Melissa Anzman's Blog, page 8

Move Your Career Forward in 2013 – Career Planning Template

Is anyone else barely able to walk thanks to some crazy New Year’s “resolution” or goal to exercise more? I’m a few days in and barely able to sit down. At the end of each year, I reflect back – but then I move my behind FORWARD. I used to lament and moan about all of the goals I didn’t accomplish – and use it as an excuse to stop trying. Or compare myself to others’ achievements – “she read 50 books! I only got in 45 – I’m a total loser”). And then a few years ago, I starting doing things differently and my entire mindset shifted (coincidence, I think not!).

If you’re on my newsletter list, you already got my handy dandy Year-End Career Goal Planning Template – but if not, here it is broken down with some of my own personal examples throughout.

This planning guide is all about your career – and if “Getting Promoted” is on your list, be sure to check out this resource.

Here are a few of my other favorite planning guides:

For entrepreneurs, I would recommend Pam Slim’s “Why, Whom and What” guide.
Not sure where to even start or where you are going? I would recommend using Jenny Blake’s 13 Thought-Starters for 2013.
Want to get your financial house in order this year? Check out J. Money’s Budget and Financial Snapshot Template.

Ready to get your CAREER in order, let’s go!

2013 Career Planning Template

A Brief Look Back – 2012 Your Career at a Glance

Which goals did I make ANY progress on?

I don’t even focus on or worry about, the goals that I ignored, otherwise I’d start making excuses and go back down the rabbit hole of “not accomplishing” things. So instead, I write down a list of things that I even barely started, and forget the rest.

Wrote two books, quit my job, earned income on the side, started some (meager) passive income streams, connected with new people in the blogosphere, kept to my blog-posting schedule, interacted more on twitter, launched a freaking business.

What about those goals made me feel compelled/jazzed/energized/guilted, etc. into focusing on them?

No matter how many times I write down, “exercise more,” I just can’t seem to “convince” myself to do it consistently. I thought about that long and hard and realized it’s because I just don’t feel compelled to do it. It’s not an activity that I generally love, so instead, I easily put it on the back-burner. But looking at the list above, there is always a reason why you made progress on them. Sometimes it’s guilt – “I have to do this or else,” and other times it’s because we love the way we feel when we’re working on. Whatever it is, reflect on the reason behind your achievements for each goal.

Books: I felt energized, truly in my element. Excited about bringing info to more people.
Quit my job: Exhilarated – enough said.
Twitter: It’s still uncomfortable, and this was definitely a “should” goal to start with that turned into a fun thing to do – especially with the new friends I made.

Which goals did I create that felt more like obligations? Do you still feel like you “should” focus on them?

If you’re like me, you have a goal or two that you add on every year because you think you “should” focus on it – ahem, my weight example above. It feels more like an obligation than an achievement. I’m not saying that these goals should be forgotten, but understanding “the why” behind the “should” will be important if you ever want to make progress on them.

OK… Moving on! Seriously – stop over-analyzing it, move the heck on to 2013!

2013 Overview – Point of Departure for Your Career

You can’t plan for what’s ahead without knowing where you’re coming from (Point of Departure) to where you are going (Point of Arrival). Yes, they are very business-y terms, but it’s super fun to think about and absolutely will shape what you focus on in the coming year.

What’s your current story? Write down how you feel about different aspects of your career – are you content with your job, your title, your pay, what you do every day? What are your strengths and development areas? Are you feeling the spark… in anything at work? Write your story for today.

From your story above… What do you want to:

STOP (litmus test – I don’t want this thing to be a part of my story in 2013)
START (I really want to include this as part of my story in 2013)
CONTINUE (These things make me sing and feel alive/sparked, etc.)

No, there isn’t an “other” column – everything needs to be placed in a category above. And keep whittling it down until you have reasonable “start” and “continue” actions. Things will need to fall off of your radar in order to move forward and achieve bigger.

For example: If I want to Start an e-course and Continue writing books, I will need to Stop something to fit it all in.

December 2013 – Point of Arrival

When I do this again in December 2013, here’s what I want my story to be. Write down how you feel about different aspects of your career – are you content with your job, your title, your pay, what you do every day? What are your strengths and development areas? Are you feeling the spark… in anything at work? Did you get a promotion? Are you managing people? What do you want us to say about your career when we look back in December?

And now, let the brainstorming begin!

I find the best way for me to hammer down goals that I actually want to work towards, is to get out all of my ideas (grandiose and tiny), in ONE place. Set aside 30 minutes (at least), to just get it all down on paper. I used a flip chart and post-it notes this year for the first time (it was so fun!), but a piece of paper works as well. Here are the rules:

You write down everything that pops into your mind
You do not limit yourself to “realistic” ideas
You think BIG and small

Setting the Goals

Essentially, start backwards from what you want your story to be at the end of 2013, and link each one to your missing gaps right now.

Here’s a personal example from when I wanted to quit my corporate job.

POD 2011: Unhappy at work, want to leverage my creativity and writing more, have more freedom in work/schedule and location, want to be my own boss.
POA 2012: My own business, clients, blog.
Brainstorm: (it was ugly, I promise)
Working backwards to set the goals: quit job when I have at least four paying clients; have increased website traffic (consistent) for one month; making at least $1000 a month; have business milestones created as SMART goals

Now it’s your turn – start with the big TOPIC, and then write down some action items or milestones that will help you get there. Use my example above as a reference (quit job is a BIG goal – my milestones were measurable that helped me get there).

TOPIC 1:
TOPIC 2:
TOPIC 3:…

***********

This whole process should take you about 1 – 2 hours, depending on how deep you want to go. But at the end of the day, what’s important is that you are CONSCIOUSLY focusing on your career direction and start creating your own story. Have a fun goal or topic from this exercise – please share it below. Happy New Year!

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Reflections of 2012 – Persistence

In years past, I did a personal reflection of the year using a template from a few online friends. But this year, I want to focus on one specific theme from 2012 and also fill you in on my goal progress (from my mid-year check-in).

2012 Was All About Persistence

I am not a fan of “choosing your one word of the year.” That’s too much commitment for me, not to mention that I hardly follow a straight-line path anywhere. But when thinking about 2012, the only thing that kept popping into my head was the word persistence. So I guess I’m adopting the one-word as my theme for 2012, looking back.

When the year started, I was fresh from completing a life-changing course, Make Sh*t Happen. But I still didn’t have any idea of where I was truly going next. Instead, I found “my leader” through that process and gained a community of supporters. I just wasn’t sure what I needed their support for… yet. And then an amazing thing happened. I was excited to start building, start working, start creating.

Before January, I typically lived life in my head. I was constantly stuck on the “what if” treadmill and standing in analysis paralysis (sound familiar?). I had had enough. I got out of my own way long enough to just start something… and made the decision to tweak along the way. And holy bananas batman – that one small nugget and mind shift, change my path.

So I started something, but I was still working for someone else and I had no idea how to find my umbrella (and yes, this term was coined by me in January and hasn’t stopped ringing in my mind since) – pull all of my talents into my own business. How to create something different that was interesting and exciting for me, but didn’t fit any mold. And I hit a lot of walls.

People doubted me. Thought I was “crazy” for considering leaving stability behind. They joked that I was retiring. And worried that I wouldn’t be able to pay rent. Not to mention offering help, but never really pulling through. Not completely.

Persistence.

Less than three months into 2012, I had a vision – ok, so it was a high-level pie-in-the-sky vision, but I had the skeleton for what I was to create. I launched this blog in March with the attitude of “get it up there and make it better every single day.” So I kept trying to make it better and landed my first client within one month of “launching” the website, with more to follow. Still working for someone else, I set a goal and a quit date, and kept going.

In April I was picked to be on a jury. And my year’s path, turned again. I made lasting friends throughout the trial, but more importantly, it opened my eyes and I couldn’t not do my own thing for another moment. So I quit my job and became my own boss. Panic, money worries, forecast estimations not quite on track, and general doubt set-in almost immediately in waves.

Persistence.

The spring/summer months were awesome – I was building and growing and honing… and loving every minute. I released my first book – a HUGE life accomplishment for me, and was beyond thrilled and I felt… proud of where I was. Until August. Ugh, how I hate the month of August. Month 4 of full-time solopreneurship was the lowest point of my journey. It was the dip of all dips. I didn’t earn a single penny. Not a one. And every day I woke up and seriously considered my options. Finding a stable job sounded like my only option left, and I started reaching out to my network to see what’s out there, while still continuing to try and grow my business. I’m not going to lie, I wanted to give up – more than any other time. It just didn’t seem like a feasible option anymore.

Persistence.  

On September 1st, strangely enough, the sun started shining again – I landed a new client that day (and more during the month), and things went back to “normal” for the business. Building, growing, trying out new things, expanding. It was still an uphill battle and I was still unsure about it being a viable business long-term, but I put my head down and kept at it. Secured guest posts, made new connections, reached out to my network for guidance and support, and kept dreaming. Working through my own “failure issues,” I kept working on my next book – determined to still meet my commitments to myself. Poured my heart and soul into book two and launched that with different expectations than the first book, and was glad I kept pushing ahead.

Persistence.

November 8th, changed everything. Random date, I know. But I remember it because I stepped WAY outside my comfort zone, and followed the advice of two of my favorite people, and lit a green candle. The next day, my business doubled. Seriously – I am still a bit weirded out by it, but I accept it with grace and more gratitude than I ever imagined possible. It wasn’t due to the green candle per se, but what did happen was all of the outstanding leads and business pitches I had out there, they all landed… at once. And my “quiet” solopreneur life kicked into fifth gear and since then, I feel ALIVE. THIS is what I was put here to do in 2012, of that, I am certain.

Persistence. I have always thought of myself as a persistent and perhaps, ambitious person. But I have never had to dig deeper and keep on truckin’ before this year (millenials, look that term up for context). I could have given up; I wanted to give up at various times. But reflecting on 2012 and all of the things I have accomplished, mistakes I have made, regrets I may have, and everything else that comes with year-end reflection, I am most proud of truly learning the meaning of Persistence.

My Year-end Goal Check-In

And now it’s time to pull the curtain back (gasp), and share some of my own goals and progress to date. Let’s just say this is uncomfortable and scary for me, but I hope it motivates you to check-in with yourself and your progress.

Challenge Category:

Accomplish at least two items on my life tracking list by 12/31: ACHIEVED! I published two books this year (getting one out was on the list), and I also attended my first NASCAR race in Atlanta, GA. It was beyond awesome!!!!

Heading to the last restart before the checkered flag.

Freedom Category:

Leave my corporate job no later than 10/31: ACHIEVED!
Generate income of $5,000 through new sources by 8/31: ACHIEVED, but not by the deadline (thanks to the horrific month of August), but achieved before 9/30.

Travel Category:

Take at least one big trip outside of the U.S. by 12/31: FAILED – I did not get a chance to travel big this year, and this goal hurts my heart more than any of the others, honestly. Traveling is at the core of who I am and what I love, but I just wasn’t able to make it happen this year (finances, launching a business, other travel commitments to friends and family, and so on). I will make this a BIG priority for 2013.
Visit and explore at least four new to me, U.S. cities by 12/31: FAILED – I only went to one new city this year, which is absolutely abysmal. I did do some traveling in the U.S., but it was to cities I’ve already been to (ok, lived in). I went to Denver several times, New York, Kansas City, and San Diego. Quietest travel year to date…

Finance Category:

Live one full month completely on budget by 6/30: ACHIEVED in the month of June.
Complete my own tax return by 3/31: ACHIEVED (Side note: my dad is an accountant, so I have never done this before – it felt like a rite of passage to be an adult, strange – I know).

Health Category:

Complete one full cycle of P90X by 4/30: FAILED – Throughout the year I did P90X in fits and starts, but never came close to completing a full cycle. Perhaps a carryover for the New Year.
Run a 5k in under 45 minutes by September 30: FAILED – I’m not a runner at all, but this has been on my goal list for three years. So, um, maybe next year?
Give up French fries and potato chips for the year: ACHIEVED!!! I bet looking at my other health category goals, you wouldn’t believe I did this, but I did. It feels like a much bigger accomplishment to me than it really is, but I’m super proud of saying no to fries, in particular.

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Fast & Easy Ways to “Checkout” & Still Have a Job

It’s the final countdown… So tomorrow is the last day in the office of the year for many of you. For the rest of us worker bees, we may be “in the office” or “working,” but let’s not kid ourselves – we’re checked out and ready to enjoy the holidays and a nice break (or two). I’m with ya, seriously. But before you check out officially, you want to make sure you have a job to come back to!

Fast and Easy Ways to “Checkout” for the Year… And then enjoy your vacation

1. Stop telling the world you have vacated the building. Yes, we know you have – um, the constant staring into space or that goofy grin are two glaring signs. But stop advertising it! Don’t go around bragging to the world all of the fun plans you have for your vacation or how excited you are to get through today so you can be with your family chilling at home. Those who don’t have those awesome plans, or better – those who will be covering you when you’re vacationing, may get bitter. J Keep the details to yourself for now, and share the memories, if you must, upon your return.

2. Clean your desk. Sounds like common sense, right? Um, how many of you simply forgot to do this or created “piles” of stuff to deal with next year? Yeah, don’t. Not only does the state of your desk or office say a lot about you as an employee, but breaks are ripe for snooping. It’s human nature I suppose, but I bet you this – your boss, or someone else, will be snooping around your desk and area when the office is quiet. Who knows what they are looking for – evidence of your awesomeness, ways you’ve screwed up, projects you’ve kept hidden from them, ways to make you look bad, and so on. I think you get the point – clean that baby off! File things away that need to be kept, shred things that you had no business printing in the first place, declutter the post-it notes and other “stuff,” and leave everything locked up. Just trust me on this one.

3. Whatever you do, don’t drop a ball. It’s easy to forget about details or a project when your brain has checked out, but now is NOT the time to drop the ball. Remember, these are going to be the most recent examples of your performance that your manager will have for your upcoming review. And we all know how the recency effect can impact your overall rating. So for the love of Nancy, don’t drop the ball. Make sure you maintain the same output during these last few days of the year, as you did weeks ago. It takes a lot more concentration since you are ready.to.be.done., but stay focused for one more week.

4. Don’t get grinchy. I have seen so many people be offended or “salty” about having to work during the time when their friends have it off, and they take their frustration with their work schedule out at work. Um, bad idea. Accept the fact that either your work holiday calendar sucks or that you did a poor job at planning/using your vacation time, and remember who’s fault that is – NOT your manager’s or your coworkers. So stop being so grumpy around them. Suck it up and put on a happy face. And if the happy face part takes too much effort, just stop being a jerk – it’s not nice any time of the year.

5. Review your 2012 goals and start gathering supporting information. You may have some lulls this week and next, so now is the time to start gathering your accomplishments to help you start your self-assessment. Do not leave this off until the New Year because for some reason, as soon as January 1st hits, we all forgot what just happened. I promise. Start printing out relevant emails of support, getting your ducks in a row for your goal achievements, and so on. I’d even start writing your self-assessment if you’re so inclined… not only will it help you focus, but you’ll be a step ahead of everyone else come review time (a HUGE benefit for you).

6. Bring in some holiday cheer. You know I would never suggest anything woo-woo, but if you bring in some goodies (cookies, doughnuts, coffee, etc.) for your team and/or coworkers, it will go a long way towards them “looking the other way” when you are clearly checked out. Kindness will excuse you for a small infraction, but see above about not doing something critical.

7. Don’t let your inbox pile-up. Two notes here – first, continue to respond in a timely manner to your incoming emails. If people are emailing you still, that means they are working and expect a response – so respond as you normally would. Second, I know that you will be on vacation and hopefully that means not checking your email, but I beg of you to do a small thing before you go back to work. Ready? Log-in the night before, block 30 mins of your life, to sort/scan your emails. Most likely you won’t have thousands, but it will help you transition better upon your return, and potentially get a head start (another way to start the New Year off with a bang).

What things are you doing before “officially” checking out? Or is it too late…? Happy holidays!

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Fast and Easy Ways to “Checkout” for the Year and Still Have a Job

It’s the final countdown… So tomorrow is the last day in the office of the year for many of you. For the rest of us worker bees, we may be “in the office” or “working,” but let’s not kid ourselves – we’re checked out and ready to enjoy the holidays and a nice break (or two). I’m with ya, seriously. But before you check out officially, you want to make sure you have a job to come back to!

Fast and Easy Ways to “Checkout” for the Year… And then enjoy your vacation

1. Stop telling the world you have vacated the building. Yes, we know you have – um, the constant staring into space or that goofy grin are two glaring signs. But stop advertising it! Don’t go around bragging to the world all of the fun plans you have for your vacation or how excited you are to get through today so you can be with your family chilling at home. Those who don’t have those awesome plans, or better – those who will be covering you when you’re vacationing, may get bitter. J Keep the details to yourself for now, and share the memories, if you must, upon your return.

2. Clean your desk. Sounds like common sense, right? Um, how many of you simply forgot to do this or created “piles” of stuff to deal with next year? Yeah, don’t. Not only does the state of your desk or office say a lot about you as an employee, but breaks are ripe for snooping. It’s human nature I suppose, but I bet you this – your boss, or someone else, will be snooping around your desk and area when the office is quiet. Who knows what they are looking for – evidence of your awesomeness, ways you’ve screwed up, projects you’ve kept hidden from them, ways to make you look bad, and so on. I think you get the point – clean that baby off! File things away that need to be kept, shred things that you had no business printing in the first place, declutter the post-it notes and other “stuff,” and leave everything locked up. Just trust me on this one.

3. Whatever you do, don’t drop a ball. It’s easy to forget about details or a project when your brain has checked out, but now is NOT the time to drop the ball. Remember, these are going to be the most recent examples of your performance that your manager will have for your upcoming review. And we all know how the recency effect can impact your overall rating. So for the love of Nancy, don’t drop the ball. Make sure you maintain the same output during these last few days of the year, as you did weeks ago. It takes a lot more concentration since you are ready.to.be.done., but stay focused for one more week.

4. Don’t get grinchy. I have seen so many people be offended or “salty” about having to work during the time when their friends have it off, and they take their frustration with their work schedule out at work. Um, bad idea. Accept the fact that either your work holiday calendar sucks or that you did a poor job at planning/using your vacation time, and remember who’s fault that is – NOT your manager’s or your coworkers. So stop being so grumpy around them. Suck it up and put on a happy face. And if the happy face part takes too much effort, just stop being a jerk – it’s not nice any time of the year.

5. Review your 2012 goals and start gathering supporting information. You may have some lulls this week and next, so now is the time to start gathering your accomplishments to help you start your self-assessment. Do not leave this off until the New Year because for some reason, as soon as January 1st hits, we all forgot what just happened. I promise. Start printing out relevant emails of support, getting your ducks in a row for your goal achievements, and so on. I’d even start writing your self-assessment if you’re so inclined… not only will it help you focus, but you’ll be a step ahead of everyone else come review time (a HUGE benefit for you).

6. Bring in some holiday cheer. You know I would never suggest anything woo-woo, but if you bring in some goodies (cookies, doughnuts, coffee, etc.) for your team and/or coworkers, it will go a long way towards them “looking the other way” when you are clearly checked out. Kindness will excuse you for a small infraction, but see above about not doing something critical.

7. Don’t let your inbox pile-up. Two notes here – first, continue to respond in a timely manner to your incoming emails. If people are emailing you still, that means they are working and expect a response – so respond as you normally would. Second, I know that you will be on vacation and hopefully that means not checking your email, but I beg of you to do a small thing before you go back to work. Ready? Log-in the night before, block 30 mins of your life, to sort/scan your emails. Most likely you won’t have thousands, but it will help you transition better upon your return, and potentially get a head start (another way to start the New Year off with a bang).

What things are you doing before “officially” checking out? Or is it too late…? Happy holidays!

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Find Your People & Make Sh*t Happen

If you’ve been hanging around here long enough, you know that I am an avid fan and inaugural alumni of an ecourse called Make Sh*t Happen. I completed the ten week course more than a year ago, and I can honestly tell you it was one of the best investments I have ever made in myself.

I’ve shared it before so I won’t bore you with all of the details, but at the time, I was… searching. I knew I was unhappy with the direction my life and career was taking, but I literally could not move past my “stuck” phase. I attended more free tele-seminars than I ever imagined possible; I read books telling me to “take action now” and “follow your passion”… I even succumbed to some more woo-woo tactics, which we will just forget ever happened.

And then I found Make Sh*t Happen. Well, actually, it found me. I am skeptical to begin with (no, not you Melissa?), so I wasn’t keen on investing money in myself for yet another “thing” that could help me figure it out. But I kept coming back to it. And it was a niggling thought in the back of my mind. And when I saw that there were only a handful of slots remaining, I knew that I’d regret it if I didn’t try just one more thing.

Around the web you will find my former classmates talking about how MSH changed their lives. How they were able to do something, change something, accomplish something, that they weren’t able to do before. And that’s all true. And I could add a long, long list of things to that list. But to me, MSH was even more than the tangible outcomes – launching my own business, writing two books, earning income on my own terms, blogging, and so on.

Make Sh*t Happen gave me a safe haven of sorts.

It gave me a built-in cocoon of people who allowed me to dream big, but also held my feet accountable to the ground. When I told them about my “online business” idea, they didn’t laugh or scoff or tell me to be realistic. They got it. They had their own BIG dreams, and I knew they could achieve them too.

I remember thinking back to one of the first exercises in the course – it was about your support network. And I literally cried when I read what was asked of me. Who supports you on this journey? Who is your cheerleader? How are your friends and family reacting? I didn’t want to say bad things about the people I loved, so I sat there and stared at it instead of writing down in bold letters, “THEY DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT MY DREAM IS, much less support it.”

Instead of turning away from the group or giving them a BS answer, I said those words out loud. No one laughed or rolled their virtual eyes… they rang in with “yeah, me too’s” and “add me to your support network now.” You can make an awesome list of the tangible outcomes I got from taking MSH, but what is more important to me, are the friendships I gained.

I still speak with three people from the course, twice a month – a year later. I have Skype dates and Hangout chats with several people on an ongoing basis, not to mention all of the Facebook messages, updates, and so on. We are a family of sorts – my “get ‘er done” family.

So what?

Because the one thing I wish someone told me when I was stuck in indecision last year, was take a chance. Find your people, then your thing will come. Stop thinking that someone is going to come around and tell you what the right path, or option, or business is. Take a chance on YOURSELF. Invest just a little bit of time, effort and energy, and yes – money, IN YOURSELF. Be a tiny bit selfish and spend one hour a week reading and interacting with other people who are in the same boat – YES, THEY ARE OUT THERE.

So if you’re one of those people, like I was, wondering what comes next and thinking that creating another resolution about it or “planning on doing something next year” is going to get you closer to doing it, just check out the course. Jenny is not only the leader of the pack and super inspiring in her own right, but I’m lucky enough to call her my friend now (sorry, I think I just name-dropped).

Before you buy one more gift, or start analyzing what went wrong this year to those big goals you had in January 2012, just check out the site. Think about if you’re ready to actually achieve things, but also, if you’re ready to find your people. 

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Practical Tactical Thursday – 6 Things to Consider Before Accepting a Counter Offer

Thinking about leaving your current job? Then you need to be prepared to handle potential counter offers. The conventional wisdom out there answers this with a “never, ever accept a counter offer,” and conversely to management, “never offer one – you will just be prolonging their leaving.” So just let the employee leave, and then try to back-fill them as soon as possible. Sounds a bit… one-size-fits-all. Here’s the thing, counter offers can work. Having been on both sides of this equation several times, there is more to the counter offer equation than a firm “no.”

Before we discuss what you need to consider when a counter offer is delivered, you need to know how to set yourself up to receive one.

Be prepared to walk away, don’t bluff about this.
Do not tell anyone except your boss, of your plans to leave the company.
When presenting your notice, have a conversation with your boss (don’t just leave a note). In that conversation, discuss the things that have helped make that decision for you, and leave it open for discussion. Be positive about your experience with him/her, the company, projects, etc. – the things that have helped you shine, to make it easier for them to find a viable solution.
If you have not received a counter within one week of your notice, you will not be getting one. PERIOD. Do not count on it, do not ask for it. Simply make your way to the door on your last day and say peace out.

6 Things to Consider with a Counter Offers

Be clear about the reasons you are leaving your current position. What made you start looking for a new job in the first place, to lead you to this point? If you were fed-up with what I call “gravity issues,” things that you will never be able to change about the company or the position, then it’s safe to say those things will continue to be a pain in your behind going forward. However, if your main gripes were around things that they are able to provide you with – think: benefits, more money, better title, fun projects, etc., then it’s worth reconsidering your decision.
What’s your current company’s culture like? In other words, can you manage staying there and dealing with some of the things that come along with any company? Are the people awesome? Do you have great work-flexibility? And conversely, are these part of the reasons you are leaving? You already know the culture of the position you are in – sometimes, it’s easier to deal with the known than risking an unknown culture at your new company.
Will your boss be able to be an adult about the situation? Sounds like a crazy question to ask, no? But I have seen this be a long-term issue for people who do accept a counter offer. Will he or she be able to not take your quitting, personally? That’s the main thing here – and most of this issue is about how you present your other opportunity. At the end of the day, if your boss has been supportive of you, this shouldn’t be an issue. But I think we all know of some bosses who will become vengeful in these situations – if that person is your boss, DO NOT accept a counter offer, even if it is sparkling good. Capice?
How are you going to readjust your balance scale moving forward? Let’s say your concerns are about money and title… and they are able to change those with the threat of you leaving. How does that change the levers of why you come to work? Do those changes re-balance you enough to be able to stay on with the company? Sometimes when we get the very things we’ve latched onto needing, they don’t seem to make as big of an impact as we had hoped.
Can you let go of your bitterness? It never fails, but suddenly with the threat of a top performer leaving, the company is able to move heaven and Earth. My first response to this sudden “everything is negotiable” mentality has always been, “Wait – I’ve been asking you for these things for months, and they were never a possibility. Now that I’m looking to leave, you’re able to snap your fingers and get it done?” Are you able to ignore that question, as in not voice it at all and forget you are even thinking about it, to simply be gracious enough to accept what they are offering? THIS IS HUGE – this is the reason why so many people who accept a counter offer, tend to leave after six – 12 months. The festering bitterness is very hard to overcome.
How will it impact your coworkers? I’m not one who usually cares to ask this question, sorry – but I think you have to look out for you and your career first, but in this case, it will have an impact to your teammates. And the backlash to you can vary from isolating to harsh. They will find out about it, so forget thinking that it will remain a tight-lipped secret. And they will have feelings of resentment towards you – either for quitting in the first place, or for using that kind of tactic for getting ahead. Just be careful about how you approach this to offend as few people as possible.

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From What Place Are You Taking Action?

I was on a call with my fellow Make Sh*t Happen alumni in June, when the fabulous Jenny Blake posed the question, “From what place are you taking action?” I can’t even begin to remember the various responses we had because I was completely spaced out and focused on trying to voice my own answer. Since then, it has become a sticky note in my office, helping me make decisions and “check myself” along the way.

When the question was originally asked, I remember thinking that I had never actually thought deeper about the motivation behind the decisions I had made along the way. At the time, I had just ventured out on my own and I was struggling to make ends meet. So my surface answer at the time probably revolved around paying the bills.

But this is a critical question to ask. From what place are you taking action?

When accepting a new job?
When beginning your job search?
When networking at an event?
When quitting your job?
When responding to an angry email?
When building a relationship of any kind?
When deciding on which products to create?

From What Place are you Taking Action?

Searching for a new job can come about in a variety of ways. Perhaps you are forced to do so because you have been laid off or are unemployed. Maybe you have been passed over for a promotion and are ready to bring your talents to another position. Or perhaps you are ready for a change. Regardless of why you are looking for something new, you are. How are you approaching your job search? Are you coming at it from a place of desperation? Is it simply a means to an end for you? Are you bored?

Looking back at the hundreds (thousands?) of people I’ve interviewed throughout the years, I can pinpoint the place of action for many of the candidates. And here’s a secret – I hired more people whose place of action was more than just surface-deep.

For instance, when a candidate presented an “any job will do, just hire me” position, I passed on them – as did the hiring manager. Their “fit” didn’t seem genuine, it came across as desperation. And when you’re up against a candidate who lives and breathes your company and core values, you aren’t going to win that fight.

But of course, this was us inferring this information. No one comes out and shares the place from which they are taking action. But what if you did? What if you were a little bit more vulnerable and shared a bit more of yourself throughout the process? (Ahem, this is relevant for other aspects of your life too – not just job landing).

What if you were clear with yourself about your place of action? And owned it. And shared it. Regardless of how “impressive” that place is, or how others would view it.

How can we use this question to make decisions in life and keep us on track? That’s the easy part – well, easier than being vulnerable about it I’m sure. Before you do something or accept something, ask the question – and answer it honestly. If there is anything in your answer that feels inauthentic or a niggling feeling in the pit of your stomach, then pass on it.

And I want to start us along the way of being more transparent about this. So here I go…

Recent decision (and for the record, I am beyond excited to share this with you – more in my upcoming newsletter, so be sure to sign-up for it):

Should I join “sign-up” to deliver ongoing content and behind the scenes coordination for one of my favorite blogs – Life After College?

From What Place Did I Take Action?:

My business is picking up. As in, my brain is a bit in shock with the uptick in awesomeness this past month (YAY – and no complaints mind you). But taking on another commitment, a long-term, ongoing one with major responsibilities is a big deal. Add that to having the opportunity to work closely with someone I greatly admire, and the pressure is ramped up. So that’s the background to my decision.

My place of action: I want to be a part of that community. I want to help an even greater audience fall in love with their work and understand how things work behind the scenes of HR. I want to learn more from someone awesome, and I want to expand my own skills through this experience. I am excited about this opportunity, and I am ready.

That’s the place from where I am taking action. I want to be a part of it. I want to commit my time, energy and effort into something meaningful to me – and learn during the process. My place of action is clear and honoring my values.

How about you? From what place are you currently taking action with something in your life? Has thinking about this, changed your approach? 

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6 Things to Consider Before Your Quit Your New Job

We are all questioning our career path and our “job satisfaction” levels to determine how much we want to kick butt during December when we’d rather be spending time laying on a beach or drinking egg nog. But what if instead of just having the year-end blues, you are in a new job or role that you can tell will lead to disaster?

You know, you’ve just been baited and switched. Or perhaps everyone was on their very best behavior during the interview process. Or you made a very bad, desperate decision. It doesn’t really matter why you ended up where you are – you are stuck with a new job that sucks. And you want to quit, like yesterday.

Can I Quit Yet?

I am a proponent of experiencing different jobs – hey, I can’t even count how many I have had throughout my career. But I do think that before you leave a job you need to consider the potential impact on your career trajectory.

{Interruption}: My dear Gen Y’ers – I know that you think that this doesn’t really matter for you. That you can job hop like the best of them without any care or worry on how it will impact your next job. I’ve heard it before – the job market is different for you. There are different rules. Agreed. However, you still have to make strategic career decisions. {end}

6 Things You Need to Consider Before You Leave Your New Job

Have you been in the role at least six months? I know it sounds old-school, but if you haven’t been in your role for at least six months, you haven’t actually experienced enough to make a decision about the position. You may have known that your boss was awful on week two, but other opportunities or long-term solutions will not present itself until you’ve spent some time there learning and growing in the role. Six months also marks inclusion on your resume. Can you stick it out to at least reach this mini-milestone?
Did you make connections at the company that will be useful to you during your career? It’s hard to think long-term when you are so miserable in the short-term. But I can’t tell you the number of people I met along my career journey in crappy jobs that have helped me later down the road. Seriously, some of my favorite people and mentors were added to my circle during my shorter gigs. Think BIG about this – is there an impressive leader who is in the role you want; what about a client that makes you genuinely excited to be working with them; or a coworker that you just know is going places? If you have awesome people to meet and build relationships with, it’s not yet time to leave.
Have you fully received the lesson(s) that you need to get? Warning, I think I just went uncharacteristically woo-woo for a minute. But you are in that job to learn something. Maybe it was the “thing” that attracted you to the position in the first place or perhaps it’s a bigger life lesson. Whatever it may be, have you actually changed because of it yet? Will you be smarter and wiser for the experience in your next job? If you are rolling your eyes at this bullet, you haven’t embraced the lesson.
Did you exhaust your internal resources or lateral move options? Six months tends to be the door-opener at many companies for when they will consider you for an internal position or lateral move. You may think the company is the problem, and it very well may be, but a different position may even out your Balance Scale appropriately. Have you applied for open internal positions? Being able to remain at a company longer, will absolutely help you further your career, so having a new role can feel like you’re starting something new and fun without the hassle of a full-blown job search.
Have you truly evaluated what you are going to do next? I can’t really be a strong proponent for “making sure you have a new job lined up before you quit,” although I do think that’s smart advice, but what are you going to do next Monday morning after you’ve left your job? Are you prepared for the very real possibility of looking for a job for six months or more? Can you pay all of your bills without going into debt for even longer? Will you be able to motivate yourself to continue to look for income sources even when faced with rejection or no response… for months on end? Um, yeah – just make sure you’ve given this a lot of thought.
Can your role become a bridge job? Are you able to shift your mindset from a stop along the career train, to this position being a bridge job? It is always ok to go to work to simply work. Can this awful job be reframed into something that helps you earn money while you build your empire outside of work? Try it for two weeks and see if it’s something you can do for a longer period of time. No need to set long-term goals about it, but perhaps commit to it being a bridge job one month at a time and reevaluate where you are at with questions 1 – 5 at the end of each chunk of time.

The bottom line is this: Before you quit a new job, you need to consider the long-term impact on not only your career, but also how it can shape your credibility for future employers. It can imply that you are a “quitter” or not loyal – neither of which are good characteristics. But even more than that, it can prevent you from being considered for future positions because the recruiter/hiring manager will see it as a red flag of your poor performance. So if you can stick it out… a little bit longer, do.

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Career is a Choice – It Doesn’t Happen to You

About a month ago a new twitter friend Deirdre introduced herself to me by asking, “What’s a misconception people have about what a career is?” It’s a question I am asked often and it always sparks a great conversation.

Career is a choice, not a demand.

I try not to lead with this response as it scares some people away, but this is the biggest misconception… followed closely by not understanding the difference between a career and a job. Having a career, is something that you, and only YOU, can work on and pursue.

Career by definition is:

“1. An occupation or profession, especially one requiring special training, followed as one’s lifework;         2. A person’s progress or general course of action through life or through a phase of life, as in some profession or undertaking.” (from dictionary.com)

Nowhere in that definition do I see “paycheck,” “security blanket,” or “hell-hole of misery.” No one is forcing you to have a career. A job is something that you show up to everyday to earn a paycheck or a number of other benefits. But a career is something that you choose and build. You can be in the same job for 20 years and still not have a career. It can just be a job to you.

AND THAT’S OK.

Holy bananas people! I’m not sure when we all decided that our big life mission needs to be having a “successful career” at work. It’s not for everyone, which is why there are so many different jobs and career options out there, not to mention the many options outside of work. Here’s a better example. I have a friend who has relentlessly pursued helping others throughout her life by volunteering at various charities and donating her time and efforts. She still has a job as a manager, but her real career is her charity work. That is what she has chosen as her lifework. She’s laid down the building blocks one on top of each other, to represent what she is jazzed by, what she wants to be “known” for.

You decide. You drive this bus. I mean look at me – I have jumped on so many different career paths, I would need a diagram to walk you through them all, and you’d still be perplexed. I kept falling into careers… and none really felt comfortable on me, but I kept going on the career path up. That’s what I thought I had to do. I didn’t know that I could make choices to shape my own career.

I have been talking to many new grads lately, all worried how they are going to land their first job. Many haven’t given much thought to their career experience. What they want their life’s work to be, how they want to get there, the different jobs and skills they will need along the way, and what will ultimately keep them engaged with work and life. That makes sense – they are just starting out ready to conquer the world.

But they aren’t the only ones! A lot of my clients and friends are mid-career, we’ll just say 30s – 40s, and they don’t have an answer either. So many of them are focused on the details of their job. On getting their next promotion. On how much their boss sucks. On how underpaid they are. We’ve all been there (I’m pleading the fifth on this), but these are all symptoms of your JOB.

No one else is thinking about your career. You need to make some decisions.

The difference between job and career is hopefully becoming a bit more clear… but what the heck can you do about it? Glad you asked. It’s time that you started thinking about your career NOW. Especially as we are approaching the new year.

Ask yourself these questions (and write them down!):

When I am so focused and in the zone, I am working on ________________.
What do I see as your current career path? Are you listing out your jobs or an actual career?
Do I want the answer to #2, to be representative of “your life’s work?” If so, fabulous – you’ve got yourself a career.
Have I picked up skills and strengths outside of my main job focus area? Maybe through horizontal moves within a company/department or by job hopping?
Answer this: “Where do I see myself and my career in 5, 10, 15 years?” Are your answers the same or are you struggling with thinking BIGGER than a job/title?

And of course, you’ll need to start taking action – look for part two with action steps soon. I promise it will be worth the wait.

Practical Tactical Thursday – Interview Thank You Notes

I am not sure if people have gotten ruder over the years, or if common courtesy is no longer so… common (kinda like that common sense thing). But the art and necessity of sending a thank you note following an interview, has been lost. It’s time you rediscovered it and played by these rules.

Everything You Need to Know about How to Say Thanks

Yes, a thank you note is part of the interview process, you DO have to send one.

You have two options of delivery, depending upon who you interviewed with and the position you are being considered for: email and snail mail. Yes, there is such a thing still as snail mail. Here’s how to determine the best method for various situations: 

 Sending a thank you isn’t optional, but the impact of your follow-up is important. When I get an email of thanks from a candidate, I know that the person is not only interested in the position, but also wants to ensure that I remember who they are. If it’s customized and mentions something we discussed, then I do give a second look at them before sending them to the yes or no pile. When I get a snail mail thank you… wow. I am usually surprised and pleased. Not only does it show all of the same things that an email shows, but it also reinforces my thoughts a few days later when the note arrives – so you have a second chance at making an impression. That’s the whole point of these things from a candidate’s perspective at least, so may as well take full advantage of it.

The timing of it all… When you send your thank you note, is almost as important as sending one at all. For email thank you’s, I like receiving them the morning following our interview. NOT immediately after the conversation. Why? Because I’m already thinking about and have probably moved on to another candidate and am not paying attention to your thank you. When your note of thanks hits my inbox first thing in the morning when I’m reflecting on the candidates, you will have a bigger impact. So, next morning before 10am, is great timing. If you are sending a snail mail of thanks, it should be mailed the following day as well to ensure that it gets to the recruiter/hiring manager asap. So you will be experiencing a lot, the morning after.

But what do I say in my thank you note? Here’s the easiest part – keep it short, to the point, and simple. Here are a few email examples, feel free to use and repurpose. For snail mail, you’re on your own! Take out your Emily Post book of business etiquette and write an engaging thank you leveraging the tips below as well as connecting it with the personal bond you formed with the hiring manager.

Example 1 (email sample):

Dear John,

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule today to speak with me about the Account Coordinator position. I enjoyed learning more about the position and about ABC Company. Based on our conversation, I am certain that my experience in (SKILL A that was discussed) is a great match for (SKILL B that they are seeking from job description), which is required in this role.

I look forward to continuing along in the process and hope to hear from you soon. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me.

Best,

Sally Sue, sallysue@email.com

Example 2 (email sample):

Dear John,

I appreciate you and the team taking time to meet with me today to discuss the Account Coordinator position. I am very excited about the opportunity and look forward to learning even more. (ENTER COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU DISCUSSED – it can be a joke you shared, ahem, an appropriate one; or it can be something about the company).

I am very interested in the position and know that I’d be a great fit on the team. I look forward to partnering with you in the future.

Best,

Sally Sue, sallysue@email.com

Have any fabulous thank you note stories? I’d love to see them in the comments below, with any questions you may have.