November 2008

Web Sites – The New Job Application

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This will be brief.

Sell and Market Yourself.

If you need to get a new job, then use the Internet.

Okay, so do the usual stuff – local agency, job interviews, etc…

So maybe you’re not the very best at what you do. No Problem. Most of us aren’t.

I had a great career surrounded by others who where "better" than me. But I survived. Take a respected profession – for example Judges. Phew – what a responsibility.

Were they coached from birth. No. They may have had some advantages over you and I – but strip them down naked – give them a beer (or whatever), and stand you and them together.

Start Talking.

Ignore accents. Ignore education. Listen. They are just talking life experience – as are you….

That’s why the Editor of a Daily Paper wields the power they do – just an opinion…

The best people I have ever employed are those who did TWO things well… Listen Up.

They MANAGED CHANGE AND THEY MANAGED RISK. If you’ve got this – you’ve got potential !!!!

And consider this….

Online. Looks Professional. Looks entrepreneurial. 

Can you make a simple one-page web site?

Can you purchase a domain name?

Can you "market yourself online"?

Could you write some articles or blogs?

Or none of the above.

Check out online agencies

Check out Chat Rooms

Check out Forums

Check out countries that are looking for skills that you have (even if for a temporary time).

Case Study.

My clever-dick nephew just moved to the USA, in advance of his move he put a few "feelers" out regarding the fact that he was pretty darned good at a certain IBM system. He arrived in the USA and within 1 week had a well paying job in a "backwoods" part of the good ‘ole USA. He’s not in any way affected by the Recession – even though it originated in the USA…

Suppose you are currently in the UK. Your Job is on the line or has gone. Consider the following options:

1. Claim redundancy (do it – you’re entitled!)

2. Get on whatever job-seeker initiative you can

3. MEANWHILE. Use the internet and Google to market yourself.

4. Do you have anything of value to sell? Use Ebay – a few hundred may keep the wolf from the door for a month…You will be surprised what others value…

5. Have a reasonable reputation with a Bank? Pay off all your high-interest-rate credit cards by taking out a bank loan at a sensible rate over a reasonable period of time.

QUESTION. Would you be prepared to spend each week away from your family and home to keep paying your mortgage?

Think outside The Box. So you are unemployed – too proud to stack shelves, deliver letters, become a labourer for a few weeks…keep your loved ones in a home….Of course you would.

You Betcha!

Don’t be a victim — be a survivor–don’t blame others (banks, etc) —ACT

A buddy of mine has taken a job away from his family in Dubai (did you know India is growing like crazy right now – particularly in IT?), and meets up with his wife and child every few months – but his house, his mortgage, his family, his life is intact.

What a Hero — What a Free Thinker.

Well Done Les.

Surviving is not living in poverty – it’s Changing Your Perspective And Changing Your Perception – even temporary…

Stop reading Newspapers and turning on the TV news. Just focus on what skills you have or potentially have, and keep flexible.

Think of your day as having a money value, and what activities have a money value.

TV = zero.

Reading the daily Paper – let’s say the Daily Mail.

Getting irate over unfair taxes, immigration, unruly teenagers, politicians getting unfair advantages, pop stars sleeping with everyone, sports stars earning millions, local councils screwing up, political parties opinions, etc…..it’s all a smokescreen for the next generation of "sheep" that’s you brother and sister…!!!! 

Notice when it’s a slow day for news – articles and pictures from their archive fill the blank pages. Notice how much "OPINION" they give – rather than "News". Just like Banks and politicians – they are just there to influence your life.

Back to you.

Make a list of your life skills, knowledge and experience = £££$$$priceless!!

Be prepared to temporary work harder and longer at a lower wage if necessary. The only folks who will fail are those who roll over and play dead….

And by the way. Read my previous Blog entry for those who are *really* flexible…..

And if all this sounds like so much horse manure – then just change the way you think and act in the light of your current situation.

Huge change comes as a result of Huge Problems. 

This Recession Is A Human Soup Of Potential – Go Find Your Recipe….

This Could Be Your Moment — And Mine.

PS. X Factor is playing in the background. I’m not watching it. Notice the Opinion. The Passion. The Mindbending. Your Mind and Emotions Being Bent.. Influence on your life = ZERO.

Turn The Fucking Thing Off.

Sorry for The Language.

Are You Frightened By The Recession?

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I’m writing this moments after my last blog entry.

Why?

Because I’m on fire, that’s why. You may have to wait for days before I blog again.

Why?

Because I’m not a machine. and I refuse to write about "anything" just to keep my blog active. This is NOT a diary – it is a communication.

I’m on the cusp of a tipping point. All you KNOW of the recession is what the "Media" are telling you.

They are only telling you the bad news. I’ll bet right now you think the whole world is going down the toilet.

You couldn’t be more wrong.

Not a single Government is burning money right now.

Not a single person is storing money uner their mattress. The money is STILL THERE.

All that is happening, is that RICH FOLKS are holding onto their money and only spending it when a bargain comes along.

When you read "$$$Millions Wiped Off The Stock Market" what it really means is that "$$$Millions Exchanged Hands On The Stock Market"

You see, the stock market is a Zero Sum Game. One mans loss is another mans gain (ditto ladies!)

Recession Is Only Folks Keeping Their Cash In Their Own Pockets

So your bank is asking why you can’t pay this months mortgage?

Me Too. Sheeshh am I frightened. Do you feel trapped? Me Too. But – no – not really.

The only thing that separates me from you, is that I think I can change the way I put food on my families table.

Crazy? I don’t think so. Let me give you some ideas (don’t stop at my list – keep writing……)

  • Do you have a set of Life Skills? Have you "Googled" to see if there is a market for your "part-time" skills
  • Don’t stop at skills, what about knowledge and experience? What could you bring to the table?
  • Do you have any computer skills? I’m talking the ability to use Microsoft Word and email for example?
  • Are you prepared (even ‘between jobs’) to earn money on-line?
  • No, I’m not selling anything!
  • Do you have a hobby that others would value your knowledge and skills?
  • Have you had a career path with knowledge and skills?
  • Do you have an interest area that you would find easy to add knowledge and skills?
  • Do you have information that others may value?

That’s enough for now…

Try this.

Put your search in quotes "  ……"

Type in "How to….." then insert your piece of life’s experience. And note top left how many searches have ALREADY occurred.

What if you knew how to put together a Microsoft Word Document, Video, etc….and folks would pay a measly $10/£6 for it…Would this …..Could This….Might this …….be a way to supplement your life — or like me, start turning your life into an independant financial machine…

If you are juiced up right now….go to Google and let your mind wander. Grap a sheet of old-fashioned paper and take notes. Go to sleep….chew on it…look some more….

Did you know JOB stands for Just Over Broke? Be your own boss – get a payrise when you need and deserve it.

Happy Hunting!

 

Trapped By Expectations

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I stand on the shoulders of giants.

We humans seem to be driven by keeping our "truths" at the expense of learning the truth.

Me Too.

But I’m open to learning.

Take religion, my sister is a devout "xxxxxxxxxxxxx  xxxxxxxxxxxx", and whenever we discuss this, it ends up with "Well it’s my faith". I respect her for that, yet see it is also the very thing that stops her from reaching her full potential while on earth.

If faith means "belief without proof" then we are screwed.

To losely-quote great thinkers before me (take a bow Bertrand), if I believe there is a tea-pot circling the earth – and you have not discovered it – the reason is , you were looking in the wrong places!"

What joy. 

You may conclude that I am a non-supporter of any organised religion.

I have just had a drink in the bar of the hotel where I am staying (that’s my weakness too!), and the bar staff were glued to a popular UK soap on the TV.

In that instant, they were living their lives by the fantasy that played on-screen. Hey, it is more safer than hard drugs!

But probably is just as responsible for slowing humans from reaching their full potential.

Grown men (usually) are passionate about their football team — a bunch of multi-millionaires who are really in the "money-making business". And the fans keep themselves trapped in mediocrety – while the players move their lives to optimise their existence on the planet…David Beckham will not spend a single moment worrying about UK fans who can’t pay their mortgage right now……nor will his Rich Bitch wife…..

Readers of "Hello" magazine – please keep buying it and putting £1000′s into these mega stars social moments…

Here is my point.

Whether there is a God or not – I only have an opinion. Whether the soap is adding to their lives – I only have an opinion.

Whether you "religiously" read your favourite Newspaper, and get emotional on the opinions presented – I only have an opinion.

Whether you watch the evening news on your favourite program – and see it as a balanced view – I only have an opinion.

If you are passionate that a political party has all the answers – I only have an opinion.

We are creatures of habit. And in this communication-rich world of ours we are bombarded by a sea of opinions. It is easy to see why we are biased. And these biases are constantly being added to, re-enforced if you will….

As we reach a ‘mature’ age (whatever you think that is…), we are the subject of the sum of all the ‘input’ we have received over our lifetimes. 

It has NOTHING to do with our "real" opinions. Fatally – not the real answers.

That’s why young men have killed hundreds of innocent victims as they have in Mumbai.

Simple Answer. Don’t have one. Be open to Changing Your Mind.

Listen – without aching to insert a ‘yes but’

But I’ll tell you this, the main sources of our "world-opinion" are slowly morphed into our conscience by a variety of sources:

  • Parents
  • Local Area Culture
  • Religions
  • Friends
  • Social Environment
  • Political Parties
  • Local Government
  • Social Pressures
  • Newspapers
  • TV
  • Magazines
  • Internet
  • etc……….

All are given by people who "know" the truth.

People we trust and are seen as experts.

The school-teachers I had were mediocre by any standards – yet I was brought up to respect them. It took me a lifetime to gradually realise – they were only giving an opinion….

Including me – the author of this blog….

Be careful who you let into your life.

Stop voting (it only encourages politicians)

Stop reading newspapers (it only encourages them to colour and bias what you believe)

Don’t assume there is a God. Treat fellow humans with respect – not out of fear, or a better "after life" — but because you value and love yourself and your short life on this wonderful planet.

It is no accident that the world’s wealth gravitate to a select few – call it natural selection if you will. Apart from your family, friends, neighbours, relatives, peers, colleagues, etc – everyone else that has an impact on your life is after two things – POWER AND INFLUENCE.

If you don’t grant them that by laying down and believing in them – THEY ARE POWERLESS – You Now Have The Power To Enrich Your Own Life.

Good Luck. I’m Still Practicing.

Amen To That.

Recession – Proof?

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You may know that I live in Spain and work from time to time in the UK. I’m in a London hotel as i write. Foolishly, I have asked for a daily paper to be delivered to my room. After several days, I feel quite depressed. The Newspapers just love crisis – doom and gloom all over their pages. TV is just the same.

When I get my UK business done and return to Spain, I’m sure I’ll feel like living again! 

But history teaches us that the greatest changes come from crisis. Maybe we all got a bit complacent – it’s not just the greedy bankers…

Now, I’m at risk of loosing my house as much as anybody — but looking toward the Internet as a source of income is an opportunity waiting to happen for just about anybody. Sure you need a computer and the basics. But you also need something more powerful.

The urge to suceed. If you read the papers, there’s a good chance your brain will tell you "no – it wouldn’t work for me"

But if you have are prepared to learn, watch, listen, and adapt, the world as they say, is your e-Oyster!

Anyone reading this should check out eBay for a start, get to know how it works, try selling something of your own. Get your feet wet – experience the thrill of the chase.

Ther’s a whole world of scams out there — put "make money online" into Google and you’ll see. But ther’s also more folks than you can imagine quietly making the mortgage payments – and more – online.

Have an Interesting Day.

The Not So Brilliant Mind

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Yesterday Was A Good Day. It was a Catharsis, a Tipping Point. Whatever. I get so used to giving advice that sometimes I forget to take it.

Enter my clever nephew (Nick of http://www.projex.com). He must be one of the best IBM/AS400 consultants on the planet. And we were talking of some web site changes I needed, and the conversation turned to what the heck am I doing, which direction am I heading, etc, etc. 

So here I was, back in my beloved Spain for the week, my wife packing and ironing for another intensive set of training seminars in the UK – Kent next week, then London, then Leeds, then……eventually crashing into Christmas…

I’ve got 4 or 5 website projects in various states of completion, and my mind was flitting from problem to problem. As a project manager, I should have known better…Oh, I had the "To Do" Lists going on – but I haven’t made the time recently to sit down and devise a strategic plan. Simple stuff here really.

Mentoring is getting a much needed revival on the Internet right now, the global financial situation is causing much change in peoples lives – some for the good, some for bad. As my nephew gave me a gentle bit of "advice" as well as swift action I might add….I sudenly realised I was being "mentored"

It’s not that the mentor is clever and you are stupid – just that a different perspective can be determined. Also remember the old saying "a trouble shared is a trouble halved"? Yeah – it still works. I’d swap a pound of knowledge for an ounce of common-sense any day!

There are some interesting pieces of software out there that can help you "project manage" your life. One you should install right now – even if only for a week or so is: http://RescueTime.com. This little gem logs how you spend your time on the PC – so you can become more effective. Too many hours on CNN or answering email? – cut down on the time-stealers!

There’s other stuff too – you need to decide, but to get you started, how about:

http://www.ActiveCollab.com
http://www.TasksPro.com
http://BaseCampHQ.com

http://JingProject.com

Or maybe you need to outsource some of the clutter in your business life – particularly if like me, you run your own business. English speaking collage grads are probably better than you at techie stuff, and for as little as $10/hour – you should check out: http://www.AgentsofValue.com

"Real results and success come from sustained implementation of simple actions over time"

Now let’s see if I can take a large spoonful of my own medicine! 

Speak Soon.

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