Occupy Portland has been hijacked. Try another approach

America watched with interest – and thousands joined in – when some of the “Occupy” movements took shape. It happened as Wall Street continued to fail us and Bank of America's threat to raise debit card fees fanned the flames. One percent of Americans own 40 percent of the wealth. Unemployment is higher than we've seen in generations. Homes are underwater, through no fault of most of the people who could afford the mortgages they earned. People are plain fed-up.

“The 99%” resonated with average people. There was something “there” in the unrest that brought so many together.

Then the “movement” turned a corner and average Americans are turning their backs. They're sick of it. They would not mind if it's not the lead story on the news tonight.

Most of the images we have seen lately are negative. There are mixed messages, there is no united front and the only consistent activity seems to be disgusting crimes and sanitation issues.

The problem is particularly bad in Portland. There is no leadership in the movement. Attempts to bring in legitimate groups with track records for making positive change are admirable-- but failing. Jobs for Justice and Oregon Banks Local have proposed some effective solutions worth consideration. But every time they try to speak, there's a heckler in front of the camera hurling insults and worse at the watching public.

Things get worse here because city hall has failed to manage this. The police are trying to manage the problem alone.

The answers we need can't be found in a muddy park packed with tents. Anyone with legitimate concerns or answers, should move on and regroup. Americans are hungry for what you have to give, but you're not being heard because “the 80%” of your companions have ruined your movement.

LOL and crying all the way FROM the bank. How Bank Transfer Day brought the big banks to their knees

There is something positively delicious about that fact the moxie of a California woman and 400,000 Social Media connections are doing what President Obama, Federal regulators and Congress cannot: holding the big banks accountable for creating the economic collapse.

Kristen Christian decided enough was enough when Bank of America announced plans to punish consumers who use their debit cards to make purchases. She created a Facebook page and encouraged fed up consumers to pull their money out of big banks on or before November 5th. She advocates doing business with locally operated financial institutions such as community banks or credit unions.
Nearly 70,000 people said “OK” and her invitation has been shared amongst Facebook fans nearly 400,000 times.

“Occupy Wall Street” hasn't had the same impact. I have yet to see any media reports putting a human face on who is participating or really why; most of the coverage focuses on how many have been arrested and how taxpayers will clean up the poop when it's over.

“Bank Transfer Day” is better thought out. We understand the frustration and we know what we can do about it. Credit unions are reporting so much new account activity, many are expanding their hours leading up to November 5th.

Now the big banks are “reconsidering” the debit card charges. Do you believe them? To me, it's like believing a drug addict who promises to quit. Or the cheating spouse who wants “one more chance.” The big banks had many more chances.

First there was the big bailout. How did they spend their T.A.R.P. funds? Then there was the loan modification program. That worked (not!). Now the administration has announced a new plan to help homeowners whose mortgages are underwater. As far as I can tell, it benefits only those with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac backed mortgages – and let's see if it even works for them! There are no programs and there is no forgiveness for those of us who got loans we could afford, but have since seen our property values plunge.

“Accountability has been mostly A.W.O.L. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis,” reported The New York Times, the newspaper the media haters love to brand “liberal.” A column in Sunday's paper notes that the plan to hold financial institutions accountable for foreclosure misconduct, isn't expected to sting them much.

I grew up believing after the mistakes of the Great Depression, an economic downfall would not be likely. All of the checks and balances, the safeguards, the regulation, the trust, the systems put into place to allow Americans to earn and save – it's mostly broken.

So I applaud the actions of a single person who took her frustration to social media and invited Americans to participate in Bank Transfer Day. It's got the big banks in retreat and that is as good as it gets.

The Positive Image of Public Prayer

It takes a hero, sometimes, to make prayer acceptable.

The Denver Broncos' Tim Tebow will have no part of head butting and chest bumping when there's something to celebrate on the field. He kneels. And prays. And the fans love it.

His actions are being talked about, shared on line and copied. Seems “Tebowing” is a trend.
Can't say I'm sorry.

Good reporting has a Positive Image with news consumers. We just don't see enough of it!

I'm about to share some free story ideas here, because, quite frankly, they are needed.

Watching from the other side now as a news customer, I don't see enough value. I already saw the sports highlights on ESPN. I already got the forecast from weather.com on my mobile.

The majority of your audience isn't beating a spouse, making meth in the basement, joining gangs or stabbing each other on the light rail line. So why is nearly every story about those things?

Most of the audience can identify with one or all of these issues:

*Is worse off financially now than 12 months ago
*Is unemployed, underemployed or related to someone who is
*Received a notice in the past 12 months of a financial service that is going away or is soon to cost more
*Continued to make mortgage payments on time but has seen a 15 percent decline in their home value
*Experienced shock, disgust or anger at the conduct of political decision makers
*Got off the couch to get involved by commenting to public agencies, contributing to a cause or made a personal change because enough was enough

If you want to be the news outlet that makes a difference, be the jobs source, be the personal finance destination, expose stupid things (no shortage out there) and find solutions.

Here are some ideas:
*A Boston paper did a great story on how restaurant customers were not being served the fish they thought they were ordering. This presents all sorts of health and allergy risks, not to mention that no one should be charged $25 for a “flounder” dish that's really swain—a tasty but not so nutritious fish that sells for $3.99 a pound. The reporters collected samples from some high end restaurants and had a lab test the fish DNA. In times like these, news customers want to get what they pay for, and they want you to find the truth for them.

*Everyone is reporting on the Muslims who were fired for refusing to clock out of their car rental agency jobs for five prayer breaks a day. Dig deeper than getting a token interview with one representative of “the Muslim Community.” What would happen to you if you left to attend a church Mass without clocking out? What are typical employment policies for smoke breaks? For nursing moms? Are these uniformly enforced?

*Public overtime. You can get a database for any sector and effect change if you find abuse. You can ask that the agency just list the employee names and annual overtime payments for the past, say, 24 months. You can receive this file electronically and in just minutes, be able to scroll down the list and find who is getting the big payouts. Find a similar agency in another jurisdiction that is doing a better job controlling overtime.

*A lot has been said about the “Move your Money” and “Bank Transfer Day” movements. If you are not reporting daily on what's behind these causes, you're out of touch. Bank Transfer Day's Facefook page has been shared with over 350,000 fans. And it's less than a month old. You know the story. It was created by a 27 year old California woman. Have you done the math yet to see how much time and money, if any, customers would save leaving the big bank they're angry with? Follow a customer and show whether it's easy or difficult to make the switch.

*I'm a fan of police and 'behind the scenes in the crime lab” stories- but you can only do a couple of these a month before they are old, old, old. Look at safety equipment. Do the radios work? How old are the cars? How many cars have they wrecked and what's being done to better train them? You might even find they're sending too much on cars. My hometown police (Beaverton, OR) seem to have a few new, hot looking Camaros – unmarked. What's the need/benefit of that? They may be able to justify it but does anyone ever ask?

A few years back, advertisers and consultants sold news management on prioritizing the chase for a younger audience. This is even more laughable now than it was a few years ago, given how the economy has hit 20-30 somethings. But whatever the case management seems to believe the way to hook younger viewers is with younger hires. They come in the door with excellent technology skills and often with solid work ethics but many don't know how to get a substantive story. Here are some dues-paying steps to consider:

*Come to work an hour early to make some calls and file public information requests. Tell your assigning editors “hands off” until your shift starts today. You're investing. Get your boss to support this. An hour invested today will net results in about a week. Call every other day to see how your records request is coming along.

*Budget $25 a month of your own money for cultivating sources. Bring them a favorite coffee. Take them for a beer after work. Years ago when I was an assignment editor at WJW, a retiring crime reporter told the up-and-coming beat reporter some of this same stuff. He said, “Go to their weddings. Go to their funerals.” She did. That was only part of the reason she went on to become the city's best beat reporter, but it helped cultivate relationships.

*Pool resources. If you have a story you want to do that requires work in other cities or expensive lab tests, see if you can work with other outlets in your ownership group. Or, get your editor's help putting a group together. If everyone contributes just $100, it's likely to win budget approval.

Deadline's this evening? Editor too busy to work with you? No research help? Sharing a camera with a two-hour timetable? No money to run lab tests? Been there. I get it.

But we're talking about what's real today. How are you spending time on days when you have to wait for that camera? Are your days off so full that you can't invest some research time? I know unions hate it, but you have to invest in your career and that means giving up some personal time and resources. Forget about whether you get paid overtime – this is an investment in keeping your readers, viewers and online visitors.

Celebrating credit unions is nice work if you can get it...and I did!

I don't worry too much about people who kill the messenger. I am a spokesperson for credit unions.

Part of my job is to hate on the big banks. They keep making it so easy. I am also tasked with celebrating credit unions. That's pretty easy, too.

Think about it: credit unions have a Positive Image because of a track record demonstrating financial responsibility, giving consumers a voice through ownership – our consumers are “members” – community service – Credit Unions for Kids funds children's hospitals across the county, and the organization was founded right here in Oregon and Southwest Washington – and teaching financial literacy to 8th graders – BizKid$ was founded in Washington with credit union donations.

Credit unions are not-for-profit. Instead of paying dividends to greedy Wall Street stockholders, we pay back the members – most of our credit unions still offer free checking and free debit cards. Our members don't have to drive around looking for a branch; most of our credit unions are networked so members can deposit or withdraw from thousands and thousands of credit union ATM s across the county. Did I mention that's free? Some of them even reward you with gifts for using your debit card. Need a car loan? Chances are you interest rate is better at a credit union.

We don't pay a fat-cat board of directors. Our boards are all volunteer, every last one of them. I read in the Portland Business Journal recently that people who sit on two local bank boards are getting between $40,000 and $70,000 per year, in addition to salaries from their real jobs, for being on a bank board. No wonder bank customers pay $20.00 a month for checking accounts. LOL.

Taxpayer bailouts? Not here. Our credit unions, as not-for-profit institutions, are not eligible. So on the pretty rare occasion that a credit union isn't going to make it, the other credit unions step up. Most of the time, member service is not interrupted. We pay for our own insurance fund, too. Our accounts, like those deposited in big banks, are generally insured up to $250,000. Congress writes check to the FDIC, but not to us.

“For the most part, credit unions did not make really stupid decisions,” Michael Barr recently said to a group of Northwest credit union leaders as he recalled the irresponsible bank actions that led to the recession. Barr was hired by the Treasury to write the Dodd-Frank legislation designed to reform Wall St. You can certainly argue that it's not working the way it was intended to – it resulted in 20,000 pages of regulations our industry struggles with, some of which keep us so busy, we can't have as much member focus as we'd like. The audience appreciated Barr's insight but I can't say there's much buy in to the over-regulation engulfing our credit unions. We were painted with the same brush that was supposed to remodel big banks.

One of the consequences of Dodd-Frank is a rule limiting the fees retailers pay every time a consumer uses a debit card to make a purchase. It's called a “swipe fee.” On average, card issuers were getting .40 for transactions, and that's been cut in half for institutions with assets of over $10 billion. That's the impetus or maybe the excuse for Bank of America's “economic suicide” decision to start charging its customers $60.00 per year for debit card privileges. It doesn't affect most credit unions – yet – because of our asset size. But here's why we fought that rule: we urged Congress at the time to stop and study the impact it would have on the public. We doubted merchants would refund any of the debit card swipe fees to shoppers. And we just knew it would force some financial institutions to start charging those same shoppers for debit card services. So they'd end up paying for debit card services twice: once at the cash register and again in monthly fees.

Debit cards are preferred by shoppers who don't want to carry cash or pay to write checks. Offering them is a great service to consumers and a real benefit for retailers.

Here's a fact the public may not know about the swipe fees. They pay for the expense of offering debit cards. That includes the insurance that protects consumers from fraudulent purchases. It also includes the cost of re-issuing cards after a breach. One of our Northwest credit union CEO s reported that the breach on Michaels' craft store customers alone, cost his credit union $200,000 to fix.

We fell 12 votes short of winning the argument on swipe fees. With no research or consumer impact study, the Senate voted to immediately enforce the so-called interchange rule. In fact, all four of our Northwest Senators voted against consumers. Now our worst fears are coming to fruition. Just ask Bank of America customers.

What do you think would happen, if the next time you buy something with a debit card, you asked the cashier to give you back the 20-cents his store is saving?

I am not siding with the big banks. They're clearly deciding that rather than absorbing the lost fees by cutting board compensation or stockholder dividends, they'll take it back from the same public that bailed them out.

I am instead calling on Congress for more thoughtful regulation.

Given their track record, I don't think we'll see any change overnight. But credit unions will maintain a Positive Image and you can benefit. Credit unions are a smarter choice for consumers. Not all offer the same services, but chances are, there is one near where you live or work that will offer exactly what you want. Log onto www.asmarterchoice.org and find the one that fits.

Welcome. We want you.

Ten years ago today

I always say a prayer on take-off and landing. Statistically, I'd been told years earlier, that's when a plane is most likely to crash. I don't remember where I heard that and never confirmed it, but I still pray.

I said “Thank you, Lord,” on September 11, 2001 as my plane touched down in Nashville at 8:48 a.m. Eastern time. I heard an answer back in my head that said “Your prayer was answered,” with an emphasis on the word your. I remember thinking it was a little odd but didn't give it another thought as I rushed off the flight and bought a bus ticket to the resort where I would be attending a convention of television news directors. The ticket was purchased at 9:03 a.m. Eastern time. I didn't think about the significance of either time until later when I was reviewing my credit card receipts to fill out an expense report. Today I realize I was very lucky to be in those places at those times.

I waited outside for the bus to arrive on that beautiful sunny morning. No one else was outside the terminal yet and there was no confusion. When the bus finally pulled up, the driver told me there had been a plane crash at the World Trade Center in New York; he thought it was a private plane. He loaded my luggage and invited me to sit in the air conditioned bus while he ran inside to assist other passengers. His radio was on. I heard ABC radio saying there had been a second hit. Then I knew.

I got off the bus, grabbed my bag and went inside. By then, lines were forming at ticket counters, rental car desks and around TV's. I tried to call my work and my husband several times before finally getting through to the WEWS TV assignment desk. By then I was in line for a return flight but already knew then, 20 minutes into this, that any additional flights were unlikely. The assignment editors told me to stay on the line; they knew I would not get through again if I hung up. They called the Cleveland Plain Dealer and held the phone up so I could talk to my husband. They told me about the Pentagon. They told me they had information a plane was being held hostage on the tarmac in Cleveland, and they were trying to confirm this information. By then I'd made my way to the front of the line at the Continental Airlines desk. I told the agent I worked in TV news in Cleveland and asked whether he knew anything about one of their planes being held hostage. He assured me it was not true. “Don't go with that information,” I told our desk while I asked him to get me out on the next flight. He printed me a ticket but told me he expected all flights would be grounded. In fact, he said the air traffic controllers outside Cleveland were in the process of landing some 700 planes wherever they could do so safely. That was another story of calm heroism that would not be made clear for weeks to come. At that moment for me, it was just plain scary.

The agent turned his screen around so that I could see the problem in Cleveland was only because there were no gates; as each plane landed, it had to wait for gate space so passengers could disembark. He was a clam and reliable source of information over the next two hours while I stood in car rental lines and talked by phone with my assignment desk, general manager and his assistant, Judy Shaw, another clam presence on that day which I will always remember and be grateful for.

It was Judy who finally landed a rental car for my nine hour drive home. I won't tell you how many times I had to stop at pay phones once my cell phone died – I now travel with a car charger even for trips to the grocery store – and how kind everyone was at gas stations and rest stops that day.


I heard small town radio stations in their finest hour as they brought in spiritual and political experts to reassure their audiences. In those little towns, blood drives were already beginning. I think I'd been on the road only a couple of hours when Clear Channel radio stations began their remarkable national simulcast.

I could not wait to be home again to my husband and dog but there was nothing I could do about it.

Once I arrived in Cleveland I headed directly to work to at least lend a hand to the exhausted overnight team. When the morning news was over I drove my rental car home for a much needed shower and a few hours' rest.

Driving into my subdivision, I remember thinking, “This can't be.” It was all still there. I don't think flowers have ever been more colorful. The sky was so blue, the grass so perfectly green.

I was not in the newsroom on the day I thought my team at WEWS TV needed me most, but this was also the day I learned that I was unnecessary. The team, the best breaking news unit anywhere in that time, did an excellent job without me. On September 11, 2001, I learned I was not important, but that all mankind working together can and will be a bigger force than a team of terrorists who don't really know God.

That's the feeling we all need to have and communicate today. It's been pushed to the back of our minds for many holiday seasons, triumphs and other tragedies. But it must never be forgotten.

If you have a flag, fly it today to remind the world that Americans remain united against terror.

Failure has a Positive Image -- when it's fixed.

Rule number one about calling a product "successful": It's only good if the target audience buys it.

Successful people know how to create what customers want. They also own it and move on when no one's buying.

Few if anyone gets on base every time they step up to the plate. I can't think of any entrepreneurs who haven't struck out a few times. Maybe their idea was ahead of its time. Maybe their idea wasn't sustainable with the resources they had to execute it, maybe the economic or political climate changed at the wrong time and made their idea irrelevant. Maybe their idea just plain sucked.

Those who own ideas that suck see one of two things happen: they learn from the experience and create a winner in their next at-bat, or they salvage part of their original concept because they divorce themselves from the notion that they are all-knowing. Then they accept good feedback and assistance.

This is what Howard Schultz did so effectively with Starbucks. He knew the atmosphere had changed, that some of the food service was sending more people away than it was bringing in, that staff needed to reconnect with customers. He took it back to basics and put it back on the road to success. Not only was this good for Mr. Schultz' bank accounts, it kept thousands employed. It probably also gives him some street creds with his current “No Labels” campaign – a movement to freeze political contributions until The President and Congress take responsibility for the budget mess. It's another example of an opportunity to look in the mirror, own the meltdown and fix it.

It's a good case study for those stubbornly cemented in continuing to run their not-so-brilliant ideas into the ground, taking hard workers with them.

If you are working for anyone besides yourself and more importantly if you have employees, you have an obligation to be successful. Measure your success through research, customer feedback, social media input, whatever it takes to know whether what you're offering is working for the public. Look in the mirror and respond to the information.

If you have money to burn and months to waste, then it's probably OK to be married to your own ideas—as long as you're playing with your own dime and your own time. When you have investors and employees,however, you are showing reckless disregard for their funds and their futures.

There is no shame in failure, but denial is a crying shame. Ask anyone laid off recently because a bad idea didn't get fixed.

Teaching a generation to manage money more effectively than Congress.

In a warehouse north of downtown Seattle, creativity abounds. Artists knock out graphics that are really important to American youth, set designers re-create game show props, board rooms, class rooms and credit union lobbies. Script writers perfect their craft while talent practice their lines knowing they have to be effective. The beehive of activity is a calling for every single one of them. They are not making a fortune, but they are setting the stage for a generation to do so.

I was recently treated to a tour of the set at BizKid$, the national Emmy-award winning program that is teaching financial literacy to middle school students. Now in its fith season, it is broadcast on PBS in all 50 states. The production crew is cranking out as many quality episodes as possible before some of the talent heads back to college.

BizKid$ is teaching a generation of teenagers how to balance checkbooks, write business plans, apply for loans and execute their dreams. It was a dream that a team of experienced TV producers had and were able to bring to life with financing from the credit unions of Washington state. The producers had the know-how; they created Bill Nye, the Science Guy. The Washington Credit Union Foundation liked the vision and fueled the fundraising.

It was inspiring to see one of the creators, Jamie Hammond, in her role as Executive Producer. She encourages, empowers, expects and rewards her team as all brilliant leaders do. Over lunch she surprised us when she let us know her 65th birthday was days away; her energy and commitment rivals that of any 35 year old. She continues to hear the calling and answer it, as the entire team does.

Thanks to BizKid$, your eighth grader may know more about how to form a corporation that you do.

Are “Smartphones” dumbing down our communication?

Recently I joined four successful friends for lunch. I remember what I ordered –sweet potato fries. I don't remember much about what was discussed at the table. There was very little four-way conversation.

At any given moment, one of us was answering incoming calls, surfing Facebook or reading emails. I might have concluded we are just a group of colossal bores, but I am seeing the same scene played out at other tables anytime I am in a restaurant. I see it during meetings. I see it when people are on the treadmill or out walking their dogs.

Don't get me wrong; the Smartphone is a genius invention. How did we live without it? We can check out restaurant menus in seconds. We can send pictures to grandma in minutes. No need to get lost anymore, thanks to the navigation system. Heck, when we're bored, that voice is company! “In 800 feet, turn left.” Love it.

Isn't it also great that our bosses can now reach us 24/7? We can pick up dropped balls. We can stay plugged in while we're on vacation. Wonderful.

Smartphones and social media are double edged swords: they put us in touch with long lost “friends” and make us instantly accessible to colleagues who are miles away.

The downside is that it is suddenly PC to disconnect with the people you're physically with, so that you can connect with someone else. What is wrong with this picture? If we buy into that culture, we could be settling for superficial business and personal relationships, while we lose connectivity with those who really matter.

Remembering Miss Hazel. Singing the praises of a jazz singer who lived to make others successful

I will never forget the first time I heard Hazel Johnson sing “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Her sound was rich and soulful, her interpretation more riveting than the one that topped the record charts at the time, her voice so powerful she needed no microphone; it so filled – not a club, not a recording studio, but her front porch.

I simply had to go across the lawn and sit with her to hear the rest of it!

Hazel lived in a brick house next door to me on an idyllic, inner-city street called Watson Road. It was Indianapolis in the late 60’s and early 70’s – before David Letterman made Broad Ripple famous. Our neighborhood was integrated, and her mom, who owned the house, had a good job, and we thought we had the world by the tail.

We became close friends even though we were years apart.

She was like a bonus Auntie to me and helped to shape my dreams and ambitions; my belief that I could do anything and be anything. She was right.

But she worked harder to get there than I ever had to. She grew up Black in the segregation era. She was a single mom supporting a family on a local jazz singer’s income. In spite of working until 3 or 4 in the morning, she would be up in time to see her kids and everyone else’s off to school, and she waited for us all to get home. She kept us busy on muggy, summer days. She’s the reason so many of us went to church, got babysitting jobs and stayed out of trouble.

I fell in love with her butter cake, as did most of the neighborhood. You could smell it when it was in the oven. It beckoned you to come over, just as her voice did. What I did not realize then was that it was probably made with 3 or 4 sticks of butter. I saw no problem back then with having seconds, even knowing her little brothers would want some! Much as I treasured our afternoons together, I did not know until later in life what an impact she’d have on my life. It was a gift she shared with many, many others as well.

Hazel sang with many of the greats back in the day, including Wes Montgomery. But there was no American Idol, no internet, and no way to make yourself famous with self posted videos that could go viral in 15 minutes. It was a tough road and there was a lot of competition.

She never complained about where she’d come from or about how hard it was to get there. She talked a lot about a dream she had that she’d be able to give back. She’s one of the few people I know who lived the dream.

Decades after I grew up, Hazel married her dream guy, Mack Strong. His career took them away then brought them home again. In 2005 they founded the Inner City Music School. They raised money and convinced music greats to come in and teach children to play instruments, to sing and to appreciate jazz. It was all free. She also founded the Indy Women’s Jazz Festival to give voice to talented ladies who otherwise were not being recognized or celebrated.

It was sad to hear that Miss Hazel lost her long war to cancer this weekend.

The war she won was giving voice to so many others.

Thank you, Miss Hazel.

When is it time to leave a job?

Several times last week I was asked by people for my thoughts on whether they should be looking for job upgrades.

Spring fever? Coincidence? Low morale across the board?

I don't know the reasons so many are asking so suddenly. I do know it's a difficult time to be on the job market, but it's not an impossible time. Here are some reasons to dust off the resume:

1. You are getting a “bad vibe” at work. If your schedule was suddenly changed to one that's terribly inconvenient and the explanation for it made no sense for you or for the company's productivity, that may be a sign. It's a chicken-crap way of doing business as I believe management should be diplomatically direct with employees, but it could be a sign that things are not going to improve for you.

2. You have been demoted. Careful here. You might have been put back into a role where your skill sets will be put to much better use. If this is the case, hang in there. You might wake up in 30 days and realize you love the job and that you're contributing in a major way. But if you were knocked down for poor performance or the bosses have their eye on another rainmaker, you might be better off with a fresh start.

3. You pitched a promotion and did not get the nod. Careful here, too. Ask your boss for a warts-on appraisal about the decision. You might have been a strong candidate but someone much more ideal might have been available. If you would be comfortable continuing in your current role, by all means stay. Word to the wise here: when the new person starts in the role you pitched, know that he or she likely knows you pitched the job. Make sure you communicate your desire to be on the team and deliver on a promise to help with the transition. You don't want to be the new supervisor's biggest concern. You want to be his or her best asset! If the boss communicated from the beginning of the search, however, that there were concerns about your skills or whether you were ready for this job, you may be able to find a bigger role in another company.

There are some “good” reasons to start a job search, even in this challenging economy:

1. You have mastered that entry level job and there isn't a bigger role for you in your company. If you are mobile and can relocate, share your enthusiasm with hiring decision-makers. Communicate your willingness to relocate if necessary.

2. You know for a fact you're being paid below market value and you see a similar job posted that pays more. Apply! As you would in any job, however, do your homework. Compare apples-to-apples. If you are giving up a 401K match, vacation time or education benefits, you may not be coming out ahead.

3. You had favorable conversations with potential employers late last year or early this year about new positions they'd like to create. These jobs seemed to have your name on them, but the economy did not allow any movement during the first half of the year. I am seeing indications now that in the second half of 2011, there will be some job creation. Reach out and see where they stand.

Never give up and leave a job without another one in your pocket. That old saying your mom had is true. “It's easier to find a job when you have a job,” is correct because while you are working, you're engaging, connecting and networking with others. You are far more likely to hear of new opportunities in a job setting than you are at home surfing the web for opportunities.

Keep in mind, too, that for the unemployed, job searches are taking as long as a year. Once you hit that milestone, you might even be considered “unemployable.”

So if you fall into any of the categories we discussed today and it's “time to go” hang in there on your current job while using your off time to conduct a quiet, well thought out search. Good luck!

Sharing the love at work before it's too late. A shining example of how an employer, friends and co-workers came through when it counted

This is a story about living and loving and working with cancer.

Work consumes so much of our time on earth. It defines us, pays us, inspires and frustrates us. It also establishes some of the friendships we keep for life -- and beyond.

Such is the story of two lovely young ladies in Seattle, Ann Abraham Brooks and Tricia Moen. They met on the job at KIRO TV when Ann was producing a newscast and Tricia was an aspiring intern. Their careers blossomed in the years that followed. Tricia worked her way up into a producer’s chair at KOMO TV in Seattle -- a world-class station in one of America’s most desired TV markets. Ann left the news business and held the reigns in public relations, most recently marketing Washington’s fine wines.

But they never lost touch with each other. They were there for each other right up until early Saturday, when Tricia, just 39, lost her battle with colon cancer.

During that courageous fight, Tricia and Ann talked, emailed, met for frequent lunches at new restaurants they wanted to try, and spent a wonderful week in Hawaii together this past December. They hung out at the spa, soaked up the sun, swam with dolphins. Ann shared some inspiring stories and pictures of the trip with other friends. She said none of it would have been possible without the support of Tricia’s employer, KOMO-TV, and her colleagues there. They made sure there Tricia was covered during her treatments and appointments, for more than two years, and that there was enough vacation time for that last trip to Hawaii. Ann said she and Tricia were surprised to arrive and find their hotel accommodations had been upgraded to a suite. Their long plane ride home was more comfortable because First Class upgrades were waiting for them at the gate -- all compliments of Team Tricia at KOMO.

The station campaigned throughout Tricia’s illness for colon cancer awareness and has posted a very moving tribute to Tricia.

This week many with heavy hearts will parade past the desk where Tricia sat. Her friends will get together and share memories. There will be joy and there will be tears. But none of them -- not Ann and not her colleagues -- will have regrets about the love they never shared. They came through went it counted. They spent precious time together while they still could. They reached out before it was too late.

That’s something we all should do. Think about the first person you see when you hit the door each morning, the guy who sits across from you, the counterpart who has your back, the woman you park next to. Don’t wait to share your appreciation, admiration, encouragement. Don’t put off that lunch invitation or turn down the chance to enjoy some time together outside of the office.

You never know when you will no longer have the opportunity.

A Strategy for a meeting with your boss that will leave you with a Positive Image

You’re fuming. Something happened at work -- unfair, wasteful, more than you can manage and you want to talk to the top guy RIGHT NOW.
Been there? Don’t go there.

I am not a role model for the strategy I am about to share; I’ve made mistakes that left me ineffective and I’ve learned from them.
The time for an audience with the boss is not when you’re mad. It’s not on your timetable, either.

The only issues that justify a “right now” meeting are true emergencies that could jeopardize the company’s licenses, image or its employees’ immediate safety. Some examples include: sexual harassment, knowledge that an employee is stealing or involved in other illegal activity or an immediate safety hazard. Those must be brought to management attention right away, and even then I recommend you include the chain of command.

Otherwise, have a strategy for using the audience with the boss effectively. Your goal is to walk out that door with what you wanted. You have to go in with well organized, with justifiable thoughts. And you have to do so when he or she has time for you.

One of my most astute colleagues ever had been an effective middle-manager for a large TV station in a major market. She handled most of the chain of command issues for her team and communicated them effectively to the top dog. Sometimes there were issues that warranted an audience with the boss -- a pitch for a promotion, a contract renewal, an idea for which the employee deserved credit -- but she worked with her team to make the right move at the right time.

“I told them they needed a strategy just for timing the meeting,” she told me.

Their boss was brilliant but mercurial. Guess what? Most executives who have achieved any level of success are that way. They have to manage up and down the chain, and that presents pressure. Even if you report directly to a CEO, those guys have bosses -- the board of directors, government agencies which regulate them, key customers. There’s always a looming deadline and major projects on their plates that are -- guess what again -- bigger to the boss than whatever you’re asking to meet about.

“People really stepped in it if they pushed their way in for a meeting on a whim,” my friend told me. She gave them good advice to schedule a meeting at a time when the boss was prepared and could clear the decks for a few minutes with them.

I could see why. I’ve been the employee that asked for something on a whim, and left empty handed. I’ve been the manager who was forced to stop what I was doing to hear out someone who was emotional and ill prepared. It felt like I was being hit over the head with a bucket of cold water and not given time to react appropriately.

What’s the worst criticism you’ve had of a bad boss besides poor people skills? Probably that he made knee-jerk decisions, right? Then give him time to think about your requests and ideas.

If you walk through the door unexpected and say, “Do you have a minute” that’s is exactly what you will get: a minute. And you’ll leave frustrated because you won’t have his full attention. The answer you insisted on getting “right now” is “no” because they don’t have time to really consider it.

Obviously you thought out your strategy for implementing a new policy or for getting yourself a promotion. The strategy you need to get face time with the boss, is just as important!

Here are some simple steps:
1. Does this really need to go to the top? Have you followed the chain of command? Most of your immediate supervisors will support you and help you strategize for your meeting if it warrants time with the top dog.
2. Schedule a time at his or her convenience and briefly state what you’d like to discuss. This can be done via email.
3. Rehearse. This is a limited opportunity for you. You need to be clear and for the most part, you need to plan on spending no more than 5 minutes in the office. If he or she wants more time, they’ll lead the discussion.
4. Be passionate but not emotional. Emotions are dismissed as whims that will pass. Passions are usually brought to the table by creative, can-do people who really believe they have something great to offer.

Finally, if you don’t have anything on your plate right now, but hope to down the road, start laying the ground work so you’re taken seriously when That Day arrives. When you see top management in meetings or in the hall, don’t look away. Always engage. “How are ya?” “That was in interesting presentation” are good quick things to say.

If new policy is laid out in a meeting, keep your face open. Even if some of what’s being pushed down is the dumbest thing you’ve heard this month, don’t show attitude. Think about it for awhile and share it with your middle managers later if you have to. If you’re tired of the stink in the bathroom, don’t send an email to the whole building. That’s where you use the anonymous box in the lunch room or put an anonymous note under the door of someone who can address it. Don’t be the office whiner.

If you are perceived to be a negative person, the boss may still grant you an audience when That Day comes, but he will go into it with the expectation that he is going to get in and out as fast as possible. If you have a Positive Image going into the meeting then you will come out of the meeting successful!

Surviving a layoff or termination

Inhale. Exhale. Sometimes that might be all the focus you think you can muster first thing in the morning after another restless night. Job seeking is more 24/7 than the most stressful job you ever had. Why not pull the covers up over your head and grab some more sleep?

No one called to schedule an interview with you yesterday, after all, and it’s possible no one will today.

But you can’t slip into that dark room because there are many qualities about your work ethic that are still in tact.

I can tell you since I lost my job in December, that what hasn’t changed about me personally is my nature. I am still an early riser, I am still driven and my mind is sharper than ever. I have new perspective and have had time to think through strategy, analysis, plans and ideas. And you’re the same way!

Keep at it. You’ll have good days and bad days. Good days are when you see an ideal job posted or pick up some paid work. Bad days are when you find out someone else got the really good job you hoped you’d land.
That’s OK. It’s not forever and you are not alone. Not since our grandparents navigated their way through the great depression have so many Americans had such hard times finding employment, much less fulfilling employment. It is hard for people in all age groups for various reasons.

You owe an apology to no one. You do owe yourself your best. You don’t work for “the man” right now. You are your client.

Here’s what’s helped me so far, and I hope you’ll find it useful.
1. Put your automatic happy on. Whenever you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, shift your thoughts to something that makes you happy. That will become a mindset for you and it will keep you going. For more on this concept, check out Hank Blank’s excellent post, “How to stay strong when the search is long.“ Guess where else it will show up without you having to force it? In the interview! You’ll appear not only qualified but confident and positive. No one wants to give the one job they have to a negative thinker.
2. If you can’t join them, beat them. We will do a more detailed posting on this concept at another time, but hang up your own shingle and steal some business. It doesn’t cost much to register a business, start a blog or website and then to print business cards. It takes time to make a full time living at it, but it also fills time and builds contacts for you. It‘s certainly been fulfilling for me -- even in 2011! (Check with your attorney; independent contract work might not interfere with your unemployment benefits.)
3. Volunteer for anything, but especially for everything that showcases your skill sets. If you are an editor, offer free services to a local charity website. If you’re a chef, cook or serve for a charity event. This was great advice given to me by David Lippoff, a seasoned Portland PR guy. You’ll make contacts. You’ll gain some new experience. Guess where else it will help you? In the interview. They’ll ask what has kept you busy since that fateful day and you will have something to share.
4.Exercise. Yea. You never had time before. Now you do. Get to the point where you have no trouble powering through a 30 minute run or an hour long Pilates class. It sharpens your mind. It gives you energy. And guess where else it shows up? Yes, once again. You will arrive for your interview with a positive and powerful presence. Your perfect posture will suggest strength and confidence.
5. Share leads. I know, why tell someone else about the job you hope you will get? It’s a good thing to do, that’s one reason. Doing good things right now gives you another value at a time when it’s tempting to feel worthless. What’s the worst thing that can happen? They land the gig instead and then help you?

You will either reinvent yourself and be your own client, or you will end up on someone else’s payroll if you keep at it.

So here’s another thing I must share with you as a former employer who hired some people fresh out of layoff and unemployment situations. They were not always the most motivated employees. Make sure you will be. Before you start, make sure you understand this is a new start.

The reinvented job is probably going to be something less than the one you lost; that is just how it is. That’s either because you are starting all over again in the pecking order or because your new boss is also downsizing and consolidating job responsibilities, as he has to justify filling each and every opening. You may not have the same title, you probably won’t make as much money, you won’t walk in with 4 weeks of vacation and you may have to work a night shift. So what. Keep in mind that your beef is with the guy who let you go, not with the one who is giving you a new opportunity.

Keep your positive energy, exercise routine, volunteer efforts and lead sharing self together even when life gets better. This experience, one of the worst in your life, will make you positively one of the strongest, most talented people in your new work world.

Ten reasons Monday’s should have a Positive Image

Where did the notion that Monday is a dreaded day originate? Why are there so many songs about it being a downer day? When did it become a dumping ground for all things negative?
What if we just decided to change the conversation about Monday’s and make them days to celebrate? Here are some reasons on my mind. Feel free to share you own in the comment section:

1. First let’s state the obvious: we are waking up on a Monday in April, not January. Flowers and trees are blooming. Warmer weather is sure to come!
2. You get to go to work today if you have a job. Know how many don’t?
3. New jobs will be posted today for those of us who are looking to upgrade. Share your Positive Image with those companies; you’re going to score this time!
4. You get a new, blank canvas today. Monday is a great day to start a project, knowing you have a few days before your Friday deadline to make it perfect.
5. You will have the best lunch of the week today if you take advantage of the leftovers from Sunday’s fabulous dinner.
6. There’s still time to lose a couple of pounds before Friday’s date.
7.Hawaii 5-0 is on. You can DVR it and go to bed early.
8.Your weekend guests have left and the house will be peaceful tonight
9.It’s a good night to visit restaurants that have 2-for1 dinners or half priced wine
10. You are now done reading the blog, and it’s unlikely I will bother you with another before the end of the week.

The Seattle Mariners have a Positive Image in major league sports

It had been years since Tim and I had been in a major league park -- since we left our beloved Cleveland Indians behind about 6 years ago. So we treated ourselves to a weekday Mariners game in Seattle. Keep in mind, it was a Wednesday game, early in a cold, wet season. The Mariners organization could have mailed it in but they made it a memorable experience.
I am not a big sports fan by any means -- I often joke that I don’t know the difference between a tight end and a tennis ball. It’s the atmosphere that draws people like me to enjoy America’s favorite pastime. Delighted little girls and boys running around, the smell of hot dogs, men with big booming voices yelling “cold beer, right here” and the crack of the bat.
The Mariners take that atmosphere to a higher level. From the team at the front door, to the marketing team in the front office to the team on the field, they all live the brand .
First, fans who purchase tickets ahead of time get not only their confirmation via email, but a nice reminder the day before. It includes a seating chart, information about nearby parking and a scouting report on the scheduled starters. The day after the game, you are thanked for coming and your email includes video highlights of the game, so you can revisit your memories.
The park is beautiful. The roof keeps the rain out and the courteous staff keeps you happy. Like many major league parks, Safeco has imported well known chefs to give foodies alternatives to dogs and popcorn. Seattle clam chowder is offered up in bread bowls. There is a “wine bar” pouring west coast wines. In “The Pen” fans can warm up by an open pit fire and chow down on crepes, gourmet pizza and Mexican sandwiches
But it’s the interaction with the audience that really makes this a special place. Two hours before the game, kids of all ages can saunter up to the front row seats on the first base line, and players will come out in groups of 2’s and 3’s to mingle. They pose for pictures. They sign everything from baseballs to programs to the shirts on people’s backs. They’re cheerful, friendly and approachable. When was the last time you saw that in the NFL?
In professional sports there are far too many “superstars” who expect millions but play like thousands, players who feed off the public adoration but won’t give much back.
The Seattle Mariners win PINpoints for remembering the golden rule: it’s all about the fans

.

Be a mentor! In Praise of those who helped us to shape our Positive Images

Unless you’re reading this standing up, you’re sitting in a chair. Think about that chair for a minute. You’re working hard to keep it warm. But someone -- probably many people -- helped you get there. On your way up, you asked people to critique your work, you asked insiders to hand-deliver your resume to the hiring decision-makers, you asked senior account executives to introduce you to their contacts and take you along on major presentations. Somebody lobbied for you to get a job, maybe someone even saved you from unemployment somewhere along the way.

You fed off the advice of gurus, you aspired to meet or beat their expectations, you worked your way up and maybe even replaced some of your mentors.

Who delivered for you?

I can tell you about the people who shaped my work ethic, passion and drive. I call it waking up with the “it” in my soul every morning. And I know where that “it” came from.

It started with the 5th grade teacher -- Mr. Owens -- who had a breaking news contest every morning. You had to come to class informed. As a 5th grader I developed the discipline to watch newscasts and read newspapers before class, because I wanted to arrive prepared. I wanted to have the most points at the end of the year.

My dad, of course, was competitive, had brilliant ideas and did not compromise when it came to ethics

But probably the most profound experience I ever had came from a General Manager who wasn’t even my boss. She was a corporate colleague who shared her gifts. Her success was built on legend.

It goes like this: when the white world was fleeing Detroit and consultants were advising a powerhouse TV station to market only to the suburbs, a young advertising saleswoman stood up and interrupted the meeting with a message. “No, damn it,” Grace Gilchrist is rumored to have said, “I think we should stand up and tell them we’re from Detroit.”
Stand up and tell them you’re from Detroit , produced by Frank Gari,became WXYZ’s theme song and was a successful brand for them for years. It was the premiere example of advocacy journalism and community service. It built lasting bridges across diverse communities and helped keep the city alive.
Don’t know if the story of how that brand came to be is true, but I sure can see her doing that. She eventually became General Manager and had a remarkably successful tenure there. But she was never too busy to offer insight. It was always, always, always rooted in ethics--work ethic, moral ethic, legal ethics.

I will never forget her, or John Lansing, the General Manager who hired me in Cleveland and who introduced me to Grace.

That should have been enough, but there were others.

There was Jackie Glass, a fellow reporter at KTNV in Las Vegas. Before leaving for law school, she introduced me to her contacts and taught me how to own a beat. I was so proud to watch Jackie, now a judge, throw the book at OJ Simpson last year.

There was Candace Armstrong, one of my colleagues in Las Vegas. She could have spent all of her time working on her own career, but she offered all of us some great writing advice day after day. “If you’re going to go outside, stay outside,” she told me when she tried to explain why continuity was so important in broadcast writing. It was such a great line and I thought of Candace for years afterwards, every time I sat down to write a great story.

There was the News Director in Las Vegas, Mike Cutler, who added me to his team when I was at a dead end elsewhere. He changed my schedule twice to accommodate my classes at UNLV, paid me more than I had been making and still let me chase the lead story every night.

In Cleveland, there was my boss John Ray, who accurately predicted I’d run the place someday. Across the street at another TV station, Virgil Dominic allowed me to leap frog all the way from the assignment desk to the position of Assistant News Director at WJW, one of the country’s largest and best news operations.

My General Managers since then have consistently led by example. They set the direction and let me do the job. Expect and Empower.

Now as I try to transition into public relations in Portland, Mike Riley and Associates, Edelman GM Marta Monetti and PR executive David Lippoff have all reached out. I am so grateful.

For years I thought of the people who helped me along the way, even when the feedback they offered wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

So I invested many a Saturday morning catching up on the demo reels sent in or emailed in from reporters around the country. It surprises me how many of them will tell me I am the only one to ever respond. In fact, I am still getting links from on air talent looking for input. I am happy to give it.

If that chair you’re sitting in is pushing too much pressure back up your spine, then maybe you can’t take much time to be a mentor -- maybe you need a mentor or career change.

But are you really too busy to offer it up?

If you had a great mentor along the way and that example can help others, or if you have questions you want to discuss, feel free to comment below.
You never know how much you might be helping.

How many times have you been about to drive off a cliff and heard a little voice in your head saying, “turn right” That’s the voice of your mentor.

The economy presents unprecedented opportunity for early career workers and middle managers: This is your time!

Remember reading A Tale of Two Cities and asking yourself WTF Charles Dickens was talking about when he wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” How could that be true? It’s either good or bad, right?

His story was set in a time when it was all relative, depending on your class. Our story today is set in a time when you might be in a position to choose your place. Your best option is to look at the glass as half full.

Let’s collectively say a big “duh” to the half-empty: we’re slugging it out through the worst economic crisis most Americans have faced in their lifetime; unemployment is still out of control, gas is nearly 4 bucks a gallon, we‘re at war in two countries and sticking our nose into conflict in another. That’s all terrible.

Now take another look at the glass: it’s half full. There’s never been a better time for the smart ones amongst us to advance their careers.
A different kind of employee is needed to move the ball down the field in 2011, and it’s you -- the player who can multitask and excel in many functions.

This isn’t your big sister’s economy and upward mobility might not be an 8-10 year process anymore. Jobs have been consolidated, and if you can do more than one, you might be able to make a mid-level move right our of your entry level gig.

I had a conversation this week with a well-known placement agent who said the once-bustling demand for experienced veterans has shifted to opportunities for up-and-coming talent.

“People are hiring,” she told me. The truth in 2011 is, companies have less to spend on salaries and still have expectations that have to be met. So the people they‘re hiring are those who don‘t turn their noses up at this new world work order.

“For people in their first job, a couple of years out of college, this is no big deal to them, because this is what they’ve been doing,” she said.

If you are 18 months or more into your first job, don’t be afraid to present yourself for something mid-level. The only guarantee here is that you won’t move out of that first job, unless you ask! Arrive with a good attitude. Be open to mentoring, work harder than everyone else and leave your sense of entitlement in your old bedroom at your parents’ house.

The new world work order is also presenting unprecedented opportunity for middle managers. There is a lot of promotion from within. The veterans for whom senior level job descriptions are posted cannot move right now. They don’t want to risk leaving their jobs even for more money. And if that “bigger job” involves a relocation, well, forget about it. They may be upside down in their house, they can’t afford to have their spouses lose their jobs and they have kids in high school.

If you’re a middle manager in a place with a bigger job posted in HR, this is your time, ready or not. Pitch the job, because you run the risk of having your position eliminated if your company has to do something extra to lure the more experienced veteran.

Get all the mentoring you can by joining professional organizations, take business classes, go after the MBA at night if it helps. Get the troops to rally behind you, because you are all they have! The team needs a coach. If that senior level job has been open for more than a couple of months, that’s a clear sign the recruiting isn’t going well. Make an appointment with your boss and go for it.

So, for the experienced folks, what’s left? Understand something: this isn’t age discrimination. This is economic discrimination and it’s legal.

The opportunity for you is to build on what you already have. Offer to take on additional duties if you haven’t already. If you see an open position that you could absorb, go ask for it. Or get together with a counterpart and tell your boss that the two of you can assume the duties of the open job.

If there is technology you need to learn to use, buddy up with an up and comer. Have him teach you. You teach him the qualities of a mature decision maker.

If you need to move to another company, be prepared to take less, but know that you might get more satisfaction.

A highly accomplished investigative reporter I know just turned down bigger city jobs because he was leery of how long they’d last. And he didn’t want to keep performing the same duties, job after job. Instead he took a mid-market job that also allows him to do some hybrid duties including management. With all he knows, he will be a gift to the organization, and he is delirious!

Stepping down a level in the interest of finding a job might not be a bad thing. It might put you back at the level where you are doing the job you loved the most before you got on the stress treadmill. That’s a win!

Earth to boss: having an “out of office experience” will result in a Positive Image.

What is it about the CBS hit, Undercover Boss that we all love so much? My theory: it’s an hour of prime time anger management therapy. There is guilty pleasure in seeing the boss “get his.” Sure, there’s some element of staged drama there. How could the employees not know something’s up when the new guy is being followed around by a camera crew? But isn’t it justice when we see that the hotel General Manager doesn’t even know how the reservations system works (or fails?) Don’t we love seeing the CEO of a trash company holding his nose at the landfill?

The show generally has a happy ending, and happy endings are good for all of us who are struggling just to fill our gas tank, right? Invariably the head honcho’s experience shows him that folks in the trenches have some good ideas -- maybe even more efficient ideas --that will result in profit and a more Positive Image for the company. I sometimes tear up a bit when I see these guys reward their employees and make changes based on what they learned.

But most of us turn off the tube and go to bed skeptical that it could happen where we work. We go to our jobs Monday morning doubting anyone will listen, and by 8:15 our fears are borne out. We’re back at it slaving for a team of managers so married to their own ideas, they talk without taking a breath. Taking a breath would give them an opportunity to listen!

Years ago I met a very smart up-and-coming television news producer who was supervised by her anchorman. He was pushy, demanding and not always right. She told me that she finally stood up and said, “Sit down, take a pay cut and produce this show!” He didn’t really get the point but he did shut up for the night. He’s no longer the big guy on TV and she’s now running a large market TV news department in the Northeast. Good for her, bad for him. How about good for everyone? Get in the trenches while you still can.

My last boss talked a good game about “getting in the tank” with the troops, and I loved the idea. He’s a guy who goes out on sales calls and is pretty tuned in not only to the account execs but to the clients as well. So I took that advice. I had several rewarding experiences going along in the field and rolling up my sleeves to do the old “walk a mile in their shoes” thing. The team was amused, appreciative, insightful and not too shy to share some good feedback.

I promise you a rewarding experience if you schedule a day in the trenches. The world will keep turning while you’re out with your team. Don’t worry; your replacement won’t be named while you’re out.

If you supervise any employees and you haven’t had an “out of office experience” in the last 6 months, you’re overdue.

You might be overdue because you’re afraid of the truth. You might learn that some of your technology has too many frustrating and time consuming workarounds. You might learn that you need to coach a middle manager who has bad people skills. You might find an underutilized genius who could make you all look good. Finally, you might get to know your employees as real people, and that’s the most emotionally rewarding part of this exercise.

Going out on a job interview? Here’s how to stick the landing!

AOL has an excellent article in the jobs section today. Read it today if you’re being interviewed in the near future. It will motivate you and it’s a perfect checklist.

It’s a given that you must be qualified, experienced and professional. If you’ve scored an interview, you’ve already cleared one major hurdle, because in 2011, hundreds of people may have applied for the same job. But again, it is 2011, meaning you won’t be the only candidate to land an in-person interview. There will be as many as ten others.

About.com has an excellent section on jobs. One article walks us through questions likely to come up during the interview and offers examples of the best answers for you to give. Some of the difficult questions they tackle include, “Why were you fired?” “Who was your worst boss?” is another interesting question. Although each of us could probably quickly name that person, haven’t we also heard that we should not badmouth any previous employers? They stuck the landing on their suggestion; see what you think when you read it.

Many employers are looking closely at your behavior during the interview, because they believe it predicts your performance on the job as much as your resume does. This is where the rubber meets the road. These interviews are difficult to prepare for, because you need a past, and you need to be able to tell the truth about that past, on the fly!
Quintessential Careers has an excellent posting about behavioral job interviews. If you look at the job description, you can easily state in your cover letter that you have those attributes. In a behavioral interview, however, you will have to give specifics about how your skills were put to the test in your past, and what the results were. This isn’t a fun process, but if you read this post and follow its guidelines, you might have just the Positive Image they need!

Save these links for a rainy day if you’re happy in your current job. In this economy, anyone could find themselves on the market.

Take the Food Bank Challenge

The errand took 10 minutes, but it took fewer than that to have me in tears. I visited the food bank at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Beaverton.
Beaverton, Oregon is situated 7 miles west of Portland. It is home to Nike’s world headquarters, among other successful companies. If you have money to spend, it’s a livable suburb with upscale shopping, nice homes and good schools. It’s nearly 90,000 residents have a median income of over 66K a year – or so the city website says.
All I see right now is need.
“We serve over 100 people a day,” our Priest announced Sunday and urged us all to try to give to the food closet. My husband and I decided as long as we can that we are going to shop for the things requested in the weekly bulletin. A few bucks at a dollar store netted 4 cans of tuna, a box of crackers and 2 cans of vegetables.
As I pulled up into the lot, I saw an elderly woman put a box of groceries into her car. I wondered how many people her hard earned tax dollars put through public schools, how many pot holes she’d paid to have patched, how many elections she’d studied for in better times – when she was younger, able bodied and gainfully employed. Now her social security checks don’t even feed her.
Inside, the place was a beehive. I’m talking a lot of activity, and this food bank is in a trailer like the ones used at overcrowded schools. Do they need volunteers?
“Tuesdays almost never, Wednesday’s sometimes and Friday’s almost always,” was the answer.
Here’s the question: Can I handle this emotionally?
Leaving, I ran into a cute young couple pushing a cart full of food to their car. They were smiling. Yes, smiling. They found the Positive Image in being broke: God provides. She took a cell phone picture of him loading the groceries into the car for her Facebook page. They wanted to share the good news. God provides.

Friday morning starts with a prayer for the earthquake victims in Japan, and a Hail Mary. Then it’s time to get busy. There are 7 or 8 people helping today. Some will help customers shop the narrow isles packed with everything they need while others will keep supplies moving out of the stock room into to the public area. I have no experience, so I worked the stock room. My job was to break down large bags of dog food and put them into baggies for the customers who have pets. This makes me feel good. No family member is left out.
Out front, the customers are warmly greeted by a receptionist. Their needs are assessed here because some who come live alone while others are in households with as many as 15 people.
Volunteers guide them through the tiny shopping area. It’s amazing how much good stuff is packed into so little square footage. There are refrigerators filled with eggs, chicken, ground beef and milk. There are boxes of toothpaste, laundry soap, diapers. Soup, canned vegetables, rice, potatoes, pinto beans, juice, pancake mix, fresh bread. Some of this is donated by parishioners, and the variety is appreciated. But director Kathy Brasington tells me that a donation of money is equally important. She can buy huge quantities at significant discounts from the Oregon Food Bank. Grocers give. The dollar stores donate. Even the beer distributors locally give boxes in good condition.
The generosity is amazing. The need is staggering. A steady stream of customers comes through the front door 3 days a week. This recession is far from over, and now uncertainty over Japan’s nuclear meltdown is sure to swallow up some hoped for job relief in the second quarter.
This isn’t 2004.
These people can’t just go out and find jobs. I know.
For every opening posted at a grocery store, 300 people might apply. Employers are saving money busting full time benefited jobs down to part time jobs. These pay less by the hour than the unemployment benefits some are still able to collect. Some of the unemployed are highly experienced “over qualified” candidates, and they are tough competition for the earnest, hard working but not so educated blue collar people who were easily able to earn an honest living in better times.
The bottom line is that we’re all in this mess together and we can all help by takingThe Food Bank Challenge.
*If you are out of work, volunteer for a day at a local food bank or rescue mission.
*If you were out of work and found a job in the last year, give 10 bucks
*If you saw co-workers shown the door, but your job is still safe, give 20.
*If you terminated someone’s employment in the last year, give 50.
If you do any of this, God bless you. If you don’t God help you.

Secrets for building a trusted brand from four who are living the Positive Image

They came from diverse backgrounds and businesses. But they all wore success. They spoke the same language. There is a common thread which they openly shared with anyone who would listen.

Four business leaders representing admired brands and financially sound products gave away their secrets – at no charge.

They were brought to the table by Edelman, one of the largest public relations firms in the world. Edelman just completed an annual “Trust Barometer” study that finds trust in American business, government, non government agencies and media is declining, and is besting only two other countries nefarious for skeptical constituents: Russia and the U.K. It was an impressive piece of work that surveyed the thoughts of 5,000 educated and successful people in 23 countries. Edelman could have just laid out the report and left it at that. But the Portland team wanted to demonstrate that there are game changers out there.

We’re not talking about Miami Heat locker-room cry babies. We’re talking about people who are very passionate and hands-on. There is a common thread. They call it having quality products supported by transparency.
Their stories are amazing.

In a city where Nike, Adidas and Danner Boots have such a foothold, why would an upstart company like Keen choose to locate here?

James Curleigh knows. He’s the CEO. You might check his wiry hair and child-like excitement about his product and assume he’s eccentric. I give him genius points.

Keen, of course, manufactures the eco-friendly, waterproof, protective footwear preferred by hipsters. And they set up shop in an already crowded marketplace because the experience, know-how, passion and sense of collaboration was an established infrastructure that helped this only 8-year-old company get its own foot out the door so fast.

“We take our product and our brand very seriously, but don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Curleigh says. Read between the lines: Keen isn’t just about a shoe. It’s an experience and it sounds to me like every employee can articulate why the product is great, and what drives their success.

Keen has a “living room” instead of a lofty corporate headquarters. When you walk in, you can see who they are, what they believe in. You can feel the brand.

Curleigh knows his employees by name, is approachable and open to good ideas. He wants the customers to feel that same connection.

Curleigh recalls the first time Keen had a marketing budget of over a million dollars; finally a chance to promote the brand. Do you think they bought magazine ads, made videos, took sandals on tour? No. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami happened and Keen spent the money on relief efforts.
“It was kneejerk decision,” Curleigh jokes and then backs up. “No, it was a heartfelt decision.” That call was a defining moment. It did fit Keen’s “HYBRIDLIFE” brand which encourages everyone to create, play and care.

Good product. Transparency.

“Whenever I think about balancing trust and profit, I think of those defining moments,” he reported.

Let’s face it: even during a recession, people have to buy at least one good pair of shoes; you might even be able to argue that in times like these, you should spend a little more to get the quality footwear that will last.

But is it a good time to build high-rise condos?

Developer Mark Edlen has certainly seen the stressful side of the recession. Gerding Edlen, known for inspired construction and design of life and workspaces, had major projects underway when the economy went south. Could they finish what they started? Would investors stay with them?

It’s a small firm without a polished PR department. Edlen’s team had to look the recession in the eye themselves.

“We spend half our time in the ditches, solving problems,” Edlen said. “We started a conversation with our investors early on to let them know, this could get ugly.”

Good product. Transparency.

PGE’s Dave Robertson shared the philosophy of their communications department: “You can’t communicate your way out of a situation you got yourself into.” But you can be pro-active with the public about the issues that make utilities targets, such as rate hikes or environmental issues.

PGE’s up-front conversations with rate payers and Edlen’s up-front conversations with investors are role model for another finding in Edelman’s survey. In times of crisis, the public now wants the CEO to be the face of the issue and the solutions.

Edelman’s Ben Boyd says in this climate, “It’s about owning mistakes and transparently communicating those mistakes.” Boyd has been tasked with managing major brands such as GE, Starbucks and Bank of America.

“The days of control messaging top down are long past,” Boyd said. The Trust Barometer clearly finds that the CEO should not delegate the message during a product recall, environmental disaster or economic crisis.

The survey supports that when a company is already distrusted, 57% of the public will quickly believe an onslaught of negative information. Already having trust will put a protective armor around a brand.

Good product. Transparency.

Start there. Stay there and build an endearing and enduring Positive Image.

Have an endearing AND enduring leadership style for long term success and a better life!

The Positive Image you bring to a work or social project plays out to a win not just for you, but for your entire ream. People skills are every inch as important as know-how. If you have them, then you are including the team, as open to their ideas as to your own and able to sell the direction that should be taken to everyone. Your team will play hard for the win because they want to, not just because they’re getting a check in two weeks.
If you’ve had more than 3 jobs, think about the best supervisors and managers you had. Think about the ones you would not work for again. I’m betting the “real person” is your favorite, was the most effective and had a lasting impact on what you value in your job and in your community.
Jill Geisler from the Poynter institute, has a wonderful series of articles detailing “What Great Bosses Know.” Visit this page when you’re having a tough time projecting a Positive Image. Today Jill shared one of the best articles I have ever read. It’s from The Guardian and it’s about the essential need for “soft skills." I could not say it any better! You can force feed a team for short term gain, but it won’t last. Having “soft skills” as well as experience and good judgment will help you and the team win long term.
I call it having an “endearing AND enduring” impact.

Talking trash online? Your anonymous posts may not be protected for long

We’d all throw ourselves in front of an oncoming train to protect freedom of speech -- until it offends us, right? Two court rulings this week give us a reason to examine the First Amendment.
First, the U.S. Supreme Court essentially upheld the right of hate mongers to protest at military funerals. We all gasped for air when we heard that ruling. What can we do about it? Support the Patriot Guard in their efforts to stage “thank you” processions at military funerals. And when we see a man or woman in uniform, thank them for their service. That other ugly element is just a reminder that not all Americans are classy high road travelers.
A second court ruling this week is more likely to have an impact on average folks like us -- those of us who visit favorite blogs and social media sites several times a day to see what everyone’s talking about. It brings the potential to expose those who post anonymous comments.
An Indiana judge has ruled that news outlets can be ordered to share information such as an ip address or login about those who post comments to their sites.
The case landed in court when an Indianapolis businessman was criticized on sites operated by several newspapers and TV stations. He wasn’t able to respond to ( I mean, take legal action against) his critics directly because their comments were anonymous. Now thanks to this court ruling, he may soon know who threw mud on his face. Those media outlets have deep pockets and are likely to appeal the ruling, but make no mistake: the door has been opened.
This is not a ruling I applaud. I think it’s a dangerous step that could have a chilling impact. People may stop commenting and confidential sources may be afraid to come forward.
In responsible media outlets, there is a big difference between anonymous trash-talkers and confidential sources. Most media managers must know who the source is and must be able to vouch for the veracity of the information being provided. This is a painstaking process carried out well by responsible news outlets.
But many of these same outlets have turned their backs on the online comment sections of their websites. The feeling is that policing them is censorship -- not to mention that there are too many comments on many sensitive stories to keep up with!
I’ve been on the receiving end of anonymous comments. Many of them were at most hurtful. Some were not founded in fact and were damaging. Last year I invested time getting postings removed that could have damaged my boss -- these postings inaccurately targeted the reasons he’d hired a news anchor. I also protected stolen property of behind the scenes studio activity that was years old when it was posted anonymously, and would not have reflected well on our business. We still don’t know who was responsible, and at this point, it’s moot. But those experiences reinforced a policy I’ve always had: I post what I own, and can defend. And I sign my name to it.
Here in Portland, we know how tempting it is to go online and say whatever we want. Since Kyron Horman vanished last June, media websites welcomed hundreds of new visitors daily, who weighed in on whether Kyron’s stepmother was involved. She has been accused of murder, infidelity and other horrible actions by people who don’t know her, who don’t have the evidence to prove it and who won’t leave their names. As the focus of the investigation, Terri Horman’s current legal problems are too big for her to worry about going after these anonymous posters.
But the Indiana businessman had the time and the resources. And he won.
Think about it.

My father lived the Positive Image brand

My Dad would have been 79 today. Tom Mathis had a Positive Image and a huge impact on how I live my life. He’s responsible for my work ethic and for much of my outlook.
He took a leap of faith in the late 60’s to launch WTLC radio – which today is one of America’s most enduring Urban Radio brands. He picked the call letters while listening to a Nancy Wilson jazz album – With Tender Loving Care. He lived the brand through community service. The station launched programs to get drop outs back in school, gave free advertising to black-owned businesses and raised money for a school teacher to become the world’s first black recipient of a heart transplant. Louis B. Russell was for a time the longest surviving heart transplant patient and now has a school named in his honor.
On the night Martin Luther King was killed, Bobby Kennedy was in Indianapolis campaigning for the Indiana primary. His campaign manager, a colleague at WTLC, called the house to ask if the station would do a live broadcast of a speech Kennedy was going to give in a local park. The campaign appearance had already been scheduled but Kennedy feared the crowd gathering there had not heard that King had been assassinated. Police escorted Kennedy to within a block of the park and then left him. My dad was perfectly comfortable going to that park to set up the live broadcast. He knew full well the Kennedy supporters there were peaceful. The words Bobby Kennedy spoke that night to the crowd and on the radio are etched on his grave in Arlington, and for those of you who watch the video, that’s my dad’s hand over his shoulder, holding the microphone. Indianapolis was the only major city not to see violence on that night.
My brothers, my little sister and I were all free labor. We gathered interviews and cut commercials for the family radio stations over the years. We had to tape again and again until we got it right. But we all made money off those pipes he helped us to develop.
On a lighter note, Dad launched the wrestling career of Bobby the Brain Heenan. Yes, we’re proud of that, too. He is a genius and his act is utterly memorable.
In later years my dad bought a couple of radio stations in Idaho, one of which we still own and operate.
I never thought it was possible to miss someone so much who has been gone now for four years, but I do.

New sheriff in town sets a good example in the NBA

Today we're sharing a Business Journal article on the new Trailblazer who leads by example. That's a Positive Image!
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2011/03/getting-personal-with-newest-blazer.html?s=newsletter&ed=2011-03-02&ana=e_ptl_rdup

How on-line job recruiting may be ruining your results at work

  “There are no jobs that match your profile” screamed the red type at the bottom of a Portland hospital’s job site.  That was after I’d spent more than an hour carefully detailing my work history and credentials, giving educational background including university addresses, websites and GPA’s. That was after I’d supplied the required phone number, current employment locations and email addresses of references and former supervisors.  I invested all of that time and effort only after carefully reading the description for the posted job, and determining that it was an exact match for my skill sets.

   My cover letter addressed the attributes, duties and experiences the job description called for.  My years of experience exceeded even the preferred level of qualifications requested.

   It gets more dubious. Keep reading.

   I was also required to post some very sensitive and personal information that could have subjected me to ID fraud or unfairly eliminated me from consideration – my age  :) --and previous salary --more than this position will pay.

   “If you are offered a position,” according to the hospital’s job site, “this information will be needed for a background check.” 

   Fair game, if I am a finalist.  Fair questions if I am interviewed. Then I can tell you in person that the salary doesn’t matter as much as the opportunity. Then I can tell you in person that my age brings with it experience, commitment and maturity. But I was eliminated before any qualified human being considered my qualifications. 

  My future was determined by a computer program.

  More than 45 state governments, most municipalities and thousands of companies have subordinated the work of human resource departments and decision-making managers to on line recruiting software. There are two leading companies contracted for most of this work. Their websites tout the software as a real public service that saves time for employers by eliminating “unqualified” candidates.  They also claim that employees need to create their on line profile only once.  That isn’t true. The employees have to keep applying for every new position. If they apply at different companies, they need a separate email address, username and password for every single employer – even if the same on line recruiting firm and template is responsible for the search.  I currently have 5 pages of usernames and passwords filling a tablet in my home office. Think this is easy to navigate?

 What these e-applications really do is search your application for a match of key words, not qualifications.  The method is similar to teaching a child to memorize, but not learn what is going to be on an exam.

  As employers, do we want to hire people who know how to beat the system, or do we want creative, engaged employees?  If you as a manager really believe the jobs you post are so cookie cutter that a computer program can perform the hiring function, you should quit.  Save your company the money you’re being paid.

  If you’re looking for work, how would you feel about being hired because you figured out what key words the computer program was looking for?  Do you want software probably designed in a foreign country to decide whether you can do a job? Do you want the structure, direction, goals and expectations for your performance determined by these on line recruiters?  That’s where we’re heading if this continues.  You will walk into a new job where your supervisor has a better relationship with a software program than he does with you. 

  Until the state legislatures can scrutinize and require improved on line recruiting, we are forced to work around the system in order to match the best employees with the best employers.

  If you’re in the job market, you will have to go through the on line recruiting channels if your perspective employer requires you to do so.  Adapt your cover letter and resume so you provide an exact match of the key words describing the required experience and duties. Play the system.  But take one more step:  find out who the decision maker is for the position and get a more creative letter and resume in their hands.  I don’t care if it annoys them.  If you’re hired, you bosses won’t want you to give up the first time you’re assigned to a difficult task, will they?  They won’t want you to rely on email as your only means of communication, will they?  They won’t want you to mail in a cookie cutter performance, so be persistent and insist on getting personal in your job search.

  If you’re an employer, I encourage you to take the extra step in your recruiting. The “upside” to a high unemployment rate for you is that you’ll have some highly qualified candidates, so don’t miss out on them. Read the cover letters!  Conduct more interviews.  Find some references on your own and really find out about these people. Have HR do the drug screening and criminal background checks while you invest in finding the winner who can advance your team. 

  Fire the on line recruiters if you want positive results on the job.

Employed? That’s something to be Positive about! Make yourself more valued in 2011.

　
  The Positive Image Network is a cathartic place for me. It allows me to post every good thought I have. There is an energy that comes from feeling good about something, from sharing a good idea, from showcasing the good works of others. That energy can’t be matched even by a hard run on the treadmill.
After working for so many years in a public eye career, I could be a pretty skilled spin doctor. But what I am here is just pretty honest. I only represent here what I feel good about and believe in. That’s because this is just a blog.
  It’s a calling, but it’s not a job in the real world.
  In the real world, we may not be able to find the jobs that make us happy. This is 2011! The jobs we have to do are the ones that make others happy to have us.
  So let’s be honest about what your boss needs from you.
  Performance is more important than ever. You have to bring new ideas, new clients, get results and push your work ethic to its highest level. You already know that. You also need to be a good citizen. What can you do Monday morning that will make the whole team effective? How can you make your boss more effective? Putting the team first means you are a performer, not a problem child. Notice I did not tell you to be a suck up; that doesn’t have lasting benefits for anyone. What I am suggesting is a Positive Image and a positive performance.
  High performing employees who don’t complain often will be listened to when there is a need to bring an issue to management’s attention. Chances are that if you’re a high performer and a good citizen on the job, you’ve thought out your approach when you do need to bring up an issue or suggest a correction for an idea that isn’t working. Your solutions will be appreciated and accepted.
  I offer these thoughts from the school of hard knocks. I have been the employee. I have been the manager. I know the worse the economy is, the more good citizenship pays off at work.
  Part of our obligation to our career is this: We win as a team.  We own our mistakes as individuals.  Don't cover for others who may bring us all down, but do own your own mistakes, then move on. 
  How does this help you?
 From the management perspective, some of the longest “difficult” conversations I had with employees were the ones where they did not take ownership of mistakes they’d made. We wasted time investigating and debriefing to try to find out what happened. We sometimes brought others into the conversations to see how deep the issue really was. We re-examined policy that probably didn’t need to be re-created as much as it needed to be followed. Sometimes these conversations went on for days, and when they all came back to someone who’d made a mistake without taking ownership, I lost respect for those employees.
  Some of the shortest “difficult” conversations I had with employees where the ones where they immediately owned up to what happened. I could only say one thing: “Thank you and moving forward, here is how we will handle this kind of thing…” Then the conversation with my bosses was always short: “I know what happened, I take responsibility and we have it addressed.”
  Simply: if you own your mistakes, you won’t repeat them. You will build a level of trust with your team. That’s the Positive Image that wins at work.