A Twitter colleague asked me a pertinent question about job searching. I said I would respond in the blog. Let’s begin.

5 Tips To Energize Your Job Search:

1. What turns you on? What do you love to do even if you did not receive payment. Famous Footballer Dick Butkus shared that idea with me. I keep it in mind.

Do you enjoy doodling? What “make do’s” have you rigged up to make a task easier? For example, I have kitchen tongs that lost the slider clip that keeps them closed like for salad mixing. I put a thick rubber band at the base and it does the job. Could I patent that idea?

2. What three skills can you generalize into a field you have eyed from afar? Technology guru? Gadget master? How about mini seminars to show others who shrink with fear at the thought? Local community centers and colleges offer classes. Create an outline and see where it goes. How well do you organize your thoughts? These may be clues for new pursuits. Follow the trail to the lowest common denominator.

3. How much additional training do you need to be adept at a new-to-you skill? You can be self taught. Start with How to sites the trail will be long, but you will be wiser at the end.

4. Would you hire yourself? What first impression do you make? How is your vocal tone–whiny, nasally, robust, booming? Record your voice. Most phones have recording capability today. Listen as if you were answering a phone message and heard you. What is your reaction? How is your vocabulary? Are you using bloated language because you think it makes you sound smart?

5. Dust off the credentials. Are you the sum total of a list of tasks? How do your personality and positive traits shine through? What is the freshest upgrade you have? What were life changing moments as you pursued your goals?

ACTION Plan:

Once you have selected companies to put on your wish list, respond to what attracts you to it.
Do you like their logo, colors, images on the website? What does a website or job posting bulletin say about the company culture that appeals to you?
Does the language they use sound inclusive, diverse, progressive, and do you know if they promote from within?
Keep a separate folder for each company on your computer. When you take action, record your progress.

This is a start. Please ask me questions.
Your comments and ideas are invaluable. Please share your strategies. Remember to interview the company as well. Show up curious and meaning business. If is something you want, ask for the position with examples of how you can handle similar circumstances. Good luck. Be fearless. The interviewer is scared too. They don’t do this everyday. MC

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by Coachcubas

Behavior, business coaching, change, Creative, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, entrepreneurs, Performance, Visionary

What Better Time To Be Contrarian?

November 30, 2010

Call it what you will. It cycles around every decade. AKA innovative, creative, progressive—it means you are different. Isn’t that the intention of marketing and earning top-of-mind share?

In my business coaching practice, I am ever amazed at what little people understand about the art of running a business. My favorites, the “Widget Makers,” are darned good at what they know. BUT, they are limited by that same trait. They can borrow on a bit of the vision they pour into their wares.

Being contrarian can make people feel uncomfortable because they are heading into new terrain. Isn’t that what innovation really is? Fear of failure is the biggest obstacle people face for a variety of reasons:

1. Don’t want to own the idea. (Consider classical comedic set-up when someone is about to be scolded and it turns into a promotion!)

2. Affects budget allocation next time ’round.

3. Appears not to know what was doing.

4. All of the above and more . . .

If other similar businesses have already blazed a trail, why would someone want to tread the same path? Safety in the “me-too” mindset. Then, the so-called leader can claim they weren’t responsible. It’s a convoluted way of working. Consider the inertia of U.S. Congress.

Own the idea

Put your name all over it. Seth Godin agrees with me on this. Once you own it, your more likely to attract champions to the idea. If it is so appealing, others will want to ‘steal’ it and make it their own. Good; let them. After all, innovation isn’t about our name in lights; it’s about falling forward. They will improve it so it looks like their idea!

Tom Edison Had It Right

When asked how he continued to experiment with the light bulb after so many disappointments, Edison (I paraphrase) replied, “I found 999 ways that didn’t work.”

The Secret Sauce
To put yourself into an innovative place, you only need one ingredient—curiosity. It is so powerful because it keeps you objective. Curiosity engages you and your audience.

Your Assignment
1. Write down how many ways you offer curiosity as a “pull” toward your company offerings.
2. Consider your web and ad copy, presentations and personal interactions.
3. Think crayons, paste and paper. Remember how much fun that was in art class?

4. Ask about my Legos and Leadership™ Program for up tight, Type A people ;-).

5. Paint something with your fingers. What does it “say” to you?

This can be the beginning of an exhilarating experience and can spice up your relationships, too. Let me know how it goes.

Your Coach, MC

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by Coachcubas

Behavior, Brand, business coaching, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, entrepreneurs, etiquette, Networking, social media, Social Networking, Strategy, Value, Workplace

Rules of the Social Media Road

November 30, 2010

As I have been cruising through several social media sites, I am still amazed at how many people do not understand the purpose of these outlets. The sales pitches are overwhelming. I guess the attraction to “selling” is because the sites are free, and people see this as an advertising opportunity. However, in my opinion, they would benefit by selling themselves through their messages.

Remember, the name of the vehicle is social media. Social means to engage with others. In my PC dictionary, social means “relating to the way groups behave and interact.” This is a powerful research space doing that.

Social media is a dynamic force. It is a vehicle, and it has “rules of the road”:
1.    No overt selling.
2.    Build a pertinent message first.
3.    Connect with people at their interest level, not yours.
4.    Be resourceful and responsive
5.    Entice interest with integrity, not gimmicks.
6.    Provide content.

Please let me know how you are using social media to connect with your group’s behavior, and I will post the results in January’s newsletter. (Of course, you can opt-in at https://www.positivepotentials.com subscription box.) -MC

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by Coachcubas

5 Tips To Energize Your Job Search

What Better Time To Be Contrarian?

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