I Have Been Slowly Shuffling Into 2019

I have been slowly shuffling into 2019. Slowly. Today January 20, 2019 is the day of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Total Lunar Eclipse.

But with a massive snow storm here in Montreal, Quebec, Canada the moon and the lunar eclipse has been eclipsed by the snow.

Here is a photo of the snow outside on my deck. Brrrrr. -18C (-0.4F)

Super Blood Wolf Moon Total Lunar Eclipse Snow Storm -18C Montreal, Quebec Canada

As I wend my way into 2019 I have been reflecting on my blog posts “Go Placidly Amid the Noise and the Haste as You Enter The New Year” and “As we prepare to welcome the New Year reflect on the year that we are leaving” and taking action.

Every day I have been able to take a first step forward and moving into the future. One day at a time.

And, some days, one second at a time; as leaving those parts of the past behind that were unpleasant has never happened instantly for me.

The mantra of forgiving myself and others often requires many repetitions. Many.

Richard Edward Ward
Be practical & expect miracles if you just take the first step forward every day.

Go Placidly Amid the Noise and the Haste as You Enter The New Year

I have always enjoyed DESIDERATA written by Max Ehrmann.

As the year 2018 draws to a close, and I prepare to enter 2019, I was happy to stumble upon the inspiring words and thoughts in Desiderata this evening. The words written by Max Ehrmann provide me with a thoughtful meditation to help me slip into the New Year in a positive frame of mind. Delightful.

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

By Max Ehrmann © 1927
Original text

Go placidly amid the noise and haste with Desierata by Max Erhmann with Richard Edward Ward

As we prepare to welcome the New Year reflect on the year that we are leaving

As we prepare to welcome the New Year reflect on the year that we are leaving.

Reflect upon our successes, our disappointments, the people that came into our lives, and the people that left our lives.

As we prepare to welcome the New Year reflect on the year that we are leaving by Richard Edward Ward

Reflect and let go of what has made us unhappy, or left us feeling unfulfilled.

Reflect on the year that is coming, and looking to the future, think about how we would love our coming year to unfold.

Reflecting on how we would like the New Year to feel we can open our hearts and minds to receive abundance.

Richard Edward Ward
December 30, 2018

Montreal, Quebec Canada

A Dream Written Down With A Date

A dream written down with a date becomes a goal.

A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan.

A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.

– Greg S. Reid

A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. Greg S. Reid

Follow-up With Candidates After Job Interviews Is a Great Practice

Follow-up with candidates after job interviews is a great practice. As a headhunter in the IT vertical, I made it a practice to follow-up with all the candidates that I had interviewed for a job.

Follow-up with candidates after job interviews is a great practice. Richard E. Ward

Apart from the fact that it is just common courtesy to follow-up with interviewed candidates after a job has been filled, there are 2 very practical reasons an IT headhunter, or any headhunter or recruiter, to do so – namely finding new candidates and being introduced to new clients:

  1. as an IT headhunter I was constantly on the outlook for quality candidates to fill jobs and one of the best ways to find quality people is through referrals;
  2. as an IT headhunter I was constantly looking for new clients who needed help finding a great candidate to fill a job. It is not easy to connect with hiring managers when they are constantly being bombarded with phone calls from headhunters. Referrals are golden. Just because a candidate wasn’t a fit for the job you interviewed for doesn’t mean that they aren’t a quality candidate. My best source of referrals was from candidates that I had follow-up with.

Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job and recruiting site, says that following up with every candidate who applies to your company–whether you’re going to hire them or not–is a crucial part of your recruitment process. But why? Is it really that important?

Glassdoor provides 5 great reasons in their article “Why it’s important for employers to follow up with candidates after job interviews” that appeared on Fastcompany.com.

  1. candidate follow-up up after an interview closes the loop
  2. replying and responding to candidates after an interview is respectful
  3. it says volumes about your brand
  4. candidates are going to talk
  5. candidate follow-up and responses help drive better talent

Read the article.

A Discount Is Not A Gift

A discount offered to me or you is not a gift it is an incentive to get us to spend our money.

A discount is not a gift. Richard E. Ward

Just as Facebook has perverted the meaning of the word “friend”, corporations – large and small, as well as individual business people are perverting the meaning of the word “gift”.

A gift is something that you receive from someone without a requirement that you first spend your money to receive it.

Today – American Thanksgiving – my inbox is replete with “Thanksgiving Gifts”. And I am happily giving them a gift of not just deleting their message but also unsubscribing from future emails.

See, a true gift from me as it requires nothing in return from them. Not even a thank you. So satisfying to share the gift of giving.