Here it comes----2009

Can you believe it? 2008 is just about over, but it just began. As you reflect back on your year you can identify all kinds of good and bad. As Robert Schuller said "Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost".

Now is a good time to measure what you have done extremely well and worked best so far. As you begin laying your plans for the new year, new adventures, and especially new opportunities. Work hard to listen out there. As hard as it seems to do, when you are in a hurry to satisfy that need, just listen to others. Meet those friends and get out to new venues, networking opportunities and the pursuit of Happiness.

Many have told me that they have realized that there is actually more to life than money. There's a big statement, particularly if you have outstanding bills. I am talking about the bigger picture. You'll take care of the small stuff one way or the other. Allow that creative brain of yours get to work.

Go forth, lay out plans and be sure to include Having fun, Meeting people and Learning something.

How was it?

Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? Silly question, right? It's really not what's in it for me but more of what we can give.

As children we couldn't wait to see if Santa brought our wish list. Only to find that sometimes everything we wanted wasn't there. Then to grow up and find there is more than material gifts too besides what can we give others.

So it goes in the Opportunity hunt. We may think the potential employers may have something for us yet in all reality we need to see what they need. What can we do for them, whether it be offer our services or that of another that we know. You become an asset to employers in that way. Sometimes your paybacks may be not where you expect.

This is a great time to do research, help others and Karma will come back to you.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you.

Today is a good day to sit back with family, friends and memories. Relax and just enjoy the time. All those pursuits will still be waiting next week.

Memories of the past

With more and more seniority, here on earth, I find there are more and more memories from the past. Currently we have had some inclement weather, requiring chains or traction devices. That took me back to a memory, of being a child, at the mountain cabin in the High Sierras. Being at about 7,200 feet elevation at Echo Summit, California we saw lots of snow in the winter. As that child I always wanted it to snow. I learned early on that if I heard the whirring of those metal chains on vehicles it meant there was usually snow on the roads and we may have received some new snow. I can still here that clinking sound in my head.

So as I am driving around now most folks have cable chains or other new kinds that don't make that same noise. Yet my brain hears it.

Does that happen to you as you are on your quest for that next opportunity? Are you waiting to hear them say "We'd love to have you join our firm"? It sure seemed easier back then. So what has happened? Simply you have gotten older and more picky. That's not all bad though. You need to be picky. Remember what is worse than being unemployed? It is working where you are not happy.

So, just as I won't hear those old style chains, very often, anymore you may not hear the offer as often as you used to. The challenge to you is to keep your spirits high and trudge forward until you uncover the right one for you.

We've been here before

Are you beat up yet? Do the headlines have you down? Has it been dark and gloomy everywhere you go? Do you find your net worth is a lot less that a year ago?

On and on we can go. Oddly enough we have been here before. Maybe you haven't been here like this before or maybe you have. Either way this to shall pass. It doesn't seem that way at this time. As I look back it seems that each time this happens it feels worse than any other time. Maybe so and maybe not, the fact is we are here. No need to wait for times to improve, your objective is to make opportunities happen. Research, networking and helping others. Get out there and have a little fun, meet some new people and definitely learn something.

Are you on auto pilot?

This morning, after showering, I was squeegeeing down the tile. Normally I have a routine but a week ago I changed the pattern for a more efficient one. I noticed that when I began I almost finished before being done because my body and mind were used to that spot being the end. It interested that we could be on auto pilot so easily.

So, what has this got to do with you? Do you find that by innate ability or instinct you always go about a task in the same way? As you perform your search, gather info, do an interview, introduce yourself the same as always? Obviously it happens easily.

Next try a new, different way just for the fun of it, no telling what else you might learn.

Self Esteem

In a recent Job Finders meeting an attendee related his story of something unexpected. I had invited everyone to attend The Leadership Forum, in Beaverton OR., and he showed up on that Sat. The speaker was good and opened our minds to some new thinking.

In the interactive part of the meeting, after the speaker, we had a panel discussion and Hathaway was invited to be part of the panel. In the panel he was to describe his role that was assigned to him. He related to us that that experienced opened something up to him. It made him think out of the box to start with. It gave him a feeling of worth again, something never expected. From that experience he looked across the table and told a fellow attendee today that he would be joining him at his Toastmasters meeting to see what that would do.