This video book review shares my thought on Gap Selling by Jim Keenan. This is book changes how we look at sales. Gone are the transactional software sales. This is a new effective approach to solution sales.
Heather Cole
The Secret to Leveling Up and Loving Your Career
2017 is the year I take the leap!
The year I stop talking about my vision and make it happen!
I am transitioning, evolving, and loving my new role as a High Performance Coach for IT and Finance Professionals.
My job as a coach is to guide people to Level Up, to progress to the next level in their career and personal life.
I am excited to share my experience with the secret to leveling up & loving your career.
You see, for the last few years I have felt like a fish out of water.
I work with IT and Finance professionals and despite my years of education and experience, I am not exactly like them.
The big difference is I LOVE MY JOB.
I wake up full of energy, inspired to make a difference.
Seriously, how many finance and IT professionals do you know that live every day with joy?
Here’s the secret, I wasn’t always like this.
Actually, years ago I used to drink Jolt – “all the sugar and twice the caffeine” just to get through the day.
I dreaded the calls from end users griping about their systems.
You know, those people that you wonder how they function in the world because you feel they don’t have any common sense.
I was unhappy.
I was depressed.
I kept wondering there must be something more…
In my time of despair, I started reading books on happiness, the meaning of life, and almost every self-help book out there.
That’s what analytically minded people do, we gather data, analyze it, and we use it to solve problems.
I read books by the Dalai Lama, Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Napoleon Hill, and after each book, I made slight changes to how I worked, how I responded to people, how I saw myself.
20+ years later, what started out as research has resulted in a lifelong obsession to understand what drives humans to success and happiness.
I’ve studied various psychologists such as Cialdini who analyze the power of influence.
I read books on neuroscience, positive psychology, physiology, motivation and peak performance.
Here are some of the books I devoured:
Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, by Anders Ericsson
Have you ever wanted to learn a language or pick up an instrument, only to become too daunted by the task at hand? Expert performance guru Anders Ericsson has made a career studying chess champions, violin virtuosos, star athletes, and memory mavens. Peak condenses three decades of original research to introduce an incredibly powerful approach to learning that is fundamentally different from the way people traditionally think about acquiring a skill.
Ericsson’s findings have been lauded and debated, but never properly explained. So the idea of expertise still intimidates us — we believe we need innate talent to excel, or think excelling seems prohibitively difficult.
Grit the Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth
In this instant New York Times bestseller, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”
Drawing on her own powerful story as the daughter of a scientist who frequently noted her lack of “genius,” Duckworth, now a celebrated researcher and professor, describes her early eye-opening stints in teaching, business consulting, and neuroscience, which led to the hypothesis that what really drives success is not “genius” but a unique combination of passion and long-term perseverance.
Mindset The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck
After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset—those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset—those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment.
“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama XIV
After decades of making slight adjustments with every book, I have come to the point in my life where I now live an extraordinary life!
Friends and business associates started asking me why I have so much energy, why I laugh a lot and love my work.
Every time I shared my knowledge and energy level, I was “Leveled Up”.
I finally realized it’s my mission to share the secrets I have learned with you.
I want every IT and Finance person to benefit from my decades of study, experimentation, and results.
I don’t want you to have to wait 20 years. I want you to live with joy and be inspired in your career, now!
In 2017, my mission is to share with everyone the secret to “Leveling Up & Loving Your Career”!
To effectively deliver, I became a Certified High Performance Coach by Brendon Burchard. www.brendon.com
Brendon’s program is an amazing 12 session program where participants learn how to increase their clarity, energy, courage, productivity and influence.
His scientifically proven methods are perfect for analytically minded people in IT and Finance.
Why?
Let’s be honest, the brilliant analytical minds are not exactly into self-help.
We need data to prove to us something works and we like processes.
As a highly analytically minded person I get it, I understand how you are wired.
I believe by receiving coaching from someone that gets you, you can learn to level up, receive job satisfaction, recognition, and financial rewards you deserve.
Are you where you want to be in your career?
Do you make the money you deserve?
Are you a respected team member in your organization?
If you answered no to any of these questions, coaching can help you!
If you don’t think you’re worth the investment, don’t make it.
Are You Interested in Leveling Up?
In addition to my High Performance Coaching Sessions that can be one on one or in groups, I am creating amazing new online programs.
The first program I am developing is for IT and Finance Professionals on how to Level Up so they get out of their rut, add more value, and make more money.
To introduce people to this program, I will host a 1 hour webinar on Level Up: Get Out of Your Rut and Increase Your Income.
The webinar is free. You will discover:
Don't miss this webinar where you'll discover:
Accelerate Your Growth
Introduction to my proven methodology I used to Level Up
Accelerate Your Skills
How to acquire the soft skills of the top paid IT and Finance professionals
Level up Your Value
What is your value and how to add more to your clients and firm
Get More Recognition
How to get more recognition and responsibility in your current position
RESERVE YOUR SPOT AND LEVEL UP
Complimentary LIVE webinar will be offered on
Tuesday, May 16th at 12pm ET & 7pm ET.
If you can’t attend the March 14th event, no worries, just register now to receive access to the recording of the live webinar.
Principle of Influence – The Law of Reciprocity
This blog is going to discuss one of the principles for influence, the Law of Reciprocity which I like to call ‘the boomerang effect.’
This is part 2 of a 7 part blog series. You can view the previous blog here http://heatherized.com/building-influence-analytically-minded-people-2/
A number of research studies have been done on this phenomenon and some psychologists called this the reciprocity law. One study that was conducted by a psychologist at Chicago’s O’Hare airport where they sat and observed everyone’s behavior. At the time, members of Hare Krishna would come up to you and present you with a handmade flower. They would hand you the flower despite your many protests as you were hurried and were trying to balance your bags while making it to your next gate in time or go to baggage claim. But this group was so insistent and direct that you would ultimately grab it and shove it in your pocket or stuff it somewhere. Then they would ask you for a donation. While you had no intention of giving them money, psychologists found that people felt obligated. Everyone reached in their pockets to pull out a dollar and hand it to them but a few steps later, they would throw the flower away. This study highlighted the fact that people were feeling a high percentage of obligation because they got something for free and they fell obligated to return that favor.
This study can be used to influence people which I affectionately refer to as “life credits.” I will go and do something good for my neighbors so when I’m in a jam they’ll help me out! Look at how you can help others around you, whether it’s your coworkers, your partner, your clients and see if you can make their lives batter and do something small for them. Step back and watch what happens when you’re in need they’ll help you.
This is one of the first laws of influence which you can use now. Try this law of reciprocity or boomerang effect on your friends, neighbors, coworkers and let me know how it goes by posting a comment.
If you want to read more about this phenomenon, take a look at this link which references Dr. Robert Cialdini’s study on the Hare Krishna at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/11/26/165570502/give-and-take-how-the-rule-of-reciprocation-binds-us
Heather Cole Presents at FEI Tampa Chapter Event
How prepared are you to lead your organization to capitalize on the analytics age?
Heather Cole, a thought leader and expert in Business Analytics spoke at the January 2015 meeting of FEI (Financial Executives International) Tampa Chapter. She gave an engaging and illuminating presentation to attendees on “How to Lead Innovative Organizations with Data and Analytics”.
The age of analytics is here and Heather Cole from Heatherized is here to help guide you to be successful. Digital Disruption is creating new industries faster than ever. Companies that learn to embrace and leverage the vast amounts of data being collected daily can change the course of their industries. Only 26% of large companies surveyed believe their teams have the skills needed. Only 27% thought their companies will put the right resources (people, budget and time) to leveraging data for innovation.
Digital Disruption: Unleashing the Next Wave of Innovation by James McQuivey
For more information on how Heather Cole can help you and your company, contact her at hcole@heatherized.com
7 keys to building dashboards for the C-Suite
Summary: Heather Cole was recently interviewed for her thoughts on dashboards & C-Level executives.
Businesses have access to more data than ever before. But, is this data actually helping business leaders make more informed decisions? In many cases, the answer is “No.” Why? Far too few businesses actually capitalize on their data. In this article, you’ll learn how effective dashboards will help your executives capitalize on your data, as well as tips for building dashboards that work.
You can read the full text of the article here:7 keys to building dashboards for the C-Suite
How to Look Good on Web Meetings
How to Look Great on Web Meetings
Over 90% of communication is non-verbal. By leveraging video camera in your web meetings, you can significantly increase the communication and build rapport. But before you turn on your camera, you need to follow the below steps to look fabulous.
1. Get a High Definition Camera, one may already be in your laptop.
2. Position the camera above you by stacking books to eliminate wrinkles and chins.
3. Make sure you have good lighting that is behind the camera.
4. What’s in the background, people will snoop.
5. Look good:
a. No Gum
b. What’s Your Mug Say?
c. Don’t Look Disheveled
6. No multitasking – be 100% present
7. Position your image on the screen to be under your camera to not look shifty eyed.
8. Invest in a Quality USB Microphone. Look good and sound good.
9. Photo ready make-up up makes you look great.
Homework –
* Get a good HD Camera.
* Record yourself to self-evaluate.
* Go on camera for your next web meeting.
Backpacking and Business Analytics
Backpacking and Business Analytics – they have much in common
Three things you need to implement to be successful with Business Analytics:
1. Use the resources available to you. You can’t go it alone. You need to build your relationship throughout the organization. When you ask for assistance or help, make sure you consider what’s in it for the person you are asking. You need to clearly communicate why it’s beneficial for them to help you. Remember, you are not scalable. You have to build a team, teach others, and trust that sometimes good, is good enough.
2. Be resourceful and be prepared – Projects always have curveballs. You may think you have perfect data, only to realize it’s maybe not so perfect. When this happens, get creative. Creative minds are resourceful. If your life depended on accomplishing the goal, how could you do it? Allow crazy ideas. Sometimes crazy works!
3. Learn to find your inner MacGyver to solve problems – Remember the 80’s TV show where MacGyver could get out of dicey situation with duct tape a shoe string and a match. Most of us don’t have unlimited time, money, and resources. So you have to learn to work with what you have to deliver some results while creating a plan for the future. This may mean building a data mart in TM1 instead of waiting for your financial data to get into the warehouse. But when you implement workarounds, make sure everyone knows it’s temporary and create a plan to do it the right way.
