Learning

When you take on new responsibilities, it is amazing what you learn about yourself. I have taken on a weird hybrid role with out sales staff in helping them and clients understand our capabilities from the websites. In this time, I have been able to confirm that I am still a horrible sales person. Not exactly earth shattering, but knowing your limits are important. But I have found that I am a much greater marketer than I thought. Which isn't the same thing. I have been able to rationalize that my 'ability to close the deal' isn't up to par, but my 'ability to push the idea and product' is strong. Very strong. If I am ever able to work full time as on-air talent, I think this will prove valuable. I have also gain another level of respect for our fine sales staff. While all are trying to do the best they can for themselves, its not every man and women for themselves. No serious jealousy, backstabbing, or sabotage. Our sales staff do there best to hype each other up, just like a solid sports team. Our sales staff know how to work each other to get the best competition for themselves internally, without being over-competitive. They are impressive.

Your Career, The Little Dutch Boy & The Dyke

Does your career follow a warped version of the story of the Little Dutch Boy? The Cliff Notes Version of the Little Dutch Boy has a hole in a dyke that was threatening to burst, and little boy walks up an sticks his finger in the hole and shores up the dyke with the simple act...a decision that is a little tough because it makes him late for school, which will get him in trouble. Eventually, some passerby sees the boy, and brings back help to fix the dyke. The story is told to teach quick action and self-sacrifice, because if the boy leaves, the dyke is back in the same peril that it was in before, and he has no guarantee that help is on the way. Switch the story to an analogy of your career. Were you on your way to something bigger and brighter, came across a problem that you could offer up a quick fix, and then got stuck supporting your quick fix forever? In real world work, sometimes the people whose job it is to actually fix things will do everything in their power to go nowhere near the problem, sticking you with your quick fix approaches, and bogging you down with unresolved issues that keep you from accomplishing bigger goals and moving forward. I believe you have three ways to approach this problem: 1: JUST DON’T STICK YOUR FINGER IN THE DYKE: If it’s not your problem, its not your problem, and don’t lift a finger (pun intended) to fix it. 2: PUT YOUR FINGER IN THE DYKE FOR A WHILE, THEN TAKE IT OUT AND DEMAND ACTION: Save the company for just a little while, figure out what the real problem is, then kill your quick fix and get in the faces of those who have the responsibility to fix it, and make sure they fix it. 3: PUT YOUR FINGER IN THE DYKE, AND PRAY THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING ON THERE OWN: …which probably won’t happen…but a little faith might help… When I came across the idea for this post, I knew I was going to be short on answers, but I hope that just putting the thought out there will help those stuck ‘with their finger in the dyke’ to get a better picture of their current situation, and find a way out of it. E-Z Rent-A-Car: -The Car Rental Coupons Online!

Plan Of Attack Of Your Workload

A simple, two-part plan for improving your output at work: Part 1: Do the best job you possibly can today. Part 2: Tomorrow, try to do a little better. If it were only that easy… In order to improve your output, it’s going to first take a little detective work, and then a little doctoring. In extreme cases, major surgery. Take some time to examine your workload, and do a better job of pre-planning your work before you actually start doing it. Travelocity.com

Taking Your New Year Career Audit Halfway Through The Year

I came across Joan Lloyd article's “Career Audit for a New Year” as I was clearing out some old and duplicate files on my computer this morning. It had a great set-up of re-evaluating your mental job contract with your employer, whether there has been major change or not, just to see if you are still the right person for your own job, or if you should start the process of moving on. There is just one flaw in the New Year time frame. A regularly scheduled audit of your career can be the key to help you maintain your career goals and your sanity. But when do you usually schedule your career audit? If you are like most people, you set yourself for you annual dreaded time of reflection at the traditional end or beginning of something. For most, that means Christmas time reflections and New Year's Resolutions, where you swear you will take time to sit down and patiently go through your last 12 months in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the over-commercialized holiday season. No, this is not really a good time. So how about right now? Yeah, right now, in the middle of the summer, just about SIX MONTHS into the year that is and before the year to come, where the only burdens weighing you down are to much potato salad at the 4th of July picnic and how to cut down on use of air conditioning. Waiting around until right now, in the slow days of the summer time could be just the right time to get away from yourself (and possibly get away from the trappings and distractions of work and life for a short period of time) and do a true evaluation of your live and career. So take a weekend, take a deep breath, and take the time to sit and go through this list. And for more information on how Joan Lloyd & Associates can help you out, visit their website at http://www.JoanLloyd.com. 25 Businesses You Can Start & Run From Your Home From Entrepreneur Magazine

Video Résumé Are The Future

What seemed like a over hyped joke just a few years ago, and is still as equally misunderstood as it is becoming more popular, video résumés and the rise of the media specialist training may not even be the future as I put in my title. They might as well be right now, and many are going to miss their first chance at jumping on the band wagon. An article from yesterday's Business section of the New York Times by Abby Ellin, Auditioning in a Video Résumé, gives the details, and a few reasons why you shouldn't be so quick to scoff at the idea. I'M Instant Media