Accelerate Your Search™ Now

“You are never a loser until you quit trying.” ~ Mike Ditka

AUTOPILOT, cruise control and other automated systems are great tools.  I highly recommend them.  Putting systems in place allows you prioritize your schedule, giving you the time needed to complete the important and time-consuming tasks.

My life — and long drives — would not be the same without these tools.  I encourage you to seek out and use as many great tools as you can to help automate and streamline your life and career.  However, there is one caution I would share.

Mike Ditka got it right; I don’t believe you fail at anything unless you stop trying.  Don’t believe you can set the cruise control and assume you can stop trying.  You are still in charge of the wheel!  Using automation tools does not let you off the hook for the important work that needs to be done.  You must continue to identity and manage the high value tasks.

What are some of those high value tasks?

• Put the time and effort into ensuring key people know your goals.
• Be sure you know your next ideal step.
• Communicate your goals to your network and your boss.
• Keep a list of key people looking to hire people who do what you do.
• Be a seeker of “opportunities.”
• Grow and hone your skills.
• Talk to people monthly who do what you want to do next.
• Watch trends and the market.
• Create a pipeline of opportunities.
• Build relationships in various segments of your profession and industry.

And, how do you go about managing those high value tasks?

1. Set up systems to reach out and stay in touch with key people.
2. Schedule specific activities.  Example: Call EVP, schedule lunch, share quarterly results and upcoming personal goals.
3. Create a specific plan for achieving your next career step.
4. Execute one important, focused task each week.

Doing these four things will make you feel like your career is on autopilot.  It will ensure you know what you are doing each week, month, and year, to continue to move your career forward and to get the important things done without undue stress.

AUTOPILOT is a great tool — just be sure you apply the brakes (at least weekly) to slow down and take action.  You will love the results.

What’s next for you?  Is it a transformation or a simple transition?

Depending on where you live, the seasonal change of summer into fall is upon us.  The changing of seasons often encourages thoughts about what is next in our lives.

If you live in New England as I do, fall is both a landscape and climate transformation.  In my native West Texas, the change from summer to fall is more subtle.   One is a transformation, the other a transition.

Seasons change.  Jobs change.  People and businesses change.  We all grow and evolve.  Sometimes the “what’s next”  is a gentle transition and other times a major transformation is in order.

Whether you are a college senior, mid-level manager or top executive, are you asking yourself:

• What’s next for my career?
• What do I want to do next?
• What do I want to be doing over the next few years?

If yes, these may be signals that you are ready for a shift.  Here is a quick assignment to help you figure out what you want:

• Write one of the above questions at the top of a blank piece of paper, then over several days set aside 9 minutes a day to brainstorm.
• Write down all the possible ideas/answers that come to mind.
• Add pages if needed.
• Don’t evaluate the ideas, just jot them down.
• At the end of the week review all the ideas.
• Move the top 3 to 5 ideas to blank pages and continue to explore your ideas.

As you explore your ideas ask yourself these questions:

• What would it take to do this?
• What would be the impact of this?
• Why do I want to do this?

When you are ready to seriously explore your ideas, discuss them with someone you trust.  Then formulate a plan and take action to create the transition or transformation you want.

Have a comment or thought?  Post it below.

Do you have a question about your search?  Feel free to contact me.

Do you have a target job or employer?  Are you wondering how to find or increase the number of your personal referrals?

The secret is right under your nose — engage your personal advocates.

Your personal advocates are those people who know, like and trust you.  They want the best for you, but you need to keep them in loop if they are to refer you.

Life is busy.  If you do not share what you are up to your advocates may not know.  Help them understand:

• your goals
• your target companies
• the type of position(s) you desire
• why you are a good fit for both your target companies and the position(s) you seek

How do you do this?  One easy tool is an Update Letter.

As you launch your search or prepare for promotion, share what you have been up to, what you are looking forward to doing, your one paragraph resume, and, as appropriate, a personal update in your Update Letter.

Create an initial list of possible advocates by reviewing your contacts, colleagues and co-workers.  Create your plan to engage your advocates by writing and sending your Update Letter and following up.

Accelerate your search — and your success — today!

Do you have tips that have helped you engage your advocates?  Feel free to share them here.

During a recent workshop an attendee stood up and stated that if employers want a specific and up-to-date resume they should, “just get over it.”  Why?  She argued no one has time to be specific or keep things current these days.

Are there situations where your resume does not need to be current and specific?  Sure.  There are times when your skills are in high demand or your work is very well known and your resume is just a formality.

However, the bottom line in all communication is you need to address the wants/desires/needs of your audience.  If your communication tool [a résumé is a communication tool] falls short of connecting with your audience it is ineffective.

Maybe the better question is does your résumé effectively open a door and/or a conversation with someone you want or need to talk with?

If your résumé is working for you – then don’t worry about it. On the other hand if your résumé is not achieving the results you want, take a look at it with a critical eye.

Review your résumé.  If you are not sure it is doing the job you want it to do have someone else review it and offer feedback.

Do you have questions or concerns about your résumé?  Then feel free to contact me.

The fourth quarter is upon us.  And, in just 92 days the new year begins.  Are you ready for a successful final quarter of the year?

Below are four essential (albeit, a little unglamorous) tasks to help you improve your personal marketing for fourth quarter and create a solid foundation for a sustainable career in 2015:

1. Be present in the marketplace.  Get out from behind your computer and demonstrate your unique and compelling value in the marketplace.  Connect with others and offer your expertise to a person or organization who needs it.

2. Know your prospects.  Are you effectively marketing to those people who need what you offer?  Who is in your funnel?  Target 10-15 companies who could use your skills and talents.

3. Add to your value.   How will you become more valuable in 2015?  What skills could you add to your offerings?  Seek out opportunities to learn new tech skills or productivity tools.

4. Up-level your image.  Nothing stays the same.  Sustaining success means evolving over time. Review your professionalism and self-management skills and pick an item to up-level this quarter.  Perhaps you could update your business cards or resume?

Consistent focus in these four areas is key and easy to achieve by simply adding them to your calendar.  A year from now you will be glad you invested the time today.

Hope is a powerful tool.

Hope is defined as:  “to expect with confidence, or to trust with anticipation.”  Do you have hope?

I often interact with professionals who share they have lost hope.  When I hear someone say, “I have no hope” or “My hope is gone” —  for whatever reason — it breaks my heart.

The loss of hope can take one to a dark and lonely place.  It can create despair even when the world offers abundance.

To me the loss of hope means you have stopped trusting yourself, your creator, and maybe, all the blessings of this world.  Loss of hope may also mean you have stopped seeking support.  You may believe no one can, or will, help you.  It may also mean you have bought into the myth that successful people don’t struggle.

When I witness that level of lost hope in a job search or a career situation, I want to cry.  That single shift  in thinking may lead one into a downward spiral.  Or it may end a valuable career.  The result is the world misses out on the value you have to offer.

Many in my field don’t want to discuss the issues related to loss of hope.  I believe it is time to start talking about this issue in a truthful manner.

Professionals know, yet sometimes forget, our careers and lives are journeys.  These journeys are not made alone.  Years ago, a mentor taught me:  “You don’t come into this world alone, you don’t succeed alone, and you don’t exit this world alone, unless that is your choice.”

Building a career, searching for your next position, and serving and leading organizations will have tough spots.  Yet, there are always those who will help and support you.

Yes, organizations, systems, individuals and sometimes you, create barriers to truthful communication, honestly and support.  It does exist.  It is part of the world and our current system.  However, we can change this if we speak the truth.

On Wednesday evening October 1, several delightful, confident and successful businesswomen (lead by Michelle Tenzyk, a Human Resource Professional I admire) will begin a conversation and launch a movement.  This is a movement I believe every professional should know about and watch.  The movement has been titled, “The Truth Behind Our Titles™.”

Why should all professionals know about it?

“The Truth Behind Our Titles™” begins a real conversation about the truth behind successful professionals.  I believe it will set the stage for new and different business conversations.  Conversations with the potential to shift the belief that professional success requires you to hide or disguise your inner struggles and difficulties.

This movement will not only create shifts that will impact professionals and relationships at the executive level, but at all levels.  It will impact not only individuals, but also organizations and systems, as well.

The October 1 event will open a forum for conversation about professionals as whole people.  Please plan to attend this event if you are in the NYC area. Learn more here and watch for events in your area in 2015.

It is not possible to build our personal brands on a solid foundation if we cannot truthfully communicate who we are.  When leaders and other high achievers willingly speak out about their own ups and downs, I believe many organizations and the people within them will have the courage to follow suit.

As the world hears the message in “The Truth Behind Our Titles™” movement, I do believe it will create a shift.  A shift that allows for hope and a powerful model for how professionals can share the truth in a positive manner.

In Michelle Tenzyk’s words, “Hope, once found, is one of the most powerful tools.”  All of us struggle at one time or another.  Isn’t it time to share the truth without fear of unintended consequences?

Tickets for the NYC October 1 event are on sale now. You can register here: http://thetruthbehindtitles.com.  Go if you are able.

Stay tuned for more from me on this movement.  Here is a post with additional insights.  Please share your comments and thoughts below.