Today's joy is all about staying cool and doing something I enjoy. At the risk of sounding like one of those guys who sits in front of the TV all day instead of networking, July is a great month to have an "open" schedule.
With the Tour de France going having started on Saturday during the week I can watch the stages live, read the blogs and of course ride my own stages. July is a slow time for getting a job so it is a good time to be online networking while watching your favorite sport. If you need another reason to rationalize watching TV, you can look at it as staying up on current events and getting background to develop a rapport if your next interview is with a cycling fan.
So if you aren't in to cycling, I hope you got to watch an historic Wimbeldon or there is always baseball.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
No Job Joy # 28 Patience
Patience is one of those things that those of us in transition are often short on. There never seems to be enough opportunities, people don't respond in a timely manner, jobs get put on hold or what ever.
So today I am thankful for patience not just because it makes the process easier to tolerate. I am thankful for patience because it lets us step back and see the big picture which eventually helps us get a better job than if we rush around and act with out thinking.
I know some of us need the money more than other so I understand that time is not something you can afford to waste. That is all the more reason if you can take a deep breath and put things into an even larger view patience will help you be calmer and make better decisions.
So today I am thankful for patience not just because it makes the process easier to tolerate. I am thankful for patience because it lets us step back and see the big picture which eventually helps us get a better job than if we rush around and act with out thinking.
I know some of us need the money more than other so I understand that time is not something you can afford to waste. That is all the more reason if you can take a deep breath and put things into an even larger view patience will help you be calmer and make better decisions.
No Job Joy #27 Do something crazy
There has never been a worse time to be looking for a job. Sounds like a strange statement from someone who is supposed to be positive. "Looking for a job" sounds more like you have misplaced something not the activity that you will spend more time doing than any thing else in your life.
While unemployment may be almost 10% and people becoming more and more cautious, this may be the best time to be a free agent. This is great chance to do something new. Something crazy. Taking a risk right now is probably the safest thing you can do right now. It could be starting your own business, changing industries, going back to school or chasing a dream.
With expectations of the world around us so low if you fail you at least get credit for trying.
Personally I am still looking for my crazy option. My joy today is the option to do something crazy.
While unemployment may be almost 10% and people becoming more and more cautious, this may be the best time to be a free agent. This is great chance to do something new. Something crazy. Taking a risk right now is probably the safest thing you can do right now. It could be starting your own business, changing industries, going back to school or chasing a dream.
With expectations of the world around us so low if you fail you at least get credit for trying.
Personally I am still looking for my crazy option. My joy today is the option to do something crazy.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
No Job Joy #26 The more things change...
I have mentioned some of the new technology that has entered the world of work and networking, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and how they have helped make things easier for those of us looking for work. These are wonderful tools but in the end all they are is tools. They can only help you reach out to those you have helped in your past.
As I was going through my email this morning I found myself being followed on Twitter by Tom Ziglar, son of Zig Ziglar, someone I have gotten a lot of wisdom from. When I followed his page it led to one of my favorite quotes from his Dad - " You can have anything in life you want if you help enough other people get what they want." This is so true if you think about it. While I won't go down the deep discussion of how and who you help. The fact is that if you are some one who has helped a lot of other people, they will be willing to help you, especially when you need it.
This has never been more true than now. As I am going through my job search and networking it occurs to me that people from my past must think that have helped some people along the way. I never thought of it that way. I always thought I was just doing the right thing. It now seems more than that. The ability to pick up the phone and have people answer and be willing to offer any kind of help they can is priceless. It is one more reason to help anyone you can.
Regardless of how much technology we use to find our next job, the thing that never changes is that people are the most important asset we have and that when you help someone you are really helping yourself. So my joy today is the graciousness of those who feel I have helped them either personally or professionally.
As I was going through my email this morning I found myself being followed on Twitter by Tom Ziglar, son of Zig Ziglar, someone I have gotten a lot of wisdom from. When I followed his page it led to one of my favorite quotes from his Dad - " You can have anything in life you want if you help enough other people get what they want." This is so true if you think about it. While I won't go down the deep discussion of how and who you help. The fact is that if you are some one who has helped a lot of other people, they will be willing to help you, especially when you need it.
This has never been more true than now. As I am going through my job search and networking it occurs to me that people from my past must think that have helped some people along the way. I never thought of it that way. I always thought I was just doing the right thing. It now seems more than that. The ability to pick up the phone and have people answer and be willing to offer any kind of help they can is priceless. It is one more reason to help anyone you can.
Regardless of how much technology we use to find our next job, the thing that never changes is that people are the most important asset we have and that when you help someone you are really helping yourself. So my joy today is the graciousness of those who feel I have helped them either personally or professionally.
Monday, June 29, 2009
No Job Joy #25 Playing to my strengths
Some people know what they want to do with their lives from early on in their career. I am not one of those people. It is also the first thing people ask you as you are networking.
I just started reading the book Strength Finder 2.0. The main theme is to focus on what you do well and enjoy to be successful. This kind of makes sense that if you hate doing something you are going to suck at it. This falls right in line with being more than half full. It is a better place to start instead of just looking for a paycheck. I'm not saying you don't have to be able to pay the bills, which is why I am not going to start a new career as a sports photographer just because I love taking photos.
My focus is on what I do well because not only will it make me happy, but because I will do that job better. There are more than enough studies about people who do what they enjoy are better at what they do and typically make more money than if they were doing something they hate. The key thing for me right now is to focus in on the things I love to do like presenting, being involved with technology and making a difference in the world and I be successful.
So today's joy isn't that I have figured out what I want to do when I grow up but that I will make sure that I do something that plays to my strengths and that I enjoy doing.
I just started reading the book Strength Finder 2.0. The main theme is to focus on what you do well and enjoy to be successful. This kind of makes sense that if you hate doing something you are going to suck at it. This falls right in line with being more than half full. It is a better place to start instead of just looking for a paycheck. I'm not saying you don't have to be able to pay the bills, which is why I am not going to start a new career as a sports photographer just because I love taking photos.
My focus is on what I do well because not only will it make me happy, but because I will do that job better. There are more than enough studies about people who do what they enjoy are better at what they do and typically make more money than if they were doing something they hate. The key thing for me right now is to focus in on the things I love to do like presenting, being involved with technology and making a difference in the world and I be successful.
So today's joy isn't that I have figured out what I want to do when I grow up but that I will make sure that I do something that plays to my strengths and that I enjoy doing.
Friday, June 26, 2009
No Job Joy #24 Four Day Weekends
We are going to end this week on a light note which many of us need after the death of a co-worker which is much more important to me than the celebrities who passed this week.
One cool thing about not having a job is that once you have met your obligations to collect your unemployment you can take the rest of the week off. I am not saying you should just to the minimum but with any luck you will be working like a dog to make a good first impression and to get up to speed as fast as you can so take the time while you have it.
Plus you can take a four day weekend with out worrying about catching up on email or burning two days of vacation. Also now you have no one who will complain about covering for you while you are out.
Have a great weekend.
One cool thing about not having a job is that once you have met your obligations to collect your unemployment you can take the rest of the week off. I am not saying you should just to the minimum but with any luck you will be working like a dog to make a good first impression and to get up to speed as fast as you can so take the time while you have it.
Plus you can take a four day weekend with out worrying about catching up on email or burning two days of vacation. Also now you have no one who will complain about covering for you while you are out.
Have a great weekend.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
No job Joy # 23 Geting laid off
I know this probably sounds like a strange thing to be joyful about but hear me out.
This isn't the first time I have been here and with the way our business cycle works especially in the technology field it won't be the last. The last time I was here I learned a lot of things to help me be better prepared.
The great thing is that there are new things to learn. New ways to connect, new ways to write resumes and how people network. Even more fun is the chance to share them with other people.
I have been meeting, learning from and teaching new and interesting people, most of which are talented people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course I wish the circumstances were different but sometimes you can't pick how you learn.
This isn't the first time I have been here and with the way our business cycle works especially in the technology field it won't be the last. The last time I was here I learned a lot of things to help me be better prepared.
The great thing is that there are new things to learn. New ways to connect, new ways to write resumes and how people network. Even more fun is the chance to share them with other people.
I have been meeting, learning from and teaching new and interesting people, most of which are talented people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course I wish the circumstances were different but sometimes you can't pick how you learn.
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