Accelerate Your Search™ Now

If you read my blog regularly you may recall a recent post about “drift.”  Over the last year I have discovered much about the impact of drift in my own life.

This year one of my coaches, Laura Clark, has helped my explore my personal drift on a much deeper level.  One discovery in my work with Laura has been the power of experiencing the drift like the wind on my face.  I am also learning to use my own strengths in new and different ways — including asking powerful, and tough, questions.

Most people who know me, including my clients, will tell you I ask tough questions . . . and now I’m learning how to use them to help others who are experiencing drift.

If you are seeking more satisfaction, meaning and fulfillment from your career, it could be time for you to ask the tough questions, too.

WARNING:  Tough questions can cause discomfort, uncertainty, and doubt.

Before you blow by and quickly answer each question just to move on to the next task, I challenge you to pause.  Pause and feel the wind on your face.  If you are inside, pause and feel the temperature of the air in the room on your face.

Here are a few very powerful questions:

• Who am I?
• Where am I?
• Why am I here?

Do you feel the wind or temperature?

During the last year as I have focused on each of these questions in a new and deeper manner, I have rediscovered the power each question truly holds — and, the edge and discomfort of each question.

Whether you are on the edge of transition or transformation, these questions may be all you need to launch you to the next level.

This week, pause and answer these questions.  Answer them as they call to you.

Have a comment, share it below.  If the questions will serve someone you know, share this post.

Do you want to discuss your answers and how they impact your career, business and work?  Let’s talk. I  am happy to schedule a career chat with you.

Doing the work you love, living your purpose, and having impact is fun and amazing!

Ready to align awesome?

Contact me to discuss how the power of questions and coaching can transform your life, your results and your impact in the world.

Is November the new January?  Maybe.

I attended a recent event where a theme emerged:  “November is the new January.  Start now, why wait.”

While I smiled and listened my discomfort became palpable.  I started to shift in my seat and even my handwriting changed to reflect this unconfortableness.  Having used this year to shift habits of doing just for the sake of doing, I was feeling my personal resistance to rushing time.  I no longer wish to fill my days with action for the sake of action.

I was reminded of the retail mantra, “Action now, beats action later.”  This mantra and the ensuing habits had their costs, but I also realized the mantra did improve results and had served me well for years.

After further thought, I realized I had set several intentions for 2016 that I could take action on right now.  Not to rush time (the source of my discomfort), but to simply engage in action now.  There is no reason to wait for a date on the calendar.  Now is the best time to begin.

I have no idea if November is the new January, but I now know it is the best time for me to take action on my intentions.

How do you use a calendar?

The insight I gained from the October conversation was that I was allowing a calendar to co-create a start date and put me in a holding pattern for action I wanted to take.  This was a BIG insight for me.

Does the calendar put you in a holding pattern?

Do the cycles of the calendar provide a guide or a crutch?

Do you have a calling or action you could start now?  Why are you waiting?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on action and “November as the new January.”  Share your thoughts below.

Doing the work you love, living your purpose and having impact is fun and amazing!

Ready to align awesome?

Contact me to discuss how the power of questions and coaching can transform your life, your results, and your impact in the world.

Do you believe you are special?  Talented?  Different?  Unique?  Better than someone else?

Do you say things like:

“Job search networking is so overrated.”  

“I hate networking!”    

“I don’t think networking is worth the effort.” 

“I have never known someone who got a job from networking”

What are your real feelings about job search networking?

Do you believe your network can help you?  Are you willing to ask your network for help?  How will you ask your network for assistance?

Having a basic understanding and respect for your feelings about networking is important.  Think about what you are willing and not willing to do to connect with the people in your network.

What is the size of your network now?

Would you like to build and sustain a larger network?

If you are just going through the motions of contacting people and asking for a job, that is not tapping into or building a network.  It is just asking people you know for a job.

In my view, calling someone and saying, “Hi, I am out of work.  Do you have a job available?” is a little like begging on the street corner.  It sure would not feel good to me.

On the other hand, reaching out to people in your network, sharing what you are up to and letting them know you are searching for your next position is a very different approach.  This type of approach includes specifically sharing the type of opportunities you are seeking and ASKING them to let you know if such an opportunity presents itself, whether inside their company or another.  Remember, these conversations can be very awkward if you haven’t stayed in touch.

If you hate to network, start with the people you know.  Reaching out to the people you know well and speak with often will increase your comfort level.

What is one of the best ways to learn to enjoy networking?  Just do it.  Get out there and try it.  It can be that simple.

Leveraging your network is one of the most powerful tools in your toolbox.  You may be amazed at the reach of your network.  Often clients are surprised at the power and generosity of even a very small network.  You may just discover your network is more extensive than you thought.

AND – once you reach out, make a plan to stay in touch and execute that plan.  Networking includes the word “work” for a reason.  It requires some work on your part.

Have an amazing week!

Share, in the comments below, what you like about networking.

“A leader may not have answers to all the questions, but knows how to ask the right questions” ~ Unknown

The above quote came to mind as I recently concluded a call with a former client.  He called to ask assistance with a challenging situation — he and his spouse were both currently unemployed.

With both of their children in college, they are empty nesters and felt at a crossroads.  They decided they wanted to talk to a career coach together.  This was a new request for me.  We agreed to set up a call where the three of us would discuss their specific situation and goals and determine if I, or someone in my network, might be able to assist them.

Oftentimes the stress of a job search can be exacerbated by the assumptions or expectations of a spouse/partner or other family member.  Having clear, calm, thoughtful conversations with your spouse or partner is one way to address this challenge.  Here are some powerful questions you can use to guide such a conversation:

• What are your concerns about my being without a job at this time?
• What are your hopes [or fears, or concerns] about the next position I will land?
• What type of financial planning or adjustments do you think are necessary at this time?
• In what timeframe do you feel we should review our financial situation?
• How would you like to be informed of my job search status?
• How would you like to help [or be involved] in my job search process?
• How will you feel if I am unable to find a job with similar status or salary?

An open conversation does not always result in immediate take-aways or agreements, but it will open the door to ongoing conversations that will will clarify your direction and help create a vision to inform your long-term career success.

Do you have a powerful question to add to the list above? Post it below.

Commit.  Plan.  Execute.  Those are three powerful words shared with me by  Hank Sullivan.  Even more powerful is the question he asked me, “What are you willing to do different?”

It was close to a decade ago that Hank asked me that question for the first time.  I had heard the question before, yet on that day, instead of offering a quick reply, I paused.  Why?  Maybe it was because I knew he was genuinely interested in my response.  Or, maybe I had grown wiser.  Perhaps it was the tone of his voice.  I don’t really know what it was.  What I did know was that I did not know the answer.

What was I willing to do different?

Maybe nothing!  Maybe I was not willing to do ANYTHING different.

Life was okay.  While not what I hoped for, business wasn’t bad.  I had a ready excuse when something was not completed or didn’t go as expected.  My most common excuse?  Lack of time.

The first answer that popped into my head was, “What if I’m not willing to do anything different?”  I respected Hank far too much to give that answer.  In all honestly, I don’t recall what I actually replied — or if I replied at all.

What I do know is that question remains a powerful one, even today.  This one question made me realize that if I was not willing to step outside my comfort zone very little would change.

So, in great times, good times and not-so-good times, I continue to ask myself, “What are you willing to do different?”

When my results are “fine” and I’m okay with that (a rarity!), I don’t feel the burden to change.  It always come down to what I am willing to do.  If I am not willing to do anything new, the results will not change.  When I create and execute a plan, the results are predictable.  If the results do not measure up, I can easily see what to adjust to bring me closer to my desired results.

Are you fine with your currently results?  Yes?  Fabulous!  Continue to commit, plan and execute.  Your year will be predictable and your results will remain steady.

Or, do you want to improve your results?  Then the answer is simple.  Dare to do something different.

2014 is almost 1/12 complete.  What are you willing to do different?

If you want to take different action, yet are unsure what to do or if you need assistance landing the job you want, contact me.

Some time ago I began asking my clients and workshop attendees to offer feedback and share which tips they found most effective.   Below are the top five tips.  May they also help you reach out, contact and leverage the power of your personal network.

1.  Find the diamonds, rubies and emeralds among your old contacts. Annually go through your contact database.  Call people you haven’t spoken to in 3 to 8 years.  Update your data:  verify phone numbers, addresses, email addresses and organizations.  Discover what’s new with your contacts. If a number is disconnected or the person has moved on, place those people on your research list.  You might be surprised at how many people say, “I am so glad you called.”  For each contact reached be sure to note and schedule your next contact.  One contact and one follow-up per week helps you stay in contact with 100 people a year.

2.  Organize your contacts into categories.  Use your Contact Management System (CMS) and sort all of your contacts into five or six categories.  My recommended categories are:  1) those who can hire you; 2) those who can influence someone who can hire you; 3) those who can recommend you to someone who can hire you; 4) centers of influence with whom you have a strong relationship and who have an interest in your success; 5) to be determined (TBD) – these are people you just met or have not contacted in some time and therefore you are unsure of the most appropriate category; and 6) others contacts – family members or close friends who belong in your contacts, yet do not fit in one of the first 5 categories.

3.  Pick up the phone.   Allot one hour per day for phone calls.  Call those people in categories 1-3.  Be frank.  Explain you are engaged in exploring opportunities and seeking your next position and ask two questions:  Is there any assistance you can provide them at this time and what names can they give you of people who may need your assistance?  When possible arrange a face-to-face meeting within 3 weeks and secure the names of three referrals.   This is tough to do.  I know.  Face your fear of rejection and pick up the phone.

4.  Build your contact list.   What service can you provide to a group or association that will quickly build your contact list?  Who could use your assistance on a project (large or small) for free?  Offer to help and do it for free.  A former client called four contacts from his “who can influence someone who can hire you” category and offered to review 2-3 contracts for free and provide written recommendations.  Within six weeks, he had three interviews with hiring managers that liked his findings report and added 30 new, solid contacts to his list.

5.  Leverage the power of direct mail.  Mail requires thought, planning and an investment.  Sending direct mail to your top contacts pays dividends.  Unless you have invested in an email system with analytics and tracking features you may never know whether your email was delivered, opened or read.   However, direct mail that includes a strong call to action, such as, “Will you meet me for lunch downtown at your favorite deli at 12 noon, Tuesday, Oct 5 for a sandwich and conversation?” pays off amazing well and has a cumulative impact over time.

What is your favorite tip?  Do you have an adaptation or a success story?

Please share how you used one of these tips to manage your personal marketing and reach your contacts.