Layoff Blues?

Yes – it’s dreary out there in the world of layoffs.  I know – I’ve been there too in the past.  One of the toughest things that I experienced was the feeling that “if my skills are no longer needed/wanted here – where will they be wanted, where will I fit again?  How can I sell myself after a layoff?” Layoffs are confidence killers that’s for sure.  They don’t just hit you in the pocket book – they position your ‘inner- gremlin‘, that inner-critic, right on your shoulder pointing at you and saying…______________ (you fill in the blank)- some say “loser”, some say “you’ll never get hired anywhere else”, some say “that’s it for you – you’re so out of date you’ll never catch up”…you name it our inner-gremlins can take us on the roller coaster rides of our lives during a major transition like this.

According to William Bridges (the guru on transitions) in his book Transitions,  he says that there is no way around experiencing the ‘neutral zone’ that occurs with each transition, as he calls it “that apparently empty in-between time” of the ending of something in your life and the beginning of something new.

I really like the way he describes it…”Whether the source of the transition is an external change or your own inner development, the transition always starts with an ending.  To become something else, you have to stop being what you are now; to start doing things a new way, you have to end the way you are doing them now; and to develop a new attitude or outlook, you have to let go of the old one you have now.  Even though it sounds backwards, endings always come first.  The first task is to let go.”

Actually, when you think about it there is something really freeing about the ending coming first, at least when it comes to being laid off.  You’re there – you’ve been laid off and the ending has occurred.  Ok – now for the in-between time, the neutral zone…yet, at least you know you’re on your way to a new beginning, because that is where the neutral zone is taking you.  Albeit, it may be a confusing, chaotic, uncomfortable time floating around in that neutral zone – but, at least Bridges makes sense of it for us.  There is an ending…then a neutral zone…then a new beginning.  It makes sense.

I have to say this is a wonderfully validating book that opens up a new window into the insight of change and transition that I haven’t really looked at in this way before personally.  Yes, I know that there is a flow to it, you’re in one phase, out of one phase, back into another phase…it’s a process and one that we go through all of the time in our lives, it’s just that we pay more attention to it when the shift or transition is huge – like a layoff.

I highly recommend this book for those of you (us) who are in transition and change, even those who may be one of the lucky ones and did not get laid off…yet.  As Bridges states “first we need to note that the extremely high level of change in today’s organizations is likely to keep your career in a semipermanent state of transition.  Re-organizations, mergers, technological changes, strategic shifts, and a steady stream of new products insure that most organizations are in a constant state of turmoil”.

Be prepared…

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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Building Our House – Blog Action Day

It’s a special day today in the world of blogging – BlogActionDay.org is bringing together over 9 million readers to focus on one specific problem today…Poverty.  I’m happy to be a part of this huge movement in blogging.

If you think about solving the problem of poverty it can be a bit like building a house…metaphorically speaking.  Believing you are going to build it alone makes the process seem daunting and impossible (as would thinking one person could end all poverty).  But, if you bring others into the ‘building’ process you will turn what seemed to be the impossible into a real ‘possibility’.  When you think of poverty in this context you know that each and every person can and will make a difference towards bringing and end to poverty.  To continue the metaphor, whether the person prepares the drawings, builds the foundation, razes the roof, installs a door, paints a wall, plants flowers, installs plumbing…the list goes on and on – each person contributes something to the process and in the end you have built a house.

So it is with poverty – we can all make a difference even in small ways that we don’t think will matter.  A dollar into a bucket, a couch to a charity, a post on a blog, or sponsoring a child through WorldVision – there are thousands of ways you can make a difference every single day.  You choose.

Changing our mindset around poverty (ie; it will always be there, it’s a part of life) to one of ‘possibility’ (ie; many hands do much work)…and coming together to contribute to ‘building  this house’ – can bring an end to poverty and make a new home for the world.  Imagine that!

Let’s build this house!

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

TGIF!

Here it is Friday and I’m looking forward to the weekend.  I think sometimes you just need to put some ‘white space’ (meaning some time for reflection and easing our mental noise) between you and all that you need to do.  So, with that said, no better way to focus on something else than to make good food – right?  Nothing like a delicious meal.  So, here is my attempt (via recipe) to help you incorporate some ‘white space’ into your weekend – enjoy!

For those of you who like measurements and exactness this might drive you crazy – but, hang in there because the outcome is stupendous.

I’m not sure what to call this…I guess “Yummy Fish” (And you know what?  I’m not even a big fish fan, but this recipe is addicting!)

What You’ll Need:

• I used a nice piece of fresh Cod – 1 person size (since then have also used Tilapia and Red Snapper, but so far like the Cod best.
• A handful of small new potatoes (red, yellow or creamer ok – skin on is fine)
• Small (cherry size) tomatoes (cut in half, then quartered)
• Red & Yellow bell peppers – chopped up medium size
• Yellow onion – chopped, a handful or so is fine
• Garlic, chopped (if you like it)
• Lemons
• Olive Oil, Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Salt/Pepper to taste
• Parchment Paper

To Prepare:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Use a nice long sheet of parchment paper (18 inches or so, because you will wrap it)
• Spread some olive oil on the middle of the parchment (your ingredients will sit here)
• Preboil the potatoes (al dente) – mash them up so they are chunky
• Place a few spoonfuls of potato in the middle of the oiled portion of the parchment sheet
• Drizzle some olive oil over the potatoes, add some salt and pepper (if you like a bit of fresh butter is yummy here too – although higher in calorie, etc.  But I like it.)
• Next, place the fish on top of the potatoes, sprinkle all over with a good amount of paprika, then add a touch/sprinkle of cayenne pepper
• Put a handful of onion, red & yellow peppers, cut tomatoes and garlic on top of the fish (ok if it falls to the side)
• Drizzle the whole thing with more olive oil
• Squeeze half a lemon over all (you can also add a couple tablespoons of white wine if you like)
• Next, make a packet out of it – take each side of the parchment paper (left and right), bring them together above the ingredients and the roll them together tightly downward until close to the ingredients.  Then roll each of the open sides up tightly so that juices won’t leak out.  It will come together in a oblong packet.
• Place the packet on a baking sheet in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes.

This really is an easy recipe and a whole dinner in one.  When it’s done you can remove from the oven, place on a plate and leave the parchment paper intact – just unroll it, all the juices are in there – enjoy.  You can eat right out of the paper packet…hey, easy clean up too (who doesn’t like that?)

You can’t lose with this recipe – my hat’s off to my biz partner, Chris Fogarty, who gave me this recipe on an evening when I couldn’t figure out what to cook (thank goodness I called her).

TGIF – take a break from your ‘career life’ and get to know your taste buds again!

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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Check Yourself Out…

Want to find out what recruiters and employers are finding out about you before you even step through their door for a live interview?  Before they even pass your resume on to the hiring manager?  Check yourself out on Spokeo.  Just plug in your email address (or the various ones you may use out there) and see what pops up.  Spokeo says that they can check you out in over 40 social networks.

This is an eye opening reminder of how critical it is that you remember that no matter what you put out there on the internet you are branding yourself with everything you say and do – so, keep it professional…for your career’s sake.

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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Cool Site – looking for a startup?

Here’s a cool site I came across that helps you locate ’startups’ – Startup Warrior

If you’re one of those crazy people like me who loves to jump into startups, wear a million hats, work with less red-tape (hopefully!) and get the adrenaline rush – check it out.  Here’s some info. about their site:

“StartupWarrior.com allows you to learn about startups in your city or neighborhood, both for job hunting and for networking with your peers. This website began as a personal project to identify geographic regions with the highest concentration of startups. The map helps to illuminate both the diversity of startups in hubs like Silicon Valley and London, and the growth of other startup communities in the US and abroad.”

If you find a startup you think might fit – check out their website, find out who works there via LinkedIn (or your other social networks), revise your resume to target their needs, attend some networking meetings and get your foot in the door.

Posted by Robin Ogden – FiredUP Careers

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