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)