Women and Trades in the Green Economy

Collage: Women and Trades in the Green Economy: Striving to Be Green All Year Round!
Credits: MS Office ClipArt - j0434449 + j0437324

2009 @ bizjunction.blogspot.com

I am sure there has been much discussion on the topic "How Women can fill the gap in the field of trades". Most definitely, industry forecasters acknowledge the current and ever growing the trade shortage. And, yes, it has been mentioned many times that more than half of Ontario’s skilled trades people will retire in the next 5 years and 4 out of every 10 businesses that depend on skilled trades are expected to face a labour shortage.

So, I ask the question: "Are you a woman looking at future jobs in trades?" Then, I would recommend you to research such occupations that embrace "the green economy". There is now a strong movement toward creating environmentally sustainable energy sources. With our current global financial crisis, it is even more crucial to be green! The colour "green" will pave the way for plentiful future jobs in trades.

For example, in the field of trades, the green movement will open up a lot of jobs for electricians, iron and steel workers, construction workers, and sheet metal workers. Construction workers in our greening economy will be able to get jobs retrofitting homes to make them more efficient. The biggest support for renovation and revitalization of construction jobs is the federal government offering a rebate for renovation, particularly with the emphasis on eco-retrofitters i.e. bumping up insulation, new tankless water heaters, etc… These two initiatives will offer more federal and provincial incentives for people to "go green".

Yes, indeed, money spent on retrofitting homes, and buildings will be a major economic driver for job development in the green economy. Some of the future plans for this green movement will include renewable energy tariffs, renewable energy goals for utilities /targets and the restrictions, and eventually the dissemination of new carbon emitting projects. All of these key objectives will push the government to develop more wind, solar and geothermal technology.

"Solar", "wind" and "sustainable energy solutions" are the hot words for the 21st century. As such, jobs in trades and professions will increase for water treatment; installation of solar energy systems i.e. installation of solar water heaters, reforestation, and cleaning up contaminated sites. Yes, indeed, the future of women in trades and in the green economy looks favorable.

For more research re: jobs in trades go to:

• Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program
• Possibilities: Skilled Trades Overview
• Apprenticesearch.com: Recruitment, Resources, Results
• CareerMATTERS: All Apprenticeships
• Ontario Job Futures: the current trends and future outlook for 163 occupations common to Ontario
• Second Career: A New Career, for Life
• ontariojobfutures.ca: Ontario Job Futures
• Jobboom Canada: Online job search

Copyright © D. A. Wright, June 2009. All rights reserved

Di Wright, B.A., Dipl. in Ad. Ed, Certified ESL Business Teacher, and Career Coach, Member of Career Professionals of Canada
Voice Mail: 416-208-3982
Website: diwright.info
LinkedIn: diwright
Blog: Communications and Career Coaching
Author: "Serendipity: A Journalling Workbook"

link:
Pursuit Of Employment: Is there an Art to Mastering Change?
by Di Wright

Toronto Small Business Forum 2008: Building A Green Foundation For the Future

Enterprise Toronto: Small Business Forum 2008
Credit: enterprisetoronto.com

The emergence of "green marketing", and "green businesses and enterprise” was a prevalent theme for this year’s Forum. It seems that "green" is now the primary foundation colour for building any current and future successful business venture.

On October 20th, 2008, I attended the Toronto Small Business Forum 2008 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel.

As usual, it featured a diverse perspective in its presentations, seminars, round table discussions, and break out seminars by various successful entrepreneurs and industry experts.

Renowned key note speakers and their presentations, such as Laurie Simmonds' "Green Enterprise"- President of Green Living Enterprises, and "Lessons Learned from Building a Green Business" by Tom Heintzman - President of Bullfrog Power, stressed the global concern for environmental issues and eco-friendly products.

Also, impressive was the tremendous wealth of resources available for those just starting their business and for the seasoned entrepreneur as well. These were well-displayed in the small business trade show hosting 50 exhibitors, including government agencies, educational institutions, business associations, and companies providing a wide range of products targeted to entrepreneurs.

Particularly helpful was the networking session facilitated by the energetic Wendy Woods of Watershed Training Solutions. It offered a great opportunity to meet and greet so many wonderful people who can become vital connectors in growing anyone's small business.

The emergence of "green marketing", and "green businesses and enterprise" was a prevalent theme for this year's Forum. It seems that "green" is now the primary foundation colour for building any current and future successful business venture.

After enjoying this year's, I now look forward to the one in 2009 to see the new hot trends that will continue to emerge for us in the 21st century.

Copyright © D. A. Wright, October 2008. All rights reserved
Business Communication Specialist and Career/Life Coach
B.A. , Dipl. in Ad. Ed, Certified ESL Teacher
Author: "Serendipity: A Journalling Workbook"
Website: http://diwright.info/index.htm
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/diwright
Blog: http://diwrightsig.blogspot.com/
Voice Mail: 416-208-3982

Toronto Small Business Forum 2008
Going Green for the Entrepreneur of the Future
October 20th, 2008
Delta Chelsea Hotel
33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto
8 am to 5 pm

Free Admission!

The Toronto Small Business Forum 2008 will bring together entrepreneurs and experts on small business strategies to help you take your business to the next level of success. Haven't started a business yet? No problem. You'll find all the information you need to get on the road to self-employment and personal success.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Entrepreneurs who want to learn how to start a business and those wanting to expand their business should attend Toronto Small Business Forum 2008. Discover the latest trends and tools for operating a successful business from start-up to early growth. Explore potential financing sources, make valuable business contacts and access new markets all in one location!

Career Face of Social Networking: A Reality Check

Screenshot: Career Door Technology & Technology Sales Career Fair
Toronto, September 24, 2008 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Credit: Career Door Inc.

The Career Face of Social Networking - How Online Communities Can Affect Your Career
Social networking has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information with one another in today's society. Various social networking websites are being used by millions of people everyday on a regular basis and it now seems that social networking is a part of everyday personal and business lives.
Max Haroon will discuss:
Can Social Networking (such as facebook, linkedin, youtube, meetup) helps you build your career?
Social Networking Sites in the context of Web 2.0
Types of Social Networking Sites
Your reputation precede your business
Be careful of digital dirt
How Employers are using Social Networking Sites & Services
Presented by Max Haroon, Founder & President of the Society of Internet Professionals

Attending the presentation "The Career Face of Social Networking" presented by Max Haroon - Founder and President of Society of Internet Professionals, at the Technology Career Fair, September 24th, gave me a reality check re: blogs, social networking sites, and social bookmarking sites (e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook, Meetup, Twitter, Plaxo, Digg, del.icio.us, etc.) and their ability to significantly impact our career development and our professional lives.

If you fail to connect and interact with these sites, you are missing the opportunity to leverage their tremendous power to promote yourself, your key skills/ competencies, and talents to the targeted companies in your job search/career plan. By making full use of these sites, you are truly optimizing your competitive advantage, because they are the primary results-oriented, self-marketing tools of the 21st century for all "careerpreneurs", particularly for those who wish to be proactive about implementing a well-designed strategic career plan.

Copyright © D. A. Wright, September 2008. All rights reserved
Business Communication Specialist and Career/Life Coach
B.A. , Dipl. in Ad. Ed, Certified ESL Teacher
Author: "Serendipity: A Journalling Workbook"
Website: http://diwright.info/index.htm
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/diwright
Blog: http://diwrightsig.blogspot.com/
Voice Mail: 416-208-3982

Is there an Art to Mastering Change?

Mastering the Art of Change
Photo: 2008 @ bizjunction.blogspot.com

Get practical tips and recommendations for managing change from D. A. Wright, Business Communications Specialist and Coach

Mastering the art of change is essentially the embodiment of transformation of the spirit within.

Masters of change transform adverse situations and challenges into learning opportunities for growth and development, not only for themselves, but also for others. They essentially shape transformation through challenge!

Managing change is then the ability to look at life from a different kind of perspective. Life, according to masters of change, is a mosaic yet to be filled in with new experiences that they are about to embark upon.

But how do we open our minds to see the mosaic yet to be created and to transform the spirit within?

• Leave the past in the past.
• Forgive those who do not acknowledge the significance of the past and its accomplishments in your life and in the life of the company you work for. Don’t hold grudges.
• Maintain an ongoing dialogue with all those involved in the change. This strategy will go a long way to creating synergy that will drive the change process for you and for others.
• Keep a learning journal to record and track your progress.
• Look at the experiences through the enthusiastic and passionate eyes of a child - now as a new wonder to behold - a puzzle to solve – even as a new challenge to energize you.
• Have faith in yourself and others based on mutual respect for one another.
• Use mind mapping techniques to draw out the concepts and feelings evoked by the process of change. For more information on mind mapping, you can read The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain's Untapped Potential by Tony Buzan and Barry Buzan ( 1996), Mind Mapping: Your Personal Guide to Exploring Creativity by Joyce Wycoff ( 1991 ), and Mind Maps in a Week by Steve Morris and Jane Smith. In fact, Tony Buzan has actually come out with his own software in 2007- go to: http://www.imindmap.com/ .
• Seek a re-birth – a re-entry - into this new world you envision by writing out your vision statement for the company or your department. From there, develop your mission statement and evolving from this will be your SMART goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-sensitive. You can shape this process by doing a flow chart or a pyramid chart to facilitate the development of a decisive action plan or even use something as simple as a collage of pictures depicting the various stages of development to achieve your vision. You can also make a collage of pictures from your own life and insert them into this one to personalize it even more for yourself.
• Videotape yourself as you describe and act out the change process you are going through. Watch your posture and body language and observe them for changes and reflection, and take notes as you watch. This exercise will help create a self-awareness that will promote the learning process.

These techniques will help foster your intuition as a valid source of information and analysis, because they will enhance your ability to not only see the early signs for future developments but also to take appropriate action and get results.

Such techniques will also allow you the ability to see patterns in your own behavior and relationships within organizations that will ultimately facilitate the change process.

Copyright © D. A. Wright, May 2007. All rights reserved

Di Wright, BA, Dipl. Ad. Ed, ESL Instructor’s Specialties:
Teaching, training, and coaching in business communications and business etiquette for internationally educated professionals, customized curriculum design, development and implementation of experiential communications e-learning program.

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