I read a blog post and an article to meet my goals today. The first one was a FB link courtesy of a friend. Entitled Your Brain is a Horse Named Clyde, I couldn't have asked for a better inspiration to get on with my work!
Your Brain is a Horse Named Clyde is a post containing delightfully creative advice for novel-writers. I'm not finishing a novel (yet), but the most important piece of the post for me was the reminder that I have to self-manage my brain, my thoughts, my intentions. It is necessary for me to get clear on Who I Am and What I'm Doing...and valuable as well, as we will see later.
Kathy Hepinstall writes, "What you need to tell your brain, out loud, to yourself, in many words and gestures is that “You are a novelist and you are writing a novel.” Give your brain proof. A special pen. Books on writing. A candle-lit ceremony."
Valid advice, whether you are writing a novel or, as I am, seeking a perfect-fit career opportunity. You cannot find the perfect thing if you do not know what you are looking for. Keep in mind (and I would argue, heart and soul) who you are, what you do brilliantly, and what your steps are to reach that goal. I believe clarity of purpose is key, whether finishing a novel, or finding the company that needs you more than anyone else in the world, to take a job that fits like a glove.
The other reading I did today was an article providing some very interesting examples of the risks inherent in making assumptions about what is really necessary to provide value to a customer. Necessary and Valuable are Not the Same provided two current examples of how "we need that" thinking can lead to business failures. It is a reminder that lean manufacturing concepts apply to more than factories: Bill Waddell provides one example in the legal arena, and another in advertising.
Waddell writes that "Rationalizing costs that do not add value in the eyes of customers as necessary and unavoidable is just so much whistling past the graveyard...and there is apt to be plenty of room in that graveyard for you if you believe that ‘necessary‘ and ‘valuable‘ mean the same thing."
Waddell wrote the article for Lean CEO online magazine, and the message I take away is remove as many assumptions as you can about how you do your work: question everything! I love this basic idea behind Lean Manufacturing because I am by nature a problem-solver, brain-stormer, and (I admit it) trouble-maker. When it comes to how "It Must Be Done," a quick tool I enjoy for getting to what is valuable is to ask "Why?" at least 5 times in a row.
So to show myself that managing my career through clear and positive thinking is not only necessary, but also valuable to customers, I can ask why: Why is it valuable for a client to hire me, with my specialized skill set to train a potential user on Arena? [NOTE: lest you think I am illogical, or missing my own point, I'm not asking why a client would hire me INSTEAD of other training options.]
I am one of only a few experts who can train on the software.
Why?
My deep understanding of Arena software is based on understanding manufacturing basics, systems thinking, business processes, and the software design.
Why?
Without all of these pieces, it is difficult (if not impossible) to convey how to use the software to a variety of users who all do different work tasks.
Why?
Arena users are cross-functional, from many departments. It takes flexibility and multiple approaches to assess needs, build rapport, and provide information in a way that is immediately applicable.
Why?
Because successful manufacturing requires a workforce with a diverse complement of skills and work styles, users are also different in how they process information, learn, and complete tasks. Answering the specific questions about how Arena will be used in day-to-day work requires familiarity with what that work entails.
Why?
Arena is not a software package that does one thing, it does a LOT of things, and those things can be done in different ways. Training to the ways that will be easiest for the users also gets the fastest results and ultimately, the most effective implementation and use of the product.
Wow! So there's my value add in a nutshell: Clients should hire me because I remove non-value-add time and tasks by first asking what is needed at the organizational goal, company process, user task, and Arena product levels. Training can then be designed and delivered to result in increased efficiency and more successful use of Arena over time.
This is a clear path to finding clients and selling my services to customers who want immediate value...and that is only for one of my skill sets!
Why are YOU the very best at what you do, and how can you go about doing more of it?
Don't be afraid to pose and answer the question. If you don't like the answer, set goals and take steps to clear the path in your mind and heart, and get back on track!
I look forward to hearing how you articulate and reinforce your value,
Yvette
Monday, February 27, 2012
Time for some 'Professional Development'
Each day that I am unemployed I plan to:
The first three bullets on the list above are things I should really have been doing the entire time I was employed. Like so many people I know, I never made the time for them. Now time is what I have - and only time will tell how badly I have fallen behind in managing my career...and how quickly I can refresh my knowledge and skills sets for the interviews that will land me my next paid challenge.
Because let's face it, career management may be critical, but it isn't always easy. In high school I knew that job security had gone the way of the dodo bird. Career Management was a skill that was explicitly taught in the mid 90s when I graduated from college. American - or at least Californian - culture had accepted that employer and employee loyalty was dead: 'At Will' was King. And the new King demanded those 40-80 hour work weeks in exchange for the privilege of bending to his will...oh, and a paycheck.
For the moment, I AM KING!
It feels pretty great to have that crown...but my kingdom feels a bit small. Maybe some of my fields and forests are overgrown. Maybe a few castles are in disrepair.
In this stretch of my unemployment, whether long or short, if I want to work on my "extracurricular" projects (feasting, hunting, jousting) I plan to hold myself ransom until my "work" is done. I hope that this will be easy, since I have a pattern and habit of working 8-10 hours a day, breaking for meals, tea, and exercise. It has become a question of re-defining what my daily "work" is and making every task count twice (or maybe 3 times): once for my job search, once for my professional development, and lastly for my personal development.
Do you try to do things everyday that count in all three categories? What do you do and how do you do it? Watch for daily posts, and I look forward to your feedback!
- Read (at least) 2 professional articles or posts
- Watch (at least) 30 minutes of video at Lynda.com to learn something new OR Attend one live webinar or web class
- Write (at least) one blog post
- Apply to (at least) 2 jobs
The first three bullets on the list above are things I should really have been doing the entire time I was employed. Like so many people I know, I never made the time for them. Now time is what I have - and only time will tell how badly I have fallen behind in managing my career...and how quickly I can refresh my knowledge and skills sets for the interviews that will land me my next paid challenge.
Because let's face it, career management may be critical, but it isn't always easy. In high school I knew that job security had gone the way of the dodo bird. Career Management was a skill that was explicitly taught in the mid 90s when I graduated from college. American - or at least Californian - culture had accepted that employer and employee loyalty was dead: 'At Will' was King. And the new King demanded those 40-80 hour work weeks in exchange for the privilege of bending to his will...oh, and a paycheck.
For the moment, I AM KING!
It feels pretty great to have that crown...but my kingdom feels a bit small. Maybe some of my fields and forests are overgrown. Maybe a few castles are in disrepair.
In this stretch of my unemployment, whether long or short, if I want to work on my "extracurricular" projects (feasting, hunting, jousting) I plan to hold myself ransom until my "work" is done. I hope that this will be easy, since I have a pattern and habit of working 8-10 hours a day, breaking for meals, tea, and exercise. It has become a question of re-defining what my daily "work" is and making every task count twice (or maybe 3 times): once for my job search, once for my professional development, and lastly for my personal development.
Do you try to do things everyday that count in all three categories? What do you do and how do you do it? Watch for daily posts, and I look forward to your feedback!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)