 The past few years I have researched what it takes to be massively successful - the mindsets, the habits, the characteristics.
I've delved into books, watched documentaries, streamed interviews, read articles - devoured any information I could get my hands on. I was obsessed with discovering the secret that these highly successful people were clearly keeping to themselves. Whether I was reading about Oprah or Bill Gates or Sarah Blakely or Tony Robbins or Walt Disney, a major theme emerged. And it wasn't what I anticipated. I anticipated their stories would all involve hard work, consistency, and talent. Which is true - all three of those things were present in each story. But one of the major themes, no matter who I researched, was the concept of developing a growth oriented mindset and shifting perspective from one of scarcity to one of abundance. “The choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself.” Oprah Wait? Excellence is a choice? “The only thing that’s keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself.” Tony Robbins You want to become a millionaire? Be massively successful? Adopt a million dollar mindset - a mindset of growth and prosperity. Set intentions. Create powerful habits. Leave your limiting beliefs far behind you. What's a limiting belief? Any belief or story you tell yourself that holds you back from being the most abundant and intentional version of you. I'm going to share one of my stories with you. I was raised by a single mother who worked two jobs to support my brother and I. Life was not always easy and we didn't always have basic necessities...like running water. I vividly remember going to the grocery store with my mother one day. She was always very careful to pick out only items we needed and very conscious of sales, coupons and deals. We stood in line, as I perused the magazine rack and drooled over the candy and gum, I remember looking back at my mom and noticing how intently she stared at our cart full of groceries. At that time I had no idea why, but I now realize my mom was computing the cost of the items in her head, over and over again. Eventually it was our turn and my mom and I placed the grocery items onto the conveyor belt. A loud "beep" filled the air as each item was scanned. My mom fished through her purse to pull out her checkbook. She stood poised with her pen and her check ready to fill it out. She never took her eyes off of the register screen as she watched each item add up and our total increase. Her tension was palpable and I felt it with every cell of my body. The cashier announced the total (I don't remember the exact numeral) and my mom's eyes immediately filled with tears and she bowed her head and looked at her feet. I heard her inhale sharply, she quickly looked up and wrote out the check, knowing that it would most likely bounce and she couldn't cover groceries for her children. I now know that the emotion radiating off her was shame mixed with fear and frustration. I am not telling you this story to garner your sympathy. We all have our own, painful stories. I'm telling you this story because it was instances like these that shaped my money mindset. I believed money was scarce and there was never enough to get by, no matter how much you worked. And if you wanted more money you had to work harder and longer. These beliefs were so ingrained within me, I didn't even realize I had them and they negatively impacted my business and my ability to succeed. I worked hard to reframe my money mindset. I worked hard to adopt a mindset of abundance and growth. But before I could do the work, I had to become mindful of my own money programming. What are some of your money stories? Do any of these resonate? ❌ Mo' money, mo' problems. ❌ The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. ❌ Money is the root of all evil. ❌Rich people are greedy, selfish, *insert adjective here* etc ❌ I'm just not good with money - I wouldn't know what to do with it if I had it. How do they impact your beliefs about business and income? Are you like the old me - the one who believed that there was never enough money to go around? I didn't realize that there were other ways to live beyond survival. But the good news is - money is abundant and you can live abundantly. Sometimes when creating the business or career of your dreams, the most important foundational work is the work you do on yourself. Oh and a little update on my mom - she went back to school, finished her masters degree and is now an accountant with her own thriving business. She's killin' it. And you can, too.
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 "I feel in the present"
"The universe always has my back" "What I believe is what I receive" Three years ago if you had said any of the above statements in my presence I would have responded with the most magnificent eye roll. One of those eye rolls so big you're almost afraid you've permanently damaged your optic nerve, or at the very least, strained an important eye muscle. Even with the impending impediment (say that 5x fast) to my vision, I still would have rotated my eyeballs so far back it would have been comical. But alas, I'm a totally new person. A more open minded, more spiritually curious version of my former self - or at least that's what I say to myself in the mirror. The truth is I lived in a state of fear, a state of scarcity. For the majority of my life I operated under the assumption that there wasn't enough to go around. I lived with beliefs deeply ingrained from an early age. These beliefs resided so deep, in fact, I didn't even realize I had them. It wasn't until 2020 with the sudden and unexpected closure of my brand new business that I spiraled into a state of panic and disbelief. A state of restlessness and unknowing. It was then that I was forced to look deep within myself to identify what my purpose was. It was as though I was suspended in time, hanging in midair, paralyzed, unable to choose a direction. I started learning everything I could about online businesses. If I couldn't run my brick & mortar I was determined to find another way to generate income. My journey quickly went from one of business strategy and marketing tactics to one of questioning. Questioning my beliefs. Questioning my spirituality. Questioning what I actually stood for. Striving frantically for a semblance of purpose. I knew I was a mother, of course. A wife. But what was I outside of my family? Outside of my designated roles? What inspired me? What set my soul ablaze? Thoughts of my children growing up, spreading their wings, and leaving behind an empty shell of a woman who didn't know who she was, dominated my thoughts. It was through spiritual exploration, energy work, meditation, and making myself answer the hard questions that I found some relief. I discovered some purpose. Clarity is a beautiful thing. I still have so much work to do. Sometimes I'm the token "hot mess". I lose my keys. I forget to respond to emails. I forget theme days at school. I'm late for doctor's appointments. Small triggers set me off and I question myself constantly. I still struggle with imposter syndrome. But now I have tools and strategies I can use to find my way back to the intentional, purpose driven being I am supposed to be. The true me. The fulfilled me. I recently read Gabby Bernstein's book, Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams. (The quotes at the beginning are Gabby's). I want to walk you through one of the exercises she recommends to readers using my own fears and vulnerabilities as examples. It's about to get real up in here. In chapter 1 Gabby outlines the "3 Step Choose Again Method". It goes something like this (and I'm literally copying word for word from my journal - I told you we're getting Brene Brown real over here). Step 1: Notice the negative thought or fear by asking yourself "How do I feel right now?" My journal entry: "I feel fear. I feel scarcity. I feel like my hard work isn't paying off. I feel like I'm doing the right things. I'm committed. I'm consistent. I try to remind myself how far I've come. Sometimes I feel like I'm a failure parading around in a successful person's false image." OOF. Imposter syndrome, much?! That was hard to re-read and re-write. Step 2: Forgive the thought - Gabby prompts her students to write "Thank-you for revealing to me what I don't want so I can clarify what I do want." My journal entry: "I forgive myself for thinking this way. Thinking this way allows me to gain clarity on what I do want." Step 3:Choose Again - Gabby encourages her students to choose a new thought that brings them a little closer to happiness. My journal entry: "I am open to abundance. I am ready to choose again. I will focus on the progress I've made, my accomplishments, and those I serve." Gabby doesn't include a step 4 (hence the title: The 3 Step Choose Again Method) but I added one more step. I like tangible action and I like strategy. For step 4, I decided to write down short-term goals I can achieve this week. My journal entry: "What can I realistically do to shift this negative belief?
After completing this simple exercise I felt better. I felt as though I had released my negative thoughts, addressed them, and came up with solutions that would help me move past them. I know these beliefs will come back. I know I'm a work in progress. We all are. I was inspired to write this hoping that my own struggles would resonate with yours and hoping that Gabby's method would be as useful for you, as it was for me. If you'd like to grab a copy of Gabby's book, here's my affiliate Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3H3rQ78 If you read it or have already read it, let me know your thoughts. Maybe we can be "woo woo" buddies. Remember, "The universe always has your back". 😉 - Tanya By Joan Johnson OTR/L, MPA-HA Master in Health Administration  Many of our clients are unhappy in their current positions, yet unsure of their long term career plan. Some are feeling caregiver burnout, physically and emotionally exhausted by the increasing demands of patient care, frustrated with lack of professional opportunities for growth, or tired of a negative workplace culture. Whatever your “Why” is for needing a change, having it defined will help guide career decisions, even if your future title and direction remain open-ended or unclear.
Prioritizing your professional and personal needs by writing them down will help you feel more confident in making a career change. Define what career success and job satisfaction mean to you. What do you value most? What “fills your cup” and keeps you motivated? What do you excel at?
What is most important to you in a position? Salary and benefits? Autonomy and flexibility with the schedule? Working for an organization with a strong mission, values, or ethical business practices? Opportunities for professional growth? Working with a collaborative and positive team?
Your definition of career success belongs to you. Write it down. Develop a vision board. Get inspired. Make a priority list. Even if you are unsure where you will end up, taking a calculated risk and making a change is easier when you have a written plan. We now offer 1 hour career coaching sessions to help you solidify your priorities and define your personal vision of career success. By Joanie Johnson OTR/L, MPH  How to highlight transferable skills in your resume to land a non clinical position:
We hear all the time from clinicians that, “I am just a Therapist.” Many clinicians feel they will be overlooked for positions, are not qualified, or may not be considered since they are their professional title. Feeling “stuck” is a common theme we hear with our clients...How do I show that I have these skills, abilities, and can do more than just therapy or direct patient facing care??? There is a multitude of transferable skills that are relevant to other fields both within and outside of healthcare settings. If you are going for a Leadership or Management role, consider the following:
Also, consider the daily skills that you use as a clinician, and how these translate over into other roles:
If you are considering moving into leadership, management, or non-patient facing roles, these are just a few of the many examples of how your skills transfer to other positions. Make a list of all of your accomplishments, projects, and organizational contributions. Take credit where it is due. You are an amazing provider who has the capacity and skills to transfer to other positions and areas. We can help! By Joanie Johnson OTR/L, MPH  Changing careers or pivoting directions can be intimidating and scary. Leaving the comfort of a reliable position or schedule, consistent paycheck, and familiarity gives many a sense of insecurity.
For others, making a career change might be a necessity for financial, family, or personal reasons. Working in a toxic work environment, or dealing with daily stresses and caregiver burnout, are some of the many reasons clinicians look to change career directions. Considerations in making a career change are different for every person. Some might need more consistent hours or pay, better benefits, more flexibility and autonomy, or all of the above. Others might want to improve job satisfaction and opportunities for growth. What your “WHY” is, make a list of what is most important to you and why you need to make a change. Your priority list might look something like this:
Consider your unique skills and personality traits, and what you are passionate about professionally. There are ways to focus on your “WHY” if you know what they are, and have a solid foundation to feel confident moving forward with making a change. Polish2Prosper Career Consulting is now offering career coaching services for Healthcare Professionals needing to build confidence and direction with changing career direction. Contact us for more information. “We are your partners in making career transitions and provide expert support and coaching to help others define their “WHY””. By Joan Johnson OTR/L, MPA-HA Master in Health Administration Department Hiring Manager  How do you represent yourself in the most attractive way to stand out from other applicants and shine for a potential employer?
Hiring managers want to have employees who align with the following:
Including these key “soft skills” in your professional resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile will make your documents attractive to both Talent Acquisition and Hiring Managers. Practicing behavioral interviewing with these factors in mind will help make the long-lasting impression that you desire. By Joanie Johnson OTR/L  Networking Can Open Doors You Didn't Know Existed
Four years ago, I applied for a Supervisor position with goals to work for my dream organization. This is an organization I had been applying to for over 5 years, had landed interviews, but never a formal position offer. I REALLY wanted to work for this organization for much of my professional career. This supervisor position ended up not requiring a clinical background, and unfortunately at the time, I was not able to manage the pay decrease to transition. I stayed connected with the recruiter, and 1 year later, she reached out to me about an opening due to a department restructure. This position required an RN degree to manage the Home Health Department. At the time I was an OT with 7+ years of management experience (5 of which were in Home Health), a Masters Degree in Health Administration, and years of management training and education under my belt. My heart sank that I would not qualify for this job since I did not have the clinical licensure required. The recruiter collaborated with the hiring manager to change the position qualifications to allow rehabilitation clinicians to apply. I was invited to interview and was offered the position. I would like to think this all occurred because of my work experience, skills, and professional qualities. However, had I not connected with this recruiter and established a positive relationship, I would not have known about this position opening. I had made a positive impression, and she had kept my resume in mind with priority openings she was working to fill. This recruiter had a keen eye for talent and finding an employee who was a good fit for company culture and demands of the department. Professional networking is the key to opening doors you did not know existed. Contact Polish2Prosper for tips, tricks, or LinkedIn strategy to help you make a successful professional impact. By Tanya Peterson MS, OTR/L  In the era of covid, and possibly well into the future, virtual interviews have become more necessary than ever.
As if interviews weren’t stressful enough, now we need to add in some technical components to juggle. But- you can’t beat the commute! Here’s some quick tips to help you feel confident and prepared while on camera: THINK ABOUT YOUR SURROUNDINGS
DRESS PROFESSIONALLY
USE STAR FORMAT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
FOLLOW-UP
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