Go there now.
1. Think big
2. Scan the oldies but goodies
3. Visit recruiter sites
4. Go surfing
5. Get social
6. Don't blast away
7. Spell well
8. Tread carefully
9. Follow up!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Get Yourself a Resume Page
Check out Keegan Jones' About page ... it serves as a nice, clean example of a "resume page" you could put up. Although he's a Web designer (and a very good one at that), it's inspiration fodder.
For little to nothing, you could buy your unique name and get some cheap hosting at GoDaddy. Estimated cost: Less than $60 for one year's hosting and domain name.
Cheap alternative: Get a free Blogger account, or WordPress blog account. Use their templates. Post your stuff. Be "live."
Word to the wise: Be careful what you put on blogs. The random ooze that comes from your head might not necessarily impress a potential employer.
For little to nothing, you could buy your unique name and get some cheap hosting at GoDaddy. Estimated cost: Less than $60 for one year's hosting and domain name.
Cheap alternative: Get a free Blogger account, or WordPress blog account. Use their templates. Post your stuff. Be "live."
Word to the wise: Be careful what you put on blogs. The random ooze that comes from your head might not necessarily impress a potential employer.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
You Are YOUR Brand
From career advice from personal branding guru Tom Peters ... the classic article from FastCompany magazine about branding and marketing yourself ... great career advice, I think, with a caution about not getting TOO wrapped up in yourself.
He gives a couple questions to ask yourself:
He gives a couple questions to ask yourself:
- What makes You different?
- What's the pitch for You?
- What's the real power of You?
- What's the loyalty of You?
- What's the future of You?
50 Essential Writing Tools, Strategies
Even if you're not a "professional" writer, I would argue you still need good writing skills ...
Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute has a blog, podcast and abbreviated list about his "Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer."
Here are the links:
Podcast
Abbreviated list (very good)
Blog
The book
Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute has a blog, podcast and abbreviated list about his "Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer."
Here are the links:
Capitalize on Your Strengths
Know thyself and thy strengths!
It goes without saying that we should play to our strengths, but often we major on our weaknesses, seeking to overcome them.
One of the most enlightening and confirming books I've read on the subject of capitalizing on your strengths is "Now, Discover Your Strengths," the best-selling book based on a huge research project by Gallup.
I've taken the Myers-Briggs test (one of my favorites) and others, but this one gets to the core of what we are truly excellent at.
The premise is: All of us have a core set of strenghts -- things we consistently excel at -- and we should therefore major on those things. These are also the areas you derive the most satisfaction from.
The authors tell us we should find opportunities that play to our strengths, that allow you to focus on the things you do excellently without much effort.
I found my top five strengths were:
Learner -- why I have 8 books on my nightstand and five others around the house, and constantly have to be reading something
Individualization -- recognizing others strengths
Maximizer -- taking good to great
Futuristic -- vision casting; seeing "over the horizon"
Intellection -- always thinking
Thinking through these strengths has helped me understand the way I operate better. For instance, as a "learner" I love digging into a new job and mastering it (what thye call going from "ignorance to competence"). But after I have done so, I get bored.
I think this has great implications for your writing and marketing your writing. My strengths of "Learner," "Maximizer" and "Intellection" play well together in that I love to learn about people and think how they have become excellent in what they do -- in particular how they go from good to great.
Here are some other links:
The author -- good audio and video clips, along with free PDF downloads
Gallup's Book Center for "Discover Your Strength -- more free articles
Amazon has the book for $18 ... it includes a serial number in the book cover for the online test. It takes about 40 minutes and you have a report ready for you at the end detailing your top five strengths.
If you buy it and take the test, please share your strengths with me!
It goes without saying that we should play to our strengths, but often we major on our weaknesses, seeking to overcome them.
One of the most enlightening and confirming books I've read on the subject of capitalizing on your strengths is "Now, Discover Your Strengths," the best-selling book based on a huge research project by Gallup.
I've taken the Myers-Briggs test (one of my favorites) and others, but this one gets to the core of what we are truly excellent at.
The premise is: All of us have a core set of strenghts -- things we consistently excel at -- and we should therefore major on those things. These are also the areas you derive the most satisfaction from.
The authors tell us we should find opportunities that play to our strengths, that allow you to focus on the things you do excellently without much effort.
I found my top five strengths were:
Thinking through these strengths has helped me understand the way I operate better. For instance, as a "learner" I love digging into a new job and mastering it (what thye call going from "ignorance to competence"). But after I have done so, I get bored.
I think this has great implications for your writing and marketing your writing. My strengths of "Learner," "Maximizer" and "Intellection" play well together in that I love to learn about people and think how they have become excellent in what they do -- in particular how they go from good to great.
Here are some other links:
Amazon has the book for $18 ... it includes a serial number in the book cover for the online test. It takes about 40 minutes and you have a report ready for you at the end detailing your top five strengths.
If you buy it and take the test, please share your strengths with me!
Celebrating Year One ... Living by a Budget
This August my wife and I celebrate one year of living according to a planned budget. Through some great friends, we went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and have been incredibly blessed by the experience.
I think the best money management advice I've gotten is this: Simply prepare a budget and as best you can live by it.
The first month of doing it was incredibly painful, I'll admit, but as our friends told us ... "You won't believe how much it'll improve your communication in marriage" (for the good).
I'm the "free spirit" and my wife is the "nerd" as Ramsey calls it. She'll keep track of the numbers, and I loathe it every month. I mean really loathe it.
Anyway ... for what it's worth ... get a budget, live by it, and "tell your money where to go" instead of the other way around (loose paraphrase: Dave Ramsey).
P.S.: He's coming to OKC ...
P.S.S.: Find a Financial Peace University group in the NWOKC area here.
I think the best money management advice I've gotten is this: Simply prepare a budget and as best you can live by it.
The first month of doing it was incredibly painful, I'll admit, but as our friends told us ... "You won't believe how much it'll improve your communication in marriage" (for the good).
I'm the "free spirit" and my wife is the "nerd" as Ramsey calls it. She'll keep track of the numbers, and I loathe it every month. I mean really loathe it.
Anyway ... for what it's worth ... get a budget, live by it, and "tell your money where to go" instead of the other way around (loose paraphrase: Dave Ramsey).
P.S.: He's coming to OKC ...
P.S.S.: Find a Financial Peace University group in the NWOKC area here.
Career Tip #1: Move that desk
One of the best pieces of advice I got (from a former managing editor) that I have used at nearly every place I've been is (loose paraphrase):
In other words ... you're starting fresh and want people to attach certain labels and perceptions based on you and your work ethic, style, direction, goals,
etc.
Whenever you start a new job, move your desk. Change up your office somehow. This helps to break a stereotype embedded in that office before you got there.
In other words ... you're starting fresh and want people to attach certain labels and perceptions based on you and your work ethic, style, direction, goals,
etc.
Formula for Tackling Procrastination
I'm most definitely a procrastinator ... as a writer (and former newspaper journalist), I really appreciate and enjoy deadlines. They force me to focus. I enjoy the thrill of almost being late or missing a deadline.
Of course, I wonder ... what if I didn't wait until the last minute to write that paper, or article, or big hairy project due on Monday at 8 a.m. (and it's Sunday at midnight) ... how much better would it be?
43Folders has a great post on a formula about tackling procrastination called the "10+2)*5" ...
It goes like this:
Do 10 minutes of focused work
Then take 2 minutes of goofing off
Perscription: 5 times an hour
I like it ...
Of course, I wonder ... what if I didn't wait until the last minute to write that paper, or article, or big hairy project due on Monday at 8 a.m. (and it's Sunday at midnight) ... how much better would it be?
43Folders has a great post on a formula about tackling procrastination called the "10+2)*5" ...
It goes like this:
Do 10 minutes of focused work
Then take 2 minutes of goofing off
Perscription: 5 times an hour
I like it ...
Friday, August 18, 2006
7 Ways to Be a Movie Star or Cult Leader
Classic for a little Friday post humor.
1. Make Outrageous Statements
2. Date a New Person Every Week
3. Seem Humble When in Fact You’re Anything But
4. ABS (Always Be Shopping)
5. Speak in the Third Person
6. Complain About the Government
7. Name Drop
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
14 Reasons Chuck Norris Rocks
Here's my claim to fame ... I grew up in Lone Grove, Okla., approximately 7 miles east of Wilson, Okla., where martial arts expert Chuck Norris grew up ... you're impressed, right?
Here's "14 Amazing Chuck Norris Facts" ... great for a slow (or in my case busy) afternoon.
Here's "14 Amazing Chuck Norris Facts" ... great for a slow (or in my case busy) afternoon.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Taking Rides from Strangers a Bad Thing
I couldn't help it ... this quote from USC's football coach Pete Caroll, via the AP and FoxNews was just classic:
On an incident where two of his players were arrested after hitching a ride to practice ... RIGHT before the LAPD busted the driver/car for potentially being involved in a crime: "The lesson is don't take rides from strangers."
On an incident where two of his players were arrested after hitching a ride to practice ... RIGHT before the LAPD busted the driver/car for potentially being involved in a crime: "The lesson is don't take rides from strangers."
Great Sites for the 'Young and Broke'
BusinessWeek offers this article, loaded with good sites on money and finance.
Here's a couple of my personal favorites:
Dave Ramey's Financial Peace University -- my wife and I went through this small group course and it's life changing ... we use almost all of his tips
FreeMoneyFinance Blog
Crown.org -- a well respected Bible study and ministry ... check out their Money Maps and 10 Steps to Getting Out of Debt
All-time favorite practical advice for money and finance: Have a budget.
Here's a couple of my personal favorites:
All-time favorite practical advice for money and finance: Have a budget.
the first post ... heard ... well, probably nowhere
This is it ... the first official post of the nwokc blog.
Here's my intent in publishing this blog ... to blog on living in nwokc ... which for me means writing about work, play, life, food, I happen to like coffee so that'll come up, getting around the infamous intersection of penn and memorial, and probably some good old Christian spirituality, of the Jesus variety -- an integral part of my life.
I'd really like to be able to eventually offer restaurant reviews -- my wife and I enjoy eating out -- and if area businesses will help out, coupons for cheap stuff.
But I'll need help ... email me.
... let the conversation begin.
Here's my intent in publishing this blog ... to blog on living in nwokc ... which for me means writing about work, play, life, food, I happen to like coffee so that'll come up, getting around the infamous intersection of penn and memorial, and probably some good old Christian spirituality, of the Jesus variety -- an integral part of my life.
I'd really like to be able to eventually offer restaurant reviews -- my wife and I enjoy eating out -- and if area businesses will help out, coupons for cheap stuff.
But I'll need help ... email me.
... let the conversation begin.
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