THE funny thing about life is that you realize the value of something only when it begins to leave you. As my hair turned from black, to salt and pepper and finally salt without the pepper, I have begun to realise the enthusiasm and excitement of youth.
At the same time, I have begun to truly appreciate some of the lessons I have learnt along the way. As you embark on your careers, I would like to share them with you. I am hoping that you will find them as useful as I have.
The world you are entering is in many ways very different now from what it was when I began my career. It was the late sixties and India still depended on other countries for something as basic as food. We aroused sympathy, not admiration whenever we went overseas. Recently, someone told me, that when visitors came to India then, they came to see what they could do for India. Now, they come to see what India can do for them. As a hopeful Indian, I look at our country as one which is rich in ethnic and cultural diversity and one that has an effective, secular democracy which will help us build an enduring society.
Lesson 1: Take charge
This was the first thought that came to me, when over four decades ago, I stepped into Wipro factory at Amalner. I was 21 and had spent the last few years in Stanford University Engineering School at California. Many people advised me to take up a nice, cushy job rather than face the challenges of running a hydrogenated oil business. Looking back, I am glad I decided to take charge instead. Essentially, leadership begins from within. It is a small voice that tells you where to go when you feel lost. If you believe in that voice, you believe in yourself. When it comes to choosing your careers, you have to take charge of your own destiny.
Lesson 2: Earn your happiness
The second lesson I have learnt is that a rupee earned is of far more value than five found. In fact, what is gifted or inherited follows the old rule of come easy, go easy. I guess we only know the value of what we have if we have struggled to earn it.
Lesson 3: Nothing succeeds like failure
The third lesson I have learnt is no one bats a hundred every time. Life has many challenges. You win some and lose some. You must enjoy winning. But do not let it go to the head. The moment it does, you are already on your way to failure. And if you do encounter failure along the way, treat it as an equally natural phenomenon. The important thing is, when you lose, do not lose the lesson.
Lesson 4: Nothing fails like success
The fourth lesson I have learnt is the importance of humility. There is a thin line of difference between confidence and arrogance. Confident people are always open to learn. A recent survey of executives in Europe showed that the single most important quality needed for leadership success was the willingness to learn from any situation. Arrogance on the other hand stops learning. It comes with a feeling that one knows all that needs to be known and has done all that needs to be done.
Lesson 5: There has to be a better way
Partly as a corollary to what I have just said, we must remember that no matter how well we do something there has to be a better way! Excellence is not a destination but a journey. Creativity and innovation sometimes need inspiration from other disciplines. It is probably not a chance that Einstein's interest in music was as much as his interest in Physics. Bertrand Russell was as much a mathematician as a philosopher. Excellence and creativity go hand in hand.
Lesson 6: Respond, not react
There is a world of difference between the two and in terms of success and failure. The difference is that the mind comes in between responding and reacting. When we respond, we evaluate with a calm mind and do whatever is most appropriate. We are in control of our actions. When we react, we are still doing what the other person wants us to do.
Lesson 7: Remain physically active
It is easy to take health for granted when you are young. I have found that exercise not only improves the quality of time but also reduces the time you need for sleep. The truth is that stress will only increase in a global world. You must have your own mechanism to deal with it.
Lesson 8: Never compromise on your core values
Mahatma Gandhiji often said that you must open the windows of your mind, but you must not be swept off your feet by the breeze. One must define what you stand for. This is not difficult. But values lie, not in the words used to describe them, as much as in the simple acts. And that is the hard part. Like someone said, “I could not hear what you said because what you did was coming out far too loud”.
Lesson 9: Play to win
Playing to win brings out the best in us and in our teams. It brings out the desire to stretch, to achieve that which seems beyond our grasp. However, it is not about winning at any cost. It is not about winning every time. It is not about winning at the expense of others. It is about innovating all the time. It is a continuous endeavour to do better than last time.
Lesson 10: Give back to society
All of us have a collective social responsibility towards doing our bit to address them. Of all the challenges, the key to me is education. We have a paradoxical situation, where on the one hand we have jobs chasing scarce talent and on the other, rampant unemployment and poverty. The only way to bridge these two ends of the pole is by providing quality education that is accessible by all.
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Azim Premji: Take Charge of Your Career Destiny
The Secrets of Interview Success
During the interview you should speak confidently, making sure to support your answers with relevant examples from your work experience. It is up to you during the course of the interview to acquaint the interviewer with whatever information you consider to be important in advancing
your claims to the job on offer.
Always relate your answers to the job for which you are applying. This is particularly important in the case of candidates who are faced with the sort of indirect questions favoured by many interviewers. For example, the interviewer may ask you to describe your current job. This is an indirect way of asking you to what extent your present skills and experience relate to the job for which you are applying.
Always present a positive face. Having studied your application form, interviewers will have identified the weaker aspects of your case. So it is in your own best interests to examine your application critically with a view to identifying any significant weaknesses or negative aspects. Prepare positive and convincing explanations of any shortcomings;
and emphasise what you have done or are doing to rectify matters.
Since interviewers are looking for candidates who display a positive attitude, you should state and supply evidence that you enjoy your job; that you are enthusiastic and ambitious; and that you welcome challenge.
It is important to tell the truth in interviews. However, try to present the facts as persuasively as you can. So examine and assess your own case and tailor the facts to create the best and most positive impression.
It is essential to develop a rapport with the interviewer right from the start. If you can give the impression that you have a lot in common with the interviewer and if he or takes a liking to you, you will greatly improve your chances of success.
Interviewers usually place a greater emphasis on practical experience than on paper qualifications, so it is up to you to convince them that your experience qualifies you for the job on offer. This will involve using your experience as evidence to support statements that you make in answers to questions.
Did you strike SUCCESS at Job Fair?
Job fairs are not a place for fun and entertainment. There is serious work going in there and your carefree outlook can stand against you. Let's see how we can turn a Job Fair into our stepping stone to success.
Pre event Preparations
- Do Research! Have prior information on which companies are participating. Shortlist the companies that interest you. Visit the websites of the companies you are interested in to have a overview knowledge about them.
- Customize your Resumes. make alterations in your resume to match the requirements of the company you want to interview for. This will make your resume appear more appropriate for the job. Carry two copies of the document for each company.
- Register Your Self!! You can register your self for appearing in the interview before the actual fair. This gives you an option to decide your interview slot.
- Be formally dressed. Your appearance does talk a lot about you. Dress up neatly in formal attire. Don't be loud with anything you wear.
- Work out your Plan.You must have a plan of attack for the fair. You've already know the companies you are interested in. See if any new companies have registered when you arrive at the fair. Survey the layout of the fair and decide an order in which you would like to appear for the interview.
- Experts suggest meeting with your top choices first in the morning, interviewing with your other choices in the middle of the day, and returning to your top choices at the end of the day to thank them again for their time. But remember to be flexible as your top choices. They may be the top choices of many others at the fair, creating long wait. that you may wish to avoid.
- Your Crucial Moment. You will have only a few minutes with the recruiters. Make most of it! Give brief introduction of yourself. Highlight the benefits that the company will have on selecting you. Sell Your Self hard!
- Must at the Interview. Make eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and show enthusiasm. Make sure you also have some questions to ask the interviewer. A great concluding question for you to ask is, "What do I need to do to obtain a second interview with your company?"
- Networking is the most vital task you must do at the fair. Talk to the recruiters about the job and the company plans. However, you can also network with your fellow job-seekers in terms of sharing information about job leads, companies, and their recruiting strategies and styles. There may also be professional organizations or employment agencies on hand at the fair, which are also good sources for networking.
Dress For Success
Believe it or not, you are examined from head to toe in all interviews. Not only is your experience and personality sized up...but also your appearance. The dress code for men and women differ substantially so this article is broken up into separate sections for each gender.
Before you go on that job interview, make sure you read these dressing tips! Many people take for granted the appearance aspect of the job hunting process. The better you are dressed, the more confident you will feel and exude.
There's no impression like the first impression. Initial decisions made about you in the first three minutes of the job interview are nearly irreversible.
The purpose of your clothing is to project an image of professionalism. Consider:
- Your clothes should subtly add to your appearance. More importantly, clothing shouldn't detract from your business persona.
- Much as you may want to stand out, wearing the business "uniform" communicates instantly that you are a mature, stable professional and a member of the team.
- Even if the internal dress code is very casual, your interviewing attire should adhere to a conservative standard.
- Dress up - the best you would ever dress when actually employed there.
- Research the prospective employer - companies and even industries have definable corporate cultures. Find out what the corporate uniform is - and wear it.
- Select an outfit you have worn before and are comfortable wearing.
- Try on the outfit a few days before - enough time to have drying-cleaning and repairs completed.
- Check the ensemble for missing buttons, frayed cuffs and other needed repairs.
- Everything must be clean, neat and ironed.
- No bulging pockets or sagging coat lining.
- Hair and nails must be clean and groomed.
- Scent should be low-key or absent.
- The favorite color of most Americans is blue - it conveys trust, calm and confidence. Blue is a very good interview color.
- Shoes should be comfortable and polished. Shoes that are well cared-for signal "Good attention to detail."
- Be parsimonious with scent - many people are allergic and too much perfume is an instant interview killer.
- Jewelry - real jewelry, if you have it. No jewelry is better than fake. No rhinestones cufflinks, no cloth watchbands, no novelty tie tacks.
- Clean and polish your briefcase or purse; organize the inside.
- A winter coat must be cleaned and pressed, particularly since a coat may be the main item your interviewer first sees.
- Your umbrella should be in conservative colors (black, tan, navy, gray) and in working order. Do not leave it to drip on the company carpet.
- Bring a pen and paper; check that the pen works and doesn't leak. Store them in the inside jacket pocket, where you can easily find them.
- Allow time to dress with care and deal with emergencies. Examine the results, front and back, in a mirror.
- tailored suits in navy, gray, beige. (black is a funeral color, avoid it.)
- dark suit, light shirt
- natural fabrics - wool/wool blend for the suit, cotton for the shirt, silk for the tie
- business shoes and over -the-calf dark socks
- matching silk tie in low-key colors
- simple, tailored suit
- tailored dress
- dress & jacket combination
- simple blouse
- natural fabrics - wool/wool blend, cotton and silk
- conservative colors - blue, gray, beige or black
- avoid loud or flashy styles and colors
- use makeup sparingly.
- low -heeled pumps, flesh colored stockings
The Secrets of Successful Networking
For many, the concept of networking conjures thoughts of calling up people they know and having lunch or coffee with them and talking about opportunities that may exist in that person's company. Aggressive networking carries this a step further.
First, make a list of people you know who have jobs in your line of work or related to your line of work. Then sit down and call each person on your list and suggest that you meet for a coffee or something equally brief. There are two reasons for this. One, you don't want to take up a lot of the other person's time and two, lunches and dinners get to be expensive if you have many of them to buy.
Take networking seriously. That is, don't spread the meetings with your list of contacts out over a month-long period. Start on a Monday morning and call everyone to book a get-together for later in the week or at the latest, early next week.
When you have the meeting, keep it light. Don't show up with your resume and ask, "Do you know of any jobs?" This is simply a reconnaissance mission. The person you're having coffee with is in the business and knows what's happening. Ask for this information. Try saying something as simple and straightforward as: "You're plugged into what's going on around town. Any suggestions on who I can talk to about what might be coming up in the future?"
And here is the secret: Get three names from each contact. If I know the person really well, I out and out asked for three names of contacts. If I didn't know the person that well, I listened and if they mentioned a company, I asked something like: "Oh, XYZ Industries. Do you have any suggestions as to whom I could speak to over there?"
By the end of the week, you may have a couple of dozen names of people in the industry. Sit down the next Monday morning and call them. Introduce yourself, explain where you got their names and ask if you can have 15 minutes of their time. Suggest meeting for a coffee near their office. Often, the person will say something like, "Why don't you drop in around 3 p.m. We can talk here in my office."
Schedule your week, filling in time slots to meet people. And again, get three names from each of these people. After a while, you may notice an overlapping of names as your contacts give you names of people you have already contacted.
Don't ask for a job. Just the same as meeting with your acquaintances, keep it light. Say that you're looking for a place in the industry and in the meantime, you're making an all-out effort to keep plugged into what's happening.
Ascertain, if possible, what interests the people you meet. Keep a record of who you met and what their interests are. This gives you a good opening for recontacting them if you see an article or hear about something that might interest them. Keep in gentle contact with them.
You not only get your name spread around town so that when something does come up in your line of work you hear about it, there are ancillary benefits to this kind of dedicated and aggressive networking. You get to meet a wide variety of interesting people and your keep your working muscles intact by having a specific task to do each week: meet more contacts.
Did it work for me? Yes. And in the best possible way. I'd worked in communications previously and as I talked to more and more people, I began to have small contract jobs come my way. Something would come up at an office and someone I contacted would remember me and give me call. (Yes, I left business cards with everyone I met. Nothing fancy. My name, phone number and a line describing the type of work I do). I didn't take a corporate job after all because I got so much contract work and discovered that I not only like it better, I make more money at it. And the self-imposed discipline of making contacts trained me to be my own boss.
Myths and Truths of Success
People hold varying philosophies about success. You've probably heard a number of the many clichés out there: "No pain, no gain"; "It's not what you know, it's who you know"; "If at first you don't succeed, try again"; "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"; and a host of others. Some of the things people tell you can be motivating, but don't believe everything you hear. Some of it may be misleading.
To be clear about what is expected, you must sift through the myths and truths of success--both yours and others. The following truths about many common myths will help you get into the right frame of mind.
Myth: Work Hard and You'll Succeed.
Success is difficult to achieve without some hard work involved; however, plenty of people who work hard are not as successful as they'd like to be. While hard work is important, success comes from much more. You can work long hours and feel exhausted at the end of each day, but chances are you won't feel successful if that is all you do.
Success comes in many forms. One way to measure your success is to identify specific goals you want to achieve and then work toward meeting them. Once you are working, you will also need to understand your employer's goals and objectives and work toward meeting those as well.
Hard work is an important component of success, but not the only one. Your success, or lack of it, is the result of so much more. You will discover as you read this book that who you are is as important as what you do.
The most successful people understand the importance of combining hard work with the right attitude, good people skills, a willingness to learn, change, and a desire to contribute. Strive to find joy and meaning in what you do. When you enjoy going to work each day you won't even realize how hard you are working!
Myth: Success in School Guarantees Success in Work.
Many people believe that if they've been successful academically they will succeed in a job, but your career success is dependent on many additional factors. It is important to understand the difference between what it takes to succeed in school and what you need to do to excel in the workplace.
In school, if you miss a day of classes, you can find out what you missed and make up the work. If you are a part of a group, everyone is affected, but if not, the only person your absence affects is you. When you are employed and you miss a day of work, you may not be able to make up what you missed. Your absence affects those you work with and could affect your employer's business. The business world is fast paced. Your contribution, and everyone else's--from entry-level clerk to company CEO--is important. People are counting on you.
Myth: Skill and Knowledge are the Keys to Success.
There is far more to a job than just showing up and completing your work. Employers expect you to show up every day on time, looking good, enthused, and focused on the job at hand. As basic as these expectations sound, it isn't easy for many people to show up consistently in this manner. The people who do, however, have an advantage.
I've never heard of anyone criticized for being too positive or too professional, but I've heard a lot of crit icism about people who are negative, unreliable, and difficult to get along with. You will have an advantage in the workplace and in life if you are dependable, professional, flexible, and likeable.
Myth: Doing a Job Well Will Bring Success.
Doing a job well is a key factor for success, but your ability to succeed encompasses much more. Don't overlook the importance of your attitude and demeanor; picking up after yourself, pitching in without being asked, and being consistent in all of your behaviors. There are many unspoken expectations in the workplace--unspoken because employers assume you know what they want. When you don't know what is expected, you are the one who suffers. Many managers and supervisors will not address the little nuances of employee performance, and will pay attention only to the serious issues or offenses. However, it is often the little things that get in the way of a person's success.
Myth: Most People Find a Job Within the First Month of Looking.
If you're like most people, you will be excited at the start of your job search. However, if you are expecting to find a job right away, within the first month or two of looking, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Typically, the process takes much longer. Two to three months are average, but many people wait six months or more before getting the kind of offer they want to accept.
Looking for a job can--and should be--a full-time job in itself. It's tempting to use your newfound free time to relax and do as you please, but be prepared for an extended, never-ending job search if you do.
You may tire of filling out applications, going on interviews, and wait ing for a response, but keep doing these things and more. Treat looking for a job like a job by devoting ample time to your job search activities every day.
Myth: Employers Look to Hire Those with the Highest Grade Point Average.
If you wonder how your grade point average or the school you went to will affect your chances of getting a job, you may be focusing on the wrong things. Attending a top school and doing well academically are assets, but no guarantee your job search will be any easier.
You may be terrific at taking tests, but it doesn't demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively or work well with others, which is also important to employers. The results of a CollegeGrad.com survey to determine what employers want most when hiring new college grads found 37 percent of employers ranked a student's major as the top priority for hiring consideration. Also very important to employers were the students' interviewing skills and their internships or experience.
When you are interviewing for a job, you need to offer more than your school smarts. You need to be business smart as well.
Myth: Most Jobs Are Found Through Advertisements.
A job search is a complicated process and must be carried out methodically. Many job seekers rely on job postings and advertisements to find a job. This is a mistake. Research has found that many, if not most, job openings are never advertised.
It is estimated that 80 percent of all professional jobs are filled through personal contacts and networking. This doesn't mean you shouldn't read the want ads, but if you want to increase your chances of finding a job, you need to do more than scan ads. There are many available resources to use, with your personal contacts being one of the best resources.
Myth: Some People Are Luckier than Others and Therefore More Successful.
Rarely is success due to luck. Although some people appear to have lucky breaks, if you take the time to look at why these people seem lucky, you will see it isn't due to luck at all. "Lucky" people create their own good fortune, which doesn't come to them as they sit passively and wait. They are actively creating and going after their goals and the success they seek.
You can do many things to increase your chances of success. Many of them are included in this book. But ultimately, your success--or lack of it--is up to you, not luck.
Myth: Success Is Complicated and Difficult to Achieve.
You probably will breathe a sigh of relief when you are finally offered a job. You may even assume that once you are hired you can let your guard down, but beware: everything you do or don't do will impact your salary and your advancement opportunities. However, success isn't as complicated or difficult to achieve as you think.
Decide now what success means to you. Identify all the things you must do to achieve your goals, then do those things.
Stay true to yourself and be yourself because you are the difference. It can take years to get where you want to be. Be patient--and be persistent. Look around and you will see that anything is possible.
9 Steps To New Job Success
Survival, to say nothing of success, is far from guaranteed.
One-fourth of those in their first career jobs don't survive the first year, according to a study by The Employment Foundation. Nearly half are out the door in 18 months, reports Leadership IQ, a training firm.
The message is clear: recognize the extreme importance of getting off on the right foot from day one on a new job. Performance in the early days will often provide strong and lasting indicators for both employee and employer as to how a new hire will perform. Fair or unfair, first impressions have a lasting effect on success.
Nine Basic Guidelines
There are nine basic guidelines that can be helpful in making the most of the first job, according to Ramon Greenwood, Senior Career Counselor, CommonSenseAtWork.com.
1. Work, work, work and then work some more. No substitute, no short cut will replace work. This means more than working diligently from eight to five. Take work home for nights and on weekends. Near total immersion in the job is recommended.
2. Arrive early on the job and stay late. Get to work at least 30 minutes before the specified starting time for the first several months. This is a good time, before the interruptions of the day start, to take care of routine chores and get a head start on the day.
Often, the boss is also in early. (That may have something to do with his being boss.) It's a great time to get better acquainted with him.
Demonstrate interest in the job. Ask for extra information and guidance.
Stay a while after the regular hours. Clean up the personal work place.
Collect the files and reading materials to take home for review that night.
Make a list of actions to be taken the next day.
3. Don't expect to conquer the world in six months. But realize the scoreboard is operating from day one.
4. Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek help when needed. To do so is a sign of strength not an admission of weakness, as is often assumed. Seeking assistance, intelligently, shows confidence and desire to do the job.
Acquire a mentor as soon as possible. Find someone who has been around the track to provide coaching and share experiences. This will not be difficult to do; most people like to be asked for advice.
5. Observe how things "really get done." Learn how the machinery of the organization works. (This is likely to be quite different from what's spelled out in the policy and training manuals.) Absorb the folklore.
6. Don't join cliques or deal in office politics. Leave the gossip to others.
7. Respect the hierarchy. The organization is bigger and stronger than any one person. The new boy in the neighborhood can't change it in the beginning. Recognize and respect there's a chain of command; everybody has a boss. Rebels rarely survive for the long haul.
8. Know the business of the business... the mission of the organization, what it does and what values it represents. Learn how the job fits into the overall picture.
9. Adapt to the environment. Observe the style of dress casual or more buttoned down? and be guided by it. Is business done in an informal manner or strictly by the rules? By memos and formal meetings or by face-to-face discussions and chance meetings in the hallway?
It just makes common sense to recognize that those who go contrary to these guidelines make life difficult for themselves and raise the odds against their success.
Who needs that?
Succeeding at the Next Level
Possibly not. According to recent studies, nearly half of all new executives fail in the first 18 months.
The problem? Nine out of ten new leaders say they arrive at the top feeling they lack the know-how and tools to succeed. What's more, most don't get the organizational support they need--starting with the boss.
These new leaders are also surprised to discover that what got them there--from working non-stop to sweating the small stuff--isn't enough to keep them there. Their companies pay the price, too--upwards of $2.5 million for just one failed senior-level hire.
The good news? What it takes to make it as an executive can be learned.
It's a matter of picking up new skills and strengths and letting go of old ones--even if they've driven your career success up until now.
Let go of self-doubt.
An insecure executive makes a lousy leader. Put confidence in your presence and purpose, even if it doesn't come naturally at first.
Let go of running flat-out until you crash.
Working 24/7 may have made you a superstar. Keep it up at the top--where the expectations are enormous--and you'll burn out. Break the cycle by scheduling regular time for recovery and renewal.
Let go of one-size-fits-all communication.
Customize every message for the group and goals at hand. Less is more, so become a master of the headline and need-to-know details for each audience.
Let go of self-reliance.
Replace "me" with "we." You may have advanced here on your own, but now you are only as good as your team.
Let go of the urge to tell "how."
Micromanaging is a sure way to fail. Set the agenda for what gets done and leave the how to your team.
Let go of responsibility.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Responsibility for a few results belongs to your team. Accountability for many results belongs to you.
Let go of only looking up and down.
There's more to consider than what's up with the boss or what's going down with subordinates. Look left and right, too. Why? Partnerships with peers provide valuable information and advice you won't find elsewhere.
Let go of an inside-out view.
An innermost perspective may have served you in the past, but it won't now. Lead with an outside-in view by understanding what else is happening in both the internal and external environment.
Let go of the small footprint.
Your days of being "low-profile" are over. At the top, you act and speak on behalf of your entire company.
Establishing Executive Presence
Peak performers are often promoted to the senior ranks and then left to sink or swim on their own. To stay at the top, you have to act like an executive--even when you feel like an imposter. Take charge of how you "show up"--for yourself, your team, and your organization.
Trust your gut.
Heed your instincts. When that inner voice sounds a warning signal, be sure to stop, look, and listen.
Take action.
Plan the work and work the plan--yet be willing to execute before you feel completely ready. Executives don't always have the luxury of time.
Get your ego out of the way.
It's not about you anymore. Spend time and energy boosting your team--not competing with them.
Address problems quickly.
Don't waffle. If someone or something isn't working, take action immediately--and respectfully.
Bond with the boss.
Talk early and often with your boss. Come up with a plan for ongoing communication that is easy and effective for both of you.
Mind your manners--and your messages.
Political savvy is a must. Be visible and accessible, but stay mindful of everything you say and do.
Repeat: "I am not my job."
Be true to you. You are an executive because of what you do--and who you are. Realize your potential at home and in your community, too.
Airline Carry-On Luggage and My 2 Minutes to Success
Anyone who knows me knows I do not like to sit still for long. When working at my desk, I take frequent breaks to get up and stretch. This improves my stamina and helps me keep my focus. Not to say that I can't relax – I can sit on a beach for hours. But put me in a long meeting or on a long airplane flight, and I quickly become restless and uncomfortable.
Last summer, I found myself on the nine-hour red-eye flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi. Not too far into the trip, I realized I had to do something or I'd have severe sciatica for days. Since this was the start of a long-planned vacation, an African photo safari, I wanted to arrive in good shape and in good spirits.
Comfort Was Only 2 Minutes Away
My backpack, stuffed in the overhead bin, held what I perceived to be a solution, an inflatable seat cushion I had packed for the long jeep rides we'd be taking through Tanzania and Kenya. I asked my husband Tom to help me pull the cushion out of my pack.
Tom's response to my request was textbook husband-speak:
"Are you sure you want to pull that cushion out of your pack?"
While his question might have sounded reasonable to a stranger, thirteen years of marriage allowed me to quickly translate:
"Now that we're seated with our drinks, magazines and newspapers, are you sure you want me to get up, haul your pack out of the overhead, take everything out of it and dig out the deflated cushion stashed in the very bottom, just so you can see if it will make you more comfortable? And are you sure you want me to put down my work, unbuckle my seatbelt, stand up and go to all that trouble, only to have to get up again, as soon as I've settled back in, and repeat the process to repack the cushion and put it away?"
My response was an unqualified, "Yes! I'm not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try. The two minutes it will take us to do this is a great trade-off for nine hours of comfort."
Tom grudgingly agreed, and we retrieved and unpacked the bag I had so meticulously packed just hours before.
Here's how simple making myself comfortable turned out to be:
1. Move tray table and stand up – 5 seconds
2. Pull down pack – 15 seconds
3. Open pack – 10 seconds
4. Dig to absolute, very bottom and retrieve cushion – 20 seconds
5. Inflate cushion – 20 seconds
6. Repack everything – 35 seconds
7. Return pack to overhead – 10 seconds
8. Sit back down – 5 seconds
Total time invested – 120 seconds, or 2 minutes, for 9 hours of comfort. The entire process required much less time than Tom took to ask me why I really needed to do this and explain why it wouldn't work without saying that he didn't feel like getting up.
Change Is Simple – Not Changing Is What Is Hard
My 2-minute investment paid off with 9 hours of comfort. Anyone, including yourself, can apply my cushion experience to living their career dreams. All you have to do is be willing to invest your time and energy today to ensure your comfort tomorrow.
Avoid spending any amount of time coming up with reasons why you can't, won't or shouldn't do something. JUST DO IT. Whether a change is large or small – a simple step toward comfort (like getting my seat cushion) or a major shift in your career – that change is often just 2 minutes away.
Are you doing today what you need to do to invest in your future career comfort? Or have you stopped yourself from investing time, energy or money because you've convinced yourself it won't work or it will be too much trouble?
Are you resisting a change that is so simple yet comes with rewards that can be so great? The timid mice in the book Who Moved My Cheese illustrate this principle. They starved rather than venture out in search of food. The few who were willing to invest energy and effort changed their futures. These mice didn't have to make a huge change – all they had to do was step outside their usual path – and their reward was staying alive rather than starving.
Which mouse are you and which mouse do you want to be? Each day you have the ability to take simple steps that can change your career and ensure your future comfort. Skip a television show and read a book, go on a diet, start an exercise program, save some money or pull out your seat cushion.
Start with 2 Minutes
Making a change and taking action is not always comfortable. After all, even inflating a pillow takes some effort and an investment of lung power. The changes needed to enhance your career will certainly require more than 2 minutes. But why not start with at least 2? Before you know it, you'll be putting your time and energy into mastering new skills, overcoming your resistance to change and pumping up your courage to take a chance on yourself.
For a lifetime of career satisfaction and happiness, you can make a career change with no more discomfort, relatively speaking, than it takes to blow up an inflatable seat cushion.
This small investment of 2 minutes can change your life from a good one to a great one.
25 Words That Can Hurt Your C.V.'s Chance of Success
Often, when job seekers try to sell themselves to potential employers, they load their C.V.s with vague claims that are transparent to recruiting managers, according to Scott Bennett, author of "The Elements of Resume Style" (published by AMACOM). By contrast, the most successful job seekers avoid these vague phrases on their C.V.s in favour of accomplishments.
Instead of making empty claims to demonstrate your work ethic, use brief, specific examples to demonstrate your skills. In other words, show, don't tell.
Bennett offers these examples:
Instead of... "Experience working in fast-paced environment"
Try... "Registered 120+ third-shift accident and emergency patients per night"
Instead of... "Excellent written communication skills"
Try... "Wrote jargon-free User Guide for 11,000 users"
Instead of... "Team player with cross-functional awareness"
Try... "Collaborated with clients, the Accounts Receivable Department and Sales to increase speed of receivables and prevent interruption of service to clients."
Instead of... "Demonstrated success in analysing client needs"
Try... "Created and implemented comprehensive needs assessment mechanism to help forecast demand for services and staffing."
The worst offenders
It’s good to be hard-working and ambitious, right? The recruiting manager won't be convinced if you can't provide solid examples to back up your claims. Bennett suggests being extremely careful before using these nice-sounding but empty words in your C.V.
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