Hannah Morgan

Too much to do, too little time

We all seem to be racing the clock.  Well, perhaps just me.  I've over committed this year.  I raised my hand one too many times. 

Sometimes we do this because we want to look good at work, so we volunteer for a special project. 

Sometimes we do this because we want to look good at home, so we volunteer for a special neighborhood project.

Sometimes we do this because we want to look professionally good, so we volunteer for a special project with an association.

Any ONE of these would be great.  We should be giving back, because it is our duty, our responsibility to help others. 

If you are sitting back reading this thinking, I have extra time...then raise your hand for a group that needs you.  Make it meaningful, enjoyable, something you will gladly forego your free time to do.  The rewards are great!

What Will You Do When You "Retire"?

If you are like most baby boomers, you are looking forward to your well deserved retirement. It is the goal/dream you've literally been working towards your whole life.  "Ah, the day I don't have to work for a living, I'll be doing ... _________________" fill in the blank.  What will you be doing when you don't have to report to your job any longer?

Will you be happy playing golf 24/7, weeding the garden or watching the grand kids? So what will you do with all your free time?  Sure, you can volunteer a bit.  Will that fulfill your dreams?  Many retirees struggle with how to feel fulfilled after they've retired. This feeling of boredom doesn't happen right away of course, it may take months.  Then the itching to do something worth-while begins. 

Doesn't it make sense to start planning today what you'll be doing?  Perhaps you want to do some consulting work.  You'll need to start building that business before you retire because you'll need work contacts to help spread the word.  Starting a business takes time and money, you'll have a head start if you begin the process before you retire.

The other thing to consider is if you really will be content living on a fixed income for the rest of your life (perhaps 30 years).  If that doesn't scare you, it should.  Most people probably won't receive lifetime health insurance benefits.  Those can be costly to pick up on your own.  Will you have enough to pay for them?

What about your life-style. Will you be able to live the life you are accustomed to?  What sacrifices will you have to make?  If you don't want to initially make those trade-offs, what could you do to gain some income?  What talent or expertise do you offer that would be of value to others? (ie. what would someone pay you to do?) This question should sound familiar if you've ever be unemployed.

It is never too early to create an awareness of your expertise/talents.  Start today while those talents are fresh and alive.  Build your brand so you can rely on it in the future. 

I read a lot of blogs and here is some more great advice about planning for your next phase of life (we won't call it retirement, because that concept probably won't exist in the future).

Where to Find Retirement Jobs

Retirement's For Old People

Do Mature Workers Need Career Plans? 

Word of Mouth

We've all done it- checked out a new restaurant because a friend said the food is excellent, gone to a new mechanic because he is good and honest according to people, purchased a magazine because a family member recommended it was great reading.

We aren't looking for this advice or these recommendations, they seem to appear out of nowhere.  For some reason, we are motivated to test it out.  Could it be that subconsciously we are listening for a solution? 

The dream of every business is to have an excellent reputation.  One that will drive business (money) through the door.  Think Wegmans.  People will drive great distances for the Wegmans experience. 

What will drive jobs into your hand?  An excellent reputation for something.  It isn't just "self proclaimed" excellence, it has to be validated by others. Who are the people who can vouch for your excellence? Initially, it will be those that know you.  Your dream is to have even those who don't know you so well speak of your reputation for excellence.

Build the reputation.  Perform your excellence.  Demonstrate your excellence whenever you have a chance, or can create a chance to do so.

Listen for the window of opportunity.  Become heightened-ly aware of the possibilities to help others.  There are groups, forums, and associations that need assistance.  You could help.  Be near the window.

Make sure your message is easy to understand.  You never know who will hear it or who will pass it along, so keep it simple. 

It isn't enough today to just be good at what you do, people have to know about you.  Let your word of mouth reputation for excellence precede you!

Having a Role in Your Community

Well, it took about 15 years for me to get here, but I made it.  Where?  To a place where I am connected to my community.  I was raised in a family who played active roles in their community so I knew how it should feel.  It is just hard to do when you are a transplant.  It takes time to develop relationships and trust and a feeling of belonging.  It also requires a focused commitment.  You have to want it.  Where was I focused for the first 15 years?  Me, my work, my co-workers.  Was I satisfied, well, I thought I was. And I felt like I was on the right track.  It was very one dimensional.

Feeling connected for me is walking in to a store or a church and knowing people by their names and having them know mine.  It means talking with someone you see once a week like they were a long lost cousin, with something to catch up on and never a loss of words.  That is very difficult for me, being a self diagnosed introvert.

Having a role in your community can be as simple as feeling connected.  It doesn't mean you are leading, it just means you are present. 

There was a horrific tragedy in the high school in my town almost two weeks ago and I had been observing from the outside; watching the media, reading the paper, talking to parents.  It wasn't until yesterday, I felt the true magnitude of what had happened.  With tears streaming down my face, I listened to the man who was active in managing the aftermath of the event.  It wasn't a press conference so he had let down his guard.  He spoke eloquently and with emotion.  He was supported and congratulated by the others in the room and was further humbled by our recognition.

It shouldn't take an extreme event to bring a community together, but we've seen it happen before.  Remember the feelings after 9/11?  The re-prioritizing of life towards family and friends?  

Being part of a community, in good times and in bad, is the "back to basics" kind of living that is fulfilling, or dare I say, that we were all meant to be a part of.  Imagine what differences we could all make by having a role. 

Maintaining momentum

This is tough to do is job search, maintaining momentum.  You are forced to step out of your comfort zone daily.  You face a lot of indifference (in the olden days it was rejection).  There's a lot of waiting.  You are going through some emotional and self identify stuff too.

What can you do to keep energized and keep moving forward...

1. Take good care of you.  Which means eat right, get enough sleep and exercise.
2. Carve things you love to do into your day, every day.
3. Set a plan and follow it. 
4. Don't make assumptions.  Either get the facts or ignore whatever bothers you.
5. Team up with other people who will support you, hold you accountable and be cheerleaders when you need it.
6. Life isn't all about you, give back.  Volunteer.
7. Create structure to your day.  Routines are healthy.

Please stop making excuses. "I don't know what else to do", "This economy is bad", "no one will hire me because I am over 50", "No one can help me".

These thoughts translate into negative actions.  They won't move you forward. 

I love the Dr. Seuss book "Oh the places you'll go".  If you haven't read it, now is a really good time.  If it has been awhile, dust off your copy.  This story is about you.

I think momentum  is a very personal thing.  No one solution will help everyone.  Know what motivates you and incorporate that into your life today.

Volunteering has its advantages

Organizations of all kinds are starving for volunteers.  Especially right now, when their funding is being cut and monetary support from members is down.

If you are out of work, volunteering is a wonderful excuse to get out of the house.  I regularly hear from job seekers how fulfilling it is to volunteer.  The top cited reasons they go it:

• It feels good to have someone need you to do something (recognition)
• It is an opportunity to use skills or talents not being used (development)
• The organization is grateful and expresses their thanks (valued)
• It makes you realize that your problems aren't as big as they seem (perspective)
• They might just offer you a job if you perform exceptionally (employment)
• It is an opportunity to meet new people (networking)

 

I know lots of people who volunteer their professional skills.  For example: a graphic designer provides website development help to an organization that is very meaningful to her.

Look at the big picture of what is important to you (not necessarily work or career, but maybe).  Find an organization that is meaningful to you.  This is really important.  You want to donate your time to something that you will enjoy.  You could volunteer through a professional organization, your church, your town/city, anywhere.  They all need you. 

Be specific in stating the time you can donate- don't over-extend yourself. Let them know how you can help or what you can do.  Most organizations will gladly create an opportunity for you to help if they can.  Ask! 

What else should I be doing...are you sorry you asked?

As the "eternal job seekers" that we all are now, there are certain activities that will provide us with some knowledge and experience that will enable us to better compete in today's job search. 

All of them are important for different reasons.  I frequently hear people say they are doing everything they know how to do to look for a job and what that means is they are just looking at the job boards.  How sad.  These same full time job seekers are spending a lot of time doing this too, sometimes 20+ hours a week.  Consider all these things listed below...most are written about in more detail in past posts here.  If there are other worthwhile activities, please let me know...

Job Finding Activities

Role playing for interviews

Attend Seminars and workshops

Create Marketing Plan

Explore new career opportunities

Read newspaper/publications

Set up networking meetings

Networking

Use local One-Stop

Real interviews

Contact college/university

Contact people in target jobs

On-line networking (LinkedIn, etc)

Create interviewing preparation folder

Draft Thank You letters and Cover letters

Attend Job Club

Watch the news

Check all "job posting boards", creating alerts (use indeed.com, etc)

Internet research on companies

Volunteer with organizations

Informational interviews with peers

Contact search firms, contract houses, agencies

Look for new companies to add to target list, research materials, industry information

Attend Job fairs

Networking events

Applying for jobs online

Blog

Attend Professional association meetings and volunteer

Church or religious groups

Basically, what I am hoping is that you will carve time into your week to be pro-active in finding opportunities, rather than re-acting to the slim and dismal opportunities posted on the internet.  Get creative and get out of your house.  You will never find a job there, unless your house is filled with Hiring Managers.

A new perspective

The paradigm shift for many is how they can spend more time networking.  In order to make networking the major focus of your job search, you need to turn every opportunity into an information gathering session. Remember, networking is equal parts giving and taking. Based on the information you have gathered, you should know how you can help the individual you are speaking with. Remember these key rules:

Networking is not about asking for a job.
By showing interest in what others do and learning about them you will gain some respect.  Most people are flattered when asked questions about what they do.  They will reciprocate by asking about you.  This is how relationships form. 

Networking is about building and nurturing relationships.
Don't abuse relationships or take them for granted.  Care for these relationships with kindness and courtesy.

So when are you networking?  Ask instead, when are you not? Every activity you do provides an opportunity to gather info and build relationships.

• Visit to the hairdresser/barber
• Buying your morning cup of coffee
• Returning books to the library
• Watching your favorite high school sporting event
• The weekly trip to Wegmans
• The workout at the gym or rec center
• The waiting room at the doctor's office
• Your oil change mechanic
• Drinking coffee after church
• Attending professional development training or school
• Volunteer meeting

If you don't do these things, there's a bigger problem.  Life is about relationships.  Sometimes we have to step outside of our comfort zone.  Once you have changed your perspective, I guarantee your life will become more fulfilling. I don't think life was meant to be "all about us", its about other people.  Try it- with risk there is reward.

Take care of you

Yesterday I observed a panel discussion made up of job seekers who landed jobs.  There was an overriding theme- the challenge of maintaining self-confidence.

 It is so difficult when faced with all the rejection faced to feel confident. There are some things that can be done to offset these feelings.  Simple, basic rules we learned as children.

1. Take care of yourself:  eat right, exercise and get enough sleep
2. Indulge in something that brings you joy, regularly
3. Volunteer- find something you enjoy doing and give back
4. Surround yourself with supportive people
5. Ask for help when you need it

Volunteering is easy, doesn't cost anything and gets you out of the house.  Be careful not to let it take up all your time.  Sometimes if we can focus on something or someone other than ourselves, the problems at hand, don't seem quite as severe.