I am delighted to share with my blog readers that the article below was just published in  Netshare’s latest newsletter – I thought I would share it here and hope it is helpful to job seekers everywhere! – MEB

Have you been exploring alternatives to traditional job search methods? If you have, congratulations! You are on your way to greatly increasing your results and response rates!

I believe you will find this does wonders not only for reaching your job search goals, but also in keeping up your excitement and confidence in the process.

Developing the right list of target companies for you is so important because, done right, it’s going to save you a tremendous amount of time, increase your interviews and save you from the frustration of doing it wrong, which can create an illusion that the reason you are not getting enough quality interviews is because there is something wrong with you or your resume.

So here are 5 tips on how you can get started developing your own amazing list of target companies today:

Tip #1: Focus – Example A
Let’s say for example you want to stay in the state of Georgia and you would like to remain in the field of Academia. Your challenge is to find the institutions potentially suited for you in your state. You need to identify where these lists of institutions are AND you need to track where the movement or growth is with these individual institutions. Your best bet is to check out your trade and association journals for these lists and late breaking news like campus growth, appropriated funds, and promotions etc… anything that might indicate growth or development and a great reason for you to connect. Start by Googling Academia+Georgia or Associations+Higher Education+Georgia.

Tip#2: Focus Example B
Perhaps you are in sales and marketing of consumer goods and you want to move into a senior sales role for the “green” market. You are open to relocating anywhere in the US. In order to not spread yourself too thin, you must come up with a nice handful of portals you can use to find emerging or developed companies that specialize in your “green” market of choice. Begin by Googling Green jobs+products. Interested in wind farms or solar? Google green jobs+wind farms and wind farms+USA. You can also try Googling wind energy+investors. These are just a few examples. Not only will you find companies and contact decision maker names this way, but you will also find articles and information on companies that are growing and developing new products and services. Any and all companies that you like should make your list!

To supplement this information I also highly recommend using Manta.com. Manta provides free company profiles and company information on US and International companies, including market research reports, business news, contact information and key contact names.

Tip #3: Create an Abundant List
The general rule of thumb is: the smaller your geographic parameters are, the more you really need to dig to add anyone and everyone that meets your career focus parameters to your list. If your list is too small, you minimize your responses. Try to begin with 30 to 50 companies, ideally.

Conversely, you may develop over 150 potential company picks in your industry of choice. If this is you, then consider sending your mailings out in phases or hiring a printer (I like Insty Prints) to help you with your mailings.

There is another industry school of thought that touts concentrating on just a few companies at a time. If you are not in a hurry and are willing to invest in learning about, and networking with, key decision makers in each of these companies then I would agree this method is also effective.

Tip#4: Get To the Decision Maker
Sending all of your correspondence to the human resource department will get you far less valuable connections and interviews – primarily because unless HR has been handed a job description that closely matches your qualifications at the exact time you send them your resume, they are probably not going to be interested in you.

So, don’t gamble your confidence away! Though rarely you might hit the jackpot, these just aren’t very good odds. Get to the decision maker… the person two to four levels above your ideal position that is going to be interested to hear about your successes in productivity, profitability and problem solving.

No offense to my human resource friends that serve a valuable and honorable function.

Tip #5: Follow Up
You have to be prepared to follow up with a phone call once you have sent out your correspondence. I know, you are thinking, “but it is so uncomfortable to follow up with someone I don’t know and ask them for a job!” Good news! You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) come right out and ask them for a job.

As a professional, one of the things you must do in your job is learning the basics of networking. We ALL have to do it, so let’s discuss for a moment the value of learning how to network in a way that is comfortable and breeds confidence.

Here is a technique that I use: when I network, I think about it in a way that does not put undue pressure on myself or the immediate outcome.

In other words, when you follow up, don’t set yourself up by rationalizing that the only acceptable outcome is a job interview. Here is your realistic goal: to make an introduction, either personally or via voice mail that you feel good about. That’s it. When you go on a first date do you berate yourself that no one got married at the end of it? Of course not! So just take a deep breath and give the situation a chance to materialize into something positive.

Okay, so here is how to leave a nice message you can feel good about. Try something like this: “Hi this is ____, perhaps my name sounds familiar – I sent you some correspondence last week and indicated I would be following up with you. Its Wednesday, 10am and I will be in the office all day. Please feel free to call me back at ____ and I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.”

This is a nice general introduction. Not to short and not too long.

If you connect with your contact live, this is even better! Say hello, inform him or her why you are calling and then share what you specialize in. Perhaps you increased revenue in your division by 57% last year, or you are a turnaround expert or you just lead your corporation through a very successful merger. Whatever your latest and greatest achievement is, this is what you lead with.

State your achievement in just a sentence or two and then say that you greatly admire their company and for these reasons you wanted to introduce yourself and find out if he/she might have an interest in learning more. This structure concentrates on your quantifiable achievements, is short and is flattering – a recipe for success!

Using these simple tips will put your job search focus in order and allow for a smooth transition from one objective to the other so in no time at all you will have garnered positive results from your ideal companies!

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Source: CareerProNews

The medical devices industry has seen much growth in recent years. It offers many job opportunities to those hoping to venture into this field.

The aging of our society appears to have an impact on this field. As people get older, they generally need more medical care.

In the U.S., there are 76 million baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). And the number of Americans age 65 and older will double over the next 30 years. That’s according to figures released by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

“The aging baby boomer population should be a big bonanza for the health device and supply industry,” says a report by U.S. Business Reporter. “Medical devices have a tendency to be used more by the elderly in disproportionate amounts.”

The report also points out that longer life expectancies are having an impact. “Women have an average life expectancy of 78 years, while men have a life expectancy of approximately 69 years. This bodes well for medical device [and] equipment companies because they can generate more usage for their products with the longer life expectancy.”

Frost and Sullivan is an international market consulting and training company. One of its reports links the recent growth of the industry with an aging society.

“Demand in the medical device industry continues to increase due to the aging baby boom population and the ailments associated with getting older,” says the report.

“In addition to the population getting older, people are becoming more aware of the importance of remaining physically fit. As an increasing number of people are participating in sports and fitness programs, the number of injuries resulting from this has risen as well. This will sustain the growth of the market for medical devices.”

Kevin Murray is the vice-president of regulatory affairs for a medical devices trade association. He agrees. “As people age, they obviously become more susceptible to disease, injury and that type of thing,” he says.

“So there is a demand for medical treatments. And with that comes the demand for more use of medical equipment and devices. So it certainly has provided an opportunity for the industry. And it has also provided an opportunity in the development of new types of devices to treat disease and other types of medical problems that we are seeing an increase in because of our aging society.”

Roy Wallen is the marketing director for a medical device manufacturer. He says the aging boomers will impact the medical device industry in several ways.

“The bulk of experience in the field is with people that are starting to work their way out of the workplace, so having qualified workers is a challenge,” he says. “In addition, as people are aging, it provides more opportunity, a bigger market, for health care related systems.”

Wallen stresses that the number of older people in our society is increasing and there are more medical device systems available. But there are fewer workers. That means a greater reliance on technology. “There are more patients with fewer people to take care of them,” he says.

“In the medical device area, technology is evolving pretty rapidly now,” Murray says.

“We are seeing tremendous developments in products that we hadn’t seen before. And we are seeing some really interesting treatments being developed. I think it potentially could be a pretty exciting area to be involved in. And certainly on a global level, there is a growth opportunity.”

He says growth is limited by cost constraints in Canada, the United States and Europe. “[But] there are also emerging countries that are expanding the market, like China, a lot of the Asian Pacific countries, South America and Latin America,” Murray says.

“Those countries will probably outpace Canada, the United States and Europe in terms of growth and market opportunities. The future is going to be in a lot of these emerging countries, like China, whose population is over one billion.”

There are a number of job opportunities within the medical device industry field. Bob Stiefel is a director of clinical engineering services. He oversees the technicians and engineers who work with the medical devices in that facility.

“The technicians inspect, calibrate and repair medical equipment in the hospital and help users in the safe and proper use of some of the more sophisticated equipment,” he says.

“Engineers evaluate equipment, design changes or new equipment and help in planning for new types of technology to be introduced in the hospital.”

Stiefel says these two fields of work exist within the whole medical device industry. “The same types of folks [technicians and engineers] find jobs in teaching, in manufacturing and in regulatory agencies, all dealing with medical equipment. So there are many aspects to how technical people are employed in the medical device field.”

Those looking to enter this field should major in some form of engineering. “Electrical engineering is very popular, although biomedical is probably the most appropriate…. Mechanical engineering is also very important,” Stiefel says. He adds that pre-med is also an option.

There are also opportunities in marketing. In that case, business classes would be needed, along with a scientific background, according to Murray. “Also, more devices will depend on computer technology. So there may be more positions in software design or writing original code,” he says.

For high school students, strong mathematics skills, the ability to work with computer systems and strength in the life sciences areas are all important, Wallen says.

There are other things high school students can do now to begin to prepare for a job in this field. “The thing that immediately comes to mind is to volunteer for a few weeks or a couple of months in a hospital and, in particular, in an area of the hospital where medical technology is being used or serviced,” says Stiefel.

For those who do decide to pursue this field of study, Stiefel says, there will be jobs waiting for them. “The field is wide open. There is a demand for all types of people in technical fields,” he says.

“These days, we are almost constantly looking for more people for the department. The same is true in other departments, literally around the world.”

The higher-level jobs in this field require extensive education. “But there are a lot of opportunities in laboratory medicine or in entry-level positions that don’t require a high level of education,” Wallen says. “So there really is a range of opportunity for people, depending on what their skills or desires are.”

The rewards of working in the field are an added bonus. “I think that applying one’s interest in technology to medical technology provides a double reward,” Stiefel says.

“For me, it satisfies my interest in technology and it satisfies my desire to contribute to society. It is hard to find an area where you can contribute to society better than in health care.”

Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
A resource for those in the industry

http://www.aami.org/

Medical Device Manufacturers Association
Encourages the development of new medical technology

http://www.medicaldevices.org

Medical Equipment & Technology Association
A wealth of useful resources and information

http://www.activemedia-guide.com/medical_equipment.htm

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Cost estimators pay close attention to the bottom line. And they’re in demand as construction companies increasingly rely on them to correctly predict project success.
Construction cost estimators carefully predict architectural, structural and services costs.

George C. Evans is the vice-president of an organization for cost estimators. He says the need for construction estimators is growing as the construction market expands.

“We have a shortage now and it is getting worse,” he says.

“Many of the large construction companies are struggling to acquire and retain their senior people. The junior positions are subject to even more migration as employees try to take advantage of the ‘hot’ market and move up in the industry.”

Construction estimator Brad Nikkel says the construction boom in his area is keeping him busy. “As long as the economy stays healthy, there will be jobs in this field,” he says.

Estimator Richard Ullrich agrees that job prospects are good. “Good estimators are always hard to find.”

As with any business, estimating costs accurately in this field is crucial. Construction cost estimators research the information required by the company in order to decide how to bid profitably on a project.

“The construction industry is more profit-oriented than most industries,” says Evans. “When cost is the primary issue, the people monitoring the cost are the most important people.”

Estimators must take into account the amount and price of labor, location challenges, materials and equipment, taxes, insurance and inflation. They also look at weather and other factors that may affect cost. Technology costs, including computer programming and software, must also be considered.

Estimators gather this information and prepare a cost analysis.

People in this field could work for architects or construction owners. If the company is big enough, estimators might specialize in a certain area, such as framing or excavation work.

According to Occupational Outlook Handbook, more than half of the cost estimators in the U.S. work in the construction industry. The field is expected to grow faster than average through 2016.

You’ll need solid technical skills to get into the field. “Finding candidates with a variety of computer cost estimating experience is difficult,” says estimator Connie Gowder.

“Knowledge of these programs affects hireability,” she says.

According to Nikkel, many estimators draw from a national database for information such as how long it should take a tradesperson to complete a certain task. “This used to be drawn from books and calculations done on sheets.”

Evans notes that computers have increased productivity but haven’t adversely affected job prospects.

“In our office, we have been able to double the volume of work produced as far as measurement goes. However, the real expertise of the profession is pricing. Several of the software systems available have pricing databases included that ‘automatically’ price.

“This is fine for checks and balances, but unless you have people dedicated to nothing but data management, the systems are not current enough to be truly accurate,” he says.

Ullrich agrees. “Keep in mind [that] computers are only a tool and can never price productivity correctly.”

Prospective estimators will likely need a college education.

“Training means going to college — at least four years in a construction management or like program,” says Gowder. “It’s rare to find an estimator without college experience.”

In the U.S., the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering offers certification for estimators. You need four years of industry experience before you can take the exams to become a Certified Cost Consultant (CCC). It takes another four years of experience to become a Certified Cost Engineer (CCE).

Overall, those in the industry see plenty of opportunities for construction cost estimators.

“The prospects are good. If you have a good attitude and some common sense, you can get far in your career as a construction estimator,” says Ullrich.

American Society of Professional Estimators
Read what it has to say about estimating careers

http://www.aspenational.com/

Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering
Offers information on certification for cost estimators around the globe

http://www.aacei.org/

Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis
Dedicated to promoting the industry

http://www.sceaonline.net/

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Source: CareerProNews

Simply put, environmental educators are people who teach others about the environment. And since the environment is front page news these days, their career is experiencing renewed interest and big changes.
Who exactly are environmental educators?

 
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has about 20,000 members. The breakdown of NAAEE’s membership is a good indication of what environmental educators are doing and where.

 
Brian Day, executive director of NAAEE, says: “Probably about 15 to 20 percent are in the formal education system, with most of them teachers, some of them curriculum developers, some of them science or social studies educators who are overseeing parts of school systems.

 
“Another 15 percent are in higher education.” Day says that they could be teaching in places like the education or forestry departments of colleges and universities.

 
“Then, about [another] half of our members are what I could call non-formal educators,” Day continues. “They work in nature centers, parks, aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens and a myriad of other places.
“And then the last segment works for government, and they can work at the national level — like for the Department of the Environment — or the [state], county or local level.”

 
Moving to a holistic approach
“What people often mistake about environmental education is they think it’s advocacy in the classroom, and that’s just dead wrong,” says Day. “Environmental education is helping students learn at any age — learn how things work so they can make their own individual lifestyle choices and participate in public policy debate.”

 
He explains that environmental education is a lot more than just science. “It’s how natural systems and living systems and human systems all interact, including the social dimension, the political perspective, the economic situation… to why is there global warming, and where should our next energy come from. But if you don’t bring the human dimension to it, then you’re a scientist, not an environmental educator.”
Kristin Poppo is the head of graduate and professional studies at IslandWood, an innovation environmental facility on Bainbridge Island, Washington. She agrees that a holistic approach is important.

 
“There definitely is a growing recognition that we really need to teach our children to care more about the world around them,” she says. “Our programs look at both community and environmental stewardship, and we try to connect those. So we want people who have that broad sense of caring about the world around them.”

 
Poppo herself doesn’t have a science background. Among her many degrees, she has a BA in philosophy and religion, a Master of Divinity, and a PhD in educational foundations.

 
A career path with a few challenges?

 
The largest number of environment educators work in informal settings, as Day indicates. Jobs in these places are often part time, often seasonal, and tend to pay less than jobs in formal education and with the government.

 
Environmental educators often start out in nonprofit organizations to build up experience for their resumes. It can take a little legwork to find these jobs. You have to look for organizations that employ environmental educators and find out if they’ll be hiring in the near future. A diploma or degree from a college or university is usually the minimum requirement for an entry-level job, but this is where things get a little hazy because there really are no hard and fast rules about qualifications.

 
Although nonprofit organizations generally look for people with environment or science backgrounds, Kerri Lanaway says that they’ll also consider individuals with arts, education or even communication backgrounds. Lanaway is the school programs coordinator for a Sierra Club chapter.

 
Chad Stevens is a city park ranger. His job has both environmental and enforcement components. Therefore, “the minimum requirement is generally a two-year diploma in environmental science or a two-year diploma in policing and security,” he says, adding that, “a forestry or other related diploma or degree would also be considered.”

 
In Stevens’ job, educating the public about the environment is just one of many responsibilities, and it’s a very informal one.

 
“We do present programs to the public…” he explains, “but more so, the education component involves brochure development and information dissemination.”

 
The city where Stevens lives and works employs 10 park rangers and offers them a pretty good salary. So competition is fierce when a job is advertised. Stevens says that about 250 people may apply. And while some of the rangers use the job as a stepping stone to something else, Stevens says that some people do stay.

 
For most formal education and government jobs, a bachelor’s degree is typically the minimum requirement. But a master’s degree or a PhD will move you up the ladder faster and earn you more money. Day says that about seven percent of NAAEE’s members earn $90,000 per year or more, so it’s possible to earn a great salary if you get on that track.

 
But even in education and government, the nature of your degree is pretty much open. And this actually reflects an important trend in the whole environmental educator career scene.

 
A changing climate

 
Climate change is a reality, and the climate for environmental educators is changing along with it.
IslandWood, the innovation environmental facility where Kristin Poppo works, is very much at the forefront of new trends. While offering innovative programs for children, adults, families, teachers and graduate students, IslandWood also takes pride in the fact that it pays its educators quite well.

 
“We’ve pretty much set a model for educating that is pretty exemplary, and so people are excited about being a part of our organization,” says Poppo. “But there are a lot of jobs out there in a lot of different areas. And we find that those of our students who are going into teaching, either in public or private schools, are in very high demand.”

 
“There are a few things that are happening right now that are very much changing the nature of environmental education and will cause quite a surge in the number of employers looking for environmental educators,” adds Day. He explains that the NAAEE has just recently become the newest member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the organization i

n charge of the professional accreditation process for schools, colleges and departments of education.
“We firmly believe that NCATE will formally adopt, based on guidelines we’ve already developed, standards for environmental education and how it’s to be taught at the university level,” says Day. This means that individuals graduating from these institutions will be better qualified to work as environmental educators.
“At the same time,” he continues, “we have legislation introduced in Congress that will provide more money for training teachers in environmental education. And then we have real environmental problems that are getting global attention.”

 
Day also mentions the fact that parents and teachers are becoming more aware that today’s children, for many reasons, are disconnected from the natural world.

 
“It’s a wonderful time to be in this organization,” he adds. “We’re at a place in human history where in the next generation we have to change everything that humans have done on the planet: economics, transportation, energy, the way we build buildings. We need to reconceive everything.”

 
So, do you have a passion to get in on the action? Whatever type of environmental educator you want to be, there’s a job somewhere for you. And since the requirements for this career are still developing, you can probably make your own unique career path to this line of work

North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)
Lots of information about standards, guidelines, initiatives, research and more
http://www.naaee.org

 
Career: Environmental Educators
Career profile of an environmental educator provided by CollegeBoard.com

http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers

/profiles/careers/106513.html

 
IslandWood
An innovative facility offering environmental programs

http://www.islandwood.org

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In a bad economy, many industries are negatively affected and competition for jobs increases.

This makes using job boards (as your primary strategy) incredibly difficult and depressing, since this is where competition for positions is most fierce.

You stand to increase your chances of landing multiple interviews through learning how to tap into what is called the “hidden” or “unadvertised” job market.

Connecting with companies you are interested in directly (not in response to a posted position) is one powerful way to get an edge on the competition and pique the interest of potential employers you believe may be a match for you.

If you have a plan that includes your target market, job titles and your geographic preferences, then you have enough information to begin researching what companies might fit you.

Most of the companies that you are going to feel meet your career objectives have open positions that have not been, and probably will not be advertised!

However, if for whatever reason you need a job tomorrow, this is probably not the fastest way to land a job – but it is the best way to control your job search, secure quality interviews and receive better offers.

So how do you specifically find companies? Well, with the internet, it’s quite easy.

One method is to simply Google your industry and geographic preference (you will be amazed at what you find).

Your local business journal may have a best of list (Forbes has one too).

Yahoo Finance and Manta represent two of dozens of great business resources where you can easily research companies within particular industries.

Don’t have time to figure it all out? Visit a career association like Career Directors International to quickly find a resume or job search pro that specializes in developing research for you.

Ok, you have your list, what next?

Simply send a resume and a cover letter to a decision maker within each company. You will be best served if the decision maker you connect with is two to four levels above where you would see yourself in a position with them.

You will want to research how to write a cover letter for this type of situation. Be sure to tell them genuinely why you are interested in working for them!

Remember to follow up with a phone call.

Don’t worry that you are bothering them or that they don’t have any open positions. You don’t know either to be true! Stretch yourself, show your enthusiasm, creativity and initiative to quickly and successfully increase the number of companies interested in you!

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Hot Jobs For 2009
Source: Jobfox

Predictions on new job trends for 2009 inspired by President-elect Barack Obama’s economic initiatives:

Construction
Initiative: Construction of roads, bridges, transit and rural broadband
1. Construction managers
2. Project managers
3. Civil engineers
4. Computer-aided drafting specialists
5. Telecommunications engineers

Finance
Initiative: Greater oversight of financial markets
1. Compliance accountants
2. Internal auditors
3. Tax accountants
4. Government regulators

Energy
Initiative: Energy independence
1. Electrical engineers
2. Mechanical engineers
3. Power grid managers
4. Biofuels chemists
5. Sales and marketing

Healthcare
Initiative: Healthcare modernization
1. Nurses
2. Information technology specialists
3. Bioinformatics specialists
4. Information security specialists
5. Software developers

Community Involvement
Initiative: Volunteerism and community involvement
1. Social workers
2. Administrators
3. Translators

Recruiters Confidence Improves
Source: ExecuNet Recruiter Confidence Index

Confidence in the Executive Employment Market — Next Six Months

The outlook for the top of the employment market in 2009 is beginning to show signs of improvement. ExecuNet’s Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI), which hit an all-time low in November, climbed higher in December, as executive search firms begin to eye the second quarter of 2009 with more optimism about assignment levels.

“While the uptick in confidence indicates that more executive recruiters are expecting an increase in assignment growth, the RCI remains below healthy levels,” says Mark Anderson, president of ExecuNet. “Looking ahead to 2009, the search industry is cautiously optimistic that executive level job growth will begin to rebound in the second half of the year. In the meantime, recruiters continue to report pockets of job growth in the Healthcare, Environmental, and Energy industries.”

Growing Metropolitan Areas
Source: Economy.com

According to Economy.com, metropolitan areas showing job growth include: Boulder, Colo.; Lafayette and Louisiana, La.; Bethesda, Md.; Jacksonville, N.C.; Binghamton, N.Y.; Oklahoma City; Okla.; State College, Pa.; and Brownsville, El Paso, Laredo, McAllen, and San Antonio, Texas.

CEOs of Smaller Companies Resist Downsizing

A survey of small firms by the Entrex Private Company Index found that 72 percent of CEOs are bucking the downsizing trend and plan to increase the number of employees they hire this year.

“Even better, respondents indicated they would maintain the current number of full-time employees — meaning zero CEOs suggest plans to decrease employment size in 2009,” the study found.

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Another great article by By Valerie Young, President of Changing Course. Want Creative Ways to Make a Living Without A Job? Check out Valeries site here

I hear from a lot of people at various junctures along the road to right livelihood. Some are at the very beginning, still trying to figure out which path is right for them. Others have happily reached their destination. Others are midway on their journey.

Regardless of where you are in the process, there are five keys to changing course:

1. Set Big… and Small Goals

I know it sounds cliché, and especially at the start of the New Year, but if you’re really serious about taking control of your life, you need to set some goals for yourself. Knowing that you want to change your life or work for yourself is a great start. But expressing a desire is different from stating a goal.

In her Broadway show Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Lily Tomlin’s bag lady character remarks, “I always wanted to be somebody. I realize now I should have been more specific.” Deciding you want to earn money by making and selling gift baskets is much more specific than saying you want to make money doing something creative. But even here you need to get more precise.

One of the best ways to move a goal along is to quantify it. Using our gift basket example, the key questions are how much money do you want to make and by when. You can always shoot higher, but for now let’s think in terms of generating $5,000 in gift basket sales. From here you’d want to make your goal both real and reachable by breaking it down into smaller more manageable goals, like, for example, making and selling six gift baskets in 60 days. Actually writing the date on your calendar will make it even more real.

2. Figure Out What It Will Take to Reach Your Goal and Start Doing It

A long-time subscriber named Joe understands the importance of looking to others for inspiration. He also understands how important it is to hear not just about people that have followed their dream and made it happen, but also about, he says, “those currently traveling the pathway to a new career, setting goals for themselves, managing to keep their dream alive and staying focused on the goal of a new career.”

And setting and working toward a goal is exactly what this 33 year old software engineer from Maryland is doing. But I’ll let Joe tell you about his plans – and progress – in his own words:

“A year and a half ago I started reading a lot of real estate investing books. I wanted to get into the medical field as a Physical Therapist and needed a way to supplement my income. I took classes and soaked up all of the real estate knowledge I could get.”

“I worked with advisors until I landed my first deal. It was a rehab house, and after I repaired it I made $28,000 profit for an endeavor I spent five months on part-time. I was thrilled. I took this money and used it to help purchase a rental property and another rehab which I am now selling.”

“I set goals for myself. My big goal is a career change at five years. Presently I have four years left. I plan on generating enough income to cover all of my expenses. I also have smaller goals. At the two year mark I plan to make $1,000 net cash flow per month. At three years I plan to make $2,000 net cash flow per month. This will allow me to pursue Physical Therapy without worrying about money! I have volunteered in two hospitals and determined that this is where I belong.”

“This is my journey. It’s hard to wake up every morning and go to my current job. However I now see an end in sight. I know that in a few years I will be enjoying helping people every day. And when that day comes, it will be a dream come true.”

Some of you are probably saying, “Five years! I can’t wait that long.” You don’t have to. Joe’s goal is very specific – to generate enough money from real estate to be able to fully support him during his schooling. Depending on your goals, your financial situation, your level of commitment, and the amount of time you’re willing to invest, you can certainly change course in far less time.

Whether you want to be living your new life in five years or in five months, the point is to set a goal, quantify it, and then, one day at a time, take the small action steps required to make your goal happen.

3. Live Life Now

Shooting for a future goal is great. But I received a deeply moving email that reminded me of the importance of also remembering to live life fully in the moment. A woman named Pam wrote to thank me for inspiring her partner Bruce, a man I never met but who I apparently encouraged to live his dream. Pam has generously allowed me to share her and Bruce’s story with you.

Before he was killed instantly in a traffic accident, Bruce was living his dream. Bruce had been a computer consultant who, explained Pam, tired of the cubicle life. “Although he made a boatload of money doing it, he realized that there was more out there to do. He always wanted to do something purposeful with his life, and didn’t see that the programs he wrote made much of an impact.”

Pam went on to say that she and Bruce lived together for two very wonderful years, “living our dream. We both left the corporate grind, had opened our own business as massage therapists. Bruce was a wonderful man. He had healed so much in his life and many times said, ‘If I’m to be the kind of spiritual man I wish to be, then I need to work on this.’ He was making a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis. I’m so very grateful for every moment that we shared. We were blessed to have many friends. And I plan to continue our dream.”

Although I never had the privilege of meeting Bruce, he sounds like a truly remarkable human being and one who will be missed by many. How wonderful that while he was among us Bruce was living his dream. Pam’s strength, her gratitude in the face of unspeakable grief and her resolve to continue to live their dream is inspiring indeed.

When we think about goals, we tend to think about achieving some future result. And yet as John Lennon once observed, “Life is what’s happening when you’re making other plans.” Bruce’s story serves as an important reminder that even while you strive to reach your future goals, you must live life now and with as few regrets as possible.

4. Break a Rule

Sometimes changing course can begin with the simple act of shaking up your normal routine. Take Barbara, a former coworker of mine from my corporate days. Most people spend their Saturday mornings in a frenzy of house cleaning and errands. Barbara does this stuff too but not until after she’s indulged herself by crawling back into bed with a cup of coffee and popping in a suspense movie.

Spending your Saturday morning watching a movie may not be your cup of tea, but surely there is some small fun thing you can do to shake things up. If you tend to read self-help books try a romance novel. Walk your dog in a totally new place or drive a different way to work. Visit your local historic society or museum. On the first day of each month have ice cream for breakfast. Go to the movies on a weeknight. Experiencing small changes can make the bigger ones seem more doable.

5. Use the One Step a Day Approach

When I was desperately trying to get myself out of corporate America, I promised myself that I would not go to bed at night until I had taken at least one small step toward my goal. It doesn’t have to be a big step.

For example, I knew that at least in the short term, leaving my job-job would mean I’d be earning less money. So one day I brainstormed a list of ways to supplement my income. I have a finished basement with a bath so one idea was rent it out to a commuting grad student who needed a place to stay during the week. The next day I stopped by the hardware store to see what I could find out about sound proof ceiling tiles. The following day I looked up the Web site for the housing office at the local college, and so on.

Not only do small steps add up, but just as important is the sense of momentum you’ll gain. And once you get started on a dream, it’s hard to stop!

“The big break for me,” said Jon Stewart of the Daily Show, “was deciding that this is my life.” Another year is upon us. Since this is indeed your life, let this be the year you start making your dreams happen.

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Are you like so many people I have been talking with recently that are frustrated with their job search?

If so, I would like to invite you to join me for an absolutely fr^ee, no strings attached teleseminar titled:

How to Find a Job in Days, Not Weeks

I recently shared with you in my ezine that one of my goals for 2009 was to help as many job seekers as I could. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the New Year than with a program that can turn your “frustration” into “excitement!”

Date: Tuesday January 20th, 2009

Time: 5pm CST

Register here now:

http://maryelizabethbradford.com/findjobindays.php

*When you register, you will receive the call-in information.

Hosted by two of the country’s leading experts on job search techniques:

* Mary Elizabeth Bradford, a certified resume writer and job search coach with an executive recruiter background, creates custom, turnkey job search strategies and marketing materials for her clients, helping them to easily and quickly attract the attention they deserve. Her strategy leverages research, detail and focus.

* Mark Hovind of JobBait.com helps executives find jobs by going directly to the decision-makers most likely to hire them. His specialties include value proposition letters, targeting, mailing list (CEOs, Presidents, etc.), websites and video clips. His strategy leverages quality, volume, and speed.

Mark and Mary Elizabeth have combined forces to help job-seekers find a job as fast as possible, specifically in the hidden job market.

Please note: this teleseminar is for serious-minded job seekers who are willing to commit to do what it takes to land their next position. Come prepared to take notes and feel that mix of euphoria and relief when we show you the light at the end of the tunnel!

***Only 98 spots available – this call will fill quickly!***

Register here now:

http://maryelizabethbradford.com/findjobindays.php

Inspiring your success,

Mary Elizabeth

P.S. At the end of this teleseminar, you will KNOW which decision-makers to contact and have several options to reach them right now…today if you want to.

P.P.S. There is no catch except that once you find a job, we ask that you “pay it forward” and don’t forget to share your story with us!

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Another excellent article by the Automatic Business Coach, Sandy Martini. I am making my list right now………

Click here to learn more about Sandy
MEB

 
Every year millions of us diligently work on our New Year’s Goals or Resolutions, determined that this year will be *THE* year, somehow different from all the rest which preceded it.

 
We labor over writing the goals, create Vision Boards, and start the year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (like children on Christmas morning when they see a tree loaded with presents).

 
And yet within a week, maybe two or three, reality sets in. We’re the same people we were before midnight on January 1st and, likely have the same habits. . .good and bad.

 
So how do we create results and not simply resolutions?

 
The answer is simple. . .treat the New Year as you would any large project and break it down into manageable pieces.

 
Let’s see what that looks like:

 
1. Choose one of your annual goals and break it down into 4 quarterly (90 day) goals.

 
2. Take the first quarter (January – March) and break that down into monthly goals — what do you need to achieve each MONTH to reach your first quarterly (March 31st) goal?

 
3. Take the first month (January) and break that down into weekly goals — what do you need to achieve each WEEK to reach your monthly (January 31st) goal?

 
4. Take the first week (January 4 – 10) and break that down into daily ACTIONS — what should you do each day which will allow you to reach your weekly (January 10th) goal?

 
5. And what needs to happen for you to get your daily actions DONE?

Do you limit your email/Twitter/IM time? Do you tell your best friend you have work to do? Do you get up an hour earlier or work an hour later? Do you invest in a mentor who can save you hours of learning time? Figure out what you need to do. . .and then do it!
Simple, right?

 
It is until you take a look at ALL your New Year’s Goals and realize you’d have to work 15 hours a day and be on a treadmill eating carrot sticks while chatting with your friends and family the remaining 9 hours in order to reach every goal you set.
The above exercise does two things for you:

 
1. It gives you the power to create real results. . .in a way which keep you focused and allows you to see progress throughout the year and

 
2. It forces you to “get real” about how much you can achieve and where you may want to pull in outside resources to speed up your learning curve, outsource work, etc.

So, what’s next?

You have a choice.

You can take this ezine and move it to your “I’ll get to it later” folder, you can delete it, or you can use it to change your 2009 forever.

Copyright 2009 Sandra P. Martini. The Automatic Business Coach & Mentor. Get Sandra Martini’s FREE “5 Simple Steps to Putting Your Marketing on Autopilot” e-course/audio mini-workshop and her FREE small business success how-to tips at www.SandraMartini.com.

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Each product and program I create is inspired by years of accumulated input from job seekers worldwide who have shared their dreams, goals and challenges with me.

Add to that my seven years as an executive recruiter studying how dozens of corporate executives make their hiring decisions and top it all off with an intimate understanding of what job search strategies work (and which do not), earned though working one-on-one with over 500 job seekers until their job search was complete.

How do I feel about my unique accumulation of experience? I feel a responsibility to advocate what really works and help as many job seekers as I can.

This is one of my primary goals for 2009.

The market climate right now demands you work wisely and strategically to meet your goals. To accomplish this, you should invest in information from an experienced and reputable source. Then prepare yourself to take action – moving forward boldly and consistently!

So, what are your career goals and/or challenges for 2009?

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