Ship30for30

You’re laid off and think, “I’m too old to find another job.” It’s a common worry, but let’s face it head-on.

Imagine this. You’ve got years of experience, but every job post seems to scream “young and tech-savvy only.” Frustrating, right? You start to feel invisible in the job market, like your years of hard work don’t count anymore.

Here’s the twist. Your age isn’t a barrier; it’s a bridge. Think about it. You’ve navigated through challenges, adapted to changes, and gained wisdom that only comes with time. That’s gold!

Companies are starting to realize the value of experience. They need your leadership, problem-solving skills, and ability to mentor younger colleagues. Your age is an asset, not a liability.

Here is what you are going to do:

• Redefine Yourself: Your experience is a treasure trove. Use it.
• Learn and Adapt: Pick up new skills. There are tons of resources out there.
• Network Smartly: Connect with people who value your experience.
• Be Confident: Walk into interviews knowing you bring something special to the table.

Remember, every stage of life brings new opportunities. Your next chapter could be your best one yet. Let’s turn that fear into action!

You’re not just looking for a job. You’re showcasing a lifetime of expertise.

Let me help you get started.

The OKR framework is a powerful tool to help achieve great results within companies. Many have adopted this approach for their strategic goal-setting process and performance management system. The system doesn’t have to stop with organizations. You can use it for your own growth and to achieve results.

There are 3 steps you need to follow in order to create a great OKR for your own personal development:

1. Clear and measurable objectives

I have a clear objective for the Ship 30-for-30 program I joined. It was to become a better writer. But that wasn’t enough to be a good OKR. A better-stated objective is “To increase my ability to produce and publish content on all my social media platforms consistently.”

2. Specific and actionable key results

Now I can write the results that will help me measure my progress. The program requires that you write a 250-word post every day. Also, it is recommended that you set aside a specific time to write consistently. So my key results are 30 pieces of published content.

3. Time-bound deadline

It is not a smart goal if it doesn’t have a deadline or time limit. We have 30 days to publish 30 pieces of content. We are required to publish 1 piece of content each day. I’ll state the results like this: publish 1 piece of content per day by 12pm for the next 30 days.

That’s it. I think I have all the pieces to have a good OKR. Now I need to keep shipping to make it happen.

Is your innovation pipeline empty or overflowing right now? Are you struggling to come up with the next big thing for you and your company.

I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite tools that I learned about during my MBA studies that I still use today. It is called the Ansoff Matrix. It will help you come up with ideas of what to do next for your company. It is a 2×2 matrix showing where existing and new products intersects with existing and new markets.

Market Penetration (Existing Products in Existing Markets)

This is basically figuring out how to sell more of what you make to people who already buy your product or service. You can do things like increase brand awareness, strengthen relationships, improve service delivery, and/or look at competitive pricing

Product Development (New Products in Existing Markets)

What you want to do here is figure out what is something new that you can make and sell to existing customers. For example, if you offer recruiting services then look at creating courses on how to interview that you can sell to your clients. You want to create things that are complementary to your main offering.

Market Development (Existing Products in New Markets)

This strategy involved taking what works and trying to replicate that success in a new market. It could be a new geography or demographic. See if a new customer gets value from the things are you already doing for others.

Diversification (New Products in New Markets)

This is always a fun one to experience. Here you are getting into a different market with a new product that you may have little experience or traction with. You could acquire a company or product from someone else that works with your company. You could buy a stake in a new emerging technology or a new process for producing goods and services. This is a way for you to get into a business different from yours.

I’ve used this framework for my executive search business and doing adjunct work for universities. You can use it for anything. If you would like help figuring this out follow me and let me know.

I love to follow folks like Gary Vee and Grant Cardone. They have big personalities and usually have something useful to say on their platforms.

One idea that came to me while listening to a podcast was that everyone could start a media company as their first entrepreneurial venture. I totally agree with this (which is one reason I signed up for the Ship 30 for 30 program) so here is how you can create your own company

Figure Out What Kind of Media/Content You Want to Create

I’m going to use the terms media and content interchangeably here.

There are 3 basic types of media you can create: written, audio, and video. Written content could be a blog, a book, or an article that you publish on your platform and other people’s platforms. If you like to talk you could create a podcast or audiobooks. If you like to be on camera or work a camera then YouTube might be your thing.

Think about which type of content you are comfortable creating and decide to start your media company now.

Figure Out What You Want to Put Out There and Who You Want to Serve

I’m going to be creating content for an audience I developed a passion for: people who are mid-career or mid-life and lose a job or have to make a big change in their career and go a different direction they didn’t plan. For this audience, I want to share my story of how I left engineering and information technology and now own and operate my own executive search firm placing executives in nonprofit organizations. Sharing my process and experience will hopefully help those who struggle with this pivot point in life move forward. All my media and content I create will go to serve them in my media company.

Start Creating and Marketing The Media

Come up with a cool name for your company and start creating the media under that name. My media company is called DEJ Media (because my initials are DEJ) and everything I’m making is now going to be a part of that company. All my writing, my podcast that is in the works, my book that I’m working on, and any videos I capture will be a part of that entity.

Build Your Audience Through Email and Continue to Give Them Value

As you start to share your content with people try to capture feedback and their email addresses for your mailing list. Once you have that you can market other things to that list down the road. For now, focus on creating high-quality content and sharing your message with the world. Make sure you are not just making noise but generating value for those that follow you.

Study the Process of Creating Content and Get Better At It With the Feedback You Receive

This is a shameless plug for the Ship 30 for 30 Program.

I’m almost done with the 30 days of daily writing which has been a tremendous experience. I’m using everything I learned to continue my daily habit of creating media/content and pushing it out there. I now have a library of content, tools, templates, and a habit to keep producing. The better I get the more I’ll produce that I can eventually market as digital products and services. For now, I’m going to continue learning how to write digitally and you should do the same

I look forward to publishing more posts, recording more podcasts, and creating videos as an output of my media company. If you want help with this for your own set up follow me and send me a DM. I would love to talk it over with you.

Everyone is looking to get the next promotion and possibly ascend to a new level of responsibility. In doing some research I found 5 key things you need to know about how to help with your next steps:

A Critical Skill to Work on is Communication

Communication skills like empathy, active listening, and clear articulation of vision are critical for leaders in hybrid work environments. Adaptability and emotional intelligence are also key.

Those That Drive Efficiency are In Demand

Currently, there is a laser focus on hiring for CEO, CFO, and CRO roles to drive efficiency at companies. If you are one of these people you should start to market yourself as an expert and look for roles at companies looking to do a turnaround.

Leadership development is a top priority for successful companies to empower teams and foster an inclusive culture

People who consistently improve themselves and others are assets to the company. They help the company stay competitive and increase retention. Ongoing learning, coaching, and modeling desired behaviors from the top are important.

Leaders are embracing AI and Leveraging It

AI is becoming more ubiquitous and leaders need to understand how to leverage it to benefit their teams and companies. It is helping emerging competitors punch above their weight and deliver services and products efficiently and effectively.

Soft Skills are Still in Demand

Soft skills like listening, communicating with empathy, and speaking about diversity require constant honing. The best executives commit to continually developing their leadership abilities and improving their communication skills as they ascend to leadership in their respective organizations.

If you are starting to look for the next opportunity in leadership for yourself, remember these tips and follow us for more!

The growth of generative AI has spooked a lot of people.

Many are afraid of losing their jobs and their ability to make a living for their families. Others have a technophobia and don’t want to deal with emerging innovations. AI is here to stay and we all need to embrace the change.

Here are 5 critical areas for older workers to work on to stay competitive and relevant:

1. Continuous learning and upskilling to stay relevant.

Don’t stop learning and don’t let a job define what you can do.

The Internet is full of information and knowledge you can harvest. Search for topics that are relevant to your passions and interests. Take free classes on YouTube and other educational platforms to keep your skills current.

2. Critical thinking and problem-solving to identify areas for automation.

The best skill you can develop regardless of industry is how to solve problems. Improving your critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills is key to being a valuable asset and a thought leader. Being able to make constant improvements increases your marketability for sure.

3. Adaptability and flexibility to embrace new technologies.

My pastor said, “Those that are flexible do not get bent out of shape.” Don’t let AI and technology bend you out of shape. The best way to do that is to learn to adapt. Those who can will thrive in new environments and make progress.

4. Emotional intelligence to navigate changing work dynamics.

Learning to not take things personally is a tremendous skill. Improving your emotional intelligence helps you be heard and seen in a different way. You will be able to build trust and form new relationships that will help you in your work environment.

5. Collaboration and teamwork to work alongside automated systems.

Collaboration is part of the playbook. Working with others to achieve a shared goal shows how you fit into the puzzle. When a piece is missing everyone knows so be that valuable piece of the workplace puzzle.

Hopefully, these tips will help you figure out your next steps and how to navigate this new world we are all entering. Don’t let AI and technology control you. Get into the game and make great things happen

Everyone has had jobs they liked and jobs they hated. I’ve had my fair share of great working opportunities and dreaded dungeons in a cubicle.

One of my greatest jobs on the planet today is being a grandfather. I am affectionately known as “Pop Pop” to a beautiful 1-year-old girl.

Here is what I get to do with her:

Spoil her rotten

Anytime she coughs or cries an Amazon truck shows up. I get to give her all the cool things she needs and it is fun. She has a baby Keurig that makes bottles of formula (that thing is so cool)

Spend time with her

Now that I’m closer to her parents I get to see her often. I sometimes pick her up from school and we come home to hang out. She is the cutest thing and I just love her.

Create a Legacy For Her

She is the Chief Cuteness Officer for the executive search firm that I own. Yes, she has a job. And she is a part of our marketing (follow me on Linkedin and you will see her from time to time.) Because she is an employee I get to build a business that one day she could own. That would be something to see down the road.

This by far is one of my greatest jobs. I plan to work at it for the rest of life and I don’t plan on retiring from it. Time to go pick up my grandbaby.

Some of us thought we were going to become something we dreamed of from childhood. I wanted to be an astronaut at one time which didn’t work out the way I thought.

Some people are facing new challenges as they reach a point in their careers where they need to do something different. It could be because of a layoff or because they are stagnant in their roles.

Here is a sure-fire way to take the next step to do something different:

Identifying Your Fears

Fear is a worthless emotion but can definitely control what you do.

First, acknowledge the fears you have that keep you from doing something different. It could be that you are afraid to fail. You could be scared of what people will think of your new direction.

Acknowledge the fears you have so you can deal with them

Adopting A Growth Mindset

Someone said when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change, you will change.

This can happen when you have a growth mindset. Change isn’t about just doing or being different. It is about exploring and accepting that you can do whatever you want if you want to grow.

Having a growth mindset will push you past your fears.

Put A Support System in Place

If you want to go fast go alone – if you want to go far go with others.

It is easier to start something new and different if you have people on your team who support you. Look for people that are going to be in your corner. More importantly, look for people who are going to hold you accountable for what you are trying to accomplish.

A team can make the dream happen.

You can turn the corner in your life and make great things happen for yourself. Go ahead and take the plunge. Your best ‘you’ is waiting on the other side of you making the change.

Today, there is an app, website, or software platform for just about anything (including finding someone to walk your dog).

But when it comes to brainstorming there is 1 app I can’t live without:

Mindmanager

And here’s why:

• This is the best mindmapping software out there.Mindmapping is a nonlinear way of coming up with ideas. Everything doesn’t have to flow in a straight line. This tool helps you be providing a digital way to capture your ideas visually.
• You can export to different formatsYou can create a mindmap for a project and then export the information to a spreadsheet or a project plan. You can create a mindmap for a book and then export it out to a document for Microsoft Word or Google Docs. This makes the tool very flexible and useful.
• You can collaborate with team members as you brainstormThere are collaboration features that allow you to brainstorm with a team. Working with others in a digital way allows you to capture great ideas.

If you want a tool to help you be creative, can export your work to your favorite tools, and can help you collaborate with your team better, I can’t recommend using this app enough. Check it out at http://www.mindmanager.com today.

Years ago I discovered a framework that would help me figure out what I was on the planet and what I was designed to do.

The framework comes from the Japanese word “ikigai” which translates to “reason for being.” It has 4 parts and the intersection of those parts represents the sweet spot of your existence. Here is how it works:

What you love (your passion)

Passion is simple – it is the thing or things you just absolutely love to do.

There are so many things I love in my life. I love music, technology, making money, helping people, and single-player sports. Write down the things you really enjoy and can get immersed in for hours without thinking.

Be honest about what you are passionate about.

What you are good at (your vocation)

Vocation represents the things you are good at – even if you don’t like them.

Over time I’ve worked on and gotten better at speaking in public. I used that skill to enter the classroom as an adjunct instructor. I received an award for teaching excellence so based on that I can say that I am a good teacher

Vocation is what you do in your sleep that others say you are good at.

What the world needs (your mission)

Your mission is straightforward – it is what the world needs now.

There are too many hungry people in the world that need food. There are too many homeless people that need a place to stay. There are too many people in this world dealing with anxiety, depression, mental health, and contemplating suicide.

Your mission could be to eradicate things like these from the planet.

What you can be paid for (your profession)

Money is not the end result here but it is the tool for which the world runs.

These are activities that you do that someone is willing to pay you for that you can do. Anything from cutting grass to walking dogs to writing code to posting things on social media for a small business owner. You have some skills that can pay the bills if you think about it.

Your profession is a tool you use to help build your career.

All you have to do now is write each of these down on a sheet of paper and then think about the intersection of your vocation, mission, passion, and profession. I’m sure you can come up with some ideas you never thought of that you should take some time to explore.