Lots of exciting things took place for me and ResumeWonders in 2009. I didn’t realize just how much had been achieved until I started this blog post. It was a wrap up of the year in preparation of 2010 goals and provided a surprising dose of pride when I realize all that I have achieved. Here is how my year looked.

• The business and my clientele grew for the 6^th consecutive year even with such a volatile economy.

• Earned 3-nominations for the 2009 TORI (Toast of Resume Industry) awards and won a 2^nd Place Award in the Career Change category.

• I spoke at several networking and workshop events providing job seekers with information, tricks, and tips on resume development, and job search strategies including social media venues.

• Was interviewed several times for different media programs developed by Channel 2 and Murray Feldman.

• With a little anticipation I assisted in training and leading in a 12 week, Dan Miller, 48 Days to Work You Love, career program. I assisted my friend Chad, a financial coach at PennyCoach.com and it turned out to be very rewarding for me as well as the job seekers.

• Attended the CDI Career Summit conference in October held in Orlando.

• Grew my local client base and hopefully helped many job seekers by participating in several local career fairs. Here I spoke with hundreds of job seekers educating them in job search strategies, reviewing their resumes and many times just listening to their fears at career fairs sponsored by Fox 2 Detroit.

• Was part of a collective resume writing group interviewed by The Recruiting Animal (@animal) on his blogtalkradio.com/animal internet radio program.

• Attended several webinars, teleseminars seminars and workshops to improve my business tactics, and my writing, speaking, selling skills.

• Moved my blog to www.resumewonders.com/blog which is a Word Press blog and have worked hard although not always successfully, to post new articles on it a couple of times a week.

• I’ve also made some great contacts, partnerships, and new friends during the year on Twitter and LinkedIn – both are invaluable to me and should be to you too.

Looking back over the year I realize I’ve accomplished a great deal in my professional life and my business. It gets me excited to think of the possibilities for 2010. Some of the achievements were planned goals but many were opportunities I was ready to take advantage of.

Many might be wondering, how you could write a list of accomplishments when you’ve lost your job. Well, have you volunteered elsewhere, donated time, gotten closer with kids, spouse or relatives? Have you taken up a hobby or a new health program? Have you networked and grown your contact list? Have you mastered Monster, Twitter, and LinkedIn?

Are you getting up every day and making an effort to find a paying job that will enhance your career, life and self-worth? Have you gone back to school? Did you fix the fence or read a few helpful networking books? Have you updated your resume, researched companies and sent out contact letters? All of these are achievements to be proud of yourself and written on your list of 2009 achievements.

Writing down your achievements will help to direct your new goals for 2010. What still needs to be done? What can you improve upon? What do you want to happen in your professional or personal life. Tomorrow’s goals start with today’s thoughts. So get thinking!

Although the economy remains weak as we round out the year, I believe it will start to start making a comeback during the end of the first quarter of 2010. You don’t want to miss the big wave when it arrives so make sure you are prepared and ready with your resume arsenal, a targeted job search strategy, and the determination and motivation to make it happen. Whether planned or unexpected if you prepare now,  you will be ready to take advantage of the wave of opportunity when it hits.

Shine On Job seekers!

I just finished reading Knockout Entrepreneur by George Foreman and have to say I really enjoyed it his book. Honestly I was not sure if a book about a retired boxer turned spokesman for a kitchen appliance, would be interesting or worth the read? I am happy to report I found the book to be very charming. It was entertaining and had an honest message to offer entrepreneurs.

Mr. Foreman offers advice and real life stories as examples of ways to become a successful entrepreneur through integrity and a servant leadership attitude. I especially enjoyed reading stories of the boxing world and hearing the lessons learned, as Mr. Foreman became a legend in the boxing world and as a spokesman and entrepreneur. The lessons he shared can easily be applied to anyone’s personal or professional life.

I would recommend Knockout Entrepreneur to any entrepreneur or business professional looking for success in their personal and professional lives and wanting to live according to God. George shares many examples of his personal growth and how he learned to handle any situation with integrity and as a Christian. He says that with honesty, enthusiasm, confidence and courage anyone can reach true success.

Thursday’s Review

What seems like a cute little book quickly impressed me as a little book with a big punch. In the book The Power of Small, the authors Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval provide interesting and relevant small stories from their extensive careers in advertising. These stories impress the importance of paying attention to the small things in life.

This book looks at and reminds us of the importance and impact of the little details, extras, and accessories that make people and events memorable. Instead of not worrying about the small or little stuff, we should be focusing on them. Life is all about the small stuff and the details that make are days special, unique, challenging and rewarding.

Using little details to make your business stand out is what makes good companies great. Things like manners, being nice, exceptional customer service, working hard, or providing a little something extra gets businesses noticed. Those that get ahead and stand out as successes in their personal or professional lives, do so because of the little things they do. The book also looked at how getting big things accomplished begins with small tasks, small plans – one step at a time.

I would recommend this book to anyone building their business or trying to improve their personal life. A refreshing thought that rings true in life as well as in business; the little stops along the road that make the journey so interesting and worth taking.

For anyone who has enjoys listening to the heart felt harmonies, guitar or piano inspirations of Diamond Rio, you’ll truly enjoy their new book, Beautiful Mess – The Story of Diamond Rio. I have to reveal here, that I am a huge fan of their music – they turned me on to country music in the early 90’s with Meet in the Middle. I remember after I finally heard the name of the band I ran out and got their first CD and most of their following CD’s as well.

So much of this book sent me back in time as it talked about their songs and it let me get a peek at the lives and loved ones that made their band so strong. I loved the individual biography sections for each member. It really gives readers a true understanding of who the men of Diamond Rio are and what made them such determined and talented individuals.

The wrap up brought the group back together as a whole and let us in on the tragedies and challenges they faced and how they got through and overcame them by staying together. The book shares the about the charities that are most precious to Diamond Rio and what they have done to make a difference for these organizations. Now with the group back together and stronger than ever, they are ready to move forward – and I can’t wait!

I applaud the band for staying true to their gifts and not falling prey to many of the vices that come with fame and fortune. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves country music, Diamond Rio, or biographies. I look forward to their future work, especially their potential in the Christian genre – something I’ve been waiting for and expecting.

“Between Wyomings” is one man’s journey of coming to terms with his past through memories, travel and communion with God. The book looks deep into the struggles of learning to forgive oneself for the sins of the past while staying faithful to God.

Ken Mansfield takes his readers on 2 journeys simultaneously. The first journey is stories of his exciting past as a Grammy-winning record producer and his life of fame, fortune, stars and drugs. The insight from Ken gives us the B side of the music industry and shares details of momentous events as only few people can.

Ken’s second journey is inward and challenges the author to deal with his past and accept God’s grace and love.

He has done a great job articulating deep and stirring thoughts that often come when conversing with God. It reminded me that God is always there waiting for me with open arms and a plan. The book was very rich in content and description, making it a book not easily skimmed.

I recommend “Between the Wyomings – My God and an iPod on the Open Road” to anyone who has made their own journey to better understand his inner struggles and finding peace through his walk with God.

Thursday’s Review

Finished a great book a few days ago and wanted to share it with you. It is an inspiring book written by an ex-corporate junkie that found and fell in love with being an entrepreneur. In her new book Escape from Cubicle Nation, Pam Slim has given readers an easy read that is packed with real, practical content.

Pam Slim provides an awareness for the reader of what to expect emotionally and steps to take as they plan their departure from corporate stress and trappings toward independence and the freedom to begin their own business. This book really highlights the stress and feelings felt at each step and how to practically deal with them as they arise with dozens of examples, including many personal ones to cement the understanding. There are also many resources to help get you through each stage.

For the entrepreneur, Escape from Cubicle Nation also focuses on the vital importance of life balance and keeping happiness and personal life at the forefront of each decision. If you don’t have a balance you won’t be truly happy with your decisions – know matter what they are. But, she doesn’t hold back on the effort that will be involved with the decision, it isn’t one that should be made hastily.

The book provides great ideas to help you determine your own unique direction and passion and then walks through the business side of building a business plan, website, marketing strategies and more. Having gone through many of the stages and steps in the book as a business owner myself, I love that she prepares the reader for things they wouldn’t even know about until they were hit broadside with it during their own transformation.

If you are in the process or even just dreaming of taking the leap to owning your own business, I strongly recommend reading Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pam Slim. This book gives a real look at the process, pitfalls and paradise found in owning your own business.