Jobing.com: Houston Community Blog

Things We Wish We Had Known - Peter Weddle - WEDDLE's - Houston

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:05:00 GMT

The positive growth turned in by the American economy in the third quarter of this year suggests that maybe, just maybe this Great Recession is now in our rear view mirror. As it fades away, of course, the tales will begin about what we did during this terrible time. While recounting those legends is surely important, so too is sharing the insights we’ve acquired from our experience.

Cataclysmic events often alter our perceptions of the world around us. That was true during the Great Depression, and it will be true as we emerge from this Great Recession, as well. Some of these new views are opinions about what happened and why, but others are actually lessons that we’ve learned about how best to survive and prosper. They’re the things we wish we had known before the event occurred because that knowledge would have undoubtedly enabled us to fare better than we did.

I think the sharing of this wisdom is good for us—it’s cathartic to acknowledge that we’ve earned an advanced degree in the school of hard knocks—but it’s even more helpful for our kids and grandkids. In a very real sense, we are giving them a gift, a roadmap for the future that may help them avoid the dead ends and dangerous potholes they are sure to encounter.

Each of us has our own view of the lessons we should pass along. For me, the following four insights are among the most important. They are realizations everyone must have in order to chart a successful and fulfilling career in the 21^st Century world of work.

Seeking job security makes you vulnerable. In today’s turbulent economy, employers have no idea what will happen tomorrow or the day after. They may promise you job security, but they can’t deliver it. So, counting on it is likely to put you out for the count. A far better objective is career security—the ability to stay employed in a job of your choosing regardless of the condition of any single employer or the economy as a whole. Unlike job security, career security is a state you create for yourself. You don’t have to rely on the good will of some employer. You anticipate the changes in your career—the timing of a move from one boss or organization to another, the refocusing or reskilling that’s necessary to accommodate shifts in your industry or profession—and then you plan and execute those changes so they benefit you.

Recognition is something you give yourself. Most managers and supervisors mean well, but if you wait for them to recognize your accomplishments at work, you’re likely to be disappointed. Some have the social skills of a brick and others are too worried about their own security to take care of yours. That’s why it’s important for you to keep track of your own “career victories.” Sure, it takes a little effort to maintain a contemporaneous record of what you’ve done and how well you’ve done it, but that account will give you more satisfaction than most managers ever will. Don’t just write it out, however; also review it regularly. Take the time to remember what you’ve done and pat yourself on the back when you deserve it or give yourself a little counseling if you’ve let yourself down.

Working tirelessly is a sure way to get tired. Sadly, many people in today’s world of work find themselves wired up with no place to go. They’ve learned the hard way that staying continuously in contact with the office doesn’t protect you. It exhausts you. We’re all worried about the H1N1 flu becoming a pandemic, but workaholism already is. If you have any doubt about that, look left and right the next time you’re lying on the beach. Every other person will be glued to their Blackberry or iPhone checking their email. The impact of such behavior on both individual performance and wellbeing is already acute and likely to get worse. In a knowledge-based economy, your worth is measured not by your connectivity, but by your contribution. And, your contribution suffers when you don’t give your mind and body a chance to rest.

Taking care of your career is the best way to take care of you. The conventional approach to career self-management has been to get an annual checkup and leave it at that. Historically, we paid attention to our career just once each year—during our performance appraisal and salary review. That approach was dangerous then; today, it’s a sure-fire way to induce career cardiac arrest or what most of us call unemployment. The only safe course in a workplace as turbulent as the one we now have is to develop career fitness the same way you develop physical fitness. You have to commit yourself to building up the strength, endurance and reach of your career every single day. Yes, that’s a lot of work, but it’s also a smart investment. You spend one-third or more of your day in your profession, craft or trade, and you deserve an experience during that time that is every bit as good as the rest of your life.

We have acquired many insights from our experience over the past two years, but these four maxims are the key lessons we have learned. They are the things we wish we had known so they are now the things we want others to know.

Thanks for reading,

Peter

Visit me at Weddles.com

A Set of Master Keys in Words - Peter Weddle - WEDDLE's - Houston

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:02:31 GMT

Keywords are a central feature of our business day. We use them to search our resume databases and to parse through the profiles and resumes posted on job boards and social networking sites. The problem, of course, is that we pesky humans have a bad habit of using different words to express the same idea. That variability in human expression makes it difficult to know which keywords will actually identify the best candidates for each of your openings.

So, what should you do? How can you select the right keywords when there are so many competing alternatives? The answer, I think, is to create a keyword taxonomy—an annotated list of search terms—that is rich in the language of the top talent in the specific career fields for which you are recruiting. Think of it as a “set of master keys in words” that can unlock the candidate databases you are probing.

Creating such a tool is not particularly difficult. Doing so, however, is a departure from the current practice in many organizations. It involves temporarily stepping outside the press of individual, day-to-day assignments and taking a longer term view of how keywords can best serve your recruiting strategy. Here’s what I mean.

The rule of thumb in developing a list of keywords has usually been to rely on the information provided to us in a job description or requisition. The problem with this approach, of course, is that those documents are typically formulated by hiring managers—one of the least articulate populations on the planet. The terminology they provide, therefore, is necessary but insufficient to unlock the best talent in an ATS or job board database. It is a part of the master keyword set, but not all of it.

How can you fill in the gaps?

I suggest you borrow a page from your colleagues in sales and marketing and form a focus group. Such a group is only useful, however, if it is composed of the right participants. You’re trying to uncover the language used by the best talent for your openings, so your focus group should be populated with the same kind of people. And, you have a ready source of such individuals among your organization’s “A” level performers in the career fields for which you’re recruiting. They, better than anyone else, know exactly which terms their peers will use to describe their qualifications.

Top performers are usually very busy, however, so you may have a hard time breaking them free for such an exercise. If that’s the case in your organization, you can also build your set of master keywords by conducting a similar survey with your new hires during their orientation. This approach is clearly more challenging to implement, however, because you will have to base your selection of the group’s participants not on their demonstrated excellence at work, but on your judgment of how they are likely to perform once they are on-the-job.

In either case, your focus group will yield the best results if its work is conducted in three steps.

· First, build your baseline. Ask the participants to list all of the terms they would use to describe the qualifications required for an individual to be able to perform their job effectively. These attributes can include specific skills, occupational and/or industry knowledge, prior work experience, personality and any other factors that would bear on their ability to contribute. If the group has a hard time knowing where to begin, ask them to review one or more of the keyword references that are currently available. These include Google’s Keyword Tool, which will suggest keywords based on previous Google searches; Wordtracker, an online research tool; and WEDDLE’s 3 volume set, Finding Needles in a Haystack, which lists over 25,000 keywords and keyword phrases, across 5400 job and position titles in 28 industries and professions.

· Second, restate the terms in order of their importance. Ask the group to prioritize each of their terms according to its impact on an individual’s job performance. While there may be some disagreement among the group about the placement of specific terms, encourage them to arrive at a consensus rank ordering of the overall list.

· Third, group the terms into search baskets. The best way to probe a resume or profile database is to conduct your search in concentric circles of ever greater specificity. This approach enables you to hone in on and eventually determine a reasonable slate of the most qualified prospects in a database. Therefore, ask the group to break their list into the following categories: absolutely critical, very important, somewhat important and nice to have.

Those four baskets of search terms should then be added to the terms you derived from the hiring manager’s job description or requisition. If those documents enable you to do so, assign each of those terms to one of the categories used in Step 3 above. If not, the most politic course to assign them to the absolutely critical category. The resulting integrated list of search terms is your set of master keywords.

The above process is clearly labor and time intensive so think of it as an investment to develop an asset. The product you create—your keyword taxonomy—is just such a resource. It is a state-of-the-art search tool that can be used over and over again by the entire recruiting team. No less important, that tool gives them a genuine competitive advantage because it will increase both their efficiency and their performance. It should, therefore, be password protected and carefully monitored. As with all assets, it will require updating from time-to-time, but the effort involved will be substantially less than of the original development.

Keywords are typically viewed as one of the basic tools in our profession. For better or worse, everybody uses them so it’s easy to assume they have little or no differentiating value. When forged into a powerful asset, however, keywords can help an organization unlock talent other employers can’t reach. That’s why no recruiting team should be without “a set of master keys in words.”

Thanks for reading,

Peter

Visit me at Weddles.com

FEAR FACTOR - Bonnie Monych - Your WorkPlace Doctor

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:17:00 GMT

Right now, seems like so much fear is present in the workplace. Fear can be detrimental to both the employee and the employer. Fear stops productivity, it creates suspicion and generally produces negativity. So what are we to do?

First of all, make sure that your fears are REAL. Check the facts, ask questions, do some of your own research. Too many times we let everyone else tell us how we are supposed to feel. Fear, after all, is an emotion.

If indeed you find you have reason to be fearful, create an ACTION PLAN. I realize that you have little or no control over company staff reductions, the market or whether your company decides to sell. You do have control over HOW YOU WILL REACT. Immediately cut your expenses in half (don't wait for the pink slip). Let everyone know that this holiday season you are limited in your gifting and get creative with homemade gifts. Stop going to Starbucks for coffee and take your lunch to work. Make a game out of seeing how much money YOU CAN'T SPEND and build yourself some savings to fall back on.

Don't just 'update' your resume, create a marketing brochure that focuses on what you can do to help a company make or save money in the form of 'accomplishment statements'. It is not enough to list your duties and responsibilities by employer, you have to clearly and concisely communicate who you are, what you are good at, and how you can contribute to the success of potential employers. Once again, don't wait for the pink slip.

Start identifying a number of organizations that you believe can use your specific skills and do some research. Create your marketing 'hit list' and know exactly who to contact. Begin networking at every opportunity. Time to start attending your industry association meetings and getting in contact with colleagues. Get out there!

Believe me, doing these things will begin to chase that Fear away, because you will FEEL more in control. The truth of the matter is that each and every one of us are more in control than we think we are. Fear, after all, is an emotion and how we FEEL is up to us!

Now you will be way ahead of the game if and when you get that pink slip . . . and maybe you might find an opportunity instead of waiting for opportunity to find you.

Opportunity doesn't knock, it whispers, so start listening!

Doctor B

Gaining Traction Boosts Morale - Steverson Staffing - Steverson Staffing

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:11:40 GMT

Log on to the internet, read the WSJ, or pick up Business Week and you will see the pundits obsessed with the message that the economy is still stalled. Really…! Comparisons are drawn with the current economic condition against the hey days of 2008 before the subprime and financial markets meltdown. The stock market reacts on short term visibility of today’s profit (lack of).

It is the corporate leaders who base business decisions on longer term strategies that serve to strengthen corporate positions and financial stability. Yet, during economic contractions the opposite atmosphere seems to be prevalent. Comparisons of our job base or financial conditions always seem to be compared with the last apex showing how far off pace from last year (and sometimes longer) we still are.

Marc Andreessen, who Fortune magazine describes as “the most connected, prescient, right-place-right-time force in Silicon Valley”, sees the recessionary fog lifting. Formerly one of the founders of Netscape, his latest endeavor has been establishing a venture capital fund focused on domestic companies offering web based technology solutions. Fortune noted that while the first quarter of 2009 marked the lowest level of venture capital investment in over a decade, Andreessen exceeded his target of raising $250 million by raising $300. In an attempt to put this feat in perspective, this sum was less than 1/3 of the biggest boom year venture funds. So where does our attention fall? Is our attempt to place where we are today in comparison to record highs designed to create cautious optimism or manifests in hesitant steps of paranoia that timing may not be right?

Now is the time for aggressive movement, for steps to implement change, restructure operations or bring on more fire power by adding exceptional talent. This is not to get ready for the recovery we crave or to be ahead of some business cycle curve. The wave has started, there are signs in Silicon Valley, in the car industry of the Upper Mid West, the financial markets of major money centers, in domestic and international energy markets. Warren Buffet spoke extensively at the end of 2008 of the negative feedback loop we were stuck in and that the frenzy of negative information was more intense than any other time in his investment career. “Our recovery won’t happen until we find a way to exert pressure against this loop. That’s when we will be able to step forward again”.

Reports are finally appearing containing positive outlooks. Reuters recently quoted Michael Dell, Chief Executive officer of Dell Computers as saying “the business climate was improving and repeated his expectation for a "powerful" hardware refresh cycle beginning next year”. While noting that there are still obstacles to the recovery, Dell sounded optimistic about the upcoming year as the tech sector makes its way out of a crushing recession that has severely impacted end-demand.

This does not mean that we are no longer dealing with financial pressures, economic uncertainty or that jobs will be created immediately with zest and gusto. What it should signal is now is the time to be taking steps to strengthen our systems and operations, to look for additional fire power in adding a key employee who can bring impact if one becomes available, to foster an atmosphere of hope and enthusiasm for the teams which we are responsible.

We gain traction by taking steps, not standing still. Is there a step you can take before the end of the year that would serve as a catalyst in improved productivity, systems enhancements or overall morale? Could pointing your group’s attention toward completing a project within the next ninety days offer a sense of accomplishment no matter how dire your current circumstances are? Waiting for the future does nothing to encourage or inspire those in our charge. Specific targeted steps will, no matter how small.

Roll-back prices - Pamela Pruitt - Pamela D. Pruitt DBA Prosperity

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:58:12 GMT

We have enjoyed being protected here in Houston from the fallen economy impact in our country and globally. I’ve talked to several people that I consider not only historians, but people that have had their finger on the pulse of our economy for many years. They are saying the worst of the economy has not yet hit Houston. It’s coming, but it’s not here. Houston was hoping the rest of the country could pull itself out of the hole, get back on track and not affect Houston. It didn’t’ work. A friend of mine is a Human Resource guru and said he is able to pick the best from all the applicants; able to hire an overly qualified person for the same dollars he was hiring a person that fit the job. In other words, more employee for the bucks. Our city, our country, our world is changing and it will never be the way it was a couple of years ago. People that were making $15 an hour a year ago and lost their job will now be re-entering the workforce at minimum wage. There are USA citizens working in other countries that can not come home because their salary would be cut in half.

If you have a job, express your thankfulness to your boss. If you have not been laid off that means you must be a key person and your company needs you. Work to keep that company number one. Involve yourself in every part of the company to keep it above the competition. Every time the company phone rings you should think of it as a time that the caller will receive outstanding service from you and your company, but more importantly that call means you still have a job. If the phone doesn’t ring, you won’t have a job very long. You may get stressed at work, feel overworked, you may be grumpy, but look at it from the other side. You have a job. If you constantly complain about being stressed, overworked, grumpy, then maybe it’s time you move on and let some one else have your job. And to the sayers of “I can get a job anywhere”, I say whoa to you, you should rethink that statement. Yes you can get a job at about half the salary you are currently making. The grass always looks greener on the other side.

Be thoughtful to the folks that are unemployed. If you can help them, please do. If you can’t, please refer them to a church or organization that can help them. The holidays are upon us. Please consider giving in any way you can so to share with others what you have. We are brothers and sisters, created to care for one another.

Better Position Yourself through Education - Fritz Lawson - Jobing.com Community Relations - HOU

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 12:43:41 GMT

What does it mean to “sell yourself”? It’s ensuring that your resume makes it to the top of the stack, or that your name is on the short list of preferred candidates. Sure it starts with a good cover letter. But does it really start there? It’s having confidence in yourself and your abilities in order to convince others that you are the perfect person for that incredible job that you really want.

In order to be the best, you have to know that you’re the best, and that means you have to do your homework. That’s right, education. There are many jobs out there but you may not have the right background. Well get it. You may be busy with a job that you don’t really want, but it pays the bills. Or you may be collecting unemployment for the time being, but that won’t last forever. Take a big tug on those bootstraps and earn the education that you need to better position yourself, professionally.

Going back to school… the idea is quite inspiring, really. But where will you find the time? You have it… you just need to carve it out of your schedule. The good news is that you live in the day-in-age of the Internet and what an awesome tool that is. Because of its widespread access, there are some really great online education options out there that offer you the opportunity to study wherever and whenever you want. The fact of the matter is, online education is booming right now and because of the competition, you have some excellent options.

So here’s the drill: finish your bachelors, get your masters, differentiate yourself with a specialized certificate in an up-and-coming field like Sustainability Leadership, Software Engineering and Networking, or go global with an international business doctorate. Do your homework. Research your options. You may be surprised at the educational opportunities that exist today within our pivotal global economy.

Sell yourself with confidence, knowing you have the right education. Research your educational opportunities at JobingEducation or learn more about one of our sponsored schools, UC Irvine - Extension (online certificate programs) or California Intercontinental University (CalU – online master’s and doctorate degrees). Use your time wisely to better your life and let the bidding begin!

Lions, Tigers and Bosses, Oh no! - Bonnie Monych - Your WorkPlace Doctor

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:22:49 GMT

Ever feel like you are on the adventure of the Wizard of Oz? You are tying to follow the "yellow brick road of success" and all along the way you are faced with challenges that sometimes feel too big to handle. Considering the current employment situation, more and more people are telling me that they feel trapped in an increasingly hostile work environment.

What exactly is a hostile work environment? Well, recent law on hostile work environment harassment says that "bad behavior" can now constitute unlawful behavior, primarily to any protected class. So, it is now about "how" the behavior makes the victim "feel." What is important for both employees and employers to understand is that this is measured not by the intentions of the harasser or by the bias of the employee or employer. It is measured by the perception of the victim. So a hostile work environment is all about interpersonal behavior. Hence the sticky wicked.

Let's say that you feel that your boss is constantly questioning your work, leaving you out of meetings, screams at you in front of others and criticizing your every move? Is this a hostile work environment? Do you feel like a victim or is your boss an equal opportunity abuser? Hence the sticky wicked.

For me, I think the bottom line is that if you literally feel sick on Monday morning about going to work, something is wrong. If you get nauseated at the thought of having to communicate with your boss, something is wrong. Now, we have all had some creepy bosses (you may be a creepy boss. . .you know who you are) that just seem to be a pain from time to time. I am not talking about those. You can't expect to get along beautifully with everybody all of the time--we are people after all! I am talking about a work "atmosphere" that seriously effects your productivity, the ability to do your job well and enjoy the commodore of your colleagues.

In normal employment conditions, most people would simply start looking for another job and resign as soon as possible ( I hope), but this is not so easy in today's job market. So, I am asked "what can I do?" My advice would be to first try and have a conversation with your boss about your concerns and how you are feeling. Be prepared to provide some solutions and make sure your boss understands that you want to be as productive as you can. If that doesn't improve things somewhat (don't expect miracles) the next step would be to have a confidential conversation with someone in your Human Resources department. Perhaps they could look for another position within the company that you would be well suited for, or perhaps they can provide some guidance in dealing with a difficult boss, etc. My point being that you can and should do something! I can definitely advise you that now is a good time to be updating your resume, improving your skill sets, taking a class and networking. You will want to be "ready" when the job market improves to make a move.

You should let your Human Resource department know that you think you are working in a Hostile work environment as they need to know if this is a possibility. They will know what actions to take to investigate such an concern and will thank you for the 'heads up.'

Life is not fair, work is not usually a haven, and money doesn't grow on trees. Oh to be a kid again!!!

Doctor Bonnie

What to Do If You're Flat Out of Friends - Martha Finney - Martha Finney - Houston

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 12:16:46 GMT

(This post is based on some of the principles included in my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough which I wrote with San Diego-based executive coach, Duncan Mathison. For a free sample chapter, visit the book's official site: www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com )

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been writing about networking a lot lately. Or at least it seems like it. Networking, networking, networking. Maybe it’s me but don’t you think that when you say it out loud enough, it begins to sound like earwax? Okay…it’s probably just me.

Networking doesn’t have much appeal, does it? It doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as going to your local Applebee’s with some friends for a beer and some wings. Now there’s a problem with even that Applebee’s scenario. Based on the emails I’ve been getting, a lot of you are feeling that you don’t have too many friends either. And the ones you do have are getting, like, really tired of hearing you talk about your struggles to land a job. And you’re getting really tired of talking about it too. In fact, you’d just wish they’d change the subject.

I don’t think my readers are social losers. (At least I hope not, but, then again, what are you doing reading this blog post when it’s such a pretty day outside?) When you’ve been out of work for any amount o time, it’s easy to feel that you have run aground in the contacts department – especially in recent years when we’ve all been so busy taking care of our jobs and our families. We’ve let outside friendships perhaps atrophy. Maybe all your friends were work-related. And now that you’re out of work, you’re also fresh out of buddies. Or you’ve moved to a new town where you really, really don’t know anyone.

Whatever the reason for your feelings of isolation, you know you have to mix it up a little bit, well, a lot. Get some fresh meat, I mean talent, into your tight circles of relationships. Get out of the house. So I thought I’d offer some tips in that direction.

Remember that one thing leads to another. The thing about circulating is that your first dip into big world probably won’t net you a job. It’s a cumulative kind of thing. So leave that desperate, graspy, over-eager feeling at home when you head out the door. Just be open to meeting who you meet. Maybe tonight you’re destined to actually help someone else. And you’ll come home feeling just a little better about yourself.

Look for opportunities where you can become a regular. And no, I don’t mean the Applebee’s bar. When your face starts becoming familiar, you will emerge from invisibility to someone who people will be glad to see. Maybe they’ll even shout out your name, like, “Norm!” (But don’t count on it.) If you try a business mixer or worship service or volunteer opportunity, and people completely ignore you, keep going. Week after week. Introduce yourself as often as you can. And just let the cumulative effects of time work their wonders.

Stay away from solitary pursuits, even if they’re out of the house. Going to a matinee movie doesn’t count as “getting out there.” Go to local economic development or chamber of commerce meetings, receptions, mixers. Your local bookstore probably offers booksignings, author lectures or special classes. A friend of mine who is a professional coach is part of a team who gives courses at Whole Foods! Go! The home improvement stores offer free courses. Go! The American Red Cross offers courses in first aid, cpr, etc. Go!

Make job-related networking events only a small percentage of your out-of-the-house activities. First of all, you’re so much more than unemployed. And you need to nurture those other parts of who you are. At the very least, this way you’ll lead with an opener that’s so much more interesting than, “Hi, gotta job?” But most importantly is that your self-definition has a chance to stay strong and defined beyond this immediate need of landing a gig. You will also stand a better chance of meeting people other than fellow job-seekers. You know…people who already have jobs? And who would be thrilled to help you get inside their companies or organizations.

Learn something. Go to local college courses – especially the ones at night, when employed people go to school. You don’t have to matriculate and take on the expense of a formal semester. Continuing ed courses can be inexpensive. The teachers are often professionals in the community (hint: employed people!). It’s probably best if you took a course that would help you be more qualified for the kind of job you’re looking for. But even taking a non-job related course will at least remind you that there’s more to life than your daily bread (although, it’s kind of hard to make that argument right now, I know).

Teach something. Surely you know something that will benefit others. How to read, for adult literacy programs, for instance. If you have a profession or skill that’s useful in the for-profit world, surely you can introduce at least the basics to young people. Convene a panel of other experts and put on a program! (You’ll be able to find a venue. A friend of mine hosted the annual meeting of his professional association – on the premises of the company that had just laid him off. Awkward.)

Volunteer. Those same skills you can teach you can donate. It will make you feel good about being who you are and what you can do. That boost in self-esteem will give you the added confidence that will send out the signal that you’re a valuable contributor to the world.

Call old friends – even if they haven’t heard from you in a long time. This is where Facebook comes in handy. The other day I heard from a dear friend for the first time in about 8 years. We’d been looking for each other off and on over recent years but, thanks to Facebook, she found me first! And we talked on the phone for a full three hours. A lot of it was catching up. But, she was also very candid about the fact that she needed some professional advice from me. Did I see this as a cheesy ulterior motive? Heck no! First off all, I owed her a gigantic favor from 10 years ago (I mean, huge). Secondly, I love her and I know she loves me. So whatever I have is hers. (Advice, I mean.)

Ask for introductions. Unless you’re a bitter whiner who needs to blow your nose and brush your teeth (and, uhm, a little roll-on?), the friends you have should be happy to give you introductions you need to move your job search forward. If they’re reluctant to help you, find out why. Wouldn’t you want to know the truth, especially if it was something you could fix? And, if they’re possessive with or protective of their contacts to the point where they’re keeping you from helping yourself, or making you feel judged, it’s best that you should know that now. You might have just discovered a brand new opening in your group of friends to fill.

They say that once you achieve a certain age, it gets harder and harder to make new friends. Everyone is set in their habits, patterns, commuting routine, relationships. Well, one of the upshots of these economic times is that everyone is thrown higgledy-piggledy into a big pile of confusion and some flavor of disconnectedness. Now is a fantastic time to build new circles of friends and business contacts.

And vow to take better care of them in the future. Like, don’t wait 8 years before picking up the phone.

Really Crappy Advice -- and How to Keep It From Killing You - Martha Finney - Martha Finney - Houston

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:17:45 GMT

In recent weeks I’ve been watching events unfold in Sedona -- that whole James Arthur Ray thing and how people died in an ersatz sweat lodge. I suppose for many people, a terrible event such as this (where people paid $9,000 for the privilege of dying a horrible death, surrounded in the gloom by their vomiting and fainting companions) is so exotic to most people that “that could never happen to me” is a thought that briefly passes through our minds. And that would probably be true.

However, this whole clutch of motivation and self-help teachers has been bugging me over recent years. While a multitude of programs are offered every year that don't involve ambulances and homicide investigations, many of them are damaging in the way they take advantage of intelligent, open-minded individuals looking for a better way out of frustration and despair. And the cumulative effect of little damages everywhere can also be very destructive indeed. And I’m worried that the general public might be even more at risk as the economy continues its stagger, stagger, crawl mode. These are emotional frontiers we’re in, folks, and the woods are lousy with snake oil salesmen – people who promise to give you a breakthrough secret to life in a week or a weekend, for the price of a semester of college or a small car.

I have had in my bookshelf for a couple of years now the book, SHAM, by Steven Salerno. And I’ve been really reluctant to read it. Primarily because I knew he would blow the lid off of the mechanics behind self-help gurus and their business models. And at the time I was also reading Martin Seligman (the very legitimate founder of the very legitimate positive psychology movement), and I was also dabbling in more than a little Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins, Marianne Williamson and even Joel Osteen. And, frankly, I liked the way their messages made me feel. And while I certainly didn’t buy The Secret’s promises hook, link and sucker (I mean, sinker), having grown up in a family whose mantra was mainly, “ain’t it awful, ain’t it tragic,” I knew there is definitely something to be said for willfully focusing on the positive side of things. If you have read my earlier postings, you’ll know that I believe that a positive attitude is more conducive to creative thinking and endurance during a time where everything seems to be hitting the fan. At least it makes the ride a little more tolerable.

But I also know a manipulative head-game when I see one. (At least I hope I do.) I certainly learned to recognize the signs when I’ve bought into one, much to my ever-lasting regret pretty quickly thereafter. So, I thought I’d lay out a list of danger signs for you – with the hopes of helping you keep your money in your pocket. (I get the fact that this could mean that I might miss out on a few sales of my own books – but at the end of this post I’m actually going to offer you my first book for free. I won’t even ask you for your email address as one of those cheesy quid pro quo gambits.)

Avoid any course with titles containing such words as “breakthrough,” “success,” “transform,” “dream,” and whose tuition includes a comma. Speaking from personal experience here. These kinds of courses are mostly warmed over material drawn directly from the texts of books that you can purchase for $20 to $30. There will be much playing of John Denver and hugging of total strangers -- most who look like they either haven’t been hugged in decades or they’re really really really looking forward to hugging you. The break times are dedicated to urging you to sign up for the advanced course at twice the price (but today – and only today – slashed to the same amount you just paid for the basic course). My memories of those break times involve softly trance-inducing singing from the stage and a certain zombie-ness of the people moving to the back of the room where tables are conveniently set up, where staffers cheerfully accepted credit cards. Did I get anything of value from that basic week? Yes…my mastermind group is still intact after almost five years. We meet on the phone every other week and have become supportive friends. But have our circumstances changed significantly since we met that that “breakthrough” week? Nope. (As you can imagine, I’m usually the cranky one on our phone calls.)

If you go to any course with a title that includes the words “spirit,” “warrior,” “vision quest,” make sure there is an EMT on call at all times before laying your money down. Most spiritual quests are flat-out scary. Who are these people to say they know the way, and will lead us there through a regimen of fasting, meditation and bodily deprivation? The way people refer to spirituality as Spirit, as if Spirit is their next door neighbor with handy cable piracy skills, is revolting. And the way white Americans romanticize the mysteries of Native American life and traditions is deeply hypocritical or willfully shallow. If they’re so enchanted by the Native American way, how about coming out to the Southwest, don't stop at the spas or casinos, and spend that week teaching Native American children to say no to crystal meth addiction and alcoholism? Share the inspiring benefits of your own education, skills and privilege, rather than trying to siphon off a few sips of mysticism from authentic traditions that you will never get anyway?

If someone wants to teach you how to be rich (for whatever price), first find out how he got rich himself. Look at the frequent fliers of this particular line of work, and you’ll find out that most of them got rich by sticking their hands into pockets of people just like you (and me). And they’re getting richer. Did he ever grow a company, other than the staff of eager minions he has working for him now? Did he turn around a major corporation? Did he emerge from his own family of alcoholics and desperados to blaze his own trail by making something or contributing something useful to society (that is other than an ultra-expensive retreat)? Is he an unimpeachable researcher who has the gift of translating esoteric, hard-to-understand information into immediately useful ideas that anyone can have for the price of a book? That might be someone worth paying some attention to.

When someone tells you that you’re nowhere without his secrets or gift, laugh and walk away. Need I say more? Okay, I will. I know of one so-called Buddhist guru (she’s American) who actually replaced the words “Higher Power” in the 12 Step Program with her own name. That’s amazing. But what’s even more amazing is that hundreds of otherwise intelligent people said, “Duh, okay.”

Just say no to any product marketed to you via email by someone you’ve never heard of but endorsed by someone you have. These people exchange mailing lists, knowing full well that purchasers of self-help products are the most likely to come back for more and more. The cynicism is mind-blowing.

Avoid self-help books that were Number 1 on Amazon for, like, three hours one day. Again, it’s the lists at work. These people know how to game the system and they use each others’ lists to snag that coveted spot, even for an instant. This way they can call themselves “bestselling authors.” Big whup.

Don’t give up your own dreams. Life is full of true mysteries. My personal favorite one is the mystery of synchronicity. I’m a total sucker for those stories, and I have true, first-hand stories of my own that would curl your hair. But I wouldn’t bet the ranch on a synchronicity that I perceive to be an omen. (Even though, in my heart of hearts, I kind of hope it is.)

We all need fresh infusions of inspiration now and then. And personal growth does involve keeping your mind open and venturing into uncomfortable zones now and then. But no breakthrough experience should necessitate group puking or even close bodily contact with strangers to the strains of “Sunshine On My Shoulders.”

Keep your wallet in your pants. Or purse.

(Now for the free offer: I will give you a free copy of my very first book, Find Your Calling, Love Your Life. For absolutely nothing. Not even your email address. Just go to www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com and click the green button that will lead you to free downloads. You can also have a free sample chapter of my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market. Naturally, my coauthor and I would love it if you also purchased that book. But you know what? You don’t have to.)

What's Your Social Media Strategy? - Fritz Lawson - Jobing.com Community Relations - HOU

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:35:33 GMT

More and more people are utilizing social media websites to reconnect with friends and family, get and report on real-time events, share information, and look for jobs. Whether you send tweets, update your FaceBook status, check your MySpace, or watch YouTube videos, social media is here to stay.

Digital Identity

Along with the advent of social media, the concept of your 'digital identity' has emerged. It is the impression given on a person from the combined content on the Internet about you. Since all of the information you (or others) post is readily accessible by nearly everyone, it is important to know exactly what is out there.. waiting to make that all-important first impression for you.

Take a moment to assess your digital identity and adjust the privacy settings that many of the social networking sites have available. Here’s how see what is out there in cyberspace about YOU:

Jobing on Twitter

Twitter came out of nowhere to become the place to post short, targeted blurbs on pretty much any subject. You choose people you want to “follow” (no permission required) and stay connected to. The posts from those you are following stream to your Twitter page. Many updates come from mobile devices, allowing for a ‘real-time’ feel.

What’s great is that organizations and companies now utilize Twitter to disseminate information about them to followers. This can include company news, events, and jobs. We created a Jobing.com Twitter account and, over the last few months, it has proven to be quite successful. I tweet (yes, I’ve finally learned how to conjugate the word Twitter) several times per day – including where the hot jobs and career events are, news on our local employment economy, where I’ll be in the city, and ways to get involved with professional organizations and networking groups.

Follow @JobingHouston to get plugged in. If you do not have a Twitter account, it is very simple: here’s the page to get started.

Jobing on FaceBook

Time to play catch up - if you're don't have a FaceBook page, you should (even my mother does!). FaceBook is becoming the preeminent social networking site – a place to find long lost friends, share photos, post your thoughts, share links, and so much more.

We recently launched the Jobing Houston “Fan” page. Once you become a fan of Jobing Houston, you’ll periodically receive updates from us – job search tip of the week, exciting career opportunities, articles to help in your search, events happening around town, etc. I encourage you to comment on my posts - let's make it a conversation.

The Time is Now

The social media revolution is here – don’t get left behind. If you are looking for a new career, opportunities to network, ask me questions, or get advice on your job search, keep up with Jobing.com on Twitter and FaceBook.

I’m looking forward to seeing you there…