Category: Tools Everyone Can Use

Transferrable skills – A “for-profit” to “non-profit journey of lessons learned.

Paul Wagenaar

After a lifetime working in the “for-profit” sector, I unexpectedly took a left turn into the “non-profit” world on a 6-month contract five years ago.

I thought I knew what to expect, and I could not have been more wrong.

First, as a volunteer, then as a contract employee, my learning curve was steep, not only because we were at the height of the pandemic but because I was starting and learning a new job remotely. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to grow and the freedom to try new ideas, to collaborate, and many of my former life skills were directly transferrable to this new world.

Through my coworkers, and at more than 50 food organizations and 300+ volunteers, I learned more about the community that I worked and lived in just a few months than what I thought I had learned in more than thirty years in the “for-profit” world.

You are one person … what can you do?

Paul Wagenaar

This week I was asked, “What can you do, you are only one person?” Perhaps I am naive, perhaps I am too optimistic, I know I am tenacious, occasionally bordering on relentless; however, I do believe one person can make a difference … especially to someone who feels “stuck;” they feel they can’t go backward, they can’t backward, and they can’t stay where they are. More useful than mere words, this is how I believe, me, you, and anyone can make a difference to help unstick someone who is stuck.

Wins, losses, ties, and finding other ways to Victory – Part 2

Paul Wagenaar

Have you ever tried to get into a building but couldn’t open the door? Have you ever needed immediate assistance only to be told you will have to go on a waiting list for six months or more? Have you ever wanted a job but didn’t get it knowing that you were not considered, not because you couldn’t do the job, but because of someone’s bias you weren’t given a chance?

In Canada everyone has the right to employment, but it is far from a “level playing field;” people who live with barriers, including disabilities have to work harder to achieve their wins, they often lose, occasionally tie, and have to find ways to make progress and achieve a measure of victory.

In this, part 2 of 2, I hope to illuminate more of the barriers, the challenges, and to help dispel the myths and biases to help people who live with barriers and disabilities to achieve their employment goals.

We need your awareness and your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

WINS, LOSES, TIES, and other ways to find VICTORY – Part 1

Paul Wagenaar

Have you ever tried to get into a building but couldn’t open the door? Have you ever needed immediate assistance only to be told you will have to go on a waiting list for six months or more? Have you ever wanted a job but didn’t get it knowing that you were not considered, not because you couldn’t do the job, but because of someone’s bias you weren’t given a chance?

In Canada everyone has the right to employment, but it is far from a “level playing field;” people who live with barriers, including disabilities have to work harder to achieve their wins, they often lose, occasionally tie, and have to find ways to make progress and achieve a measure of victory.

In this, part 1 or 2, I hope to illuminate some of the barriers, the challenges, and to help dispel the myths and biases to help people who live with barriers and disabilities to achieve their employment goals.

We need your awareness and your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

Answer …  Everything is about value and standing out

Paul Wagenaar

We are conditioned by society not to stand out, we all suffer to one extent or another because of the education system and by human nature. Fortunately “blending in” is a learned behavior that can be “unlearned.” The journey to success is helped by learning to stand out, to always provide value and it doesn’t matter if it is for yourself, personally, or for your organization; and it is something you can do, you can even start today.

Looking for a job shouldn’t be this hard …

Paul Wagenaar

Finding a new job for anyone can be very difficult. We all face barriers to employment, living in a small or medium-sized community can add some surprising additional barriers. People in this situation, need our help, they need my help and they need your help. Lend me five minutes of your time for a brief introduction to learning about the barriers and what we can do to overcome them.

Walking a fine line …

Paul Wagenaar

Have you ever felt “stuck” in your professional life? Do you feel their is a “double-standard” about how you are treated and how your boss is treated. Do you feel underappreciated, over-worked, and that no matter what you do, nothing will change? I know how that feels and have experienced that more times than I care to think about; however, there are things you can do.

Being a Servant Leader without being a Manager or Supervisor

Paul Wagenaar

What is leadership? Does it come automatically when you are a supervisor or a manager? Or is it the cumulative effect of dozens of small actions that sometimes seem invisible unless you are looking for them? Someone who is a manager or supervisor doesn’t automatically become a leader, especially not a servant leader; although anyone who is a servant leader would always make a great supervisor or manager.

Work pressure and sick time.

Paul Wagenaar

In the past and even today, work has stressed and made me feel overwhelmed … and I know that I am not alone. There are ways to mitigate these feelings and even to “get ahead of them;” consider this post to be a guide with “Tools Everyone Can Use” to help you stop being affected as much.

Helping a friend

Paul Wagenaar

I think my best posts are those that I write with a specific person in mind. I believe this is especially true when helping someone with a resume. A resume is a one or two page representation of a three dimensional person with skills, experiences, and attitudes that has to capture all of those things along with the nuances that makes that person unique and this is hard to do. This post is a start on that process, and what I wrote for one person might help you or someone you know as well. Please use it, share it, and add to it, I hope it is tool my friend will use as well as you.