Be a goal-setter like @coachechols @jenhall86 @jessicaherell

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This month I began a new project. I took the challenge from Seth Godin to write out my goals for 12 weeks & work on them every day- see: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/07/celebrating-zig-ziglar.html

I bought a 4-pack back in August and realized it wasn't gonna be the type of thing I wanted to do. I had no desire to write my goals down everyday...or hold myself to the accountability of working on them daily. 

Over the next couple of months in my book club (based on Maxwell's 21 Laws of Leadership) we began talking a lot about goals...particularly in The Law of Process. 

Then it happened...I read an article about goals and it said only 3 people out of a hundred write down their goals.  That was it...we had 3 in our group, so I issued the challenge!  They took it! (oh crap...that meant I had to commit to this process too)

My goals are:
1. Lead my family spiritually. 
2. Write everyday. 
3 & 4 are work-related with specific numerical goals so I'd rather not list them here. 

Jen wrote on her blog about her goals - http://jenhall86.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/12-weeks-of-goals/

We began at the start of October, so at this point we are beginning week 5.  I've had more "hits" than "misses" but there have still been more times than I prefer to have to write "nothing done today" next to a goal. 

We are almost half way into our 12 week process, and I can already feel a difference. I'm growing as a person and also getting great results at work from putting intentional time and focus everyday towards my goals. 

You can do it too! Are you one of the 3 (who writes down your goals) or part of the 97% who doesn't? Which WILL you be? Don't wait for January 1st to try new goals...get started now!

JE
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4 Things not to say in a job interview (plus tips from an interviewer) #kidmin

Each year about this time, we do lots of camp interviews for our CentriKid Camps summer staffers and also our specialized leadership positions like Camp Directors and Assistant Directors.  My teammate Meredith just re-posted a blog she wrote a while back about What Not to Do in your Interview ... it is sad that these things are all true stories. 

From my recent camp interviews, I created my own list of things not to say in a job interview.  I even included a couple of coaching tips for putting your best foot forward.

  • "That probably isn't something I should say in an interview."  If you suspect that you shouldn't say it, then don't say it.  Generally, the first random thought to cross your brain isn't going to be how you want to be remembered after the interview.
  • "Does that make sense?"  Think through your answers and give a thoughtful answer.  One sure-fire way to make sure it makes sense is to internally edit those thoughts and get them in a cohesive order ... don't ramble on and then hope the interviewer can process it.
  • "I know I'm supposed to have a question right now, but I don't."  Everybody goes through some type of interview training in high school now, and we all know they instruct you to research the company and have a question prepared.  When I get this quote, it indicates to me that (#1) you been trained on how to prepare for an interview, but (#2) you didn't prepare, even though you knew you were supposed to.
  • "That's a good question!"  This is my biggest pet peeve, and probably the most common of these statements that I hear.  It is just a time-filler that the applicant uses to buy time to think of a response.  It indicates that you didn't anticipate this question.  The sarcastic side of me wants to tell the applicant, "Thanks for the affirmation, but I know its a good question."  If I begin to get a lot of "time-filler" statements in an interview, it indicates that this applicant didn't anticipate any of these questions and prepare for them.
Good luck with you next interview...whenever it may be.  And if you happen to be an applicant for @centrikidcamps and you are reading this, then you just got 4 free tips to help you do better in your interview! 

@centrikidcamps article about @CampbellsvilleU last summer

Campbellsville University is a great partner for CentriKid Camps.  They have hosted our camp staff Training Week for over 20 years, and they consistently provide great service to churches and to the camp staff who work on their campus.  

In the "Campbellsvillian" magazine this August, they gave a report on their summer programs, but it prominently featured CentriKid Camps, so we just wanted to share some of the cool things they said about us and that we said about them!  

Click on the picture to enlarge it and read the article.

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