From: Robyn Greenspan
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 2:51 PM
Subject: participate in ExecuNet article?
Hi,
Your reputation as a master networker has qualified you for participation in an upcoming ExecuNet article. I’m trying to learn about your networking techniques, motivation, the goals, the successes and anything else you think would be insightful to our senior executive readership. Executives often complain that they don’t have the time to network. How do you maintain a strong – and high quality — network when you have a very busy life? Share both your common sense tips along with any interesting or unique ideas or stories that are related to your networking activities.
The article will be published as a cover story in CareerSmart Advisor – ExecuNet’s biweekly print publication with a senior-level executive readership of roughly 25,000 – and I have attached some recent copies so you can become more familiar with the format and content.
If this offer interests you and you would like to be quoted or used a source for this article, please jot down your best networking tips and stories and send to me by Friday, June 29. You supply the expert advice and we’ll take care of the punctuation, spelling and grammar.
If you have any questions or want to further discuss, call or email me. 800.637.3126
Thanks in advance for your time and attention, and have a great weekend!
Robyn
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Robyn Greenspan
Senior Editor
ExecuNet
The Center for Executive Careers
http://www.execunet.com
FREE subscription to Executive Insider:
http://www.execunet.com/e_resources_ei_signup.cfm
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Robyn:
Liar, liar, pants on fire. “reputation as a master networker” Indeed! Really “just a big old fat turkey that’s too dumb for his own good” would probably be more accurate.
But, here’s a thought for the readership. Hope this helps,
fjohn
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Here’s the full text of my submission.
***Begin Quote***
You’ll be unemployed too some day. Maybe even sooner than you think. “I’ll get you my pretty and your little dog too!” Oh, wrong movie. It’s not the wicked witch of the west; it’s the grim reaper of unemployment. It is the movie of YOUR life played out in slow motion. Today you’re on top of the world, making “big bux”, spending like Diamond Jim, underlings kowtow at the mention of your name, executive search firms call you, everyone takes your call, recruiters obsequiously ask if you have any needs. Tomorrow, the roof falls in.
Maybe it’s Katrina that delivers your industry a KO punch. Think of all the suppliers to the Biloxi casinos. Maybe it’s Google who decides that they want to be in the Word Processing space. Think of all the sites that are glorified word processing. Or maybe Google want to do email for eyeballs. Bye, bye Hotmail, Yahoo mail, and a hundred websites with their own branded webmail offering. I don’t know your industry, geography, or competitive landscape. But I do know “Change Happens”. Be assured that it’s happening to you.
And, it’s not just professionally. Grey hair catching up to you. Calendar turned over one to many times. Yup, in the big turkey’s patent copyrighted secret “how much cushion do I need” formula, for every half-decade over forty add one to your multiplier. If you’re a 40 year old exec making a 100k in a hot field, it’s 10 * 1 week * 1 for age = 10 weeks to replace your current paycheck. If you’re a 60 year old, make that 10 * 1 week (the field is still hot) * 4 (but you’re not) = 40 weeks. Wow! Do you have ten months money to “tide you over” till your next paycheck? Thought not. If you don’t plan your career, then why should we think you plan your money. In some fields the metric is in Quarters; in financial accounting it’s even more (i.e., there are a ton of CFOs around like beached whales). I was quoted more than a decade ago in Execunet saying “Time has not stood still. Age is not respected. Experience is not valued. And, Education is not revered.” More true today than a decade ago.
Scared yet? Don’t have time to network yet! Can’t happen to you, right? Call me when it does.
Ever since my first transition, I have run a free “turkey farm” for those unfortunates who get the ax. In the last decade, I have only been empty one for about a month. My wait list is currently 4 for what I call “CPR for your job search”. Do I do it for them? Heck no. I do it for myself. It reminds me every day that I could just as easily be on that side of the glass looking to get “in”. I have five picture frames on my office wall at home and at work. The five active turkeys’ networking profiles are there for me to see every time I look up. It’s rare that frames are empty long. Feel like someone’s gaining on you. It’s the Grim Reaper of Unemployment. So to, I’m reminded to help them and in doing so help myself. Mrs. Reinke didn’t raise no fool. I learn them rules real good! It says “help before being helped”.
Scared yet? Good!
But it’s not all bad. Believe it or not Fat Old White Guys (And there are women and minorities in that pejorative as well. It’s a genre. A mindset.) do have an advantage if they recognize it. We know what didn’t work. You can peddle that to other FOWGs who have to make their numbers, deliver a working product, or meet a schedule. They are up to their navels in undisciplined talent. What they need are “leaders”. Not CEOs, but working leaders who can do while teaching and mentoring. You have to become entrepreneurial. You are the CEO of “Me, myself and I INK”. Even if you are in a big company as an employee, you have to be selling and delivering value. You have to always express your Unique Value Proposition, deliver your Unique Sales Proposition, and have your extensive staff of imaginary experts just working effectively and efficiently on the things that will keep the value pouring into your checkbook.
Does it end? Yes, when you’re planted in your final position, the lid’s closed, and they shovel some dirt on you.
So what should you do first? Take Execunet seriously when they say do: x, y, and z. Your five year old resume (Seems like 5 years plus or minus two is the average tenure for a “job”) claims that you are “an innovative problem solver” (have yet to see one that doesn’t somewhere claim that), so here a problem to solve. It’s “yours”. Where’s your next paycheck coming from?
For those into activity lists, here are some suggestions:
· Renew Execunet for five years. Read it every day for 15 minutes every week day.
· Buy lifetime subscription to Jibber Jobber. Put all your networking contacts in. Call – Email – IM one every day and ask if they need help with something. (Give help before you have to ask for it.) Spend 15 minutes daily every week day.
· Sign up for LinkedIn. Find all your networking contacts. Write one endorsement every week day for 15 minutes.
· Find five people who are out of work and help them with their process Spend 15 minutes on a different one every week day.
· Do a McKay66 on every decision maker you came in contact with last week. 60 minutes on Saturday.
· Do a imaginary Board of Directors meeting. 60 minutes on Sunday.
Get started. When the axe does fall, as it always does, you’ll have bought yourself time, help, goodwill, and possibly some wisdom. I’ll probably have landed in my final spot before I hear from you. But be advised, I’ll be rooting for you from upstairs or down, where ever I’m sent.
***End Quote***
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From: Robyn Greenspan
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 11:58 AM
Subject: RE: participate in ExecuNet article?
Fjohn,
Thanks for your contribution to CareerSmart Advisor – our biweekly print publication with a senior executive readership of roughly 25,000. Your time and expertise enables us to maintain our 19-year history of providing the highest quality career management information to our membership so they can set their professional strategies for success.
The electronic version of the issue that was mailed to our membership this week is attached, and it will be permanently archived on our site as well. Feel free to post it on your website or distribute among your network.
Robyn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robyn Greenspan
Senior Editor
ExecuNet
The Center for Executive Careers
http://www.execunet.com
FREE subscription to Executive Insider:
http://www.execunet.com/e_resources_ei_signup.cfm
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Reinke Faces Life 