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Lee has 3 new Books!

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 20:02:05 GMT

Lee's newest books are available now!

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Clean Sheets

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 19:14:53 GMT

Clean sheets and a new page on the calendar

Welcome to 2024! At least that's what everyone is chiming these days.

A new year is like a fresh bed with clean sheets -- the sheets may not be new, but the feeling you get when you crawl into them is vibrant and comforting.

So, let's begin a new year on a similar note with only minor checks in the rearview mirror at 2023. For so many it was a difficult landscape to navigate, what with the economic challenges to markets that trickled down to how much we pay for our pound of butter and a litre of petrol and a long list of tragic catastrophes and wars peppered throughout the world.

That said, we are all in this together, like it or not.

I've made some subtle changes to my own approaches to how I shop and how I deal (or do not deal) with the daily onslaught of media, which I watch much less of these days. Essentially, everyone has an opinion (and so they should) about all that goes on and how most matters could be better, or less ....or more. But in the end, what matters most is that we have our own gauges that lead ourselves, and those we love, into cleaner, safer, healthier spaces where we reside every day of the year.

It's my wish to you all that you find these spaces wherever you go and at the end of each day celebrate the joys and the simple comforts of a safe home, a loving family, a healthy lifestyle .....and of course those fresh clean sheets.

Happy New Year!

Liane

Chat or Shat?

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:20:38 GMT

Are you a fan of Chat GPT?

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Changes ...and positivity

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 19:57:09 GMT

��How well do you manage change?��

For me, it’s been a very rewarding summer thus far. After nearly a decade living in my previous residence, my life partner and I did what most people who are planning to grow a future together do: we combined our assets and purchased a home together where we’ve planted some new seeds to enhance our mutual dreams. It’s been a year now since the realtor unlocked the front door of our together home and we haven’t regretted our decision to make this lifestyle change.

With change comes discomfort and the need to grow new ways to do old things.

How about all of us who have become accustomed to the work-from-home lifestyle, but really weren’t too sold on it when it was initially mandated? What did you learn about yourself? Probably that you are very capable of change when it is required. I found this article in MediaBistro, which is really just a pithy little checklist to measure if you are right for working from home, or not . Some of us are definitely not cut out to work from home and that's okay. And now that the option to return to a more formal work environment is in front of us, many are jumping at the option. But the vacancy rates in many commercial buildings in downtown cores across the world are proof that many of us are resisting returning to a formal workstyle because we’ve adapted to the changes and are now reluctant to leave the conveniences of work-life-home balance that we’ve worked so hard to create.

Life’s biggest changes come in tiny packages.

A year ago, just after this big move, our first granddaughter was born. As with most grandbabies who are the first to enter the landscape of the greater family, she became the center of all our lives. Having a small helpless baby to dote over, talk about, care for and love is a great way to detract from one’s own challenges. There’s always an excuse to shift the priority to the baby. I quickly remembered how much energy it takes to care for a small child. Being “Glamma” has forced me to examine my own fitness, health and lifestyle.

Distractions are awesome!

With the introduction by a close friend to Dr Joey Shulman’s diet ("The Cityline Diet"), I made the choice to eliminate gluten from my diet. My friend, who is a Cancer Conqueror Extraordinaire for more than a year now, was proof of how successfully one can shed pounds this way and was the key accelerator of the process of my own initial weight loss. After losing my initial 10 pounds and several inches, I hit a proverbial roadblock and felt a bit stuck, so I took it upon myself to switch up the program. I discovered The Livy Method (Gina Livy) via my hair stylist (and a closet fitness junky) who shared with me the core concepts of increasing water intake to ignite detoxification, the trick of eating often to stimulate metabolism, eat selectively and specifically to create healthy patterns of digestion and detoxification. I’ve lost 20 pounds so far and a total of 13+ inches of fat across my body! I find myself smiling more now that I feel better in my own skin and keeping up with my one-year-old granddaughter is now much easier, too.

Job changes are very stressful and consuming.

More than a year ago now, just before the big house move, I was contracted to work full-time for a business development/incubator agency as their senior copywriter. For me, this was a new space to live in every day as I have been independent (self-employed) my entire career. Flitting from client to client, team huddle to team huddle, industry to industry was a huge learning curve for someone who’s been running her own ship for more than 17+ years. Truthfully, the challenge was very rewarding, and I did learn a lot about myself and how others perceived me as a teammate and professional. When my contract ended on my one-year anniversary there, I was showered with love notes and praises from all corners of the teams. My heart was sad but full. Undaunted, I know full well that the changes ahead would advance me in some positive way, so I never mourned the loss of my salary. Since then, my resume writing business has accelerated; I’ve been able to spend a lot more time as Glamma and so much more time outside enjoying our huge new yard where I have planted several gardens. I have also joined a new corporate team as a professional writer.

Keeping up with technology is imperative.

One of the gifts of securing this full-time salaried role was the abundance of access and exposure I got to new technology, all of which looks great on my updated resume. A few years ago, I was a huge fan of spin classes, but that changed and that industry is working very hard to regenerate. Many of you may have jumped on the Peloton bandwagon during the past couple of years to maintain your own fitness. I have heard amazing things about the program and its options but have personally never tried Peloton. Just this week I read, however, that the entire Peloton organization is laying off more than 800 employees due to profit loss and restructuring.

So, in the thread of changes and positivity, I am grateful for the many changes this past year had brought me because it has forced me to be uncomfortable, frustrated at times, not always in control, and required me to create new ways to do my normal stuff …like where to walk my dog every morning, or which markets to shop for the freshest foods in my neighbourhood, and learn the names of my new neighbours, or adjust to the sounds on the street outside my window while I work at my desk: the laughing of small children at the child development center across the street, the wailing of sirens and the rumblings by of diesel trucks and motorcycles on the busy street in front of my residence.

I hope you all have embraced change positively also. We’ve all heard the cliché many times:

“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.”

In peace,

Liane

Tempted by the (resume) template?

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 16:33:42 GMT

Is it a good idea to use a resume template?

Here's some sage advice from another career expert, Ryan Kay, on whether one benefits from a resume template ...or not. I will say I agree with him 100%!

"When applying for jobs, you face the age-old problem of how to START writing a resume? Or if
you have a resume, is it in a format that employers even want?

The temptation is to get on Google and search “resume template” thinking that solutions will
come falling out of the sky to save you. But many options do not equal the best results.
Templates are not inherently evil and can be useful, but let me suggest two reasons why I
would not recommend them:

Reason 1: Templates may look pretty, but they often have features that repel employers. A
template could tell you to add a picture, use white font on a neon green background, or have
you use three pages (these are all bad ideas for a resume, by the way).

Reason 2: Once you get your information typed into a template, you are stuck in that format
forever. If you ever want to change a margin, move a line, or modify the spacing, it can be very
time-consuming a frustrating. You end up starting all over with a new template hoping it will
give you what you want.

So, what to do instead?

Open up a good ‘ol Word or Pages document and start from scratch. Research best practices
from reputable sources, or even better, get advice from your
connections that work in related fields.

Though this takes a little longer at first, it gives you complete control of how it is formatted and
removes the risk of having an overcomplicated and confusing format.

Wishing you success,

Liane

The Hiatus is Over!

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:46:51 GMT

Liane's hiatus is over ....here's the latest addition!

Okay, so it’s been ‘‘a while’’ since my last newsletter was released. If I am being honest, I have been avoiding writing a new edition …for quite some time now, but it has been on my mind. Truth is, I was really hoping that there would be some incredible excitement amidst the aftermath of ‘the (pandemic) elephant in the room.’ Some might argue there is, so let’s roll with this then and start a dialogue.

I am not a raving feminist -- despite the fact I’m proudly female and believe in empowering oneself, regardless of gender -- especially in the light of imbalance and unfairness. But I don’t set out pushing my agenda on topics at the risk of looking (shall I say possibly) biased or belligerent. Nonetheless, this read I happened on republished recently in Axios.com showcasing the strides made in media with regard to placing women in key leadership roles is notable. Certain industries, like sports, hard sciences, technology and even media are often led by mostly men. Another noticeable breakthrough with the same trending thread has been in sports, particularly over the past couple years, where powerful, intelligent women are making strides on the main screens and media casts.

Sportsnet has truly gained incredible value and a broadened viewership with the brilliant addition of the beautiful Jennifer Botterill, an Olympic ice hockey champ , Harvard grad and multi-awarded former Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) forward. As a hockey analyst during NHL games, she is a fresh voice, easy on the eyes and above all else, an exceptionally articulate and educated athlete on the topic of hockey. Oh, and did I mention she just happens to be elegant and beautiful , too. I’d be remiss if I did not mention the two most recent additions to both the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs are also women!

If I may take a wee sidestep here, not in the name of being negative, but more so in the train of pointing a finger at some women who may be very powerful leaders but fail to be complete successes in business based solely on their own greed, misdriven agendas and a callous disregard for those they victimize. I’m talking about Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos and now in the slammer convicted of four counts of fraud (out of 11 charges!) by the US Justice System after years of legal deliberations. A Stanford University dropout in 2003, this tech entrepreneur (with the guidance of her ex- and said-to-be abusive lover successfully duped bigtime savvy investors like Murdoch and Ellison (and others) to raise $900M to endorse her technology. Once on the cover of Forbes Magazine (twice!!), with the promise that a few small drops of blood (as opposed to the usual syringe needle extraction process), when scanned was fully capable of identifying hundreds of health issues as a screening device. Her previous value of $4.5B is now worthless as she lives out her 20-year prison sentence contemplating some very dangerous tactics of a once very powerful woman in a leadership role. Her sour legend is being amplified with the upcoming movie starring Jennifer Lawrence , who’ll be playing Holmes’s character.

Most of us (women or otherwise) live at the street level. In no regard am I implying this with a derogatory slant, rather the contraire. I am merely saying that to be respected, sometimes even revered, but mostly to be able to look at your own reflection every morning, we must all conduct ourselves in accordance with the parameters of the laws of our society and those of our own personal scruples. There will always be rebels, who think they’re above the law, like Holmes (and an ex-boyfriend stalker/predator of mine), but I am a firm believer in the adage that no wrong deed goes unnoticed …or unserved. Karma is a real element of invisible retaliation and like I did, it’s imperative to trust in the systems that bind and govern – they’re the ones who can hand out the restraints that help keep the ugly monkeys (such as Prince Andrew and his nasty cronies ) from continuing to wreak smelly havoc when they’re behaving totally outrageous. In a nut, trust the system to prevail and serve.

One of the reasons I’ve been quieter on the blog front is a cause of a new full-time role I’ve been committed to since last June. While in the initial lockdown, I forged my way through a copywriting course and secured a really cool gig as senior copywriter for a small but growing agency. The very first project I was tasked to write the entire web copy for turn out to be one of Hollywood’s most exciting new developments in delivering full-length feature films to its audiences in the form of an non-fungible token (NFT). ZERO CONTACT is the movie starring Academy Award Winner, Anthony Hopkins . My meetings included the producers, directors, Hollywood A-list media magnets …the list goes on. What makes this movie exxtra cool is that it was filmed exclusively via Zoom during the pandemic itself. In fact, the sequel is currently being shot (as I type) in another first-ever format: in Antarctica ! No other film crew has successfully shot a Hollywood movie there before.

In addition to working on this project, one other client the agency I work with also promotes is the Barrett-Jackson auto auctions , currently going on in Scottsdale, AZ. When the vehicles go on the block, the photos that capture the live events are also sold to automobilia fans as original digital collectibles bought, kept and traded on the blockchain. I am curious to learn if any of you are familiar with NFTs and what your opinions about them are. It’s apparent that they are growing exponentially in popularity and expanding into other industries, like another of the projects I’ve been tasked to collaborate with, starring the Gold Chain Cowboy himself: Park McCollum!

All work aside, my new granddaughter, who arrived last summer, has totally transformed our family, like all new babies easily do. Being a grandma came with some preconceived notions about what it would be like, but honestly, I truly had no clue what changes would occur. I’ve been comically coined “Glamma Lee” and loving my newest role like I never knew I could.

In closing, I simply wish to thank you for signing up to my newsletter and for reading it this far. I welcome any and all feedback you may wish to share with me. I also want to express my wishes for all of you to continue to find joy in every day, to celebrate the wins, even if they’re small. The positive energy emitted when one smiles or lends a hand unasked can only create more goodness.

Keep smiling, everyone!

Sincerely,

Liane

PS: In my readings, I stumbled across this fun exercise/quiz that most of us are victims of: The Mandala Effect . It’s rare that one can get every question correct. I challenge you to a walk down Memory Lane in the process. I enjoyed it.

Liane's interview with her business coach

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:27:44 GMT

Current circumstances have required us to reinvent our businesses ...

Here is my interview with Julia Pho , certified ActionCoach, as we discuss the need to reinvent one's business.

Going Mental

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 22:27:06 GMT

Carving sanity on a chaotic landscape

Numbers, numbers, numbers …unsolicited, they keep coming at us from every direction: television, radio, financial advisors, employers, scientists, politicians ….Like it or not, we have all endured a year of measures. Beneath all these numbers lies a monster that evades access to precise measurement; that monster is mental health.

Our mental health is the invisible gauge by which we pluck out our daily options and the gauge to how we perceive ourselves, how we treat others, how we make selections and decisions, how we measure our results and go about our everyday. When we exist in a secure and stable frame of mind and reference, we are capable of making sound choices, making positive things happen. Contrarily, when we are feeling defeated, disadvantaged or denied, disconnected or down, we do not exude the same level of confidence and decision-making capacities; we may resort to poor decisions, thus creating further unhealth.

There are so many aspects that affect one’s mental health, for every one it may be different and thus immeasurable at the surface or at a societal level. Hence, the danger exists for the collective society and our communities …and those who love us. With governments forcing continued (and arguably unreasonable) closures of the services and businesses we all need to maintain a standard of ‘normal’ in our lives, these agencies are simultaneously feeding our angst and growing frustrations that fertilize declining mental health. We all know it’s imperative to help ourselves before we help others; we must make selfish choices (ie: self-care) to ensure we are of sound mind and health to support our families and continue to make positive strides in all aspects of life. Even access to our practitioners as we once had seems complicated now. But what of those who are overwhelmed with stress, impossible burdens and demands, sickness and messy family dynamics? How are we expected to make a difference when we have handcuffs and the whereabouts of the key to the handcuffs unknown. Despite these burdens, we must continue to operate our lives within this chaos?

I have alluded in previous blogs to shifting the power of our thoughts to where one feels in control, rather than obsess about the obvious and unchangeable. I have alluded to finding meaning in areas which would not otherwise be an option, if not for the chaos. For me, I embraced my passion for art, worked extra hard on home-based fitness, researched and tapped into some new forms of nutrition and supplements, performed a whole lot of cleaning and purging, completed unfinished projects, started new ones ….While these actions do feel good and are measurable, they do not remove the realities of our finances and the fact many of our personal earnings have slowed to a trickle, and they do not mask the reality that we cannot collect the hugs we really crave from our friends and families outside our cohort bubble, or play our favourite sport each week, to elevate our endorphins and raise our serotonin levels.

Frankly, this gig is getting stale and inevitably taking its toll on all of us. Perhaps there may be a small nugget of comfort in this collective phenomenon of societal despair …across the globe, with all its variants ...oh, good grief!

Recently, I came across a story that helped me shift my own emotional status. I hope I may bring value to you too. During times of immense challenge, it can be helpful to examine how individuals who operate at a high level of stress (people who choose this particular lifestyle) carve balance and keep level. Not that we may become immune to our stresses, because stress is unhealthy and often propagate disease, but rather to learn some practical ways we may be naturally equipped to transition our stresses in meaningful and beneficial ways.

Max Parrot , Canadian Olympic snowboard champion, a very recent survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, started his chemotherapy during Covid in 2019. In an interview, he states “I am grateful for my cancer battle …” The 26-year-old took his cancer diagnosis and used it to his advantage. About his forced journey into disease, he says the following:

“I think one of the reasons why (I was so motivated to beat cancer) is because I was like a lion in a cage for the whole time. I was at the hospital and I just wanted to snowboard so bad and be back out there. So, when I fought against it (cancer) and won, they opened the cage and I just went straight to training and rode so much and was just really happy to be back on snow. So, I think that's the reason why I had such a good year last season.”

Alright, so no one reading this is likely an athlete being paid to train for the next Olympics to defend his Silver, but the point is that no matter how defeated and restricted we all may feel, we can penetrate some realms of our barriers to create a more positive foundation, even when matters may seem hopeless or out of our locus of control. In Max’s case, he changed the way he looked at cancer and negated the negative connotation most people have towards cancer.

“Choosing to have the right attitude in moments when you’re not supposed to have it,” …is the difference to creating positive results. This is what Max’s mental performance psychologist coach and international speaker, Jean François Ménard suggests to Max and all his clients.

In his many motivational speeches as an athlete himself and sports psychologist, he asserts that moving through adversity is about shifting your way of thinking: “Attitude is everything,” he says to his audience, some of which are elite athletes and well-known performers like Cirque du Soleil. If one can shift her perception about the topic on the table (such as work, money, relationships, goals, etc.), then change is ripe to occur.

“People with the right attitude are not only surviving in Covid times, they are thriving. Let’s face it; having an agile mindset and being open-minded to uncertainties have become necessary mental skills during this pandemic. The greatest minds know that if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.”

Those who have garnered a stronger confidence, tapped into their higher selves, learned skills to rise above adversity are inarguably those who can assist us now by example with some of our own mountainous challenges. None of the notions JF Ménard projects are rocket science, but they are applicable to all of us who struggle with needing change and craving balance and normal. We are all capable of shifting our mental thoughts onto something different, something more positive in order to claim new results. It’s safe to say that we all know one thing: where the mind goes, energy follows. I took this application and applied it to one of my own personal challenges. When the pandemic robbed me of my spin classes and soccer team, with it went my balance and what replaced it was anger, frustration, tighter clothing and increased caloric intake. Intelligent enough to recognize these negative shifts, I knew I needed to find a new cardio flavour, because the cellulite creams were not working. Months ago, I took up high intensity interval training (HIIT) as research pegged me as someone who could benefit effectively and easily recover my missing balance. However, after only several HIIT workouts, I quickly decided I would rather get punched than endure the aftermath of the incredibly sore muscles HIIT gave me, most of which I neither knew I had nor really cared that I had them. The discomfort was too much, so I reverted to more walking instead, but with minimal results in the area of how my clothes fit me the imbalances persisted.

Realizing that change starts with self and if myself was not willing to commit to improving my own mental state and status, how could I expect all the other aspects of my life that needed addressing to change positively? I reexamined the values of HIIT and committed to making myself accountable for my own mental and physical health. What happened was amazing! In a recent blog I shared my new love affair with the fitness app DownDog and how after the free trial expired, I purchased a subscription. Well, within this application also lives other fitness options, such as a HIIT one. With yoga being my daily source of zen, toning, core strength and simulated daily pill for destressing, I shifted my approach to HIIT by using yoga as my reward for every HIIT workout I completed. Where I normally do one hour of yoga every day, I transitioned my workout into 20 minutes of HIIT, supplemented by 30 minutes of yoga to unwind, release any of those stiff and unfamiliar muscles and round out my fitness in this newish frontier called ‘still and variant pandemic.’

My newfound self-care is a wonderful success, as I have shed inches, tightened my entire bod, tossed the cellulite cream, revisited my favourite clothes and reflect a confidence to those I am lucky enough to have within my small cohort group. My own attitude adjustment is proof that what Jean François Ménard recommends does create measurable results, and the ripple effects it conveys is the silver lining …or my own silver medal.

Yours in zenity,

Liane

Nailing those tough interview questions

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 16:44:54 GMT

Knowing the purpose of the questions is key to answering successfully.

Competition for jobs has not been tougher than it has been lately. This is likely due to the fact so many are simply trying to make ends meet, but also because this is a time where employers have the pick of the crop, coupled with many people using this time to transition to a new career role.

Standing out in a heap of applicants is imperative if you hope to get asked for an interview. Of course, your resume is the most important document to establish a first impression when you are not there to speak for yourself. But if you do get invited for an interview, here is a really great article by Indeed that gets you into the zone of what hiring managers are looking for when they ask you those odd (and often surprising) open-ended questions.

Closing of an era ....bye-bye 2020

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 20:04:21 GMT

Off to the beach >>>>> I wish!

Bye-bye, 2020!

Don't let the door hit you on your way out!

That is one of the most pointed and defiant comments one can make to another, but for the majority of us ....well, ALL of us, 2020, will be embedded in our minds as a year of challenge, horror, disappointment, shrivel, lack of hope and faith. I digress.

During negative times, I find it difficult to come up with positive sharings that don't sound forced or cliche, but as the year is winding down and the world is grasping a glimmer of hope for 2021, I feel the desire to reach outward to my readers and celebrate the little things we have accomplished.

I have shared some things with you over this year about how I established balance and ways to rise above the challenges that faced me personally. I hope that you also have weathered these storms and, like me, dream of the next vacation on the beach or an escape to your favourite secret hideaway -- the one the government denied you for a year now.

A hearty thank you to all my clients, old and new, for your support, business and commitment to me. As a freelancer, I rely on you to refer my great skills to others. So many of you have and I feel blessed.

This week I launched my first newsletter after a flood of interest. If you wish to become part of this list and keep up with what's happening in my little orchard of juicy fruits and sharings, please hit the sign-up button at the bottom of my web page.

I wish each and every one of you a joyous and creative Christmas whereby you find ways to make your celebrations happy, unique and a reason to start new memories and traditions.

Love and hope,

Liane

5 Certifications to Boost Your Resume

183:829506433 (Liane Angerman) — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 01:48:44 GMT

In today's crowded job market, you'll want every edge you can get to stand out to recruiters and employers. Few things are as effective as having the right certification.

This article was created by StackCommerce in partnership with Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division. While Postmedia may collect a commission on sales through the links on this page, we are not being paid by the brands mentioned.

Canada’s unemployment rate increased by 5.2 per cent, bringing April’s rate to 13 per cent. The dire news is due to COVID-19 and other factors, leaving the economy with nearly 2 million fewer jobs.

This means that competition is going to be fierce for those of us looking for jobs in an already crowded job market. As such, you’ll want every edge you can get to stand out to recruiters and employers, and, to this end, few things are as effective as having the right certification.

Not sure which certifications you should go after? Here are five that can give you a huge leg up, and we’ve even included some handy training resources to get you started. Read on for details:

1. CERTIFICATION: MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST (MOS) CERTIFICATION

We all know Microsoft Office Suite (MOS) as the foundation to just about any job. And while you may think you know Office, Access, Excel, or PowerPoint—you’ve probably only been scratching the surface. Having a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification shows employers you have an advanced understanding of these tools and more, giving you a major leg up over folks who just put “proficient” on their resume.

If you want to go after this certification, consider starting with The Ulitmate Microsoft Office Certificate Mastery Bundle: Recent Editions. This 12-course training offers a deep dive into the Microsoft Office suite, getting you up to speed with the advanced elements of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Access.

2. CERTIFICATION: CERTIFIED ASSOCIATE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT (CAPM)®

A Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is a globally-recognized accreditation and the gold standard in project management. Having a project management certification gives you instant credibility when it comes to knowing how to effectively manage teams. This certification will also come in handy as the demand for management skills is on the rise. You can prepare to add this in-demand certification and more to your resume with The Project Management Certifications Tests and Courses Bundle for $24.99.

By the end of the third course, you’ll have all the prep you need to ace the exams for the following three certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP).

3. CERTIFICATION: ADOBE CERTIFIED EXPERT – ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CC

Photoshop is a graphics editor developed and published by Adobe. It’s the industry standard for not only graphics editing, but in digital art as a whole. If your career involves digital publishing or content creation, Adobe Photoshop CC is the perfect skill to get certified in. Want to work towards getting certified? You should start by understanding the basics of this software first. The 2020 Adobe Graphic Design Certification School with get you up to speed with essentials for Photoshop, as well as Illustrator and InDesign for only $49.

4. CERTIFICATION: SALESFORCE ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION

Salesforce is the ultimate software for customer management. It provides customer relationship management (CRM) services including marketing automation, analytics and application development. Currently, it’s the top CRM in the world with over 150,000 customers in various industries. The Salesforce Certification Essentials Bundle is a 46-hour course bundle designed to prepare you for three essential Salesforce certifications, including the Salesforce Administrator Certification, all for just $39.99.

5. CERTIFICATION: FACEBOOK BLUEPRINT CERTIFICATION

Facebook shouldn’t need much of an introduction as its one of the largest social media platforms in the world with over two billion users. Aside from allowing users to share baby pictures and news articles, the platform has also found success in selling ad space. Its pre-COVID revenue was $17 billion, up 18 per cent year-over-year. Before you go after any certifications, it’s worth understanding the marketing nuances of the platform. You can learn the ins and outs of marketing products with The Ultimate Facebook Marketing Certification Bundle for $29.

Source: https://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/taxes/five-career-development-certifications-worth-adding-to-your-resume-in-2020

Spring ...and a Shift in the Landscape

Thu, 07 May 2020 22:27:47 GMT

Spring has always been my favourite season, mostly because I dislike the cold immensely, always have ...

In fact, when I tell people I am allergic to the cold, they always smirk with the assumption I simply do not enjoy it. Wrong. I am clinically allergic to the cold; always have been: swollen digits, itchy rashes, painful (frostbite-like) burning ….

For me, Spring is the farewell of a painful season, named Winter. I welcome it with open arms. I know others also get excited when the first robin bird appears on the landscape. Usually, we hear its shrill warbling song from some unseeable perch, often the heralding of dawn around 4:30 am outside our bedroom windows. When the robin actually does appear, it marks the assurance that we have moved forward, that matters are right or normal. Nature’s confidence is irrefutable and equally comforting. But what happens when Nature brings along the unexpected? Are we simply supposed to accept it, or is resistance the key if it’s not suitable or healthy, or worst of all dangerous?

In light of the past several months, many argue profusely that Nature had nothing to do with our global horror and the crashing of economies, forcing us into isolation. Many will, in fact, attest to the contrary, the matter being a contrived tactic to control and shift landscapes in the name of hunger, greed and power. I won’t go there, not here. Check out my Twitter account. Rather, I’ll stick to my humble garden and Nature’s analogies instead. I am now seeing new species of birds that I have never witnessed visiting my back yard in the near three decades I have lived in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and a residence just metres from a provincial woodland forest. It thrills me to see a bobcat on my fence, a raccoon scratching at my window in the dark of night, a deer chewing my petunias for breakfast, and the return of the allusive brown bats and flying squirrels at my suet feeder late into the night. Last week I documented an unprecedented Evening Grosbeak at my feeder and fed a red-breasted nuthatch from my hand in the nearby forest. On the flip-side, it also saddens me to mourn the annual reduction in the sitings of hummingbirds, despite my consistent efforts to attract them. Although, I am told there is an abundance of them a mere 20 kilometres from where I live as well as the Mountain Bluebird. Nature seems to have shifted and it always will. It’s how we manage it that dictates our success when the shifts cause us measurable stress.

I shared in my last blog some of the ways I personally was attending to my daily balances in an effort to stay sane and hopeful recently. One of the measures I have always embraced (and recently ramped up) is meditation. For the past eight weeks, McLean Meditation Institute (Sedona, AZ) has been graciously gifting meditators all over the globe with free online sessions, twice daily. When I first encountered the power of meditation more than a decade ago, I’d just been diagnosed with a one-in-a-million auto-immune disease (Transverse Myelitis) and had to learn how to manage chronic pain so I could (at minimum) walk my dogs again, let alone play soccer, golf or ride my bicycle. Meditation then brought me the ability to destress, self heal and manage my pain. When our landscape shifts, we too must shift.

Resistance is healthy if your goals are to gain an advantage, such as denying the temptations of poor nutrition to achieve your goal to compete in a road race. But, sometimes resistance comes in surprising forms that may not even be recognizable but should be reexamined all the same. I am talking about my personal commitment to myself to “never own another dog again.” After the death of one of my long-time dogs (a Yorkshire Terrier who lived to be 14), I was left with a chasm of loss and loneliness. A year after Tony’s passing, I adopted a rescue (a Chinese Crested, named Daisy) to fill the void. Following a year of challenges and frustrations, coupled with a seemingly endless (and unsuccessful) effort to source solutions, I was forced to re-home her. Fortunately, she is now living a dream life with four other dogs in a palace on a hill named “Forever Home.” Whew!

So, on I went stating “never again will I own a dog.” However, with Mr. Winter being so long and relentless, I decided that I should consider shifting my love of dogs towards caring for them while retaining my promise not to own one. Thus, I commenced 'My Rover Life;' my online profile had an apparent tendency to attract only large dogs that needed daily walking, daycare, puppy training. Then along came Sadie, a Catahoula Leopard.

Her owners were off to Bali for six months and chose me to be her new mom while they were away. Little did I know how Sadie would shift my landscape. With her high demand to be active, we walked several times every day, whether cold or unbearably cold. With her donning her knitted sweater and me my fur coat, Sadie introduced me to the dog park, a beautiful place (a sanctuary, truly) to which I had never been in spite of a lifetime of owning dogs. One beauty of the dog park is that all dogs meet happily and without barriers there. Nature has empowered them with the skills to cope.

Near the end of Sadie’s stay, I encountered the owner of a five-year-old male Yorkie who was seeking a good home for him. In fact, he had seven other canine siblings living in the same dwelling. Remembering how I re-homed Daisy two years ago with pure intention, I offered to relieve the Yorkie’s owner, knowing it would be very easy to find a better place for him. I walked away from that scene committed to my promise to nurture the petless freedoms I had created. But something niggled me and stuck. The wee Yorkie needing a home had features so very very similar to my Tony. I resisted the pulling sensations on my heartstrings and focused all my time on Sadie instead. A month later, the Yorkie owner called me and asked if I still had a home for her dog. With very little hesitation, I told her of course. Sadie accepted the four-pound intruder in her home without much resistance. Sadie’s owners returned home a month early from their Bali adventures and I was left staring at my new dependent, Mr. Marco.

Two months later now, Marco and I have adjusted to our new partnership with absolute ease. What I did not know when he entered my life was that he would become my daily sanity, my rituals of sustenance and love, my best friend throughout some very long days of solitude during the pandemic when going outside was nearly a crime. As Spring breaks through the soil bringing forth crocuses, yesterseason’s perennials and the songs of birds shift from the winter varieties to the springtime tones, hope is the new blossom. A widening sense of gratitude prevails as I plant my vegetable garden while my new best friend and life partner lays his wee furry body in the garden soil warmed by the springtime sunshine.

Mourning the passing of Handshake

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 22:27:47 GMT

As we gather here today, witnessed by the world, we bid farewell to you, Dear Handshake ...

You entered into our collective lives a sign of respect and a promise of peace and sincerity, your history recorded as far back as the Greek and Roman eras. You have sealed countless deals worth fortunes immeasurable.

Today, in 2020, we bid you a fond farewell.

In your passing, we can assure you that you will be missed but most certainly replaced by new rituals. You will, however, never be forgotten. You may be replaced by a bow, a double-cheek brushing, a fist-bump ....future time will demonstrate. Rest assured, there will be many impostures seeking to replace you.

Those of us who lived during your lifetime will always celebrate you and in honesty, we may also come to laugh and mock you. But do not misunderstand that our mocking may only be an awkwardness that comes from within each of us. We will treasure having been witness to your lifetime.

Thank you, on behalf of the world, for your dedication to promoting honour, quality of intentions and promises of sincerity and genuine hospitality.

From all of us, Dear Handshake, may you Rest In Peace.

Facing Adversity

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 23:27:47 GMT

In the face of adversity, we must rise up ....

Facing Adversity

Adversity comes in countless forms. It may erupt on a very singular or personal level, in the governmental space, culturally or in the workplace. Regardless of where adversity rises, it’s disturbing and causes negativity. Some definitions include terms such as these:

• Setbacks

• Misfortune or bad luck

• Crisis or tragedy

• Hard times

• Disaster

• “Hell on earth”

One of my favourite works of literature is LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel where a young man is stuck on a small boat following a horrific shipwreck with a Bengal Tiger for 227 days while the boat floats aimlessly on the sea. For Patel, the 16-year-old South Indian boy, adversity comes in many forms throughout his entire life and eventually he is forced to find ways to survive for nearly a year with “Richard Parker” the Bengal from his father’s own farm.

[caption id="attachment_657" align="alignnone" width="239"] LOP-1 - Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) and a fierce Bengal tiger named Richard Parker must rely on each other to survive an epic journey.[/caption]

Contending with adversity requires change. Whether one succeeds adversity depends very much on our abilities to shift or transform. In some cases, it’s a shift in mindset, such as acceptance of other cultures or someone’s debate regarding an issue. In other situations, a complete transformation of a program, thought process, lifestyle or career role is required when adversity rears its large head.

As a communications specialist, I am no stranger to adversity since my mantra is formulating the most powerful messages possible; the fact is, I thrive on it. I work with clients who require my skills to empower them with a strong message or improved documents (such as a resume, white paper or presentation) often during a time where they are (or have) experienced great adversity in their life. When we rise to the challenges of adversity by applying positive tools the shifting is often imperceptible, mostly because the focus is on the outcome, we grow ...change ....succeed.

When adversity comes in large doses and by surprise, it is often extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible to surmount). When I think about my time living in Montreal (about one year), moving there from western Canada, I surrendered my strong desire to fit in as a different version of a Canadian. Simply, I was not accepted by the greater culture of the French-speaking residents, despite the fact I could comprehend and speak French and my heritage spawned from Quebec. The adversity (or ‘difference’) became more notable the more I tried to rise above it – in my case, I continued to speak my western version of the language. Frankly, it made me miserable. Eventually, I succumbed to speaking English and accepted the fact that being different (or 'western') was my safest and most comfortable option. Fortunately (and unlike Pi in the lost boat with a Bengal), my life did not depend on my inability to be accepted by the other people living in Montreal; the intelligent choice was to remain 'adverse.'

When adversity rises, look it straight in the eye and weight your options and the risks and how important it is to contend or change. Sometimes not contending is the best choice. Some things are meant to be broken.

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Lee has 3 new Books!

Lee's newest books are available now!

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Facing Adversity

��How well do you manage change?��