Career Basics Course: Week 10, Day 47

"Great things never came from comfort zones." ~ Anonymous

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” ~ Mark Twain

"If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it's lethal." ~ Paul Coelho

Choose Three Events To Attend

YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEET everyone in the room. You don't need to rush the speaker or make sure people never forget you in order to get a job. Going to events doesn't need to be the domain of an extrovert. There are other benefits to attending an event that you'll notice once you release yourself from the expectation that you need to "work the room" and leave with endless lunch and coffee meetings set up. You don't have to go too far out of your comfort zone to find value in attending events.

NB: My colleague and friend, Al Nunez has experimented and explored this idea with a sense of adventure and curiosity, exploring and learning across his city; we will invite him to share some of the lessons and the wisdom gained.

The Exercise

Choose three events to attend this year -- [or better, this week]. Pick a suite of events that will help you break into a new industry, support your personal development and offer you an inspiring escape. Here are a few pointers on how to make your choices.

1. Don’t bet on only one (There might be one event you’ve heard great things about and includes every one you need to meet with incredible access. However, if going to this event means that you have to spend all your resources for the year, don’t do it. The key to meeting the right people is to attend as many events as possible and not go to just one that seems ‘perfect’.)
2. Expect to fail (When a venture capitalist invests in 10 companies, they expect to lose their money on half of their investments, break even on two, make a modest sum on one or two, and hopefully have runaway successes on the others. Apply this principal to all the events you attend. By doing so, you will expect less from each event, be more relaxed, build real relationships, and eventually find that one win you need.)
3. Pay more and play less (If you are going to events every night and still not meeting the right people, then it is time to pay a little more (be it in energy, time, or money) and play a little less. A good way to do this is to add up all the money and time you are prepared to commit and then divide it between six or eight events. Aim to spend all your resources that year across only those events. Paying a little more for one or a little less for another enables you to find that elusive balance, no matter how you divide it up.)

Note: The origins of these notes originally appeared in Making Good.

Note: This is

• Way 30, if you reference the 2018 version of the book, which I have, ...
• and Way 30 in 50 Ways to Get a Job: An Unconventional Guide to Finding Work on Your Terms.

For me, ... here are some thoughts on how I've used events ...

1. Show up and attend events -- and/or participate in volunteer activities --

• that represent your industry or career field of interest
• that matter to those close to you -- friends, family, neighbors and colleagues
• that matter to the community in which you live; they might not be your cause but if they matter to others, that's always been a good reason to show-up and lend a shoulder
• that offer an opportunity to share a skill or some knowledge
• that offer an opportunity to learn a new skill
• that, in times of need, you are just needed

2. Think about "events" more broadly ...

• as in a bus ride where you might meet someone new
• as in a visit to your public library
• as in a walk -- without or without your favorite animal
• as in a concert, opening (ask Al Nunez ), a sporting event

where you will be able to meet and talk to folks and to be curious about who is there and their stories

3. Think about "events" chance moments and allow (and invite) serendipity to happen

Talking to -- and even more so LISTENING to others (deeply) and asking several QUESTIONS means that we must be present to and for others; it takes some work and concentration -- and focus but, more often than not, magic happens ... and human connections are made. There's not always a straight line between the conversation just had and new career opportunity but I fully believe that BEING truly open will see us matched to what's next for us.

Let's see how the week unfolds.

Peace and blessings.

Gerald P. Doyle

A Happy Tuesday ... Week 10, Day 47!

And, here we are ... Week 10 ... THREE (3) More days ....WOW!

(and there's going to be a week of Bonus materials so we're not quite done with this journey ... but nearly there)

Three cheers to those of you who have landed and others who are gaining interviews and traction; remember, we're all in for everyone and we will not rest until everyone has set themselves squarely on a path that's right for them at this moment.

We are welcoming several new individuals who will continue throughout the remaining week of the Career Basics Course as Contributing Respondents. They are:

• Kennan Carnegie - a Chicago-based human resource enthusiast with a deep commitment to the profession to help organizations co-create employee experiences that empower and enable individuals to thrive at work and in life -- improving retention and employee engagement, increasing innovation and invention (and implementation), where everyone thrives and flourishes
• Zoe Hatch - a Chicago-based health-care human resource professional having just earned her MA at Pepperdine University, Zoe's empathetic approach aims to co-create and advance organizations where an attention to wellness and wellbeing improves the healing process for patients and their families as well as the staff and community that provides for their care.
• Will McKelvain - an undergraduate at University of Chicago and a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity, Will is exploring the study of law and ethics to build strong communities within corporate and civic organizations
• Mark Falenchuk - an undergraduate at University of Chicago and a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity, Mark is exploring the fields of energy and construction finance at the regional economy and global level to help nations achieve economic stability and freedom to intentional chart their course and destiny

And, our continuing team include:

• Caila Howell ... a business/digital marketing professional and education advocate. We're delighted that Caila has joined us in this journey.
• Kathleen O'Brien 欧凯林 ... a mission-motivated, people-oriented and a collaborator between and among cultures. We're delighted that Kathleen has joined us in this journey.
• Lap Gong Leong, a writer, author and political commentary who shares his thinking and writing regularly, most recently authoring, Uncovering Sensibilities: rethinking axioms in the world of work for autistic people.

All the very best to everyone. Much peace.

Gerald and Al Nunez