Downsizing Is No Longer Optional

Original Post:Downsizing Is No Longer Optional

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This includes, but is not limited to: people, things, pictures, papers, mementos, etc.

I don't want to sound like a Feng Shui  because a) I don't know much about it and b) it is true that my bed does, in fact, point towards the door. (Feng Shui insists, amongst many other interesting beliefs, that one should not have their bed facing the entrance of bedroom because this is how dead bodies are removed).

Getting rid of things sounds like pretty simple. But it is likely only to happen when you're forced to or if you move.

In April, I attended a conference with some of the world's most successful real estate agents hosted by LuxuryPortfolio.com. one of the most brilliantly run real estate website networks in the world - We (the attendees) were lucky to listen to a brilliant speaker. One of the points he drove home was how deep the real estate industry had gotten itself into, and how to prepare your business when things inevitably rebound. The rebound however might not be for a while - for some anyway.

He drove home a point:

If you have a employees that are there because you feel sorry for them, and they are on the payroll but dragging the organization down, get rid of them. They will be fine. You (the organization) may not be. Especially when the economy starts to move again.

It just stands to reason. Especially with all the new businesses springing up because of the economic downturn. If you've built an empire and are watching the candle flicker, it's because candles need oxygen to burn. There's only enough oxygen for the people (and other candles) that actually prop the organization up via hard work, commitment and dedication to the change that is really happening - but, it is happening outside the building.

In other words, if your business is being adversely effected by things other than the economy, it seems logical to assume that there are some things in need purging - like perhaps your entire business model? Maybe even purge the old ideals, as well because ideals aren't real - in fact they are opposites.

Once the candle goes out, it's going to be very difficult to reignite it.

50 Jobs You Can Do Over the Internet While Traveling

Original Post: 50 Jobs You Can Do Over the Internet While Traveling

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Have laptop, will travel. Even better, use your laptop to earn money while you travel, to pay for your travel. Here are some ideas how.

Background

In a recent posting to the
Digital Eve Israel Yahoo Group, a group member asked the following question:

“Any leads on how to find a job that can be done on my laptop, here and there, so that I can still pay my bills while traveling?”

This reminded me of the time when I was still a programmer at Amazon.com back in 2000.

Living in Paris but working daily over the Internet with people in Seattle, I wanted to visit my family in Montreal without taking a lot of vacation time either. Luckily, Amazon’s computer systems allowed people to connect from outside the office and that made it easier to convince my boss to let me go.

In the end, I only took off 2 days for traveling purposes and otherwise worked full days from my parents’ house, basically paying for my trip and expenses. A side benefit to Amazon was that having me in a middle time zone (6 hours behind Paris but 3 ahead of Seattle) made some projects easier to finish on time.

Working while traveling and telecommuting aren’t quite the same thing

Which is true. People usually associate telecommuting with a full-time job that lets you work from home regularly.

To best answer the question above, let’s set out some criteria that make more sense regarding jobs for travelers. Those jobs usually need to be:

• Jobs you can do over the Internet
• Jobs that can be done over a short time-span i.e. during your travels
• Jobs you can get on short notice

This last one is important in case you need multiple jobs to pay all your bills during your trip.

So we’re dealing with freelance jobs. However, if you choose well and deliver well, a short-term freelance job can become a longer-term freelance job that you continue from home after traveling.

Jobs you can do while traveling

With that in mind, the list below should give you all sorts of traveling job ideas. Each job title points at a real job description, and if the description isn’t a good match for you, just do a search on the job title to find more open jobs like it.

1. 3D and Flash Animator
2. Accountant
3. Advertiser
4. Administrative Assistant
5. Article Writer
6. Billing and Debt Collection Representative
7. Blog Programmer
8. Career Coach
9. Virtual Assistant
10. Advertising Poster
11. Copywriter
12. Customer Service Representative
13. Data Entry Provider
14. Data Specialist
15. Database Developer
16. E-book Writer
17. Email Template Designer
18. Flash/Web Developer
19. Graphic Artist
20. Caricaturist
21. Marketing & Lead Generation Campaigner
22. Logo Designer
23. Online Tutor
24. Personal Assistant/Secretary
25. Press Release Writer
26. Project Manager
27. Recruitment Researcher
28. Sourcer (not sorcerer!)
29. Resume Writer
30. Sales Presentation Designer
31. SEO Analyst
32. Foreign Language Voice Talents
33. Technical Support
34. Telemarketing Professional
35. Transcriptionist
36. Travel Planner
37. Typist
38. Video Editor
39. Web Content Writer
40. Web Designer
41. Website Translator
42. Stock Photographer
43. Voice-overs
44. Cartoonist
45. Real Estate Researcher
46. Business Consultant
47. Legal Advisor
48. User Guides and Manuals Editor
49. Game Developers
50. Travel Writer

If you liked this article, you’ll also enjoy
15 Reasons To Take A Temporary Job Now.

Have you ever worked while traveling for pleasure? How did you find the job? Tell us in the comments.

Subscribe to JobMob via
RSS or
email and
follow me on Twitter for more travel job search ideas.

-- Jacob Share, Job Search Expert and Professional Blogging Consultant

You're Ugly! You're Hired!

Original Post: You're Ugly! You're Hired! [Job Hunt]

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We love this column from Marty Nemko over at Kiplinger because it's sort of a go-get-'em morale booster to the ugly—only instead of boosting morale, it just gets more depressing as it goes on. But funny depressing. And after all the weird advice on watching your weight and avoiding hairpieces and wearing moderate makeup, Nemko makes an interesting case for why 'ugly' people are better hires.

'Why I Like to Hire Ugly People' [Kiplinger]
(Photo: foshie)

Fear Makes a Manager Poor

Original Post: inthesqueeze by Dustin Britt

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"You always fear...what you don't understand"
- Carmine Falcone, Batman Begins

You also fear what you can't control, especially if you risk losing something you feel you need to "make it".

Fear is one of those weird drivers that doesn't make sense, but often seems to get the best of us; reaching its height of feeding frenzy at the worst possible moments.

Afraid of losing your job?
Watch fear kick in and cause you to do the very dumb things you don't want to do if you want to keep your job.

Afraid of saying the wrong thing?
Fear loves to distract you to the point of keeping you bound up and at a loss for the boldness you need to say the right thing.

Afraid of not making someone happy?
Guess what, you'll never make everyone happy. A focus on pleasing people = pending disaster.

Afraid of saying no?
You won't be respected enough for someone to trust you when they need to say yes.

Afraid of going against the flow?
So are most people, which means you'll just fit right into the vanilla school of everyone else.
Recognize fear for what it is and then get rid of it. It has no place in the office of a good manager.

http://www.inthesqueeze.com/2009/07/fear-makes-manager-poor.html

Dealing With a Spouse’s Layoff

Original Post: Dealing With a Spouse’s Layoff

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This week, my husband was laid off for the second time in five years. This one hurts more than the first. At that time, I held a corporate job, so our health insurance and other benefits remained intact. But I became a full-time freelancer after he found a stable job with benefits. Now that’s all gone or won’t be around for long.

After I stopped reeling, it was time to start dealing. And deal I did — by taking these actions.

Accept the situation. It does no one good to scream and worry about it. Of course, I still worry about the situation, but I don’t let it paralyze me or prevent me from moving forward. It’s OK to scream when you hear the news, just know when to stop and move on.

Stick to the schedule. Despite the bad news, you need to try to stick to the schedule and make your deadlines.

Respond to emails at the right time. Sometimes you may not be in the best frame of mind to reply to a difficult email. Address problems and more challenging emails when you know you can respond logically and not emotionally.

Take care of your physical self. Exercise eases some of the pent up stress and symptoms that come with it. I also make sure I get my seven to eight hours of sleep, drink plenty of water and follow a balanced diet.

Help with the job search. This gives you a feeling of some control. Plus, you might be able to contact some people that your spouse doesn’t know.

Reach out to friends and colleagues. Letting others know about the situation ensures others understand why you may not act like everything is hunky dory. They might also help by contacting their connections who may have jobs or know people who do. If your friend is laid off, wouldn’t you want to know?

Write about the situation and your feelings. For some people, writing down their thoughts and emotions can ease the frustration and anger.

I know we’re no different from the many families with at least one person out of a job. My sister, my friends and others have all had loved ones out of work for months. All we can do is talk and support each other while pushing forward to find the right job where employee and employer can benefit from the partnership.

How Do You stay Positive In Your Job-Search?

Original Post: How Do You stay Positive In Your Job-Search?

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Uploaded on August 12, 2009 by majortaylor68

This post is inspired from a recent conversation with @JRMoreau, @mehnazt & @abroman (all on Twitter)
It’s a tough slog out there for a lot of us looking for job, and have been at it for a long time. There has been much blog-writing about what people can do to keep themselves clued-in and busy while seeking a job. From volunteering, to unpaid internships, to professional networking events, there’s lots out there you can use your time toward, in a manner that is relevant to your professional goals.
But I’m no saint, and neither are lots of other job seekers out there. I know that after a point, the motivation and excitement in doing unpaid work slowly wanes. Activities that you hope will land you contacts, which will eventually (and hopefully) lead to a meeting (for a job), don’t always yield the right results, even if meticulously planned. It’s easy to feel pessimistic, lose faith in yourself and lose the personal drive to keep at it.
Over the last year that I’ve been seeking a job and volunteering opportunities, I’ve struggled to find ways to keep myself going. To move from one potential to the next without telling myself ‘it’s not worth it’. To continue to believe in myself every single day. I am always keen on knowing what others in a similar situation do to keep themselves motivated, and thought that writing about it would be a great way to find out. Hopefully this can also give tips and support to others in the same boat as me. So this is what has worked for me:

1. Do one thing you always wanted to do / learn about but never had the time to do it: Remember when you had a job, and you said you’ve always wanted to run a marathon but never had the time to train for it? No excuses now! Being out of a full-time job means having more time on hand to pursue interests. Read a book you’ve always wanted to, teach yourself how to roller-blade, start a blog, or go meet a friend across town you never had the time to catch up with.I used the last year to teach myself about internet marketing.
   I also taught myself to cook (for real) and used the time to start my own food blog, that I also use as a medium to test social media promotion tactics.
   
   
2. Maintain a schedule: Idle time and lack of a structure to your day is a sure-shot way to allow negative thoughts to creep in. Most of us are hard-wired into feeling useful when there’s a format to the day, and the lack of a full-time job removes that structure. I keep fixed times for meals, make a list of things I’ll tackle for the day (and then stick to it), end the day with defining a rough agenda for the next day, and I try and stop all job-search related work at about 6 pm, post which I cook dinner, and tend to chores. A lot like how I would do it if I did have a full-time job.



3. Work out of your home as much as is possible: Variety in work environs often bring out the better in us. Besides, the lack of human interaction on a daily basis is just plain unhealthy. Step out of your home and work at a café, or at the library. You may even find a job-search buddy you can share notes with!



4. Exercise: We all know exercising releases hormones that keep us happy. It is natural to think that one should only do activities that are job-search related after losing a job, and not ‘waste’ time doing anything else. In the process, I’ve seen several job seekers give up on their health. Exercising seriously does relieve stress (even if it’s a half hour walk every other day), takes your mind off things, and most importantly, is fantastic for your sanity! Combine pt 1 and 4 and you can take up that free introductory Pilates class you’ve always wanted to.

So what works for you? What do you do keep yourself upbeat while seeking a job? I’d love to hear from you!

10 Things To Do When Your Are Unemployed

Original Post: http://themillennialmind.com/10-things-to-do-when-your-unemployed/ by Josh

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I am lucky enough to be able to survive quite comfortably with the unemployment checks that come in every week. My rent and bills are quite low and my car was paid off right before I was laid off. While I was working at the hotel, I had to work crazy shifts and the hours seem to take a huge toll on my health and well being. I was not thinking clearly and was always drowsy and could not start the day with any energy. I have taken the time off to do the things I love to do. I have compiled a list of things I do to stay on top of my game and stay positive. You can use these methods or create your own.
10 Things To Do When Your Unemployed

1. Build a Business. This was my first priority when I was laid-off. At first I panicked and started to apply to jobs, polished my resume, started networking, and could not grasp that I was without work. I took a step back and realized that I would have never thought about starting a business if I didn't get laid-off. I find it a true blessing in disguise. Notice how I said build a business, not start a business. Anyone can start a business, but it's something else to build one.
2. Travel. I have never been to the Western part of the United States until I moved out to Las Vegas. Sad, I know. I have never seen the oceans of California, the deserts of Arizona, the Grand Canyon, or the winery's in Napa Valley. I was sheltered and was never given the opportunity to go traveling. After being laid-off, I finally found the time to explore these wonderful sights. I was talking to one of my friends and we were discussing traveling overseas. He told me he never had a passport before. It is quite a daunting statistic that most American's don't have their passports. I am lucky enough to have one. According to the Travel.State.Gov website, the amount of passports issued in 2008 was 16,208,003. That is down more than 10% from the previous year which issued 18,382,798 passports. That is a huge drop in passports! What happened? I mean even after the year 9/11 occurred there was only a slight decrease in passport issuance! This recession has hit people hard! If you want to take a look at the statistics it is here.
3. Have more sex. Yes, what excuse do you have now? You don't have time? You have to go to work? Nope, just do it, have as much as you can. Once you start working or start a business, you won't have time to do this. So have fun, and keep it safe.
4. Exercise. I know, it's easier said than done. I understand that. It takes a lot of effort to get yourself motivated to go to the gym. I found out why I did not go as frequently until I got laid-off. I found out that I only had 1 single pair of gym shorts and 2 pairs of socks. This gave me two trips to the gym without doing laundry. I found out that I was only going two days out of the week and waiting for laundry day before I would even think about going again. I fixed this problem by just buying more socks and a couple of more pairs of gym shorts. I now go at least 3-4 times a week and feel energized and ready to take on the day!
5. Spend More Time With Family Or Friends. I have taken this principle to the fullest. While living in Vegas is great and all, I am 3000 miles away from NYC where my family resides. Most of my friends got laid-off at the same time I did, so we have been spending quality time with each other. We have game nights and go out and have dinner or drinks. We have grown closer and being laid-off brought us together more than ever. If you have family spend more time with them. If you have kids try and give your full attention to them because they are the future. Your babysitter, daycare, or school has seen them more than you while you were working. Isn't it time to give that time your job took away, and give it back to your children?
6. Eat Healthy. It has been an arduous process but I am slowly adapting to eating healthier. I have no more excuses. I try to leave a large bowl of fruit in the kitchen so I can grab a quick snack without rummaging through the pantry or refrigerator. I used to put my fruit in the refrigerator but realized they would go rotten because I did not want to go into the refrigerator to get fruit.
7. Cook At Home. This is extremely fun. I love to cook and make food from anything I can find. I find it very satisfying to make something for yourself. Try and have a dinner party with your friends and have them bring over something they cooked. This brings people together and it's not that expensive.
8. Read More. I find that I do that more than ever. All it takes is a library card and you can read about anything you are interested in. I gravitated more towards the business section but there are books, movies, cds, and magazines about everything at the library. It has been my new love since I was laid-off
9. Try A New Hobby. You never know how this can help you. I started to do photography and I never knew how much I enjoyed it until I bought a D-SLR camera. Pictures are something you can keep forever, and if you have a good eye for lighting and can be creative you can even make a living at it. Wedding photographers can charge up to $3000 (not to say that is the limit, I have seen much higher prices) for one wedding. Hobbies can be very fulfilling and you can learn something new.
10. Relax. Yes, relax. Take some time to do things you want to do. You deserve it. Working 9-5, 40+ hours can take a toll on you and your relationships. Take this time to give it back to yourself.

These are things I try and do for myself. I try and work hard in everything I put my mind to. You should as well. Turn off that TV and find other things to do with your time. We spend so much time with TV that we don't see our time just fly us by. We can never get that time back so why not put it to good use?