Networking With No Fear

My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Networking With No Fear.” In it, I discuss how much more successful we would all be at networking if we could leave our fears and worries at the door.

I tell a story of one of my 3-year old neighbors, and his ability to approach adults without the fear or baggage that we all pick up along the way. 

How much more career progress would we all make if we lived with a little less fear?

To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here. 

Moore, Oklahoma Update on Local 24 Memphis News

Thank you to Sean Parker and Local 24 for a second amazing story today! Sean did an update on the Memphis To Moore fundraiser, and my hometown of Moore, Oklahoma.

Last May, Moore was hit by an EF5 tornado that was more than 1 mile wide. It caused damage to more than 1,400 homes and 20 of the 35 Moore Public Schools buildings.

As a former student from Moore Public Schools, I felt compelled to partner up with The Westin Memphis Beale Street, and RedRover Sales & Marketing to host a fundraiser for 200 Memphians to raise funds for the schools.

We raised over $34,000 in donations, including gym equipment for my junior high school, Highland East. The equipment was donated by Karen Wilder Fitness and shipped by Big League Movers (who donated 100% of their shipping services!!). Cash raised was donated to the Moore Public Schools Tornado Relief Fund to cover the needs of teachers and students impacted by the tornado.

In all, there was $55M in total damage to the school system. The three most badly damaged properties, Plaza Towers Elementary, Briarwood Elementary, and High East Junior High, are all still under construction. Most other school properties have been repaired, and students are back in school.

For those who have asked about my parents street, one home was beyond repair and was rebuilt completely. Two others were badly damaged and are almost completed. Other repairs are complete.

Thank you to everyone who donated their time, money, and energy for the fundraiser. I appreciate all of your help and support! Moore teachers, students, and residents send their thank yous to everyone in Memphis.

Read Sean's entire story here.

View the interview below:

South Main Recyles on Local 24 with Sean Parker

Thank you to Sean Parker, and Local 24 for a great story today about South Main Recycles!

My neighborhood in Downtown Memphis lost its recycling bins last year after our grant funded by the Office of Sustainability ran out. That's when myself and two of my neighbors, Bob Lundy and Sharon Leicham, decided to do something.

A visit to single stream recycling facility ReCommunity and a few phone calls later, we found that adding recycling back into the neighborhood was just $100 per month for everyone. We started an online campaign to accept donations from other neighbors. We were able to raise over $1,200 from donations as small as $5 and as large as $100. Then, the Downtown Memphis Commission generously matched what we raised!

Recycling is back! If you'd like to use the single stream bins, they're located next to the Memphis Farmers' Market at G.E. Patterson and Tennessee Street. If you'd like to learn more, or to donate, visit Facebook.com/SouthMainRecycles.

Read Sean's entire story here.

Watch the interview below:

Two voting days left! Your help needed!

Just 2 voting days left! I need ~300 more votes to make it to Round 2. Please vote & share! Thx for your help! http://bit.ly/CopelandCoaching

Make More Money This Year

My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, "Make More Money This Year." In it, I discuss important strategies for increasing your salary at your #1 income source: your job.

If you’re like most people, you created a list of new year’s resolutions at the end of December or in the beginning of January. One of your resolutions was probably related to your finances. It may have been to save more, to make more or both. Regardless of which you selected, increasing your income can achieve both goals. 

If you’re like me, your parents and grandparents worked at the same jobs for their entire careers. Companies were more loyal to their employees back then, and in turn, employees were more loyal too. You often stayed at a job for 30 years where you grew your career, got promoted, earned more money and, eventually, retired with a fat pension and a lifetime of amazing health insurance. 

Unfortunately, times have changed.... 

To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.

   

Just 7 voting days left!

Happy President's Day! We're up to 1,441 votes!

Just 7 voting days left! In order to move on to Round 2, I need to be in the top 100 of the over 5,000 companies entered. Right now, I'm hovering right around 100, so I need your vote to keep Copeland Coaching in the competition.

Let's keep voting daily!

Thanks for your support in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest!

 http://bit.ly/CopelandCoaching
 
(Feel free to re-post this. Thanks!)

 

Working the (career fair) room like a pro

My latest newsletter is out-- Working the (career fair) room like a pro.

When was the last time you attended a career fair?  Five years ago?  Ten?  Never?  Chances are the last time you went to a fair, it was in college.

But, career fairs are not just something for college students anymore.  They can be a great way to find an in person connection to a company you've been internet stalking for months.  They're also an alternative to submitting your resume to the online application process black hole.

Read the entire newsletter here: http://bit.ly/1mlKooc

Subscribe to my newsletter here: http://bit.ly/jobnewsletter

Putting Your <3 Into Your Job

Happy Valentine's Day!

My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, “Putting Your <3 Into Your Job." In it, I discuss finding a job that aligns to your personal goals, and allows you to be happy each day when you go to work. Given how much time we all spend working, it's important to do something you love.  

The season of love is upon us. Is it fair to say you love what you’re doing for a living? Do you find yourself putting in your all every day, or is it a drag to get up in the morning – or worse yet, to go to bed the night before, knowing your next day’s work is looming over you?  

If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing for a living, it’s time to take stock of what’s important to you. Start out by ranking the following items in order from least to most important: Location, Career Fulfillment, Financial Stability and Career Field.

To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.

Where to start when you're starting over

My latest newsletter is out-- Where to start when you're starting over

It's been a surprising week for folks in Memphis. Like we've seen too many times over the past few years, companies are restructuring. When they do, it impacts the personal lives of their employees.

Unfortunately, unlike previous generations, the luxury of having an entire career at one company is rare. Workers no longer stay at the same job for thirty years and then retire with a great pension and excellent healthcare. In fact, staying at one company can often be looked at as a negative thing. More value is often being been placed on breadth, rather than just depth, of knowledge.

Read the entire newsletter here: http://bit.ly/LQ2CgH

Subscribe to my newsletter here: http://bit.ly/jobnewsletter

Copeland Coaching on WMC-TV with Lauren Squires

Unfortunately, Memphis continued to experience the harsh realities of restructuring, cutbacks, and layoffs this week.  Workers found themselves caught off guard, and forced to start over again.

Lauren Squires from WMC-TV interviewed me and Kevin Cochran yesterday on the topic of where to start when you're starting over. 

Watch the interview below to learn more.  If you are an employer that is interested to talk with Kevin Cochran, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Starting Over: When Corporate Goes Kaput

My latest Memphis Daily News column is out, "Starting Over: When Corporate Goes Kaput."  It provides guidance on where to start when you're starting over.  I was inspired to write this column when I heard about the recent layoff at another large employer in Memphis this week.  If you know someone who's been impacted, please consider sharing this column with them.

For many employees in the Memphis area, the story is all too familiar. You wake up one day and go to work, just like it was any other. You wear the same clothes, drive the same route, and eat at the same place for lunch. Things seem fine at first, but something starts to feel a little out of whack.

You’re taken into a large room with your entire department or a small room with just your team. Then and there, you learn that the company has decided to take a new direction. And, the worst part – your job has been eliminated.

To read the entire article, visit the Memphis Daily News site here.

Thank you for your vote for Copeland Coaching in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest!

Friends,

Thank you so much for all of your votes for my business Copeland Coaching in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest.  As you probably know by now, you can vote once per day between now and February 23rd.  What you probably don't know is why the daily voting is so important, so I wanted to take a few minutes and share more details of the contest with you.

The grand prize is $25K, but there are nine other prizes as well:

• Grand prize grant of $25,000 
• Four first-place grants of $5,000 
• Five second-place grants of $1,000 

How it works

1. Round 1: (happening now) Friends place votes daily from now to February 23rd at http://bit.ly/CopelandCoaching
2. Round 2: The top 100 voted businesses from Round 1 will move on to Round 2.  In Round 2, each of the 100 businesses will answer four essay questions about why the grant is so important to them, and how it would help their business grow.
3. Grant Winners Announced: Based on the essay questions, FedEx will hand select the final 10 businesses that they wish to award the small business grants to.

Our current status

• There are 3,724 businesses entered to win the contest.  That's a lot of small businesses!
• As of this morning, Copeland Coaching is ranked #91!

Yes, that's right, we are currently ranked #91 out of 3,724!  So, thank you for all of your votes to get us this far! With just 18 days left to go, we are currently in the running to make it to Round 2.  But, I need your help to stay there!

FedEx is headquartered here in Memphis, Tennessee.  I'd like to see Memphis represented right here in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest!

Please keep voting each day to keep Copeland Coaching in the contest, and encourage your friends to vote too!

It's fast & easy.  And, just takes one click at http://bit.ly/CopelandCoaching. 

Thank you for your help!

Sincerely,
Angela

Guest Blog on 21 Words: 10 Steps to Career Professionalism

Today's an exciting day! Public Strategy firm Caissa invited me to write a guest column for their blog, 21 Words. The title of the column is "10 Steps to Career Professionalism."

In it, I provide simple tips on how to build up your personal brand over time. It's my first ever guest column, so be sure to check it out here.

Caissa Public Strategy is a great firm! If you haven't heard of them before, here's a little information from their site:

Looking for a smarter strategy? Want to shake things up? Dominate the game? That's what we're about. Caissa Public Strategy helps you move forward and achieve your goals. Focusing on deliverables and the endgame ensures we win for you. Whether you want to build trust with your stakeholders, develop support for your cause or need help running a project, our team has the experience and skills to develop and implement a winning game plan. 

Challenge us.

The 10 minute conversation that will change your life

My latest newsletter is out today. In it, I challenge you to change your life with just one 10 minute conversation.

Read the entire newsletter here, & sign up to be on my mailing list!