Do you want to show up more creatively for your clients and your colleagues, your family, and your friends?
Do you want to default to thinking about opportunity versus focusing just on problems?
Discovering Hope is full of proactive steps you can take right now, to achieve a more positive mindset or to help maintain the positivity you already have
Getting Positive reveals that more optimism is close at hand
Positive Career Progression/Avoiding A Precipitous Career Decline
The most extreme Roman military punishment for failure in the line of duty, the order of ‘decimation,’ which involved those to be punished being divided up in to groups of ten men, who would then draw lots. The soldier on whom the lot fell, would be executed by his nine comrades, usually via clubbing to death!
Given this context, career decline is far from physical decimation but you’ll be surprised at the modern psychological decimation that can occur when careers get off track. Not unlike the ‘offending’ Roman centurion, most 21st century career warriors can also experience mental if not physical decline and, whilst not life threatening, just like the centurions, most do not seek what befalls them. So, what do even the best of you need to think about to avoid precipitous decline?
Self-Reliance Helps Avoid Complacency
The most recent ‘Narrate’ newsletter focused on job security and whether it is possible today. http://createsend.com/t/i-E179DC03DCD8DB41 It outlined the need to be proactive not only to maintain what you have but to drive your career forward. Being the master of your own universe dictates that you become self-reliant and pro-active when it comes to managing your career. And, that you do not to a large extent, rely on human resources departments or benevolent bosses, all of whom are more stretched than ever before.
Professional Self-Awareness
The two biggest threats to your career include, ceasing to learn and more fundamental, not knowing who you really are in terms of what you do well. Allied to this thought, knowing what you want to learn next! Indeed, the two ideas are symbiotic. Soren Kierkegaard said, ‘The most common form of despair, is not being who you are.’ I suggest something far worse is not knowing professionally at least, who you are.
When you lack self-awareness in a work context, this manifests as you lacking passion and drive and you show up in a reactive mode. Outside your agency, perhaps with recruiters, you become the person that doesn’t ask for anything in particular. Rather you seek to be made aware of opportunities without specifying specific goals or needs.
Pro-Active Choices
Being passive is terribly dangerous in todays’ climate, when those around you, who do know who they are and what they want, manifest because of their clarity of mind and purpose.
Career decline is ultimately inevitable but relative, but managing its progression is a choice and with it how it manifests: Summary decimation or your own path to honorable discharge? Don’t fail to be aware of and master of your own progression. For more on managing your career, contact me or someone you feel you can confide in.
Bring It
I’ve heard the oft castigated millennial mentioned many a time, as lacking ‘it’ in working roles or interviewing for jobs . I refer of course to passion or watered down, enthusiasm, or even, tepid excitement.. This phenomena is not age exclusive, actually it’s the opposite. Those with much experience are too often equally culpable of assuming they are a ‘must have.’ It doesn’t matter how much you know, how much experience you have or how unique you believe you are, without passion, without the belief that you want the opportunity, without the prospective future client or your would be employer believing you are interested in them and what they are trying to achieve, you will almost certainly fail. Don’t forget to ‘bring it!’
Planning Your Future
Two questions I’m frequently asked by planners: ‘What makes me most marketable?’ and, ‘What are my career options?’
The good news for planners is that the career options are extensive. We’ve seen planners (good ones) a newsletter for creative strategy/brand planning professionals go to branding agencies, PR shops, media players, digital homes, design spaces, innovation boutiques, research houses, client-side, start-ups, consultancies of all hues, many have freelanced and others have set up their own businesses in unrelated areas.
And what makes planners most marketable? Perhaps the best insights come from your peers that took the plunge.
- For me today the virtue most needed for folks wanting to change the fortunes of brands is fearlessness’ Michael Fanuele, Chief Creative Officer, General Mills
- A tendency to listen more than to speak’ –Katie Dreke, Global Brand Director/Advanced Concepts, Nike
- ‘What matters most is intellectual curiosity and an aptitude for change’–Ivan Wicksteed, CMO, Old Navy
In my experience strategic planners in most demand have a business mindset with a results focus; an ability to communicate and gain confidence through understanding client or colleague motivations; and an appreciation of the role that technology plays in building brands.
Looking forward to taking with you about your career progression.
Stuart
Articles and commentary that might be of interest…
- Do you think FAST or think SLOW? Here’s why Brand Leaders need do both
- The Thinkers50 Ranking 2013 (and bios)
- Forward Thinkers: What You Can Learn From Nintendo’s Weird and Wonderful 125 Years
- Getting Outside the Box: The 5 Behaviors of Successful Leaders
- Why Your Best Performers Usually Make the Worst Leaders
- Heads-Up Leadership … leading a customer revolution
- Great Entrepreneurs Are Creative Thinkers
- From Basement to $15M: One Woman’s Journey To The Top
Contact me for a list of resources –Best Visa, Passport and Work Permit Websites
Overseas Adventures
Einstein said ‘If at first an idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it.’ Working overseas can seem absurd to many people but there are plenty of compelling reasons to work in another country.
When and why, I’d be happy to discuss with you.
If you’re sold on the idea, or at least its potential benefits, but have failed thus far to achieve the goal, read on.
To succeed, you need to understand what you might be up against in terms of visas, transferability of skills, cost of living, language and other potential hurdles.
If you look at nothing else, check out the attached link, ‘Worldwide Personal Tax Guide Income Tax, Social Security & Immigration 2013/2014,’ which provides a global summary, country by country on tax and immigration. If you need more detail, I can recommend lawyers that made it possible for others to navigate internationally.
You’ll also need a specific ‘game plan. The key question to answer here (for yourself as much as guiding others trying to help you) is what experience do you want to get from living overseas. Answering this is important as each market offers quite different possibilities, some of which may be more relevant to you dependent on your career and life objectives.
Looking forward to developing the conversation with you.
Stuart
Articles and commentary that might be of interest…
- Career Development: Working Abroad
- 5 Steps for Launching an International Job Search
- Strategies for Overcoming Challenges in Your Search for a Job Abroad
- Your Assignment Abroad. The 50 Most Common Concerns
- International Employment Tips –What You Must Know
- OverseasJobs.com’s Guide To Working Abroad
- Worldwide Personal Tax Guide, Social Security and Immigration 2013/2014
- U.S. Overseas Digest –Americans looking to Work Overseas
- The Skinny on Work Visas in the USA
- Contact me for a list of resources –Best Visa, Passport and Work Permit Websites
Conferenced In
Which conferences or award shows are best for strategic planners? SxSW, Cannes, PSFK, Jay Chiat’s, Planning-Ness, TED Talks…? Are they even worth it?
Here’s my take on the marque events I attended: a newsletter for creative strategy/brand planning professionals My main (and obvious) thought is that having a specific goal gives you a better chance of getting a worthwhile experience. Take a moment to identify what you really want –strategic insights, exposure to current thinking, specific learning for the team, inspiration, networking opportunities –and act accordingly.
Each conference has its own style and focus. SxSWand Cannes offer a little for everybody (latest strategic thinking, methodologies, technology, music, video…etcetera) and can be overwhelming without a game plan. Planning-Ness is at the other end of the spectrum and its limited numbers gets attendees truly engaged. Jay ChiatAwards are great for networking with strategists of all levels and expertise and the EFFIE’s are fun too but are over in a few hours, so the event is less network friendly. And PSFK and TED Talks give fresh thinking from a range of non-media industry executives.
Having talked about goals, I find that some time without structure yields valuable interactions and the ‘fun’ element key for a positive experience.
Contact me for a first-hand perspective
Stuart
PS. Events of interest to lateral thinkers:Â Lucid NYC
Articles and commentary that might be of interest…
- How To Optimize Your ROI From Attending Conferences
- The Ultimate Guide To Getting Your Money’s Worth From Conferences
- The 5 Best Ways To Optimize The Business Value Of Attending Conferences
- The Good, The Bad & Ugly Of Marketing Conferences
- 10 Digital Marketing Conferences That Are Perfect For Newbies
- Are SEO Conferences Worth Attending?
- The Best Marketing Conferences In 2014
- 50 Best Conferences To Attend This Year
- Turn That Soul Crushing Conference In To A Win
Make your success here and now.
This morning I heard the tragic news of the untimely death of one of our industry peers. This made me feel incredibly sad for his family and friends. This also got me thinking once more, about ‘making the most’ and encouraging others to make the most, of NOW! My mind turned to what is effective/successful use of time.
The truth is, we all have our own versions of what is a great use of time, family and friends are right up there for me. However, I think we collectively place much emphasis on the use of time to be about achieving something way off in the distance. And, our society conditions us that big = success. Be it big: Title, salary, home, car, reputation etcetera.
The common reality is, we quickly get dissatisfied once we reach the top of the hill and look for the next one to surmount. This in itself is not a bad thing as human nature and evolution is dependent on the goal driven and inquisitive aspect of human beings. The bad thing is that we often spend much of our lives fixated on the bigger goals and live frustrated or dissatisfied.
My personal view is that real success is in part about tomorrow’s achievements but in large part it is enjoying the steps that lead to achieving the bigger goals. And it makes sense, as those steps make up the bulk of time and our lives.
Real success is about the simple things in life that we take for granted and ignore when we become completely focused on the bigger things. So, recognize your success today by continuing to be driven but also by acknowledging how far you have already travelled, experienced and by the people who appreciate you today.
