2015-Begin Your Changes Now

A lot of people make resolutions for the new year. They plan to make great improvements to their health, career, or spiritual lives, beginning on January 1st.
Then there are other people who refuse to make a resolution at all because they believe that nothing will change.

The first step to creating any lasting change is to begin. If a goal is really important to you, you don't need to wait until a specific day to begin it. Begin it now.
At the very least, you can prepare yourself for the changes you plan to make beginning January 1st.

Whatever your goals are, there are ways to prepare for them today.

If you are looking to make a career move:

• Create a new resume and cover letter.
• Look up jobs online for potential new positions.
• Post your resume on job boards.
• Buy a new interview suit.
• Sign up for a class to improve your marketable skills.

Looking to get in shape:

• Research health and nutrition information online or at the library.
•  Find a plan that you believe you can stick with.
• Create meal plans for the month of January.
• Sign up for the gym before the January rush, or buy 2-3 new workout dvds.
• Write a list of all of the reasons you want to get healthy.
• Look up success stories online.

Want to save money:

• Create a budget for the next six months.
• Open a savings account.
• Look up coupons to help you save money.

Whatever you want to do, please do not wait until January 1st to begin it. If you start taking steps now, it will give you momentum. When January 1st rolls around, you will be well on your way to accomplishing your goals!

What are your resolutions for  2015? What can you do now to get started?

Successful Interview

Whether you are a recent college graduate, a current student, or you have been in the job market for years, it is always good to brush up on your job interviewing skills. A good (or bad) interview can mean the difference between you being hired or not. Your resume may get you into the door, but it is what you do in the interview that really counts.

In my latest article written for Fastweb I discuss why it's important for current students to gain work experience while in school. I also give 5 Tips to help you prepare for a successful job interview.


You may check out the article here and please pass it along to anyone you think would benefit from it.

Did A Dumb Mistake Cost You The Job?

I've written a few articles about job searching. My article "7 Mistakes First Time Job Seekers Make: And How to Avoid Them" has gotten a lot of positive feedback. People want to know these mistakes so that they can be sure not to commit them while they are looking for their perfect job. I know that I wouldn't want one silly mistake to take away my chances of attaining a goal.

I also wrote about "How NOT to Write a Cover Letter" because an inteview with a company starts well before we are face to face with a potential employer.

I came across this article, "Dumb Things People Have Said During Job Interviews".  While some of the dumb statements made me laugh, it is hard to believe that anyone would go into an interview and say things like, "I'm in anger management." The idea that anyone would confess to abusing someone to "teach them a lesson" is just crazy.

Check out this article for a good laugh, and to see yet again, what NOT to do.

Jesi Lea Ryan -Interview

Yesterday I posted my review of Jesi Lea Ryan's new novel "Four Thousand Miles". Today I have the pleasure of bringing you my interview with Jesi. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


KP: Have you always wanted to be a writer? Was there ever a time when that writing dream was deferred?

Jesi:  I remember wanting to be a writer as a child.  In fact, I published a children's book when I was eight years old called Grump: The Skump Who Ate Liver.  (Don't worry; no one else has heard of it either.)  But as I grew older, I didn't think a career in writing was practical.  I grew up in a poor family, and I thought that limited my options.  I sort of thought the only people who could be writers were those with families who could help support them until they made their way.  I majored in Creative Writing and Literature in college, because I was interested in it, not because I thought it would lead to a career.  After college, I entered the insurance industry and gave up writing for about a decade.  In 2009, my insurance position was downsized, and I suddenly found myself at a crossroads.  After plenty of discussion with my husband, I decided to give writing a shot.

KP: On your website you share that you lost your job in 2009, how did you find the courage to use that seemingly bad situation as a catalyst for your writing career.

Jesi: I think in general, I am a positive person.  Of course I felt bad about losing my job, because I loved it, but rather than dwelling on what I couldn't have, I decided to look ahead to new opportunities.  I treated myself to a one day pity-party.  I took one day off work to cry and throw things and curse the unfairness of it all.  Then, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and made the decision to move on.  I always wanted to try to write a novel, so that is what I set myself on course to do.

KP:  How did the idea for "Four Thousand Miles" come to you? What do you hope readers take away from the book?

Jesi:  Shortly before losing my job, my husband and I went on vacation to England.  I completely fell in love with the place!  Anyway, we were staying at Elvey Farm, a bed & breakfast in Kent (http://elveyfarm.co.uk/), and I began to day dream about how wonderful it would be to abandon my life in the States and stay there permanently.  Again, I'm too practical to actually do that, but I could create a fictional character to runaway to England for me. 

Most readers would see Four Thousand Miles as an escapist read, and it is, but if I were to attach a higher moral lesson to it that I want readers to take away from the book, I'd say that life is not a straight line.  Sometimes it gets off track and sends you into new directions.  Rather than getting depressed and scared about it, look at it as a new opportunity.

KP: What lessons have you learned about life through the writing and publishing of this book? What lessons have you learned about yourself?

Jesi: If someone wants to be a writer, they need to view writing as a reward in itself.  You can't count on getting rich or famous or on the bestseller list, and you have to be okay with that.  What have I learned about myself?  I really like being able to wear pajamas all day.  :)

KP: Why do you think so many people wait so long to change the direction of their lives, even when their current circumstances aren't working?

Jesi: I think most people are scared of change.  They don't have enough self-confidence to take chances.  I guess I understand that, but I can't relate at all.  I've just never been that way.  I see life as a journey.  It's too short to waste in an unhappy marriage, a dead-end job or stuck in your hometown. 

KP:  Do you have any advice for someone who wants to start over, or go after their second chance?

Jesi: Change can be scary and uncomfortable, but really, what is the worst that can happen?  I know that no matter what, I will not starve.  I will not lose the love of the people who matter most to me.  If all else fails, my mother has a room in her basement for me, my husband and my two kitties, so I will never be homeless.  If people just focus on the positive advantages to change rather then all of the "what if's," some really great things might happen.
                                                             ###

You can follow Jesi on twitter @Jesilea.