Don’t take – give back to others ….

A short blog this week – in Maine for a few days. But I thought I would write and repeat a blog I did a few years back on giving back to others. As the fall season ramped up to full-scale, I am seeing more and more networking through social media as well as events and direct connections.  The value of a powerful network cannot be understated. Your contacts – personal or professional – are an asset to protect on all levels. 

 “The more credit you give away, the more will come back to you. The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.” – Brian Tracy

 I have a powerful network of contacts – who I relish, protect and am blessed with. They know what to expect of me; I know what to expect f them. It is a take – and give – relationship.
So often when one goes out to “network” they are looking to take from those they have met or set out to meet. But they often forget – the value of a network is a group you can give back to in return for their consideration.

How often I have heard about people reaching out, asking for help in getting a job, making a potential sales contact or whatever – and never reporting back or seeing how they could help one who helped them. Or in some cases – to just say thanks!

In Dig Your Well Before You Are Thirsty, www.harveymackay.com/books/book_dig.cfm) in my opinion one of Harvey Mackay’s best books, he writes – you know you have a strong network when it’s 4:00  in the morning and you are in jail – and you don’t have to call family! Networking isn’t simply making contacts for your personal gain, it is giving back to those contracts – everyone – something in return. It might be keeping in touch with topical information, sending along a lead or news tidbit of interest( like this blog – hey, shameless self-promotion), or sharing good news. Harvey Mackay still sends birthday cards – now that is impactful.

In my case, I keep in touch weekly not to promote Dan Moran and what he does, but to share a tip, quote and make one think and smile as they start the work week. My list,  feeder networks and social networks for my weekly note has grown to over 1 million – wow. (Want to be on the list – send me an email dmoran@next-act.com or sign up through my web site – www.next-act.com).

So don’t just network – connect, take value and give back more.

Be optimistic … You can live 99 years + like Mary Alice …

For myself I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.”  - ― Winston Churchill
 
My 99 years, 6 months and three day old Aunt May Alice Kennedy passed away this week. She lived a wonderful, but hard life, like many from that generation. We miss her, but she knew it was her time and was ready.

Many have commented, “how does one make it to 99 years old?”. It is truly a wonder for sure. In my Aunt’s case, there were two powers that she embraced:


The power of optimism and being positive. 

She lived her life with optimism always and with a positive attitude no matter what the situation was. And this rubbed off on those around her. She always focused on what was good in one’s life. Her advice was sage. She embraced her family and was so fortunate to have her wonderful and caring daughter Pat Aram (my cousin) and her husband Bill Aram by her side.

Medicine has been telling us that living a life being happy and positive extends life and is more powerful than any medication. In my practice, I see those who are achieving in their career and work life, and those who could. Those achieving have embraced the power of positive thinking and being optimistic. They dust off their boots with a smile and move forward when they are knocked down, experience  loss or a setback. They learn from the experience and go on to the next chapter.  They see opportunity in every situation versus a struggle.

Those who are struggling in career and work life see life as that – a struggle – and this permanents every thought and action. They do not see opportunity in a challenge – they see a roadblock and this holds them back.

As a country, we have been through a horrible time during the recession and for many, even now although we are being told that the recession ended in 2009. Tell someone still unemployed that! Our economy is no way better, but you and I cannot change that – we need to look for and embrace opportunity in these difficult times.

And I have seen it …

• My client and trusted friend Mark Borst who, in the depths of the recession came to me with a goal – to quit his job by a certain date  and launch full-time into his business (web development and marketing). He was positive and optimistic – he never looked back and he achieved. Rampant Imaginations continues to grow and excel:  www.rampantimaginations.com

• I will call her Pat for confidentiality --- who ended her relationship with her company after 27 years where she made gobs of money and had all types of responsibility, but she was not fulfilled any longer and knew there was something else out there for her – and there was – and she went after opportunity with gusto and optimism.

• My friend and client Paul Jesup who, with prodding and coaching, published a book which I encourage all to read as I am now Lost Sense of Self & the Ethics Crisis (http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Sense-Ethics-Crisis-ebook/dp/B0096C46X0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346937053&sr=1-1&keywords=Jesep) as it is excellent and thought provoking. He wrote this while in the midst of reinventing himself. In my discussions with him, the power of being positive kept him moving forward to this achievement and redefinition of himself.

Each could have just gone on and survived, by they didn’t;  they were determined to excel.

Not here and wish you could be?
Some ideas to consider to shake yourself up:

• Talk to yourself – rid your mind of negative noise. It is zapping of time and energy and usually full of assumptions – and you know what that means (assume: make an a - - of you and me). Negative mind noise clouds forward thinking.
• Chose to be with those of like mind – positive and forward focused – My wife of 40-years and I made a pledge to each and the other: we will associate and be with people only of like mind – positive and focused-forward, and it works and always has. Negativity brings one down and inhibits growth and achievement and damn it, just isn’t fun to be around. We profess this to others – including our family; they “got it”.
• Keep an open mind and don’t think you have all the answers – Learn from others and listen to others. You will feel part of the “team” and feel more positive. You don’t have all the answers but you can glean ideas from numerous discussions. That is how Next-Act was reborn several years back – I listened to others, didn’t always agree, but I listened and took pearls of wisdom from those discussions to formulate my rebirth.
• Remove yourself from negative office or job situation – the gossip, the drama - You will go nowhere if connected to this. Get above the gossip and drama – look at your job as an opportunity and let the drama stay below you. You will feel better; you will be more productions; and you will be noticed.
• Select what you listen to and what you read – Read positive things and stories and learn from them. Listen to positive media (okay it can be hard!), zone out on music with positive message. I listen to WMHT 89.1 on my office radio all day. It is soothing and to me, positive.

Mary Alice is an example of the wisdom of the elders. Take this example and determine to live your live – optimistic and positive. You will excel in your career, and you will be happy and that is huge.

And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act:
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Corporate Management Services
Celebrating 24 years providing career& corporate management services in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212
dmoran@next-act.com
Visit the Assessment Center: next-act.com/assessment-center.cfm
Manage Performance & Achievement: next-act.com/prescriptive-performance-analysis.cfm

Job Market report 10 17 12

Holding steady ---
___________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate release

October 17, 2012

Job Postings Increase Very Slightly Past Seven Days – Still overall from last quarter

(Albany, NY,  October 17, 2012) –  There has been a slight increase in the number of job postings in our region the past seven days. Postings are reported to be 1700 vs. 1635 the prior seven days which while not much of a change, is still better than the first two quarters of this year. “Better but still quite a ways to go, but still consistent which is good”, stated Dan Moran, of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

Other markets in NYS were flat as well.  The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population.  

National Job Scene

How many job postings are there in the United States today? We will be watching this nationally going forward.

As of 10/3/12, there were,  on a seven-day-average,   583, 216, national job postings, up from 542,743 the week prior indicating still a flat market.  The top five areas for the most jobs per capita remain unchanged: San Jose, CA, Washington DC, Boston, MA, Raleigh, NC and Oklahoma City, OK. There is one job posting per unemployed person in each of these markets meaning the market is much less competitive.  

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.com

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

Give Back – Help Others – Be Charged!

I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty…This is my highest and best use as a human. – Ben Stein

I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion at the Times Union Job Fair this past Monday October 8^th at the Marriott on Wolf Road. The job fair was filled with employers looking for qualified candidates and as well, job seekers seeing employment – what a perfect match!

Our panel discussion was on careers in not for profits and community service organizations and along with me was Molly Daniels, HR Director for Northeast Parent & Child, entrepreneur Jeff Foley and the CEO of the Community Foundation of the Capital Region,  Karen Bilowith. The questions that were posed to the panel allowed all of us to tell our story about working in or finding a career in service to others.

Oftentimes, working in not for profits or community service organizations I overlooked by those in the market for a new job or career. It is “assumed” (you know what happens when you assume!) that the pay is low and you must have very specialized skills to land a job.

Both not usually true.

Pay is variable by the organization. Some are perhaps lower but many are higher in salary. You need to look at the total compensation package with salary as one element and supported by benefits, retirement funding et al. One of the panelist I talked with told me that he was shocked how much he made when working for a not for profit. That assumption – out the window.

Skills and the need to have specialized training – yes true in some of the roles but remember, these organizations are businesses in the business of helping others. They have needs in operations, administration, accounting, etc. like any other business. I see this in healthcare too – the assumption being made that you need to be a nurse or doctor to work in this industry – not so.

Working to help others have value. mission and purpose …

I talked about finding a role in career that provides value to others, is aligned to mission and has purpose and almost like on cue, I saw everyone’s head nod in agreement. This is the value one receives by working in a not for profit, service organization, healthcare and other roles. In fact, a recent survey of people evaluating career options indicated that the top priority of 31% of the responders – a desire to work for purpose an give back.

Giving back to others in truly fulfilling, and needed in our culture where we appear to be mostly connected through technology and the one-to-one communication or service to others seems somewhat lost which is unfortunate. When you see the smile on the face of someone you have helped or impacted, and just see someone achieve what they dreamed, you can go on for weeks fulfilled.

As many enter their second career – sometimes known as the encore career – they look toward doing something with purpose and these organizations provide that opportunity, at most any age. As well, service to others I a great way to start one’s career. I heard one person from a not for profit say, “Come here for a job – stay here for a career”.

That can be you – at any age. Do what you love and desire to do, and lead a life fulfilled.

Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act:
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Corporate Management Services
Celebrating 24 years providing career& corporate management services in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212
dmoran@next-act.com
Visit the Assessment Center: next-act.com/assessment-center.cfm
Manage Performance & Achievement: next-act.com/prescriptive-performance-analysis.cfm

Watch the Debate – Now that is a job interview!

“You can succeed with anything you put your heart into”. ― Dylan Keenan

Last Wednesday evening, 50-60 million Americans were glued to the TV watching the first Presidential debate. This is not intended and is not political in any way – and I know some will still pound me for it.
What we witnessed is a job interview – the job of President of the United States – and the stakes could not be higher. Each candidate hunkered down to prepare, practice their pitch, rehearsed anticipate questions and in effect find their mojo and sell it. They drilled and drilled; they got their pitch laser sharp and focused. They were ready – they were primed and pumped. They practiced what I have counseled hundreds in the past:

You have one shot to make the best, most direct and impactful pitch – don’t hold back – go at it with gusto and confidence.

Postscript: It appears that the viewing public felt decidedly that Former Governor Romney won this one.  Again, no politics here – but I would have to agree. And I feel Romney had the interview process, or at least some derivative of the same, in mind during his presentation:

•  He was engaging – both the President and Romney were
• They both were personable – and confident – and showed it. That was huge
• Romney had his pitch primed – the reason we should hire him – and he laid it out in his five actions early on in the debate (interview)
• He was ready to defend his perceived weaknesses directly – and confident to defend himself
• He closed – asked for the job – with confidence and impact, and direct unwavering eye contact, never looking down, never showing expression that he did not control

Again – I am not casting judgment on the President at all. I am just comparing the debate performance to an interview, job search process or pursuit of a new career. You either nail this, or you do not, and another candidate wins. Plain and simple.

Take a lesson here: Want to be President (or the best you can ever be)?  Prep, prepare, focus and drill, drill, drill.

Before any one ventures into looking for or exploring new career options, looking for a job or beginning to interview, they need to prepare before they launch, and sadly some just do not do that. They jump  in, without a clear message and direction, and wallow in the “fog” of uncertainty. They rarely succeed. They can’t sell their message, because they haven’t developed and crafted the message.
The right approach – prepare first:

•  Know the type of job – or career you want
• Understand what is important to sell about yourself – yes, you are selling
• Craft an articulate, laser focused statement of who you are and what you have and can do – that can be presented with impact in 30 seconds tops.
• Know your competition – know what they deliver and plan to win
• Be confident – if not, build your confidence before you engage

 It is important to understand that to win you must achieve a simpler set of goals that take you to the winning podium. You focus on the immediate goal in front of you, and not the larger goal. In my world, coach my clients to focus first on:

•  Getting direction – knowing the career, job or business right for them

 And when you achieve this, the next goal …

•  Getting the interview – not the job –  and then prep and prepare for it

And when you achieve this …

•  Get the job – land in a new career – launch your own enterprise. Win!

Are you ready to be President?

Yes I mean it, ready? You can be the President – the President of your own life and your success – the President of your universe. It takes commitment, preparation, dedication, focus and clarity of intent and purpose.  It is following the steps – not jumping the steps and missing some. No one can hold you back, unless you allow them to do.

Win! And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Job Market Report October 4 2012

Flat -- but okay since higher. Keep peeled for the Federal jobs report tomorrow ..
_____________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate release

October 3, 2012

Job Postings Flat Past Seven Days – But up overall from last quarter

(Albany, NY,  October 3, 2012) – There is good news and no so good news in this week’s report. Job postings were flat the past seven days and therefore didn’t increase, but the good news is that job postings are maintaining a higher level after a 20% increase a few weeks past. Postings came in at 1700, a marginal change from 1670 the week before. “This is still healthy – there is consistency in the job market and we are holding at a higher average number of job opportunities as we enter quarter four”,  stated Dan Moran, of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

As stated, other markets in NYS were flat as well, with the exception of metro NYC where there was a slight increase in jobs. The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population.  

National Job Scene

How many job postings are there in the United States today? We will be watching this nationally going forward.

As of 10/3/12, there were,  on a seven-day-average,  547,021 national job postings, down from 557,000 the week before, consistent with what we are seeing in the region here. The top five areas for the most jobs per capita remain unchanged: San Jose, CA, Washington DC, Boston, MA, Raleigh, NC and Oklahoma City, OK. There is one job posting per unemployed person in each of these markets meaning the market is much less competitive.  

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.