Dec 20th: Last OCA Meeting for 2013

Our final meeting for 2013 is this Friday. (No meeting December 27th)

This weeks meeting will be at the same place and time as 2 weeks ago. At the Starbucks in the middle of the South Lake Union Amazon Campus. (Starbucks - 442 Terry Avenue North https://goo.gl/maps/Q9dvn) Free parking is available at the School of Visual Concepts (https://goo.gl/maps/ffLBb)

This particular Starbucks serves beer and wine and light food in the evening which could come in handy after a week of being underutilized and overworked (regardless of whether you're earning anything). And with all the excellent bars and restaurants in the area my recommendation is to come downtown early to relax a little and avoid the traffic nonsense. (Traffic after 8 doesn’t seem to be as much of a problem) Again, I’ll buy wine or a coffee drink for the first 3 people to RSVP me they are coming. Email address in the column to your right.

December 20th Topic: What do I need to stop doing in 2014?
Almost everyone does new years resolutions. Today’s meeting is a discussion about the ONE thing you need to begin NOT doing in 2014 that will most help you grow professionally (or personally but that has a professional payoff)

Example:
What I need to stop doing: Going to bed later.
Why I need to stop doing it: So I am more rested, healthier, clearer-headed, more even-tempered, etc.
How I intend to stop doing it: Set an evening alarm. Reward lights out before midnight.


GOING FORWARD:
Please revisit the revised survey Link: When Do You Want To Meet?. It only asks 5 questions and I’ve reduced the answer options to those most in contention.

Here’s a preview of the questions it asks:
What time of day would you prefer to meet?
What day of week would you prefer to meet?
How often would you prefer to meet?
Where would you like to meet?

The meeting schedule through the end of the year:
December 20th - Meeting 6:30 - 8pm (Starbucks - 442 Terry Avenue North)
December 27th - NO meeting

Something Interesting

More Interesting & Motivational stuff @ Duane's Pinterest

Something interesting: Tools you can use

 (Even if you already have work)

The first tool I’m checking out is Insightly. A contact management system that’s free for up to 3 users and a limited about of contacts and storage demands. (About right for a job search I believe)

Ironically the secret I learned (the hard way) of creating a good contact database in Insightly is to do it the hard way. That bulk batch importing of data from a poorly maintained contact list is NOT the way to build a useful CRM. Were I to do it over (and I’m seriously considering doing just that)

Step 1: I’d batch output my Linkedin list to a spreadsheet. 
Step 2: Batch output Google Contacts also to an excel spreadsheet.
Step 3: Batch output whatever contacts I had elsewhere (I have lots) also to an excel spreadsheet.
Step 4: Adjust the field names so that they match.
Step 5: Put them all together to sort and eliminate duplicates.
Step 6: Get rid of any that have just emails (Google contacts seem to grab spam addresses and think they are contacts. Not a good thing.)
Step 7: Run through merge data, update things, since it’s all in one place and easy to see.
Step 8: Import it into the CRM.
Step 9: Muck with it some more (inevitably)
Step 10: Celebrate!

What does a CRM allow me/you to do? More effectively keep track of contact history, conversation notes, obligations to follow up, etc. organize communication time efficiently, create mass mailings (not that I’d recommend that), make sure potential opportunities don’t fall through the cracks because I/you got busy somewhere else.

If you use a spreadsheet, notebook, string around your finger, you’ll find it a major improvement in your sense of being in control of your time. You may find yourself doing less random contact with people who’ve forgotten who you are and more regular contact with people who know you care enough to stay in touch (and remember what was important to them.)

More help and hints on using this tool over time, maybe. Share your thoughts about CRM or what tools you use in the comments below.

- Duane

December 6th Meeting

A little background: When OCA started meeting in coffee shops was kinda a “thing.” All the cool unemployed kids were doing it. We elevated those one-on-one meetings to commiserate to a new level when we went from one-on-ones to “hey gang, let’s get together to share tips and give each other some support.” We eventually outgrew those Starbucks gatherings and spent a brief time at the School of Visual Concepts in an unused classroom. And as people found work we downsized to a meeting room at Uptown Espresso. It’s time for us to shift again.

You spoke and I listened. This Friday December 6th is our first of a three month experiment with an every-other-week schedule. And it’s the first (regular) meeting we’ve done in the evening (6:30-8pm).

People have been telling me that while they have work, they are definitely still under-employed. The task of career development is n ever really done it just shifts to a back burner. The every-other week schedule and evening time will hopefully better allow people to continue to take baby steps towards defining and achieving their career goals. (And of course current job seekers are always going to be welcome.)

The School of Visual Concepts is still supporting us with free parking (when classes aren’t in session) and I’ve shifted our meeting location to the Starbucks in the middle of the South Lake Union Amazon Campus. (Starbucks - 442 Terry Avenue North https://goo.gl/maps/Q9dvn)

This particular Starbucks serves beer and wine and light food in the evening which could come in handy after a week of being underutilized and overworked (regardless of whether you're earning anything). And with all the excellent restaurants in the area people may want to make dinner plans before or after the meeting and avoid all of Friday’s traffic nonsense.

So in simple terms, the meeting schedule through the end of the year:
December 6th - Meeting 6:30 - 8pm (Starbucks - 442 Terry Avenue North)
December 13th - NO meeting
December 20th - Meeting 6:30 - 8pm (Starbucks - 442 Terry Avenue North)
December 27th - NO meeting

December 6th Topic: Now what?
Mostly going to be a “get to know you” for those that haven’t been coming the meetings or never could come to a meeting. Other discussion on what you’re doing now, what you’d prefer to be doing, etc. Don’t feel like you have to come prepared.

PLEASE RSVP: I’d like to know who all is coming so I can grab the right amount of space. (I’ll buy wine or coffee for the first 3 people to RSVP me)

- Duane

Something Interesting: Tool box

Tools you can use (even if you already have work)
Job searches (and career management) can get overwhelming. And unfortunately most of the tools to make it easier are designed to take money from you or turn you into a product to sell to someone else.

I’ve been on a mission to identify the useful tools for managing this process. And I’ve discovered some you should (and may already) know about. Over the next month I’ll write some reviews and share how I’m using them (or anticipating using them as the case may be) Feel free to investigate for yourself:

Insightly - A Contact Management System.
Evernote - Note-taking research tool
Google - (Google Calendar, Gmail, Tasks, Drive, Maps, etc.) Integrated resources for doing stuff.
Linkedin - Portal for professionals
Glassdoor - Research on the inside
Starbucks - Really, there’s a tool you need to know about.
(and a few more)

Topic: November 29th

No meeting this Friday. (November 29th.)

Next meeting is an evening one on December 6th 6:30-8 at some location yet to be determined (I’m looking into places where people could grab a bite, and that won’t charge us to meet at their place. Currently Belltown's Uptown Espresso is my leading candidate with the Terry & Republican Starbucks a close second. Please send me your ideas. Especially those who wanted the evening meeting time. Really, I need your help.)

So in simple terms, the meeting schedule through the end of the year:
November 29th - NO meeting
December 6th - Meeting 6:30 - 8 (Location to be determined)
December 13th - NO meeting
December 20th - Meeting 6:30 - 8 (Location to be determined)
December 27th - NO meeting

Something Interesting: Road to Success

More of the same... (AKA: Tell me what you think)

I’ve really enjoyed getting your emails. It’s exciting to hear so many of you are doing well (or at least keeping your heads above water.) Those still looking to maintain your professional development through OCA can help me sort out the best meeting time by adding your input to this survey:

Link to Poll: When Do You Want To Meet? (Results collected until Nov 16th)

Like I mentioned last week, quite a few of One Connection Away’s regulars have found work and moved on. Often I hear that that consists of a contact job (and a tremendous under utilization of their skills, training, and experience) Too many of you are still underemployed in the truest sense of the word. Isolated and over-extended it’s hard to get support and find time to grow professionally or personally.

I’ve been told many times that people need help with career development but can’t get away for our Friday morning meeting to work on it. I’ve been told that OCA provides a valuable service by giving you a chance to be around people that understand what you’re going through, that can encourage you to improve your skills, and that can coach you to make strategic investments in time or relationships. (But I’m curious what YOU got out of it. Drop me a note.)

Even if you haven’t been to a meeting in a long time - add your voice to the poll. (Results collected until Nov 16th)


WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE MEETING:
Be awake. (But since we meet at a coffee shop you'll be fine.) A computer would be handy but anything to take notes with works.

Topic of the moment (and survey)

Quite a few of One Connection Away’s regulars have found work and moved on. Often I hear that what they are doing now consists of a contract job, temporary gig, or some other tremendous under utilization of their skills, training, and experience. It seems too many are still underemployed in the truest sense of the word. Isolated and over-extended it’s hard to get support and find time to grow professionally or personally.

I get emailed all the time from people who need help with career development but can’t get away on a Friday morning to work on it. And those that have been in and out of our group tell me that it was vital to have someone that understands what you’re going through, that can encourage you to improve your skills, and coach you to make strategic investments in time or relationships. This is hard work on your own. But schedule conflicts and the need to eat come first.

Even if you haven’t been to a OCA meeting before, if you’ve thought about it - add your voice to the poll. I’d anticipated that I would need to adjust the meeting time soon anyway since I’ve decided I should probably return to work myself. But even working I want to continue providing this resource. Help me decide the best time, day, and frequency of meetings going forward.

Thanks -

Duane

Link to Poll: When Do You Want To Meet? (Results collected until Nov 16th)

Agenda item for 10/27/13

Topic: Seriously zeroing in on a target. (week 2)

Last week I issued a challenge. Those that came to the friday meeting were asked to find one person on linked in in the seattle area (or wherever they were looking for work) that has the job they want AND CAN DO. The person that they most resemble in terms of skills and ability to do the job.

The idea behind this challenge/exercise is to help people learn what their marketable skills look like and learn how to package them up and sell them in a crowded marketplace. The grocery store analogy of having a product and trying to get slotted on the shelf beside the existing product is what we’re playing with.

This isn’t as easy a challenge as it may sound.

It’s easy to find people that you can do PART of their job. That you have PART of their skill set. The challenge here is finding people that you can do ALL of what they do. This is your “career doppelgänger.” This is to be someone you have never met but is located in the market, industry, company, division, role, etc. you want to be in and YOU CAN DO THIER JOB. (The exciting part of this exercise is when we figure out how you can do what they do either better or differently. And in doing so create the argument as to why you should be added to the staff working beside your doppelgänger. And I shouldn’t have to say it but I will, those same arguments are useful for approaching that companies competitors.)

Todays topic is a discussion of why the person you picked is the person you picked. Who else you looked at and why they weren’t as good a pick. What makes that person your doppelgänger?

For those doppelgängers that survive the discussion we’ll move on to step 2: Research and contact. For those doppelgängers that don’t it's back to linkedin and more searching for you. (We can do some of that immediately after the meeting 12-12:30 if you’d like.)


WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE MEETING:
Be awake. (But since we meet at a coffee shop you'll be fine.) A computer would be handy.


(Used doppelgänger 5 times in one post. Is that some kind of record?)

Agenda item for 10/18/13

Topic: Seriously zeroing in on a target.

We've talked about this before so many of you already know the concepts. The challenge is never really knowing what to do it's in being motivated to do it and staying motivated enough to follow through. Crisis is always pretty motivating. When you don't have any other choice but to act people usually act. It's always a little disappointing when we look back and say to ourselves "what took us so long?"

This week, first we'll kick around the concept of targeting for anyone that doesn't already know the reason for and the power of having a clear target. Then I'm going to issue a challenge. And we're going to work on it together. (You'll be able to meet it. The real question is will you follow through and do the work?) Hint: the challenge will involve acting on your targeting.

OK, It will be first to identify the target organization, then the target role you want, then to find out who hires that target role. And then… Well, that's where the fun begins.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE MEETING:
Be awake. (But since we meet at a coffee shop you'll be fine.) A computer would be handy.

Agenda for: 10/4/2013

Quite a lot went into creating this presentation and frankly I'm nervous it's not going to be any good. But I'm sharing it anyway in the hopes it will be useful to the people who most need it. (And to get feedback so I can improve it.)

What is it? The Value Proposition Bootcamp (this version anyway) is a very short primer on what a value proposition really is and what's involved in creating them. Plus a couple exercises to get people started developing their own.

Why am I doing it? Because I feel it will give those who are struggling in their job transition something to re-energize their search. Once you understand the power of a strong value proposition you'll be able to do things like:

• ORGANIZE & OPTIMIZE YOUR CAREER PATH
• CREATE A PERSONAL LEARNING PLAN
• BECOME SEEN AS AN EXPERT
• CREATE A BETTER TARGETING LIST
• CREATE A MORE PERSUASIVE LINKEDIN PAGE
• CREATE A MORE PERSUASIVE RESUME
• WRITE MORE PERSUASIVE COVER LETTERS
• HAVE MORE PRODUCTIVE INFORMATIONALS
• GET BETTER JOB REFERRALS
• GET BETTER JOB OFFERS
• GET STRONGER RECOMMENDATIONS
• GET YOUR EMAILS OPENED

Why else am I doing this? Because I just have to, frankly. Value-centric Branding is what I know and for better or worse I'm driven to try and help as many people as I can discover, define, design, and deliver the greatest possible value they can. For their sake as well as for all the rest of us. Incrementally I'm trying to make the world a better place. Corny I know.

(yes this is a free meeting)

Agenda item for 9/6/13

Relationship redux

After getting ones own act together the next big task is rallying your resources. Who's on your side and who do you want on your side?

This week we're going to continue our talk about nurturing more productive relationships; acquiring mentors, coaches, collaborators, and co-conspirators; and all that goes into that. (Special Surprise: I've drafted up a simple 20 min exercise I want to try out on you.)

After our brief check-in we'll move on to make the most of the meeting -
To organize your check-in please use this form: (link here)

Or if you want to share with me in advance of the meeting use the form at this link:
Weekly Check-in ("your name+email" is your password)

This week's topic question: What career change relationships do I need and how do I create them?

Something Interesting

Something I've come to genuinely believe: There's no such thing as a boring person. (Of course I may be the exception that proved the rule.)

Agenda item for 8/30/2013

Connection, Collaboration, Co-creation.

Success is a community effort. No one achieves it by themselves. Your family, teachers, bosses, friends, and hundreds of others - both deliberately and unintentionally - helped get you where you are today. It's going to require just as much a team to get you to where you want to go next.

And YOU are that team's leader.

This week we're going to talk about nurturing more productive relationships; acquiring mentors, coaches, collaborators, and co-conspirators; and all that goes into that. Notice I didn't mention the role of slave or servant. People don't help those that don't respect them. Our goal is to create relationships that work for others just as much as they work for us. (If not more so.)


After our brief check-in we'll move on to make the most of the meeting -
To organize your check-in please use this form: (link here)


This week's topic question: What career change relationships do I need and how do I create them?

Something interesting: "It's not easy being mean"

 
An interesting editorial from Design Observer about Steve Jobs. Steve demanded excellence in himself and in the people who worked for him. He believed that everything matters. My belief is the same. You are the sum of everything you do and how you do it as well as everything you say and how you say it. I believe that sometimes you have to challenge people when they are selling themselves short. Ironically respecting people more than they respect themselves doesn't always earn you much respect in return. DF

Link: Steve Jobs: A demanding man (Brief Article)

Something interesting: Some light reading

For those of you taking the summer off I thought I'd offer a little light entertainment that will also encourage you to think a little differently.


Your talent will only get you so far, you still have to do the work. Charm and a great resume will most assuredly open doors for those that possess them. But those doors won't open if you don't know how or aren't willing to knock on them.

The ten thousand hour rule complexity (new yorker article)


While directed towards entrepreneurs I think everyone can learn something from this article. Taking risks in your career is inevitable. As we've discussed in the group even NOT taking risks is risky. (The environment you're in is constantly changing so your choices are adapt, move, or die.) Learn the value of an identity separate from work and learning to accept your own vulnerability.

The Psychological Price of Entrepreneurship (inc magazine article)


And speaking of vulnerability. This is the video that sparked my creation of the Pride, Shame, Hope, Fear human analog to the well known SWOT analysis. Check it out and expand your ability to see yourself as you really are. Understand your shame. That is what makes you uncomfortable, what puts you on the defensive. And through understanding your humanity you'll understand your worthiness.

Brené Brown on Vulnerability (TED Talk)

Agenda Item for 7/12/2013

Topic: It's your life what are you gonna do with it

"What Color Is Your Parachute" by Richard Bolles. (amazon link) is the most widely cited job search book you're probably ever going to read. If you've read it you understand that if you're working today luck played a very important and unappreciated role in you finding your position.

But what is is luck? And how do you get yourself some?

Luck is that happy spot where preparation meets opportunity. Everyone's current state of luck is different. So our first step is to map out what you have and where it's located. You may be very good at some elements of preparation and not so good at creating opportunity. Or visa versa.

This week's topic: From potential to purpose a model for becoming you. (Handouts only available to those that come to the meeting)

NEW: Refer to "DF Form 1" (link here) to help you organize your thoughts for checkin. (I use this form for one-on-one coaching)

PLEASE READ: On the 12th we DON'T have the meeting room reserved so if we can't find a table big enough to meet at we may end up heading up the street to Kakao (http://www.kakaoseattle.com/) or if the group prefers, go next door to "the Wurst Place" or "Blue Moon Burger" and gathering over a beer. (Text Duane if you get there and don't see us)

Something Interesting: Time to change the road you're on

Post meeting insights: How to approach interviews

Four ideas to help you have better interviews.

1. Come prepared.
Before any meeting do the advance work of understanding yourself and what you offer this particular opportunity. This is of course in addition to understanding everything you can about them and their wants and needs. If luck is where preparation meets opportunity, the better you prepare the better your odds of getting lucky.

2. Be Present.
The past and the future only matter as they relate to the present. The opportunity at hand, the problems at hand, the people in front of you (and their wants and needs) are the only things that matter. Listen and be.

3. Accept self.
Your Mom probably told you this: It's better to be rejected as who you are then be accepted as who you aren't.  The "perfect" candidate/job match doesn't exist. Each of us offers tradeoffs to an employer. (Every value proposition is a mix of what you will and won't do and how it compares to the next best alternative.) Those that reject you are just helping you understand your offer or evidence better. Learn from it, thank them, and move on.

4. Detach from outcome.
Finding the right alignment between your personality, skills, and experience and a particular organizations culture, position, and problems takes more than a massive about of effort. It takes time. Let go of any particular interview outcome and keep your attention focused on improving your process or your offer.

Something Interesting: 21 Suggestions for Success

Agenda Item for 6/21/2013

Topic: Learning from the Masters The granddaddy of all job-hunting career-transoforming books is the perennially updated "What Color Is Your Parachute" by Richard Bolles. (amazon link) It's been rewritten every year since the 1970's to adjust to how the job market and employment processes have changed. It includes a number of time-tested exercises to help job searchers sift through their experience and align their interests and capabilities to what employers want. Which is why it's the next book I'm tackling in my research on "career path development".

Over the month of July we'll be discussing the exercises and job search process shared in the book and figuring out how to customize it to our own needs. If you come the the meetings in July you'll be expected to come prepared to talk about the book. (Lazy don't cut it. Yes we're still a support group but we're also a work group.) This week's topic: Introducing the book. How far have you read so far and which exercises you've done so far. (No, we won't be doing every exercise it the book. But we will be sharing with each other which we've done and what we learned from doing them.)  

NOTE: We're taking next week off (June 28th) and in July we'll be meeting on the 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th. (Yes, the day after the 4th we will be meeting. If your employer isn't giving you the day off - because you don't have one - consider it a work day.)  

Other note: Forward this message on to anyone you know that's also looking for work or contemplating a career transition. July is gonna be productive!

Something Intersting: Do Something Today

Time to learn from the masters (part one)

There were 35,844 books offering "job search" career advice available on Amazon as of 4pm today. That's a lot of advice. Much of it is I'm sure overlapping and complimentary and some of it idiosyncratically conflicting. However the standout granddaddy of them is the perennially updated "What Color Is Your Parachute". (amazon link) Which is why it's the next book I'm tackling in my research on "career path development".

I encourage you to get a copy and read along. Next week I'll no doubt be introducing some material pulled from it.

Something Interesting: Find something.

As you all probably know by now, my "thing" is finding the value at the core of the thing.

What's yours?

Something interesting: Links you should know about.

Link 1: How to Read A Book A Week

Most of you know I read a lot of things. Each week I read dozens of articles, white papers, and blog posts as well as have my nose in 2-3 different books. "If knowledge is power, reading is a superpower" is something I very much believe. If you're having trouble being relevant in today's marketplace It may be because you stopped learning once you found your job or once you lost your job. This short video by Jim Kwik highlights a few tips for reading more.

Link 2: Survivorship Bias

This is a fairly long article with an important point to make. You don't know what you don't know because you don't know you don't know it. (3x fast please) Studying success doesn't teach you how not to fail. But unfortunately success is celebrated and the case studies are everywhere. The case studies in failure rarely get written about and so aren't available for you to not know you don't know about them. (That sentence made sense I hope.)

Link 3: Train Your Brain for Monk-Like Focus

Time is only an asset when you can manage your attention. Sitting down to work only gets things done when you actually focus on the work. Simple, simple. Sorta. It's often easier to let your attention go to something else. Combine the ideas in this article with the ones in "The Now Habit" and super charge your productivity.

Agenda Item: for 6/7/2013

It's About Time: Life comes first

Here's the update promised for our experiment in intentional living. Now with goal prioritizing! (If you were at last week's meeting I emailed this to you already.)

The Now Habit (amazon link) turned out to be a fantastic book and as a result the "week of Intention" exercise got better. Those of you reading along understood the shift, those of you that didn't probably don't. So here's another way to think about the idea: Pickle Jar Theory of Time Management (Brief blog post)

The rewritten "Week of Intention" exercise will be available at the meeting.

This week's continuing topic: Revising our week of intention schedules. Getting real about how we spend our time. New handouts, "hands-on" scheduling help, and support for our efforts to better manage our time.

Post meeting insights: Should I go to that networking event?

A stream of consciousness calculation that came up the other day when contemplating an invitation to attend a networking event downtown.

Play along if you'd like. Your calculations will probably differ.

COSTS:

If the event runs 6-9pm that's 3 hours - Add to that an hour or so for before and after travel and the transition time to adjust from whatever I was doing before to whatever I'll do afterwards - That brings my time cost to 5 hours - If I were paying someone minimum wage to go in my place that would cost me about $50 - but since I'm going myself there will be wear and tear on car and wardrobe (since I'd probably dress nicer than usual) - and since the event is downtown there will be parking to deal with - so I'll add in another $10-15 for that - It'll be meal time so I'll need to grab a bite somewhere and since I won't want to stand around empty handed I'll also probably be buying a drink or two, easily another $20-30 - what am I up to now? $80-95 - Oh, and then there's the ticket cost, say $10-15. This has quickly added up to an $100 investment on my part. (And were I to value my time at more than $10 and hour, and I do, the cost is even greater.)

But you ask, what about the opportunity cost? What else could I get done with that 5 hours? In my case that's a nice chunk of reading, writing, or another meeting. (Or maybe a nice long nap.) Whatever the alternative I should calculate it into the cost of going to this event.

Now let's check the benefit side of the equation:


BENEFITS:

What's the value of a professional contact (that may or may not be converted into a genuine connection) with one or more of the randomly presented people that I happen to bump into at this event? Hard to say. For the most part I've only met job seekers, muti-level marketers, and HR personnel at these kinds of events. Given that, how likely am I to capitalize on a shallow and fleeting connection with an HR person or one of the later wonderful people? So far the record has been a bit weak. So while "anything is possible" the reality is "not very likely".

In many ways this event is kinda like buying lottery tickets as retirement investing. Certain costs combined with likely low payouts.

But maybe I can fix that.


Improving the benefit:

To improve the benefit side of this equation I can research the attendees and identify in advance which ones I want to talk with. I can send them a message and indicate I'm going to the event specifically to discuss something with them of mutual benefit. I can target events with a higher density of attendees from my field or of attendees that match a particular profile I'm looking to meet.

And I can of course use the event as an opportunity for something other than uncovering opportunities such as practicing telling my story, improving my general social skills, or if I'm feeling cooped up: getting me out of the house.


AN ALTERNATIVE:

If I contacted a mentor, colleague, or prospect directly (Say on Linkedin or through a contact) and offered to take that person to lunch (or dinner) to ask them about their career development end employment experience. And If I truly listened to their advice. Would I have a higher probably of developing a deeper connection with this individual? And could I do this at a lower cost than the previously mentioned networking opportunity? And could this give me practice telling my story, being sociable, making friends, and getting me out of the house? And could this deeper contact translate into more value for them as well as for myself than the networking event? I kinda think so. In fact I would be surprised if it didn't.

Your thoughts?

Agenda Item for 5/17/2013

Topic: It's About Time: Budgeting

If you can't manage your time effectively you're unlikely to achieve your goals. People in transition seem to have no difficulty meeting commitments to others but a lot of difficulty with their commitments to themselves. There's a lot of reasons for that. Not having clear goals, not respecting themselves and their own time, not being good about to estimate the time things will take, ove-packing their schedules, and of course - procrastination.

Using a "time as money" analogy. I've noticed a limited resource is managed better than an unlimited one. Those who are currently employed seem to have less problem with time management. With the bulk of their time given over to their employer, those with jobs seem forced by constraint to manage their remaining time better. Perhaps the better you are at managing your time resources the more employable you are which limits your time making you better at managing time. (correlation v. causation - I don't know)

This week I'm introducing the start of a four week project for OCA attendees that includes learning, planning, training, monitoring, and peer support all focused on helping us get better at managing time. We're going to align what we do with what we need to do. We're going to treat time like money. A fixed allotment is available to spend and we're going to determine where to spend it so that it does us the most good.

The recommended book: The Now Habit (Amazon Link) We'll be reading and discussing. My hope is that having a lesson absorbed from multiple perspectives will draw out more useful lessons than if each of us were to read it on our own and not discuss it. (I know I'll certainly get more value from it than if just let someone else share their "lessons learned" without having read the book myself.)

This week's topic: How will you structure your time three weeks from now? two weeks from now? and next week? We're going to work on our specific plans for the next three weeks in an exercise called "Week of Intention".

(Exercise handouts available at meeting)

Something Interesting: "Setting Priorites"

Something Interesting: Don't be upset...

Something interesting: "I have a cow in my pocket"

 Fun question from over on Quora:
"What's the craziest thing you ever said (or did) at an interview and still got the job?" (Link)

My personal favorite: Richard Waddington

"I had been with the same company for over a decade and decided it was time to move on, so this was my first job interview in a very long time.  I was more than a little stressed out about it...  Suit? Cleaned and pressed.  Tie? Tied and straight.  Shoes shined.  Socks match.  Ok, time to go.

As I'm heading out the door, my daughter (who was about 4 at the time) rushed up and said "Daddy, take this for good luck!" and handed me a little plastic cow from a barnyard play set.  I gave her a big hug, and rushed off, hoping I wouldn't be late.

After several hours of being poked and prodded technically, and feeling pretty good about it, I'm sitting across from the VP of HR, a middle aged woman wearing a conservative suit, who says "I've heard good things from the interview team, but I do have one concern..."

Uh oh...

"...You look like a pretty straight-laced guy, and, well, things get a little crazy here from time to time.  How do I know you'll fit in?"

Without thinking I blurted out, "I have a cow in my pocket!"

There was a moment of very awkward silence, and I was convinced I'd just blown it, but I found the cow, and set it on the table.  Another second or two went by before she burst out laughing.

I got the job."

Agenda Item for 5/10/2013

Job Search 202: Getting It Done

I got back from Chicago on Monday and have been scrambling to get back into a rhythm of productivity. I'd love to tell you I'd finished developing all the exercises that follow on the model for career development I outlined two weeks ago but I can't. I'd love to tell you I'd finished the working draft of the marketable skills exercise that I began 5 months ago but I can't. I'd love to tell you I'd finished writing my working biography or any number of case studies I've outlined but that languish in my writing project folder but I can't. (It's not that I haven't gotten anything done It's that bragging about those things doesn't help me get other stuff done so I'll skip telling you about them.)

Sooooo… That inspires today's topic:

This week's topic: Getting it done. What have you been working on? How are you blocked? How can we help you get past your block? Resources, connections, advice, planning help, insightful questions, a kick in the butt, a pat on the back. Let us know what you need to keep you moving forward.

DISCUSSION TOPIC:  "Getting it done"

Agenda Item for 5/3/13

NO MEETING THIS WEEK

I'm in Chicago this week doing some exploring. (And a lot of eating)
So won't be there to facilitate our meeting.

If you're interested in something to think about check out my blog post:
"Do or Do No; There is No Try" (Link)

Something interesting: An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

 Bruce Mau's 1998 Manifesto that guides his firms design process and how the firm interacts with the world. An inspiring read.


An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth (Link)

Agenda Item for 4/26/13

Job Search 201

The internal stuff was the focus of last week's discussion: Developing the foundational structure for your career development plan. Who you are and what resources you have to work with. From there one can develop a plan to maximize the usefulness of those resources as well as acquire more or missing resources. I had hoped to have converted that discussion into handouts for this weeks meeting. We'll see what I manage to get done tonight. If i get it done that's what we'll discuss tomorrow. But I'll warn you it's not looking hopeful.

Sooooo...

Today's alternate topic: What's my strategy? What am I trying to achieve and what's the best way to achieve it? Arms length or up close? Job boards and online marketing or mining the network and getting known for your expertise and passion. Targeting industry, position, individuals, or problem. Being a thought leader or a implementation expert? Selling your past experience, your present capabilities, or your future potential? Strategy is about making the big choices that so that smaller executional choices are easier to make.

DISCUSSION TOPIC:  "What's my strategy?" (For this I DO have a handout.)

Something interesting: It's not enough to be busy...

Agenda for 4/19/13

Job Search 201

You know the basics already. You've sorted out your job history and identified some of your best stories. You've identified your core and secondary value propositions. You have a decent resume and linked in profile. You've practiced telling your story at networking events and career mixers. You've identified companies that you like and that hire people that do the things you do. And you've assessed the potential competition and understand how your realistically stand out. But now you're at a loss. How do you put all that together? How do you coordinate that into a overarching strategy that gets you in front of the people that have the power to actually say "I want to hire you"?

Today's topic is about putting together not a generic plan but YOUR plan. Your personal marketing strategy broken down into action items. How will you direct your resources of time, money, skills and relationships to serve your goals?

DISCUSSION TOPIC:  "Marketing Plans for Career Developers"

Something Interesting: Why HR Should Get Out of the Hiring Business

Article: Why HR Should Get Out of the Hiring Business
Those of you frustrated by todays hiring practices have lots of company. It's a convoluted demeaning and ineffective process. OCA Member Bill Munroe tossed this article at me last week and I thought you'd find it interesting too. (Be sure to read the comment section for a variety of strategies for dealing with HR problems.)

Agenda for 4/12/2013

Communications Management.

A continuation of last week's conversation:

We live in a time of unprecedented interpersonal connectivity. And yet so many of us have trouble reaching out to or following up with those we should. Our inboxes are jammed. Our to-do lists are miles long. The urgent gets dealt with while the important doesn't. This is of course partly a matter of priorities and goal setting. Partly a matter of poor time management. And partly a mater of being unclear about our values and purpose. (We'll touch on these but our focus is gonna be on the tools.)

Today the topic is simple: Managing the tools we use to manage the communications we need. Since the number one tool for communication today is email we're going to start there. (We may discuss text, social media, in-person meetings, etc. if we have time.)

DISCUSSION TOPIC:  "Conquering Email and other Personal Communications"

The power of IF -> THEN

Thought I'd share an interesting article from over on Psychology Today:

 Fear, doubt, doubt and uncertainty lead to the procrastination, indecision, and inertia that keeps you from achieving. Whether it's losing weight, sticking to an exercise program, making a sales call, returning a call, applying for a position, doing anything you "NEED" to do but don't necessarily "want" to do.

Turn your indecision on it's head by deciding what you're going to do long before it becomes time to do it.

Article: Maximize your ability to achieve your goals

Photo: flickr.com/photos/bookgrl

Something Intersting: Are you a desperate job seeker?

 

Article: The right and wrong way to brand yourself

Those of you looking for work have a number of challenges not least of which is how prospective employers see you. Hint: Desperate is not the way. This short article from the Daily Muse offers up 5 basics for brand management when you're looking for work. (Of course there's plenty more to know and do but we'll save that for another day.)


Image: flickr.com/photos/kmakice

Agenda Item for 3/5/2013 Meeting

This weeks topic: Communications Management.

We live in a time of unprecedented interpersonal connectivity. And yet so many of us have trouble reaching out to or following up with those we should. Our in boxes are jammed. Our to-do lists are miles long. The urgent gets dealt with while the important doesn't. This is of course partly a matter of priorities and goal setting. Partly a matter of poor time management. And partly a mater of being unclear about our values and purpose. (We'll touch on these but our focus is gonna be on the tools.)

Today the topic is simple: Managing the tools we use to manage the communications we need. Since the number one tool for communication today is email we're going to start there. (We may discuss text, social media, in-person meetings, etc. if we have time.)

DISCUSSION TOPIC:  "Conquering Email and other Personal Communications"

How to ask for help and get it.

Since discovering it I've been a big fan of the power of Self Determination Theory.

Self Determination Theory is a theory of what motivates people to act. A gross oversimplification is that when trying to get other people to do something for you it needs to be:

1. Something they are interested in doing because they chose to do it. 
2. Something they CAN do easily. 
3. Something that helps bind them to the people they care about. 

I noticed this very short and interesting video from the DraftFCB Institute of Decision Making. It emphasizes the second element: Making the action you want others to take be something they CAN easily do. Check it out:

How to be the expert in the room.

What do you know? REALLY know.

Those things you've studied and that interest you. That you can't know enough about. And ironically that you know so well that you know you don't know all about. That knowing that you don't know gives you the confidence to be in the inquiry state. Of being what I call "in the question".

In the context of the job interview you should know all the obvious stuff so that the only things people can tell you are the things that only they know. This allows your questions to be based on insight rather than ignorance.

The person with the smartest answers is the person that asked the smartest questions.

Before an interview, ask and find the answers to these questions:

• What do you know about the person across from you?
• What do you know about their interests?
• What do they value?

• What do you know about their company?
• What does it value?

• What do you know about their industry?
• What does it value?

• What do you know about their competition?
• What do they value?

• What about all of the above do YOU value?

Know those things and you'll shine.

A branding guy thinks out loud

Marketing people (and I include branding people among them) have an unfortunately well earned reputation as being people that only care about the surface of things. Of logos, messaging, promotions, packaging, and presence.

I come at branding from a simple core philosophy. The strongest brands have a coherent and consistent BEING and DOING at their core. That's not to say what you say and how you say it isn't important. It is. But it's secondary to what you do and how you do it and WHY you do it.

More on this another time.

-Duane

Agenda for 3/29/2013

Using Linkedin to discover your strengths and weaknesses.

Linkedin is a powerful platform for career developers.
Use it to research industries, organizations, positions, and individuals.
Compare your value proposition to those holding the positions you want.
Compare your value proposition to those competing with you for the positions you want.
Discover the credentials and experiences the marketplace values.

Following up on the positioning discussion from the last couple weeks we're going to explore the number one career research tool out there: Linkedin

DISCUSSION TOPIC:  "What can I do with Linkedin? (And how can I do it?)"

The stupid things that sabotage your job hunt.

Thought I'd share an interesting and controversial article from over on LifeHacker-

If you've ever hired anyone for a job, you understand a whole new perspective on what makes an applicant stand out—and what makes you toss an application to the bin. Fair or not, blogger, consultant, and hirer Charlie Balmer discusses honestly what he feels are the mistakes that can ruin your chances with a potential employer. (Be sure to also check out the comments.) 

Article: "Why I Won't Hire You"