Another Week of Wisdom is here

Last spring, I scared off many potential followers to this then-new "blog" with my first "Week of Wisdom." Given that the economic environment has not improved much since then, it doesn't hurt to give it another shot.

Starting tomorrow, I will offer a week-long series of tips (5-7) people might find useful, or at least humorous, as they seek to improve and develop in the personal and professional lives. I've only got a few of them in mind to write so far, so if you have any suggestions, please pass them along by emailing me ASAP.

Also, don't forget to follow Always Achieve on Twitter, as it is the home of constant updates related to developing your personal or business capacities, online and off.

Don't "say no" to your involvement

Vanity comes in several forms. Minimalism can be just as vain and inappropriate as conspicuous consumption, especially if it exists for the purpose of signifying elitism.

I am seeing a lot of minimalism adopted in a variety of ways. Given that we are all cutting back in some shape or fashion, the trend is understandable, and in many ways commendable. However, there is a facet of the movement that really makes me angry and often question the character of others, especially some I have valued and respected.

Along with cutting back on spending, reducing their environmental impact, and shrinking their lifestyles, some are extending the "less is more" approach to their time management. Several people I know are starting to tell people that they are "cutting back" on their civic involvement, not just in terms of monetary donations (a reasonable sign of economic stress), but also on their volunteering and general socializing.

I can understand this if these same people need to sacrifice volunteering for economic reasons, such as taking a second job, substituting child care, or helping with other family needs. For some, however, they just appear to be "cutting back" on their commitments to find time for themselves.

As a supporter of personal freedom and liberty, I respect a person's desire to use their time however they want to. As an active member of my local community, however, I cannot understand the negative impact this attitude is having. The trend is not an indication that people are tired or have something "better" to do. In reality, it is a reflection of the socioeconomic malaise bombarding us at every corner.

The "tune in, turn off" mentality represents a plague of apathy and social withdraw, as individuals overcome with dread and uncertainty retreat to their homes and loved ones. As they look inward for some sense of normalcy in an environment of personal comfort, the groups and causes they supported before fall into serious disrepair. More often than not, those most likely to be victims to the withdraw phenomenon are those who are critical to success of community efforts.

This is usually not a behavior an active person develops intuitively. It is often encouraged by society, especially during times when the media promotes such ideas as "sustainability" and minimalism in a misguided fashion. These messages attack the internal confidence of active individuals, encouraging them to believe that their efforts are ineffective. They are told that the best they can do, instead of redouble their efforts, is to simply "say no" and "walk away." Even worse, they are sometimes labeled "extremists" or contributors to trouble if their passions and pursuits do not match those held as high priority by the standard bearers of conventional wisdom.

Regardless of the incredibly destructive impact such campaigns initiated by the media and our leaders can have on society, active individuals have a responsibility to themselves to recognize how their own personal development is compromised by giving in to such prophetic poison. At a time when they can truly establish themselves as reliable leaders of truth and substance, regardless of their cause or activity, they resign themselves to detachment that will later punish them with future opportunities. They may see themselves as "survivors," but those who stay behind and do the hard work when times are toughest will classify them as little more than "quitters" or "fair weather supporters."

These later labels can stick for long periods of time, for they will be held in the mind of the leaders who will assume the roles that are abdicated by those who give in. Continuing to push oneself beyond one's limits, even when the positive impact of ongoing efforts may be visible, is a necessity in our troubled present. Thomas Paine's famous quote, "These are the time that try men's souls," should inspire everyone already involved to remain focused, vigilant, and passionate about their efforts.

Vanity is always a character flaw. Persistence, even when others tell you that you should be tired and take a breather, is always in style. If necessary, find small nuggets of success in the lessons you learn along the way, finding that the struggle does not disable our ability to always achieve.

Confessions of Someone with Professional ADD

Numerous research reports on the use of Web 2.0 applications discuss how most people who use applications requiring continuous content development often lose interest over time. My lack of updates to this blog suggest that I am guilty of the same behavior. However, I content that my failure to post anything here has to do with another, less mentioned symptom; an actual side effect of my work on this blog during the first half of this past year.

You could call it "Professional ADD (P-ADD)." It is likely an issue that a select group of people deal with. Who? I am going to guess career-minded individuals whose passions are incorporated directly into their daily toils. Those who match their work and productive activities with their personal interests and strengths so well that they are always finding new opportunities. One idea leads to another, and another, and so on. Eventually, the creativity transitions them into a whirlwind of activity, quickly dissociating them from the original effort that enabled their pathway of enlightenment.

Often times, I see bloggers stop posting once they accomplish a goal or find acceptance for their unique contributions. This is the best possible result someone with P-ADD could wind up with. Otherwise, the creative explosion often leads to disorientation that serves to self-destruct any effort due to lack of sufficient focus.

Where am I? There are about 20 different ideas I could focus my time on right now. I still have a passion for sharing thoughts on career development with others and will continue to use this blog to do so. I also want to dedicate time to expanding public knowledge of government financial management and promote creative solutions for economic development. Therefore, future posts will include specific topic discussions (not too political) that may provide some ideas for those wanting to create opportunities for themselves.

I also realize that I am becoming what my wife likes to affectionately describe, a "twit." Therefore, in addition to the personal feed, you can follow Always Achieve on Twitter. A few modifications will be made to this site to better promote the material I post via Twitter, as it should lead to more pertinent and productive information sharing.

I am still open to suggestions on topics for posts. Please share them by sending an email to alwaysachieve@gmail.com, or by Twitter.

Don't let horizon limit opportunity

The biggest impediment to professional success is the limit we place on the range of our personal horizon. If we cannot see ourselves beyond a restricted comfort zone often influenced by immaturity and nostalgia, regardless of age, careers and opportunities will pass by without the slightest recognition.

In our younger years, job prospects are not available everywhere. From a personal perspective, finding a position in "middle management" in local government is almost impossible in the Southeastern United States. Most governments here do not value or abhor this particular level of bureaucracy and stick to relatively flat organizational models. Therefore, to build experience in my chosen field, I applied for and earned jobs outside my home region.

The experiences of moving, isolation from family and friends, acclimating to unfamiliar environments without the presence of equals in age or knowledge, and learning about and meeting the expectations of supervisors and citizens in a "foreign" culture are all challenging, unpredictable, and downright painful. They also prove enlightening and essential when you grow in a chosen career, enabling a broader understanding of the surrounding environments and your role as a professional within them.

Do not avoid looking beyond your hometown or home state, or even beyond your side of the Mason-Dixon Line, career opportunities. There are some factors that deserve consideration when identified openings are sought after. For instance, learn how to prepare your application and inquiry packets to mitigate the likelihood of anti-outsider bias (courtesy "Ask a Manager", h/t Courtney Miller & Kelly Giles @TarHeelsInTransit) many employers subconsciously embrace.

Moving away at the start of a career does not mean you will always be far from "home." Sometimes, the experience gained translates to better opportunities down the road in the location from which you came. Also, one can find that new surroundings grow on them and soon feel as comfortable as those they knew prior to then. Relocation also tests our commitment to a given career and its relationship to those skills and passions we value most.

Achievement requires endurance and adaptability. Embracing change in geography with the same vigor you seek transformations in culture, technology, or politics serves as a great starting point, forging an extending attitude of pursuit toward professional excellence.

Show them you want it

It is important to have proper perspective and balance with respect to wants and needs. If you focus more on your professional wants and make them personal, aligning them with inherent passions, skill strengths, and interests, then you limit your exposure to materialism and living beyond your means as you simply focus on needs with respect to lifestyle.

Of course, it is important to make sure that other people are aware of how badly you want the opportunities, wide-ranging or limited, that are out there for you in a given career. Unfortunately, too many people do not convey their desire effectively, especially during the process of finding a related job.

If you have the chance to read through a stack of applications for just about any job, you can tell that many fill them out without really thinking about what they are communicating with respect to their penmanship, use of language, and degree of thoroughness or following directions. As a result, those who make the commitment to maximize applications or "first impressions" automatically have the upper hand in the selection process.

Naturally, developing personal relationships with potential employers is the most effective means of securing an opportunity in a chosen career path, but it must be complimented by showing that you are committed to their needs and efforts. Applications, cover letter, and resumes, not to mention writing samples, portfolios, and other complimenting elements of a professional profile, all serve to characterize your level of competency and professionalism.

If you have to fill out an application, make sure it is complete and easy to read. Do not simply tell the employer to refer to your resume. Take the time to fill out all of the information requested, even if it seems duplicitous. It shows that you are willing to make whatever effort is necessary to meet the expectations of others, whether they be coworkers, supervisors, or customers.

Even if resumes and cover letters are not specifically requested, make sure you include them. Also make sure that the cover letter is written directly to the given employer and does not read like a mass produced letter one could find with a dozen different applications.

These measures require taking additional time. If you are applying for many jobs, it can significantly lengthen your time commitment if you apply it to every job. So what? If you want a certain career, isn't any investment worth it?

It is important to never believe that your passion will lead you to an opportunity on its own. Effort is everything, and the example you set when you prepare materials for the job selection process is the first step obtaining a career opportunity that will maximize opportunities for personal achievement.

Fatherhood & Achievement

Yep, it's time for a corny, manufactured holiday-inspired commentary designed to draw attention to my blog. Just remember that I am not the first to utilize this lame form of synergy, nor will I be the last.

Father's Day is not really a day of rest, relaxation, or celebration. That does not diminish its importance, but in all honesty, do many fathers actually have time to just sit back and let the day pass by?

Just like with Mother's Day, the thought is the reward, as we may enjoy a little more leisurely pace at breakfast, but will find ourselves back in the grind of a normal Sunday rather quickly, squeezing out every possible minute to take care of those things (both pleasurable or laborious) requiring our attention before the demands of our professional lives returns tomorrow. For some, real "work" is as much a part of today as any other, given the realities of our modern seven-day-workweek culture.

There is an opportunity, albeit brief, for fathers to use today to reflect on their personal progress, as parents, spouses, friends, and career-minded professionals. It is not inappropriately selfish for us to ask ourselves today, "has fatherhood made me a better person?"; or, "has fatherhood enhanced my professional life?"

Personal achievement is self-defined, but our ability to ascertain our progress or level of success is heavily dependent on external factors. Daily experiences, along with life-changing events of less frequency, alter our career path, challenge our dedication to pursuits of passions and interests, and necessitate individual decisions that either lead us closer or further from the goals we set for ourselves, for better and for worse.

Parenthood is a life-changing event. My wife and I knew it would be, never mind the dozens of coworkers, friends, and family who told us relentlessly to be prepared once we found out my wife was pregnant. Since our daughter was born last February, we have worked hard to meet the challenges her presence presents for ourselves, our time, and our desire to give her the best life possible.

Most adults possess a desire, at some level, to become parents. This natural instinct does require nurturing in order to prepare oneself for the true reality of the situation once it arrives. For some, the interest never turns into a passion close to, equal, or greater than their other pursuits. Sometimes, they counteract their lack of strong desire by expressing frustration with those who are parents.

Television shows, particularly sitcoms, feature episodes where professionals without children lament and complain about their coworkers never work late or leave early because their son or daughter has a game or recital, or how they cannot enjoy a meal in a restaurant because of some crying baby in a booth across the dining room. They may even go as far as some hair brained scheme to shame the parents among them of how selfish they are in forcing their children, indirectly, upon the lives of those who "choose" not to have them, as if being childless provides a greater benefit to society.

However, this is not an article about whether or not we have a responsibility as adults, especially if we are happily and lovingly married, to have children and accept the duty of parenthood. Regardless of how you feel now, it is likely you felt differently about it at another point in life, or will feel different about it in the future. With the exception of a few (among them, my wife, whose strongest personal passion was and is motherhood) there is little consistency in our beliefs on the issue, consistent with the dominant traits of humanity.

Therefore, what does fatherhood (or motherhood) yield that enhances our lives from a professional perspective? How do we identify the arrival of our sons and daughters, and the daily challenges they create in our pursuit of personal passions and interests that often drive our goals and visible life successes, as providing strength and benefit to our careers?

First, having children often elevates our status with those around us. Parenthood is a milestone that is perceived by society to possess additional responsibility and commitment that can add value to how others assess our character. If new parents choose to recognize this change in external perspective and respond in kind by setting the right example in raising their children, as well as in their handling of professional duties, then the circumstances only magnify our potential. If we ignore and behave unprofessionally, or hold on too much to our pre-parenthood pasts, then the bestowed stature will be lost, and our presence at the workplace or within a community will fade into irrelevance.

Next, if we choose to embrace the roles and responsibilities of parenthood, we are forced to make decisions that reduce or restructure our involvement in various pursuits. Broad career goals are often drilled down to those that apply most to the skills and interests we either have the most involvement in or tie strongest to personal passions. Choosing to carefully evaluate and improve one's focus in order to strengthen career opportunities enables us to establish ourselves as knowledgeable and experienced authorities on specific topics, subjects, or skill sets, increasing our professional value. Without this channeling, an unfocused career tends not to gain master competency of anything, weakening an individuals ability to market themselves for advancement over time.

Finally, our decision-making skills as parents set examples that can greatly influence not only our like abilities in the professional world, but also the consideration of current and future supervisors, bosses, investors, or clients. Children may not always behave properly, and at times can be downright nasty. A parent's response to these circumstances, and the manner in which it either changes their child's behavior or modifies the situation as a whole, are critical evaluations of our capabilities as mature adults in the eyes of many onlookers. Mothers and fathers who handle the situation in a manner that displays confidence and obtains a positive end result earn praise and opportunities, while those who only magnify the problem with their own antics usually receive public disapproval.

In each example, the manner in which we approach the gift of parenthood is the key to its potential impact on our ability to pursue and achieve in the professional world. Whether we want it or not, the arrival of a child does automatically identify us to everyone else as mothers and fathers. We cannot avoid these labels, and it is in our best interest, with respect to the future of our newest family members and the potential for personal career success, to embrace these new identities and display the same commitment to their responsibilities as we have to our other passions and interests.

On this Father's Day, I can reflect on the year-and-a-half of experience my daughter has provided me and recognize how she is responsible for a great deal of success in my own career. This is not the best gift she gives me today, for her presence, love, and trust are far greater blessings that cannot be compared. However, we would all be blind if we did not see just how much the lives of our children add not only to our world at home with family, but also to our success in the professional workplace.

How's your portfolio?

One of the best things I did when I started looking for work as a college graduate was to assemble a comprehensive portfolio that both listed and provided examples of my education, professional experience, and skill sets.

Whether your are employed or unemployed, novice or experienced, a career portfolio is a strong personal asset, both in hard and electronic format. Recent UNC-CH graduate and employed professional Courtney Miller provides some excellent starting tips in a guest post to Tar Heels in Transit. Along with some common-sense (and often ignored) suggestions on formatting and regular updating of information, Courtney recommends providing summaries of writing summaries so the reader/interviewer can understand the context of your submission. This is an excellent idea, and I look forward to incorporating it with my portfolio in the future.