Happy Holidays!

Holiday season is upon us. It’s time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished this year, celebrate what you are grateful for and prepare to make 2008 a fabulous year full of everything you want and desire. I've got some big news in my Personal Note - the early arrival of my son Vaughn! In this issue’s Life Lessons, I talk about how to achieve greater balance in your life during the holiday season and going forward into the New Year. This issue’s Career Corner will help you create a knock 'em dead elevator speech to prepare you for networking in the New Year.

For those of you are ready to make a career change in 2008 but still don’t know what path to pursue, check out my Career Seekers Teleclass in February. Finally, for those of you singles out there who want to know how to successfully navigate your career transition solo, I have a special offer for anyone who pre-orders my new book Career Transition Tips for Singles Flying Solo coming out in February.

See you in 2008! Here’s to having a career you love,

Hallie Crawford

On a Personal Note

An early arrival!

My biggest news is…I had an early Christmas present on the morning of Nov 25th. My husband and I had our son a month early. His name is Vaughn Miller and he weighed in at 5 lbs 7 oz. We are all doing great! Here’s a cute picture of our little man.

It has been a whirlwind around here finishing our preparations for Vaughn and our home renovation. Needless to say we weren’t quite ready. But having a baby certainly puts things in perspective. More than ever I am able to focus on what’s truly important and let low priority items fall to the bottom of my list for later. With the holidays upon us, I hope you are able to do the same and enjoy your time with those who are most important to you. Happy Holidays to you and your family!

What's New and Coming Soon

Coaching Gift Certificates

Are you are you looking for a unique gift for a friend, colleague or family member? Give them a gift that will literally change their life: Coaching Gift Certificates

If you know someone who's unhappy in their job, who needs direction or who wants to make a career change, a Gift Certificate from Authentically Speaking is the perfect answer. The gift of coaching is a gift that will literally change their life!

Gift certificates are available for any product or service. Go here for the juicy details.

Career Seekers Teleclasss

Make a new start for the New Year. The next Career Seekers Teleclass begins Feb. 12, 2007.  Space is limited and spots fill quickly, so don’t wait.  Register now

Does This Describe You?

• You feel like you’re at a dead end. You want to move on but you’re too scared to take the next step. Or perhaps you simply don’t know the next step.
• You have an idea of what you want to do career-wise, but you’re afraid to invest the time and energy into something that isn’t a fit.
• You’re on the fence. You’re not totally unhappy where you are, but you feel there must be something out there that’s more suited to your interests and talents.

Then the Career Seeker Teleclass is for you! Imagine waking up each morning and looking forward to going to work. Imagine feeling excited and enthusiastic about your job. Imagine being so involved in what you’re doing at work that time seems to fly by. Click here for details.

Where's Hallie

Free Tool for College Grads: Career Coach Corner - Facebook Group for Career Seekers

Not sure what you want to be when you grow up? Don’t want to settle for less than a job you truly enjoy? Do your options seem limited or overwhelmingly unlimited?

The Career Coach Corner is a new Discussion Forum I have created on Facebook to help younger career seekers find their passion, learn how to turn it into a career path, and successfully navigate their career transition. If you know a young career seeker who needs help, send them here. Encourage them to join today.  It’s free and they will receive personalized advice.

Newest Press Release: Job Forecast for 2008

In my latest press release I offer advice on how you can best approach the 2008 job market and understand the current job climate for career seekers. Go here to read the release.

Life Lessons

The Modern Balancing Act - Regaining Control
Know When It’s Time to Put Down the “Crackberry”

Do you feel overwhelmed by your work, home and family responsibilities? Are you frequently stressed because you can’t get everything done? If your life seems like a circus …juggling work, home and family responsibilities - you’re not alone. Many people just like you feel like their life is leading them, instead of them leading a purpose driven life and choosing where they spend their time. So, who’s running the show? Is it your Crackberry, your laptop, your boss – or you? If your answer is something else than you it’s time to get back in the driver’s seat!

Life balance is a buzzword these days for good reason. It’s a chronic issue that comes up in conversation because quite simply, life has become harder to manage. With email, Crackberry’s and everything else demanding our attention it’s no wonder we get bogged down in to-do lists and wonder at the end of the day where the time went. We’re expected to work faster and more efficiently, plus we’re more accessible than ever because of new technology that allows us to work or communicate from anywhere. Information comes at us faster than ever. And this trend shows no sign of stopping.

Here are simple steps you can take to help you get your life back into balance this holiday season and going forward into the New Year:

• Step One: Make a list of the different areas of your life where you’re not spending as much time and energy as you’d like. For example, if you’ve lost touch with friends and family or aren’t connecting with them as frequently as you want to, put that down. Come up with at least 3 areas that need work in terms of your time and attention.
  
• Step Two: Develop one action step that you can take to make improvements in each of these three areas. Keep them simple, and include a time frame or deadline for each of them. If you don’t include a deadline, it’s just a wish not a tangible goal.
  
• Step Three: Follow through. Find a way to remind yourself of your action items. Will you write them in your planner? A post it on your fridge? Use whatever tool works for you.

Need more help with this? Check out my "Work/Life Balance Audio and Worksheet" to help you manage the holiday rush.

Career Corner

You had me at Hello! Create an unforgettable impression with a can't miss elevator speech.

What it is an elevator speech? An elevator speech (also known as an elevator pitch) is 12 to 20 seconds long and is approximately 150 words. The idea and the name originate from the fact that you should be able to present your elevator speech within one ride in an elevator.

Your elevator speech is written to spotlight your uniqueness and get your message across quickly and efficiently. It is designed to make an impression and position you and your business. It shows your personality and focuses on how you can help the person listening to it. In short, it highlights the benefits that you provide to others.

The first mistake that people make when writing their elevator speech is they make it about them. The speech should be should not be about you. Your elevator speech is about the value you provide to others. It is about how you can help them. So, step one when you’re writing your speech is to put yourself in the listener’s shoes and speak from that position.

Get a head start on your career search for 2008. Start working on your networking elevator speech today, and practice it on friends and family over the holidays. Then you’ll be ready to roll in 2008 with the networking events you plan to attend.

If you'd like to use these tips in your newsletter or website: You can, as long as you include this "blurb" with it: Hallie Crawford, certified Career Coach is changing the way people feel about work-from just a paycheck to a fulfilling endeavor that is an extension of their purpose and passion. If you're ready to have a career you love, learn more about Hallie at http://www.HallieCrawford.com.

Want to see more tips like this one? Visit and bookmark my Career Tips Blog.

Hallie Recommends

You’ve seen me write about Jeanna and Eva before. There’s a reason – they are awesome! Jeanna was my coach for over a year and during that time, my business and prosperity took off. I am proof-positive that working with these two ladies brings results.

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About Hallie Crawford

Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC
Career Coach Extraordinaire
www.HallieCrawford.com
www.IKickAssTshirts.com
www.CreateYourOwnPath.com
(404) 228-6434
hallie at halliecrawford dot com