Why Im Writing My 4th Book

Why Im Writing My 4th Book I will never do that again. I thought that, and Im pretty sure I said this to my wife, after I finished Im on LinkedIn Now What??? Writing a book is a big, time-consuming process. It taxes you mentally and is challenging. Making the time, week after week, to keep writing is hard. Second-guessing your ideas is common (but good). When I wrote my LinkedIn book I honestly had no idea what the benefits would be (they were great, both financial and as it relates to my career and marketing of JibberJobber). I coauthored my second book on Facebook, which was a different kind of hard.   Then my third book (51 Alternatives to a Real Job) was self-published and I needed to write it but havent marketed it. It was THE book that most people asked about at the end of my presentations, though. Everyone was interested in alternatives to a traditional job. Ive really enjoyed the time off, but there has been another book thats been nagging me. It started, I think, when Susan Joyce (owner of Job-Hunt.org) was with me during some presentations in the Boston area. She said I know what the title of your next book should be! My next book?! I was a retired author, I thought. But once you get the author bug, its hard to shake it. Like mono, you have it for life. Many times over the years I have thought man, I could write a book about this. Worse, sometimes I have thought I should write a book about this! This fourth book is different from the rest. It is a collection of ideas, thoughts, observations, and suggestions that Ive accumulated over the last twelve years. It includes brilliant ideas Ive had (I figure I have a brilliant idea every 18 months), tactics and tips for job seekers Ive come across, and strategy and thoughts for professionals interested in career management (that is, taking a bigger role in managing their own careers). As Ive been working on this book its one that I have thought my future generations might read and think huh great-great-great-grandpa was kind of cool. Or at least really interesting. Unlike my first three books (which are too technical and will be irrelevant in a hundred years, the third is money making ideas that are good now but probably wont be in a hundred years) this  book is more principal-based and principals can last for centuries. This book would be, as they say, evergreen. So, why am I writing this book, and what does it have to do with you? Think about the why below, and realize that while Im doing this as owner of JibberJobber, you are the owner of Me, Inc. (and should consider your own big project, whether its a book or not): Its a brand and marketing play. This book keeps me relevant as an expert in this space. It gives me something to talk about (self-promotion) and it gives others a reason to talk about me (and JibberJobber). Ive learned that if I stop making things, people stop having reasons to think and talk about me. A key principal in marketing is to create new things and stay relevant. How can YOU, as a job seeker, apply this principal to your marketing strategy? Its to monetize: No secret here, I hope to sell a lot of these. Ill market this book mostly through JibberJobber, to people who sign up for the system. This is a perfect book for them. I hope that somehow it gets bigger than just my immediate audience though. I think its a super relevant book for the whole world. I could write pages and pages on this topic, but the idea is to create another passive revenue stream (passive because once I write the book and get the right systems in place for marketing and delivering it, I dont plan on spending hardly any time on it, but I do expect it to create a revenue stream worth hundreds of dollars per month for a long time). Its to help me rethink and challenge my expertise: I sit at my home office and interact with a handful of people every day. I am not on stage nearly as much as I was a few years ago. Ive found that when I was on stage I got challenged regularly either by myself or by others. I had ideas and I put them out there to audiences that would help me refine my thoughts. But sitting alone in an office doesnt force you to challenge and refine your thoughts. Writing a book does, though. As you write you think and rethink and second-guess. This is an excellent way to really figure out where you are at and what you think and what you champion. I learned its even better (for this purpose) than writing a blog. You see, I can edit a blog post any time but once your book is printed, the idea is out there. Its way more permanent, and so you are more careful as you write down what will be definitive statements and positions. Its the right thing to do. The ideas in this book have been building over the twelve years Ive been doing JibberJobber. And, for a few years before that, as I immersed myself into corporate America. The thoughts have been nagging at me. I just feel like its what Im supposed to do. Apparently writing is what I do, and authoring books is what I do (its taken years to be at peace with this). As you think about my journey, and my decision, I hope you will implement some of this in your own journey. Whether you do that thing (might not be writing a book) because its nagging at you, or it will refine you, or it will be a new revenue stream for you, one thing I know is that you have to START, and consistently follow through. I want you to be a FINISHER, and finish your projects. Can you do that? Heres a relevant quote I saw on my friend Wendy Terwelps Facebook feed: Why Im Writing My 4th Book I will never do that again. I thought that, and Im pretty sure I said this to my wife, after I finished Im on LinkedIn Now What??? Writing a book is a big, time-consuming process. It taxes you mentally and is challenging. Making the time, week after week, to keep writing is hard. Second-guessing your ideas is common (but good). When I wrote my LinkedIn book I honestly had no idea what the benefits would be (they were great, both financial and as it relates to my career and marketing of JibberJobber). I coauthored my second book on Facebook, which was a different kind of hard.   Then my third book (51 Alternatives to a Real Job) was self-published and I needed to write it but havent marketed it. It was THE book that most people asked about at the end of my presentations, though. Everyone was interested in alternatives to a traditional job. Ive really enjoyed the time off, but there has been another book thats been nagging me. It started, I think, when Susan Joyce (owner of Job-Hunt.org) was with me during some presentations in the Boston area. She said I know what the title of your next book should be! My next book?! I was a retired author, I thought. But once you get the author bug, its hard to shake it. Like mono, you have it for life. Many times over the years I have thought man, I could write a book about this. Worse, sometimes I have thought I should write a book about this! This fourth book is different from the rest. It is a collection of ideas, thoughts, observations, and suggestions that Ive accumulated over the last twelve years. It includes brilliant ideas Ive had (I figure I have a brilliant idea every 18 months), tactics and tips for job seekers Ive come across, and strategy and thoughts for professionals interested in career management (that is, taking a bigger role in managing their own careers). As Ive been working on this book its one that I have thought my future generations might read and think huh great-great-great-grandpa was kind of cool. Or at least really interesting. Unlike my first three books (which are too technical and will be irrelevant in a hundred years, the third is money making ideas that are good now but probably wont be in a hundred years) this  book is more principal-based and principals can last for centuries. This book would be, as they say, evergreen. So, why am I writing this book, and what does it have to do with you? Think about the why below, and realize that while Im doing this as owner of JibberJobber, you are the owner of Me, Inc. (and should consider your own big project, whether its a book or not): Its a brand and marketing play. This book keeps me relevant as an expert in this space. It gives me something to talk about (self-promotion) and it gives others a reason to talk about me (and JibberJobber). Ive learned that if I stop making things, people stop having reasons to think and talk about me. A key principal in marketing is to create new things and stay relevant. How can YOU, as a job seeker, apply this principal to your marketing strategy? Its to monetize: No secret here, I hope to sell a lot of these. Ill market this book mostly through JibberJobber, to people who sign up for the system. This is a perfect book for them. I hope that somehow it gets bigger than just my immediate audience though. I think its a super relevant book for the whole world. I could write pages and pages on this topic, but the idea is to create another passive revenue stream (passive because once I write the book and get the right systems in place for marketing and delivering it, I dont plan on spending hardly any time on it, but I do expect it to create a revenue stream worth hundreds of dollars per month for a long time). Its to help me rethink and challenge my expertise: I sit at my home office and interact with a handful of people every day. I am not on stage nearly as much as I was a few years ago. Ive found that when I was on stage I got challenged regularly either by myself or by others. I had ideas and I put them out there to audiences that would help me refine my thoughts. But sitting alone in an office doesnt force you to challenge and refine your thoughts. Writing a book does, though. As you write you think and rethink and second-guess. This is an excellent way to really figure out where you are at and what you think and what you champion. I learned its even better (for this purpose) than writing a blog. You see, I can edit a blog post any time but once your book is printed, the idea is out there. Its way more permanent, and so you are more careful as you write down what will be definitive statements and positions. Its the right thing to do. The ideas in this book have been building over the twelve years Ive been doing JibberJobber. And, for a few years before that, as I immersed myself into corporate America. The thoughts have been nagging at me. I just feel like its what Im supposed to do. Apparently writing is what I do, and authoring books is what I do (its taken years to be at peace with this). As you think about my journey, and my decision, I hope you will implement some of this in your own journey. Whether you do that thing (might not be writing a book) because its nagging at you, or it will refine you, or it will be a new revenue stream for you, one thing I know is that you have to START, and consistently follow through. I want you to be a FINISHER, and finish your projects. Can you do that? Heres a relevant quote I saw on my friend Wendy Terwelps Facebook feed:

Tips On Writing A Resume For An Engineering Manager

Tips On Writing A Resume For An Engineering ManagerWhen you write a resume for an engineering manager, you have to know what to put on it and in the way of what to put on it. The main thing that you need to consider when writing your resume is to take note of the things that will help you get hired.There are three things that you should put on your resume for an engineering manager. These are your academic qualifications, your professional experience and your suitability for the job.One of the first things that you have to do is to establish the fact that you have a good academic qualification. Your education and the subjects that you have studied will always come first when employers look at your resume. Your academic qualification is your first impression. You cannot afford to be late or skip any grade, so make sure that you have listed down all your academic qualifications.The next thing that you need to consider while writing a resume for an engineering manager is your good exper ience. Always make sure that you have listed down everything that you have worked on. Don't just list down what you have done; make sure that you list down your achievements. It is the first thing that they will see when they read your resume. If you have any book reports, any paper works or anything that is related to your work, make sure that you have listed down all of it.You need to make sure that you have listed down all the points that prove that you have the technical expertise. It is the most important thing that your employer will look into while reading your resume. A good resume must have technical expertise. Make sure that you have listed down all the points that are related to your technical expertise. It is not a waste if you don't mention it now but in the future it may be of help.Your suitability is an important part of your resume, because it is the first thing that the employer will see when he/she opens it. Therefore you need to make sure that you have listed down your suitability in the main aspect of your job. This means that you need to prove that you are suitable for the job.Another point that you should have on your resume is your current skills and experience. Since this is the main point that the employer will be looking into, make sure that you have listed down all the skills and experience that you have gained during the previous jobs. Of course this includes the skills that you have gained after you have joined an engineering firm. You can have gained skills while you were with the company already.In conclusion, it is very important that you have listed down all the points that relate to your resume. This will help you get hired in no time. Good luck!

How Personal Brands Can Succeed in SEM - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How Personal Brands Can Succeed in SEM - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Why Search Engine Marketing (SEM)? Having your website rank in search has changed dramatically over just the last five years, and many brands may have seen a decline in their ranking. Since social media came onto the scene, the way people look for information on the Internet has become much more conversational. Google in particular has also evolved to adapt to this new style of communication with its latest algorithm, Hummingbird, which means personal brands must also change their search methods. Has your brand’s website been off the search engine radar? There are new techniques that can bring visitors back with restored visibility. It’s important to know about the latest strategies in order to be successful on the Internet today. The modern search engine marketing methods differ from those traditionally done by personal brands in the past. Gone are the days of “stuffing” specific keywords into content. The following are some advanced techniques that will help your website rank higher on places like Google and Yahoo. Steps to Search Engine Marketing Creating content is just the beginning of optimization for search. Here are some key factors to success: • Research topics instead of keywords While having a base list of keywords for your personal brand’s topics and niche is good, these should only be used as a reference. Google now pulls information based on topics, which means your content should contain a theme of words based on your keywords. For example, instead of utilizing just the keyword, pet food, throughout your article you can include similar or related terms to create something that reads more natural and less mechanical. Make synonyms a big part of your research, and you will be able to come up with several variations to choose from. • Keep your words and phrases close together Search engines will be able to find your content a lot easier when the semantics are correct. The search terms are now more relational today and can produce a variety of results. Dog breeds, for example, might produce a variety of results like “terrier dog breed” or “dog breeds that don’t shed.” • Stay relevant to your topic It’s important to check your personal brand’s content to make sure that your search terms and phrases relate to what you are writing about. Not only is it important to know your target market in this process, but to also apply this principle to the links included in your article(s). As search engine marketing evolves it is important to stay on top of the latest trends, and to write fresh and original content that people are searching for in your personal brand’s niche. Once you are familiar with the needs of your audience it is easy to produce a list of topics for your content that include a variety of keywords that relate to what you are writing about. A well-written article or page will help your website rank higher in search, which will lead to more visitors and exposure online.

Get To Know Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Get To Know Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When creating an identity for your personal brand the goal is to make a lasting impression that will stick in the minds of your followers. The mission should be to focus on what you represent both online and offline. Over a period of time an audience becomes familiar with the characteristics of a brand, such as what they are well known for in their industry, and products and services that become a mainstay. So what does your personal brand look like to your community? Social media has made it easier to paint a picture of a familiar image that resonates with people. Here are three steps on how to focus your personal brand and make a lasting impression. 1. Tap into your inner circle. Promoting should always begin with your trusted network whether this is friends, family or even associates. This is the place to gather feedback on how they see your personal brand, which will help create a better picture as your network grows. 2. Write down the vision. The best mission statements come out of a clear vision statement. Write out what you would like to see for your personal brand and stick as closely to that as possible in your day-to-day marketing. This is an important element to the image people will see about your company. 3. Be flexible for change. After creating a clear focus, stay in the loop when feedback comes making adjustments when necessary. The best way to hone in on a memorable brand image is to allow your audience to provide feedback. Be patient with this on-going process that is built over time. As you discover your personal brand and what makes you unique through others and your own observations, you then want to eliminate any confusion surrounding the mission of your company.   Be clear and concise. Create a valuable brand that stays in the minds of your community for years to come.

How to Find a Professional Resume Writing Service for Free

How to Find a Professional Resume Writing Service for FreeProfessional resume writing fees are often an important factor when applying for jobs, and sometimes these fees can be prohibitive. This is why you should take advantage of resume writing services. By utilizing a resume writing service, you will never have to pay hundreds of dollars again.There are a few places that you can look for a professional resume writing service. Using the internet is one of the best ways to search for a good service. The following are some online resources that you can use to locate a professional resume writing service:- Signing up for a free account with any of the companies listed above will allow you to fill out multiple resumes. With this service, you can search for a list of professionals who specialize in resume writing and set up interviews with each one. You can also print out a resume from one of their sites.- One of the best ways to locate a professional resume writing service is by browsin g through job boards. Many job boards list companies that offer free services for completing resumes. In fact, some of these job boards may even offer a refundable guarantee if you do not get hired. Of course, some companies require you to sign up for their free service in order to have access to their listings.- Forums are another popular way to find a professional resume writing service. If you are seeking a company that specializes in preparing resumes, then you can participate in a forum. There are many forums that allow members to share their experiences with resume writing and make recommendations to others who are in need of a resume writer. For a small fee, you can access this type of forum and meet other people who are currently working with resume writers.- Keep in mind that different companies charge different fees. Make sure that you set aside enough money so that you can afford to pay for all of the fees. It is generally recommended that you pay a higher fee for service s that you feel will be more useful to you than those that you find on the internet for free.Sometimes, it is best to pay for a professional resume writer rather than trying to find one for free. However, because of the high cost associated with writing a professional resume, it is usually better to pay a fee and see what you get for your money. If you want to save money, you can always look for free samples online, but make sure that you only fill out samples that are for an entry-level position or pay for a professional resume writer who specializes in writing for the position that you are applying for.It is important to keep in mind that you should never pay for a professional resume writing service. Instead, you should make sure that you do your research so that you can find the right service for your needs. In addition, do not be afraid to set aside money so that you can afford to pay for all of the fees that you will incur.

Online Reputation Management Do You Self-Google - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Online Reputation Management Do You Self-Google A new Pew Research Center report, Reputation Management and Social Media, indicates the following: 57% of adult internet users now use search engines to find information about themselves online, up from 47% in 2006. 46% of online adults have created their own profile on a social networking site, up from just 20% in 2006. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research International between August 18  and September 14, 2009, among a sample of 2,253 adults, 18 and older. According to the report, Internet users are more concerned about privacy than ever before: 65% of adult social networking users have changed the privacy settings on their profile to limit what they share with others online. 56% have unfriended contacts in their network deleting people from their friends list and 52% have kept some people from seeing certain updates. 36% have deleted comments that others have made on their profile, and 30% have removed their name from photos that were tagged to identify them. Results about the quality of users digital footprints: When self-searchers query their name using a search engine, the majority (63%) say they find at least some relevant material connected to their name. But 35% of self-searchers say their queries do not yield any relevant results. Just 31% of self-searchers say that most of the results on the critical first page are actually about them, while 62% say the first page of results is mostly about someone else with a name very similar or identical to theirs. And as far as repercussions from digital dirt that they find about themselves: 4% of online adults say they have personally had bad experiences because embarrassing or inaccurate information was posted about them online, a number that is unchanged since 2006. 8% have requested that someone remove information about them that was posted online, including things like photos or videos. The vast majority (82%) say they are usually successful at getting that content taken down. Related posts: Does Your Online Identity Scream Hire Me? Online Executive Personal Branding: Are You Digitally Distinct? 10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand Online Without a Blog 00 0

Im Over 50 and I Got A Job! - Hire Imaging

I’m Over 50 and I Got A Job! - Hire Imaging I’m over 50 and I got a job.   In fact I had 2 offers to choose from (for the first time in my career).   How did I do this? You’re going to love this:   “I did what my wife told me to do.”   In my case, my wife is a Certified Career Coach and Professional Resume Writer.   She wrote my resume, helped me brand myself, coached me on interviewing, helped me craft my SMART (Situation and More, Action, Result, Tie-In theme) stories, provided ongoing feedback about what I was doing right and what I was doing wrong â€" pretty much what she does for her customers. What Did I Learn? The resume and cover letter (or cover email) are key to getting you to the point of a phone interview (phone screen, usually with HR).   Both (resume and cover letter) need to reflect key elements the employer is looking for and how you satisfy this need. This means you have to tailor both for every application you make.   Failure to do this will result in your being eliminated before you even get a chance to ‘talk’.   Nobody cares about more than the last 15 (maybe 20) years of your experience,. Including more makes your resume too long and invites other problems. When you do get that ‘phone screen’, you need to be prepared with your ‘elevator speech’ â€" 30 seconds on what you do and why you’re good. Your ‘crisp’ SMART stories ‘tweaked’ to pertain specifically to the job/employer in question.   Good solid reasonable explanations for how you got where you are. Corporate changes, layoffs, restructuring are a fact of modern corporate life.   Don’t avoid them, don’t belabor them, be honest and move on. Projecting excitement and energy are key. When you finally get through the phone screen(s) to an in person interview, it starts over.   Your SMART Stories and elevator speech should be ‘re-tuned’ to be an even better fit for the position.   You must do all the things we all know are good (good eye contact, positive body language,   control your hands, smile).   Again, it’s imperative to project excitement, energy and a ‘can do’ attitude.   You’re over 50 and to some that’s a liability.   You have a wealth of experience; that needs to come out.   You’ve ‘been there, done that’. There’s more! These are what I believe are/were the ‘keys’ for me. Photo:   stevendepolo

My 100th Post - When I Grow Up

My 100th Post - When I Grow Up You can purchase this print of Peppermint Hearts in  artangels Etsy shop. Thank you! Thank you all so very much for being here since the beginning, or the middle, or just starting to read now. I started this blog as a task, and it has since grown into both a journey and a destination. I forgot how much I enjoyed writing, and my social self loves the two-way communication of this interactive journal. I hope that you continue to take the ride with me, as I share what Ive learned, what Im going through, and all the crazy/quirky/silly/a-ha! moments in between. I have a few new installment ideas up my sleeve, and cant wait to see where the next 100 posts take us. Because I dont yet have a back end to the blog to view stats (I know, I know, Im trying to figure out why this doesnt exist how to make it appear), here are my top 10 personal blog posts,  according to  me: 101 Goals in 1001 Days Fear of Inspiration Force Yourself Down That Rabbit Hole, Alice Goals Should Have CHUTZPAH, Just Like You! Gordon in Stand By Me Says to be Unique. I Agree. Im OK, Youre OK, Were OK. Sharing is Caring. And Other Such Hooplah. Its Settled. Ill Live in Michelle World. My 30th Year, Reflected on my 31st Birthday The Story of my Life, or Why I Stopped Pouding (My Head Against The) Pavement White Hot Truth: The Answers (you can still join in on the fun!) I had another dozen I could have added, but I know that you have places to do and people to see. Please know that you can always comment on any post, at any time, Ill read them and respond. Even yours, Mr Cameltoe.