Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
What is my 'Brand' and why should I care? Part 2…How to begin to establish your 'Brand'...
As PART 1 of this article shows, a ‘brand’ is simply any clear, credible and compelling story that connects with a specific audience.
Successful brands generate larger and/or more interested audiences. It works for Coke, Nike and McDonalds just as it does for Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Bart Simpson. These are specific brands which generate specific followings.
So, how does this apply to job seekers?
Well, start with what is known:
FACT 1: People hire people they know.
FACT 2: ‘Networking’ is still the best way to get a job.
FACT 3: The goal of ‘networking’ is to make contact with employers before a job comes available.
When you network you are essentially trying to tell your story in a way so that when an employer has a job opening and asks themselves, “Who do I know?” they will think of you.
This is where ‘branding’ comes in. Your brand is your story and networking is how you get your story out there. In order for that to happen you have to first know yourself. Then you must consider where you came from and how that connects with where you want to go.
Your Brand is simply the essence of these steps directly related to your target companies.
Step 1…know yourself
Step 2…know where you are coming from
Step 3…know where you are going
If you can successfully connect these three steps you will have a much better chance of making an impression on those you speak with. In turn, your ‘brand’ will be clearly seen and employers who meet you will have you in mind when their jobs come available.
As you go about establishing your brand please keep this in mind…
'6 Personal Branding Mistakes That Can Threaten Your Job Search’
Successful brands generate larger and/or more interested audiences. It works for Coke, Nike and McDonalds just as it does for Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Bart Simpson. These are specific brands which generate specific followings.
So, how does this apply to job seekers?
Well, start with what is known:
FACT 1: People hire people they know.
FACT 2: ‘Networking’ is still the best way to get a job.
FACT 3: The goal of ‘networking’ is to make contact with employers before a job comes available.
When you network you are essentially trying to tell your story in a way so that when an employer has a job opening and asks themselves, “Who do I know?” they will think of you.
This is where ‘branding’ comes in. Your brand is your story and networking is how you get your story out there. In order for that to happen you have to first know yourself. Then you must consider where you came from and how that connects with where you want to go.
Your Brand is simply the essence of these steps directly related to your target companies.
Step 1…know yourself
Step 2…know where you are coming from
Step 3…know where you are going
If you can successfully connect these three steps you will have a much better chance of making an impression on those you speak with. In turn, your ‘brand’ will be clearly seen and employers who meet you will have you in mind when their jobs come available.
As you go about establishing your brand please keep this in mind…
'6 Personal Branding Mistakes That Can Threaten Your Job Search’
Thursday, October 28, 2010
More evidence for staying 'positive' during your job search
It is easy to get down when you are unemployed. It happens to all of us.
However, it is important to find a way to turn your difficulties into fuel and focus your efforts on finding solutions for your problems...not the problems themselves.
We know it is important to be positive in interviews. ( I hope!) Yet, I always tell my clients that everything is a part of the interview: your resume, your cover letter, your phone presence, your posture in the lobby...everything...
This actually extends to all aspects of your job search...including public online posts like those on linkedin.com...
please read on...http://blog.brand-yourself.com/career/job-search-career/job-search-help-linkedin-strategies-that-keep-you-unemployed/
However, it is important to find a way to turn your difficulties into fuel and focus your efforts on finding solutions for your problems...not the problems themselves.
We know it is important to be positive in interviews. ( I hope!) Yet, I always tell my clients that everything is a part of the interview: your resume, your cover letter, your phone presence, your posture in the lobby...everything...
This actually extends to all aspects of your job search...including public online posts like those on linkedin.com...
please read on...http://blog.brand-yourself.com/career/job-search-career/job-search-help-linkedin-strategies-that-keep-you-unemployed/
Thursday, October 14, 2010
What is My 'Brand' and Why Should I Care? Part 1 - What is 'Branding'?
THE PROBLEM:
The current global economic upheaval is not just about money and jobs. It is about changing paradigms. 'Globalization' and the 'Information Age' have finally caught up with us and as a result...
...the world has changed and it is not going to change back.
THE SOLUTION:
With this in mind, if you are a job seeker it is paramount that you re-evaluate your job plan and adapt to the changing nature of the new job market. Some traditional approaches are still in use. However, there are new skills and tools you need to adopt in order to secure a job you enjoy.
One such skill is the ability to know and use your ‘Brand’.
To understand how ‘branding’ can help in your job search it is first necessary to see the bigger picture…
What is Branding?...
PART 2:
http://anthropologyofwork.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-my-brand-and-why-should-i-care.html
The current global economic upheaval is not just about money and jobs. It is about changing paradigms. 'Globalization' and the 'Information Age' have finally caught up with us and as a result...
...the world has changed and it is not going to change back.
THE SOLUTION:
With this in mind, if you are a job seeker it is paramount that you re-evaluate your job plan and adapt to the changing nature of the new job market. Some traditional approaches are still in use. However, there are new skills and tools you need to adopt in order to secure a job you enjoy.
One such skill is the ability to know and use your ‘Brand’.
To understand how ‘branding’ can help in your job search it is first necessary to see the bigger picture…
What is Branding?...
PART 2:
http://anthropologyofwork.blogspot.com/2010/12/what-is-my-brand-and-why-should-i-care.html
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Where the Sidewalk Ends - how trail running can help you love running...
Where the Sidewalk Ends
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/video/0,8034,s6-238-511-74,00.html?bcpid=86874881001&bclid=17709914001&bctid=27739096001
These are just 2 of the many articles out there that focus on one of my favorite things in life...trail running. I plan on posting some good examples of Seattle trails in the near future.
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/video/0,8034,s6-238-511-74,00.html?bcpid=86874881001&bclid=17709914001&bctid=27739096001
These are just 2 of the many articles out there that focus on one of my favorite things in life...trail running. I plan on posting some good examples of Seattle trails in the near future.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Creating a Budget: Successful Job Searches / Career Planning Involve Financial Literacy
This may seem abrupt and overly-generalized, but it is important enough to say that I am going to go ahead and blurt it out...
ALL successful job search and career plans involve financial literacy!
Anyone who is even slightly successful (and by successful I mean enjoying their job and making a living wage) has a budget. If they don’t they are just lucky and that luck will quickly pass...
Long term happiness in our jobs and in our lives demands financial literacy. If we can not learn to live within our means we will never really be ‘free’. Without ‘freedom’ life is far from happy or complete.
With that said, living ‘free’ of financial chaos is easier said then done. Most of us struggle with our budgets and many people continue to pay the price for money mistakes they made in the past.*
A little help is much appreciated.
That is why I recommended using the following tool: http://www.thecalculator.org/
I use this Self Sufficiency Calculator with my clients and it is a simple and helpful way to create a budget, identify waste in spending, find resources to help overcome barriers and to make career goals.
Play around with it and it may be one way to help you flex your budgetary muscle and get one step closer to financial freedom.
_______________
*(If you are paying for financial mistakes you made in the past please do not get discouraged. Debt and bad credit are disheartening but they can be overcome. I know from experience that in the process of working your way out of your financial problems you will actually make yourself a stronger and smarter person...)
ALL successful job search and career plans involve financial literacy!
Anyone who is even slightly successful (and by successful I mean enjoying their job and making a living wage) has a budget. If they don’t they are just lucky and that luck will quickly pass...
Long term happiness in our jobs and in our lives demands financial literacy. If we can not learn to live within our means we will never really be ‘free’. Without ‘freedom’ life is far from happy or complete.
With that said, living ‘free’ of financial chaos is easier said then done. Most of us struggle with our budgets and many people continue to pay the price for money mistakes they made in the past.*
A little help is much appreciated.
That is why I recommended using the following tool: http://www.thecalculator.org/
I use this Self Sufficiency Calculator with my clients and it is a simple and helpful way to create a budget, identify waste in spending, find resources to help overcome barriers and to make career goals.
Play around with it and it may be one way to help you flex your budgetary muscle and get one step closer to financial freedom.
_______________
*(If you are paying for financial mistakes you made in the past please do not get discouraged. Debt and bad credit are disheartening but they can be overcome. I know from experience that in the process of working your way out of your financial problems you will actually make yourself a stronger and smarter person...)
Monday, September 13, 2010
A Space for Uncomfortable Goals - Effective Storytelling - Biznik
A Space for Uncomfortable Goals - Effective Storytelling - Biznik
I have always been a runner, even as a child.
A Space for Uncomfortable Goals
In the story of our life, we often find ourselves taking the path of least resistance. This article briefly touches upon the other path, that difficult less traveled route that holds the potential to take us to beautiful places...
Written Jul 27, 2010, read 2035 times since then.
In fact, I think most kids are natural runners, always in motion, always at play. I know I was. Most of my earliest memories involve some form of running. I even remember my first real ‘run‘, when I circumvented the city block in Colorado where we lived for the very first time. I distinctly remember feeling that running that far was unknown territory and I was not sure if I could do it. Yet, as I ran I was surprised at how quickly each corner came. My doubt and fear were slowly replaced by a sense of completeness. I had discovered something new.
Later, as a teen-ager I spent many miles on the trails and back roads of North Carolina, learning how to push that Unknown Territory further and further out ahead of me, thriving in the midst of myself, pushing through the limits imposed by doubt and fear. I won many races during that time. Yet, the real joy in running came from where my feet took me, the challenges I faced and the life-lessons I learned.
Running has always been like this for me, a combination of wonder and fear and movement and discovery.
It is this mixture of fear of the unknown and satisfaction of completing a difficult challenge that prompts us to do many of the activities in our lives, including running. We reach out into unknown territory, holding hope and perseverance in our hands like a lantern, and we end up finding new things that make our understanding of the world grow. Fear prompts action which in turn prompts discovery.
Ironically, I think this is also why many of us stop challenging ourselves at some point in our lives. In confronting Unknown Territory we discover that sometimes darkness is hiding darkness and not all discoveries are good. [After all, it is this same psychological combination, fear + action = results, that has been used throughout history by those in power to convince people to do things they might not otherwise do. We are exposed to fear-based advertising on a daily basis. We are entertained by fear-based movies and TV. And at the most extreme, we are continuously kept ’at war’ with either real people (Iraq, Afghanistan…) or ideas (drugs, terrorism, poverty).] Bombarded by notions of FEAR at every turn, we grow weary and no longer care to explore Unknown Territory.
Nevertheless, running has taught me that it is exactly during these periods, when the world seems too dangerous and we are afraid to take chances, that we need to re-evaluate who we really are and what we really want in life. What are our goals and where is our journey taking us?
For this reason, I have decided to make a conscious decision these days to allow space for uncomfortable goals.
(A space for Uncomfortable Goals signifies a sincere attempt to leave ones 'comfort zone' and reach out into Unknown Territory.)
Recently, I set an Uncomfortable Goal for myself. Exactly 8 weeks ago, I decided I wanted to run an ULTRA-marathon--a 50K race. At the time, I was running about 20 miles a week. I was not in the shape to do that sort of thing. However, I was in the mood for a challenge. I wanted to feel some pain and try and do something I was not really sure I could actually do.
Rather then set a practical goal I set an Uncomfortable Goal. I trained hard and gradually increased my miles, ate better and started feeling better about my chances. However, according to all the experts it was still a stretch to think that someone could train for an ultra marathon in 7 weeks. I was being slightly reckless and quite frankly...I was scared.
Nevertheless, last Saturday, I accomplished that uncomfortable goal. I ran 30.4 miles from near Mount Rainer to the Puget Sound in Washington State. I did not run fast and I thought a few times during the race that I was going to break down into small pain-filled pieces and crumble away into oblivion.
However, I did not break and I did not quit and I finally did it. Now, the universe is just a tad bit smaller and maybe even slightly less chaotic and incomprehensible as it was before...
Six months ago, I set a similar sort of uncomfortable goal for myself. I decided to switch careers in the middle of a recession while supporting a family. I was in a job I was good at and working with people I liked. However, I was not doing what I loved and I was not using my talents and abilities to the fullest. So, I decided to take a chance and set my feet toward unknown territory. Now, I am still friends with my previous co-workers but I have found a place doing what I love...all because I took a chance and pushed the limits a bit.
I guess in many ways, I have always lived my life this way. I guess it comes from being a runner and always seeking out Unknown Territory to explore. However, now that I am older and supporting a family and growing a career I see that it is harder to take chances. So, I have begun to think about the meaning, need and purpose of Unknown Territory and Uncomfortable Goals...
I do believe now that if we want to capture the truths we knew as children. If we want to truly live life to its fullest. We would do well to realize that Unknown Territory matters and that there should be a space for Uncomfortable Goals in our lives. Try it and let me know what you find...:-)
Later, as a teen-ager I spent many miles on the trails and back roads of North Carolina, learning how to push that Unknown Territory further and further out ahead of me, thriving in the midst of myself, pushing through the limits imposed by doubt and fear. I won many races during that time. Yet, the real joy in running came from where my feet took me, the challenges I faced and the life-lessons I learned.
Running has always been like this for me, a combination of wonder and fear and movement and discovery.
It is this mixture of fear of the unknown and satisfaction of completing a difficult challenge that prompts us to do many of the activities in our lives, including running. We reach out into unknown territory, holding hope and perseverance in our hands like a lantern, and we end up finding new things that make our understanding of the world grow. Fear prompts action which in turn prompts discovery.
Ironically, I think this is also why many of us stop challenging ourselves at some point in our lives. In confronting Unknown Territory we discover that sometimes darkness is hiding darkness and not all discoveries are good. [After all, it is this same psychological combination, fear + action = results, that has been used throughout history by those in power to convince people to do things they might not otherwise do. We are exposed to fear-based advertising on a daily basis. We are entertained by fear-based movies and TV. And at the most extreme, we are continuously kept ’at war’ with either real people (Iraq, Afghanistan…) or ideas (drugs, terrorism, poverty).] Bombarded by notions of FEAR at every turn, we grow weary and no longer care to explore Unknown Territory.
Nevertheless, running has taught me that it is exactly during these periods, when the world seems too dangerous and we are afraid to take chances, that we need to re-evaluate who we really are and what we really want in life. What are our goals and where is our journey taking us?
For this reason, I have decided to make a conscious decision these days to allow space for uncomfortable goals.
(A space for Uncomfortable Goals signifies a sincere attempt to leave ones 'comfort zone' and reach out into Unknown Territory.)
Recently, I set an Uncomfortable Goal for myself. Exactly 8 weeks ago, I decided I wanted to run an ULTRA-marathon--a 50K race. At the time, I was running about 20 miles a week. I was not in the shape to do that sort of thing. However, I was in the mood for a challenge. I wanted to feel some pain and try and do something I was not really sure I could actually do.
Rather then set a practical goal I set an Uncomfortable Goal. I trained hard and gradually increased my miles, ate better and started feeling better about my chances. However, according to all the experts it was still a stretch to think that someone could train for an ultra marathon in 7 weeks. I was being slightly reckless and quite frankly...I was scared.
Nevertheless, last Saturday, I accomplished that uncomfortable goal. I ran 30.4 miles from near Mount Rainer to the Puget Sound in Washington State. I did not run fast and I thought a few times during the race that I was going to break down into small pain-filled pieces and crumble away into oblivion.
However, I did not break and I did not quit and I finally did it. Now, the universe is just a tad bit smaller and maybe even slightly less chaotic and incomprehensible as it was before...
Six months ago, I set a similar sort of uncomfortable goal for myself. I decided to switch careers in the middle of a recession while supporting a family. I was in a job I was good at and working with people I liked. However, I was not doing what I loved and I was not using my talents and abilities to the fullest. So, I decided to take a chance and set my feet toward unknown territory. Now, I am still friends with my previous co-workers but I have found a place doing what I love...all because I took a chance and pushed the limits a bit.
I guess in many ways, I have always lived my life this way. I guess it comes from being a runner and always seeking out Unknown Territory to explore. However, now that I am older and supporting a family and growing a career I see that it is harder to take chances. So, I have begun to think about the meaning, need and purpose of Unknown Territory and Uncomfortable Goals...
I do believe now that if we want to capture the truths we knew as children. If we want to truly live life to its fullest. We would do well to realize that Unknown Territory matters and that there should be a space for Uncomfortable Goals in our lives. Try it and let me know what you find...:-)
Friday, September 10, 2010
3 weeks away... The Baker Lake 50k!
And the trail goes on…
I'm now 3 weeks away from my 2nd 50-kilometer ULTRA marathon. Baker Lake is beckoning and I am actually in good enough running shape that I am sure I can finish the race and maybe even improve on my first 50K race performance in the Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail 50K Ultra 4 months ago.
My first Ultra experience was beautiful and RECKLESS. I flung myself into a race I was not prepared for and suffered the grinding juxtaposition of pain and pleasure that can only come from 'surviving' a truly difficult struggle.
I do not expect this coming race to be any less difficult. However, I am a little more prepared. I have put in some consistent mileage over the past 3 months and have the advantage of experience on my side. I know what running 30+ miles feels like and I am ready to try it again.
With that said, my training is still very minimal compared to most ultra-runners. I barely cracked 50 miles/week last week and most my runs are 7-8 milers...no real long runs yet... I am in no shape to actually RACE this thing. Nevertheless, I am in the mood to give it a good consistent effort and I would really love to break 6 hours (under 12 minute miles, which would be my PR ).
Time will tell and only one thing I know for sure:
The cool clear water in Baker Lake will sure feel good on my legs after the race! (...no matter how long it takes...:-)
Me soaking my legs in the cold water of the Pugent Sound after running from Mount Rainer to the Ocean...:-)
I'm now 3 weeks away from my 2nd 50-kilometer ULTRA marathon. Baker Lake is beckoning and I am actually in good enough running shape that I am sure I can finish the race and maybe even improve on my first 50K race performance in the Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail 50K Ultra 4 months ago.
My first Ultra experience was beautiful and RECKLESS. I flung myself into a race I was not prepared for and suffered the grinding juxtaposition of pain and pleasure that can only come from 'surviving' a truly difficult struggle.
I do not expect this coming race to be any less difficult. However, I am a little more prepared. I have put in some consistent mileage over the past 3 months and have the advantage of experience on my side. I know what running 30+ miles feels like and I am ready to try it again.
With that said, my training is still very minimal compared to most ultra-runners. I barely cracked 50 miles/week last week and most my runs are 7-8 milers...no real long runs yet... I am in no shape to actually RACE this thing. Nevertheless, I am in the mood to give it a good consistent effort and I would really love to break 6 hours (under 12 minute miles, which would be my PR ).
Time will tell and only one thing I know for sure:
The cool clear water in Baker Lake will sure feel good on my legs after the race! (...no matter how long it takes...:-)
Friday, August 13, 2010
An Antidote for Desperation
‘So much of our success in life depends upon our attitude.’
This is a truism that most people would agree with. However, it is an idea which takes on new and amplified meaning when placed within the rubric of today’s job market.
Unemployment levels are at their peak and job openings are in the gutter. This makes competition for jobs intense and it exaggerates economic worries—resulting in desperate situations.
Desperation plunges many of us down rabbit holes with no bottoms. We fall and fall and lose our way. We are so entangled in our immediate personal situation that we lose the bigger picture. In the midst of so much heart ache and fear we become lost. It is no longer about searching for a job. It is about searching for ourselves.
On the surface, it seems that the only way to counteract this self-centered spiral is to focus more energy on our job search. We believe that if we block out our problems and ramp up our job hunt we will get over the depression and insecurity our desperate situation brings about. We think that finding a job is about focusing on job openings. We could not be more wrong.
Success in any job search is interwoven with our emotional state of being. There is no way around it…’So much of our success in life depends upon our attitude.’…
Therefore, in order to find the peace and stability we need to focus on finding work, it is vital we step back and examine those job skills that matter most—our feelings.
Fear and desperation quickly degrade our ability to land a good job. However, ‘hope’ and ‘passion’ can quickly get us back on track. In fact, the antidote for ‘desperation’ is ‘passion’. ‘Passion’ comes from knowing who you are, where you have come from and where you need to be. Those individuals that successfully communicate their passion for the job they apply to tend to be the people who are hired. You can not be passionate about a job until you know yourself. Therefore, the quickest way into a job is through your self.
Find your passion and you will find a way to successfully navigate even the most treacherous job markets.
This is a truism that most people would agree with. However, it is an idea which takes on new and amplified meaning when placed within the rubric of today’s job market.
Unemployment levels are at their peak and job openings are in the gutter. This makes competition for jobs intense and it exaggerates economic worries—resulting in desperate situations.
Desperation plunges many of us down rabbit holes with no bottoms. We fall and fall and lose our way. We are so entangled in our immediate personal situation that we lose the bigger picture. In the midst of so much heart ache and fear we become lost. It is no longer about searching for a job. It is about searching for ourselves.
On the surface, it seems that the only way to counteract this self-centered spiral is to focus more energy on our job search. We believe that if we block out our problems and ramp up our job hunt we will get over the depression and insecurity our desperate situation brings about. We think that finding a job is about focusing on job openings. We could not be more wrong.
Success in any job search is interwoven with our emotional state of being. There is no way around it…’So much of our success in life depends upon our attitude.’…
Therefore, in order to find the peace and stability we need to focus on finding work, it is vital we step back and examine those job skills that matter most—our feelings.
Fear and desperation quickly degrade our ability to land a good job. However, ‘hope’ and ‘passion’ can quickly get us back on track. In fact, the antidote for ‘desperation’ is ‘passion’. ‘Passion’ comes from knowing who you are, where you have come from and where you need to be. Those individuals that successfully communicate their passion for the job they apply to tend to be the people who are hired. You can not be passionate about a job until you know yourself. Therefore, the quickest way into a job is through your self.
Find your passion and you will find a way to successfully navigate even the most treacherous job markets.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
A Space for Uncomfortable Goals: Part 2 - 'Definition and Examples'
A space for Uncomfortable Goals signifies a sincere attempt to leave ones 'comfort zone' and reach out into Unknown Territory.
Recently, I set an Uncomfortable Goal for myself. Exactly 8 weeks ago, I decided I wanted to run an ULTRA-marathon--a 50K race. At the time, I was only running about 20 miles a week. I was not in the shape to run a 30 mile race! However, I was in the mood for a challenge. I wanted to feel some pain and try and do something I was not really sure I could actually do.
Rather then set a practical goal I set an Uncomfortable Goal. I trained hard and gradually increased my miles, ate better and started feeling better about my chances. However, according to all the experts it was still a stretch to think that someone could train for an ultra marathon in 7 weeks. I was being slightly reckless and quite frankly...I was scared.
Nevertheless, last Saturday, I accomplished that uncomfortable goal. I ran 30.4 miles from near Mount Rainer to the Puget Sound in Washington State. I did not run fast and I thought a few times during the race that I was going to break down into small pain-filled pieces and crumble away into oblivion.
However, I did not break and I did not quit and I finally did it. Now, the universe is just a tad bit smaller and maybe even slightly less chaotic and incomprehensible as it was before...
Six months ago, I set a similar sort of uncomfortable goal for myself. I decided to switch careers in the middle of a recession while supporting a family. I was in a job I was good at and working with people I liked. However, I was not doing what I loved and I was not using my talents and abilities to the fullest. So, I decided to take a chance and set my feet toward unknown territory. Now, I am still friends with my previous co-workers but I have found a place doing what I love...all because I took a chance and pushed the limits a bit.
I guess in many ways, I have always lived my life this way. I guess it comes from being a runner and always seeking out Unknown Territory to explore. However, now that I am older and supporting a family and growing a career I see that it is harder to take chances. So, I have begun to think about the meaning, need and purpose of Unknown Territory and Uncomfortable Goals...
I do believe now that if we want to capture the truths we knew as children. If we want to truly live life to its fullest. We would do well to realize that Unknown Territory matters and that there should be a space for Uncomfortable Goals in our lives.
Try it and let me know what you find...:-)
Are You Linkedin? Here are Some Practical Uses of www.linkedin.com for Job Seekers
Awhile ago, I wrote a more philosophical piece about the nature and need of social networking.
http://anthropologyofwork.blogspot.com/2010/05/systems-thinking-and-trend-toward.html#links
Now, I would like to post a link to an article that gives some down to earth and practical advice about how to use linkedin.com in particular to find a job.
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/02/10-ways-to-use.html#axzz0qNgPONFH
http://anthropologyofwork.blogspot.com/2010/05/systems-thinking-and-trend-toward.html#links
Now, I would like to post a link to an article that gives some down to earth and practical advice about how to use linkedin.com in particular to find a job.
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2009/02/10-ways-to-use.html#axzz0qNgPONFH
Monday, June 7, 2010
A Space for Uncomfortable Goals: Part 1 - 'Unknown Territory'
I have always been a runner, even as a child.
In fact, I think most kids are natural runners, always in motion, always at play. I know I was. Most of my earliest memories involve some form of running. I even remember my first real ‘run‘, when I circumvented the city block in Colorado where we lived for the very first time. I distinctly remember feeling that running that far was unknown territory and I was not sure if I could do it. Yet, as I ran I was surprised at how quickly each corner came. My doubt and fear were slowly replaced by a sense of completeness. I had discovered something new.
Later, as a teen-ager I spent many miles on the trails and back roads of North Carolina, learning how to push that Unknown Territory further and further out ahead of me, thriving in the midst of myself, pushing through the limits imposed by doubt and fear. I won many races during that time. Yet, the real joy in running came from where my feet took me, the challenges I faced and the life-lessons I learned.
Running has always been like this for me, a combination of wonder and fear and movement and discovery.
It is this mixture of fear of the unknown and satisfaction of completing a difficult challenge that prompts us to do many of the activities in our lives, including running. We reach out into unknown territory, holding hope and perseverance in our hands like a lantern, and we end up finding new things that make our understanding of the world grow. Fear prompts action which in turn prompts discovery.
Ironically, I think this is also why many of us stop challenging ourselves at some point in our lives. In confronting Unknown Territory we discover that sometimes darkness is hiding darkness and not all discoveries are good. [After all, it is this same psychological combination, fear + action = results, that has been used throughout history by those in power to convince people to do things they might not otherwise do. We are exposed to fear-based advertising on a daily basis. We are entertained by fear-based movies and TV. And at the most extreme, we are continuously kept ’at war’ with either real people (Iraq, Afghanistan…) or ideas (drugs, terrorism, poverty).] Bombarded by notions of FEAR at every turn, we grow weary and no longer care to explore Unknown Territory.
Nevertheless, running has taught me that it is exactly during these periods, when the world seems too dangerous and we are afraid to take chances, that we need to re-evaluate who we really are and what we really want in life. What are our goals and where is our journey taking us?
For this reason, I have decided to make a conscious decision these days to allow space for uncomfortable goals.
[part two]
In fact, I think most kids are natural runners, always in motion, always at play. I know I was. Most of my earliest memories involve some form of running. I even remember my first real ‘run‘, when I circumvented the city block in Colorado where we lived for the very first time. I distinctly remember feeling that running that far was unknown territory and I was not sure if I could do it. Yet, as I ran I was surprised at how quickly each corner came. My doubt and fear were slowly replaced by a sense of completeness. I had discovered something new.
Later, as a teen-ager I spent many miles on the trails and back roads of North Carolina, learning how to push that Unknown Territory further and further out ahead of me, thriving in the midst of myself, pushing through the limits imposed by doubt and fear. I won many races during that time. Yet, the real joy in running came from where my feet took me, the challenges I faced and the life-lessons I learned.
Running has always been like this for me, a combination of wonder and fear and movement and discovery.
It is this mixture of fear of the unknown and satisfaction of completing a difficult challenge that prompts us to do many of the activities in our lives, including running. We reach out into unknown territory, holding hope and perseverance in our hands like a lantern, and we end up finding new things that make our understanding of the world grow. Fear prompts action which in turn prompts discovery.
Ironically, I think this is also why many of us stop challenging ourselves at some point in our lives. In confronting Unknown Territory we discover that sometimes darkness is hiding darkness and not all discoveries are good. [After all, it is this same psychological combination, fear + action = results, that has been used throughout history by those in power to convince people to do things they might not otherwise do. We are exposed to fear-based advertising on a daily basis. We are entertained by fear-based movies and TV. And at the most extreme, we are continuously kept ’at war’ with either real people (Iraq, Afghanistan…) or ideas (drugs, terrorism, poverty).] Bombarded by notions of FEAR at every turn, we grow weary and no longer care to explore Unknown Territory.
Nevertheless, running has taught me that it is exactly during these periods, when the world seems too dangerous and we are afraid to take chances, that we need to re-evaluate who we really are and what we really want in life. What are our goals and where is our journey taking us?
For this reason, I have decided to make a conscious decision these days to allow space for uncomfortable goals.
[part two]
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Barefoot Ted's Adventures: So, you wanna start running barefoot?
Barefoot Ted's Adventures: So, you wanna start running barefoot?
--For anyone even slightly interested in trying barefoot or minimalist running please read this article above...I have been 'running toward minimalism' for some time now and it does make running more fun and my body more in tune with the process. However, as the article above shows, you have to take it slow!
I started by taking the insoles out of my trail shoes (which is still the way I log most of my weekly miles). I run in Brooks Cascadias which are already a pretty minimalist shoe (designed by Ultra Marathon runner Scott Jurek)...With the insoles out you really get more feedback from the trail and street and your feet have a little more room to move around in the shoes. Just by taking out the insoles and focusing on taking shorter and lighter steps (not rolling from heel to toes but instead running on the balls of my feet) I have noticed a world of difference. My feet, ankles, legs and knees all feel stronger and my chronic (though mild) knee pain and Plantar Faciatis completly disappeared.
Shortly after ditching the insoles I also purchased these simple shoes used by pretty much everyone in China, martial artists, traceurs , and all the Shoalin Monks :-) ...I have put 200-300 miles on them since December...usually 3-5 mile runs but a couple longer ones... (pretty much like barefoot running but with some protection..plus they only cost $20:-)
...finally, I have been doing 2-3 mile runs barefoot as my body/feet allow it...have gotten to the point I can run on any surface for a few miles and be fine...but I am taking it very slow and I recommend the same to anyone out there who thinks they want to shun the shoe companies and actually run the way our bodies were meant to run...:-)
I started by taking the insoles out of my trail shoes (which is still the way I log most of my weekly miles). I run in Brooks Cascadias which are already a pretty minimalist shoe (designed by Ultra Marathon runner Scott Jurek)...With the insoles out you really get more feedback from the trail and street and your feet have a little more room to move around in the shoes. Just by taking out the insoles and focusing on taking shorter and lighter steps (not rolling from heel to toes but instead running on the balls of my feet) I have noticed a world of difference. My feet, ankles, legs and knees all feel stronger and my chronic (though mild) knee pain and Plantar Faciatis completly disappeared.
Shortly after ditching the insoles I also purchased these simple shoes used by pretty much everyone in China, martial artists, traceurs , and all the Shoalin Monks :-) ...I have put 200-300 miles on them since December...usually 3-5 mile runs but a couple longer ones... (pretty much like barefoot running but with some protection..plus they only cost $20:-)
...finally, I have been doing 2-3 mile runs barefoot as my body/feet allow it...have gotten to the point I can run on any surface for a few miles and be fine...but I am taking it very slow and I recommend the same to anyone out there who thinks they want to shun the shoe companies and actually run the way our bodies were meant to run...:-)
Friday, May 7, 2010
‘Systems Thinking’ and the trend toward ‘Social Networking’
The frame is in place but the picture is blurry…
For some, social networking is an arbitrary outlet for texting-addicted teenagers, pampered socialites, and uber-professionals. For others, it has been an interesting but fleeting source of entertainment. Finally, for millions and millions world wide, social networking has become a regularly used tool—for everything from ‘conducting business’ to ‘none of your business’.
The social networks are all there and we all fall somewhere along a continuum that runs from ‘fatally allergic to them’ to ‘can’t live without them’. Yet, most of us do not really understand why Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and all the many other social networking sites are so widely used. More importantly, we do not see how they can serve a positive function in our lives.
Yet, by focusing on some essential themes the picture suddenly becomes a little clearer...
Seen from the right vantage point, this new communication medium holds tons of potential. It is truly more than the sum of its parts, and social networking can make our lives easier and more successful…maybe even more fun!
Social Networking is a new technological phenomenon. It combines the eminently vast reach of cyberspace with the seemingly innate need for humans to connect with like-minded humans. At times, this esoteric combination of ‘human invention’ and ‘human nature’ make social networking seem unapproachable and even unnecessary for many people. However, it is important to consider that although social networking is new, it is actually rooted in two ancient themes that most humans can appreciate—and a third that we all can benefit from.
The first theme expressed in Social Networking is ‘Freedom’. As is the case with the Internet in general, social networking allows for people to break through communication restrictions imposed by space and time. It provides access to vast stores of information and innovation that were otherwise unattainable. In this age of global capitalism, it also expands the power of individuals, providing a forum for a 2-way conversation between consumers and companies and employers and potential employees. By offering more choices and more resources for communication we are given a chance to see a broader picture of the world around us. Perhaps more importantly, social networking allows us the freedom to present to the world the story of ourselves as we want it told. We are free to be who we want to be.
Related to this first theme, social networking also offers amplified access to ‘Community’. We are no longer confined to relationships of proximity. With social networking, we now have the ability to connect with groups of like-minded individuals and access otherwise unattainable information. Our community is made instantly more personal (made up of people we actually share things in common with) while at the same time giving us the potential for a globally diverse audience. Community becomes our network and our network is our community. Wall posts, clubs, forums, tweets, chat rooms and blogs bring us face to face with ideas, assumptions, personalities and perspectives that we choose. Far from isolating people behind keyboards, this sort of access allows for us to bond with like-minded individuals and feel a part of something greater than ourselves. The world is speeding forward and technology sometimes seems to outpace our imagination (and usefulness). Yet, in social networking we are given the opportunity to cling to the ancient human social need for ‘community’.
With these two concepts in mind, there is a third aspect that must also be considered if we are to see the full value of social networking. Probably the newest and least understood principal driving the social networking revolution is ‘systems thinking’—the ability to see how things interact and influence each other within a whole. Consequently, it is not the tools themselves in as much as the ability to see and interact with ‘systems’ that drives us to create and use current social networking sites. These tools were born out of this concept (unilaterally with the concepts of ‘freedom’ and ‘community’) and conversely they help to influence and foster systems thinking in those who use them. By using social networking we become more adept ‘systems thinkers’ and as that ability improves we actually use these tools more effectively. We flex a muscle that is becoming more and more important in the complicated world around us. (Ironically, the more we do to help ourselves learn and develop our ability to be ‘systems thinkers’ the less complicated the world becomes.)
Therefore, when we take into account that social networking actually helps foster traditional notions of ‘freedom’ and ‘community’ along with newer trends toward ‘systems thinking’ the picture becomes clearer. Social networking is more than a ‘fad’. and social networking sites are more than ‘toys’. Used correctly, social networking can be used as a tool for making our lives a little easier and helping us deal with the pressures of a globalizing world.
(Of course, a good hike in the woods works too…:-)
For some, social networking is an arbitrary outlet for texting-addicted teenagers, pampered socialites, and uber-professionals. For others, it has been an interesting but fleeting source of entertainment. Finally, for millions and millions world wide, social networking has become a regularly used tool—for everything from ‘conducting business’ to ‘none of your business’.
The social networks are all there and we all fall somewhere along a continuum that runs from ‘fatally allergic to them’ to ‘can’t live without them’. Yet, most of us do not really understand why Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and all the many other social networking sites are so widely used. More importantly, we do not see how they can serve a positive function in our lives.
Yet, by focusing on some essential themes the picture suddenly becomes a little clearer...
Seen from the right vantage point, this new communication medium holds tons of potential. It is truly more than the sum of its parts, and social networking can make our lives easier and more successful…maybe even more fun!
Social Networking is a new technological phenomenon. It combines the eminently vast reach of cyberspace with the seemingly innate need for humans to connect with like-minded humans. At times, this esoteric combination of ‘human invention’ and ‘human nature’ make social networking seem unapproachable and even unnecessary for many people. However, it is important to consider that although social networking is new, it is actually rooted in two ancient themes that most humans can appreciate—and a third that we all can benefit from.
The first theme expressed in Social Networking is ‘Freedom’. As is the case with the Internet in general, social networking allows for people to break through communication restrictions imposed by space and time. It provides access to vast stores of information and innovation that were otherwise unattainable. In this age of global capitalism, it also expands the power of individuals, providing a forum for a 2-way conversation between consumers and companies and employers and potential employees. By offering more choices and more resources for communication we are given a chance to see a broader picture of the world around us. Perhaps more importantly, social networking allows us the freedom to present to the world the story of ourselves as we want it told. We are free to be who we want to be.
Related to this first theme, social networking also offers amplified access to ‘Community’. We are no longer confined to relationships of proximity. With social networking, we now have the ability to connect with groups of like-minded individuals and access otherwise unattainable information. Our community is made instantly more personal (made up of people we actually share things in common with) while at the same time giving us the potential for a globally diverse audience. Community becomes our network and our network is our community. Wall posts, clubs, forums, tweets, chat rooms and blogs bring us face to face with ideas, assumptions, personalities and perspectives that we choose. Far from isolating people behind keyboards, this sort of access allows for us to bond with like-minded individuals and feel a part of something greater than ourselves. The world is speeding forward and technology sometimes seems to outpace our imagination (and usefulness). Yet, in social networking we are given the opportunity to cling to the ancient human social need for ‘community’.
With these two concepts in mind, there is a third aspect that must also be considered if we are to see the full value of social networking. Probably the newest and least understood principal driving the social networking revolution is ‘systems thinking’—the ability to see how things interact and influence each other within a whole. Consequently, it is not the tools themselves in as much as the ability to see and interact with ‘systems’ that drives us to create and use current social networking sites. These tools were born out of this concept (unilaterally with the concepts of ‘freedom’ and ‘community’) and conversely they help to influence and foster systems thinking in those who use them. By using social networking we become more adept ‘systems thinkers’ and as that ability improves we actually use these tools more effectively. We flex a muscle that is becoming more and more important in the complicated world around us. (Ironically, the more we do to help ourselves learn and develop our ability to be ‘systems thinkers’ the less complicated the world becomes.)
Therefore, when we take into account that social networking actually helps foster traditional notions of ‘freedom’ and ‘community’ along with newer trends toward ‘systems thinking’ the picture becomes clearer. Social networking is more than a ‘fad’. and social networking sites are more than ‘toys’. Used correctly, social networking can be used as a tool for making our lives a little easier and helping us deal with the pressures of a globalizing world.
(Of course, a good hike in the woods works too…:-)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
From 'Human Resources' to 'Human Resourcefulness'
The role of Human Resources is often misunderstood and misused.
Historically, HR has been rooted in 'people-centered' activities like recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, employee benefits and so on. While at the same time, HR departments have been used as tools for maximizing returns on investments from human capital and minimizing financial risk.
Obviously, these two approaches do not have to be mutually exclusive. However, the trend in big business has been to focus on the 2nd (human capital) at the expense of the first (the people).
A change is necessary. In fact, it is already happening and has been happening for years. Yet, there are no coherent definitions of how or what that is. Human Resources departments have been shifting, adapting and overhauling policies and practices without really nailing down the reasons why. Maybe, an answer can be found with the 'basics'...
Recently, I was impressed by a simple yet pertinent call to ‘master the basics’:
"Don’t overlook the competitive differentiator of service—executing the basics well. How you answer the phone, when you return a phone call, how you greet an applicant, the detail you capture on an order, the presentation of candidates/employees to the customer, all impact our business and gives opportunity...to Stand Out." (Al Sowers, 30June2009)
Reading these words, it strikes me that the whole point is not just to do the 'basics’. It is to do them WELL. This "competitive differentiator" is just that...something that sets you apart and makes your actions matter more.
So, how does that apply in HR?
Well, for starters...Instead of 'Human RESOURCES'
...why not…
'Human RESOURCEFULNESS’
Those of us in HR are not in the business of servicing typewriters.
We are in the business of recognizing, fostering and channeling human ingenuity.
With that in mind, ‘Human Resources’ at its most basic indicates a focus on stifling creativity and treating people as resources—as tools. While, ‘Human Resourcefulness’ recognizes that people are unique and full of potential, the purpose of production, the reason jobs exist in the first place!
This focus can change everything. If we have a ‘human resources’ mentality it is easy to get lost in the day to day tasks we have in front of us. We get the job done, but we often forget to make our actions really count. (We get so muddled down in taking steps forward that we forget where we are actually going.)
On the other hand, if we approach our jobs with a ‘human resourcefulness’ mentality we remember why we are in this business in the first place—the people! Our actions come tinged with warmth, purpose and intuition. It is not just about doing the basics any more. It is about doing them WELL.
The first step toward a more comprehensive and inclusive Human Resources is to perhaps start with the name itself...
This is not a new idea. Nevertheless, it contains within itself the essence of the conflict inherent in our current state of WORK...
In our current system, people are often treated as resources for the economic machine. It is more than just the name 'Human Resources'. However, the first step toward a more comprehensive and inclusive Human Resources is to perhaps start with the name itself.
Historically, HR has been rooted in 'people-centered' activities like recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, employee benefits and so on. While at the same time, HR departments have been used as tools for maximizing returns on investments from human capital and minimizing financial risk.
Obviously, these two approaches do not have to be mutually exclusive. However, the trend in big business has been to focus on the 2nd (human capital) at the expense of the first (the people).
A change is necessary. In fact, it is already happening and has been happening for years. Yet, there are no coherent definitions of how or what that is. Human Resources departments have been shifting, adapting and overhauling policies and practices without really nailing down the reasons why. Maybe, an answer can be found with the 'basics'...
Recently, I was impressed by a simple yet pertinent call to ‘master the basics’:
"Don’t overlook the competitive differentiator of service—executing the basics well. How you answer the phone, when you return a phone call, how you greet an applicant, the detail you capture on an order, the presentation of candidates/employees to the customer, all impact our business and gives opportunity...to Stand Out." (Al Sowers, 30June2009)
Reading these words, it strikes me that the whole point is not just to do the 'basics’. It is to do them WELL. This "competitive differentiator" is just that...something that sets you apart and makes your actions matter more.
So, how does that apply in HR?
Well, for starters...Instead of 'Human RESOURCES'
...why not…
'Human RESOURCEFULNESS’
Those of us in HR are not in the business of servicing typewriters.
We are in the business of recognizing, fostering and channeling human ingenuity.
With that in mind, ‘Human Resources’ at its most basic indicates a focus on stifling creativity and treating people as resources—as tools. While, ‘Human Resourcefulness’ recognizes that people are unique and full of potential, the purpose of production, the reason jobs exist in the first place!
This focus can change everything. If we have a ‘human resources’ mentality it is easy to get lost in the day to day tasks we have in front of us. We get the job done, but we often forget to make our actions really count. (We get so muddled down in taking steps forward that we forget where we are actually going.)
On the other hand, if we approach our jobs with a ‘human resourcefulness’ mentality we remember why we are in this business in the first place—the people! Our actions come tinged with warmth, purpose and intuition. It is not just about doing the basics any more. It is about doing them WELL.
The first step toward a more comprehensive and inclusive Human Resources is to perhaps start with the name itself...
This is not a new idea. Nevertheless, it contains within itself the essence of the conflict inherent in our current state of WORK...
In our current system, people are often treated as resources for the economic machine. It is more than just the name 'Human Resources'. However, the first step toward a more comprehensive and inclusive Human Resources is to perhaps start with the name itself.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319--6728-0,00.html
I have been doing this now for a few months and it really works. Our feet work better when we let them work...wonder what this says about other human inventions...
like say...
'work' itself
Could we be framing ourselves too tightly?
Might we be holding in human possibility?
Not to raise a shrill note in an otherwise mundane topic...
But are we really getting the most out of the huge portion of our lives we spend at work?
I have been doing this now for a few months and it really works. Our feet work better when we let them work...wonder what this says about other human inventions...
like say...
'work' itself
Could we be framing ourselves too tightly?
Might we be holding in human possibility?
Not to raise a shrill note in an otherwise mundane topic...
But are we really getting the most out of the huge portion of our lives we spend at work?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Interview Tips (I stole this from a spy!)
You want to know the 20 most important interview tips out there?
While, I was going to write them all up nice and pretty right here. However, in the process of snooping around doing research, I found a blog from a guy who literally spied on people during interviews! What he learned as a Covert Interview Analyst lines up with my own observations. So, rather then re-invent the wheel I will re-direct you to his site:
http://www.howtonailaninterview.com/
The information there is helpful and although it may not be For Your Eyes Only it certainly will help you have A View to a Kill(er) approach to interviewing...
While, I was going to write them all up nice and pretty right here. However, in the process of snooping around doing research, I found a blog from a guy who literally spied on people during interviews! What he learned as a Covert Interview Analyst lines up with my own observations. So, rather then re-invent the wheel I will re-direct you to his site:
http://www.howtonailaninterview.com/
The information there is helpful and although it may not be For Your Eyes Only it certainly will help you have A View to a Kill(er) approach to interviewing...
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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