Building a resume, reputation, or track record is the goal of any college education or summer internship. The idea that one great name on a resume is enough to propel yourself into the realm of high paid executives is a myth in this job climate. Even if the goal is just an entry position in a well-known firm, more is necessary.
When you are competing with downsized middle managers for starting positions it is the college grad with a story, not just a resume that will claim the day. This is not to say that the story must be an epic novel, each day filled with exciting adventure. More importantly each entry is unique, some way different than the other thousand applicants. Do you have a blog that you consistently contribute to? Does your online reputation reflect a positive light? What would your network say about you? All of these things an employer will likely find out if you generate enough interest.
In any position there is relevant experience. Do you have the same cookie cutter internships or did you go out and create your own with a company that “wasn’t hiring.” Do you paint yourself as a self-starter? Can you prove it? This is where the blog comes in, a constant commitment to blogging shows that you have determination and character; it also allows hassle free insight into your personality.
When working with potential clients I find that the biggest part of my reputation comes from my portfolio of work. Obvious you might say, but many people do not take the time to create a portfolio of work. Why would they? It is an unorthodox approach to many jobs but it proves that you have experience in the subject matter. The portfolio also provides a quick play-by-play of your recent projects, which make up your story!
Find ways to build out your resume, actual experiences that will make you more interesting.
1. Work for a non-profit, it’s actually pretty easy to achieve an impressive title for a college grad willing to volunteer.
2. Work for free? Anything to build that portfolio!
3. Blog your experiences.

Less of a blog post more of a personal admission, one to which I’m sure you’ll relate…

I may be in the minority but I love to read personal development books. So sometimes I wonder, “self, why am I not rich, famous, and (insert adjective here).” The inability to make moves. Lets be serious I can consume hundreds of pages of personal development books, blogs and interviews. I’m sure you can as well and if these reputable sources are actually providing quality content why haven’t all of their readers become part of the 3% of millionaires or the model of perfect fitness?

Case study: Myself

I have read books like Four Hour Workweek, The Millionaire Next Door, and Rich Dad Poor Dad cover to cover. All renowned for their valuable contribution to our society, as well as the proper steps necessary to become a wealthy in whatever form that means to you. Personally, wealth is a representation of freedom; a lot of happiness can be gained when the stress of financial worry is removed from your unique equation. Now that I’ve defined a goal, financial freedom, what are the barriers? There is only one, one that I have encountered on many occasions.

Inaction: The astounding ability to create a reality to which your only goal becomes a metaphorical mountain of adversity. Where each step forward is excruciating, each hour of potential practical productivity is wasted on our favorite social network or marginally beneficial task. Each of these books listed are concise and accurate. The one I a currently reading, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, gives you a list of “actions” for a week to week improvement of your personal finances. I received the book yesterday and I’m already one quarter through. I can tell that it is pumped full of gold, almost literally in terms of sound financial advice. The question remains will I take its advice or continue to create excuses, paralyzing my finances and my goals.

Stop Reading, Start Doing

As I’ve discovered the majority of the population including myself, define an argument as a loud and rowdy disagreement, less eloquently a yelling match. Great rhetoricians of old more accurately describe an argument as a debate. They do not “argue” based on emotion or feelings. They attempt to make a point using research and a sound base of knowledge. They assert that in most cases there is something to be achieved with every argument. Even resumes and cover letters present an opportunity for debate. Although widely considered a one-way dialog. These items evoke feeling and emotions in the recipient. The goal being to guide these reactions to your benefit, in this case an interview and subsequently a job offer.

Each entry on a resume is a platform to make your case, the case that you are the best for the job. Not merely stating that you have experience but what that experience will bring to the available position. The same opportunity is presented in the cover letter. Although it is considered a formality, creating a custom cover letter for each application allows the job seeker to present a tailored argument to each recipient. Each paragraph about experience or achievement allows the reader insight to your capabilities. Just as a lawyer makes her case you can appeal to the rational, ethical and emotional sides of your reader.

The main forms of argument use appeals of rationality, ethics, and emotion. Although most rhetoricians do not argue or debate from emotion, making appeals to the emotions of others is a powerful way to guild your “opponent.” It is impossible to know where a decision comes from without asking outright but it is rational to believe that is formed from the combination of rational, emotional and ethical reactions. The goal of debating is to find the correct combination to sway the argument to your point of view.

Using the resume or cover letter example is useful because it is easily relatable. In the position of the job seeker, it is assumed that you feel that you are the correct person to fill the available job. Your recipient will be your opponent. The idea is to use the opportunity to have a dialog with the emotions of the person reading your cover letter/resume. You want to focus on your ability to fill their need. Just remembering that instead of a formality each cover letter and resume is an opportunity to state your case will put you at the top of the list and hopefully present an occasion to build your case in an interview.

This brief reminder is based off of reading Getting Your Way Every Day by Alan Axelrod.

A common theme with globalization is the outsourcing of labor. Well if it’s so obvious why do people refuse to train in professions that are outsource proof? I find it most frustrating when people know what the problem is but refuse to change the way they operate. Just as corporations will become obsolete if they do not outsource, you as a resource will become obsolete if you train in a profession that will possibly be available for outsourcing.

Because there are brilliant minds all over the world it is easy to find talent that is cheaper than that of the United States. With different levels of standard of living you may be paying relatively low prices for your service but to the foreign worker you are paying top dollar.

Many people didn’t realize their jobs were outsourceable until they were obsolete. Potentially the most important part of your job might be just staying ahead of the curve. If you can reveal the movement of your job from the US to overseas you have a powerful position that allows you to train yourself in another discipline.

It would be spectacular if everyone would have the ability to pursue the trade that makes him or her most happy but it seems that with the market we are facing currently that is not a possibility. The world is becoming smaller and smaller. Everything is more convenient, faster, or more efficient. We forget about all of the people who are made obsolete from our constant evolution. We have to remember our fate is in our hands; no one will look out for your future.

The force that keeps us in place on earth has a similar effect in psychology.  I find that whenever I contemplate the plans of others one of two things can happen. The positive side is that I am inspired by the ambitions and plans of my colleagues. We are pulled, like gravity toward those shining stars whose ambitions and goals drive us upward to new heights. The negative is in respect to the forces or people around us who do not have lofty goals. They may not have any ill will towards you but by their sheer apathy or laziness they subconsciously make it acceptable for you to slow your progress. You can compare yourself to these two types of people, which is more likely? The one with lofty goals is hard to follow while the one with lax ambitions is much easier.

We have a whole range of people who surround us; there are those who want more and those who are willing to work for more. Obviously we all have friends who complain about their situation and there are those who take those complaints and use them to fuel their progression.

As we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Worrying about the haters in life is a waste of time, it is just jealousy. They just want what you have, which means that you must be doing something right. Although this does not equate to happiness, hopefully your success is propelling you to your ultimate goal. My advice would be to not only get drawn to the shining stars but to be a shining star.

Sometimes we get so excited, so enthralled, and so consumed that we forget that we still have to perform in the present. New ideas are intoxicating, they envelope all of our senses and appeal to our imagination. With all of these great attributes what could possibly go wrong. Many things! We can get so consumed with our fantasy of success we never make the first move or decision. Remember the “Inches” speech in Any Given Sunday?

Life is the six inches in front of your face

Embracing this tradition leads to the choices which make success possible. The epic and miniscule decisions which build momentum and progress. You may have the best goal structure ever conceived but if the construction of that structure hinders you from making moves toward the next check point or finish line what is the point? Often it isn’t the idea men who drive our success but the task oriented and organized managers that focus on the little details that push our ventures forward an inch. Many preach living in the moment, but in the business sense it is most crucial. Executing the small often tedious tasks produce some of the most powerful results. Everyone should be a contributor to the main goal or dream of an idea but each member should remain focused on the little tasks they are given to keep the wheels of progress turning.

Know when to daydream and when to perform. Everyone wants to work on the big projects, the big accounts, or the big decisions. We often undermine the actions taken minute to minute that help us fulfill our daydreams and fantasies.

Who are you? The inspired, problem solving task destroyer or the “what can be done today can be done tomorrow” kind of person. Although most people are categorized as one or the other, I would argue that the latter just hasn’t discovered their passion.

Exhibit A: One of my best friends is an average student; somehow he is graduating although he never seems to attend class or complete homework. Most would categorize him as a procrastinator, right? Well I believe that he is very talented but at the moment he is forced to focus on a topic, e.g. school, which is not his passion. Why would I say he is talented? Maybe he chose the wrong school but give this guy a microphone and he will sing and rap until it crumbles from the vibration of his voice. He will sit in his room alone or with friends writing hundreds, maybe thousands of versus. He knows what his true passion is.

Measure him by the work he produces for his passion, which is music, and you would see that he is “the inspired, problem solving task destroyer.”

Exhibit B: Measured by test scores he is average at best, but measured by drive and ability he is first rate. Give him a task such as an assigned paper or project and he will not complete it until it is pushed as far down the road as possible. Show him a blog that will inspire him and improve his quality of life and he will listen to one and a half hour long podcasts, or read blog posts thousands of pages long. Or impress him with a movie idea and he will run with it until his lungs collapse. He knows what his true passion is.

Life is a matter of perspective and relativity. You may be accomplishing a large list of tasks. You may be inspired and hard working, but are you working for the right reasons? Do you have a long-term goal, if I asked what your true passion is; would you have a ready answer?

Variety is not the spice of life. Variety? You will find all the variety and spice bundled up in your passion. Finding and pursuing your true passion is the spice of life.

The question is efficiency. Do we work best non-stop or do breaks provide the relief we need to pursue our intellectual and business goals. The short answer is that it depends on how you’re feeling right now. Is your mind a flutter of random activity refusing to keep its focus on the task at hand? Maybe you just cannot stop reminiscing about last night or last weekend, or maybe planning next weekend. On the other spectrum is your mind destroying your to-do with ruthless efficiency. Chances are if your mind is experiencing the latter, you aren’t reading this post. You’re tactically executing the tasks that are keeping you from the freedom to enjoy the rest of your day.

But if you have found a moment to read this post maybe a few tips to help collect yourself will come in handy.

1.      Lay off the coffee, Mr. Jitters. It may help you wake up but there are always diminishing returns, it might just be the force that is keeping your mind flipping channels like late night infomercials.

2.      Bring a snack to work. One thing that keeps us from focusing indefinitely is hunger; it is the enemy of productivity. That growling is not only a biological function, it is a distracter. So find a healthy snack and chomp away, then get back to work.

3.      Do a quick set of pushups. It sounds stupid but physical activity is a great motivator of the mind. It stimulates, awakens, and focuses your mind at the task at hand. Do them in jeans. Do them in a tie. Do them at work or home. Just do them. Can’t do a push-up? Try a sit-up or a squat!

4.      Change locations. If the sunny weather outside your window prevents you from getting work done, grab a chair in a quiet spot overlooking your great office carpet, or a place with a great view of a soothing wall. Sounds boring but how can you be distracted by a wall.

5.      Close those damn windows. Not the ones that provide the great view but the ones on your computer screen with the flashing banner ads and pretty girls/guys. Those extra windows, that blinking chat window and Facebook don’t add any value to the screen when you’re distracted and attempting to accomplish something. Close them and have a Zen moment of focus with your trusty companion, your computer!

Life is a balancing act we all attempt to master, life vs. business as well as friendship vs. relationship. We can learn a lot from an analysis of our choices. Do we betray the trust given to us or do we embrace it and remain as loyal as a German shepherd? People trust us all the time, our business partners, our significant others, and especially our friends. They always get in to our business, they always care, and they never give up on us.

These important people form the foundation of our safety net; they protect and nurse our emotions. The question is do you return the favor, do you embody someone who they seek out for a helping hand, a comforting touch or an open ear. I like to think of myself as the open ear, offering sage advice and private council.

Reputation is everything, these personality traits are important indicators of character. Remember that personal recommendations are the most powerful introductions. Word of mouth in business is the same as word of mouth in life. When a friend introduces a new person to the group it is easy to understand why we drop our guard. The more credible a business associate, friend, or confidant you are, the more easily your network of relations will expand. We all understand the importance of networking but we have to remember the most important aspect of networking is the value we provide to that network.

In many instances people come and go, we all know who has been around for the long term and they should be rewarded by our upmost devotion. We should honor their wishes and build that relationship, and when the time comes for an introduction you will be first on their list.

Measuring the effectiveness of a worker is the business of a corporation. We are not measured by our ability or uniqueness. Only in the task we are given are we measured.

There are many great and depressing metaphors for the employee, all of which we ignore for the “American Dream.” We believe that if we work hard and long we can all have what we desire. The only problem with this is that the loyalty you share for your company, it does not reciprocate. We are all emotionally on guard especially with an economic climate such as this. I have seen this disloyalty firsthand; the problems we’ve faced are not unique lightning strikes but a disheartening commonality. What is the result of these events? We learn that changing careers frequently is normal, the job search is a part of life and we will never have the opportunity to be comfortable in a position.

Especially in this economy we are emotionally battered, new graduates have no company to call theirs and seasoned employees are turning their efforts to resume writing and job searching, something they thought they were past. Preparing for a round of layoffs or a restructuring is something all employees have lost sleep over. It is not surprising that a majority of employees are unsatisfied, unhappy and depressed. We are farming a society of drones, humans on autopilot. We are only allowed fleeting moments of happiness, those few weeks of vacation or the misused sick days. There is never a sense of freedom, freewill or lighthearted carefree mentality. We are always obligated to another, our group, our boss, or our corporation. I want to be obligated only to my family, my goals and myself.