career Archives - Dennis E. Gilbert

20
Sep 21
-

Beautiful Jobs, Have You Lost One or Found One?

Tags : career fired hired lost job new job

Writing this early on a Monday morning reminds me that Mondays often mean a day of grit and grind. Do businesses really offer beautiful jobs? Are you in a great one, feel stuck in a bad one, or have recently lost one?

Are you working your dream job? Have you ever lost a job and discovered it wasn’t such a good job after all? Are all jobs, beautiful jobs?

Some people go to the county fair, others to the lake or a spot near the river. Some hike the trails, ride a bicycle, or float in a kayak.

Still others go to a fancy restaurant, hang out in the park, or catch something unique or fanciful at the community arts display.

Not everyone has the same taste for recreation or art. Not every business has the job for you and not every job that interests you is one where you will feel like you belong.

Clients won’t always accept your proposal, and not all sales are final.

It might be true for the runaway bride or husband too.

Beautiful Jobs

The truth of it all is that not everyone wants what you want. Not every employer is the right match and money or benefits only take up the space in your soul for so long.

Every day someone is hired and someone is fired. Some people love what they do and others hate what they do.

Some businesses never want you to lose you and others are already looking for your replacement.

Things not working are a fact of life. Disappointment and rejection mean things aren’t fitting right now.

If you live in a climate with four seasons, it will rain one day, and sunshine on another. Hot and cold vary, things grow and die. Some will grow back again, others never will.

It’s all normal. It’s all relative.

Beautiful jobs may be more like seasons that you realize.

Look forward to next season.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

01
Jun 21
-

Narrowcasting Might Be a Better Approach

Tags : broadcasting career narrowcasting small business

What do you do when broadcasting is so easy that you get lost in a sea of competitors? Narrowcasting might be a better approach.

People want to market what they offer. It could be for business or it may be for your job or career. Does telling the World make sense, or should you narrow your efforts?

Many small businesses focus on their city, county, or perhaps their state. Business names are created and businesses are branded to a geographic location.

Bridge Street Pizza

Philadelphia Auto Repair

Lancaster County Roofers

There are two schools of thought.

The first is, tell the world, tell everyone, don’t limit your presence. The other is, become well known in your immediate area. Capture the market close to you. Become well-known in a local community.

The local pizza shop in Mitchell, South Dakota won’t get many sales in Boca Raton, Florida.

It is easy to see when you look at vast distances with local services. Yet, in reality, many businesses and also individuals seeking career growth get foggy on the importance of broadcasting versus narrowcasting.

Of course, there is always a sweet spot. Stretching for the maximum width while still maintaining a close proximity.

What is easiest, most effective, or the best bang for your buck?

Narrowcasting

If you are a small business what is your vision? How far do you want to reach? How will you maximize efficiency and effectiveness within your space.

If you are an individual seeking a new role or career growth, consider your best skills, the sector or market you want to grow in, and don’t stretch things too broadly.

Broad often appears to increase your chances, yet, becoming well-known in your community is much easier than becoming well-known in the world.

Social media tempts people to broaden their efforts.

Shouting in Times Square, New York City, on New Year’s eve probably won’t be that noticeable.

Attending your community Chamber of Commerce mixer with one hundred other small businesses might work.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

24
May 21
-

Time Data Anchor, Has It Impacted You?

Tags : career quality skills time time management

Have you come to realize the time data anchor? Time has value and your expectations for its use might be impacting everything you do.

How much time do you spend doing laundry, cutting the lawn, or shopping for groceries?

What about professional growth, studying a topical area, or how many years until you retire?

When you take your car for repair, there is an estimate on time. Sign up for the workshop and you’ll know a start time and end time.

In the workplace, there may be a time parameter for processing an order, talking with a customer, or a staff meeting.

In life and in business we cling to data anchors. That data or parameter sets the stage for how much, how long, or how often.

The expectation of time can be both a blessing and a curse. While it may provide some meaningful measurement is it limiting expectations or setting too lofty of a goal?

Time Data Anchor

Time is often measured with averages. The average time it takes for the car repair, your average wait for customer representative, or the average length of time to attain an advanced certificate or degree.

When the average becomes the anchor, everyone has a similar expectation and a similar result.

Why should the meeting last an hour? Would 47 minutes be better, or should it be 16? If you decided to meet for two and a half hours, do you get a more impactful result?

In some cases, the measurement of quality is calculated by the investment in time. If you whip up a chocolate cake in thirty minutes, is it as delightful as one that was created in two hours?

It is similar for craftsman, artists, and book authors. In some cases longer is perceived as better.

The opposite side of course is shorter. The drive-through restaurant, the boot-up of your computer, or the load time of the website.

How you spend your time may have a significant impact on your professional skills, your career goals, and what you will accomplish in the next decade.

When you spend more time on something that provides value with more use, it creates a better end result. You’ll have something better than average. Consider your job skills, the artist’s painting, and perhaps your fitness program.

The time spent in the drive-through line likely isn’t going to improve your meal, your earning potential, or your waistline.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

20
May 21
-

Unfair, Is It More Of An Opinion Or Fact?

Tags : career fair fairness unfair workplace

An unfair advantage? Is fairness subjective or is it a fact?

People often learn something about fairness at an early age. The accuracy of what they learn may be questionable.

The older sibling gets new clothes, the younger may just get hand-me-downs. The older gets their own cell phone, laptop, or a later bedtime, is that fair? Who would you ask, the parents or one of the children? Would each child have a different view on what is fair?

What is fair in business? Should one business slow down or limit business to give another a chance to catch up?

Is it unfair for only one employee to be promoted when three other employees wanted the job?

What about workload? Does every employee have an equal amount of workload?

There is a scapegoat. The scapegoat is, “Life isn’t fair.”

Unfair

Perhaps if things work out the way you imagined, it seems fair. If things haven’t gone so well, it isn’t.

If fairness is a mindset and you feel disadvantaged, can you change your plight? Maybe someone else controls your vision of fairness? A boss, a rule, or a law.

It seems pretty clear that fairness is much more of an opinion than it is a fact.

It may be your opinion that the client should have chosen you. Was it fair, or are you just disappointed?

When you feel like you’ve worked harder for the promotion, put in longer hours, and sacrificed your family and friends along the way, only to get bumped out of the role by a new hire, was it fair? Would you like another chance to explain why you’re the best candidate?

If the hiring manager could only see what you offer more clearly, would he or she have made a different choice?

Fair or unfair may be nothing more than your point of view.

In most matters for your job, career, or workplace navigation fairness is subjective. When you feel things are unfair, try to view it from the other person’s perspective. The solution for how to do it better or different the next time is likely waiting for you there.

And that should be, fair enough.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

29
Apr 21
-

Professional Growth Develops From Needing More

Tags : career growth need psychology of work selling

Is that how professional growth develops? Are you seeking more growth but have felt stumped about how to make it happen?

A salesperson sells. They may also be known as an account representative, sales consultant, or even an entrepreneur. Names and titles don’t really matter but getting someone to agree to make a purchase does.

It is also true for personal or professional growth.

Does the organization you are working for have a need for more? Are you willing to give them more? Can you sell yourself and really get them interested?

Problems and Needs

It may start by understanding the problem. Whenever there is a need, there is a problem to be solved.

When we feel hungry, we may say that we need food. Then we seek a food vendor.

It is true for many things, yet there is often an emotional decision involved in the process.

If we say that we need a new car, it doesn’t really tell us about the problem. Is it that you need transportation or are you looking for luxury, fuel economy, hauling or towing capacity, or something really sporty?

If there is a feeling of need, there is the opportunity for a sale.

Professional Growth Develops

When it comes to your professional growth you may feel like there is a lot of competition. Many people are jockeying for the same position or promotion. However, a competition problem may not always be the case, in some cases, potential hiring managers just aren’t sure that there is a need, or they aren’t exactly sure how the pieces fit.

Jockeying for position in the case of competition is a very different stature from helping the organization recognize the additional value you can provide.

It shifts from, “I’m better because,” to “here are things we can do if.”

Your professional growth may not depend on beating out the competition, it may depend on you being compelling enough to spark the idea of need.

More education and more experience are often helpful. At the same time, they may not be what is blocking you from advancement.

When the hiring manager or CEO develops a need, they’ll seek to fill it. That is exactly where you need to be.

Be the solution. Sell it.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

07
Apr 21
-

Target Destination and How You Should Travel

Tags : career destination journey navigation

What is your target destination? What did you pack or how will you travel? If you believe your career is a journey then you should be thinking about how you will get there.

Have you ever asked someone for directions and their response seemed to make you feel more confused than you already were?

Go straight down this road, then turn left at the fork in the road near the old tree stump. Then go up the first hill and across the old stream. Well, it’s not a stream anymore, they changed it a couple of years ago but you’ll see where it once was. After you cross the old stream look to your right and you’ll see a cornfield, right after the cornfield take the second right-hand turn. You’ll probably see this old guy either in his garden or sitting on the porch of the next house you see. Don’t turn in there. Go a little bit more until you pass the barn and then make an immediate left.

Or if you are in the city.

Go about six blocks and make a right at the 3rd red light. After you turn go to the first alley and make a left, you’ll go about 2 blocks through the alley. At the red brick building make a right, it is just beyond the dumpsters and if there is a lot of trash there you may miss it. Go down that alley to the 3rd steel garage door. That’s where you can park.

Bad or difficult directions often seem like they offer little to no help and might even be a little bit scary at the same time.

Target Destination

When you are on a journey it is important to clearly understand the direction you are headed. It probably starts with a vision, having a solid idea of where you want to end up. If you can’t decide, you never really start. You are just wandering.

When you have a specific destination in mind you probably need to apply it to a timeline. How long will it take and where will your stopping points be along the way.

Creating a map is valuable. Studying it is even more important.

A navigational tool can help. One that talks to you and gives you feedback when you’ve made a wrong turn or alerts you to construction zones and traffic jams. Feedback is valuable, not a waste of time.

You’ll need to consider the sign posts, mile markers, and what you’ll do about detours or unexpected setbacks.

Consideration for what happens after you’ve reached your destination will matter too. What will you wear and what will the weather be like? Although you may be in a new place, you’ll want to be comfortable and be able to fit in.

Without a target destination, you won’t get very far. You may end up looking back and realizing that while you were moving around a lot, you didn’t really go anywhere.

Identify your destination, plan appropriately, and most of all avoid getting directions from someone who can’t really tell you how to get there.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

06
Apr 21
-

Work Agenda, What Will You Accomplish Today?

Tags : accomplishments agenda career daily grind workplace

A working agenda could mean fluidity. It can also relate to the work that you do. Day in, day out. What is your work agenda?

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day may be common practice for many people. It is work to be done, and it gets done.

It is true for many household chores and everyday practices.

Things don’t change much with these activities. It is work to be done and it gets done.

It might be true for dropping a young child at day care or walking your dog. Work to be done, and it gets done.

It is likely true for your job. You have a routine.

What is on your agenda?

Daily Grind Factors

It is easy to get caught up in the daily grind.

On Monday you do these things, on Tuesday it is more of the same, and by the end of the week, you must be sure to accomplish everything that was part of your daily grind. You have month-end work, quarterly work, and what you’ll accomplish within the year.

Performance often gets measured by the movement of work each day. Some things may vary a little bit here and a little bit there, but in a general sense, it is all more of the same.

While this is performance, it makes change undesirable.

The opportunity to seek a better path, add in something new, remove something unused or wasteful might be missing on the agenda you work from.

Simply put, your agenda may be about continuous and consistent effort across time. It is not persistence to accomplish more, it is just another swing of the pendulum.

Work Agenda

Maybe it is time to take a closer look at your work agenda. Your routine work isn’t going to change much and as long as everything is routine, neither will you.

It is how 40-year old’s suddenly realize that they’ve spent 15 or 20 years doing a lot of similar things. It’s how 50-year-olds discover it is time to up their game on retirement savings. And it might just be how 60- or 70-year-olds ponder how fast life has passed by.

You may be capable of more than what you’re doing. You may never realize it until it’s too late if you don’t assess your agenda.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

05
Apr 21
-

Workplace Disqualification, Does It Happen Often?

Tags : career commitment disqualified job promotion skills

If you are navigating outside of the boundaries you might get disqualified. Arriving too late, doing too little, or fighting the system are all matters possibly leading to workplace disqualification. Have you ever been disqualified? Do you know someone who should be?

It has happened at the Kentucky Derby, it has happened at the Olympic Games, and it has happened in baseball, golf, and racing. It happens in the workplace too.

Sometimes disqualification isn’t apparent but it is still present.

Skipped on the list of meeting participants? Overlooked for a promotion?

It may not always mean that you are not qualified, it may mean that you’re not working up to a standard.

Being disqualified likely means that you haven’t met expectations. Did you promise something that you didn’t achieve? Did you agree to do your part on the project but let others down?

You may not realize it, but you might have been disqualified.

Workplace Disqualification

The workplace is filled with lots of variants when it comes to ebbs and flows. There certainly are workplace dynamics and politics. Are you effectively navigating them? Are you winning with customers and vendors, or are you feeling short-changed?

Walk onto a car sales lot. You may find a number of people who can take your order for a car. You may only find one or two that you wouldn’t quickly disqualify.

When the boss distributes workflow. There may be several employees who are qualified, but there may be only one who doesn’t get disqualified.

It is true for on-the-job advancement or getting promoted too. Theoretically, there are a number of people who are capable, but many of them are disqualified from the beginning.

It is even true for job seekers. The interview process is not always about qualifications, that may have already been established. Often it is about finding the one or two nuggets that will boot you from consideration. Disqualified!

Aligning outcomes with expectations is where you should apply your best effort. Commit to both understanding and delivering on what is expected and you’ll be much less likely to face disqualification.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

12
Feb 21
-

Getting Certified and the Hiring Manager

Tags : attainment career certifications goals skills

Getting certified is more meaningful as a reflection of the experience, not the end product. Do you agree?

While some will quickly jump at this thought and agree, everyone should be conscious of the focal points.

The certification is the proof of attainment.

One person buys a car, either through a loan across many months or perhaps many months of saving their earnings. Another person just simply writes a check, easy money.

In both cases, a check (of sorts) is written, the final moments of the transaction happen with the validation of money as an exchange.

One person had a long time to think about the car, the car has a more significant value because the journey to attainment was different than just a quick transaction.

It’s true at the amusement park, the big coaster attracts attention. People are excited to share that they rode the “monster ride” yet the ability to say you rode it is not the experience. The experience exists in the ride.

A two-month road trip in an RV around parts of the U.S. sounds appealing to some, but the same spots could be visited faster via airplane. In either case, mission accomplished, yet the experience is much different.

Getting Certified

For the hiring manager, and for the job seeker, attainments mentioned on a piece of paper or cleverly highlighted on a digital record should not be proof of job competence. Job competence is likely better reflected through the journey of attainment.

When experiences and character matter, and most hiring managers will suggest that they do, the focus needs to be about the journey not the documented proof of the journey.

Being able to create an Excel spreadsheet is an accomplished skill. Likewise, welding, carpentry, and computer network management may be connected to skills attained.

Proof of skill attainment is not proof of character. It is not proof of workplace behaviors, integrity, or how a person performs under pressure. It is likely not proof of attendance, being punctual, or being willing to put in the extra effort.

Most of the things we enjoy are not about the proof that we did it. It is about the experience of doing it.

Getting certified and the proof of attainment is much less valuable than understanding the experience of attainment.

What you focus on, is what you’ll get. It is true for the hiring manager and it is true for the job seeker.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

08
Feb 21
-

Doing Work and Getting Stuff Done

Tags : career change doing work pivot

Are you doing work and getting a few things done? Is that what it takes? Is that all it takes?

People often talk about their work as a path for income. A means to an end.

Is that really you or do you want a little more?

Chances are good you’re interested doing a little more than just getting by. You may have some interest in supporting the mission of the team, helping to grow the business or even simply be recognized as a top performer. In other cases, you may have interest in growing your career. And for some, all of these things apply.

Everyone who has an interest in doing a little bit more can change their language to help them make a change. Yes, it may be that simple.

Changing your language has many benefits. It will not only change your outlook but may also change your levels of comfort and confidence.

Doing Work

Instead of simply, doing the work, what if you thought about it with a different goal? Doing the work means your goal is to finish the job. However, if your quest is to improve your work things start to change a little.

People often seek a change, they want to pivot, improve, do something better or different. It applies to everything from how they are perceived by their boss, peers, and direct reports; to bigger loftier goals or even a career move.

What you tell yourself will condition what happens next for you. If you go to work each day to simply do the work, you’re probably not going to make any kind of change. You’ll be stuck.

Instead, go to improve your work. Do it for yourself, your team, or the customer.

You’ll grow through the process of persistently working towards something more.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Tag Archives: career

Sep 21

-

Beautiful Jobs

Jun 21

-

Narrowcasting

May 21

-

Time Data Anchor

May 21

-

Unfair

Apr 21

-

Problems and Needs

Professional Growth Develops

Apr 21

-

Target Destination

Apr 21

-

Daily Grind Factors

Work Agenda

Apr 21

-

Workplace Disqualification

Feb 21

-

Getting Certified

Feb 21

-

Doing Work

Search This Website

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Blog (Filter) Categories

Follow me on Twitter

Assessment Services and Tools

Recent Posts

Email Signup

Subscribe to newsletter

Contact Info