“New year, new me.” Sound familiar? It’s flooded every Instagram post for the past month. Every January 1st, millions of people decide it’s time to make a change — whether it’s eating healthier, working out, or cutting back on screen time. But here’s the catch: 80% of these resolutions have been abandoned already. That means out of every 100 people, only 8 have actually stuck to their goals. Crazy, right?

It’s not about having better gym equipment or more free time. It’s about exercising discipline and commitment. The 8% succeed because they rely on the CARDINAL VIRTUES. The first is prudence, the ability to discern the good and choose the right means to achieve it. In simpler terms, prudence is the ability to do the right thing, at the right time, in the right way. The second virtue is justice, giving others what they are due. The third virtue is fortitude, the courage to face difficulties and persevere in the pursuit of good. The final virtue is temperance, moderation in what we do or buy or consume.

In my opinion, those who finish what they start, exercise the virtues of fortitude and temperance. Exercising fortitude looks like waking up and getting out of bed when your alarm clock goes off even though you’re exhausted. It looks like going to the gym even though your legs are so sore from the day before. Fortitude is the ability to continue to do what you set out to do in the first place.

Temperance is the ability to set oneself up for success. Temperance exercises the ability to say no to some things so that later on you can say yes to better things. Temperance is closing your laptop at 11 p.m. so that you can be fully rested for the day ahead. Temperance is not having that second serving of ice cream. But, temperance isn’t just about saying no. It can also look like, I can buy that item at the store because I had saved enough this month. Temperance is staying within your budget so that when your friend asks you to go out to dinner, you can afford it because you didn’t spend extra money on something that you didn’t really need.

In summary, exercising virtue isn’t going to make your life bland and boring, but rather, it gives you guidelines to follow so that you can live your life and live it to the fullest. So how do we make it to the end of the year so that we’re in the top 8%? We start small. Let’s say that our goal is to “get in shape.” What does that even mean? What kind of shape are we talking about? Olympic athlete, all-state champion? You get the point.

Step #1 is to make your goals more specific. “I want to live a healthier life.” That’s a great alternative. In addition, research has shown that when you have a theme for the year, it’s easier to obtain because the small things you do can fall under that theme. So let’s say this year’s theme is health.

Step #2 is to make it timely. If you’re going to focus on running, for example, your goal might be, “I want to be able to run a mile without stopping by springtime.” Then as you achieve each goal, you can bump up the next goal. Maybe your goal is to stop eating out. “I will let myself eat out once a week for a month.” Next month, you can change it to eating out once every other week. Soon, you’ll find yourself inching closer and closer to your goal.

Step #3 is to tie this goal to an action. “I am going to start running at my local gym.” Or, “I’m going to go for a run and listen to that new podcast I’ve been waiting to listen to.” There’s a win-win in that; you run and you get to listen to your podcast.

Step #4 is to make your goal attainable. While some people can start habits by going all in, more often than not, you need to ease your way into things. If you don’t work out, don’t expect to work out for an hour every day. Make it manageable. “I’m going to work out 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes.” Start slow and know your limits. Start slow and set realistic expectations. Knowing your limits doesn’t make you weak — it makes you smart.

Feel like you got a good idea? Go ahead and write yours down. The truth is that it’s never too late to start and today is the best day to begin. Don’t think in terms of tomorrow when it comes to building a new habit. Start thinking in terms of Day #1. But the truth is, you’re going to mess up. You’ll miss a day of working out or whatever your plan is. Realize that you’re not perfect and that’s okay. But don’t let that get you down. Think about it this way: if you forgot to brush your teeth one day, would you wake up the next and say, “Well I didn’t brush my teeth yesterday, that stinks. I guess I won’t brush them today or ever again.” No! That’s one, gross, and two, so silly.

Let this year be new for you, with a new mindset, and a new outlook on life. Life is going to be a challenge so make it a game. Make it fun and don’t give up. You’ll see the change happen over time!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2020/02/11/this-is-the-month-when-new-years-resolutions-fail-heres-how-to-save-them/

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I thrive on routine – plans, schedules, calendarized events, and Post-it notes. It’s how I roll; I’m a list person. However, complacency can sometimes be the enemy of growth. Routine can be helpful if managed, but left unchecked, can pull us down the rabbit hole of monotony for a long time.

Christmastime helps to break those routine cycles. At least for me, starting with Thanksgiving, life seems to shift into overdrive and feels like a whirlwind until January 2. Family – food – buying presents … family – food – opening presents – family – midnight – recovery. It can be a grind at times. The key to getting through it all and recovering after is introspection. That is to say, time to think.

Unfortunately, for most men, we’re so bent on action and task completion, we seldom leave time for ourselves. That ends this year.

Sometimes the holidays can bring out the best in us, and sometimes the worst. In either scenario, it can be hard to confront those things in each of us that we don’t want to admit are true, or make up our character, when we wish they didn’t. We can see what others have that we don’t; we can see what others don’t have and are unfairly without; we can get bogged down by the desire for justification when no obvious one exists.

Ultimately without fail, what the holiday season provides is an annual time of reflection. I know, I know: everyone says it, but within each stereotype is a kernel of truth. How much time do you take to think about you? Are you happy with you? Are you where you want to be? Are you the man you want to be; the friend you want to be; the student, the brother, the son, the husband you want to be? If yes, that’s great! I’m sure it took some time to get there. Life takes work. If you answered “No” to any one of these questions, it’s not too late to take the time to reflect and, if desired, enact change.

Men: Seriously, there’s still time. If you’re reading this, the buzzer has not yet been beaten, no one has walked off and won (I only have sports references, apparently) and the fat lady is still in the green room, warming up.

It is commonly believed that it takes about three weeks – 21 days – to create a habit. Of course, depending on the complexity, frequency, and state of mind of the habit former, that timeline is flexible. Here’s an example: a new nightly routine could take a few weeks, while a new exercise regimen could take a few months. Suffice it to say, for most tasks and most taskmasters, habit-forming takes time and repetition, but the first step is always the same: decisiveness. Make the decision that change is needed, warranted, and valid.

For me, it can be making time with family or time by myself to do things I enjoy. I love to read; haven’t cracked a book since March. I love to write, but this is the first thing I’ve written in months. I enjoy running, but I’ve worn my running shoes for family events only this year. I enjoy cycling and recently had to fill up the bike tires solely because I didn’t want to ruin the tires, not because I was preparing for a ride. My wife and I really enjoy playing Xbox, but we got rid our last system because we said we didn’t have the time. The family hasn’t been hiking in a year. It gets depressing, but life can come fast and hard without care or compassion. Time flies – it truly does. So, strap on your wings; we’ve got some gliding to do.

STEP ONE: Schedule time to get your house in order. I’ve taken care of the “have-to” things before they’ve truly become emergencies or missed deadlines/obligations.

STEP TWO: I’ve said no to those requests and asks that would have taken up time I needed for me or other important things (see above). I was not able to attend that particular after-hours meeting; I wouldn’t commit to delivering an ask because I simply didn’t have the time. I do not recall where I heard it first, but Steve Jobs is credited as saying, “Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.” That is to say, schedule your time wisely. Do you really have time to go out with friends tonight? F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out) is real. I get it, but the world won’t stop turning if you miss one night with friends. Prioritization is key.

STEP THREE: Make time, hold on to it, and guard the time you set aside for that which you deem important. Eventually you will be asked to compromise, but hold true. You will not get that time back. Funnily enough, most New Year’s resolutions fail around the third week of January – right when new habits could be taking hold. The key is this: Have patience and confidence in yourself and your decision.

STEP FOUR: Be OK with setbacks. We recently wrapped up Christmas (pun intended) – the season of perpetual hope, but sometimes our best intentions don’t go as planned. Fail by February; start again in March. Fail in April; reset for a fresh start in May. Perpetuity refers to a continual existence. Perpetual hope – a continual hope – of potential change, if you want. But only if you want. Do not let the world dictate that need. Only you can. You can turn it around if you want to turn it around.

Frank Cross in Scrooged turned it around; as did Ebenezer Scrooge, the character upon which Frank is loosely based. Albeit, their realizations came in more dramatic fashion, but they were shown their needs and that they weren’t the men who they could be – who they should be for those around them. Some propose that Phil Connors in Groundhog Day took ten years to figure out his true self.

Any of the previously mentioned steps could have a mid-step added, defined as “with a companion – friend or family” because having an accountability partner is also key to success. Look up “accountability partner” and you’ll return all types of alliterative answers espousing the benefits of paired progress. Regardless, the common theme is that the more people who know your goal, the more likely you are to succeed. It takes a village. In some cases, change can be affected on an individual basis, but in most cases, it takes partnership in some aspect: a friend helping a friend, wife helping a husband, girlfriend helping a boyfriend. We’re all in this together, so it benefits everyone if one of us succeeds in a positive way.

At the end of the day, if you’re doing what you can with what you have in a positive way for you and those around you, then you are enough. The holiday season can be a time of reflection for change, but should also be a time of reflection for support. The world has a way of telling us that more is better. More food, more clothes, bigger cars, bigger houses, more presents, more TV, more, more, more.

Hedonic adaptation refers to a psychological “desensitivity” where we eventually return to a baseline level of happiness after new stimulus is introduced. Meaning, the more we have only temporarily gives us that dopamine burst in the reward centers of the brain.

We all have a baseline happiness level we should strive to maintain. Getting more and more only feeds into the need for more and more, never being satiated with what we have. Sometimes less is more; sometimes enough is enough. But you: You are always enough as you are. Do you feel like you are? Because you are. I’m telling you: You. Are. Enough.

As men, we are looked at stereotypically in a variety of ways, but for a lot of us, we don’t fit that construct. We are us – not them. We are who we are, not who we are told to be. Men: it’s OK to be insecure, and it’s OK to be confident; it’s OK to try, and it’s OK to fail; it’s OK not to be a leader, and it’s OK to lead; it’s OK not to want to go to college, and it’s OK to go to University; it’s OK to be you. Just be secure in what that means.

Change is possible; perpetual hope is a theme of the season. But perpetual confidence is knowing that what you bring to the table is worthy, as well. The holidays aren’t the only time for reflection, and realizing this is beneficial, but for those on the fence or looking for a place to start, the timing is perfect. Use this season to review you; decide who you are, what makes you happy and carpe diem – seize the day. There’s no better time than today.

The post Take Control and Set Your Goals appeared first on Headliners Mission Group.

Perception Critical

Gen Z workers don’t know how to dress professionally, have unreasonable salary and wage demands, and can’t make eye contact, according to a recent article from Angelica Stabile, with Fox Business, which noted a December 2023 survey of 800 U.S. hiring managers, directors, and executives. But is this true? In the same article, Joe Mull, career expert and author of “Employalty: How to Ignite Commitment and Keep Top Talent in the New Age of Work,” said the narrative is not new.

“The idea that younger workers are less equipped, more entitled or less motivated is generational trope as old as time itself.” He adds, “These unflattering perceptions of the workers coming in behind us are the same perceptions that older workers had about us when we arrived at the workplace.”

The Response

Philosophical differences and access to new technology could be contributing factors to how Gen Z is perceived in the workplace, writes Aimee Pearcy, in a recent Business Insider article. There are many reasons why Gen Z could be approaching work differently, and thus, prompting the perception of laziness.

She notes several main themes, including the following:

• They aren’t fulfilled at work: employers lack of flexibility to allow working from home, post pandemic
• They’re considering new alternative types of work: the traditional 9-to-5 is being viewed as outdated, with the advent of the gig economy and other jobs that new technologies have to offer
• Baby Boomers are staying in the workforce longer: the generational transition of work responsibility seems to be taking a long time, and with more experienced workers remaining in the workforce, employers aren’t moving to mentorships of newer workers quickly enough
• They are prioritizing work/life balance: determining the ROI (return on investment) of 40 hours in an office while being asked to remain on-call during “off” hours has become a determining factor of selecting employment

Be Prepared

As a Gen Z individual, breaking the perception of laziness and pushing through the troupe of unpreparedness, how can you apply to the right positions and ensure you are ready to take that job offer when it’s presented?

On-the-spot job hiring used to be one of several regular methods of employment for companies, and its frequency of use is certainly embellished in modern entertainment. Though it may be considered an outdated norm, some employers today still use it when the need is there.

Local Employer Weighs In

“In cases where a candidate is well-qualified or we urgently need associates, we do consider hiring on the spot,” writes Russ Wilson, Human Resources Manager at Velvet Ice Cream, the 100-year-old company in Utica, in a recent email interview. “We typically conduct two interviews for positions in upper management or similar roles.

“Velvet’s approach to hiring on the spot is driven by the specific needs of the position and the demand at that moment,” Wilson wrote. “It’s advisable for candidates to familiarize themselves with Velvet’s brand, understand the responsibilities of the position they’re applying for.”

J.T. O’Donnell, described as a corporate worker-turned career coach, noted in a recent Kristen Altus Fox Business article, that big job boards – like Indeed or Zip Recruiter – are magnets for job seekers, and the ratio of applicants to hires is low because “everyone else is doing the same thing.” O’Donnell suggests flipping a mindset from job seeker to job shopper, where one trims the field of potential applications down to a manageable number and “shops” vertically in particular industries or businesses. This means focusing on jobs in food service, or administrative work, or a specific type of sales industry rather than a scatter shot of applications to see what resonates.

The key is to highlight strengths effectively and efficiently, which could mean trying to secure an in-person, face-to-face interview or by a resume submission. “We don’t mandate resumes for every position, but we strongly encourage applicants to submit one. A resume helps certain candidates stand out and expedites the hiring process,” Wilson wrote. As with most employers, the entire exercise is about making it easy for the employer and potential employee, designed to be straightforward and accessible.

Wilson also wrote of Velvet’s approach: “Applicants can apply online through our website, Indeed, or social media. They are also welcome to visit our headquarters for in-person applications. We aim to streamline the process, allowing qualified applicants to start promptly within our company.”

Ultimately, the more prepared one is for an interview, the greater the likelihood one could receive the ever-elusive on-the-spot offer.

Time for Action

In June, Jack Kelly, with Forbes, wrote about how to stand out in a job interview. The top takeaway items in his list include the following:

• Do Your Homework – Research the company and be proficient with the job description and requirements and how you fit
• First Impressions Count – Dress appropriately for the interview and be polite
• Small Talk – Listen to the banter and connect with the interviewer through a commonality
• Mirror the Hiring Manager – speak as the interviewer speaks – cadence and tone
• Eyes on the Interviewer – Do not dart your eyes – keep focused (even in virtual interviews)
• Let the Interviewer Know You’re Interested – Managers want someone to hire soon; you’re there for a job – make sure they know it
• Be Authentic – Be comfortable and be yourself – don’t “fake it until you make it”
• Call to Action – Pitch yourself and your qualifications – ask about next steps

Brush up the resume (or start one) and make sure you’ve done your homework before sending in that application or writing that initial email. Doing this will increase the chance that when you walk out the door of that business, you’ll have a job.

The post Whatever Happened to Hiring On-the-Spot? appeared first on Headliners Mission Group.

During my first years of college (this was in the late ’80s), I worked several kinds of jobs. One day I opened the newspaper (remember, this was long ago …) to the classifieds and saw a want ad that promised incredible results and rewards. I rushed to the phone, called the number and was excited when they were willing to interview me the next morning.

Rising early, I got out my very best thrift store suit, got dressed, had a light breakfast and took off. I was not about to be late. I drove straight to their office in an industrial park. Walking in, I saw it was a small new office with hardly any furniture, and few people around who looked much older than age 22.

The president’s name was Norman. As he came towards me, I noticed he wore what I guess was supposed to be an impressive and expensive suit. Norman ushered me and another guy, Bob, into his office. I saw it was the only one with furniture. (Okay, they did have card table chairs in the waiting room.)

Norman’s first question to me and the other person I was interviewing with was, “Do your cars run okay?” I nervously lied through my teeth.

Without telling us what the jobs entailed, Norman then bragged about his great “product,” which he had stored in a warehouse across the street (he did not mention what the product was). We had no idea what this mysterious product was nor what it was for. We were both too stupid to ask.

Norman then began boasting that he owned not one, but two Mercedes Benz convertibles, both of which were parked right out front.

For the next few minutes, Norman talked and I pretended to listen. I was waiting to hear about the job. Then Norman finally said, “Alright. Now we are going to attend a marketing workshop!”

I thought we were going to another office. That was a mistake I would regret for the next eight grueling hours. After we left his office, Norman turned us over to another employee named “Steve-O.”

My interviewing partner Bob and I got into a Pinto with Steve-O, who said he was taking us to a seminar on product marketing.

In reality, he kidnapped us to Lancaster, Ohio, a town 30 miles away. There, Steve-O went door-to-door peddling perfume clones — and telling blatant lies in his sales pitch — with us tailing behind him.

Over the next eight hours here’s what happened:

• We were thrown out of several business establishments, including the local mall
• We were threatened with a gun
• We were chased by a vicious guard dog

All in very cold and rainy weather.

When we finally got back to the office, I spoke not one word. I got into my car and drove straight home, feeling like a fool. A hard lesson was learned.

If you look through job postings and find yourself seduced by ads that sound too good to be true, I have some news.

They almost always are too good to be true!

Let me give you some samples of the postings to avoid. These ads are for bogus peddling positions, in the “General” category, with no base or benefits included. They are not legitimate sales positions, which would be listed under a category labeled “Sales & Marketing” or something similar:

FULL TIME – $2,000/WEEK
Due to recent expansion, local company has immediate
openings for 20 men and women. Start Tuesday morning.
No experience necessary, will train.
Must be neat in appearance and ambitious.
Management trainee positions open.
Text / Email only for interview. 740-555-8764 / …@gmail.com

MANAGERS
Immediately hiring. No experience necessary.
Will train. Text / Email Lisa. 740-555-4739 /  …@gmail.com

How to Spot Bogus Peddling Job Posts

Bogus peddling posts have some distinct characteristics. Learn to spot them.

How Is the Ad Categorized?

They are usually listed, as I said before, in the “General” or “Miscellaneous” section of job posts. They are not found where legitimate sales positions are posted.

How Much Money Do They Offer?

Let’s face it: with no skills and no training, how much can you expect to earn per hour? Bogus ads promise a pay scale usually twice as much as a real “no experience necessary” job would offer.

Interested in Management?

Often, these ads say they are looking for “managers,” not sales people. Their rationale is you will be enticed by thinking you can become a manager instead of a salesperson with zero experience.

Titles Are Stressed Over Work

Finally, there is no job description. Remember, titles are meaningless. They hook kids who don’t know any better by promising them glamorous titles, such as “manager” and “executive,” but they won’t say what’s really involved (especially not over the phone).

So when scanning the job posts, beware. I hope that my ordeal will save you much time, frustration and gasoline in the future.

The post Looking for a Job? Watch Out for These Timeless Tricks appeared first on Headliners Mission Group.

I moved to San Francisco at age 21 in the mid ’90s thinking I was going to take the world by storm – that I was going to be the Pat Benatar of the grunge movement. With just a few boxes and a few hundred dollars, I was easily and quickly able to finagle housing and a job. I quickly learned that one job would not be enough, though. I didn’t know it at the time, but one choice I made back then would squash my dreams of rockstardom: I could either live comfortably in my own studio in the posh neighborhood of the Marina; I lived on famous Lombard Street, known as the “crookedest street in the world.” That meant I would have to work multiple jobs in order to maintain that lifestyle. Or, I could choose to live the life of a beggar, in squalor, camping out on someone’s living room floor in Haight Ashbury while I pursued my singing aspirations. I chose to have my own place.

Thirty years later, I don’t have too many regrets; if I truly wanted to become a singer, I would have had the drive to pursue it. The daydreams were really just that – and a means of escapism. I think about that impressionable time in my life, though, in how that decision completely altered the trajectory of my life. Instead of confronting fear and the unknown, I chose the path of least resistance. There would always be time to pursue singing later.

But there wasn’t.

I wasn’t clear and firm in the path I wanted to take in life. The sooner you’re able to figure this out in your youth, the better. People live their entire lives trying to figure out what they’re passionate about, dabbling aimlessly in all sorts of endeavors trying to find something that sticks. I’ve done this, too.

College, marriage, and children came – beautiful things, and surely God’s will for me. It’s only in recent years that I’ve been able to narrow down my loves and toss aside meaningless pursuits. Whenever I have conversations with other people about finding purpose and passion, I will often ask this: If you had all the time in the world, what’s one thing that you would do for free?

As I reflect on my journey, I realize that the key to finding passion lies in focus. It’s about honing in on what truly drives you, what sets your soul on fire, and relentlessly pursuing it. My own experience serves as a testament to this truth.

In San Francisco, as reality set in, I found myself at a crossroads. I had to make a choice between comfort and pursuing my passion wholeheartedly. Opting for the former, I settled into a life that veered away from my musical aspirations. Having a lack of focus hindered this.

Daydreams can only take you so far; it’s the decisive action and unwavering dedication that truly propel you forward.

In choosing this path of least resistance, I delayed the realization of my true desires.

But it’s never too late to course-correct. Over the years, I’ve come to understand the importance of clarity and determination in chasing one’s passions. It’s about stripping away the extraneous pursuits and zeroing in on what truly matters.

For me, the turning point has come with introspection. I began asking myself the tough questions, probing deep into my heart to unearth my true calling. And slowly but surely, clarity has been emerging. I’ve discovered what I would do without hesitation, anytime.

It’s a great question to ask yourself in search of your passion:

What ignites your soul? What would you do tirelessly, even if there were no external rewards? It’s in answering these questions that we find our true way.

So, to the dreamers and seekers out there, I urge you to embrace focus. Be unwavering in your pursuit of passion, for it is through focus that we unlock the boundless potential within ourselves. And remember, it’s never too late to chase your dreams – but the sooner you start, the brighter the journey ahead.

The post Unlocking Your Passion appeared first on Headliners Mission Group.

Don’t you hate it when in a situation where you need to remember someone’s name? It’s so embarrassing and feels insulting even. Maybe you’ve talked to a particular person for a year or more in a casual setting but waited too long to tell them you forgot their name. Remembering names can be challenging for many people, but here are a few strategies you can use to improve your ability to recall them. For sure, calling people by their name will take you far and set you above the rest. Everyone loves hearing the sound of their name, so remembering them when face to face will always make a good impression. We find the best ones involve elementary game-style tactics. Simply paying attention often doesn’t work. Employing playful techniques works the best. Have fun with it!

Name Rhymes:

• Create rhymes or jingles with the person’s name. The sillier, the better
• For example, if you meet someone named Jake, you might think of a rhyme like, “Jake the Snake, his hair’s so fake”

Wordplay:

• Associate the person’s name with a word that sounds similar or has a similar syllable pattern
• If the person’s name is Bill, imagine a stack of bills (money) with their face on it

Memory Tag:

• Imagine the person wearing a nametag with a memorable image or symbol associated with their name
• If you meet someone named Rose, picture them with a rose pinned to their shirt

Alphabet Association:

• Create a sentence or story using words that start with the same letter as the person’s name
• For Emily, think of Emily eats eggs

Emoji Names:

• Associate the person’s name with an emoji that sounds similar or represents a characteristic of the name
• For Chris, think of a Christmas tree emoji

Mnemonic Devices:

• Create funny mnemonic devices or acronyms to remember names
• For Sarah, create an acronym like “Silly And Radiant And Happy”

Superhero Names:

• Imagine the person as a superhero with a name related to theirs. For example, if the person is Alex, picture them as “Amazing Alex, the superhero.”

Remember, the key is to make it enjoyable and lighthearted. The more unique and amusing your associations, the more likely you are to remember names with a smile.

Forgetting someone’s name is a common occurrence, and most people understand that memory lapses happen. Here are some tips on how to handle the situation gracefully:

Be Honest:

• Admit that you’ve forgotten their name. Most people appreciate honesty, and it’s better than trying to pretend you remember

Apologize and Lighten the Mood:

• Offer a friendly apology, and use humor to lighten the mood. You can say something like, “I’m so sorry, but I’ve completely blanked on your name. My memory is taking a vacation today!”

Express Genuine Interest:

Follow up your admission with a statement that shows your interest in them. For example, “I remember our conversation last time was so interesting. I’m kicking myself for forgetting your name!”

Introduce Someone Else:

• If you’re in a group setting, you can introduce the person to someone else, allowing them to say their name in the process. This can be a subtle way to refresh your memory

Use a Buffer Phrase:

• Employ a phrase that gives you time to recall the name. For instance, “I’m having a moment here; it’ll come to me in a second. In the meantime, how have you been?”

Check Social Media:

• If appropriate, quickly check social media on your phone to see if you can find their name. Many people have profiles with their names readily available

Remember, people generally understand that forgetting names is a common human experience. Being genuine, polite, and handling the situation with humor can go a long way in making the moment less awkward for both parties.

The post Use Elementary Games to Remember Names appeared first on Headliners Mission Group.

What does this entail? It requires you to shift your perspective from being a job seeker to becoming a problem solver. Identifying and addressing unmet needs doesn’t merely make you an applicant; it transforms you into a valuable asset. This is a universally acknowledged truth, be it in the bustling businesses of Newark or the tight-knit communities in Granville and surrounding areas.

The adage, “It’s not what you know but who you know,” holds a grain of truth. However, the most fruitful opportunities frequently arise from unaddressed needs in the community. This could range from offering support to local businesses, to volunteering at community centers, to even identifying inefficiencies within your own school’s activities.

For instance, consider a scenario where you are involved in a school club or sports team and notice a decline in event attendance due to a lack of awareness. Taking the initiative, you propose managing the organization’s social media to boost visibility and engagement. As attendance improves, you find yourself in a newly minted role as the club’s or team’s Social Media Manager. This role wasn’t found; it was created out of a recognized need, thereby providing you valuable experience for your future endeavors.

The core message is this: Your potential for creating meaningful connections and valuable opportunities increases manifold when you shift your focus toward understanding and solving the needs of others. This not only serves your community but also sets the foundation for your own success, whether your path leads to higher education, vocational training, or directly into the workforce.

Stay vigilant and attentive to the nuances of your surroundings. Opportunities often materialize in the most unexpected places—sometimes as close as your local community event or a casual conversation with a neighbor.

The post Don’t Hunt for a Job; Search for a NEED. appeared first on Headliners Mission Group.

Or perhaps, it was a struggle this morning just to get out of bed.

But if you did, despite such a struggle, you deserve credit.

Sometimes, just showing up and being present is the best we can do. Too many of us — and this applies to all roles in our lives, and at all ages (this includes your teachers and parents too!) — have felt less worthy of a task at hand because we are not meeting our own standard of perfection for that day. We need to get over ourselves, move past that, and simply be present.

A dramatic case in point: the 2008 movie We are Marshall tells the story of Marshall University’s struggle to rebuild its football program after a plane crash tragically takes the lives of virtually everyone on the team. University leaders considered folding the program all together — to give up if you will — rather than endure more pain of what would be a formidable task.

But the school—and indeed the community—decided to move forward. Staying in the game was what was needed most of all. It wasn’t about winning. It was about playing. While the movie ends with the new football team achieving a dramatic game win, it goes on to tell you that for the next fifteen years, Marshall did indeed struggle, losing far more games than they would win.

It wasn’t about winning. It was about playing.

But that didn’t matter. What mattered is that they played. They showed up.

And according to Woody Allen, isn’t that most of what makes success? Just showing up? It calls to mind the words of C. S. Lewis in one of his books: “I am to give my readers not the best absolutely but the best I have.”

Indeed, this is all we can ever do. But we should take comfort in knowing that too often we give ourselves less credit than we are due, and that the best we have is often better than we think.

The post Don’t Give Up; Show Up appeared first on Headliners Mission Group.

Financial Management

Make a budget: Start by tracking your income and expenses, and then create a budget that reflects your needs and priorities. There are many apps that can help you keep track of your spending.

Save money: Even if it’s just a little bit each month, saving money is important for emergencies and long-term goals. Again, try some apps if you find that helpful. You can even just save your change. Stop by the bank and ask for some coin rolls. Sounds minor, but it adds up.

Avoid debt: Credit cards and loans can be helpful, but they can also be dangerous if not used responsibly. Be mindful of interest rates and only borrow what you can afford to pay back.

Affordable Housing

Do your research: Look for affordable neighborhoods or areas with low rent prices. Online resources like Zillow, Rent.com, and ApartmentList can help you find available housing options in your area.

Consider roommates: Sharing a living space with roommates can help you split the cost of rent and utilities, making it easier to afford a nicer place. Just make sure you choose roommates that you can trust and get along with!

Be prepared: When you find a place you like, be ready to act quickly. Have all of your paperwork and necessary funds in order so you can submit an application and secure your spot. This is the biggest.

Remember, it’s okay to ask for help. Talk to a trusted adult or financial advisor if you need guidance or advice if you can. If not, don’t worry – you are more than capable of figuring it on your own. Just make calls, and know that trial and error is completely fine. Have fun knowing you’re learning and feel good that you’re taking charge of your life. Good luck with it.

Seek Emancipation if Needed

And to teens who are struggling with a dangerous or neglectful home life, emancipation is a real solution. Emancipation is a legal process that allows minors to become legally independent from their parents or guardians before reaching 18. While some teens may consider emancipation, it is not a common occurrence; only a small percentage of minors seek emancipation each year. The reasons for seeking emancipation may vary, but include wanting financial independence, the desire to make one’s own decisions, or the need to escape an abusive home environment.

In Ohio, a minor may petition for emancipation if they are at least 16 years old, financially independent, and capable of managing their own affairs. A minor will have to file with the juvenile court in the county where they reside. The court may also require the minor to provide proof of their ability to support themselves financially and live independently.

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