Welcome!

Dear Valued Readers,

Welcome to Helping Others Seeking Work.


Originally Honesty Today, Hope for Tomorrow, this was my first blog, dating back to June 2010. I hope you find value here.  More, I hope you share with what helps you. Helping others remains the impetus behind this effort.


Whether you are unemployed, under-employed, or just a job seeker or career changer:

<---------- No new posts are planned at this time, as the other blog has been shut down. Please take time to peruse the posts found to the left. You will find a plethora of topics to educate, motivate and inspire--to help you win!

Thank you for visiting. I hope you find value here.
 
Warm regards and best wishes!

John

The Gift of Life -- Part One

Note -- This is the first in a four part series, revised and re-posted November 2012.

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Dear Valued Readers,

Most posts here are professional and educational in nature. This time, please enjoy a more personal topic.

On November 4th, 1980, at roughly 5 am, my life -- our life -- forever changed. That was the day our son was born.

I have never forgotten that moment when I became a father and held him for the first time him in my hands. It was truly The Gift of Life.

From the time he was a kid, I knew he would be involved with techie stuff for a career. That's what he is naturally good at. He obviously did not come from my side of the gene pool!

Over time, Daddy morphed into Dad and today, I am Daddio. Over time, the bond of two-way love and respect and friendship has grown and strengthened.

On both sides, mistakes fade. Good memories remain.

Our son is a father now. In fact, as he became a first-time father, I was grateful to be there, dad to the new dad as together we shared The Gift of Life.

What a thrill it was to hold for the first time his first child. All I can say of that moment right now is . . . wow.  He now has two children, with another on the way, and we really look forward to his sister giving birth to her first child (the revised Part Two will come next month).

It has been rewarding to watch him learn to parent. We often experiment on our first child. I've often said both our kids survived despite Dad! :)

Each day, I continue to marvel at and value The Gift of Life and to stand in awe of the Life Giver of us all. That is one of the joys of being a parent.

Friends, I urge you to make the most of whatever time you have been given. All of us have physical family to some degree or another, and all of us belong to the human family. And as one of our presidents said,

"We are all God's children."

So going forward, please respect The Gift of Life.

Happy birthday, Son.

We love you,

Daddio and Mom

Our annual church trip, my annual blog break

Warm greetings to you all,

Hope you like the picture.  No, it is not me, although I do wear glasses!

Soon, my wife and I will be taking our annual church trip, during which time I will take a blog break.  This is being posted early and will be date forwarded until we leave.

Posts will cease the week of  September 21st and resume on October 21st.

My fervent hope is that you derive enough value from this blog to remember it and return, as fresh messages are slated for the fall.  As my wife has reminded me, if this only helps one person, then the effort was worth it. 

Sincerely,

John

PS -- the picture below was taken on a previous church trip to Portugal; be watching for an update with fresh photos and postings to help you walking your talk at work and at home.

John Alan Fox, The Other Coach

Helping Teams Win since 2003

Myers Briggs ™ Practitioner

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801.755.8874 Monday-Friday

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Are you reaching out?

Dear Valued Readers,

Originally written in the spring of 2011, its recent downloading by viewers promoted this re-posting.

Several years ago, my wife who works for Lenscrafters here in Salt Lake City was the local Gift of Sight Captain. She volunteered for, and was accepted to participate in, an international outreach mission. She was sent to Bolivia for a two-week service mission, and this experience changed her life and mine, now I share it with you with a principle that can change your life, too!

Although she became quite sick there, she still has fond memories of people young and old holding grasping her hands, hugging her and exclaiming, "Grande!" when for the first time, they could see clearly! Having taken the gift of sight for granted, that deeply touched me. I see Bolivia through her eyes.

To thank her for her service, I bought her a small teddy bear dressed in military fatigues. We still have it in our bedroom, along with the hat and souvenirs she brought back -- they are hanging in our stairwell.

All these are constant reminders of her Bolivia Gift of Sight Mission outreach trip. After 19 years of marriage, she is still my giving girl, for she is always reaching out to serve others.

My question to you today is simple. Are you reaching out to help others?

So many today are only focused on themselves. Before I grew up, I was that way, too. And I still have days where old John still knocks on the door. Can't let 'im in -- new John lives here and believe me, it requires vigilance and daily effort!

You or I may not be in a position to travel to another country to give glasses. But can we help others see more clearly? Can we open a door or pave an introduction to help a job seeker? Can we share a smile or lend a hand to uplift someone who is down or discouraged?

To all these questions and more, the right answer is, yes we can! And that is not some cheap political slogan. That is three words we each can live. I know I can do better, and I am challenging you to do the same.

Yesterday, my former colleague and friend Terry Miller invited me to a local job networking event. This morning, I attended. Thank you, Terry!

My friend and career coach Ed Colozzi says we each have a calling. We each have special work to do that no one else can do.

Are you living your calling? Am I? If you are having questions, you should consider looking him up. He can help! See my earlier blog, Do what you were called to do.

This morning's presenter Van Walther is living his calling! It was obvious that Van loves what he does. He gets paid to show up! And he shares his passion with others.

Wow. What a neat way to live. What a neat way to make a living! http://www.linkedin.com/in/vwalther

Van literally has millions of connections, why? Van is always reaching out to help others via Linkedin, via networking -- and his goal?!

Van is passionate about reaching out, about helping his fellow man and woman -- that's his drive. How he does so is helping them to find work. Ed helps by helping one bridge the life/career conundrum.

Are you passionate about reaching out to help others? Am I? We should be!

We could be, and in fact we can be -- IF we choose to be. If reaching out is our driving force, then what we do will be a more true reflection of who we are. That's how I want to live and make my living, and I wager you do, too.

{ Some days we just need a reminder. Today, I did. }

Van reminded me of what I have been striving to do and yet know I still need to be doing more of -- more networking and actively reaching out to help others.

Thanks for the reminder, Van. When we reach out to help others, we serve ourselves.

I leave us this challenge: in all we say and in all we do, are we reaching out to help others, or are we just focused on ourselves?

Sincerely,

John

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John Alan Fox, The Other Coach

Helping Teams Win since 2003

Myers Briggs ™ Certified Practitioner

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801.755.8874 Monday-Friday


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Under-employed? Strive to give more!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: published two years ago today, this is being re-posted.  Perhaps the headlines that caught my eyes then are different:

• Today's dismal news already spread into tomorrow
• Asian markets are already reacting to the depressing news here in the US economy
• Fears grow regarding European economic woes
• Due to cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off 

But in a way, are the headlines today any different?  True then, true now, these ARE difficult days through which you and I are trekking.

I wish I could offer more than this blog, but I continue to offer it, hoping to help at least one reader at a time. To that end, today I wish to speak to those who are under-employed. 

Surely the term requires no definition.  If your current life fits the bill, you know it!

Some may not understand how be hard and discouraging it can be, even leading to depression, losing one's income, career, livelihood, which then results in taking a lower-paying job quite probably not even in one's comfort zone, skill-set or even one's remotest desire!   After 15 months of under-employment working a cash register in fast food, often dealing with  rude guests not just day in but moment in, moment out, I understand and empathize!!

While job loss is hard for females -- just ask my wife how she feels about it -- this is especially true for men whose identity tends to be wrapped up in one's career or job, such as:

• I am a lawyer
• I am a doctor
• I am a _______________ (you fill in the blanks)

For example, I was a professional business coach advising financial advisors.  As the on-going financial crisis affected the company where I worked, although a senior employee, I too found myself first unemployed and then under-employed.

Was this my preferred path?  No.

Is food service my chosen career?  Again . . . No, although it is honorable and I am honoring to spend my days working alongside my Latina and Latino coworkers.  Muy bien!

Does the ongoing economic outlook -- more layoffs, fewer hours, more taxes, etc. and no career prospects in sight -- set new golden paving stones as I walk life's yellow brick road?  (Sigh)  No.

I am under-employed, like many of you. 

So until circumstances change and I am once again able to coach and counsel others again, providing internal and external communications, what do I do? 

I strive to give more.

For starters, I am old (er).  I am not fresh out of high school or college.  No offense is meant to these age groups who are also suffering through this awful time.  

Yet with time and experience comes seasoning -- those who cook understand the analogy.  Quality ingredients, hard earned education and hard won skills, plus heat and time = a dish one is willing to pay more for versus what one buys in a standard quick service setting -- again, no offense is meant.   

I merely make the analogy that we all are willing to pay more, whether the contrast is an entry level car versus a high end vehicle, a regular meal versus a five-star experience or an entry level employee versus an old (er) man or woman who brings to the table years of proven, quantifiable and measurable experience under his or her belt.  See the post, Are you blue chip or penny stock?

Using my strengths, I strive to give more, both to internal clients and external guests.  Willing to take input from those much younger, I bring a work ethic to work.  I do not need to to wait to be told what to do. 

Nor am I driven or colored by youthful brashness and ego.  I am able to listen. 

Accordingly, I am also able to easily connect with guests without them feeling unduly intimidated by sales pressure.  My intent is to serve them, not sell to them.  My intent is to give, not to get.  My intent and hops is to bring all my past weight to bear and contribute beyond what I am paid, beyond what my role and title stipulate.

If you have found yourself under-employed, here is a good way to summarize this approach:

• Get up
• Clean up
• Dress up
• Show up

Be the best you that you can be.  That's what the firm you work for bought, not just what you do or what you have done in the past. 
Strive to give more. Make what you do a positive experience for all those around you and those with whom you interact, especially if your new role is client facing.  No matter what industry or setting, when dealing with clients, customers, patients, guests, etc., make their experiences with you worth remembering.  Be memorable -- in a good way!  Be profitable.  Be positive for one day, it will pay off!

One day, I will pass on what I have re-learned at the grass roots level the same lessons I once to to a client base that was worth half a billion dollars.  Whether the conversation occurs over a chicken sandwich transaction or regarding how to deal with large affairs, the lessons are the same.   It has been very hard, and I will be so grateful when this life chapter turns the page!  Yet I am grateful for the experience.

Let your example out shine what others do not provide or serve as you do.  Make yourself worthy to be hired, make yourself likable and hard to be replaced.  Make yourself a winner in a difficult situation you find yourself in and at the very least, you will respect your example.  By so doing, you will prove to others -- and to yourself -- that you were willing to take work "beneath" you.  

Prove to yourself that you could and to others that you would.

Who knows?  You might find that a bonus, a promotion or a raise comes your way!!

If this helps you, please share to help others.

Sincerely,

John

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John Alan Fox, The Other Coach

Helping Teams Win since 2003

Myers Briggs ™ Certified Practitioner

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The One Thing Job Seekers Need to Do . . .

Author's Note:

I recently reached out to my professional colleague and friend Amy L. Adler to write a guest post to help job seekers. A professional resume writer, Amy is the CEO of Five Strengths Career Transition Experts in Salt Lake City, UT. She titled this, "The One Thing Job Seekers Need to Do."  Yet she added this caveat: It's Not What You Think!  What is it? Read more below.

*****************************************************

As a professional resume writer, I regularly hear from job seekers who believe they need a new resume, cover letter, buffed up LinkedIn profile or some other tactical document. Some are right: a stellar resume portfolio might be just what they need.

Most however are wrong.

So many directionless job seekers see a resume as the magic bullet that will catapult them to job search success!  But it's not. A job seeker who believes that the right resume will turn a lousy job search into a great one is misguided.

So what is that One Thing that will universally help every job seeker in every situation? It's soul searching: looking inside yourself to learn what it is that makes you great. It's not an easy task, and many people will shy away from the hard work it takes to really learn something about themselves. *

Truly learning about what makes you great—from your own introspection—is the only element of the job search over which you have 100% control. This is the most effective strategy for job search, no matter what the economy looks like.

What Do You Do with a Soul Search?

In a practical sense, a soul search results in what we career coaches call a personal brand:

• The thing you do
• In the way you do it
• That nobody else does.

You might be thinking, as so many of my humbler clients do, that anyone with your job or area of expertise would do your job your way, because it's the only way (or one of the only ways) to be successful. Wrong. You are special, and you do things your way—successfully and fruitfully. Now you need to look inside yourself to give those special qualities the language that should infuse the other aspects of your job search—your resume, your cover letter, your LinkedIn profile.

In conclusion, start with a keen look inside yourself. Evaluate your career history; your wants, needs, and desires; and your goals. Know for certain that you are amazing at what you do, and identify the descriptors that resonate with you for this job search. I am confident that your passions will resonate with hiring leaders as well.

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* How interesting that Amy mentioned doing the hard work; this permeates my blogs.  If interested, click here for one example called DO the hard work.

Thank you, Amy.  You can contact her at aadler@fivestrengths.com.   And if you know of a firm needing someone like me, contact me via the links below.

Sincerely,

John

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John Alan Fox, The Other Coach

Helping Teams Win since 2003

Myers Briggs ™ Certified Practitioner

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Follow @johnalanfox
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Are You Blue Chip or Penny Stock?

Dear Valued Readers,

The true story posted in December 2010 remains important enough to re-share today for our new readers here and at Honesty Today, Hope for Tomorrow. 

This post is applicable for all job seekers, whether one is unemployed, under-employed or seeking new horizons.  It is also useful for the consideration of all C-level executives, hiring managers and HR personnel.

Many years ago, a career guidance book told the story of a female who after years of raising her family wanted to return to the workforce. She held a degree but had little formal experience.

What was she to do?!  How was she to compete and find meaningful employment?

Thankfully and luckily, she fell into the hands of a capable and caring professional (as I did).  This man helped her to ethically recount all of the "jobs" she had held while honorably serving for years as a wife and mother: 

• Chief Operations Officer 
• Chief Accounting Manager 
• Transportation Director 
• Social Coordinator and so forth . . .

Encouraged, she did her research on the firm to which she had identified her interest.  She carefully prepared her resume and cover letter.  Then she proceeded to seek employment at the firm in question.

She landed the interview.

Intrigued enough by her qualifications and character to make an offer, the hiring officer asked her what she wanted in terms of salary, to which she gave an answer far above his expectations. When he asked how she could possibly justify what she asked for, she quietly replied,

"Do you want blue chip or penny stock?"

She landed the job.

{ No offense meant to young (er) readers fresh from school or new to the workplace. }

How are you selling yourself?  Are you blue chip or penny stock?

Realistically knowing who we are and what we are worth is paramount both in terms of salary negotiation and in career satisfaction. This is true for both job seekers and job providers. Pay too little and good people leave -- ask too much and firms downsize. The wise reader will heed.

Never forget, as the ancient saying said, a worker is worthy of his or her hire.  You are worth being paid what you are worth. 

Are you blue chip or penny stock?  You decide.

To your success!

Sincerely,

John

Note, this post was initially dedicated to my professional colleague and friend Ed Colozzi, one of the foremost authorities on what he calls career/life.

Our lives having connected in early 2010, I can affirm that his counsel polished me professionally. Perhaps he could help you, too.  As we learned about in the post, "Dig out your Well" at the other blog, he is a true "digger."  Thank you, Ed.

{ For an ultra-quick peek into who Ed is and what he does, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTpad46g9JA. }

Further, this is also dedicated to all those professionals "out there" like Dick Bolles, Richard Lathrop and so many others who help others seeking work. 

Nancy Anderson and Amy L. Adler and many others guide on resume prep and other skills for job seeking success.

Joshua Waldman will help you using social media for your search.

You may wish to view my presentation, 3G's of Job Searching.

Finally, I want to mention Debbie and Lonnie Pierce, colleagues and friends who began years ago with equine counseling which has blossomed into Gaits of Change, Center for Professional and Personal Development.  

Caring people like all of you provide career guidance, life and business coaching and help in other disciplines. People like you help so many and give so much. As a fellow coaching professional, Thank you all.

This is also for those moms who are re-entering the job market; thank you for your commitment and sacrifice to raise your children. Being "Mom" or "Heart-Mom" is a noble profession.

And to those students who will be graduating school to enter the unknown of the workplace: WOW! During this time of unprecedented turmoil and economic upheaval, you are to be commended for staying the course with your studies. Well done!

And finally, this is for all those old (er) ones affected by this worldwide crisis who have been forced into unemployment or being under-employed and who are bravely facing that. Here is one post you need to read! I admire you. As one blog said, there is no shame in asking for help, only in not asking or receiving it.

As always, thank you for reading,

John

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John Alan Fox, The Other Coach

Helping Teams Win since 2003

Myers Briggs ™ Certified Practitioner

Facebook, Linkedin, Portfolio

Follow @johnalanfox

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