Don’t get a “job”, create a life and career you love – why not?

I’ve done a lot of complaining here, but of all the things I’ve complained about, I can’t complain about my life…….. And all this time I’ve been paid to say what is on my mind on television, you don’t get any luckier in life than that.
~ Andy Rooney

One of the things that struck me during the coverage of Andy Rooney’s life and passing, was his resolute claim that he did what he loved professionally for 70 years – and in fact he did it right up to his passing at the age of 92. Some would say that he was one of the privileged few, but I say why not do something you love to do professionally? why shouldn’t we all do what we love?

Living your life’s passion can not only be extremely rewarding but can lead to prosperity. Interestingly, most creative professionals that I know, will tell you that they do what they love – why can’t this be true for everyone?

Watch Gary Vaynerchuk’s funny and inspiring video. Gary is a 35 year old New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author and a self-trained wine and social media expert, and the founder of Winelibrary.com.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) TED Talk

This video contains (mostly) adult language

Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.
~ Wayne Dyer

Have you asked yourself:  What do you love to do? What do you care about? What sparks you? Find your niche, whether it’s working for a non-profit or becoming an entrepreneur creating a company based on your passion?

1. Is there something you already love doing, a hobby? 
2. Care about your self first – figure out what you love and then do it.
3. Study the market carefully and you will find opportunities. Consider conducting a market survey with potential customers to uncover untapped needs, position yourself to succeed

I am not suggesting that you leave your great paying job tomorrow …. but really think about it, plan it and pursue it. Start in small steps, and work on pursuing your passion after you leave the job you are lukewarm about.

Here are 3 stories of people I know who are pursuing their passions:

People might tell you, you can’t do it, you will starve – well I am here to tell you that you can! Here are 3 stories, of people that I personally know, who are making a go at it in 3 very different ways.

• Molly Butler, someone I know in Atlanta was just laid off – she actually enjoyed her full-time job, but her true love is pets. This past year she started Wag & Purr, a pet sitting services she was growing on the side. Now, it’s a no brainer, the passion she had as a side business will most certainly grow and provide her a great income – because she loves it. 

• I have a friend who has been a writer his entire career – he has written for major publications, the news – you name it. But recently he started working on writing a book about 2 of his great loves – Sports and cooking.  There is no doubt in my mind that this venture will be successful, because his passion makes him a credible source, that and the fact that there are so few cookbooks geared to men. 

• Rob Mazze was a well respected Executive at a large New York advertising agency, who got laid off less than 2 years ago. When that happened, he went through a period of introspection about WHAT to do next, and decided to follow his passion for yoga, (which he regularly practiced for 20 yrs.). He enrolled in the teacher training program at Yoga to the People and is now registered as an instructor by the Yoga Alliance. Keep in mind that he went from a highly paid executive job to being a student and re-building his career and income. In a very short time he has built a private clientele as well as regularly instructing at several studios. I have no doubt that his business will grow, and if he chooses he will soon be running his own studio.  

These are just a few of the stories I know personally, you get the idea …. define yourself by your passion, build your business based on that definition and you will have an instant brand for yourself and your business, and that is something that potential customers are naturally drawn to.

Passion is important, especially in your work life since we spend an average of 8270 hours a year at work – and I will tell you that entrepreneurs typically spend much more than that. Be in control of your own future and create the opportunities to do what you love!

Everyone seems to understand that it’s important to have a “brand” as branding is the foundation on which your entire online marketing ‘platform’ is built.  But more and more people are asking me: “How can I build a brand on the various Social Media platforms?”.

Social Media is Nothing New

Before we dive into the tips, it’s good to realize that Social Media is nothing new and we all have been doing it from the beginning of time…Social Media is about connecting with people.  What has changed are the tools.  The tools now allow us to make that human connection on a whole different level…having access to people from all over the world where information travels at the speed of light!

Tips for Building a Brand on Social Media

1. Define your brand…your story
   In Social Media, your brand story appears in your bio or tag line.  Make sure to write a great bio/tag line that tells your story. 

   Things you should include in your Brand Story

   • Identify What You Value
   • Identify What Makes You Unique
   • Identify How You Want To Be Perceived
   • Identify Your Specialty
   • Identify Your Target Market 

   Here are 3 examples on Twitter community that tell a great story:
   

   

   One important note is to tailor your bio for each community if necessary.  The target audiences that you want to reach in different communities might vary, so, you have to know the community in order to speak to it’s members in a language that they understand and expect.

   Also, remember to use keywords that you want to be found under in your bio as this is how users of that community will find you.

2. Use a Great Photo
   I can’t stress this enough.  Your photo is the human connection.  Make sure that it is clear and portrays your personality.  Can you guess which photos I think you should use?
   
3. Engage with your community to build relationships
   Because there is so much going on in everyone’s lives today, engaging with the community members is the only way to stay on top of their minds.

   How do you engage?

   • Ask Questions
   • Answer other people’s questions
   • Comment on people’s posts
   • Respond to people when they try to reach out to you

   To help you manage your Social Media communications, you have to monitor what people say about your brand and respond in a timely manner. To monitor what people say about your brand, you can use Google Alerts, Addictomatic, and Twitter Search.

4. Be Remarkable!
   In order to succeed in Social Media, you have to be remarkable!  The power of Social Media tools are SHARING features, where people can easily pass something they like on to their networks.

   People share remarkable things

   People want to connect with remarkable people

5. Be Ubiquitous
   You have to create multiple streams of YOU on all the different social networks but you have to create a “HUB” (usually your blog/website) where people can find all of the info about you in one place. 

   

What do you think?  Do you have any other tips for building a brand on Social Media, please share in the comments!

You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.
~ Albert Einstein

Occupy your mind – Attracting and creating opportunity

The global “Occupy” movement has been on my mind a great deal lately, it disturbs me to the core, I understand the anger – at times, I am angry too. I am not a liberal, conservative, communist, a tea partier or a socialist, now that we got that out of the way – my feelings, hopes and dreams about this country, simply do not fit into any of those little categories. Like the occupiers, I want a renewed democracy, prosperity, and to restore “The American Dream” to it’s rightful glory.

I do not resent wealth or wealthy individuals – I like money! What I resent, and in fact detest, are those individuals and institutions who have set about to kill the dream, and the dishonest means by which wealth has been achieved and rewarded in this country, and those that made “Greed is Good” a mantra for Wall Street ……. But, I am not choosing to occupy Wall Street – instead, I choose to focus my energies on creating my own wealth …. doing so ethically and honestly, as an example to others, and supporting those who will pursue the same. 

It’s a sad commentary that the general public is actually better versed in Kim and Kourtney Kardashian’s antics than our nation’s politics ….. that has got to change …. perhaps that will be one of the things that the “Occupy” movement will achieve. But it’s time to focus the “Occupy” tactics on what is sorely needed – jobs that pay a decent wage, and hope for those who have been struggling. 

I support the intent of the “Occupy” movement because…..

1. The “Occupy”  movement is a wake up call to American business.
2. It is an escape valve for those who have had to endure this crisis on their backs.
3. Protesting is a way to generate change – we need it in order to save the middle class. 
4. It is our right as guaranteed in the Bill of rights – which includes the phrase “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

A Humanitarian Mission to the ”Occupy” movement

I have a dear friend, Maria Caso, who is a certified Life Coach and grief recovery specialist. She went to the occupy Wall Street encampment together with a number of other Coaches, in the camp they set up a table, and spent an entire weekend offering advice and coaching. They considered this a humanitarian mission – offering their expertise and knowledge for free. She told me that besides the incredible stench (this was in the heat of September) the one thing that struck her was the palpable lack of hope. This lack of hope, is something that will remain in our country’s psyche for a long time …..  

Why aren’t employers coming to the movement to get people back to work?

If I where a business owner, I would take this opportunity to go down to those “Occupy”  encampments and get people back to work, you might find the next innovator for your company right there. The occupiers are obviously thinking differently, and that is exactly what American businesses need right now – people who will think in new ways.

At least one company is trying to do something of significance to get people back to work, starting November 1, the Starbucks Foundation, is teaming up to initially fund the “Create Jobs for USA program”. The purpose will be to provide loans to under-served community businesses, including small businesses, micro-enterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, and affordable housing. 

How do we challenge other employers and lending institutions to get down to those encampments and get people back to work? …… I see this as an opportunity, that is being missed – but why? I would like to know the answers to these questions…. and I would like to see the energy of the “Occupy” movement spent on attracting and creating opportunity, and hope that the protest is the beginning of the process of change.

Besides creating good jobs, the “Occupy” movement has the groundswell and momentum to create a platform where to engage big business – starting perhaps with a manifesto of ethics and standards. The time is now, there is an opportunity to create a place to initiate the dialogue that will lead to the changes that the world wants to see.

The “Occupy” movement will be on our minds for a long time. But will camping in a park in unsanitary conditions indefinitely, with no real actionable agenda, help the movement achieve it’s goals? At the very least, I hope that the “Occupy” movement will spark the dialogue and action that is necessary to ignite the changes that will get people back to work! 

We should be careful and discriminating in all the advice we give. We should be especially careful in giving advice that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving counsel which we don’t follow when it damages those who take us at our word. ~ Adlai Stevenson

Passing on good advice to other women is so important, and I have been thinking of what good advice to pass on to my niece Caroline who is now 14, it’s been my job to do this, since her mom passed away. This list of “100 things a woman should know, remember and pass on” is a work in progress, and I hope that when the time is right it will serve her well as she transitions from her teen years into adulthood. I think it’s a good list to reflect upon, and remember some important advice…..

Part of the reason [motherly advice] bugs us as daughters is because our mothers are so powerful in our lives. They loom like giants. The reason mothers keep at it is because they’re so powerless. They cannot get you to do what is so obvious to them you should do. ~ Deborah Tannen

100 things a woman should know, remember and pass on

1. Always judge people by their ACTIONS NOT THEIR WORDS.
2. BE KIND, most importantly to yourself.
3. LIVE IN THE MOMENT, don’t waste your time on would have, should haves.
4. Don’t fear FAILURE – it will provide the most important life lessons.
5. LISTEN…..
6. HELP THOSE who are less fortunate.
7. GRIEVING can last a moment or a lifetime – it’s OK.
8. DON’T GOSSIP.
9. BE PASSIONATE.
10. SHAKE HANDS FIRMLY – it shows confidence.
11. BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR BODY – no matter what the women’s magazines say.
12. Be able to beat the crap out of any man – to PROTECT YOURSELF.
13. Know that for EVERY ACTION there is a REACTION.
14. Have a POINT A VIEW.
15. DON’T TRY AND CHANGE ANYONE, acceptance is part of love.
16. Know how to ACCEPT HELP and say THANK YOU.
17. WHEN IN DOUBT – ASK.
18. KNOW HOW TO USE POWERTOOLS and regular tools.
19. KNOW HOW TO SHOP A SALE.
20. LOVE YOUR FAMILY, you can’t pick them, they are part of who you are.
21. Get someone else to CHANGE YOUR FLAT TIRE.
22. BE GRACIOUS – even when you get a hideous gift from your grandmother.
23. GO FOR WHAT YOU WANT, don’t wait to be offered.
24. LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY, it’s OK to be different, embrace it.
25. DO ANYTHING ON YOUR OWN if necessary, and be OK with being alone.
26. PEOPLE ARE NOT MIND READERS …..especially NOT men.
27. BE FEARLESS.
28. MOST MEN WANT TO BED YOU. Men think about sex 13 times a day, while women only 5 times day – see what I mean.
29. THINK CRITICALLY and be able to discern biases and basic assumptions.
30. SAY “NO” – WITH FORCE.
31. ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
32. DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING – take the time to look at things from both sides.
33. IT’S OK TO DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE, do so politely and convincingly.
34. REMAIN CALM and aware during a crisis.
35. YOUR HEART WILL BE BROKEN, but time heals all wounds.
36. When a love affair is over – you can’t go back to being “JUST FRIENDS”.
37. YOU ARE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL, a one of a kind creation.
38. ALWAYS HAVE A LITTLE BLACK DRESS on hand – it can save you!
39. When YOU ASK A QUESTION, ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR THE ANSWER.
40. CONFIDENCE IS SEXY - if a man doesn’t see that, he is not right for you.
41. YOU WILL GET OLD - own and admire every line and wrinkle.
42. Don’t say I’M SORRY” OR I LOVE YOU, unless you really mean it.
43. BE CENTERED, and when you feel off center, learn how to get back on track.
44. SEX IS OK, as long as you are in a caring, MONOGAMOUS relationship.
45. IF YOU DON’T ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT, the answer is always NO.
46. DON’T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU READ.
47. GO FOR YOUR DREAMS – at any age.
48. BUILD YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM - it’s important in case of an emergency.
49. DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN when you help someone else.
50. DON’T WAIT FOR YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. Be assertive. Interrupt!
51. DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU CAN’T.
52. DON’T LET REJECTION OR CRITICISM DETROY YOU. Learn and move on
53. TAKE RISKS IN LOVE…..
54. NERDS NEED LOVING TOO. Look for a good man with a good heart, who is keen, clean and not mean, and generous in all things material and spiritual.
55. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED, move on.
56. SUCESS IS NOT FOREVER, you have to keep working hard to maintain it.
57. DON’T MISLEAD OR LIE  – it is a bad road to take.
58. LONG-TERM LOVE IS MORE EASILY FOUND WITH A FRIEND. 
59. Marry someone of a similar background, and with the SAME CORE VALUES.
60. Someone who cheats with you, will cheat on you, CHEATERS ARE NOT KEEPERS.
61. People respond positively to LOVING, NOT NEEDING.
62. ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST, even when you go to the supermarket.
63. Know that EVERYTHING in life is negotiable.
64. Always bring your “A” GAME.
65. LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION, it’s your internal alarm system.
66. Always keep your DOORS LOCKED at home and in the car.
67. NEVER ACT LIKE A MAN to get what you want, use your feminine power, it wont make you weak.
68. SMILE, to show joy or amusement, not to please others.
69. NEVER GO AGAINST YOUR CORE VALUES.
70. There is a PRICE TO PAY for everything
71. NOTHING AND NO ONE IS PERFECT. Even Prince Charming has bad breath in the morning.
72. ADMIT MISTAKES, make amends and move on.
73. Know how TO TAKE A COMPLIMENT - always say “thank you”.
74. DON’T BELIEVE YOUR OWN PRESS – good or bad.
75. SELL YOURSELF  – no one can do it better than you!
76. IT’S OK TO CRY. My good friend Juliette says tears gets rid of excess salt
77. BE AUTHENTIC, it’s better to be a real version of yourself than an imitation of someone else.
78. SET YOUR OWN AGENDA and stick to it.
79. BREAK THE RULES (NOT THE LAW), AND MAKE YOUR OWN RULES.
80. DO THE UNEXPECTED, don’t let others expectations rule your behavior.
81. BE UNFORGETTABLE, in a good way.
82. QUESTION EVERYTHING – but don’t waste too much time on unninportant lies
83. Learn to CONTROL YOUR MOOD - don’t stay angry or sad.
84. PROJECT STRENGTH with your body language – stand up straight!
85. KNOW HOW TO MAKE A LIVING, doing a few different things.
86. PERFECTION ISN’T THAT GREAT, remember it’s OK to draw outside the lines.
87. BE CREATIVE in everything you do.
88. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF, before taking care of others, put on your oxygen mask first.
89. YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING and that’s OK.
90. YOU CAN’T CONTROL EVERYTHING, let go.
91. When buying HIGH HEELS AND BOOTS buy a size larger.
92. CORRECT METHOD FOR PUTTING ON A BRA, lean over and grab the side of your breast until it fits properly in your bra cup repeat on both sides.
93. STAY HEALTHY, it’s your responsibility.
94. NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH A WOMANIZER, he’s too busy chasing girls.
95. In a relationship you must PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PARTNER.
96. Learn to apply MAKE-UP WITHOUT A MIRROR.
97. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, feed it when it’s hungry, let it rest when it is tired.
98. BE GRATEFUL.
99. LAUGH AT YOURSELF…… we all make blunders, no one is perfect.
100. WAIT FOR THE REAL THING…. NEVER SETTLE.

If you have more advice to add please do so in the comments – I would love to include it in my list!

Don’t follow any advice, no matter how good, until you feel as deeply in your spirit as you think in your mind that the counsel is wise. ~ Joan Rivers

When you are looking for a job, it’s important to remember that doing what you have always done is just not enough. Think it through, and then take action. After all, that’s what your employer will want you to do when you accept the job anyway.
~ Priscilla Claman, President of Career Strategies, Inc.,

OK I admit it, I don’t like looking for a job – does anybody really????

I thought getting an EMBA would be on of the most challenging things I would ever do, well it would take second place to the arduous labor involved in finding a full time job, while career slashing. In fact, my current job search involves some of the hardest work I have ever done.

People, if you know someone who is looking for a job – give them some applause, and a BIG hug …. really, they deserve it!!!

The topic of unemployment, jobs and the economy is inescapable, the subject predominates every news medium and permeates conversations – to tune it out is hopeless unless you really isolate yourself, and that’s the last thing you want to do….. add to that the plethora of job search advice, columns, articles and opinions – it’s really too much! 

Take a deep breath,

here are some tips and advice that have worked for me,

maybe they will work for you too.

Stay positive and focused – not so easy, but essential!

The MOST IMPORTANT thing you need to do is stay positive and focused. Job searching is difficult, and there are times when you will be discouraged. Sometimes …… I fantasize about being curled up on the coach eating cheettos in my PJs, watching a comforting Lifetime movie (cue music), instead of slugging away at finding a job, but instead opt for a focused and positive attitude, this is absolutely essential in order to get an interview and a job.

You must communicate:

• High energy
• Enthusiasm
• Positive attitude

No one is going to give a second look at someone who does not communicate all of these things. So really think about this in every communication that you put out there; writing, phone, personal interview, body language, make sure you…….do it!

My “Work”

I have devised a “work plan” much like a project plan, while it’s really nothing new or revolutionary, it is very helpful. When I started “the great job quest of 2011″, it was completely overwhelming – I had never had to pay much attention to a resume/CV or a job search, because during my career, most of my work had come from word of mouth referrals from my network. But I am now on a slightly different career track, and the job search has changed significantly in the last 24 months – and I acknowledge that it’s going to take all of my resources, intellect and energy to get my dream career opportunity - but it is one of the best investments I can make in myself.

Here are some ideas of how to go about the work of getting a job

• Everyday “go to work”…..because getting a job is your job for now. 
• Find a quiet comfortable space, like the local library – not a coffee shop.
• Break down the week into several “objectives” - search, network, connect, follow-up. 
• Search for job openings that are a good match, discard those that are not.
• Search LinkedIn and close personal network for connections to decision makers that can help with job openings.
• Research companies that are consistent with your core values and direction.
• Make calls to your network, persons in your industry and recruiters.
• Email recruiters with news, updates, send resume and follow up.
• Schedule 15 – 30 minute  “informational” or “scoping” calls.
• 30 minute with your career or life coach - keeps you track and accountable.

Ask for help – seek out advice from professionals

You would be amazed at how generous people are with their professional advice. Recently career coach Susan Goldberg, Susan Goldberg Executive Search Consulting, was kind enough to speak to me for 30 minutes and give me some amazing perspective regarding my own job search, here is some of her advice.

5 Tips to Follow (if you are truly serious about your job search).

1. Never waste your time sending an email or resume unless you have a specific individual to send it to, otherwise follow-up is next to impossible. 
2. Don’t bother sending a resume or an email unless you plan on following it up with a phone-call. Otherwise, it indicates that you are not interested. 
3. Be remembered after an informational interview, be gracious, offer to help the person who is meeting with you and make the offer as specific as possible.
4. Always leave an informational interview with other names to contact.  Ask at the end of a meeting, for specific people to contact so that you can further expand your network, be ready.
5. Never leave an interview without knowing what the next steps of the hiring process will be. It will keep some of the control of the hiring process in your hands and the asking itself will make you feel more confident and self-assured in leaving what can be an anxiety provoking experience.  (If you haven’t been told what next steps are to be taken, ask.  

Focus, re-evaluate, re-group = tweak, tweak, tweak 

Take jobseekers who send out hundreds, sometimes thousands of resumes, and never get any results. In any other context this would merit a change in approach, but they just keep sending out more resumes. This tough job market makes it even more important to stop the mindless application-mailing and analyze what isn’t working – because the problem might be devastatingly simple.
~ Priscilla Claman President of Career Strategies, Inc.

During the last 4 months I have redone my resume at least 6 times – and these tweaks involve heavy thinking and introspection on my part. I have been lucky to have had lot’s of help along the way, ask your friends and network for help – sometimes it’s hard to remember your accomplishments.  

Try using the STAR Key Achievements as a guideline.

• Situation, describe the situation
• Task or Target, what were the initial targets, goals or objectives
• Action, what you did to achieve that target
• Result, what were the results using specifics and measurements (if possible, otherwise rounds numbers or percentages)

And finally…..

• Be Assertive and Proactive
• Be clear
• Tell everyone in your network about your job search 
• Maintain a detailed record of all the jobs you have applied to, including communications, interviews, referrals, and follow-up actions. 
• Networking should be at the center of your job search strategy
• Get to go out there and make it happen.
• Be clear on what you want and need, you’re on your way to getting it.
• Be kind to yourself … it takes time and dedication to find the right fit.