Sunday, February 26, 2012

Be One to Watch – Give and you shall receive …

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Kiahil Gilbran

In every community, there are those very special few known as the ones to watch. Those people who do special things, go out of their way and are deemed special. They are the ones to watch as they grow and prosper in their lives and careers. These are the people who you read about and observe through the media, events and other communications as the individuals who are focused and destined for achievement.

There is one common theme you find when looking at those growing, aspiring and being recognized –

They are not all in for themselves …

They give back …

… to their community, their family or those in need in some special way. And they are noticed for this.

Giving back – and that doesn’t have to be money or valuables but could be time, leadership and commitment - defines a person as one who cares. In life and career, your definition – or your perception – is what will make, or break you.

But who has lots of time for giving back when leading a full (and perhaps a stressful) life? You don’t need it. It isn’t about gobs of time – it is about quality in what one contributes – be it time, resources, contacts or more. It is being responsive to the needs of others and the community and giving before being asked. That is leadership.

Giving back is but one measure of a person who achieves leadership in their life; it is other qualities or traits as well. Over the years of watching those achieve and sadly those who don’t has taught me the key characteristics of those who reach career & life achievement. I call it the 4-P’s of those who achieve success:

• They are Positive – If you are positive about what you do, you will enjoy it and you will excel. If not in a positive role or workplace, you won’t connect. You won’t be happy, and it will show to others, and your performance will reflect this too.

• They have Purpose – Successful workers go to work every day because they serve a purpose, and that may be to their family, to the community, environment or some other cause. They identify with it, and this drives success. They give back when they receive.

• They see Potential – Rather than seeing obstacles to hold them back, they see potential in what they are doing, and they strive toward it – always and every day. They don’t let small stuff get in the way – they work around it. They find a reason to do, rather than not do something or pursue an opportunity.

• Above all, they have Passion – You may have heard the quote by Dale Carnegie, "You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing". It is so true. Those truly successful in their career and in their life have passion for what they do. They have a burning desire to achieve, to grow or to contribute. They are not working for pay or a pension, they are working because they love what they do. That defines the difference between many: Some work for just pay – others work for their cause.

Giving back is leadership – and it feels good too! And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Celebrating 24 years providing career management services in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Office: 518-261-4212
Cell: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212
dmoran@next-act.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Yes – there are jerks out there ---

“Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollar”s. - Warren Buffett

We have all worked with one or more – the office jerk. The behavior is toxic and they just don’t seem to go away. I am sharing a blog from Brett Hillman written by Brian Jenkins (BrainTrack.com bhillman@braintrack.com) which I think is excellent on how to handle the office jerk and by the way, ignorance of the behavior does not work! Here are Brian’s thoughts ….

How to Effectively Deal with an Office Jerk Without Getting Arrested
Yes, it's possible to diplomatically deal with office jerks, who can come in all shapes and sizes, either gender, and any age.
Mitchell Kusy, Ph.D., a Fullbright scholar and professor at Antioch University, spent years studying the cause and effects of behavior of toxic co-workers. He and his colleagues surveyed 500 corporate leaders that were identified by co-workers as "toxic." Most of them stated they had no idea how people at the workplace perceived their behavior.
Julie Jansen, a workplace consultant and author of the book You Want Me to Work With Who?, said, "Don't assume that people know they're being challenging or difficult." Many office jerks are surprised that their behavior annoys or offends co-workers.
Ken Lloyd has a Ph.D in Organizational Behavior and authored Jerks at Work. He said, "You can't ignore a jerk's behavior because it will get worse until he gets your attention. Typically, jerks engage in bad behavior to get a reaction and they'll just turn up the volume until they get you."
Don't be Intimidated
When dealing with a jerk, keep these tips in mind:
• Don't give in to a pushy co-worker.
• Be assertive but not aggressive when dealing with an office jerk.
• Acting aggressively gives the jerk an excuse to become an "extreme jerk."
• Don't try and please an intimidator - stay consistent with your values and beliefs.
• Don't back down.
Jerks won't show it, but they actually respect people they can't intimidate.
There are a number of different “types” of jerks you might cross in the office. Here is some advice on how to deal with them:
The Rumor Spreading Office Jerk
How to respond:
• Ignoring this person may arouse suspicion that you're hiding juicy information.
• Respond cautiously.
• Anything you say is enhanced, twisted, and slowly (or maybe not so slowly) spread all over the office. Watch what you say.
• Keep the conversations short. If you comment on rumors about co-workers, you'll unintentionally become part of the rumor squad.
The Manipulator
This person ingratiates himself or herself to you then proceeds to use you for their own advantage. They'll take credit for your work. Their compliments drip with insincerity. They get what they can out of you, then simply dump you.
Hide your weaknesses from a manipulator. Don't say anything you don't want repeated - they'll twist your words. Keep the conversations short and work oriented.
The Bully
These annoying office workers are often impatient, bossy, and quick-tempered. They make snarky remarks to make people feel small.
Steve Piazzale, a career and life coach who runs BayAreaCareerCoach.com, said, "Hold your ground and refuse to be bullied. They'll usually back off over time."
Take the high road and politely offer specific and constructive feedback. Yes, it takes some courage! If the bully doesn't change his attitude, don't play his game; he's trying to get you to react in a negative manner.
Leave office bullies alone. You can ask your boss to intervene on your behalf; however, a reprimand may cause defensiveness and resentment.
If the office jerk doesn't grow up, just ignore his bad behavior - his actions say a lot about him and nothing about you.
Brian Jenkins writes about a number of different college and career topics for BrainTrack.com, including careers in business management.
Sources:
• How to Spot Workplace Bullies and Creeps
• How to Deal with Office Jerks
• Getting Along with an Office Jerk

So get the idea? Deal with the jerk – put them in their place, with tact and diplomacy. And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Celebrating 24 years providing career management services in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Office: 518-261-4212
Cell: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Job Market Report 2 15 12

Continuing to be better - but still not strong ...
________________________________________________________

For Information: Dan Moran, 518-641-8968

Feb. 15, 2012

Job Postings Up Slightly Again – Three Week Trend and a Good Sign

(Albany, NY, February 15, 2012) – Job postings in the Region were up very slightly to just about 1875 – another high for the past several weeks and although a slight increase over last week, a better sign for sure. “After weeks – even months of up and down performance, it appears that we have steadied out and the market is stable and growing – however very, very slowly. For the first time in several weeks job postings on a one-day performance broke 2000 – we haven’t seen that since mid-December when we were in the middle of holiday hiring. Overall – a good sign for the coming few months if this trend holds, for those in the market”, , stated Dan Moran, Founder & President of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

Results were similar in other New York State markets with different with all markets reporting lower postings activity this week over last week. The Capital Region is a much smaller market as well in terms of population and number of employers.



About Next-Act


Next-Act, a division of DVG, Inc. is a career management & transition firm directed by Dan Moran, the Founder & President of the firm. Moran contributes over thirty years experience in career consulting, business and human resources management. In 2012, his firm will celebrate 24 years in business. Moran is noted for his expertise in helping today’s “boomers” move on to fulfilling second careers, while helping executives and professionals achieve their career goals. The firm also provides human resources consulting and corporate services to companies. Moran is also a certified facilitator for C.J. Hayden’s Get Clients Now! & Get Hired Now! programs.


For further press information: http://www.next-act.com/press_room.



Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Celebrating 24-years of helping others in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Office: 518-261-4212
Cell: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212
dmoran@next-act.com

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Live your Bucket List NOW!

“Get busy living or get busy dying”. – Carter Chambers, played by Morgan Freeman, The Bucket List

Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson brought the idea of the bucket list front and center, for consideration in the movie, The Bucket List. They were both dying of cancer, and teamed up to complete their own bucket list – that list of things you want to do before you die. They had a real deadline.

This past few weeks, my Vikki and I have been shaken to the core with the big “C” word – cancer. Vikki will be good we know but for that period of unknowing time, pure hell – and a realization:

Do what you want now – don’t wait. You just don’t know.

When you face the possibility of leaving or one of your loved one’s faces the same, everything in life changes; priorities change. What seemed important before – not.

Why be unhappy in your career - your job - a relationship or business you just don't like anymore. Start completing your bucket list --- and start today. Live for the day, and experience every moment. Who knows when your days will come to an end. Dreams unfulfilled are tasks on a to-do list – work through it, experience the pleasure, cross it off. Perhaps you bucket list contains:

• Experience love

• Travel to (fill in the blank)

• Do something for (fill in the blank)

• Finally find my way in career

• Get into the job of my dreams

• Make a difference in some manner

• Reconcile

The first step – write out the list and memorialize it. Put it where it is visible. Share with those close to you, and then work it – everyday. What is holding you back?

And thank you for reading this. – Dan

PS: Be demanding if you think there is something wrong with your health. Vikki knew a vertical line up and down her line on her toenail was not right – but one area dermatology practice said “don’t worry about it – use darker polish”. Another who knew what he was talking about immediately recognized this as a rare and often deadly cancer (Bob Marley died of this cancer) and put the medical system in action and he saved her. Check your nails and the nails of your family and if you see changes or lines, demand a biopsy.

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Celebrating 24 years providing career management services in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Office: 518-261-4212

Cell: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Job Market Report - 2 9 12

Finally -- some movement forward!
______________________________________________________________________
For Information: Dan Moran, 518-641-8968

Feb. 8, 2012

Job Postings Up 12% on top of Slightly Previous Seven Days

(Albany, NY, February 8, 2012) – Job postings in the Region were up 12% from the week previous continuing a trend of improvement after several weeks of lower than expected results. Postings came in at just over 1800, but far below last year at this time by close to 60%. “We may be seeing a forward trend after a very slow and poor January which would be excellent news to employers who watch what other employers are doing and for job seekers”, stated Dan Moran, Founder & President of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

Results were similar in other New York State markets with postings increased this week over last week. The Capital Region is a much smaller market as well in terms of population and number of employers.


About Next-Act


Next-Act, a division of DVG, Inc. is a career management & transition firm directed by Dan Moran, the Founder & President of the firm. Moran contributes over thirty years experience in career consulting, business and human resources management. In 2012, his firm will celebrate 24 years in business. Moran is noted for his expertise in helping today’s “boomers” move on to fulfilling second careers, while helping executives and professionals achieve their career goals. The firm also provides human resources consulting and corporate services to companies. Moran is also a certified facilitator for C.J. Hayden’s Get Clients Now! & Get Hired Now! programs.


For further press information: http://www.next-act.com/press_room.



Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Celebrating 24-years of helping others in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Office: 518-261-4212
Cell: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212
dmoran@next-act.com

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Values are learned on the couch …

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
James Baldwin (1924-1987); Author


Many talk about the workplace values of today’s workers – some in glowing terms; others not. Some say younger workers are lazy; others say that the older generation only knows hard work. To a degree, workplace values are generational but there is one influence that will never change and isn’t generational:

Values are learned in formative years – the lessons they learn sitting on the couch and observing.

I see it in my practice every day. Some come from a family where only working hard and long was acceptable. It didn’t matter if you liked what you were doing – it was just important to be doing, maybe unhappily. Over time, not being happy in what you are doing manifest itself into all parts of life – family, spouse, relationships el al. They are in my office because they want to break this and be happy in their career life.

Others have observed their influencers in early years – parents, family and others – who didn’t care about the work they did and they just wanted to get by and not much more. To a degree, where underachievement was acceptable. In later years, it becomes difficult to break that value and accept that one can achieve – but it can and is done. For these people, it is understanding – no giving themselves permission – to achieve, and once they do this – rocket ship forward.

A client of mine related a story to me about a father who cheated his son playing monopoly and when the son questioned him he told him “Never Trust Anyone”. Imagine how that would affect one’s values in life going forward – your parent cheats you and says that? The son – Former Governor Eliot Spitzer – clearly value challenged, and it goes back to the influence of his youth. Ed Note: Thank you Paul …

So what is the point here?

• If you find yourself unable to understand why you cannot seem to find the motivation and drive to move forward in your life and career and look all around you to see what is causing this, look back – way back – to understand that values that influenced you in earlier years. One you understand and accept this, it is much easier to break the past and move toward your future. If I hadn’t done this, I would have never been in my own business or succeed with my family as I feel I have – it was not in the history.

• Concerned over where your children are going or not? Talk to them. Understand their values. Help them understand it is okay to change – okay to be different. Be sure they are in the right direction on their value compass.

• Be an influencer. Your role in influencing others – in family, the community or in the workplace – will contribute to your success and the success of others.

As a leader, the values you exhibit will influence those around you – your family, employees, friends and most anyone you get to know. Embrace that power. – And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Celebrating 24 years providing career management services in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Office: 518-261-4212
Cell: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212
dmoran@next-act.com

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Job Market Report February 1, 2011

Better - at least holding and not dropping ...
_______________________________________________________________

For Information: Dan Moran, 518-641-8968

Feb. 1, 2012

Job Postings Ever Slightly Past Seven Days – January 2012 Well Below January 2011 for Capital Region Jobs

(Albany, NY, February 1, 2012) – Job postings in the Region were up very slightly this past seven days, halting a declining trend over the past several weeks. Postings for the last seven day period came in at 1600, up from 1550 the week before. “The good news – the slide backwards has seemed to level off, however, the numbers are far below last year at this time indicating a significant softening in the region’s job market just when we do not need this”, stated Dan Moran, Founder & President of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

Last year at this time, job postings were at 4750, well above this week’s totals. “There is something happening with employers – and we will work to uncover this in the next few weeks. There appears to a widening lack of confidence in the employer market and that will cause companies to perhaps hold off on hiring or only fill critical positions required to continue business”.

Results were similar in other New York State markets with postings flat or slightly declining in all NYS markets this past week. The Capital Region is a much smaller market as well in terms of population and number of employers.

January 2012 Well below January 2011 & 2010

“In the years I have been tracking job market activity, I have never seen a worst month like this past January. Postings are down 60% from last year at this time and 30% down from 2010 indicating a severe softening as we head into the new year. I thought this was the holiday hangover; it is more than that and very concerning”, continued Moran.

“It isn’t just our region, the trend appears to hold for the State of New York and the nation. Is it the election? The markets? – at this point, who knows, but very concerning”.