consulting   executive coaching   speaking   contact us   blog   home      Volume 6, Issue 6     June 2009     ISSN 1556-3820 "If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?" - Rumi (1207-1273), Persian poet and philosopher Note From Regina  Greetings! Summer has finally arrived and all I have to say is: woo hoo! The past month has been fabulous as I have been out re-connecting with friends and work colleagues as well as establishing new relationships. As I mentioned last month, I’m taking full advantage of all the great networking opportunities that are out there. How many of you are taking advantage of online networking opportunities? If you haven’t ‘linked-in’ or ‘tweeted’ with your work colleagues and friends or worse, you don’t know what that means, then you are missing out on some amazing opportunities to connect that doesn’t involve time away from the office. The cost to you: an investment of your time. This month I’ve had some website challenges that resulted after some routine maintenance. Frustrating? Yes. End of the world? No. I like to joke that flexibility is my middle name and I guess the big guy in the sky wanted to put me to the test! If you want to move ahead in your company, read this month’s feature article, Up is Not the Only Way: How to Zig Zag Your Way to the Top in the New Career Economy. Until next month!  Regina Barr P.S. Have a Happy 4th of July!    Feature Article Up is Not the Only Way: How to Zig-Zag Your Way to the Top in the New Career Economy How are you faring in the new career economy? If you’re feeling that after progressing steadily that your career has suddenly stalled, then you are not alone. Downsizing and doing more with less at a time when training and professional development budgets have been slashed, is enough to wreak havoc with anyone’s career plans, right? Not so fast. Truth is, for those who are willing to re-evaluate, take initiative, and make some changes, now is a great opportunity to shift your career into overdrive. This, combined with a positive attitude, is the main ingredient for success in the new career economy. Here are some ways to ensure that your employability goes up even as organizations flatten out. Develop a "Me, Inc." attitude. Identify your key assets and liabilities. Then create a plan to leverage your assets and offset your liabilities. Involve your manager when appropriate. But remember, you are responsible for your own career success. Invest in your work portfolio. Become a learning addict. Develop a wide range of experiences and desirable skills. Do this internally at your company or externally through volunteer work. Embrace lifelong development and continuous learning by taking advantage of degreed programs, industry seminars, continuing education and company training programs. Be a change agent. Get comfortable with handling ongoing change. This means not only embracing change but also seeking it out in the form of new and challenging experiences. Move around willingly and proactively. That includes up, down, and sideways within your company, and outside of your company when necessary. There are still plenty of opportunities for those that want to move ahead and ascend the corporate ladder. It may require that you change your perspective and develop a new vocabulary. Follow these simple tips and you can expect new avenues to open up for you. And remember, in the new world of work, up is not the only way! Regina Barr is a former marketing executive and founder of Red Ladder, Inc. As CEO she helps organizations manage transitions, complete major projects, build strong teams and develop leadership talent. She is an executive coach, professional speaker, trainer, writer and media commentator who holds master's degrees in business administration and human development. For more information, visit www.redladder.com or 651-453-1007. Copyright 2004-2009 Regina Barr, Red Ladder, Inc. All rights reserved.     Pass it on ... If you find value in this newsletter, I invite you to share it with others who can benefit. Please forward in its entirety. You may also publish or reprint this newsletter as long as it is accompanied by Regina Barr's byline and contact info (below the feature article). Please send us a link to the article when it's published. Subscription is on an "opt-in" basis only, which means you've requested a subscription. All subscriber information is private - we never rent, sell, or give away any subscriber information. If you've received a forwarded copy of this newsletter and would like your own subscription, please sign up on our website. About Red Ladder Red Ladder, Inc. provides services for individuals and organizations with a goal of developing people and inspiring success. Regina Barr, Red Ladder's CEO, holds a BBA, an MBA and an MA in human development. With over twenty years in the financial services industry, she has a broad range of leadership experience in product, sales, and marketing. in this issue ... Note from Regina Up is Not the Only Way Speaking Schedule Resources What's New About Red Ladder Today's poll ... No poll this month.  Check back next month. What's New ... 06/09 Red Ladder’s website is down for maintenance. Please contact us at info@redladder.com or 651-453-1007 for assistance. Here are some of Regina's upcoming programs  ... July 8, 2009 (12 Noon CST), IABC Minnesota Dial Up Your Career Series, Up is Not the Only Way(TM), TeleSeminar September 9, 2009 (8 am CST), IABC MN Dial Up Your Career Series, Time Management for the Time Pressed(TM), TeleSeminar October 2009, FWI Annual Conference, Hit the Ground Running(TM), Workshop November 11, 2009 (12 noon CST), IABC MN Dial Up Your Career Series, Pricing Integrity and Personal Value: What Are You Really Worth?, TeleSeminar Preview a list of Regina's five most requested programs. Interested in having Regina speak or present a seminar or workshop at your next event? Contact us at: 651-453-1007 or .   Resources ...   Outliers: The Story of Success:  Author Malcolm Gladwell’s book is for anyone who is interested in knowing what it really takes to be successful. Get the behind the scenes look at every day people to business icons like Bill Gates and music icons like the Beatles. Read this book and find out what it truly takes to be take yourself from merely good at what you do to masterful. TeaLeaf:  Scroll down to the middle of the page and sign up for this free weekly newsletter written by economist Jeff Thredgold. Read it to find out what’s happening in the economy and financial markets and how it affects you and your business. Testimonial: "Regina, thanks for taking the time to listen, understand my perspective, sort through the issues, and help me methodically think through my project. Working with you I know that my finished product will either meet or beat expectations." - Gail Mikolich, COO,   Northeast Bank Copyright 2009 Regina Barr, Red Ladder, Inc.  All rights reserved.   www.redladder.com| | 651-453-1007 | Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076