Most people in the financial world have heard of Dave Ramsey. With his bestselling book, The Total Money Makeover and his famous financial education course Financial Peace University, Dave has helped millions of people get out of debt and learn how to manage their money. What some may not know is that he has also become a key influencer in the business, leadership, and entrepreneurial world.

I had the pleasure of recently attending one of Mr. Ramsey’s live events in Nashville, TN (the EntreLeadership One Day event) and boy was it a treat. Although I was able to attend the conference for free (I won free tickets!), I would have definitely paid to attend as the speakers were all phenomenal. Anyone who works in a leadership role or who is a current or aspiring business owner would unquestionably gain tremendous value from attending one of these events.

So, what was so great about the conference? First of all, the speakers were incredibly entertaining and all had very timely and relevant messages. The panel for this event included Christy Wright, Chris Hogan, Patrick Lencioni and of course the man himself, Dave Ramsey. The topics that were discussed included the essentials of business communication, qualities of a great leader, and what personal characteristics to look for when building a team. The best part about these topics is that they aren’t revolutionary. The speakers discussed simple concepts that every business in every industry should be doing, but are often overlooked. Here are five important business tips I learned from the EntreLeadership conference.

#1 Hold Employees Accountable
As Dave said it best himself, “you cannot assume that simply hiring a person for the job guarantees that they are going to work.” If you find yourself in a situation where an employee continues to break the rules, you owe it to them to point it out each time. Either the individual will eventually stop the behavior or they will discover that the job isn’t for them. Either of these are much better than just allowing the individual to continue under performing, as this will ultimately lead to poor morale within the rest of the organization.

#2 Stop Hiring Based on Skills
Skills can be taught but personality cannot in most cases. It is much better to hire a person that has a great attitude and fits well into your organizational culture than it is to hire a person that has awesome skills but a bad attitude. The people that make great team members are people that are “humble, hungry, and smart.” All three traits are essential for your employees to possess in order to help your business grow.

#3 Get to Know Employees Personally
No one wants to come to work every day and feel like they are just a number. When leaders and managers take the time to get to know their employees personally, it helps them feel more appreciated and valued. People that feel appreciated will happily work hard for their organization and go above and beyond. Those that don’t feel valued however will do just the bare minimum to get a paycheck.

#4 Understand Two Way Communication
Most people think that when you communicate with others, the most important thing is the message itself. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The communicator must make sure that that the message is clear, but also that it is presented in a manner that the person can understand and accept the message. The communicator must also be aware of their history and relationship with the person they are communicating with, as well as the nature of the message. This will help determine the best methods for getting the message across. If the message is complex for example, email may not be the best vehicle. Timing is also an important factor. For example, if someone just had a death in the family it may not be the right time to discuss their performance flaws.

#5 Be a Passionate Leader
Being a passionate leader will lead to having passionate followers. This involves sharing your vision in a way that people can see how they fit in, and how their individual contributions can help achieve the organizational goals. Everyone within the organization should feel as though they have a purpose and are a valued team member.

These are just a few topics that stood out to me after attending the conference. For those who can’t attend a live event you can grab the EntreLeadership book, which also contains valuable information on business and leadership essentials, or listen to the EntreLeadership podcast.

Are you a Dave Ramsey fan? Like, share, and comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Click the images below to start reading Dave Ramsey’s bestselling books, The Total Money Makeover and EntreLeadership.

Here is a list of the other Ramsey personalities who spoke at the EntreLeadership 1 Day Event. Click the images to learn more about them their books.

Christy Wright – bestselling author and certified business coach

Chris Hogan – bestselling author, financial coach

Patrick Lencioni – bestselling author, professional business and leadership consultant

About the Author
Hi. I’m Salimah Jones, Family Nurse Practitioner, author, and expert nursing career consultant. As the founder of The Nursing Guide I help aspiring and current nurses achieve success in their nursing careers. I have been in the healthcare field for over 10 years and have extensive experience in nursing education, leadership, and management. I had to overcome tremendous obstacles in my life to get to where I am now. I would love help you on your nursing journey. CLICK HERE to join The Nursing Guide Facebook Group and to connect we me and the other community members.

Salimah Jones APRN, FNP-C

I remember the day I told my husband I wanted to go back to school for nursing. He was not thrilled about the idea and convincing him otherwise was not an easy task. The truth is neither of us had any idea what we were getting ourselves into and how our lives would drastically change. He was concerned about the entire process while I was more interested in how it could improve our future.

I admit that I rarely say this, but my husband was correct. The process of going through nursing school was one of the most difficult seasons we ever faced in our relationship. Much so to the point where I thought we surely wouldn’t make it. There was so much anger, sadness, fear, guilt, regret, and uncertainty during that time. Neither of us felt that our needs were being met and it was scary to see the resentment we had developed towards one another.

Fortunately, we were blessed to weather the storm and today our marriage is much stronger. I discovered about halfway through the program that a lot of things needed to change, and once I implemented some key strategies, our marriage drastically improved. I successfully earned my nursing degree and my husband was my biggest cheerleader. Looking back I know that there is no way I could have made it without him. Unfortunately several of my classmates were not so lucky. Many of them went through relationship struggles and several who started the program married were divorced before they even graduated.

If you are wondering if it was all worth it, I’d absolutely say yes it was! My husband was right to be skeptical about the process, but I was also correct in that my nursing career has significantly improved our lives. From job security, to financial security, to the ability to help family and friends in need, I could not imagine doing anything else. The benefits of my nursing career have far outweighed the struggles it took to get to where I am today.

Things would have been much easier for us back then if we were more prepared. We had no clue what to expect, and no game plan to keep our lives in order. Here is a list of 3 nursing school mistakes that almost ruined my marriage, and the strategies I used to turn things around.

#1 Having Unrealistic Expectations
I wanted to work, and go to school, and have a perfect house, and have perfect kids, and be a great mom, and have a happy husband, and have a fun life, and have time to myself, and have time with my family, and look awesome, and feel awesome, and the list goes on and on. The problem was that there was not enough time in the day to do all these things and do them well. It was impossible to achieve the level of perfection I was expecting. Once I accepted the fact that life was going to be hectic until I graduated, things became much less frustrating. Suddenly I had more compassion about all the ways my husband was supporting me rather than worrying about things having to always be perfect.

#2 Being Too Naive About Sacrifices
When my husband expressed his initial concerns about nursing school and how it would affect our family, I should have taken them seriously. Blowing everything off like it was no big deal only made things worse, especially when his concerns turned out to be true. I finally began to acknowledge the challenges that we would inevitably face as a result of me having to devote so much of my time to studying and taking courses. Once we both sat down and had the discussion about what it would take for me to continue in the program, our burdens were suddenly lifted. We both knew what to expect from one another and this made a world of a difference.

#3 Not Having a Family Schedule
When you have so many things going on your life, having a family schedule is essential. It may seem silly to think about scheduling time for your family and/or your significant other, but the truth is if you don’t schedule it, it likely won’t happen. This is the mistake I made initially and it led to many of our relationship struggles early on. Once I began setting aside a simple 1-2 hours of scheduled time during the week to devote to my family, things drastically improved for us. This took away the pressure and guilt I was feeling and my family began to realize that they were still priorities in my life.

Parents and spouses who are considering enrolling in nursing school or any other difficult academic program, should take the time to avoid these common mistakes. You must realize that pursing your career goals takes a lot of sacrifice, and that a family effort is key. Being well prepared will help you maintain the stamina necessary to persevere through all the hard times. In the end, reaching your goal is so much more rewarding when you can share the success with those you love the most.

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Are you a parent or spouse with a desire to further your education or advance your career? In this best-selling book NURSING 411: THE ULTIMATE CAREER GUIDE FOR BUSY ADULTS, you will discover the keys to achieving success while maintaining work-life balance. This book isn’t for those who are happy with the status quo. But if you are ready to create the amazing life you have always dreamed of, click the “shop now” button below!

About the Author
Hi. I’m Salimah Jones, Family Nurse Practitioner, author, and expert nursing career consultant. As the founder of The Nursing Guide I help aspiring and current nurses achieve success in their nursing careers. I have been in the healthcare field for over 10 years and have extensive experience in nursing education, leadership, and management. I had to overcome tremendous obstacles in my life to get to where I am now. I would love help you on your nursing journey. CLICK HERE to join The Nursing Guide Facebook Group and to connect we me and the other community members.

Salimah Jones APRN, FNP-C

A Tribute to Isyss

The beautiful girl featured in the photo is my 11-year-old daughter Isyss. She was diagnosed with ASD around the age of three. Like most parents, receiving this diagnosis was one of the most devastating experiences of my life. I became so overwhelmed with the feelings of hopelessness, worries about her future, her quality of life, and the ultimate fear of what will happen to her when I’m gone.

Our Story….

Our story is pretty typical. Isyss’s development appeared to be “normal” up until around 12-18 months of age. This is when she began to show signs of regression, such as limited speech, poor eye contact, a strong fixation with certain objects, and withdrawal from social interactions. She would become extremely irritable when her routines were interrupted or when she was around large crowds of people. She often dealt with her frustrations with self-destructive behaviors such as banging her head against walls and biting the skin off of her fingers.

As time progressed, Isyss continued to display abnormal behaviors. During Christmas and birthday parties, she would open presents and be more interested in ripping the paper and shaking the boxes than playing with the toys that were inside. She was able to repeat words and phrases, but unable to have meaningful conversations. It was truly as if she was “in her own world.”

I asked God to Cure Her….
I’ll never forget the day I had a mental break down. I fell to my knees and cried out to God, begging him to please cure my daughter’s autism. It was the saddest, most desperate, and helpless prayer ever. I stayed there for what felt like hours, on my knees asking God for a miracle. I just wanted my daughter to be “normal.”

God didn’t answer my prayer. Isyss still has autism, but remarkably she is extremely high functioning. She now enjoys social interactions, has intelligent and meaningful conversations, has no behavioral issues, and no longer does anything to harm herself. She has received years of intensive therapy, including speech, OT, and special education integrated into her regular classroom. She continues to have some learning difficulties, but she is thriving in school. During her last medical evaluation, her “autism was undetectable.”

We Are Blessed

This is a prime example of the work of our almighty God. His ways are always higher and his purpose is always greater. Over the years he has provided me with so many amazing resources that have helped my daughter reach her full potential. He has also showed me how to appreciate all the different things about my daughter’s autism that have turned out to be incredible blessings. Here are 3 reasons why I would never change my daughter’s autism.

#1 She Doesn’t Understand Racial Discrimination
My husband is biracial, so Isyss has grown up with family members who are Caucasian and African American. We have attempted to explain this concept to her but all she can see is “light skin” or “dark skin”. If you show her pictures of people who are white, black, Hispanic, etc., she can’t identify these races, because no one is truly the color white or the color black. A major characteristic of autism is difficulty comprehending concepts that are abstract. Her inability to distinguish these differences is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed. In her mind we are all just people with different shades of skin color. Imagine if everyone could view the world the way Isyss does? There would be no racism at all!

#2 She Loves All People the Same Way
It doesn’t matter if you are her mother, cousin, friend, or a complete stranger, Isyss loves everyone and doesn’t want to see anyone hurting. Whenever she witnesses anyone arguing, fighting, or someone getting into any type of trouble, these things truly cause her to become sad and emotional. Her difficulty with abstract concepts limits her ability to fully understand the differences in relationships amongst people. She has cried to me on many occasions after witnessing random children arguing or because a student she doesn’t even know was scolded by a teacher. I envy her ability to love and care for everyone exactly the same. This is the ultimate representation of how God wants us to love one another.

#3 She Tells the Truth and Holds You Accountable
Forget about not fulfilling your promise or keeping your word when Isyss is around. If you said that you would do something, as far as Isyss is concerned you are supposed to do it. Her brain cannot process when people say one thing then do another. She will also tell the truth no matter how painful the consequences are. I never have to worry about her lying about doing her chores or finishing her homework. If she didn’t feel like doing it, she will just come right out and admit to it.

I recognize that we are blessed and I thank God for what he has done for Isyss. I also thank him for the work he continues to do through Isyss. Having her in our lives is a constant reminder of his love, and I couldn’t imagine our lives without her being exactly who she is. I believe all people with special needs have a unique purpose, and I am hoping that this story will provide someone who may be struggling with some hope.

Here are some examples of a few resources that really helped my daughter with her special needs.

IPAD and Kindle Fire

My daughter learned how to read by using the IPAD. We downloaded interactive stories such as the Bernstein Bears and the Bible App for Kids, that would read to her and allow her to touch and interact with the characters. She began reading fluently at grade level when she was around 5 years old. Now at age 11, she still doesn’t go anywhere without her Kindle. She uses it to play games, read stories, and watch YouTube videos that keep her entertained and happy. It truly brings her so much joy!

Razor Tricycle

Isyss was not strong enough and did not have the balance to ride a regular bicycle. We bought her one of these razor tricycles and she absolutely loved it! It allowed her to still play outdoors with the other kids who were riding regular bikes. The children in our neighborhood who were her age also liked to ride it so it helped her fit right in!

Rocking Chair

Children with autism often have a need to self-sooth when they feel stimulated. This rocking chair helped my daughter to remain calm. I believe it is a great way to reduce some of the self-destructive behaviors she used to have such as the head-banging and finger-biting.

If you have or know someone who has a child with special needs, please like and share this post. I would love to also hear your stories about other helpful resources. Please comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe!

About the Author
Hi. I’m Salimah Jones, Family Nurse Practitioner, author, and expert nursing career consultant. As the founder of The Nursing Guide I help aspiring and current nurses achieve success in their nursing careers. I have been in the healthcare field for over 10 years and have extensive experience in nursing education, leadership, and management. I had to overcome tremendous obstacles in my life to get to where I am now. I would love help you on your nursing journey. CLICK HERE to join The Nursing Guide Facebook Group and to connect we me and the other community members.

Salimah Jones APRN, FNP-C

You’ve spent countless hours searching for the perfect opportunity, submitted hundreds of applications, and waited weeks or maybe even months for that phone call letting you know that an organization is finally interested in you. After all of your efforts you want to perform well on your job interview. Most people know that you should prepare for job interviews beforehand, but many lack the knowledge of what this preparation should really consist of. After ten years of working in the healthcare industry with many years in management, I have conducted or been involved in numerous job interviews throughout my career. These experiences have allowed me to acquire first-hand knowledge of what companies look for when interviewing their candidates. In this post I will share five job interview mistakes that could ruin your chances of landing any job.

#1 Showing up without a printed copy of your resume

We all know that it is a digital world, but some things are just more practical the old-fashioned way. Having a printed copy of your resume shows your interviewer that you are well-prepared and respectful of their time. You should never assume that the interviewer already has a copy of the resume you submitted earlier. These are busy professionals who have a lot of responsibilities. Some interviewers may even use this as a test to measure how responsible you are.

#2 Revealing the wrong weaknesses

Everyone has heard the question “what are your strengths and weaknesses?” This is a tricky question that should be carefully thought through so that a well-crafted answer can be given. You never want to present a weakness that the interviewer may see as a detriment to the job or the company. One of the worst responses to this question I’ve heard is “I work at a slow pace because I want things to be done right.” Sure, the fact that the candidate is concerned with accuracy is a positive thing, but employers want their workers to be quick and accurate. This is the ultimate recipe for productivity. An example of a better weakness is “I have very high expectations of myself as an employee, but because of this, I can sometimes be critical of others. I am actively taking steps to improve in this area by trying to understand that everyone has different ways that they approach their work.”

#3 Discussing negative past employment experiences

Another common interview question is “why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your last job?” One of the worst responses I’ve heard to this question is “I left because I refused an unfair work assignment.” Although this individual may have been in the right, refusing a work assignment raises red flags and makes the candidate appear as if he or she is not a team player. You are better off saying something like, “I am looking for an opportunity where I can better utilize my skills” or “this job is a closer match for my career goals.”

#4 Displaying a lack of confidence in responses

No matter how many interviews you have been on you should practice discussing your background several times before your actual appointment. It helps to have a few “go to” scenarios from past positions that showcase your ability to problem solve, think critically, multitask, and prioritize. Having these scenarios on hand will allow you to give examples that will fit into practically any common interview question. When a candidate cannot produce answers to the questions they are asked relatively quickly and deliver the response confidently, this can make the interviewer draw the conclusion that he or she lacks the skills necessary for the job.

#5 Oversharing future ambitions

It’s great to have future career goals, but if those goals don’t include a career with the company you are interviewing with, you may want to avoid sharing them during your interview. Not only is it very expensive to hire new employees, but the training process is also quite time consuming. No manager wants to spend this degree of time and money on a person who is just using the job as a stepping stone. A common question that an interviewer may ask to obtain this information from the candidate is “tell me where you see yourself in five years or ten years?” If you get this question a good response is “I see myself in a leadership role in this industry and I’d be open to any new opportunities presented.

Don’t ruin your next job interview by being unprepared. Avoid these five common mistakes, maintain a positive attitude, and practice, practice, practice! You will increase your self-confidence and will be more likely to get the job!

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Are you in the health field and need help with your resume or upcoming job interview? Click Here to inquire about resume writing and interview preparation services.    

      

 

About the Author

Hi I’m Salimah Jones, Family Nurse Practitioner, bestselling author, and expert nursing career consultant. I am the Founder of The Nursing Guide, an online support community dedicated to helping aspiring and current nurses achieve their professional goals. I provide practical solutions to solve problems with finances, learning difficulties, motivation, work-life-balance, and lack of a strong social support system. My mission is to provide you with the tools to conquer any challenge so that you can become your own success story. Please subscribe to this blog and don’t forget to sign up for your free membership on The Nursing Guide Website.

Connect with me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenursingguide/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salimah-jones-75762763/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenursingguide/

Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/salimahjones

Salimah Jones APRN, FNP-C

Registered Nurse, Katherine Trevino is no stranger to challenges. She was forced to mature quickly after becoming a parent at the young age of 16. Desperate to not fall in line with the stigma associated with teen pregnancies, Katherine graduated high school, earned her associate’s degree in nursing, and purchased a home so that she could support her family. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree and has been enjoying a successful nursing career for the past 25 years.

A SERIES OF TRAGEDIES

Working as a critical care travel nurse the latter part of her career, Katherine moved back home to help her parents after her stepfather was diagnosed with ALS. She then suffered a number of traumatic events, including the passing of several close family members, then the destruction of the home she grew up in as a result of a devastating house fire.

The process of caring for her disabled father and attempting to rebuild their home, led to a paradigm shift in Katherine’s life as well as her career. She witnessed the difficulties associated with locating reliable contractors, as a limited number displayed that they truly comprehended their needs. This ignited a passion in Katherine to start a senior house calls referral business. She has now taken her years of providing care to patients in hospitals, and combined it with her personal experience to help the elderly and disabled in their homes.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Katherine currently works part time as a nurse on the recovery unit. She continues to live with her mother, providing her with the support she needs. Now the owner of House Calls Home Referrals Inc., Katherine is also living out her passion for helping others. Given her first-hand knowledge she understands that “for many senior homeowners and their caregivers, finding a trustworthy contractor can be a challenge.” House Calls Home Referrals Inc. provides a simple solution to connect homeowners with licensed, pre-screened, and trusted home service professionals free of charge.

Katherine serves as an example of how life’s challenges can lead you on incredible new journeys. She credits her parents as being her biggest inspiration, especially her father who showed her the value of hard work throughout her life. Her advice to aspiring nurse entrepreneurs is to have a vision, a plan, and the courage to go for it. She uses a white board to stay on track for achieving her personal and business goals.

 

CONNECT WITH KATHERINE

If you would like to connect with Katherine you may visit her website at http://contractorsatyourdoor.com. Here you can learn about her free services for homeowners and subscribe to her informative newsletter. Katherine can also be reached by visiting her social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or by contacting her at her office in Algonquin, Illinois.

House Calls Home Referrals

801W. Algonquin Rd. #7862

Algonquin, IL 60102

Call: 847-975-2709

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/contractorsatyourdoor/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinetrevinorn/

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Enjoyed this post? You might also like “SO YOU WANT TO BE A NURSE PRACTITIONER? NOT SO FAST….IT’S HARDER THAN YOU THINK

About the Author

Hi I’m Salimah Jones, Family Nurse Practitioner, bestselling author, and expert nursing career consultant. I am the Founder of The Nursing Guide, an online support community dedicated to helping aspiring and current nurses achieve their professional goals. I provide practical solutions to solve problems with finances, learning difficulties, motivation, work-life-balance, and lack of a strong social support system. My mission is to provide you with the tools to conquer any challenge so that you can become your own success story. Please subscribe to this blog and don’t forget to sign up for your free membership on The Nursing Guide Website.

Connect with me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenursingguide/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salimah-jones-75762763/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenursingguide/

Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/salimahjones