Reaching Your Career Dreams

Building Your Career- Group Coaching Series

2011-09-28T11:08:00.001-04:00

“The Empowerment Hour” presented by Divine Vessels Empowerment

Building Your Career- Group Coaching Series
... Prepared and qualified job applicants are in high demand in this current economy by employers! Get ahead by equipping yourself with the work readiness tools and skills to build your career! Topics will include career exploration, resume & cover letter writing, networking, the job market, overcoming barriers to employment, developing a career portfolio, interviewing, resources, success strategies, and common mistakes job applicants make and many more.

Format
Receiving career-coaching techniques with life success strategies, participants will be engaged through discussions, role-plays and activities that awaken deeper insights into self-awareness, potential, passion, and the desire for a meaningful and significant career. A formal advice commentary is given in the beginning, and then the phone lines are open for general questions that would benefit the entire group on the specific topic for the session.

About the facilitator:
Shemeka Brathwaite, MSEd, is a New York University certified personal & life coach and earned her Master’s of Science degree in Adult Education and Human Resource Development from Fordham University. Currently she works in career services on a 23,000+ student college campus.

Registration:
No RSVP required, however, this teleconference is limited to only 96 participants.
Free Conference Call
Conference Dial-in Number: (661) 673-8600
Participant Access Code: 855917#

Cost: FREE (This career coaching opportunity is in a live recording public group teleconference setting. All sessions of the series will be made available immediately in the archives via telephone and www.divinevessels.com as a MP3 file for download. Individuals seeking one-on-one private coaching can send an email to coaching@divinevessels.com)

For more information please visit www.divinevessels.com or send an email to empowermenthour@divinevessels.com

Motto Magazine & Whatsyourmotto.com

2011-01-05T23:33:00.000-05:00

Ted Williams - Homeless Man Golden Voice - CBS News

2011-01-05T22:52:00.000-05:00

What I NEED & WANT: Reflection on 2010

2010-12-31T15:49:00.010-05:00

The number one lesson learned this year is: “I may not have everything I want, but I have everything I NEED”, coupled with another popular saying “you can have everything you want, you just have to know what you WANT”. Shemeka, this doesn’t make any sense, these statements diametrically oppose each other! I developed this acronym which best explain this oxymoron of the major lesson learned.

NEED= Necessary & Emotionally fulfilling by Engaging in Discipline.

WANT= Willing to Achieve No matter The circumstances.

Having a new definition on NEED & WANT has given me a new perspective on reaching for the dream. Rational critical decisions vs. intuitive, spontaneous pursuits must be balanced. Setting goals and priorities may sound like you are trapping yourself in a box, but actually you are NOT. There was one professional goal I was trying to achieve over the past three years, and no matter how hard I tried, there were aspects of that dream that was out of my control. It was frustrating because I realized I had to make the decision on whether to give up on the dream or continue to reach.

This was indeed a NEED & WANT however, I was only focus on the one preferred vehicle to take me to my destination of reaching that particular goal. This kind of tunnel vision will keep you in grid lock traffic. Reevaluation gave me a paradigm shift in my perspective. I decided to take the path less travel, and now I am cruising on the express lane to that dream. How serious are you about your goals? Do you know what you NEED & WANT for 2011? Are you willing to take a bus, train, plane, boat, or even walk to where you need to go? As the famous proverb goes “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

As I reflect on 2010, I can’t fathom all that has taken place. 2010 has proven to be another great year. Yes there have been obstacles and challenges, but God gave me the strength to stay focus on what truly matters most in life. We as individuals do not know what we have the potential to achieve.

There have been so many lessons that I have learn over the course of this year, that I am going to take the time to capture the bullet points through my 2011“Reaching Your Career Dreams” blog entries.

Please join me on this journey.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Ain't I a Woman- Self Truth message of the Day

2010-08-21T13:30:00.002-04:00

Sojourner Truth is the national Matriarch of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. and our recognition and knowledge of Sojourner Truth is important to every club member.

Booker T. Washington High grad Deonte Bridges' Valedictorian speech

2010-08-21T13:14:00.000-04:00

Quote of the Day

2010-02-07T21:03:00.001-05:00

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thinking Outside The Box

2009-12-13T23:51:00.000-05:00

If you think outside the box, then you would not hit any walls- Ephrime Buckings

Sometimes we are conditioned to think within the box. Rules, guidelines, and procedures are only designed to keep things and people in order. When reaching your career dreams, you would come across red tape. It is up to you to decide whether you would proceed forward or turn back. I remember when I was a sophomore in college attending an employer informational. The recruiter stated that among the thousand applicants that they receive each year, they only select three interns. To make matters even worst, they usually hire juniors from the top design programs. I had three strikes against me.

I had to make an interpretation of what I just heard. I didn't let that stop me. I was confident to say to myself that it was okay because that only meant that they had two slots left. I was able to not only get an interview, but use my creative abilities to think out of the box to wow the interviewer. Despite all the rules and regulations, when you think outside the box, you would not hit the walls.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Video of The Day - How to Write a Resume

2009-11-27T18:15:00.000-05:00

How To Write a Resume on Howcast

Video of the Day- How to Dress for an Interview

2009-11-20T18:20:00.000-05:00

How To Dress For a Job Interview on Howcast

Video of the Day- How to Get a Raise

2009-11-13T18:25:00.000-05:00

How To Ask For a Raise on Howcast

Video of The Day- How to Work From Anywhere

2009-11-06T18:29:00.000-05:00

How To Work From Anywhere on Howcast

Video of the Day - How to File for Unemployment

2009-10-30T18:33:00.000-04:00

How To Apply For Unemployment on Howcast

Video of The Day - How to Know When It Is Time To Leave Your Job

2009-10-23T18:37:00.000-04:00

How To Know When It’s Time To Quit Your Job on Howcast

Video of The Day - How to Write a Cover Letter

2009-10-16T18:44:00.000-04:00

How To Write a Cover Letter on Howcast

Serenity Prayer

2009-10-12T11:59:00.001-04:00

Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

I am all sure that we have heard this prayer one time or another. Sometime we get off track when we feel overwhelmed and things are out of control. In order to stay focus, we need to keep a piece of mind. It has to be protected at all cost. This may seem impossible, but we owe it to ourselves to make the conscience decision on how we react to jobs, things, people, and circumstances that may come our way to frustrate us from our peaceful state. As said in the serenity prayer, we do need to know the difference of what we can change and choose our battles wisely. Think about other way you can use your energy as you reach for your dreams.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka

Video of The Day - How To Network

2009-10-09T18:40:00.000-04:00

How To Network on Howcast

Professional Organizations & Associations

2009-10-05T17:07:00.000-04:00

As you are focus and clear on what you need to accomplished,there are many professional associations and organizations designed with a clear focus and purpose. People join together for a cause, networking opportunities, resources and information. I will briefly discuss three major types of organizations only as a framework of strategies that can be applied for any individual. I have been a part of professional organizations ever since I was a Girl Scout Brownie. Today, the various organizations that I am a member of, serves different purposes in helping me reach my career dreams. Personally, I have selected one from each category that I will discuss, only to have a balance approached to the major areas in my life. This technique however is reserved for those who have the necessary time management, committment, and tolerance skills. For starters, I would recommend only one organization, whose purposes overlap with another category.

Personal/Social Development Organizations
The purpose of joining a personal development organization is to work on a skill that you feel you can improve on. Several examples may include a creative writing and poetry club or a local sewing guild. For those who are seeking to improve on their public speaking and leadership skills should really consider joining a local club of Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org)

Professional Development Organizations
Professional Development Organizations and associations are designed for those in a specific career industry. The latest information on industry news, reports, conferences and resources are share with the members. Depending on the organization, there are mentoring programs, scholarships, grants, and employment resources available.

Service/ Community Based Organizations
Service/Community based organizations provide an outlet to give back to your community or church. This can be in the form of mentoring, activism, outreach, and community development.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Funding Your Dreams- Part 1

2009-10-04T08:17:00.001-04:00

I have asked many people what is one thing that is holding them back from reaching their career dreams. The most common answer that I received is the lack of money or resources. Believe it or not, if you do your homework, you would become overwhelmed by all the resources that is available. You have to be in it to win it! There are loans and grants available if you know how to get them. I will like to share some resources that would get you started along the way. I received a lot of information when I took a grant writing class earlier this year. There are many free workshops at the Foundation Center and in your community. Check it out.

Web Resources Evaluation
It is best to be proactive and have a sense of urgency in the process of securing grants (Bauer, 2007). The following report lists the critical review of ten web resources available that one can utilize as they begin the research process to obtain grants.

1. Foundation Center Listings at Libraries - http://fdncenter.org/collections/index.html
Purpose of this site is to provide information, tools and resources to individual and nonprofit grant seekers. The website allows first time visitors to participate in a full tour of the website that explains in details the services and feature offered. It is best used as an all in one stop shopping gold mine of information for everything that is connected or related to the grants process. The website is well organized and the html content and graphic is first class. Some of the best features included that is not fond on most websites, is the event page. Visitors have the opportunity to attend several events in major cities all across the country or through webinars. Two of the most successful and popular events include the “Meet the Grant makers” and the “Dialog with Donors”, designed to give grant seekers the opportunity to learn first hand about the grantors of the grants they are seeking.

2. Funding Opportunities, US Dept. of Education- http://www.ed.gov/funding.html
This website is hosted by the United States Department of Education, which provides information to promote and support academic excellence in Americans.
This website is best used when you are a student, parent, teacher or administrator. The best features are the resources available to educators and the grants that are available to further research and educational programs.

3. Michigan State Univ. Site - http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/grants.htm
Purpose of this site is to provide grants and related resources. This website is best used when a person need a straightforward listing of resources that they can utilize. The best features is its list of 42 links that are clearly label in various categories and the specific information that can be found on resources for the state of Michigan.

4. TOPS Grants Awards - http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/publicationmedia/newsltr/t_news1.htm
Purpose of this site is to provide information on the fundraising field as well available funds through the database. This website is best used as an inspiration to find out what other organizations are doing. It provides a link to the TOP 200 grantees across the United States. The website provides updates on grantee’s projects as well as a detail report. I found this to be useful because I was intrigued about reading project GILEAD: Leveraging technology to deliver faith-based services in Ohio. It would be great to see a similar program done in the New York City area.

5. A Brief Grant Writing Manual http://www.grant-writing.com/
Purpose of this site is to provide links to sponsored related services from various parties. This website is best used when individual organizations intend to connect with specialized free and for profit sources that cater to the grant funding industry. The best feature of this website is it is easy to navigate layout that is very organize.

6. Fundsnet http://www.fundsnetservices.com/
Purpose of this site is to provide free resources and information for grant writing resources. This website is best used as a source to locate RFP and fundraising program. The beat feature is the wealth of free information available in which an individual can sign up for a free fundraising information kit.

7. Graduate Fellowship Notebook - http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN
Purpose of this site is to provide a database of available fellowships. This website is best used when an individual is a college student and fall in to the specific area of research and study. The best feature is the keyword searches that allow someone to search by deadline, field, or award.

8. Illinois Researcher Information Service Database (IRIS) - http://www.library.uiuc.edu/iris/
Purpose of the IRIS database is to provide free (to a specific community) and fee based subscription usage of the resources. This database is best utilized when an individual is a member of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign community since the services would be free of charge. There is also a two -week free trial period that one can use if you have a representative contact them by email. The best feature of the site includes the IRIS Alert Service, which is an email notification of new grant opportunities.

9. Community of Science (COS) - http://www.cos.com/
Purpose of this site is to provide global information on scientific research in various areas of studies. The information provided can be beneficial and best used to include in a grant proposal. The best feature of this site is the database that includes almost 400,000 funding opportunities. It also provides an extensive database in which collaboration can take place.

10. Federal Assistance Programs Retrieval System (FAPRS) - http://www.gsa.gov/fdac
Purpose of this site is to serve as a database and resource that provide federal programs to almost every major organizing entity. The website refers to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance as a source for desired programs. This website is best used when an individual knows what they are looking for. The catalog is extensive and consists of 2205 pages in a black and white PDF format. The best feature is the easy downloadable and printable PDF catalog.

This is just a brief listing of ten available resources found on the internet. There are more resources out there in various forms. As mentioned earlier in this report, it is up to the individual or organization to be proactive in seeking funding.

Reference
Bauer, D. G. (2007). The “How To” grants manual (6th ed.). West Port, CT: American council on Education & Oryx

Aspire. Create. Develop.
Shemeka

Diversity in the Work Place

2009-10-03T17:48:00.003-04:00

HOW DIVERSE IS THE WORKFORCE?
It was predicted that in the United States between 1985 and 2000, 85 per cent of entry-level employees to the workforce would be ‘women, minorities and immigrants’. African-Americans currently comprise 10.1 per cent of the United States' 112.4 million employed workforce. However, the same group has less than 10 percent in managerial and technical positions. (Clements & Jones, 2006) Recently, however, Barrack Obama, an African-American man have been elected to the highest office in the United States.

New Trend in the U.S. Population
By 2050, the U.S. population is expected to increase in great numbers and minority groups will make up nearly half of the population of 54%. This is an expected population of 235.7 million of the 439 total populations in the United States. The workforce of working adults would consist of 55% minorities by 2050. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008) With these growing numbers, being a minority would have to take on a new meaning.

DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Diversity is about everyone. It is not about separating groups of people, but bringing people together to achieve the goals of the corporate organization. This is achieved when individuals have the opportunity to fairly demonstrate their unique strengths and contributions. The competition within all organizations today is to find talented and skilled workers. Diversity is important for recruiters because it provides a rich pool of applicants that can bring in new ideas, points of views and resources. With the mixture of different people and ideas, conflict is bound to arise; however when managed correctly it can actually become what is called “ creative abrasion”, where opposing viewpoints compliment each other.

As you pursue your career dreams within an organization or out on your own, remember that the majority vote and choice on your life comes from you!

References

Clements, P., & Jones, J. (2006). The diversity-training handbook: A practical guide to understanding and changing attitudes (2nd ed.). London, England & Philadelphia, PA: Kogan Page Limited.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2008, August 14, 2008). An older and more diverse nation by mid-century [Press release]. Retrieved from www.census.gov

Aspire. Create. Develop.
Shemeka Peters

Video of The Day - How to Incease Work Productivity

2009-10-02T18:56:00.000-04:00

How To Increase Your Work Productivity on Howcast

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

2009-09-24T19:08:00.002-04:00

This is a clip from a workshop that I presented at Syracuse University's Beta Club of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. titled "Networking 101: How to make contacts and build relationships"

Video of the Day - Follow Your Heart

2009-09-24T19:03:00.005-04:00

How long will you let all the crazy things go on at your place of work? When will it ever be the right time for you to follow your dreams? Listen to that small voice within you and you will find the answers within.

Who am I as an adult educator?

2009-09-23T02:16:00.004-04:00

*This is a paper I recently wrote for class. It meant a lot to me and I wanted to share it. It is important as we reach for out career dreams, to define ourselves or someone else will.

As I think of myself as an educator now, I must first reflect on my “pre-module” perspective to show the comparison and growth in my current thinking. In applying to Fordham University to further my education as an adult learner and educator, I wrote in my essay “My decision to become an educator is the fruition of specific seeds deeply planted within me to become an effective communicator, organizer, planner, and responsible leader. Through the continuous nurturing of these attributes and characteristics, I am able to work effectively with adult students in an educational environment.” This metaphor can be described as a gardener (Apps, 1991, p. 23). I have since then learned through hands on experience from being a career development facilitator to young adults, that it takes more than providing the “perfect” environment to empower students. Creating the culture and environment are only external factors that can have little and sometimes shallow results. As a trainer and educator, I now use the metaphor of a water well in which I will discuss in further detail throughout this reflection.

Upon reading bell hooks’ work, I seek to have a deeper connection with my students, which lies within their intrinsic motivation and potential. My responsibility as an educator is to draw it out. I must first understand myself and feel comfortable to show and reveal my true self to my students. Recently, I have found myself taking on the persona of a serious and inflexible instructor. I assumed that in teaching a career and professional development course, I had to become stern with my students. My rationale was that the real world of work would not have any mercy on them. I have recognized that there is a need for a healthy balance to my teaching style of approach. I have to become more conscience of not only the intellectual needs of my learners, but the emotional needs as well. Considering that the majority of the population that I serve is at risk young adults, they have experienced already a lifetime’s worth of being beaten up upon. As hooks, I want to transform my classroom as an oasis for freedom and relief from their normality of life.
Through the Learning Styles Inventory, it was confirmed that I was a visual learner. I see people including my students for not only who they are, but who they could become as well. My learning style also means that I love to use graphs, charts, color and vivid word descriptions. I enjoy performing spoken word poetry in my free time. Being able to create and tell a story to an audience is captivating. This skill will allow for me to be comfortable in presenting in front of my students and be engaging enough to capture their attention. I have learned however, that everyone is not a visual learner and I have to adapt. I have the tendency to speak in metaphors to paint the picture of what I want to say to my learners or coworkers, but sometimes they get lost in the translation. I have to commit to developing strategies and techniques in bringing out the best in others, through other learning styles that is suited for everyone.

The creativity lies in the possibilities, methods and strategies in making learning happen. My humanistic approach to teaching allows for me to teach to the human potential. This means that I have to become more non judgmental on the current situations and circumstances that I or my students face. I use this concept as I design a program or write a curriculum. I have to remain relevant, fresh and replenished. Like a water well, if I am not renewed or refilled, I will become dry and useless. I am an avid reader of contemporary best sellers to classics works by authors such as Napoleon Hill. It is important for me to stay on top of the trends of technology as well because it is progressing at a rapid speed each day. I continue to improve on my professional development and learning, by taking classes that would help me grow as a facilitator, such as leadership, human relations and coaching.

Communication is the “drawing the water out” tool in which deep inner self reflection and learning insights can occur. Ever since I became a certified personal and life coach this summer, my vision is to use it as a communication tool in which I use with my learners so they can become more self-directed. This new vision will greatly impact my teaching style, because it is intertwined with my values, beliefs, and attitude (Galbraith, 2004, p. 14). The benefit of coaching is that it brings out the best in everyone. It provides a creative environment and the opportunity for an educator/facilitator to discover the wealth of the inner human resources of its members. People will discover their inner self-motivation that would change the culture of the working or learning environment. (Whitmore, 2002). Many of these new communication techniques that I am including into my teaching style include; being present through active listening, creating safety, providing constructive feedback, paraphrasing for clarification, being non-judgmental, furthering action and deepen thinking and asking open ended questions.

Paulo Freire and bell hooks have been excellent representations for me as to how learners can have an impact on those around them as well. Success is achieved when there is effective questioning from the facilitator. As an effective leader, I want to further action and deepen thinking. The purpose of effective questioning is to create awareness and responsibility. This can take the form of personal, family, community or global responsibility. Unlike the “banking system of education” as Paulo Freire can best describe, I choose not to be a bucket filler, but a water drawer form the well of a student’s mind.

References
Apps, J. W. (1991). Thinking as a teacher. In Mastering the teaching of adults (pp. 21-25). Malabar,FL: Krieger.
Galbraith, M. W. (Ed.). (2004). Adult learning methods (3rd ed.). Malabar, FL: Krieger.
hooks, b. (1994). Teaching to transgress. New York, NY: Routledge.
Whitmore, J. (2002). Coaching for performance (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Brealey Publishing.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Video of the Day - Elevator pitch

2009-09-20T18:00:00.006-04:00

This is a link to a video clip on the elevator pitch. It is always great to have one, and you will never know when you have to use it. When I was working in the fashion industry, I shared an elevator ride with two of the industry biggest fashion icons; Besty Johnson and Oscar De La Renta. My elevator pitch sure came in handy!

Life's Lemons

2009-08-10T19:33:00.006-04:00

Life’s Lemons
By Shemeka Peters

When Life throws you lemons, make lemonade.
Stay as cool as ice and sweet as sugar.
Do not let your cup get half-empty,
nevertheless, remain overflowing until it makes your enemies
thirsty.
Take a drink from the creations you have made.
Leave nothing behind but
drip drops to show that you have
left a mark in the world.

I took a popular quote in the first sentence, and gave it more thought, which inspired me to write the poem. As we reach towards our career dreams, there would be many obstacles that come our way. It is our choice, however, to respond in the way we want to.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Game Night

2009-08-07T20:01:00.002-04:00

It’s Friday night, and your friend invites you and others for game night. Immediately I think back to my college days were I would spend hours playing Uno and Phase 10. This time around however, my friend who owns Adia’s Empowerment Connections invites me to play this game call Cash Flow 101. I honestly, up until that point, have never heard of that game and had no idea what it entailed. She asked if I had read the book Rich Dad Poor Dad, and I said yes of course. The author of the book, Robert Kiyosaki, created the Cash Flow 101 game to teach individuals wealth building principles and strategies on getting out of the “rat race”. It is a spin-off of the book. I did my research and found out that there is a trend among the upwardly mobile population coming together in groups to play this game. I said to her I am up for anything to get me out of the rat race!

I had so much fun playing this game, the best way I can explain this game is that Monopoly is hot dogs and Cash Flow 101 is the steak. There are so many principles that I have learn from this game that I am applying to my life. It’s is an investment in which you build a network of friends who are like-minded and can help support you on the journey to financial freedom. I tell so many people about the game and they become all exited. When I tell them about the price however, they frown. Yes, this board game is expensive, it cost about $200, but you wouldn’t think twice about buying a Nintendo Wii now would you?

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Ten Sparkling Gems of Wisdom

2009-08-05T20:28:00.002-04:00

As much as I love hours of playing Bejeweled 2, it is a distraction as I could be doing other things such as writing a new post for my blog or a chapter in my upcoming book. I realized if I could just pause for a minute and really just think about the simple things in life; I could extract powerful lessons for myself. I want to share with you some life lessons that I learned from playing this game, in which you can apply towards reaching your career dreams.

• You don’t have to wait until someone else tell you to "GO" in order to make a move
• Notice both good and bad patterns. Make the necessary moves and corrections
• Stand still and waste time
• Its okay to ask for help (hint)
• Surrounding yourself with dynamic people are like power gems which help you accomplish your goals
• Use your gifts (Hyperbole) wisely
• Never try to get into a place where you can not move
• You may not always get praise for a job well done (good, excellent, incredible!)
• There will always be competition, if not, then your only competition should be your past success
• Finally yet importantly, as in life, you only score for the power gem opportunities you take not the one you could have.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Get Ahead with a Head-Shot

2009-08-03T19:24:00.001-04:00

This is the first in the “Professional Presentation Series”. I would cover many aspects from dress to success to public speaking tips that would help you in your professional image as you reach for your career dreams. About two years ago, I attended a company-wide award’s dinner. Many individuals were honored at the dinner to celebrate the amount of years of service to the company. As each recipient bio was read, a larger than life sized photo of the individual was posted on the projector for all to see. Now, I have nothing against spur of the moment pictures, but this was not the time or place for them. Some of the photos were one-step away from being a mug shot. As a professional, it is important to have a recent professional headshot available at all times. You would come off more polished and taken seriously. Some good uses for a professional headshot include:

• Professional social networking sites such as LinkedIn
• Recipient of an award in which bio and headshot would be included in journal
• Personal or professional website
• Membership directory of professional organizations
• Ad’s
• Competitions
• Business cards
• Jobs in the entertainment fields
• Your book, CD, DVD, article or any other products
• Obituary (Hopefully shouldn’t be used any time soon)

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Resting Place

2009-07-29T00:16:00.002-04:00

If you have been reading this blog for the past couple of weeks, one of two results have occurred. The first is you realized that you have been sitting too long on undiscovered treasures or you are burned out from being overwhelm from your new to do list. I have been chatting with couple of friends on their responses to the Reaching Your Career Dreams blog to hear what reactions were raised. Some have said that they are now motivated to move forward, or confessed to being lazy. Either way, I want to discuss the topic of being in a “resting place” from both perspectives.

Burned Out
If you describe yourself as a go getting high achiever, it would be very easy for you to become burned-out without even recognizing it. Some signs of burn out include stress, fatigue, insomnia, and irritation. This is not an overall productive condition to be in for long periods and it can have serious consequences. The major component in your vision is you and if you do not have you, then what are you going to do? This is where your resting place comes in. In reaching your career dreams, it is important to factor in time for yourself to rest, refresh, and rejuvenate. You will be able to be more effective in pursing what you want to accomplish.

Get Up
If you describe yourself as someone who wants to accomplish his or her dreams, but not doing anything about them, then you are still dreaming. Okay, you have been asleep too long and its time to get up! Remove all negative vocabulary out of your thinking. This is not the time to call yourself a lazy bum, but just acknowledge that you were in a resting place, and now are on the move. Do not allow excuses hold you back any longer.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Kim Peters

Career TV

2009-07-25T22:01:00.003-04:00

Everyone has heard of YouTube, but CareerTV is becoming a name in which every job seeker must know. As listed on its website, www.careertv.com, CareerTV is the world's leading employer branding & recruiting video streaming network. You can receive first hand information from recruiters on what they are looking for in prospective employees. Explore the website to view companies and industries profiles to get the inside scoop. Do not forget to catch the latest episode of the CareerTV Show while you are visiting. This website gives a new meaning to company research!

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Book Your Flight- Book Review Series

2009-07-23T21:28:00.007-04:00

Book Your Flight is the book review segment of the Reaching Your Career Dreams blog. This blog is designed to provide articles, information and resources that would assist you in taking your dreams to the next level. Sky is not the limit, get on board with the recommended books and you would be sure to take flight. There are just a few books out there that are timeless, and a must read for every individual on their growth for personal development. I will introduce you to new reading material that is currently revolutionizing different industries.

The first book to take off the Book Your Flight series is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, by Stephen R. Covey ©1989. This book have become an instant national bestseller and inspired many to be effective by developing these seven habits:

1. Be Proactive
2. Begin with the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think Win/Win
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw

This book is also available in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which I recommend to my younger audience. In fact, I love the teen version more, because it is more visually appealing. Almost twenty years after the release of the first book, Covey follows up the 7 Habits with the 8th Habits of Highly Effective People: From Effectiveness to Greatness. Am sure if any individual implement these habits into their lives, they would be on their way to reaching their career dreams.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Basic Instinct

2009-07-22T20:35:00.000-04:00

The other day I had the opportunity to begin a 3-part mini series to participants who belong to a homeless shelter. This population is not the usual individuals that I work with on a consistent basis, but I was up to the challenge because I strongly believe that everyone have the potential to reach their career dreams. As I begun presenting the material, many of the participants had so many excuses as to why they could not work at all. It was true that many of them had legitimate challenges and in need of necessities such as a place to live. In Maslow’s theory of Motivation, before an individual can reach self- actualization, basic needs have to be obtained to motivate an individual to reach for more out of life.

Honestly, I was in for more than I had bargained for. It was a revelation for me to experience homelessness in the city from another perspective. Everyday as a commuter in NYC, I come across at least one individual who is homeless and living on the streets. As we see them peddling down the aisle on the crowed train during rush hour, instinctively judgment come upon us and we clutch our purses closer. Sometimes if we are in a good mood, we would drop a few coins in the pan, secretly thinking that it would all end up going to waste. Think about how each of us was blessed with some token of a gift from God and consider if you are letting anything-go waste? What do you need in life today to motivate you to go to the next level?

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

From Fear To Faith

2009-07-20T13:53:00.002-04:00

By Shemeka Kim Peters

Let freedom ring
Let freedom ring
Like a melody in harmony.
However there is a bellow
Crying out from my people
Hearts and minds.
They are kings and queens
And don’t know it.
Have intelligent minds
But don’t show it.
Have hopes and dreams buried
Deep down in their being
But don’t grow it.

It is the chains of bondage
Passed down from generation to generation.
It has my people
In a prison that has no
Concrete or Steele
And a heart made of stone
That can’t feel.
These chains are not ones
That you can see.
One of these chains is called fear
False
Evidences
Appearing
Real

Fear to step in or step out.
Fear to see your dreams carried out.
Fear to embrace and love all people.
Fear to believe that anything is achievable.
Fear to in the littlest of things to give thanks.
Fear to …. You fill in the blanks.

The wear and tear of the oppression
Leave an impression that
Can last for many years.
I heard a pastor once say that the grave is
One of the wealthiest places on earth.
It is filled with all the visions, dreams
And potential of many people
But it was buried with them.

With the living it is just the same
Because the only difference between
A rut and a grave
Is its dimensions.

Wake up my people!
Open your eyes and ears
To hear the bellow crying out
From the depths of your soul.
You got to cry out Lord save me
Because I can’t do this on my own.

It takes faith to overcome fear.
Faith to step up and step out.
Faith to see your dreams carried out.
Faith to embrace all people.
Faith to believe that anything is achievable.
Faith to give thanks.
Faith to… you fill in the blanks.

Perfect Timing

2009-07-15T13:31:00.002-04:00

Is there really such a thing as perfect timing? I hear many people say, “The perfect timing will be ...XYZ”. Are you holding back from starting that business, writing that book, or starting a new career because of perfect timing? What are the parameters of perfect timing? Will we ever have enough time, money or resources to do what we hope to envision for ourselves? As I have mentioned in the welcome blog, I thought that the perfect timing for me to start my company would be in the distant future, when everything in my life from my perspective would be in alignment.

I have discover that there is a such thing as perfect timing, but it can never be experienced or described in a future tense such as it will be the perfect timing when… Perfect timing can only be experienced in the moment in which we have taken the initiative to move forward and witness the Divine hand putting all the pieces together. We stop then to pause to say OMG this is perfect timing or wow that was PERFECT TIMING!

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

A Piece Of The Pie

2009-07-09T12:22:00.002-04:00

We all want a piece of the American pie. Each of us is designed with a unique contribution to this world and hold a major ingredient in putting it all together. It may seem as though others have imitated, or just outright taken an idea that you have not moved quickly on. I have met so many life/career coaches or others doing similar things as I am doing along my path. Yes, it is very easy to get discouraged at times as I see more and more people moving into this field, but I am confident that this is what I am called to do. No one can do what you do like you. This is not an excuse to give up or not try at all. The problem lies when you are “starving” yourself by not taking part of it.

Whatever the vision or dream that you have for yourself, God has made room for you to have your very own piece of the pie. There is enough to go around for everyone. Hey, some people even take a seconding helping. If you have not I hope now you have a craving!

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

Get Your Facts Straight!

2009-07-06T11:51:00.003-04:00

The statistics are in. The American workforce has now reached a record high unemployment rate 9.5% according to the Department of Labor statistics for the month of June. This would cause many people to worry and panic. What does this means for you? It would seem as if almost one out of every ten American is unemployed. That individual could be someone you know; hey, it could even be you. We face it as we read the daily newspaper and watch the news. There are pieces of important details that the media leave out in the reports we read and hear. Let us take that very same statistic of the 9.5% of the American workforce who are unemployed. Did you know that there are individuals who work on an academic contractual basis and laid-off in June, just to become rehired again in the fall? Technically unemployed but not really. Considering the amount of educational contracts with non-profit partner agencies across the country, that is many people to help bring that statistic up. This example only includes one of the many examples that play in the factor of the numbers being so high in the mist of the recession.

You as an individual have to be rational and resourceful in determining the type of information that you take in. It help shape and frame your mindset. It has to be filtered with the lenses of the truth and what you believe to be true for yourself. Part of my favorite quote is“…. Circumstances and statistics may reveal the facts, but ultimately I choose my destiny.” Yes as an African American woman growing up in NYC there were many statistics rooting against my success, however it was up to me to accept the TRUTH for what I believe in myself and where I want to end up. Yes, the statistics were the facts, but it was not my truth.

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters

What's on Your Coffee Table?

2009-07-02T12:09:00.003-04:00

Are you consumed by the latest celebrity gossip found in the weekly tabloids? In killing time on the grocery line, waiting area in the doctor’s office, or commuting to work you pick up another issue. If you answered yes to both of these questions then consider this. Expand your horizons by adding to your magazine subscriptions publications that can improve on an area in your life and knowledge. There are hundreds of magazines on every subject. I subscribe to a variety of publications that relates to my career, personal development and hobbies. One in particular that I enjoy is Success magazine. http://www.success.com/ It is what achievers read according to its tagline. Not making this a commercial, but I like this magazine because it covers a well balance mix of articles from personal achievement experts and it includes a Dual Disc (DVD & CD in one) inside every issue. When I am at work or my home computer station, I just pop it in. I have learned so much and it has motivated me to keep investing in my personal development. So the next time you read that gossip article on the best and worst dress celebrities, pick up a sewing magazine like Treads or Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) on the fashion business industry report.

Aspire. Create. Develop.
-Shemeka Peters

A Renewed Concept in Time Management

2009-07-01T10:24:00.009-04:00

Probably you heard of the phrase “you shouldn’t try to manage time, but maximize it”. In the past, life was the result of the passive flow I grew accustomed to living. I did not however get the results that I wanted. On the eve of my 25th birthday, I set out to make the next year better than before and that is how I renewed my “24”.

The strategies that I implemented into my daily 24-hour day continued to give me the success of a life that I enjoy. I would like to share with you seven insights to making the most of your day. If you don't take advantage of it, time will fly away.

Have a clear vision on what you want your life to look like.

Have a reason to wake up every morning and something to look forward to in your day. Just ten minutes of planning can save you ten hours in the future. You do not need every little detail at this point, but at least the general concept. The most important thing to know right now is whether this is something that you are willing to commit yourself to pursue. Remember, success is about reaching for it, not having it to fall into your lap.

Create a list of core values.
What matters most should be first in your life. Your core values keep you centered. These are classic principles. As you age, your core values remain ageless.

Make your decisions based on your values.
It can be difficult to say no at times, but when you weigh opportunities against the list you have created, it makes it easier to do so. Sometimes a good opportunity may not be the best opportunity for you.

Give yourself some personal time to plan & acheive your goals.
No one is going to invest in you like yourself. You own 100% of the stock thus 100% of the return.

Eliminate or minimize distractions.
Television Statistics
According to Nielsen Media Research Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.

Get everyone on board with your mission and assign roles.
You live in a world filled with family, friends, co-workers and “haters”. Let others respect the value of your time. Separate those who are part of your dream team or your worst nightmare.

To make the most of your 24

Take the big picture and break it down into a single frame. All have been given the same amount of time every day to manage, but to maximize opportunities and make a difference in the world. Yes it is the same 24 that Martin Luther King Jr., or any other remarkable person in history had. What are you going to do with your 24?

Aspire. Create. Develop.
-Shemeka Peters

Living Life As A Challenge

2009-06-30T11:57:00.001-04:00

Living Life As A Challenge
By Shemeka Kim Peters

Every day we wake up to
The rising sun.
The challenges that awaits us
Has not yet begun.

Solving each problem
that comes our way,
make life more daring
everyday.

Looking into the future,
But learning from the past.
Independence of duty and tasks.

Living life fully and complete
In our own different technique,
Makes each one of us unique.

Reaching Your Career Dreams with Shemeka Peters: Welcome

2009-06-28T14:53:00.000-04:00

Reaching Your Career Dreams with Shemeka Peters: Welcome

www.reachingyourcareerdreams.com

Welcome

2009-06-28T14:52:00.002-04:00

I would like to personally thank you for visiting my blog Reaching Your Career Dreams. I am not by any means an expert on the game of life, but I do understand that there are strategies one must have in place in order to be successful to win. Success is not placed in your hands, but in your reach. When you reach for something, you are making a conscience decision that you want it.

I am on the same journey as you are on, which is simply to understand why we were created to fullfill our purpose in life. This blog stems from my organization Divine Vessels Empowerment. It is the fruition of a concept that I had within me for at least ten years. The mission of Divine Vessels Empowerment is to help individuals around the world to aspire, create, and develop a vision for their lives with purpose and empowerment. I was waiting for a big pie in they sky moment in the far future to make this dream happen. I realized however, that the best time is now and here I am. Why wait? Tomorrow is not a promise but a gift.

Reaching Your Career Dreams is all about the choices, information, and resources that brings us either closer or away from our dreams. The reason why this is not just a life coaching or career coaching blog is that both are so intricately intertwined. There is so much to cover. Will you join me on this journey?

-Shemeka Peters