Given all the business closures and downsizing happening in this economy, what types of jobs are going to be available in 2011? Many jobs are being tossed aside for others with so many transitioning to digital, online or automation. Do you know where your job stands in 2011 and beyond? Are you passionate about the job you are in, or is it time to transition out of it and find a new industry? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself regularly. When high schools and colleges cut back the funding for career counseling at their schools, it was a dis-service to their students but fortunately there are companies like Truefocus, LLC that help people take control of their careers and therefore their long term success. Whether you are a college student, a retiree that needs to find work again, or were recently laid off after 25 years with the same company, start thinking about how your future will look.
Here are a few ideas……. Freelancing. There are many types of services that used to be for the ‘employed’ only but have opened up for freelancers. More and more people are becoming independent sales rep’s, customer service rep’s, virtual assistants, social media shops. The beauty of freelancing is being your own boss, working from home, and writing off a portion of your home expenses on your taxes. (Contact your tax accountant for specifics).
If your skills are limited to conventional ones, such as writing, there are many different directions you can go whether as an employee or in freelancing. Content in the form of articles and blogs are needed by everyone on the Internet. You can specialize by either coming up with original content OR being one that analyzes or compares content from various sources. There is a huge need for ghostwriters for want to be authors. Start your own company and grow it until you can hire professional writers.
With the Internet, you can work for anyone in the entire world! You are not limited to the United States, your State or even your current city. Think grand and life with be grand, think small and you’ll miss out on life. If you still have a job, be thinking of your next step by learning whatever you need to learn to start a part-time gig. Get the momentum going and it’ll be much easier to switch to a better job or one you love. The freelance world is growing so fast that two job boards have been recognized and have won awards for 2010-Freelancer.com and Vworker.com.
If you are a people person and enjoy helping others, the health care industry is always a sure bet for regular employment. Be sure to interview people in whatever field you are interested in to learn of the downsides of your choice position. Though regular employment is an upside to working in health care, substandard pay and demanding hours are fairly typical in this industry. As Americans are aging, there is a huge need in hospice care, home health care and nursing home care. Home health care agencies hire non-medical personal to keep elderly or disabled patients company, buy groceries or pick up medicine. An aide can provide personal hygiene type of services, ie a bath, check vitals, and clean house.
The green industry is growing fast. i.e. Solar Energy or Wind Power. Between 2004 and 2009, wind turbine energy production grew 39% lending to the need of additional Wind Turbine Service Technicians An entry level Technician gets paid an average of $15 an hour to start which with experience, can jump to $50 an hour! One other note, this field is so new the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have a lot of data on it!
Take control of your life. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to design your own job position in an industry you love. Employers are often too busy to create positions they need that would help them solve a problem, grow their revenue or cut their costs. Do it for them and you’ll not only solve one of their problems but get a job while doing it. Don’t forget there are many resources available in books and online that can help you create your new career path…..many of them free. Or find a career counselor or coach that takes the time to understand you and your needs, has had many careers themselves and understands the challenges, and is able to walk with you through the entire process.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Money and Career
How Does Money Affect Your Career Decision
The age old question: Can I find a career I love that pays well? A quote by Koyal Guha in India speaks for many I feel, he was quoted in Economic Times saying “It is foolhardy to chase an ephemeral dream. Job satisfaction is not a constant concept. Hard cash is an assured, while pursuing happiness is usually just a pipe dream,”, a common belief by many. Its unfortunate too because with a little creativity, one can achieve a job promotion with a raise or transform their current position into one that the company considers essential and invaluable. Yes, it takes a little work, a little time and some ingenuity but its well worth it.
Take a common accounting position within a small to medium size business. There are many ways an accounting employee could justify a job promotion and increase the value of their position at the same time. Businesses often hire financial consultants to perform audits, trouble shoot cash flow issues, and acquire growth capital, among other things, so as an employee, you have the opportunity to save your company money, time, and possible future headaches by providing the services yourself.
Another tactic is creating and marketing your brand. Self promotion isn't just for independent contractors and businesses. With the increased competition for jobs, you can increase your value, earn more money AND keep your job at the same time. One of the best methods is becoming an expert resource for reporters, magazines and other news sources or become a regular writer for a trade magazine. If you have poor English skills, hire an editor as its well worth it. Be sure you can back up your claim and that you ARE an expert, and continue to learn everything you can about your subject of expertise. In this day and age with the Internet, there are many sources looking for content such as www.helpareporter.com who email their requests for information out daily.
There are of course many other methods of self promotion including:
1. Website that highlights your professional background, offer testimonials and volunteering.
2. A blog that discusses your opinions, knowledge, ideas about the industry you are in. Be careful to write your opinions in such a way that they don’t appear derogatory or anti-industry.
3. Find opportunities to get in front of people such as participating in panels at industry conferences.
4. Learn, learn, learn. Make a commitment to take 1 class every 6 months or more.
5. Rub elbows with important people regardless of what industry they are from. A lot of business still takes place on the golf course according to Forbes but connecting with CEO types may occur in some very unusual places. One not so unusual anymore is the Internet. Find people you want to follow that have a blog and comment once in a while. http://bit.ly/b9qH8J
To summarize - listen, ask, and learn. If you love your job and want more money, get passionate about it. Convince management of how valuable you AND your position are and I bet they won't want to lose you to a company that will pay better.
The age old question: Can I find a career I love that pays well? A quote by Koyal Guha in India speaks for many I feel, he was quoted in Economic Times saying “It is foolhardy to chase an ephemeral dream. Job satisfaction is not a constant concept. Hard cash is an assured, while pursuing happiness is usually just a pipe dream,”, a common belief by many. Its unfortunate too because with a little creativity, one can achieve a job promotion with a raise or transform their current position into one that the company considers essential and invaluable. Yes, it takes a little work, a little time and some ingenuity but its well worth it.
Take a common accounting position within a small to medium size business. There are many ways an accounting employee could justify a job promotion and increase the value of their position at the same time. Businesses often hire financial consultants to perform audits, trouble shoot cash flow issues, and acquire growth capital, among other things, so as an employee, you have the opportunity to save your company money, time, and possible future headaches by providing the services yourself.
Another tactic is creating and marketing your brand. Self promotion isn't just for independent contractors and businesses. With the increased competition for jobs, you can increase your value, earn more money AND keep your job at the same time. One of the best methods is becoming an expert resource for reporters, magazines and other news sources or become a regular writer for a trade magazine. If you have poor English skills, hire an editor as its well worth it. Be sure you can back up your claim and that you ARE an expert, and continue to learn everything you can about your subject of expertise. In this day and age with the Internet, there are many sources looking for content such as www.helpareporter.com who email their requests for information out daily.
There are of course many other methods of self promotion including:
1. Website that highlights your professional background, offer testimonials and volunteering.
2. A blog that discusses your opinions, knowledge, ideas about the industry you are in. Be careful to write your opinions in such a way that they don’t appear derogatory or anti-industry.
3. Find opportunities to get in front of people such as participating in panels at industry conferences.
4. Learn, learn, learn. Make a commitment to take 1 class every 6 months or more.
5. Rub elbows with important people regardless of what industry they are from. A lot of business still takes place on the golf course according to Forbes but connecting with CEO types may occur in some very unusual places. One not so unusual anymore is the Internet. Find people you want to follow that have a blog and comment once in a while. http://bit.ly/b9qH8J
To summarize - listen, ask, and learn. If you love your job and want more money, get passionate about it. Convince management of how valuable you AND your position are and I bet they won't want to lose you to a company that will pay better.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Looking For Success in All the Wrong Places
Are You Looking For Success In All The Wrong Places
One of the few things I remember from grade school - 5th grade to be exact - was a biology flick about animal behavior. I think every kid saw this particular film at one time or another because many of us still talk about it. One of the scenes showed thousands of lemmings running off a 500 ft cliff to their impending death. Of course, being the kids that we were, there were screams and gasps from the girls and oohs and ahhs from the boys. Why on earth would a pack of rodents, or whatever the heck lemmings are, race like hell off a 500 foot cliff as if blind? These creatures were obviously in a hurry to get somewhere and surely not to lemming heaven. However shocking and sad to see this as a child, it provides good commentary years later.
Does this behavior remind you of anything like it does to me? Anything at all? Maybe something that has to do with people and the Internet? Sure you can. I’m referring to the 70% of Internet users who have purchased one or more of the Internet products promising wealth and success. It doesn't really matter what the product is, we'll buy it for the promise. Are they empty promises? As one of the masses who jumps off the cliff regularly, I can say yes and no. Here’s the problem - give a legitimate and very easy step-by-step solution to generating income to 100 average, working class men and women, allowing ample time to implement and I bet the outcomes will look something like this:
1. Didn’t start implementation - 30%
2. Started implementation and less than 50% completed - 45%
3. Started implementation: more than 50%, less than 100% completed - 20%
4. Finished with success - 5%
Does this mean the average person can't implement simple strategies? No. Does it mean we have no commitment? Maybe. But I think it goes deeper than that, much deeper. Most of us want our lives to be enjoyable, easy and successful. We want financial stability, or better still, the wealth to do what we've dreamed of. However, if we were taught as children that “We have to work hard for our money” or “Money doesn’t come easy”, two very common tribal beliefs in our culture, we then in fact sabotage our efforts toward that end. Many people have what I call a ‘poverty’ conscience which limits our ability to fulfill our financial dreams.
So before buying another product promising Wealth, ask yourself..... what do your belief’s support? Do they support wealth coming to you easily or were you taught to work hard for a living; never change a lucrative career; save don't spend? You might be surprised what your beliefs are telling you, but until you find out, put your money in a savings account and not into someone else's pocket book.
One of the few things I remember from grade school - 5th grade to be exact - was a biology flick about animal behavior. I think every kid saw this particular film at one time or another because many of us still talk about it. One of the scenes showed thousands of lemmings running off a 500 ft cliff to their impending death. Of course, being the kids that we were, there were screams and gasps from the girls and oohs and ahhs from the boys. Why on earth would a pack of rodents, or whatever the heck lemmings are, race like hell off a 500 foot cliff as if blind? These creatures were obviously in a hurry to get somewhere and surely not to lemming heaven. However shocking and sad to see this as a child, it provides good commentary years later.
Does this behavior remind you of anything like it does to me? Anything at all? Maybe something that has to do with people and the Internet? Sure you can. I’m referring to the 70% of Internet users who have purchased one or more of the Internet products promising wealth and success. It doesn't really matter what the product is, we'll buy it for the promise. Are they empty promises? As one of the masses who jumps off the cliff regularly, I can say yes and no. Here’s the problem - give a legitimate and very easy step-by-step solution to generating income to 100 average, working class men and women, allowing ample time to implement and I bet the outcomes will look something like this:
1. Didn’t start implementation - 30%
2. Started implementation and less than 50% completed - 45%
3. Started implementation: more than 50%, less than 100% completed - 20%
4. Finished with success - 5%
Does this mean the average person can't implement simple strategies? No. Does it mean we have no commitment? Maybe. But I think it goes deeper than that, much deeper. Most of us want our lives to be enjoyable, easy and successful. We want financial stability, or better still, the wealth to do what we've dreamed of. However, if we were taught as children that “We have to work hard for our money” or “Money doesn’t come easy”, two very common tribal beliefs in our culture, we then in fact sabotage our efforts toward that end. Many people have what I call a ‘poverty’ conscience which limits our ability to fulfill our financial dreams.
So before buying another product promising Wealth, ask yourself..... what do your belief’s support? Do they support wealth coming to you easily or were you taught to work hard for a living; never change a lucrative career; save don't spend? You might be surprised what your beliefs are telling you, but until you find out, put your money in a savings account and not into someone else's pocket book.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Working As One
Youtube is such a fascinating phenomena.
On the surface, it's a communication or social media tool, allowing anyone to communicate to the masses. On a deeper level, it could actually change the world.
View and enjoy this video.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Your Career Journey with Truefocus
It is easy to get lost. Growing up we are filled with dreams and aspirations—plans to champion great causes, travel to exotic places and connect people with meaningful brands. Then life happens and we began to make little compromises, small at first and always justifiable in the moment. Yet those little compromises add up, until we are distanced from our initial goals with no clear way back. What were your initial career goals that you lost along the way?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs
"An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he'll quickly learn how to chew it. " Roy Ash, co-founder of Litton Industries
"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."
- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's
"I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent."
- Thomas Edison
"I have always found that my view of success has been iconoclastic: success to me is not about money or status or fame, its about finding a livelihood that brings me joy and self-sufficiency and a sense of contributing to the world."
- Anita Roddick
"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."
- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's
"I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent."
- Thomas Edison
"I have always found that my view of success has been iconoclastic: success to me is not about money or status or fame, its about finding a livelihood that brings me joy and self-sufficiency and a sense of contributing to the world."
- Anita Roddick
"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!"
- Madam C.J. Walker, creator of a popular line of African-American hair care products and America's first black female millionaire
I enjoy reading quotes every day, at least the inspirational ones. I tape them to my refrigerator, on walls all over my house and on bathroom mirrors. They remind me that we are of one people - people who see opportunities, share similar hopes and dreams but also experience pain and hardship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)