Check under the hood -- for what is working ...

“Finding the right work is like discovering your own soul in the world”. - Thomas Moore

A few weeks ago I wrote about attitude and the power of a positive attitude. I heard from some who told me "... yea, good advice. How do you be positive in today's world, our economy, etc. ... "

Not everything has to be broken and not be in order. There are thinks in your life and career that are clicking on all cylinders, going along fine, keeping you motivated and certainly need to be fed and tendered, but not fixed.

Recognizing these is very important as this provides to you the motivation to continually move forward in your plan and journey as you can look at what you have created – what is not broken – and smile. And that makes you feel good.

Some may call these blessings like I do. Some may call them by some other name. What you call them makes not a difference – the fact that you recognize them is most critical.

Should you write down your blessings – the things that make you smile?
What do you think I am going to suggest – yup. And then when you need a pick-me-up – look at the list, reflect on it, enjoy what you read, and use this positive spirit to pick yourself up, push forward and persevere.

It works. My list:

 The pictures of my grandchildren on my laptop …
The picture of my wife in my office …
The beautiful home we have …
The several thousand LinkedIn network contacts I have …
Our family …
Our role in the community …
My “local brand” in the Upstate NY market. …
The people I meet in the course of doing business - many who become lifelong friends ...
... and on and on ...

These are the things in my life not broken that I look at and smile. What are yours? What makes you smile?
Appreciate the good things in life. Don't dwell on the bad

“Happiness, like unhappiness, is a proactive choice." -Stephen Covey

It is so easy to dwell on the bad. The news makes it difficult to see what is good about today. People tend to be down. They are in the trap of looking at their situation as being half-empty, not half-full.

Don’t dwell on what is bad – dwell on what is good. Look for the good in others and your situation, and not the bad. It works. Try it. Do it today.

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

Job Market Report 6 13 12

Finally - a turn a bit for the better .. let's hope this continues. ____________________________________________________________________________________ For Information: Dan Moran, 518-641-8968 June 13, 2012 Job Postings Shoot Up 12.5% Over Prior Week (Albany, NY, June 13, 2012) – Post postings increased by 12.5% the past seven days after a few weeks of anemic results indicating perhaps that employers are beginning to gear up for the summer and hiring to fill vacancies for summer help. “ While it is difficult to tell, some of these jobs may be seasonal and this spike is consistent with previous years which is overall good news for sure for those in the market”, stated Moran, of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie. Postings for the past seven days in the Capital Region were 1801, up from 1595 the week prior. Other markets in NYS increased as well. The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population. 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

Making that first move from motherland to the real world: Succeeding in a job … Advice you can share

“When you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt Over the next few weeks and months, many will be starting in their first job – be it for the summer, the first opportunity after graduation from college or high school, or other situation. It is truly an exciting period, and at the same time, scary as hell. Work is so different – the rules are different and the expectations as well. Making that critical adjustment – or better yet – transition – from home/school to work will define the success of one in their career. So how can you – Mom, Dad, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, grandparent, friend – help? Set them on their way with sage advice. No – not just to wear clean underwear or show up on time (BTW, so critical – one minute late is like an hour – make sure they know this), but rather, the norms of behavior and conduct that will set them up for continued career success. I remember so well – and this was over 40 years ago – my wife’s father Vito Pitanello who has had a profound effect on our lives (he passed so early in life at 55) telling me: … Never undermine your boss … Work harder than the next guy … Always have a shine on your shoes (yup – still do that every day) Those pearls of wisdom stayed with me throughout my life. You can share pearls with one to help in their transition, and I have included some ideas to share as follows: Check entitlement at the door – I know it is curt, but so true. Many have a sense of entitlement and when projected in a new job, it can be career ending. Teach others that they are only as good as what they did today – not yesterday or any other time – and they have no entitlement and should not expect that. If any tip I offer is to be deemed most important, it is this one as this is a huge problem in Generation Y (born 1982 thru 2003). Mind Your Manners – Be Respectful – Always – Remember to smile as you encounter a fellow worker and especially a customer. Remember the golden words: Please and thank you. Treat others with respect always – and call those out who are not being respectful, directly and politely. Listen – Listen - Listen – Learn the New Person Role: Shut up and listen before you offer advice or commentary. No one likes a person who walks in, knows nothing, and begins to tell others how they should be doing things differently. Learn first – then talk! Observe – Every place of work has a culture – the manner in which people communicate and interact with others, conduct their business, serve the mission and project themselves to the outside community. Carefully observe this and know what is expected of you as you engage and become a part of the culture of your new workplace. Don’t be part of the grapevine – Gossiping about others or the workplace is a career killer. Don’t get entangled in the grapevine – the “underground” communication that is usually harmful and full of garbage. Align with those in the workplace who can help you or you can help and where you have shared interests and values. Be positive – align with positive people and shared values. Play the Role and Live by the Rules – You are in new waters now and the rules are different and how you play them, critical. Your schedule is dictated by your job; never be late without a damn good excuse; never be late for a customer. Show up dressed for work, not the beach (learn the dress code too). No texting means that – no texting! Put your phone out of sight. Annoyed by text messages in work? try a text auto responder with a message like” Hi – I am working an cannot answer your text. If this is an emergency, CALL ME at XXX-XXXX. Best yet, free (paid version $1.99): https://play.google.com/store apps/details?id=com.jmarstudios.txtautoresponder.android Deadlines mean just that – do it or be dead – Okay, maybe not dead, but certainly not favored if you miss deadlines. Meet – no beat them – and show your commitment. Write it down – Oh please – don’t commit a responsibility to memory – write it down. Ask questions to clarify. Know what is expected of you. Never assume you know it – be sure you know it. If you are observed writing a task down, your boss and others will feel that you get it – and not wonder if you were listening. Be proud – have fun – You made it – you got your job if only for the summer or a few years if starting out, Be proud of what you have accomplished – and celebrate! I hope these ideas and tips are helpful in guiding someone along during this life transition. And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~Winston Churchill The news from Friday about the state of the national job market was devastating, dismal and the worst, panicking. Clearly our economy is still “broken” even after the trillions pumped into it. This is and will be the issue for the next 180 some odd days until the election and we will be hearing about it day by day. The real effect isn’t what happened in May with only 69,000 jobs created or the readjustment to March and April downward. That is history and you cannot change, only learn, from history. The effect is on the minds of employers with hiring needs, and to those in the job market looking for a job or thinking about doing so. What sets the course for the future is what we do now, not what happened in the past. One cannot live in the past and in fear of it, as it holds you back. You need to look to the future, put this bad news behind you, and reach your goals. The tough economic news should have no effect on your plan – none whatsoever – and here is why. When there is poor financial news like we have seen on Friday or for the last months for that matter, employers panic as well, and they hold back on hiring decisions. The unsettled stock market, European debt situation, news on our economy which has not been positive all causes negative energy that leads to uncertainty and then, sadly, lack of forward action and growth – and that means jobs. In my 24 + years of being in this business and three recession (no wonder I am gray!), I have witnessed this over and over again. The result? Job postings drop in numbers (been happening all 2012). Jobs get put on hold after active recruiting (hearing this every day). Plans to expand the workforce are put on hold. All not good for those in the market. So here you are - unemployed and actively looking, underemployed and looking to improve your situation or seeking your next opportunity to grow and work in a manner you are passionate about. • Do you put your resume (and your plan) on the shelf until it gets better? • Do you curl up in a ball in the corner panicked and cry? • Do you “go negative” in mind, spirit and in the manner you communicate to others? • Do you (---fill in the blank)? No – No-No-No. You do just the opposite – you push harder when others likely will not. In business, when a company slows, their competition pounces on them and eats their lunch. It is true – you snooze, you lose. In this current situation, many will snooze – they will slow and stall their search efforts giving you a better opportunity to win. I have seen it already in some of the surveys I run as well as comments I see from those in the market – it has been happening and will be happening more. How to win? Get out of the pity pool – No time for that. Yes the news isn’t good, our economy is broken but you and I can’t change that today – that’s for Washington and the electorate to change. Dust yourself off, put past behind you, and move – no surge – forward with new found gusto. Wipe off the sad face – shine by being positive - VERY important. You are as one perceives you and perception becomes reality. If you look down you are down in their eyes and not strong. Be positive, shining and engaging and you will make an instant strong connection. Hang with others who share your like mind – positive – and put the negative Nellie’s on the shelf for now – they will bring you down. Set goals – to grow – Have a goal to meet five new people per week (that’s networking)? Make it ten. Have a goal to apply to five jobs? Make it ten. Have a goal to identify 10 companies you would like to work for? Make it 15-20. Measure your efforts – celebrate wins – little and big - Setting goals is one thing – measuring your progress is another. Write your goals down, and keep them right in front of you – not on your computer or your phone – but square in front of you, always. Seems over the top? Take my word – it is important and it works. As you achieve a goal – like making ten new contacts in a week rather than five – celebrate. Do something for yourself or help another. It is all about attitude and you control yours 100%. Don’t let others try to control it for you. WIN! And thank you, as always, for reading this. - Dan

Ah summertime -- kick off the flip flogs, put your resume in the shelf until Fall - NOT!

"The greatest revenge is to accomplish what others say you cannot do." - Unknown Okay – it is Memorial Day Weekend – the unofficial start of summer especially in the Northeast. Ah summer – time to kick-back, sit under a tree, hand out at Saratoga Racecourse, SPAC, Lark Street et al. It’s time to just relax. Yes – and no. Yes relax and savor this great season albeit short in our region. But no -- if you are thinking about making a change in your career path – like 47% of the population is thinking about doing. This is the time to make hay. Unfortunately, many “check-out” of the job market under the false pretense that the market slows down in the summer. The real truth - There is no piece of data or truth to that perception at all. In fact, this year, summer hiring should be a whole lot different: * Economic forecasters are pointing to a much stronger second half of the year, beginning with the third quarter (July 1st). After a lackluster first half when the job market in our region and nationally was anemic at best, this is welcomed news and will not be unlike 2010 when we saw the same situation occur as we climbed out of the recession. * Careerbuilder.com – a leading job board – reports a stronger increase in hiring by private sector employers in the third and fourth quarters of 2010 with 25% planning to add full-time staff, up from 20% in 2010 and unchanged from last year. However, the bulk of hiring is planned for the second half. Careerbuilder surveys employers quarterly to evaluate hiring trends. * Unemployment is dropping – ever so slowly and certainly not what we expected – across the nation. In our region specifically, there has been year-over-year job growth and just this week it has been reported that we have gained back or replaced ll the jobs lost in the private sector since the recession started (the public sector hasn’t and I not expected to). * Manufacturing is improving – a leading indicator of economic improvement and signaling a bit more confidence. * Plans by employers to downsize – cut staff – are down two percentage points – not a great drop but showing a decrease in downsizing plans. Sometimes stability is good! In the years I have been tracking trends of job activity, there has been no significant drop in job market activity in the summer (or around the holidays in December - another untrue perception). Yes, around the 4th of July and Labor Day the market goes quiet for close to a week, but that is the only drop off. So don't shelve the resume - keep up the activity and use the summer to your advantage - There are so many opportunities to network with summer events - professional and personal - social gatherings and more. You this to your advantage; make new connections. Attend as many social gatherings as possible where the settings are more casual and you can make new acquaintances and perhaps contacts. Remember - 70-80% of jobs are the result of networking. Don't get sucked into the negative - You will meet people who will tell you the world is hell, the job market stinks and woe is me. Okay - the market has been off and is not as robust as 2011 to date - but it is so much better than 2009 for sure! Be with and align to positive people; let the naysayers wallow in and on their own. DON’T: • Think its summer and “lay back” and dress so. DRESS TO IMPRESS – always. Remember what you mom told you – wear clean underwear and make the best impression! No flip flops to interviews! • Be disconnected. Stay assessable when on vacation. Check your email and messages. Recruiters complain that in the summer, job seekers check out and they cannot reach them. You don’t want to lose a potential job because someone could not reach you! Enjoy the summer - make it worthwhile and profitable for you. The rays of sun energize people - get that energy and push on to your dreams. And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Job Market Report 5 24 12

Not good - we dropped .. but second half looking better! ________________________________ For Information: Dan Moran, 518-641-8968 May 23, 2012 Job Postings Take Turn Down After Good Week Prior – Market Very Inconsistent – But some good news for second half 2012 (Albany, NY, May 23, 2012) – Post postings took a turn downward by close to 400, dropping from 1996 to 1593 – a significant decrease and right during the week that recent college grads are likely returning home to find work. “It appeared that we were on the upswing but again like many months this year, that fizzled. Postings in the 1600 range are quite low for the area as well and far below the baseline of a good market of 4000 postings”, stated Moran, of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie. So what does all this mean? “There is a lack of consistency likely the result of a lack of confidence in where the economy is going. That causes employers to put the brakes on hiring. This is the same situation we saw in 2010 – it seems to be repeating”, continued Moran. Moran added that the second half of 2010 was much stronger for jobs than the first half of 2010. In 2011, the market was stronger in the first half, and fizzled away in the second half. Some good news – and tip for job seekers “Market forecast for the second half of 2012 are much stronger than originally anticipated and could signal a better job market. Careerbuilder.com is reporting that 24% of employers are planning to hire in 2012, with the majority of hiring in the second half. “This is why it is so important for job seekers to continue looking aggressively in the summer months – it is no time to put your resume on the shelf and don your flip flops”, recommended Moran. Other markets in NYS saw declines in the number of job postings as well. 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

The process of Career & Life Defination ...

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” – Karen Ravn Defining career and life – heck, that is what our parents did for us – right? Sadly, in many cases yes. I recently met with a woman who was in nursing – a fine and in-demand professions – who admitted that she really never liked nursing, but her father told he it would be right for her. Or the son of an attorney who “pushed: his son to law school – and he never had any interest in law. And the stories go on and on. Fast forward to today and the reality of the career marketplace. You have choices – many choices – perhaps too many choices – if you can open your mind, dream and visualize possibilities. The market of today provides opportunities to change, redefine and adapt to an ever changing market fueled by technology, innovation and changing social norms. So you can change with it – when you understand the process of life & career definition. It isn’t defining the job you want to be in by the commonly known Big-Four Factors: 1. Money 2. Moving up in an organization or having your own business 3. Having power or more responsibility 4. Being able to retire – early – to do what you really want to do These factors are important. However, defining career & life is beyond these four known factors and looks at you in a bigger, more holistic picture of where you are and where you want to be. Defining career & life is evaluating and finding answers to: Defining Your Goals – Where you want to be from a total person picture. Not just money or status – but achieving goals that will make you smile and know you are doing good for yourself, your family and community. Your goals may include health, financial stability, having flexibility, being a leader and so and so. Defining Your Life – This is a big one. Visualize you are at your own funeral and people are talking about you – what do you hope they say? Do you hope they say that you could always be counted upon, that you were good to your word, that you lived life to the fullest, that you wore a smile every day? That you were happy, purposeful and compassionate? There are the factors important in defining your life, and it is critical to begin writing your “funeral speech” now by living your life as you wish it to be defined. Defining Your Values – As a world, we have been shaken by the acts of terror, the financial collapse and other every day terrible events. In many cases, this has been a wakeup call, and a call to live life by the values important to one. Values are our fundamental beliefs and include honesty, integrity, compassion, courage, honor, responsibility, patriotism, respect and fairness among many others. Defining your values in life & career will steer you to what is right for you to do if it aligns to your values, and what you should not do if not in value alignment. Defining Your Give Backs – As you structure the picture of your life & career, visualize and commit to ways you can give back – to yourself, family, community, the world, etc. Giving back is a return to those who have helped you – your family, community your God or others – and is an important consideration in this process of defining your life & career. When you can measure it, define it and visualize it, you are in the position of managing it and being it – that being your life & career. You have embarked on a critical step. Reward Yourself! And thank you for reading this. - Dan