Archive for category General

Looking for a Job? Consider These Job Search Tips

Jun 27

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

It’s a tough economy out there. And that means, at least with several industries, there are a lot more applicants for jobs than there are openings. A job hunter these days must do more than simply send out resumes and cover letters. Job applicants should not think in terms of a job search, but rather in terms of a marketing campaign. If you are looking for a job, you must market yourself. The product, after all, is YOU.  That means you need to identify your target market, build a compelling brand identity and message, and then launch a soft-sell (but persistent) marketing campaign.

An article I wrote for Suite101.com last year goes into more detail on this approach. You can find it by clicking on the following link. Hopefully, you’ll find it helpful. 

Jack of All Trades and Master of None?

May 7

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

Zig Ziglar says that you should strive to be a “meaningful specific” and not a “wandering generality.” There’s a danger in trying to be all things to all people as well as trying to dabble in a whole slew of things as opposed to zeroing in on particular niches or a general direction, based on your gifts, talents, and passions.

That said, if you’ve seen my name around the Internet, you might be thinking: “You’re one to talk!” And you may have a point. :-) After all, I’m a pastor, former high school teacher, former association management professional, etc. I’ve had experience in several lines of work. If you Google my name, you’ll find that I’ve written on Christian living, theology, American history, making money, stress, personal development, public speaking, and much more. You’ll also see that I have a pastoral blog and an American Revolution blog in addition to this one.  Oh, and I have a blog and newsletter on marriage.

While there are people out there much smarter than me in these things, I don’t think it’s wrong to spread yourself out a bit. You only have one life and it’s too short to pigeonhole yourself into simply one or two things. I enjoy history immensely, for example. And while I don’t have a PhD in the subject and I don’t (at present anyway) work full-time in it, I’m still passionate enough about it, that I’m not going to let my life go by, without writing on the subject.

All that having been said, I do think it’s important to pick one or two professional lanes to MASTER, even if you dabble in others. For me, my primary calling is that I’m a pastor.  I therefore devote most of time and energy in that direction, which includes extensive study of the Bible, preaching and teaching, counseling, leadership of a local church, etc. Secondarily, I’m a writer (and occasional speaker) on the topics of personal development, communication skills, handling stress, and overcoming adversity. The latter is the focus of THIS blog.

What are your lanes? What are your specialties? What are your areas of expertise?

Again, life is too short to limit yourself exclusively to one or two things, but it’s also too short not to let yourself go as far as you can in what you’re best at!  Don’t let life go by without discovering your gifts, talents, and passions. They will give you a clue as to what direction you should head.

Tags:

How to Handle College Stress

Apr 30

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

College can be challenging and stressful. Research has shown that stress has caused fatigue, sickness, even hair loss in many college students. And stress can actually be counterproductive in that student performance can suffer. What are the causes of this stress? And what can college students do about it?

According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Plattsville, the five biggest causes of college stress are: peer pressure, competition, separation from family, freedom, and choosing a major/career. If you’re a college student and are faced with anxiety related to any of these situations, then take heart that you’re not alone. You can also take some encouragement from the truth that KNOWING the source of stress is half the battle in defeating stress!

So, how can you handle (and ultimately defeat) stress?  Here are some quick tips…

  • Get a physical — Make sure you’re on top of your health and that you know your body. Get professional, individualized advice on how to best take care of yourself.
  • Drink plenty of water — Keep your body hydrated with healthy fluids, and nothing is healthier than water.
  • Get plenty of rest — There may be times you have to pull all-nighters, but you want to establish healthy habits of getting plenty of rest, probably 8 to 10 hours a night. If this is not possible, take a “power nap” during the day.
  • Practice breathing exercises — Taking control of your rate of breathing can ease muscle tension, keep your heart rate down, and help your overall health.
  • Plan ahead — Surprises are often the cause of stress. With careful planning and self-discipline, you can anticipate much of what may come from around the corner. As the old saying goes: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
  • Eat right — Your body will be better able to handle stress if you put good stuff into it! Go easy on the grease, ice cream, etc. Get plenty of fruits and vegetables.
  • Exercise — Take a brisk walk or jog each day. Talk with your physician about a personal exercise program. Exercise can help relieve tension in addition to burning off extra calories.

College need not be as stressful as some students make it. With the right habits and advanced planning, you can succeed at college and still have lots of fun!

Related Reading

“Five Simple Ways to Reduce Anxiety“

Tags:

Give Yourself Laughter Therapy

Apr 28

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

Feeling down? Give yourself some laughter therapy. Just about any doctor or medical professional will tell you that laughter, joy, and happiness have tremendous health benefits. This is something affirmed by bestselling author and famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. In his book Better Than Good, Ziglar writes: “It has been said that laughter is like internal jogging – it stimulates the respiratory system, oxygenates the body, relaxes tense muscles, and releases pleasure-producing chemicals in the brain. You cannot laugh and be mad, laugh and be tense, laugh and be stressed. Laughter is low calorie, caffeine free, and has no salt, preservatives, or additives. It’s 100 percent natural and one-size-fits-all.”

So, if you’re feeling down, take some time to laugh and enjoy life. Your health will thank you for it.

Tags: ,

FYI – Check out PastorTubbs.com

Apr 24

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

Hey Everyone!

Sorry I haven’t posted to this blog much in the last several weeks.

Just wanted to remind you that my primary MINISTRY blog is PastorTubbs.com. That’s where I post anything pastoral related, ministry related, etc.

While this blog also has a Christian flavor to it (how can it not, since I’m a Christian! :-) ), it has a much broader audience in mind. And I will be updating it more regularly from now on.

God bless!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln

Feb 13

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

Today (February 12) marks the 201st birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Anyone who struggles with insecurity or fear of failure should study the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. The man who would become the sixteenth President of the United States and navigate the nation through its bleakest period faced numerous setbacks in both his personal life and political career.

Lincoln himself once said: “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”

Lincoln’s story is one of perserverance and triumph. And it’s a lesson to us all.

The Redskins Say Goodbye to a Classy Guy

Jan 5

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell

Coach Jim Zorn is a Class Act

Yes, Jim Zorn’s record as coach of the Washington Redskins is a disappointing 12-20. Yes, this year’s season was particularly painful, with Zorn’s Skins finishing 4-12. And, yes, Redskins fans and football observers alike have known that Jim Zorn’s days were numbered, that he was a lame duck coach waddling his way through his last season. We all knew that, and sure enough, the Redskins made it official, sacking Coach Zorn just as he got back to Redskin Park after a long plane ride back from San Diego.

Even though it’s understandable that Jim Zorn had to go, the fact is that the Washington Redskins are losing one of the classiest guys in professional sports (let alone the NFL). Despite the mistreatment, disrespect and humilitation Zorn endured from owner Daniel Snyder and former Redskin higher-up Vinny Cerrato, Coach Zorn kept the high road. As one columnist said, he “owned the high road.”

And even now, with his official ties to the team severed and marching with the army of the unemployed, Jim Zorn refuses to grind any axes or offer any public criticism of the Redskins organization. Instead, Zorn says he’s thankful. Interviewed by The Washington Post, Zorn declined to bad-mouth Snyder, new Redskins GM Bruce Allen or Allen’s predecessor Cerrato.

Zorn said: “I was hired to do a job. And it wasn’t my job to have a philosophical reflection on what that might be. I would choose not to answer that, but I think for the right reasons, not because I’d want to say something controversial. That’s not my place.  There’s a lot of opinions about that on every NFL team, but the truth of the matter this year is we were 4-12. Period.” (see Washington Post article “Zorn Says He’s Thankful” by Svrluga, Jan 5, 2010).

A solid answer and a great attitude from a Stand-Up Guy! Jim Zorn, we will miss you!

Thank You, Grandpa

Dec 26

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

From December 16, 1944 through mid-Jan 1945, Allied forces resisted a heavy German offensive in what became known as the “Battle of the Bulge.” This was the most serious and determined offensive launched by the Germans on the western front, following the successful Allied D-Day Normandy landings in June of 1944.

Initially successful, the German attack would eventually be thwarted by stubborn Allied resistance.

Right in the thick of the fighting was a young, newly married James Gibson — my grandfather! An infantry sergeant, my Grandpa would win the Silver Star for bravery during this action.

Thanks, Grandpa, and thanks to all U.S. World War II veterans for what you did for our country!

Merry Christmas

Dec 24

Posted by btubbs in General | No Comments

To all my readers…I want to wish you and very Merry Christmas! Be safe and enjoy this wonderful season with your family and friends.

And take time to remember what the season is all about.

How to Achieve Happiness

Dec 21

Posted by btubbs in General | 1 Comment

Are you satisfied with your life? Most people would have to say “no” to that question. What can you do to improve your life and achieve happiness?

Here’s the Sobering Reality…You have only one life and there is no restart button. This isn’t a video game, where you can earn bonus lives through the accumulation of points or where you can simply load up a new game if things start to go badly. This is it. You have one life. What are you going to do with yours?

It’s at this realization that some people just throw up their hands and resign themselves to mediocrity or disappointment. Others lose themselves in depression or escapism (drugs, alcohol, etc.). What about you?

You may have lost several jobs, had trouble with the law, suffered failures and setbacks in friendships or relationships. Now is not the time to throw in the towel. No matter how many times you’ve fallen, you can still get up. No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to turn things around.

The fact that you have only one life should not send you deeper into despair or depression, no matter how tough things are for you right now. It should motivate you to drive your personal flag into the ground, and take your stand!

Some people will seize onto that hope. But then comes the tough part. Improving your life requires one fundamental choice. You must accept personal responsibility. That means you must stop blaming God, nature, circumstances or other people for your lot in life.

And you then must start building a NEW life and a NEW perspective and vision on life….from wherever you are.

Here’s where I recommend you start…

1. Decide Your Faith and Basic View on Life – If you believe in God, that will give you a very different sense of your worth, value, and purpose than if you reject the existence of God. To help you in that quest, I encourage you to read The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren and The Case for Faith or The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

2. Cast a Positive Vision – Set a vision for your life. Establish some goals. Decide on a positive direction. For help in this, I recommend Joel Osteen’s Your Best Life Now or A Better You.

3. Take Charge of Your Mind – In his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul told them to think on things that were “true” and “lovely” and “virtuous.” We often feast on things that agitate, depress, or upset us. You’ve got to control your mind and direct your thoughts. To help you with this, read The Power of Positive Thinking by the late Norman Vincent Peale.

4. Work on Your Relationships – Start being an encouragement and blessing to others. Add value to them, without expecting or demanding anything in return. Help others. Serve others. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel about yourself, and how your relationships will start to turn around! For help with this, read Winning With People by John Maxwell or How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

The road to happiness starts with a single step. Start your journey today! And stick with it!