Why Lawyers Should Eat Bananas by Simon Tupman is a book that caught my eye both because of its unusual title and because I coach lawyers who are starting or growing their practices. The book cover says it gives “Inspirational Ideas for Lawyers Wanting More Out of Life”
Much of what Mr. Tupman writes about is appropriate career advice for anyone, lawyer, business person or manager . He is an advocate of “Working smarter not harder” and so am I. I really liked his list of attributes for smart workers and number 8 on the list particularly appealed to me because it underscores much of what I have been saying in this newsletter for the three years I have been writing it.
Number 8 says that smart workers “stay in S.H.A.P.E. Each letter of course stands for an element that he believes is vital in order to stay marketable.
Skills. Today all workers have a responsibility to keep their skills up to date. If you are waiting for someone else to pay for your training you may wait yourself into obsolescence. If you are in business, someone else will take away your business if you let your skills stagnate. If you work for someone else, your employer may find that another employee who has more advanced skills can do your job better or faster. In my AT&T days the Internet was just coming into general use. Those people who could support it technically were the ones whose jobs were more secure.
Health. It is something you may take for granted but you need to be proactive about your health. Proper diet, enough sleep, and exercise all help you to have the energy you need to do your job. Often my clients will say to me that they just don’t have time to exercise or have a well-balanced meal. They say they have other priorities. I ask all my clients to make themselves their number one priority. You can’t be good to others (clients, family, co-workers, friends etc.) unless you are good to yourself.
Attitude. How do you approach a problem or something new? If you believe you can’t do something, you won’t be able to. As a sales manager I found it was so much easier to work with sales executives who were proactive and saw lots of possibilities rather than the ones who had a negative attitude and whined about their problems. People with positive attitudes attract success.
Persistence Life has its ups and downs. Everyone will have the experience of trying something that doesn’t work out as planned. What do you do when this happens? Do you quit or do you use the failure to learn and grow? Thomas Alva Edison said, “Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work.” Rather than being upset by failure regard it as just one more data point on the road to success.
Enthusiasm. What is it that keeps you working at your job, business or job search? Somewhere in your mind you must have a vision of what you want to achieve that really excites you. Having enthusiasm for the end state (your vision) will get you through the toughest days.
As you can see the critical element here is knowing yourself. Look at each of the 5 elements and ask yourself how you stack up. Is there something that is holding you back?
Take action!
1. Identify the area that you would like to improve.
2. What is one step you could take to improve yourself in that area?
3. What are your challenges?
4. What steps can you take to overcome those challenges?
5. Take the step and start again.
Having difficulty? A coach may be able to help you to overcome the obstacles and move forward
Getting in Shape - To learn more about this author, visit Alvah Parker's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
Throwing Caution to the Winds
|
| |
I am often asked whether entrepreneurship comes easy to me. The answer is yes and no.
|
My Cousin Vinnie - The Salesman
|
| |
While on a cruise we experienced a very professional sales person. Here's what he did and how he did it.
|
Perfect Imperfections
|
| |
What does being "perfect" mean to you?
|
Your Goals
|
| |
Before setting a goal, it is vital to ask yourself as to whether you are prepared to devote your time, energy etc. to achieving that particular goal.
The more you are prepared to do something for yourself, and the...
|
Success Really Isn’t About Money…
|
| |
This morning I had a meeting with several professional Scouts. These people make their livings serving the Boy Scouts of America. They are not likely to become wealthy in the conventional sense. Their jobs involve l...
|
|
|
Alvah Parker
(Visit Alvah's Website)
Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor (The
Attorneys’ Coach) and a Career Changers’
Coach as well as publisher of "Parker’s
Points", an email tip list and "Road to
Success", an ezine. Subscribe now to
these free monthly publications at her
website www.asparker.com/samples.html
Alvah Parker began her career as a high
school chemistry teacher. She later
transition to a sales career at AT&T. As
a Sales Professional at AT&T for 15 years
she was elected to the prestigious Counsel
of Leaders for the top 3% of the sales
force. After leaving AT&T she
transitioned into a coaching career and
also volunteers as a SCORE Business
Counselor where she advises and counsels
small business owners.
Parker’s Value Program© enables her
clients to find their own way to work that
is more fulfilling and profitable. Her
clients are attorneys and people in
transition who want to find work that is
in line with their own life purpose.
Alvah is found on the web at www.aspar
ker.com. She may also be reached at
781-598-0388.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|