Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Heat- 108

OK...so now you can say it was hot. Very hot, right? ...and? As you persue your new opportunities you'll find some days feeling like this. Whether it be the weather or your frustration. Some of you were lucky enough to have an AC to stay comfortable. Some bought or tried to buy a fan.

Do you ever notice until the day of the heat we don't or can't realize we may need a fan? Then when it hits, bingo! and everyone else has bought all the cooling devices. So we grumble, complain and say that won't ever happen again.

The same kind of opportunities are passing you daily in this searching process. This is another great reason to be out every day to meet others and share knowledge, information and ideas. You've already learned many tricks, why not share them and others will share with you too.

It definitely works better with a team effort over an individual effort.

Enjoy the cooler weather!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Personal Relationships

Seeing a question on LinkedIn the other day made me think. The question had to do with "...have you gotten any business from your social networking on LinkedIn?" That made me wonder what others think "social networking" is and for.

Relationship building is all about networking and getting to know others. There are certainly degrees of knowing someone. Some people we know intimately and others not so much. Normally we prefer to hire people we know, work with people we know and buy from people we know. Even if it is knowing them a short time. Degrees!

LinkedIn is a great tool, just like websites. Some websites are more suited to sell a product or service. Most are for information and letting people get to know you.

Learn more about other people and you will learn more about yourself.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Have you changed your oil lately?

You've all heard the story from a friend that buys a new car and drives it 50,000 miles and never changes the oil, they just trade it in on the next new car. Then there is the other friend that changes the oil with regularity every 3,000-5,000 miles.

So what's the difference? The obvious is one saves on all the oil change costs and the other doesn't. In today's world though the one that doesn't get the oil changed misses out on the possibility of free updates or recalls by the manufacturer. They also miss out on some safety feature being missed which could lead to a crash or in-opportune malfunction.

So if the non-oil changer never encounters any problems then they have saved money all those years. Yet one crash or malfunction could toss all those saved dollars out the window.

As you go about your search the same theory applies to attending group meetings, networking and meeting new people. You will become refreshed (oil change) and find new ideas or opportunities (updates, recalls or potential failures) to put into place to make this journey easier.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Should you Tweet?

Maybe asking if you should get a cell phone is a better question. We don't need them as we had phones before. We even had payphones on many corners to make calls from. Remember when we were on the road we'd pull into a service station and make phone calls.

But we broke down and began buying the "bricks", first cell phones, until today we have "communicators". So why wouldn't you Tweet and join the social revolution? You can think of many reasons why not to. That will just put you behind the curve though. Remember that none of have any time for these new fangled time "wasters" but we need to make time for them. Since business and friends are using them we need to at least try it.

People all use them for many different reasons as you should. so before you just write it off you may want to begin getting versed in them and give them a shot.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

New Ideas !

Everywhere I go ideas seem to surface. Whether to the store, coffee shop, movies, Toastmaster's meetings, support groups, you name it and ideas are right there. The more we listen the more our mind conjures up ideas and opportunities.

Through these ideas people develop new products or services or job opportunities.Going to networking events, seminars, local events are excellent ways to utilize resources right there with us.

Who knows, you just might come up with a business idea on your own and follow it to fruition. Sometimes it may be easier to start your own business rather than looking for that perfect job from an employer. Build your own job.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Who wants/needs me?

Do you ever wonder who needs you? Who needs/wants to hire someone with my talent or skills? The quick answer is a lot of folks do. But where are they you ask? They may be right under your nose, in front of you. That's easy for me to say. Doesn't answer that question you have/had.

There are numerous ways to find these opportunities. The most fun and efficient way is networking. Talk to others. Really "Listen" to them and you'll be so amazed to what surfaces.

As Benjamin Disraeli once said "The secret to success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes". Listening will get you more opportunities than talking!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

You can Change Your Beliefs

In a recent keynote speech "Eight Keys for Thriving in a Down Economy" by Jeff Schneider he mentioned the above.

This is very likely easier to say than to do. For some reason we humans say we are for change and certainly understand it. Yet many of us fight it or try to avoid it. That makes it hard to change our beliefs.

I find many folks look at an ad for a position and will ignore it because they are missing one , or more, of the qualifications. Yet we know we can do the job. Why do we do this? We forget that many, not all, ads are wish lists. Many times we can do the job yet we believe we will be rejected. What do you have to lose? If you sound confident and share your scope of ability you could end up the ideal candidate. Remember that some people have all the exact requirements as posted yet they don't fit in.

Remember that you can change your beliefs about many things if you will just give it time.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Stay Behind the Pendulum

In a recent keynote speech "Eight Keys for Thriving in a Down Economy" by Jeff Schneider he mentioned the above.

Many times when the pendulum is swinging it can be to easy to get in front of it and run very fast. Sometimes we may want to think about getting behind it so we don't get crushed. The weight of that big ball can be overwhelming. I think of the one at the Oregon Convention Center. We watch day to day and year to year and see situations take hold and/or change. Sometimes we say the pendulum has swung too far or is about to turn the other way.

Therefore you may want to stay behind it and keep your ears and eyes open for the change in direction of the swing.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Happy Fourth of July !!!

Time to celebrate again. Can you believe it is July already? We do have a lot to be thankful for. Isn't it interesting that on July 4 both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passed away in the same year, 1826.
For two men who did so much together, were political foes, quarreled and disagreed then later in life reunited. I find it amazing what our forefathers went through, created, fought for and died for.
As you sit back and relax and enjoy this wonderful holiday please take a moment to remember those that have gone before us and have left us so much.

Enjoy!