Horizon Point Consulting

Author: Taylor Simmons

  • Making Passion a Priority in Work

    Making Passion a Priority in Work

    I recently wrote a blog about “People First” and I how I feel we do that well at HPC. You can check it out here: People First.

    Of course, as with anything, there is always room for improvement. One company value that I personally would like to improve upon is “Passion”.

    Passion. We believe passion should be a key driver in the workplace. Therefore, we demonstrate passion in the work we do, hire individuals who are passionate about the work our organization engages in, and strive to help our clients discover, develop and maximize their passion through career and talent development processes. In order to help drive passionate decisions, we foster a value for creating self-awareness, developing personal and professional mission statements as well as values that govern mission.

    Recently, I had a conversation with a colleague who shared she had experienced a form of burn-out which is always a result of a catalyst. As our conversation continued, we discussed getting organized in our home offices and going through recredentialing processes and the pains that go along with such. Her epiphany on how “just getting organized” made a difference in her outlook completely resonated with me.

    As I’ve shared before, I enjoy my work and the work we do at Horizon Point. However, sometimes, the day-to-day rush of work mixed with life can lead us to forget why we do it all in the first place. So, I have thought through some steps to help when we feel like we are “in a rut” and are forgetting what why we do what we do (our passion):

    1. Organize one file, process or space in your office each week. Within a couple of months, you will be so glad you did!
    2. Keep your mission statement in a place where you can see it daily. Mine is in my office right above my desk. Don’t have a personal mission statement? Check out my blog about developing one here: Developing a Personal Mission Statement to Prevent Stress & Burnout.
    3. Schedule downtime every week. At least one day per week, I try my best to not schedule any appointments or calls. This a great way to build in catch-up time.
    4. Set goals, work towards those goals, and have an accountability partner to help you. Check out The Point Blog for goal setting tips.
    5. Make continuous learning a priority. Allowing yourself time to learn and grow can often times feel like a break from the rat race. Attending a short conference can do the trick, and if you happen to schedule one close to the beach, you get a mini-vacation – BONUS!

    Is passion a key driver in your workplace? If not, contact us at Horizon Point. We would love to help!

  • Company Values: Are You Learning?

    Company Values: Are You Learning?

    During a recent workshop with junior high students, one topic we discussed was becoming an apprentice for life. Now, more than ever, continuous learning is relevant regardless of your industry (or your age). At Horizon Point, it is one of our core values, and it is one of my favorite things about my career and the company I work for.

    Continuous Learning. We believe continual learning is a key driver in creating passion and productivity in life and in work. To that end, we invest in the personal development of our people because we know that people are a company and community’s greatest asset (People First). We work with clients who believe in continuous learning and take steps towards continual self-improvement in order to maximize their passion and productivity.

    Soon, HPC will be having a quarterly planning meeting. Unlike most meetings, it’s not something we dread. We look forward to sharing successes, checking in on our annual goals and determining priorities for the upcoming quarter. One item that is always on the agenda is continuous learning (or professional development). Again, this isn’t something we dread, we select our own professional development and as long as we keep the budget in mind, we always get the “go-ahead” to do it!

    This is yet another way we live out our company values. We also incorporate this into the work we do with companies and individual clients. Is continuous learning part of your career? Check out these reads to learn more about continuous learning:

    How to Plan Time for Self-Learning

    Lifelong Learning is the Key to Career Shifts

    5 Reasons to Create a Culture of Learning in Your Organization

  • People First

    People First

    People first is one company value that I feel we do right at Horizon Point. As I prepared to step on the treadmill last night around 5:30pm, my phone rang. Knowing it was a work-related call that might take a few minutes, I answered it anyway. The person on the line was in California and seeking guidance on a credentialing application. Working with individuals across time zones means, we often get calls that aren’t in our “scheduled working hours”, but it allows us to make a difference in a much larger circle, even if we are conducting virtual training at 7:30am for a group in another country.

    People First. We believe people are a company and community’s greatest asset. This is why we work to foster passion and productivity in people. We realize that in all our decisions, relationships come first, and we help our clients act as leaders by cultivating and building relationships that help drive passion and productivity.

    Working in the realm of development, we are tasked with helping companies and individuals grow. To that end, “People First” truly is a priority. Here are just a few ways we strive to put people first:

    1. As HPC employees, our families always come first. Whether it’s a sick child, or a co-worker’s, we ensure our priorities are in order and lend a helping hand (for work or family) whenever we need to.
    2. Sometimes we realize Horizon Point might not be the right choice for a client, and we refer them to another organization that can better serve them. In the long run, clients appreciate placing their needs above making a sale.
    3. To touch on another company value, “Give Back”, another way we put people first is to volunteer in our community. Sometimes that means serving on a board or conducting a pro bono career coaching session to help someone who has been through a rough patch and needs guidance. This is personally my favorite way to put people first – by offering to help.

    As I came on board with Horizon Point, I developed a personal mission statement that I feel fits nicely with our people first value. It reads: I will strive daily to present the best version of myself to clients, family, friends and others. I will work to empower others and help them in their journey to lead better lives.

    To read more about our company values, check out Moving BEYOND WORK – Our Company Values.

  • Networking Authentically

    Networking Authentically

    As we continue to explore authenticity, let’s consider authenticity in networking. As we all know, networking is essential for the job seeker. I recently found a survey that claimed 85 percent of jobs are found through networking. So, how can we network, bring our “A” game and continue to be authentic?

    1. Develop an elevator speech. The key is storytelling. Be honest and be you! Check out a previous post from the Point Blog for tips: https://horizonpointconsulting.com/blog3/item/networking-during-the-holiday-season/.
    2. If you are attending a formal networking event (such as a job fair), do your research ahead of time. Find out what companies will be there and determine which of those companies may be a good fit for you; this is key – you want to find companies who value what you value. Check out their websites to find core values, mission statements and more.
    3. Follow up with your network. Within a week, reach out to your new contact(s). Do your best to recall something memorable about your conversation and bring this up in your call, email or note. Thank them for the opportunity to talk and invite them to lunch or coffee.
    4. Utilize LinkedIn. Prior to networking, create an authentic profile. Then, connect with your new contacts.

    For more ideas, check out: Top 5 Networking Tips For Job Seekers.

  • Social Media May Be Hurting Your Job Search!

    Social Media May Be Hurting Your Job Search!

    When you look for a new job , whether it’s out of necessity or because you’re ready for the next thing, it’s usually a stressful time. When stressed, many people fall back on what they’re used to. And if you’re used to exaggerating on social media, you may not realize the extent to which this language bleeds onto your application, which can make you unlikable—or worse.

    Read more about this subject here:

    Social Media Is Ruining Your Chances On Getting a Job, But Not In the Way You think!