Entrepreneurship...post ii: Create Your Own Dream Job

One of my readers suggested I take a look at the blog, zenhabits.net.  The article below was my first read, and I have to say that I'm hooked.  I like the simple, yet deep, writing style of Leo Babauta.  Breaking old and creating new habits is difficult, but Mr Babauta gives us a good starting point for where to begin.  

In part two of my Entrepreneurship series, I give you his zen habit on how to create your own dream job - it's a great read.  I hope you enjoy!

"If you’re out of a job or stuck in a lousy job, I feel for you. But look at your horrible situation as a wonderful opportunity to change your life and do something great. It could be the best thing you’ve ever done.", Leo Babauta.

Can't Find a Dream Job? Create Your Own

Entrepreneurship...a three post series

My first blog "series"...so exciting! I digress...

As most of my readers are all keenly aware, the architectural and interior design community has suffered great losses during this awful, yucky, economic recession. I'm part of that community so I can say from experience that it has been especially yucky.

According to an article on MSNBC.com , Architect was the #1 occupation for job losses in 2009. Unemployment jumped 17.8% in 2009 for that profession. They go on to say that it won't be until 2018 that architects and engineers see a 10% growth in their occupation. Sick to your stomach yet?

On a brighter note... Entrepreneurship in the USA jumped almost 6% in 2010. I believe it... I don't know what the percentage of new business owners are Architects, but I do know I've seen a lot of them branch out on their own and they are succeeding. The path to entrepreneurship can be by choice or by necessity, as the USA article below suggests. Click on the link to read more...

"Recession inspires people to start own business"

If you are one of the new entrepreneurs, please post a comment and share your journey. If you are thinking about starting your own company, stay tuned to future posts for inspiration on how to take that leap.

Mark your calendars! June 24th is "Take Your Dog To Work" Day

Milzy and Hammers

I'm sure you winter-weather-weary folks are looking forward to summer.  We are getting a glimpse of it here in the West - 80 degrees this weekend!

I discovered that June 24th is "Take Your Dog to Work" day and thought it might be something fun for you to plan for your office.

One of the perks of working from a home office is that my dogs, Hamilton and Milhouse, come to work with me every day.  Their main responsibility is to alert me when the UPS man is making a delivery, which is typically every other day.  Sometimes the delivers are made in the mornings, but most often it's right in the middle of nap time....for my kids, not me!  If only Hammers and Milzy could pull samples, return emails, or sweep up after themselves....

If you or your coworkers love your dogs as much as I do, convince them to celebrate the annual "Take Your Dog to Work Day" this summer.  See the website link below for more info about this great organization - while there, enter a photo for their contest! 

Take Your Dog To Work - June 24, 2011

Start getting your pooch ready for the event with the following tips, which can be found on their website:

Tips for Dog Day Success

• Dogs should be kept on a leash, unless in the employee's office or cubicle.
• Employees should use a baby gate to prevent dogs from leaving their office unsupervised.
• Specific areas, such as bathrooms or employee dining halls, can be designated as dog-free.
• Have a back up plan for taking the dog home if he is not comfortable in the work environment.
• Find a local pet sitter at petsit.com/locate to provide midday walks to employees' dogs.

The "dog days of summer" will be here before we know it, ...but probably not before some weird Easter blizzard for you folks in the Midwest...hang in there!

How to Create Time When There’s No Time

I'm going to make this post short and sweet :  1) because last week's post was a long one and 2) I have the day off today and after a mostly  successful day at the zoo with my kids, I have about an hour and a half to myself to "get stuff done" while they nap.  So without further ado...another great post from Mindful Time Management blog by Janet Bailey...

Giving yourself permission to do things less perfectly.... interesting concept...read more: 

How to Create Time When There’s No Time

Tips For Effective Networking



In my opinion, networking should be mandatory of all positions within a company.  I'm not saying it's easy for everyone to do it.  It certainly can induce panic for even the mildest case of agoraphobia*.  However, this is no excuse if you want to get ahead in your career, or change careers.  With everything else in life, practice makes perfect. 

Definition of NETWORKING:  1: the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business

See...by definition, networking plays an important "productive" part in our job roles. Cultivating these relationships should not be seen as scary but necessary on our road to success. 

Opportunities to network can be everywhere:  On an airplane; at your kids ballet, baseball, gymnastics, soccer practice, at a party, on the bus, at the hair salon, ...you get my point... you never know when you could meet your next client or future boss!

This article suggests a few basic tips to help get you feeling comfortable networking in no time:

How to Network Effectively - eHow.com

I am, by nature, a social person and would say that I have a high level of comfort talking to strangers in the settings I mention above.  A work related networking event - an event specifically meant to encourage networking among professionals - for some reason, can induce an elevated feeling of anxiety even for me.   I tend to do what is easy/comfortable - attach myself to someone I already know in the hopes that they will introduce me to new people.  This is ineffective most of the time because I will typically end up in a small group of people that I already know, who are also hoping that the others will make the introductions! 

So I have a rule that I adhere to before I allow myself to hook on to someone that I already know.  I introduce myself to three people - sometimes, by the nature of the event/meeting, it's obvious who I need to approach, but most of the time it's just random selection.  If, at the end of the evening, I have three new contacts, I feel a certain level of success.  Once I've reached my goal of three contacts, one of two things will usually happen - 1) I start to relax and realize it's not that bad and everyone else in the room is doing it too. or 2) the event hasn't cultivated the kind of contacts I'm looking for and head straight to the valet stand to get my car and go home.

How about you?  What tips to you have for effective networking?  I'd like to hear!

*agoraphobia - fear of embarrassment

CLUTTER - noun: a crowded or confused mass or collection

www.clutter-buster.com

This article should inspire all of you who swear you are going to tackle the piles on your desk, the overstuffed front hall closet, junk drawer, backyard shed, shower you use for extra storage....someday.  According to the professional home organizer in the article below, if you've ever spent more than 10 seconds looking for anything in your house, then you need to declutter and get organized.  The process can be habit forming and good for your peace of mind. 

AZcentral_Professional Home Organizer Advice 

Karina Bland writes the weekly column My So Called Midlife for the Arizona Republic.  I look forward to reading it every Sunday.  You may like it too.  You can follow her blog (now that you know how to!) at:

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KarinaBland

How to follow a blog...and why you would want to.

Hi fans and followers -

Thank you for your interest in reading my blog.  I write this with the utmost sincerity, because, seriously, I hope that you find my anecdotal writings about my experiences and perspective about the workforce, homefront, and ettiquette enjoyable, humorous and informative.  Yes, I'll admit it, this is also a shameless attempt to get more followers on my blog.  

So, if you read this blog because you see a new post on my Facebook or LinkedIn pages and like what you read, but are not a follower... please become one.  It's free!...and I promise I won't spam you.  Don't know how to become a follower?  Go to the section to the right labeled "Followers"...where you see the beautiful faces of my current followers...just click on the Followers widget and it will lead you to your Google account or ask you to create one.  Once you have established a Google account, you can easily view all the blogs you follow on your dashboard and/or reading list.  Here...just click on this link for the official blogger instructions on how to become a follower...and it will all make sense.

 

Google - how to follow a blog