Take the LIFT

If you are in job search, you probably have an elevator speech. You know, the short spiel designed to succinctly convey Who you are and What you have to offer.

Having a well-rehearsed elevator speech comes in handy throughout an active job search, whenever you are talking with others, be it at a job fair, networking meeting, trade show, professional conference or even standing on line at the supermarket.

(For those who are curious, or are having difficulty with your own, here is a neat little website for writing an elevator speech.)

Well, at a job search support group last night, one of the participants said that she had never heard of the concept, but that she had heard of a "lift speech."

As we talked further, it became apparent that the two ideas are one and the same, since a lift is a term also used for an elevator.

Always on the lookout for synchronicities, it immediately occurred to me that the word lift can give the job hunter an edge:

L = Look ahead: Your speech should look ahead, not back to the past. "What I can do for your organization" vs "I used to be...until I was let go." Be positive and future focused rather than dredging up the past.

I = Inspire: Don't be so modest that you keep your talents hidden. Roll out one or more of them in short one-liners such as "At [Company Name], I introduced five new products in one year." Convey the potential that you possess.

F = Focus: Though you probably have a fascinating life story, do not try to tell it all. Be selective. Consultant and speaker Kenny Moore, the former monk and best-selling author, says think of this process as a strip-tease where you want to reveal yourself sparingly.

T = Turn it around: Stop talking and ask the other person about them. Turn it into a conversation. Show interest in who they are and they will be more motivated to ask you some follow up questions.

So be sure to take the LIFT on your way to success!

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Friday October 26, 2012

Three Questions for the Next You

Today, a colleague sent out a desperate plea for advice, saying that she was despondent in her current job, and ready to quit.

I wonder how many in today's workplaces are feeling the same way? Some surveys put the number at 60% or higher that are looking to leave their current spots, hoping for greener pastures someplace else.

If you are in this predicament, I have three questions to help you start thinking about the move you want to make.

1. What work do you really want to do?

2. What obstacles are standing in your way?

3. What is calling you?

Let's take a closer look at these three.

First, I would ask, What work would you really like to be doing? Do you want to stay in your chosen field? Or do you want to branch out into another?

Articulating your vision for yourself, and the work you aspire to do, is a critical step in the direction you want to go. Each of us has been gifted with skills and talents. Putting those gifts to good use is one of the keys to happiness and success.

Second, I would ask, What is standing in your way? What is holding you back? What is keeping you from moving in your desired direction?

Even though we desire to change, nevertheless we may be stuck. Getting clearly focused on your own obstacles --those within you, and those outside you-- will stimulate energy for the change you desire to make. This is a finding from the research being done by Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson.

Third, I would ask, What do you feel called to? What are your dreams about the impact you want to have on the world?

Do you have a calling? I believe that we all have one. Trouble is, many of us never hear it.

The question about calling has several aspects. One is actually about the 'where' aspect of your career. Where do you want to work? For someone else or for yourself? For a large company or a smaller one? Close to home or far away?

Another aspect of calling is 'for whom?' How many of us really think about the audience we want to reach or customer we want to serve?

And one more aspect of calling is 'with what effect?' Many of us are socialized to think that we work to make money. Full stop. We want to make a lot of money and so we gravitate to the for-profit realm. But that is not always the path to fulfillment.

The not-for-profit space may be the place where your gifts will do the most good. And bring you the most satisfaction.

The world of work is a much bigger landscape than we may imagine, with much more diversity and opportunity than we know.

If you, like the person whose plea started this meditation, are feeling burned out in your current job, maybe this is a good time for some soul searching with a few helpful questions.

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Friday October 12, 2012