The Career Coach

Are you stuck in your career?

2007-03-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

This past week we had a terrible snowstorm in Toronto. I went for a quick walk at lunch, grabbed a coffee and went up to my office which is on the 19th floor. From my office, you can see right down Yonge Street. It was an amazing sight and within 20 minutes we were in the midst of a blizzard. As the afternoon marched on, I watched the traffic with curiosity. I had a dinner later that night so there was no rush to leave early, however, I noticed that everyone else was leaving. When you combine everyone leaving the office early in the midst of a full on blizzard the end result is a lot of people getting stuck in traffic.

Fast forward to 7:15 PM in my office. I was getting on the elevator with one other person. I mentioned that he was leaving late and he said, “Yes, there was no point leaving early, I would just have been stuck in traffic”. Why do we follow the crowd? Well, I think it is a few things - momentum and fear. If everyone else is leaving, I guess I should too! What will others think? Maybe it will get worse!

Think different.

Apple is one of my favorite brands. For many years their tagline was "think different". This gentleman was thinking different. Rather than going with the crowd, he left later and probably got home about 15 minutes later than those who left the office 3 hours earlier. I rustled up Apple’s original campaign. Here is some of the text.

Here's to the crazy ones: The misfits; The rebels; The troublemakers; The round pegs in the square holes; The ones who see things differently - They're not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo.

In 1997, Steve Jobs came back to Apple as CEO. Apple’s sales had dropped by 50% and one of the key things he observed was they needed to "think different". “We need to focus on what we can do, not how we can compete against Microsoft". Just like the gentleman on the elevator who thought, why compete against everyone else? Why not take my own way home? Do you feel like a round peg in a square hole? What can you do to start the journey of being different? Great companies and individuals can get trapped by thinking like the market. Before you know it, you are a square peg! There is a risk, but my experience with clients is in a majority of cases, thinking differently will result in a more successful career, more fun and you will probably get home before your neighbor!

This months draw is for a signed copy of my new book which is coming out soon. (Chapters/Indigo) Share some of your "Think Different" moments in my blog ..

Along the road with you,

My breakfast with Bill Gates

2007-03-01T17:57:00.000-08:00

Last week I had breakfast with Bill Gates. Myself and 2223 other people had double lattes and stale donuts as he shared the state of the digital world. To be frank, I didn't know what to expect so I thought this was a terrific opportunity to get to hear this person who has impacted our world in a very substantive way. Whether you agree with Microsoft’s business practices or not, the impact that Bill Gates has had is incredible and getting to spend breakfast with a billionaire is a good way to start your day.

There were a few observations that I thought I would share.

Billionaires get nervous too - There was some trouble with his wireless mike (not a software problem). He was definitely thrown off his game at the start but once they got him a new mike he quickly got back on track.
Big breakthroughs are based upon little breakthroughs - This also applies in our careers. It is typically a series of little breakthroughs that opens the door for the great leaps.
Professional and personal convergence - Just as the world of technology has bridged all elements of our lives, so is the case in our careers. When our personal and professional lives become more aligned, this creates what I call a sweet spot.
The digitized economy - The world is a very seamless place so we can work anywhere, anytime and get paid on line. I think that is cool.
Power to the user - If you notice the big technology hits, they are enabling users to have more input and control. This is similar to our careers. We have more power and we need to learn how to use this responsibly!

The one thing that made the most impression on me was his optimism. He is very practical and acknowledged the challenges in the world but was really excited about the next 10 years in our world. If you think of the demands and the complexity of his life and the challenges that he is a part of, you might think he would be more critical. His authentic optimism is the big thing that I will take away from my morning with Bill.

Along the road with you,
Alan Kearns

P.S. Visit our new podcast site (http://www.careerjoy.com/index.php?q=podcast) and let us know what you think!

7 Ways Your Company Can Revitalize Your Career

2007-02-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

We have been discussing the research from Harvard over the past two weeks. This is the final piece for this 3 part series. See last weeks 7 habits of ineffective careers by viewing the posting below.

Here are 7 possible answers that organizations can use to revitalize your career:

Remove barriers - Managers need to be encouraged to stop blocking employees and remove internal hiring bureaucracy

Find the B players and nurture the keepers - They may not desire the executive suite but have a lot of internal knowledge and loyalty

Fresh assignments - Offer a different geographic location or part of an organization to offer lateral moves

Offer a mentoring program - This works bi-directionally. It impacts both the mentor and the less experienced

Education - Doing an MBA or taking an executive program adds more to your toolkit and is great for your mind

Sabbaticals - From micro to 1 year off, it is great for your sole and your soul

Leadership development - Training to help nurture and develop the skills and talents towards great leadership

Bonus idea:

Volunteering and contributing to others in need brings everything into perspective - everyone wins.

These are all great ideas. Organizations are complex. I think what will separate the good from
the great employers is their ability to utilize all 7 of these elements within their organization.

P.S. Next week I will be sharing my Breakfast with Bill Gates

This week's 10 Minute WORKout:

What is one action that you could take to revitalize your career situation?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

What does your career report card say?

2007-02-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

Our children brought home their report card in the last week. We are very fortunate that they both generally enjoy learning and are doing well in school. Overall, they both did great even though there were some areas that they wanted to improve upon in the next term. Ah, report cards. All of us have had good and challenging experiences with this. Report cards are important as they give us some data and feedback on how we are doing. They point out where we are doing well, and what we can focus on to improve. I recently was doing some research on issues around the midpoint of a professional’s career. They call this group the “middlescence”, also known as mid-career "restlessness”. I came across a great article on this subject published by Harvard Business School. The study is based upon a survey of 7,700 workers aged 35-54 conducted in 2004 by the Harris Interactive group.

The mid level career report card results:

25% have managerial responsibility30% put in 50 hours a week or more at work

43% feel passionate about their jobs33% feel energized by their work

36% felt they are stuck40% report feelings of burnout

33% agrees in top management integrity

25% disagree on the corporate HR policy

20% are looking for a new role

20% are looking for a major career change

This is not a great report card. I am not being negative, however, my perspective is that we live in very complex times in the workforce. There are many shifts occurring at the same time - globalization, technology, time famine, speed of response and the level of competition. You combine this with external focuses such as aging parents, debt load and a more fearful world, and lack of trust in government and authority in general. Let me say that I am a pragmatic optimist. I still think there are terrific opportunities and that the world of work is a worthy place to extend our talents and passions. I also know that we live in a far more complex and dynamic world. Like most report cards, it is a wake up call to determine where we are at and what actions we need to take to improve upon. Next week I will be sharing the 7 key elements that keep us stuck in this negative cycle.

Visit us at www.careerjoy.com to check out our new web site, and give us your report!

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Are you getting a good return on your career?

2007-02-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

This past week I was invited by my accountants Steve and Mark (we all need a great accountant on our side) to a hockey game. It was fun being in the box, eating chicken wings and other totally unhealthy food choices for one evening, not to mention the hockey game was pretty good also. I had the opportunity of chatting with a number of professional money managers.

Over this past while, I have begun to be a fan of bank stocks. Over the past 10 years, the average rate of return on bank stocks has been 15%, and they pay a dividend. A friend of our family was very senior with one of the banks. His word of advice; don't keep your money in the bank, keep it in the banks’ stock!

No, I am not shifting to becoming a financial planner, however, there are many parallels to getting a good return on your career investment. The key with investing your hard earned money is to act, not react.

Ever gotten a hot stock recommendation? Did you react? How much is that money worth now? That is my point. When we react to the market vs. act, we tend to make poorer financial decisions. Think Nortel, BreX etc. Ever got a hot career "tip" or call out of the blue by a recruiter? Did you react or act?

React: to return an impulse or impression

Act: the process of doing something

When we act with our investments, we have a plan and are taking action with our money. It usually involves a process and a clear sense of why we are investing, what we are investing in, and all the risks and upsides. When we react, we are responding to outside forces often without a process, a plan, and a clear sense of what we want and often out of emotion and momentum.

Over 50% of professionals have a financial planner. Why? Because it is wise. They provide a process, expertise, and ideally are not emotionally tied to the outcome. The other reason, the industry has done a terrific job marketing and delivering value to their clients.

The average professional will earn $3 million dollars in their career. What is your career game plan? With a plan, you reduce reaction to outside forces, you increase your likelihood of great decisions and, quite frankly, it puts you much more in control! Am I persuading you to seek me out to create a plan with you? Absolutely! However, I am doing this because I have seen the results of a well thought out career plan. It makes all the difference in the world to book a consultation. Simply visit us online at www.careerjoy.com.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Work place stress

2007-01-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a really stressful day at work? Now be honest. It is interesting - I have found in what I do, some days you just can't do anything wrong and, if you are fortunate, you will have very few high stress days at the office.

Here are some interesting facts from an IPSOS-Reid poll on stress-related incidents in the Canadian workforce:

12% of employees have kicked or hit the photocopier;

30% seriously wanted to;

30% are more likely to hit it if they have a post secondary education;

They are twice as likely to hit the photocopier if they are affluent;

40 km per year is the distance employees walk to the printer/photocopier.

(Those polled include just as many women as men)

I would hate to ask stats on printers! Unlike the Maytag man, the Xerox repair guys are busy dealing with the fallouts.

For every problem there is someone out there who is making a living. Workplace stress is a $300 billion a year problem within the corporate world, from stress related illness to lack of productivity. Thank goodness there are lots of thick skinned photocopiers hanging around the office. The key is to find one in a slightly dark, low traffic zone - and please don't use black shoes! In my opinion, it is better than kicking your boss or co-worker. You would most likely have to explain that one.

Here are some healthier ways to deal with your work stress:

1. Time out: Sometimes you need to get away from the office for a bit.

2. Read Dilbert: Scott Adams has an amazing way to put work into perspective.

3. Talk: It is a great way to get it out of your system and not carry the frustration.

4. Exercise: A proven way to reduce your blood pressure and work out the frustrations.

5. Get a dog: They keep everything in perspective.

Send me your stress stories (good and bad) at alan@careerjoy.com. We will have a draw for a copy of The Canadian Job Search Kit.

If you are feeling the itch to go a couple of rounds with the machine next door, give us a call. It's never too late to have a happy, low stress career!

This week's 10 Minute WORKout:

Get down to your favorite coffee hangout and treat yourself to a double stress free, non boss,extra long break!

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

CEO of RIM shares his career "secrets"

2007-01-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

In last week’s WORKout I wrote about Lister Sinclair, and how he described his work at CBC Radio as a trip to the “fun factory” (if you missed last week’s WORKout, visit us online at http://thecareercoach.blogspot.com/2007/01/is-your-job-fun-tgim.html). Lister had the TGIM (Thank Goodness it’s Monday) syndrome.

At the end of the article, I mentioned that I had 3 ideas on how to find your very own “fun factory”. I must admit that I got these three ideas while sitting at the feet of Jim Balsillie, Research in Motion Chairman and Co-Ceo (well, maybe not his feet, but from a conversation that we had)! Here are Jim's 3 tips on having a great career:

1. Realise that you have choice: Jim says that "most obstacles are self-imposed - far more than we could realize". Many people talk about work in terms such as "Golden handcuffs". This speaks to their belief that they don't have control over their situation. Self-imposed views about choice can either help you or hurt you - you choose!

2. Be optimistic: "If you see the world as a dangerous place, you'll find danger. If you are optimistic, you'll find reasons to be", says Jim. Research proves that how you view the world of work is directly related to your ability to be happy and successful. This is not to say that you should ignore problems. I personally am a pragmatic optimist – I look for great, not perfect!

3. Be true to your values: "Real success is a matter of balance, balancing what you value and not the other way around". In the world of work there is constant tension between what others want and what you can live with. Bosses, managers, partners and coworkers all have their own agendas and, quite frankly, their ideas can often be out of line with your values. It is key to know what you value, and not to let external elements fundamentally shift your view.

One last pearl of wisdom from Jim Balsillie:

Accept Career Seasons: "It’s inevitable that careers will have highs and lows". I don't think Jim could have said it any better. We need to recognize that fun is not going to happen every day. It is when we can deal with all of the “seasons” in our career that we ensure sustainability.

This week's 10 Minute WORKout:

What would be your answer to the three principles?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Is your job fun (TGIM)?

2007-01-11T14:15:00.000-08:00

Did you wake up this morning, and couldn’t wait to jump out of bed, finish your morning routine and rush off to work (TGIM - Thank Goodness It’s Monday) ? Do you look forward to getting to your office, smelling the fresh coffee, and seeing the smiling faces around your cubicle?

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This past week I was listening to a podcast on CBC Radio about Lister Sinclair. Lister used to be a producer for one of the more interesting radio shows, Ideas. Ideas, to me, was like a Dr. Seuss book - the subjects ranged from A to Z and everything in between. Lister died at the age of 85, after having contributed to the broadcasting field for 60 of those years. One particular statement caught my ear; Lister called his work "The fun factory". Those two words are rarely heard together.

Fun: The therapeutic refreshment of one's body or mind.

Factory: The place to gather and concentrate resources — workers, capital and plant.

Lister had the “TGIM” bug. For most people, fun is reserved for the weekend, hence the widely accepted term “TGIF”, or “Thank Goodness It’s Friday”. The weekend is when you have fun and rejuvenate, in order to enable you to get through the week.
Is it possible for work to be like this? I believe it is possible. I calculated that if just 10% of the working population felt that way, 20 million people went to their "fun factory" this week. Yes, it is a small percentage, however, that is still a heck of a lot of people who are on the right track.

Lister had fun and we all benefited from this. When you are having fun, you are 60% more likely to have a long and healthy life.

Next week I will share 3 ideas on how to find your very own "fun factory". If you can't wait until next Friday, then visit us online at www.careerjoy.com to book a consultation. Life is too long and too short to spend it any other way!

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

This week's 10 Minute WORKout:

How would you describe your "Fun Factory"?

Mel Gibson's advice for the New Year.

2006-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about the concept of the New Year, when I noticed pictures of four famous people on the front page of The National Post - Michael Richards, Mel Gibson, Congressman Mark Foley, and soccer star Zinedine Zidane. I am sure those four people would never have anticipated the events and choices they made in 2006, and the impact those choices would have on them both personally and professionally.

I wonder what this year has been like for you. You may be feeling quite discouraged about where you are ending the year at. Perhaps you have had some major setbacks, or, maybe, this is the best year that you have ever experienced in your professional life.

New Year is a unique phase. As we flow from one year to the next, it can feel like visiting the bank and finding a full account balance - 365 flawless days ahead! The word “end” comes from the Latin word “finis”, from which the word “finish” originates. I like that word, “finished”. I am in the midst of completing the final editing of my book, ”The Right Job, Right Now!” (coming in February to a bookstore near you!). It feels good to finish a project.

This year is almost finished - for Mel Gibson and the others, I am sure they are glad this year has ended for them. It is a chance for each one of them to start anew. If you look up the word “new” in the dictionary, you might find this phrase; “in original condition, refreshed, renewed and revived”. That is what is so terrific about January 1, 2007 - you and Mel and I are all starting the new year with the wisdom of our past successes and failures. It's the opportunity to start again. We all need that. 2007 is the option for you to renew your career, so choose wisely.

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

What are your top 3 successes this past year? What are your top 3 failures? What did you learn from them?

How to make a great career decision

2006-12-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

Here are my final two thoughts on how to make great career decisions:

Point #2: Be true to you

This past week, Time magazine announced their “Person of the year” award (drum roll please) - YOU! Their reasoning is the explosion of platforms such as YouTube, whose motto is ”Broadcast Yourself!”, and MySpace, which provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase themselves.

I think the need that these online communities are meeting is the need for self-expression and acceptance. They provide a place for the individual to have a voice in a world that is growing more homogeneous.

I often hear people say they made a career decision based on the opinions or wishes of someone else. I am not trying to imply that you should ignore the needs of others or disregard their advice about your choices; however, you need to remember that your primary needs are at stake. Your employer hasn't hired your Mom/Dad/Partner/Best friend, they hired YOU. When you are fully present in everything you do, and you are true to your core needs, everyone wins.

Point #3: Trust your gut

Starbucks is one of the great global brands. Whether you agree with everything they do or not, you cannot argue with their success. One of their secrets is that they refuse to conduct focus groups. Howard Schultz, the founder of the company, decided to sell The New York Times in the stores. Why? Because "it felt right". The senior executives make big decisions based on their gut instincts. Pay attention to your gut, it is the final and most accurate "tool" we have. Trust yourself - in most cases you are correct.

As I sit here in Toronto writing this week’s WORKout, I can hear the Salvation Army Band playing Christmas songs. This is what makes this time of year great - how often do you get to hear that kind of hope on Yonge Street? There is something comforting in knowing that this season is about family, community, hope, and the reality of faith in people’s lives. My own hope is that you experience this kind of comfort over the Christmas season.

This week’s 10 minute WORKout:

Think about a time when you made a great decision. How did you use your gut?

P.S. Thanks for the overwhelming response regarding the last WORKout. Congratulations to Paria and Michael McClure, our winners of the draw for Dr Frankl’s book.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Choices and meaning

2006-12-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

I am curious - did you happen to scan the gum counter this week at your local grocery store? You may have noticed 3 new flavours have been introduced since last week’s WORKout. Let’s just say that the new banana flavour is, well, interesting.

Last week we discussed the whole concept of choice and making decisions. We looked at the first principle of ”the why”. I mentioned that I would discuss two more principles; however, I happened to pick up a new book last weekend titled ”Man's search for meaning”, and it’s taken me a bit off track.

I am not sure if you have heard of this book, but it has sold over 12 million copies. The author, Viktor E. Frankl, was a psychiatrist who spent the years from 1942 to 1945 as a prisoner in a concentration camp. This book is about his thoughts coming out of this horrendous experience. Dr. Frankl observed that prisoners of the camp who found purpose and meaning despite (or because of) their suffering were the ones who were able to deal with and overcome the hell that they were part of. Essentially, they discovered or renewed their sense of "why". These observations ran contrary to Freud's theory, which holds that our primary driver is pleasure.

Dr. Frankl’s theory became known as Logotherapy, the three key ideas being:

1) Life has meaning under all circumstances - even the most miserable ones.

2) Our main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life.

3) We have freedom to find meaning in what we do, and what we experience, or at least in the stand we take when faced with a situation of unchangeable suffering.

Some of you who are reading this may find yourselves in a really terrible situation at work. Perhaps your experience can provide you with the opportunity of clarifying the meaning and purpose of your work, like it did for Dr. Frankl. Our work is not the sole purpose in our lives, but it is a key part of the puzzle. I believe our work should be in alignment with our purpose. Only then can we truly be ourselves, and feel fulfilled. This is not simple, however, like the 3rd point of Logotherapy, we do have the freedom in our lives to choose the path towards this goal.

Please send your thoughts about this topic to me at alan@careerjoy.com. We will be having a draw for 3 copies of Dr Frankl's book.

This week’s 10 minute WORKout:

Take ten minutes to delve deeper into Logotherapy. Here’s a link to get you started: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logotherapy.

P.s I couldn't avoid a Christmas plug this week. Are you overwhelmed with what to get that special person for Christmas? Why not get them the gift of a better future - from resume to coaching to one of our programs. It's unique and personal, and will be the gift that keeps on giving. Send us an email, heck, it's one less decision to make!

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Too many choices?

2006-12-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

On the same floor in our Toronto office is Cadbury Schweppes (they own a number of brands you would recognize, including Dentyne). Recently, I entered the elevator at the same time as one of their staff. I asked her how business was doing. She expressed that overall things were good, however, one of their new products in the “gum” line was not doing as well as expected. As we were chatting, I told her that my problem with gum is that there are too many choices - maybe they should consider less choice, not more.

Have you ever felt confused at the gum counter? When I was growing up, it was between Juicy Fruit, Double Bubble, and maybe 6 or 8 additional choices. It was a fairly simple decision to make. Now, it is high anxiety gum choice - what if I don't like it? Will it really make my teeth white? AND it cleans my breath! WOW, do you have that in peppermint chocolate flavour?

Choices were not something that Henry Ford gave his clients when he was selling the Model T (I think I will take it in black!). Barry Schwartz has written a great book on this whole issue, titled "The Paradox of Choice". His premise is that while we have more choices, we seem to be less satisfied. More choice creates new problems.

This is a key issue with most professionals who are doing well in their careers; ”Should I be a VP, or should I go and get an MBA? Should I start my own company, or should I buy a franchise?”. Thirty years ago, you didn't have the range of choices you have today.

So how do you choose? That is the million dollar question. I have 3 rules to suggest when attempting to decide :

Rule #1 Know the why

In the midst of the decision making, it is easy to get caught up in the momentum of all the choices, and lose perspective of why are you have started down the path. Why are you at this decision point? Why do you need to make a decision? Is the anchor, the why, a short term reaction? Do you need more money, or is it that you really don't like the environment? Be sure to take the time to understand why you are at this point and why you need to make a decision.

I will share points 2 and 3 with you next week. Until then, I would recommend choosing Double Bubble (regular flavour)!

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

Spend ten minutes writing down the reasons that you are motivated to take action on a career decision.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

How good are you at evaluating risk?

2006-11-30T11:49:00.000-08:00

One of the most common questions my clients ask is; “How do I choose well?”. They want to know how to evaluate the opportunities that are presented to them, and how to weigh their options. You and I make decisions every day, from whether or not we should drink another cup of coffee (”how many have I had? is that good for me?”), to whether or not we should accept that job offer.

In every decision, there are risks – some are real, and some are perceived risks. An interesting study was conducted recently by Baruch Fishchhoff, Professor of Social and Decision Science at Carnegie Melon University. He asked a panel of professionals from a wide range of sectors what the likelihood was of contracting the avian flu from another person in the next 3 years. The professionals estimated a 60% likelihood, while, when asked the same question, a group of medical experts guessed 10%.

Were you aware that not one person died of mad cow disease in North America last year, and yet 48,000 people died in car accidents? Were you more concerned about buying your meat and its possible health impacts, or driving to the grocery store? Some of us may have experienced some concern over where our meat was coming from, while we drank our coffee and simultaneously talked on the cell phone while switching lanes on the highway – all without a hint of worry!

This scenario underscores the puzzle of facts versus feelings. In my opinion, most of our decision making errors occur as a direct result of our feelings. Scientists call this the “probability neglect” - what we tend to dread is more closely related to what we feel is more likely to occur.

Feelings are wonderful; however, you need facts to back up the feelings and to really understand the reality of the situation. Without facts, you may be on the wrong track. Think of that interview you didn't prepare for. What kind of impact did that have on your career? I am not saying you should ignore your feelings, just make sure you keep them in context. And yes, go ahead and have that cup of coffee – you’ve earned it!

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

During your last interview, what other things should you have done to be more prepared? What kinds of questions should you have asked?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

James Bond & 4 ideas for a resume that works.

2006-11-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I went to see the new James Bond film. When I was younger, I really enjoyed the Bond movies; however, I had not seen one in the past 10 years. I heard a film reviewer on CBC radio discussing the movie, and later checked out some websites to see the ratings. I also watched an interview with Daniel Craig on CharlieRose.com (as an aside, if you are searching for an outstanding show, I would recommend watching Charlie Rose).

Casino Royal is based on the first book in the Bond series, written by Ian Fleming. I have to say that, in my opinion, the producers have hit a home run with this film adaptation. They have brought the franchise back to its roots and reinvigorated it. The producers did a lot of things right, including reducing the sponsorship from 20 corporations down to 6. It doesn't feel quite like an infomercial knitted together with sex, cars, and action. They have taken the formula and stripped it down to the basics.

Now you may be asking yourself, what the heck does this have to do with resumes? Well, good movies have 4 things in common with a great resume. They both:

1. Get my attention quickly,

2. Make the story interesting,

3. Tell me the story in historical sequence (without confusing me!), and

4. Have a strong ending.

Even a great franchise can lose focus. By reviewing and tweaking your resume, you can reinvigorate yourself (and possibly even be promoted to double "O" status).

Every James Bond needs a Money Penny to help out. If you need some support, visit us at www.careerjoy.com/consultation/index.cfm to book a consultation.

This week's 10 Minute WORKout:

Sometimes you need to escape from the pressures of work. Find some time to sit back and relax. Treat yourself to a movie. And don't forget to take your martini shaken, not stirred.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

4 ways to not get that opportunity?

2006-11-16T17:24:00.000-08:00

Remember the days of long letters, stamps, and postcards? Of books written in rich and elegant prose? Today, we are in the times of instant massaging, the crackberry, and email. Our communication skils are definately on the downswing.

Did you notice the spelling and grammatical errors? Maybe Alan is not as professional as he appears. Will you give him the benefit of the doubt? Or not? If he makes mistakes like this, how good of a coach could he be?

A recent study by OfficeTeam, a staffing firm that specializes in administration positions, recently did some polling on the role a resume plays in getting an interview. Here are 4 ways to not get a foot in the door:

If they found 4 typos on your resume, 97% of US and 92% of Canadian executives would not interview you;

If they found 3 typos, 91% of US and 77% of Canadian executives would not interview you;

2 errors would mean that 84% of US and 61% of Canadian executives would not interview you; and

1 error on your resume would cause 47% of US 27% of Canadian executives to refuse to give you an interview.

First impressions really do matter.

Another survey showed that most hiring managers spend less than 2 minutes scanning your resume. We live in a time-starved professional world. I say that people are not paper, however, if your paper is not in order, then you might not even get a first interview. Most professionals only write or update their resumes every 2 to 3 years, and they are often too close to the information and can miss the obvious. We have a team of certified resume coaches. CareerJoy can take the pain out of this process, and make you look great on paper. If you would like help, you can find us at http://www.careerjoy.com/services/resume.cfm.

Next week I am going to share 4 other keys to developing a great resmue (I mean resume).

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

Dust off your resume, and have a friend or peer take a look at it for critical feedback.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

The best and worst managers

2006-11-09T15:25:00.000-08:00

In last week’s WORKout, I chatted about management. I asked you to take some time to think about the managers that you have had, and asked you to share some of the characteristics of both. We had a terrific response, with lots of insightful observations. It is interesting to note that there were far more positive traits described than negative ones.

I have condensed your comments to a short list, which has been included below. The names have been removed to protect the innocent!

Worst

" unable to articulate a vision, strategy, or even a set of tactics. Faced with a team of talented individuals, came across as feeling threatened by all direct reports"

" sets reports up for failure, changes mind on process several times a day"

" management style shatters confidence, instills fear and self-doubt, and negative health issues."

" chose to intimidate employees in order to get way"

" I felt like a guinea pig on a treadmill - at least a guinea pig gets taken out of the cage now and then to get a pat on the head!"

Best

" recognized my need to contribute more than was required by my role, on paper. Encouraged & supported me in creating and implementing new opportunities"

" provided clear, specific vision, goals and objectives. Charismatic leader, with an open honest attitude to team"

" truly adds value. Honest feedback - sometimes brutally so, but you always know where you stand.”

" is always willing to listen to and implement ideas or learnings which a report may suggest, compliments staff on suggestions and their work, recommends people for growth, provides work which encourages staff to grow, always respectful and approachable"

" quick to praise others, kept us in the loop, and stuck to well-informed decisions"

" always fair and wisdom was evident in the way managed people"

We have three winners for the book ”The Peter Principle”; Andy Baldin, MT, and Carol Granier. Congratulations!

One of the great things about these contests is the conversations that are developed with our readers. Thanks for listening!

This week’s 1O minute WORKout:

Send your best boss a quick thank you note, or better yet, take them out for coffee.

p.s. iPod users, we have a slight delay. Details to follow really, really soon!

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

How to Dilbertize your future!

2006-11-02T17:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight my children and I drove to the library. After our visit to the “late fee confessional”, we all went off to our respective areas. Aidan has taken quite a liking to anything related to Calvin and Hobbs. He also recently discovered Scott Adams, better known by the name of his work (Dilbert).

I have to wonder - why is my 9 year old reading comics concerning the workplace? Is HE trying to tell ME something? Well, just to throw me for a loop, tonight, he borrowed all of the collected works of Dilbert. He said; "I think this guy is funny", and went on to introduce me to all of the main "characters".

Dilbert started in 1989, and now appears in 2500 newspapers in 65 countries around the world. It would appear that workplace dysfunction has no borders! Scott Adams realized that the world was flat a long time ago (sorry, Thomas Friedman).

Poor Dilbert – did you ever notice that his boss is never named in the cartoon? He is simply referred to as “the Pointy haired boss”. Let’s just say that a lot of people who read the strip relate to well this character. He seems to play the role so well, and has all those buzz words down pat, but we all know that Dilbert is always five steps ahead of him.

One of the key lessons pointed out in the cartoon is ”The Peter Principle - in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence". We have all worked for or with someone who embodies this principle. If we’re honest, we may even have practiced it ourselves from time to time.

This idea was first given the name by Canadian researcher Dr Lawrence J Peter, who wrote a book titled ”The Peter Principle”. The main thesis of his book is that the skills we were promoted by, are most likely not always the skills that will make us successful as managers or leaders. This is not surprising when you see people struggle in their new role. For some, it is simply an adjustment, but for those that have been promoted out of their key area of strength, it is much more difficult. Think twice before you accept a new title, for everyone’s benefit.

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

Write down the name of your favourite manager, and what you appreciated about their management style. Next, write down the name of the worst manager you ever had, and what you disliked about their technique. Send your thoughts to us at alan@careerjoy.com, and we will do a draw for three copies of Dr. Lawrence’s book.

P.S. Next week we are going to add a whole new feature to our WORKouts. It's a surprise, but get your IPOD's all warmed up just in case!

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Are you getting a charge out of your career?

2006-10-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

It is that time of the year again – no, I am not referring to the World Series, although it is that time of the year as well! It is the season when the Nobel prizes are handed out.

The Nobel Prizes were first awarded in 1901, five years after the death of Alfred Nobel. Mr. Nobel was a real cracker jack (pun intended). He started early in business, inventing and patenting dynamite before the age of 35. He amassed a great fortune as a result.

In 1888, a French newspaper published his obituary, announcing that “The Merchant of Death is dead”. It was quite a critical piece, suggesting that he could have left a better legacy than creating a product that killed people. There were three interesting outcomes from this literary misadventure; the first was that Alfred had not died (he would die on December 10, 1896). The second outcome was that the obituary so disturbed him, it caused him to wake up to what kind of legacy, or impact, he was leaving the world. While yes, he was leaving some great holes in the earth, could he help mankind in another manner?

In November of 1895, Nobel created the Nobel Prizes which were to be given out annually to anyone across the globe. They were to be given in 5 key areas; physical science, chemistry, medical science, literary work, and, last but not least, the peace prize to the person who has given the most to society.

If you were to run around your office this morning and ask your coworkers what Alfred Nobel is best known for, what would most of them say? I’m betting you a box of matches it isn't dynamite. It is very true our talents and motivation can be used to help or to hurt - it is up to us which path they will take.

You might be wondering what the third outcome of the article was - I’m hoping that it will teach all of us that it is never too late to change the course of your life or career. You may not create the next Nobel laureate, but you can leave a legacy that makes a positive difference to those around you.

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

Take 10 minutes to write your own obituary.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Who do you bounce your ideas off of?

2006-10-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

I have been playing basketball with my kids over the past year. We set up two nets in our front yard and are able to play a proper game.

Basket ball (no, this is not a spelling error) was invented by a Canadian physician and minister – Dr. James Naismith – who was actually brought up in a house about 20 minutes from where we live. Dr. Naismith was a member of the faculty at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was looking for an indoor game to keep college kids in shape over the long winters, when he heard about an old Mayan sport. He nailed a peach basket to a post at a height of 10 feet, brought out a soccer ball, and had his students play on a court the size of about 1/2 the length of today’s NBA courts. When a player would shoot the ball into the peach basket, someone needed to get a stick to knock it out!

The game has evolved since 1891; in the 50's they switched from a brown ball to an orange ball, as it was easier for the players and the spectators to see. Dribbling was also later introduced.

Over the past few weeks I have noticed a substantial increase in the "dunk" rate of my kids. They are making a lot more baskets than before. I was curious about what their secret was. It turns out that they have both figured out the role of the backboard, and are using it consistently to bounce the ball off of and, more times than not, it makes it into the net.

Bouncing ideas off of people is also a way of making better decisions. When you dance around the rim of issues, and try to hit the mark without the benefit of the backboard, you can often miss the point.

3 Traits of a Good Backboard

1. It must be the proper size and shape,

2. It should contain a well outlined area to hit, and

3. It must be the right density.

3 Traits of the Right Person to bounce ideas off of

1. They must have the right level of experience, with a level headed approach to problems in general,

2. It should be someone who can ask logical questions, and
3. They should be tough enough to be honest, yet respectful.

Often, one of the comments my clients make upon taking one of our programs is how easily they are able to bounce their ideas off of me - to test them out and reflect on them to see if they are on the right track. My role is to be objective, and to give feedback to help them refine their ideas, from career choices to job searches. In a majority of cases, the client gets much better results than if they went through the process by themselves.

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

What kinds of decisions have you been able to bounce off of your network of friends and colleagues? Who do you need to add to your network to help make better decisions?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

How do you decide?

2006-10-04T15:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself having to make a decision about whether to take on a new role, or whether to change careers?

I was surfing the web the other day when I came across this quote: "Clearly, Apple is following Sony's lead by integrating consumer electronics devices into its marketing strategy, but Apple lacks the richness of Sony's product offering. And introducing new consumer products right now is risky, especially if they cannot be priced attractively." The writer was referring to the first edition of the iPod. At the time the article was written, the iPod was $399 with a 5 Gig harddrive.

The article was written by one of the analysts from CNET - a large online consumer technology site – in October 2001.

Everyone has an opinion about what is and what is not going to be successful. I assume Steve Jobs did not take the opinion personally. You may be struggling with what to do or not to do. In most cases, your instincts are probably correct. Steve’s certainly were - Steve and his very capable team had done their homework, knew the pros and cons, and got feedback from the critics. Ultimately, they decided on a strategy that was based on the big picture.

In my research on this topic, I uncovered a study by Ap Diksterhuis, a professor of psychology at the University of Amsterdam. In his research concerning decision making, he determined that our subconscious (what we call our “gut”) is much better at getting a sense of the bigger picture. Our conscious mind tends to "see" certain things.

Don't underestimate your gut. I am not suggesting that you completely substitute research and in-depth analysis for a “gut feeling” – but it is important to listen to the voice inside.

Happy 5th Birthday iPod! Apple certainly hit the ball out of the park with that important decision. Meanwhile, back in Sony land, well, when’s the last time they had a hit?

By the way, if you have heard or you download Podcasts, get ready, details will follow very soon. CareerJoy has an exciting announcement to make!

This Week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

What was the best decision you ever made? How did you go about making that decision?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Adjusting to a new role?

2006-09-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

”An astronaut can walk in space but can't handle standing on her own two feet.” Have you ever had trouble adjusting to a new role? That was certainly the case for Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper. She is one of only 7 women who have walked in space, and was a member of the recent Atlantis crew that helped get the construction restarted on the space station.

When her team arrived back on earth, Heidemarie was given a few of hours of orientation, and was then asked to join in a post mission news conference. During the conference, she collapsed twice, and was eventually taken away by NASA officials. There was nothing really wrong, it was just that her body was adjusting to being back in a world with gravity.

Her story peaked my interest, and so I did a little research on the effect of lack of gravity on the human body: muscle mass vanishes at the rate of 5% per week, and you lose as much as 22% of your blood, which affects your heart. There is also a long term impact on bone density.

We do not tend to notice the effect of gravity until it isn’t there anymore. It’s a little like moving on to a new project, team, or a new organization. You may not have realized all the career “gravity” that was around you - that gave you structure and order and a sense of security. Once you find yourself in a new situation, you may feel you’ve gone from “Superstar Astronaut” to not being able to stand on your own two feet, as Piper said: "Boy, if that is not a little embarrassing". This is what’s called your adjustment period. It will all come back, you just need to get adjusted to the new circumstances.

Astronauts get prepared to come back to earth - they exercise both physically and mentally to make the transition. You also will need to consider this before your next move. Then, once again, you will be off to the moon!

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

What Career Gravity do you have around you? What can you do to be prepared for a new challenge?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Are you feeling lost?

2006-09-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

I remember a time when I was young - it was my first time taking the bus, and I was supposed to meet my parents and some family friends at a specific time and place. I can't remember all the details, but instead of getting on the red bus, I got on the green bus (or vice versa). A few hours later, I found myself in the safe hands of the Metropolitan Police Force and was reunited with my family.

Have you ever been lost, I mean, really lost? I have noticed this theme, of feeling lost, and not being sure of the direction to follow. Your sense of fear, confidence and decision making are affected.

This past week, Martin Lake was rescued. He had been lost for 5 days near Alice Springs Australia and it was reported that "he looked like a fresh cooked lobster". He had apparently decided to take one more look at the outback, before he was to fly back to Britain. Five days later, with no water, no hat, no sun block, and no map, he was finally rescued. Now that is quite a walk!

This is not the entire story, however. The previous week he got lost in the exact same area, and was missing for 3 nights. He contacted police with his cellular phone and was found after an air and ground search. He is currently recovering in the Alice Springs Hospital. The hotel receptionist said; "I think he was a bit embarrassed about it because he realized that people just don't get lost in that area. He was also aware that he could have easily perished out there because you can't really survive in the midday heat for more than a couple of days without water."

If we could have watched him, I think we would have seen a similar pattern in both cases. To change the outcome, you need to change the pattern. If you are lost, or feel like you are getting lost again within your career, you need to change the way you are going about dealing with the problem. Get a map (a career plan), get a guide (a coach), and don't forget your hat.

This week’s 10 minute WORKout

Where are you lost? Be really honest with yourself - what different kind of action could you take?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

You're fired!

2006-09-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

I guess it’s true that headlines will get your attention! I am sure that is not something you would wish to experience, however, in this day and age, it happens on a regular basis.

This is the start of the fall TV line-up. There are all kinds of new shows trying to make it, and there remain many popular, existing programs - Survivor, NFL Football, and yes, everyone’s favourite (and longest running show), The Simpsons.

One of the most watched reality shows is Donald Trump’s The Apprentice. I find it hard to believe it’s already in its 5th season. When you hear those famous words from Donald - "You’re fired!", well, you know you didn't perform too well!

This past week there were some interesting developments in “Trumpville” - Donald called Carolyn and George into his office and fired them both. Carolyn and George worked closely with Trump on the show, watching the contestants as they worked all hours to perform the myriad of tasks assigned them.

Trump’s explanation; "Carolyn was fired for her lack of focus". With George; “there was a sense of a need for change. I feel this is a huge risk, as they were seen as key elements to the show. To me, it is like taking 2 of the 3 Stooges out of the picture. You are just left with Larry. For me, it is just a reminder that anyone can be replaced within the world of business.”

It must have been a very strange meeting, and I am wondering if he used his famous line. If you find yourself in Carolyn or George’s shoes, here are four ways you can deal with the situation:

1. Take time: you may need to take a couple of weeks to reflect and work through this tough experience. It ranks up near a divorce or family death on the stress scale.

2. Let go of the anger: over 80% of people who are fired get angry about it. It’s a normal response, but you don't want to take that anger with you into your next job interviews.

3. Get a strong support group: spend your time with positive and supportive friends and family to share this burden with you and encourage you.

4. Take positive action: anchor yourself with what HAS worked in your previous roles, and start your job search thinking about the great things you have to offer.

At the end of the day, most professionals who make it through this experience go on to do well. I wouldn't wish it on you; however, it could make you a lot stronger in the end.

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:

Which one of the four elements would you struggle with most in a lay-off situation?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Is your career worth dying for?

2006-09-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

This past Monday, Steve Irwin (a.k.a. The Crocodile Hunter) died. He was doing some filming for a new television series that he was working on when he received a deadly blow to his heart from a stingray (I have dived in Australia, and, having seen one myself, I can tell you that the stingray is one of the most beautiful animals to behold).

What was it about this incident that captured the world? Steve’s death was the top news story in media outlets around the globe. Australia’s national broadcaster website went down due to the amount of traffic, as was the case for many other media websites, with traffic at over 50% more than usual.

I found it both sad and ironic that the barb of the stingray went straight to his heart – we often use the “heart” as a metaphor for the center of our emotions. His passion for the work he was called into ultimately caused his death.

His wife called Steve “an environmental Tarzan, with superhero qualities.” He loved what he did. He had been around reptiles, snakes and other animals since he was a child, growing up at his parents’ zoo. The boundaries between his life and work were seamless. Steve was always incredibly passionate about his work, and yes, he was a true showman. I think it was his authentic passion that engaged audiences around the world.

You may think how sad it was that he died in the way he did. And I would agree. Yet his life was a testament of what you can do, and the impact you can have on others when you love your work. I believe he would agree that his career was worth dying for.

There is a saying I feel applies here; “Everyone dies, but not everyone lives.” Crikey Steve, we sure will miss ya!

Last week I asked people to send in their Career Tipping Point stories. We had a great response. Congratulations to Norman Haas of Toronto – this month’s winner.

The tipping point of your career

2006-08-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

You may have heard of the book The Tipping Point, written by Malcolm Gladwell. It has been recommended as one of the 10 most important business books of the 1990s, and the author is a Canadian to boot. His premise for the book is this; at some point, certain businesses or trends take off. Think Google, Amazon, ebay, blogging, iPods, and, most recently, YouTube. These ideas and brands were small and unknown until you told two friends, and I told two friends, and so on. Before we knew it, these ideas and tools became things that we wondered how we ever lived without. The growth of these companies has been great for us, and has created a number of billionaires and millionaires in the process.

The “tipping point” is a series of events, people, money and circumstances which come together and meet the market at the right time. When this occurs, things shift and businesses take off. I have observed this phenomenon with our clients as well. I had a new client in this week – she recently asked for a more flexible work schedule. She is in a leadership position within her organization. Her boss suggested to her that this wouldn't be fair to others. This was her Career Tipping Point. It was the event that convinced her it was time to move on to a new role.

Like business, a career tipping point doesn't happen overnight. In my experience as a coach, it is typically a 1 to 2 year process that can be both positive and negative. In many cases, you need to be more patiently persistent. All of a sudden, it seems, things come together for the positive or the negative.

In my client’s case, her boss's action, combined with the context of the past, helped to create a clear picture to her. While the decision was negative, it was time for her to take action. For you, the tipping point could be a new project, or a call from a Head Hunter, or a new boss. In all of these cases, remember you have choices.

It is time for our September Draw - we are giving away a copy of Malcom Gladwell's book for one lucky reader who will share with us their thoughts from this week’s Ten Minute WORKout. Email me at alan@careerjoy.com if you want to share your story.

This week’s Ten Minute WORKout:

What was the last Career Tipping Point that occurred for you? How did you deal with it? What was the most positive outcome of this situation?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Body language and job interviews

2006-08-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

I have arrived back home safely from my trip out west. We flew as a family on August 16 - if you have been reading the news lately, that was supposedly the day when 12 airplanes were going to be blown out of the sky with IPODs and a tonic mixture that wasn’t meant for drinking. Thank goodness it didn't happen, not to mention that we might have had to hitchhike back to Toronto.

On our way through the gate, I saw a table full of liquids. Due to new airline regulations, there is no point in bringing water on board (or, in my daughter’s case, her lip gloss). While I was in the Calgary Airport speaking with the Barista (Starbucks language, referring to the person who serves you at a coffee shop) I noticed a lot of lonely bottles of water sitting on their shelves. “How are sales?" I asked. Great for cookies and CD's, but not for coffee and drinks. Liquids and airports don't mix that easily these days. I joked to my wife, pretty soon we are going to have to fly naked!

Well, not according to the airport screening authority. They are introducing SPOT. No, it’s not a new type of dog. SPOT stands for Screening PAssengers by Observation Techniques. The Israeli airport security have been using this technique for a number of years. They don't need to look at your bags - they look at your face.

This sounds a lot like a job interview. Research involving job interviews showed that the interviewer relies heavily on the following information:

55% visual impact (dress, facial expressions and body language);

38% tone of voice; and only

7% from what you actually say.

Officers (or in a job interview, HR Managers) look for facial expressions, body and eye movements, change in vocal pitch and other indicators of stress. "The questions themselves are not significant, it is how the person answers that shows whether they are telling the truth" said Thomas Robins, Chief of Security at Logan Airport. I know from my many years of recruitment that my decision whether to pass a candidate on to a client was based on what I really thought the person had to offer, not what they told me.

The good news is that you can still take a bottle of water to an interview!

This week’s 10 minute WORKout:

Take a few minutes to think about your last job interview. What was your confidence like? How well prepared were you - about the company and the role? What did you truly think of the opportunity? What could you do to be better prepared for your next interview?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Becoming an Expert Part 2

2006-08-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

In last week’s WORKout we discussed the role of time in becoming an expert at what you do. The second important piece of this discussion is motivation.

According to Wikipedia (the biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the Internet), motivation refers to the ”initiation, direction, intensity and persistence of behavior”. It is the encouragement to do something.

I often say to clients that motivation covers a multitude of sins. One of my clients is a professional hockey player who has been in the NHL for 10 years. I asked him if he noticed anything about the stars on the teams he has played for. Using the “m” word, he explained that the stars would always show up early for practices, stay late after a game to cool down and stretch. They were not doing it for the money - they all had guaranteed contracts - it was because of motivation.

There are over 700 players in the NHL. A majority are paid over $1 million a year. The guys that are making $5+ million per year and are signed to long term contracts are not always the most talented, but many are the most motivated. Interesting how a higher motivation level not only leads to a longer career, but also can lead to 5 times more income.

In a recent study by Roland G. Fryer, an economist at Harvard University, scientists looked at underperforming schools in New York City and Dallas. They offered rewards of $10 to $20 to motivate students to show improvement over a three week period. The early results have been very encouraging. It is not that the students they selected were any more intelligent, but rather, it was through the use of different methods of encouragement that students have begun to perform better.

Often when a new client comes to see me I ask the “m” question: “What was the factor motivating them to deal with their issue?” In many cases, the client had been wrestling with the issue for a number of years. Generally, it was an external circumstance that motivated them to act, much like the children in the study. We often need rewards. I knew someone who, every time he ran for more than 2 times that week, bought himself a CD.

If you want to be a star, you need to be motivated, and you need time - time plus motivation is like adding a turbo charger on your career engine.

This week’s 10 Minute WORKout:
Think of a time when you were highly motivated in your life. What were the circumstances surrounding this time? What are the missing elements in your life now?

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

How do you become an expert in your career?

2006-08-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

If you have been through a Tim Horton’s drive-thru, you know that you can get a meal or coffee that is decent in two minutes or less, at a price that won’t break the bank. It is not quite the same when you go to a restaurant like Canoe. For those of you not familiar with the place, Canoe is a “5 star” restaurant in Toronto. At Canoe, not only do you get to taste exquisite dishes, but you also get to experience luxury and comfort from the moment you enter the door until you pay your bill (which is also not quite the same as Tim Horton’s!). At Canoe, the staff are truly experts in their field.

There are two main issues to becoming an expert: time and motivation.

Time: it takes approximately 10 years on average to become an expert at anything. Whether you are learning a new skill in anything from plumbing to brain surgery, there will always be an initial learning curve. Researchers followed a chess player in Canada called DH. They tracked him over a 9 year period from amateur to one of Canada’s leading masters. Neil Charness, professor of Psychology at Florida State University, found that DH analyzed chess positions much the same as other players, but he was able to rely on a vastly improved knowledge of the chess positions and strategy in general.

This research is now called the “10 year rule” - it takes a decade of study and effort to master any field, including yours. It makes for a great question to ask anyone you are buying services from; “How long have you been in business?”. Time creates experiences, and experiences create wisdom.

As in the Canoe experience, it takes a lot of training to move from Sous Chef to Matre D, to Head Chef. Think of the cumulative amount of training and time that it takes to put together a 5 star meal. Now think Tim Horton’s - in almost every Tim Horton’s that I have been in, there has been a notice for help. Once new staff is hired, they are trained and left to their own devices in about 2 days - hence the difference in experience and taste. Double/Double just doesn’t cut it. There are no short cuts to a great meal, or a great career.

In next week’s WORKout, I will discuss motivation.

This week’s 10 minute WORKout:

What courses or training could you take to upgrade your skills, and become more of an expert? Take some time to investigate some of the extra training that would help you with this.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Are you waiting in the heat?

2006-08-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

I am currently on an airplane on my way to visit some very good friends in Calgary. It is the middle of a heat wave in Toronto - as they say, hotter than, well, to use a more pleasant description, Darwin Australia (where your laundry can dry in 10 minutes on the line).

As I was driving to the airport to meet my family, I spotted at least 100 limos parked in a holding area. The drivers were sitting in their cars, waiting for their turn to pick up passengers at the terminal. I am not sure how many of them are satisfied in their careers, or not, but I was struck by this picture. How many people in life are sitting, just waiting for the right opportunity?

I recently hired a limo – the driver introduced himself and asked me if I wanted to read the Globe and Mail or The National Post. When I arrived at my destination, he handed me his business card and asked when I was returning. Would I need a limo back? This gentleman was not the type to sit and wait. He was proud of what he was doing - he went the extra mile, and he paid attention to opportunity. I would be surprised if he and his $60,000 Lincoln Continental were sitting and waiting for clients. Some people wait, some create. It’s your choice.

Today’s 10 Minute WORKout:

Write down two things that you could do in your current role to create new opportunities for you and your organization.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Monopoly and the evolution principle

2006-07-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Monopoly is a game that most of you are familiar with. My children, from the time they turned 5, have enjoyed playing and have learned how to beat my wife and I on a consistent basis! The game offers us a glimpse of what life is really like - asset management, cash flow, unforeseen elements affecting our future, and, sometimes, things even result in some time in jail!

Monopoly was created in the early 1930s by Charles Darrow. He was a struggling salesperson and inventor who had more time on his hands than he had planned due to the depression. Rather than wallow in pity over his circumstances, he worked on updating an old game that he remembered playing as a child. He added some new elements, and started inviting his neighbours over for dessert and entertainment. His game was addictive - others also had time on their hands and, before he knew it, he was selling hundreds of his board games for $4 each.

Eventually Charles sold the rights to his game - known around the world as Monopoly. It went on to sell over 200 million copies and became the best selling board game in the world.

This week Hasbro, the new owners of Monopoly, introduced a new edition of the game. In this version, each player works with a debit system as opposed to paper money, new game pieces have been introduced (such as a cell phone), and property taxes were raised (to help people in Toronto not to feel as bad). At first, I reacted negatively. Why are THEY changing it? Will we have to "lay off" the banker? It was great the WAY it was.

As I thought about my internal dialogue, I realized how much this might resonate with others in regard to their career struggles, such as changes related to their position or their industry. Often we notice changes, but we think they will not affect us - as someone at Ford said recently; "We didn't realize the impact that high gas prices would have on our sales." Funny - Toyota and Honda can't keep their small cars in stock. Some companies embraced reality, while Ford hoped it would be a "fad".

Hasbro used the evolution principle. More than $137 billion in debit transactions occurred this past year in Canada. Hasbro recognized this as a trend. Cash is going the way of the rotary phone - we know it, and Hasbro knows it. By keeping their brand culturally relevant, they will ultimately sell another 200 million games. Better that then go the way of the dinosaurs.

Today’s 10 Minute WORKout:

Think about what changes are occurring in your industry. How will these changes affect you? Name one thing that you can do to take advantage of these changes.

JOIN OUR TEAM

We are looking for a Client Services Manager for our Ottawa office.

This role is "The glue" for our clients and coaches. It is based in Ottawa with a
combination of work at home and in our Glebe Office location.

We offer:

Work from your home office 3 to 5 days a week

Variety in the role

An opportunity to truly make a difference in the careers and lives of our clients

Good base salary + bonuses

Professional growth as our company expands.

Send us an email with an intro of why you are interested and enclose your
resume to alan@CareerJoy.com.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Paul Newman's ingredients for success

2006-07-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

Paul Newman - actor, race car driver, and seller of sauces! I have always admired his ability to be true to himself while being involved with so many interesting and diverse projects.

His passion for racing began in 1969, while working on the film “Winning”. In this film, Paul played the role of a rising star on the race circuit who dreams of winning the big one – the Indianapolis 500. He discovered that he loved the simplicity of being behind the wheel; "In racing, the fastest person wins. It is very simple." He was comparing this to what it takes to make a winning film; "There are many ingredients that go into making a film. It baffles me, what works and what doesn’t."

His story got me thinking about the ingredients that make a successful career. Paul has many recipes for his award-winning multibillion dollar brand. The key to his success in the grocery business is as follows :

1. He has the right ingredients

2. He bottles them up nicely

3. He knows how to sell them

4. They taste great

It is ironic that as an actor, race car driver and entrepreneur, he has different recipes for each, all of which produce a winning outcome. He knows what they are and he follows his recipes to the T - and gets the predictable results that come from taking the time to evaluate and think through his past successes and failures. His career recipe, like yours, is unique, as well as tried, tested, and true.

I am introducing a new feature in our WORKouts - this is for those of you who wish to develop your career. Each week I will be giving you a 10 minute exercise to help you find the right path on your career journey.

This week’s "10 minute Coach’s WORKout": Take out an 8 X 10 recipe card. On one side of the card, write down 4 ingredients of things that have helped you fail. On the other side, write down 4 ingredients of things that have helped you win. You now have the ingredients for your Career Recipe - don't lose the card!

Lessons from a soccer match

2006-07-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

I was a bit surprised, to be frank, to see how much World Cup soccer has really taken off in North America. For years, only a select group of people have been following this sport over on our side of the pond. Yet, did my eyes deceive me, or did I really see flags hanging out of car windows everywhere I drove in Toronto (and not Maple Leaf flags either, thank goodness)?

Neil, a good friend of mine, cheers for Chelsea - I thought "Chelsea" was a bun, but no, it is a team with its own cult following. You don't want to be around
Neil if there's a Match on. It is as if the world has stopped on its axis - the only thing that is still turning is the ball!

This week I was chatting with a client who used to work for a large global German car manufacturer. His manager's philosophy was; "Kick the ball, not the player." The phrase struck me as quite ironic in context with what Zinedine Zidane did, by head-butting Marc Materazzi in extra time and getting a red card (this in the 110th minute of his final game in front of over 1 billion people). The Italians had quite a challenge before the tournament, but Gattuso said; "It has given us more strength." Italy went on to win the match, and France, sans Zidane, lost in the shootout.

When attempting to deal with a particular situation this coming week, or with any of the issues that come up in the world of work, why not kick the ball (i.e. the problem) instead of the people around you. Everyone will win - especially you.

À bientôt.

P.S. There were lots of entrants to our July contest. Congratulations to Nancy Khuen, our winner.

Along the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Does your career feel like it's 6 feet under?

2006-07-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

I came across a recent article about Career Day at Concord High School in Staten Island. Their visitors included a firefighter, postal workers, an engineer, as well as Matthew Scamardella - a third generation funeral director. Mr. Scamardella is very dapper man with a brochure titled "Searching for a career that's 6 feet above the rest?". It would seem that the funeral trade is dying out (pun intended) as a result of a few recent trends:

1. There are a lot of baby boomers

2. A whole bunch of Funeral Directors are retiring

3. There are not a lot of people lining up to be a Funeral Director

4. There are more people dying (see #1)

What do you envision when I mention the words “funeral director”? As Matthew said; "For most people, it is standing with our hands folded, waiting for someone to die." I guess it proves to most of us that we don't always have a good picture of what is involved in most careers. However, that perception is making it more difficult to attract new people into the industry. The average salary for a Funeral Director is about $50,000 a year and, I have to say, it is a recession proof career move. Not to mention how difficult it is for clients to outsource or ship off to a cheaper "cost center". All things considered, it’s a pretty good gig.

I was encouraged by a Minister friend of mine from Montreal to watch the HBO series "Six Feet Under". Once I saw an episode, I understood my friend’s interest - funerals are a big part of his professional life. It is interesting how TV series impact industries. It was said that the amount of people who applied for law school when Law and Order came on the scene was up 20%. Unfortunately, "Six Feet Under" did not have the same impact for the funeral industry. Some careers lie dormant.

A lot of what we understand about careers and our culture is shaped by the media and other strong influencers. Concord High School guidance counsellor Kimberly Russell said; " I don't know if I ever would have thought of it." So here is our July draw - take 5 minutes and write down all the careers you could think up (no google searches!). Send the list to me at alan@CareerJoy.com. We will enter your name in a draw - the person with the most diverse career options will win a copy of our Canadian (or USA) Job Search Kit.

You may be feeling that lack of knowledge or lack of perspective is holding you back from finding true career joy. Connect with Eunice at Eunice@CareerJoy.com. We promise you will come out more alive!

On the road with you,

Alan Kearns

How do you choose your next gig?

2006-06-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

If you’re Bonnie Hunt, the answer is "Yes", that is how you choose your new gig.

At this point, you may be asking; “Who on earth is Bonnie Hunt, and what is she saying ‘yes’ to?”. Bonnie is the actress who played the concerned sister in Jerry Maguire, as well as the unbelievably patient mom in Cheaper by the Dozen. She is also the voice of Sally Carrera in the new Pixar film "Cars".

“Cars” opening weekend brought in $62.8 million dollars – or, to look at it in a different light, about 62 million litres of gasoline (enough to get your Ford Explorer to the moon and back!). As I am passionate about automobiles, our family made the trip to Movie Mecca to sit at the feet of the BIG SCREEN. We were thoroughly entertained by the gods of animation at Pixar.

When speaking to a reporter about getting the call from Pixar founder John Lasseter, who co-wrote and directed “Cars”, Bonnie said; "When I saw John Lasseter on my caller ID, I just said ‘yes’. You are guaranteed to become part of a team – not only are they creative geniuses, but they are kind, fair and very generous. In this business, that is a rare combo."

Bonnie is a talented actress. She has options, but she knows what she wants and where she can excel. It is not just doing the job that counts - it is the team and the "fit", what kind of leadership she excels with – essentially, it’s about the whole package. Because it is so clear to her what she wants and what she can bring to a project, her decisions are easy ones.

One of the key areas I see as a real help with clients is in getting this part clear – what is your perfect package? Then, it is all about getting to the “yes”, and who doesn't want that? If you need help finding your fit, visit us online at www.careerjoy.com.

On the road with you,

Alan Kearns

The vacation results are in

2006-06-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

We had a tremendous response to last week's email on
vacations. The winner of our "Tell Us Your Vacation
Story" contest is Pam Soltesz. She has won a
copy of "Unforgettable things to do before you die" by
Watkins & Jones. Here is her story:

A couple of years ago, my husband and I decided to
take a TWO WEEK vacation. He had never taken two
weeks in a row and he was 52 at the time! He was
horrified at the thought of two whole weeks without
working. However, we decided to go to the east coast
because we had never been there.

We did not make any reservations, deciding instead to
just take things as they came. This was a huge step
for my husband because he is not a spontaneous
person and really likes to have plans cemented in place
before taking a step out the front door!

Our destination was actually PEI, so that's where we
decided to head for first. We crossed the
Confederation Bridge and stopped at the Travellers
Information station on PEI - a huge and lovely facility
strategically placed where tourists like us could find it
(what a great idea!). There we discovered numerous
brochures on everthing and everywhere in PEI, and the
other Atlantic provinces.

We decided on a B&B, and found our way to a lovely
spot we called home for 4 days while exploring the
island. Our hosts were wonderful, the room was
exquisite, and the breakfasts were to die for.

Once done with PEI, we took the ferry across to the
mainland and headed for Cape Breton. We had been
told by others to be sure to visit the Cabot Trail, so
that's what we did. What an adventure exploring all
the nooks and crannies of this stunning part of our
country. At the end of the first day we found another
B&B for the night, and then immediately headed off to a
local ceilagh (kay-lee) where we received a history
lesson on the roots of the communities that make up
Cape Breton, and then heard the most toe-tapping
fiddle music we have ever heard. It was like a step
back in time and I could feel my blood pressure
dropping and the stress oozing out of every pore of my
body - and we were only at day 6!

We travelled on into Nova Scotia, staying at B&B's we
discovered along our way, toured the Halifax waterfront
with its fascinating marine museums and ships to
explore, and then headed on to Peggy's Cove. Little
did we know that the very day we were visiting this
postcard-picture-perfect community was the
anniversary of the SwissAir 111 airplane disaster. News
crews were set up and some family members had come
to pay their respects to those who perished that
terrible night, but also to thank the local people for
their bravery, courage and generosity through that
ordeal. It was quite moving to be there at that
time.

Our entire trip was like that - every time we turned a
corner there were new vistas to see, places to explore
and wonderfully warm and friendly people to meet. By
the time we finally arrived back home in Brampton,
outside Toronto, it felt as though we had been gone for
a month, we were so relaxed!!

This journey, that began as a vague plan to go to PEI,
ended up to be one of the very best vacation times we
have ever experienced, and deepened our love for
Canada and her people. So much did we enjoy
ourselves, that this year we are planning to explore
New Brunswick the very same way. We can hardly
wait!

Best wishes to Pam and to the rest of you - we hope
your vacation is just as relaxing!

On the road with you,

Alan Kearns

Would you like to take a vacation?

2006-06-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again, when we start getting our bags packed for our summer trip to Europe. Ten glorious days on a ship, followed by a two-month vacation in France, and then, (sigh), I awake from my dream.

I am back in the year 2006, but at least I was right about one thing - that wonderful time of the year we call summer is fast approaching! My children and I are really excited to have no schedule and lots of fun.

According to Expedia.com, the workforce will leave 574 million vacation days untouched this year, which is an increase from last year’s record of 421 million. I wouldn't exactly call that an encouraging trend. Upon researching the subject, I came across some interesting facts I wanted to share with you. The following is a short list of the number of compulsory vacation days instituted in different countries around the world:

Brazil: 30 consecutive days

China: 0 days

Canada: 10 days

European Union: 4 weeks (more in some countries)

Finland: 5 weeks

Israel: 14 days

Japan: 5 weeks

Tunisia: 30 days

United States: 10 days

If you are planning a company transfer, my advice would be to avoid China and shoot for Finland!

In a study by the University of New York State, researchers followed a group of 1200 men aged 35 - 57. The results of the study suggested that the men who took their vacations every year reduced their overall risk of death by 20% and heart disease by 30%. Those who hadn't taken a vacation in over 5 years suffered the highest overall death rate and highest incidence of heart disease.

So the real question is, why are you not taking a vacation? Yes, I can hear all of your reasons; ”I am busy, who will do my job, I will have too much work to do when I get back, I just want to complete this project”, and so on. I am hoping this will give you some food for thought, however. If you are truly a dedicated employee, then TAKE your vacation. You, your family, and your employer will benefit.

Join our vacation contest - send me a note at alan@CareerJoy.com with your best ever vacation story. We will choose some of the best stories for a special edition WORKout, then send the writers a copy of “Unforgettable things to do before you die” by Watkins & Jones.

Bon voyage!

Recovering from a difficult career phase

2006-05-31T17:33:00.000-07:00

How does one recover from a difficult personal or professional phase, and turn that experience into something that helps you grow (and even, possibly, open up a larger opportunity)?

Have you heard of the book entitled "I'll Love You Forever", by Robert Munsch? It is one of those must read books for children and parents alike. Last year alone, it sold almost 1 million copies - over 20 million copies in total – ensuring it will appear on the list of “classics” of children’s literature for years to come. The book follows the relationship of a baby and his mom through the trying years of infancy, the toddler years and the teen years, to the time when the child becomes an adult who, in turn, takes care of his dying mother.

Robert Munsch is a successful author who experienced tragedy in his own life; his wife gave birth to two still-born children. Having children myself, I cannot imagine the pain they must have felt. The story started in Robert’s head as a way of singing to his children that had died, until one day, as he said; "it popped out, and, when I told the story to an audience, I had the best reaction that I had ever had to a story. I went backstage and broke down."

A lot of people came up to him after the appearance and told him he needed to write the story down. His publisher, Annick Press, felt it was too dark of a concept for a children’s book. Instead of giving up, he took it to a small publisher called Firefly Books. The company loved it and promised to "go to town with the book". Twenty million copies later, Robert had proven to the world what a great decision that was.

Robert’s personal pain, in combination with his talents as a writer, had turned this story into one of the most inspiring books. What I admire about this author is his ability to listen to his audience (i.e. his market), to believe in the purpose of his story, and, even in the face of personal adversity, find healing.

We will all go through times when things are not very good in our lives. Perhaps we will even experience tragic events, such as the loss of Robert's two children. I encourage you today, no matter what challenges you are facing professionally or personally, to find some meaning or sense to it all. Use your ability to learn, grow, and use this experience for the benefit of others and yourself.

If you need a hand along the way, we would be pleased to help. Visit us today at www.careerjoy.com.

Is it 5:00 yet?

2006-05-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

Popular science just compiled the top 10 "most apparently self- evident studies of recent years". Here they are:

1. Combining drugs and alcohol is bad for you

2. Gun-touting drivers are more prone to road rage

3. Too many meetings make you grumpy

4. Faraway objects are tougher to see

5. The “beer-to-goggle” effect is a bona fide phenomenon

6. Swallowing more than one magnet is dangerous

7. Smoking cigarettes costs you money

8. Memory and concentration fade with age

9. Women like funny men

10. Time flies when you are busy

You are probably saying; “Well, of course!”. However, Laura Allen, the writer of the article from Popular Science, said; "Scientists don't assume how the world works - they test it."

I thought #10 was interesting. Professor Anthony Chaston at the University of Alberta recently completed a study on "time estimation: the effect of cortically mediated attention". In this study, the professor and his team determined that statement #10 above was indeed accurate. They did this by asking participants to undergo a “Where's Waldo” experiment, increasing the complexity over time. People tended to underestimate the amount of time it took to do the puzzle as the difficulty level increased. In other words, the more you focus on something, the more your perception of how quickly time is going is affected.

I like to call it “the vacation puzzle” - you seem to wake up on the beach, only to find yourself heading for bed, and shortly after, you are back on the plane on your way home. We have all been in situations when that 1 hour meeting seems like it’s taking an entire day.

Your time test is a great way to look at your current level of satisfaction in your career - if your days feel like weeks, then it could be time for a change. We can help. Visit us online at www.careerjoy.com for more information.

The career Da Vinci code

2006-05-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Ron Howard and Tom Hanks are at it again - this week
The Da Vinci Code hits the theatres. They have
already traveled to the moon together, and now, well,
they are on to a new conspiracy theory.

The Da Vinci Code is all the rage these days. I
remember a client of mine recommending the book
when it first came out, before it became the mega hit it
is today. As the movie is released around the world,
there will be all kinds of ways to experience the Da
Vinci Code - online, on DVD, on the movie
screen.

Opportunity often comes to us at the strangest time.
Sal Riina (president of Gem-sen) was attending an
industry show in Las Vegas last year. As Sal and his
wife were waiting in line for a bus after the show, they
started discussing The Da Vinci Code. Their
conversation was overheard by a person waiting in
front of them. This person happened to be an
executive with Sony Pictures, the producer of the
movie: "We started talking, and one thing led to
another" said Sal.

Sal's company, Gem-sen, is based in Vaughan, Ontario.
It has won the Canadian rights for all Da Vinci
Code merchandise - a pretty terrific outcome for
being in the right place at the right time!

There is a lot of truth to that statement when it comes
to opportunity in our careers. I do believe, however,
that there are a few other things that also play out in
getting these "mega opportunities". You have to be
open, pay attention, and be curious. And you
ultimately have to follow through and be able to deliver
the goods - just as Gem-sen hopes to be delivering a
lot of goods and all the royalties attached!

I find it interesting that big opportunities need help -
Sony needed Sal as much as Sal needed Sony. Next
time you are in line, open your ears to other
possibilities. You never know what you may be in line
for.

Are you flexible enough?

2006-05-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I was leaving my office on a winter day when I slipped on some ice and tore the ligaments in my left ankle. Ironically, even though I had been running for over 10 years without injury, I was unable to run for the next three months, all because of a short walk to my car!

So, I started to do Yoga. To be frank, I was always suspect as to whether it was "real" exercise. Boy, was I ever wrong! If you work with a good teacher, Yoga is not only relaxing, but a great way to increase strength (when you are not losing your balance and feeling like a fool!).

Why does stretching feel so good? According to Dr. Stephen Juan, when you stretch, "the oxygen-poor blood is squeezed out of the muscles and is replaced with oxygen rich blood. It also clears out metabolic wastes such as carbon dioxide, which also accumulates. When you stretch, it essentially wakes up your muscle".

I was always somewhat reluctant to stretch, but it always helped me to feel great after my workout. I sense the same thing in my clients, when dealing with a change in the status of their careers. We often use the term; “it was a real stretch". In most cases, we are reluctant to take a specific action, such as doing our resume, or looking for a new role. Often it is an external event (i.e. my slide on the sidewalk) that will "stretch" us.

In my experience, the event generally turns out more positive than negative, more times than not. We learn during the process - our "career muscles" grow, and we feel more alive.

Do yourself a favour - start some career stretching. Consider CareerJoy your Yoga instructor. We can help you learn the moves. Visit us at www.careerjoy.com for more information.

Spending time with Canada's richest man

2006-05-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

You never know what kinds of decisions that you will make in a day – ones that could open the door to a great opportunity.

This past Saturday, I was downtown at a hotel in the Yorkville area. I had decided to spend a few hours working on a book that I am writing, to be published by Harper Collins at the end of this year (details to follow!). I managed to get some really good work done, so I decided to wander around Yorkville. As I was wandering, I stopped at a private art gallery. I noticed the gallery was fairly busy, and was showing a particular artist’s work.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone that I thought looked like Kenneth Thomson. In case you haven’t heard, he happens to own a number of companies, including The Globe & Mail. Mr. Thomson is worth over $19 Billion US dollars – yes, that is “billion” with a “B”.

I had never been in the same room as a billionaire before - needless to say, I was interested without being intrusive. I watched as he and his wife were introduced by the owner of the gallery to the artist whose work was being featured. I noticed how respectful they were, and how generally curious Ken and his wife appeared regarding the artist’s style and work.

As I thought about this, I realized this type of behaviour – being respectful, curious, and looking to understand what the artist was thinking - is part of the reason for his success. Mr. Thomson has one of the greatest art collections in the world. He has hundreds of millions of dollars worth of art hanging on his walls, and yet he doesn’t appear to think more highly of himself. Rather, he related to the artist as a peer.

I wondered how these types of attitudes have helped him be so successful as a business person. Yes, he is very well connected, but his respect for the expertise of others and his understanding of the way they contribute has probably helped with his own development both as a person and as a professional.

So, be respectful, be curious, and always look for opportunities to learn. You never know who is watching.

How to find the right career blend

2006-04-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

I was driving by a gas station today and noticed gas at
a "bargain" price of 99 cents per litre. As could be
expected, there was a line up. In the midst of the
chaos, I saw one of the gas station attendants
changing the price on the sign outside (up of
course).

With oil heading to $70 a barrel, Gallop recently
released the results of a new poll:

48% of people have cut back significantly on their
driving;

54% have reduced spending on other household items
as a result of increased fuel costs; and

62% were seriously considering buying a hybrid car.

What is a hybrid? It is a blend of complimentary
technologies - gas and electric working together. You
do not have to plug your car in every 100 miles to keep
going - you can drive from Toronto to Toledo, while
getting great mileage, AND a whole lot less
hydrocarbons. It is a great compromise. Hybrid cars
are even becoming more reasonably priced - nowadays,
you pay a 10% premium rather than 50%. They are a
practical solution to a number of problems.

Career management has similar issues. You need to
look for the right blend. It is often why a person will
not take any action, as they are looking for a purist
(i.e. electric motor) response; "I am currently a
director, and I want to write for a living". Well, the
risks and the cost of buying into that kind of career
move are high, so, you return to the "gasoline" option;
"I will become a VP at a company, taking a lateral
role that incorporates more of a writing function",
or, "I will work with a publisher or media organization
that is in the business of communication".

You could consider working in a voluntary capacity in
the area that you are passionate about, while staying
on your same career track. You can also build
relationships in the sector you are interested in, and
test out if the new role is something that you really
would be a good fit for. These are examples of "hybrid"
solutions to your career quandary - achievable, lower
risk blends that will maximize the number of benefits.

Next time you are filling up, or are frustrated in your
career situation, think "hybrid". Are you looking for
help to build your hybrid? Visit us on the web at www.careerjoy.com.

What you need to know about career restlessness - part 3

2006-04-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here it is - the final piece of our three part series on
managing "middlesence". For those of you who
have missed the past two articles, you can catch up
by scrolling down.

This week's edition is thanks in large part to an
excellent article I caught in the Harvard Business
Review, as well as a soon-to-be-released book by
Morison, Erickson and Dychtwald.

We have discussed the key issues of middlesence, now
it is time to focus on the concrete actions you can take
to get "unstuck". The research suggests there
are 6 common themes that really help professionals
reinvigorate:

1. Fresh assignments: Make a lateral move to
a completely different part of the organization;

2. Career Change: Do something different -
something very, very different;

3. Mentoring: Ironically, when you give, you
get. It is a great way to reconnect with your passions
and to extend your reach in the company;

4. Training: Look for courses or experiences
that are outside your domain, or that may be in a
different format than you might normally choose. You
could also look at something with more of an
investment of time or energy, such as completing an
MBA or PHD;

5. Sabbaticals: It could be a "mini" sabbatical,
or something longer; or

6. Leadership development: If your company
has a formal development program, find out what you
need to do to be chosen or to position yourself for the
next session. This could give you a lighter version
MBA, without the degree (or the cost!)

The good news is there are always options - the key is
to choose well. We can help - visit us at www.careerjoy.com
for more information.

What you need to know about career restlessness - part 2

2006-04-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

It has been 7 days since we last connected about middlescence. In this edition, I wanted to share the 6 key areas of friction experienced by mid career professionals as discovered by researchers Morison, Erickson and Dychtwald:

1. Career bottleneck: there are currently more baby boomers competing for limited leadership opportunities, while companies are moving toward a flat organizational structure;

2. Work life tension: balancing children, income and a professional life is very challenging;

3. Lengthening horizon: mid career professionals are spending more and saving less, causing the average age of retirement to increase;

4. Skills obsolescence: professionals are having to adjust to new ways of working and adapt to the changing economy;

5. Disillusionment with employer: many employees are experiencing issues related to integrity and downsizing;

6. Burnout: after a number of years, people are stretched thin due to stress and long hours; and

7. Career Disappointment: due in part to not meeting your own expectations of where you thought you would be at this time in your life.

Do any of these areas of friction resonate with you? The good news is that you CAN change. I often remind myself that we don't live in an environment where we are being forced to work. We DO have choices. The key is not to do anything rash, but rather start working on your transition plan.

Next week I will share the final piece of this three part series, highlighting the actions you can take to get back on track.

What you need to know about career restlessness.

2006-04-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

It is Sunday night, and you can't wait for Monday morning. Only one more sleep until work begins anew. Is this the story of your life?

There has been some new research published recently in The Harvard Business Review about the “mid-professional”. Mid-professionals – otherwise known as professionals between the ages of 35 and 54 - make up more than one half of the workforce. One in four members of this group are in managerial or supervisory roles. Harris Interactive polled more than 7,700 mid-professionals and discovered the following:

30% put in more than 50 hours a week

43% are passionate about their jobs

33% feel energized by their work

36% feel they are at a plateau

40% report feelings of burnout

A 2005 conference board survey showed the largest decline in job satisfaction over the past 10 years occurred in workers between the ages of 35 and 44, followed closely by those in the 45 to 54 age group. There is a new term associated with this - Middlescence - also known as career restlessness.

The key issue discovered in this research was that the problem is largely invisible. Employers view these employees as good corporate citizens and don't really see the issue. It is a unique phase, as both personally and professionally you have a lot more at stake. It is most likely the most complex phase of your work and life.

The good news is if you find yourself in this situation, there are some actions you can take. We will be discussing those actions over the next couple of issues. Be encouraged - you CAN change this!

What does Tim Hortons teach us about luck and careers?

2006-03-29T16:42:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again - RRRoll up the Rim.
I have bought a lot of coffees, yet I still don't
have a new car, not even a donut! Don't feel too bad
for me, or for Tim Hortons. They just sold off
15% of the company and raised $800 million US, not a
bad return for a company that was purchased for $500
million 11 years ago. What's that - about a 1000%
return? Sure beats a savings account!

One of the key brains behind the Tim Hortons brand
was Ron Buist. Ron was the head of marketing for the
company for 24 years. He joined the firm in 1977,
when they had a chain of 50 stores. When he retired
in 2001, Tim Hortons could boast over 2000 stores.

Ron was responsible for creating many innovative
campaigns, including "RRRoll up the Rim". Prior
to his job at Tim Hortons, Ron was working for Blacks
Photography. He read a magazine article featuring an
interview with Ron Joice - Tim Hortons' CEO at the
time. In the article, Joice mentioned that they were
looking for a new marketing agency. Ron Buist called
him up just for the heck of it, and, three weeks later,
was hired as the head of marketing.

In 1985, Buist was looking for ways to help with the
seasonal ebb and flow of the business. He was visiting
with representatives from Tim Hortons' cup
manufacturer, and noticed that when the cup was laid
out, it had a white space. He asked the manufacturer
if they could print on this space. The answer was
sure, but why would he want to print on it when you
couldn't see what was printed unless the rim was rolled
down?

That penny (I mean twoonie!) made a big drop in Ron's
head. He said; "The most simple things in life are
the most successful." Lots of free donuts and
2400 franchise stores later, it would seem that a lot of
people have won in this deal.

The thing that most impressed me was Ron's ability
to "see" opportunity. It was how he got the job, and it
was the key to seeing things that pretty well most
others missed, or didn't bother with. Opportunity is
waiting - we just need to do something about it. I
wonder how many prizes have been missed because
the person didn't bother to rrroll. Try it - it really does
work!

How to move from analysis to action!

2006-03-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

One of the great brands in the world is Nike. The word Nike refers to the mythological winged goddess of victory. Greeks would use the term to describe going to battle. It became synonymous with honoured conquests.

Nike - the company – was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports. Phil Knight, the founder, began selling shoes out of the trunk of his car in 1964. He was looking for a way to make a "living" out of athletics. His coach, Bill Bowerman, was looking for a lighter shoe for his students at the University of Oregon. In his first year, Phil found an athletic shoe supplier in Japan, and was able to sell $8,000 worth of shoes.

In the ‘70s, Phil’s company grew quickly, earning up to $270 million a year. And now? Well, let's just say they sell billions of dollars worth of sport paraphernalia.

I was recently chatting with a client and we were discussing next steps. She said; ”Alan, I need to ‘Just Do It’. Like Nike, I need to get out and start to take action, to tell potential employers who I am, what I have to offer, and to see if there is a fit.” Where would Phil Knight be right now if he didn’t go out and make his dream happen?

At some point you just have to do something. The same principle can be applied to moving forward in your career. What do you need to do to get that promotion, to find a new role, or to get unstuck? So often, we expect opportunity to present itself to us. When it doesn’t, we get frustrated and feel stuck. As soon as you start taking action, you will notice that things will start to change. Even a series of small actions can lead to significant changes in our circumstances.

What do you need to do? At CareerJoy, our coaches instinctively have a sense of what you can do to change your life. No excuses - Just Do It!

What can Sting teach us about our careers?

2006-03-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

Sting is one of my favourite musicians. I recently picked up a DVD documenting Sting’s life - most specifically, the time surrounding the recording of his first solo album.

There were many things I learned from watching this documentary. Sting said; "One of the greatest things in my life is that I don't know where my life is. I don’t have the faintest idea of what I will be doing a year from now. One of the reasons I left teaching was that I could predict that I would be the Assistant Head Master in 10 years. I could see what my life would look like. That was a nightmare. I much prefer not knowing what is around the corner."

Sting grew up the son of a milkman. At the end of his street was a shipyard. Men would work on the ships for 9 months, and then send them out to sea, never to be seen again. This became the metaphor for how Sting saw his life - embarking on the great adventure of life, rather than staying safe in the harbour.

Sting's gift to the world is to be a tremendous lyricist and composer. He spoke about the time he knew that he had reached his dream. It was when he was in the hospital and a window cleaner started to whistle Roxanne. Sting said; "I almost started to weep". He had a similar experience in another hospital, when, waiting for his son to be born, Sting heard an orderly whistling Walking on the Moon. "It is a great privilege to do what I am gifted in and to be able to impact others."

What is your “SOS to the world"? What is your “Message in the Bottle”? I hope someone gets your message – visit us at www.careerjoy.com and we can help get your message out.

One billion chances for opportunity

2006-03-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

One of the things that I have become a raving fan of again is the library. “The library?”, you say. Yes - in our little town resides a terrific library.

One of the town’s generous residents regularly donates The New Yorker magazine (a subscription typically costs $46 American!). For the approximate cost of a subscription, you can buy 460 New Yorker back copies. I recently splurged and bought myself 20 old issues. Not a bad return for a toonie!

As I was scanning articles, I noticed an old ad for the iBook. The ad demonstrated all the neat things you could do with the new iBook version - make movies, rip and burn music, and much more. It also mentioned an MP3 player called the RIO.

It was strange not to find iPod mentioned. Not only was iPod not included, but Mac was promoting a competitors’ product! I looked at the date of the ad - June 01, 2001. Fast forward 5 years later, and Apple has not only sold a ton of iPods, but the company also sold their 1 billionth song this past week on iTunes. The song was sold to Alex Ostrovsky, who won a $20,000 prize from Apple for his trouble.

Imagine if Apple had not developed the iPod. iTunes would also not have been developed. Sometimes the biggest opportunities in our life are right in our very midst. You don't always have to leave to find what you are looking for. You need to pay attention to bigger opportunities that come from your original idea.

The iBook is a wonderful product, however, iPod and iTunes were the real keys to Apple’s huge leap forward. Where are the big opportunities attached to what you are currently doing? We can help you look – simply visit us at www.careerjoy.com for more information.

Why careers are complex

2006-03-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

This past Christmas my family and I were visiting some good friends in Sudbury. On the way home, in the car, we were listening to the news. There we were, minding our own business, when, out of the blue, Aidan (my 8 year old) makes a profound observation: "The world is complex. I have a lot of questions about the world."

I have spent the last couple of months digesting my conversation with Aidan. His statements are very much related to the work that I do with my clients. A lot of things clicked in my mind as I thought about Aidan’s observations.

"Careers are complex. I have a lot of questions about the world of work."

When you start to understand the complexity of the world (and of careers), and learn to respect that complexity, you can work on responding with a sophisticated approach. I think we have “dumbed down” careers – we think that as long as we get a good education and work hard, we’ll live happily ever after. While there is some truth in this statement, we must remember that having a successful career is complex.

One of my clients has been involved in off-shore racing with 60+ foot sailboats. While he may have spent many hours on a Laser, it is not the same as a 60 foot racing boat. If he treated it like that, he most likely wouldn’t win any races. In the worst case scenario, he could even put his life at risk. As he respects the complexity of the sailboat, he is more intentional in his training and in his approach.

Now, that sounds to me like a much more successful strategy. I will chat next week about the questions to be thinking about related to the world of work.

What can Olympic athletes teach us about failure?

2006-02-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

Picture this:

You have been training for 15 years of your life. You are on a training run, flying down the hill at 70 km per hour. Next thing you know, you catch an edge on your left ski, lose control, skid 100 metres, and slam into a safety net. As they say in life, you never know what a day will bring.

This is what Allison Forsyth's day looked like as she represented Canada in the downhill slalom. She couldn't get up from the ground. "It took me about 15 seconds to realize what had happened, and it was kind of a ‘see you in 2010’ moment for me", Forsyth said. "I am confident that I can come back and be strong in this sport in the future. The timing is unfortunate."

When I first read her quote, I was stunned. I reread the quote to make sure that I had understood it correctly. Now THAT is a high performance athlete. Some people would never recover mentally from something like that. Imagine you were one run away from your Olympic dream, in a heck of a lot of pain, and waiting to fly home to be operated on. It was obviously not the Olympic experience that Allison was anticipating. I was so impressed by her forward looking perspective - from disaster to moving forward in 15 seconds or less!

There are 3 key things we can learn from Allison:

1. We all catch edges in our careers - it’s not personal, it is part being a professional.

2. Take stock, deal with the reality of the situation, accept it, AND learn from it.

3. Start a new goal as soon as possible.

We have all had crash and burn experiences in our careers, but it's our response to these issues that is the key. Well done Allison - see you at the podium in 2010!

How do successful executives evolve?

2006-02-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered why some people are able to climb the corporate ladder higher or faster than others? Aside from the inevitable political reasons, there is some interesting research that has been published recently in The Harvard Business Review. The research identifies four decision-making styles in business. It also identifies a clear shift in styles as you move from supervisor to a senior executive role.

The four styles:

1. Decisive Style: Little information and one course of action. It is related to task-oriented, direct, efficient, fast and firm managers.

2. Flexible: Little information but many options. This is about speed and adaptability - decisions can change with shifting situations.

3. Hierarchic: Lots of data, but one course of action. This is about being intellectual in nature. All decisions are final.

4. Integrative: Lots of data and lots of options. It involves creativity, inputs from many sources and multiple courses of action.

Researchers discovered that the most successful executives are more likely to have a “decisive” style early in their careers. They may evolve to a “hierarchic” style as they move up the career ladder, and, ultimately, they adapt their style to that of “flexible” and “integrative”. Those who didn’t evolve their styles were most likely to stall and not move into a senior executive role.

The question that I have for you is this - in what ways have you evolved your leadership style in the past 12 months? We often like to read about change, and talk about change, but to what extent are you changing?

To get some advice on how to begin the process of change, set up an appointment with us for an Initial Consultation (http://www.careerjoy.com/consultation/index.cfm). After all, how valuable is your future?

On that note, I wanted to let you know about an upcoming OCRI event. OCRI, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation, is hosting an interactive workshop to help you maximize you career potential and plan your next step along your career track. The event is being held on February 24, 2006 at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel & Suites in Ottawa-West, Kanata. To register, please visit their website at http://www.ocri.ca/events/registration.html.

How To Be Prepared When Opportunity Knocks

2006-02-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

This past week I listened to Charlie Rose interview Anthony Hopkins. If you have never watched Charlie Rose, I would strongly encourage you to do so (you will find him on the PBS network). In my humble opinion, he is the best at bringing out a person’s story.

I was fascinated to learn about Anthony Hopkins’ career journey. Did you know that he started his career on the stage, and then moved to film? Anthony discussed the key factor of his success as an actor - memorizing the script. He said it was only when he knew his lines, that he could fully enter into character.

The night before they started filming Nixon, Anthony Hopkins was nervous as “heck”. He wasn't sure if he "got" Nixon. However, he had spent months learning and refining the script. He said; “The moment Oliver Stone started to film, it all clicked.”

I see this with clients as soon as they find a script (message) that they think accurately reflects who they are and their story. The more comfortable you are with the message, the more you can enter into the conversation. Contrast that to a film with terrible acting - you can tell the actor is not in character and is not convincing. You might say the film deserves to go straight to DVD!

Someone like Anthony Hopkins will leave a legacy of work that is authentic and excellent – giving us stories in which we are able to enter into a different time and space. Find a way of expressing what you have done, what you bring, and what you have to offer. Understand the context of the company; learn as much as you can about their products, staff, and competitors. Know it cold, then relax and enjoy the show.

Are you having trouble finding your message? We can help. Visit us online at www.careerjoy.com for more information.

Your Comments on the Three Interview Keys

2006-02-02T16:50:00.000-08:00

In last week's WORKout, I talked about the three keys to a successful interview - Confidence, Chemistry, and Content. Many of our readers shared with us how they have used these principles in their own lives. I would like to pass along three of those stories:

Remi shared his understanding of the importance of confidence :

"Before I go to an interview, I really pump myself up! I tell myself a lot of positive messages: 'I'm getting this job! I am going to this interview and be the only candidate they will ever want to consider! They will decide right there that I am the best candidate for the job! I am the best candidate in the world for the job!' This sounds a bit ridiculous, but it brings my level of adrenalin to an all-time high and makes me feel like I was when I was playing team sports and going to a tournament or a hockey game."

Amber shared the following:

"Halfway through my course, I was called in for a one-on-one interview with NBC's Page Program (a job I really, really wanted). Being polished and confident about who I was and what I wanted helped me to ace the interview and I was called back for the second and final interview some months later. This interview was different, however. This was a panel interview. Being new to the corporate world (I had graduated college only six months earlier), I had never been on a second interview or a part of a panel interview. Having prepared the same way I did for the first interview, I arrived and immediately became very nervous. Having to listen to five other college graduates, who were most definitely tops of their classes, answer the same questions as me over and over again, distracted me from my plan to impress. My confidence flew out of the window even though as I look back on it today I know
that I had more experience than all of them combined. With my confidence gone my chemistry changed and although I knew I had to pull myself together, I couldn't. I left the interview upset and angry with myself for not being able to stay focused and collected like I normally am. Needless to say, I received a very nice letter from NBC two weeks later letting me know that although I was very qualified, they had decided to hire others."

Lori shared her thoughts on the three keys to interviewing success:

"I have been very fortunate in the past with people seeking me out and asking me to apply for jobs with them. As you advise, my confidence in my own abilities and in those of my team, my ability to connect with people and my understanding of the industry I work in, including the competitive environment, have all contributed to those opportunities coming my way. I've been in the same industry for the past 25 years, with only a few hops off, and thus have been able to grow my knowledge and understanding of the environment. I also monitor events, using all of the great technology that is available. When preparing for an interview, I do my research as well to gather and understand general and specific information about the company and department I am applying to join. I record my successes, as well as my lessons learned and am able to reference this information to validate my confidence, and to celebrate my accomplishments and growth!"

Thanks to those of you who took the time to share your stories. It's what I love about this format - creating conversations!

Elections and Getting a New Job

2006-01-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy week in Canada - we now have a
new Prime Minister, and a whole bunch of people are
looking for new career options in Ottawa!

Elections are, in fact, our country's most expensive
interview process, involving thousands of candidates.
Elections are a funny thing - we give the government
OUR tax dollars, then they tell us what they are going
to do with THEIR money, which is really OUR money.
There is something wrong with that picture.

Job interviews are like that - somewhat flawed -
however, it is the best process we have. In my
experience, there are three keys to getting the job you
want, whether you are a politician or looking to land a
job as Assistant Manager at Walmart:

1. Confidence: Candidates who were confident won
over those who were cocky or unsure about their
message, or themselves.

2. Chemistry: Candidates who connected the best
with the public were more likely to win. Either we liked them better, or, at any
rate, they were the least unliked!

3. Content: Candidates who understood the issues the
best, and were relatively well informed, were also likely to succeed.

It is in this order that most people decide who they will
choose to join their team, or, for that matter, lead the
country. Content is always last. We often spend a lot
of time gathering information about the role and the
company and what we think they will need. While this
strategy is terrific, we still must pay attention to the
first two keys. They have a far greater impact on
whether you will or will not get the role. Monitor your
level of confidence; keep track of what you can do to
protect it. And work on developing that chemistry -
well, either it is there or not, you can't manufacture
that easily.

Send me an email (alan@careerjoy.com) about how you have used these three keys in
your job search, and I will share some of your insights
in next week's WORKout. We will be giving away some
copies of the Canadian (or U.S.) Job Search Kit for your
trouble.

P.S. We have some exciting news we will be sharing in
the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Shark Attack! ... and other scary things ...

2006-01-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen Jaws? Well, I saw the movie
before a trip to Hawaii. Needless to say, I swam a little
closer to the shore, and much more slowly (with a
whole lot less thrashing about!). It sounds weird - one
day I love swimming in the ocean, then two hours later,
thanks to Steven Spielberg, I am not sure I want to
put my bathing suit on.

I have a question for you: how many people do you
think have died due to an incident with a toaster over
the past year? The answer: 891 globally. How many
people have died over the past year due to a shark
attack? The answer: 9 globally. You might want to be
careful next time you go to put the peanut butter on
your toast!

If so few people die due to shark attacks, why are so
many people afraid of the ocean? It is our irrational
fear that impacts our beliefs. The stats I
presented above came from an ad that ran in a South
African paper. The ad was meant to assuage people's
fear about swimming in the ocean. When I heard those
stats, it gave me a new perspective on a common
fear.

To be fair, shark attacks make for exciting news. An
attack is magnified, and reported globally. It connects
with some deeply held fears. So it is in dealing with
issues surrounding careers. You may have fears in
which there is some truth. For example, you might
have a fear of the interview process, and worry that
you will fail before you even step through the door.
Your lack of confidence could be the very thing that
keeps you from landing that big job. However, with a
little coaching and confidence-boosting, the interview
process could easily prove to be a rewarding
experience.

Dealing with shark fears:

1. You are not the only one to suffer from this fear.

2. Fear of sharks is an intense fear of something that
poses little or no actual danger.

Dealing with career issues:

1. You are not the only one to suffer from fear of the
job search.

2. There is little or no actual danger in your job
search.

We are experts in helping people to overcome their
career related fears. Visit us online at
www.careerjoy.com for more information.

Lesson 2: What Grocery Shopping and Careers Have In Common

2006-01-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was going to send
you Lesson #2: What Grocery Shopping and Careers
have in Common. The time has finally come. Thank
you to many, many of our loyal readers for bringing this
omission to my attention. Also, thank you to those of
you that sent us your lessons learned in 2005. The
"best of" will be on it's way!

Lesson #2:
There are a lot of choices in the grocery store. Funny
story - there I was, standing in front of the yogurt
section, beside another customer. I said; "There
are a lot of choices here." He replied; "Yes, and
they still don't have what you want.".

There must have been 100+ choices of yogurts, and I
still had not gotten to the egg section. It sure makes
your head spin. To help reduce the anxiety of choice,
Loblaws created a new brand - President's Choice.
Every week, the president of Loblaws travels the globe
on my personal behalf, to find and create products just
for me (and 30 million other potential customers). By
the look of my cupboards, he seems to be doing a
great job!

There are a lot more choices than money or time. This
is the President's Choice principle. Think about the
name - whose choice is it? Who will determine what
you need? Loblaws recognized several years ago that
the range of options would continue to increase. They
needed to create a brand that would stand out (unlike
the hundreds of brands produced by P & G - who
remembers which are which?). Loblaws hit a home run
with President's Choice.

The new big problem in life is simplification - I want less
choice, not more. If someone can produce products
that I can depend on, that helps to simplify my life. So
it is in careers. One of the key issues that I constantly
deal with is the choices. Most of my clients struggle
with the overwhelming choices that are in front of
them. Do you know how many types of executive
MBA's there are?

CareerJoy's role is much like President's Choice. We
can help you identify what's on the shelf. We can
narrow down your choices, reducing the noise and
friction within your career decisions, to help you make
the best available selection. Choose wisely.

2006 Resolutions - which ones will YOU keep?

2006-01-05T17:19:00.000-08:00

Only 51 more weeks left in 2006. You could start planning your 2007 New Year celebration – it’s never too early! If you are like most people, you have probably made some New Year resolutions. According to a study commissioned by Carpe Diem, an Australian drink manufacturer, there were approximately 435 million New Year resolutions made in Austria, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and The Netherlands. Here are some interesting results on which country was most likely to keep their resolutions:

Percentage of Countries’ Population Likely to Keep Resolutions for Period Longer than 4 Weeks:

Belgians: 53%

Dutch: 52%

Germans: 51%

Swiss: 46%

Austrians: 46%

Irish: 37% (which really offended me...hey, I was born in Dublin!)

Brits: 36% - as they say, God Save the Queen.

These results beg the question; ”What is it in the culture of Belgium which enables a greater percentage of them to keep their resolutions?” (it must be the cocoa in the chocolate!)

I am not sure what kind of career goals that you have resolved to achieve (if any). Things like ”return all voice mails”, “get your resume upgraded”, or “look for a new career” may have crossed your mind. It is only the first week - visit us at CareerJoy.com for more details on how we can help you stay on the resolution band wagon.

How You Can Get Ahead In 2006

2005-12-27T16:47:00.000-08:00

I recently drove to our Toronto office in one of the worst snowstorms we have had in the past few years. I was heading there to take part in a new TV show coming out on the Women's Network. As they say, the show must go on – literally!

One of the things I realized as I was driving was how much I used my rear view mirror. To be frank, I never noticed how much I relied on it to give me information and perspective, as well as to make sure that no one was going to plow into my rear end.

Needless to say, I got to Toronto safe and sound - a few Tim Horton coffees and 12 litres of windshield washer fluid later. This got me thinking of how we need to look back to look forward. I call it The Rear View Mirror Principle.

You may be asking yourself; “When was the rear view mirror invented?”. Funny you should ask. It was invented in 1911 by Ray Harroun, who drove to victory in the first Indy 500. He thought driving alone would give him an advantage over his competitors, who would have the added weight of a co-driver/mechanic. With the help of the mirror, he was still able to see who was in position to pass him.

Ray found a tool that helped him gain perspective. Looking back enabled him to drive forward. This is a key principle, as you reflect on 2005. It can give you an advantage in this coming year.

3 key questions to reflect upon:

1. What were your 3 biggest accomplishments?

2. What were your 3 biggest challenges?

3. What was the most important thing you have learned this past year?

Ah, you say you are too busy? Miss one show of Survivor, invest one hour of your time, and, presto! You will gain a new perspective.

Send me an email of some of the challenges you have overcome this year, and I will send you a copy of CareerJoy’s US or Canadian Job Search Kit - our gift to you, to help you along the path to winning your own race.

What does Gallop say we should call this season?

2005-12-21T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have seen it myself - people are kinder, there is more
laughter, and we become a generous bunch. While
there is a general sense of busyness, there is also
lightness in the air. So is the Christmas spirit.

Or should I say, so is the "holiday season"? It has
given me quite a chuckle - what is this season called?
As we stumble with our words, our friends at Gallop did
a poll about all the "controversy" over what to call this
particular season. They wanted to know how
concerned people really were over this issue.

The first question they asked was as follows: "When
meeting someone, what would you say at this time of
the year?" 56% responded that they would
say "Merry Christmas", while 41% said "Happy
holidays". Gallop then asked a second question
directed at the stores and companies using "Happy
holidays" as their primary greeting: 62% said this was a
change for the worse, while 24% said this was a
change for the better.

In response to Gallop's third question - "Are you
offended if you are greeted with a 'Merry
Christmas'" - only 3% of people surveyed were
offended (versus the 32% of people who were offended
by happy holidays!).

So there you have it - Merry Christmas! May this
season of joy, fun, peace, and hope be upon you and
your family, and may your eggnog be of the "strong"
variety!

Have a wonderful Christmas season and Happy
Chanukah for my Jewish friends.

Howard Stern's Definition of Success

2005-12-15T16:53:00.000-08:00

First of all, I realize that you most likely are not a Howard Stern fan. That being said, you can't deny the success that he has had in the morning radio market. He just signed a $500 million (yes, that is the right number) contract with Sirius Satellite, including a brand new Studio.

Sirius is hoping that Stern’s audience will follow, and pay to listen to the show. Howard has had a successful morning show for 20 years, a successful book, and a successful DVD. Whether you agree with him or not, there are millions of people who start their day according to the gospel of Howard - raunch and rock & roll.

You may have seen a recent interview on 60 minutes with Howard Stern and Ed Bradley. The thing that I was most impressed with was when Stern admitted to a fear of failing. Ed asked him if he thought he was successful; Howard seemed to struggle with the answer. It was obvious that, from Stern’s perspective, he had still not answered that question. Ed asked; "You have just signed a 1/2 billion dollar deal". Howard responded; "It's not the money that drives me. I will wake up at 2 in the morning. Whoever hires me gets a crazy guy focused on connecting with his audience. That's what drives me."

You may ask, well then, why doesn't he work for free? It's expensive to live in New York!

What do Grocery Shopping and Careers Have in Common?

2005-12-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I was in the grocery store doing some grocery surfing – by that I mean that I was wandering the aisles, buying stuff in both an intentional and random type of way. I felt entertained, confused, satiated and tempted all in the course of one hour! There are two lessons I learned from the experience that I think I can apply to career management :

Lesson #1: Don't go to the grocery store on the weekend.

The first lesson is the more obvious one. When you grocery surf in the same lane as everyone else, you end up bumping into each other. There just isn't a lot of room in those aisles - either that, or they have made the shopping carts larger!

Strangely enough, this also applies to careers. For example, imagine that an ad for a lucrative position at an excellent firm has just been posted in a major paper. Bingo, it catches peoples’ attention, and, shortly after, bingo! 122 resumes are submitted within the hour (thanks, email!). Now, imagine the same 122 people in the pickle section of the store – do you get the picture? A sure-fire Strubs riot.

There is a better way. When you go to the grocery store on a Thursday night at 9:30, all those Strubs - garlic, sweet & sour, non garlic, small, medium, large – are waiting there just for you. So it is when you are pursuing an opportunity BEFORE it hits the market.

In my previous life, I ran a search firm. It was very, very rare that clients actually wanted to hire someone. They wanted to fill the role, of course, they just didn't want to go through the hiring process. People are busy and generally risk tolerant. If they meet the right candidate at the right time, they are happy to hire them, thus avoiding the process of advertising or using a recruitment firm. The trick, then, is to get there on Thursday, before they write the ad for Saturday’s paper.

In career speak, we call that “networking”. Yes, I know it’s a word we rarely enjoy the sound of, but your network is how you learn about the next potential opportunity. Then, and only then, will you find yourself in the enviable position of being the right person at the right time - you will have the aisle all for yourself!

Next week, I will share Lesson #2. In the meantime, the first 5 people who write to me and tell me the number (percentage) of jobs that are not gained through public knowledge, will be sent a copy of our Canadian (or US) Job Search Kit (a $29.95 value - 130 pages jam packed with everything you wish you did and didn't know about job searching!).

ps I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our readers to join us in celebrating the holidays! We are holding an open house at our head office in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada), on 4048 Carling Road on Thursday, December 15th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. RSVP Eunice@CareerJoy.com. We hope to see you there!

What needs have you seen?

2005-12-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

Last week I asked you – the readers - to write in and share some of your thoughts on what needs you have seen in the market. We had a terrific response, lots of ideas, thoughts, comments, and questions. Thank you for your input! One of the great things about our blog and ezine is that we get a chance to develop conversations with our readers, as opposed to offering a monologue.

Christina shared with me the following :

This is the key first step, remember: 'if it ain't broke - don't fix it'! You want to fix the company's need, not yours, not what you think the company's need is.

Lynn shared a story about a masters student in New York City, named Debra Adler:

Debra saw a need to design a medication bottle. She created a new packaging system called Clear RX, due to the fact her grandparents took each others’ medication by mistake. That bottle is now used by the retail chain, Target.

Lorena mentioned the following about Interac use :

Both sides of an Interac machine should have a reader, so that it doesn't matter which way you put the card in. Maybe they are all the same, but people like me can't remember, so we're always turning the card around. Tellers must use the line "turn it the other way" with almost every customer!

Helen shared:

My favourite story about this is the bagged salad people. The original manufacturers were farmers who just washed and plastic-bagged their own salad so they'd have something to eat quickly during the busy farm day. They decided to sell a few of those, began marketing to a few local stores. I think they are multi-millionaires now.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to write – I enjoyed reading your comments!

P.S. Are you looking for Christmas gift ideas? Why not give the gift of a better future? We have personalized certificates available for all of our services, from an initial consultation, to resumes, to full programs. Let us know your budget, and we can suggest something that will really make an impression. Contact Eunice Moyer at eunice@careerjoy.com for more information.

And just to mention, on Thursday, December 15 from 4:00 pm onwards at our Kanata (Ottawa, Ontario) location, we will be hosting our annual Christmas open house. Email Eunice if you’d like to attend - we would love to see you there!

How to Identify New Opportunities – the Robot Way

2005-11-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

”See the need, fill the need” - this is a quote from the film Robots, which I recently watched with my children. Robots is a fun movie to watch, and Robin Williams stands out as a great voice in this animated feature.

In this film the main character, Rodney Copperbottom, is the child of a dishwasher. In order to help his dad, who comes home exhausted every night, Rodney builds a working prototype that will clean all the dishes. The machine was invented to give his dad more satisfaction and better results, meaning that dad and son would be able to spend more quality time together. Rodney saw a need, and looked for a way to solve the problem.

In the book ”5 Patterns of an Extraordinary Careers” - a survey of over 2,000 successful executives - one of the keys for those that succeeded was that they overcame the "permission paradox". I often hear people complain they can't find a role or a way to solve a particular type of problem. In many cases, they wait for the solution to be presented to them. Yet some of the great stories of our time come from seeing a need, finding a way to solve the problem, and then figuring how to turn the experience into a new opportunity or business.

Think Google, think EBay, think iTunes, think Toyota Prius, think Home Depot, think Starbucks. These are world class companies – their founders saw a need and filled it. This leads to two questions:

1 How do you see it?

2. How do you fill it?

Both are key. Here's where you come in. Please share with me some of your thoughts and comments on these questions - alan@CareerJoy.com - next week I will share some of your thoughts with the rest of the readers.

What do Elections and Careers have in Common?

2005-11-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Now, I know there are two things we are
not "supposed" to discuss -politics and sex. However, I
am a bit of a political junkie. While you may not agree
with the politicians themselves, the principles they use
to get elected can be learned from (at least the ethical
ones!)

I just watched an interesting documentary on the
campaign for the 2002 election. The politicians hired
GCS consultants to help them with their messaging,
polling, and strategy. The "C" in GCS stands for James
Carvelle. Does that name sound familiar? It may very
well, as he was the architect of the Clinton win in
1992.

Since that time, James has worked on elections around
the world with campaigns in wide ranging countries
such as Ireland and Russia. His team has developed a
methodology that can be applied to any election in any
country around the world. The principles are universal,
even though the issues are local.

To get the win for Goni (the candidate whom they were
working for), for example, Carvelle's team had to
determine what the big issues were for the population
of Bolivia. They then continually tweaked their campaign
message to best expose the weaknesses of their
opponents, and position Goni as the people's best
choice for leading Bolivia.

Carvelle's team employed tools consisting of polls,
focus groups, and advertisements. They used a
scientific process to gather data, and then brought in
James (the big gun!) to interpret the data, provide
input on a strategy, and guide their candidate along
the trail to winning the election. Their message was
"The Brand of Crisis: our experience is what you
need" (at that time, Bolivia was undergoing
tremendous challenges).

4 principles:

Find the needs of the market

Get your message in tune with the needs

Clarify and repeat your message as often as
possible

Tweak when necessary

CareerJoy has the tools and experience to help our
clients with all four principles so that they too can
win. Write to us if you're interested in having an
experienced team in your corner (info@careerjoy.com).

How to Get a Lucky Break

2005-11-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

Recently there was an award banquet for the Young Entrepreneur Awards. The participants were from across the country, and were all under the age of 35.

One of the winners was Melody Dover. She is 34 and lives in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Melody is the founder of Fresh Media Inc., an organization that does web design and branding work on the east coast.

I was fascinated by her story - three years ago she fell and broke her right wrist. Now, you have to understand that at the time, she was a graphic designer. It was a bit difficult to do design work with her wrist in a cast, to say the least!

For some people this would be absolutely terrible. While the injury was painful for her, both professionally and personally, it was the best thing that ever happened to her.

In Melody’s own words; "With my arm in a cast, I realized I had to expand my skills. I took the Interactive Multimedia course at Holland College." While taking the course, she won first prize in Animediafest. This led to the start of people approaching her to do work for them. She said; "I realized this was a great opportunity."

With $2,000, some used equipment, and a small office, away she went and launched her own company. Melody's broken wrist, but more importantly her mindset, enabled her to see this as a “lucky break”. She took courageous and appropriate action to move forward in her life.

As they say - "break a leg"! It could be the best thing that ever happens to you.

The Ipod Way

2005-11-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Ipod is really hot these days. Apple, the computer company, is now “The Music Company”. The person behind it all, from the very beginning, is Steve Jobs, Apple’s founder and current CEO.

Now, I have a confession to make. I love all of Apple’s products. CareerJoy is a Mac shop – great quality products, easy to use, and boy, do they ever know how to package!

Steve Jobs never finished university. He started a computer company in his garage with a friend (sound familiar?) and launched what became the PC revolution. Despite Apple’s success, however, Bill Gates still won the war.

Steve also started up Pixar (yes, the people who brought us Toy Story and the Incredibles). And more recently, for the Trinity of success, he launched Ipod, which, in four short years, has become a runaway success. Ipod has sold over 22 million, and owns 74% of the market. In addition, Itunes owns 84% of the download market and sells 2 million songs a day at 99 cents a pop. Not a bad business to be in!

About 1 year ago, Steve went to see his doctor, only to discover that he had a pancreatic tumour that was expected to kill him in a matter of months. However, later that same day, doctors discovered they could cut out the tumour - it was in an unusually fortunate spot.

Steve spoke of this experience at Stanford University’s commencement ceremonies this year; "Death is very likely the single best invention in life. All external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving what is truly important." He added that his journey of facing death was the thing that focused his mind and his life; "Always do what you love and never settle."

I think that Steve dealt with this issue, like others in his life, with thoughtfulness and courage. He searched for the lesson in this unbelievable life challenge.

Are you doing what you love? Or are you settling? It is very, very easy to settle, and yet, there always is a cost. For most people, it takes a significant external event to "wake us up out of the stupor of life”.

Hopefully I can encourage you to take the pill before the sickness. Email us at info@careerjoy.com.

Is Your Resume Working?

2005-10-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

You have probably never heard of Chip Kidd, yet he's
one of the most influential non-authors in the book
business.

For the past 20 years Chip has been on the design
team at Alfred A Knopf publishers. He is the Michael
Jordon of the book design business, and has designed
such books as Jurassic Park. He has created
100's of covers and has recently released his own book
with samples of some of the designs; "Chip Kidd: Book
One".

The secret to his success is this; you CAN tell the book
by its cover. His design philosophy is radical and
unconventional. He has a unique ability to combine
font and images that work together to get your
attention. Have you ever walked into a book store and
been overwhelmed by all the choices? Chip Kidd makes
sure that his books stand out from the crowd.

The writers do what they do, Chip does what he does,
and the publishers make all the money (well, not all).
Chip's role is to help package and tell a story in 30
seconds or less that will compel you to choose the
book he has designed. All of his book covers are
unique and he tries his best to represent what the
author is saying and to whom he wishes to say it. For
good and for bad, a lot of buying decisions are made as
a result of the cover.

Not unlike a book cover, a resume also has to package
and tell a story in a short period of time. Did you know
that you have less than 2 minutes to grab a hiring
manager's attention? This is the reality of the job
search - a great resume gets attention. No matter
how talented the person may or may not be, hiring
managers make decisions first by the paper they
see.

When creating resumes, just like in the book business,
it's important to remember that writers don't make good
designers. Most people can't write great resumes for
themselves. That is where we can help. Our certified
resume coaches have the ability, just like Chip, to make
your story interesting, captivating, and ultimately, the
one that will help your resume be chosen above all the
noise.

Check out our resume service at http://www.careerjoy.com/services/resume.cfm.

Paul McCartney's Career Advice

2005-10-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Paul - he's been a quarryman, Beatle, Wing, Poet,
Painter, Father, Front Man, Producer, Business Mogul,
and if that weren't enough, a Knight.

You may or may not have seen the new ads put out by
Fidelity Investments. Paul is their new global
representative - using the extra money to pay for the
rising fuel costs in his new private jet no doubt (even
the rich are impacted by $70 a barrel oil prices).

I find it interesting that a financial services company is
speaking to the market about career management
issues. There is another financial company talking
about that issue as well, called Freedom 55.

I like Paul's pitch better; freedom now, who wants
to wait until 55 to be free? You may not make it.
This company and their marketing machine are quite
clever.

Four facts:

1 They are hitting a huge, growing need for career
fulfillment

2. When you are fulfilled, you will become a lot
wealthier

3. When you are wealthier, you will invest more with
them

4. They, in turn, will become wealthier.

Wealth is personal. There are lots of measurements
more important than what our friends at Fidelity, or
Paul for that matter, define. However, like Paul, when
you do what you love, lots of "wealth"
follows.

The key is, never stop doing what you love. I
agree.

Are you having trouble identifying what it is that you
might love to do? You're not alone. Our Career
Identity Program for Professionals might be right for
you. Visit us on the Web at http://www.careerjoy.com/services/careerid.cfm.

How to Make Sure You Give the Right Information in an Interview

2005-10-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

Brad Chartrand plays for the Los Angeles Kings. He has
been playing hockey for a number of years (except, of
course, for last season!) Brad and 700 other players
had an extended summer holiday.

A number of players went overseas; however, Brad and
his wife decided to move back to Saratoga Springs,
N.Y. To stay in shape, he decided to start playing pick
up hockey with some of the guys in town. Not knowing
anyone, he called the local conveynor of the league to
ask if there was any space on the team. The
conversation went something like this:

Brad: "Hi my name is Brad, is there any space on your
team?"

Convenor: "Nope"

Brad: "Can I be put on a back-up list?"

Convenor: "No such thing."

Brad: "You should start a list, in case someone can't
make it."

Convenor: "OK, I'll start list. What is your name and
number, and, oh, what level of hockey did you play last
year?"

Brad: "I played NHL last year."

Convenor: (LONG pause) "Bulls@#$!"

Brad: "Look it up."

Convenor: (VERY long pause) "Gee, it's amazing, we
just had a spot open up on our team. You start
Wednesday at 9:00!"

Lesson learned: when you are in an interview situation,
never take for granted what you know, and who you
know. The person interviewing you doesn't know as
much about you as you think. Get the important
details and differentiations out early. You may get a
spot on the team!

Do you need help with the interview process? Check
out our 90 Day Career Search Program, which includes
researching and role playing for interview preparation.

For more information, visit us on the Web at
http://www.careerjoy.com/services/90day.cfm.

Why is Having a Career Difficult?

2005-10-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Why are careers so difficult? This question has led me to think about the famous line from Scott Peck’s book, "The Road Less Traveled".

Scott Peck, the author of that famous book, died recently at the age of 69. He was a psychiatrist and author and self help guru. His most famous books sold 10 million copies and were on the New York Times bestseller list for over 8 years.

I am not sure if you have read "The Road Less Traveled", however, one of the reasons it is famous is a result of the first line - "Life is difficult" - which essentially was the thesis of his book. Mr. Peck’s premise was that once you understood this, and entered into life with this understanding, it would really help to frame your expectations and results. So this is the human experience, imperfect in all its ways.

So it is with careers. We often think that if:

1. We go to a good school

2. We graduate

3. We get a Job and

4. We work hard and are nice

that we will live “career” happily ever after.

I think we should accept that managing a career is challenging and fraught with danger and opportunity. Then, when things don't go the way we expect or there are injustices or challenges, we are not surprised, but accept them for what they are. Any other expectation is inaccurate. We have to take our careers seriously, but with the understanding that we can't always control the outcomes.

If we see it any differently, then we are naïve. I don't think this is being negative -I would say I am an optimist and a pragmatist. Look for the good and expect challenges, so that when they happen, you won't be thrown off.

Do you want to talk about your career hurdles and challenges? Why not give us a call. We can help you find the right perspective.

Three Principles of Work in Japan

2005-09-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

I was looking at an interview with Gary Moyer, President of Jaguar Canada. He spent the past 5 years working for Mazda, and spoke of his experience working in Japan and his love for the country. He also shared three principles that describe his view of the Japanese culture and their approach to work:

1. Consensus Building and Relationship building: To implement a major decision, Japanese Managers spend a lot of time "nema-washi", which essentially means behind the scenes negotiation with everyone involved. This is a universal principle, however, in North America, we don't seem to realize that this can take a significant amount of time and energy. Gary noticed that North Americans tend to be more impulsive.

2. Make decisions with patience: Japanese management tends to use eastern logic, while we work with western logic. The two styles don't seem to flow well together. Eastern logic tended to provide solutions to strategy or problem issues that were not what he expected.

3. Fix the basics of any problem first: Most problems have several layers of issues. Japanese managers spend a lot of time getting to the core of the problem. Gary discovered that once you dealt with this, the other elements to the problem were resolved fairly easily.

These three principles can be applied in your role, or in managing your
Career. For more information, please feel free to drop me a line.

Bowling Together After Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

One of the most interesting stories to come out of New Orleans and the impact of Katrina is about a small group of 6 Canadians. One of those 3 couples - Jay and Karen Weir - spoke of their harrowing journey.

The three couples were visiting New Orleans for a vacation when the Hurricane struck. They ended up spending almost a week stranded in garbage and corpses outside a shopping mall.

One of the comments that Jay made was as follows; "If it wasn't for our neighbours and ourselves and the other people we met, we probably wouldn't be here. We were better off making decisions together than going it alone.”

They spoke about how their makeshift tribe established latrines and stockpiled ice water and food. One member of the community became the cook, and rationed food, making sure the children and elderly were fed. They even learned how to negotiate with looters, sharing supplies and offering them money.

Bowling together more than likely saved their lives. Consider the impact they had on the rest of their "tribe". Each member contributed in a meaningful way, giving and taking as required.

If, as Hillary Clinton says, it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to "raise a career". More than 70% of jobs are found in non traditional manners - even with the existence of job boards and electronic tools, the most effective way to find and manage your career remains receiving help from your "tribe".

A postscript to this story, the plane they came home in ended up with a fuel leak, and they had to vacate the plane on emergency slides: "we just laughed all the way out". An interesting perspective!

Is Consulting Right For You?

2005-09-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

"I have been considering leaving my technology organization and joining an IT consulting firm - what are some of the career risks and benefits that you see with professionals jumping to the consulting industry?" J.K Calgary

According to the Kennedy Information and Industry Intelligence Company, the consulting industry has grown at a 20% rate since the 1980s. The sector is a $118-billion industry. It is six times larger than 10 years ago, employing between 350,000 and 400,000, and the top 25 global firms make up 60 percent of the industry. The consulting industry is broken up into four key areas:

50% IT Consulting
21% Operations Consulting
18% Strategy Consulting
11% Human Resources Consulting

The good news is that the "Wisdom Industry" is growing at a fast clip. Some sectors, such as the technology consulting area that we are looking at, have grown at a slower rate these past years, and instead you are seeing more consulting work occurring off shore.

Many professionals join a consulting firm and spend their whole careers there because they enjoy the variety. The complexity and the financial rewards are tremendous, especially if their goal is to become a partner. It exposes you to a number of different situations. The profile of a consultant is one who enjoys a wide range of problem solving, and thrives independently.

There are a few challenges with this role; firstly, you tend to follow the problems that are the hottest, and the ones that clients are willing to pay for, which may or may not fit your key skills. Secondly, there tends to be the expectation of longer hours and more travel.

If you have a profile that fits, you will thrive; otherwise it may be a short term engagement that opens the door to a new employer. Are you up for the challenge? Give us a call and we can help you decide if consulting is the right path for you.

Along the road with you,
Alan Kearns

What's Passion Got to do With Anything?

2005-08-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I should let you know a little about myself, now that you have been hearing from me for almost 2 years. I love cars -it is one of my passions and I just recently purchased a new one (we will send out a complimentary copy of the US or Canadian Job Search Kit at a $29.95 value to those who can guess what I bought. Just send me an email, my address is below).

One of the great pleasures I have is reading one of my favorite blogs. This one is all about Autos. One of the US companies that's doing alright is Ford. I love their new Mustang, and they've hit a home run with the new F150 truck as well. It's rather nice for a gas-guzzling machine.

I recently heard of a quote that struck me as interesting: "One of the most important things about building anything is the people who build it," said Carroll Shelby (Ford Mustangs). "I want them to know that their work is appreciated and that they're the backbone of this company".

Shelby was out visiting the Flat Rock plant where they build the Mustangs. He was visiting for the introduction of the new 2006 Shelby Mustang. The first Shelby was produced in 1968 and was part of establishing the Mustang brand. "This is the next best thing to being next to God," said Samuel Crawford, who works in the body shop at the plant. "I've always wanted to meet Carroll Shelby. I've followed his career from an early age. In my life, I never thought I would have the chance to get this close."

It was quite an event for the plant and the car, which is one of the few bright spots in the North American car industry. As I always say, passion is the fuel and the focus; it gets you going and keeps you on the road.

All sectors and companies need people like Carroll Shelby in their lives, who set the pace for both products and passions. "I'm not a legend. I'm just a lucky country boy who loved what he did and was fortunate enough to be able to do that all my life," said Shelby. Not a bad epitaph.

Wouldn't you like to be able to claim something similar? Give us a call and we can help you find your passion.

Along the road with you ...

When Should You Go Back to the Drawing Board?

2005-08-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Even professionals in their field of work such as Charles Schultz, the creator of the famous comic strip Charlie Brown, can lose track of the basics.

Charles often tells the story of a day when he was about 15 years into his comic strip, and he sat down to draw Snoopy in front of his typewriter, like many other days. The only problem was that he forgot how to draw the typewriter!

Often times along our career search, we can forget the basics. We start along a path and completely miss out on a key and obvious element. Some of the biggest mistakes in life are a result of missing a basic element.

Did Charles know how to draw a typewriter? Absolutely. Sometimes in life we need to be reminded of the basics. We call it going "back to the drawing board". Not because we don't know how to do it, but it just needs to be seen from a new angle, a fresh perspective.

Whether you need a new angle or a fresh perspective, our coaches have lots of pen and paper available for you. So let's start drawing!

Along the road with you...

Give Your Best, Not Your All!

2005-08-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

There has been something that I have been wrestling with for the past little while. The more I have digested the thought, the more truth I sense in the statement.

Let's say I had $100 in my pocket, and you asked me for a hand. I gave you all of my money, which meant that I didn't buy the medicine my daughter needed that day. Who won out of the deal, and who lost?

Instead of giving you my all, let's say I gave you $50 and used the rest to buy my daughter's medicine as well as some treats for my son. Who won and who lost in that deal?

That is my definition of giving your best. It is the same principle in the workplace. When you give work your best, you and work get a fair trade; everyone benefits. When you give it your all, there probably is not a lot left over for the other dimensions of your life; your health, relationships, family and even fun.

Too often we pride ourselves on giving our all, and the results are not generally the best. As my old boss Peter Ward says, "The good is the enemy of the best." Enjoy the rest of your summer, spend time with family and friends, and make time to do something that you love and that relaxes you. Give it a try, you may find you start to win in a lot more places than work!

P.S. Send me some examples of what you have changed. I'd like to hear from you!

Along the road with you ...

I'm Off to Timbuktu

2005-08-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

This is a story of my friend Jack Mackenzie, whom I've known for a number of years now. I ran into him on Canada Day, twice in two different spots, and we had not seen each other in over a year.

Jack is an extremely interesting guy - did I mention that he skied to the North Pole when he was 78 (a world record at that)? Or that, at the age of 83, he returned from Easter Island and drove across China?

As we were catching up, I asked Jack my favorite question for him: "Where are you off to next?" Believe it or not, he is off to Timbuktu - a real city in the West African nation of Mali. A little history lesson; Timbuktu was a trading city, and became the intellectual and spiritual capital of West Africa. It was at the end of the camel caravan route that linked sub-Saharan Africa to North Africa and Arabia. Things were great until the Portuguese showed it was easier to sail around the whole area. That, as they say, was the beginning of the end. But for Jack, it simply meant another destination.

Jack has a list of goals that have kept him focused his entire life. Life is a collection of experiences. Time is just the measuring stick. Some people are so afraid of dying that they just don't live. That is one key mistake I see with clients. They have some really great goals, such as to get an undergrad, then an MBA or CA or LLB. However, they often stall at that point.

Goals are tremendous focal points; they are energizing and you always need a new set of them. Careers seldom stall when you have a goal, and are able to develop and follow a plan to achieve it. Our coaches can help you with that plan, and guide you along the path to achieving your goals. Don't wait one more day to make it happen.

There are two types of people in this world, those that live in the past and those, like Jack, who are looking forward to going to Timbuktu. You choose.

Along the road with you...

Why Lance Armstrong Needs Help?

2005-08-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

Lucky 7 for Lance! Once again, against the odds, Lance has proven his ability to rise to the occasion and perform at an amazing level.

A good friend of mine is a biking fanatic. Between him educating me on the aspects of the Tour de France and the general media buzz around Lance's journey, I learned quite a lot about the world of cycling and the high performance athlete. One comment sticks out in my mind, the day Lance said he had a "no-chain day, he rode with such form that it felt effortless". I think this was around day 15, the equivalent of riding 15 marathons in a row, and Lance felt better than he had all the way through.

There are many keys to Lance's success; however, there is one that I think stands apart. Lance had help. He had 8 other riders on his team that won the race with him. Some of his teammates were hill specialists, while some were speed oriented. There was even one member of the team who was the "mule". His job was essentially to bring fuel (drinks & food) to the other members.

Lance's teammates have come and gone over the years. I believe there is only one member who consistently remained part of the team throughout all 7 races. This constant turnover even included the team manager and all other support personnel - more than 30 in all. Lance knows what he knows, and before each race, he would select the right group of people to compliment him.

As Lance moves on to other things, he will need a new team. This new group of people will have a different set of skills and talents as his role moves from athlete to more of a managerial position. His next set of successes will be proportional to the type of team he surrounds himself with.

So the question is, if Lance needs help, why wouldn't you? The principles are the same whether you are racing the Tour de France or running a pharmacy. Surround yourself with great people, seek out help, and get on the bike.

We can help you. Don't try and do it on your own. Lance didn't, and neither should you.

Along the road with you...

Johnny Depp's Fresh Start

2005-07-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Johnny Depp's Fresh Start

Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. Currently, he is starring in the latest rendition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I can still remember going to see that movie as a child, and a few months ago I rented it to watch with my kids. The DVD had extra scenes from the original movie, as well as interviews with Gene Wilder and the Director.

The director told an interesting story about how they got the funding for the movie. It was actually funded by a candy bar company (and people thought product placement was a recent phenomena!).

I have not seen the new movie yet, however I know it is doing very well at the box office. Johnny Depp's career was in a tailspin a few years ago, so he decided to pack his bags and move to Paris, France. There is a saying in real estate: "location, location, location". In Johnny Depp's own words, he described his life as: "Going downhill in LA." He was suffering from "Negative Gravitational Career Syndrome".

Certain times it's necessary to make a major transition in our life to get us out of the gravitational elements that keep us stuck in a bad situation. In some cases, staying in our current location or career setting keeps everything constant, and things won't change until we get out and start afresh.

A new location can be great. We often use the term "fresh start", and this is what a new geographic location can do. There can be some risks - what if it doesn't work out? As Johnny Depp discovered, Paris was a much better place for him to live his life (when not working in the Chocolate Factory). It enabled him to be more himself. As a result, I think his acting has been enhanced because the energy that he uses to be himself is minimized by distractions outside of his work. I have seen a similar situation with a client of mine who recently moved to the Vancouver area. Not only has it enhanced his career, but his life as well, making it the best possible step for him.

If you need help figuring out what that "fresh start" should be for you, our coaches would be pleased to work with you to bring focus and clarity to your individual situation.

Hey, if the Candy Man Can, So Can You!

Along the road with you!

When Did Charlie Brown Get It ?

2005-07-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

My son recently took out a book from the library on Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown. The book was written a number of years ago and, is a reflective look on the previous 35 years of his comic strip called "Peanuts".

Charlie Brown was one of my favorite comic strips when I was a kid, it was always the key section to grab, when the newspaper landed upon your doorstep-the big race for who got to the comics first.

The book my son borrowed is interesting, as like the original cartoons, they give you an unusual glimpse into what makes Schulz tick.

What I found fascinating, was when Charles told of being "discovered" on his first day of kindergarten; his teacher gave them huge sheets of white paper and large black crayons, and they spent the morning drawing. When she came around to look at the pictures that each of them created, she said: "Charles, you are going to be an artist."

It was an amazing gift, that this teacher discovered and encouraged at such a young and vulnerable age. What if his teacher had been critical and condemned the work that he created that day?

What would have happened if Charles hadn't had the courage to do what he loved to do? I wondered where would the world be without Charlie Brown. What specials would we watch at Christmas? What comic strips could possibly take the place of the endearing and wise Charlie Brown and his love and hate relationship with Lucy? Where would Snoopy the dog live?

I think the reason that cartoon figures are so popular, is that they often define feelings that are difficult for us to express ourselves. I loved Charles' definition of a cartoonist: "A cartoonist is someone who has to draw the same thing day after day after day without repeating himself."

I wonder what it would look like if we handled our lives and careers with that approach.

You're a good man Charlie Brown...

Along the road with you...

Success Under the Star of Venus

2005-07-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Wimbledon--the Holy Grail of the Tennis World. All the great players must at some point win at Wimbledon, and not only win once but multiple times to stand apart from their competitors.

This past weekend Venus Williams won her third Wimbledon championship. What makes this particular win so important is the fact that she has been seen as a star on the down slope of her career. She was ranked 14th in the world, and she was playing against #1 ranked Lindsay Davenport, so statistically it was a no- brainer--Lindsay was a shoe-in to win. However, one thing Lindsay and the rest of the world hadn't counted on was Venus's confidence in herself and in her destiny.

Ranking has very little to do with winning. There are many examples of teams and individuals who believe they are winners even if the stats don't always prove it at the time. Here is what Venus believed: "I realize we live in a very tough time, critical times and, in order to keep your balance and your sanity you have to believe in something."

Remember, she lost to a 15 year old in this year's French Open, which just added to the evidence suggesting she was past her prime. One quote has stuck with me, however, when she said "I've always felt like a champion in my heart. I knew my destiny was to be back in the winner's circle and to win big titles again."

Three key ideas:

1. Venus believed in the deepest part of her that she was a Champion.

2. Venus had a sense of purpose for the potential she knew she still possessed.

3. You can beat anyone or any situation, with the above two beliefs!

The role of Venus's coach was to keep her connected to her beliefs and to remind her why they are still relevant. As a Career Coach, it is one of my great privileges to help clients connect to their own potential so they too can be champions!.

Along the road with you...

The 5 Myths of Change

2005-07-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

You may have heard about Steve Vaught, a 400-pound man who, several months ago, could not walk from one end of a department store to the other without sitting down to rest. Steve finally had enough. He was sick and tired of being sick and tired, so he started walking. In April, he left his kids and his wife at home to walk across the US. Three days ago, due to the kindness of a local physician, he weighed himself and so far he has lost 48 lbs. He has only gotten as far as Arizona but he has gone so much farther in terms of the change that has taken place within him.

According to the Johns Hopkins study on change that I spoke about last week. Here are the 5 myths of change:

Myth #1 Crisis is a powerful impetus for change.

Truth: Crisis is a moment in time and we tend to have very short memories. Life is about day-to-day choices, and it is in these choices that we need to make sustainable change.

Myth #2 Change is motivated by fear.

Truth: Fear often causes us to go into denial mode and convince ourselves that it won't happen again. We do much better with a positive vision of what change could do for us.

Myth #3 The facts will set us free.

Truth: This makes sense in theory, but the reality is that we think in stories and emotions, and generally not in facts, so when the facts don't fit the story or emotion we tend to ignore them.

Myth #4 Small gradual changes are always easier to make and sustain.

Truth: We are impatient beings and we should be more like Steve-choose a big goal and start walking. Larger changes yield larger benefits.

Myth #5 We can't change because our brains become hardwired early in life.

Truth: New research shows how elastic our brain really is, it truly is a sponge and very capable of change.

Now if 10,000 people start walking across the country tomorrow we will know why!

Along the road with you...

Change or Die!

2005-06-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Well if that doesn't catch your attention, I am not sure what will. Recently,a study was done by Dr Edward Miller, the CEO of a very well respected medical institution in the United States, Johns Hopkins Center. Each year, over 600,000 people undergo bypass surgery to deal with heart related issues, costing on average $100,000 per patient, with another 1.3 million people having angio-plasties for a total cost of $30 billion.

Here are the facts: Two years after life-saving surgery, over 90% of people have not changed their lifestyle! Even though they have faced death and lived to tell the story, people have a difficult time creating long-term, sustained change. Why is that? Heart-related issues are not rocket science! The solutions are clear --reduce your stress, eat more vegetables, consume less fatty food, and exercise more. The framework to deal with the issue is apparent--you need to make changes. I looked up the word 'change' in a Latin translation and here is what I found:

Commuto: to exchange'
Converto: 'to turn in any direction'
Flecto: 'to alter shape'
Flexibis: 'that which can be bent'
Inclino: 'turn'
Migratio: 'migrate, depart'

Almost all the definitions pointed towards movement or going in a new direction. It seems that we love to read about change, discuss change, think about change, but when it comes right down to it, we are not as easily adaptable as we would like to think. Change is HARD, and even if it means we will die by not changing, we stay the same. Wow...what a hard fact to swallow!

Interestingly enough, of the recovering patients that got involved with a one-year lifestyle program (including biweekly support meetings, education and coaching), 77% made a long term lifestyle change. They also, on average, saved $100,000 in medical bills, and had a distinctly better quality of life. Change is a LOT easier to manage when we have both support and a process to help us through the tough times. At CareerJoy, we are all about providing support, education and tools to effectively help in career change (which Is not life and death, but does affect your life expectancy --but we'll save that for another day!)

Feeling stuck? We can help. Book a session and inclino, migratio, flecto, converto or commuto in the right direction!

Next week I will share the 5 myths uncovered in this study, so please stay tuned.

Along the road with you...

Great Careers Happen By Design!

2005-06-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

"Great Careers Happen By Design". This slogan came to me after I saw an ad in a design magazine that said "Great houses happen by design". I happen to know this first hand after my wife and I worked with a very well known architect, Richard Limmert, whose work we admired.

Limmert developed a new community with houses that were based on a Amish design--simple but beautiful. My wife and I had recently purchased a piece of land and interviewed Richard along with a few other architects. It was clear that Richard was the best fit for us and over a period of four months, we brought him our ideas, clippings from magazines and our own drawings. Our window scheme came while we were having lunch one day and noticed the unique design of windows on a church across the street. We took this inspiration to Richard as another element for him to incorporate. By going back and forth with multiple meetings, he produced a design that met our needs. Six months later we moved into our house and from day one it felt like home.

During this experience I learned a lot about the process of getting what you want. Without Richard's talent, experience and wisdom, we would not have been able to produce the house we were to live in for 9 years. He encouraged us and was the catalyst and guide for this project.

The same principle applies to careers--what is your career blueprint? Very few professionals have one. It is true that good careers can happen without a blueprint, but rarely great ones. The blueprint is the element that brings clarity and inspiration. I remember how dog- earred our blueprints were after we finished building. Yes, hard work and energy were involved, but the end result was a masterpiece. Our life work could and will benefit from similar vision.

along the road with you...

When Not to Follow the Rules!

2005-06-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my office on the 22nd floor, in Toronto when there was a fire alarm. Shortly after the alarm began there was an announcement saying that they were investigating the alarm however, we were to stay in our offices until they had more time to find out the issue. I decided to leave my office anyway. I needed some fresh air, and I was being slightly cautious.

Of the many things that have been researched since the fall of the twin towers is the response by authorities and occupants in this extreme situation. There was a 298 page document called, Occupant Behavior, Egress, and Emergency Communications. This report confirmed a number of key factors regarding the people who survived and those who perished.

While the buildings were burning, those calling 911 were advised to stay on their floors until authorities arrived. However, approximately 2500 people survived by ignoring this advice and leaving anyway. This "disobedience" had in some cases been due to panic, but in others was the result of real time information through Blackberries, phone calls and internal networks. The sharing of information made for better. The researcher's called this "reasoned flight" decisions based on true information, in which case "following the rules" will lead to death.

Where am I going with this? In your career search, there may be many cases where you should ignore the traditional rules and use your networks, internal advisors and the help of others to make important decisions even though at times this may seems counterintuitive. For example, the add that says "no phone calls please", when should you follow this, and when should you not? Well that depends, there are many variables in the career search and that is why the educated advice of others can so important. The key is to be both lateral and logical in your decision-making. It may "save" your career.

Along the road with you...

Were You Drafted in the First Round?

2005-06-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

When I was young we used to play hockey on the street (that was before they outlawed it!) yes if you can believe it they have tried and in some cases been successful in outlawing street hockey. That is another story altogether. So we all lined up on the street, tallest to shortest, choose two captains and voila a few choices later we had two teams. I have to admit I was never the first choice and was generally picked towards the last round.

There was a new research paper put out by the world- renowned economist from The University if Chicago Richard Thaler. In his research, he looked at NFL draft picks and the outcomes that occurred with the athlete's career success over the past 10 years. The areas he concentrated on included draft position, salary and pro performance. In his findings with his 62-page summary, he determined that the high drafts were not a guarantee of success. " The top picks were worth a lot, but not generally as much as everyone thinks" In most cases the owners overpay early round picks and routinely get way more value with the lower draft picks. The sweet spot in the drafts happened to be the top 1/2 of the second round.

Career success has many factors related to successful outcomes, obviously if you graduate from Harvard with and MBA it enables you to open a lot of doors and get "drafted" sooner. That said, according to the Carnegie foundation 85% of a person's success is directly related to soft skills; something a Harvard MBA doesn't necessarily measure.

I have worked with many clients who may have started off slowly behind their colleagues, only surpass them as they grew along their career.

You know, as much as I was drafted low in street hockey, I still showed up every time there was a game, did my best and enjoyed ever second. Life doesn't get much better.

Along the road with you...

Is Your Career Going Downhill?

2005-05-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

You may not have heard of him, however, you may have heard of the athlete that he coached to the first ever Olympic gold medal for snowboarding. The athlete was Ross Rebagliati and the coach was Tim Griffin

This past weekend, Tim graduated from medical school and was president of his graduating class. Tim grew up with a passion for skiing and the outdoors, and always wanted to be a professional coach. The door opened for him to help coach the national snowboarding team from 1995-1998. He was inspiring young men and women to follow their dreams and passions and in return he was challenged personally.

It caused him to asked himself what he was truly passionate about and what could he do with all of his heart and energy? In a recent interview, Tim said "watching someone do what they can do better than anyone else in the world is very very inspiring"

When Tim met his now wife, she was a physician. He noticed her working very very hard but she always came home with a look on her face that said she had made a difference that day.

I was really struck with this story. How others seeking out their best can inspire and encourage each one of us to pursue what we are truly best at. It is also interesting to see how Tim can use the same set of talents in a new arena and I would suggest he will also have "Gold Medal" results.

He is really looking forward to family medicine and his ability to get to know his patients and to make a difference in their lives. As Tim says, "Find out what you're really good at and go and do it with all your heart and with all your energy"

Tim is heading up a new mountain.

Along the road with you...

Do You Need A Career Autopsy

2005-05-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Autopsy is not a word that slips out of our mouths that easily in today's world for a variety of reasons, most likely because we don't really want to think that someday we are going to die. Autopsy's really came into vogue (if you can say that) in 1761 with a scientific paper published by Dr Giovanni Morgagni who did over 700 autopsies and produced the first modern thinking on cause and effect of disease.
By the early 1950's, autopsies were performed for over 50% of deaths. They played a key role in helping doctors, through trial and error, pioneer heart surgery and better understand cancer and other major causes of death. However, now the autopsy rate has decreased to less than 20% of deaths due to the use of MRI's etc.

Dr George Lundberg points out in his 1998 study that in 25-40% of cases in which an autopsy is conducted, an undiagnosed cause of death is revealed. Dr Lundberg spoke about one particular family that thought their Mom had Alzheimer's disease, when in fact she suffered from a series of strokes. The result is that heir children will now pay more attention to their cardiovascular health, and are not worrying about themselves getting Alzheimer's.

Sometimes you have to get under the knife to get the heart of the matter (no pun intended). It is only when you "dissect" the problem that you can start to understand the big picture and get the proper response. The good news with the work we do is that you don't have to go under the knife. Although you may have to say "Awww"!

Along the road with you...

20 Career Lessons From Those Under 20

2005-05-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

I thought this week that I would share with you a program that you may or may not be aware we are a part of. The program is Top 20 Under 20, a national program that recognizes Canada's most innovative contributors to our society who also happen to be under the age of 20.
I was one of the judges and we are providing career assessments to each of the 20 young people. They are doing our Student Career Option Program, which is an in-depth analysis of their talents and passions through a unique process to point them in the right direction as far as education and career choices. It is one of the most exciting things that I have been a part of in a long time.

Here are some of the neat things that they have accomplished:

James Valitchka-age 10, Ottawa ON; wrote a best selling book "Superheroes Don't have Dads".
Shazeen Suleman-age18, Cambridge ON; Founder of MusicBox Children's Charity; helping children to learn music.
Michael Thibodeua-age17, Middleton NS; Founder of Musicians For Visually impaired.
Stephanie Subject-age18, Vancouver BC; started a program to deal with Youth Suicide and Drop out rates.
Gabriel Rodrique-age16, Sainte-Blandindine QC; founded his own internet marketing company.
Sarah Small-age 17, St. Johns NFLD; Inventor of Tea- rrific skin, an environmental-friendly product.
Shamin Mohammed Jr-age16, Toronto ON; started a children's AIDS health program.
Marne Beeston-age17, Hanna AB; Founder of Summer Slam,a music summer school.
Stephanie Dotto-age 18, Kirland QC; raised $35,000 for school in Malawi.
Ryan Hreljac-age 13, Kemptville ON; raised over 1million dollars for wells for 142 different projects.
Joseph Lavoie-age 8 , Queen Charlotte City B.C; started Joes Bottle Depot which collects over 1.5 million bottles per year.
Wojciech Grye-age 18, Thornhill ON; Founded Five minutes to Midnight ..a voice for youth on international issues.
Daniel Jammer-age 15, Kelowna BC; started Digger Boy a landscaping company.
Edona Caku-age 19, Toronto ON; Started a program to donate over 4000 books to her hometown in Albania.
Joseph Liu-age 16, Scarborough ON; Founder of SMARTs a mentoring program for technology and Science.
Cheryl Perera-age 19, Richmond Hill ON; worked in Sri Lanka dealing with child prostitution.
David Wen-age 17, Surrey BC; started If Your Away a workforce of young adults who do tasks when you are out.
Jasmine Tait-age 17, Ottawa ON; Inventor of a pens system for people with Tremors.
Florind Polo-age 17, Toronto ON; Founder of a student run initiative to protect children against violence.
Chelsea Takalo-age 19, Toronto ON; Co-Founder of SEYA a program for youth advocacy and political awareness.

During our workshop, one of the participants James said, "I can't wait to get out of bed, drink my milk and get on with my day". At the age of 10, James has a lot of things figured out. He's got the "TGIM"-Thank Goodness It's Monday mindset.

Check out the website www.Top20under20.ca and put your hands together for some young people who are accomplishing amazing things. You are never too young-nor too old.

Along the road with you...

Are You Too Old For a Change?

2005-04-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

"Wanted, CEO of Not For Profit group, offices in all major cities towns and regions of the world. Workforce of 3 million, annual budget of 2 billion. Serving over 1 billion clients per year. Dealing with worldwide geopolitical events, you will need good stamina, much travel and meetings involved."
Can you imagine what you would need to take on this kind of role? What type of skills would you need? Well, this past while, a 78 year old cardinal took on this new job: Pope.

I think it is amazing that anyone would do this, not too mention someone who is 78. I realize his situation is quite unique, but think of the wisdom, life experience and knowledge that he brings to this position. Unfortunately we do live in a young world. In 1980, 45% of CEO's were between 60-69 years old. By 2002 that statistic had dropped to 25%. However, I take consolation in the fact that someone like Cardinal Ratzinger is now taking on his new role. What courage and openness it must take for his peers to recognize what he has to offer. It does give me hope that there are situations where this is possible.

I get questions all the time? Am I too old? Is it too late? While there are different challenges and there are certain jobs with age restrictions, there are many examples of those who have been able to transition later in life. It is more difficult to do this at 45 than 25, but not impossible.

However, the age of our mind is way more important. I know some very youthful 60 year olds and some very old 43 year olds.

Along the road with you...

Taking Pride In Your Work?

2005-04-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

I was taking the train recently, this is a common occurrence in my life, not that I don't like planes, it's just that on short visits there is no more efficient way to travel.
Observation #1: When I got on the train I noticed one of the stewards named Ronald. He was well dressed with his tie in place, shoes polished and generally a pleasant demeanor.

Observation #2: I overheard Ronald ask a colleague if he could help take tickets because he needed to help the next car that was getting behind.

Observation #3: Now I have to confess, the third observation was brought on because I put my shoes on the seat in front on me. Ronald not only noticed this, but he mentioned it to me in a gentle way, dusted off the seat in front of me and even brought me a magazine to put under my shoes so that I could rest my feet and keep the seat clean.

You have to remember; in his role he is not paid more to perform better, so there is not the same level of self- interest. Because of this, it is more and more unusual to experience this type of job performance in almost any type of service you experience. The overall feeling that I sensed that day was the Ronald cares.

It was a Sunday and I am sure he would rather be with his family or maybe golfing but instead he was involved AND interested in doing his best. I would suggest that he generally enjoys his work or at least takes pride in himself and the kind of work that he is producing.

Last time I looked I didn't see the president of VIA looking over his shoulder; Ronald he was doing it because he took pride in his work. So who wins with this? By having satisfied customers and repeat business, VIA wins. I win with a more pleasant trip. Ultimately Ronald is the big winner, both intrinsically and in the probability of him being promoted in his career.

The next time you are on VIA rail look for Ronald Langevin. He's the one who cares.

Along the road with you...

10 Coolest Jobs

2005-04-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

A recent survey produced by AOL and Salary.com was conducted to gage people's attitudes towards the sex appeal vs. the financial prospects in career choices and survey says these are the 10 Coolest jobs:
1. Firefighter
2. Flight attendants
3. CEO
4. Reporter
5. Interior Designer
6. Event Planner
7. Nurse
8. Teacher
9. Doctor
10. Lawyer

To be frank, I was surprised how common the titles sound. Surely there are other positions that are more unique and have more sex appeal. I think it speaks more to our culture's familiarity to these professions than to their coolness factor.

Here's a water cooler conversation, ask 3 of your peers to name the top 10 professions in the workforce. They would most likely give a short list. Most people don't tend to know the options out there. No one thinks of Wine Merchant (buying and sampling wine), or Mystery Traveler (touring cities and reporting on them), or Brand/Product Namer (getting to name some of the world's most popular products). The more we know and are aware of can be helpful in avoiding limitations when making career decisions.

We spend a good deal of our time helping our clients figure out what to do with their education and experience. With tools and frameworks and our depth of knowledge of over 30,000 job titles, we determine the 10 coolest jobs for them. I have to say there is a wonderful range of options. You just need to move beyond your own bias and knowledge base and start to reach out. Are you thinking you may need help with your top 10? Book a consultation and find out what your options really are.

Along the road with you...

Career Assessment Tools

2005-04-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

If you have followed the Olympics the last few years you will have noticed a country far away with a limited amount of people winning lots of medals (no, not Canada). Australia came 4th in the world 17 Gold, 16 Silver, 16 Bronze. The US was number 1, and Canada came in 1 medal above Turkey (I am not joking!)

This was a huge improvement over the 1992 Olympic games where Australia came 11th in the medal standings, US was second, Canada was 12th and Turkey was 24th. Needless to say Australia is doing something much better in its Olympic program and has the results to prove it.

What are they doing you ask? Well, one key factor is that kids take an athletic assessment test that recommends which sports they play. Other factors include financial support of the athletes and the infrastructure that was built for the Sydney Olympics. Australia has a number of sport scientists who have developed a comprehensive testing system that can put you through 30 tests and compare the results to those of peers and elite athletes. This database will then produce a report that produces ranks of sports, and even positions-cool!

The key here is that it is a comprehensive process and there is lots of data to support the results. My experience is there are a lot of good tools but very few great career assessment tools. The benefit is the ability of the process to be used as an objective benchmarking element to help make wiser decisions sooner. In our process we have tools that help pinpoint the right careers and positions but tools are just one part of the road to success. It is the coaching that takes the tools and produces real results.

G'day mate I'm off to a barbie...

The Two Biggest Mistakes Managers Make

2005-04-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

The results are documented in a book called First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently, by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman (Simon & Schuster, 272 pp., $28.35). According to the study, many managers make two key mistakes:

1. They assume that each person can learn to be competent in almost anything.

2. They believe each person's greatest room for improvement is in their weakness.

Great managers, however, do not help people overcome their weaknesses so they can do a competent job, because competency does not lead to excellence. Which would you prefer, a "competent" surgeon or a great surgeon?

It can be dangerous to focus on improving an individual's weaknesses. This can take an enormous amount of energy on the part of the manager and the person being managed.

Obviously, we all can improve; however, having a strengths-focused philosophy increases the likelihood of success and is much more profitable and enjoyable for all involved.

How To Avoid A Career Crash

2005-03-17T13:11:00.001-08:00

I was watching television footage of the flight 111 crash that happened outside Halifax. Did you know that most crashes occur because of pilot error? The documentary was fascinating for many reasons. The investigators spent 4 years researching, gathering data and actually rebuilding a plane from the bottom of the sea floor. They brought in the world's largest vacuum cleaner to suck everything off of the floor in an attempt to find clues. They had to pay attention to every single piece that may have been from the airplane, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

One of the things that I have noticed in almost every single career assessment that I have done is the common errors people make in their career choices. They don't hear what is said and they don't see what is often in front of them. I have often heard a client say either they noticed a warning sign and ignored it, or in retrospect they should have paid more attention or done more research when it came to making a career decision.

How much research did you do when you bought your last car?? How much research did you do on the career or company that you were interested in? The Canadian Flight Safety Board spent 35 million dollars and 4 years to determine the issues involved with the crash and ended up making 22 recommendations on best practices. In this case, paying attention to the details led to important changes. It is no different when it comes to our careers. At CareerJoy, we are investigators of career crashes and have developed methodologies and sophisticated tools to look at what has worked and what has not worked and everyday we make a number of key findings and recommendations to our clients to help them avoid further incidents and to increase the likelihood of success.

What To Stop Doing In Your Career

2005-02-25T17:44:00.000-08:00

Early this year I was reading a magazine called Wallpaper. It is a design magazine and January's issue was all about design awards. As I was perusing the magazine, something caught my attention. It was an ad that said: "Stop Running, Start Walking".

I thought this was an interesting concept. Wouldn't running get me there faster? In a way, walking seems less valuable, although I say that as a runner.

I have done some mental digestion on this, and one of the things I have observed in our career coaching is the concept of running. I often notice when we first meet clients that they seem to be doing a lot of running around. Reading books, online tests, chatting with people, etc. They seem to be literally chasing answers in an attempt to be pro-active, only to feel more confused and more frustrated.

Make life easier on yourself

1 You have to stop running

2. You have to start walking

Life is funny that way; you have to stop to start.

Stopping doesn't mean you forget about finding answers but rather you need to stop your current strategy and start a new strategy to find the answers that you need. Start a new plan that is intentional but not intense. This may be as simple as taking a blank piece of paper with your morning coffee and letting some of your thoughts start to flow into words.

Did you ever notice how going for a nice slow walk allows you to notice things that have been there the whole time but that you never saw before?

along the road with you...

Are Some of Your Tools Missing?

2005-02-18T18:33:00.000-08:00

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Originally uploaded by CareerJoy.

Not long ago, while scanning the Popular Science magazine (you know, the magazine where we are all going to fly cars around and go to the moon for lunch etc.) I saw a fantastic advertisement for Ace hardware. The ad had a picture of a typical tool bench with an assortment of typical tools: wrench, saw, paint brush, electrical tape, and a person.

Yes, a person. They had taken one of their employees and digitally placed her on the tool bench. The headline said. "Good advice is the best tool".

Recently, I read the column of a famous industrial psychologist. He was responding to the question about which assessment tools are the best in determining an employee's fit. He said that there is nothing that beats a thoughtful conscientious discussion with a trained expert. That is something no tool can replace. Just like the ad said.

Of all the tools that are on your career bench, the best tool is what a trained expert can share with you through their experiences and training. Nothing can beat it. I often say that my pipe wrench is no good without Al my plumber using it. I have a lot of nice tools but Al can make them sing. He can fix the problem quickly with little mess and get us on our way. Great tools AND great advice.

Any career problems you need advice on-we here to help.

Along the road with you...

Is Your Work GRRRReat

2005-02-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

Every morning millions of us sit down to eat breakfast and marketing 101 is there to stare back at us from across the table, even before our mind has awoken.

However, this is not true for everyone. At around 6:30am one fall morning in 1989 Chris Leamon had come home from working all night in the lab. Sitting with his wife in his student apartment, he entered his morning routine. He grabbed a bowl, some milk and his trusted Frosty Flakes. At this time he was working on his PHD in Chemistry from Purdue University. His mother had died of cancer and this had led him on a career journey to find chemotherapeutic drugs with less side effects. As usual, he was scanning the box and looking at ingredients. For some reason that morning he had a "aha" moment. Folic acid. For some reason that hit him in a unique way.

Chris said "I knew it was it" this was the key to mark cancer cells in a specific way, enabling a specific type of drugs to fight tumors. It just goes to show that you never know where eureka moments will occur. I believe that Chris's hard work in the lab enabled this possibility, however, his openness and curiosity in other areas of his life led to the answers he was searching for. Keep your eyes and ears open and as Chris said:

"I have had lots of eureka moments in the lab, but none as great. That breakfast redefined my career and my life"

Eureka is available.

Along the road with you...

Where Are Your Talents Taking You?

2005-02-06T18:23:00.000-08:00

Recently I was looking at some research about The Julliard School. For those that are not familiar, the Julliard School is one of the world's premier conservatories and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Some of the great musicians of our time have graduated from this school. In 1994 there were 44 instrumentalists that graduated that year. Two of the graduates are currently concertmasters with the Metropolitan opera. Others, such as Gwen Appel who played the clarinet at Julliard, is now a diamond grader and saleswomen for Tiffany Jewellers.

Here is what some of the Grads are doing now:
Software engineer
Music Therapist
Insurance Underwriter
Network Engineer
Fitness trainer
Art Museum bookkeeper

Nora McInery who graduated as a violinist is now in PR with Time-Warner Inc. she said "there were a lot of hours, a lot of sacrifice to get where I was, at a certain point you have to decide is this what I want?" What many have learned over the past 10 years is that it takes more than talent to be successful.

For many such as Nora and Gwen, understanding this has been part of their journey towards a different life than they expected, both still play, but only as amateurs. Some of the graduates have moved beyond their identity as a musician, while others have had a difficult time in transition and have struggled with letting themselves evolve.

Julliard's president quoted about the research said "They come in as 18yrs olds, talented and focused, but at the same time they are becoming you adults and finding themselves in ways that may not have anything to do with music" "We provide the tools and the experience, however there are no guarantees"

No matter how talented you are there are many issues that come with the career journey. It is important to constantly allow yourself to evolve and grow both personally and professionally. If you are unsure of what your talents are, consider taking steps to uncover them-you never know what they might lead to!