Over the weekend I had the chance to attend a fantastic event for people who do business online. Not only was the content fabulous, the people were amazing. Smart. Generous. Honest. Game-changers.
Steve Farber spoke at the event and challenged everyone in the room to take on a “GTY Project” — mentoring another person to become Greater Than Yourself. Giving all of the advice, support, contacts and more necessary to help this other person be MORE successful than we have been.
What a revolutionary idea.
When we talk about networking, we often talk about “give first.” This is more like “give first, last and always.”
In the spirit of Steve’s talk (and after receiving a very generous offer from a new contact to help me move my business forward) I’m pleased to announce a career mentoring giveaway.
To enter: Simply leave a comment below with the one thing that I could do to help you be successful this month. You can post anonymously, but please leave a real email address so I can get ahold of you.
The prize: I will select at least five of you and actually DO THAT THING. You want a resume review? Done. Someone to write your summary statement? Okay. A practice video job interview? Absolutely. Be creative. Be audacious. Ask and ye shall receive.
To win: I will select the winners on criteria completely my own, but I can tell you a little bit about what will help me choose. Be specific. Tell me why this thing will help you. Make me laugh. Dazzle me with your brilliance. And be mindful of time. If I can’t do it because it would take me a week to do, well… you know what will happen.
I’ll notify the winners privately (by that email you leave with your comment) later this week. Go to it! Can’t wait to hear from you.
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, this is a great idea, and I have one question that I’d love some input on. I have been blessed with getting a fair number of job interviews over the past few months. I say blessed, because I have friends who literally have not had an interview in over a year. I have made it through to second/final rounds a few times, but haven’t landed yet. I’m starting to get the question during about how my interviews have been going. There’s an undercurrent in this question of “why didn’t these employers chose you?”…..kind of “what’s wrong with you since they haven’t chosen you”. I always evaluate my performance, prepare well, and look my best. I just haven’t landed yet. I don’t have a polished answer for the “how are your interviews going”, partially because I am feeling a little down about it as well.
What advice do you have? Thx. J.
You could call me or I could call you on Monday mornings and Friday mornings to see how I am feeling about my job seeking plans for the week and on Friday you can check in to see how I did so I remain accountable.
Thanks for sharing,
Dianne
[edited to remove private information]
Kristi,
This is very kind of you to make an offer like this. I greatly appreciate the help. I have been putting into practice the different strategies I have been learning, e.g., getting Linked In, creating my credential’s packet, networking, etc. My greatest challenge seems to be to be having a focus in my search. I know what my gifts and skills are, and what I have a passion for – I just don’t know what particular vocation that translates into. I know I could stand for some coaching, or therapy – or both. Can you help me? Thanks.
Bill
I quit my job about 2 months ago when I decided that the abuse from my boss had come to a point that was beyond my ability to handle. I have been searching for a job since then, but am finding it extremely difficult to even get interviews. I feel that a lot of this has to do with my limited experience (I’m only 23), and the fact that I’m attempting to move to DC from Chicago and no one really seems interested in hiring someone from out-of-area. If you could either look over my resume and give me pointers on it, or at least give me some tips on how to market myself better with what I have, I would be so grateful.
Amanda
I would like some help with a handbill. Resume could use just a little tweak in the area of cost savings, gross profit, etc.
More importantly if you could spend an hour on a Tuesday with us (my accountability group- 8 total) to give us another jump start. Seems like we have hit a wall this week and last. Most of us have been networking, blogging, coffee meeting for over a year. Anything new to light a fire would be appreciated.
Your outreach efforts are commendable. I don’t have a specific question at this time. It was nice to be able to pass something by you recently for your feedback. I think your input was right on target with what I needed to address next.
Now to keep in mind that the process is as important as whether you get the job or not….as if not this one then how more prepared I am for the next.
Trish
Kristi,
This is an outstanding giving of your valued time and professional services.
A career mentor who really inspired me (as Steve Farber inspired you) and provided some “game changing” ideas for my career, suggesting that I might have a great deal to contribute as a consultant, and also be happier, and more successful working independently rather than being an employee.
These ideas have put me into a very creative zone around some business concepts I am very passionate about, but I don’t precisely know how to begin to build a consulting business and how to monetize some of my ideas. Would love your help to launch this business – with a strategic plan, use of social media to get my ideas into the world, ideas about building affiliate relationships, marketing strategies.
Kristi – I love this pay if forward idea. With my 8 years of IT professional (SAP) career, graduate degree and multiple fortune 500 company work experience I thought to myself job search would not be an issue, but after almost 1 year and few months and still struggling with a landing with a position; I realize that there is something wrong! Maybe this might not be the right field for me. Maybe I need to switch to a different career in which I can highlight my skills as a leader, speaker, educator, presenter and networker. therefore, I am willing to start from ground zero all over again in the field of SALES, a risk, but I am willing to take it as it will built me for future. I am seeking all the help I can at this point. In exchange I can do IT knowledge transfer and or training to pay it forward….
What should be in a good cover letter without making it too long?
I could use some help on the thank you note.
Hi Kristi,
Thanks for this opportunity! So this is my deal…
I have been unemployed for about 6 months and have lost momentum on my job search and have had difficulty staying focused. I am in the house all day searching the job boards, etc. but the walls have now started to close in on me! I am feeling unproductive and my head is spinning with internet/information overload!! I would really like to get a grip and move forward. I would also like to understand how to market myself (possibly utilizing my current blog that I haven’t kept up with!). I could use some fresh ideas to create a fresh representation of myself to potential employers and even to myself!!
Pick me – pick me – pick me – me – me- me – please pick me…
Jessica
“Woof!”…Help!…Old dog needs new tricks! Yes, this old dog (with the heart of a pup) would appreciate your help with personal branding. Getting a grasp on this “bone” will help me gain the clarity I need to move forward with self-marketing.
Old dog says: “Woof! Woof!”…Thank you, Kristi, for this gracious offer! Your selflessness and caring are exemplary!
Inner pup says: “Arf! Arf!”…Thanks for throwing me a bone, Kristi! You rock!
Hello Kristi,
I have read Farber’s books and had a chance to meet with him and listen to him speak so I know how powerful it is when the lights go on about his Extreme Leadership and especially the GTY projects.
If I could get your time I would utilize it to maximize my current desire to search for a new company to go to. In late 2009 we had a family issue that shook me to my core that made me finally do some serious looking in the mirror and what I was putting priorities on. I started the process to change a lot about myself and my leadership skill sets and really practice what I was preaching around the office about Leadership and being Greater Than Yourself. This change has shown me that I am not at a place in my current company that is the right place for me to continue my change and also change in the correct ways that will let me benefit my family and those that I come in contact with each day.
Like others I would love to have time to review and discuss proper resume tips, career search building, and even thou I interview a lot of people learn better interview skills.
Thank you in advance for the time you put into this effort and the affect it will have on a lot of people and those they touch as well.
Thanks for all the entries, folks! So glad that this touched a nerve, and that I can help some of you. I’m reaching out to people today to offer support. Best of luck to all!
Hi Kristi!
I am at a unique crossroads right now. I am very involved in a virtual platform as an entertainer, my work is seen online and is doing well as far as viewership goes, but it just doesn’t pay the bills. My day job as an Office Manager is no longer fulfilling for me, in fact it causes me a great deal of stress to the point where I have decided that I just can’t do it anymore. What I would like to do is take the skill set I have acquired virtually to get other creative work even if it’s on a freelance basis, so that I can generate an income and support myself and do what I enjoy. The hard part is trying to figure out how to make the transition and to merge myself into one personal brand, so any advice you can give would be helpful.
Thanks everyone for all the entries! I’ve selected the winners and contacted them directly – J, Bill, Jessica, Faye and Ken. Congrats all!
Everyone else, stick around for more good stuff.
Kristi,
This is a wonderful opportunity and a terrific way to create a network that will impact your life and others.
I am a job seeker looking to move to Columbus, Ohio by August or September this year. I have a weak network down there and I am looking for some new ideas on how to make myself stand out.
Do you have any advice on how to look for jobs outside of online ads?
Thanks!
Good day Kristi,
I think it is great that you are giving back to the community. So here is my tale of whoa. In the good ole year of 2003 I decided it would be a great idea to become an entrepreneur. Things were going swell, at the young age of 23 I was a business owner, how exhilarating. Can you imagine the possibilities…? The window for digital signage was wide open as the industry was practically in its infancy and I was a pioneer. Years pasted and four years later I found myself in the world of a glib 2007, if you can only picture this as the scene from “The Grinch,” all or most of the people in “Whoville” were happy and then then the “Grinch” shows up to snatch their happiness away. The economy tanked and with that so did my business. The window was now slammed shut. Let’s just say 2007 – 2008 was not my best year as I also had a major Lupus flare up that caused me to me out of commission for six months. Fast forward to today, I have gone through several iterations of my resume, spoken to both my under graduate and graduate universities’ career services departments, attended a few job fairs, one of which landed me a part time job with the Bears for the upcoming season, however I still am on a mission to secure a full time job. I learned a lot from my experience and have also concluded that I never want to be an entrepreneur ever again, much too stressful. My path has been jagged and crooked, but will is as strong as ever. I’m a fighter and will do what it takes to survive. At this point in the journey I could use a little assistance and guidance that will bring me towards my goals. I look forward to hearing back from you and wish you a pleasant day. Your assistance in this matter is more than appreciated.
Regards and much thanks,
Adam
Hi Kristi,
Kudos to you and the pay it forward idea! I was on the Launch Summit webinar a few weeks back which you facilitated. Great job by the way! Similar to Fadi’s message above, I’ve worked for Oracle and have 17 years of software sales experience and am looking to transition my sales success and background to the pet industry. (I typed this same question on the webinar) I have a sincere desire and interest in working as a successful sales experience in the 45 billion dollar pet industry but don’t know how where to turn or how to get started. I have an existing online pet business called ZodiacDog.com which is floundering and as a result am looking to get back into sales to get some revenue coming in. Any thoughts, suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dean aka ZodiacDog
The one thing that would help me to be successful this month…
So much emphasis in my life has been placed upon personal work ethic.
My work ethic encompasses my ability to continue working past the point that most people would say stop. To me the greatest challenge in my kitchen manager experience has been to keep working when labor hours are cut. The problem that I have is that I am a manager by title in the small independent business. I work full-time. I handle food orders and stock. I do not have any of the actual book keeping responsibilities that would help me to apply for another management position some where else such as labor costs in relationship to sales. I feel that I am without a stepping stone to my next potential job.
Hi Helen: Although the offer has ended, I wanted to reply to your note. Have you looked at ways to develop those bookkeeping responsibilities? You could ask to be trained at your current job, or you could pursue education outside of your employment. Even buying a copy of Quickbooks and volunteering to help organizations or other small businesses with their bookkeeping can help you develop that skillset. Figure out what you need to learn, how you will learn best, and make it your goal to make yourself more marketable! Good luck.