What does the 4th of July mean …

Short blog this week --- and I hope you are enjoying the 4^th weekend …

Everyone has their own perspective about the meaning of the 4^th of July.  It may be the celebrations, the family time, the fun stuff. A time to truly enjoy summer – a time to reflect on where you are and what we enjoy.

In that context, as one looks at the meaning of the 4^th of July, it is important to know that many sacrificed to give us the freedoms we enjoy – freedoms such as:

·         The ability to be what we want to be, uncontrolled by constraining laws or norms.

·         The ability to earn a living in the manner we choose, in full control of ourselves and not oppression.

·         The ability to select where we want to live.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan said it well:

Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people.
We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should.
Happy Fourth of July. Ronald Reagan President of the United States 

So as you celebrate the 4^th of July, please think about our forefathers and how they sacrificed to give us the freedoms and rights we enjoy – and then make something of it and make them proud. Be what you want to be – do what you love.

Be safe – be careful. Catch you next week.

And thank you for reading this. – Dan

 

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act

Career Management & Transition Specialists

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Office: 518-261-4212

Cell: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Follow my blog: http://careerandgrowing.blogspot.com

Life is like a boomerang …

"The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy". - Florence Shinn

What you “put out there” comes back – always. Those who are disrespectful, difficult to work with, or just out for themselves get the same back to them at some point in life and career. Some may call it payback; many smile when they see this happen. We have seen this recently in the political world; we see it in business and our interactions daily.

Those who are good to others, helpful, pleasant to be with, inspiring and more - the list could go on and on – get it back to  them at some point, when they have a need or not. This make even more people smile.

The boomerang of life will be come back – be sure if you are going to get whacked by it, it is in the manner you want. Define that today. Be good to others. Inspire. Lead. Help others. You will bring smiles to faces – including your own.

And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act

Career Management & Transition Specialists

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Office: 518-261-4212

Cell: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Ah summertime -- kick off the flip flogs, put your resume in the shelf until fall - NOT!

"The greatest revenge is to accomplish what others say you cannot do." - Unknown

This is the time of the year - late June and into July - when many check out from the job market and simply stop looking for jobs. Their perception (and in this case perception isn't reality), is that hiring slows in the summertime and fewer jobs are available.

Here's the truth: There is no piece of data or truth to that perception at all. In fact, this year, summer hiring should be a whole lot different.

Here's the facts:

    * Economic forecasters are pointing to a much stronger second half of the year from hiring than the first, and early numbers are holding this to be true in our region as we have seen an increase in job activity after a flat and rather dismal spring. Job postings were up 34% a week back - after a huge 3-% drop back in April - it is looking like a positive trend is emerging.

    * Specific employer and industry-specific surveys are also telling the story that they expect to hire more in the 2nd half of the year ... consistent with forecasts.

    * Manpower - a leading forecaster of hiring activity in their third quarter forecast stated: Survey results suggest that employers expect a relatively stable hiring pace during Quarter 3 2011 compared to Quarter 2 2011. The July – September Outlook for the U.S. shows a slight increase compared to one year ago at this time. Read the report here: http://tinyurl.com/3m5db56

In the years I have been tracking trends of job activity, day-by-day, week-by week, month-by-month, year-by-year, there has been no significant drop in job market activity in the summer (or around the holidays in December - another untrue perception). Yes, around the 4th of July and Labr Day the market goes quiet for close to a week, but that is the only drop off.

So don't shelve the resume - keep up the activity and use the summer to your advantage ...

... as not matter what the number say, many will drop out of the market. Good news for you - it will be less competitive! WIN at their expense.

Use summer events to network - plant the seeds ...
There are so many opportunities to network with summer events - professional and personal - social gatherings and more. You this to your advantage; make new connections. Remember - 70-80% of jobs are the result of networking - why then do most not network?

Don't get sucked into the negative ...

You will meet people who will tell you the world is hell, the job market stinks and woe is me. Okay - the market has been off and is not as robust as 2010 - but it is so much better than 2009 for sure! Be with and align to positive people; let the naysayers wallow in and on their own.

Enjoy the summer - make it worthwhile and profitable for you. The rays of sun energize people - get that energy and push on to your dreams.

And thank you for reading this. - Dan