Midlife at the Mailbox

Episode 10: What comes first the content or the website?

Our Special Guest this week is our very own co-host and marketing guru, Amy Alexander from A2 Sales and Marketing!
A2 is a boutique sales & marketing consulting company that helps small business owners navigate the noise of marketing their business to help them tell better stories, through content marketing, social media strategy, website design & email marketing.
In today's 10th episode, we discuss WEBSITES with a side of content!
Amy & Denyse discuss, what comes first the content or the website in this nugget of wisdom-filled episode.
 
Visit our website to check out our FREE download.  All you need to do is sign up and away you'll walk with a great document of website wisdom to see if you need to Level Up Your Website!
Do you want more time with Amy? Schedule a complimentary 30-minute connection here.
Rate and Review our show + Follow us on Instagram @midlifeatthemailbox and share this episode with a friend! 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Episode 9: Resumes in Midlife

It’s back-to-school time across the country.  For a lot of people that also means thinking about career transitions.  There’s a multitude of reasons why that is:
Summer vacation is coming to end (people start to think about ending the year with a new job/career)
Parents with young children can focus again on working full-time or part-time now that kids are back in school 
COVID-19 pandemic seems to be normalizing in schools or some people want to fulfill their new year’s resolutions about career/jobs.  
For employers, it also tends to be a busy hiring season as their own teams are back from vacationing (especially in multinational/global teams) and focused on finishing the year strongly.
 It never hurts to look at your resume.  In fact, many career coaches recommend updating your resume on a monthly basis to keep it fresh and avoid the stomach-turning feeling of updating your resume before your next job hunt.  However, we realize that most people are not that methodical about it).
 
If it’s been a while since you updated your resume, here are the top trends in the resume world:
1. Branding Statements
Gone are the days of “Objective” statements at the top of your resume!  
Branding statements have been around for a while and continue to dominate most modern resume formats.
Your branding statement should reflect the role/job and superpower you have in the professional world. 
2. Employers are looking for candidates that share their “Whole Self” 
It’s now ok to list skills other than your professional industry on your resume. 
Ex. Tea Sommelier for a recent candidate as part of our branding statement
3. Your experience section should reflect an accomplishment-driven resume versus task driven resume.
Write your resume to appeal for online applications, also known as Application Tracking Systems (ATS).  
Utilize free online resources like JobScan
If you’re a listener in midlife, here are a few other things to consider for your next resume update:
Please limit your work experience on your resume to the last 10-15 years
It’s as far back as most employers would like to know, as it’s the most relevant to the job.
List any relevant experience more than 15 years old in a separate section called “Additional Experience” if you think it’s important for your current job search.  
Remove your home or mailing address - only your city is needed!  
There are a lot of reasons for this - privacy, data mining and so much more.
 
Resources
Since the Mailbox community is so special and personal to us, I’m also going to share a resume template in Microsoft Word that you can use if you’re needing a resume overhaul and don’t know where to start.  
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute Zoom session with a career transition coach, Denyse Rabbat
Complimentary Resume Guide & Template from Denyse Rabbat Career Coaching
JobScan

Episode 8: Power of Yes

YES & NO!
It’s probably one of the most common responses to questions in the English language. All day long, we find ourselves responding with one of these words.  There’s power in each one of them, too.  
If you answer “no” more than “yes to the former, then this is the episode you’ll want to listen closely to!  We’re going to talk about the power of saying “yes” to the fun and enjoyable things in life.  About saying “yes” to making more memories with your family, friends and loved ones that will make your life more fulfilled, more vital.  
 
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Connect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com
 
Resources:
Children’s Book - Yes Day
Netflix Movie Page
Forbes Article - 5 Reasons Why Saying Yes Can be the Best Move Of Your Career
Shonda Rhimes TED Talk

Episode 7: Coping with Tragedies in Midlife

Midlife can be fun and tiring…and also, sad and downright depressing at times.  The mass shooting in Highland Park has left us feeling shaken, sad, and searching for answers while watching in amazement how the towns surrounding Highland Park have come together to offer solace as their community grapples with how to move forward from the unthinkable.
In Episode 7, we took a break from the original schedule of topics to discuss the Highland Park tragedies, which hit too close to home for Amy and Denyse, while also welcoming Julie Iser-Schneider, Licenced Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Amy’s sister as our “feelings” expert to ask her questions we’ve been hearing from concerned parents and community members.
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Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/midlifeatthemailbox
@midlifeatthemailbox on Instagram
Connect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com
Resources:
I was at the Highland Park Parade, Trauma Resources for you and Me from our friends at Chicago North Shore Moms
Tips from NorthShore Health
Moms Demand Action - grassroots org built after the Sandy Hook tragedies to advocate for public safety with chapters in every state 
Gun violence must stop. Here is what we can do to prevent more deaths.
Gun Violence Prevention
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Episode 6: Date your Mate

What was your meet-cute moment? You know…the one where you have the amusing or charming first encounter with the beautiful person you are destined to begin a romantic relationship with and proceed to live happily ever after?
In Episode 6, we introduce you to our first guests. Two people that are so important to us, our HUSBANDS!!
By no means are we relationship experts, however, we have been with our mates for over two decades and we wanted to share our best practices for staying connected with your mate during your midlife.
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Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/midlifeatthemailbox
@midlifeatthemailbox on Instagram
Connect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com
 
 
 

Episode 5: Take the Trip

Did you know that time off is actually GOOD for your health? Not just your mental health but other physical health conditions as well? When you’re a small business owner, you wear many hats. Whether you are a solopreneur or a business with a team, preparing to leave town for your trip or vacation can seem overwhelming. 
It is truly essential to your mental and physical health to take the trip!  So how can you successfully plan to be Out of Office? What are some tips or tricks that we have learned, that you can try so you can enjoy your time away from your desk? In EPISODE 5, we will provide some insight as to how we as solopreneurs can take the trip (or even step away from the desk and spend time with our kids!)
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Episode 4: The Dangling Carrot

Connecting your life goals with your days seems logical, but easier said than done when there is no urgency (aka dangling carrot). In episode 4, we dive headfirst into this topic in detail as we share our daily non-negotiable goals, experiences in how our lives often feel like a never-ending Ferris wheel, and ways we try to be intentional in our daily routines to align with what’s important to you. 
Denyse's Strategies to Align Your Goals with Your Daily Life - Start a Morning Routine
Daily Meditation/prayer/deep breathing/yoga (first 10 minutes of the day)
Gratitude Journal (and end of the day)
10 minutes of reading on self-improvement
Exercise
Setting up your daily schedule on paper or on your phone the night before
Meditation/Calm App: https://www.calm.com/
Gratitude Journal: https://amzn.to/38AO4lJ
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Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/midlifeatthemailbox
Connect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com

Episode 3: Breaking Down Friendships

In episode 3, Amy and Denyse break down friendships – finding them, maintaining them, and when to let go of them. They talk about their past and current friendships in their 40s, along with the friendship between them and how it’s persisted despite 2,000 miles between them.  Tune in to hear how they’re dealing with friendships in their 40s and why they feel it’s so important. 
Steve Madden Shoe Referenced: Slinky30 Black 
Recommended book: Everyday Vitality by Samantha Boardman.  During podcast discussions, Amy and Denyse may share a book or product that they recommend to awesome people like you. The links shared are for products they use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, they will earn some podcast money, which will allow them to continue to create funny and insightful podcasts for you to enjoy.
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Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/midlifeatthemailbox
Connect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com

Episode 2: Telling Your Story

In episode 2 we cover, "Tell Me About Yourself" - More than Just A Simple Question - What It Says About You and 3 Ways to Answer It.
Talking about ourselves is easy for some people and not so easy for most of us.  A seemingly simple question like, "Tell Me About Yourself" or "What Do You Do" at a party can elicit uncomfortable feelings and anxiety in some people.  For others, they answer it but aren't really effective at it.  
Today we'll talk about a method to answering that question and what it reflects about you tell your story and brand identity (this is for stay at home parents too) and your purpose (It's also helpful for job interviews, introductions, the next PTA meeting, cocktail parties and so much more).  
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Episode 1: Pursuit of Happiness

Join first-time podcasters, Amy Alexander and Denyse Rabbat as they tackle everyday topics on life, careers, family, and more. The reality is that no topic is off the table. It's like listening to two best friends talk.
In our first episode, Pursuit of Happiness, we debate are we searching for happiness or are we searching for something more? Happiness isn’t static, there are always going to be ebbs and flows. Is it happiness or do I want to feel another way?
Recommended book: Everyday Vitality by Samantha Boardman.  During podcast discussions, Amy and Denyse may share a book or product that they recommend to awesome people like you. The links shared are for products they use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, they will earn some podcast money, which will allow them to continue to create funny and insightful podcasts for you to enjoy.
 
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Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/midlifeatthemailbox
Connect with us: midlifemailboxpodcast@gmail.com