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HeartofHR
Apply directly to organizations of interest to you, Take temp positions, Contact professional organizations and affiliations in your field, Create a job search office, Create a list of target companies, create a personalized marketing plan, Create a social media presence, Create a LinkedIn account, Tweet, Open a professional Facebook site, Create a system for tracking your search, Define yourself, Determine a job target, Develop a Stick-to-it Attitude, Eliminate objections, Exploit a proactive self-assured style, Carry a networking business card, Find a mentor, Follow-up regularly, Go for all opportunities, Fix your barriers, Join clubs and organizations, Volunteer, Intern, Learn the hiring cycle, Get a devil’s advocate to challenge you, Maintain a positive, upbeat attitude, Follow a business schedule, Network and more network, Participate in job fairs, Attend Tweet up events, Meet with a professional résumé writer, Practice mock interviews, Set goals, Connect goals with objectives, Start your job search now, Develop cold calling and canvassing skills, Learn how to close a sale, Study company web sites, Take advantage of local search resources, Use a placement Agency, Find a recruiter, Search out headhunters, Connect with your alumni, Visit college search Sites, Visit company web sites, Turn off your computer – talk to people, Follow economic development leads, Take a break, Do informational interviews, Study annual reports, follow promotions, moves and changes, Learn how to interpret labor market information, Visit one stop centers, Place ad in newspaper, Learn how to interpret classified ads, Ask for a promotion, Visit your Chamber of Commerce, Hire an executive job coach, Search your job through the phone directory, Research manufacturing directories, Learn from a professional salesperson, move on when something does not work, Read the blogs of targeted companies – make insightful comments, Do a good deed today. Walk fast – display a sense of urgency.
Networking the Hidden Jobs Poster
Larry’s Favorite: Don’t just look for job openings. Target companies that hire your skill sets.
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20 August 2010
Nothing soothes me more after a long and maddening course of pianoforte recitals than to sit and have my teeth drilled. (George Bernard Shaw)
11 August 2010
I have this incredibly passionate feeling about what I do that can make me annoying, and I recognize it. People ask me if I could just lighten up a little bit: Sure just give me a hot dog and tell me to shut up. (Jodie Foster)
20 July 2010
The charm one might say the genius, of memory is that it is choosy, chancy and temperamental; it reflects the edifying cathedral and indelibly photographs the small boy outside, chewing a hunk of melon in the dust. (Elizabeth Bowen)
1 June 2010 – something I deeply believe in:
Older Americans have fought this country’s wars, built its cities, reared its children, and tilled its soil, They have a right to our deepest respect. (Claude Pepper)
17 May 2010 In all the years I have been solving cryptograms, I was so surprised when one of my favorite quotes turned up:
I hold that every man owes something of his time and substance to the upbuilding of the profession or industry from which he gains his livelihood. (Theodore Roosevelt)
4 May 2010 Eighty’s a landmark and people treat you differently than they do when you’re seventy-nine. At seventy-nine, if you drop something it just lies there. At eighty, people pick it up for you. (Helen Van Slyke)
3 May 2010 I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has taken place. (Winston Churchill)
30 April 2010 A walk through the Paris streets was always like the unrolling of a vast tapestry from which countless stored fragrances were shaken out. (Edith Wharton)
27 April 2010 Mothers are basically a patient lot. They have to be or they would devour their offspring early on like guppies. (Mary Daheim)
by Lori S. Goldsmith, SPHR, GPHR
Between work, family, wife to my husband whom I am married to (you may have seen that startling revelation of mine in a tweet recently), a new dog that makes two, and a variety of volunteer lives: HR Florida Council Certification Director, HR Florida State Conference Program Chair, Taoist Tai Chi beginning instructor; it has been challenging to find the time to read and respond to all of the great articles I would like to contribute my two cents too. So I have been thinking, what could I do in the interim and still stay connected and share something of myself? Last night, it occurred to me. Cryptograms.
My father was a cryptogram aficionado and began writing cryptograms for me as far back as I can remember. As soon as I completed my puzzle, I had to recite it out loud. That practice has carried on in to my adulthood. Be warned if you happen to sit next to me on a plane.
I did not inherit the gene giving me the ability to complete puzzles in pen. I still use a pencil to this very day. My husband usually writes me cryptograms for special occasions. His are usually especially challenging as he does not stay consistent with the code.
My father passed away in 1981. I still feel him next to me and smiling as I take on a new puzzle. The first cryptogram that I thought I would share with you is one that my father left for me in my old bedroom night stand. I have no idea how long it lied dormant in there. A year or so after Dad passed away, my mother sold their home and moved to a condo much closer to me. In preparing for the move, my manager/mentor purchased my bedroom set for her daughter. Although, the set had been emptied out years ago, I just felt compelled to open the night stand drawer. There was one index card in my father’s incredible computer like printing:
OMZ JZSCZL BU LSBYZC, JUC
OMZ WBZQ BU OXB. – LCRLZB
The cryptogram should not have been a challenge to an expert like me. Obviously, the words were common. I erased so many times that I nearly wore the index card out and eventually wrote it out on a piece of paper. I’d pick it up every now and then. Three years later, I just picked the index card up and completed the puzzle in the fashion automatic writing. It was then that I realized my struggle was not based in solving the cryptogram. My struggle was in letting go of the last physical piece of my father.
The cryptogram: She feared no danger, for she knew no sin. – Dryden
Since I can’t read my cryptograms out loud to you, my plan is to publish my completed cryptograms. Some are funny, some sad, some profound, some poignant. They are all a part of me that I would like to share with you and hope you find value in reading.
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By Lori S. Goldsmith, SPHR, GPHR
One of my new followers on Twitter, @Kyle McShane, asked me how Tai Chi has helped me in HR. My immediate thought was how Tai Chi has taught me to have an “open mind and open heart”. I started practicing Taoist Tai Chi in September 2000 as a last ditch effort to save myself from back surgery. Quickly, I discovered that it is more far more than just an exercise program. It is a way of life.
“Tai Chi does not mean oriental wisdom or something exotic. It is the wisdom of your own senses, your own mind and body together as one process.” ~ Chungliang Al Huang
Before, I started practicing Tai Chi, if you had asked me to describe myself, I would have answered, “naturally helpful.” I’ve been volunteering since I was in the first grade. When I found out that Taoist Tai Chi instructors are accredited volunteers, I was deeply impressed. Instructors teach classes because they want to give back. Think they are engaged employees? From the beginning, I sensed the positive synergy and even though I never seemed to be on the right foot or facing in the right direction, I knew I wanted to progress in my training and demonstrate the dedication, and strength of character to be asked to “set lead.” Set leaders, instructors, branch council members are not viewed as being on a higher level. We are viewed just as having made a larger commitment to the Society by acceptance of additional responsibilities.
Master Moy Lin-Shin was the founder of The International Taoist Tai Chi Society. He was a sickly child. His parents sent him to the Shaolin temple in China because of the Taoist monks’ reputation for healing and longevity. As a result of his improved health, Master Moy was eager to give back and share his knowledge so others could regain their health. Master Moy was a servant leader. Tai Chi schools are usually named after the founding master. He did not want to use his name; he did not even want to be called Master. Instead, he chose to pay respect to all of the Taoist Tai Chi masters before him.
The International Taoist Tai Chi Society is the largest Tai Chi organization in the world. It is not a fighting style martial art. It is solely for health and is the only non-profit Tai Chi organization. It is one of my primary volunteer lives, HR Florida State Council being the other. The Society is made up of people from all walks of life, young, old and religious beliefs. In the context of HR, as an instructor, I am responsible for furthering the Aims and Objectives of the Society, a role model, leader and mentor.
In only five paragraphs, I’ve mentioned mission, alignment, engagement, leadership, health, wellness and diversity. Hmmm…sound something like a day in the life of an HR professional. This is the short response to Kyle’s question. For those that want to know more read on.
The Society has four Aims and Objectives:
- Make Taoist Tai Chi available to all
- Promote the Health Improving Qualities of Taoist Tai Chi
- Promote Cultural Exchange
- To Help Others
So how does each Aim and Objective helps me as an HR professional and leader?
Make Taoist Tai Chi available to all – Dedicated to bringing Taoist Tai Chi to every community, so that its many benefits are available to all who wish to experience them. In an HR context, I relate to this objective by my responsibility as an HR professional to help guide and develop all of my employees that will most benefit them while maintaining alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
Promote the Health Improving Qualities of Taoist Tai Chi – Employees healthy in body and mind are engaged employees. Zappos is a great example of feasibility of treating employees with dignity and respect and creating a fun, healthy environment to work in. We always say that we are “Playing Tai Chi”. The health benefits from the practice of Taoist Tai Chi are so significant that Canada has included it as part of their universal health care system. We are all looking for ways to reduce health care costs. Remember, it saved me from back surgery. This is an activity that can be done at any age and modified to any physical limitations. In October 2009, I posted an article, “What Does Mom and me and Taoist Tai Chi Have to do with HR?” http://bit.ly/1UFdqd highlighting in detail the health benefits Mom and me have found by practicing Taoist Tai Chi. Can you guess where that post is coming from in an HR wellness context?
Promote Cultural Exchange - When Master Moy immigrated to Canada, he was eager to learn about Western culture as he was to share his Eastern traditions. The Society’s emphasis on cultural exchange is to promote understanding and respect among people. For example, recently one of our Jewish members, Hal passed away. In the Chinese tradition, we burnt paper money (not real) in an urn to assist his journey to heaven. Afterwards, we put stones around the urn, honoring his Jewish heritage where it is customary to place stones on the grave to let your loved ones know you were there. For me personally, it was incredibly special and comforting to give Hal this send off in the Chinese tradition while not forgetting our Jewish heritage. From an HR organizational diversity perspective, how many real diversity actions have you experienced? Diversity is not an annual program. It is a way of thinking. Being neutral does not encourage diversity. Diversity is achieved by knowledge, respect and understanding. I once closed my office for ½ day to have a company luncheon. Everyone was required to bring a native dish and explain something from their culture and traditions. Native garb was an option. What a learning and growing experience to explore our differences and our similarities with open minds and open hearts.
To Help Others – Master Moy set the example of selfless giving and compassion without seeking personal gain. The International Society makes contributions to many charities around the world including building schools after natural disasters. Locally, every center participates in activities to better their community. We were good “corporate citizens” and “green” before the terms were invented. In the workplace today, corporate citizenship and sustainability programs are directly linked to competitive advantage from both, a recruiting, retention and sales perspective. SHRM released a survey that stated 35% of employees consider corporate citizenship a deciding factor whether to work for a particular organization.
Master Moy passed away in 1998. He was a man of great wisdom and foresight. As I mentioned earlier, he was a servant leader. Master Moy was also a Level 5 leader which Jim Collins describes in “Good to Great” as the ability of an organization to survive changes in leadership. Master Moy structured the organization to continue the culture and mission. On August 14, 2010 we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary – “All Cultures Moving Together in Harmony”. Worldwide we will simultaneously be doing our Tai Chi set at 10:00AM EST. How many organizations can demonstrate that level of commitment and engagement?
Even before practicing Tai Chi, ethics have always been important to me, both in the workplace and in my personal life. When faced with difficult decisions, in exploring alternative options, I would make my comparative “CLICK” test list:
Consequences – Who will benefit? Who will suffer?
Legal – Is the action legal?
Image – Would I want to tell this to my grandmother or my children?
Culture – Will the action support or damage the corporate culture of my organization?
Knot – Does the action cause a knot in my stomach?
I am not sure at what point in my Taoist Tai Chi practice when I had this “ah-ha” moment. The heart of ethics, which is why my Twitter name is @heartofhr. Master Moy had heart. The foundation of Tony Hsieh’s great success with Zappos is heart. Leadership sets the tone and the inspiration. HR is the driver and architect. Taoism and Tai Chi cannot be totally separated. Each one develops the other. Taoist Tai Chi and HR for me cannot be separated. Each one develops the other.
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