It dawned upon me over a few instances the past couple weeks that we should always talk to strangers. Why, you may ask, is this an important theory of life (or at least why is it a topic on the internet's most talked about blog?) Well, simply put, as children we are trained by our elders NOT to talk to strangers. They might kidnap us. Or lace our candy with LSD. Or kill us. Or give us really bad advice. Give me a break. I mean, I suppose I can understand why as a youngster you should not speak to weird old vagrants on the street, but this concept really inhibits the mentalities of people around the world as we get older. And touching back on the "tainting candy with drugs" bit...who in their right mind would give away drugs to a stranger? I mean, drugs are expensive, and I imagine most people don't just want to give away their hard earned money, right? But let's not get too far off topic here.
For you avid followers of 'tical, (that's my abbreviation for this blog) I touched upon this concept a couple weeks ago when spinning the yarn of my friend Tyler. Tyler met his current employer in the smoking section of Miami International Airport (see Twist of Fate blog I believe), and the rest is history. He nows lives in Peru, gets paid handsomely, and is having the time of his life. None of this would have happened had he not opened his big, heavily medicated mouth that fateful day in the airport.
I also shared the story of meeting a fellow named Jack in the jacuzzi up in the White Mountains on the Monday morning in which I began this whole journey. Of course, nothing has happened yet with this story, but for some strange reason I have hope that something will. Again, this opportunity would not have risen had I not began "talking to a stranger". Which reminds me, I think today may be the day to send ol' Jack an email.
And then there's the story that gave me the idea for this blog. As we know I was out in Vail, Colorado a couple weeks ago, indulging in some of the finest skiing this planet has to offer. While getting ready to hit the slopes one morning, I noticed a small group of skiers sitting around an outdoor table, wearing Wachusett Racing ski jackets. Now, for those of you non-massholes, Wachusett Mountain is the closest thing the state of Massachusetts has to a ski area. Upon seeing these massholes ( and please, I use the term lovingly) and realized I had a friend and former work colleague who also races for Wachusett. I guarantee they know him, I thought to myself, however we were in a hurry to get up the mountain, so I failed to speak with them.
At the end of the day, all the skiers jump on their respective shuttles and head to their respective condos. This particular shuttle I was on was jam packed, but lo and behold, I see the same Wachusett Racing punks I saw earlier in the day. Now it was the end of the day, the shuttle was packed, I was exhausted from a hard day of skiing, the stars weren't aligned, etc; but again I failed to speak up and ask if they knew my friend and/or just shoot the sh*t for a couple minutes. I mean, maybe one of their fathers was CEO of the World or something, and was looking for some fresh, young talent. But anyway I didn't speak up and we went our separate ways.
Immediately upon my return to the Granite State, (Live Free or Die, Bitches) I spoke with a friend. "Hey, did you know PK was out in Vail the same time you were?" Well suck me sideways that is the same kid I was speaking about. I had to have just missed him on the slopes and on the shuttle. Because I didn't open my mouth, I missed to opportunity to ski with a buddy in Vail, probably indulge in a few pints, and probably have a few laughs with some peers. Not a huge deal, I had a great time with the parents, but nonetheless, a missed opportunity. Listen closely kids: Always talk to Strangers
One more for the road. At the end of my last day at Vail I sat down on a bench in the Village waiting for my parents to store their skis for the day. With a few seconds, an attractive young lady sat down next to me. Always a pleasure. In the spirit Vail, we began a conversation. Turns out she was from Massachusetts and skis at the same mountain I do regularly. She was out on vacation with a group of friends. Oh, the chemistry was palpable. But, never being one to capitalize, my parents came, we said goodbye, and the rest is history. I'm thinking I at least should've handed this girl(lady, woman) one of the personal business cards I made up, and perhaps there could've been a rendezvous back on the East Coast. Put the ball in her court, if you will. Because I'm looking for a skier broad. Sorry, that's my inner Artie Lang speaking. I'm looking for a fun girl who loves to ski. But I was too "yella" to capitalize, so now it's in the hands of fate. If you're out there skier chick, holla back.
So the moral of the story class is this: Always Talk to Strangers. You never know what will arise of the situation. Whether it be a future employer, significant other, friend, friend of a friend, whatever, in this world, life is too short, and we must make the most of it. And if you speak to a stranger and you want more, well, f'n a, ask for it. Worst case they say NO. Big deal. As I have learned in my years of sales training, it takes a few NO's to get to a YES.
If we teach our young ones to be social, to talk to strangers, the world can truly be their oyster. I feel we are almost brought up to be introverts, while the most successful people in this life are extroverts. Unless you are Bill Gates or someone like that who can excel behind a computer screen. Hence, followers of 'tical, live high, live mighty. Go in peace to speak to everyone person you see fit. You never know what you're gonna get...
And yes I plan to practice this theory out in the City of Wind this weekend...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Ten Greatest Mistakes Made in Job Interviews
This segment is brought to you by the "I pretend to know what I'm talking about" section of this blog. And to be clear, I did not make this list up, simply think it is helpful and wanted to share with the masses. So without further adieu, here we have the The Ten Greatest Mistakes Made in Job Interviews:
-Going after large organizations only (such as Fortune 500)
-Hunting all by yourself for places to visit, using ads and resumes
-Doing no homework on an organization before going there
-Allowing the Personnel Department (or Human Resources) to interview you- their primary function is to screen you OUT
- Setting no time limit when you make the appointment with an organization
- Letting your resume be used as the agenda for the job interview
-Talking primarily about yourself, and what benefit the job will be for you
-When answering a question of theirs, talking anywhere from two to fifteen minutes at a time
-Basically approaching them as if you were a job beggar, hoping they will offer you a job, however humble
-Not sending a thank-you note right after the interview
While some may consider these mistakes "common sense" I bet many people fall victim to these practices every day, such as relying too heavily on a resume. Seriously, do you want to hire this piece of paper, or would you like an actual human to perform the everyday tasks of the job? And please don't blast out resumes. Employers get thousands of resumes all the time, and I guarantee do not read a quarter of them. That leaves the schlep who sent the resume feeling rejected and loses self-esteem, when the fact is they just chose the wrong method of communication. If you must email a resume, follow up with a copy via snail mail and a phone call. And by all means find out EXACTLY who you are sending the resume to. As in exactly what person is responsible for hiring you.
As I said, I hope these tips will help people out there, but more importantly by writing these things down I am hoping they will sink into my brain, and will soon begin to practice what I preach...or should I say blog!
-Going after large organizations only (such as Fortune 500)
-Hunting all by yourself for places to visit, using ads and resumes
-Doing no homework on an organization before going there
-Allowing the Personnel Department (or Human Resources) to interview you- their primary function is to screen you OUT
- Setting no time limit when you make the appointment with an organization
- Letting your resume be used as the agenda for the job interview
-Talking primarily about yourself, and what benefit the job will be for you
-When answering a question of theirs, talking anywhere from two to fifteen minutes at a time
-Basically approaching them as if you were a job beggar, hoping they will offer you a job, however humble
-Not sending a thank-you note right after the interview
While some may consider these mistakes "common sense" I bet many people fall victim to these practices every day, such as relying too heavily on a resume. Seriously, do you want to hire this piece of paper, or would you like an actual human to perform the everyday tasks of the job? And please don't blast out resumes. Employers get thousands of resumes all the time, and I guarantee do not read a quarter of them. That leaves the schlep who sent the resume feeling rejected and loses self-esteem, when the fact is they just chose the wrong method of communication. If you must email a resume, follow up with a copy via snail mail and a phone call. And by all means find out EXACTLY who you are sending the resume to. As in exactly what person is responsible for hiring you.
As I said, I hope these tips will help people out there, but more importantly by writing these things down I am hoping they will sink into my brain, and will soon begin to practice what I preach...or should I say blog!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday Night Networking
In the spirit of cranking things up a notch, or putting oars in the water if you will, I attended a networking event last night involving my college alumni association. This event was not sponsored by the college itself, but by an alumnus who is a business consultant with a strong belief in the power of networking. Attempting to have an open mind I drove down to the event, albeit not sure what to expect. I was primarily looking to make some new contacts, strengthen previous relationships made, get my name out there, and let everyone know that, " I voluntarily left my job, I'm on sabbatical, I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life." Give or take a few run-on sentences. In a room filled with CPAs, Tax something or others, and financial planners, few of whom were under 50, this would be an experience to say the least...
I arrive and immediately speak to the sponsor of the event, the business consultant. We have been emailing a bit and I look forward to what he has to say this evening. After some brief small talk, I head for the wine. A nice glass of white should ease the pain. After a few more quick conversations we head into a conference room for the "formal" part of the evening. The host passed out sheets of paper broken down into 3 sections; 1. Who you are 2. 3 Referrals 3. The ultimate referral. Then, of course, everyone stands up, goes around the room and recited their piece.
"I am Mike Coll and I am currently On Sabbatical...I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, but ideally I'm looking for a business owner/manager to take a chance on a bright, young enthusiastic kid who can increase your sales, add creative talent and make a difference" or something along those lines. When speaking in front of a group, I always attempt to be a little dry, a little witty, not take things too seriously. I think it went well. Or I could be completely wrong.
After this formal exercise we were free to "talk amongst ourselves", Linda Richmond style. The gentleman next to me, whom I had lunch with last week, leans over to me and says, " What'd you think of this...want to go get more wine?" Hmmmmm, yes let's get more wine. I explained to him that I was not expecting much, simply to get my name and story out there with some key contacts, including the host, the business consultant.
After the 2nd glass is almost finished I wandered over to the host, asking him if he wanted to chat, or had any type of advice for someone in my shoes. We pulled up a couple chairs on the other side of the room and sat down. He told me to make a list of all things I'd like in a next job, likes, tasks, location, etc; then make a list of industries I'd like to work for, then once that's figured out, set up some informational interviews. Sounds like pretty sound advice, which pretty much correlates to a book I'm reading now. But I haven't really put those things down on paper, so I think its a great place to start. He then mentioned a "personality, career assessment test" he has given to clients who have changed careers. It summarizes one's likes and dislikes and highlights things to look for in a new career. He is going to send me this "test" and then meet up to go over the results with me. I'm very excited about this. I think this is a great result of my attendance to this networking event.
Ironically, I have another "personality" test to take later today, this one coming from the financial/insurance planner I met with last week. As I said I'm not sure I'm really interested in going that route, but I'm all for taking the test to see if I am even accepted. And after all, I'm trying to figure things out, so taking a couple of these test certainly cannot hurt.
So, in summary, getting up and going to one of these networking things can be painful, but if you focus on getting something small out of it, making headway with a key contact, achieving a small goal, your efforts will pay off sometime in the future. And let's hope for me it's sooner rather than later!
I arrive and immediately speak to the sponsor of the event, the business consultant. We have been emailing a bit and I look forward to what he has to say this evening. After some brief small talk, I head for the wine. A nice glass of white should ease the pain. After a few more quick conversations we head into a conference room for the "formal" part of the evening. The host passed out sheets of paper broken down into 3 sections; 1. Who you are 2. 3 Referrals 3. The ultimate referral. Then, of course, everyone stands up, goes around the room and recited their piece.
"I am Mike Coll and I am currently On Sabbatical...I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, but ideally I'm looking for a business owner/manager to take a chance on a bright, young enthusiastic kid who can increase your sales, add creative talent and make a difference" or something along those lines. When speaking in front of a group, I always attempt to be a little dry, a little witty, not take things too seriously. I think it went well. Or I could be completely wrong.
After this formal exercise we were free to "talk amongst ourselves", Linda Richmond style. The gentleman next to me, whom I had lunch with last week, leans over to me and says, " What'd you think of this...want to go get more wine?" Hmmmmm, yes let's get more wine. I explained to him that I was not expecting much, simply to get my name and story out there with some key contacts, including the host, the business consultant.
After the 2nd glass is almost finished I wandered over to the host, asking him if he wanted to chat, or had any type of advice for someone in my shoes. We pulled up a couple chairs on the other side of the room and sat down. He told me to make a list of all things I'd like in a next job, likes, tasks, location, etc; then make a list of industries I'd like to work for, then once that's figured out, set up some informational interviews. Sounds like pretty sound advice, which pretty much correlates to a book I'm reading now. But I haven't really put those things down on paper, so I think its a great place to start. He then mentioned a "personality, career assessment test" he has given to clients who have changed careers. It summarizes one's likes and dislikes and highlights things to look for in a new career. He is going to send me this "test" and then meet up to go over the results with me. I'm very excited about this. I think this is a great result of my attendance to this networking event.
Ironically, I have another "personality" test to take later today, this one coming from the financial/insurance planner I met with last week. As I said I'm not sure I'm really interested in going that route, but I'm all for taking the test to see if I am even accepted. And after all, I'm trying to figure things out, so taking a couple of these test certainly cannot hurt.
So, in summary, getting up and going to one of these networking things can be painful, but if you focus on getting something small out of it, making headway with a key contact, achieving a small goal, your efforts will pay off sometime in the future. And let's hope for me it's sooner rather than later!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Question of the Day
Before I head up North for the weekend, I have a question for you all to ponder:
Over the trip to Colorado I have grown what some might call a beard. Well maintained, neck shaved, trimmed, etc; The question is this: I have a networking event to attend on Monday evening...do I shave the beard?
Paired with a suit I think it will look quite dashing, but what do we think?
Have a great weekend everyone, see you Tuesday...
Over the trip to Colorado I have grown what some might call a beard. Well maintained, neck shaved, trimmed, etc; The question is this: I have a networking event to attend on Monday evening...do I shave the beard?
Paired with a suit I think it will look quite dashing, but what do we think?
Have a great weekend everyone, see you Tuesday...
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Day in the Life of a Sabbaticaled Twentysomething...
Mr. Utley is going to keep it light today folks. I wanted to share the details of my day today as a small lesson. The day is filled with a series of many small tasks. Keeping busy yes, but more importantly, setting and accomplishing small goals is a way to build confidence. And building confidence by way of accomplishing small goals is a way to set yourself up to accomplish bigger goals. And, of course, the very big goal of this sabbatical is to find employment for myself that will be rewarding for the rest of my days here on this big rock we call Earth. So, without further ado, here is a brief overview of my day (because I wouldn't want any of you to think I just sat around on the couch all day!)
1. Wake up, make some coffee in the Keurig. Best invention ever by the way. Also it was the inaugural cup in the nice new Vail ski mug I bought out in Colorado last week. It's one of those nice big mugs thats makes a morning cup of coffee a treat. It was so good I made another cup...
2. In lieu of the gym I start the day by watching last night's episode of Top Chef on DVR. My body is a little sore from the day of travel and gym yesterday. Top Chef is a great program that showcases some fine chefs and some fine cooking. It was the finale in New Orleans. Speaking of which, Mardi Gras starts soon. Get your beads ready.
3. Put some laundry in. After a week in Vail, the ski gear is smelling quite dank. And I can't have dank clothes for this weekend's trip up to the White Mountains. Completing a load of laundry builds super confidence.
4. Digging through some things yesterday, I found a nice amount of gift certificates to Best Buy. Score! New CD's are essential because they contribute to the "Soundtrack of My Life", and on this journey, a great soundtrack is a must. The CD's I purchased are:
Huey Lewis & the News, Greatest Hits-such a fun upbeat album. Brings back memories of Michael J Fox hoverboarding around town in the 80's. What a stud.
The Police: Live-after hearing some girl on American Idol butcher Sting last night, I got a craving for the real thing. Live Police=Party Time
The Best of Dire Straits & Marc Knopfler-I heard the song Romeo & Juliet on Sirius the other day and vowed to pick this up. Marc Knopfler and his distinct voice remind me of my days in St. Croix, a great island close to my heart. Let's hope this Allen Stanford mess doesn't affect people like the Bernie Madoff debacle. Stanford owns a lot of property on the island, and was about to open a huge financial center, bringing many jobs...
Finally, Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, 50th anniversary Legacy Edition- this album is widely considered one of the most influential of all time. If it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for me.
5. Pick up some important documents at parents house and deliver to a friend of the family. Always good to help out the parents. A hungry Pit Bull once said, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
6. Grocery shop for the weekend getaway up North. Should be fun weekend filled with great skiing and great times with friends. Good laughs with friends are an essential part of life. Try it some time.
7. Blog- This thing is picking up speed. Thank you all for reading!
8. Massage-as I was digging through "things" yesterday, I came across a gift certificate for an hour massage. In the spirit of the month 1 clearing of the head, this fits like a glove. Very centering.
9. Pick up skis from the shop for a tune- after skiing powder for a week in Vail, a sharpen, wax and stone grind is a must to head back to the icy slopes of the East. Use connects to get this done, free of charge. As I learned from freshman year at Bentley, "If it's free, it's for me!"
10. Take my grandmother out to dinner- this is something that we all should do more, spend time with our elders. It can be rewarding in many ways, for all parties involved.
11. Have a couple friends over to watch Survivor. This has been a weekly routine for years. A routine get together with friends is a simple way of keeping in touch, spreading cheer, catching up on each others' lives. And if you put together a "Survivor Pool" as we do every season, even better. A little wager never hurt anybody. Well, it did, but anything in moderation right?
12. Pack for this weekend's getaway-a trip away, whether it be for a day, weekend, week or 6 weeks is a tremendous way to relieve stress. I always return from a vacation feeling rejuvinated, energized and ready to grab the bull by the horns.
As you can see today is/was filled with many errands, tasks, call them what you will. But as, a wise man once told me, "Baby steps. It's all about baby steps." As mentioned above, set small goals for yourself, complete them, and you will begin to feel as if you're accomplishing something. And when you begin to accomplish small things, bigger things will follow. Which is what I'm going for here. Something big. Oh yeah.
1. Wake up, make some coffee in the Keurig. Best invention ever by the way. Also it was the inaugural cup in the nice new Vail ski mug I bought out in Colorado last week. It's one of those nice big mugs thats makes a morning cup of coffee a treat. It was so good I made another cup...
2. In lieu of the gym I start the day by watching last night's episode of Top Chef on DVR. My body is a little sore from the day of travel and gym yesterday. Top Chef is a great program that showcases some fine chefs and some fine cooking. It was the finale in New Orleans. Speaking of which, Mardi Gras starts soon. Get your beads ready.
3. Put some laundry in. After a week in Vail, the ski gear is smelling quite dank. And I can't have dank clothes for this weekend's trip up to the White Mountains. Completing a load of laundry builds super confidence.
4. Digging through some things yesterday, I found a nice amount of gift certificates to Best Buy. Score! New CD's are essential because they contribute to the "Soundtrack of My Life", and on this journey, a great soundtrack is a must. The CD's I purchased are:
Huey Lewis & the News, Greatest Hits-such a fun upbeat album. Brings back memories of Michael J Fox hoverboarding around town in the 80's. What a stud.
The Police: Live-after hearing some girl on American Idol butcher Sting last night, I got a craving for the real thing. Live Police=Party Time
The Best of Dire Straits & Marc Knopfler-I heard the song Romeo & Juliet on Sirius the other day and vowed to pick this up. Marc Knopfler and his distinct voice remind me of my days in St. Croix, a great island close to my heart. Let's hope this Allen Stanford mess doesn't affect people like the Bernie Madoff debacle. Stanford owns a lot of property on the island, and was about to open a huge financial center, bringing many jobs...
Finally, Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, 50th anniversary Legacy Edition- this album is widely considered one of the most influential of all time. If it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for me.
5. Pick up some important documents at parents house and deliver to a friend of the family. Always good to help out the parents. A hungry Pit Bull once said, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
6. Grocery shop for the weekend getaway up North. Should be fun weekend filled with great skiing and great times with friends. Good laughs with friends are an essential part of life. Try it some time.
7. Blog- This thing is picking up speed. Thank you all for reading!
8. Massage-as I was digging through "things" yesterday, I came across a gift certificate for an hour massage. In the spirit of the month 1 clearing of the head, this fits like a glove. Very centering.
9. Pick up skis from the shop for a tune- after skiing powder for a week in Vail, a sharpen, wax and stone grind is a must to head back to the icy slopes of the East. Use connects to get this done, free of charge. As I learned from freshman year at Bentley, "If it's free, it's for me!"
10. Take my grandmother out to dinner- this is something that we all should do more, spend time with our elders. It can be rewarding in many ways, for all parties involved.
11. Have a couple friends over to watch Survivor. This has been a weekly routine for years. A routine get together with friends is a simple way of keeping in touch, spreading cheer, catching up on each others' lives. And if you put together a "Survivor Pool" as we do every season, even better. A little wager never hurt anybody. Well, it did, but anything in moderation right?
12. Pack for this weekend's getaway-a trip away, whether it be for a day, weekend, week or 6 weeks is a tremendous way to relieve stress. I always return from a vacation feeling rejuvinated, energized and ready to grab the bull by the horns.
As you can see today is/was filled with many errands, tasks, call them what you will. But as, a wise man once told me, "Baby steps. It's all about baby steps." As mentioned above, set small goals for yourself, complete them, and you will begin to feel as if you're accomplishing something. And when you begin to accomplish small things, bigger things will follow. Which is what I'm going for here. Something big. Oh yeah.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Do What You Like?
Do what you like...like what you do...Optimism can take you anywhere
This may have to be my new motto. Maybe a little cheesy, yes, but what a great way of thinking. I picked this up on the inside of a "Life is Good" T shirt while out in Vail, Colorado last week. An amazing trip by the way. Great weather, great snow, quality time with the family, etc; There is something to be said about standing in solitude overlooking the Rocky Mountains at 11,000 feet. Many deep moments! Which brings us to today's question: Is it really possible to live by the slogan above? Do most people love or even like what they do for a living?
I hope so, because that's what I'm going for here. That is the point of all this. To find something I will like to do every day for the rest of my life. And in order to find that, as I have said before, I must be optimistic. Optimism can take you anywhere. Hopefully this is not merely happy horsesh*t!
In order to be happy, or as, Bill Murray in Caddyshack puts it, "To achieve total consciousness" I'm definitely going to have like what I do for a living. But what do I like anyway? Do I try to find employment based on my likes? Is this even possible? Well, here's the short list of my likes in no particular order:
skiing
golf
most sports
socializing
being a wise ass
eating (in general & at restaurants)
watching TV
movies
making good money
spending money
buying things
exercise
music
traveling
beach
ocean
lake
all things Jimmy Buffett
weekends
sleep
writing
public speaking
presenting
comedy
The Howard Stern Show
There are of course many other likes, but you get the picture. Now, your assignment, class, is this: Based on the likes I just listed, please comment on some "jobs" that may be suitable for me. Pardon me, not just suitable, but that I will like doing everyday for the rest of my life. Something that will make me want to jump out of bed in the morning. Because, as I said, that's what I'm going for here. That's the whole point. And I can't do it alone. I recently read that it takes 80 sets of eyes to properly find a job. But we all now I'm not just looking for a job. I'm looking for a career. A life. A lifestyle. A career that will afford me a rich and rewarding lifestyle. Not rich as in money, but rich in virtue. Rich in feeling. Rich in emotion. Rich in mind, body and soul. Although rich in money would be nice too...
So, seriously I want answers people. Comment on this website. Or email me if you like. Or call. Or send a pajamagram. But I like the comments. 1- it shows me and others that "people actually read these things" and 2-hopefully people will get ideas from others and we can all run with it. And I will be disappointed if I don't get any answers here! We are now 1 trip down, 2 more to go (this month), therefore I need to continue progressing on this journey of mine. And, yes, I have think I've made progress. 6 days in Vail did clear my mind, (although after last night's Mudslide Fest '09 at JA Stats in Boston, this morning was not so clear). And clearing the mind is the main goal on the Month 1 agenda, remember. However I did make it to the gym this morning, as well as have an informal lunch interview today... don't know if its something I'm interested in, but I'm trying to keep my options open. And be optimistic.
And I look forward to hearing your ideas. Cause there are now hundreds, maybe thousands of people reading this, right?
I hope so, because that's what I'm going for here. That is the point of all this. To find something I will like to do every day for the rest of my life. And in order to find that, as I have said before, I must be optimistic. Optimism can take you anywhere. Hopefully this is not merely happy horsesh*t!
In order to be happy, or as, Bill Murray in Caddyshack puts it, "To achieve total consciousness" I'm definitely going to have like what I do for a living. But what do I like anyway? Do I try to find employment based on my likes? Is this even possible? Well, here's the short list of my likes in no particular order:
skiing
golf
most sports
socializing
being a wise ass
eating (in general & at restaurants)
watching TV
movies
making good money
spending money
buying things
exercise
music
traveling
beach
ocean
lake
all things Jimmy Buffett
weekends
sleep
writing
public speaking
presenting
comedy
The Howard Stern Show
There are of course many other likes, but you get the picture. Now, your assignment, class, is this: Based on the likes I just listed, please comment on some "jobs" that may be suitable for me. Pardon me, not just suitable, but that I will like doing everyday for the rest of my life. Something that will make me want to jump out of bed in the morning. Because, as I said, that's what I'm going for here. That's the whole point. And I can't do it alone. I recently read that it takes 80 sets of eyes to properly find a job. But we all now I'm not just looking for a job. I'm looking for a career. A life. A lifestyle. A career that will afford me a rich and rewarding lifestyle. Not rich as in money, but rich in virtue. Rich in feeling. Rich in emotion. Rich in mind, body and soul. Although rich in money would be nice too...
So, seriously I want answers people. Comment on this website. Or email me if you like. Or call. Or send a pajamagram. But I like the comments. 1- it shows me and others that "people actually read these things" and 2-hopefully people will get ideas from others and we can all run with it. And I will be disappointed if I don't get any answers here! We are now 1 trip down, 2 more to go (this month), therefore I need to continue progressing on this journey of mine. And, yes, I have think I've made progress. 6 days in Vail did clear my mind, (although after last night's Mudslide Fest '09 at JA Stats in Boston, this morning was not so clear). And clearing the mind is the main goal on the Month 1 agenda, remember. However I did make it to the gym this morning, as well as have an informal lunch interview today... don't know if its something I'm interested in, but I'm trying to keep my options open. And be optimistic.
And I look forward to hearing your ideas. Cause there are now hundreds, maybe thousands of people reading this, right?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
F the Doom and Gloom
I now enter Week 3 of this new gig of mine, a day away from a much needed week-long jaunt to Vail, Colorado. And sticking to the strict schedule I mentioned last week, I have yet to seriously begin the actual job hunt. It's all about the mental state right now, "Centering myself" as a contestant on Top Chef said last week (right before she was eliminated). In order to do this sabbatical justice, I truly feel its going to take more than posting a resume online, tirelessly searching the job sites, and getting sucked into the "We're all going to die!" banter. Some recent issues to ponder...
Reading the paper over the weekend, I came across an article detailing the struggles of finding a job in this market. A recently laid off laborer was quoted, "I've applied for over 100 jobs and have gotten only 10 interviews, and only 2 call backs. I don't know what to do. " Great news! However I did not sprint for a nearby ledge after reading this inspiring advice. My first thought is this guy is a moron. I know, probably harsh criticism, but gimme a break! Applying for 100 jobs? Sounds like this guy is simply "going through the motions". I could see it may be easy to get down on yourself with practices like those. I then thought of how I could separate myself from a sob story like this. Well, most importantly, let's not forget, I am voluntarily unemployed! Thats right, I chose this career path (or lack there of) and I've got to stay positive or I will get sucked in! This brought me back to some advice I received a couple weeks ago...don't get in a rut, don't get sucked in. Point taken!
On the same note, I got an email from a college buddy yesterday, asking how I've been and also asking for my address. We know what this means...must be a wedding invitation coming! Thank God that is one issue I do not have to deal with during these trying times! Anyway, I emailed him back said things are well, left the job a couple weeks ago, blah blah. He replied back, "Good luck. Job market's a little tough right now." Thank you, Sherlock.
What do these anecdotes teach us? Well, for one, I seriously have to take bad news and naysayers with a grain of salt. As former Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino once lamented, "The negativity in this town sucks!" Needless to say Pitino was out of job soon after.
Hence the title of this post. It is imperative I stay in a positive mental state. That is why I'm not jumping immediately into the "hunt". Free your mind, and the rest will follow. Bonus points to any of my legions of followers who can post the origin of that phrase in the comments section.
And finally a follow up to last week's "Twist of Fate" story. Received an email yesterday from Jack, the gentleman I ran into in the jacuzzi in the mountains. "Received the book of lists...thank you and be in touch soon..."
So I got that going for me. Which is nice.
Reading the paper over the weekend, I came across an article detailing the struggles of finding a job in this market. A recently laid off laborer was quoted, "I've applied for over 100 jobs and have gotten only 10 interviews, and only 2 call backs. I don't know what to do. " Great news! However I did not sprint for a nearby ledge after reading this inspiring advice. My first thought is this guy is a moron. I know, probably harsh criticism, but gimme a break! Applying for 100 jobs? Sounds like this guy is simply "going through the motions". I could see it may be easy to get down on yourself with practices like those. I then thought of how I could separate myself from a sob story like this. Well, most importantly, let's not forget, I am voluntarily unemployed! Thats right, I chose this career path (or lack there of) and I've got to stay positive or I will get sucked in! This brought me back to some advice I received a couple weeks ago...don't get in a rut, don't get sucked in. Point taken!
On the same note, I got an email from a college buddy yesterday, asking how I've been and also asking for my address. We know what this means...must be a wedding invitation coming! Thank God that is one issue I do not have to deal with during these trying times! Anyway, I emailed him back said things are well, left the job a couple weeks ago, blah blah. He replied back, "Good luck. Job market's a little tough right now." Thank you, Sherlock.
What do these anecdotes teach us? Well, for one, I seriously have to take bad news and naysayers with a grain of salt. As former Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino once lamented, "The negativity in this town sucks!" Needless to say Pitino was out of job soon after.
Hence the title of this post. It is imperative I stay in a positive mental state. That is why I'm not jumping immediately into the "hunt". Free your mind, and the rest will follow. Bonus points to any of my legions of followers who can post the origin of that phrase in the comments section.
And finally a follow up to last week's "Twist of Fate" story. Received an email yesterday from Jack, the gentleman I ran into in the jacuzzi in the mountains. "Received the book of lists...thank you and be in touch soon..."
So I got that going for me. Which is nice.
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