A Late Bloomer Learns How to Make a New Year's Resolution

Recently, author Stephen Shapiro shared some surprising findings on New Year's Resolutions:

It appears that the younger you are, the more likely you are to achieve your resolutions.

39% of those in their twenties achieve their resolutions every year or every other year.

Less than 15% of those over 50 achieve their resolutions every year or every other year.

If you clicked through to read Shapiro's extended findings and you aren't in your 20's, and you saw the statistic that only about 8% of those who make resolutions consistently achieve them--do not give up on a big goal.

Pick up the phone or turn to your partner and enlist their encouragement. You are much more likely to achieve your goals if you share them--and set them in tandem with someone else. This is how Weight Watchers stays in business.

I share this advice with confidence and conviction. I have tried and failed to achieve resolutions in the past, but this year was a watershed moment: I've found personal success using the collaborative approach.

Prior to 2008, I had unfulfilled dreams of writing about careers in a public forum, but I was stuck in an inner battle between my social self and my quiet self. I love to write but the process is--conventionally--a solitary task. I enjoying reading, but I am happiest when I am making connections with others. I found myself talking a lot about writing but not actually doing it. In 2009, I actually did it. Consistently.

I could tell you that my success is a result of a change in my self discipline, or a testament to my drive and motivation. But I can't lie: Like many who achieve their goals later in life, my success is "highly contingent on the efforts of others." In a New Yorker essay exploring economist David Galenson's research on the differences between child prodigies and those who achieve success later in life, Malcolm Gladwell calls this the "final lesson of the late bloomer."

Consider the career of Cezanne. As Gladwell tells it, he was supported by his father for years, had his first show at 56 and once had a friend sit for a portrait over 150 times--before he decided to abandon the painting. (Now that's a friend!)

It was others who helped me put words to paper. First I discovered Twitter, and a new community of interesting people who provide me with ideas on what to write about--and who serve as role models on how to write. I also gained not one, but two new mentors who have consistently encouraged me. I made friends with several other emerging writers and took a short course. I sent drafts to friends and family. I learned to take small steps, to use a formula to break writer's block, and to publish the imperfect.

As I look back on what I've written this year, I am grateful for the support that I've received from my friends and family. They have my gratitude and my thanks, and I appreciate their patience. As Gladwell says, "Prodigies are easy. They advertise their genius from the get-go. Late bloomers are hard. They require forbearance and blind faith."

If you have a dream that you can't quite give up on--and haven't managed to achieve just yet, find a friend or mentor who will encourage you with blind faith--and challenge you to be accountable for making it happen. Let me know how it turns out...and good luck!

When To Wine, Instead of Whine

With all the news in the headlines, you may find it hard not to feel anxious with regard to your own job search.

At least once a day I'm asked, "Should I stay where I am? Is it even possible for me to find a job in this market? How can I possibly find something I want when the unemployment rate is rapidly rising?"

Resist the temptation to feel sorry for yourself. Visit a job board like Indeed.com or SimplyHired.com. Type in a few key words of interest and see what comes up.

Chances are good that you will see jobs...Current openings that you can apply for. If your experience fits, you should move forward.

I was reminded of this recently when I stumbled upon a website that recently mentioned me in a blogpost...Winetalent.net

This website specializes in executive placement for positions in the wine industry. You don't have to be a vineyard owner to apply, you do need functional experience in the area to which you are applying and a demonstrated interest in the industry.

Even if you're not a oenophile (i.e. lover of wine) with a dream of working in the business full-time, the point here is a broader one: Not all jobs have ceased to exist, and there's a treasure trove of information about potential opportunities across different sectors available. Now get going!

It's better to go out in search of possibilities you'll love then to sit at home and whine...

Cheers,
Chandlee

On Hurricanes and Avoiding Career Storm Surges

As I write, Hurricane Gustav is rapidly approaching New Orleans and millions along the Gulf Coast are facing potential wind, rain, and catastrophic losses of property and neighborhoods. One potential additional casualty of the storm--jobs. (Two months after Katrina, the Department of Labor estimated a loss of 230,000 jobs due to the storm.)

I've witnessed the effects of a storm surge firsthand: In December 2005, I spent two weeks volunteering with a Katrina relief effort in Biloxi, Mississippi. My former colleagues, students, and I arrived over 100 days after the storm and joined an active volunteer group of over 150--many of whom had been working since early September. We were shocked by the extent of the damage. One of our first assignments was to replace street signs in a neighborhood. (The official ones weren't ready yet, so we made our own temporary signs.)

If you feel that there is only a remote possibility that you or someone you know will be personally affected by a hurricane--think again. According to the Census, 1 in 2 Americans lives in a coastal county within 50 miles of the sea. This weekend, I wrote a piece for Career Hub on employment-related preparation strategies that you can use in anticipation of Mother Nature's whims. My primary suggestions:

Maintain contact with others through an e-mail address/phone number that is portable.

Store copies of your resume and other important documents electronically, and

Ensure that you have enough identification to complete an I-9.

Given that the window for Gustav preparations has passed, my thoughts turn to "Maxine," a Katrina survivor I met during my time in Mississippi. Maxine and her extended family decided to ride out the storm in her apartment: "My building is made of bricks--it isn't wood, and it isn't a mobile home. We figured we'd be fine if the water didn't come in. At first I thought I'd be okay if my car survived, then I thought I'd be okay if the house didn't get any water. Then I saw the refrigerator floating in the living room, and the room filling up, and I thought I'd be okay if the family just lived through it."

Maxine and her family survived, but she lost all of her possessions and ended up living with her mother. "It isn't great, but it's okay," she said at the time. Her long-term plans were to stay in her hometown through the rebuild--though her father had already moved to Texas--and pursue a job in customer service using her previous experience as an accounting assistant (a position she did not enjoy).

Last week, I wrote about taking time out to address minor annoyances in life and work (see Jason Alba's post, "I Hated My Lawnmower"). Today, I am thinking about challenges at work or in life that start small, grow larger, and that we convince ourselves that we can get through without addressing head-on. Have you experienced the mental equivalent of having a refrigerator float through your workspace--"If only I can get through today, it will be okay?"

Once they committed to riding out Hurricane Katrina, Maxine and her family had very limited control and a finite amount of choices to make as the storm surge seeped through their quarters. On the other hand, you may have more options than you realize. Are there situations you are living which have steadily gotten worse and that you can take control of? Anything small that you can tackle now before it becomes a groundswell?

To paraphrase Robert Schuller's oft-quoted gem: "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"

Putting the Lawnmower Before Your To-Do List

Today, the world learned of the untimely death of Dave Freeman, author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die," at age 47. After experiencing over half of the adventures listed in his book, Mr. Freeman died of a head injury resulting from an accidental fall at his home. According to his co-author, Neil Teplica, "The title (of the book) meant 'you should live every day like it would be your last,' and there's not that many people who do...It's a credit to Dave -- he didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have."

Next Monday, a majority of Americans will say goodbye to summer on Labor Day--the day we honor workers before we begin work again! For many, the holiday is synonymous with new beginnings: as the academic year begins and campuses buzz with a fresh start, many job seekers will jump-start their search for permanent employment. Some will apply and get started with lists reminiscent of New Year's Resolutions. If you enjoy multi-tasking or are in a hurry of a particular sort, you may appreciate the following recent piece from the New York Times entitled Ten Things to Do Before You Finish This Article.

But before you set up automatic job search agents, polish your resume for rapid deployment, and start at the top of your to-do list with everything that must be done...I encourage you to smart small: is there anything that's getting under your skin now that might be fixed with only a minor adjustment?

My friend Jason Alba, wrote a great piece about this recently--he lived with a lawnmower that spit grass in his face for years until he spent a few minutes and discovered that all it needed was a slight adjustment. Are there any current modifications that you can make to your current situation that will make it more bearable for the short-term--and may even make it more attractive in the long-term?

After all, aggressively pursuing a lengthy to-do list can lead to rapid burnout; fixing minor annoyances can free up your time for both your job search and your personal life. Will you feel as though you've lived if you haven't been land-diving in Vanuatu, attended Las Fallas or the Academy Awards? Dave Freeman felt all of these adventures enriched his life: what's on your personal must-do list?

Taking Lessons on Job Search Strategies from the Olympic Games

This Friday is a rare night of "Must See TV" for me: the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. I can still remember the magical moment in 1996 when Kerri Strug ignored a bad ankle and clinched the Gold medal for the U.S. Women's gymnastic team by sticking the landing on her 2nd vault attempt.

While we are only able to see the U.S. team compete in the Olympics every four years, I think of the metaphors that can be drawn between the gymnastic competition and the job search frequently:

• Olympics:
  
  Both the competitors and the judges who evaluate them adhere to pre-established rules for each element of the competition. Gymnasts are well aware of the expectations for each event and know that each performance will be evaluated within the parameters of those rules.

• Job Search:
  
  The process is a bit different. Job seekers generally receive information on the requirements for a position through a job description and advertisement; however, there's less overt information shared on the evaluation process.
  
  Furthermore, many interviewers can appear to veer away from the position itself during the interview by asking questions that appear to be unrelated to the position at hand. Do not be fooled: behind every interview question, there's a motivation to learn more about you.
  
  Virtually all interview questions are designed to assess your core competencies, interest, and relevance of background--within the context of the position.

Successful gymnasts often speak of how they visualized the landing before they left the ground. To ensure your success in the job search, think like a gymnast by thinking "backwards" and focusing on your landing first. When asked a question, ask yourself: What skills and attributes are relevant for this position? Which of my experiences speak best to this area?

Develop your application materials and answers to interview questions so that you actively demonstrate your understanding of the position as well as how that position fits into the company at large. Ask yourself, "What are the most critical skills to perform in this position? Based on the position description and what I know of the industry and job function--what does the employer need most? How can I fill this need?"

"Reverse engineer" your application materials and responses to interview questions in this way and you'll be able to articulate your understanding of both what you offer the employer--and how the position and industry is a match for your skill sets and interests. In other words, you'll make it easy for the employer to hire you.

Furthermore, this strategy will not only help you shine in the interview and "stick the landing"--it will also help you in determining if the position is a best fit for you: If your potential employer isn't interested in evaluating you on the basis of your strengths and interests--or what you do best--perhaps the job isn't a fit for you? This is, perhaps, the most crucial area to for you to evaluate: just as most gymnasts pick an area of excellence (such as the high beam or floor exercises), you want to ensure that the focus of your day job is a type of work that you enjoy--so you can stick the "landing" with regularity and contribute to your team's success.

Career "Independence"

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
-Mary Oliver, Summer Day, New and Selected Poems, 1992

Uncertain about your own prospects for new employment? In pursuit of career happiness?

This July, we are an anxious nation with collective concerns: for the third straight month, Gallup reports that concerns over the economy/jobs/recession occupy the “top spot” of most Americans' worry list.

Economic concerns aside, a key component to happiness is independence. A recent "World Happiness" study reveals a strong correlation between happiness and democracy. Study Director Ronald Ingelhart concludes, "Ultimately, the most important determinant of happiness is the extent to which people have free choice in how to live their lives."

In the spirit of Independence Day, how do we pursue career independence in an uncertain economy?

There's no definitive answer, but here is one solution based on a common theme: focus on your strengths in both your existing work and in your job search! Regardless of whether you choose to pursue a new work opportunity or renegotiate a current position based on your core competencies; you may find that focusing on enhancing your strengths gives you a greater feeling of independence, career satisfaction, and freedom than continually trying to rehabilitate each and everyone of your weaknesses. I don’t advocate that you give up trying to gain more experience or skills that help you improve upon areas of weakness, but I do believe that it is generally easier--and may be less time consuming--to focus more on what you do well!

Here are three tips to approach your work from this vantage point:

• Isolate your strengths, and then develop a strategy to pursue new opportunities that allow you to leverage those strengths. Ask yourself what skills and experiences come easiest to you. Here’s a metaphor: If you write with your left hand, and you're in a job that feels as if you have to write with your right hand all day--you may be in the wrong position! (Alternatively, you may be able to work with your colleagues to redesign your position so that it plays more to your strengths.)
  
• Need an outside opinion? Consider working with a career counselor or taking an external assessment to identify what skills come easiest to you. Access to an online version of one popular assessment, the Clifton StrengthsFinder, is included with the purchase of several books including StrengthsFinder 2.0, and How Full is Your Bucket?
  
• Once you pinpoint what comes easiest to you, ask yourself, "Is my current situation one which could be made more enjoyable if aspects of the position were changed?" Develop strategies to utilize those skills more in your current work--and market them in your job search.

Here’s to our collective strengths!

On Educational Freedom

APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.

- From "The Waste Land, " T.S. Eliot

I've spent the majority of my career on a college campus. This time of year, I walk through archways of joyful balloons beckoning admitted students to enroll. It is bittersweet. I cannot help but think of the students who received the "thin letters" in response to their admissions applications. For many, April is the cruelest month.

Recently, I stumbled upon the following post from a visitor to Beijing. It provides an interesting window on the career aspirations, available choices, and hopes of Chinese university students.

Perspectives from China

While the SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT still hold their own as key factors in the American admissions process, I must say that I am grateful for the choices and options that the U.S. system provides to students. While it is clear that the U.S. needs more engineers and computer scientists than are currently in the market place, it's great that our democratic form of government allows us to pursue our own career goals and interests! On that note, I'd almost say April "isn't the cruelest month," but given that it's tax season...