Steven R. Covey on Job Security

Steven R. Covey on Job Security Ill never forget sitting on the grass at a university campus (the Quad the two unis that Ive been to have them) reading Coveys The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. After all, I was going to be highly effective, very successful and fabulously wealthy Ah, nothing like being a freshman! Anyway, there were a few sentences that hit me hard that day on the Quad, and Ive remembered them all this time (more than 10 years ago): Your economic security does not lie in your job; it lies in your own power to produce to think, to learn, to create, to adapt. Thats true financial independence. Its not having wealth; its having the power to produce wealth. Its intrinsic. Steven R. Covey, first 7 Habits book, Page 304 (1st paragraph) Back then I knew that I needed to finish my degree and be aggressive in my career. And I was right kind of. I did need to do those things, but they wouldnt bring me economic security. Here are the right things that I did that I thought would provide me economic security forever: I got a degree in CIS it was the hottest business degree at the time (and I didnt have the brain to be an accountant!) I got my MBA the only time I almost got a 4.0 (my mistake was that I made my path public and told a professor that my goal was to get a 4.0 he is the one that didnt give me an A!!) I had great job titles from programmer to IT Manager to CIO to VP to General Manager (I should have been president but the board thought I was too young they wanted me to have more gray hair) I had quantifiable results if you look at my resume youll see the increased revenue by 500% type stuff. I thought I had it all! And then when I got laid off I found out that those things were just well, things. They were important, dont get me wrong, but I put my job security in those things. I dont regret it at all, and am proud of my accomplishments But after this last 10 months, from when I got laid off, I have a new list of things that I think are uber-critical. These are things that go along with Coveys think, learn, create, adapt: Think about the employment cycle you will change jobs frequently! Ive seen some resumes where they change each year or 18 months, and the stats say youll change every 3 5 years. Dont let this concept be a pink elephant that no one talks about! Accept it, and begin to figure out what you will do during the job search times! Learn the proper principles of career management, job search, networking, etc. You should be an expert in whatever you do you should also be an expert in navigating your career! Create a personal brand, and a strong a REAL network! You can do what I did and spend 110% on your job and neglect your career. But all that meant for me was months of unemployment trying to figure out where I went wrong. If I would have spent time on a personal brand and a network I guarantee my time of unemployment would have been significantly lower. Of course, then I wouldnt have created JibberJobber, so its good that I couldnt get a job, right? ?? Adapt to the new career that is, multiple jobs, frequent layoffs (downsizing, rightsizing, etc.). I used to think that anyone that couldnt get a job quickly was a loser! They should have gotten a better degree, or they should work harder in the job search etc. I had to do a major paradigm shift when months passed and I couldnt even get an interview! I came to realize that I wasnt a loser but that I just hadnt adapted to reality! I was still on the have a great job for life and get a pension plan, and had not even began to accept todays reality and adapt to it. Food for thought. There is much more, but these are some basics Where do you stand on this? Steven R. Covey on Job Security Ill never forget sitting on the grass at a university campus (the Quad the two unis that Ive been to have them) reading Coveys The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. After all, I was going to be highly effective, very successful and fabulously wealthy Ah, nothing like being a freshman! Anyway, there were a few sentences that hit me hard that day on the Quad, and Ive remembered them all this time (more than 10 years ago): Your economic security does not lie in your job; it lies in your own power to produce to think, to learn, to create, to adapt. Thats true financial independence. Its not having wealth; its having the power to produce wealth. Its intrinsic. Steven R. Covey, first 7 Habits book, Page 304 (1st paragraph) Back then I knew that I needed to finish my degree and be aggressive in my career. And I was right kind of. I did need to do those things, but they wouldnt bring me economic security. Here are the right things that I did that I thought would provide me economic security forever: I got a degree in CIS it was the hottest business degree at the time (and I didnt have the brain to be an accountant!) I got my MBA the only time I almost got a 4.0 (my mistake was that I made my path public and told a professor that my goal was to get a 4.0 he is the one that didnt give me an A!!) I had great job titles from programmer to IT Manager to CIO to VP to General Manager (I should have been president but the board thought I was too young they wanted me to have more gray hair) I had quantifiable results if you look at my resume youll see the increased revenue by 500% type stuff. I thought I had it all! And then when I got laid off I found out that those things were just well, things. They were important, dont get me wrong, but I put my job security in those things. I dont regret it at all, and am proud of my accomplishments But after this last 10 months, from when I got laid off, I have a new list of things that I think are uber-critical. These are things that go along with Coveys think, learn, create, adapt: Think about the employment cycle you will change jobs frequently! Ive seen some resumes where they change each year or 18 months, and the stats say youll change every 3 5 years. Dont let this concept be a pink elephant that no one talks about! Accept it, and begin to figure out what you will do during the job search times! Learn the proper principles of career management, job search, networking, etc. You should be an expert in whatever you do you should also be an expert in navigating your career! Create a personal brand, and a strong a REAL network! You can do what I did and spend 110% on your job and neglect your career. But all that meant for me was months of unemployment trying to figure out where I went wrong. If I would have spent time on a personal brand and a network I guarantee my time of unemployment would have been significantly lower. Of course, then I wouldnt have created JibberJobber, so its good that I couldnt get a job, right? ?? Adapt to the new career that is, multiple jobs, frequent layoffs (downsizing, rightsizing, etc.). I used to think that anyone that couldnt get a job quickly was a loser! They should have gotten a better degree, or they should work harder in the job search etc. I had to do a major paradigm shift when months passed and I couldnt even get an interview! I came to realize that I wasnt a loser but that I just hadnt adapted to reality! I was still on the have a great job for life and get a pension plan, and had not even began to accept todays reality and adapt to it. Food for thought. There is much more, but these are some basics Where do you stand on this? Steven R. Covey on Job Security Ill never forget sitting on the grass at a university campus (the Quad the two unis that Ive been to have them) reading Coveys The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. After all, I was going to be highly effective, very successful and fabulously wealthy Ah, nothing like being a freshman! Anyway, there were a few sentences that hit me hard that day on the Quad, and Ive remembered them all this time (more than 10 years ago): Your economic security does not lie in your job; it lies in your own power to produce to think, to learn, to create, to adapt. Thats true financial independence. Its not having wealth; its having the power to produce wealth. Its intrinsic. Steven R. Covey, first 7 Habits book, Page 304 (1st paragraph) Back then I knew that I needed to finish my degree and be aggressive in my career. And I was right kind of. I did need to do those things, but they wouldnt bring me economic security. Here are the right things that I did that I thought would provide me economic security forever: I got a degree in CIS it was the hottest business degree at the time (and I didnt have the brain to be an accountant!) I got my MBA the only time I almost got a 4.0 (my mistake was that I made my path public and told a professor that my goal was to get a 4.0 he is the one that didnt give me an A!!) I had great job titles from programmer to IT Manager to CIO to VP to General Manager (I should have been president but the board thought I was too young they wanted me to have more gray hair) I had quantifiable results if you look at my resume youll see the increased revenue by 500% type stuff. I thought I had it all! And then when I got laid off I found out that those things were just well, things. They were important, dont get me wrong, but I put my job security in those things. I dont regret it at all, and am proud of my accomplishments But after this last 10 months, from when I got laid off, I have a new list of things that I think are uber-critical. These are things that go along with Coveys think, learn, create, adapt: Think about the employment cycle you will change jobs frequently! Ive seen some resumes where they change each year or 18 months, and the stats say youll change every 3 5 years. Dont let this concept be a pink elephant that no one talks about! Accept it, and begin to figure out what you will do during the job search times! Learn the proper principles of career management, job search, networking, etc. You should be an expert in whatever you do you should also be an expert in navigating your career! Create a personal brand, and a strong a REAL network! You can do what I did and spend 110% on your job and neglect your career. But all that meant for me was months of unemployment trying to figure out where I went wrong. If I would have spent time on a personal brand and a network I guarantee my time of unemployment would have been significantly lower. Of course, then I wouldnt have created JibberJobber, so its good that I couldnt get a job, right? ?? Adapt to the new career that is, multiple jobs, frequent layoffs (downsizing, rightsizing, etc.). I used to think that anyone that couldnt get a job quickly was a loser! They should have gotten a better degree, or they should work harder in the job search etc. I had to do a major paradigm shift when months passed and I couldnt even get an interview! I came to realize that I wasnt a loser but that I just hadnt adapted to reality! I was still on the have a great job for life and get a pension plan, and had not even began to accept todays reality and adapt to it. Food for thought. There is much more, but these are some basics Where do you stand on this?

Know, Like and Trust

Know, Like and Trust Bob Burg is a networking expert who is well known for his philosophy on relationships (from his book Endless Referrals): “All things being equal, people do business with, and refer business to people they know, like and trust.” What are you doing every day to make sure more people know you, like you and trust you? Your “Know” factor includes the size and quality of your network. Many professionals mistake the concept of their network for their circle of friends. While there is some overlap, your network must be much larger and broader than the group of people who are close to you (aka your friends.) If you are very well known to just a small group, that small group won’t have a large enough reach into the community to provide quality leads and information. They will also tend to be very similar to you; after all, you’re probably friends because you have the same interests or share professional history. You need diversity in your network so people can provide you with fresh perspective and new leads. Your network should also reflect the quality of your connections.   We care about who vouches for you and judge your quality as a candidate in part by your friends, your champions, and what organizations you belong to. Social networks make a great platform for letting people know what you care about; you can update your LinkedIn profile to reflect the organizations and causes you support. Your “Like” factor includes what people say when they refer people to you. Do they make you sound warm, engaged and generous with your time and advice? When people say things like “He’s very busy, but he may be able to see you” or “You might need to call her two or three times before you get a response,” they may be commending your competence but not your likeability.  Your responsiveness and willingness to give before you get will contribute to your reputation. Your “Trust” factor includes how good your advice is (how competent you are) and how people observe your values in action. Admitting mistakes and taking responsibility when something goes wrong. Following through on what you say you will do. Even small things, like being on time for meetings, increase your credibility among your peer group. How you contribute through your community service is a big indicator of how you run your business or career. Missing deadlines or not following through on commitments is a sure way to hurt your own credibility, even if “it’s just a volunteer position.” People assume that how you do anything is how you do everything. What could you do today to build your Know, Like or Trust factors?

Three Words to Why You Need a Mentor - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Three Words to Why You Need a Mentor - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Candor Stupor Inspiritor Here are three words as to why you need a mentor. They may seem a little controversial, but please let me explain. Stay with me. Im going to take a few minutes and explain what I mean about each word and why they are important to you ,,, and to why you need a mentor. Hint: A mentor can (and should) ask tough questions and hold you accountable Id like to assume that you already have at least one mentor and maybe multiple mentors. I dont want to use this article to explain what a mentor is because there are many articles out there on the Personal Branding Blog and in other places where you can find out what and why you want and need mentors. Here are two you can start with if you want a little more on mentors Mentors and Inspirators â€" The Need for Both; and Mentors â€" Both Formal and Informal The Three Words Candor â€" a mentor will tell you like it is. They will give you unvarnished advice that you need to hear. Thats the number one thing a mentor can do for you. They might be your friend, but most important they are your mentor and they have your overall best interest at heart. When a  mentor tells you something you should take it directly at face value and realize theyre sharing with you with full candor. Stupor â€" a mentor can help snap you out of your stupor. Its a simple as that. When you go to your mentor they are going to give you advice with candor turned on full (as mentioned in the word #1). And they are going to help you, inspire you, invigorate you to take action. A mentor will help snap you out of your stupor. Inspirator A mentor will help inspire you and help encourage you to do your best and be your best.  This word is not a very commonly used word (and no I didnt make it up). A little like a native American Spirit guide an inspiritor  can help provide inspiration and guidance in ways you may not have imagined or envisioned. Look to your mentor to also be an inspiritor. Is that all there is? Of course not. A mentor can be so much more than just these three words. But, I chose these three words as signposts and places for you to use as touch points as you consider how to best work with your mentors. And note I said mentors in plural. Ask your mentors: Can you please  help me with Candor, Stupor, and to be an Inspiritor? You should, on a regular basis, seek to have multiple mentors that are helping you in different aspects of your life. You may have mentors that our father figures, and you may have mentors that are more related to what you do for business or other aspects of your life. The key point is to work with your mentors and to expect them to come at you with your best interest at heart. Even though it may be hard to hear at times … they should have candor; be willing to help you step outside a stupor and to serve as an inspiritor. Tell me a story How have you worked with mentors in the past and even today. Do they come at you with candor? Have they helped snap you out of your stupor? Have they served as an inspiritor? Share your thoughts here and tell us a story.

The Best Ways to Improve Your Career Prospects And Reach Your Goals

The Best Ways to Improve Your Career Prospects And Reach Your Goals Our careers are so important. Essentially they’re what we go to school for and work up towards our whole lives. They define us- there’s a reason why one of the first questions you ask people when you meet them is ‘what do you do for a living?’ Our careers are so much more than just a way to earn money. If you’re not progressing as well as you’d like or are starting to stagnate a little in your role, here are some of the ways you can improve your prospects and reach your career goals. Think About Your Goals Where do you want to be in the future, what’s your ultimate career goal? Once you know this, you can then work out what you need to do to get there. Maybe you need to gain more experience, work towards a promotion or think about moving companies. When you’re in work, it’s easy to fall into a rut and get comfortable. But if where you are now isn’t getting you closer to where you want to be, you need to set some new goals and work out your next move. Come up with a one, three and five-year career plan and go from there. Improve Your Skills and Education Just because you’re already in work doesn’t mean you can’t improve further. Taking a course could boost your skills or knowledge, improve your resume and will give you the best chance at success. It might mean doing some voluntary work, whatever it is- put in the extra hours if you need to. It’s true that we only get so many hours in the day, so find a way to work this around your other commitments. Your social life may have to take a back seat for a while, but it’s worth it to get to where you want to be. There are many courses and classes that can be taken online, so at least with something like this you won’t have to factor in travel time to attend. Speak to a Psychic Psychics are highly intuitive and are great for offering advice and guidance on things like careers. If you have a question or are undecided about anything in your career or job role, having an online psychic reading could be helpful. If you read this post, you’ll know I called a psychic myself and had a fantastic experience, so it’s something I’d recommend if you’re in need of a little guidance. Keep an Eye Out For Opportunities When opportunity comes knocking, be ready to answer the door. Keeping a good career network both in real life and on social media can keep you clued in to when things crop up. It could be a chance to improve your skills, move up in your current company or transfer somewhere else. Whatever it is, know your worth and keep an eye out for opportunities that will best fit your skills and experience. Push Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone Uncomfortable with something? That’s great- now you know where to improve! Whether it’s public speaking, running meetings or networking, you can use whatever you see as a weakness now as a chance to push yourself and improve. If you stay within the confines of what you find safe and comfortable you never really improve and grow. Stop Procrastinating Being able to work quickly and efficiently is key. If you’re in the habit of putting things off, leaving things until the last minute and making deadlines by the skin of your teeth, it could be worth making a change. Improve your focus, and take control of your work day by planning out a schedule. Doing your most difficult tasks in the morning when your motivation is at its highest has shown to be a useful technique. Generally just being able to power through and get things done is a great way to get ahead. Live a Happier Personal Life Eat healthily, take the opportunity to relax and unwind when you can, get enough sleep and treat your body well. Maintaining good physical and mental health means you’re more likely to be motivated and work to the best of your ability. Times can get stressful for all of us at times, but developing healthy coping techniques means you’re not being burdened by anxiety or worry which could have a detrimental effect on your performance at work. A healthy body means less sick days. Find a good work/ life balance that suits you and your lifestyle. Image credits. Main.   Computers.  

How to Assist in Hiring and Screening Resume Writing

How to Assist in Hiring and Screening Resume WritingMost people think that the process of assisting in hiring and screening resume writing is a straightforward one. However, assisting in a resume writing job is an important part of being successful. It is critical to know that this process is not always as simple as one would assume.Most screen resumes end up in the trash. You can change that by helping your candidates take their resumes out for the interview. To know how to help a candidate with their resume, you first need to understand what screen resumes are.There are two types of screen resumes: home and mobile. A home screen resume is done during a job interview. A mobile screen resume is done after the interview and on the day of the interview. When a candidate wants to do a mobile screen resume, they will begin preparing their resume in advance of the interview.All candidates need to know what the company is looking for in their resume. That will depend on the business. Compa nies vary greatly in their hiring policies, so each must provide specific guidelines on how they want their employees to follow.Candidates should identify areas where they need to improve in their resume. They also need to keep an eye out for mistakes that may appear in their resume. The easiest way to avoid these mistakes is to obtain several samples of the job position a candidate is interested in.After a candidate has gathered their samples of resumes, they should read the samples over. While doing so, they should ask themselves if the candidate reads the resume and assigns the same meaning to it. Some resume examples will call attention to the applicant's mistakes. They should also ask themselves if the objective message of the resumes is clear enough to the potential employer.Once the candidates have read all of the sample resumes, they should take time to create their own resume. This is a very important step. Once the candidate has finished creating their own resume, they sho uld then go back and highlight all of the positives they may have in their resume and contact any references they have.Recruiters usually give candidates more than one resume to send out with their applications. However, the candidate should not be scared to send more than one resume out. They should also keep an eye out for additional resumes. If they see another resume from the same candidate, they should contact them immediately to find out what their interest is in moving forward.

Who Should You Listen To When Starting A Business

Who Should You Listen To When Starting A Business A lot of people find the reaction which they get from telling those around them that they are starting a business to be quite frustrating. Everyone, from your closest relatives to your colleagues at work, will all have strong ideas and advice to help you with your work. Of course, though, you don’t want to be pushed down someone else’s route. Instead, you need to figure out who is worth listening to about your company, and who you can ignore entirely, with this post to guide you through it. Loved Ones Your family members and friends will all care very deeply about you, and will want you to succeed wherever you can. It’s easy to miscommunicate this, though, leaving a lot of people at odds with each other when one party simply wanted to offer some support. When someone you care about takes the time to tell you something, you should always give them the courtesy of listening, even if you don’t end up using their ideas. This will ensure that you don’t miss a diamond idea while toiling by yourself. Those With Experience If you’ve been running your company for a few months or more, it’s likely that you will already have some relationships brewing with larger ventures. The people at the helm of organisations like this can be a great resource. When you have ideas which you’re not sure about or have a problem which you’re struggling to solve, someone who has been in the field for many years will be invaluable. Of course, though, some people will charge you for this service, and this isn’t usually worth it. Experts In The Field There are loads of people out there who dedicate their lives to supporting different parts of businesses. If you need to solve a legal issue, for example, you can  get a consultation here and start the ball rolling on your solution nice and quickly. When someone is paid to do something like this, you can rest assured that they will do their job well, especially when their employer has very good reviews. Yourself Finally, as the last area to think about, it’s time to think about the advice you can offer yourself. When you have so many people throwing their ideas at you, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your own aims are silly, even if this isn’t the case. To avoid this, you should always be making the final decision for your business. Even if someone works hard to convince you of something, it’s essential that you have the final say, as you are the one who is putting all of the work into the company in the first place. Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working harder on the time you put into the advice you get for your business. Some people are worth listening to, while others won’t offer anything at all, and you have to be able to spot this before you take on anyone’s support.

How to Protect Yourself in a New Job - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to Protect Yourself in a New Job Starting a new job role can be an exciting and positive experience, settling in for a new challenge and working with a new team of people, some of which will hopefully become friends. With starting afresh in a new place however, there can be challenges and it is important to know how to best present yourself and protect yourself in your new role. These are a few things to keep in mind until you get settled in your new workplace. Discretion is advised You should be approachable and sociable with your new colleagues; people feel more comfortable with those that make an effort and it will make your daily work routine far more enjoyable if you’re able to share a joke or two with those around you. Be that as it may, self-preservation is important. Make sure you’re not getting too comfortable with people too quickly, sharing personal details of your life or opinions of other employees is inappropriate and can cause others to feel uncomfortable. Know your rights Going over your contract with a fine-tooth comb before signing anything is very important, but additionally it is useful to have a basic understanding of your rights as an employee. Knowing what your employer’s obligations to you are will be invaluable not just at the start of your career, but throughout. If there are any issues regarding unfair treatment, for example, you will have several options. You might even have to seek advice from an employment law specialist, but it is worthwhile to refresh yourself on your employee rights from time to time. Practice self-care Everybody gets stressed and certain pressures at work can be a big contributing factor for most people. Make sure that you’re not taking work home with you unnecessarily, whether that be your actual work or a comment from a co-worker that hurt your feelings. Separating your working life from your personal life is important to ensure that you are getting the time to recharge yourself. Practicing self-care is something you can do at home which will naturally improve your attitude in the workplace, making you a happier and healthier employee. Avoid office politics Unfortunately, in any workplace, there will be certain people who don’t get along well with others. It’s a typical part of human nature, but that doesn’t mean it is pleasant to be around. On starting a new role, you might not be immediately aware of any personal vendettas going on between your colleagues, and it is smart to keep it that way. People might try to drag you into it, but if you want your transition into your new job to be a smooth one, you’ll remain neutral. Simply focus on your work and treat all of your new colleagues with the same level of courtesy and respect, despite what they might tell you about each other. These are just a few simple pieces of advice to keep in mind when starting a new job, there are other things you can do to make sure you’re protecting your best interests at work, but these are a good place to start.