Recently I had the opportunity to present at The Career Thought Leaders Conference in Baltimore. I experienced many “highs” from the programs presented and especially reveled to be in the company of more than 150 career professionals—all thought leaders in their own rights, doing impressive things for clients, companies, and the communities they serve.

At the conference, I presented a session “From Stuck to Unstoppable” that highlighted some strategies for shifting from stuck, stalled, or spinning your wheels to unstoppable, stress-free, and successful. Here are just a few highlights:

Play the “Blame Game”:

I doubt that anyone reading this is blaming others for their situation, right?! However, if you know of someone who has a tendency to blame other people or circumstances for their “problematic” situation, have them try this:

• Reverse the blame game by pointing fingers at yourself.
• Ask yourself, how have my actions or inactions contributed to my circumstances?
• What can I do to change the circumstances?
• What will I do to change the circumstances? (yes, this question is different than the prior one!)

Note: I am NOT proposing a guilt trip or advocating self-deprecation with this exercise; the goal is simply to find ways that will help shift your thinking from victim to victor.

Be a Control Freak:

You read that right! Be a control freak: control the controllables and sing the theme song, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” Some questions to help shift into control mode and take charge of your time (your most precious commodity):

• What do you need to say “no” to?… “yes” to?
• What do you need to re-prioritize?
• What will happen if you don’t devote time to this?
• How much time will it take you to _____? Where is that time in your schedule?
• When’s the best time of day to do that task?
• How much time are you spending on resume tweaking and/or Internet surfing?

Reframe and Reclaim:

Our limiting beliefs about challenging situations often drive us to a place of fear, frozen with indecision and inaction. If you know of someone who fits the bill, consider this exercise:

• Stand up and find a space in your room where you’ll have room to move a few feet in several directions.
• State your current perspective on the challenging situation.
• If the current perspective were at 12 o’clock on a clock face, step over to the 3 o’clock position.
• State your perspective from the 3 o’clock position by answering the question: What perspective would a trusted advisor or your most faithful advocate have about this situation?
• Step to the 6 o’clock position.
• State your perspective from the 6 o’clock position by answering the question: What is your perspective one year from now where the situation is resolved, and you’re looking back with gratitude and peace about the resolution?
• Step to the 9 o’clock position.
• State your perspective from the 9 o’clock position by answering the question: What does this situation look like from the perspective of the living legacy or eternal impact you want to have on your world?
• Finally, ask yourself, which of these positions will make me the most empowered?

Of course, adopt the position that will allow you to think and take action from a place of perspective and choice.

Interested in the entire presentation that you can deliver to your audience of job seekers or career-minded professionals? It’s just one of the products available for sale (complete with presenter scripts for all 22 slides) as one of my “Done for You” presentations. Just contact Lyndsey@TheAcademies.com for more info!

Tags: Limiting Beliefs, Shifting from Stuck to Unstoppable