When you find yourself out of work and you have financial responsibilities you can whine, go broke, use your resourcefulness to reinvent yourself and go in another direction. I chose the latter. Not that I didn't whine a little, but I put most of my energy into reinvention.
I spent most of my career doing technical management. When the bottom fell out of the economy there didn't seem to be many jobs available for that kind of management. When times are tough companies tend to spend their resources on those positions that are required to keep the doors open. Technical management is typically something that can be done in the periphery by operations managers, although not very well. Technical management positions usually enhance the customer experience and contribute to product improvement. When a company is trying to stay afloat these are issues that can wait. I get that. If I had it to do all over again, I might chose a career path more in line with operations rather than maintenance or technical logistics.
During this job search one of the biggest changes I have noticed is the lean to specialization. I know it has been discussed but it seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Most potential employers are looking for an individual who has experience with a specific software platform or experience within a specific industry or role within an industry. For example, I have a very solid foundation and broad knowledge of maintenance management. This background could easily translate to many industries. Maintenance management is more about techniques that improve efficiency and reduce downtime and less about what nut to turn or circuit to tweak. However, most companies want maintenance managers that have experience in their specific industry. This is grounded in the need for an understanding of the regulation and requirements that are necessary for that specific industry.
The big collapse dislocated a lot of people, managers included. Finding a position with equal pay became difficult. At some point you must agree to taking less just to keep your head above water. You could remain determined and starve for a few months, taking the risk that your credit rating or worse your house might disappear into the mist or you can look inward and determine what other opportunities interest you. Once again, I chose the latter.
Considering my options, there are plenty of retail sales positions available. Unfortunately they pay very little and I don't care much for dealing with people all day. There are life insurance sales positions. Today they are called "financial planners". Sounds more palatable and necessary but it still equates to the same thing. I didn't give that much consideration. Spreading doom and gloom for the sake of making a buck just isn't my cup of joe. Don't get me wrong. Life insurance is necessary so you should go get some. That is as close to life insurance sales as I will ever get. "Would you like fries with that?" is more appealing to me. And based on my track record with sales probably has better income potential. My boys can sell. They have the sales gene. Silver tongued devils. I have always considered them little devils. Only following their majority did I add the silver-tongued part.
I found openings in the transportation industry. Once again I needed specialized experience I didn't have. Although I knew my management background would prove valuable if given the opportunity, I couldn't get past first base because I had no first hand knowledge of transportation. I knew that the wheels on the bus go round and round, I can identify a semi-tractor two out of three times, and I had experience pulling mobile homes from a previous life. In addition the government would pay for the necessary training. My reinvention began.
There are lots of opportunities to drive trucks and it is a great entry point into the transportation industry. Mind you, I am not looking to start another career. Truth be told, if someone were to ofer me $200K I would retire tomorrow, comfortably. I am looking only for a job that will keep us afloat until I can exercise my exit from the work-a-day world. I have planned it and worked toward my final promotion to retirement and it is just around the corner.
Trucking will be a significant change in lifestyle because I will be out away from my wife and my home for weeks at a time. Hopefully, this will be for a reasonably short period. Possibly within the first year I will have the necessary experience to get a gig that will get me home more frequently. Honestly, buy my groceries, pay my mortgage and route me through the house.
This installment was supposed to be about creating opportunity where none seemed to exist. I seem to be having trouble maintaining that theme. Maybe there is more to consider than can be written about in a single installment. After all, when changing career paths the effect on your life and those in your life must be considered. The effect it will have on your plans for the future must be taken into account. You are a damned fool if you haven't set acheivable goals for yourself. If you have twenty or thirty years before you retire you have time to put a whole new career in place and make of it what you can. If you are like me and have ten years tops but plan to retire in five your approach is going to be a bit different. Regardless you better know where you want to be and have a workable plan to get there. My needs are simple. Protect my credit scores to enable the purchase of a motorhome so we can spend more time with family and seeing places we want to see. If I need to make a few bucks here and there I can write any place I can charge the batteries on my laptop. Once again, "Welcome to Walmart" is probably not the position for me.
Till Later, maybe then I can pull some of these thoughts together into a sensible conclusion.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I Woke Up Laid-Off
Not since 1972 had I been unemployed. It had been so long I never really thought about the possibility or the repercussions. During that time, I had changed jobs for better opportunities, but never left one until the next one was lined up.
In January I woke up to a lay-off caused by the struggling economy. I worked for a debt financed company who had performed well until the poor housing market gave cause for home builders and landscapers to reduce their needs. No sour grapes. Executive management had to make some ugly decisions. Decisions that affected several middle managers and technical people.
Since I had changed jobs occasionally in the past, searching for a job wasn't entirely foreign. I had a reasonably current resume that just needed some polish. Whatever! Did you know that there isn't two placement professionals on the face of the earth who agree on the proper format for a resume. They can't agree on the format, the number of pages, the content, the depth, they can't agree on anything. These are the people who are supposed to be providing guidance and assistance to help grab a lifeline so you can eat and pay bills! Your primary focus when looking for a job is to put your best foot forward. Make a crisp impression. Show a potential employer that your skills are sharp and honed. Meanwhile, Mickey and Minnie supposedly know the employment business, but can't provide you with coherent counseling.
Now I have two resumes, a one page sketch and a two+ page, slightly more complete, version. I have no idea which one to present to prospective employers. Mickey says the short one is crisp and to the point. He says that employers won't read past the first page. Minnie says the long one provides the reader with a clearer picture about capabilities and experience. Employers want to see the results of your efforts. I agree with both of them. Their stories sound logical. However, their indecision doesn't help me decide how to look crisp and polished. It's a shame my utilities and mortgage may go unpaid because I gave the short resume to an employer who wanted a long one.
In January I woke up to a lay-off caused by the struggling economy. I worked for a debt financed company who had performed well until the poor housing market gave cause for home builders and landscapers to reduce their needs. No sour grapes. Executive management had to make some ugly decisions. Decisions that affected several middle managers and technical people.
Since I had changed jobs occasionally in the past, searching for a job wasn't entirely foreign. I had a reasonably current resume that just needed some polish. Whatever! Did you know that there isn't two placement professionals on the face of the earth who agree on the proper format for a resume. They can't agree on the format, the number of pages, the content, the depth, they can't agree on anything. These are the people who are supposed to be providing guidance and assistance to help grab a lifeline so you can eat and pay bills! Your primary focus when looking for a job is to put your best foot forward. Make a crisp impression. Show a potential employer that your skills are sharp and honed. Meanwhile, Mickey and Minnie supposedly know the employment business, but can't provide you with coherent counseling.
Now I have two resumes, a one page sketch and a two+ page, slightly more complete, version. I have no idea which one to present to prospective employers. Mickey says the short one is crisp and to the point. He says that employers won't read past the first page. Minnie says the long one provides the reader with a clearer picture about capabilities and experience. Employers want to see the results of your efforts. I agree with both of them. Their stories sound logical. However, their indecision doesn't help me decide how to look crisp and polished. It's a shame my utilities and mortgage may go unpaid because I gave the short resume to an employer who wanted a long one.
I don't mind being unemployed. It messes with my retirement plan, but I will recover from that in short order. The kids are grown so our expenses are small. We don't spend alot of money for anything. Our cars are in good shape and paid for. We don't need alot of anything to be satisfied. Since we had decided to retire early we had cut back on spending to save for our retirement home. Exercising frugality is a responsible way to live. So many things are purchased because we think we need them. We even reduced our grocery bill by buying wisely. Less prepared food and more fresh. Take the time to cook rather than warm a prepared package. After all, that's why we collected all those cookbooks, isn't it? There are some great recipes in those books.
Actually, an unexpected challenge like this helps build character. It causes you to look inward and resconsider personal philosophies. The narrative you have developed around your value to society needs adjustment occasionally. Nothing provides the tools to accomplish that adjustment like a healthy serving of humble pie. Nothing provides more clarity to your sense of personal value than to be in a situation where what you have to contribute is not needed. The wisdom to be gained from this is not to beat yourself up over decisions you have made in the past, but instead, honestly evaluate your worth and reinvent yourself in a direction where your contribution is needed.
Till Later
Monday, February 23, 2009
What About Green?
What's with all this "green" talk? I can remember the oil crisis of the late 70's. Long lines at the pump. People searching for cars that provided better fuel economy. Ford and Chevy offered the Pinto and Vega. No wonder Toyota and Honda ran away with market share. Even though the price of gas never fell to pre-crisis levels, we all got used to the additional cost and a few years later the SUV was born. Our desire for improved performance overcame our desire to reduce the cost of transportation. Clearly, our focus at that time was on saving money rather than saving the earth. Enter "global warming".
Whether you believe in global warming or not is immaterial here. The truth is, the discussion about the possibility that human behavior is changing the complexion of our planet has spurred a shift in the way we, Americans and Europeans at least, are thinking about how we conduct our daily lives. A strong sense of responsibility is developing. This time we are focused on the emmisions from our cars, recyclability of the products we use, survivability of the trash we generate, and even serious concern about our health and the food we consume. The threat of an unknown reality has caused our culture to evolve. Don't take me wrong, I'm not necessarily a believer in global warming but, one thing is certain; as a people we are now on an actionable path to behave more environmentally responsibly.
Assuming we know the cause, global warming. The effect is a metamorphosis in the meaning and use of the word "green". You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a product or company that is developing their narrative around the green movement. The primary difference between this movement and previous fads is that green is the responsible way to act rather than just the cool thing to do. Therefore, there are hoardes of people who are educating themselves about their particular green interests and scrutinizing the businesses that tout green products. Any business that talks green better be prepared to walk green.
Previous fads didn't have the legs to stand up to the higher costs of goods. Although not a fad, organic foods, for example, are probably healthier than other foods but, the additional cost and lack of obvious or immediate benefit reduces the retail desire. On the other hand, the green movement is broad, touching nearly every type of product we use. From building techniques and supplies to the processes manufacturers use to create and package the products we consume. The benefits are obvious, reduced heating and cooling costs, reduced trash in our landfills, reduced pollution, and maybe the most important benefit, reduced guilt.
Guilt may be the most powerful driver behind any cultural shift. If baptist preachers and catholic nuns are any indication, guilt certainly advanced christianity. Rather than calling it guilt, let's call it the innate need for people to act responsibly.
So the bottom line is, enough rhetoric about environmental responsibility has been tossed around over the past few years to create a shift in market demand. I'm sure you remember the disgust over the styrofoam fast food containers and drink holders. That was pre-global warming but the goal was the same. And the result was an industry shift to drink holders and food containers made from recycled and recyclable materials. Today, cars are mostly recycled steel, plastic producers use reground or reprocessed resin, communitys give tax credits to builders who use green products in their buildings. Green has caught on because it is both environmentally responsible and becoming financially attractive.
As the movement grows, simple changes to the way we live will drastically reduce the negative environmental impact. As time passes we will continually learn and adopt cleaner better processes to produce and package the products we use. Slowly environmental consciousness will become cultural norms.
Eventually, solar power generation will become cheap enough that most houses will generate power during the day and the power companies will significantly reduce the fossil fuels they use to feed the grid. Couple that with reduced residential energy requirements because of improved efficiency of appliances and lights and the result will be smaller electrical generation plants and significantly reduced energy bills for the average consumer. This is just my prediction.
Till later.
Whether you believe in global warming or not is immaterial here. The truth is, the discussion about the possibility that human behavior is changing the complexion of our planet has spurred a shift in the way we, Americans and Europeans at least, are thinking about how we conduct our daily lives. A strong sense of responsibility is developing. This time we are focused on the emmisions from our cars, recyclability of the products we use, survivability of the trash we generate, and even serious concern about our health and the food we consume. The threat of an unknown reality has caused our culture to evolve. Don't take me wrong, I'm not necessarily a believer in global warming but, one thing is certain; as a people we are now on an actionable path to behave more environmentally responsibly.
Assuming we know the cause, global warming. The effect is a metamorphosis in the meaning and use of the word "green". You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a product or company that is developing their narrative around the green movement. The primary difference between this movement and previous fads is that green is the responsible way to act rather than just the cool thing to do. Therefore, there are hoardes of people who are educating themselves about their particular green interests and scrutinizing the businesses that tout green products. Any business that talks green better be prepared to walk green.
Previous fads didn't have the legs to stand up to the higher costs of goods. Although not a fad, organic foods, for example, are probably healthier than other foods but, the additional cost and lack of obvious or immediate benefit reduces the retail desire. On the other hand, the green movement is broad, touching nearly every type of product we use. From building techniques and supplies to the processes manufacturers use to create and package the products we consume. The benefits are obvious, reduced heating and cooling costs, reduced trash in our landfills, reduced pollution, and maybe the most important benefit, reduced guilt.
Guilt may be the most powerful driver behind any cultural shift. If baptist preachers and catholic nuns are any indication, guilt certainly advanced christianity. Rather than calling it guilt, let's call it the innate need for people to act responsibly.
So the bottom line is, enough rhetoric about environmental responsibility has been tossed around over the past few years to create a shift in market demand. I'm sure you remember the disgust over the styrofoam fast food containers and drink holders. That was pre-global warming but the goal was the same. And the result was an industry shift to drink holders and food containers made from recycled and recyclable materials. Today, cars are mostly recycled steel, plastic producers use reground or reprocessed resin, communitys give tax credits to builders who use green products in their buildings. Green has caught on because it is both environmentally responsible and becoming financially attractive.
As the movement grows, simple changes to the way we live will drastically reduce the negative environmental impact. As time passes we will continually learn and adopt cleaner better processes to produce and package the products we use. Slowly environmental consciousness will become cultural norms.
Eventually, solar power generation will become cheap enough that most houses will generate power during the day and the power companies will significantly reduce the fossil fuels they use to feed the grid. Couple that with reduced residential energy requirements because of improved efficiency of appliances and lights and the result will be smaller electrical generation plants and significantly reduced energy bills for the average consumer. This is just my prediction.
Till later.
Is America's Culture Threatened?
I am always amazed that I can find something to talk about when it comes time to write these things. It wasn't difficult to find a subject for this one. I want to share some thoughts on where America is heading.
We are a multicultural society. Multicultualism is one thing that makes us stand out from all other countries in the world. We have always been multicultural. All countries have immigrants who have come from other cultures. However, no other country was created from immigrants and risen to greatness quite like the United States.
What concerns me is that Americans seem to be allowing foreign cultures to lead the way we are allowed to behave. For instance, political correctness has become the expected way to act and communicate. When I was young I recall that a chairman was a man or woman. A Boy Scout was a boy and a Girl Scout was a girl. I remember that if you were a member of a group or club, your actions reflected on the entire group. I remember that at Christmas a manger scene was OK on the city center's lawn. I also remember that we were far more biggoted and even though many of us were one or more generations closer to being an immigrant we were far less accepting of people of color or cultural differences. Yet in some ways, we were more accepting of each others differences. Certainly, we were more sensitive to majority rule.
What I am talking about are the actions taken by a few to change the lives of the many. "One nation under god" is a perfect example. The majority would leave it alone. What do the words hurt. Most people believe in a god. It doesn't say a Christian God or Jesus Christ, so just apply the word god to your personal god. I can understand that if you don't believe in god you might think that these words are not necessary. But before you whine, look around. I think you are seriously outnumbered. I have to believe that you are a spoiled brat whose parents didn't teach that you don't always get your way. I am concerned that in the United States the whining minority is beginning to get their way in instances where they should be put in time out instead.
Look at the muslims. There are a gazillion really fine muslims out there. There are forty-two that are causing all the problems. The forty-two are making the gazillion look bad, giving muslims a bad image. Much the same way that Pat Robertson or Billy Graham hurt the credibility of Christians. Because Pat Robertson is an ignorant, biggoted fool that shoots his mouth off doesn't mean all Christians are.
So look around. Asian children are a powerful voice in the top 10 percent of our graduating classes. Why? They are not a bit smarter than any other color or culture. Because culturally, they are raised to work hard, learn, and acheive. I bet 50 cents that every one of the successful students were taught the very same lessons or at least learned them from somewhere. Successful children are led to success by their environment. Parents, relatives, community, siblings and the environment provided them with the desire to do well. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that every child has the same capacity to learn and succeed. I am saying that if your son or daughter is a gang member it just might be related to what they were taught or the environment we have provided. The caveat to all of this is that children have personalities that are formed by everyone they come in contact with and everything that happens to them. Therefore, parents can provide the moral guidance and tools to make the right decisions however, parents cannot make the decisions for their children.
So here is the bottom line. It is obvious that there is a broad thread of pampered folks in this country who feel entitled to a nearly free ride. With each generation that is born, the number of these people increase. Some of this is due to environment. Never has anyone in this country gone to a grocery store and not been able to get milk, eggs, bread, meat, fresh produce and almost anything one could possibly desire. Not once has anyone in this country gone without because what they needed to survive wasn't available. Disasters or catastrophes may have broken the supply lines temporarily but other than situations like that we haven't done without since WWII. Can you imagine the revolt if the government suggested rationing today?
We always have the freedom to produce and profit from what is needed. Capitalism and free markets dictate what is needed, not the government. Thats really what liberty is all about. It's about contributing to your community through your work and reeping the benefits. The downside is that we can always achieve more. Sooner or later we are bound to consider "more" as an entitlement. Today, when we see a group or culture succeeding we tend to be blind to the hard work it took to earn that success.
Till later!
We are a multicultural society. Multicultualism is one thing that makes us stand out from all other countries in the world. We have always been multicultural. All countries have immigrants who have come from other cultures. However, no other country was created from immigrants and risen to greatness quite like the United States.
What concerns me is that Americans seem to be allowing foreign cultures to lead the way we are allowed to behave. For instance, political correctness has become the expected way to act and communicate. When I was young I recall that a chairman was a man or woman. A Boy Scout was a boy and a Girl Scout was a girl. I remember that if you were a member of a group or club, your actions reflected on the entire group. I remember that at Christmas a manger scene was OK on the city center's lawn. I also remember that we were far more biggoted and even though many of us were one or more generations closer to being an immigrant we were far less accepting of people of color or cultural differences. Yet in some ways, we were more accepting of each others differences. Certainly, we were more sensitive to majority rule.
What I am talking about are the actions taken by a few to change the lives of the many. "One nation under god" is a perfect example. The majority would leave it alone. What do the words hurt. Most people believe in a god. It doesn't say a Christian God or Jesus Christ, so just apply the word god to your personal god. I can understand that if you don't believe in god you might think that these words are not necessary. But before you whine, look around. I think you are seriously outnumbered. I have to believe that you are a spoiled brat whose parents didn't teach that you don't always get your way. I am concerned that in the United States the whining minority is beginning to get their way in instances where they should be put in time out instead.
Look at the muslims. There are a gazillion really fine muslims out there. There are forty-two that are causing all the problems. The forty-two are making the gazillion look bad, giving muslims a bad image. Much the same way that Pat Robertson or Billy Graham hurt the credibility of Christians. Because Pat Robertson is an ignorant, biggoted fool that shoots his mouth off doesn't mean all Christians are.
So look around. Asian children are a powerful voice in the top 10 percent of our graduating classes. Why? They are not a bit smarter than any other color or culture. Because culturally, they are raised to work hard, learn, and acheive. I bet 50 cents that every one of the successful students were taught the very same lessons or at least learned them from somewhere. Successful children are led to success by their environment. Parents, relatives, community, siblings and the environment provided them with the desire to do well. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that every child has the same capacity to learn and succeed. I am saying that if your son or daughter is a gang member it just might be related to what they were taught or the environment we have provided. The caveat to all of this is that children have personalities that are formed by everyone they come in contact with and everything that happens to them. Therefore, parents can provide the moral guidance and tools to make the right decisions however, parents cannot make the decisions for their children.
So here is the bottom line. It is obvious that there is a broad thread of pampered folks in this country who feel entitled to a nearly free ride. With each generation that is born, the number of these people increase. Some of this is due to environment. Never has anyone in this country gone to a grocery store and not been able to get milk, eggs, bread, meat, fresh produce and almost anything one could possibly desire. Not once has anyone in this country gone without because what they needed to survive wasn't available. Disasters or catastrophes may have broken the supply lines temporarily but other than situations like that we haven't done without since WWII. Can you imagine the revolt if the government suggested rationing today?
We always have the freedom to produce and profit from what is needed. Capitalism and free markets dictate what is needed, not the government. Thats really what liberty is all about. It's about contributing to your community through your work and reeping the benefits. The downside is that we can always achieve more. Sooner or later we are bound to consider "more" as an entitlement. Today, when we see a group or culture succeeding we tend to be blind to the hard work it took to earn that success.
Till later!
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