Tom Peters: Guru Redux

Tom Peters wrote in Search of Excellence 20 years ago. During the intervening years, he's written much on project management, Brand You, etc. Well, he's come back.

Tom started blogging about two years ago. Mostly his personal observations on global work. What's surprising is that he attracts a lot of folks and comments to his blog. Why? When you look at his calendar, he's on the road, speechifying much of the year.

Tom's address is www.TomPeters.com. Visit it. Tom offers his slides gratis on the site. The slides from his talk are frenetic and very good. They range from 200 slides up to a 1000. The slides reveal the changing nature of global work, careers, and jobs. They are great!!!

You Are What You Read?

What do you read? Do you read books at all? I'm shocked at the number of professionals who don't read serious business non-fiction. They figure if they read at work, it'll need them current, marketable, and ready for the next step in their career. Wrong!

Many of my successful friends read the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Barrons, Fortune, and other business newspapers and magazine.. There is a positive correlation between how well these folks are informed to where they are in the business food chain. They are voracious readers. They are current.

What's in it for them? They are knowledgeable on current business issues, global issues, and consumer issues. They can connect the dots better than most. The see developing patterns. All of which spell opportunity.

So, first tip for success: Subscribe to Wall Street Journal. Read. Get smart.

Getting It

Do you ever wonder why some folks get rich or are happier or are more accomplished.

Someone sometime somewhere mentored them on the rules of life, career, and job success.

Do you wonder why kids of rich parents are also well off. Part of the reason is that they grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth. But more importantly, they were mentored and nurtured on life's rules of success. Are there 'rules of success?' You bet.

Most folks think you get it with a prestigious pedigree and then a MBA. Some of the rules are imparted this way. Many are imparted through mentors. You need these folks throughout your life.

In later posts, we'll talk about getting a mentor.

Critical Infrastructure Protection: Forensics, Assurance, Analytics

Our friends at US DHS (Dep of Homeland Security) designated us to conduct Critical Infrastructure Protection Protection: Forensics, Assurance, Analytics (TM). DHS likes our methodology, business model, and assurance. Last month. Now, we are going after the certification and they are evaluating ...

Only one problem - finding scientists and engineers. The need exceeds supply of techie types. We mainly hire engineers. We are an engineering firm. We provide the techie analysis you see in 24 - TV program. The reality is TV is a lot more sexy and interesting than what we do. It is deep and robust technical analysis.

So, if you're looking an engineer with deep experience and knowledge in an area. Give us a call. 800.COMPETE.

Entitlement

I am still surprised that folks have a strong sense of entitlement. I've paid my dues. I've done this or done that.

Entitlement is the bane of small business, where we have to be nimble and quick. It's all about being responsive.

I've been reading all the great Fast Company article focusing on the employee and worker. What about the person or small business that is trying mightily to get a profit.

It's tough.

Vocation and Avocation

Do you need a college degree. Our society places a premium on the college degree and where it's from. The pedigree of the degree.

I see lots of folks who have a degree in sociology, humanities, and art history. That's great. They are avocation degrees. A person got it because it flowed into their interest area or was of interest. Great.

Can you get a job with it? It may be a better idea to find a vocation, a profession or a occupation that provides a liveable income.

This way you get the best of both worlds: the vocation is your meal ticket and the avocation is something that moves your spirit.

The best of both worlds is to see if you can get both. You do what you love to do - and get paid for it.

The Smartest Question You Can Ask an Employer!!!

Here's a secret.

We are in a hot market and expanding. Homeland Security. Specifically, Critical Infrastructure Protection: Forensics, Assurance, Analytics (tm).

So we are interviewing lots of folks. This is what we see.

Most folks are concerned about 'what's in it for me?' OK. That's real. But, if you want the job and most importantly the opportunity to learn and move up, here's the most critical question and/or comment, you can say to the interviewer or your future boss:

HELP ME HELP YOU MAKE MONEY!!!

It's that simple. Behind this have a good story to share on what you've done to make $$$.

End of the year: Time for change.

It’s time to review my work and business. This is the time when I take stock of things. I ask the tough questions: of my self and of folks who want to work with us.

It may be time to review your work/career/job.

Are you adding value? Are you having fun? Is your career arc moving in the right vector? Are you happy? Do you have options? What’s keeping you from moving to the next level or to the next vertical?

I basically do a business and personal gap analysis. What is it? I ask the following question:

• Where am I?
• Where do I want to go?
• What steps do I have to take to get there or to close the gap?
  

My planning horizon is one year for specifics and two years for my longer term doables. Both for myself and my business.

Things to think about are:

• Get real with your situation and your potential.
• Talk with your boss if you’re an employee.
• q Thing about doing a little retread ed. With technology changing so fast, it may be time to go back to school.
• Look at options, like a career move, school, etc.

Caveat: Don’t’ bail on your day job. Keep the funds coming in. As my wife says, gotta make my nut.

Working It: The New Rules of Work - Careers - Jobs (WorkingIt.com)

Working It: The New Rules of Work - Careers - Jobs (WorkingIt.com)

Saturday:

I'm going with family to the home improvement show. We are doing a home makeover. Good. However, most remodelers are charging an arm and a leg. There are no barriers to entry into the field. So, how do we know we're getting someone good?

This occurs with professions - engineers, docs, and lawyers. Most of us in private practice have to be licensed. This is done by the state. But still, how do we know we are going to get a good job done. What metrics should we choose professionals. Lawyer metrics: trial success rate, litigation success rate, etc. Doc metrics: mortality, customer services, good advice, etc. Engineer metrics: good designs, happy clients, etc.

It seems that all professionals should have a standard metric, that folks can use to determine success.

Engineers: Our image sux.

I am an engineer. I am proud of my profession.

The problem: People don't know what I do, why I do it, and what value do I bring to the table. The problem is pandemic. Or, we have a negative image.

Geeks. Nerds. Propeller heads. Etc.

Or, the image of engineers is frankenstein. We do things that harm the environment. We make things that harm people. Etc.

We need a makeover. What would this look like. I don't know.

I've got a 7 year old daughter - Margaux. She's smart. More technically inclined than me at her age. She doesn't want to be an engineer.

We got problems ...