Weekend Wind-up: Funnel Thinking; First Day

Funnel Thinking

I mentioned in an earlier post that I would adopt funnel thinking.

Funnel thinking is seeking out broad information and ideas but focusing on a few key areas.

I have a few unfinished projects from 2009. In 2010, I will finalize my online business and music plans from 2009. Funnel thinking will help purge excess information and stay focused. I have chosen, faith, music, and business as my primary key areas to focus on.

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First Day Jitters

have first day jitters! I'm happy! I'm new but nervous. I've create five pointers to remember on my first day.

Checklist

1. Keep track of new assignment number and names.

2. Take notes and begin learning new environment.

3. Remember names of new people and departments.

4. Smile.

5. Remember the advantages of being new.

December Book To Read:

Unemployment Drama: Notice Of Refusal

Well, I guess a sneaky little devil has been running around.

I received a Notice of Work Refusal letter by one of my agencies, which was cc'd to the Texas Workforce Commission. The State of Texas will stop your benefits if you refuse an offer that is suitable---this offer was not.

I told the recruiter outright that my household had one car, and I wasn't the primary user. I told him that I can only accept work accessible by metro-rail or public transportation. The recruiter knew this beforehand and called to let me know this assignment was out of my area. **This recruiter also knew that I was receiving unemployment.

Like a snake lurking in the dark, this agency/recruiter immediately mailed the TWC a notice of work refusal letter for an estimated TWO WEEK assignment. Two weeks that weren't guaranteed! Two weeks of an assignment where no public transportation was available! Why would anyone try to stop a person's unemployment benefits in this economy!

Interesting enough, I received an offer from another company immediately after this incident.

Please check with your state about their qualifications. According to the Texas Workforce Commission:

If you refuse to apply for or accept suitable work, [the state] cannot pay you benefits. [Texas Workforce Commission] evaluate the following issues to determine whether work is suitable:

• your experience, qualifications, and training

• working conditions and pay for similar work in your area

• risks to your health, safety, or morals

• distance to work from your home and local commuting patterns Ding! Ding!

• the length of your unemployment

Monday, I will report to the Texas Workforce Commission that I was offered a job on Friday, December 4th.

I wonder what will they have to say when I tell them about about this Notice of Work Refusal letter that came over the weekend.

NOTE: Although this issue is a "fly that needs swatting," I will keep you posted and scan the "foolish" document for you view if needed. Also, I will post what the unemployment office says about this ridiculousness!

Out with the old..Here comes New!

Great Expectations

For the past two months, I've had back-and-forth reports on my next assignment, which would have been in the energy field again. The company was great for my resume, but once my recruiters secured my committment, the assignment would get canceled. Then I'll get a follow-up offer with changes in the term and pay. Red flag!

This dance went from no interview to interview; minor duties to major duties; decent pay to desperate pay; wrong address to really wrong location. After getting called the third time, I walked away from it. I know this was equally frustrating for my recruiters. But, I felt it wasn't worth my time to interview for a "depreciating" assignment.

Seriously, this assignment was originally four months, temp-to-hire with good pay and training. It ended up being a one-month, out-of area, lesser-paying job with additional duties. Crimson, red flag! I'm positive about expanding my skills, but I could afford to sit this one out!

Update: Boo to recruiters and assignment company on this one!

Insecurities

Thank God I will be working! Although I've done this a million times, I still get insecure about my potential performance in every new assignment. I have a good track record, but I find myself brushing up on skills when approaching a new assignment.

During my time off, I've enjoyed working on a start-up business---or at least putting legs on it while at home.

I find it interesting that once "scrambling job-hunting" ended, I secured an assignment. This should be good news for everyone else. The White House confirmed, once temporary work increases, permanent jobs will follow. I called this twice!

My relationship with "Flighty."

I've had a love/hate relationship with "flighty."

If you heard of the fight or flight syndrome. Flight can mean the tendency to leave to avoid conflict, which can reveal instability, irresponsibility, and lack of loyalty.

Flight can also being defined as a self-preserving reaction to flee for your own protection and safety.

I'm in no position to walk away from a paycheck irresponsibly. But I have professionally walked away from jobs to everyone's surprise. In this past decade, I've had to take care of a recovering parent, a younger brother, a niece and nephew. This is evidence that I am not in the position to drop the ball or blow with the wind. But I am neither in the position to be imprisoned.

From my experience, most people are fearful, comfortable, and believe the world is as stable as their stagnation. I saw it happen to relatives, staying in bad relationships and bad jobs too long. I saw the wasted investment and observed the post-traumatic effects of it. So when I had the opportunity to come face-to-face with "flightiness," I didn't cast judgment on myself.

I divided flightiness into two groups:

• The negative side could be giving up too soon and leaving during conflict; or disrespect of loyalty and building relationships; or lacking the ability to ethically follow through.

• The positive side is having enough sense to leave before it gets worse, a bullet dodger. One who has enough focus and vision to know what they want, and know there are options besides staying in a sinking ship.

I'd rather embrace the positive side, which reminds me of "Sniff and Scurry" in Who Moved My Cheese. "

Sniff and Scurry kept their eyes on the prize.

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Leave It In The 2000's

On Twitter, I noticed a trending topic called #LeaveItInThe00s.

And, I've chosen to write a few things I will Leave In the 2000's once I tread upon 2010.

2009: I've said many times that I wanted to "cast my net out wide," and find new discoveries. And I did, but it forced me to lose focus. Several online business and skill development projects were stopped in the middle of the process because I was forever-learning.

2010: I will adopt funnel thinking. I will continue to find broad opportunities but I will let them funnel down to key areas to focus on. Instead of getting bombarded with 30 things to do to make money, I will work on completing a few.

#LeaveItInThe00s

1. Last Year...2009 Recession Wardrobe

2. Hope Deferred...If I must find one thing to make me happy. I'll find it quickly.

3. Unemployment...or lack of Self-Employment

4. Cluttered House

5. Rigidity...Change Happens! Get Over it!

Who asked you anyway? Oops I did!

I saw two counselors for career guidance and research on new trends in the workforce. But oh, did they differ in their approaches! I'll say I prefer to be shown the horizon and not boxes----especially if they are check-off list boxes.

There is difference between being pushed and motivated.

One of my counselors---the "happy" counselor---gave me career options and guided me on "my own path."

The "happy" counselor was enthusiastic about presenting new ideas, opportunities, and information about my career plans. She reviewed my portfolio, and gave "spur of the moment" tips. Even when I knew of her suggestions, she was very encouraging. When I left, I came home to find a voicemail from her with new opportunities.

The other counselor---the "pushy" counselor--presented me with many new resources, but they were rigid cookie-cutter resources that applied to her "GTD list" and not my life. Again, I knew about many of her suggestions. Tried them. Many didn't work for me, but this counselor wanted me to try again for hercheck-off list's sake. And yes, she called me to see if I was doing what she told me to do!

One thing I don't like is being pushed.

Inspire me. Empower me. Motivate me. But don't push me.

I love it when people are passionate about their work, but if your work is about providing a service to others---let it be about others.

I am a human being, not your check-off to-do list!

I am a human being, not a process or a system!

And once your services become about what "you did" to get the job done, then it's time for you to re-evaluate your intentions.

I followed the suggestions of both "happy" and "pushy" counselors---even though some of their advice did not apply to my life. Eventually, I ended my relationship with the "pushy" counselor.

It's OK to ask for advice. Cast your net out wide. But know every "find" or "answer" isn't a treasure. Sometimes it's a lead or a dead end.

Temp Jobs Continue To Rise

Thanks to WINK News for confirming what Sparkly Temp Diaries posted in September about growth in the temporary job market.

"The U.S. added 34,000 temporary jobs in October, even as unemployment increased. Local agencies say it makes the most sense for many companies that are still struggling to dig out of the recession."

To read full article, click here.