Mar 20, 2009 | blog
I’ve been an IT guy for a darn long time, and as I’ve said before, it was a great career. I’m sure I’ll revisit it from time to time – I’m too much a tech-geek to abandon it completely. One thing I know from experience is that IT is many times a bigger bottleneck than we tend to admit. So as I move into new areas as an advocate for and a professional in social media I understand the issues from both sides of the fence.
Some folks scoff at how IT always seems to pull the security card on attempts to do new, inventive, creative things. It’s but one of many things that corporate IT departments have to consider when someone brings up something new. Other things can range from support costs (obviously) to recovering from disasters. New systems really do consist of much more than just buying and installing software.
Interestingly, it’s not always management in IT that causes the roadblock. In fact, IT leadership is often well equipped to be advocates of change in the organization. Even with tight budgets, IT is almost always looking to help position the company for growth. However, remember they’re biggest responsibility is to maintain existing systems and provide a secure, reliable environment.
So the question is then, how can you get IT to be interested and prioritize your project?
The answer is to get them involved early. Very early. In fact, they should be among your first stops when you’re looking for supporters and stakeholders. What usually happens with many a project is that the technology aspect get’s pulled in way too late for the project’s original timeline. All this does is turn it into another firedrill project with folks working long hours and weekends to make it happen.
However, if you get IT involved at the beginning, they’ll help with estimating real costs. They’ll help figure out realistic timelines. They will be a key part of making your project succeed.
Contrary to what you may think, Information Technology isn’t just about databases, operating systems and all the computers in the office, they too get excited about learning new things. The realization that social media, and new ways of doing business is important to them too.
Photo credit: Great Beyond
Mar 20, 2009 | happiness
Reaching out and learning new things from people I didn’t know I needed to learn from.
Feb 9, 2009 | blog
We had an interesting discussion around the lunch table the other day regarding many aspects of the current economy. From the mounting job purges of too many large companies and what it all means to us the average person.
Really the discussion came around to how the traditional exercise of searching for a job is changing. There were three of us at lunch today and, not surprisingly, there were three different perspectives and understanding of the process in an environment that we all find ourselves in.
Here is where the differences in age come into play. Among the three of us around the table, there was about a decade from the youngest to oldest. The perception of how best to position oneself in today’s market was probably best understood by the younger two of the group, with the oldest standing fairly firm to the notion that job search and how you go about it hasn’t changed much.
Really, the truth is that it depends on the job you’re looking to get. Calling it a job to begin with is part of the problem, as anyone looking for the next job should really believe that they are looking for the next step in their career. Following the old, tried and true methods of mass mailings, cold-calls, and relying on a headhunter finding you may still work, but one wonders for how long?
Instead, following the example of many an enterprising young millennial may actually be your best bet. Maybe everyone doesn’t feel up to posting videos of themselves on YouTube, or spending hours on Twitter, or the many other social networks. However, at least a full LinkedIn profile, and even a Facebook page, so folks are able to find you, may be in order.
The point I suppose I’m trying to get to is that change has already taken place in the area of job search & career placement; and the sooner you understand that the easier it’ll be to prepare for the next phase of your career. This is as true for seasoned corporate veterans as it is for the new college grad looking to jump into the fray.
It’s time to manage yourself into the next career change rather than falling into it.
Photo credit: ChrisB in SEA
Jan 27, 2009 | blog
Yep, it’s time for the next issue of the magazine that can change your career: Personal Branding Magazine. I’m quite proud of the work that I’ve contributed to the magazine, and want to send a personal thank-you to publisher Dan Schawbel for putting together a great magazine in every issue. So please check out the latest issue – I hope you purchase a subscription as a large portion of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
Personal Branding Magazine Volume 2, Issue 3 focuses on the first step of the personal branding process, brand discovery. Many people rush into personal branding, without first taking precious time to discover who they are and what they want to do for the rest of their lives. In this issue, we expose how to unlock your true potential, unearth your passion, acquire the necessary skills and how to set achievable goals. We’ve interviewed some of the leading businessmen, such as Marcus Buckingham, to help you with your own personal development.
Features:
- Focus on Discovering Your Brand
- Interviews with Marcus Buckingham, Marshall Goldsmith, John Assaraf, Tim Sanders, and Gurbaksh Chahal
- Full paid issue (available February 1st) with 24 articles covering personal discovery and related topics
- Free sample issue with 6 articles, including how to Use The Internet To Discover Yourself, and SEO for Brand Discovery
- Join us on Facebook!
Video note from publisher Dan Schawbel:
Aug 27, 2008 | blog
What are you doing right now? Are you moving forward, stagnating or slipping backward? Why wait to launch your biz, your idea, your brand? Why wait to spend time with your family or call your parents back?
There’s no better time than the present to do something.
Right now you could be:
- Building something new
- Spending time with your kids
- Finishing a project
- Outside
- Helping a friend in need
- Building a website
- Mowing the grass
- Working on a community project
- Reaching out to someone
- Stimulating the economy
- Supporting your local charities
- Practicing your golf swing
- Taking responsibility
- Yielding to pedestrians
- Taking your family on vacation
- Applying for that position or job you want
- Visiting a elderly relative
- Taking the stairs
- Finishing several projects
- Saving money
- Getting away from the computer for awhile
- Fishing
- Building your personal brand
- Returning that phone call
- Taking steps to become the person you want to be
What I really want to convey is the reality that there is no better time to do something for yourself, your family, your community, your country, or the world than right now.
Inspired by Van Halen’s Right Now
Photo credit: Pat Rioux
