Sometimes you just need to take a breather ...

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.   John Muir

I write – week after week – about growing, performing to higher levels, achieving, soaring to new heights.

But I too realize – it is sometimes needed to just take a break, dial it back, run away somewhere and just disconnect You need this to refresh the soul, spirit and energy. You need this to clear the mind so clear thoughts and ideas can surface. You need this because – yup, you get tired.

I am the same way. Vikki (my spouse of 40 years and the one that runs and publishes Capital Region Living magazine (www.crlmag.com) and I needed a breather; we are known to work rather hard – and constantly at times. We needed to refresh and dial it back, and for 12 days beginning Friday 8/31, that is what we are doing  - in California. We turned the  Pacific Coast Highway Tour (PCH) from San Francisco to San Diego where we crashed on the beach for five days for total refreshment.

I thought I would share a bit with you about this tour (thanks Mike Huber for the suggestion).

We landed in San Francisco on Friday the 31^st and drove right to Monterrey CA, about two hours south. We have both been to San Fran so many times before – don’t want to see Coit Tower again! Monterrey is a beautiful city on the coast with so much to see, do and experience.

We left Monterrey for Pasa Robles, the Central CA Wine Coast (yup – you know what we did).  Sooooo many wineries, so little time. We visited the Hearst Castle which is beautiful but too many “rules” to those visiting. The Central Coast Region is one of "the other" wine regions - so many think of Napa Valley. About 50 miles inland from the shore, the climate is so different. It is dry and during the afternoons, hot. Wineries everywhere you look and the wine is excellent. As we left we were sad to say goodbye to this town and its people. But – it was off to So Cal – Newport Beach, Ca for some sun and fun. We took I 101 to connect back to the PCH – and continued the Pacific Coast Highway experience.

Newport is south of LA. The traffic – horrible. But the area is beautiful with beautiful beaches and towns. We stayed for two nights (could have left after one) and then on to San Diego from pure relaxation. We arrived and guess what – it was sunny – it always is! We stay at the del Coronado Hotel – a must see and do. What a place, right on the top beach in the US and with every amenity you could think of.  Saw my “little” cousin Bridget who moved to SD with her husband who is career Navy and just loved the area. The traffic is still a pain – but the climate and the people – precious.

We returned this past Monday, refreshed, charged and motivated again – and fully rested. Vacations should be that. They should energize and feed the soul.

Take a breather. Recharge. Reinvigorate yourself. Soar to new heights.

And thank you for reading this.

Dan

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act:

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Corporate Management Services

Celebrating 24 years providing career& corporate management services in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Phone: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Visit the Assessment Center: next-act.com/assessment-center.cfm

Manage Performance & Achievement: next-act.com/prescriptive-performance-analysis.cfm

Job Market report 9 13 12

Down -- as expected ...
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For Immediate release

September 12, 2012

Job Postings Drop After Holiday – Expected

(Albany, NY,  September 12, 2012) – After a good increase just before the Labor Day holiday, job postings pulled back and decreased the last seven days, not unexpected and consistent with history. “ The week after a holiday is when we see postings drop as well as general hiring activity, as they did both regionally and nationally. Postings came in at about 1450, 400 less than the week before”, stated Dan Moran, of Next-Act (www.next-act.com), a career transition management firm located in Colonie.

Other markets in NYS were down as well from the week before. The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population.  

NEW – How many job postings are there in the United States today? We will be watching this nationally going forward.

As of 9/12/12, there were,  on a seven-day-average,   512,163 job postings in the national market, down from 561,964 the week prior, again likely the result of the holiday. The top five areas for the most jobs per capita remain unchanged: San Jose, CA, Washington DC, Boston, MA, Raleigh, NC and Oklahoma City, OK. There is one job posting per unemployed person in each of these markets meaning the market is much less competitive.  

Other markets in NYS were generally down slightly from the week before. The Capital Region still outpaces Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all larger markets with more employers and population.  

About Next-Act

Next-Act, a division of DVG, Inc. is a career management & transition firm directed by Dan Moran, the Founder & President of the firm. Moran contributes over thirty years experience in career consulting, business and human resources management. In 2012, his firm will celebrate 24 years in business. Moran is noted for his expertise in helping today’s “boomers” move on to fulfilling second careers, while helping executives and professionals achieve their career goals. The firm also provides human resources consulting and corporate services to companies. Moran is also a certified facilitator for C.J. Hayden’s Get Clients Now! &  Get Hired Now! programs.

For further press information: http://www.next-act.com/press_room.

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act.com

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Celebrating 24-years of helping others in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Office: 518-261-4212

Cell: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Its Game On --- Fall is here and are ready to rock?

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy". - Dale Carnegie __________________________________________________________________________
Shorter blog this week. In California doing the Pacific Coast Highway tour, starting in San Fran to San Diego. A blast to date!
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Okay ---Labor Day is behind us. Saratoga Racecourse is closed. The"kids" are back in school. We roll into a new season and for many, a new beginning.

Time to turn your Game On --- and kickoff your career plans.

 It happens every year. Many put their personal development and/or search initiatives on the shelf for the summer under the  false pretense that "...

 employers don't hire in the summer".

 Not so. Never has been. Jobs continue. Employers continue to hire. Job seekers just go away.
 That is all hindsight. Time to look forward-and rock this Fall season, as the numbers are looking better for the job market for sure all indicators point to the fact that people are on the move too.

 First, the facts:

•  Job postings, a leading indicator of hiring, have been higher in this 3rd quarter of 2012, and far better than the first two quarters of 2012. That is good.
•  The 3rd quarter is a very strong quarter for hiring by local employers,based upon a survey of 80 + HR professionals in our region.
•  Temporary hiring is up - an indicator that permanent jobs will follow as about 50% of temp jobs become full time employment.
•  47% of the workforce is reevaluating their career direction - people are on the move - always a good sign in the market.
•  Unemployment is up yes in the Region which is a bummer but there is still good jobs in  the market.

 So what do you do?

 Get in the game and do it now as there are no excuses. If you pulled back due to frustration, reengage. Approach the Fall with a new vigor and commitment to succeed.

 It is up to you as you are in control - no one else. Rock this Fall. Achieve and succeed.

And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Happy New Year … think I am crazy?

“If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing’. - Gail Sheehy

Okay – you may be saying what gives Moran?

I shared my thoughts about new beginnings as Labor Day closed in last year, and I want to do this again because it is so important.

I am one that believes that there are two New Year’s celebrations of the year – the calendar New Year January 1^st, and Labor Day – a day that opens new beginnings and a return to “doing business.

I find that as we pass that big day on the calendar, I hear from more and more professionals who have been on the sidelines for the summer and are now ready to engage to change their situation and begin their move. It is the time of the year when I often pose the question:

Are you just “working” – or achieving leadership in your career?

This is a tough question to answer, and makes many feel uncomfortable.  The day-to-day of your job or your business consumes you and often doesn’t provide the time for you to pause and reflect on where you have been,  and most important, where one are going in career. In today’s employment market, it is critical that you put yourself first and not just work – but actively manage your career. Think of yourself as the CEO of your own company – You, Inc. This is the reality of today. It is about managing your career, not simply working.

To better understand what career management is, the following description accurately describes what career management is and is not. The last line is so important:

"The ability to actively manage one’s work life, make choices and career decisions in a rapidly changing environment.  It is accepting responsibility for the strategic and proactive management of your career and being career-resilient and in control your own career actions and satisfaction. Career management is not job hunting – job hunting results when one does not manage their career.

The trend continued. I continue to see  a significant increase in the number of professionals, executives and lately business owners who are not looking for a job, but rather seeking help with outlining and managing a career plan. They are looking at alternative strategies – the “three-legged stool”, employedpreneur, virtual work engagements, etc. There are soooo many opportunities.

47% of the working population is reevaluating their career direction – Do you have a plan?

Developing a career management plan is an essential tool as you navigate your way through opportunities and challenges. It is becoming bigger – a career management plan is becoming more of a life plan.

The key – it must be specific, measurable and hold you accountable. The plan outlines your goals and establishes planned and measured actions. For example, it could be as simple as:

• Work with specialist to update resume 1/1/00 and 7/1/00 and update career journal

• Determine, with a professional, if I am right to be in my own business and drive my own destiny by 10/31/11. Determine, once and for all, my career direction which will feed my life direction.

• Attend one networking event and establish three contacts monthly

• Meet with career specialists twice yearly to discuss plan, strategy and opportunities.

• Passively monitor job activity in my chosen profession

Some of my clients will not be pursuing a new job or business opportunity for 1 – 2 – 3 or more years, but they are planning now, creating a career journal (accomplishments, successes, what you learned and of course, what didn’t work) and using me as their guide and face to the market, so to speak. They are truly in control of their greatest personal economic resource – their business or their job.

Determine to take control and be in control of your career. It is truly a life change you will never forget.

Happy New “Second” Year!

And thank you for reading this. - Dan

 

Dan Moran

President & Founder

Next-Act:

Career Management & Transition Specialists

Corporate Management Services

Celebrating 24 years providing career& corporate management services in 2012!

125 Wolf Road, Suite #128

Albany, NY 12205

Phone: 518-641-8968

eFax: 586-279-4212

dmoran@next-act.com

Visit the Assessment Center: next-act.com/assessment-center.cfm

Manage Performance & Achievement: next-act.com/prescriptive-performance-analysis.cfm