Doing..or having done to you!
 It is rare for life to present you with a simple either/or situation. Normally, life is lived in shades of grey -- an almost infinite set of possibilities. That said, while talking over career problems with some friends last night, we stumbled across a dichotomy that every careerist faces today. In your career, and in your life, you can either "do something" or have something done to you. You can either control your career or let someone else dictate what you do and when you do it.
Next Friday: July 20, 2007: Immerse yourself in other environments in order to improve your own
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Your job is more than just filling time
I am sure you have all experienced it as often as I have -- the worker who has decided that their job is not meant to offer customer service -- or any service at all. Their job is only to fill a particular space for a particular amount of time and receive their paycheck at the end of the week. This attitude doesn't just effect retail and other customer service operations, though. Nearly any company can fall victim to employees who have just stopped trying. Next Friday: May 25, 2007: Bad reputations follow you everywhere
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Little things mean a lot
You might not think you would learn something about high-tech at the local Chuck E. Cheese franchise, but this is exactly what occurred the other day. Due to some technical difficulties at this particular branch, I was reminded of a basic truism of technology -- little things mean a lot. As the father of a 5-year-old, I spend more time than I care to admit attending birthday parties at CEC. It seems every child in my son's pre-school class is intent on keeping the company in business for at least the next several years. I have had an opportunity to visit several different locations, so I know the basic layout of their shows and how the technology is supposed to work. Unfortunately, at one location, the technology was not working very well. Even though the failures were small, it created quite a negative feeling in both the children and the adults. Next Friday: May 18, 2007: Your job is more than just filling time
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Career-Op Extra - What's happening and questions for you...
With this show I take a few minutes to bring you up to date on some happenings here at Career Opportunities, what might be in store down the road and ask a few questions of you. Links from this show:Talkshoe.comHow to join our LIVE shows on TalkshoeFriends in Tech ForumsThis Friday: May 18, 2007: Your job is more than just filling time
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Automatic pilot can be a good thing
Watching my son's Little League team, I was reminded once again about the deep difference between knowing what to do and doing it when the time comes. I watch them go through drills at practice, perfectly implementing such concepts as the double play and acting as backup to other players. Then, in their games we see them faced with the reality of high fly balls and hot grounders and all their best practices fall apart. The outfielders overthrow the base, catches are missed and runners circle the bases until the ball finally gets returned to the pitcher. I am sure that this can resemble your business on a bad day, too. No matter how much we practice, crises can cause us to forget all that practice and to panic instead. Next Friday: May 11, 2007: Automatic pilot can be a good thing
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Don't be afraid - You won't learn unless you ask
No matter who you are, where you live or what you do, if you really want to learn something about your work, your ideas or a particular product, you only have to ask. Of course, asking for feedback can feel embarrassing and even frightening. Still, listening to other's consul and opinion is one of the most important ways that we learn to improve our own ideas. Next Friday: May 11, 2007: Automatic pilot can be a good thing
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Learn how to subscribe to a podcast
 Even if you listen to my podcasts directly from the web site, or see the Subscribe links on this page, you still may be wondering what this "subscription" thing is all about. Well, here is a video that shows you exactly how to subscribe to podcast using iTunes or the Juice podcatching client. Watch How to Subscribe to a PodcastAfter you watch the video, you can use the links below to subscribe to Career Opportunities and and receive each new episode automatically. 
Subscribe with iTunes
Copy this link to Subscribe using other podcatching clients or RSS feed readersTechnorati Tags: howto, how-to, career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, tutorial, technology, videoLabels: career, careers, how-to, howto, job, jobs, learning, podcast, podcasting, technology, tutorial, video
Change -- one small step at a time
Everyone it seems, from business pundits, book authors and your spouse, knows that change is important in our lives. We all need to change, sometimes on a daily basis, in order to address the pressing issues of life and work. No matter how important we might see change, though, change is tough. Our own innate sense that "change=danger" triggers feelings of fear from deep within our usually rational mind. This fear can cause us to avoid the very changes that would most improve our lives. Change can feel overwhelming and can paralyze us in place, unable to make any move in any direction. One way of breaking through this paralysis, though, is to break our changes into smaller, manageable parts, much as you should do with any project. Next Friday: May 4, 2007: Don't be afraid -- you won't learn unless you askEnter Dancing with Elephants "Let Them Hear You!" Contest
Win an iPod Shuffle!
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The difference between your job, your work and your career
As we talk about our job, our work and our career, we often use the terms interchangeably. In reality, though, these 3 items are unique descriptions of 3 parts of our life, each with their own concerns, demands and direction. As a way of clarifying my own thinking, and providing some insight for you, let's explore the differences between job, work and career and how understanding those differences can greatly effect all of them. Next Friday: April 27, 2007: Change one small step at a timeEnter Dancing with Elephants "Let Them Hear You!" Contest
Win an iPod Shuffle!
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Out of Focus
Among everything else I do, I am also an amateur artist. As is often the case, something you learn in one area can often be useful in other aspects of your life. One useful technique I have learned from my art is squinting. When you are first looking at a scene you want to draw or paint, you purposely unfocus your vision in order to get an overall impression of the light and dark areas. Sometimes in order to see things more clearly, you have to get the big picture first. Next Friday: April 20, 2007: Job, Work and CareerEnter Dancing with Elephants "Let Them Hear You!" Contest
Win an iPod Shuffle!
Support Career Opportunities:iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832 Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-techLabels: career, high-tech, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work, workplace
Productive Waiting
Despite all the advancements in technology and the generally "sped up" nature of life, waiting is still a part of every day. Unless you are in a position of extreme power, and maybe even then, there will be times in every day when you will be forced to wait. You might have to wait for the train to begin your commute, wait in line at the bank, or wait for your turn at the doctor's office. You might have to wait on hold to talk to a representative. Regardless of the cause of your waiting, one way to increase your overall productivity is to always be ready to exploit these periods of waiting. Next Friday: April 20, 2007: Job, Work and Career
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Push and Pull - from the archives
I wrote a few weeks ago about taking the initiative and not waiting for other people to assist you with your career. This week I will expand on that a little farther. There are times when pushing for promotions, new clients or big projects might not be the best action to take. Sometimes you need to pull opportunities and clients towards you. In fact, this is often the way to find your best career opportunities. Next Friday: April 12, 2007: Productive Waiting
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Creativity in All Careers
A few weeks ago, I interviewed creativity consultant Jo Ann Braheny for the Career Opportunities podcast. This interview started me thinking about how important it is to integrate creativity into your career, regardless of the type of work you do. You can no longer divide jobs into "creative" and "functional". Much like my belief that every career has become a high-tech career (See http://welchwrite.com/dewelch/ce/2006/co060217.asp), every career can and should also be a creative career. If you embrace this fact, you can take your career to an entirely new level. Next Friday: April 12, 2007: Productive Waiting
Support Career Opportunities:iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832 Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-tech, creativity, creativeLabels: career, careers, create, creativity, high-tech, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work, workplace
Douglas talks computer consulting on the SOHO Technology Podcast - Part 2
 Dean Jensen, of the SoHo Technology Podcast had me on for a series of talks on computer consulting and the second segment appeared today. More segments will be forthcoming over the next few weeks. Listen: SoHo Technology Podcast with Dean Jensen Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, podcast, podcasting, technology, interview, consult, consultingLabels: career, consult, consulting, interview, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work
Interview with Michael Lawshe - a career in audio production - Tomorrow Night
A LIVE interview with Michael Lawshe, Emmy and Golden Reel Award-winning Sound Supervisor and Supervising Sound Editor on several primetime television series. We'll talk about how he decided on his career path and how he has remained on that path for so many years. Listen tomorrow, Wed, March 14, 2007 at 9PM EST/6PM PST
on Talkshoe.com
** How to Join In our Live Shows at Talkshoe.com **
Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-techLabels: career, high-tech, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work, workplace
Does your company respect your work?
When talking with Career Opportunities readers and listeners, I regularly hear stories of how a particular company does, or does not, provide the basic necessities for success. Some workers are left without an office or even a cubicle to call their own. Companies refuse to buy needed hardware or software and yet workers are still required to hold the infrastructure of the company together or risk bad performance reviews or worse. Training is poor, erratic or non-existent. The fact is, each of these issues, and countless others, clearly indicates how much your company and your management respects and values your work. Lack of respect for your work isn't just business as usual, it is a fundamental flaw that effects everything you do. Next Friday: March 16, 2007: Don't treat everyone as a criminal, or an idiot
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That's a FAQ! - from the archives
b People who are good at their high-tech career, like all of you, know that sooner or later your clients come to think of you as the font of all (or most) high-tech knowledge. They bring you their most intractable problems and pepper you with countless questions. Thankfully, you usually have the answers to their questions -- or you know exactly where to look. In today’s world, though, it is just as important that you share the information you have gathered before they ask for it. In the spirit of this week’s theme, below are a few ways to “share the wealth” while helping both you and your clients. Next Friday: March 9, 2007: Does your company respect your work?
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Playing "the enforcer" could put your career at risk
In the typical corporation, you will find many people whose main role is that of "The Enforcer." Project managers who enforce project timelines, human resource staffers who enforce work policies, union representatives who enforce labor agreements and even IT workers who enforce company standards, approved hardware, software and password policies. While, in most cases, all of these items need policing and enforcing, playing the role of the enforcer could be damaging to your career as a whole. Next Friday: March 9, 2007: Does your company respect for your work?
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Interview with Jo Ann Braheny - Creativity and Your Career
A LIVE interview with Jo Ann Braheny, creativity expert and writer of Goosing Your Muse, a creativity blog. This Friday: March 3, 2007: Playing "the enforcer" could put your career at risk
Support Career Opportunities:iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832 Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-techLabels: career, creativity, high-tech, interview, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work, workplace
Traveling Technology - from the archives
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.com
206-338-5832 Reader/Listener LineDespite the fact that traveling, especially by airplane, is getting more and more troublesome, there are still a lot of people traveling around the US and the world. Whether they are traveling for business or pleasure, those people are probably bringing some type of personal technology with them. Digital cameras, GPS receivers, laptop computers, PDAs and more are finding their way into suitcases these days. This provides an interesting opportunity for high-tech careerists. If people are traveling with this technology, they are going to need help with it. High-tech workers might find that they can still practice their trade while living and working in a tourist town or resort. Next Friday: February 16, 2007: Is your company evil or stupid?
Support Career Opportunities:iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832 Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-techLabels: career, high-tech, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, travel, work, workplace
How is your career story changing over time?
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.com
206-338-5832 Reader/Listener LineWould you read a story or novel where, at the end, nothing has changed? Would you feel anything for a character who has learned nothing over the course of the book? Would you read the next book in the series? I think not. That fact is, change is what makes a great story. We want characters who learn new things and change over time. We want to know more about them. We want to understand their decisions based on past behavior. The same goes for your career. If you aren't changing, both personally and professionally, why should anyone care about your career? Next Friday: February 16, 2007: Is your company evil or stupid?
Support Career Opportunities:iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832 Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-techLabels: career, high-tech, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work, workplace
Making a list - from the archives
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.com
206-338-5832 Reader/Listener LineNo matter the focus of your high-tech career, there is always too much to be done. This computer is broken, the network is down, several pieces of software are already out of date. When there is so much pressing business, though, you can easily lose sight of exactly what needs to be done. You spend your time racing from crisis to crisis and never get a sense of the big wave that is about to crash over you. This Friday: February 9, 2007: How is your career story changing over time?
Support Career Opportunities:iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832 Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-techLabels: career, high-tech, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work, workplace
"Just Kidding" often means exactly the opposite
by Douglas E. Welch, career@welchwrite.com
206-338-5832 Reader/Listener Line"Just kidding!" We hear this on the playground as children and in the office as an adult. Usually it is followed by "Geez, don't you have a sense of humor?" Over the years, though, I have learned that "just kidding" is one of those phrases that means exactly the opposite of what it says. The speaker wasn't kidding at all, but only using the phrase to deflect how incredibly insensitive and rude they are actually behaving. Next Friday: February 9, 2007: How is your career story changing over time?
Support Career Opportunities:iTunes Review | Career-Op Forums | Digg.com | Podcast Alley | Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832 Technorati Tags: career, job, jobs, work, workplace, podcast, podcasting, technology, high-techLabels: career, high-tech, job, jobs, podcast, podcasting, technology, work, workplace
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