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CAREER_SURVIVAL_NEWSLETTER

Vol. 2 Number 6 - June 8, 2000
Publisher: Wayne McKinnon info@ITcoach.com
http://www.ITcoach.com
(C) ITcoach.com 2001
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. BEING WHERE YOU NEED TO BE: keeping your career on target.

2. LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: I thought I was wrong but I was mistaken...AGAIN

3. FIRE PREVENTION: dealing with the important but not urgent

4. CONTRIBUTING TO THE BUSINESS: sometimes you just need to get out of the way

5. WEBSITES OF INTEREST

6. PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY TIP

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1. BEING WHERE YOU NEED TO BE: keeping your career on target.
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A client of mine made this comment about one his company's employees whom he regarded as
not very competent:

Does he really have ten years experience, or is it really just one year repeated ten times?

My question is how does your career stack up to this test?

What are you doing that is significantly different today than when you were first hired?

Are you keeping track of how your job has changed?

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2. LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: I thought I was wrong but I was mistaken...AGAIN
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From the time I started my business until now, I wisely sought and paid for the advice
of experts who help me guide my business. My accountant works with me to make financial
decisions based on their tax implications. On his advice, I only draw enough regular salary to
meet my needs, the rest of my income remains in the business.

Recently the bank had a sale on money, and I decided to apply for a business
loan. Curiously the bank manager asked for my "personal" income statements. I explained the
business is borrowing the money, and not me, so volunteered to bring in our corporate
statements. He said that was not what he required.

Still puzzled, I supplied my personal income statements as asked, and as I expected, the loan was
rejected since (following my accountant's tax advice) I only draw enough salary to live on,
which according to the bank is not enough to make the added loan payments.

If I had supplied the business statements, it would have been obvious
that the income was there, and the business could afford the loan. Even though the bank
said they were not needed, I really should have provided them anyway to strengthen my case.

When applying for anything (a new job, a promotion, or a bank loan for that matter)
are you supplying what is asked for, or what is needed? Don't forget that in many instances,
the person you are dealing with directly has to sell your case to someone above them
on your behalf.

Be proactive and supply more than just what you are asked for. Your assertion that
you are able to do what is required is meaningless unless you can also supply every piece
of evidence you think is relevant to support your assertion, even if it was not requested.

Also, pre-explain anything that you think may raise questions, you may not be given
the opportunity otherwise.

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3. FIRE PREVENTION: dealing with the important but not urgent
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The most frequently asked question I receive relating to one's career is
how to become more proactive in a support role where individuals must address one
urgent crisis after another.

In every role, it is possible to carve out a small piece of discretionary time
(albeit very small in some cases).

This time is THE most valuable time you have, don't piss it away! (can I be any more blunt?)
You must be crystal clear on what is the most important use of this time that will result in long-term gain.
Initially you will use this time to figure out what that is. Next you can pursue
that with intense tenacity, and guard the time you have gained like your life depended on it (it does).

Done well, you will put in place systems and better ways of doing things, or eliminate
that which is no longer necessary. The result will be even more discretionary time.

Eventually you can use this new found time to pursue work of higher value.
One thing is sure though, using discretionary time unwisely
will limit your growth potential, and you may even get less of this time.

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4. CONTRIBUTING TO THE BUSINESS: sometimes you just need to get out of the way
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I frequently buy supplies from a nation-wide chain of business stores near my home.
Recently, rather than go to the store, I tried ordering a new printer from their catalogue.

The item was back ordered and they couldn't take my order because their system didn't
support that.

Although my background is technical, and I have designed and implemented many systems
that support business goals, I maintain that in most cases, technical people should
not design systems, they don't understand the business process well enough.

Someone who takes orders for products would know that they are sometimes back-ordered.
Obviously they were not consulted in this design. With the proper input
to this design, I would have had my printer by now.

My personal design success record is quite high because I realized very early in my career that I
could not possibly understand someone's business better than the person who works in that business
each day. Knowing this I positioned myself to guide the process while relying on others to provide their
expertise to solving the problem.

Focus on being a process expert rather than being a know-it all who is always in the way
(it is a higher value proposition).

Encourage others to contribute by guiding the process rather than flexing your ego and
trying to do it all yourself. It is much more efficient, and the results are better since
everyone has a stake in making the resulting solution work.

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5. WEBSITES OF INTEREST
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=> http://www.MyStockOptions.com

if you are in a position where you receive stock options from your employer,
here is a great site to help you understand how to take advantage of them.

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6. PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY TIP
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Palm pilots are great if you have never used an organizer before.
I have had one since they first came out, but I find they limit my
creativity and keep me focused on details rather than the bigger picture.

I know where I am now, and where I am supposed to be next, but not on where
I am going.

I need to see the bigger picture. I do all of my planning using a
"year at a glance" calendar, and place strategic goals as
"unscheduled appointments" that repeats daily on my palm's calendar.
That way my longer-range goal always appears as a reminder, doesn't
clutter my calendar, and doesn't get buried in my to-do list.

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FREE ARTICLES FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS
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I have many articles available for reprint in your
publication, company newsletter, etc. You may use
articles written by me that you see in this newsletter. Back issues
can be viewed at http://www.ITcoach.com/articles

All you have to do is print the article in its entirety along with the by line at
top and the credits, and complete contact information at the end of each article.
I would appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy too. Thanks

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Wayne McKinnon
The Executive Technology Coach / ITcoach.com
Suite531, 900 Greenbank Rd.
Nepean, Ontario Canada K2J 4P6
(613) 860-1384, Fax (613) 825-4895
mailto:info@ITcoach.com
http://www.ITcoach.com

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