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!

Handling the Missing "Required" Skill: Free Tech Training

If you've ever stopped yourself from applying for a new position because you're missing a tech skill or two on the list of requirements, here's one suggested fix:

YouTube

The site that allows you to watch Tina Fey imitate Sarah Palin, music videos, and pet tricks is also used by technical trainers...

Many years ago, I was proficient at Macromedia Dreamweaver--a website development and management application which I learned and used with ease. Three months ago, I bought the latest version, Adobe Dreamweaver (CS3) and found it not-so-easy.

Enter YouTube--home of 480 tutorial videos on Dreamweaver CS3. I found several of them much more comprehensive and easy to understand than the tutorials supplied by Adobe. 

Bottom line: If you don't have a required skill, consider jumping online and taking a crash course tutorial. Take notes and practice prior to the interview than list "familiar with [application]" on your resume...If you've completed the tutorials, you'll have a few tricks under your belt and will indeed be "familiar" with the new application.

To your success!

The "S" Factor (Or Why to Stop Reading Right Now!)

Struggling to find the best solution to your latest career condundrum? Too tired to articulate yourself fully through a new cover letter? Grumpy with your job? The simplest resolution may begin with a good night's sleep...And if it isn't better in the morning, consider the alternatives.

As a career counselor and coach, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking, reading, and writing about work. Every so often, I also think about the importance of sleep. One of the statistics that has always fascinated me is that of the effects of sleep deprivation. Are you aware that the effects of sleep deprivation have been proven to have as much of a negative impact on reaction time as alcohol?

I've always been fascinated by restrictions imposed on "mission critical" professions to reduce the possibility of errors: from truck drivers and air traffic controllers, to medical residents and engineers. In the U.S., truck drivers are prohibited from driving more than 11 hours at a stretch, but medical residents in hospitals are frequently asked to work a shift of 24 hours at a time (this decreased from a previous shift of 30 hours in 2003). To me, this makes no sense at all: in both professions, the lives of others literally depend on one's ability to remain alert. Why is it that we think medical doctors can and should stay up later than truck drivers?

This weekend's train accident in L.A. reminded me of this simple restriction: preliminary results indicate that the accident could be the result of an oversight by a less-than-alert engineer with a sound track record. According to one news account, a potential cause of the crash which will be investigated is engineer fatique: in California, engineers are limited to 12 hours a day running a train, although that can be broken up over a stretch as long as 18 hours. Tim Smith, California state chairman of a union representing engineers and conductors, describes the impact of being perpetually "on"

"Doing that for five or six days in a row, you have the cumulative fatigue factor that becomes a real bear," he said.

If it were up to me, "rest hour" would be a mandatory part of the work day--I'm always amazed at how refreshed I feel by a short nap. Conversely, the most challenging times I've ever encountered with my day job have occurred during periods when I've allowed myself little time for sleep. Coincidence? I don't think so...

In sum, your next career success could start simply with rest!

New on the Job?: Molt Like A Penguin

Many of my posts on this blog talk about strategies for finding a job; I think it's equally important to talk about effective career management strategies once you've landed a new job--or in your current line of work.

Today I'm musing on the parallels between allowing yourself space to learn in a new work environment and the cyclical processes of penguins. This post was inspired by my friend Deborah Tobin, who possesses a treasure trove of information: she's worked in recruiting, is a professional organizer and talks about penguins at the Central Park Zoo (she's a docent).

This weekend, Deborah is exhausted from talking: the penguins look terrible and everyone wants to know why they are all shedding their feathers. Are they sick?

In fact, this collective shedding is a sign of strength: the penguins are molting, an annual process which takes places after mating and before the winter. Over the course of two to three weeks, they will essentially shed all of their old feathers and grow a new coat for winter. During this time, they'll stay out of the water, eat very little (they've built up some reserves) and look more vulnerable than usual. Here's a YouTube video from the Tennessee aquarium which describes the process.

In my opinion, there are a lot of parallels that can be drawn between molting penguins and the process of adapting to a work environment:

It's the feathers that help make us attractive to others. Penguins need a healthy coat of feathers for mating, you are hired for a job based on the "feathers in your cap"--i.e. what you've accomplished in the past--and your potential to accomplish great things in the future.

In order to be successful, we have to let the feathers go and prepare for a new environment. Just as penguins need to molt in order to prepare for the winter, you can't rest on what you've accomplished before, you have to assess your new job--learn what success looks like within the context of your new environment--and then adapt.

For most of us, the comparisons end there: while penguins typically molt at the same time, many workers start new positions alone--and without the comfort of a large group of peers who are going through the same situation. From a professional standpoint, it's important to be simultaneously viewed as competent, capable and humble on a new job. You want to demonstrate both your potential, as well as your growing understanding of a new work culture.

This can be tricky; organizations with a similar mission can vary greatly in culture and in terms of what they value: what is an accomplishment in one environment, may be seen as counter to the team in another. You need to take the time to learn the difference so that you can get new "feathers."

Here are a few great places to start: Keith Ferrazi's blog "Never Eat Alone" and the books Your First 90 Days, and Sink or Swim: New Job. New Boss. 12 Weeks to Get it Right.

May you have many successes with the molting process...

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!