Post from Transformation Tom™- Live for the Future: Chapter from “Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job”

November 28, 2022 / tomdowd / News

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My job identity with my past employer was lost as soon as I walked
out the door. I had plenty of accolades and accomplishments to
be proud of. However, I couldn’t live in the past. I needed to move toward
the future. Have you ever been a part of a conversation that began,
“When I was with (insert company name here)…”? It’s always good to
share best practices and give people the confidence that you have the
right experience to do a job well, but it can grow tiresome for your audience.
For a more meaningful, productive conversation, articulate how
past experiences relate to what you can bring to the new company going
forward.

Think of the phrase, “What have you done for me lately?” Every prospective
employer wants to know your value proposition. When talking
about the impact you can have, or even when beginning a new position,
ask, “How is it done?” and then follow that up with, “How well is that
process working? Are there improvements that will make it work better?”
You can offer potential solutions without mentioning your prior
company. Don’t be the person who identifies themselves too often with
their past company. Your identity should be much more related to your
competencies and experience. Without mentioning the former company
name, you can still mention, “Has the company thought about or tried
any of the following solutions…?” Formulating immediate and long-term
ideas for the kind of impact you can have on the new company will go a
long way and produce something more effective than, “That’s the way it
used to be.”

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com. Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby

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Post from Transformation Tom™- Take a Different Route: Chapter from “Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job”

November 21, 2022 / tomdowd / News

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Differentiating yourself. I found when I was
meeting with professional groups, career center clients, etc., that I was
surrounded by people who were just like me—they were unemployed. As
obvious as this may sound, my next thought was that they couldn’t help me,
or in some cases, they could actually be competing with me. What I found
was the opposite—we were all in this together. The amount of anger, fear,
apprehension, confusion and many other feelings varied from individual to
individual, but we found solace in our shared predicament. Our support
groups sitting around talking about our problems made others in the group
open up. As people opened up, others began to offer suggestions. “I know
someone who used to work there,” or “Let me introduce you to someone I
know who may be able to help you,” were common comments.

It became important in these group settings to clearly direct the dialog
in a way that had each individual focusing on what they wanted and
needed to move forward in their pursuit of a job, not just on the emotional
rollercoaster ride we were all on. In some cases, we asked specifically if
there was anyone in the room who had a contact or connections specific
to what an individual member wanted or needed. Although it began
slowly, that networking process became contagious as members realized
we all had some loose connections and expertise that others could benefit
from. I didn’t realize we were practicing a concept that Adam Grant
discusses in his book Give and Take as a “Reciprocity Ring.” Becoming
aware of that concept helped me to further and more explicitly drive the
conversation down the path of action.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com. Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby

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Post from Transformation Tom™- Break Out of Your Comfort Zone: Chapter from “Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job”

November 14, 2022 / tomdowd / News

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It’s hard to tell you to look outside your previous industry when I landed
a job in the same industry I’d been in for over twenty years. It’s logical
to go toward your comfort zone, and it’s a lot easier to demonstrate
your strengths in order to land the job. However, when I say I cast a broad
net, I truly did. I looked into expanding my own business. I looked into
professional training firms, healthcare, sales, marketing, and many other
avenues. You will start to understand there is more out there than the
fences you remain confined within. After you’ve broadened your scope
to explore other fields, then you can consider it a well-thought-out plan,
even if you choose to stay within your field in the end.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com. Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby

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Post from Transformation Tom™- Turn Your Passions into Your Career: Chapter from “Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job”

November 7, 2022 / tomdowd / News

0

One of my favorite quotes, “Opportunity seldom labels itself,” is credited
to an unknown author. A number of mentors and people within
the network suggested I take my side interests of speaking, training,
and coaching and make them a full-time endeavor. As appetizing as that
sounded, I still felt a passion to go back to the banking industry. With the
down-turned economy, the banking industry has been beaten up. The industry
has been wounded, but there are far too many opportunities in the
risk avoidance space to turn away from it altogether. I’m passionate about
fixing problems and have a strong history of start-up roles. The job I was
ultimately offered and accepted was brand new, and fit both categories.
Even with so many unknowns, what you do know are your passions. Run
toward them. To paraphrase Steve Cohen, professor of public speaking,
and one who had to go through a similar process in his own past, “Be
inspired to look to leverage your passions to make money.”

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com. Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

MP3 Downloads of “From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide” are available at Apple iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Emusic, Nokia, Xbox Music, Spotify, Omnifone, Google Music Store, Rdio, Muve Music, Bloom.fm, Slacker Radio, MediaNet, 7digital, 24-7, Rumblefish, and Shazam “From Fear to Success” MP3 on CD Baby

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