How Can a Six-Month-Old Baby be the Best Career Counsellor Ever?

Posted by: Mark Franklin on January 6, 2015 4:46 pm

Naguib Gouda had been working in financial services while at the same time volunteering for non-profits on the side. But, as he told Career Buzz listeners (Dec. 10, 2014), “what I was doing was not enough.” Then, 12 years ago when his daughter was six months old, Naguib said, “she gave me courage to make that career change” into meaningful work in the non-profit sector. How?

Naguib shared this valuable perspective: “If someday in the future she comes to me and says, ‘Hey dad, I’m not happy doing what I’m doing. What should I do?’ I could be the bitter old man who says, ‘don’t make the same mistake that I did.’ Or I could lead by example, and tell her that’s what I did when she was six months old and it worked, and it’s been fantastic.” Twelve years ago Naguib switched to the not-for-profit sector where he’s been in leadership positions ever since, and loving it, now president of Career Edge.

Hear the whole interview (Naguib’s story at 11:30) also featuring Syndey Helland of Career Edge and coach/author Karen Wright.

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Staying True Unto Oneself

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on August 14, 2013 3:10 pm

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“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
~ Steve Jobs

What does it mean to “stay true unto oneself?” Shakespeare spoke of this immortal question, others have reformatted and repackaged the idea, but still many remain uncertain of the essential meaning of being true unto oneself.

What is the importance of staying true unto oneself? However you want to package the basic premise is: be authentic in all that you do. Do not waver from the nature of your true person. Whoever you are, allow that person to shine through.

AUTHENTICITY

Authentic people are undisputedly genuine. Genuine people do not rely on the approval or acceptance of others, rather they diligently seek to be themselves. They deny the ownership of critical words or deeds that others lay at their feet. Genuine people are not perfect, but strive for improvement on a daily and frequent basis. They are also capable of accepting positively constructive criticism, while denying the negative intentions, deeds, actions, or criticisms that others may choose to offer. An authentic person is a sincere person relying upon their inner being for acceptance and approval.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Inspiring Your Child

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on August 30, 2012 11:35 am

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“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

~ Thomas A. Edison

Failure is good, failure is necessary, failure stimulates a desire for success. When an individual fails, we are instinctively and unconsciously prompted to discover a path to success. Successful people are inspired people; they are unwilling to accept the “status quo.” Inspired individuals are willing to challenge the norm, ask questions, seek solutions, and forge through unbeaten paths. Inspired individuals are unwilling to give up.

THE GOOD OF FAILURE

The importance of failure is that it reminds us that we can do better, be better, and achieve more.

Why are we so concerned about making mistakes? Why are we afraid of failure? As a society, we are taught that failure is a remark of our character, our persona, our very worth. From Hollywood to Bollywood we view movies and television shows that remark upon the negativity of failure.

The Positive Aspect of Failure

If I fail, then I have a guidepost, indicating the areas with which I can improve. Failure has become the barometer of negativity, rather than a potential of opportunity. Without failure, we could not relish in the achievement of our successes. As a good parent or teacher, we should teach our children that failure is an opportunity for improvement and growth, rather than a blockade deterring us from our greatest potential. Failure is no more than a mere challenge begging us to be better.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

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