How does a Power Group Differ From Coaching?

A Power Group is a peer led group that does not use a coach. As a result, mutual leads and mutual confidential matters are easily shared but knowledge on how to search for jobs or develop one’s career is limited by the strongest member of the group. Since, in almost every case, no one in the group is a full-time coach or professional in Jobprenuership™, then groups can easily encourage one another to be taking actions that may not be best practice or developing themselves with wrong paradigm thinking.

Does that eliminate the use of a Power Group? Absolutely not! The advantages of joint networking, sharing leads, brain-storming, encouragement, and accountability for a potential lifetime of trusted friendships makes, in my opinion, a Power Group one of the world’s best kept secrets.

However, as you grow, if other’s in the group refuse to grow then you might later need to start another Power Group with more committed or mature members. Also, as you learn more about Jobpreneurship™, your opportunity to help other members will grow significantly. You might even suggest that the group include Jobpreneurship™ as the model to build upon. Another way of putting it is that Power Groups are useful – period. Jobpreneurship™ has been recognized as the best class model for job search, career development, and client development. By combining both concepts, you will only increase your effectiveness and long term results.

Springtime Is A Great Time To Get A Job!

Springtime is when new life blossoms. The cold and dreary change into fresh and brilliant colors. Hope begins anew!

This Spring should be much better than last Spring.

If you are negative, then perhaps we are in a bear market bounce (trap).

If you are positive, then perhaps the worst is over – the sun has come out and tomorrow never looked brighter.

My personal view is that storm clouds are in the future but this Spring should be the best opportunity in the last 18 months and perhaps the next 12 months.

Why?

1. The overall market is up. The psychology is positive.
2. The FED is stating that they will keep rates low.
3. Housing has some movement. Condos in Miami are selling fast. Even though pricing is discounted, inventory is moving off the books.
4. Investors are looking at discounted and high quality buying opportunities. Activity is picking up as toes are testing the waters.
5. There is a pent-up demand for quality people. Companies have worked remaining employees hard and are beginning to ask for help.

Does that mean that the storm clouds are gone? Not at all. The White House suggests that we are in this unemployment trend for at least several years.

Why is this Spring better than Summer, Fall, or Winter?

• Summer usually has hiring doldrums
• This Fall is an election season that will dominate the media – and hiring manager mind-share
• This Winter is usually a holiday season followed by new budgets and renewed uncertainty

So, what are you doing to maximize your hiring chances this Spring?

If you need help, give us a call.

NOW is a Great Time to Get A JOB!

Traditionally, there are jobs available every day but some days are “prime time” for most companies. These times seem to be:

1.     After the first of the year – when everyone is more optimistic and there is a new budget.

2.     In the Spring before the summer vacation season.

3.     In Fall just after the vacation season.

So, right now is a time when you should be seeing a pick up in hiring interest.

Traditionally, economic up-ticks are great times to be hired. Companies are more optimistic, anticipate growth, and recognize that they need help to sustain growth.

Traditionally, after lean hiring times, companies recognize that important jobs are not being done and that they need help.

Today is the beginning of the new year hiring season!

Today, companies are seeing an economic up-tick!

Today, companies need help.

Therefore, no matter how hard your recent challenges have been, it is the time to be positive, to be encouraged, to be focused, to be sure every effort is being made to learn how to go around gate-keepers and get to the decision maker through trusted relationships with your well honed appearance, message, and how you can be a solution to what they want.

If you can do these things, companies will be interested in you regardless of the season. Right now is the best season since the crash. Good luck and Good Selling!

The Phases Of Denial In A Job Search

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote in her book, On Death and Dying, her observations of the phases individuals go through when confronted with the news that they are dying. Sometimes, when we are first let go or no activity is occurring in the job search or we are recently turned down for that exciting opportunity that we were so excited about, we may feel the same way.

The phases are:

1.     Denial – “This can’t be happening.”

2.     Anger – “Why is this happening to me? It’s not fair!”

3.     Bargaining – “I’ll go to church every Sunday if…”

4.     Depression – “I don’t care anymore. I’m going to die anyway, what’s the point in trying.”

5.     Acceptance – “I can’t fight it, it will be okay; I’m ready.”

One of my financial advisors, Doug Casey, recently wrote in a daily dispatch (www.caseyresearch.com) that the average investor will go through the following five phases as our current economic crisis unfolds:

1.     Denial – “This can’t be happening.”

2.     Denial – “This can’t be happening.”

3.     Denial – “This can’t be happening.”

4.     Denial – “This can’t be happening.”

5.     Denial – “This can’t be happening.”

Whichever response you may be having, we appear to be in a unique time when traditional methods are no longer working.

I heard that Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results.”

Are you finding yourself fitting one of these descriptions? What are you doing about it?

Being Positive is Good. Ignoring Reality is Not

Have a great Thanksgiving?  We did.

Now everyone has gone home and it’s “HiHo, HiHo, It’s Back to Work We Go” (from Snow White).

However, it will be easy to fall into the trap that Christmas is coming soon, so why bother job hunting, developing relationships, or finding new clients?

Two reasons. First, despite some news reports and the stock market rise, the global scenario continues to worsen. One of my investment advisors sent me this link: http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html. PLEASE take a look. It shows more than I can express in words.

Think the stock market rise is good news? Have you checked the price of gold over the past three years? Rising gold prices indicates inflation or the expectation of inflation. I personally ignore government inflation reports. They, just as unemployment numbers, are “spun” and “redefined” to meet political goals. Don’t believe gold? Try taking a look at the value of the US dollar versus the Euro over the past three years. What do you find?

It does not matter if the stock market goes up 20% if the value of the US Dollar does down by 40%. It is a wealth illusion. You think you are getting wealthier when you are really losing true wealth. What counts is what can you buy for the US dollar. The answer is less and less.

So, rising unemployment and decreasing dollar values (no matter how you measure it) is a red flag.

Think of an approaching hurricane. If a red flag is flying on the beach, would you get your house ready for the storm? The storm is already here. The only question is whether the peak of the storm will be a category 1 or a category 5 level impact.

I urge you to take serious review of what is going on around us. Perhaps a drastic action, like turning off a football game, is necessary.

Use the facts that you discover as motivation to focus 150% of your time becoming more competitive (a stronger house). Decide what you will do and do it. This is not like buying exercise equipment that latter becomes a clothes hanger. Every effort and dollar spent will pay off in dividends in surviving the storm and being even more prosperous once the storm passes.

What do you see as the economic and employment picture over the next 12 months? 24 months? 36 months?

WSJ: Life on Severance: Comfort, Then Crisis

On page one of the November 10^th issue of the WSJ, an overview was done on how several executives have responded to their unemployment.

The first executive was a small bank CEO, age 44, with prior income over $200k, a $200k severance package, and savings of $100k. He chose to look for a job without changing his lifestyle. In normal times, that risk would be low. In six months, he will be out of money.

The second executive was an executive director of marketing with only $20k to live on. Her condo has not sold. She used to make $140k. Now she is blasting out resumes hoping to land a $70k job – without results.

The third executive is an advertising executive. He has a young family, received a $60k severance, and is now down to his last $600. They are selling their assets for a fraction of their value just to make ends meet.

The fourth executive has always lived a discliplined life and kept his lifestyle under his income level. Even he is now open to contract work and lower paying jobs – if he can get one.

Think these stories are uncommon? Although most are embarrassed to admit it, I hear them all the time.

So, what is the answer?

First, there are no guarantees. But in every one of these cases they were pursuing jobs with methods that used to work but no longer work. The odds of them getting a job is like playing the lottery or going to gamble. Yet they are following the “advice of experts” who are experts at the old way of looking for work. Are there better ways that work today? Of course, but unless you are willing to take a different path you will likely have a similar story. You will have plenty of company.

Second, the answer means you have to be willing to change and adapt to today’s world. No one can really help you until you first decide to help yourself.

Third, you have to find someone to help you. Most unemployed can only offer limited help to each other. Whether you look at Job Doctors International as an option is up to you, but I strongly encourage you to find someone who understands what is going on and be willing to invest in getting help.

One thing is certain. If you don’t change, the risks are high of you becoming a statistic like those in the WSJ story.

My Opinion About The Growing Unemployment Storm

First, even in today’s modest 10.2% unemployment, many high performing executives are seeing fewer opportunities, receiving fewer recruiter calls, and seeing entire industries shrinking.

There is an old saying, “Hope for the Best. Prepare for the Worst.”

There are three major choice that people can make.

Choice 1: Don’t change a thing. Assume all will be well and soon resume to normal. Be positive.

Choice 2: Pull back all discretionary expenses. Hide out at work, hoping no one will see you and lay you off. Sell your house and move into an apartment. Sell your car and buy a used Yugo.

Choice 3: Realize that the world is changing and change with it. Prepare for the storm Take advantage of the change to get ahead of the competition. Find opportunities to excel and to win. There are always two side of a coin. Invest in the winning side.

My recommendation is Choice 3.

What are the Implications to You with High Unemployment?

We have all heard the saying that, “A recession is when those around me are out of work. A depression is when I am out of work.”

If the current unemployment trends continue for years, what are the implications for you?

First, do you think that unemployment is not an issue? Do you think that the American economy will recover to its robustness of 2006? Do you think that no action is necessary because everyone is over blowing the situation? If so, you may want to make limited changes and live with the lifestyle and expectations that you have always had. After all, even in a depression, some people seem to do very well.

Or, are you looking around in your neighborhood and seeing houses being foreclosed and more neighbors becoming unemployed? Are you fearful that you might not get a job or that you might lose your job? What might happen to you and your family if you lose your job or cannot get a job? Is this just a few month phenomena or could it be a major issue?

In Florida, when a hurricane approaches, some people stay behind live as usual hoping for the storm to go around them. Others stay behind and prepare for the storm – being thankful if it does go around them. Some prepare the home and then try to get out of the path of the storm.  What would you do?

What are you doing about the perfect storm that we are seeing develop in the labor markets?

My unemployment rate best guess

Yesterday we asked your opinion about real and reported unemployment rate trends. Today, I will share my opinion and why I am making my guess. Next week, I ask you what the implications might be. The next post will be my opinion.

So, where are the rates going?

In my opinion, the real peak will exceed 30%. I don’t have a clue what the government will be reporting. Too many factors and changes can impact a “reported” number. That means close to one out of three people will be unemployed, underemployed, or have quit looking.

How long will it take to get to a real peak of 30%?

My guess is 1-2 years, but it could take a little longer or happen very quickly.

When will real unemployment return to under 10% or under 5%?

My guess is that will not happen for years. If it happens sooner, I will be surprised but very happy!

Why do I have such a grim view? What is the basis for my reasoning?

The answer is a combination of economics, politics, and demographics. From an economic viewpoint, unless you stimulate small business to be able to profitably grow, they will not hire. 70% of historic job growth was through small business. Right now, small business is being hit with less consumer spending, less credit liquidity, increased global competition, and higher taxes.

From a political perspective, our government is passing socialist legislation that will increase taxes, increase oversight and regulation, and further depress consumer spending.

From a demographic perspective, the available labor force is increasing (retirees re-entering, laid off employees, continuing outsourcing to other countries, and college graduates). Meanwhile, close to half of the U.S. population have come to expect (demand) higher government benefits which continue to raise government debt and the need to increase taxes.

This is a perfect storm.

You cannot stop a storm. You can prepare to weather the storm and come out ahead.  What are you doing to prepare for the storm?

Where is the Unemployment Rate Going?

Last Friday, November 6, 2009, the official U.S. unemployment number was 10.2%. In January, the stimulus package was passed with the promise that unemployment would not exceed 8%. I wrote in my newsletter in January 2009 that the rate would exceed 10%, with potentially a lot more to come.

Fox news suggests that the real unemployment is now ranging between 18-20%. Real, as opposed to reported, which includes those who have quit looking for work or under-employed. You can see why politicians like the official number. In some states the statistics are far grimmer.

So, here are the questions:

• How high do you think the reported unemployment will go?
• How high do you think the real unemployment will go?
• When will real unemployment return to under 10%?
• When will real unemployment return to 5%?
• What is the basis for your reasoning?

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