My take on Bradley J. Moore's post: Alternative Universe

The final plate on the resume:

For a guy with ten license plates on his resume, this post about life's twists and turns, from Bradley J. Moore really hit home. Very funny and  thought provoking.

Your Career: Is There A Better Version of You Out There Somewhere? 

Here are my thoughts. Just this week, I had a two hour lunch with a talented executive in the tech sector, also fumbling and bumbling with these same 'alternatives'. My lunch buddy said it this way, "Do I throw the screen pass in the flat, or go for the first down marker, or is it time to throw the long ball?" He described himself as a perpetual screen passer.

I've always been a long ball thrower, which is most likely why I have a collection of license plates. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but we subscribe to the 'bloom where you are planted' theory. If you drill down to the specifics I've lived in some special places and worked with remarkable people: Pelham (GA), Chapel Hill, Columbus, Southern California, Lexington, Aspen, Williamsburg, Nashville, Chadds Ford, and Austin. I'll put my list of cities lived and experiences gained up against anybody. But let's face it, ten is a lot of churning and one might ask, 'Why are you always moving?' 'Is the grass always greener somewhere else?' That's why we decided to stay put in Texas, one of the revelations in my eBook, Releasing the Churn. 

Jim Rohn, considered by many to be the first motivational speaker, says: "Life is not just the passing of time. Life is the collection of experiences and their intensity." In other words, how old you are should not just be measured chronologically, but  should also be measured by the frequency and the intensity of your experiences. Well, I've got some years on me if we do it that way!

My pastor hit me with a baseball analogy a while back when discussing this very subject. He said, "Page, you don't always have to hit the grand slam home run, sometimes it is okay to just bunt the guy over to second base." I'm not sure I heard him? Do you always play it safe? Or do you swing for the fences? How old are you in Jim Rohn years?

Quotes by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher, reprinted with permission from Jim Rohn International �2010. As a world-renowned author and success expert, Jim Rohn touched millions of lives during his 46-year career as a motivational speaker and messenger of positive life change. For more information on Jim and his popular personal achievement resources or to subscribe to the weekly Jim Rohn Newsletter, visit www.JimRohn.com.

Look for work, not a job

Inspired by John Fees:

A paradigm shift that works, when looking for work!

That is my friend John Fees, a talented entrepreneur and strategic marketing executive in the fields of affinity, collegiate and partnership marketing. If you have a business in the education market, or any early stage media company, and you need wise council, you should seek out John Fees.

John wrote a blog post a few months ago that stuck with me when I reentered the 'opportunity' market in early January. The title was, Look for Work, Not a Job. In the post John outlines four suggestions  he believes one should consider when entering the job market, especially in this economy. (I refuse to call it the 'job' market, and prefer to say 'opportunity' market.)

1. Name your work, buy a URL and use it for your email. I was surprised at how easy this was to do through GoDaddy.com.
2. Create a website that describes your skills, interests, and ability to contribute to an organization.
3. Order business cards from VistaPrint that will give you an identity when attending meetings or trade shows. John points out that this simple (and free) step may be more valuable than a resume, and I tend to agree.
4. Update your LinkedIn profile and use it actively by joining groups and building your network. I would add the importance of having 10-15 relevant recommendations. I am working towards that goal now.

I took John's advice to heart. In fact, some might say I drank all the Kool-Aid and I mean that in the positive. I have been extremely pleased with the results of this strategy, as my website and blog are helping me open doors throughout the Austin business community and beyond at the highest levels. Additionally, my desire to better understand and utilize social media tools is helping better prepare me for the next phase of my career. Thanks John Fees for the inspiration!

I want to add a couple of additional thoughts to the points that John makes. One, don't wait until you are out of work to begin this process. And two, purchase a book on 'self-branding' and start planning your strategy for both a personal website (where you can 'name' your work) and social media activation. I recommend Katherine Kaputa's book YOU are a Brand! 

Any thoughts from my fellow churners?