Small Business Owner Resume Sample for Job Transition

Small Business Owner Resume Sample for Job Transition Former Small Business Owner Resume SampleFranko aricBusiness Owner Croatian Collectiblesfranco.saric@gmail.com(718) 555-4433linkedin.com/in/francosaricSummary of QualificationsFormer small business owner of Croatian collectibles online shop handing over successful ecommerce operation to next generation of family. Seeking to leverage 50% year-over-year business growth and knowledge of southeastern European memorabilia to become the store manager of Balkan Baubles.Work ExperienceOwner ManagerMay 2016March 2019Croatian Collectibles, Astoria, NYKey Qualifications ResponsibilitiesManaged day-to-day operations of busy online shop and accompanying blog.Supervised and trained 5 employees with full employee retention.Promoted products on multiple channels, including social media, online ad campaigns, and word-of-mouth initiatives.Handled selection, purchasing, and import of southeastern European collectibles and antiques.Key AchievementsFounded successful small business which grew by over 200% in under 3 years.Spearheaded push to go from brick-and-mortar to fully-online store, saving 50% in overhead and increasing revenue stream by 100%.Assistant Store ManagerJanuary 2015May 2016Adriatic Antiques, Astoria, NYKey Qualifications ResponsibilitiesProcessed, renewed, and kept accurate accounts of all incoming and outgoing sales and purchases.Managed over one dozen employees, including three or four at any one time.Provided one-on-one consultations with clients to determine and suggest pieces for sale.Oversaw selection of products for purchase and display.Key AchievementsEarned Store Manager of the Year award in 2015 by the Astoria Business Alliance.EducationBS in Business Management AdministrationBrooklyn College, Brooklyn, NYGraduation: 2014Relevant Coursework: Business Law, Social Media Marketing, Advanced Financial Management, Project Management, Operations Management, Employment Law, Quantitative Business Analysis, International Business Management, Information Syst ems.Key SkillsProblem SolvingTask DelegationE-commerce Brick-and-Mortar StorefrontsTime ManagementFinancial ManagementEffective CommunicationAwards2015 Store Manager of the YearMembershipsNational European Immigrant Business Council (NEIBC)LanguagesCroatian: Native ProficiencySerbian: Professional Working ProficiencyWant to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample Former Business Owner ResumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowCheck out other management-related resume guides:Manager Resume Sample GuideOffice Manager Resume Sample GuideOperations Manager Resume Sample GuideStore Manager Resume Sample GuideSupervisor Resume Sampl e GuideEntrepreneur Resume Sample GuideDistrict Manager Resume Sample GuideAssistant Manager Resume Sample GuideProject Manager Resume Sample GuideMarketing Manager Resume Sample GuideSales Manager Resume Sample GuideProperty Manager Resume Sample GuideAccount Manager Resume Sample GuideNow, lets get to it!Heres how to write a perfect resume for business owners:1. Choose the Best Format for Your Former Business Owner ResumeWhether you owned a car dealership or a restaurant, you had a proper structure in place to keep everything streamlined and organized.Do the same hereA great business resume format maintains order and scannability.Follow these formatting resume rules:Begin with your contact details in the resume header area.Split your resume into sections with legible area headings.Choose the right resume format: usually the chronological format is best.Use a great resume font, and utilize white space advantageously.Send it as a PDF. A business owner resume PDF ensures eve rything renders correctly.Pro Tip: Is the employment you seek in a different industry than the business you owned and managed? Check out our career-change resume to iron out the details.2. Write a Former Business Owner Resume Summary or ObjectiveA resume objective or summary can also be called a resume profile.This intro paragraph is 34 sentences long. It offers hiring managers a quick look at your background, skills, experience, and career goals.The summary statement is great if you have 2+ years of relevant experience. With this, youll talk up your related experience, skills, and background, while also including a top-notch achievement with numbers to prove youve got what it takes.The career objective is ideal for when you have little experience related to the new role. Use the objective statement to talk about your career goals. Still, give a quantifiable achievement to prove your skills.Pro Tip: Just because the resume summary or objective goes on top doesnt mean you need to wri te it first. Actually, save it for last. Its difficult to sum up your business owner resume if you havent written it yet!3. Create the Perfect Former Business Owner Job Description for ResumeWhether you managed a small retail business or owned an IT consultancy company, get your work history section right.SoHeres how to nail your business owner responsibilities resume section:Start with your most recent job, as owner or otherwise, and go back from there.List your job title, dates worked, company name, and up to 6 bullet points laying out your job responsibilities.Use resume action words (e.g., initiated, implemented, etc.) to describe each job duty.Show off quantifiable achievements rather than standard job tasks.Target each resume to this one job. Dont write a generic resume.Pro Tip: When you write a transition from business owner to employee resume, dont overcompensate. Keep the words in your work history easy-to-understand and free of jargon.4. Make Your Business Owner Resume Edu cation Section ShineThe education section on resumes for small business owners may seem useless. I mean, you did run a business, after all, right?WrongA bad business owner resume academic section is just bad business.Keep these business rules in mind to get it right:More than 5 years of business experience? Include only your degree, major, and college name.New to the industry? Add extra details, like academic achievements, extracurriculars, coursework, and fields of study.Completed university? Dont include high school.Didnt finish university? Add high school below.Pro Tip: Relevant coursework for business owner resumes are determined by the job youre seeking. Becoming a manager? List any business management courses youve taken. Heading into graphic design? That visual arts class is perfect here.5. Highlight Your Business Owner Resume SkillsShow the employer youre the boss at what you do by listing the best business owner skills:Business Owner Resume SkillsManagement SkillsCommunicat ion SkillsMarketing SkillsCreative Thinking SkillsTime Management SkillsDecision-Making SkillsProject Management SkillsLeadership SkillsInterpersonal SkillsActive Listening SkillsOrganizational SkillsAnalytical SkillsProblem-Solving SkillsTeamwork SkillsConceptual SkillsButDont just copy-paste this skills list. Thatll get you nowhere.Instead, do this:List all the work skills you have which relate to the job youre applying for, including both hard skills and soft skills.Use the job description to find the skills and abilities they need.Highlight those skills from the job requirements. Those are the best keywords to use.If something you highlighted matches something on your list, add it to your resume!Also, mind the ATS.Larger companies use applicant tracking systems to handle the myriad resumes they take in each day.ATS software allows HR staff to scan your small business resume into their system, search for particular resume keywords, and return a score based on your resumes match t o the job ad.Bad match, then you did a bad job!Pro Tip: Our list (reminder: dont copy-paste it!) was made up of great soft skills. However, hard skills are just as, if not more, important. Use the job ad to find the technical skills and transferable skills they are looking for.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.6. Add Other Sections to Your Small Business Owner ResumeYou now have the makings of a solid resume for small business owners.HoweverEvery other former biz ownerand applicant, in generalhave the same sections on their resumes.To stand out, add some great extra sections to yours.Here are some great additions on a resume for a business owner:certifications on a resumelanguage skillsprojectsawardslicensesmembershipshobbies and interestsvol unteering on a resume7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Business Owner ResumeDo you need a cover letter?53% of hiring manager say a resume alone isnt sufficient.SoHeres how to write a cover letter for business owners theyll adore:Find the best cover letter format before you begin.Start your cover letter in a catchy and compelling way.Show off your previous work experience.Add key achievements, just like here on your resume.End the cover letter with a powerful call to action.Also, weve got some awesome cover letter tips to help you along and a guide on writing the perfect business cover letter. Check them out!Pro Tip: Remember to follow up on your job application. A quick email or phone call will do the trick.So, thats itNow THATS a resume thats all business!Got any questions on our small business owner resume samples? Not sure how to talk about business skills, management certifications, or SMB achievements? Get at us in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

How to Research Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Research Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You’ve recently heard that, if you want to impress employers, you need a strong personal brand. Although you have an idea of what personal branding is, you have no idea how to identify your brand or how to build one. When it comes to building a strong personal brand, your first step is to figure out who you are as an individual, as well as a professional. Although this might take a little soul searching and reflection, it’s one of the most important steps of building a strong personal brand. As you begin thinking about your personal brand, it’s a good idea to do some research. This research consists of finding things that inspire who you are as an individual and finding out what others think of you when they hear your name. To identify what you want to display in your personal brand, here are four ways to research your personal brand: 1. Find words that describe your brand. A great start to finding inspiration for your personal brand is to make a list of words that describe who you are as a person. Think of words that describe your personality, values, and worth ethic. As your list begins to grow, start narrowing it down into the words you want to be recognized by. For example, you determine that you are a creative, ambitious, and trustworthy individual. These are words you can use in your brand when building your portfolio, writing your LinkedIn summary, and participating in conversations on social media. 2. Ask your friends, family, and mentors to describe your brand. Another great way to research your personal brand is by asking what others think of you when they hear your name. For example, ask one of your close friends to describe you in three words. Next, ask a relative to describe you in three words. As you continue to ask more people about how they think of you, use these adjectives as a source of inspiration for your brand. 3. Create a list of what you like and don’t like about your brand. If you discover that there are some things you want to change about how people perceive your brand, make a list of what you like and don’t like about your reputation. Once you create your list, learn how you can emphasize your positive qualities and improve your negative qualities. For example, if you discover that you are too much of a perfectionist and it’s keeping you from being successful, find ways in your life where you can become more flexible and easygoing. 4. Do research on what people say about your brand online. If you’re actively participating on social media or have a blog, pay close attention to what people say about your brand online. Do you receive endorsements on LinkedIn? Are people commenting on your blog posts? These are all bits of feedback you can use to shape your personal brand. Researching your personal brand is an important step in building a strong reputation for yourself. As you continue to learn more about your qualities and how people perceive your personality and talents, use these strengths to create a unique personal brand. Have you done research on your personal brand? What did you discover yourself during the process?

Youve Graduated, Now What Tips For The Young Entrepreneur

You’ve Graduated, Now What Tips For The Young Entrepreneur In the world of business start-ups, it’s not the ageing suits that have the best ideas â€" it’s the young idealists. Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Dell, and FedEx were all started by twenty-somethings with a dream and the eagerness to realise it. The transition from an idea to a working business reality is no easy ride, however, and the wise entrepreneur will take heed from the experiences of others.   With this in mind, here are some of the top tips for starting up a business. Do what you love A business will only succeed if the person in charge has a long-standing commitment to it. It’s far easier to commit to something you love than something you have little interest in, so make sure you do something that you enjoy. Take risks While risk-taking is anathema to those with a mortgage, wife and kids, young entrepreneurs should embrace their youth and throw caution to the wind. Starting a business is inherently risky and will only work with significant investments of time and/or money. While money can be in short supply, young entrepreneurs should make the most of the relatively abundant time available to them. For the strongly risk-averse, the level of risk can be reduced by formulating a bombproof business plan and carrying out copious amounts of research. Even with the best preparation in the world, however, businesses can still fail. Entrepreneurs should be mentally prepared to accept failure and to learn from their mistakes. Use social media Young entrepreneurs should take advantage of social media to advertise and make professional contacts. In the world of social media, innovative ideas can be highly rewarded. For example, in 2009 Moonfruit.com offered Twitter users the chance to win an Apple MacBook Pro each day for 10 days just by tweeting the hashtag #moonfruit. The campaign kept the #moonfruit hashtag at the top of the trending topics for an entire week â€" no mean feat in a world where millions are spent on online advertising campaigns. It should go without saying that a company website is essential. The internet is now the first port of call for people seeking a product or a service. Having a website built professionally can be relatively expensive â€" especially for complex sites. However, there are a number of providers that offer free site-building tools for those on a budget â€" click here for more information. Meet a mentor The main disadvantage faced by the young entrepreneur is a lack of life experience. This knowledge gap can be filled by finding a mentor who can advise and provide guidance on business matters. Identifying your weaknesses will help you find the right sort of mentor. For example, some people find the financial aspect of starting a business difficult, so finding an experienced number cruncher can make all the difference. Exploit resources Young people â€" especially those who’ve been to university â€" have access to a wide number of resources. Graduate advisory services can provide information and contacts for budding entrepreneurs. They might advise you to pursue a  bachelor degree in organizational leadership, which will help you explore the social and cultural aspects of business and how it relates and impacts business operation. Many online programs have been developed to help entrepreneur develop new skills. This degree will put you in position to face new challenges and realize your goals as young entrepreneur.  Your friends can often offer assistance in their new-found careers. Image credit: flickr 16

UK Graduate recruitment trends 2017-18

UK Graduate recruitment trends 2017-18 Each year, the Institute of Student Employers (formerly the Association of Graduate Recruiters) undertakes a survey of its members. 200 recruiters responded to the 2017 survey. Between them they recruited 31,630 students during 2017. They employ between them 2.8 million staff across more than 16 sectors. Whilst this is a small sample of UK recruiters overall, it does include those who hire the majority of graduates. Key headlines relevant to current students: Graduate salaries have risen across the board. Median starting salaries for graduates rose to £28,000; outside London this is £26,260 Median intern salaries rose 5% to £360 per week It still appears to be a buyer’s market, with 10% of job offers being declined and 5% reneging on offers, making the hiring process and attempt to recruit the right people an expensive activity for recruiters The graduate job market remains strong overall- but there are variations. Opportunities in IT and Engineering are up; those in the Public Sector, Law and Banking are down. Application ratios within sectors vary; overall on average there are 75 applications per vacancy. Investment Banking is the highest sector with 133 applications per job and Accounting and professional services the lowest with 29:1 More recruiters are diversifying the institutions they select from with 18% using name-blind or University-bind selection processes. Small inroads are bring made into improving gender and diversity. Recruiters would like to attract more students from non-traditional backgrounds 69% offer some kind of temporary opportunity to first year students; 27% offer insight days and 16% insight weeks. 42% of interns and placement students are converted into graduate hires with 1/10 converting more than 79% of interns The highest proportion of interns recruited to graduate jobs was in Law (64%) Selection processes are becoming faster, more tailored and more digital. The average time to offer from start to finish is now 9.5 weeks 53% of recruiters now use video interviewing up from 30% in 2015 Selection processes are becoming more inclusive; 69% of recruiters in the survey now require a 2:1 down from 76% four years ago 41% of recruiters now use a strengths-based approach in some way (insert link) Use of testing remains high with 82% of recruiters using psychometric tests. The use of situational judgement tests has increased 96% of recruiters use assessment centres with 90% including an interview and 49% a case study So what are the key learning points from ISE’s research for applicants? Getting relevant paid work experience/internships will increase the odds of being offered a graduate job There is no escaping the video interview; it’s a time-saving resource for recruiters, so make the most of the opportunity to practice using the available software before you experience this Know the difference between strengths-based and competency-based interviews- see our relevant blog posts Practice situational judgement tests and understand what these are Practice  aptitude tests beforehand It is still a buyer’s market; but better to apply for jobs you really want than changing your mind later on, so focus on yourself and know what you really want before applying. You’ll be able to do fewer and better quality applications for opportunities you are genuinely motivated by We are fortunate at Warwick in being  in the top  3  Universities targeted by the Times 100 graduate recruiters (High Flyers 2018). Know that most of these recruiters run their recruitment cycles from the start of autumn term a few are earlier than this- until mid-Spring. Some recruiters may fill their vacancies before the closing date- so dont risk applying at the last minute However  its not enough to have a 2:1 from a good university as a guarantee of a graduate job offer; recruiters increasingly expect applicants to have work experience, ideally relevant work experience and skills developed through extra-curricular activies. Warwicks  Experience Portal  contains hundreds of paid opportunities to search from, in addition to the internship opportunities through  MyAdvantage Check which recruiters are willing to consider applicants with a 2:2 Take advantage of the many opportunities to meet recruiters on campus. Large Careers Fairs take place early on each autumn term with sector events, employer presentations and skills sessions running during autumn and spring terms Attend the skills  sessions  that are most relevant to you. These include: assessment centres, interview skills, 1-1 video interview feedback, CV and applications support, aptitude testing and how to create a professional online presence Whilst the recruitment cycle for larger firms may over by January, many firms will continue to hire, so don’t assume that there are no graduate jobs left beyond this point. We currently have more than 800 hundred graduate vacancies and over 200 Internships available to Warwick students through MyAdvantage Anne Wilson

7 Leadership Skills You Need in the Future of Work CareerMetis.com

7 Leadership Skills You Need in the Future of Work â€" CareerMetis.com The Future of Work is already here.In the last few years, experts and thought leaders have weighed in on what the future of work will look like, especially with the more widespread adoption of trends such as the internet of things According to a report by McKinsey, there will be a shift in the skills and capabilities required for work; people will use social and emotional skills more, while physical or predictable activities such as gathering and processing data will be left to machines.Other trends such as globalization, mobility, and contingent workforce are expected to bring radical changes to the work environment as we know it.Therefore, for those aspiring to leadership roles, there is a great responsibility and need to understand the skills required in the future workplace and prepare accordingly.1) Technology Understanding Business as we know it is being impacted immensely by technology; artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain technology have been predicted to change the way we live, work and do business. Consumer tastes and expectations are also constantly changing with emerging technologies.As a leader, it is crucial to have a very good understanding of how these technologies will impact your business and the changes your organization might need to make to accommodate them, so as to remain relevant in business.You must be able to make sense of data, spot opportunities and leverage on opportunities offered by technology.2) Managing Man/Machine CollaborationWith the impact of technological disruptions, we are seeing more automation and more human-machine collaboration. Leaders must adapt leadership styles to manage a human-robot workplace.evalWhile humans still work in roles where human traits such as creativity, innovation, imagination, and empathy are required, machines and robots will take on roles that are routine or repetitive.For example, while you need a customer service person to pacify an angry customer, receiving payments and c hecking-out can be handled by machines in a retail environment. Leaders must be able to manage this work combination effectively to achieve results.3) People BuildingAs people work more often with machines and robots, it becomes necessary that you learn new skills to manage the collaboration effectively.Leaders need to develop their people in this regard and support employees to continually upskill, by receiving the training that helps them work alongside machines and also develop their cognitive skills for functions that machines cannot perform.evalFor example, Google createdan internal training program in machine learning for its employees in 2016 and the training is now being extended to the public.4) Emotional IntelligenceEmotional intelligence is one of the most crucial skills business leaders will be expected to have in the near future.According to Laura Wilcox, the director of management programs at Harvard Extension School, emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your effect on others and manage yourself accordingly.Most of today’s leaders understand that the days of authoritative and overbearing leadership are long gone, and leaders are expected to be emphatic, caring and listening to people.The core of emotional intelligence, according to Wilcox, is self-awareness, as it is impossible to develop an understanding of others if you don’t understand your own motivations and behaviors.To attract and retain the best people, emotional intelligence is a must. Employees no longer work in one organization for thirty or forty years until retirement and people will easily quit jobs where they don’t see empathy and understanding.5) Adaptability to Constant ChangeChange is a constant phenomenon. However, the rate of change and disruption brought on by technology in recent times has been massive. As the digital revolution continues, consumer expectations keep evolving and businesses have to stay ahead of such changes.For example, commerce tools, a cloud-based retail platform underwent an innovation project which allowed the business to add new customer touchpoints, which are 90% faster than before. The company’s Chief technology officer explained that customers now shop with multiples devices which traditional web shop solutions cannot support, and omnichannel sales and logistics are now must-haves for customer loyalty and retention.Business leaders must be willing to continuously adapt to industry changes that will boost revenue.6) Diversity and InclusionevalThe future workplace is expected to be more diverse and inclusive, bringing people together regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, personality, beliefs or geographical location.Research has shown that diverse workplaces tend to be more successful and future leaders must have a good understanding of all forms of diversity and how best to manage it for the workplace to be effective. It is important to have in place hiring policies that encourage inclusion and also build a work environment that addresses the major needs of different types of people.An example of companies working on improving diversity is Nike, the sports shoe and apparel company, which published its diversity numbers were more than 50% of the workforce identified as racial and ethnic minorities.Another example is Salesforce, where CEO Marc Benioff kept his promise to gender equality by making adjustments to the salaries of women to address pay disparity.7) MotivationYears ago, I worked in a business that faced challenges due to the economy. The company’s income dwindled since new businesses were not coming in and there were pay cuts.evalOne thing that kept the organization afloat was the fact that the CEO had exceptional motivational skills. In spite of the challenges, he was always upbeat and continuously encouraged everyone to put keep doing their best.Things gradually became better in the company as the economy improved. This was a far cry from a previous company I had worked where the CEO blamed the staff for any dwindling fortune of the company.If you do not want your team members to lose faith (which leads eventually leads to low productivity) or even jump ship in the face of adversity, motivate them continually.Motivational skills will play a big role in the future because most people are less likely to stay on a job for too long, and are more likely to leave in times of adversity.

Why I walked away from $100k (guest post by Steve Zengel)

Why I walked away from $100k (guest post by Steve Zengel) Nothing inspires action more than success.   If youve been hemming and hawing about making a career change, this story will inspire you.It seems to me that once organizations (and people) know either that you have a lot of money or that you make a good amount of money, they tend to ask for some of it.   It’s understandable.   They need it.   You have it.   They ask for it.   Furthermore, what I’ve noticed is that if you give once, regardless of the amount, they tend to ask for more.   The greater the need, the greater the frequency of solicitation.   Again, this makes perfect sense.   I know.   I’ve been both the giver and the solicitor.So, it came as no surprise to me that when I became a high school vice-principal and basketball coach with a publicly-known combined salary of a little over $100k, I would soon be solicited for donations from family members, friends, and several organizations to whom I had previously given.   You name it, I was getting it.   First, came the scho ols (in order of attendance-St. Rose High School, Villanova University, University of Miami, Monmouth University, and Rutgers University).   Then came the causes to which I previously gave because I wholeheartedly align with their mission (Feeding America, local community First-Aid squads, EMS squads, PBAs, etc., March of Dimes, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Special Olympics, Susan G. Komen, Toys for Tots, The American Heart Association, The ASPCA, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Wounded Warrior Project, VFW), to name most of them.I wanted to give to all of them, so I’d pull out my checkbook and start writing checks.   $5 here.   $10 there. $15 to another. And so on, up to my usual limit of $25.   After a while, it seemed like it was getting to be a lot, more than I could afford.   Soon I became squirrel-like, hoarding each dollar as if it was a nut I was saving for winter.   After all, I was married and we had bills to pay.   We had twin boys who were so on turning 11.   Knowing how quickly the first 11 years went by made the thought of them entering college in 6-7 years seem like it would a reality tomorrow.   I had a cigar shop on the side, as a hobby, from which I hadn’t received a paycheck, myself, since its inception and which, at any moment in time, could require an infusion of   capital in order to stay alive (you small business owners know what I’m talking about). So, at that time, I felt that those small contributions were all I could give.   I was embarrassed.   I felt stuck.I shared this feeling with my good friend, Matt Catania, over a cigar in the shop one evening.   Matt had just left his high-paying position as an attorney in a prestigious New Jersey law firm to pursue ownership of Jersey Mike’s submarine sandwich franchises with his best friend and high school basketball teammate, John Helm (I coached them).   In sharing my feeling with Matt, I asked him what made him do it, what made him hang up his hard-earne d law degree and hefty salary to go make subs?   In return, he asked me if I ever had a #2 Mike’s Way?     We laughed, but still, I wanted a serious answer.   His answer?   He loves helping people.   “Helping people?” I thought. I asked Matt to clarify how serving subs helps people.   He said Jersey Mike’s serves great food to thousands of hungry people in a friendly and fun atmosphere all day long and to show their appreciation to their customers, Jersey Mike’s gives a ton back to the respective local community in which the franchise is located.   I grew up in the same area as, and eventually became a teacher and coach in the same town as, the original Jersey Mike’s store.   Therefore, it was easy for me to understand because I had witnessed their giving back at local community events for years.It seemed simple:Do what you love to do.Share it with as many people as possible.Give back as much as possible.The next part of our conversation changed my life!To paraphrase, Ma tt asked, “Z, what is it that you really want to do?   I don’t mean being a vice-principal, coaching, or making subs.   I mean what is it that you really want to accomplish before you die so that you can truly feel as though you lived a great and purposeful life?”Some might consider this to be a deep question, one which causes pause for most.   However, for me, the answer was easy.   I wanted to give back.   No more “Steve, the Squirrel” attitude!   I wanted to give significant financial support to those who needed it.But, I wasn’t sure how, or in what capacity, and I expressed that to Matt.   He laughed, pointed to the seven stand-alone humidors in front of us, full of 300 boxes of cigars, and said, “Give back through cigars!”   It was my a-ha moment!We discussed several of the reasons as to why that would be a good idea:I am passionate about cigarsI love being around people and cigars have a way of bringing people togetherI already had a cigar business up and runni ngThere was only one problem.I was a high school vice-principal and varsity basketball coach. I’d leave my house at 5:30am, get to school by 7am, work all day, leave at 3:30pm, and get home by 4:30pm, just in time for dinner with the family.    I would spend some additional time with my wife and kids before leaving to check on the shop.   By the time I got to the shop, and giving the inherent attention required of a successful cigar business, I was drained, both mentally and physically (walking the entirety of the high school roughly 5-6 times each day as a vice-principal).   During basketball season, family time was sacrificed, as I’d often get home around 10pm.   I neglected my shop almost entirely.   It was failing miserably.I knew what I wanted to do but I was afraid to do it.   I was making a little over $100k per year.   I had good medical benefits. I earned 20 vacation days each year, most of which I used during the summer to either spend time with my wife and kids or sp end time in my shop.   I knew I’d have a decent pension waiting for me at the end of my career.   I was in my tenure year, thus, in effect, forever protecting me from job loss.   Not a bad gig.Still, I couldn’t give back as much as I wanted and that was a problem for me.   I saw myself working in education for the next 20 years without ever having felt I lived a purposeful life.In addition, most current educational literature at the time was against more traditional old-school methods of student discipline such as out-of-school suspensions.   However, more traditional old-school teachers were stuck in time, thus supporting increased rates of out-of-school suspensions.   It was a constant uphill battle and one I did not want to fight anymore.I loved the kids.   I helped the kids.   Would helping kids another 15 years have led me to feel like I lived a purposeful life?   Maybe.   But, the constant struggle was taking a toll on me.   I dreaded my morning ride in to work.   The slow est I moved all day was from the identification scanner to my office door.   I starting taking my stressors out on my family and it simply wasn’t fair to them.   For me to continue would have meant that I trudged on, living miserably for a hefty paycheck.   That’s not me.   I knew it, but I wasn’t prepared to leave just yet.Matt and I discussed starting a book club (he refused to refer to it as such and instead referred to it as a “Success Club”) in an attempt to better guide us through our respective transitions.   The first book we agreed to read and discuss was The Success Principles by Jack Canfield, famed author of the Chicken Soup series.There were two great take-aways for me from that book.   The first was that in any situation, a person can do only one of three things; a) shut up and deal with it, with no more complaining, b) change it, or c) leave it.   The second was that it provided a template for a mission statement which required the reader to fill in the blan ks as they related to future business and/or life goals.   I filled it in and the following became my mission:I am using my charisma, energy, and passion to inspire and support others to live life more charitably, compassionately, freely, fully, kindly, and lovingly one cigar at a time!Once I had that written down on paper, I read it to myself no less than 10 times each day.   Whether it was to myself in front of the mirror before getting ready for work each morning, in the car during my commute to/from work, or in bed before falling asleep, the pursuit of accomplishing my mission consumed me.   I started reading everything I could on improving my business.   Much of the material came from Inc.com or Inc., the magazine.   I read stories about and immediately emulated, guys like Blake Mycoskie (Tom’s) and Bert Jacobs (Life is Good), creators of lifestyle brands who were giving back.   I closely followed Marcus Lemonis and took copious notes while watching The Profit on CNBC.  I re ad a Harvard Business Review on The Experience Economy.   And of course, there were Bono (Project RED) and Richard Branson (Virgin).   I was all-in, except for one thing: I was still working as a high school vice-principal and basketball coach.   I needed a nudge.I got it from the encouraging words of wisdom and inspirational messages of Maggie Mistal, a fellow Villanova alum and excellent life coach who I met through another Villanova alum, pre-LinkedIn.   Earlier in life, when I was deciding between staying as a financial advisor with a decent salary near my hometown only a few blocks away from the beach or move away to Virginia to pursue a dream job of coaching Division 1 college basketball, it was Maggie who encouraged me to take the coaching job so that a) I can build upon my life’s experiences and b) I remove a possible later-in-life regret.   In looking back, Maggie would have been 100% correct.   I would have regretted not taking that coaching job.This time, again, I reach ed out to Maggie who, through some email exchanges and shared videos, again inspired me to pursue that which will give me the best personal fulfillment.   Maggie’s insight and wisdom was the push I needed to make a well-thought-out, fully conscious decision to leave $100k in pursuit of my personal mission!I resigned my Vice-Principal position on July 31, 2015 to accomplish my mission.I have no idea how this will end.   But, I can, with absolute certainty, tell you this:I am using my charisma, energy, and passion to inspire and support others to live life more charitably, compassionately, freely, fully, kindly, and lovingly one cigar at a time!Thanks for reading!Please consider supporting my mission.-Steve ZengelI hope Steves story inspired you to consider your own lifes mission and get on the path to really making a difference. So now the only question is, what is it you REALLY want to do?   Share your comments and reactions.   Id love to hear them even if youre a skeptic. ??

Tips for Writing a Statement For Resume Writing Ex

Tips for Writing a Statement For Resume Writing ExStatements for resume writing ex must include your personal information and details, so it is imperative that you provide all of the important data you need to make a great impression on your future employer. The statement should be brief, simple and to the point. If you do not have time to read and think about your statement, just remember it is an opportunity to communicate your achievements and qualifications.Employers today are always looking for fresh and impressive individuals. Therefore, your resume should highlight your capabilities and accomplishments. Statements for resume writing ex should include your strengths, skills and achievements. If you are in the military or any other field of endeavor, the statement should be in line with what you are trained for.There are many important factors that go into the creation of a resume. Before you begin to write the statement, it is important to know where to begin. Think about the b est way to relay your valuable qualifications and experiences. When you know exactly what to write, you will be ready to begin writing your statement.Do not forget to check for professional grammar check and spelling. In the field of employment, many people are looking for exceptional talent and this type of statement will only highlight what they are looking for. It may be more difficult to write statements for resume writing ex, but once you get the basics down, you will find writing resumes a breeze.You should also know the types of career opportunities that may exist for you. You should always research the needs of the potential employer before you begin to write your statement. Your statement should show your initiative and you should always be willing to help your employer in any way possible.A resume is like a communication tool and you should always include as much information as possible on your statement. Including skills and experience as well as education should be highl ighted. The statement should not be written to be long and descriptive, instead, it should be short and to the point. You should also remember to keep your statement concise and very descriptive.Consider including previous assignments that you may have worked on and examples of tasks that you have completed. There are many benefits in writing a statement for resume writing ex. It can be very powerful when you create a short and to the point statement. Your objective should always be to get your message across to your employer.As you research careers and professional options, you will find many options on the careers and career path you want to pursue. For instance, if you have interest in the medical profession, you can consider choosing the surgical path. You should always consider a variety of paths so that you can choose a career that is right for you. Remember, you can choose any field of endeavor and it is never too late to take a more active role in your career.