Today, I am introducing a new regular feature on Higher Ed Career Coach. The “Who-Do Review” will profile people, websites and resources that are changing the way higher education works. This new feature grew from my series “How to Tell a Who-Do from a Guru,” which explores the differences between those we think of (or who call themselves) “gurus” versus those who are out there, doing the things they are passionate about, and trying to change the world.
Jeff Jackson and his regular contributors over at BreakDrink (Gary Ballinger, Julie Larsen, and Adrianne Dahms, among others) epitomize the groundbreaking spirit of the Who-Do, and so I’m glad to feature them in my first “Who-Do” Review. I’ll take nominations from here on out and try to feature one “Who-Do” each month. At the end of each year, we’ll choose a “Who-Do” of the Year.
Yes, I am making this up as I go along. But it’s a great idea, and I’d like readers to help me find future nominees, choose people and efforts to feature, and create a process for choosing the “Who-Do” of the Year.
But before we get started with that, there is a way you can help recognize the good work people over at BreakDrink are doing. They are conducting a fundraising campaign on IndieGoGo to support their efforts to offer future conferences and to produce podcasts on various topics of interest to higher ed professionals.
Please visit their campaign by clicking on the widget below, and make a donation. Then, come back here, comment on why you supported the campaign, and give me some suggestions for future people to feature, and any ideas you have about how to create a process for choosing the “Who-Do” of the Year.
In our era of budget cuts, travel freezes and furloughs, it’s challenging to innovate, create new programs, keep our departments adequately staffed, and offer professional development funding opportunities, like conferences and training. Innovation is key to survival, not only in individual careers, but in our field as a whole. On this Friday’s edition of the Higher Ed Career Coach Show, I’ll be talking with Jeff Jackson and others about BreakDrink.Com. We’ll talk about BreakDrink’s upcoming conferences, their expanding lineup of podcasts, and their IndieGoGo Fundraising Campaign. We’ll also be taking calls on this topic, BreakDrink, and suggestions for future people and programs to profile as a part of the “Who-Do” Review series.
These days, you couldn’t swing a LOLCAT anywhere on the internet without banging kitty right into someone pitching themselves as a “guru” of something or other. I’ve become especially aware of this as a new business owner, because people call me to pitch this-and-that, and probably some of the other.
Some examples:
I had a nice lady from a major search engine optimization (SEO) company explain their service and promise to get me to page 1 on Google and entrench my brand, for only $9000 a year.
I signed up for a coaching client management and referral website (for a small monthly fee) that promised to get me new clients and improved SEO rankings. Before they had even sent me a referral, they sent out a message to all their members saying they’d want 20% of a client’s fees for a year for referring someone. I wrote them a pointed-yet-polite you-can-kiss-my-ass comment. I didn’t cancel the service yet, because I am showing up better in search, but honestly, I know I can design a better client management system using Moodle, a blind web designer, and maybe some monkeys. And Moodle is free and easy to install.
I’m constantly getting messages from coach training programs, companies that sell skill assessments of various kinds, web designers, social media consultants, etc., etc. and on and on…
In a couple of earlier posts, I explored what it means to be a guru, versus a “who-do” (i.e., someone who does what they are passionate about, for the sake of doing it, rather than someone who is revered for having some secret source of knowledge, or who promote themselves as such.)
So if you’ve been reading along, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that I think these people are full of shit, and that I’m not really interested in working with them for the long haul. At least not on their terms. If the cost of doing business is negligible and I am willing to pay for benefits that I actually receive, then fine, I’ll put up with some of the annoying BS. At least until I find something better.)
Who have I found to help move my sites and my business forward? Who do I trust to guide me? Where do I take my questions and concerns? How am I learning to be a better businessman, and a better coach?
You.
I learned it by watching you! And talking to you. Or exchanging e-mails. Or subscribing to your blogs. From the co-creative procress. From finding, and interacting with, communities that share my interests and passions.
My involvement in several communities has shown me the way forward, because I have connected with people who are interested in not just the content, but in the communities I serve.
When I got mired down, I found guest bloggers and radio show co-hosts and guests from the Student Affairs Chat community on Twitter.
When I needed fresh perspectives or to stretch myself to understand new and different things, I’ve done guest posts and had guest posters. I’ve tried to plug in to the community and connect around professional issues.
When I needed to understand the needs and desires of job seekers, I joined discussions on Twitter, Linked In and Brazen Careerist, and even gave some free coaching (online and over the phone) to some people met in these places.
When I needed to understand more about business and marketing (and selling), I joined the Third Tribe, a great membership group dedicated to helping people connect with their audience in authentic ways, instead of being annoying. In this group, I get to interact with interesting people like Chris Brogan, Brian Clark, Darren Rowse, Sonia Simone, Chris Garrett, and other top thinkers in social media, business and blogging. That was the selling point for me. What I didn’t expect was all the incredible people in the forums and how affirming it would be just to be there, read about their issues, peek over their shoulders (so to speak) as a community helps them dissect their issues, understand them, and suggestions to get them unstuck and help them move forward. And even though I am a coach, I didn’t expect to be helpful to anyone, but I’ve been surprised a few times already by how easy it is to help others…not by being smarter than anyone (I wouldn’t dare) but by being encouraging and helpful, a decent listener and a helping hand. The power of joining such a group is incredible, and I gladly signed up to be an affiliate. If you are interested in learning more about how to join the Third Tribe, let’s connect. You can always click on the banner ad on HigherEdCareerCoach, but I’d want to talk with you first so you coud really make an informed choice. For me, it’s the best money I have spent on my business development so far.
The lesson here is the same one I learned long ago in a reading from the Elders of the Hopi Nation. I used to read it at the beginning of staff training, to emphasize the power of working together toward community. To summarize the quote:
“The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
Higher Ed Career Coach Sean Cook delivers a brief introduction to his “8 Weeks to August” Career Coaching Program and his professional and personal motivations for offering it.
Registration for My “8 Weeks to August” program
closes today (Friday, June 10, 2010).
If you are still seeking a job in higher education,
you still have a chance to register at
I will not be extending the registration period past today (Friday). It will automatically close at midnight, or when the registration cap (20 participants) is reached.Why? Because I want to get started, and those who have already registered probably would, too.
As mentioned in the video, please do not let financial concerns determine whether you join this program. If you want to be a part of this inaugural program, just sign up! If you can pay some part now, that’s cool. We’ll figure out the rest later. I’m also offering a money-back guarantee if the program doesn’t work for you, so the money part is neither here nor there to me. Let’s just make this an engaging, interactive, fun, informative and useful experience for all who participate. The rest will fall into place as it should.
So go ahead and register, and let’s get you back in the hunt, and on to a new job this fall!
Sean Cook, M.Ed., Certified Life Purpose & Career Coach, Publisher & Lead Writer
Sean Cook is a Life Purpose and Career Coach who specializes in working with job seekers in higher education. Prior to becoming a Certified Coach through the Life Purpose Institute, Cook earned his M.Ed. from Clemson University, and spent over 15 years working as a student affairs professional.
You can listen to Sean every Friday at 11 a.m. Eastern on His Higher Ed Career Coach Show on BlogTalkRadio.Com.
Today, we’ll be discussing more about the art and practice of the “elevator pitch,” as well as exploring essential interview skills for today’s job seekers. Listeners are also welcome to call in their questions and comments to (347) 989-0055, or by clicking on the Skype “click to talk” logo at the page for today’s episode.
Since last Friday, I’ve been fielding inquiries about my new coaching program, to help those who have found themselves still without a job for the Fall. In talking over the details of the program, many people thought it might be useful, but just weren’t ready to commit. So I sat down to review the details of the program and make a few modifications to get people off the fence.
First, let’s review the general outline for the program, as announced last Friday….
“8 weeks to August” is geared toward job seekers who are determined to start something new this academic year. It’s a “hybrid” program…part individual coaching, and part on-line activities and support. It will also be significantly cheaper than a regular 1-on-1 coaching program, because I’m sensitive to the financial aspects of job-seeking in higher education. (I have some news on that, so read on.)
Features
2 individual coaching sessions in early June, to outline your goals for coaching, and to review your resume and cover letters, to make sure they are selling your unique skills and experience in ways that match the positions you are targeting. ($200 Value)
2 practice interviews-one via phone, the other via Skype, with feedback about areas for possible improvement. ($200 value)
2 additional individual coaching sessions during the program, which can be used for exploration, goal-setting, additional mock interviews, strategy sessions for specific applications, etc….Really, whatever you might need. ($200 value)
E-mail coaching during the entire program- send short questions or requests to me on topics of your choosing.
Online access to readings and activities that will help you focus your efforts on finding a position that will be a natural match for your interests, skills and abilities.
Group discussion opportunities for all group members, for support and encouragement from other job seekers.
The ability to have private online chats and discussions with me and with other group members about your search.
I thought I’d put together a pretty good package, and set a pretty good price point, but I’d like to see a slightly larger group. It’s true enough that the 1-on-1 coaching and the online activities may be enough for most people, but I like to idea of at least offering some group activities, to help people network with and support other searchers, and to know they are not alone in their concerns.
Optimally, I would like to see this group at between 15 and 20 members, because I think that’s a manageable size that still allows personal interaction and individualized attention to each member.
The changes are:
I’m going reducing the price. ($400/person instead of $500/person)
I’m going to split the payments and have an up-front part and then let participants pay the remainder later probably $200 now and $200 later in the program.
I’m going to set up a “client profiles” section on HigherEdCareerCoach.com for any member of the program interested to have the following:
Picture & Bio
Resume Highlights and downloadable resume pdf file
A BusinessCard 2.0 or similar internet card
Have an entire episode of my BlogTalkRadio show dedicated to interviewing you and talking about your goals for your job search. (will be linked to your page). Will be pre-recorded and edited. Both BTR and my site have good Search Engine Optimization, but A BTR episode will stay up, be searchable and hopefully help you get your name out there in a better way.
I’m still planning to give away a $500 Apple giftcard if we get 15 or more registrants.
You’ll still get the book.
You’ll still get access to the teleseminars and online workshops and activities until the End of September.
The number of registrants for this program will still be extremely limited, because I want to be able to deliver all I promise, and more, to participants, and turn them into raving fans and the best kind of advertising money can’t buy…satisfied clients.
Every participant will receive a copy of a great book on personal branding. (Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel)
If I reach my intended target size for this program, one of the participants is going to end up getting all the features and benefits mentioned above, and a $500 Apple Gift Card. With the price drop this means that someone is going to get paid to get coaching and move forward in their job search. And maybe use that gift card to start a new job this Fall with a shiny new iPad.
Do I have your interest now?
If you or a friend are “stuck,” and really need to move forward and make significant progress in your job search, wouldn’t it be great to get personal attention, customized resume/cover letter/interview assistance, the support of a certified coach and other job seekers in your field, and (if we get a group of 15 to 20) theopportunity to get all your money back?
I know that if I was looking for a position, it would interest me.
So don’t wait…visit the program’s registration page (link below) to learn more about this program, what the costs and benefits are, and about my money-back guarantee.
Everyone knows that the perfect place to make career connections is the elevator. So it occurred to me that the topic might be a great one to explore on the next HigherEdCareerCoach BlogTalkRadio show.
Then Mike Severy, who was a guest on the show last week, had to go and reinforce this idea, when his tweet about an article on Inc. Magazine about the topic:
So this is what we’ll talk about this Friday. (I’m adding the topic of interview skills because I think it is relevant. We’ll give feedback about that, too.)
But I’m hoping to do even more.
They say that practice makes perfect. Well, here’s the time for you to practice. Call in to the show and introduce yourself. Deliver your elevator speech. Get feedback from me, the co-hosts and maybe even the audience.
We’ll also corner callers into answering some questions in a “mini-mock interview,” and give feedback about that.
I hope you will join us and consider calling in (to get or give advice and comments.) When the show is on live, you can call in to (347) 989-0055 or go to the show page and click on the Skype Click-to-Talk button (Blue “S” logo above the show summary.)
Please listen and call in. Your engagement could be really helpful to job seekers.
Work with Sean. I help higher ed professionals take control of their careers with tailored services including resume and CV development, LinkedIn profile optimization and networking strategy, interview coaching, and one-on-one career guidance.
