JOBSEARCH: Build a inet biz; it may take off

Monday, May 3, 2010

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/01/advice-from-founders-who-bootstrapped-their-way-to-success-2

Advice From Founders Who Bootstrapped Their Way to Success
by Vivek Wadhwa on May 1, 2010

*** begin quote ***

It was founded in 2000, after Nickell, then a 20-year-old web developer, won a t-shirt-design contest. With an investment of $1000, he built a website to which people submitted t-shirt designs, and the favorites were printed in limited-edition runs. In 2006, the company had gained traction, was generating nearly $10 million in revenue, and took a small investment from Insight Venture Partners.

My Q&A with Jake:

Would you have taken a VC investment if you could have, when you started?

Definitely not, as I was starting a hobby and not a business. It’s kind of like asking if I would consider a VC investment to help me start learning to skateboard. Sure, I’d spend a couple hundred bucks on a board, some pads and maybe some materials to build a ramp, but I’m not looking for millions or even hundreds or tens of thousands to just create something for fun. Even if I was starting a business, I don’t think I was raised that way or have that type of personality. I didn’t even have my first credit card until I was maybe 23, so I really just don’t do well with spending money I don’t have.

*** end quote ***

This timely post reinforces my formula points #5 and #6. (imho)

Success for your generation is:

{Extraneous Deleted}

(5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open;

(6) a free time hobby that generates income;

{Extraneous Deleted}

In the cited example, the hobby became his internet business and it carried him away. We should all be so lucky.

But don’t over look the essential point, bootstrap a hobby into a source of income.

Thanks to my old workmate Vivek. Guess I should have listened to him more when we worked together. Who knew he was so smart?

(Sotto voce: He didn’t seem that smart at the time.)

ROFL!

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JOBSEARCH: An example of “Using Your Corporate Email”

Sunday, May 2, 2010

http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/24/how-not-to-handle-a-resignation-gracefully

How Not To Handle A Resignation Gracefully
by Jack McKenna on Apr 24, 2010

*** begin quote ***

I should note, that instead of responding, he instead removed my email account. Real pro of him. Good thing I forwarded it to myself first :P

*** end quote ***

Argh!

Now while the story is about who’s the bigger a hole, a fact which is debatable.

I would like to direct your attention to the email account. And, how fragile that threat is.

https://reinkefaceslife.com/2007/11/16/linkedin-may-i-suggest-that-you-not-use-your-employers-email-on-linkedin/

You should be EXTREMELY careful how you use any email address that you don’t own and control. You’re employer can nuke your email address on a whim as you are escorted out of their premises. Even your Internet Service Provider, whom you pay faithfully every month, can nuke you or change your email address on a whim. Sell out, buy out, merge, or exit the biz and you are the one who is screwed!

Your address book may go up in internet smoke in a heartbeat never to be seen again.

You try and find everyone who knows you by that email address. And, remember, you may not have given someone the address. They could have gotten it from a third party. Try and find those.

And, when you used that now lost email address to register for sites, you’re stuck with the obsolete sign on. And, don’t have a a password malfunction with the now defunct email address because you can’t get a password reset there. Good luck changing that old email address for a new one. (I’ve even seen a site restore my old one on me!)

Bottom line: If you don’t own your own domain, you are asking for trouble and the Universe will send you what you ask for when you can least afford it.

For a few bucks? Don’t say you weren’t warned.

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JOBSEARCH: Remember Sacajawea’s baby

Monday, April 12, 2010

http://thomsinger.blogspot.com/2010/04/pay-it-forward.html

Sunday, April 04, 2010
Pay It Forward

*** begin quote ***

“Mad Men” there is a great quote. Bert (the founder of the ad agency) tells Don (the main character) “that Sacajawea crossed the country with a baby on her back, and somewhere there’s a baby who thinks he discovered the Pacific Ocean”.

*** end quote ***

Here’s admirable advice with a great TV quote as a memory “hook”.

Remember Sacajawea’s baby!

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JOBSEARCH: Hold on by your fingertips

Sunday, March 7, 2010

On Mar 3, 2010, at 11:35 PM, LUDDITE wrote:

*** begin quote ***

Interesting….a ‘slew’ of people got RIFed this past Monday. And do you think they picked me, no! They think I won’t hold out but I will fool them…work till I am 75! :-)

*** end quote ***

Ahh, it makes a “teacher” proud when the student exceeds the master. “Go For The Gold” ain’t just for the Olympics!

A vestige of the “gold watch” era, the companies make workers “disposable”.

Part of “jobsearch” is: (1) making sure you do NOT have to search for one in this terrible job climate for fat old white guys — like expense avoidance is much better than saving after-tax money; AND (2) if you are going to get nuked, you need as much money as possible to cushion the blow. No way anyone should ever “voluntarily” leave a job without very careful consideration.

Argh!

Remember: Success for everyone’s generation is:

(1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt;

(2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you;

(3) a NON-OFFSHORABLE white collar job in order to save big bux;

(4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber;

(5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open;

(6) a free time hobby that generates income; and

(7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.

Can’t preach it enough!

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JOBSEARCH: Revising SFYG for 2010

Monday, March 1, 2010

Success for your generation is:

(1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt;

(2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you;

(3) a NON-OFFSHORABLE white collar job in order to save big bux;

(4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber;

(5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open;

(6) develop a second business or avocation – under the radar – start small part-time;

(7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you;

(8) buy assets that hold their value over time; and

(9) emulate the Amish and Mormons for their sense of community, simple thrifty living, and true to core values.

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JOBSEARCH: Prepare Three Envelopes

Saturday, February 27, 2010

THE WISDOM OF “THREE ENVELOPES”!

Remember the old joke?

*** begin quote ***

A newly-hired top executive for a major company is just settling into his new office when he is visited by the form chief, who had been fired. The displaced executive appears friendly, shakes his hand, and says, “Look, if things get really bad for you, I have something that may help.” And he handed the new executive three envelopes. They parted amicably, the new executive quickly dismissing departing executive’s visit as a result of the shock of his situation. The three envelopes he tossed into the bottom drawer of his desk. Six months later, things were in crisis for the new executive. He was worried, and did not know where to turn or whom to call. Then he remembered the envelopes. He opened the bottom drawer, and took out the first envelope. Inside there was one sheet of paper with a single sentence: “Blame your predecessor.” What a great idea! He followed this advice, and things went very smoothly again. About 6 months later there was another crisis. The new executive again was desperate, when he remembered the envelopes. He reached into the bottom drawer and took out the second envelope. The page inside said, “Reorganize.” So the executive completely reorganized the corporation, and things were going quite well again. About 6 months after reorganizing, things began to fall apart. After employing the best consultants and trying everything he could imagine, things were still getting worse. Then he remembered the third letter. He was sure it would save him. He tore it open, and read the message inside. It said, “Make three envelopes.”

*** end quote ***

To my fellow abused corporate “employees”:

May I give you some advice? Painfully learned. From before the time you “get” the job, you must be aware that it will end. Maybe badly. So, my advice is to prepare, from before you start, for it to end badly.

You know of all the hurdles getting in and you need to know all the hurdles in getting your value out. Here are my thoughts:

(1) You must have at home all the things you will need for your “employment” lawyer to review when you bring your claim to him. (And, you will. When your future employer hands you that severance agreement to sign and you feel you’ve been screwed, tattoed, and not even give a t-shirt! You’ll be visiting a very expensive lawyer wnating him to punish that employer.) Carve out a dedicated space for all the material you’ll have to collect.

(2) Every communication from your employer should be captured and catalogued. An index is essential. That’s the initial offer letter, performance appraisals, copies of checks, expense reports, and the final severance offer.

(3) Like the sneaky bastards they are, there will be a lot of stuff that magically doesn’t get put on paper. That extra week of vacation, concessions, comp time, over time, consideration for being on call 24×7, yada, yada! Oral agreements are worth the paper that they are printed on. You must get in the habit of documenting everything. You don’t know what will be that one fact that could weigh in your favor.

(4) You must be the “chronicaler” of all personnel actions. Keep a “desk book” (i.e., that blank book that has one page per day) of every thing that heppens to your co-workers. Layoffs? You need to itemize every name, age, and anything else you can think of. Capture all org charts. No org charts? Make your own. Same for promotions, demotions, laterals, and transfers. You have to be your own HR department!

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JOBSEARCH: We Don’t Need As Many College Grads

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

http://www.allthingsworkplace.com/

Are We Educating for the Right Jobs?
We Don’t Need As Many College Grads As People Think
Steve Roesler

*** begin quote ***

How Many College Graduates Does the U.S. Really Need?

*** end quote ***

I have lately questioned the ROI of an “expensive” college education.

I’m sure I’m not the first. Nor, the last.

By “expensive”, I think efficient and effective. Efficient, in that, it’s affordable. Effective, in that, it leads to a lifetime of satisfying and rewarding employment in the service of others.

REMEMBER my personal formulation of “Success For Your Generation”

Success for your generation is:

(1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt;

(2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you;

(3) a NON-OFFSHORABLE white collar job in order to save big bux;

(4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber;

(5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open;

(6) a free time hobby that generates income; and

(7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.

I disagree SLIGHTLY with Steve on “We can and should question whether the current system is designed to effectively produce what, and who, is needed.” That’s a good MACRO question. But as participants in the job market, we can’t care about grand scale problems; we have to worry about the MICRO question. What’s good for me?

The country is beset with so many political problems caused by “fuzzy thinking”. A good college education might help create an “educated electorate”. Unfortunately the current education paradigm — schools completely under the control of secular progressives who think esteem is more important than wisdom — is unlikely to produce the hard-nosed pragmatic thinkers we need to work our way out of these problems. (My personal suggestion is to KICK the gooferment out of education completely. It’s only job is to prevent the residents from force. So private schools should be the rule; with the gooferment ensuring that there is no fraud.)

I think that my alma mater, Manhattan College, strikes a great balance. Remember it’s just the “well”; it’s the students who bring the energy and the “bucket”. When I was taking my engineering courses, I questioned the need for philosophy, theology, and literature courses. Upon reflection, maybe those were MORE important.

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JOBSEARCH: Resiliency and Learned Helplessness

Saturday, February 13, 2010

http://artofmanliness.com/2010/02/03/boosting-your-resiliency-part-2-avoiding-
learned-helplessness-and-changing-your-explanatory-style/?utm_
source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+
TheArtOfManliness+%28The+Art+of+Manliness%29

Boosting Your Resiliency-Part 2: Avoiding Learned Helplessness and Changing Your Explanatory Style
by Brett & Kate McKay on February 3, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Len gets fired from his job:

   * If Len tends to a Me, Always, Everything thinking style then he might explain this event by saying, “I’m such an incompetent accountant. I was always out of my league at the office (Me). I’ll never be able to find another good job. (Always). My wife is probably going to leave me now. Man, my life is so screwed up. (Everything).”

   * Now if Len has a Not Me, Not Always, Not Everything explanatory style, then he might explain this event by saying, “I got fired because there just isn’t very much work for me to do anymore, and the company is trying to be more efficient. (Not Me). The economy is really making holding a job difficult. But things will eventually turn around. (Not Always). The job wasn’t a good fit for me anyway; I really wasn’t using my true talents. At least I have a good wife at home to help me through this (Not Everything).”

*** end quote ***

That’s why I preach the Turkey’s Credo:

“It’s not you (job seeker). It’s not me (a fellow seeker). It’s them (bastards)!”

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JOBSEARCH: Students, use your content to get ready for job search

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

http://www.careersolvers.com/blog/2010/01/25/career-management-it-takes-a-village/comment-page-1/#comment-2201

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Career Management: It Takes a Village

*** begin quote ***

Last week I attended the first of many college planning meetings at my daughter’s school. Jammed into the school auditorium with 200+ other neurotic parents of high school juniors, I listened to details about student entrance exam test dates, transcripts, and application deadlines.

*** and ***

In some ways I think career management starts well before a person’s career starts. And choosing a college that is going to help with that process should be part of the plan. You know the saying; it takes a village to raise a child…I think every child needs that same village to start their career.

*** end quote ***

I don’t understand for the inet generation to not create a “personal brand” using their high school and college work. I advise the College kids that I speak with to create a web presence. I am astonished that kids studying MARKETING have NO web presence. I’m all so astonished that they seem to fail to understand the concept of “indelible digital dirt”. Career management starts with making a sale of one’s labor possible. imho.

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JOBSEARCH: A relo is a test of faith?

Thursday, January 21, 2010

http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/Conan-OBrien-will-leave-Tonight-Show-81160232.html

Conan O’Brien will definitely leave ‘Tonight Show’
By ANTOINETTE KELLY
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Monday, January 11, 2010, 2:43 PM

*** begin quote ***

“Conan uprooted his family, his life and moved to Los Angeles and they have not given him enough time” the friend said. “It is outrageous what they have done to him.” O’Brien’s family is extremely upset that the massive lifestyle change they made and the new responsibility O’Brien assumed has been taken so lightly by NBC.

*** end quote ***

It certainly is a good lesson to anyone considering a corporate relo deal.

I remember one fellow getting axed as his plane was enroute from Sweden to Houston and he was so screwed.

To relo, you MUST HAVE a contract. History is replete with lessons. If they won’t give you one, how can you trust them?

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