Blog Moved to www.uturnahead.com

Well, I've decided to make the full jump to the new URL much sooner than expected. So, uturnahead.blogspot.com has now officially and fully moved to the simpler www.uturnahead.com.

Originally, the plan was to post the same content at both blog locations, but the work to publish each post twice is simply not worth it. I only have an average of 2-3 readers on this blog each day, and I already had 16 visitors at the new website just yesterday!

So, come visit me at www.uturnahead.com. All the content from this blog has been moved, so you won't miss a thing.

8 Tips for New Year's Resolution Success

Okay, it’s almost the end of 2007 and you know what that means…time to make those New Year’s resolutions. Sure, we break most of them in the first month, but why not make 2008 a little different. So, here are my suggestions for making a New Year’s resolution that really makes a difference:

1. Choose only ONE goal for 2008. We want success, not an entire personal makeover. So, what is the one thing in your life that you most want to change? Is it your career? Or maybe a relationship, or your health. Pick just one thing you will commit to changing and focus your energy on that goal.
2. Spend some time thinking about the specific change you want to make. You have five days to really consider what change would be the most meaningful. You also have time to consider the specific goal you will set, how you will make the change and what support will be needed. So, don’t just go with the first idea that comes to mind. Read the next few suggestions and set a plan that you can follow.
3. Choose a goal that is measurable and realistic. Don’t shoot for the sky here. If you know you have to lose 60 pounds to be at your ideal weight, set a goal to lose 20 pounds. Remember, reaching a goal is not the end of change. Life is all about change and when you reach that goal you can set a new target. Even if the 20 pounds is all you ever lose, you are still far better off. So, break up big goals into smaller, meaningful changes. Remember the saying, every journey begins with one step.
4. Don’t set a goal that will take all year to achieve. This is a continuation of the last recommendation. Many people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions simply because it takes too darn long to achieve it. So, set a goal that you can reach in a couple months, even shorter, if you would like. Success is not measured in how long it takes you to achieve your goal, but rather whether reaching the goal improves your life in some way.
5. Write your goal down in a place you will see it every day. You need to be reminded of the goal you choose, and I also suggest adding a couple lines about how reaching this goal will improve your life. You want to keep focused on the change you have chosen and the difference it will make. I like to carry my goal around with me, or post it where I most need to be reminded (at work, the refrigerator, on my mirror).
6. Tell others about your goal. But there is a caution here…only tell individuals that will support and encourage you. If your goal is to start a business (which, of course, you will break down into smaller steps/goals), don’t wait time telling someone who is just going to tell you how most businesses fail and your idea will never work. I have found support from people I meet online to support me in my efforts. Telling someone supportive will give you extra motivation to meet your goal.
7. Keep a daily log of your progress. Several studies have shown that simply tracking the results of your efforts will result in some change. So, make a simple log and keep track of the steps you make toward your goal. Seeing improvement in writing will help move you closer to your target.
8. Plan now how you will celebrate your success. Along with your goal and a plan for achieving it, you should have a plan for celebrating that accomplishment. Be sure you don’t forget to reward your own hard work. Sure, achieving the goal has it’s own rewards, but the extra celebration will add some additional incentive.

So, there you have it. Time to begin planning and make 2008 a year of real change. Do you have other tips and ideas for making resolutions? Leave a comment and let us know about it.

U-Turn's New Look for Christmas!

First, let me apologize for the lack of daily posts over the past several weeks. I have been working on some very important changes that I am now ready to announce...

We are about to enter a new year, and changes are all I can think about. And the big change this week is a new look and location for the U-Turn Ahead Blog. Over the next couple weeks I will be moving this blog off the Blogger system and to a URL of its own. I love Blogger, then why am I making the move?

I have big plans for U-Turn Ahead and those plans require more functionality than I can get from the Blogger site. I am using WordPress blog software with the i3Theme from MangoOrange.com. I've tweaked the theme a little, but have more changes in store. By using WordPress and hosting the blog independently, I will be able to offer much more to visitors.

Also, I want to make this change before I get a larger readership. This blog is only getting a few readers a day, so making the change now will have less negative impact then if I make the change some time later.

For the next few weeks I will be posting the same content on both blogs. However, early in January I will be stopping work on this blog and all posts will be on the new site. So, make the move now and start reading content at www.uturnhead.com.

So, 2007 was just a warm up. Expect a lot from U-Turn in 2008.

The Best Years: A Hidden Treasure

About a month ago I was digging through the Internet when I unearthed a unexpected find...a website by and about Mike Bellah called BestYears.com. A visit to Mike's home page will find a photo of him atop Wheeler Peak in New Mexico. Along with the photo are a few paragraph's about the site and Mike's time writing midlife essays for the Amarillo Daily News. The links are scattered throughout the text with some additional links at the bottom. The page is no award winner for layout, but then hidden treasure doesn't usually come in a colorful box.

After clicking a couple links, one to "Mike's Story" that is no longer available, and reading an article or two, I finally hit the motherlode...a list of articles Mike has written regarding nearly every aspect of midlife. The articles, under the grand heading of Best Years:Sometimes the Best Begins in the Middle, include titles like "Career Changes" and "I Believe in You, Santa". Some humorous and others educational, each article brings insight and reflection on the issues of midlife change. Mike's writing style is comfortable and friendly, like a chat with your neighbor.

Despite the lack of impressive design and the clear evidence that the site has not been maintained for some time (possibly years), this website is still a favorite of mine. I recommend first skimming through the list of articles and then visiting the Best Year's Links Page. With nearly 150 articles and over 70 links (a few to sites that no longer exist), there is plenty to discover at BestYears.com.

Blog Your Way to a New Career

Finding the right career is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity. And opportunities to find the right job are significantly increased when you are connected and actively networking. So, why not consider blogging as the launching pad to a new career?

Last year Fast Company.com published an intriguing article by Leslie Taylor titled, "How to Launch a Career With Your Blog". It opens with...

"Silicon Valley start-ups and media behemoths aren't the only ones realizing the rewards of the rebounding Web economy. Already, many A-list bloggers have generated significant income from running advertisements on their blogs. Though with an estimated 53.4 million blogs expected to launch by year-end, according to Perseus Development Corporation, it's safe to assume that not everyone is going to get rich from blogging. So what's in it for the up-and-coming blogger, beyond creative self-expression?..."

To read the entire article, click here.

Six Tips to Getting The Job Interview

About two weeks ago I posted a job ad on CraigsList.org and the response was amazing. I have over 100 applicants. So, how do I filter through all the resumes and decide which 5-6 to interview? Here are my tips for getting the interview.

1) Send a resume specific to the job you seek. Yes, it takes 15-30 minutes to move content around, change some text and highlight particular skills, but it pays off. Make the job match jump out to the person reading your resume. Don't send generic resumes to 50 companies...send specific resumes to the five jobs you are really interested in. For advice on how to customize your resume to the job, click here.

2) Include a cover letter with the resume. Even if it's just a couple short paragraphs in the email (with the resume attached), take the time to write why you are interested in this job and what makes you a qualified candidate. For more information on how to write a great cover letter, see this advice from Trinity College.

3) Research the company and add something in your cover letter that indicates you've done your research. Employers like to know that you care about their industry and, more importantly, their company. Show that you know the company by including something specific about it in your cover letter.

4) Follow up with the person who received your resume. Don't be a pest, but make a follow-up phone call or send an email to express your continued interest in the position. Employers are busy. Give them a reason to remember you.

5) Focus on what you have to offer, not what you need. Remember, you are just trying to get the interview. Wait until you are nearer to a job offer before you discuss what you need from job. Salary, benefits, work hours, etc. can all wait until after you get that interview. Here is some great advice on JuriStaff.com regarding when and how to negotiate salary.

6) Be flexible with your availability for interviews. If you really want the job, go out of your way to be available when the employer wants to meet. Remember, she probably has other applicants eager for an interview, so don't make scheduling difficult.

Coryan Update: Revised Launch Date

My plans to launch Listonga.com on January 1st are looking disappointing. The learning curve for good web design is tougher than I had anticipated, and my work has been slow. Just a few hours of work each night has not produced the results I was hoping for. The content is building too slowly to think I will be ready by January 1st. So now I'm considering a mid to late January launch (or possible later).

Also, I registered for a community college course on web design. It will be interesting. I've not taken a class that was graded since 1988! My son also registered for classes at the same time. Funny thing - he didn't want to be in any class that I was in.