How Successful People Stay Motivated

Have you ever noticed how most highly successful people are always so motivated and positive? Sometimes you wonder, “How the heck can things go so perfectly for some people?!” Well, chances are, they have had just as many struggles in their professional lives as you. We’ve all been there; when something we’ve worked our butts off for doesn’t quite work out as we had anticipated. Maybe a promotion fell through, or you didn’t get the raise you were hoping for. Maybe you really screwed up an important project or dropped the ball on a major sales lead. We have all suffered disappointments in our professional lives, but what separates the successful people from those who fall apart? 

The approach you take in dealing with let-downs concerning your career is critical. There is a certain way that you must go about these situations in order to learn, regroup, move on and turn things around. Here is a guideline for what to do when things at work head south. 

Control your feelings before they control you. Feel what you feel and process your emotions. When faced with major disappointments, people tend to either avoid feeling any undesirable emotions at all, or allow themselves to be consumed entirely by their feelings and slip into a serious blue funk. Neither of these are optimal reactions and both will end up really kicking you in the butt down the road. If you swallow all of your feelings, it will eventually take a toll on your health and mental state. On the other hand, if you let your sadness, anger and resentment take over, it will paralyze you. You’ve got to allow yourself to grieve and process your emotions in order to move on and let go. Try to keep it together while at work, but as soon as you have time to yourself, let it all out. Think about what happened and how it makes you feel. Write it down, talk it out, work it out, cry if you have to. Allow yourself to feel what you need to feel and then put it away. 

Regroup. This is a very crucial step after you’re allowed yourself to momentarily wallow in your despair. Here is where self-talk comes in. Taking control of your self-talk is probably the most influential factor in whether you keep on trucking or throw in the towel. Don’t allow yourself to become demoralized. Understand that these types of things happen to everyone, and they happen all the time! Don’t allow that little voice in your head to be critical of you. Instead of thinking “Wow, you really screwed up that interview.”, or “If you didn’t get that promotion, you must not be good enough; you’ll never have what it takes.”, take a more neutral approach. Try not to attach emotions to the statements. A more healthy and productive example of self talk is, “I really thought I was going to get that promotion. I wonder what I could have done differently.” The best way of figuring out what really works is figuring out all of the ways that don’t work! (Although, hopefully that happens sooner rather than later!)

Figure out what went wrong. Something positive can be found in nearly all negative situations. When things don’t go quite right, figure out where you went wrong and what you can do differently next time. This gets you back in control of your situation. Try to look at the circumstances objectively in order to really benefit from your problem solving. Work on developing a support system. Whether it be your spouse, a friend, your parents or siblings, having someone to back you up in your professional goals will really spike your confidence. Have them help you hash out the situation. Chances are, they’re messed up once or twice before and will be able to help you problem-solve. Talk to a trusted colleague or your supervisor (if appropriate) and ask their opinion on areas you can improve in. I suggest waiting on that until you’ve repaired your ego a bit, because if you’re still feeling down, exposing yourself to the criticism of others can be like rubbing salt in the wound. 

Come up with a game plan. Once you’ve figured out where you went wrong, come up with a plan to implement new strategies when presented with a similar situation. Don’t give up. Don’t submit to complacency. You can and will do better! 

Get back in the game! In order to be successful, you've got to shake it off and dive right back into your work. Yeah, things didn’t work out how you wanted. However, no experience is wasted when you learn something about how to better go about a similar situation or when you learn something new about yourself! Next time you find yourself disappointed at work, just feel through it, reframe the situation, understand what went wrong, change your approach and get back in the game! You’ll get ‘em next time! ;)

Ditch the Brown Bag Blues

Staying healthy and satisfied during the work week is an essential component in ensuring that you are able to perform at the top of your game! It can be difficult enough coming up with a healthy, but easy menu at home, let alone coming up with ideas for what to bring to work for lunch. 

As we all know, what we eat has an immense impact on the way that we feel and function. With our busy lives, it can be tough to set aside time to make a healthy lunch every morning before work. And we’ve all had those days that, come lunchtime, that convenient fast-food cheeseburger and french fry combo seems like a great idea, only to find ourselves feeling like crapola almost immediately after eating it. Then again, nothing is worse than opening up your lunch box to see another boring, wilted salad or a sad little PB&J. I have spent some time coming up with ways to add some excitement to your lunch hour without compromising your time or health. 

Firstly, let’s talk about what makes a healthy meal. You need to make sure that your meals are balanced. This means including lean proteins, complex carbs and plenty of veggies and fruit. This is just my opinion, but I would choose “good carbs”, not no carbs. The idea is to feel satisfied and refueled without feeling like you’re going to bust a button in your sweet new suit. So I’ve experimented a little and have come up with some ways to make signature lunch staples more satisfying and exciting! I will be mentioning some recipes for spreads and dressings I’ve played around with that you can find at the very end of the blog.

First, let’s talk about the sandwich. The first thing you should do, is swap out the refined white bread for whole wheat or whole grain bread or wraps. Let’s get back to basics and kick overly processed foods to the curb! Next, consider the nutritional quality of what you’re putting in that delicious, healthy bread. Avoid highly-processed meats. I would opt for either chicken or turkey (preferably left-overs from that awesome dinner you made earlier in the week?). The key to a great sandwich, in my opinion, is the bread and the spread. Most grocery stores have bakeries where you can get fresh-baked whole grain bread that will knock your socks off. Next, think about condiments. Beside the fact that I believe that mayo is the devil’s condiment, it is just not good for you. Try mustards, low-cal salad dressings, salsas, or better yet...make your own spread! Whip up some home-made guacamole or relish that’s packed with flavor and nutrition! Throw some veggies on there (lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pickles, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, etc.) and you’re good to go! And if you haven't tried kale chips yet, you're missing out! See the end of the blog for some spreads you can whip up and store for future use! 

Now for the salads. First of all, chopping veggies every morning can be way too tedious and time consuming. I suggest making a huge, basic salad on sunday night that you can portion out for the week. If you make a basic salad, you can also prep some different combinations of other ingredients to toss in each day of the week for variety. Bringing the same old salad everyday is the worst; you’ve got to switch it up! One excellent idea is to pack up your salads in mason jars. Pour some dressing into the bottom and then add your salad. Make sure you put something dense like carrots on top of the dressing so your softer veggies won’t turn to mush. Then just shake up the jar or empty it into a bowl and enjoy! You can also rinse out an empty Mio bottle and pour your dressing in there. So cute and perfect for salad dressings. Swap iceberg lettuce for romaine, spinach, or mesclun greens (an exciting, spicy, delicious mix of different greens). If you buy a bag of greens, you will find that they begin to get slimy within days of opening the bag. Put them in a ziploc bag, gather up the top and breathe into it. Sounds gross, I know...but the carbon dioxide helps to keep you greens fresh and bright, saving you money and aggravation! 

Try incorporating some exotic flavors into your salads or dressings. (By the way, dressings are super easy to make; start with olive oil, a little bit of honey or agave nectar and some type of acid or vinegar, ex: lemon juice, lime juice or apple cider, balsamic, or rice wine vinegar...whatever floats your boat! Then, get crazy with spices and herbs.)  Like Mexican food? Add some south-western style flavors such as cumin, chili powder, jalapeños, fresh cilantro, lime, beans, corn and ancho chili (for a smokey flavor). Like Asian food? Add some soy sauce, ginger, lime juice, garlic, lemongrass, sriracha, five-spice, hoisin sauce, peanuts, sesame seeds and sesame oil. If you prefer an Indian flair, try incorporating yogurt, curry, masala, and paneer cheese. Like mediterranean style food? Try adding some lemon juice, mint, oregano, greek-style yogurt, dill, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. Not only do these spices add flavor, but many herbs and spices can be considered nature’s medicine. Add some grilled chicken or some other meat leftover from a previous dinner. Vegetarians can add some beans or quinoa for protein. Another great contrast is mixing some grilled or sautéed vegetables ( zucchini, summer squash, peppers, asparagus, green beans)  with your raw veggies. You can also add some whole wheat pasta, brown rice or bulgar wheat to bulk up a wimpy salad.

Another go-to lunch staple is leftovers from dinner the night before. You can always pack up some left overs just the way they are, but if you’re looking for something different you can repurpose those ingredients and create something new! For example, leftover chicken or turkey can be used to make a sandwich, wrap, salad, soup or burrito. Just add some different spices to completely transform last night’s dinner. If you had spaghetti and meatballs, make a meatball sub. If you had steak, slice it thin and make a steak and cheese sandwich, or add it to a salad with some chimichurri sauce. 

One last thing. There is a drink that I am obsessed with that you can make in big batches at home and bring to work with you. You steep a few green tea bags in a cup of hot water and then refrigerate. Slice up and add 1/2 lemon, 1/2 orange, 1/4 cucumber, and a few basil leaves and add them to a jug of cold water. Once the tea is cooled, add that to the jug as well. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. It is delicious, refreshing and will provide a little afternoon pick-me-up. 

Call me crazy, but I find cooking and creating new dishes relaxing and fun (as long as there’s no time crunch and no pressure). Instead of thinking of cooking as a chore, try to get excited about it and try new things. Get a new cookbook or just wing it and hope for the best! Once you know the basics of cooking, you can create some pretty fantastic things on your own. Although I must admit that I have made some pretty disgusting things, you learn from those mistakes and you just don't do that again! So have fun, get creative and spice up your lunch life! 

For some of the sandwich spreads and dressings, I will give you the ingredients, but I am not sure of the measurements. ( I make things to-taste, and tend to like more in your face flavors so just play around until you get the taste you’re looking for. Vegans can swap out cheese for nutritional yeast flakes and replace yogurt with avocados or vegan sour cream)

Guacamole- 1 avocado, 1 chopped tomato, 1/4 chopped red onion, salt, pepper,  chopped jalapeños, fresh chopped cilantro, and fresh lime juice

Corn relish- 2 cups canned corn, 1/2 chopped red onion, 1 chopped red bell pepper, 1 chopped celery stalk 1 chopped green chili, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1tbsp cider vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil

Apple-mango salsa- 2 chopped granny smith apples, 1 chopped mango, 1/2 red onion, chopped cilantro, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper, pinch of cayenne pepper

Pesto- 2 cups basil leaves, 2 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup pine nuts, 1/2 cup olive oil, salt and pepper, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (combine in food processor) 

Salsa- 5 chopped Roma tomatoes, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 minced jalapeños, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil, fresh lime juice, minced scallions, minced cilantro, chili powder, salt and pepper

Cilantro and avocado salad dressing- 1/2 ripe avocado, about 3/4 cup fresh cilantro, 1/2 cup plain non-fat yogurt, 2 chopped scallions, 1 minced clove garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and honey- to taste (combine in blender or food porcessor)

Ginger-soy salad dressing- 2 tbsp minced ginger root, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 tsp sesame oil, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 3 tbsp honey or agave nectar, 3 minced cloves of garlic 

Curry-yogurt salad dressing- 1 tbsp curry powder, 1/2 cup non-fat yogurt, 1 tsp minced ginger root, 1/2 tsp orange zest, 2 tsp mango puree, salt and pepper 

Red wine dijon vinaigrette- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dijon mustard, chopped fresh parsley, salt and pepper

Kale chips- Preheat oven to 350. Remove kale leaves from thick, tough stems and tear into bite sized pieces. Drizzle with olive oil and season with sea salt and pepper. You can experiment with different seasonings as well. Bake about 10-15 minutes or until leaves are crispy. 

Campaign Cup, Q1!!

We are thrilled to announce that Peak-Incorporated has been awarded the Campaign Cup sales award once again!  We were previously named Century Link's number one sales team in Q4 and we are so excited to see that our hard work and dedication has paid off again! 

CEO Eric Norregaard on behalf of Peak-Inc., "Being recognized with this award is really exciting for our team.We are committed to delivering quality results to our client, and winning the cup demonstrates the perseverance and dedication of our team members."

Check out the original Press Release for more info!

The team with the trophy from Q4 ! 

The team with the trophy from Q1!

And we'll leave you with some words to live by: 

"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand."-Vince Lombardi 

Headed For Texas!

We have some very exciting news! In June we will be kicking off our first of many expansions this year!

We are expanding to Dallas to work with AT&T and our very own, Billy Davenport will be managing the office in Dallas! Peak's CEO Eric Norregaard will be going to check out the new digs this week along with Sergey Karpenko and Jon Leach.They’ll also be catching a Rangers game while they’re in town, of course. We will keep you posted with more information once we figure out all the details. 

Interviewing Continued (FAQ's)

One of our previous blogs titled, Interview Do’s and Don’ts, outlined some tips for successful interviewing. One of the tips was to practice, practice practice! So I thought I’d provide some examples of the most frequently asked questions in order to provide a framework for a practice interview. Here goes! 

What are your strengths? It is almost guaranteed that this question will be asked. Try to list some strengths that you have that pertain to the job you’re applying for. (ie: Don’t go on and on about what a great painter you are if you’re applying for a job in retail.)

What are your weaknesses? It’s easy to get tripped up on this one. Of course you don’t want to portray yourself in a negative light, but whatever you do, DO NOT say “I have no weaknesses”. Don’t do it. It’s BS and you know it; we all have weaknesses. However, you definitely should not just blurt out all of your actual weaknesses either. What I would suggest is bringing up a weakness that you once had but have since defeated and mention that although it was once a weakness, you see no way that it will hinder your abilities to adequately perform your job. Another big no-no is saying something like “I work too hard”, or “I am a perfectionist when it comes to getting the job done”. That is also BS. "Working too hard" is not a short-coming and it will be clear that you’re trying to disguise a strength as a weakness. Employers hear this all the time and it comes off as patronizing and disingenuous. You're much better off just being honest!

Tell me about yourself. This is not really a question, and it can be difficult to come up with a way to reply to such a broad request. Talk about your interests and ambitions that relate to the company or job you are applying for. Keep it short and sweet and only talk about what relates to this job and your career goals.This is not the time to tell your life story. Sorry, but they’re probably not interested in how you made the honor roll in the fourth grade. It's best to stick to the relevant facts. And this is the perfect opportunity to slip in some interests and skills you have that make you a good candidate for the job!

Why are you interested in working for our company? This is why it is absolutely necessary to do your homework! Make sure you research the company and find out as many details as you can about the job you’re applying for and formulate a response to this question in advance. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 (or 10) years from now? What they’re really getting at here is; Does this job relate to your desired career path? Do your long-term career goals match up to what is expected for this position? Or even; Are you applying solely because you need a job? Are you going to quit in a year or two? Show that you’ve put some thought into your career planning and that you have professional goals. Please, don’t say something ridiculous like, “I don’t know.” This is your chance to express your intentions and ambitions. 

Why is there a gap in your employment history? Eeek. This is a tough one. This depends entirely on your situation. Definitely prepare a response if you are someone who has had a period of time without work or schooling. This is an uncomfortable question and you don't want to be caught off-guard. Maybe you were caring for a sick relative, or maybe you got laid off and had a difficult time finding work. Maybe you took some time off to travel. Or maybe you just didn’t feel like working. (If that’s the case, you should really think of some other way to put it.) Try to emphasize the positive in the situation and be sure to mention any volunteer work or anything you did that shows you were still being productive.

Why do you want to leave your current job? Maybe you saw this new position as an opportunity to further your career. Maybe this particular job is more on the path of your presumed career. Maybe you got laid off. Maybe you hated your last job, so you quit. Maybe you got fired? Whatever you do, do not trash talk your last employer/company. It seems like a no-brainer but people definitely do that in order to explain why they left or got let go. Discuss the positives that came out of your last position and bring attention to why you are the perfect fit for this position. If it somehow comes out that you were fired, relax. It’s not necessarily a deal-breaker. Things happen. Explain that you understand why your former employer let you go and that you have addressed and resolved whatever issue you had and how you will be a better employee because of it!

Why should we hire you? Definitely come prepared for this one. I would suggest reviewing the job description and expectations and discussing how you fit the mold for those expectations. This not only shows that you did your homework and that you know your stuff, but you’ll have the opportunity to highlight specific skills that fit with each description.

There are many more questions that may potentially be asked of you and I would suggest running through the most asked questions and thinking of some answers before you go in for your interview. Make sure you don’t sound too rehearsed, though. Review just enough to be prepared without sounding disingenuous. And remember; dress to impress, hold your head up high, and never let ‘em see you sweat! You got this! 

Update: Smile Event, NYC

In case you missed our first Operation Smile blog, our President/Ceo Eric Norregaard received the honor of being invited to the "Smile Event" at Cipriana Wall Street in New York City on May 2nd, 2013. This year's highly anticipated event showcased this amazing organization's global efforts.

Operation Smile is a non-profit charity organization which provides surgeries as well as education for healthcare workers on cleft palates and other facial deformities. This event commemorated Operation Smile's 30th anniversary and recognized over 200,000 free surgeries provided to children world-wide with clefts and other life-threatening facial deformities. Here are some pictures from last week's event! 

CHECK OUT OPERATION SMILE'S WEBSITE!

 YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD.

http://www.operationsmile.org/

Interviewing Do's and Don'ts

So, you just landed an interview for an exciting new job! Now what? Exceptional interviewing is essential to locking in your position and preventing someone else from snatching it from underneath you. Attending an interview can be a really nerve-wracking experience, but if you sufficiently prepare yourself, you can almost guarantee a smooth and productive interview. Here are some tips for successful interviewing! 

1.First and foremost, do your research! Gather as much background information as you can on the company and its employees. You must be prepared to answer questions such as “What do you know about our company?” and “What made you want to apply to our company?”. Preparing yourself with background information will allow for a more interactive interview. Google the company, check out their website or even call to inquire about the position. 

2.Practice, practice, practice! Look up some commonly asked questions and frame your responses. Sometimes, you can be caught off-guard by certain questions, so try to prepare yourself for anything. Don’t be afraid to take a moment to formulate a concise response. Taking a moment to organize your thoughts is much better than blurting out whatever pops into your head. Make sure to answer the questions fully, and if you are not entirely sure what is being asked, ask them to clarify. 

3.Put your best face forward! Make sure you are looking your best on the day of your interview. Dress up, no matter what the position is. If you look put-together and polished, you will convey that you are organized and responsible. It also communicates that you respect the process and your interviewer’s time. Make sure your hair and makeup is simple and neat. Men, make sure to shave your face! Make sure you are on time. And by on time, I mean 15 minutes early. It’s better to wait in the parking lot for a few minutes than to risk being late. Also, if you’re a smoker, I suggest that you refrain from smoking prior to the interview. I know it’s hard, especially when you’re nervous. But if you’re rippin’ butts all the way to the office, you’re going to smell like an ashtray and it’s just not pretty. Just don’t do it; wait until afterwards. 

4. Try to stay calm. It is so important to be positive and upbeat. Don’t let your anxieties turn you into a nervous wreck. Try to portray confidence and security. Take a few deep breaths right beforehand and don’t forget to smile! 

5. Watch your body language. Try to consolidate your things into one bag. Leave any unnecessary things in your car. Studies show that showing up with too many things in your arms portrays disorganization and forgetfulness. Keep it simple! Sit up straight and try not to fidget. Try to read your interviewer’s body language as well. This way you can pick up on non-verbal cues as to whether you’re talking too much or too little, or whether you’re answering the questions correctly. 

6. Don’t curb your enthusiasm! Don’t forget that one key aspect of the job interview is to show your interest and excitement for the job! Some people try so hard to keep themselves composed that they mask their enthusiasm. Don’t be afraid of coming off desperate, just don’t over-do it; be genuine. 

7. Get excited! One of the best ways to overcome your nerves is to focus on the excitement about landing this awesome new job! Don't let your anxieties swallow you up. It’s okay to be nervous; most people are when it comes to interviewing. But don’t freak yourself out. Get excited and tell yourself why you’re perfect for this job. If you can’t convince yourself of that, you’re going to have a pretty tough time convincing the interviewer.  

8. Practice disaster relief. No matter how prepared you are, there is a chance you may make a mistake during the interview process. We’re all human and we all do stupid things sometimes, especially when we’re nervous. If you misspeak, acknowledge it and move on. Don’t dwell on it and don’t make a big deal out of it. Although your interviewer is looking for great answers to their questions, seeing how you deal with a blunder can also be beneficial (as long as you do it right!) 

I’ll share with you one of my most horrendous, embarrassing moments in an interview and maybe it will help you feel more at ease. I was in the middle of answering a question when some sort of humungous, terrifying bug flew right by my head. Not only did I start swatting at the thing like a mad-woman, but I let out a shriek and an “ohh s***!!!”. Yup. I did that. It was awful. The woman just looked at me with utter disbelief. I felt myself turn 10 shades of red, then said “I am so sorry. Please pardon my language; I’m just terrified of insects.”, and then I picked right up where I left off and finished answering the question. Somehow....someway..I got the job. Now I’m sure not everyone would be so forgiving. And you definitely should not be swearing in an interview. But if you make a little mistake, simply apologize and move on; it just might be okay!