Strategic Networking Project Results in Oprah Tickets!

As you probably know, this 6Degrees2Oprah project came about as a way to not only get tickets to Oprah but also demonstrate to job seekers the power of strategic networking in making the impossible possible and help them live their best career life — a very Oprah-esque mission

If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you already know that we have succeeded twice since October in getting tickets to Oprah in her farewell season. This is no small feat considering that I’ve met people who have tried unsuccessfully for years to get tickets to the show. I even met one woman who had been trying for seven years with no luck!

The first time we got tickets was during the blizzard of 2011 or February 2nd, to be exact. Oprah and her staff wound up canceling that show — the first time in 25 years they had ever canceled a show because of weather.

The second time we got tickets was last week, and indeed, it truly was worth the wait. Though I’m admittedly not as big of a royal fan as Charlotte — I don’t even own a single book on the royals — I must admit I was thoroughly excited about going to a show dedicated to the royal wedding. Before I even knew we were going to that show, I had set my DVR to record the wedding and was eagerly looking forward to watching it.

What you don’t know yet is that we actually succeeded in scoring tickets to the show a third time. Yes, seriously.

Five minutes after Charlotte and I walked out of the taping on Friday, I received a text message from Dr. Lori Bergen, one of my former journalism professors at Texas State University, inviting me to an Oprah taping scheduled for the following Friday.

Lori and I have known each other for more than 20 years now, and she is definitely someone who has been a role model for me… but she’s more than that — she’s truly someone I consider a friend.

And here’s the really super-duper exciting part — the tickets for the show Lori invited me to came about as a direct result of strategic networking.

Way back in January, I sent Lori an email wishing her a happy new year. Soon after that, she replied to my email and told me she was planning a trip to Dallas (my hometown), and asking me if I could meet her for lunch. Given that Lori is now a Dean at Marquette University in Milwaukee, we rarely get to see each other face-to-face, so I was genuinely excited about her upcoming trip and we quickly booked a lunch date for February 17.

The day came and we met for lunch as scheduled, and during that lunch, we both talked about what we’d been up to. That’s when I told her about the 6Degrees2Oprah project. As soon as she heard about what we were doing, she wanted to help, and as luck would have it, Lori had not one but two connections to Oprah.

The first was a former Marquette alumna who is a producer at Oprah, and the second was a faculty member at Texas State University who knows Sheri Salata, Oprah’s Executive Producer.

Originally, Lori thought she would see the Marquette alumna at an event in February. That’s where Lori had planned to ask for her help in getting us Oprah tickets. Alas, that woman didn’t attend that event after all.

Rather than contacting her directly (because she had only met her once before), Lori wisely decided to seek the assistance of a fellow Marquette faculty member who knew this woman well, had previously had her in a class, and had a great relationship with her. This man contacted his former student/friend (on Lori’s behalf, on my behalf), asked her for the tickets, and got ‘em. And that, ladies and gentlemen is the power of strategic networking in action!

All this to say: our plan worked — strategic networking resulted in tickets to Oprah, despite the fact that every Oprah staff member we spoke with was adamant that the “only way” to get tickets was through the Web site.

Some take-aways from this experience:

1. Strategic networking works!

2. Talk to everyone about what you’re trying to do. I had no idea when I met Lori for lunch and told her what we were doing that she’d have a connection that would result in Oprah tickets.

3. Nurture your network. My friendship with Lori didn’t happen overnight. This is a relationship we’ve both tended to — and not because either of us ever thought we’d get something out of it, but just because we like each other.

4. When you take inspired action to achieve your goals, anything can happen. It’s worth it to put yourself out there — if your goal is truly something important to you.

5. The Rolling Stones were right. “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you find you get what you need.” We’re so grateful for all the shows that we didn’t get tickets to attend.

6. Don’t listen to the naysayers. We had plenty of people who didn’t help us along the way and plenty of people who didn’t think we’d succeed, but we did! At least, for the most part.

7. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. This project required more perseverance than what I was expecting. It was harder than what I was expecting, and we hit many roadblocks along the way, but we didn’t give up, and that’s really important.

I’m so grateful for this experience, so grateful that I risked trading my dream of going to see Oprah for the real-deal experience of actually seeing her (an experience that exceeded ALL my expectations), so grateful to the people who’ve read our blog and have encouraged us along the way, so grateful to the people we’ve been able to encourage, and so grateful to my friends and colleagues in this adventure — my fellow Guru-ettes — Charlotte Weeks and Kim Mohiuddin. And finally, special thanks to Dr. Lori Bergen for your friendship, your support, and for proving our point that strategic networking works. Thank you!

In support of your Abundant Success,
Robyn Feldberg
The Abundant Success Coach

Worth the Wait

If you’ve ever applied to countless companies or had dozens of interviews – without an offer – you know how frustrating it can be. However, when you are finally hired for a job that’s a perfect fit for you, none of that matters anymore. In fact, you may be grateful for all the positions you DIDN’T get.

This sums up exactly how I feel about 6Degrees2Oprah. We came close so many times: speaking with producers, meeting other decision makers, and even getting tickets (during the blizzard of 2011 – the only Oprah show to ever be cancelled).  

When we finally did attend a show, the timing could not have been more perfect. Let me explain: I am a HUGE royalty buff. I always have been, long before Will and Kate. As Robyn can attest to, I have three full shelves of books on the subject!

If I could have had a choice to go to any Oprah show in 25 years, this would have been very close to the top of my list (along with favorite things, of course!). In the end, things were pretty close to perfect.

The only thing that kept it from being perfect was the fact that we only had two tickets, and Kim graciously bowed out. We’re happy she joined us for lunch afterwards, where we celebrated all we had done over the past eight months.

This has been an incredible experience, and I want to thank Kim and Robyn, our readers, and our supporters, for joining me on this journey!

Charlotte Weeks, Weeks Career Services, Inc.

 

Think it’s Impossible to Get in Touch with a Decision Maker?

It may sound crazy that we’re trying to get tickets to the most coveted television talk show in history – in its final season! But you know what? Last week I met Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. I’ve also met Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. And, I don’t work in politics in any way, shape, or form (even as a volunteer).  

Many people feel like it can be impossible to get an “in” at a company. After trying a few times without success, it can be downright discouraging! I’ve been there. As you can read about in my March 21^st blog post, I was ready to bolt after just a few minutes at Harpo Studios (and probably would have, if Kim wasn’t there to block my path)!

Still, these recent experiences have reminded me that no matter what someone does for a living, they’re only human. Though some people can be very difficult to get in touch with, it’s certainly not impossible.

Of course, your expectations can determine whether you even go after your goal. While I wanted to meet a former U.S. President, I wasn’t as invested in the outcome as with 6Degrees2Oprah. In many ways, that made it less intimidating and easier to take the risk. Job seekers tend to act similarly when there is a company they really want to work for. To avoid giving yourself “analysis paralysis” and missing out on making an important new contact, consider the following:

1)      They’re just people: This bears repeating because it’s true! Whether you meet a Queen, President, or CEO of a Fortune 500 company, remind yourself that they’re all human beings.

2)      What do you have to lose?: When conducting a job search, you should have multiple companies on your target list anyway. If you can’t make a connection with one, you’ll have plenty of other options.

3)      You have everything to gain: The saying “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” couldn’t be more relevant than in this situation. You absolutely won’tmake a valuable connection if you don’t try. But if you do – it’s very possible you can arrange to meet whoever you want

Charlotte Weeks, Weeks Career Services, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Tricks to Avoid the Dreaded Resume Black Hole

Does this situation sound all too familiar?

You spend hours and hours applying for countless jobs online — a tedious and exhaustive process — and then you wait and wait… but get no response.

For many job seekers today this is an all-too-common reality. So common, in fact, that this phenomenon has been dubbed the resume black hole. Just as nothing — not even light — can escape a black hole, resumes — not even resumes of well-qualified candidates — can escape the dread resume black hole.

The best solution then is to avoid the black hole altogether. Here are some tips:

1. Limit the time you spend applying to jobs online: This is the least effective way to find a job. Often these “openings” aren’t even real openings. More often than you might want to believe, employers might simply be stockpiling resumes in case they decide to actually open and try to fill a position. They might be posting jobs to intimidate competitors or demonstrate to potential investors that they’re in growth mode when that might not be true. They might have already filled the job but not taken down the ad. Plus, there’s a real shot that even when the job posted is a real job, the employer might already have someone lined up to fill it, and is only going through the motions of posting the position to comply with internal and/or EEOC requirements.

2. Load the resume with keywords: Nearly all major corporations today use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to sort through resumes and most job boards have agreements with ATS software providers as well. These systems allow employers to search for keywords in an attempt to only pull up the resumes of qualified candidates, but guess what? If your resume doesn’t contain enough of those keywords, it won’t get pulled up and nobody will ever see it — even if the reality is that you are well qualified for the role. To keep your resume out of the black hole, you must identify what keywords a prospective employer is likely to be looking for and then integrate those words into your resume. A free service like keywordfinder.org can help you, but you can probably figure out the keywords on your own (and perhaps even more capably) by scanning several job postings for the specific type of position you’re interested in securing and then highlighting the words that keep cropping up.

3. Secure an ally in the organization where you want to work: Most people today still get their next position as a result of being recommended by someone within the company. The number one way to avoid the dreaded resume black hole is definitely to find someone in the targeted company to vouch for you and bring your resume directly to the hiring manager.

4. Make sure your resume is up to par: Ask yourself these questions: Is my resume in a modern and effective format? Does my resume strategy showcase my qualifications and overcome any potential weaknesses? Is it free of any errors? Is it visually appealing, easy to read, and an appropriate length? Does it have a powerful profile or opening section that gets the reader excited about my value? Does it demonstrate quantifiable achievements and accomplishments that prove how I’ve added value in my previous positions? If the answer to any of these questions is no, you might consider hiring a professional resume writer. Charlotte, Kim, and I are all available, but if you want additional options, consider looking for an NCRW-certified resume writer by visiting TheNRWA.com.

5. Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up: The old saying, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease,” is true. Only rarely does it happen that the people who get the interview or get the job really, truly the most qualified individuals. More often than not, these people are simply the most well liked, the most trusted, and the most top of mind. Always follow up with people. It’s a great way of building trust, establishing yourself as a likable person, and staying on a prospective hiring manager’s radar screen. You can call them, send them an email, or better yet, send them a real letter via snail-mail. If you go the snail-mail route, please make sure you include your resume and cover letter printed on high-quality resume paper. (I like and recommend Southworth’s Connoisseur Collection 100% cotton, watermarked 32-pound paper.)

Resume black holes do exist, but now you know how to avoid them. Go get ‘em!

In support of your Abundant Success,
Robyn Feldberg
The Abundant Success Coach

4 Ways to Follow Your Heart AND Pay Your Bills

“I want to get back into fashion, my first love.” The voicemail from a potential client thrilled me. She obviously had a bold, heart-led plan for her next career move, and I hoped I’d be able to help her.

By the time we spoke the next day, she was in panic mode. Afraid the fashion market was not robust in her new city, she was thinking of pursuing hospitality instead. After all, her recent experience as an event planner would be an asset, and she was facing a hefty mortgage payment for her new dream house.

Fortunately, this was a case where she could have her cake and eat it too. I love those!

I suggested that it wasn’t an either/or choice. She could pursue both. If the job in hospitality worked out first, she could look for an opportunity in fashion from the powerful position of an employed person.

If you have a dream, it’s there for a reason. In the process of pursuing it, good will happen to you and through you. You might not get where you first envisioned going, but you’ll arrive right where you’re meant to be.

Have a dream you haven’t realized yet?

The best way to pursue it is directly correlated to your risk tolerance. I know I took a lot more risks when I was single than I do now that I have a husband and two kids. My dreams now look more like a slow and steady evolution as my career takes shape and I discover more and more about how to best help my clients by expressing my joy for writing, marketing, and cheerleading.

Ideas:

• If your dream and your work don’t seem to be in alignment, make them more so. There’s a great example in Career Distinction by William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson, about a sales manager whose first love was sports. He challenged his team to come up with the best sales presentation using sports as an analogy. Sales went through the roof and he was re-engaged with his “day job.”
• Start a business that’s related to your dream while keeping your current job. Once the business gets big enough, quit. That’s exactly how my business, Movin’ On Up Resumes, got off the ground. A good family friend and playwright,Evan Blake, was a paralegal for years until he was able to make a full-time living writing plays.
• Set up some informational interviews with people who are doing what you would love to do. You’ll get the chance to learn more about next steps and start the process of creating new opportunities.
• Check out www.vocationvacations.com. They can help you with information, set you up with a mentor, and give you a real-life taste of your dream.

You can be pragmatic and true to your authentic self at the same time. It takes courage and a bit of elbow grease, but most worthwhile things do.

Follow your bliss,

Kim Mohiuddin, Movin’ On Up Resumes

Busyness is not Effectiveness!

My post this week was inspired by Robyn’s from last week, “Get ‘Er Done!” It made me start thinking about procrastination’s evil cousin – busyness.

Have you ever had a day where you felt swamped, but in the end didn’t really have much to show for it? Or, did you cross several small things off of your to-do list that really didn’t need to be done? We’re all guilty of this. Sometimes the things that make the biggest difference in our lives – and job searches – are “too hard” to do first. So, we “network” on Facebook for hours or spend five hours applying to jobs online.

Though these activities are fine, we KNOW that what we really need to do is go to an in-person industry gathering or develop a target list of companies. Instead, we do the easy things first, because they can help with momentum – unfortunately, they can also drain the energy we would need to do the more meaningful work. Old habits die hard, but there are a few things you can do to be effective – and not just busy:

1)      Do the dreaded task first: Don’t check email or headlines until this project is done, or until you’ve devoted at least an hour.

2)      Put no more than three things on your to-do list: Make them the most important tasks. If you finish them with extra time left in your day, great – you can go on to other work. If not, you’ll at least have finished the things that really matter.

3)      Follow the 80/20 rule: Spend the majority of your time (the 80%) on the big tasks you need to complete. The other 20% can be focused on the simpler things.

Charlotte Weeks, Weeks Career Services, Inc.

Get ‘Er Done!

Pay attention to what you’re avoiding, and do that.

Today, I’ve been avoiding writing this blog post. My parents’ flight will be landing soon, and in fact, I have to leave to pick them up from the airport in just 15 minutes.

I had several appointments today, and even though I knew it was on my to-do list to write this post, I wound up spending my “free” time getting things in shape for my parents  — washing the guest-room sheets, making sure they had plenty of fresh towels, even bathing my dogs and cleaning the fish tank (yes, I am that neurotic!).

I was so busy getting ready for them that I almost didn’t write this post. However, this post is important to me. I’ve made a commitment, and I want to honor that. It’s every bit as important to me as being a gracious hostess.

So, I’m writing this post quickly and admittedly haphazardly, and even though it might not be the most thought-provoking thing I’ve written on this blog, I’m still going to hit “publish” in just a minute. And why? Because I’m going to forget for just a minute about trying to be perfect, trying to deliver the right message, and I’m going to trust that this message will be sufficient.

Today, I urge you to notice what you’re avoiding, forget about trying to be perfect, and just get it done. If I can do it, you can too. Good luck!

In support of your Abundant Success,
Robyn Feldberg
The Abundant Success Coach