Finding an Awesome Job – Strategy Phase and Gratitude

Today is the day, where not having a job, has really sunken in. It is Monday and usually, I am shaking off the weekend and diving full force into business mode at the office. Instead I am at a coffee shop getting into, find a job mode. I must say that not having a job is a huge time for introspection! It seems like everything makes me pause and ask myself the tough questions. One really big question I am finding surprisingly hard to answer is “What would be your dream company to work for?” This is a question that a lot of recruiters start out with. I really don’t know the answer! I know I want to work for a big company, one that isn’t in the start-up phase. I know I want to do something in sales (because I am really good at it!) and possibly something in Management (I found a lot of joy managing a team of 30 employees). I really enjoy systems, tracking, training, being trained, and statistics… but all of this is describing a bunch of different jobs. Not my dream company or job. It is on my to do list to get clear here… I will get back to you on this… I have found it very intriguing how much I define my self and my success by having a job. And how not having one makes me question my self worth, my abilities and my past choices. I have spent the past few days organizing my house and life. I am pretty sure I am driving Mimi nuts! I have a hard time holding still and my OCD brain seeks order and consistency and since I am not at the office, it is happening in my house. I am truly grateful to have so many friends and family that are assisting me in moving forward!!! I am also grateful for the many lessons, experiences, and opportunities I have had over the years. Even though this roller coaster is at a gut wrenching drop, I am grateful for the ride and for the many people that are riding it with me! I have created a strategy and I am working with my EBS business partner, Justin, to stay focused and obtain results. Here is the game plan: Parameters:

• 20 hours a week finding a job
• 1 hour a day of physical activity 4 days a week
• Meditate 4 days a week
• No drinking on weekdays
• No TV on weekdays

Goals:

• Find a new, even better job
• Have rental properties fixed up and with tenants
• Have house “To Do” list completed
• Get current songs finished (Kill the radio, Brain on, Freestyle, Increase the Gain, Way we are, Evolutionarie)
• Gain weight while losing stomach and love handles
• Get it all done by September 9^th – Plus one is getting it done by September 2^nd

Reward:

• Going to Wendover with Justin and the guys

Consequence:

• 20 hours and $100 in community service

I break the above into steps that are tangable and each have there own timeline. This way I can stay focused and know what I am doing each day to achieve my goals.

I have always been good at time management but my challenge is to make sure I focus on the important things. Right now my list seems huge but a week of chipping away at it, 8 hours a day, should have it whittled down pretty quick. Soon I will start on my resume and doing research for jobs that are out there. I will post my findings when I do. This post was all about the strategy. Having a clear start to ensure I end up with clear results! It is go time!

I am unemployed – Time to find a new job and get some awesome done!

I am unemployed… Jobless… no longer working at the office I have been a part of for 5 years… and I am going to blog about my experience of finding a new job… that is the short of it.

The long of it:

It didn’t come as a surprise and my wife and I were prepared for it. I worked for an umbrella company called Cerebra that currently owned 2 companies; Trendant and SyncCreation. I spent 90% of my time on Trendant as a Business Analyst, Consultant, Sales, Tracking and a whole ton of other random roles.

Trendant has struggled to keep its head above water. Its target market was small businesses and due to the economy small businesses didn’t have the resources and/or couldn’t afford our services. We hit some home runs and had some good months, but the down months were increasing and slowly killed it… and now Trendant is closing up shop.

I am very grateful for the many years, lessons, people, opportunities and all of the experience I gained while working for Cerebra. I will truly miss the people I worked with and hope they too find a job that is even better then the last!

I am also very grateful for the way I was let go. I can’t go into details, but I have some time to find a job without being financially stressed. My good friend and boss, Jeff, came in and got right to the point. “The time has come, we are closing up shop and here is a check. Let’s go to Pat’s BBQ, eat some meat and drink some beer… I am buying”.

SyncCreation will continue. In what form and for how long, I don’t know. But like I said, I only worked on that 10% and that wasn’t enough to pay my salary and keep me around. In fact, one person could run SyncCreation completely.

So, for the 3^rd time in my life, I have found myself without a job.

Over the years I have coached many people in finding a job, writing resumes, etc. and I have to admit I am excited to practice what I preach and fine tune my approach to finding a job.

I am going to create a game plan and treat finding a new job like it is my job. Also, I am going to take some time to get our house in South Jordan ready to rent out, workout, create music, organize the basement, go biking and do some other things on my list that I haven’t had time to get to.

I am going to blog about my experience as I find a job. As I have prepped to write my resume and find a job, I have found many other resources, forums and blogs and I will post them for others to use.

I know many people that are jobless right now (or looking for a new job) and maybe I can save someone some time. Hopefully I can not only find a better job but also assist someone else in finding one too.

Life comes in seasons. It is time for me to start a new one… a better one… wish me luck!

(This is a picture of me from my wedding announcement. To find a job, I am going to tap into my superhuman self, as depicted, and find a job that lets me bring all of me to the table)

I have expertise in and I am looking for a job in:

• Sales, Sales Management
• Marketing and Social Media
• Business Analysis and consulting
• Employee Management
• Job costing, proposal creation
• Reporting, tracking, system creation

Please let me know if you know of a company that is hiring for a position that I might be a fit for. Also, if you are looking for a job, let me know and I will keep an eye out for you on my journey!

My Music Addiction – Intro*Spec – Evolutionarie Rebels Show!

Are there any of you that are addicted… addicted to music? Yeah, I knew I wasn’t the only one.  Like many of my fellow musically addicted friends, I have found myself wanting to share my passion, vision and thoughts with others through the medium of music.

In past blogs I have posted about this subject. I even have a musical label and a blog just for music and bands I come across.  Those of you who know me, know that I have dabbled in music (poetry, lyrics, beats, production, etc) for years.

I have had some successes (Producing the Vocals for Emotional Choice); but mostly, I haven’t put myself out there to really do something with it. In fact, the last time I preformed was at a few folk punk shows over 5 years ago.

I have let family, job, school, house, and life be my excuse to not doing my passion. Saying things like “I don’t have time”, “I can’t find anyone who will make me decent beats” and “when I make my own beats I get to OCD and never let them out”  (except this one)…

… In reality, it’s just me; letting my fear of failure get the best of me! I could write a whole blog on this alone, but I wont.

Now is the time to get over my fear. Thanks to my long time partner in music: Preston (aka Fyzyk). He has never given up on me and has been my inspiration all these years. This is the week where I, John Rogers, Intro*Spec (my stage name) gets out of the box!

(Flyer Courtesy of Design By Mimi)

This Friday, I have been invited to be the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and introduce all the groups that are playing (Concert Details). On top of that, I am preforming with our crew (Evolutionarie Rebels) on stage for a group song we recorded a while back.

Baby steps people! Like I said, it has been over 5 years since I was in front of a crowd!

All ready I have met a person (DopeThought) who has taken away my 2 biggest excuses: Not being able to find beats, and not being in the scene enough to know what is going on and get/give support.

So I am using this Friday as the end of the begging. I will start sharing my music and my passion. I will start supporting people locally who are sharing their music through Hip Hop (instead of just supporting out of state crews).  I will stand tall and be willing to fall!

That being said… I am Intro*Spec. I chose the name after going through about 3 identity crises. It sings to my soul. I live my life in constant introspection and I also connect with being a spec in the cosmos that‘s part of something bigger.

(Intro*Spec – Courtesy of Design by Mimi)

I would love if you would come and support me as I MC and join for one song. I would love it if you came and saw some of the most inspiring, passionate, people I have ever met who I am honored to be involved with (Evolutionarie Rebels). I invite you to come support local Hip-hop and people making a difference through music (Dope Thought and Free Speech Syndicate). And come have your mind blown, by one of the most brilliant minds in Hip Hop,   LMNO from the Visionaries!

Hope to see you there!  Stay tuned for some lyrics and music from me / Intro*Spec, and if you know anyone that makes awesome beats and wants to collaborate, send them my way… please!!!