That lyric stuck in my head, along with the catchy tune from the Boomtown Rats, bringing me back to days of Top 40 radio in the late 1970s.

It is Monday as I write this blogpost and begin to embark upon different daily themes for much of the new blogpost content moving ahead. As such, content on this first weekday will be motivational, that is Motivation Mondays. Yes, it may be a bit cliché, but sometimes we must take certain measures to keep on track.

With the inception of the World Cup tournament recently, I thought that this first motivational post should be goal oriented. Sure, defense is fine in some cases, but even the best defense will come up winless without a goal to offset the score.

As you transition from the weekend into the “work week”, you should have some clear goals in mind, to accomplish as you progress. And, for those of you whose work may be a full-time job search, having goals might be even more important. So, let’s set some goals, then! Once you have a goal in mind, you can then start to plan. In fact, Napoleon Hill, who interviewed many, many successful people in the 1930s and wrote the classic motivational text, Think and Grow Rich, advises us to,

Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Additionally, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French aristocrat, writer and poet of the early twentieth century, reminds us that,

A goal without a plan is just… a wish.

If you’ve set your goal(s) and made your plan for the week, now it’s time to get to work, and stick to that plan, minimizing distractions, in order to reach your goal. Now you must make things happen, in alignment with your goal. Of course, your ultimate goal is to get that great new job, but along the way, it’s more practical to focus on smaller goals – whether it be strengthening your resume, practicing your interviewing skills with a friend, preparing a set of success stories to relate during an interview, or conducting an informational interview.

You must focus on your goal to persevere, but you can do it! And it may not be easy, but it should be worth it. Keep in mind the sage words on revered American football coaching legend, Vince Lombardi, who said,

Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.

Therefore, set your goal today, plan the work today, work hard all week, stick to your goal all week, until you reach that goal! Once you’re done, set another goal – you know that you can do it, so start NOW!

Today is the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. For me, it began like most days, but that day I was called to present our department’s accomplishments to a group of strategic business partners at 8:15 AM, which was earlier than usual. I regarded this early as a small sign of my dedication to the job.

Not too far into the presentation, the group was alerted about a plane hitting the World Trade Center tower. What followed next would, of course, change our view of the world forever.

To this day, I am in awe of the dedication and selflessness of the first responders, who acted in service to those in need, without regard for their own consequences.

So, to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, I would ask that you offer up a prayer for their loved ones. They made a sacrifice, too, although they didn’t know it at the time.

In honor of those who performed with excellence that day, in service of others without strong self regard, I would encourage you to give your very best in your job search. Then, when you land your next great opportunity, continue your habit of excellence and service.

This approach may bring about many benefits, including:

1. Recognition by your boss, your co-workers, your business partners and your customers as a strong performer, a valued partner and an honest business partner;
2. The aforementioned recognition will add to your self-esteem, and if done in the true spirit of service, should not similarly boost ego or self-pride;
3. Satisfied with a job well-done and appreciative co-workers, you may gain a greater sense of peace in your family life, and begin to undo some of the residual negative side effects of an involuntary job search.

Not too long ago, I gave a presentation on practical wisdom from several modern business authors. One of those quoted was Tom Peters, who is best known for his classic bestseller, In Search of Excellence. Mr. Peters is passionate about the subject of excellence.

After reading, actually listening to, his recent book, The Little BIG Things – 163 Ways to Pursue Excellence, I can still reflect strongly on his signature quote of “If not excellence, what? If not excellence now, when?”  These are sage words which we should take to heart, and then implement in our lives.

When we live excellent lives, we influence others to do the same, through our example. If we then reflect upon the job search, and pursue it in an excellent manner, as Tom Peters suggests, we may be happier, make others around us happier, and odds are that we will also achieve excellent results in the process.

If we take this one step further, and act in an excellent manner in our new job, we increase our value to our new company. In turn, we reduce the possibility of encountering another involuntary job search in the near future.

So, please, in reverence and gratitude to those dear souls who served us excellently in sacrifice a dozen years ago, look for ways to seek excellence in your job search, in your family life and your friendships, and in random acts of kindness and charity to strangers. You’ll be better for it, and so will we!

The same scenario may be in play for those workers who have fallen behind the times, not keeping their skills fresh in a fast-moving world.

Therefore, it is quite important to keep current with trends and skills pertaining to your profession. Once way of doing this is to join one or more of the professional associations which support your particular line of work and/or your business sector.

To give an example, in my position as a project manager, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is recognized as the predominant association for the practice, and provides for local chapter meetings, training and professional development opportunities, conferences, and certifications.

A simple web search may help you to find associations which represent your field, as illustrated above. You can then leverage the value of professional associations to take advantage of the following possible opportunities:

1. Networking
   • Attending chapter meetings, annual conferences, training or study groups will provide significant chances to meet others in your field of interest to network with
2. Certification
   • Professional certifications, such as PMI’s Project Managment Professional (PMP) designation, lend additional credibility to your candidacy by showing that you took the initiative to become certified.
   • Many certifications also require a specific minimum number of continuing education hours as well.  These provide added incentive to practice networking, and perhaps to develop new friendships in your chosen field.
3. Resume Enhancement
   • If you begin study for a recognized certification, and you indicate this on your resume, this can add value, as many automated resume scanning software will most likely key in on the term.  Just be sure to indicate that the cert is ‘In Progress’ or ‘Expected’ so as not to mislead.
   • Many certifications also require a specific minimum number of continuing education hours as well.  These provide added incentive to practice networking, and perhaps to develop new friendships in your chosen field.
4. Gravitas
   • Many workers consider their employment as just showing up, performing simply what is specified, and collecting a paycheck.  (That’s not you, right?)
   • By joining a professional association, you demonstrate that you have a greater commitment to your craft, in that you are interested in developing your expertise, perhaps by attending many of the events listed in the first bullet (above).
5. Volunteerism
   • Professional associations are mostly staffed by volunteers, who may be looking for additional help to ease their burden.
   • A great way to meet new people in your field would be to volunteer to help the membership committee, maybe even as a greeter at the sign-in table at local chapter meetings.
6. Sharing your expertise
   • As an offshoot of volunteering, you may consider presenting at a local meeting or writing an article for the chapter’s newsletter or website.
   • This also will blend well with resume enhancement, as you could then list your speaking or writing experience beneath your entry for the professional association, or even under a separate section titled ‘Additional Experience’ or ‘Additional Qualifications’.

Search the web for associations which cover your field or sector. Select a nearby chapter, and commit to attend an upcoming meeting.  Agree to make at least one new contact there.

In order to inspire other readers with your action(s), please be sure to add a comment, celebrating your successes.

Just like when dealing with a swimming pool full of wicked cold water on a hot summer day, there are some who will dive right in. Others would prefer to wade in slowly, gradually adjusting to the drastic temperature difference. In my opinion, the divers equate to those who raised their hands to signify their love of networking.

Though I personally have grown to enjoy networking, I continue to wade into a pool when the water seems a tad cool. For me, networking is really just being friendly and personable, but with maybe a bit more focus.

To give an example, just the other day, I was with my family, eating at a favorite soup & salad restaurant. Later, I returned for a take-out item, and chatted with the cashier, who served us earlier.

During our impromptu conversation, I learned some things — that she followed her fiancé down to Florida, that he was a year or two older than she was, that he has a good job working in accounting and administration in a local college, and the cashier position was one of her two jobs, the other being with the mega-entertainment company that dominates in the area. Plus, she indicated that she relocated from the same state and county up north that I live in.

If I were looking for employment in this area, I could say that I just made a solid connection in just a brief few minutes, all while waiting for my delicious multi-grain bread to finish baking, which was my intended mission in the first place.

Then, I could probably speak to her further about prospects in the entertainment company, including whether they’re hiring.  I could similarly ask about the college, and hope that she would consider connecting me with her fiancé, to further explore that possibility instead. This all resulted from my just being friendly and personable at the end of a salad bar, and perhaps willing to inquire further and ask a follow-up question or two, such as about her fiancé’s work in the area.

Wouldn’t you say that the above results amounted from little more than a “wade”, by carrying on an easy conversation with someone who chats with customers all day long?

Had I truly been interested in learning more about opportunities in the area, connecting with new and helpful people, etc., I would have made a point to carry some personal business cards along with me wherever I traveled. This would allow me to easily share my information, both contact info and other takeaways that I want the recipient to know about me.

If you don’t already have a personal business card, please get one right away. On-line vendors offer professional-looking cards for reasonable prices.

Besides your name and contact information, what additional key points would you want someone to remember about you?  How could you present this information on a personal business card, to not only make you more memorable, but also to help you to stand out from your competition in the job search?

Editor’s note: KJ is currently in Florida with his family, but continues to blog for his LeggUpp readers.

During my current travels, I was struck by the contrast of these two different fish, as depicted on custom wall tiles.  The meaning of the noun, flounder, refers to the fish.  However, it is the verb meaning that gave me concern.  Two formal definitions are given, when I query Merriam-Webster.com:

1. to struggle to move or obtain footing : thrash about wildly
2. to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

When I began my recent job search, I found that I sometimes acted clumsily and ineffectually, struggling to get proper footing.  It was only after I learned that the internet age had changed the rules, did I begin to make some headway.

Only after a realized the value of networking in the search, did I actually begin move ahead, and upward — much like the sailfish on the corresponding  tile.  In fact, the sailfish is much more active, and feisty!  It can be seen jumping out of the water, displaying its true splendor for all to see.

One can learn a lesson from the sailfish, and apply it to the art of informational interviewing — a more outgoing form of networking.  In an informational interview, the job seeker reaches out to key people from whom good things can be gained — insights about an industry or company, new skills or trends that should be explored, and most importantly, referrals.

But just as the sailfish, you must display your splendor, in the form of success stories.  Think of these as those events in your past jobs that you’re most proud of, and those which you’d like to show to others when you have the opportunity to “leap out of the water”, and stop floundering.

Consider your most impacting success story that, when shared with others, your eyes would widen and your face would light up.  Now, try to think of three to six more of those that make you similarly proud.

How many stories were you able to muster?  Which one would you consider your most effective?

Editor’s note: KJ is currently in Florida with his family, but continues to blog for his LeggUpp readers.

When faced with these frustrating times, it might be better to reflect on a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Yes, we are anxious to get to our destination, and become gainfully re-employed. This is expected in our new and now culture. But, we may miss some valuable opportunities if we ignore the journey. Thinking back, my recent job search journey was peppered with wonderful roadside attractions.

Two quick examples of the value in the journey come to mind. One stop along the way resulted in a new friendship, simply because I offered to help a fellow job searcher with the design of her personal business cards. We remain close friends today, continuing to help each other in new ways.

A second opportunity arose when someone who offered to help me with my search, also sought some tech know-how, to help get the word out about an event he was hosting. The technical assistance later expanded to include pitching in to write creative copy — not my strong suit, to be sure. Still, this willingness to help where help is needed may have been the spark which lit the fire to write this blog.  You never know?

In a follow-up post, I’ll detail some additional examples of people who successfully leveraged the journey of the job search for personal and professional development. For now, though, let me leave you with this challenge.

Think about others in the job search whom could benefit from your skills, and your help.  Helping those in need may bring unexpected benefits to you and your job search as well. 

Please be sure to loop back and let us know how you helped, and what resulted, by using the comment area below.

In my personal job search just a few years ago, I approached it like a gatherer. That is, I spent many hours on the internet job boards, gathering up jobs which I thought I would be suitable for. Then, I prepared my cover letter, submitted my resume, and recorded another job submission that I’d hope to hear back from real soon. A similar approach would occur with headhunters, who would connect with me with promises of possible matches on job reqs which they had, or would have in the future. More possibilities were gathered in during those discussions.

Gathering was safe. I could tell myself, and those who were pulling for me, that I was making progress. Surely, one of the online submissions would amount to solid interest, an engaging interview, followed by real offer. But days, weeks, and months seemed to pass without actual success.  What was I doing wrong?

It wasn’t until I began to appreciate the value of hunting, did I begin to gain real traction.

Hunting begins with networking.  In our analogy, networking would equate to asking other (job) hunters where the game could be found. But it also involves storytelling, too. In earlier times, hunters would circle a campfire to relate success stories to their tribesmates.

When networking, and especially in an informational interview, you should come prepared with many an interesting story about successes during your career, as this helps to build interest and rapport. These success stories will show you to be the solid performer that you are, and thus make you more attractive to hiring companies.

Just like news about a nearby herd of bison, when you conduct a series of information interviews, word about your value and skills will spread, perhaps to someone who will approach you about a position instead. And, in a job search, isn’t it more advantageous to be the hunted, rather than the hunter?

Consider whom in your industry would be interesting to conduct an informational interview with. Reach out and request a 15-minute meeting. Arrive prepared to listen first, but to share some success stories, too.

Asking for informational interviews may seem difficult at first, but become easier after each successive one. Please be sure to use the comment section below to share your experiences with your fellow hunters.

When the game proves challenging, you’ll be glad that you sought out help — just like those in the picture above.

The reason for the baseball theme of this blogpost is that I recently achieved a personal milestone in LinkedIn — connecting on-line with 1,000 others in my network.  When I reflected upon my hitting one thousand, my thoughts quickly flicked to that magic number in our national pastime.

In a job search, however, perfection really isn’t achievable, but continued perseverance is. Therefore, for you to be successful, you should look for new opportunities to expand your network. As illustrated above, 1,000 LinkedIn connections can give you access to over 10 million others — many of whom may be able to help you achieve your goal.

How many LinkedIn connections do you currently have? Have you met people recently, at networking events, professional association meetings, etc., that you still haven’t connected with on-line?

Think about (at least) five people that you’ve met recently that you should add to your LinkedIn network. Then, send each a personal note, requesting to connect.

Pretty soon, you’ll be hitting 1,000 as well.  Be sure to celebrate, and share your newfound LinkedIn success story in the comment section below. Doing so will help provide encouragement to others who are still waiting in the on-deck circle.

As the story goes, there were six of us in a small, single-wing Cessna plane with the passenger seats removed.  I volunteered to be the first to jump because I was afraid that if I saw the others go first, I might get “cold feet”.  So, when the instructor told me that it was time, I climbed out of the plane onto the step, and awaited the signal to leap backwards — the actual jump.

A funny thing happened just after I jumped, though.  My helmet came off and was now travelling earthward, without the benefit of its own parachute.

Two lessons from that day can also be applied to your job search:

1.    You can’t change the past, so make the best of it.

I was never going to get my helmet back, so I focused on the new experience of floating to earth.  Similarly, your past jobs are all behind you.   But, you can use the job search to focus on rediscovering many of the accomplishments achieved and skills learned, which you hadn’t had time to think about when you were in the thick of things.

2.    Storytelling is a great skill to develop.

And, once you’ve made a list of the accomplishments and skills mentioned above, you’ll want to present them in an interesting and engaging manner.  This is where storytelling techniques come in.  Practice recounting your stories with friends and family, asking for honest feedback on how to improve your presentation.  This is great practice in advance of a successful interview.

A job hunter should develop a file of at least twelve accomplishment stories, framed to be presented using a P-A-R approach.  (I’ll be sure to cover the use of  P-A-R, or the Problem – Action – Result method, in a future blogpost.)

Do you have at least twelve accomplishment stories written down, and committed to memory, in preparation for your next interview?  If not, you should start preparing them today.

And nowadays, more and more businesses are leveraging automated resume scanning software, looking for keywords in what you submit to them on-line.  Therefore, having those keywords in your package will help you be more successful.

But once you get your submission to a real live person, not impersonal software, it’s important to maintain that good impression that began with your well-written T-letter.

If you design the contact information heading of your resume to double as letterhead, you can reuse it for your cover letter.  Doing so not only looks very professional, but may also show the HR reps, and eventually the hiring manager, that you pay close attention to detail.

This approach may help to distinguish you from the other candidates, even those who may appear more qualified, but less organized than you.  And, the more important first step is to get your foot in the door, to get a phone- or in-person interview, where you can further prove why are the best candidate for the position.

So, which of the two fashion styles above do you think would make the more favorable impression?  (I’ll guess which one you probably picked.)

Just like a matching tuxedo, bow tie and tails, attention to style and detail will decide the type of impression put forward.

On the next job posting which you directly apply to with a cover, try submitting your resume with a matching T-style cover letter instead.

Does your current cover letter and resume package look coordinated and well-crafted?  If not, what will you change to improve the presentation?