UPDATE One Connection Away (Feb 14th 2014)

So much going on. OCA has been on hiatus since the end of December. And you might be wondering why.

Around the middle of December I came to the conclusion that I needed to shift my schedule toward actually looking for income producing work. Long-story-short, I applied the exercises I've been teaching others over the last couple years and went and got me a job. (Separate announcement)

OCA in transition.

We're at a crossroads. Many of you are working but remain underemployed. You tell me that to move forward you still need to develop your experience and skill profiles. That you need practice creating and telling the story of who you are and what you're becoming. And that personal and professional development is easier with a supportive network around you to be accountable toward.

You also tell me that weekday meetings don't fit your schedule and you're not able to get together much more often than once or twice a month. I understand.

One of my lessons learned from my last couple years of facilitating OCA meetings, developing career management and job search exercises, discussion topics, producing a weekly newsletter, and semi-regular blog postings is that one person can't do all this and effectively look for work at the same time.

A call for volunteers to help bring OCA back in a new form.

 
Want to grow your skills or tell the story of how you're keeping them fresh and helping people at the same time?

Meeting Organization: Organize and facilitate meetings, Research and create exercises, Coaching your fellow group members, Updating the event calendar, etc.

Content Creation & Promotion: Finding and sharing useful articles, Writing blog posts, Creating email newsletters, Creating social media content, Running surveys and studying analysitical data, etc.

Helping people in transition is very important to me but I can't do it alone. Help me out.

Shoot me an email -

Duane (The email address is up in the right hand corner of the blog)

Personal News: Duane

Job Announcement:

In March I'll be joining Seattle consulting firm PointB to develop their internal business development capabilities as well as the service offering of developing business development capabilities. (a meta role for me)

As a marketing guy focused on brand and value proposition development and having a background creating marketing campaigns, designing promotional materials, providing consulting services, and creating training materials this seems right up my ally.

However, this means I'll have less time to devote to my volunteer activities. Which means OCA needs to change (Separate announcement)

Duane

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)