I just ran across this video clip and article where Eli Davidson works to help a man who has been job-searching for 3 years to reinvent his search style. I thought it was great information, and it may help some of you. I hope you enjoy it! I’ll try to post the follow-up when I see it.
Here’s the link:
Have a great job-searching day! And if you don’t have a LinkedIn account, start yours today.
I watched the Emmy’s last night. I always seem to get sucked into them, and I’m wondering why. Is it the beautiful dresses, fabulous jewelry, and amazingly high heels? Is it the men–looking dashing in their tuxedos? Is it the fun of watching actors out of their element (funny how they have a hard time making a speech of their own writing)? Or is it the entertainment that is sometimes great–sometimes not? (Loved the Canadian Tenors and Jane Lynch. Didn’t love the mid-Emmy song with Michael Bolton or the singing intros.)
I don’t think it’s any of these things for me–although I do love looking at the fashion. The appeal is really watching people who are at the top of their games. The Emmy’s is really a celebration of great talent and hard work. Nobody gets there by accident. Even the “Modern Family” writers said they had worked for a long time to get the show on TV. The amazing thing is that all these people are passionate about their craft–and are willing to do what it takes to get there. I love that they celebrate the best and brightest in their fields.
So, what are you passionate about–enough to really dedicate yourself to it? What work do you want to be recognized for? What game do you want to be at the top of? Once you figure that out–you can start taking steps toward getting there!
Just found this great article on CareerDiva.com–a blog I frequent that talks about career success. If you’re looking for a job and sending out resumes, this is a must-read! And let me know what you think. I would love to hear how things change for you after you try some of the tips in the article. Special benefit–these are tips from a Hiring Manager inside an organization. From the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Read and heed!
Here’s the link: http://www.evetahmincioglu.com/web/blog/2011/09/08/this-is-why-you-didnt-get-the-job/
I knew it was going to be a tough morning. Our dog, Josie, didn’t really get much exercise yesterday (unless you count the three hours she focused on a chipmunk under our deck). So this morning, I got the wet nose on the leg treatment every time I sat down at the computer. Josie wanted something.
I tried the usual morning things–breakfast, a pat on the head. Still, that nose poked into my leg! Not one morsel of her breakfast eaten, Josie dejectedly went over and laid by the kitchen door.
Even though I had other things on my mind, I knew what I had to do. I tiptoed to Josie’s pack and got out her frisbee. It has a squeaker in it, so I squeaked it and peeked at the kitchen door. She had jumped to her feet and totally perked up because she knew some fun was in store! We went out and threw the frisbee for 10 minutes before breakfast.
Now, this was such a little thing that made a Standard Poodle so happy. And all I missed was a few minutes with my email.
I wonder how this experience relates to our work. What little thing might make your co-workers happy? What little thing might thrill your boss today? What little comment will make an employee light up?
It might be something that takes you just a few seconds to do, but it could make all the difference in the world to someone else. Try it today! And let me know if the people you impact are as happy as my dog is right now.
I’m watching the Women’s World Cup and Le Tour de France–two very exciting sporting events that involve men and women from all over the world. Of course, I’m cheering for the USA, but I’m totally amazed at the commitment and strong will of every single player out there.
This Saucony commercial I’ve attached really caught my attention. It made me think about where people’s strenghs emerge and where they really learn. Physically, the most motivational moments for me are when I go farther or harder than I have in the past–surpassing my own boundaries. In essence, going beyond my “weak.”
At work, I have noticed that we learn the most from our failures, not our successes. And often, that’s where our strengths really emerge–when we’ve used up all our weak by making a mistake we must recover from. Yes, it’s great to capitalize on our strengths, and we should try to do that often. But notice what really comes out when our weaknesses have spent a little time at the forefront. Then, we can go farther and harder than we did before to achieve success.
Now, please excuse me, but I’ve got to get off the couch and take a hike!
I went to Tucson to speak at a conference the week before last. We drove there from San Diego on the last leg of our family vacation. Imagine my surprise–as we drove along just on the U.S. border with Mexico–to see a real, true, “Great Wall” of the USA; the border fence! It was thick and black and tall. It looked impossible to breach. And it went on for miles.
It made me think–what’s the real purpose: to keep them out, or to keep us in? I mean, you never can be sure, can you? Politics and immigration policy aside, that fence seemed to be a symbol–but I’m not sure of what. Power or fear? When should freedom have boundaries, and how do boundaries help freedom flourish?
During our ride, that fence made me a little edgy and uncomfortable. I spent our time along the border thinking not only about those people who are trying to get in–but also that I couldn’t get out. I was surprised at my reaction to that long, black wall.
What “fences” have you feeling edgy at work? Why did the organization build them? What might work better? I would love to hear your thoughts on policies and procedures that could be modified to motivate!
I’m on a semi-vacation. It’s one of those part-work, part-fun road trips that is leading us over most of California. The last 3 days were spent at Mammoth Mountain in CA. We had some great skiing for the first two days in still-winter conditions. Then came Day 3.
We arrived at the mountain relatively early–allowing some time for the sun to soften the snow. But on Day 3, there was no sun–there was fog at the top of the mountain, like a cloud that got tired and had to lay down. Only 2 lifts were open because the top of the mountain was completely obscured!
We took a run at the bottom, and then David said “Are you up for an adventure? Let’s take the next chair up! We’ll see how the snow is up there.” As always, I was up for the adventure, and our friend Kevin was too. So off we went to Chair 3. About half way up the lift, we noticed that we could no longer see anything but the chair in front of us. No ground, no lift towers, no place to land. At the top of the chair, we got off and tried to decide which way to go.
Luckily, we chose the easiest way down. I was in the lead, and once I had made about 4 turns and rounded the corner to the slope, I realized we were in a complete white-out–of fog! I could see about 4 feet in any direction, but everything was completely white! David, Kevin and I stopped in disbelief. We couldn’t tell which way was up! At one point, I saw 3 people in a row just crumple into the ground. They skiied straight into it! Then it happened to David–an excellent skier. He just collapsed right beside me and said he didn’t realize he was going to fall until he hit the ground! Kevin experienced the same thing a few moments later, and so did I. At one point, Kevin said he was skiing UPHILL because he couldn’t tell which way was down. Another time, David said he thought he was moving but was standing still. And I noticed that the cordoruy lines on the snow were moving and creating waves such that I needed to stop to regain my bearings. It was crazy to think that the absence of vision made us unable to ski. But the white-out created true vertigo–we couldn’t tell which way was up, even when we were standing. Finally, we found some trail markers, and by staying very close to them, we worked our way back to the bottom of the mountain. It was an experience I won’t soon forget!
On the next lift ride (not to the same place–we didn’t need to experience that vertigo again!) we talked how much we depend on vision. The white-out was like an organization with no vision and no goals. How do you know where you’re going? How do you know if you’ve arrived? Which way is up? After this demonstration, it is easy to see how employees might be stuck or non-productive when they don’t know where they’re supposed to go. I can understand how others might be working hard, but at odds with organizational success! A little white-out made it absolutely clear that vision is critical to success.
So, are you creating vertigo in your organization? How might clarity of your vision or goals be helpful to employees? If you’re an employee, how have you clarified your particular job with the vision or goals of your organization? And if you don’t understand the vision, ask for help! Don’t crumple to the ground like we did–follow the vision to success.
Do you let your desk or work environment look like one of those Hoarders shows on TV? I once remember reading a tag line on a very messy desk that said “An empty desk is a sign of a empty mind”. Catchy but not true! In reality a cluttered environment presents constant diversions and delays that impede our forward motion physically, mentally, and emotionally.
If you are feeling unfocused on the job take a look at your environment. Create a workspace that represents what you want to become. Put things in reach that relate to the future you are creating. Remove everything else! If you have a stacks of papers or magazines that have been idle for six months the likelihood is that they are no longer useful.
Here are two tips to stay organized on the job:
1. Use technology! It’s great for keeping things we just might need without cluttering up our space. Scan documents and use on-line resources to keep potential resources in close reach.
2. Develop a habit of preparedness! At the end of each week stage your environment for a successful week ahead! Set goals, make a list of actions and results for the upcoming week. It is amazing how this simple activity enables your subconscious to be open to information and begin working before you get on the job.
Share your strategies for keeping your work environment uncluttered.
I’m at Disney World. Yes, even though I’m vacationing to celebrate my niece’s college graduation, I’m noticing a lot about workplace success, and realize that Walt Disney knew quite a bit about it. Here are some great things happening in Orlando, Florida on this fine day:
The moon outshone the fireworks a bit. After all, even Walt Disney can’t compete with Mother Nature.
I was stunned to hear the news last night–Osama bin Laden has been killed. And it brought to mind a quote I recently saw about courage. Unfortunately, I don’t know who to attribute this to, but here it is: “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”
For approximatley 9 years, 7 months, and 20 days, teams of people tried to find bin Laden. This is quiet courage, even though it ended in a firefight. The people who were on this case worked every single day for over 3,500 days to find bin Laden. Wow! Regardless of how you feel about the outcome, it’s hard to deny the perseverance that went into this task.
Where do you need quiet courage? Where does it show up in your work and in your life? What project needs you to say “I will try again tomorrow?” Be persistent and achieve your goals.