“Ahh you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY, and they meet at a bar!” ~ George Carlin

“Ahh you hate your job?.. There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY & they meet at a bar!” George Carlin #BenThinks

June 1, 2011 9:01 AM via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@BenjaminMcCall

Benjamin McCall

It’s only natural to not completely feel happy with everything you do. We are all self-conscious. Even the most arrogant S.O.B.’s have their moments of inadequacy. Some of us strive so much for perfection that we are often unhappy with our own performance. But to just sit and complain without an effort to fix the complaint does nothing.

• If you have a job, even if you despise it, be appreciative. So many people would love to be in your position. For some, having no job at all is worse then having a job that you hate!
• If you are doing the bare minimum to get by… stop doing that and do better. The only way I see we can feel better about what we do is if we ourselves help change the outlook around what we do.
• If you love your job, help others see the passion you have without being arrogant or annoying. Passion can be like a virus both negative and positive. Being a suck up is not the same thing as being passionate.

If you have have an ordinary job it doesn’t mean you can’t be extraordinary at it… just ask this dude!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65yyw-zec

Be Extraordinary, Don’t be Ordinary

So I’m drinking the Kool-Aid.

Taking the whole pitcher to the head. Some of you know that I started a new job a while back. So far I am really enjoying it. They have actually been exactly what they said they would be. Not only in the function I perform, but also the autonomy and control I have in making stuff happen. I am working with some great people, downloading and sifting information from the current executives. So far, they seem to be open and ready for what programs I’m building. That does not mean there are no challenges.

Survival versus Sustainability

On that note, I also have a lot of responsibility to perform. In my 8+ month job search I thought a lot about exactly how long it would be before I would be forced to break down and just accept or go for “anything that came along.” It is a tough decision for anyone to make. In this market one that many have never experienced or quite know how to approach, the typical thought around “I will try and see what happens” just isn’t practical. This approach, as many of us have found, does not do a company justice nor does it do us any favors. But we search for hope. We do all this work to look attractive and get a position we believe will be great for us, without often thinking if it is good for all parties involved. These approaches cause us to be locked in a survival mode rather than sustaining mode. In my mind…

• A Survival mode pushes us anywhere. Gets us to do anything in order to survive. It justifies any approach and or thinking that we are owed something. Often it can make us place blame. That blame being justified or not.
• A Sustaining mode, I believe, makes us think more about the long term and how it affects those around us. It weighs our selfish needs against what is reality and often makes us think more about all parties involved (from our family and colleagues to even, in the job search, the company or agency we would like to represent). Sustaining mode is not easy. It forces us into the hard farming mentality versus hunting for the now.

For those in any mode there is always help. In the form of network groups, job search chats, support groups, etc. Yet many people don’t take advantage of them. It takes practice to build routine. It takes consistency. Many have practiced the same routine over and over. Now they need a change.

It’s not all double rainbows

I was fortunate enough to obtain the role I have. The team is excited. My boss is excited which is what helps contribute to my own excitement and confidence. And I would tell you myself, I need a lot of confidence!

With everything going well in this still short time frame, we still have challenges. Changes, the industry, and current economic uncertainty keeps people on edge. I could be excited but at the same time my excitement can also be viewed as being smug or egotistical. In that I have to be careful and empathetic.

Also who knows what could happen. I could be back where I was. Looking once again. You hope but you plan as well. Right now I have Engagement but that is not the same thing as Job Security.

I think your ability to be polished and have the abilities to interview and not only look like a strong candidate but be a strong candidate is one benefit… the actual ability and capabilities to perform within a role you obtain is an entirely different story. I believe this is why I waited and didn’t just accept any role no matter how attractive or unattractive.

Not all of us can wait for the right role, but all of us can be patient about how we approach our direction.

So what about you. Are you engaged in your role (no matter how long you have been there)? What is keeping you from being patient?

and now our moment of zen:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jXz7NrfzsI&feature=player_embedded

It is hard for anyone to use you as a resource if you, yourself, are not a good resource. If you can’t offer an original idea what makes you different?

Why would I come to you for information, for guidance, for direction on anything when I could search for it on Bing, Google, head over to my next door neighbor, a colleague, a current association or neighboring cube for the same information. In fact, doing so in those places may be easier.

But if people come to ask you for information on a consistent basis… you may have some original thoughts around your approach, industry and practice then most. You may just offer… IT… better!

It’s not always because it’s easier for them to come to you… often it’s because what you have to offer is better!

Are you better? What do you think about this?

I presented at an event yesterday, No Job Now What, that was sponsored by a local Job Search Focus Group and WCPO Channel 9. I discussed the topic of “Networking.” Now while this is something that many people have opinions on, I presented from my own perspective and what I have learned from tried and true methods.

A few people throughout the day had some perceptions about networking while also being in “transition.” Some had no idea how to create a network from scratch, while others did not know how to approach their current network and friends as a result of the comfort level of being unemployed. One comment was…

“So you think it is worth joining various groups like a job search group? I just don’t see the point with most of them being unemployed and talking mostly about how long they have been out of work..”

First of all shr said “most of them” which assumes that she is in a somewhat different class of being out of work rather then other people who are unemployed! Does that even make sense?

My response to her was … “How do you know that’s what they talk about… have you ever attended?”
Her response “well no I haven’t but…”
Me… “No… How do you know? You don’t, because how would you know what they talk about if you never attended. If you never tried…”

Too many people assume what goes on. They make assumptions about people and groups without being a part of them.

Here are some points we discussed in the session:

1. Mistakes people make
2. Do a self assessment: Why are you networking
3. Be remembered
4. Be Strategic
5. Be Human: You’re not on an elevator
6. Be Noticed
7. Be considered the expert
8. Have Focus for where you are unique in your field
9. Be Authentic
10. Be Honest
11. Update your core network: Let them know how you are doing and ask them how they are too!

I have included my slides and a video story from WCPO on my own search when I was looking for a job. Hope you enjoy.

Note on the video: I think it is funny how those reporting sound so amazed that companies are posting positions on social network sites. IT’S AMAZING>>>!! In my interview we talked about A LOT of stuff and the social media piece is all they ended up focusing on. (My search was not as simple as it sounds but it’s all good)!

(Click to view WCPO story for Reader)