Come here you wascowlly job!

I've had a chance to go see my parents recently and I had a college student ask me a question. "How do I get a job when nobody is hiring?" I promptly replied, "Get out of Michigan". But in all honesty, isn't that the big question these days? How do you get a job when the traditional routes are impossible and knowing someone just is not enough. I answer that with something I learn from growing up in the (now) most unemployed state in the union. When hunting, go where the prey goes.

I don't care if you're in college, out of college, or never went to college... go find the people you want to work with. I suggest you start with local stuff. Join-up with some local city council or frequent the board of education meetings. If that is not for you, I suggest you look at professional organizations. Volunteer for them when you can. If your looking to get noticed start asking to help as much as possible.

If that doesn't work out, you can always stalk the closest HR Manager, but I don't think it will help. You have to understand that most organizations, despite their hiring freezes would like to have the option to hire you on. The point is that they can only hire someone that makes themselves a moving target. Of course, to be a target you have to get noticed, so go get noticed all ready!

No. Really! Shut off the computer and go join something. Good night and good luck!

You better watch out!

I'm presenting at a breakfast meeting in the Loop December 18th. My topic is a little cliche. Okay, cliche but relevant! I can't talk to anyone these days without hearing about something they would like to change. If you've read the blog posts before this, you know I'm big on people taking charge of their situation. It also happens to be the time of year people start making silly resoulutions. Why make a silly resoulution that doesn't stick: something you don't really care about to make a commitment.

I suggest that this year we make resoulutions that really have an effect on our lives. Here are a few of my suggestions...

• Find an elevator speech that doesn't seem like an elevator speech (Don't ALWAYS try to sell people)
• Find a new niche of clientell
• Take the time to tweak and old idea. Shine that puppy up!
• Spend and hour or two doing work with a Chamber of Commerce
• Keep all of your appointments for, at least, two months and mark the change in the attitudes of those around you.

I guess what I'm saying is that sometimes we focus on things that we think matter but really don't. "I resolve to loose 30 lbs." Yeah, you can resolve all you want but that tredmill in your basement hasn't seen the light of day in 5 years. Do something that will make a real impact where you are... the workplace.

...And the horse you rode in on!

You know that crabby person that has an office or cubical near you? I'm sure you do. I'm sure we all do. It's like the crazy relative. We all have 'em and sometimes would love to get rid of them. The real problem is when we notice ourselves getting that way. I'm not going to tell you to "play nice" all the time. In fact, sometimes you have the right to be as cheesed-off as you want.

Tell the barista that "now is not the time to be chatting it up with your co-workers when you're five orders deep". (Well, after they have made your coffee.) Walk out of the documentary about Michael Jackson's close, but never realized stage show. Ask for your money back. Not because it is wrong to make money off the almost comeback of a hermit-like man-boy dead celebrity, but because it sucked!

If you're angry it is good to have a reason behind the anger. At least then you know what you're getting-over.

IMC Chicagoland- breakfast meeting

Area Breakfast for Consultants- Loop

Day: November 20, 2009

Time: 7:30 AM

Place: Chicago Consulting

8 S. Michigan Ave

Suite 3600

Chicago, IL

You are invited to attend this month's Area Breakfast for Consultants hosted at Chicago Consulting by the IMC Loop Chapter. This event is open to more than just IMC members. Don't be shy.

Please RSVP by 11/18/2009 to Anjali Seefeldt by clicking on her name or by calling (920) 475- 9496.

What do you mean, "you don't get it"?

I've been wrestling with the idea that great messages are rarely heard or heeded by the people that would benefit from those words of wisdom. Granted, I am a bit more aware of the usage of quotes as someone who does public speaking as an adjunct to the job. I have my favorites... Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson, George Carlin, etc. Unfortunately, people in general, but especially kids are now taking words of wisdom from people that are not wise or even remotely intelligent. (And I thought it was bad when I had to explain what was Led Zeppelin)

We've passed the point in the education of and for the masses when education meant something. In other countries all over the world, children and adults struggle to enroll in schools. Education is something that is earned, not something that is simply given. Here in the United States we have truancy issues: the children simply skip school for no reason. Parents and guardians will fight the school to keep their children from the best education possible. Most schools will lower their standards just to keep the students from not going through the system. I am fed up with children and parents not doing what they can to make sure their children get a quality education.

I've also heard the saying, " the world needs ditch-diggers too." I agree, the world need people for manual labor. I just want those digging ditches to be able to read the manual on how to operate the machinery. It is not too much to ask a parent to look out for their child. It is the job of a child/student to work for their education... not just glean information off Google and treat it as fact. We, as a country, cannot just stand by as our education system gets dumbed-down to meet the standards of the public. It is the job of the public to raise their standards to that of the learning institutions. I want to be able to have a conversation with another person in this country without having to explain all of my references that deal with the Constitution of the United States of America. Class dismissed!

This is Halloween!

I know Halloween is tomorrow, but a special post for a special day. Okay, well a special day for me and your child or children if you have 'em. Halloween was always the time for me to eat so much candy it made my dentist cringe and a time to be creative. In my house their was never a shortage of creativity and child-like enthusiasm.

Carving pumpkins was a great family activity. The whole family would spread last week's newspaper over the kitchen table pumpkins would be sliced open, gutted and cut to specifications. When my sister and I were young, we did simple pumpkin carvings. That quintssential three triangles and a cresent mouth. As we got older, designs became more intricate and not nessesarily because of any stencils. See, Dad is an artist... well and art teacher. One of his more intricate designs required him to slice away small portions of the pumpkin rind, but never cut through all the way. It gave a great glowing effect. So my sister and I started to use the shape of the pumpkins to use in the design.

If you haven't carved a pumpkin in your life or it has been a while since the last time, I suggest you do so today. It is a great way to break out of the doldrums of gloomy weather and that 9 to 5 you show-up to five days a week. Not to mention, it is a great way to take out stress. (In a macabre kind of way)

Don't rain on my parade

It's that time of year again! No, not Halloween. No, definitely not time for Thanksgiving or Christmas (or Hanukkah). It is time for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Yes, I realize that the abbreviation spells "sad". I didn't make this up... the drug companies did. A lot like Restless Leg Syndrome. Unlike the later, I can tell when the people around me are coming down with SAD.

It happens when the weather gets colder and you can count on more cloudy days than sunny. People tend to get a little more grumpy and start dragging ass. It is the time for people to start saying things like, "the weekend went by too fast" just a little too often. As a life-long inhabitant of the North I have a solution. When you're feeling like you would rather jump off the roof of your apartment building or house than go to work, it's time to buddy-up. Or go make some new friends.

What I'm trying to say is go find some people and go do something. It's a long winter, especially in the Chicago area, and it is important to stay a little more upbeat. Hey Chicago, let's not go turning into New York because of a little less sun.

Giving back to the students

How's your Monday going? Not so well? The consensus so far is that the weekend went by too fast. I have to agree. I've been writing a paper for the last week and a half. It's like pulling teeth at this point. That's how I spent the majority of this last weekend. But the week before I was actually doing something that I'm quite proud of.

As an Alumni of Central Michigan University, I would like to give back to the students. Personally, I like to give the students something that they can see is from alumni. You know, instead of some random monetary donation that they will possibly never see. I spoke to a group of English major students at Central Michigan University about getting their careers started now while still in school. I guess I could have told them to follow my example, but I believe I was simply lucky to even be where I am. I want to see these students succeed after all.

Of course this message was shared by the professor of that class and a friend of mine; Dr. Ronald Primeau. Dr. Primeau is instrumental as that kind of professor that would bring people from the field into class to show us how professionals do things. Being stuck in that ivory tower is not good for the imagination or ego. Or... maybe that's just my bias. I was told that the students enjoyed the discussion that day and so did Career Services.

Professor Primeau and myself will be working with CMU Career Services to put on a panel discussion for CMU Students about Preparing for Your Career the first part of February. If you're a CMU student and reading this please pencil this event into your planner. This will be a great event to attend!

Wow! That's one ugly baby.

Everybody has something they don't want to hear about themselves. As a consultant, you are sometimes forced to call attention to short-comings of your clients or potential clients. This pertains to the old advice of not "calling someone's baby ugly". Only a select few can really accept criticism for what it is... suggestions for change.

I'll admit, these suggestions can seem more like acusations at times. Acusations have a tendency to have the reaction of having people put up their gaurd. It is even more common for people to put up their gaurd to any suggestion no matter how blunt or sugar-coated. This usually embodies itself in suggestions for change being rationalized away. The conversation goes something like this:

• Mr/Miss/Mrs/Dr Doe, you have a problem.
• It's not me. It's not my fault. I've been trying to do better

Why is it we can't just accept what people say? The funny part is that we don't accept these things no matter how many times we hear them. I heard a funny quote from a movie that I have to agree with. "The first time someone calls you a horse, you punch him on the nose. The second time someone calls you a horse, you call him a jerk. The third time someone calls you a horse, well, then perhaps it's time to go shopping for a saddle." (Lucky Number Slevin) Learn to accept what people see that you do not. It's the same reason a smart person will have people that are different from them nearby. You have blindspots and the biggest is your ego!

Me... I'm sitting here not only calling my baby ugly, but your's too. Some people pay for this to happen, some ask for the advise and others do not ask, but still get it. Have the courage to accept the answer. I'm not saying you have to say "thank you". Learn to accept the fact that you are not perfect, you may never be perfect, but you can work toward being perfect. Have the brass to get back up and give it another go, if things don't work out the first time. Don't be afraid to have a mirror put to your face.

Illegitimi non carborundum

I'm happy to say that I'll be speaking in the class of a past professor of mine. He's got one message to get across... "get aggressive". Not in general, of course. The university doesn't need any riots going on. (ex. CMU End of the World party circa 1986) The message is that you need to be aggressive about getting your career started. The only person that will move your career along (unless you have an agent) is YOU.

How do you get your career started? The same way you get a job or get invited to a social event... go get involved. If you have a job, you have a professional organization you can join. If you have a hobby, somewhere near you is a group dedicated to that hobby. It's time to come out of the huddled masses and make yourself known. If you're sitting down right now... you're probably not doing something productive. (Exception noted to IT people) GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING ALREADY!!!

Fired Up

I was in a bit of a slump this week, things were not going my way. You know how it goes. Well, I didn't want to write some mediocre post for all of you. But today I had a spark of thought. It could have been the discussion question for class that made no sense. I know it had something to do with Rep. Wilson from South Carolina.

I was fired up about the outburst at the President during a speech in the House of Representatives. I'm a friend of people that like to question the authority. I believe that it is important to question authority. Well... within reason, no need to go overboard about it. It has to do with my belief in checks, balances and freedom of speech. But there is a time to speak and a time to keep your trap shut! Rep. Wilson can have his time to question the President if he wishes, but not in the middle of a speech to the government of the United States. In this country we are very informal and I'm fine with that. I do feel that the office of the President is a formal office to hold. Don't outburst during a formal speech. (Not that I didn't love the shoe incident with President Bush.) But seriously... "You Lie!" That's your big outburst? Come up with something better to say if that's the way to choose to act.

Besides, it looks like the healthcare reform is going to be about making healthcare within the reach of every U.S. Citizen. But let me ask... What is wrong with a little socialism? Have we gone so far in the world where we forget about our fellow man? It's not illegal to be socialist. What's the problem with socialism?

First-Line / First-Time
Management Workshop
(3 part Series)

As part of a leadership team, you need to know who you are in your management role before you can lead. First-line managers spend most of their time leading their direct-reports. First-time managers usually have a handle on other functions of being a manager (planning, organizing and controlling) but run into problems when leading a group of people. As a first-line or first-time manager we focus the bulk of the time on leading your direct reports. The three meetings in the workshop will use open dialogue, reflective assignments, and contemporary popular literature to look at who you are as a manager and how you interact with your direct reports. The participants will get the chance to interact with their peers in a group setting to work through what it means for them to be a manager.

Location: Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Date: September 21, 24, and 28 (Parts I-III)
Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $150/session ($400 for all 3)
All Students get 50% off the price of attending
RSVP: Katrina@otavala.com

Corporate accounts, Nina speaking... just a moment

It is the start of a new week and so it is time for me to share some insight or short-sight. Yeah... it's a Monday morning. I would like to note that we still have openings for the Financial Workshop on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. If you're still interested you should contact Katrina Wahlstrom (katrina@otavala.com).

Mike Judge is a genius, a comic genius, or maybe he's had too many 9-5 jobs in his time. Well, maybe I should give credit where it is due... his writers had a lot of crappy 9-5 jobs. The mind-numbing job that makes you punch a time card, sit at your desk and stare at a screen for hours on end. You pray for lunch and savor the time you have. You envy the "lucky" soul that finds a job that is much more fulfilling and you desperately wait for your turn to follow those people.

Okay, let's be honest. We all get a case of "the Mondays" every once in a while. The point is not to make a habit out of it. Go do something to get your energy up during the day or at least get the real work done as soon as possible so that you get something done. Sometimes you just have to push on through a hard day so that tomorrow you don't have to go through it again. And if you're job is crappy day in and day out... get a new job. You obviously don't feel like you're making an impact where you are currently. Don't get stuck in a souless job... like being a lawyer (just kidding) go do what makes you content if not absolutely happy. That's my opinion anyhow!

In layman's terms

In today’s competitive economic environment, it is essential to reach a higher level of financial awareness; as a business owner, it is a matter of survival. The ability to read and understand financial reports that pertain to your business performance allows you to:

• Manage your business more efficiently
• Reduce waste of precious resources
• Reduce business risk
• Increase profits
• Standardize financial reporting within your organization to comply with creditors’ requirements
• Save money on taxes
• Raise more capital for expansion or just for working capital
• Operate more efficiently than the competition
• Increase your market share
• Better plan for lien times

In this course we aim to introduce you to the world of finance and accounting by explaining complex financial concepts in an easy to understand language; Reading Financial Statements is one of several courses offered in this area.
Cost: $375
Location: Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, AON Center
Date and Time: August 26 & 27, 9 am to 5 pm

RSVP to katrina@otavala.com

Wonder and Enthusiasm

Despite what most people think of me, I do like to be around kids. Okay, so I do think that kids can be smelly, dirty, and completely annoying. Which may be why I would rather be around kids of friends and family. I get all of the fun and almost none of the mess. Although, I have had to clean up the occasional mess when someone "loses their cookies". I enjoy children because of their sense of wonder and enthusiasm.

I think that, as adults, we lose our imagination. We tend to forget what life was like before you had to start paying bills, working, or took on debt. Children are free to be and do whatever they can dream up. That's why kids still believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. (Sorry if I spilled the beans on Santa for you.) Maybe Santa Clause and Christmas serve as the best example of what I mean. When children get ready for Christmas-time you see this beaming smile while the adult in the room this staring up at the ceiling trying to remember how much they are spending on gifts. Adults take life too serious sometimes.

Here is a test to see if you take life too serious.

• You check your bank account balance more than once a day.
• The thought of a non-speaking Penguin as a villain in a story is lost on you.
• You are offended by the show Family Guy.

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions you may be taking life too serious! If this is you I have the treatment for what ails you. Hurry and go out of ice cream, a roller coaster ride, get yourself a pet and call me in the morning. Well, maybe don't go so far as to bring a pet into this mess. I don't need to hear from PETA about an animal that is not being taken care of. But do go out and enjoy the world you used to back in the day. You have my permission to enjoy yourself through the eyes of your younger self. Go now, don't think about, just do it!

Sit back and relax

This week I'm back at my parent's house. As a vacation goes, it is not too bad. I've had to move a few pieces of furniture around and go pick up an exchange student Yuri. (She is from Japan) This is my first vacation this summer and it made me think about taking a break. Simply put, how often we take vacation time. (or Holiday time, if you're British)

One of the more infamous statistics I remember is that Dentists and Morticians have the highest suicide rate of all professions. We are measuring taking your life by profession? How stressed-out are we as a society? Okay, I can see Morticians. When you are around death all the time, it may start looking friendly. But Dentists? The only reason you should be depressed as a dentist is if you are tired of the tedious work. If that's the case... take some time off.

In this country children get about three months of vacation for summer, about three weeks for Winter and one week for Spring break. How many vacation days do you get? I know, it is more important that you are working because you have those things called "Responsibilities". At the same time people are not taking time for themselves and now their lives are their jobs. I can't think of many people that get any more mello when they do their job. It is more likely that you get stressed like the rest of us.

Most people I know only take a few days off and cope with the rest of the stress by hitting the local watering hole. Why do we do this to ourselves? What I propose is this... if you can take the time off for vacation, Do! If you don't get time for a vacation... work hard and play hard. Live it up because it is the last chance you will get. If you're doing this right then you may see a decrease of certain activities during the day (i.e. road rage, compulsive coffee drinking, eating at odd hours of the day, and grinding your teeth)

With the mental dexterity of a schizophrenic snail

You know that time when you were talking to that person and you were thinking one thing, but saying something completely different? What does this have to do with developing skills... tact.

Being tactful is important in our world. Can you imagine what things would be like if people said what is on their mind without that mental editing process? Well, maybe you can. Ricky Gervais is coming out with that movie of the first person that tells a lie. Which brings up the point that some people think the filtering process is lying.

Is it lying? YES! I just don't see a lie as a problem unless you are harming someone. People who are very good at filtering are also the kind of people who seem to be really on their game. And why? Well, it could be a number of reasons. I like to think it is a combination of experience and that they are good at multi-tasking. When you think about the process of being tactful, you realize that you are noticing your reactions, reading the situation and responding in the best way possible.

As an example, I've been getting contacted by insurance sales people recently. I'm a nice guy, but not so nice that I won't blow-off sales people. (Sorry guys!) I'm not the kind of person who will yell on the phone or just hang up. I'll say "I'm not interested" or something similar. I may want to talk to these people in the next few years, but I'm not about to stand there and listen to the full pitch. But mostly... I just don't like being sold to. Yet I still take the time because I don't want to burn that bridge... yet.

I'm interesting in what you think about your mental filter. Add a story or two if you like.

Networking at Wine Styles

Otavala Consulting Networking Event

July 29th
6pm- 9pm
$20 cover (Includes the first glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres)

Wine Styles
1240 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

Please RSVP by July 24th by
Calling 312.753.5727 or
E-mailing katrina@otavala.com

Fear to Fail

To use someone else's catch phrase... "I don't want to get on a rant here, but" what is it about business people that makes them so scared of the word "fail". Yes, I understand that failing in some instances is devastating. When you get a start-up going and your about to make that first profit about the time the economy goes down the drain; that is the kind of failure that would get the biggest optimist in the room to go into the fetal position. Failure is NOT ALWAYS a bad thing. Failure to be heard in the British courts lead to a rebellion from the monarchy, which in turn begot the United States of America. So, failure can be a good thing.

In my line of work, failure can be the most basic building block of growth. Of course I do not want anyone to fail. If failure occurs we can examine what has occurred and devise a plan so that when the situation arises again failure will not occur. "If you do not succeed, try, try again." As children learn to ride bicycles only after falling again and again. We learn to live our lives from that same model.

Maybe it was my education that taught me I should not worry about not being able to achieve every goal the first time. It could be attributed to our society that we are so competitive to achieve everything we can the first time, every time. I'm not saying we should celebrate mediocrity. I'm saying that we should not give up until we can celebrate success. Embrace failure as a means to an end. Don't fear what can be the key to your development as professionals and people.

Politics, Politics, Politics!

I received some feedback on the Manager Workshop I developed. One of the comments had to do with teaching politics. I didn't really include politics... well, not directly. The focus of the Workshop is for first-line managers/supervisors. Although I feel politics are important, I don't feel like you can teach politics in a class-like setting. Politics are something you learn much better from experience. Since I cannot put people in every experience, I can only give a few questions for people to answer when they get into a political situation. (That includes spotting those moments)

Politics is the highest level of business. It starts with functional workers, the people that are the "hands-on" workers. The next level is interpersonal, those people that work with people that are more "hands-on". (This is where most managers/supervisors start) The highest level is political level. When you start learning about politics it is important to spot the situations; increase awareness. If you increase your awareness, you'll learn that everything that is said and done in a political relationship may have multiple levels to the meaning. But, you know, not everything means something.

In fact, that is why you can only really experience politics, not just learn it from some lecture. The importance to know what to do is experience as much as possible. Another good way to learn politics is to learn from someone else's experience. Talk to people that have been in business for a while. It's much easier on your ego to hear how to not act from someone else, than experience it. I can suggest a few ways to become a little more aware. At the risk of sounding too touchy-feely... Try meditating.

Crossing the "T's" and dotting the... lower-cased "j's"

My sister and I were having a conversation not too long ago. We noticed how the people we knew that were the most successful were also the most responsible. The more we talked about taking responsibility, the more we realized that taking responsibility really gets you noticed by all the right people. That being said... it can also make you more noticeable to people in all the wrong ways.

So what's the difference? It has something to do with follow-through and not taking on too much responsibility. In this case, as with many other topics that will be covered in this blog, it is important to know your limits. Know how much responsibility you can take on before you get overloaded. Naturally, to find your limits, you may exceed them occasionally. You can do this every once in a while, but if you do go over your limits often it can have a negative affect.

Following through with projects and assignments may not get you noticed all the time. If you consistently DON'T follow through, people tend to notice. The less you follow through the less responsibility people will offer you. In the worst case scenario... you get fired. (Sorry, did I say "fired"... I mean "let go") Sugar-coat it all you want, but if you don't get the job done, you cannot enjoy the benefits. Well, unless nepotism is a common practice in your family.

Even though responsibility is a double-edged sword, I do suggest you check it out for yourself. Responsibility is a game of risk vs. reward. If you risk and succeed, you can reap the rewards. Who knows, you might just like it.

The First of Many

Welcome to my first posting to this blog. These postings will also show up on a blog for Otavala Consulting. You can find out more about Otavala Consulting at www.otavala.com. On this, the first day of blogging, I should talk about taking action.

I'm a big fan of movies and last night I was watching a certain movie that was filmed in our city within the last few years. It was about this guy who was unsatisfied with the way things were around him. So he decided to take on the responsibility to clean-up the "bad elements" around him. If you haven't guessed yet, I was watching Batman Begins. Chances are you are not a multi-billionaire with connections to advanced weapons technology, so this does not relate to you. So lets find the same idea in a more realistic setting. Raise your hand if you've seen Dead Poet's Society. Hands down. What most people remember from that movie is the quote "Carpe Diem" meaning "Sieze the Day".

The most important expression of Siezing the Day is when Dr. Keating (Robin Williams) pressures his student Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) to take action and create a poem in front of the class. Todd, as embarassed as he is, comes up with a poem that suprises and astounds himself and his classmates. The point is that we all have the potential to be successful. The real choice is the choice to act. I challenge you to come up with one action for every day and make sure to act upon it. For those people who are saying to themselves " That's too easy", well I also have a challenge for you. I want you to think of something that is out of your comfort zone and act on that. (talking to a cute person at the bar, haggle with your bank over a better interest rate, tell your boss they have a coffee stain on their shirt) The important thing is that you are out there doing something! In the end, you may not be the Dark Knight, but you may suprise yourself and those around you.