Friday Fun

I'm feeling a little WONDERFUL recently since after years of hard work & magical thinking & yes, some whining, great things are happening to my business, one of which is that Huffington Post just hired me to rant blog on career advice, life, professional potential, dating, sexting, why Will Arnett should show up nude at my front door, cats, cats in wigs, celebutards, etc. etc.! Mother's so proud! You can, and should, check me out on Huff Post here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carlota-zimmerman/the-5-best-free-jobhuntin_b_3697334.html

Also, within a month this blogspot will go the way of all flesh to be replaced by my brand new and quite lovely website...and I hope you'll all come with, since I'll be offering a lot of wonderful webinars and other goodies!

And yes, before I become too famous and start seriously discussing myself in the third person, you can still score a free consultation with me by just becoming a fan of my Facebook page, "Carlotaworldwide Creativity Yenta." Carlota thinks that's an awesome deal...what are you waiting for??

Besos,
C.

Rescuing People

Oh, I know. Some of you wonderful kids are giving me That Look, feeling unloved, rolling your eyes, thinking, "Whatever, Carlota, like I don't even care, I was just reading your blog as a favor, gawd! Like TMZ is where I get all my news anyway!" Aww, baby don't be like that, you know I adore you. I have indeed been remiss about my ranting um blogging (#redundant), but that's only because in this business I give clients 100% and giving people 100% takes time.

Some coaches just want to put you through your paces, and get you out the door as they count your money...I'm not like that. Anything good that happens from my coaching happens because of the relationship you and I will create. I know that in order to achieve your highest potential, you need a coach who will be there for you when you're personal life isn't working, or there's drama with your mama, or you just need to talk honestly with someone who cares. Because to be able to position yourself to achieve your potential, you need to get rid of all the issues getting in your way. So I'm in it for the long haul with my clients and that takes time.

Also, not gonna lie: I have this big workshop this Saturday (#hinthint) and I've been preparing for that. So, all in all, I've been wonderfully busy with wonderful people, and this is kind of how I feel right about now:

(despite, being significantly shorter...alas.) But I shouldn't take too much credit: a lot of my joy is due to the wonderful people I get to work with. Obviously, you start a business like this, to help others, because, deep down, you're the one who wants/needs the help. Like how when you rescue cats, you're the one getting rescued. Except the clients, usually, have a lot less cat hair. Usually.

All this to say: 1. I love you guys. 2. I'll be better about blogging. 3. Rescuing cats, and people, is always worth it.

And don't forget: you can still buy tickets, at the door, to my professional career building workshop this Saturday, June 29, 2013, at which I'll tell you everything you need to know about networking your way to your dream career! (Didn't go to IU? No worries, I still think you're cool as sh*t!) http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6762451675/estw 

Email me @ carlotazee@gmail.com, with any questions, concerns, rants, and like my Facebook page, "Carlotaworldwide Creativity Yenta," for a free consultation!

xo
C.

31Ways2GetItStarted™!: January 15, 2013

Day 15: Worry Less, Do More!

Contrary to popular belief, I do not have telepathic powers, nor the ability to divine the future. I know: I am also disappointed. Still coming to grips with my inability to control world history. I haz a grumpy.

I state this because quite a few clients ask me, “Is this going to work, are you sure this is going to work?” Um. At this point, I’m only sure only that I’m not sure of anything…oh, excepting Jodie Foster’s sexual orientation. I was sure of that a loooong time before this past weekend’s Golden Globes. Jodie’s “acting” never really put that fact into doubt, if you know what I mean. #meowmeowmeow…meow!

But no, in the larger scheme, I’m not sure that anything is going to lead to anything, except to death and taxes. And cats. Probably, definitely more cats. When I started this business, I certainly wasn’t sure of what the hell I was doing, but I was sure that I did not want to continue working as a bartender, or return to TV “news,” or, dear god, practice law. So, I kept on doing what I could, read business books, found myself business mentors, and, most importantly, helped clients as best I could. I didn’t exactly know what I was doing, but I knew what I didn’t want to do, so by avoiding that and focusing on what I knew…tah-dah! It kind of worked, and I learned more things, got more momentum and look at me now! *shrugs*

I am also sure that people who constantly question themselves, and worry that they’re not doing things “right” are never going to succeed because they are their own worst enemies. If you’re spending more time texting me to ask, “Is this going to work?,” instead of doing the work I assigned you, and making productive choices…where is that going to lead you? That’s why today’s hint, is Worry Less, Do More. The more you do, the more you’ll be able to do. Conversely, the more you worry, the more you’ll see everything that can go wrong. And where does that lead you?

We’re fifteen days into 31Ways2GetItStarted™!...and if nothing else, just keep it going. You’ve made it this far, why stop now? At the end of the day, the people who succeed aren’t the smartest, or sexiest or bravest. The people who succeed aren’t even the people who deserved it most. They’re just the ones who continually mustered their courage in the face of doubt, fear, despair, indifference and other obstacles, and kept trying. They didn’t ask, “Is this going to work?” because they knew that the answer is, and always will be: “Yes…if you make it work.”

So, get back to work! But if you need some help, email me @carlotazee@gmail.com!

On Maturity

If you’re looking for a job, or trying to make a career-transition, I need you to write this down—not on your hand, preferably—and commit it to memory: you are selling yourself. You’re selling your experience, your education, your connections…but you’re also selling a more “emotional” type of value: your common-sense, your ability to present yourself as a professional adult, you’re emotional intelligence. Before you start rolling your eyes, and think about checking the new video-of-the-day on youporn, just consider this: human resources people are not stupid. They’re also not cold-blooded. They simply must gather as much information about a prospective candidate as possible to ensure that if they hire said person, that person won’t shame them![1]

I’m kidding, but not really: if a company hires you, and spends all that time and money to train you and give you benefits etc.,...you immediately represent the company. You are part of the company’s public profile, for good or bad. So, if you apply for a job in a conservative field like banking, but your very public Facebook page shows you as “liking” Oh, I don’t know, “celebrate national go to work drunk day” or “DR Gurls Like it in the Can,” you can start to see the prospective interviewer get all shifty-eyed.  If, for example, you have a Facebook status reading, “went to work commando, cuz I picked up the bartender last night…” A) Seriously? And B) Oh, hell yeah, you did![2]

I for example, tend to date very pretty boys who aren’t necessarily the brightest in their own neck tattoos. (That is my cross to bear.) However, when I go to business events, I leave them at home, playing Gears of War 3. I don’t shame myself. (Or at least, I can do bad all by myself; I don’t need any help.)

This should be a general maxim for you during your job-hunt: think about your actions from the POV of a potential employer. Does your LinkedIn profile clearly and intelligently describe your accomplishments, skills and—crucially—what type of jobs you are looking for? Human Resources professionals have no time or inclination to read your mind. They are not there to ask the Delphic Oracle on your behalf to divine your perfect job: that is your responsibility. Enunciate.  Don’t give me that look: there’s people out there posting on various LinkedIn groups: “I have a 3.8 GPA and I need a job.” Right: doing what? Where are you located?  What have you done so far?  What can you offer besides 1) your ability to be annoying and 2) your talent for taking tests? [3] 

So, don’t make people guess: ADVERTISE your practical, relevant business skills and experience—in a mature, professional way—on LinkedIn, Facebook, and etc .[4]. Because the very manner in which you choose to advertise your skills will speak volumes as to why, or why not, a potential employer should call you in for an interview.

Let’s face it: you can have the most fantastic  resume in these United States, but if your cover letter is dotted with grammatical errors, or if Googling your name will bring up an out-of-control website, or some photos that instantly raise red flags due to their illegal-as-defined-by-the-DEA content, forget it[5].  HR people use the same Interwebs as you and I.

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[1]  That sounds like something my pop would say to me when I was 8 and behaving even more obnoxiously than usual. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: being an adored only child/child-actor was a-w-e-s-o-m-e!

[2] You obviously had a fantastic night: up-top!

[3] I shouldn’t be unpleasant; they’re probably history majors, bless their debt-ridden hearts. I was a history major and was so super excited to be unleashed onto the world, not understanding that, at the time of my graduation, even a hooker had technically more real-world skills than me.

[4] I would say Myspace, but is anyone within the continental United States even on Myspace anymore? I’m pretty sure one of my cats has a Myspace page, but she hardly ever updates it.

[5] But do feel free to send me links to said blog/photos: carlotazee@gmail.com.