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How to Enjoy Work Again
Tweet Share on Facebook December 18, 2008 Comment (5)In my work helping people create careers (and lives) that light them up, one of the ideas I use is something I call "managing your Gain-to-Drain Ratio."
It's a simple idea. In a nutshell, managing your Gain-to-Drain Ratio means bringing more of what energizes you into your life and reducing or eliminating the things that drain your energy. The more Gain and the less Drain you have, the more energized and engaged you'll feel.
You can apply the idea to all parts of your life—work, relationships, health, finances, etc.
Take work, for example. You can start by making an inventory of both sides of the equation. For the Gain, start by asking, what do you love about the work you do? What is most fun? Most interesting? When do you lose yourself in your work? How about the people around you? Who are the people you really enjoy? Are there group interactions you find especially engaging?
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How to Handle a DUI in Your Job Search
Tweet Share on Facebook December 18, 2008 Comment (16)I had a misdemeanor DUI 10 years ago and have not had any tickets since then. I was recently laid off from my Hotel Security Director job after 10 years with the same company. I have an interview with another company for the same position and checked ye s to the question of have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony. Do you think this will limit my chances of getting the job?
I am pleased as punch that you checked yes on this question. Many people would have checked no, assuming it was so long ago that no one would find out about it. While that's possible, companies run background checks on people and it's unlikely. (And companies should run background checks. It's inexcusable not to.) Better to admit your faults up front. If you checked no and then they ran the background check, I can guarantee you wouldn't get the job.
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What to Say When You’re Laid Off
Tweet Share on Facebook December 17, 2008 Comment (4)More than 1 million people have been laid off this year. If you are one of them and you're looking for a new job, good luck—and remember these five important things:
1. Before you hit the job-hunting trail, find a way to come to terms with your emotions. People, including employers, are repelled by anger, bitterness, or self-pity. You may well feel it. Just don't display it.
2. In your cover letter or résumé, you don't need to point out that you were laid off. So many people are in your same boat that the fact that your last job ended three months ago is not going to harm your prospects at this point.
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Bernard Madoff: Big Whoop
Tweet Share on Facebook December 16, 2008 Comment (7)I am of a certain age where I am no longer surprised by much that gets reported. The Siemens bribe scandal? Big whoop. Governor Blagojevich? What, you thought this stuff didn’t happen? Bernie Madoff allegedly swiping $50 billion? Shocking, but am I all breathless? No. Even Minnesota boy Tom Petters, who is accused of ripping off people off to the tune of $3 billion? Surprised me only slightly.
You understand, don’t you, that this kind of thing has happened before? Different players, different amounts, different circumstances. But we've been there.
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How a Cover Letter Can Make the Difference
Tweet Share on Facebook December 15, 2008 Comment (21)I'm continually surprised by the number of people who either don't submit a cover letter with their résumé at all or who submit a generic form letter. I generally assume these applicants are just résumé-bombing, applying to such a wide range of jobs that they can't possibly tailor their applications to each job. I don't want these applicants; not only are they ignoring instructions in their very first contact with me, but I want applicants who are interested in this job, not a job.
A cover letter is where you make a compelling case for yourself as a candidate, totally aside from what's in your résumé. The first thing you want to do is tailor it to the specific job you're applying for and, if possible, the specific company. Yes, it takes a lot longer than sending out the same form letter over and over, but a well-written cover letter that's obviously individualized to a specific opening is going to open doors when your résumé alone might not have. These account for such a tiny fraction of applications that you'll stand out and immediately go to the top of my pile. And I'll give you an extra look, even if your résumé isn't stellar.
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When You're Blocked By the Office Bureaucrats
Tweet Share on Facebook December 12, 2008 Comment (3)Regardless of your rank, you should never underestimate the power of others to circumvent, delay, and block your decisions.
Some classic bureaucratic smothering techniques are:
Mistakes. “The plans for the kick-off were sent to Brussels instead of the Boston office. Don’t worry, we’ll get matters straightened out.” Eventually. -
Why the Holiday Party Is Not a Party—It’s Work
Tweet Share on Facebook December 11, 2008 Comment (4)It's the time of year for
Christmas HolidayWinter Parties! (I mean, seriously—besides skiers—who celebrates winter? With lights and trees? Geesh.) This means you may have a company party to attend.Yeah! Free food and alcohol! Prepare to gorge yourself and get plastered!
Or not.
I have my cardinal rule of work: When you are with people you work with you are at work. Got that? It doesn't matter if the party is being held in the company cafeteria or the local Holiday Inn. If there are people from work there, it is a work event, and you should behave accordingly.
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How to Believe in Your Success and Manage Risk
Tweet Share on Facebook December 11, 2008 Comment (2)So much of the quest for success is mental. Our mind can be either our best ally or our worst enemy.
One of the best examples I know of the power of a positive mental approach is my friend Erden Eruc (I mentioned him before in this post on overcoming obstacles). Earlier this year, he spent a world-record 312 days rowing across the Pacific.
Today, he is in Manila, Philippines, preparing to pick his row up where he left off on his quest to circumnavigate the world by human power. I talked to him recently about a stretch of his upcoming row that would be particularly dangerous and challenging. That in turn sparked a conversation about the mental aspect of what he is doing.
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Looking for Joy on the Job (Even in a Recession)
Tweet Share on Facebook December 10, 2008 Comment (4)Is asking for joy at your job asking for too much?
You might think it is. You might say, "What kind of Pollyanna BS is this?"
But you're forgetting for the moment how important joy is. Yes, you can live without it for a while. But imagine yourself in 30, 40, or 50 years. Do you want to look back on a lifetime of arid, cheerless work?
That's why today's meditation is about finding joy on the job. Yes, even in a recession.
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When HR Is Bad PR
Tweet Share on Facebook December 9, 2008 Comment (5)HR, PR. PR, HR.
Most of the time, PR departments have it pretty easy. Press release here, a photo opportunity there. I understand that there are skills that good PR people bring to the team. But . . .
The latest example of poor PR was the auto executives' flying three separate corporate jets to D.C. to beg for our money.
This is not intended to be a "bash the PR guy rant," but something else is happening in the bowels of your company—this time in HR—that has a similar potential to bite you where the sun doesn't shine.
If you have a company of over 100 people, chances are good that you are getting a LOT of résumés now. Almost all of them are unsolicited . . . so your HR department, having much better things to do, is ignoring them and throwing them away.
