Test Yourself and Your Skills!

A fortnight ago; I received the most unexpected phone call inviting me to an interview for a job I couldn't recall applying for. Aside from an E-Mail inviting me to an interview over a concept note I had come up with for an advocacy video at work, this was the second best thing to happen to me, this year.
I am a firm believer in not turning down interviews unless your mental, emotional and physical state are compromised in a manner that makes it impossible for you to give it your all. I was in that kind of state and knew I would not be able to make it for the interview while the details were being given to me over the phone. I immediately declined and thanked the person for the call.
You would not believe the joy I felt after that phone call. As much as I had to turn down the break of an interview, I could not help but be happy over the fact that the application I sent in on a whim got me that far.
When I sent in the application: a week to the day of my accident, early June according to LinkedIn, I was not looking for a job. I was testing my skills and credentials. During our volunteer workshop for Interns and Volunteers, a former Supervisor once said that always try for a job if you meet 3/5 requirements of the job description. I realized that LinkedIn made this so easy with its system because all a person has to do is press "apply" when a position of interest comes along. However, this piece of advice is not restricted to technology. One can take the traditional channels available to them and apply for any position as long as they meet half the requirements. You do not necessarily have to be looking for a job. Take the time out and periodically test your skills and credentials of your professional field to ascertain that you earned your position and that your current and additional skills are good enough to get you an interview elsewhere.
To make up for the lack of experience in the other half of the job description requirements, take advantage of the internet and its vast resources to learn. Teach yourself some of these things. Invest in yourself and your career especially if you wish to grow. Personally, I never knew anything about creating a newsletter until I was thrust into the role without help. I watched tutorials on how to use MS Publisher, downloaded the manual and practiced until I got the hang of it. If you have free access to the Internet make it beneficial to YOU and your career growth.
Another thing; once in awhile, ask a friend of yours to anonymously call up the people you list as referees on your job applications. When a friend of mine said this, I could not get over the sneaky yet cleverness of it. Sometimes, the people we do use as referees sabotage our career development because no one wants to lose a good employee but what about you when you feel that it is time for you to move on? Getting your friend to find out if your referees sell you or curtail your chances is a good way to be sure that nothing stands between you and your next place of employment.
Like I mentioned earlier; I am a firm believer in not turning down interviews unless your mental, emotional and physical state are compromised. Over the course of my young career, I have had to turn down two interviews on account of my health. The first turn down in 2016 hurt me a lot because I was sick, unemployed and really needed the job. I almost asked for a postponement until I remembered that appealing to the emotions of a Messenger was not the way to go. I sadly apologized and hang up. I contemplated going for it but the memory of me taking my final exams under the grips of poor health with the cold sweats randomly popping out did not seat well with me. I would have done more harm than good. The last thing you want to display to the interview panel is you at your weakest. They might empathize but will not take pity on you for showing up in that state. Always show up when you are at your finest and can think on your feet.
Truthfully; I have experienced a lot of failures in my pursuit of development programs to enhance my skills, knowledge and experience in my current field of operation but this invite to an interview even if it never materialized restored my spirit, faith in myself and capabilities.

Image Credits: googledotcom

Sixth Anniversary

It is six years since I developed Simply Shanah. In a generation and era where everything is about commercialization and making a profit, the reasons as to why I created this space continue to hold water and are unlikely to change.
When I started Simply Shanah; I had no illusions of grandeur whatsoever of ever making a living off of it.If anything, I was after the space - somewhere I can write and let go of the myriad of thoughts that bog me down, not because writing is my passion but more of therapy to me. And as such, never was perturbed over it’s dismal performance. The knowledge that readers find it relatable now, and think me good enough to turn it into a money-making entity are all unexpected feathers in my cap.
People write for all sorts of reasons most of which is passion for the majority. All of them will say it is hard, more so for those seeking to earn a living from it. Blogging is just as hard if not harder. Setting up a blog with the intent to earn off of it soon as it is up and running is an endeavor doomed to fail. It’s success relies solely on nurturing and time  which are infinite factors.
What our generation has failed to understand is; success takes time and nurturing. In the blogsphere: you need to have good content, time to build up a readership or following and also social media reach. All of which do not happen in a day let alone months. And for those seeking to earn from it; they need to put something down twice or thrice a week to maintain their reach which makes the output of good content and spread extra hard because tastes and opinions differ when it comes to topical issues.
I always encourage friends of mine who are better writers than I, to go into blogging just to nurture and grow their writing skills while at the same time build an audience because they go hand-in-hand. You need to have a solid audience before you can seek to earn from blogging for it is this audience that will pay to read your material and recommend to friends thus spreading your readership. When that happens; your writing skills would have vastly improved. It is the same piece of advice I am extending to all budding bloggers and writers along with; write because you need to and not have to.

What Resolutions?!

How unbelievable is it that we’re almost coming to the end of 2012? The year has certainly rushed by so fast I can’t help but wonder where the fire it is trying to catch is at!
When you realize the year is coming to an end, it is inevitable not to think of the resolutions (or not) you made at the beginning. Whether you’ve managed to go through with them or did something that was unexpectedly better? Personally; I don’t remember making any resolutions both unconscious and consciously. In fact nothing comes to mind as I think of the year’s end. I should probably write some down the coming year and hold a review at the end, God willing.
Talking about resolutions and what not reminds me so much of One Tree Hill. I was a fan until the writers lost the plot and messed up the show- Lucas married Peyton, Lucas left etc…and eventually it all went downhill. I remember how Lucas and his bff Hayley used to write down their resolutions (separately) then hid them at the same time behind a loose brick on the wall. At the year’s end, they’d of course go to the loose brick, get out their lists and check off what they accomplished. With the exception of hiding your list behind a loose brick on the wall, don’t you think this is a good idea?
Speaking of ideas. I was browsing through someone’s tumblr and came across a good one to help you take note of the good things that happened or happen during the course of the year. It says, ‘start 2013 off with an empty jar and fill it with notes about good things that happen. On new years eve, empty it and see what awesome stuff happened that year.’
I don’t know about you but for me; when a lot of crap happens during a particular year, I tend to focus on the crap and forget about the good. Doing the jar thing will at least help focus on the good and make you be more appreciative.
So… Do you think you’ve accomplished at least half of what you resolved to at the beginning of 2012 or not?

What Oprah had to say about Men.

I got this from one of the pages I was browsing. It was so insightful that I decided to keep it and share it. So, here is; the Queen of Talk's thoughts on men and advice to ladies.

Oprah Winfrey

  
If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he does not want you, nothing can make him stay.
Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from the heartache.
Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that is not meant to be. Slower is better.
Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you happy.
If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve, then heck no, you can't "be friends". A friend would not mistreat a friend. Don't settle.
If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is. Don't stay because you think "it will get better". You will be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better. The only person you can control in a relationship is you.
Avoid men who have got a bunch of children from a bunch of different women… he didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?
Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up.
Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.
You can't change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.
Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are. Even if he is more educated or is in a better job.
Do not make him into a quasi god. He is just a man, nothing more nothing less.
Never let a man define who you are.
Never borrow someone else's man. If he cheated with you, he will cheat on you.
A man will only treat you the way you allow him to treat you.
All men are NOT dogs.
You should not be the one to do all the bending…Compromise is a two way street.
You need time to heal between relationships. There is nothing cute about baggage. Deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.
You should never look for someone to complete you. A relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals. Look for someone complimentary, not supplementary.
Dating is fun…even if he does not turn out to be Mr. Right.
Make him miss you sometimes… when a man knows where you are, and you're always readily available to him, he takes it for granted.
Never move into his mother's house… Never cosign for a man.
Don't fully commit to a man who does not give you everything you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others.
Scared of being alone is what makes a lot of women stay in relationships that are abusive or hurtful. You should know that, you're the best thing that could ever happen to anyone and if a man mistreats you, he'll miss out on a good thing.
If he was attracted to you in the first place, just know he is not the only one. They are all watching you, so you have a lot of choices, make the right one.
Ladies, take care of your hearts… Life is short, so forgive quickly, believe slowly, love truly, and laugh uncontrollably.
Never regret anything that makes you happy. Have a wonderful journey of life.
Women, choose what to learn.
Men- we are watching you.