Forming Lasting Friendships

Every once in a while we are able to cross paths with individuals and form lasting friendships.

Our peers in the work environments become our family away from home, making it a wonderful experience when working together as a team. when possible do all you can to strengthen your relationships at work.

I have developed a few amazing relationships with peers, who have become a great source of blessing in my life. I hope they can say the same.

In Search of Quality Programs

Last year, I ran a networking group in order to share our experience on the job. The goal was to find out how we were doing across the board. I met individuals from Leisureworld, Extendicare and Chartwell.


The one constant with the Individuals working in the above listed organizations, is the need for more quality recreational providers. I agree there is a strong need for us to demand more from our team members.


We need to find a way to define quality programs, accept only quality programs, then hire and keep only team members who are willing to meet the set standards outlined.


The good news is that there is a strong community of recreational members who thinks of nothing else but enriching the lives of our residents; let us motivate these members, showcasing their examples.

Living a life of service

I experienced an extraordinary meeting in 2007 when I met our Governor General, Michaelle Jean. What I will remember was my determination to ensure that she did not leave before I had had an opportunity to have my photograph taken with her at my side. She had shook hands with myself and the other managers,but I wanted to have something more to remember her by on that day.

I wanted to have the opportunity like Condoleezza Rice,being in the presence of a fellow woman of service, a woman actively making a difference in our world. I was even willing to be reprimanded by my boss at the time because she did not want me to disturb the Governor General, as she was making her way out of the building. As fortune would have it, my boss was called away and being a keen observer, I was offered the photo by the Michaelle Jean herself. I was pleased to have my opportunity of course but as the photo show, I was scared ...

It is said that our lives are meaningless if it is not spend in service to others. I am a great admirer of women who are leaving footprints for us to follow.

Being in the field of recreation is one of the most satisfying fields there is, though stressful at times. Knowing that I may be an instrument of hope for a resident feeling alone and sometimes forsaken is a great comfort to me.

The smallest gesture to someone can be life changing, it may be in the form of us saying hello to someone on the street, helping a friend in need without waiting for them to ask or giving someone a thank you card. Living a live of service can be summed up in these words, "find a need and fill it"

Resumes are not getting us interviews

We have all heard of someone in our circle stating how many resumes they have been sending out to employers with no offers of interviews. Perhaps you, like me have been that person, second guessing yourself as to what the problem could be with your resume. I have asked myself, is my resume too long, too short, do I come across as being assertive, too assertive ..., you get my point, it's enough to drive anyone crazy. The conclusion that I have come up with is that, someone is getting those positions that I am applying for, someone is getting calls to be interviewed. Bottom line, I would like to be one of those people. Complaining to a close friend that I have not been on an interview for a month, she informed me that she has not had a call back for an interview since January, and now we are in May. What separates us from that interview offer? Why are our resumes being trashed? Let's face it, if you're not being called in for interviews chances are high that your resume is now recycled paper. Am I being too harsh in my assessment so far with the proposed tragedy of resumes? I plan on getting to the bottom of the new and improved expectations of today's resumes, I believe that many of us are doing something terribly wrong and no one is going to tell us, we have to investigate for ourselves, either call up the person that you've sent your resume to and asked for feedback as to where you went wrong in presenting what you have to offer to the position, getting a professional resume writer to look at your resume and help you draft a new one or go the long way and start researching all the recently published books on resume writing and tweak, tweak, tweak, your resume, to perfection. A few new pointers that I have discovered in resume writing are, sending out impact letters first instead of resumes to tell your interviewer what you can do for the company using the information in the ad, don't tell the employer what you are looking for but what you can and would like to offer in order to meet their needs, research all you can about the company to be able to properly highlight their needs strongly in your resume and lastly keep up with what's going on in your field, you do not want to be left behind. Oh, did I forget to mention, in all that you do, do not tell lies on your resumes. I hope that someone will be helped after reading this entry, I would love to hear your comments/ addition pointers in resume writing. Someone said " there is nothing more frustrating than knowing you're capable of doing a task, wanting to do it and not having the opportunity" how true.

Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires - Brian Tracy

HIGHLIGHTS - ONE OF MANY BOOK SUGGESTIONS

- You work 40 hours per week for survival, everything over 40 is for success.

- Make a decision today to become a lifelong learner.

- A major reason that people retire poor is because of impulse buying .

- Never stop saving; learning and growing until you become financially independent.

- Your goal should be to become an expert in your chosen field by learning every single detail about how to do your work better and better.

- Move fast when you see something that needs to be done.

- The best way to network and build your relationships is to constantly look for ways to help other people achieve their own goals.

Fail Fast

Fail fast! Yes, you heard me, start failing. What is it that you are wanting to do? What have you been contemplating but find yourself being talked out of it.

We are so afraid some of us to take chances in life. We think back to our past experiences, look at our current situations and listen to what the naysayers have to say and sit back in regret and frustration. we are not defined by our past, our present situation can be altered with small actions and more than any other success strategy, we need to move away from individuals who has the capacity to hold us back. Don't always gauge your actions by the opinions of others, it is your vision not theirs no wonder they are not able to see the future as you do.

The more risks we take in life, the faster we will fail, but here is the best part, you'll also learn along the way and sooner than later stumble head first into success. Someone once said, show me a man who has not made any mistakes lately and I will show you a man who is not being productive, taking chances or living to his fullest.

Let the little successes along the way sustain you until you reach one level of success and another and another. You can do it, you can make it because I will travel along with you. I am failing forward, like John Maxwell says in his best seller, Failing Forward. I am at this time looking to return to the work force after having my beautiful little girl, working on breaking into the public speaking arena and seeking the love of my life. The plan is to fail fast, healthy, smart and learn quickly.

Remember it is only failure if you stay down. Rest if you must but always remember to get back out onto the field.