you, it will probably be much cheaper than hiring a professional to do the job for you. The reason for this is that the writer will often create a template that can be adapted to fit your exact requirements.On the other hand, if you do not want a template but would like to have one created for you, you will need to pay a fee. This fee will rang e depending on how much work you want completed. If you are looking for one of the services offered, you should be prepared to pay at least a few hundred dollars for the job.

Good leaders put happiness first - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Good leaders put happiness first - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Good leaders put happiness first! Heres a very short summary of my presentation on Leading With Happiness in The Netherlands last month. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Finding Keywords for Online Job Search

Finding Keywords for Online Job Search The Death of the VerbYou and I have both heard the typical line from career counselors, “use power verbs in your résumé .” Right? They’ve even given us lists and lists of verbs to begin sentences:Managed team of 10 engineers in highly competitive RFP processResolved difficult customer service issue for high stakes saleSafeguarded company position through advanced marketing strategyThe problem with all of these verbs is that online, verbs are not as powerful as   nouns.Thanks to search engines, and by extension, résumé-crawling software that HR departments use to pre-filter candidates, using the right nouns can either get you a job or keep you in the unemployment line.The New Rules of Résumé LanguageI’m not suggesting that you pack in as many nouns related to your field as possible. Keep it real, and just change the focus from verbs to nouns.Careful. If you take this too far, your online résumé might look like this: Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up her e to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Manager, team player and results-oriented marketing professional with 10 years experience managing, leading teams and running advertising for large companies that have managers and teams….Make sure you write for people, but make sure to use the right combination of nouns. Too many nouns will get you red-flagged and discarded. Sentences that don’t make sense are also thrown out.Where Do I Find My Nouns?Because you are targeting specific jobs with specific companies, no one can give you a list. There are many tools to help you, but the best one comes directly from the company you are targeting!Here are the steps I tell clients to grow their noun list:Collect 5-10 job postings from the company and/or position you are looking for (hmmm I guess Job Boards are good for one thing!)Highlight the nouns that seem to be recurring over and over againJot down the nouns with the highest occurrences; make a list of 10.Now you know what words to weave into your résumé for your target company.