Journal of Office Workers
Archive for October 23, 2014
3 Reasons Why You Should Think Like A ‘Business-Of-One’
This post is part of the Professional Independence Project series.
Despite the doom and gloom of the current job market, you’ll find that a revolution is forming that’s quickly changing the world of work as we know it. Many Millennials have jumped ship in favor of being their own boss, while older generations are learning to build side businesses in tandem with their day jobs.
What do they know that most of us don’t? The economy has changed and we’re no longer handed a job upon graduating college. In fact, a college degree doesn’t do much to set you apart now, and you’re lucky if you can get a job at all. In 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released an alarming stat; the average American worker stays at a job less than four and a half years.
You are responsible for creating your own job title and carving out a successful career.
This is why being the CEO of yourself is so important now. You are responsible for creating your own job title and carving out a successful career. We can no longer rely on having a secure job for the next 40 years and applying for Social Security during retirement at age 70. Both of these ideals are completely dead.
Why You Should Think Like A ‘Business-Of-One’
Here are three reasons why everyone should think of themselves as a business-of-one.
1. Building a personal brand.
Whether it’s right now or in the future, you need to have the flexibility to control your income. The harder you work, the more money you can earn, which means that building your personal brand - with a good reputation - is key.
What can a personal brand do for you? Well, a lot actually. For one, it can connect you with influential experts and help you get on the radar of industry experts. This comes in handy if you need to pull some strings to land a job, or if you want to work with big-name companies to become a brand ambassador.
2. Accurately build your reputation.
The Internet isn’t going anywhere, neither are social sites like Twitter or Facebook, so instead of shying away from these public outlets, it’s time to embrace them. You can control what the media says about you, and curate your own perspective.
Media nightmares are a real thing, but you can put out those fires by establishing a personal website, while controlling what comments are shared about you and your business on social media.
When a potential influencer, client, or employer does a search online, they’ll be able to view the accurate information about you, instead of pulling up rumors and other incorrect data. That is a priceless benefit to both you and your family. You can establish a reputation that even your children can lean on and use as a jumping off point.
3. Reaching independence and freedom.
Having the freedom to do what you want and create an unconventional lifestyle is something many of us crave. The only way to achieve this is to become the CEO of your life and create your own dream job.
Career conscious go-getters no longer strive for work-life balance; instead, they strive for a blending of work and life that’s only available through a location independent lifestyle. Most bosses don’t allow work-vacations (called workcations) but if you’re the CEO, you can travel anywhere you want, while taking the work with you.
This kind of freedom not only affects how and when you work, but your financial standing as well. You can have control over your income since you’re not wasting time building some else’s dream. You’re able to branch out into different income streams and diversify how you make a living. This nearly eliminates the possibility of becoming bored and enables you to reach the freedom you’ve been striving for.
Essentially, the reason you should think of yourself as a business-of-one is because you are one! The economy and job market are no longer the same and in order to evolve with the new world of work you have to adapt at becoming the CEO of your life.
Want to take control of your career?
If you want to take control of your career, check out our fall series, the Professional Independence Project. Throughout the month of October, we will be sharing expert advice and insight on how you can build a successful career you love.
Sign up now to get five FREE video tutorials that show you how to market yourself to anyone, anywhere. Start your path the professional independence. Sign up today!
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7 Things Everyone On Facebook Needs To Stop Doing
Originally posted on Thought Catalog:
1. Inviting friends to play Candy Crush
Listen up Candy Crushers, we are all very much aware of the inescapable presence of Candy Crush on Facebook. So if we don’t have it, it’s because we have no interest in playing it, and therefore made a conscious decision not to download it. Maybe you’re a first time offender and didn’t consider the aftermath that could potentially stem from you clicking the “invite all your friends” button. Fine, rookie mistake. But bare in mind, that multiple invites preceding this, will be viewed as a threat and necessary unfriending action will be taken. Play on playa.
2. Excessively updating your status / over-sharing
Twitter exists for a reason. A play by play of your painfully uneventful, daily routine is highly unnecessary. “Just woke up”…“Off to the gym”…“Just got back from the gym”… “Making a smoothie.” Thanks for the update…
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5 Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Desk Job And The 5 Steps You Should Take To Prepare To Leave
Originally posted on Thought Catalog:
Photo by Craig Maltby
I know what you’re thinking. I didn’t know gold-diggers had to work real jobs. Well, to be honest most of them don’t. However, I enjoyed being in charge of my sustenance and worked a full-time 10-to-7 job at a luxury fitness club (spoiler alert, I hated it!). I worked this job just long enough until I successfully figured out a way to purse what I really wanted to do: Writing.
5 Signs You Know It’s Time To Leave Your Desk Job
1. They have your body but they don’t have your mind
My physical self was at the desk, in the chair, but my head was all over the place. I was thinking about what I could be doing, what I wanted to be doing, and what I should be doing.
2. You’re bringing others around you down
I worked a job where my performance directly…
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5 Tips For Reclaiming Your Career & Finding Happiness
Which one describes your morning more accurately?
a) Waking up excited to head into work and do what you love.
b) Waking up dreading work and seriously considering calling in sick.
If the second scenario sounds more like you, it’s time for a change, don’t you think?
Related: 4 Ways To Take Ownership Of Your Career
Here are five tips for reclaiming your career and finding career happiness:
1. Figure out what the heck is causing the problem.
What is it that you HATE about your job? Why do you DREAD going to work? Is it the work itself or the people you work with? Is it a specific task or a specific individual who makes your life miserable? Once you determine the stressor/misery-causer, you can take steps to fix/eliminate the problem.
2. Manage up!
I’m sure you’ve heard this term before, but what the heck does it mean to “manage up” anyway? Well, it means that you need to step it up a little bit with your work, and go above and beyond what you’re being asked to do.
Managing up will help others recognize your value within the organization, making you an asset. By going the extra mile with your work, you take stress off of your manager/boss, which can help you build a better working relationship with him/her. Remember, your job is to make your boss’s job easier. If you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your job – and you’re not showing your value as an employee.
3. Attend workshops & seminars.
Find some local workshops and seminars that will help you enhance your skills. By attending these events, you not only will learn new, valuable skills, but you will prove that you are willing to take that extra step in order to get ahead.
Figure out what areas you feel you should improve – Do you need better time management skills? Would it help you to learn the HTML basics? Maybe you just want to brush up on your business writing or public speaking skills. There are workshops and seminars for everything!
4. Find a mentor.
It’s always nice to have a little extra guidance and support. Find someone who has extensive experience in your field and ask them if they would mind being your mentor. They can provide valuable insight and contacts that will help you get ahead.
Not sure how to find a mentor? Read this article for some tips!
5. Get out there and meet the RIGHT people!
If you really want to take control of your career, you need the right people in your corner. Are you going out there and meeting the right people? Although networking with people outside of your industry has its benefits, it’s important to have a focused networking strategy that builds a solid network of contacts.
There are several ways to connect with the right contacts. Here are a few:
- Attend industry-specific events (don’t have to be networking events!)
- Join industry-specific organizations and clubs
- Use keywords and hashtags to find potential contacts on Twitter and LinkedIn
Check out an article I wrote on connecting with relevant contacts on Twitter!
Want to become a master networker? Try Mingle!
Do you want to be a better networker? Check out our Mingle virtual networking events! They’re free, easy, and fun! To learn more about Mingle events, please click here. Click the button below to register for our next event.
Mingle is sponsored by Brazen Careerist. Learn more about Brazen Careerist and its virtual networking technology here.
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Job Seekers: What Should My Email Signature Say?
Are you making full use of your email signature to brand your candidacy as a job seeker? With a few tweaks, this simple tool can play a key role in sharing your brand with recruiters, companies, and hiring managers.
Related: Why Communicating Through E-mail Is An Ineffective Job Search Strategy
Because email is a primary form of business and job search communications these days, it is imperative to think about how your signature is marketing you. If you think about LinkedIn as your online brand “portal,” your email signature is one small but important pathway to lead traffic (recruiters and hiring executives) to you.
Every email provider provides a way for you to sign-off at the bottom of your message. Usually available via your email system’s settings page, signature files can always contain plain text and can often contain HTML or images. The typical length for an email signature ranges from four to seven lines. A job seeker’s signature can contain any of the following as appropriate:
- Name – List your first or full name in a way that matches your resume, LI profile, and employment record. If you normally go by a nickname, be sure to include it.
- Title – Since it won’t work to alter your title each time you send an email, use one that reflects the broad positioning of your LinkedIn profile. For example, if you’re looking for a CIO role but are open to director- and VP-level roles depending on company size, you might want to use a title such as Senior IT Executive.
- Career Email Address – Never use your work email address for job search communications. Select a dedicated email you can use not only for your search but for all future career communications, and maintain that address for the balance of your working life. The most professional email provide is generally considered to be Gmail, which offers generous storage, great spam blocking, and many helpful features and apps. By the way, use an email address that includes some version of your name and avoid cutesy extensions that will raise eyebrows.
- Contact Information – Include one phone number rather than multiples; choose the one that represents the best way to reach you. Make sure the voice mail message is in your voice and is strictly professional.
- Photo – Some email systems allow you to attach a photo to your signature. If you elect to include one, I suggest using the same one on your LinkedIn profile to reinforce your brand image.
- Career Targets – Since you’re using this email for job search purposes at least part of the time, it may be appropriate to briefly note your preferred position types, levels, industries, company types, and geographic locations.
- Links – Embed hotlinks to your LinkedIn profile and any relevant online portfolio, website, or social media accounts you may wish to include. Make sure to use your custom LinkedIn URL rather than your default profile URL.
- Closing – A courteous close such as “Sincerely,” “Regards,” or whatever word or phrase you are comfortable with.
In your email settings, include a shorter signature on replies and forwards so you don’t annoy your readers with too much detail about yourself. And remember to proofread, proofread, proofread to be sure your signature is perfect.
Although most email systems will allow some simple text, others allow you to construct a signature out of tables or HTML, either of which gives you more extensive formatting options. If you like the simple approach, by all means set your signature up as a list of text with keyboard characters as section separators. Here’s a quick example:
Best regards,
Jim
James Tyland, MBA
Senior IT Executive
Career Targets: Software Engineering Firms in the Western & Southwestern US
555.5555
If you prefer a more elegant email signature, try an app or software such as Wisestamp, BrandMyMail, V-Cards, or EmailSignatureRescue. Here’s a more stylized signature I created in MS Word:
Don’t waste your email signature space – use this valuable digital real estate to showcase your brand and your candidacy. And if you’re not currently in or anticipating a job search, check out these seven must-haves you need to manage your career proactively.
Related Posts
5 Email Etiquette Tips For Job Seekers
E-mail Etiquette Matters During Your Career Search
Your Job Search: 5 Tips For A Professional E-mail Address
About the author
A 15-time, award-winning resume writer, Cheryl Lynch Simpson serves mid-career to senior executives as a credentialed resume writer (ACRW), LinkedIn strategist (COPNS), and Get Clear, Get Found, Get Hired (G3) coach. Like her advice? Check out her website, ExecutiveResumeRescue.com for a complimentary copy of her popular Polish Your Profile LinkedIn presentation, or follow her on Twitter!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here.
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The 4 Essential ‘P’s’ Of Your Dream Job
We’ve all been told that if you choose a job you love, you will never work a day in your life. But, how many people actually have the opportunity to work somewhere they love? In a world where we spend the bulk of our waking hours at work, it seems impossible to think that unhappy employees outnumber the happy ones by two to one. This startling statistic makes many of us wonder, what can we change?
QUIZ: Are You Getting Ignored By Your Dream Jobs?
By placing more emphasis on what makes us happy, a dream job is entirely attainable. There are four essential things every professional should look for, in any industry, to find a dream job of their own: the people, the purpose, the product, and the potential.
1. The People
The hours spent at work are seriously more enjoyable when you have awesome co-workers by your side. The most effective teams are made up of people who trust and support one another, collaborate, and succeed together. Not only are you most productive with teammates you can relate to and rely on, but you might just find some of your closest friends. Take a look at some of The Grommet employees, for instance. The staff members of this start-up company have weekend hang-outs and even go on trips together. Marketing Specialist Maggie Schulz described “French Toast Friday” as one of The Grommet’s go-to events. (And frankly, french toast any-day is something I can get behind!)
Maggie Schulz | Photo credit: The Grommet
“They are also the kind of people you want to spend time with even if you aren’t getting paid to.“ -Maggie Schulz, Marketing Specialist, The Grommet
Although the people you work with don’t have to be just like you, if they share your work ethic and interests, you’re bound to enjoy seeing them every day. At The Grommet, Maker Programming Associate Matt DiStefano, says his co-workers are “mission driven, smart, and fun” and that they’re all there for the same reason. Schulz points out that the staff are “the kind of people you want to spend time with, even if you aren’t getting paid to.”
To find co-workers like this, look for what Ryan DeChance, Discovery Manager, calls “good people.” That’s how you will find a place where you “GET to go to work,” as he says. When you enjoy being in the company of your co-workers, you’ll be closer to finding a job you love.
2. The Purpose
If you’ve ever asked yourself at work, ‘Why am I doing this?’, it probably isn’t your dream job. Great jobs give us a sense of pride and accomplishment, and the best ones really let us contribute to the company’s success. By being aligned with your work, there is a motivation to get up and going in the morning, knowing that your work’s purpose has value.
Ryan DeChance | Photo credit: The Grommet
“Every day has a success story.” -Ryan DeChance, Discovery Manager, The Grommet
DeChance explains that, at The Grommet, there is a success story of its emerging products and businesses every day. As a company that launches undiscovered products with a purpose, the staff is “constantly challenged to do things differently,” shares Site Operations Manager, Jennifer Gokhale. Compared to other companies where you might be just another person punching in and out of the timeclock, Mimi Wong, the Sr. Customer Experience Manager, points out that The Grommet is a place where “you have a real opportunity to shape the product and processes involved.” These types of sentiments illustrate the difference between a job you love, and one where you just go through the motions to get paid.
Mimi Wong | Photo credit: The Grommet
“I love how passionate everyone is about the mission.” -Mimi Wong, Sr. Customer Experience Manager, The Grommet
When you understand what your values are and what motivates you, you can find a company that shares that understanding. Being aligned with your work will help you feel about your job like DeChance does of his career at The Grommet, “like a hobby I get paid for.”
3. The Product
It’s easy to fall in love with a job when the products are amazing. If you don’t understand the purpose of a product or just plain don’t like it, it’s difficult to imagine a world where you’d enjoy selling it. Not only does this make for a dull day, but also for poor productivity. Standing behind a product will help you stand behind the job, too. Whether you’re providing a service or producing a product, what your company sells impacts your experience at the job.
Matt DiStefano | Photo credit: The Grommet
“We all are here for the same reason: to get the Maker’s [new products] to that next level and to help this company that we all believe in succeed.” -Matt DiStefano, Maker Programming Associate, The Grommet
4. The Potential
When you’re driving and come to a dead-end, you back up and try a different route. The same thing should be true of a job where you don’t see a future. Companies that encourage you to grow professionally will foster better employees and provide you with the potential to do more. A dream job will let you hold on to the people, purpose, and products you signed on for, while having a shot at something bigger. As a professional, you should always look for a job that lets you live up to your potential.
Jennifer Gokhale | Photo credit: The Grommet
“It’s the open-ended potential that results in business pivots at a high speed with a flexible team, and it’s why I find it so energizing.” -Jennifer Gokhale, Site Operations Manager, The Grommet
It’s about time we start turning the numbers around and becoming happier employees. Consider the 4 P’s you would love to have in a job, and find the position that offers them!
You can find your dream job!
Is finding a purpose important to you? Do you dream of helping a company grow?
The Grommet is looking for creative, driven professionals to join their team. With high-potential positions to fill, you could find yourself launching the next big thing! Click here to learn more about a career with The Grommet.
Related Posts
3 Reasons No Experience Will Land You That Dream Job
The Intriguing Truth About Your Dream Job
Is It Ever ‘Too Late’ To Get Your Dream Job?
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10 Tips For People Who Hate Networking
Do you associate networking with shameless self-promotion and ‘more = more’? Does that make your stomach turn? Me too!
Related: 18 Easy Conversation Starters For Networking Events
Networking has a bad reputation as a forum for superficial small talk. Yet real networking is about establishing mutually beneficial, lasting connections, one person at a time. And with my modern approach to networking, even you can shine and thrive at a board meeting, convention, or free-floating cocktail party.
The reason so many of us hate networking – and profess to stink at it – is because we’ve been futilely following the wrong rules. Rules that only work for a paltry 15% of the population and require us to be phony – a sure fire way to short circuit.
10 Tips For People Who Hate Networking
Networking for People Who Hate Networking (Berrett-Koehler 2010), which is translated into 11 languages, offers a completely new – and infinitely more effective take – on networking. Networking isn’t about working a room or telling everyone how fabulous you are. Real networking is building meaningful, lasting, mutually beneficial connections one person at a time.
This new and improved definition of networking means being true to you; capitalizing on your strengths, and tossing aside ‘rules’ that don’t match your temperament. The book’s self-assessment identifies your networking style. However, here are a few tidbits designed especially for you:
1. Be True To You
You are better qualified to be you than anyone else. Stamp out networking advice that demands you behave in ways that drain you. Harness natural abilities as networking strengths rather than liabilities. Like to listen, not talk? Do it. Energize alone? Go for it. Prefer one-on-one conversation? Arrange it.
2. Realize Less Is More
Be selective. Go to fewer events and be more focused when attending – rather than dragging your weary self to every business opportunity and showing up like a networking prisoner.
3. Plan Your First Impression
Cognitive scientists say it can take up to 200 times the amount of information to undo a first impression as it takes to make one. Who has that kind of spare time? Not you! Show up with the best version of you, every time. You never know who you are meeting.
4. Volunteer
Many of us dislike networking events because we don’t know what to say to a group of strangers. Free floating through a room is a fast track to free-floating anxiety. What to do? Simple. Volunteer to help out. Voila! You have a purpose and something to talk about. Even better, you position yourself as someone helpful – proving how indispensable you are rather than telling everyone about it.
5. Get In Line
This strategy is brilliant. You walk into a networking event with nowhere to go and no one to glom onto. What’s a desperate networker to do? Get in a queue. Any queue. The longer the better!
Why? A queue gives you a place to put your body and a temporary purpose in the world. There are only two people to talk with – the person in front and person behind you. There is a reward – whatever is given out at the front of the queue. And a natural ending – the front of the queue. Nice meeting you! Ta-ta!
6. Set Challenging Yet Achievable Networking Goals
Well-formed goals vary by personality. At a networking event, task yourself with meeting one or two people, not a dozen. And follow up (see #10!).
7. Show Don’t Tell
Rather than boring others with a canned advert of how marvelous you are, demonstrate live-time your fabulous self. Be useful and gracious. Greet others with a warm smile and leap at every chance to be helpful.
8. Research
Rather than wandering cavernous expo halls at industry events, do your pre-work. Learn in advance what organizations are of particular interest. Spend more time with fewer people. Impress key targets with your knowledge of who they are and why you are a perfect match.
9. Listen
Ever sense your remarks just shoot off a cliff and crash to the ground? Who needs that kind of pressure? Instead focus on those around you, asking thoughtful questions. Network via a sincere interest in others rather than promoting your fine self.
10. Follow-Up Or Forget About It
If you’re not following up, you’re not networking! We forget half of what we hear within 48 hours. Write personalized follow-up within two days or risk having your brilliant remarks erased permanently from the minds of those you wowed. If you’re not following up, you’re not networking.
Good luck out there! See you at a networking event. I’ll be standing alone by the buffet. Come say hi!
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Related Posts
5 Quick Tips For More Confident Networking
5 Ways To Break The Ice At Networking Events
Building Your Network: 5 Tips For Shy Networkers
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Where Buzzwords Fit In Your Resume
Where do buzzwords fit into your resume? Read this post to find out!
Related: Optimizing Your Resume With Keywords
Compare these two statements:
- “Proactive leader of manufacturing teams.”
- “Achieved a 20% increase in productivity by reorganizing manufacturing teams.”
The first statement uses the buzzword “proactive” but is unsupported by facts.
The second statement would light up the eyes of any manufacturing executive or recruiter.
Every time buzzwords take over from substantial fact, your resume becomes weaker, until it could apply to any job applicant anywhere. But your goal is to stand out, to become the one candidate everyone wants to meet. To achieve, that, you have to throw out the buzzwords and become specific.
Compare these two statements:
- “Expert in the use of state-of-the-art technology to design fully functional websites.”
- “Designed corporate website using Joomla for $4 million company.”
The second sentence is three words shorter but a whole lot more impressive. When you avoid buzzwords in your resume, you create room for the facts that will win you your next job.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
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Top 100 Most Powerful Resume Words
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