Month: October 2017

New Review of Inspirational Book About Finding Meaning in Work and Life

In her book,

, Jody B. Miller describes two ways people move through life. Many drift: they grow up, work, and have families without asking themselves if they are making the most of their lives. Other individuals, by choice or by chance, move outside of their comfort zones; they become happier, stronger heroes of their own lives and those of everyone they meet. The author introduces readers to a number of such people. Before relating their experiences, she tells readers the premise behind her book: that each of us has something to offer to make the world a better place. Her book is divided into four major parts. At the conclusion of each chapter, there are Takeaways: inspirational lines like “You matter, even if no one ever tells you that you do.” Part One: Why Shift? Life events may or may not be going according to plan. It is not our purpose to lead a humdrum existence. When people shift, they get a clearer picture of the world—and place greater value on joy and a feeling of accomplishment. Among these individuals is Serita, who spent her early years in a foster home and learned that no one really cared about her. When she attended high school, things began to turn around. Compassionate friends and a physics teacher who insisted Serita take an international examination now set her on the road to success and the fulfillment of a long-held dream. Then we meet Reid, an easygoing boy who grew up in a rural area. He learned well in his one-room schoolhouse, and—since tuition was free in his native Canada—decided to break with family tradition and attend college. Reid chose the prestigious McGill University, where he met Serita. Even though he was quiet and serious and she was sociable and vibrant, the two discovered they had much in common. The future they built together after graduation led to a level of happiness neither could have predicted. The author sums up the couple’s experiences by saying, “pay attention to what you see, hear, and more importantly, imagine. The capacity of our brains to realize our desires is strong.” Part Two: When to Shift According to the author, when a shift happens is often the result of life event: a health issue, the birth of a child. Listening to one’s “inner voice” can help a person to know when the time is right. What is important is to have constant faith that everything will work out for the best once the shift occurs. Andy is a prime example. The ski resort CEO was an avid skydiver—until he made a bad landing. His paramedic training helped him realize how he was injured and kept him calm while he decided how to help himself. Andy’s arm was seriously and permanently damaged. Even though athletic pastimes were no longer an option, he found a new purpose: improving the lives of wounded veterans. In short, Andy found a new normal. Part 3: How to Shift It is not easy to get the shift right the first time. The important thing is to keep at it even if we find ourselves drifting or needing to refocus. The bottom line is that however quickly or slowly the shift takes place, it is vital to keep moving forward. Sloan’s father came back from World War 2 severely traumatized and prone to fearful and angry outbursts. As a result of her difficult childhood, Sloan battled with depression. Inspired by a religious sister and friend, she began to believe prayer was a source of help and strength. After college, Sloan—who had not wanted to teach—got a teaching position in a school where many children spoke Spanish. The young woman enjoyed her work and thus found her place as a bilingual teacher. To add icing to the cake, Sloan married a wonderful man. Life was good until health issues—and their inability to have children—threatened to disrupt the couple’s idyllic existence. Rather than give in to despair, Sloan and her husband moved forward with their lives. Sloan firmly believes that the Almighty has always heard her prayers and provided her with the strength necessary to face and overcome every challenge. Part Four: After the Shift There is nothing better than knowing we are loved and not alone. Indeed, happiness, a feeling of worth, and happiness are present in the shifts described in every story. No matter what causes the shift, those undergoing the change become better for the experience. Now What? The author believes that the important thing is to be happy. Shifts can lead to this state of mind, but adjustment to the new reality may take time. Jodi B. Miller has an impressive resume. She is the CEO of a corporate job placement and employment consultation firm. In addition, the author is a career and life coach. Both of these positions have put her in a position to hear countless stories and help people find a fulfilling and happy place in the world. Because of these occupations, and executive posts in corporate, advertising, and broadcasting firms, she speaks with an authoritative voice. The author’s vast experience and her desire to help people in all walks of life achieve their full potential shows through on every page. Whether relating the challenges facing corporate executives or indigenous peoples living in the Amazon, Jodi B. Miller is focused not only on the difficulties of the past and present but on solutions for the future. And she has the ability to pique a reader’s interest from page one. By asking questions like “When was the last time I really felt alive?” and including personal anecdotes, the author makes people want to keep reading. Both insights and stories are written in a conversational, readable manner. Every story is followed by “Takeaways,” inspirational messages relating to the account that readers can apply to their own lives: “Live a life of love and joy no matter what you have to face.” “Appreciate life. Embrace it. You matter in this world.” “Regardless of what capacity you have, live your life. Don’t have regrets. The clock only moves forward and so must you.” “Prayer can heal you. Try it.” When I initially saw this title, I was not sure what to expect. As someone who (like many people) has experienced periods of drifting and shifting throughout life, I thought this might be one of a countless number of self-help guides out there. While From Drift to Shift falls into this category, it is unique in that in addition to providing guidance, this book inspires. Readers cannot read the author’s introductory and concluding remarks and the stories without being encouraged to look into themselves and determine where positive changes can be made. And she accomplishes this feat without being preachy, making readers feel that her method is superior, or claiming that there is only one way to achieve success. For those wishing to learn more, there is a chapter-by-chapter list of sources at the end of the book. This valuable addition adds credibility to the author’s premise. There is only one small drawback. In her introduction, the author tells readers what she believes this book can do for them. Seeing the title, printed in bold letters, repeated at the beginning of each paragraph, I had the feeling that she was “selling” the ideas contained therein. However, this does not detract from the quality of the book. Therefore, I give From Drift to Shift

4 out of 4 stars.

Another Review of "From Drift to SHIFT"

4 out of 4 starsReview by Al76Share This Review
Jody B. Miller in, From Drift to Shift: How Change Can Bring True Meaning and Happiness to Your Work and Life, nails it as she narrates inspirational stories of individuals whose life-stories relate to almost everyone. The author writes of several individuals who drifted in major struggles and obstacles at one point in their lives but later shifted to a passionate and meaningful way of life. Jody tells a story of a girl who lived in a foster home which she loathes, who later in life co-founded an ‘ideal’ foster care which helped place the young men and women into employment. The story of an extreme sports enthusiast who was involved in a life-threatening accident but did not give up in life is an inspirational and exhilarating read. Amongst the several life-stories is a story about a cancer survivor who had cancer therapy since she was age four but never gave up on herself but miraculously shifted to become a Certified Wellness Coach later in her adult life. These and other motivating and inspiring stories make the best part of the book. The book emphasis in on the idea of shifting. Whether you are struggling spiritually or emotionally, or you have been employed for years, or just a stay at home parent, or a budding or established entrepreneur, this is the book for you. Jody makes use of delineating life-stories from prolific or abounding figures and the author’s life-story which makes the book appealing to anyone from all walks of life. As long as you want a shift in any aspect of your life, this is a must read. The book oozes with positivity from the first chapter to the last. The book is a genuine guide to finding what you really desire in life and how you can achieve your desires. Unlike other motivational or self-help books, the author not only explains “Why Shift”, but moves on to highlight, “When To Shift”, “How To Shift” and interestingly what to do, “After The Shift” , in a clear and logical way. The book consists of well-detailed and clearly organised chapters. Jody makes use of good English throughout the chapters. The language is simple and clear, which makes a good read even to an ordinary non-technocrat. The author concludes each chapter with well laid out and simple takeaways, a clever way to make sure the reader does not miss important points. From Drift to Shift: How Change Can Bring True Meaning and Happiness to Your Work and Life by Jody B. Miller is a book that is both motivational and inspirational. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The layout is appealing and the editing appears professionally done as I did not find any obvious grammatical and typing errors. If you need a shift in your life, this is the book for you. ****** From Drift to SHIFT View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Another Review of "From Drift to SHIFT"

4 out of 4 starsReview by authoress54Share This Review
Change.

The word either energizes you or strikes fear into your heart. Confronting the reason people do not change, this practical case-study filled book takes your hand and leads you down the path of lives that were drifting and then forced to shift. From the comfort zone of habit to often life-upsetting challenges, the contributors are a balanced set of experiences: you will find at least one with which you can identify. Written by Jody B. Miller, From Drift to Shift: How Change Can Bring True Meaning and Happiness to Your Work and Life is a book that refrains from moral coercion to real life examples of people forced to change or suffer. This is a book that can be conveniently read in single case studies without guilt over not finishing the entire book in one reading. While self-help is a genre, all its own, many books are either a rehash of old ideas or thinly disguised efforts to convert you to the writer’s way of thinking. From Drift to Shift does neither. Let’s take a peek at some of the people in her book; the wide variety of backgrounds and experiences will engage you, and that special one or two will likely resonate with your world. Faced with Forgotten

In one interview, Serita graphically explores being shuffled between the foster care system and an equally detached home. Soon an at-risk delinquent, this young woman began drifting through her life. Thumbing her nose at society’s expectations, she began competing with herself in different areas just to ‘show them’ she was somebody. Serita’s shift occurred when a chance suggestion tested her self-perceptions and life’s drift. The results will amaze you and perhaps motivate you to be the one who offers a chance suggestion once in a while.Compartments Built by Crises
Emilee’s shift was dramatic and exceptionally lengthy. Metastasized cancer at four-years-old, a father with PTSD and Agent Orange debilitation who committed suicide, a mother forced to work three jobs to pay for treatments, and crippling loneliness accompanied her through her days until high school. Fast forward to college: cancers encore forced a partial hysterectomy. Marriage seemed to fix the loneliness and building a family was challenging. After extracting her ovum, doctors discovered that most were already decayed and unusable; only three were possible surrogate material. A divorce and third cancer event that required major surgery. Emilee’s story demands compassion and, when reading about her life, a very long shift will make you grateful for your own shorter ones.Pink Dolphins, Giant Ants, and Vomiting
When the next guest knew a life shift was necessary, she selected a Pachamama journey. Taking place in the Amazon jungle, eight women contacted the Pachamama Alliance and set out on a fascinating week-long experience that shook their drifts into shifts. Written like a suspense novel, this story is impossible to read in sections. You’ll encounter rare pink dolphins, startlingly beautiful toucan color explosions, tiny poisonous frogs, trees that move and bleed, and the Achuar tribe. You will vicariously participate in the shaman’s clarity ritual by throwing up every day. You will dream with the woman as she relays her dreams to the Achuar warrior leader. I read From Drift to Shift over several nights. The variations keep you engaged, and the discoveries make you feel as though you are on a treasure hunt. Although there is no apparent connection between the types of shifts showcased in the book, Miller thoughtfully provides a bulleted list of takeaways after each chapter. Upon comparison, then, each bullet point blends with the next to create an inventory for your unique drift to shift. The array of contributors – from CEOs to coaches – ensures you will find at least one story with which you can personally identify. Startling insights do not come from the author, however. Sharing personal anecdotal experiences provide some glimpses into Miller’s own drift to shift, and most of her guidance seems to originate from common sense and expanding wisdom. Certainly, this offering is useful for those who have no idea how to begin, when to stop drifting and start shifting. For those who expect and embrace changes in their lives, it serves as a reminder of possible shifts we’ve already taken or reinforcement of wisdom already hard won. The heightened value in From Drift to Shift lies in the numerous personal accounts of those who have taken action when they could have succumbed to apathy, hatred, and inertia. There are author easter eggs in the book for which I am appreciative; Ms. Miller’s “Now What Takeaways” provide sound life skills, self-talk points, other focused guidance, and success principles.
While it’s disingenuous to disagree with the contents of Miller’s book, there is one aspect, however, that causes me to question the wisdom of following ‘signs.’ Measuring the effort (or lack of) in planning and writing her book translated into signs that her work was worthwhile. Certainly, an eager readership identifies the niche is optimal, and the limited edits before publication reinforce Miller’s vision. The question arises when she states
The word ‘shift’ appeared in nearly every article I read.
A well documented human characteristic, ‘seeing’ your idea or new car or favorite new color wherever you go is more a change in focus rather than a sign of success. The core message for me in From Drift to Shift lives within the boundaries of accountability. I get one life and one span of years with which to create it. When I drift, I waste my time, effort, resources, and talents. When I have the right information and tools and see the need to change, I shift or suffer the inevitable consequences of such refusal. This is my responsibility and one for which I am entirely accountable. Using this book of actual examples, I am encouraged to know that my life is more comfortable than many and more challenging than a few. This book will undoubtedly ensure I watch for drifting in my life and not waste precious time shifting into change and action. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.
Well organized and written, the reader is not burdened with vague, meaningless words and ideas or searching about for a story worth reading. Useful lists, summaries, thought-provoking questions, resources, and an in-depth appendix make this book valuable today and tomorrow. Overall, From Drift to Shift is a thoughtful attempt to lift the reader from mundane and routine fails to exciting and new shifts toward a better life experience. Self-help readers will find value when using the principles in the book as they explore other learning avenues. Non-fiction readers will find the accounts fascinating and can delve deeper into those that interest them most. Spending hours with Miller will leave you feeling thoughtful and empowered to find your drift and create your shift.

New Press Release: Beat Workplace Stress With These 5 Tips

For Immediate Release
Beat Workplace Stress with These Five Tips
Work Happiness Expert and Author Jody B. Miller Tells How to Create a Happier, More Successful Work Life

[September 2017, Santa Barbara, CA] According to The American Institute of Stress, various studies have shown that the workplace is far and away the major source of stress for American adults and that it has escalated progressively over the past few decades. Yet there are things each of us can do to reduce our stress levels and increase our happiness on the job, author and work happiness expert Jody Miller says.
“Technology is supposed to be a good thing, yet because we have the capacity to be available 24/7 (regardless of time zone), demands on our time, knowledge and deliverables have magnified,” she says. “We are at a point in our society where we simply can’t keep up. Thus, we get stressed out and almost paralyzed in our ability to perform in the workplace. Something must give — and something always does. Whether it’s family life, work performance, our health, friendships or our overall wellbeing, we sacrifice. Our work/life balance is out of sync and the opportunity for a life of happiness seems beyond reach.”
So how can we combat stress so that we can perform at our peak? Here are some of Jody’s tips:
SPEAK UP: You’ve been playing the company political game and it isn’t working out for you. Use your words, as your parents used to say when you were a child. One way to do this is to have a one-on-one meeting with your supervisor or the head of your division and explain how work is taking up 99.9% of your life. If they are made aware of how you are going above and beyond and doing your best to meet stratospheric expectations, together you can come up with a set of balanced and realistic expectations that will put you on the same page as your boss and team. Note: your boss may not even know that demands are coming at you from all sides, and, by sharing your frustrations, you may create a mentor in the process.
LEARN TO SAY NO: We all fear saying “no” because it may reflect badly on us. We don’t want to be viewed as lazy. But if you don’t say no at times, you will never be able to produce top-notch deliverables. If you spread yourself too thin, you will be the master of nothing.
ASK FOR HELP: It’s OK to ask for help. Maybe you need an assistant or a colleague to help share the load. Ask.
TAKE A BREAK: This may sound silly to you. You may feel as though you’ll fall further behind by taking a break. But you will be amazed at how just getting out of the office for a walk or listening to some music while closing your eyes can help rejuvenate you and increase the creative and problem-solving parts of your brain.
TRY YOGA/STRETCHING/BREATHING/MEDITATION: Not only does your mental health suffer when you are stressed out, your body also responds to the strain. It might show up in a bad back, for example, because you are holding your shoulders up around your ears and probably holding your breath a lot. Your back gets tight as you absorb stress into your larger muscles. “Yoga combines stretching, stillness, body awareness, breathing and meditation as you flow through a series of poses. Studies have shown that yoga can reduce stress, blood pressure and heart rate, Jody says. “When we feel overwhelmed at work due to stress, it would be helpful to take a lunchtime yoga class or just sit with your eyes closed and focus on your breath for 15-20 minutes. Just paying attention to your breath is a form of meditation. It clears your mind and rejuvenates the brain with fresh oxygen so that we can be calm and make better decisions.”
OTHER WAYS TO BEAT STRESS ON THE JOB AND ALLOW HAPPINESS TO ENTER IN:
When we feel that we are acknowledged for our contribution at the office, we relax and tend to feel more confidence. Confidence reduces stress.When we know that we matter, we tend to enjoy our work more and feel energized as opposed to stressed. We feel happier at work.When we are shown a clear path to advancement at work and aren’t left to guess, we settle into a more relaxed and productive mindset. Clarity reduces stress at the office.When company culture invests in employee happiness and provides an environment where employees want to work, employees are more apt to work with enthusiasm and dedication; this leads naturally to happiness in delivering the company message and a feeling of effortlessness when it comes to fulfilling tasks.Positive self-talk helps us shift our attitude so that stress is not the dominant emotion. Sometimes we must start small: This is a good day; I appreciate that my co-worker brought me coffee; I noticed that my colleague was in an especially good mood today; I am looking forward to going for a walk during lunch. Make the self-talk as easy and natural as possible. Soon enough you will be going with the flow of your day, regardless of what is thrown in your path. You will shift your way around potential stress issues to a place of relief, contentment and eventually happiness. The more you direct positive thoughts to your wellbeing as opposed to letting stress paralyze you, the easier it will be to allow happiness in at work and in your life.When work is injected with a bit of fun and team spirit (from the top down), the happiness meter rises.
About the Author: Career and Life Coach Jody B. Miller is author of the new book “From DRIFT to SHIFT: How Change Can Bring True Meaning and Happiness to Your Work and Life.” As CEO of C2C Executive Search & Strategic Management, Jody has helped thousands of people find true meaning in their work and in their lives.
To learn more about Jody, please visit the online press kit http://jodybmiller.onlinepresskit247.com and public site www.JodyBMiller.com.