Comments for Ken Soper ~ LifeSteward http://kensoper.com "Work/Life Coaching to Assure Your Preferred Career Future" Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:48:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on Contact by admin http://kensoper.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-3437 admin Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:48:47 +0000 http:/?page_id=2#comment-3437 Joe, Sorry but I haven't been checking my site's blog recently. The quickest way to setup a 'phone meeting' is to have you take a look at my calendar by going to http://www.kensoper.com, scrolling down to 'Schedule' on the right navigation bar, and then clicking on 'Ken's Calendar'. This will give you a view of my calendar, and permit you to see the time frames I have commitments for already (labeled as 'Busy' or a description of the commitment) while those time frames without commitments you may assume are available. I suggest selecting 2-3 times/dates that fit both our schedules (evenings are okay when available), and email those back to me. I will confirm the best one as my calendar is constantly changing. Ken Joe,

Sorry but I haven’t been checking my site’s blog recently.

The quickest way to setup a ‘phone meeting’ is to have you take a look at my calendar by going to http://www.kensoper.com, scrolling down to ‘Schedule’ on the right navigation bar, and then clicking on ‘Ken’s Calendar’. This will give you a view of my calendar, and permit you to see the time frames I have commitments for already (labeled as ‘Busy’ or a description of the commitment) while those time frames without commitments you may assume are available.

I suggest selecting 2-3 times/dates that fit both our schedules (evenings are okay when available), and email those back to me. I will confirm the best one as my calendar is constantly changing.

Ken

]]> Comment on Contact by Joe Mahaney http://kensoper.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-2312 Joe Mahaney Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:19:40 +0000 http:/?page_id=2#comment-2312 Hello, I discovered you through the NCDA's website. I'm interested in counseling for my job/career placement. I can provide more details at your convenience. I'm in Marquette, and have been searching on & off for about two years. Sincerely, Joe Hello,
I discovered you through the NCDA’s website. I’m interested in counseling for my job/career placement. I can provide more details at your convenience. I’m in Marquette, and have been searching on & off for about two years.
Sincerely,
Joe

]]> Comment on Career & Vocational Facilitator Training by admin http://kensoper.com/group-services/career-development/comment-page-1/#comment-1658 admin Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:12:49 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?page_id=53#comment-1658 I only do GCDF training now on a one-to-one basis. Cost ranges from $1050 to $1300. If you are still interested, call my cell phone, 616/813-4998. I only do GCDF training now on a one-to-one basis. Cost ranges from $1050 to $1300. If you are still interested, call my cell phone, 616/813-4998.

]]> Comment on ~Trying for the birdie, playing to get the job by Doug http://kensoper.com/2009/11/trying-for-the-birdie-playing-to-get-the-job/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Doug Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:18:52 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?p=634#comment-146 Ken: I agree with your assessment that we, as a nation of 10% job seekers are more afraid of not getting a job, rather than failing at attaining one that fits our strengths, as well as challenges our weak areas. I once worked for a supervisor back in 1984 at Mobil Oil who would challenge me with the very thing that I lacked experience in........and measure my taksis success from the agreed datum of ignorance. This was true supervsion, whereby the supervisor was doing his job by challenging me at learning new things and exercising my brain, like our muscles. I quote this history of mine, because I think the current trend in the workplace is not well suited for job hunters who are more afraid of not being hired. The reason for this stoic paranoia is not all their fault. I believe that the Job Market and culture at the workplace has changed significantly for the worse, with supervisors expecting the employee to be perfect at each task assigned, with the competitive culture akin to almost setting each of us employed, up to fail, with another replacement waiting in-line, to be challenged with the same task. A good project manager and supervisor will tend to make a plausible effort to understand his/her understudy's strengths and weaknesses, so as to place them in a proper teaming position. Team spirit in the Workplace does not exist, and most highly guarded positions are loners, who take most all of the responsibility for mistakes. Team failures are few and far betwee in the workplace also because of the cultural changes with-in the economy over the last few years. Understand that in my experiences, there will need to be significant changes in the workplace culture, before employees can become more confident in themselves, focusing on sharpening their putting talent in strive for the Birdie, in lieu of being afraid of getting the bogey. Sincerely; Doug Ken:
I agree with your assessment that we, as a nation of 10% job seekers are more afraid of not getting a job, rather than failing at attaining one that fits our strengths, as well as challenges our weak areas.
I once worked for a supervisor back in 1984 at Mobil Oil who would challenge me with the very thing that I lacked experience in……..and measure my taksis success from the agreed datum of ignorance. This was true supervsion, whereby the supervisor was doing his job by challenging me at learning new things and exercising my brain, like our muscles.
I quote this history of mine, because I think the current trend in the workplace is not well suited for job hunters who are more afraid of not being hired. The reason for this stoic paranoia is not all their fault. I believe that the Job Market and culture at the workplace has changed significantly for the worse, with supervisors expecting the employee to be perfect at each task assigned, with the competitive culture akin to almost setting each of us employed, up to fail, with another replacement waiting in-line, to be challenged with the same task.
A good project manager and supervisor will tend to make a plausible effort to understand his/her understudy’s strengths and weaknesses, so as to place them in a proper teaming position.
Team spirit in the Workplace does not exist, and most highly guarded positions are loners, who take most all of the responsibility for mistakes.
Team failures are few and far betwee in the workplace also because of the cultural changes with-in the economy over the last few years.
Understand that in my experiences, there will need to be significant changes in the workplace culture, before employees can become more confident in themselves, focusing on sharpening their putting talent in strive for the Birdie, in lieu of being afraid of getting the bogey.
Sincerely;
Doug

]]> Comment on ~Networking is a lifestyle, not a job hunting activity by Douglas Anderson http://kensoper.com/2009/04/networking-is-a-lifestyle-not-a-job-hunting-activity/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Douglas Anderson Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:32:10 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?p=240#comment-23 Ken: Your comments about the true jest of networking are commendable, and it is truly so, that a majority of the business community of less than 30-40 somethings have lost they're way, relative to the importance of helping others and enriching lives. Not only have we pressured our youth to crave material success, forgetting to teach them humbleness, but also have not stressed the importance of allowing others with-in their environ. Tis SAD. TAO Wisdom suggests a value of Living in obscurity, with the absolute of helping others as your priority goal, will ultimately cloud your existence with gracious, unfettered gratuity abounds from all others,by withdrawing unto thyself and learn to allow others, helping them achieve they're vision of tranquil oneness. Suggestion: The next person you meet today, be it friend or foe, practice the Tao Wisdom. (Replace the pronoun I.....for You in any comments) i.e. instead of saying, "Let me show how I did this type of work your searching for years," remark "you seem to be doing so well with your new career interests, let us discuss some new methods you may utilize for possible better understanding." Letting your discussion partners know at all times, that you are fully engaged in their future well-being, rather than enhancing or trumpeting your own ego, will spawn the goodness of others from with-in. Watch the power of the TAO in others unfold by being in the background, as deeply rooted as possible, unnoticed for the entire 24-hour period, stifling any inclinations to compare yourself to others (Friend, Family or Foe) nor drawing attention to yourself. Make a sole commitment to be completely interested in [an]other's advancement today as recommended by Dr. Wayne Dyer, "Living the Tao" (Change your thoughts, Change your Life, page 177, "Wisdom of Obscurity"). The fruit of your 24-hour efforts will be immeasurable in the witness of pleasure in the goodness returned. For as follows in the 32nd verse of Tao Te Ching, "....Know here the Wisdom of Obscurity..to contain, let expand..thy gentle outlasts the strong, as the obscure will outlast the the obvious.....as preyed upon fish cannot leave deep water to survive, just as a country's weapons should not be displayed." Remember...........Learn to allow and others will provide for sustainability! Ken:
Your comments about the true jest of networking are commendable, and it is truly so, that a majority of the business community of less than 30-40 somethings have lost they’re way, relative to the importance of helping others and enriching lives. Not only have we pressured our youth to crave material success, forgetting to teach them humbleness, but also have not stressed the importance of allowing others with-in their environ. Tis SAD.

TAO Wisdom suggests a value of Living in obscurity, with the absolute of helping others as your priority goal, will ultimately cloud your existence with gracious, unfettered gratuity abounds from all others,by withdrawing unto thyself and learn to allow others, helping them achieve they’re vision of tranquil oneness. Suggestion: The next person you meet today, be it friend or foe, practice the Tao Wisdom. (Replace the pronoun I…..for You in any comments) i.e. instead of saying, “Let me show how I did this type of work your searching for years,” remark “you seem to be doing so well with your new career interests, let us discuss some new methods you may utilize for possible better understanding.”

Letting your discussion partners know at all times, that you are fully engaged in their future well-being, rather than enhancing or trumpeting your own ego, will spawn the goodness of others from with-in. Watch the power of the TAO in others unfold by being in the background, as deeply rooted as possible, unnoticed for the entire 24-hour period, stifling any inclinations to compare yourself to others (Friend, Family or Foe) nor drawing attention to yourself. Make a sole commitment to be completely interested in [an]other’s advancement today as recommended by Dr. Wayne Dyer, “Living the Tao” (Change your thoughts, Change your Life, page 177, “Wisdom of Obscurity”).

The fruit of your 24-hour efforts will be immeasurable in the witness of pleasure in the goodness returned. For as follows in the 32nd verse of Tao Te Ching, “….Know here the Wisdom of Obscurity..to contain, let expand..thy gentle outlasts the strong, as the obscure will outlast the the obvious…..as preyed upon fish cannot leave deep water to survive, just as a country’s weapons should not be displayed.”

Remember………..Learn to allow and others will provide for sustainability!

]]> Comment on ~Job hunting is dead, rest in peace! by Dave J. http://kensoper.com/2009/08/job-hunting-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Dave J. Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:15:20 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?p=186#comment-7 I had watched this before, as someone else had linked to it. Its a great eye-opener about the dynamics involved. But it is still a pretty complex subject, and I have a hard time extracting a solution from his talk. Even if we accept others and ourselves openly, not with snobbery, we need to depend on society to do the same. I had watched this before, as someone else had linked to it. Its a great eye-opener about the dynamics involved. But it is still a pretty complex subject, and I have a hard time extracting a solution from his talk. Even if we accept others and ourselves openly, not with snobbery, we need to depend on society to do the same.

]]> Comment on ~Job hunting is dead, rest in peace! by admin http://kensoper.com/2009/08/job-hunting-is-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-6 admin Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:06:03 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?p=186#comment-6 Rebecca Thorman, the woman behind blog modite, writes: "It's time to stop looking at your career as a set of skills applicable to a single position. You probably won't use the major listed on your college degree. You'll change jobs six to eight times before you're thirty…. If you can't talk about how your waitressing job applies to architecture, how teaching kindergarten makes you great for customer service, or how your blog has prepared you to be a circus manager, you lose." "Job seekers looking to open up fresh career territory need to add to their arsenal the ability to show the less-obvious connections between roles that don't necessarily appear related at first glance. If you want to be what Marci Alboher calls a 'slash' (as in a musician/engineer or management consultant/cartoonist) you need to learn how to sell the connections between your various work identities, perhaps by boiling down your job to core skills like information assimilation and rapport building, perhaps by arguing, as Thorman does, that having broad experience makes you a more innovative employee." Rebecca Thorman, the woman behind blog modite, writes: “It’s time to stop looking at your career as a set of skills applicable to a single position. You probably won’t use the major listed on your college degree. You’ll change jobs six to eight times before you’re thirty…. If you can’t talk about how your waitressing job applies to architecture, how teaching kindergarten makes you great for customer service, or how your blog has prepared you to be a circus manager, you lose.”

“Job seekers looking to open up fresh career territory need to add to their arsenal the ability to show the less-obvious connections between roles that don’t necessarily appear related at first glance. If you want to be what Marci Alboher calls a ‘slash’ (as in a musician/engineer or management consultant/cartoonist) you need to learn how to sell the connections between your various work identities, perhaps by boiling down your job to core skills like information assimilation and rapport building, perhaps by arguing, as Thorman does, that having broad experience makes you a more innovative employee.”

]]> Comment on ~Networking is a lifestyle, not a job hunting activity by admin http://kensoper.com/2009/04/networking-is-a-lifestyle-not-a-job-hunting-activity/comment-page-1/#comment-5 admin Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:33:22 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?p=240#comment-5 Gregory James wrote recently about the biggest mistakes that sales reps make. If you are 'thinking-of-yourself-as-self-employed,' then the principles can easily apply to us all, for we all have 'customers' of our 'services,' even if the work we provide is as a volunteer. Interestingly, his #1 mistake is at the heart of networking and building community, for that is what we all need--a community where we can contribute and where as we have a need we can go to get advice, help and even a 'kick-in-the-pants' from time to time. Here's what he said: "Mistake #1: Failing to build long-term relationships. * Why you do it: Too many opportunities, and too little time. * The likely result: The easiest customers [contacts] are always repeat customers [contacts]. You’ll be constantly be building your pipeline from scratch, which means more work for less money. * How to fix it: Think of selling as a way to help people, and to change the world for the better. Honor your customers [contacts] and your relationships, just as you honor your friends and family." [from Top 10 Dumb Mistakes Sales Reps Make, by Geoffrey James, BNET Sales Machine blog, July 21st, 2009] If you substitute the word, customers, with the word, contacts, you'll see that what he is suggesting for sales professionals is true for everyone who is trying to be part of a mutually supportive community. Practicing this 'golden rule' is what is good and hopeful for all of who are trying to continuously find work and stay employable. Gregory James wrote recently about the biggest mistakes that sales reps make. If you are ‘thinking-of-yourself-as-self-employed,’ then the principles can easily apply to us all, for we all have ‘customers’ of our ‘services,’ even if the work we provide is as a volunteer.

Interestingly, his #1 mistake is at the heart of networking and building community, for that is what we all need–a community where we can contribute and where as we have a need we can go to get advice, help and even a ‘kick-in-the-pants’ from time to time. Here’s what he said:

“Mistake #1: Failing to build long-term relationships.
* Why you do it: Too many opportunities, and too little time.
* The likely result: The easiest customers [contacts] are always repeat customers [contacts]. You’ll be constantly be building your pipeline from scratch, which means more work for less money.
* How to fix it: Think of selling as a way to help people, and to change the world for the better. Honor your customers [contacts] and your relationships, just as you honor your friends and family.”
[from Top 10 Dumb Mistakes Sales Reps Make, by Geoffrey James, BNET Sales Machine blog, July 21st, 2009]

If you substitute the word, customers, with the word, contacts, you’ll see that what he is suggesting for sales professionals is true for everyone who is trying to be part of a mutually supportive community. Practicing this ‘golden rule’ is what is good and hopeful for all of who are trying to continuously find work and stay employable.

]]> Comment on ~Networking is a lifestyle, not a job hunting activity by Jack Brown http://kensoper.com/2009/04/networking-is-a-lifestyle-not-a-job-hunting-activity/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Jack Brown Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:33:52 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?p=240#comment-3 Excellent points, and a great blog! Excellent points, and a great blog!

]]> Comment on ~Networking is a lifestyle, not a job hunting activity by michael j hillsey http://kensoper.com/2009/04/networking-is-a-lifestyle-not-a-job-hunting-activity/comment-page-1/#comment-2 michael j hillsey Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:29:15 +0000 http://kensoper.com/?p=240#comment-2 Excellent piece. "Why we have lost this understanding..." is a real good question. But I see it everyday as you do. Life is so much richer when consideration of others is first. Meeting, enjoying and assisting others when you can will drive more opportunities than any directed activity. The ethic of reciprocity is also not known or not recalled either. Great reminder. mjh Excellent piece. “Why we have lost this understanding…” is a real good question. But I see it everyday as you do. Life is so much richer when consideration of others is first. Meeting, enjoying and assisting others when you can will drive more opportunities than any directed activity.
The ethic of reciprocity is also not known or not recalled either. Great reminder.
mjh

]]>