Ask a Leader Question for World Economic Forum, Davos 2011

I have something very interesting to share with you. In addition to the Davos Debates video below, my video question on Innovation & Job Creation was asked of World Leaders at Davos for the 2011 World Economic Forum meetings. View the Question here and view all the Answers at www.youtube.com/CareerExpert (right side - Davos playlist videos at bottom right).

I was delighted to hear from the CEO of Nasdaq, The President of Iceland, US Senator John Kerry, global digital CEOs, top Social Entrepreneurs and the President of the European Bank. I plan to continue my efforts in helping business leaders spark creativity around innovation & job creation through my Leadership Consulting, Career Coaching, Speaking & Writing. You can read my full Davos Blog "The Yin & Yang of Leadership" at http://www.sandrarupp.wordpress.com/

Davos Debates 2011 - Your videos

I am delighted to share with you that my answer to the Davos Question "How Can We Drive Inclusive Economic Growth & Prosperity" was included in the Davos Debates 2011 Video of Selected Entrants. Your Lady in Blue (my Answer, Invest in the Feminine Leadership Style) was placed on the cover of the video.

Many thanks to the World Economic Forum for asking a very important question this year. Did you know that 80% of the world currently lives on less than $10 a day? I feel we can work together to drive Innovation & Creativity to create prosperity & jobs around the globe. For more on this topic, please visit my Davos Blog at www.sandrarupp.wordpress.com

Social Networking for Career

Have you heard: Facebook is now the third largest country?...With a recent survey of human resources professionals revealing that 70% have decided not to move forward on a candidate because of what they saw on the internet/social media, it is more important than ever to 1) Have a Personal Brand and 2) Conduct a Social Media Audit. I coach people (including "C" level executives) on their Personal/Digital Brand. Some of the more popular Social Networking sites include LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Blogger, but there are other sites like ZoomInfo and WSJ Digital Community among others.

One word of wisdom is that it is important to define Who You Are. Be unique, be you, but also stay positive. What is meaningful to you? What are you an expert in? The internet is a great way for you to share with many others what's important to you, including activities, affiliations, charitable interests.

I find Twitter is an interesting way to get your ideas out to thought leaders and connect with CEOs, executives, companies and even authors. More and more world & business leaders are using it to share their "Brand" and to help others. I also like reading the morning headlines of about 25+ magazines/newspapers on it at once. Some people call Twitter the new CNN for breaking news (I have even heard about breaking job openings for candidates on it). It is also possible to link Twitter to your LinkedIn profile to share your tweets with that network. Beyond this there are Applications to help you manage your Social Networking posts/tracking. If you would like to discuss further, please email me for a coaching session.

Conscious Capitalism & The Pursuit of Happiness...

One of my first mentors in New York was a former President of a television network. He gave me several pieces of advice which I have never forgotten: one was human nature is pretty consistent - you can learn about people by understanding human nature. The other piece of advice was if you have an important question you need answered, don't call one person and wait around for an answer...put out calls to three different people - and at least one will get back to you shortly.

This was a man who knew how to make things happen...he also suggested looking up any person you plan to meet with in Who's Who or similar resource before you meet them to be able to share a more interesting conversation (nowadays you can "google" or "bing" the name).

I have had the privilege of working with many interesting people in my lifetime, including extraordinary leaders and rising stars. I have been surrounded by people with ambition. But what I admire most is a person who has not only ambition, but also takes time to share their wisdom with others. Instead of just finding a job, look for people to share and learn from. It will make your career and life more successful!

How do you define Success?... To me, success is not just measured in dollars. Have you heard about "Conscious Capitalism?" I first heard the term a couple of years ago. John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, is passionate about it (see web site below). So is Deepak Chopra. Perhaps the highest form of capitalism is not just about making money - but doing it in a way that also improves the lives of others...The point is success is not just measured in dollars - it can also measured in 'sense'.... Check out a video from the recent conference on Conscious Capitalism...sharing the power of purpose and the principle of interdependence.

http://www.consciouscapitalism.com/

In closing, I was asked to co-chair the 20th Reunion for my Business School this year (Kellogg) and plan to work with my committee to put together a panel of speakers to discuss this topic. How can YOU help others - did you know THAT is the key to happiness according to the latest brain research - finding something you are good at that also makes others happy....So if America was founded on the values of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - maybe that is also what the solution to the global economy is all about?....

Stay tuned & best wishes until next time,
Sandra.

December Cheer & Lifelong Learning!

Holiday time is one of my favorite times of the year - a time for holiday cheer and reflection, as well as an opportunity to plan for a New Year. It is a time where I plan my calendar for Lifelong Learning...are you a Lifelong Learner?

In the last ten days I attended a breakfast on Behavioral Finance and the Mania and Panics of the financial markets, then an event in the evening with a top Astrologer who talked about the tension going on between the Industrial World and the Ecological World. Recently, I also attended a virtual (and free) webinar on Entrepreneurs Journeys with a Forbes columnist.

To look for events, I recommend consulting organizations, universities, newspapers and the library. The internet is also a place to find interesting teleseminars or webinars. By joining Facebook, more people are getting invited to seminars online! The other day I saw an interesting webinar at Harvard on Web Trends for FREE (simply by favoriting the Page for the Harvard Business Review)! If you Favorite a Page (Inc., Fast Company, Ad Age Digital, local news, Chamber of Commerce etc.)...you can then follow the key articles on your Facebook Newsfeed and watch for interesting conferences or events.

Whether you are a business professional looking to network, or someone looking to start something entrepreneurial, or looking to get back into business, I have specific recommendations for you. Contact me via email for more information. You can receive this blog via email (or RSS) at the top of the page. I will have lots of other success tips. So stay tuned.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, Namaste! (I honor you)
Sandra.

Life, Purpose, Legacy...

I have been thinking a lot about where we are in the world as I read the headlines in The Wall Street Journal, the many magazines and world newspapers on my HomePage NewsReader. If you don't have a news reader, I recommend trying http://www.protopage.com/

You can choose your own news URL widgets here and even choose "feel good colors" for your personalized HomePage and the magazines and newspapers you follow. I chose the colors of a Rainbow for my ProtoPage and I was lucky enough to witness one the other day here in Florida.

Have you felt a trend going on? If not, you will feel it more and more. There is an economic shift and reinvention going on. While much of the television news seems focused on the news of fear, there is also also hope with all of the innovation going on around global connectivity, technology, the environment and spirituality. It is a new world taking shape.

If you can take a break from the financial services and Congressional challenges which will need to be worked out with more positive energy shifts, I also sense another feeling in the air among many Americans. When you willow it down to what is most important in life, you have three things: LIFE, PURPOSE and LEGACY.

I was invited to attend a Deepak Chopra filming in NYC for a DVD called the The Happiness Prescription (you can find it at amazon at My Recommended Reading List below right). He pointed out the secret to happiness lies in various factors (according to the new brain research) including your "set point" (are you a positive or negative person by nature-that is about 40% and it can be helped through meditation or coaching).... Next consider your life situation/conditions (actually that is only about 10%--research has shown even people that win the lottery usually come back to their original Happiness level). It turns out up to about 50% of happiness is actually determined by voluntary actions including a few of life's pleasures but also importantly finding something that you are good at (creating fulfillment) that also HELPS OTHERS... When you tie that to Career & Life Navigation, you go from being "fear" based to "possibilities" based....which is in sync with a Universal Law of nature.

If you don't find happiness in your current job or are looking, the good news is there will be more choices working remotely in the future, and there are opportunities for job re-training and learning new skills. Also did you know that over 400 women start a business every day? The key is to find something you are well suited for. On that note, I have finished two interesting books - first is Richard Branson's Business Stripped Bare (if you are thinking about switching industries, here is inspiration from someone who has built seven billion dollar businesses in seven different industries) and the second is called, How to Run Your Business Like a Girl, written by a woman who created a big business out of her home (see Recommended Reading below right). I would also say three things:

1) Try to cut down on on fear-based communication from your everyday life - that may mean turning off the TV news more, and being careful about what you put on your HomePage NewsReader. What you read and listen to makes your world....It is one thing to be informed. It is another to be anxiety and fear ridden....Did you know that there is a doctor in Canada who prescribes listening to Mozart for depression and anxiety... Try listening to Mozart sometime and see how it changes the way you FEEL....Point made.

2) Take Assessment Tests as self-discovery tools including MAPP, Myers Briggs and Johnson O'Connor to figure out what your strengths, skills and abilities are. Call me for more information. You need to understand what you are good at to identify your purpose (and create your legacy).

3) Commit to your family and friends that you are going to need their help as you look to reposition yourself be the best you can be in a shifting economy. But first, you need to do the homework to know what you are good at in order to ask them for their assistance as appropriate on introductions to the types of people you might need to meet. And you may want some coaching to tie that to growth industries and market trends. If you can't afford a private coach, there are community and small business associations as well.

This is just Part One of the homework. Part Two comes next time. So stay tuned via RSS feed or widget on your HomePage....just add this URL http://www.sandrarupp.blogspot.com/

Best wishes til next time,
Sandra.

Career & Life Navigation now at Amazon.com

I was asked to put together a list of Recommended Reading (& Viewing) at Amazon.com and I want to share the official link with you. Click here to view:

CAREER & LIFE NAVIGATION AT AMAZON

The lists were put together with both Career and Life Navigation in Mind: you will find Ken Robinson's new book "The Element" on education and life purpose... as well as James Canton's look at "The Extreme Future" ...leadership and innovation books of note by Daniel Pink and Malcolm Gladwell, as well as John Eldredge's book "Wild at Heart" and Deborah Norville's book "Thank You Power."

There is so much change and economic reinvention going on in this world that I highly recommend weekend reading these days! Have a great holiday, Sandra.