As Michael Buble’ croons from my iPod, “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me. And I’m feeling good,” I smile! One because of my fantasy that Michael Buble’ is personally serenading me and two because I’ve ended up with a Plan B that has outperformed Plan A by a mile! Yes! A new year, a new beginning and a new direction laced with old skills and old-fashioned excitement!
Meet the new Director of Festivals and Fairs for Rockhouse Partners (me)! Today I announce the big move from director of marketing for one fair to the director of fairs and festivals for one new-breed entertainment agency focused on interactive marketing and sponsorships within the music and sports industries. How cool is that? How fortunate am I? VERY is the answer to both questions. In an economy battling a 10% unemployment rate, not only having a job but creating the job I wanted is an anomaly.
You see while many are job-seeking I began a process of job-creating; while many are un-employed, I developed a plan to become self-employed. Self employment scares a lot of people, but really, it is the gateway to melding who you are to the core with what you do for a living.
How do you begin the process?
- Start a list of what you’re good at professionally
- Narrow it down to what you enjoy doing
- Re-write your resume to highlight those attributes
- Interview for jobs giving you the opportunity to share the list with potential employers (whether you want that job or not, the lesson is in the practice)
- Hone your “spiel” until even YOU believe it
- Enlist your personal board of directors (Andy Andrews) for feedback and encouragement
- Hunt and peck until you find an opportunity that fits YOUR criteria
For me, it was a conscious decision to make the move from “working for the man,” to working for myself (the woman)! But for you, it may be that you’d like to reach a new income plateau or pursue an area of personal interest. For example, back in 1989 I sold computer aided design work stations in Southern California. It was very ordinary. I was a geek among geeks reporting to a hum drum office every day. Having an interest in the entertainment industry even back then, I decided to see if I could infiltrate some entertainment-related companies to add some excitement to my day. By the end of 1991, I not only worked with Walt Disney Imagineering, I had my own office, email and a regular monthly order. In addition, we landed Universal Studios and their animation and ride design teams. It doesn’t happen over night, but it NEVER happens if you don’t try!
I didn’t have all the knowledge, but I had the passion; I didn’t have all the connections, but I had determination. People bought from me over my competitors because I created an opportunity where it did not previously exist. Why not create an opportunity for yourself based on your true talents and desires? What have you got to lose by at least knocking out steps 1, 2 & 3? The answer is: EVERYTHING if you’re not happy in your current profession or job. Or NOTHING if you just want to imagine what your new day would look like. Take 30 minutes; start your list then start your new day. Great things can happen when you step outside your comfort zone!
