Whether in your career or in your business there are times when you may feel invincible and you have the world right where you want it. But do you? Contingency planning can be a tedious and time consuming affair and who can think of all the challenges or things that can go wrong. Not anybody, that’s right not even perfect me and you!
So where am I going with this. I feel as though I should delve into choices and consequences but will save that for a latter time. For now, allow me to borrow a page from the Nations Mayor Rudy Giuliani former NY mayor during the September 11, 2001 massacre.
In short when the message came to Rudy he didn’t have a plan for that event and no one had even thought it could happen, but none the less it was ON and he had to make it happen. Luckily for NY and Rudy, since he was in office in tandem with running the city and reducing street crime he had gotten with key team members to plan for disaster events. I.e. hurricanes, fires, bomb threats, demonstrations, etc. They tried to think of all kinds of things that could happen and planned around them with steps to take. Well this paid off in spades. The reason why, was because although they didn’t have a plan for planes flying into buildings they had elements of other plans they were able to quickly piece together to form a New plan to handle the unknown threat and what was needed to be done now.
The point is when anything becomes routine or ordinary watch out for the extraordinary. We all know too well that all things change for good and bad so be prepared, ask questions (ask why five times), keep learning, and most of all don’t try to do it alone. In your career and business from time to time you should prepare a S.W.O.T. analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).
As my mom always said two heads are better than one. Form teams and focus groups to work on small projects. This will not only aid in contingency planning and bring in new thoughts and ideas, but also develop team building and relationships so when it hits the fan and it will, you have people you can trust and that trust you to lead them through…
How do you handle a stress situation and what do you recommend for a mother going back to school and on-ramping a career. Also, what is your opinion on how I can get a job after I finish school? I am studying medical billing and coding at a small business school and as I comb the internet I see people who are more experienced, I fear there are limited opportunities for entry level jobs. What should I do? Thanks I wait for your opinion.
Hi Rolanda,
Thank you for leaving a comment. I can offer you advice on how I might approach the situation. First take a deep breath and take some solace that you’re not the only one in this boat and you will find something it’s a matter of time and effort.
In this economy jobs are hard to find at any level and there‘s no doubt you will have some competition. Personal branding and networking will be your best bet in addition to just beating the street and following up on ads. Most schools have a career development center that should be able to help you in networking to companies and people in that industry. You may also think about looking at other jobs not specifically in your field but with the right company to get your foot in the door. I started as a temp many years ago and by working hard and getting to know people I was hired full time in a few months. Good communication is what makes many of the doors open. Be sure that your resume, verbal and written communication is sharp and shows what value you can bring to a company. Remember right or wrong most hiring decisions fall close to these few items 1. Can this person do the job, 2. Will they fit in here (culture), 3. Can I count on them, and 4. People generally hire people they like.
Do your research on the company before you apply or call. If they see you’ve done your homework on the industry and company they’ll take you seriously and hopefully remember you if something does open. Be persistent and if you get a no, ask if they have any networking suggestions they are willing to share.
You want to figure out what your special sauce (how can YOU add value) is and let people know about it. If you’re not sure ask your friends, family and teachers as they may be able to provide some honest feedback. Remember, if it helps us grow its all good even the stuff that’s hard to hear sometimes.
Do some internet research on personal branding and elevator speeches and start to develop one. Know it like your name, so when you to meet someone you believe a good professional contact you’re ready to let them know who you are and what you can do. Remember jobs are earned and won, not given. I say that because as you are networking your looking for job leads not offers. As such, ask people if they know anyone that might have insight or be a good networking contact. You don’t want to come off pushy or desperate but instead looking to expand your professional network.
I hope this helps…