This newsletter is designed to provide useful career information in an easy-read format, for career development at whatever stage you’re at on your job path. We publish every 30 days. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to write with your career questions, feedback or requests for topics to be discussed. – Laurie Sheppard, MCC
| Vol. 2, Issue 5 | May, 2005 |
In this issue:
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If you are receiving this e-mail in text format and want to see it in HTML, it can be viewed from my web site, www.creatingatwill.com, either by clicking the link on the home page (current issue) or click here to read it now.
DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS
Despair Inc. a company started in 1990 by twin brothers, Justin and Jef Sewell and a communications professor, E. Lawrence Kersten, was started as a reaction to an ISP venture that failed to provide sufficient returns on their investment. It shows. These company owners’ objective is to provide the antithesis of motivational products and services – in fact, de-motivational accurately describes their Positive Negations TM for anyone they consider the Underachiever, Dreamer or anyone with Idiotic Insights. It appears that these company owners’ bleak outlook was due to relying too much on looking to their work to be “redemptive and healing”. At the same time, their sarcastic parodies of inspirational corporate messages is supposed to wake us up and remind us not to expect the very thing that caused their own disappointments, which was to expect their work to make them happy.
If poking fun at corporate America offers you the healing perspective you’re seeking, then you too can contribute to this million dollar a year business. They say they “laugh at themselves” and we hope their public does too.
http://wwwdespairinc.com Source: quotes from Fast Company, Inc. May 2005
INTEREST GROUPS
“Interest groups are the new geography. Because of the Internet, old paradigms of demographic analysis and segmentationby sex, age, household income, and especially zip codeare meaningless. People are gathering around their interests. The more we can identify those interest groups the better we can serve them.”
Steve Murphy, President/CEO Rodale, Inc. in Paul B. Brown interview, Fast Company April, 2005
CAREER GUIDE 2005
“A brightening labor market could make this the time to look for a new job. Some 262,000 new jobs were created last month, with almost every sector of the economy contributing, including manufacturing [though manufacturing is still showing a long-term employment decline].”
“But this job market differs from those of the past. The biggest gains in jobs are occurring south and west, with workers following the sun in pursuit of careers and employers chasing favorable regulatory and tax environments…” “The mobility of work that depends less on the availability of natural resources and more on human and computer brainpower is intensifying the shift of payrolls away from the Northeast and Midwest. Nowhere is the job boom stronger than in Florida.”
“Computers are also radically altering the skills many jobs require.” “…The jobs of the future will be those requiring expert thinking, like doctors and chefs, and those involving complex communication, like managers and teachers. The intuitive knowledge involved in such work renders it impossible for today’s computers or distant workers to perform. Blue-collar jobs that involve non-routine tasks are also safe.”
Matthew Benjamin, U.S. News & World Report, March 21, 2005
THIS BLOG BUSINESS
Web logs or “blogs” offer content typically created by independent writers (although some media reporters create blogs on newspaper or magazine sites). Some are personal journals; others resemble newsletters or columns. Often, they contain links to other sources of content. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated often, if not daily. Postings on a blog are most often arranged in reverse chronological order.
Some career blogs to check out:
HOT JOBS AND WHAT TO TRAIN FOR IN 2005
“…Nurses, Health Technicians, Plumbers, Electricians, Engineers, Technical Supporters, Debt Mediators, Accountants…”
“Adults in the U.S. rank 12 th in literacy among 20 high-income industrialized countries. Employers complain that many job applicants lack basic educational skills. More than ever, specialized training and/or education is required for jobs that can’t easily be computerized or outsourced, because they demand judgment calls, knowledge of local markets or one’s physical presence – or all three.”
Parade Magazine, March 13, 2005
WHO DICTATES TECHNOLOGY’S BENEFITS OR DOWNSIDES?
No one can refute the value of technology in our lives. However, when it begins to intrude on our downtime, interferes with the flow of our current communication interactions, or literally demands our attention rather than being an asset, it’s a problem. Cell phones are one example. If they were only safety hazards www.ncsl.org/programs/ESNR/2000cell.htm we wouldn’t be seeing and hearing so much about common courtesy and how we can act more respectively to others in how and when we choose to utilize this technology. For example, InfoWorld’s online “Ten Commandments” of cell phone etiquette, which include such practical advice as: “Though shall not subject defenseless others to cell phone conversations” and “Though shalt not set thy ringer to play La Cucaracha every time thy phone rings.” www.cartalk.cars.com compares cell phone “bores” with “savvy” users. The latter being those who would know when to turn off their phones. These savvy users are not controlled by the desire to multitask and can pick their spots for civil, low-toned conversations. There is also the inappropriateness of taking personal cell calls at work, rather than during breaks or lunch hours. Must the increase of rules and signs dictate our common sense etiquette? Perhaps we should also look at how much time these conversations take from simply being quiet and noticing the environments we walk through, the people we’re already with and the last few miles of driving in our car.CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS
“Have an old cell phone? Bring it to any of the 1400 Liberty Tax Service offices nationwide. All phones are sold for recycling and the cash is used to buy calling cards for the military. Visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com to learn more.”
Parade Magazine, January 2, 2005
Career Tool Resources & Services
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Creating At Will's Coming Events
IN THE NEWS
The southern California westside paper, “Hometown News” featured Laurie in a three-quarter page article with photo. It talked about her efforts to coach others and canvas her community for in-kind goods that were shipped to Sri Lanka to help the tsunami effort. For any article copies, feel free to contact us.
COMPLIMENTARY CAREER COACH TELECLASS
ICF Career SIG, September 21, 2-3:00 ET, “Whole in One Tool-‘Elevations’” Telephone Bridge Line: 1-620-584-8200 PIN 909909 (For ICF members only) . Laurie will join career counselor and assessment creator, Helen Scully, to discuss the benefits of this foundational tool for quickly assessing clients’ values, skills, personal style and job interests. Laurie will share coach survey results she conducted on it and it’s benefit to her clients.
I am writing this gazing out onto a heavily snow-capped mountain – a majestic view for anyone, let alone this southern California resident who rarely sees such cold weather vistas. My husband and I have just completed our presentation: “The Art and Ethics of Negotiations – Oxymoron or Achievable Goal?” at the Squaw Creek Resort near beautiful south Lake Tahoe. The presentation did not fall deafly on the ears of over 150 attorneys who, despite stereotypes long overdue for demolishing, were indeed keenly interested in the topic of personal ethics.
Getting here was challenging to our own ethics, since there was a communication mishap and our plane left without us. Consequently we were not able to make our originally booked speaking time. Talk about the art of negotiations! After a few hours trying to remedy the situation at LAX while staying calm and non-blaming (as much as was possible) and with the complications added by MapQuest’s driving directions (oh yes, no blame), we decided we could work these challenges into a humorous portion of our talk, which we later did. All went well and now I’m once again breathing in the relaxation that’s possible from experiencing chaos as a normal part of my life and the surety of solutions to the myriad of complexities life is made up of.
An important part of my calm was not only my partner’s steadiness, but my coach friend, Janeen’s, listening and guidance when I called to ask for support. One complaint I’d had was the new presentation time might not allow as many attendees. Her response was for me to consider the question: How can you validate yourself without relying on or expecting others to attend your session? This made sense, yet my attachments were still causing me to feel upset. Her next question was: How can you turn this upset around? She proposed that I have the emphasis be on who I’d like to be in the talk. It was sage advice and taken to heart and practice. Thank goodness for coaching and the opportunity of this experience.
Laurie
For more information about the coaching or professional speaking services I offer, plus any of our products, please visit my web site or contact me!
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© 2005 Creating At Will
