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Career Spotlight: Nursing Professionals

A guest post from Julie Merrill at BefriendYourDoc.org

A Career of Care: Advanced Education For Nursing Professionals

Highly qualified nurses are in great demand, and according to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, the job market for nursing professionals is expected to grow by seven percent through 2029. There are various educational requirements for different types of nursing roles. These range from certificate and training programs and associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, to master’s programs for those interested in securing top-level nursing and leadership opportunities. If you’re interested in a nursing career, the Positive Momentum Project invites you to check out the following information.

Types of Nursing Positions

According to the American Nurses Association, the nursing profession is tiered, where entry-level jobs include roles like nursing aide and certified nursing assistant (CNA). The next level includes licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs) and registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees (BSNs). Advanced and leadership roles, as well as designation as a nurse practitioner, require a master’s degree, typically in nursing, hospital administration, nursing education or management nursing informatics. 

The higher you go in the nursing profession, the greater the responsibility, the higher the income, and the more significant type of training, formal and continuing education you'll be required to have. Some people start on a lower rung early in their career, and once working in the field, determine the specific area of nursing they're most interested in and continue their education accordingly.

Where Nurses Work

Nurses work in hospitals, medical clinics, family medicine practices, urgent care centers, community health centers, schools, and even in large corporations. Entry-level nurses, like aides, CNAs and LPNs, often work in nursing homes and assisted care facilities. Some caregivers also work in hospices, or as visiting or traveling home-health nurses. Still, others specialize just as physicians do, opting to work in specialties such as oncology, cardiology, obstetrics or pediatrics, or in administrative or educational capacities. 

All jobs in the nursing field require extensive knowledge, specific state certifications and licenses, and a caring and empathetic approach to patient care and advocacy. Nurses must also have exceptional communication skills, both for working with doctors and nurse colleagues and for interacting with patients and their families.

The Necessity of Advanced Nursing Degrees

As a STEM career, the dynamics around the science of nursing is continually changing and evolving. Nurses interested in expanding their knowledge, staying current and advancing in the field benefit from taking their education to the next level. Nurses interested in leadership roles can also boost their careers by getting an advanced degree, particularly if they want to pursue the administrative side of medicine and nursing management. Most graduate-level programs require a bachelor’s degree in nursing as a prerequisite for higher levels of education. 

Nursing education also requires hands-on practical experience in the form of clinicals, where students are placed in real-life healthcare environments. This presents an exceptional opportunity to develop hands-on skills, as well as to network and build your career.

Benefits Of Online Education

Individuals pursuing a degree in nursing often work in the field while continuing their education. A benefit of online nursing programs is that students have the opportunity to continue their professional employment while pursuing their education. Some programs even allow for concurrent working roles to apply toward the clinicalportion of an advanced education. A large majority of lecture and research projects can be completed remotely, and students and instructors interact virtually, which can help strengthen interpersonal networks and help students grow their contacts within the healthcare industry.

Well-educated nurses are in high demand, and the more advanced your education, the more your employment opportunities and professional development options expand. Some employers may even offer tuition support or reimbursement for employees looking to advance their skill sets, and many academic institutes provide job placement assistance after graduation. Investing in continuing ed also demonstrates your commitment to your profession, and establishes you as someone dedicated to being on the cutting edge of healthcare.

Ready to turn your dreams into a reality but don't know where to start? Look to the coaching services of Positive Momentum Project, which can provide guidance and encouragement for veterans looking to expand their horizons. 

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Why You Should Always Super-Size Your Dreams

I’m not a big fan of oversized things. I went to Texas once—I really loved the people and the food. But what I didn’t love was how grossly oversized everything was! Everything from portion sizes that would take me 3 meals to finish, to tires that were nearly as tall as I was just felt like too much! Who needs that much… of anything! 

Maybe it’s the two bedroom apartment I grew up in with my family of five, or perhaps it’s all the time I spent living in Europe. Or… maybe it’s the simple fact that I’m only 5’3” that makes me appreciate the small and simple. Whatever the reason, I really do. I think things should only be as big as they need to be to serve their purpose. And that’s that. 

With one exception! Dreams. Dreams are literally the only thing that I firmly believe can never be too big. (Okay, and maybe closets!) The bigger the better. It’s utterly important to have large, obnoxiously oversized dreams. Here are just a few reasons why:

1. Dreaming big is scary 

Having big dreams is intimidating and uncertain. You aren’t sure if you can fulfill the goal, or if it’ll even be worth trying. You may think these are negatives, but in fact, quite the contrary. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, is the only way you will experience true growth and transformation. Aiming for a goal you are certain you can achieve is a waste of your talent and skills. 

2. You only dream small when you’re selling yourself short

Dreaming big takes courage, and it takes self-awareness. You must know the right size dream that will push you to limits and challenge you, but not something so overwhelming it will paralyze you in fear. If you envision a goal and immediately think, “that’s achievable, no problem,” you are selling yourself short. Your big dream should make you a little uncertain, nervous even, because when you’re nervous it means you really want it. But most importantly of all, your dream should excite and energize you!

3. Dreaming small would not make 8-year-old-you very proud

When I get nervous setting big goals, I always think about what my childhood self would think. Of course, not many of us still dream about and work toward the same goals we had when we were in elementary school, but our attitudes should be the same! When you made your wish list to Santa, you didn’t omit things because they were “unrealistic.” You put every Barbie dream house, pony, and Nintendo you could fit on the page! As you should do in dreaming as an adult. If you can dream it, you can achieve it! 

4. If you fail at your humungous dream, you’ll still accomplish a really gigantic one! 

I saved the best for last—this is the good news! If you work as hard as you can and try your best, but you still fall short of your big humungous dream, you are still winning! The odds are, if you get to this point, you have learned more than you ever imagined, achieved more than you ever thought possible, and have grown, failed, succeeded, and transformed into a more magical, successful, happier, and confident you than you were before! 

And isn’t that the real dream after all? 

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Why Having a Social Support Network is So Important

They say no man is an island. No matter how “self made” you think you are, you’re not. Someone somewhere along your journey has contributed to your success in some way.

Quite recently, I was in a down period of life. It felt like I was alone and defeated. I told myself that it was only temporary and that brighter days lie ahead. I had been down before, and I knew that it would pass. 

But I had to remind myself of this every single day. The difficulties were that all-consuming. And on some days, it was hard. On some days I felt like I was drowning in the difficulties and could barely keep afloat.

And on those days, is where my support network made all the difference. I had friends who would call to check on me and remind me how awesome I was. I had friends who’d call and distract me with dramatic stories of the happenings of their own lives. I had friends who’d sit with my for hours, and over-analyze every aspect of the situation. And I friends who sent a random card, gift, or bouquet of flowers. 

Everyone I had built a strong bond with over the past several years, was there for me, to provide an aspect of the cheering-up process that I needed, at the exact moment I needed them. They all had their own way of showing me they cared, and in my time of need they rallied around to scoop me out of my struggles and into a new beginning. 

A support network is critical to your success for so many reasons:

1. To cheer you on when you’re in doubt

You’re smart, ambitious, and on the road to success! But self-doubt, difficult decisions, and bad days will come. Your support system is there to remind you what you’re made of, so you don’t lose the will to continue. They’ll remind you why you started, and where you’re heading. They’ll offer honest feedback, opinions, and always have your best interests in mind. 

2. To pick you up when you’re down

In life, not everyday will be sunshine and rainbows. On these days, your support network is important so you don’t let a bad day turn into a bad month. They will dry your tears, pick you up when you fall, and remind you that good days will come again. When you’re in a time of need, your support network will rally to provide the love, encouragement, and guidance you require. 

3. To celebrate with you when you’re on top

Who better to celebrate your wins with, than some of your closest, most trusted friends? The best part of having a network of supporters, is that you’ll always have someone to celebrate the big and small wins in life. Your support network will be your turn cheerleaders, those people who are genuinely excited when you succeed. 

4. To do life with in general 

Finally, and maybe most importantly, having a support network provides you with a social circle, a group of friends who you can go through life with. Living life in this day and age is isolating and lonely enough, why exacerbate it by doing life alone? Build a network of people who you can love, support, and grow with. You’ll be all the better for it. 

This is why a support network is important. Sometimes you’ll need them, sometimes they’ll need you, and other times, you’ll just enjoy knowing each other. 

Who is in your support network? Do you feel as though you have a pretty strong support system, or do you need to develop yours a bit more? Tell me in the comments! 

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Four Easy Steps to Find the Career of Your Dreams

At such early ages, we’re expected to decide what we’re going to “be” when we “grow up.” Before most of us even know ourselves, and long before we have any idea about all the potential career paths and opportunities that are available to us, we are expected to make an informed choice and plan out the remainder of our adult lives.

Obviously, this is unrealistic, and just adds to the anxiety and stress of navigating life. It’s impossible to know and decide what you want to do for the remainder of your life in one moment. No matter if you’re an adolescent, or you’re mid-career feeling as though you need a change. The unknown will always be that—until you explore, experiment, and self-reflect.

If you’re looking for your next move, or you’re just starting out, give yourself some grace. You won’t be able to map out forever in this moment—and honestly, why would you even want to? Take it one step at a time and have faith that you will find your way. 

1. Self Exploration

Whether making a transition out of the military, choosing a major in college, or itching for a new career, it’s important to begin within. Be honest with yourself about who you are, what you are good at, and what you would like to do on a daily basis. What hobbies do you enjoy? What do you catch yourself doing, reading, or listening to in your free time?

Also consider the future. What type of life would you like to live in 5, 10, and 20 years? Do you envision yourself traveling for your career or staying put? Living in a small town or big city? Working in an office, outdoors, etc? Envision your ideal future and how you want to spend your days. This will help inform your career choices. 

2. Career Exploration

Once you have an idea of what type of life you’d like to live, you can figure out what type of career fits your lifestyle and the vision you have for your future. For this step, it’s important to read about different careers, and talk to a variety of people who do different jobs to educate yourself on the many careers and jobs that exist in the world. Consider taking a career quiz to narrow down your search.

Once you have narrowed potential careers down a bit, it’s important to talk to people who actually do the jobs you are interested in. This is important in order to gain realistic insight into the careers, and to learn what the daily life of someone in doing jobs is really like. Arrange coffee chats and informal interviews to gain this first-hand knowledge. Your future career lies at the point where your interests, skills, and lifestyle intersect and align with the day-to-day reality of one of these jobs. 

3. Try On

Here’s the secret though. Just because your personality and the job are in alignment, doesn’t mean you will enjoy it or be successful at it. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s for you. You must try the promising careers on for size. That’s right, get some experience in the job fields that interest you. Do an internship, some freelance work, or volunteer in the industry. Gain some experience in the areas in which you’re interested to help you narrow down your dream job even more. You won’t gain this personal insight by sitting at home wondering. Go out and give these careers a try!

4. Commit 

After trying out a few potential careers, commit to one. Remember, you are not committing to this career for life. You may change your mind at some point in the future. And that is totally OK! Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to the point where you feel crippled by choices and afraid to make a decision. Trust your instincts and follow your passions. Stick with a career for as long as it feels right for you. And if at any point you begin to doubt your decision and feel like you’re heading in the wrong direction, return to step one and repeat this process! Life is a journey, not a destination.

Are you doing your dream job? If so, how did you discover it? If not, are you exploring other options? Tell me in the comments! 

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The Art of Loving Yourself

Why Authenticity & Self Love Are Paramount

There’s nothing worse than being a knockoff version of someone else. Yet so many people find it so difficult to just be their true, authentic selves. I know have caught myself failing to be my true self many times. I believe we all have. 

One of my best friends always reminds me that when you first meet someone, you aren’t meeting them, you are meeting their “representative.” You’re meeting the version of themselves they aren’t ashamed of, their ideal version of who they want to be. You’re meeting all the propped up, good parts of a person, as they make an effort to hide all their flaws. 

The thing is, we all have flaws. We all have parts of our past we wish we could erase, or parts of our personality or body that we wish we could tweak. No one is perfect. And while it is commendable that you want to improve yourself, you must also learn to accept who and where you are in the present moment in order to find happiness and peace. 

1. Accept your whole self

First and foremost, you are who you are. Embrace it. The person you are today is the culmination of each day you’ve lived up until now. Whether physical, mental, or emotional, you are the masterpiece your life had created. You may see imperfections and areas you’d like to make improvements, but what what if you can’t? What if who you are right now is who you’ll always be? Love the person you are. You can’t get another one of you, and you’re amazing just the way you are. 

2. Realize that what you see as a flaw, is someone else’s ideal

No matter what you’d like to change about yourself, you must realize, there is someone in the world who is hoping, praying for exactly what you have. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I guarantee the flaws you have so much anxiety about are the epitome of beauty to someone else. Embrace your body, mind and spirit, and be grateful that you have the opportunity to live life through your eyes. 

3. Improve without disapproving 

It’s true, I must admit, no one is perfect. This is just a simple fact of being human. And to make improvements on yourself and in your life is admirable. It shows growth and ambition. But you must be careful to strive to become the ideal version of yourself—and not someone else. There is a subtle and important difference there. Work each day to become the absolute best version of yourself. But love accept who you are in each season of the journey. 

4. Believe you are worthy

In order to become the best version of you, you must believe you are someone worth becoming. You are special, unique, and a gift to this world. Everything you offer adds value. Embrace who you are and let your light shine through. The best version of you is someone worth turning into. So strive for greatness, but be sure to strive for authenticity as well. 

5. Relish in your uniqueness

Once you have truly decided that who you are is enough, relish in that. Embrace your uniqueness and improve upon it daily. Share it with those you love and respect. Practice making choices and pursuing paths that support who you truly are and want to become. Take time to care for yourself, to learn, and to grow. And most importantly, take time to rest. Loving yourself is no easy feat, but you can do it. 

What are three things that make you unique? Tell me in the comments!

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Dealing with Haters: A Crash Course

Strategies for Dealing with Negativity 

“You can’t do that.” 

“That is so risky!” 

“Now is a terrible time.”

“The economy is going to hell in a hand basket.” 

“You’ll never find something better than this.”

“That’s a stupid idea.”

“You’ll never make it.”

“You’re crazy.”

These are the responses I received each and every time time I told people in my life that I wanted to try something new or do something unconventional. Family members and friends said these things to me when I told them I was joining the Navy. Coworkers and supervisors said these things to me when I told them I was leaving active duty. The list goes on. 

Over time, I’ve heard these responses less and less. Not because people have suddenly changed, but because I have stopped sharing all of my dreams and aspirations with most people. I’ve realized that not everyone deserves to know my plans, hopes and dreams. 

There are people in your life who amp you up and support you, who are genuinely happy for you when you achieve something, and root for you through good times and bad. Those are the people who deserve to know your dreams, goals, wins—your business in general! 

Then there are the haters! The naysayers, the negative Nancies, the jealous fri-enemies, who pretend to have your best interests at heart, but when you actually win, they’re secretly jealous. These people are everywhere. They are toxic, and if you aren’t careful, they’ll drag you down and keep you there. 

So how do you overcome these and power through the negativity? 

1. Be confident

The number one way to overcome the opinions of negative people is to be confident in yourself and your decisions. Keep your dreams to yourself until you have done your homework, built up confidence, and created a plan. Dealing with people’s negative responses to your aspirations will be much easier if you are totally confident in your choices and have done the work to debunk whatever nay-saying comments come your way. When you are sure of yourself, confident in your decisions, and have hopes and dreams that are based in fact, logic, research, and a solid plan, the things people say to try and discourage you will sting less. 

2. Learn to distinguish the real from the fake

So you did your research, you have your goals laid out and you are excited to share your hopes and dreams with the world. Not so fast! You must realize that not everyone deserves to know your every move, especially not before you even make it. Distinguish who deserves to share in your aspirations and who doesn’t. In my mind, there are three types of people: those who are genuinely supportive of you, those who flat out hate on you, and those who pretend to be supportive but are undercover haters. The latter group is the absolute worst, like a wolf in sheep’s clothes. Pay close attention to the people in your life, and determine who is really in your corner. Then, stop sharing intimate dreams and goals with those who aren’t. 

3. Build your tribe

Once you’ve determined who your real cheerleaders are, bond with them! Share your goals and encourage them to do the same. Research shows having an accountability partner can create exponential momentum toward goals, so ask them to hold you accountable. You deserve to be excited bout your life—past, present, and future. Find people who will genuinely appreciate you and are excited for you. Connect with others who share the same goals as you. There are tons of online groups for any possible situation, leverage these to connect with like-minded people and build your tribe. 

4. Power through the bullshit 

No matter what you do in life, there will always be those negative voices that you just can’t escape. Maybe it’s your boss, or a well-intentioned family member; there will be people who are difficult to physically distance from. For these situations, try to create mental distance from them in areas in which they are unsupportive. Just because a loving family member doesn’t understand one aspect of your life, doesn’t mean they need to be extradited from the entire thing. Share other aspects of yourself with them, and save the rest for your supportive tribe. Don’t allow negative opinions to overtake your mind, and stay focused on your goals!

Have you dealt with haters when trying to achieve a life goal? How did you handle it? Tell me in the comments!

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How to Accomplish All the Things & Not Get Overwhelmed

A Winner’s Guide to Juggling Life

As someone who has a full-time management consulting job, is an active member of the Navy Reserves, runs an online coaching business, and attends graduate school part-time in pursuit of my MBA, I know a thing or two about juggling priorities. At this point, I’ve got my days planned down to the minute and everything running like clockwork—literally! I have time blocked for the important things, 10 alarms set for the really important things, and I’ve learned the hard way to leave plenty of time for rest, relaxation, and fun! 

But it didn’t always used to be this way. I remember when I was on active duty and first started attending part-time college classes. I’d work the day shift, and then spend two evenings a week in class. Plus homework, projects, tests, and not to mention duty, watch standing and all those other seemingly arbitrary military obligations. It seemed like every time I had an exam, that was the day my boss just needed me to stay late to work on something. I felt overwhelmed, and like I had no time to spend with my friends, let alone to meet all of my obligations and deadlines.

After several years of practice—and lots of failed attempts at time management—I finally got the hang of things. Here are my few secret ingredients to balancing priorities and reaching your goals without absolutely losing your mind. 

1. Commit to What You Love

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was this: Only commit to things that you can do with joy. If you’re doing something that makes you absolutely miserable—stop! Life is too short to spend time doing things that don’t make you happy, excite you, or help you to reach a future goal that you believe is worthwhile. 

Now let me be clear, not every day will be sunshine and rainbows. If you absolutely hate biology class, but your lifelong dream is to become a doctor, you’re going to have to suck it up and pass biology to make your long-term dream come true. In fact, you should make an effort to shift your mindset into seeing biology as the gateway to your future success as a doctor! 

But if you’re spending time or energy on something that doesn’t help you reach a bigger goal, or that doesn’t bring you more satisfaction or success than misery, it’s time to rethink your priorities. Align your day-to-day activities with things that do bring you joy and fulfillment, and that do further your progress toward your goals. 

2. Learn to Say No

In order to prioritize commitments that bring you joy and help you reach your long term goals, you’re going to need to learn how to say, “no” to the things that don’t. If you’re good at saying no, great! Keep doing it. 

But lots of people struggle with saying no because it makes them feel like they are letting people down or disappointing them. If this is you, try thinking about it this way: How would you feel if you were working on a big project that you were super excited about, and everyone who agreed to help you was only there because they felt obligated to be, and not because they really wanted to be? Feels kind of disappointing, right? 

When you commit to things out of guilt, fear, or shame, instead of from a place of joy and an honest desire to commit, you are doing both yourself and the people or project you are committing to a disservice. It’s important to learn and maintain boundaries in every aspect of your life, and the same holds true for your commitments. 

3. Manage Your Time 

Once you have decided what you do want to spend your time and energy on, it’s time to get them into your calendar. If it’s not scheduled, it’s probably not going to happen! I like to use Google Calendar, because its easy for me to access from any device and things are so much easier to reschedule on an electronic calendar. But you can also use a paper calendar if you prefer! 

Start by adding blocks of time for all of the big, important non-negotiable chunks of your time, such as work days and class times. If something takes 8 hours in real life, make sure it takes up 8 hours on your calendar too. Next, add in all your deadlines and important dates. I like to represent these in small 30-minute bright red blocks, so I don’t miss them! Next, add any appointments, practices, meetings, fitness classes, or anything else that can be moved if need be, but that are on a pretty fixed schedule. 

Lastly, add in the activities that you need to get done, but that can be done at flexible time— exercise, reading, homework, study time, working on projects, dinner dates, cleaning the house, weekly bubble bath, etc. It’s important to add in time for everything that you actually spend your time on. And make sure you add some fun things too! If you know you usually need 3 hours of study time every week to pass biology, schedule those three hours into your calendar! It’s okay if halfway through the week you need to move those three hours to a different day, but it should still remain on your calendar as a visual reminder to get it done. 

If you have any overlapping or conflicting time blocks on your calendar, make sure to resolve them. Decide which activity is more important, or which must be performed on that day, and move the other item to different day and time.   

4. Communicate Your Intentions

Once you have decided on your commitments and arranged your time accordingly, you must communicate your intentions to the important people in your life. These people may be your boss(es), spouse, children, parents, partners, classmates, professors, coworkers, or friends. Anyone who plays an important role in your life, and especially those people who will be impacted by the commitments you have set for yourself, should be notified and informed. 

Approach each conversation by asking for their support in reaching your goals. Be sure to let them know your reason for committing to your project, and how important the project is to you. Be humble and kind, and let them know your success depends on their support. When you empower people with the opportunity to help you achieve your goals, it makes them feel needed, appreciated, and involved. And most times, this will translate to them being more supportive and invested in your success.  

Let them each know what projects or commitments you are pursuing, and which days and times of the week or month you will be committing to them. If speaking to your boss or other authority figure, you may need to ask permission for the time you need, or request to leave work by a certain time in order to meet your commitments. Obtaining support will make your life easier, and will [hopefully] prevent you from having to explain to your boss fifty times why you can’t stay late on Tuesdays. 

5. Make the Magic Happen

Last but not least, follow through on your plan. Stick to your schedule as best you can. Only move things around on your calendar when you absolutely have to. It may take some trial and error to get your schedule set up so it works perfectly for you, but it’ll happen, and when you get it figured out, commit to it. Work on the things that matter to you, and make yourself proud! Telling everyone in your life about your commitments will not only help you with sticking to your schedule, but it will also act as a built-in accountability system. And when you do achieve your goals, everyone will know and will be there to celebrate with you! 

Have you had trouble in the past with managing your priorities? What techniques worked for you? Let me know in the comments below! 

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When Your Life is Over, Here’s How to Make it Through

How to Overcome Obstacles When You Just Can’t.

I remember losing a job very early on in my career. I was upset, confused, and angry. All I could think was, “why me?” I thought my life was over. I needed money to survive. How would I pay my bills? What about my reputation? What if I couldn’t find another job? It was devastating. I didn’t know what to do next, or who to turn to. There were a lot of tears. 

Eventually, I found the strength to move on. I spent time reflecting on what I actually wanted to pursue next, I applied to other opportunities, and I used my network to make connections. I found a new, better job. And ultimately, I was stronger and better for the entire experience. I now knew exactly what failure looked and felt like. But even more importantly, I learned how it felt to overcome it, to use it as motivation, and rise above it. 

Years later, when my best friend was laid off, I was able to relate to her in a way no one else could. All of my first-hand experience brought us closer than ever before. I was able to share my insights and experiences with her, and make her see there was hope for the future. My experience not only helped me, but it empowered me with qualities and knowledge that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. And it enabled me to be the friend she needed through that difficult time. 

We all go through dark times, and usually, it is only when we are on the other side of them that we can see the lessons and opportunities in our struggles. Albeit difficult, if we can remind ourselves of the powerful lessons, hindsight, and new opportunities that come with every obstacle, it can give us hope during the darkness. 

When you’re facing an obstacle, or going through a major struggle, be gentle with yourself and take it one step at a time, knowing that you will reach the other side. 

1. Feel the feels.

Ignoring your emotions is never effective. When you ignore your feelings, they never really go away. You are only burying them deep inside. And, just like a volcano, they will be silently brewing beneath the surface until they are released in a violent explosion. Usually when emotions are pent up, they reveal themselves at the most inopportune moments. This is why it’s important to feel your feelings. Cry when you need to cry, scream when you need to scream. Acknowledge how awful your situation is, and accept it. Know that it is okay to be sad, upset, disappointed or angry. And know that the more honest you are with yourself about how you are feeling, the more quickly you will have the strength to move past it. 

2. Clear your head.

While it’s important to experience all of your emotions, know that you cannot stay in a negative state of mind forever. Eventually, you will need to gather yourself, dry your tears, wash your face, and carry on. After you have taken a moment (or a few days) to cry it out, do something to make yourself feel good. Clear your head from negative thoughts by focusing on other things in your life that are still going right. Practice gratitude for the things in your life for which you are grateful. Go for a run or walk, go get a massage or manicure, have coffee or a phone date with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, paint, craft, exercise, or take a weekend trip away. Do something to take your mind off the obstacle you are facing so you gain perspective. Although it feels like the end of the world, you are not going to die from this. 

3. Strategize.

Once your mind is clear and you have gained some perspective, it’s time to be bigger and smarter than your problem. The obstacle you are facing is temporary and, if you do things right, it can be turned into an opportunity for you and your future. There is a saying in politics, “never let a crisis go to waste.” It’s important to take that approach to all of your personal challenges as well. How can you not only get through this rough patch, but how can you conquer it, use it to your benefit, and create or become something greater than before? The best stories are of people who overcame impossible challenges and created greatness from their disadvantages. That can be you! Focus, brainstorm, shift your perspective. What unforeseen opportunity can be born out of your obstacle?

4. Face your obstacle head-on.

The mere idea of facing obstacles head-on may make you want to curl up into a ball, but you are not a quitter. You must take action. You have identified the opportunity in your obstacle, now you must take focused action to turn your obstacle into the opportunity you have identified. You cannot wish away your obstacle and you cannot hope that things will get better from here on out. You have to make it happen. Create the plan, make the phone call, attend the meeting, sign up for the class. Take the plunge, rip off the band aid. Face the obstacle head on. Running will not make it go away. Praying can give you courage, but it cannot absolve you from the need to act. You know what you need to do, so do it. Now.

5. Find the lesson. 

Once you have taken action to resolve your challenge and have begun creating your new opportunity, it is important to reflect and learn from the situation. What happened may have been your fault. In which case, what lessons have you learned that you will apply to your future endeavors? What can you do better next time? Conversely, what happened may not have been your fault. Natural disasters, arbitrary layoffs, strokes of bad luck, sicknesses, and traumas happen to each and every one of us. Even still, what has this experience taught you? What can you do now to better prepare for the next time something unexpectedly negative comes your way? What has this experience given you, that you can now gift to others? Knowledge, expertise, compassion perhaps? 

6. Prepare for the next one.

Again, take action. You have found the lesson in your challenge, now take action to really learn from it and improve in any way you can. Failed in business? Take a business course. Failed relationship? Start going to therapy. Had an unexpected health problem? Revamp your lifestyle. Lost a job? Find one that you really love, and open a savings account so that next time it doesn’t feel so devastating. No matter what life throws at you, you can learn to master your reaction to it, and be prepared for the next time something bad happens to you. It’s not what happens to you that matters, it’s how you respond to it that does. Once you begin to work on yourself, you can then help others. Share what you have learned with other people. Help them through a similar situation. Or, if at all possible, teach them what you have learned in advance so they can avoid the same fate. 

None of us enjoys going through failures, pain, or challenges. But that’s life. Life consists of one obstacle after another. When you stop facing hardship, you stop learning and growing. The better you become at overcoming challenges, the easier life becomes, and the happier you are. When you realize that the road to success is paved with failures, you’ll begin to appreciate every opportunity to overcome an obstacle. Nothing worth having comes easily, and your growth and happiness are directly correlated to your ability to affectively overcome setbacks without losing site of all the great things around you, and the ones yet to come. 

Have you faced a devastating hardship at some point in your life? What specific things helped you through it? Tell me in the comments!.

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[positivemomentumproject]

How to Cultivate Success While Still Binge Watching Netflix

Why Being Intentional With Your Time is the Key to Success

So many people right now are either 1) passionate beyond measure to use every ounce of free time they’ve been gifted by this pandemic to be productivity-on-steroids and get everything done that they didn’t get to in the past decade, or 2) ready to defend their right to do absolutely nothing with their free time and spend every waking moment binging Netflix and online shopping, or wallowing in their sorrows because their life has been so impacted by this pandemic that they refuse to allow one tiny bit of guilt into their minds about all the nothing in which they’ve chosen to partake. 

And honestly, good for you. Either way. Sometimes you need to take a day (or five) and zone out to Tiger King. Sometimes checking things off your to-do list just doesn’t come with that level of satisfied accomplishment that it normally does. 

Conversely, if what makes you feel good is catching up on every to-do list you’ve made in the past year and finally getting shit done, more power to you! The important thing is not what you choose to do with your time, but rather that the way you are spending your time is your choice! 

When you align your time, energy, and actions to what your life requires, in a way that allows you to achieve the goals you have set for yourself, you will be successful. But if you allow yourself to get carried away on whims and emotions, you will end up wasting precious hours on things that have no benefit to you over the long-term.

Successful people are intentional with their time. 

Successful people know that no time should be wasted. Time is a finite resource that cannot be saved and that, once spent, cannot be recouped. Time is more precious than money because you can always earn more money, you can’t earn back time. Regardless of how you choose to spent your time, make sure that it’s a choice and that what you are doing with it is intentional. You are in control of your life and how you spend your time each day is one of the most important choices you can make. If you need to rest, rest. If you need to hustle, hustle. 

Successful people allocate their time according to their goals. 

How you spend your times should be a direct reflection of what you hope to accomplish in your life. If you have a demanding career and you finally get a day off, spending a day at the spa is probably a fantastic idea. If you’re an entrepreneur starting a business and have no money to pay your employees, then maybe spending the day binging Netflix and hoping your problems disappear isn’t the smartest idea. Go out and make a sale so you can pay your employees, then go home and binge Netflix. Successful people own their situations. They own their goals, and align their time to achieve them.

Successful people don’t make excuses. 

So many people complain about not having the time to do this or that, not having any time to do what they’ve always wanted to, or time to take a vacation. The lack of time is a fallacy. Each person is gifted with the same number of hours in a day. If you feel as though you don’t have enough of it, you need to take a long hard look at your priorities and eliminate things that you’re spending time on which don’t align with your goals. 

Successful people stick to their commitments. 

Understand the importance of time management and follow through. When you allocate time to achieving a goal, stick to the plan. Being honest with yourself is one of the most important prerequisites to success. Don’t block time in your schedule to research job opportunities, and then decide you “don’t feel like it,” and go out for ice-cream instead. Spend the hour job searching and then go get the ice-cream. If you make a commitment to yourself, follow through. 

Successful people use their time wisely.

If you want to reach big goals, it’s going to require big commitment. Wake up an hour earlier. Go to bed an hour later. Hire someone to cut your grass or shovel your snow. If you make $30 an hour in your job or business, why are you wasting time and money by doing a $10 an hour job that you can pay someone else to do? Outsource non-essential tasks that others can do for you. Recoup your time and put it to work in a way that works for your future.

There are a limited number of hours in every day and a limited number of days in your life. Time is not something to waste, but something to spend. Wisely. Something to be intentional about. Whether it’s an intentional nap or an intentional sales pitch, be in control of your time, and manage your minutes to create the life of your dreams. 

What are two things you’re going to prioritize over watching TV this week? Tell me in the comments below!

[positivemomentumproject]

Five Things You Must Do Before Leaving the Military

Getting out of the Military and Want to Make Sure You’re Prepared? Start here. 

I remember back in in 2009 when I decided that active duty Navy wasn’t for me. I had joined the military at 18 years old, bright eyed and ready to see the world! I joined with every intention of doing a full 20 years. I was prepped and ready for a grand adventure! … that I never really got (not via the Navy, anyway.) So a few years in I decided that I wanted to go back to college after my contract was up and, with the newly released Post 9/11 GI Bill on the scene, I was confident I could make it happen. 

And even though I knew what I wanted to do, I still didn’t understand exactly how to do it. Who do I let know about my decision? Where do I make my goals happen—back home, where I was stationed, or somewhere completely new? Will I actually have enough money to survive? Am I making the right decision? 

All these questions and many more are probably running through your mind right now. When you’re on active duty, the transition to civilian life—whether to college, a civilian career or starting a business—is just a big blob of unknown. The most important thing to realize is that this is NORMAL. No one has all the answers or knows what lies ahead of them before they actually go through it. Think about it: I bet your expectations of what the Navy would be like before you joined were in many ways different, than what active duty has actually been like for you. Same thing here! 

So, as someone who has the benefit of hindsight, here are my key takeaways to help you on your journey to a successful civilian life: 

1. Start Early

I cannot stress this enough! If I could go out and find every person who’d be leaving the military two or three years before they transition to civilian life, I would. There are so many things you can do to set yourself up for success as a civilian that the earlier you get started, the more you will be able to get done, and get them done well. Things like saving up an emergency fund and building a strong network of valuable contacts can’t be done over night. So give yourself at least a year to really dig in and create a plan for your future. Which leads me to my next suggestion…

2. Have a Plan

You know how the saying goes, “a goal without a plan is just a wish.” Don’t be a wisher, be a planner. Take the time to think about where you want to be in the next three, five, and ten years. And then map out your timeline from now until your contract end or resignation date, and at least two years beyond it. Include all the nitty gritty details of how you’ll take action over the next few years to achieve your long-term goals. And most importantly, make sure all the actions and plans you have laid out are in line with, and actually lead you to achieving those long-term goals. Sounds obvious, I know, but you’d be surprised. 

3. Do Your Research

Once your plan is all mapped out, do your research to make sure it is viable. Can you get into the school you want to attend? Can you afford to live in the city you have chosen? Information to full in most of your research gaps should be available through a quick Google search, or by interviewing people who are currently where you want to be. Also, definitely look into how your veteran’s benefits can help you achieve your goals.

One often overlooked detail is considering the dates of your military transition. Ensure the end date of your military contract aligns with the start date of your next endeavor, or that you have money saved or a temporary plan to keep you afloat in the meantime. For example, if you plan to transition into a corporate or government job after your military service, but your contract end date is right around the December holidays, know that you will likely not be able to start until after the new year. Incorporate solid research into your plan so there are no surprises come transition time.

4. Consider Others

Realize that your life goals and plans have an impact on others. Reflect on whose lives you will impact by your decision to leave the military. Do your post-military plans include moving to a new city or state? If so, think about the impact on spouses, significant others, and children. Will your transition to civilian life result in a drastic change to your income? If so, consider whether your family will be able to sustain on that new income. Plan on moving back in with your parents after the military? Make sure you let them know that in advance. Discuss all plans with those who will be impacted by your choices so there are no surprises at the last minute, and everyone is on the same page. 

5. Don’t Go it Alone

As I’ve mentioned previously, use your network and other resources to help you in making your military transition a success. There are many veterans helping veterans out here—how can you leverage those resources to help you achieve your professional and personal goals? Consider hiring a coach or mentor to help you on your journey. And connect with other military members who are going through this transition alongside you, and especially with veterans who have gone down this road before you. Reading this article is definitely a step in the right direction!

What are your plans for after the military? What have you done to make the process going from military to civilian life easier? Let me know in the comments below! 

Stay Positive,

J. 

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[positivemomentumproject]

How Accountability Leads to Success

Why Accountability Works & How to Leverage it to Achieve Personal Goals

Accountability and Responsibility

Accountability is defined by Merriam-Webster as “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.” Accountability goes a step beyond responsibility. When you are responsible for something, but no one or nothing is holding you accountable, it’s easier to slack off and to only take care of your responsibilities when it’s convenient for you. Accountability, on the other hand, is your acceptance of that responsibility and your commitment to take it seriously and follow through.

Accountability Partner

There’s no better way to stay accountable for your actions, or progress toward your goals than a requirement to report your status back to someone else. Study after study have shown that there is something about having to verbalize how well or poorly we have performed that makes us try harder and commit to our goal or task. For example, nutrition is a very important personal goal of mine. And I have hired a nutrition coach to keep in touch with each week. Knowing that I will have contact with her every Monday keeps me accountable for my actions, and ensures I make responsible food choices throughout the week.

We can use this simple fact to our advantage, and create accountability structures in our lives to ensure we stay on track to reaching our goals. When you decide on the goals you want to achieve, tell people about them, and ask them to help keep you accountable. You will feel compelled to deliver on the result or idea you have shared. And you will be reminded of the goal you set, and forced to measure your progress toward it, any time your friend checks in to see how your progress is going. 

Accountability and Success

When you make a personal commitment to yourself, and especially when the commitment is made to someone else, you have a greater chance of following through and achieving the results you are after. So, what better way to achieve your professional and personal goals, than to incorporate a level of accountability into reaching them? 

Use these steps as a guide to take accountability for your goals: 

Decide on the goals or habits you want to bring to fruition in your life

Tell at least one person about each of your goals

Make a commitment to stay accountable to yourself and your accountability partners

Take action on a consistent basis to reach your goals

What goals are you working toward this year? Who will your accountability partner(s) be? Let me know in the comments below!

Stay Positive,

J.

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[positivemomentumproject]

How Accountability Leads to Success

Why Accountability Works & How to Leverage it to Achieve Personal Goals

Accountability and Responsibility

Accountability is defined as “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions,” according to Merriam Webster. Accountability goes a step beyond responsibility. When you are responsible for something, but no one or nothing is holding you accountable, it’s easier to slack off and to only take care of your responsibilities when it’s convenient for you. Accountability, on the other hand, is your acceptance of that responsibility and your commitment to take it seriously and follow through.

Accountability Partner

There’s no better way to stay accountable for your actions, or progress toward your goals than a requirement to report your status back to someone else. There is something about having to verbalize how well or poorly we have performed that makes us try harder and commit to our goal or task. For example, nutrition is a very important personal goal of mine. And I have hired a nutrition coach to keep in touch with each week. Knowing that I will have contact with her every Monday keeps me accountable and ensures I make responsible choices to achieve my goals. 

We can use this simple fact to our advantage, and create accountability structures in our lives to ensure we stay on track to reaching our goals. When you decide on the goals you want to achieve, tell people about them. You will feel compelled to deliver on the result or idea you have shared. And you will be reminded of the goal you set any time your friend checks in to see how your progress is going. 

Accountability and Success

When you make a personal commitment to yourself, and especially when the commitment is made to someone else, you have a greater chance of following through and achieving the results you are after. So, what better way to achieve your professional and personal goals, than to incorporate a level of accountability into reaching them? 

Use these steps as a guide to take accountability for your goals: 

Decide on the goals or habits you want to bring to fruition in your life

Tell at least one person about each of your goals

Make a commitment to stay accountable to yourself and the accountability partners you have told

Take action on a consistent basis to reach your goals

[positivemomentumproject]

Why I Coach

I love helping and motivating people to achieve their biggest dreams. 

I remember living in the barracks when I was 19 years old. I felt lost and alone, and unsure of what to do with my life. I knew the Navy had saved me from poverty, and from a confusing, directionless adolescence. But now that I had taken the plunge, I was stuck on shore duty my first tour. I wasn’t seeing the world, just the inside of my cell-sized barracks room. The Navy had promised to be my “big adventure,” and the journey that I truly believed would “accelerate my life.” I was saddened that reality had fallen short of my grandiose expectations.

I got comfortable in my new Navy world, but I was bored and under-challenged. I knew that I didn’t want to do 20 years—it just wasn’t for me. I wanted to go to college. I wanted to learn new things and travel the world. I wanted to work hard, meet new people, and to work on projects I was passionate about. But I wasn’t sure how to make it happen. 

I was ashamed that I made a huge life choice, just to be disappointed, and I was afraid that I would disappoint others if I chose to try something new. I also didn’t know how I could possibly afford to leave the Navy; they were the ones writing my pay check. Did I even have the skills or experience to do anything else? 

I wanted to try different things, but I was almost paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. I was hundreds of miles from family and close friends, and although I had made new ones, I didn’t have any close trusted advisors. I felt alone and confused, but eager, motivated and ambitious at the same time. I wasn’t sure what was next, but I knew I had to figure it out. 

And I eventually did. Over the following few years, I explored options, asked questions, performed research. And, although I spent way too much time taking classes that didn’t go toward my degree, and confiding in senior ranking personnel who probably didn’t understand why I had so many random questions for them, I found my way. And this is how life is—it’s not a straight and narrow path to success, but lots of tangled roads, leading you to new possibilities that you didn’t know existed. 

My goal as a coach is to provide a bit of clarity, some road signs and 20/20 perspective to some of these winding roads. I help people identify their strengths, explore all possible futures, and carve a path through the confusion, to a life of success and fulfillment. I help them stay motivated along the way, and I offer myself as that trusted advisor I wish I’d had all those years ago. I help people figure it out, to make it happen. And to enjoy the journey!

[positivemomentumproject]

Next stop... Thailand ✈️ Our stay in Chinatown at this authentic Thai home via @airbnb was amazing! 🇹🇭 There are hundreds of high rises in downtown for about the same price, but we opted for a more authentic experience- and we didn’t regret it one bit! 🏯 We were surrounded by greenery 🌿 and just outside the door were tons of amazing places to eat! 🍜 #thailand #travelblogger #chinatown #bangkok #travel #passionpassport #travelphotography #optoutside (at Wallflowers Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtoDG2WBwoM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=v1m1ytsfkp5i

[positivemomentumproject]

What are your goals for 2019? 🎯 Are any of them money related? 💰💸 Do you want to pay off your debt? 📃 Save more? 💵⏳ Finally have the money in savings to take that big trip you've been dreaming about? 💭 🌏✈️ Maybe you just have no idea where to start. 🤷‍♀️ Or maybe you just don't have the motivation to get (or stay) on track. 😴 Do you have a budget made and do a pretty good job saving and paying off debt? 📊📈 But you know there are other things you you should be doing.. and you just aren't sure what those things are! 😵🤷‍♂️ IRA, 401k, Mutual fund, Index fund... Sound like jibberish to you? 🤯 Regardless of your current financial situation, this group is for you! 😎🤓🤩🥳 The group challenges, tips, explanations, inspiration, and motivation will help demystify the financial gibberish, ⚖️ break down step-by-step what you should be doing to meet your personal finance goals, 📝 and help motivate you to get your financial ducks in a row!! 🦆🦆 Click the link to join the PMP Personal Finance Group to get your 2019 started right + those financial goals met! 🎯🙌🏆 Link in bio 👆🏼 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsj4MWLhzEn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=187jh85nhjzqd

[positivemomentumproject]

“First, find out what you’re capable of, then decide who you are.” -Tara Westover #adventureswithjulie #positivemomentumproject #tbt #disneyworld (at Disney's Animal Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsefxDSh0wo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mkcc3bz6cqud

[positivemomentumproject]

Falling down is an accident. Staying down is a choice. 👐🏼 #riseup #failureleadstosuccess #motivation #positivemomentumproject https://www.instagram.com/p/BqoSAKvh94-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14qaa56a31x9i