Embracing the Magic of Different Brains: A Lesson from My Daughter’s Mismatched Socks

Let me tell you a story about socks. Yes, socks. It might seem like an odd place to start, but bear with me—there’s a point. It was a typical morning, and my daughter, who was about four at the time, proudly marched into the room with mismatched socks. One was covered in bright polka dots, and the other was a Christmas sock with a snowman. Naturally, I told her, “Sweetie, your socks don’t match.”

With the sass only a four-year-old can muster, she put her hands on her hips, gave a little stomp, and declared, “Yes, they do! Look! Snowman… snowballs!” And with that, she spun around, head held high, and marched right out of the room—leaving me standing there, socks in hand, wondering if maybe I was the one who didn’t get it.

Spoiler alert: I never corrected her about socks again.

Years later, in high school, she solved the sock “problem” in her own creative way: she started wearing only black socks, actually she started wearing black from head-to-toe. Efficient, yes. Practical, absolutely. But that spark of her childhood creativity and individuality? It was still there, just with a sleeker finish. And honestly, that story of her mismatched socks has stuck with me ever since. Not because of the fashion faux pas, but because it taught me a big lesson: sometimes, what looks like a mismatch to one person makes perfect sense to someone else.

And isn’t that the truth for so many of us, especially those with wonderfully “different” brains?

We all have our own way of making sense of the world. For some of us, that might mean coloring outside the lines, matching socks by theme rather than color, or solving problems in ways that don’t fit the traditional mold. And you know what? That’s where the magic happens.

Creativity and innovation don’t follow neat, linear paths. They zigzag, they jump, they invent snowmen and snowballs out of thin air. And while the world may expect conformity—matching socks, matching ideas, matching solutions—it’s often the unexpected, the unconventional, that drives true change.

Think about it. How many times have you been told to “do it this way” or “think like that,” only to find that your way—your beautifully different, perhaps slightly quirky way—gets you to the finish line faster or with a more interesting result? I’ll bet it’s more often than not.

For those of us with different brains, whether we wear mismatched socks as kids or tackle business challenges as adults, we tend to see connections where others don’t. We mix snowmen and snowballs, not because we’re wrong, but because we’re seeing the world through a different, more imaginative lens.

So, the next time someone points out that your socks don’t match, whether literally or metaphorically, maybe it’s worth considering that they match perfectly—just not in the way anyone expected. Maybe, just maybe, you’re ahead of the curve. Afterall, different brains create different possibilities! 

If this sounds like you, or “if the socks fit”, give me a shout out, a thumbs up, or follow me. If I can support you and your brain, message me. I would love to support you through coaching around your life, career, or biz. All brains are welcome.

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Like a thrilling roller coaster, these experiences can take you on an exciting journey full of twists and turns.

Like a roller coaster enthusiast knows the importance of keeping their hands inside the ride at all times, there’s a valuable lesson here for effective communication: Keep your hands inside the “box.”

But what is this “box,” and why is it your trusty safety harness in the world of video communication? Let’s take a closer look:

The specific range or dimensions of the metaphorical “box” mentioned in the passage are not precisely defined, as it is more of a conceptual guideline for using hand gestures effectively during a presentation or video communication. The “box” represents the space around your torso and upper body where your hand movements are most visible and influential.

Typically, the “box” encompasses the area around your chest, shoulders, and head, which includes:

• Chest: Your gestures can extend out from your chest to emphasize points or concepts, but they should generally remain within this area.
• Shoulders: Your hand movements can also involve your shoulders, but again, they should not extend too far from this region.
• Head: Gestures involving your face and head, such as facial expressions and head nods, are also part of the “box.”

The idea is to keep your gestures within this general range to ensure they are visible and enhance communication without becoming overly distracting or exaggerated. The specific dimensions of the “box” may vary from person to person, but the key is to use gestures purposefully within the space immediately around your upper body to convey your message effectively.

What are the benefits of keeping your gestures within the “box”? 

Engagement and Attention: Picture this:

You’re on a roller coaster and fully engaged as the twists and turns keep you on your toes. In the world of video presentations, effective hand gestures are your secret weapon. They capture your audience’s attention, just like the thrill of a roller coaster. When viewers are engaged, their brains reward them with a dose of dopamine—a chemical responsible for pleasure and reward. This heightened focus ensures their eagerness to stay on board for your entire presentation.

Visual Processing:

Much like the stunning vistas you see from the top of a roller coaster hill, hand gestures offer visual cues that simplify complex information. They help your audience’s brains process and understand your content more efficiently. This activates regions responsible for visual processing and memory, just as breathtaking views etch themselves into your memory during a roller coaster ride.

Mirror Neurons:

As you ride a roller coaster, you might notice your fellow passengers’ reactions and mirror their excitement. Similarly, hand gestures activate something called “mirror neurons” in your audience’s brains. These neurons help them grasp and internalize your message by mirroring your actions.

Emotional Connection:

Just like the roller coaster’s steep drops and loop-de-loops evoke excitement and emotions, your hand gestures act as emotional punctuation marks in your presentation. They activate brain regions linked to emotional processing, fostering a deeper connection between you and your audience.

Memory and Comprehension:

Effective hand gestures are memory enhancers, much like souvenirs you collect after a thrilling roller coaster ride. By associating specific gestures with critical points, you make it easier for your audience to remember and comprehend your content. Think of the hippocampus and other memory-related brain areas as the vault where these memories are stored.

Reduced Cognitive Load:

Ever been on a roller coaster and appreciated the moments when the ride felt smooth and enjoyable? Well-timed hand gestures do the same for your audience by simplifying complex ideas and reducing the cognitive load on their working memory. This ensures a smoother and more enjoyable information-processing ride.

Cortisol Regulation:

Riding a roller coaster can be nerve-wracking, as can watching a high-stakes presentation. But effective communication, including the strategic use of hand gestures, can work wonders in calming your audience’s nerves. Lower stress levels lead to a decrease in cortisol, promoting a more positive and receptive mindset among your viewers.

So, as you navigate the roller coaster of video presentations and interviews, remember this sage advice: Keep your hands inside the “box.” Much like a safety harness ensures your safety on a roller coaster, hand gestures effectively ensure your message resonates and engages your audience.

With this insight, you’re ready to ride the waves of on-screen communication like a seasoned coaster enthusiast. Lights, camera, hand gestures—let’s make your next presentation a thrilling adventure to remember!

 #EffectiveCommunication #VideoPresentation #HandGestures#RollerCoasterOfCommunication#CareerCoaching#VideoPresentation#VideoInterviews

If creating a presentation is in your near future, reach out. I would love to help you be effective and reach your goals! I believe that you are a winner, “Hands Down”! 

Although video presentations and interviews are much more mainstream these days, I still get asked “What do I do with my hands?” There is a balance to how to use gestures within this successful range to increase engagement but not overwhelm or distract the viewer. The model of keeping your gestures in the “box” is the key is to use gestures purposefully convey your message effectively. Check it out!   #EffectiveCommunication #VideoPresentation #HandGestures

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Ah, the video meeting—a modern-day rite of passage where you try to look professional from the waist up while secretly wearing pajama bottoms. But let’s focus on the real star of the show: your eyes. Those two orbs in your skull can make or break your virtual interview or presentation, and science has much to say about it. So, let’s delve into the “eye-opening” neuroscience of eye contact in the digital age, with a dash of humor and a sprinkle of personal anecdotes.

First, let’s talk about science, specifically Oxytocin. We commonly think of oxytocin as the “Love Hormone,” but it is much more than the chemical messenger produced in the hypothalamus when you lock eyes on a first date or snuggle a puppy. In a virtual job interview or presentation, this “Love Hormone” can make your interviewer feel warm and fuzzy about you, even if they’re miles away behind a screen. The effect of Oxytocin is a rise in the ability to collaborate, communicate, and trust others by activating networks in our prefrontal cortex.

Eye contact also triggers dopamine, the brain’s “like” button. It’s the neurochemical equivalent of getting a thumbs-up emoji from your brain. Dopamine makes the virtual interaction rewarding and, more importantly, noteworthy. So, if you want to be the presenter that sticks out, but in a good way, get those dopamine levels up with some good ol’ eye contact. Speaking of thumbs-up, showing your hands has also proven effective in promoting the release of positive hormones during video communication. This is a great reason to not sit on your hands during a video session—more on that in another article.

Then, we come to the virtual conundrum: You might wonder, “Can I mimic eye contact through a screen?” The answer is a resounding, scientifically unproven, but highly anecdotal, yes! Looking into the camera mimics real-life eye contact, tricking our brains into thinking we have a genuinely human moment of connection and building the “Know, Like, and Trust” Factor often associated with strong brands and lasting relationships that are needed for successful partnering, whether for hiring, collaborating, or sales.

Don’t Do What I Did   

Okay, learn from my failure. Since I am typically the coach or consultant working with a client on the other side of town, or the world, by video, I was caught off guard recently by watching a recording shared of myself speaking with one of my coaches. When I am coaching, I often help a client create a strategy, blueprint, or branded roadmap to reach a meaningful goal’s finish line and do not go back to watch the video. I don’t often think about eye contact since we are often deep into documents and focused on the client’s performance and next steps. It was hard to watch. I am used to juggling lots of balls and am gifted through my ADHD brain to bring disparate dots into one plane with ease and confidence for my clients, but this time, I was the focus of the work. Boy, howdy, I lacked focus! My eyes were all over the place, and I quickly turned off the video portion and just listened to the planning and points made during the meeting. I had to fix this problem for future video interactions and I came up with some tips:

Expert Tips with a Twist: How I Nailed Virtual Eye Contact

     1. The Friendly Face Trick

One way to handle this awkward issue is to put a friendly photo near the camera. I did that by placing a fun picture of my Productivity Coach and friend, Jamie Steele, near the camera. In taking this action, I gave my camera “eyes” and a fun, friendly persona to look into. She is in the photo, cheering me on, saying, “You got this!” If you don’t have a productivity coach, any friendly face will do; a friend, family member, or even a character from the media whom you can lock eyes with and who would be a good listener and cheerleader for you in any situation. In my case, I chose my Productivity Coach, Jamie Steele.

     2. Googly Eyes: Because Why Not?

If you’re more of a DIY person, stick a pair of googly eyes near your camera. It’s hard not to look when a pair of eyes is staring back at you. Plus, it adds a touch of whimsy to an otherwise nerve-wracking experience. I have a handful of these on my desk right now, doesn’t everyone? No, just me, I am sure that you can pick some up from your favorite craft store.

Elevate your camera to eye level. It’s the easiest way to make “eye contact” without looking like you’re staring at your interviewer’s forehead. You may need to play with the position of your camera to get this right with a friend or colleague as the viewer. You don’t have to have a fancy set-up to bring your camera to the right height or angle. It could be as easy as putting your laptop on a stack of books, mantle, or bookshelf. Just ensure you aren’t in a dark corner due to correcting the positioning.

     4. Screen Feng Shui

Move the interviewer’s window close to the camera. It’s like killing two birds with one stone—you can look at the interviewer and make “eye contact” at the same time. Many video conferencing tools will allow you to arrange your view in thumbnails or panes in different configurations and set up the preferred layout before going, “lights, camera, action!”

     5. Cue Cards: The Comedian’s Secret Weapon

Place cue cards or big sticky notes around the camera. Think of them as your teleprompter, feeding you lines like you’re the host of a late-night show or a star on a stage. Cue cards remain my favorite way to prepare left over from my background in the theater. (Imagine a stuffy voice with a haute accent here when you read the word “theater.”)

     6. The Art of the Glance

Remember, constant eye contact can be as awkward as a creepy hug. It’s okay to look away briefly, to take notes, for dramatic effect, or to nod a handoff to another speaker.

   7. Teleprompter: The Future is Now

If you want to go full-on tech, use a teleprompter app. It’s like having a mini autocue for your video, and it can make you feel like a pro news anchor. I have to admit I stink at teleprompters and find them distracting, but I have seen people truly master this technology, and it provided support and details that might be missed in the heat of the moment.

While your eyes are the show’s star, remember the supporting cast: good lighting, clear audio, and a stable internet connection. After all, your eyes won’t save you if you look like you’re broadcasting from a cave.

So there you have it, folks. The science of eye contact in video presentations and  interviews is as fascinating as it is “eye-ronic.” Whether you’re sticking googly eyes to your screen or pinning up pictures of your productivity coach, remember that your eyes are your secret weapon. So go ahead, look into that camera, and let your eyes create a successful connection. Trust me, it’s all “eye”  have ever wanted for you.

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Getting Ready: Often, I ask my clients to consider a few things to help them start with the right information and bring the presentation to the finish line. I have included those foundational questions below to help ensure your presentation is relevant, targeted, and impactful. Here are some critical questions to consider:

Why are you giving the presentation? 

What is the objective, opportunity, or obstacle you wish to address? 

What do you want to achieve by the end of it?

Who’s My Audience?

Who will be attending the presentation?

What is their level of familiarity with the topic?

What are their expectations and potential biases?

What’s the Key Message?

If the audience could remember only one thing from your presentation, what should it be?

What’s the Appropriate Tone and Style?

Should the presentation be formal or informal? Typically, I have a fun, informal tone, but that isn’t the right tone for every audience or situation. 

Would a straightforward, humorous, inspirational, or persuasive tone be best?

How Much Time Do I Have?

How long is the presentation slot?

Will there be time for Q&A or discussion?

What Resources and Tools are Available?

Will you have access to a projector, whiteboard, or any specific software?

Do you need any additional resources, such as handouts or props? It is better to have a Backup Plan for unfamiliar environments or technical mishaps. 

What’s the Ideal Structure?

How will you introduce, develop, and conclude your presentation?

How can you organize your content to be most engaging and impactful? There are lots of frameworks to use in creating your presentation. I often recommend the Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto, AIDA, or the SOAR Model for interviewing. 

How Can I Make It Engaging?

What visuals, stories, or examples can you use to illustrate your points?

Are there interactive elements you can incorporate, like polls or group discussions? 

Personally, when working with a large audience, I love to start with my audience on their feet with a survey, an interactive exercise, or just to get some blood flow and brain juices going if they have been sitting for a series of other presentations. Just make sure that you are inviting them and not directing them to join in the movement. 

What Potential Challenges Might Arise?

Are there controversial points in your presentation? This goes back to knowing your audience and the topic well. 

How can you address or mitigate them? You may ask your audience to give you their expectation regarding the presentation and what they want out of it in a pole and further define by listing what you will and won’t be covering in your presentation right at the start to avoid any conflict or awkwardness.  

How Will You Handle Questions or Feedback?

Is answering questions a part of the requirements of presenting? Your host should be able to give you that information if there is a prescribed order or expectation in advance. 

Do you want to take questions throughout, at specific intervals, or at the end?

How will you address questions or comments that you don’t have an immediate answer for?

What’s the Call to Action?

What do you want the audience to do, think, or feel after the presentation?

How can you motivate them to act and make it easy for them to take the next step? Give directions with ordered steps when needed, like, “If you would like to connect to discuss this further, here is my contact info, and I will get back to you within 24 hours.” Physically point to it on the slide or handout.

How Will You Practice?

Will you do a dry run with a colleague or friend?

What about in front of a mirror or recording yourself for self-review or sharing with a trusted advisor? 

How will you incorporate feedback from practice sessions?

Addressing these prework questions before fashioning your presentation will ground and provide a solid starting point for the road ahead. Happy Trails!

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Hey there, fellow adventurers! Today, I want to take you on a whirlwind journey through my life – a life that started as a bit of a misfit with a capital ‘A’ in the middle of my name. Growing up in a tiny town, I quickly realized that I was cut from a different cloth and wasn’t afraid to flaunt it. 

From my first-grade tussle with my teacher over the ‘A’ in my name to my peculiar fashion sense that often raised eyebrows, my small town was not the most welcoming environment. As an impulsive fashionista, I sometimes sported a bejeweled orange poodle collar, dyed my hair, popped on vintage items,  and rocked trendy ensembles like it was nobody’s business. It indeed wasn’t. 

Now, small towns have their charm – friendly neighbors who rushed to the rescue whenever I recklessly wiped out on my bike (which, let’s admit, happened more times than I’d like to remember). They were like my pit crew, and I was their fearless daredevil! But rest assured; my parents knew what I was up to long before I got home. 

Being a nonconformist in a place where everyone knew everyone had its challenges. My quirky style and love for cold pizza breakfasts didn’t always align with the powers that be or my family at times.  Yet, I wore it well because being a misfit meant I was blazing my own trail and wouldn’t let anyone dampen my fiery individualism in a town that expected me to try harder to fit in than it was trying to help me feel like I belonged. 

High school was an adventure all its own. A history teacher chastised me for failing a timeline recall test and made an example of me in front of the class while threatening to “tattle” on me to my parents for not taking my education seriously enough! (BTW, I graduated with honors a couple of years later.) But little did he know, my dreams were bigger than memorizing dusty dates. It was a valuable lesson in the respect I’ve carried into my entrepreneurial journey.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve traded small-town quirks and the inability to fit in for entrepreneurial standout status. As a remote entrepreneur, I’ve found my tribe – a group of like-minded rebels who appreciate my unique perspective. Embracing non-conformity has become my superpower in the business world and helps me see the uniqueness of my clients, their Unique Value Proposition, and Brand in business speak.

In the realm of entrepreneurship, diversity isn’t just celebrated; it’s encouraged. I’ve learned that my unconventional ideas and out-of-the-box thinking are the key ingredients to my success. Dress codes or norms no longer bind me – I’m charting my course through the world and helping others find their own clarity, confidence, and direction. 

So, fellow adventurers, let’s raise a slice of cold pizza to the quirky, the daring, and the unapologetic individuals who don’t always fit in but have their place in the world and deserve to be valued! Embrace your inner eccentric, dance to your beat, and plunge into the entrepreneurial journey with flair and authenticity. The world’s misfits create masterpieces, innovation, and change in a world that needs it in big and small ways. 

Stay fabulously authentic, my friends! It is better to find your fit than to waste your life trying to fit in. 

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S – Specific: When it comes to goals, being vague is the enemy. Our coach emphasizes the importance of being specific. Don’t just say, “I want to improve my sales.” Instead, be more precise: “I want to increase my sales by 20% in the next quarter.” See the difference? Specific goals help you stay focused and give you a clear target to aim for in a very distracted world.

M – Measurable: A goal without a measure is like a ship without a compass. Coaching encourages us to make our goals measurable. How will you know if you’ve achieved your objective? Make it quantifiable, whether it’s a number, a percentage, or a specific milestone. This way, you can track your progress and celebrate those small victories along the way. Can you reach your financial goal stated above of increasing your sales by 20% with your current client base buying more, increasing your prices, or do you need to find more customers? 

A – Attainable: Dreaming big is fantastic, but remember to keep our goals within reach. Your aspirations should be challenging but possible. Setting goals that are too lofty may lead to frustration and demotivation. Aim high, and take the time to assess what support you need, what structure is required, or if the goal needs to be broken down into smaller sub-goals to ensure your goals are attainable with the right amount of effort and resources. When I decided to leave teaching, I knew I had very little time or money to return to school. So, I started taking a couple of classes at night that filled some of the graduate school requirements but also benefited my current position, and in time I found a role at the university and a scholarship that made full-time attendance possible. In coaching, I have helped many clients get clear about ways to use the resources at their disposal to ramp up their careers or business. 

R – Relevant: Goals should align with your broader vision and be relevant to your career or business. Coaching emphasizes the importance of focusing on objectives that truly matter to you. When it comes to your success, it’s personal, like your fingerprint. Success is a term that for each client is unique and may need to be redefined as we change and grow. Your professional happiness may not look like what your parents had in mind, how your academic advisor described it, or how you defined it ten years ago. Don’t waste time chasing goals that don’t contribute to your long-term success or fulfillment. I have worked with business owners who want to get into a company and work directly for someone else (and the reverse), doctors who wish to become writers, artists who want to go into tech, and so on. Stay relevant, my friend!

T – Timely: Time is a precious resource, and sometimes we forget that. Setting deadlines for your goals creates a sense of urgency and helps you prioritize your actions. Whether it’s a short-term goal or a long-term vision, give it a time frame. A target without a time frame is like a train without tracks – it may never reach its destination. This is where the term accountability comes in, a term often misused, but that is a whole other topic. A coach assists in establishing accountability structures tailored to your needs. This can involve setting up specific deadlines, creating milestones, or implementing progress-tracking tools. The coach may also suggest accountability partners, such as friends, family members, or colleagues, with whom you can regularly share updates and support each other’s goals.

E – Evaluate: A good coach teaches us to evaluate our progress and adjust regularly. Are you on track? Are there any obstacles hindering your progress? By constantly assessing your performance and adapting your approach, you increase your chances of success. Remember, evaluation is not just about analyzing your results; it’s also about learning from your experiences, both celebrations and struggles. By fostering this form of objective observation and self-awareness, the coach helps you take ownership of your actions and outcomes.

R – Reevaluate: The journey to success is not always a straight line. Coaching reminds us to be flexible and willing to reevaluate our goals when necessary. Circumstances change, and so should our goals. Be open to reassessing your objectives, revisiting your strategies, and making necessary adjustments. 

So, my fellow goal-setters, remember the SMARTER approach when charting your path to success. Be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely, evaluate your progress, and be ready to reevaluate when needed. With these tools in your arsenal, you’ll be on your way to accomplishing great things. I love being a witness, partner, and sometimes a cheerleader for my clients being SMARTER about their goals and providing a safe space for each client to navigate the sometimes winding path to a happier version of success.  

Now go out there and conquer your SMARTER goals!

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1️⃣ It typically doesn’t work: So, you’ve been sending out more applications than there are stars in the sky, huh? Here’s the hard truth: generic applications won’t get you far. Recruiters have superhero-level powers to spot those cookie-cutter resumes from a mile away. What they crave is genuine interest in their specific role and organization. So, put on your detective hat and investigate each company. Tailor your applications to showcase your passion for their mission and how your skills align like a beautifully choreographed dance routine. It’s time to stand out from the sea of sameness!

2️⃣ Your energy should be used strategically: Are you spending hours upon hours mindlessly applying to every job listing you come across? Hold on a sec! It’s time to redirect that supercharged energy toward a more targeted approach. No, I’m not asking you to rewrite your resume for each role, like a Shakespearean playwright. Instead, sprinkle some strategic magic by customizing your application materials to highlight the skills and experiences that perfectly match the position and company. Remember, quality over quantity will make recruiters do a happy dance. Let’s give them something to talk about!

3️⃣ It typically doesn’t work (yes, again!): Ah, the infamous cycle of rage applying—a path paved with disappointment and frustration. Pouring your heart and soul into haphazard applications will only leave you feeling like the protagonist of a tragic comedy. Let’s break free from this vicious cycle! Instead, focus your energy on applications that genuinely matter. Don’t let the lack of response chip away at your confidence. By strategically targeting positions and companies that align with your goals, you increase your chances of receiving meaningful feedback and securing those coveted interviews. Trust me; success is just around the corner!

But don’t let that deter you! Break free from the cycle and stay resilient. Focus on applications that truly matter, target positions and companies that align with your goals. Success is within your reach, and with a strategic mindset, you’ll be well on your way to securing those meaningful interviews.

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**Understanding Features: The Back Porch**

My back porch is more than just a part of my house. It is a feature that adds immense value to my everyday life. It’s spacious, probably as big as my living room, with great views of the pink Lafter roses, kitchen garden, all kinds of trees, the old treehouse, and a dear path through a dry creak adorned with artwork, comfy chairs, and a few small tables. However, it’s important to remember much like your qualifications, skills, or experience, and the back porch is just a feature – a tangible fact.

Understanding Benefits: The Back Porch Experience

What are the benefits of this back porch? Ah, there are plenty. It is spacious enough to host birthday parties, countless barbecues, and a battlefield for kids’ water balloon fights. When I am alone, it becomes my serene place to read, watch the birds, listen to the rain, or enjoy some coffee and leave the hustle and bustle behind. Those are the benefits, the experiences, and the value that the feature, my back porch, brings to my life.

Similarly, as a job seeker or business owner, your features might be your years of experience in a field, degrees, or sales skills. But what’s equally important is highlighting the benefits these features can bring to potential customers or hiring managers regarding the problems you solve, the meaningful results you provide, and the differences you make to the stakeholders. 

Applying the Features and Benefits Concept in Your Career

For instance, if you have been with a company for ten years, that’s a fantastic feature. But what’s the benefit of that tenure? Have you made a significant difference during those years? Have you won sales competitions or consistently been the top salesperson? Thanks to your features, those achievements are the benefits you bring to your employer.

Or consider your degree. It’s a feature, but unless you can articulate the benefit of that degree, it’s just a line on your resume. For example, a medical degree’s benefit is that it qualifies you to provide professional healthcare services.

Here’s a short table example showcasing features and benefits you would find in a resume or an executive brief:

In this example, the features represent the specific skills or qualities of the job seeker or the consultant. The corresponding benefits explain how those features can add value to the organization or project. This table helps highlight the competitive edge of the job seeker or consultant and provides a concise overview of their strengths and the potential benefits they can bring to a role or project.

Combining Features and Benefits for Your Professional Narrative

As you craft your resume, proposal, or letter of interest, remember you are essentially a product. You need to illustrate your features and, more importantly, the benefits of those unique features. Doing so showcases the problems you can solve, the skills you bring, and the accomplishments you’ve achieved for other companies or clients.

So just to recap, the feature is my porch. Still, the benefit is the difference it makes in the experiences and value it brings to my life – the great conversations over coffee, the peaceful reading sessions, the raucous water balloon fights, and the rain, even a snowflake or two. Similarly, your career features are essential, but the benefits of these features provide proof that makes you stand out in your career or job search. I hope this analogy helps you understand the significance of features and benefits. Cheers from my back porch! Have a great day!

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Ah, the sweet sounds of productivity, or so we thought. My husband and I turned our home into a symphony of clattering keyboards, blaring conference calls, and unruly laughter. I would love to say that I took the high road, but my frustration was palpable. I tried a coworking membership, and it didn’t work for my ADHD as a whole. We each accused the other of being louder than a Texas lightning storm. The noise battle was on, and it was a battle we were both determined to win.

As we searched for a way to end our decibel dispute, we stumbled upon the mighty warriors of peace—the solid core doors. These sturdy champs, made of solid wood cores and fortified with layers of high-density fiberboard or plywood, became our knights in shining armor. We also established ground rules: if the door is closed, thou shall not disturb. And let’s not forget “no fish bowling” – tapping on the glass of my doors was strictly off-limits. Just like tapping on a fishbowl startles the fish, tapping on my office doors rattled each of my brain cells like a maraca and sometimes led to more loudness on my part or a one-finger salute. 

With new doors in place guarding our sanity, our home turned into a sanctuary of serenity, well, kind of. Let’s say the roar of our work antics was less deafening, and the bickering subsided greatly. We could focus on our tasks without fearing that the other person would burst through the door like a Texas tornado. Our son’s return from college and our daughter’s remote senior year of high school brought a whole new level of noise, but our doors stood strong, providing some solace amidst the intense cohabitation of a locked-down group of 4 adults.

It’s not a perfect world, sometimes my husband can’t resist tapping on the glass, giving my concentration a startle or two and a harsh chiding from our grown children. I still take my mic out to my car for podcast interviews, not just for the ability to lock the doors, but because the acoustics are great! But who am I to complain? He often leaves chocolates on my desk or slides a sentimental card onto my keyboard. Love notes find their way under his door when he’s stuck in a never-ending video conference marathon. These gestures of love remind us that doors aren’t just about noise reduction; they can be reminders of boundaries we need to function and forgive with patience and understanding.

Solid core doors may not make us the perfect couple, but they transformed our battle of noisy vs. noisier into a more harmonious household and added a slice of productivity to our businesses. So, if you find yourself in a war of decibels with your spouse while working from home, embrace the magic of solid core doors and take your interviews in the car or closet. Establish your rules, banish the “fishbowl” tapping, and relish the peace doors bring. And remember, love notes and chocolates make the workday shorter and life sweeter.

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Recently I attended a family member’s retirement party after 39 years with the city of Waco. It was my first time attending a retirement party ever. I haven’t been invited to another one. No, I did not “double-dip” the chips and onion dip. People just aren’t spending their entire working careers at one company anymore. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average wage-earning male spends 4.3 years in a job, and the average wage-earning woman spends four years in a position, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Many people come right out of college and become entrepreneurs to boot. 

Over the past 20 years, I have had an up-close view of the rapidly changing structure of careers and company expectations…The good, the bad, and the unpredictable. As a Career Coach, my best advice is to consider yourself an entrepreneur. What does that mean? Do I have to go out and start my own business? No, not necessarily, but changing your approach and handling of your career could be in order. I am saying that it is time to start thinking like an entrepreneur! Think about it; an entrepreneur is an individual who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. So from our new vantage point, we are the enterprise. We cannot afford to trust this enterprise to anyone else. In organizing and managing your career, there are six things you have to know: 

Know yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Most people hate answering this interview question. However, this is a great time to re-examine your strengths and weaknesses. First, examine your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Next, knowledge, examine your educational background or certifications. How current is this part of your professional profile? By abilities, what do you bring to the job that no one else can that is innate? It could be your ability to inspire, approachability, or many inborn traits. 

What skills do you currently use, including technical, managerial style, and tasks performed? Do not let your skills get stagnant. I see it over and over again. An employee becomes specialized and entrenched in the current position and never sees the job, or the entire industry, slipping away. Many companies invest millions of dollars in training employees each year. However, when a company trims the budget, training dollars may be the first to go. If you need to update skills independently, you can deduct education and training costs for your job if your employer doesn’t reimburse you for them (if the education is for your current job, not to get a better job later). If you are without work due to layoff, federal money may be available for training and education in a new, more viable career. And, if you are one of the unfortunate ones to be laid off, job-hunting expenses, including mileage, are also deductible, but that is a whole other article. 

Know your work and life balance. Looking at yourself as objectively as possible, how would you describe your work-life and personal life balance? As departments are streamlined, you may be asked to take on more tasks, work longer hours, move to a different role, or accept a pay cut. Know what you can bear financially, in time away from home, and psychologically, in relationships. Make a plan, whether by eliminating debt or having a backup plan for child care, if you need to take on additional work or renew your skills through classes after work. These are challenging times and an excellent time to be flexible as an employee. 

Know your boss. There are many aspects to consider when examining your superiors: personality (hopefully, they have one), communication style, priorities, and status. Many bosses can be summed up as a numbers person or a people person. Know your manager’s communication style, both how they give and receive information.  Make sure that you are communicating in the correct language. To whom does your boss report? That makes it easier to make your accomplishments measurable and visible to those who count.

 Report your progress and the progress of your team. Toot your own horn but be tasteful about it. Just leave a quick voicemail about a positive objective that has been met. Send a congratulatory email to your team regarding their performance and copy your boss. These actions will support and build your team and keep your skills at the forefront.  This is an excellent time to work hard and play well with others.

Know your company. There remains more to any company than producing 1,000 widgets over some time or the physical address. No matter the product or service, cultural and viability aspects should be considered.  By culture, I don’t mean how you dress, what music you listen to… Get to know the norms of the people you work with, the customers who purchase the product or service, people who assist in making the project possible, and those who get the product into the right hands. All are integral to the business’s success. Where do you fit in? 

Know your industry.  Be an expert in your field. What are the future trends that need to be heeded? How do you and your company fit into this trend? Get to know the standards at work and in the industry by researching, reading articles, and asking questions occasionally. Then, again, re-examine your knowledge, abilities, and skills from the industrial vantage point.

It is great to have a niche and become the go-to person in your area of work, but know how your role currently and in the future contributes to the bottom line. What are the profitable trends for your industry, and how do you see yourself fitting into that future profit? If your position is not clearly integral to the profit margin, consider moving to one with monetary impact. Be a contributor. 

Know your network. Keep your network alive. Some people think of networking as performing some big sales job on friends, begging, or complaining. On the contrary, you network whenever you say hello to someone or have a conversation. Networking is just paying more attention to these conversations. Seek out ways to keep relationships alive through reconnecting with people you have worked with and attending functions of professional organizations or conferences. Effective networking goes a step further by carefully crafting the message you are sending out regarding what you are doing and what you want to accomplish in your profession. This is called “The Elevator Speech” in the Career Consulting Industry. Get one.

As a career expert, I can tell you that companies across the globe need good employees. It is up to you to convey that you are a valuable employee. Take ownership of your career and consider yourself an entrepreneur, not tied to any position, skill set, or company. Your job is at risk. So, take control. If not now, when?

Bibliography

Bureau of Labor and Statistics. National Department of Labor and Statistics. 22 September 2016. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm

Bureau of Labor and Statistics. National Department of Labor Bureau of Labor and Statistics. 8 January 2010. <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf>.

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