Jump, Jive and Wail

Happy Valentine's Day (however belated) from everyone at "Chazz Vader's Intelligent Design"!

Motivation:

"And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more."
~Erica Jong

Diary:

Over the last few months, I have felt unfocused in my work, something that I used to take a great deal of pride in.

Over the year of 2007, I made great strides with personal, health, musical, physical, and home-based goals. I learned a lot about "what it takes" for me to set, make progress, and finally achieve objectives - some small, some large, but all were well thought out, properly planned out, and meaningful for my life.

What I have been feeling some doubt about were my work and financial based goals. I "felt" like I was doing my part at my job, and attempting to set meaningful goals and asking the right (not write) questions. For some reason, I was unable to get any momentum with my "career path" and due to the fact that I was making stride with my other goals, I was becoming aware that maybe it wasn't my fault that I wasn't making headway - perhaps I was just in the wrong environment for success.

One of the big reasons, that I should not discount, with my success in 2007 was a really strong support system, coupled with my attitude of complete transparency. If I was having a rough time, I shared it. When I found faults in my system, I wrote about it. When I needed to have someone help lift me up, I whined about it.

This accountability, coupled with the knowledge that I had (have) a support structure in the form of people who are there to offer guidance, ideas, at times conflicting opinion, and most of the time, good listeners and empathizing care.

At my job, I become more and more disappointed that we don't find more personal relationships. What about a job makes some people feel as if it the only way to move forward is to step on someone else to get there? I have found, in my non-work projects, that by lifting everyone up, you are also lifted up. By helping someone else learn something new, or succeed at a project, have you lost anything?

Why do people on the job have such a hard time telling the truth about their current condition, even if it is bleak? I would rather know that I have a difficult project ahead and be able to handle it head on, than be shrouded in confusion because a manager doesn't want to reveal the facts that he doesn't know for sure what is happening. I would rather have a brief appearance of confusion than an ongoing communication problem, just tell the truth, even if it is ugly, so that we all can work together to make a difference.

But for the last several years, my search for a way to make strides on my job, something I spend a large portion of my waking hours doing, to be disappointing. I want to take pride in what I am doing - and I think it is important to care about my work. There are some who would have a problem with this thought - some who think that a job is just for money, and you should go to work, do your job, and leave as soon as possible - leaving personal care or passion out of the mix. I also see the opposite side of this, as some put ALL their self-worth in their job and are disappointed and angry if they are "disrespected" by a coworker or management. I think there can and should be a happy medium, where I can feel pride and care for my work and a sense of relationship with my coworkers and a connection with the company itself. I enjoy the idea of "building something good" that clients would use and enjoy.


Through a series of events over the summer and fall, I was seeing "signs" that it was time for me to continue to look for an environment where I could better use my skills and passions, where I would be rewarded and encouraged to set and achieve meaningful, challenging goals. I won't go into all the events that took place, although I think it was fair to state that I looked at the investment I was making in my time and energy vs the future reward that I could see at the organization, and I couldn't justify the imbalance.

As of Friday, Feb 16, I resigned. I was unemployed for 2.5 days, and now I try again. It is a good time to make a change. New goals, new milestones, and new challenges. I can't wait to see what happens with this "leap of faith."

"And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more."
~Erica Jong

SIMPLE IS NOT EASY

Ironic, isn't it, that I should find the following article this week. This time, I look at Simple ways to succeed while at a new job.

Information taken from:

5 ways to impress on the first day of new job
By Dana Knight - The Indianapolis Star

• Set up your own orientation - Set up meetings with co-workers to get to know them and to start building positive relationships.
• Take the initiative to learn the business and your new job. Ask to see some manuals and annual reports. You might even ask to shadow a co-worker, someone who is in a similar position, for a day.
• Always ask for permission. Say, ‘I don’t know everything, but I’m willing to try. If you guys would like my help on this, I’m here.’
  
• Carry a notepad everywhere and write down questions. On the first day, ask the boss when he wants you to ask your questions. Every hour? At the end of each day? At the end of the week? It never hurts to over-communicate, even if that means talking about how you should communicate.
• Learn all you can about your new employer. Learn about their product lines, their philosophies, and their corporate culture.

Your challenge is not only to learn but also to release old patterns that won't serve you well here.

• Be strictly professional. Do not share any concerns or misgivings about the job. An acceptable answer to "How's it going?" is "Wonderful!"
• Spend your first months collecting data. Interpret with caution, preferably with the help of an outsider who can offer perspective.
• Maintain old contacts and begin at once to expand your network. Thank everyone who has helped you. Let them know that, while you are ecstatically happy, jobs can be unpredictable.
  
• Find a mentor who can be trusted not only to keep your story confidential, but also to challenge your beliefs and offer an experience-based perspective.
• Keep a journal, so you can look back to see how far you've come. Someday you'll be the old-timer, welcoming other new employees.
• Smile, regardless of how you are feeling, Coming across as a confident team player is vital. Introduce yourself to colleagues, and tell them you're excited to work with them. Get to know your co-workers and what their interests are.
  
• Memorize names quickly. That makes it easier to ask questions, another key. Reaching out to coworkers reassures them that you value their experience.
• Ask questions. You're new and it's better to do something right the first time around than have to do it over.
• Use your lunch hours to get together with your co-workers.
• Pay attention to the grapevine, but don't contribute to it. You don't want to gain a reputation as a gossip monger.
• Don't complain about your previous job.
• Volunteer for projects that will help you get noticed, but don't neglect any assigned work.
• Keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Your life has changed and it will take getting used to.
• Read any literature about your job and the company you are working for. Go through any materials that may have been left for you by your supervisor or former employees in your position.
• Ask to be introduced to the entire team you will be working with. Try to walk to each person's desk and introduce yourself personally so you can form a mental map of the layout of your office.

The one thing I learned after day 1 on the new job? I was given a tour of the office by an incredibly friendly woman who seemed to know a little about every person in the company. During the introductions, some of the new coworkers sat and said "hello", and busily got back to their work. Others were a little more friendly, lifted their hand out for a shake and smiled congenially. Some stopped what they were doing and asked who I would be working for and what I would be doing. And some gave a short (15 second) introduction including their name, department, and the project they were currently working on. That was a huge help to me, because I remember those people. It is difficult enough for a new coworker to remember your name, but if I can associate them to a project or a product, that helps to remember who I should go back to for more information or perhaps I can share information with on a future day.

Almost everyone I spoke to indicated they would be happy to help with whatever questions I might have.

I have a lot to learn.

more later,

Chazz

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz