Bishop TD Jakes a Man With 21st Century Answers

Bishop T. D. Jakes—Ministerial and business visionary, entrepreneurial trailblazer, altruistic philanthropist, and spiritual shepherd to millions around the globe, is more than a man with a professional edge, but a man with an edge on life.

I am currently reading Bishop Jakes' new book Reposition Yourself, Living a Life Without Limits http://www.tdjakes.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ms2_homepage, I don't say this often, but this book will change your life. Bishop Jakes is a rare leader in our time that transcends his church ministry and his business TD Jakes Enterprises, and speaks life into the spirits, hearts and minds of many of today's young and mature Black leaders. If you do not know who this man is, well "Get Ready." His message is a powerful, timely, multifaceted, artistic combination of spiritual concepts, hard business strategy and tactics that has practical application to 21st Century life.

Take a look at the Bishop's daily Thought for the Day: http://www.tdjakes.com/site/PageServer?pagename=resrc_thought.

Let us know what you think- Kim R. Wells

VIKTOR FRANKL

Just after World War II, a psychiatrist named Viktor Frankl wrote a small and powerful book called "Man's Search for Meaning." Dr. Frankl was Jewish. When the Nazi's put him in a concentration camp, he began to study the people around him.


At that time, two schools of thought defined the basic human drive. One school said our basic drive is for power. The other said we are driven by sex. In the camps, however, prisoners had no power and were too weak for sex. Yet sometimes physically strong people withered while seemingly fragile people survived.


What was the drive that sustained their lives? Frankl saw that the strongest person, without hope, would perish. But many a weak person, with hope, could go on. What we hope for gives our lives meaning.


What is your life-sustaining hope?

Are You An Asset or Liability?

Are you perceived as an Asset or a Liability to those you work with in school, at your internship, or as a young professional in the corporate world? Although some of us would never admit it to others, we sometimes already know the answer.

Racism is real, but racism aside, a lot of people simply aren't delivering value everyday to the people and teams that depend on them daily. Racism didn't hold millions of other Black executives from achieving, the rule of the jungle was / and is to move forward in spite of racism, to demonstrate your professional value, and not to let others deny you what is rightfully yours.

Being perceived as a liability costs you in promotion opportunities, being selected for high profile projects, cost you in salary, and being invited to interact with elite networks where decisions and opportunities are decided. People invest time and effort in people they see as valuable, they will not invest in those that are seen as "tolerated" or draining liabilities on their teams, projects, and resources.

Here are some tough professional questions to ask yourself. If you are honest congratulations, you can develop a plan and connect with people to improve your performance and outlook in these areas. If you are not honest and lie to yourself, I can guarantee that you will eventually slip into the "blame game" and professional mediocrity.

After answering each question ask yourself, based on my response and given the context of my current work environment, would I be perceived as a liability or an asset?

• Is your reputation impeccable? If not why?



• If asked would most people say you can be counted on to deliver?



• Could you be replaced easily?



• Do others believe you eliminate unnecessary barriers to get work done?

• Are you well versed in the latest technology in your field?

• If asked would others say you deliver your work in a timely manner?



• Do others believe you can handle sensitive issues?



• If asked would most people say you are accessible in a timely manner?



• Would most in your immediate circles if asked say you are a "doer" or a "complainer"?



• In your circles do you continuously discusses how hard you work? Do you think this is valued, or perceived as you are struggling to perform your duties?



• Are you satisfied with your ability to turn out high quality work quickly?



• Do you have a mastery of the critical management processes required to deliver in your field?



• Will your current professional colleagues vouch for you in a crisis?



• Do you take off a lot of time being sick or for personal issues?



• If you were out tomorrow from work would anyone miss you?



• Are you a team player, able to work with and lead people from different races and the multiple generations now working in today's workforce?

• Are there other people that you work with who are more known for getting the job done than you?



• Are you perceived as an "ideas person," but sometimes struggle to bring projects to completion?



• Who are your closest 4 professional colleagues? Why?

• Are you compensated properly for what you do?

Let us know what you think.

Kim R. Wells

kwells@howard.edu

Defining Your Brand of Success

If you don't know what your brand of success is, others certainly won't! Worst yet if you don't develop a brand for yourself, others certainly will try.

Why is defining your brand of success important as an African American young professional? One writer once wrote, "If you are not appearing you are probably disappearing!" If you build a strong brand for yourself, you will begin to appear on the radar to those that count most to you. People that don't have a strong brand in a millennial marketplace of aggressive marketing, information overload, fast decisions and even faster people, will struggle to gain significance, credibility, and personal success.

In a recent executive conference I attended a prominent Black corporate VP said that his successful climb up the corporate ladder wasn't only about his qualifications, experience and education, but how he packaged it, and projected it with confidence to those he worked with.

I share always with students, alumni, and employers, the power and significance of effective branding. The failure of poor branding can lead to a lack of credibility, perceived incompetence, or social and professional irrelevance to some people and groups.

A few basic questions to consider when designing your personal brand:

• What am I really about?


• What do I want to be about?


• What empowers me and excites me?


• What can I do, that is unique, natural and distinct?


• How well do I flow in the circles I want to connect with?


• Am I technically prepared and competent for the world I want to connect with?


• Who are my four closest friends and colleagues? (This could be an indicator of your values, where you are personally and professionally...and where you may be heading)


• How do I define success?


• How would what I define as success define me?


• Do I dress appropriately for the "world" I aspire to belong to?


• What personal and national figures reflect elements of my desired brand?


• Is my word my bond?


• How do I define failure?


• How will I know when I have succeeded or failed?


• Who and what do I need in my life to get stronger?


• How do I define a job as finished, excellent, and delivered?

Be real with yourself in answering these questions, this will start the groundwork in building your personal brand. Turn off the voices of other people, find your own voice, define your own unique and God given brand of success. Then start the process of building your brand so that others can hear your voice! And this world does need to hear you.

Let us know what you think

kwells@howard.edu

Kim R. Wells

NACE Survey Shows Early Bird Gets the Worm...Well Most of the Time!

Results from a national survey conducted by The National Association for College's and Employers (NACE) reported today in their Spotlight Online Magazine that students who started their job search early are rewarded...well most of the time!

The article shows that students who began their job search early this year were usually rewarded for their early efforts. At the time of NACE's survey of graduating students (March 1 through April 30, 2007) 71 percent of responding students either planned to or already had begun to look for a full-time job after graduation. Among those reporting that they had actively begun searching for a job, 79 percent already had submitted an application. And, of those students who submitted a job application, 51.2 percent had already accepted an offer for the job they would begin after graduation.

While males were slightly more likely to have submitted an application than females, there is no statistically significant difference based on ethnicity. The respondents' majors, however, was a significant factor. For instance, engineering and business majors were more likely to have applied for a job, while liberal arts majors were more likely to have not submitted an application.
When looking at students who had accepted job offers, differences in gender and ethnicity begin to surface. African-American and Hispanic students were far less likely to have a job in hand than their white and Asian-American counterparts, even though they had actively pursued employment.

Food for thought! Let us know what you think

kwells@howard.edu

Comment from Chaz Kyser-Author of Embracing the Real World: The Black Women's Guide to Life After College

A recent comment from a friend Chaz Kyser, author of the popular new book, Embracing the Real World: The Black Women's Guide to Life After College, a must read for any young Black Woman who is serious about moving forward in her career.

Chaz writes:

Kim, I enjoy reading all of your columns, but I particularly liked your latest one, "Watch Your Behavior Off the Field: A Lesson Learned From Mike Vick." As you pointed out, it's often not enough that one is professional at work; what you do on your so-called "off time" and who you do it with can tarnish your reputation--especially if you are involved in illegal activities.
Hopefully, other young professionals and athletes can get this lesson without having their careers ruined.

Chaz Kyser

For more information on her book and speaking engagements, see Chaz's website at www.embracingtherealworld.com.

See also Chaz's new column on Black Collegian Magazine Online at

www.black-collegian.com/career/kyser

Watch Your Behavior "Off the Field" A Lesson Learned From Mike Vick

At times unfortunately it takes the misfortune of others for us all to learn great life and career lessons. Mike Vick's misfortune can serve as a great lesson to all talented young professionals that no matter how talented and successful you become, we all can fall hard if we don't watch our behavior "off the field." This is not to say that Mike Vick isn't innocent, and we should all take a moment to pray that this talented young brother somehow is innocent, there has been a terrible mistake made, or that somehow he will learn a great lesson in this situation and help others to learn from his mistakes.

A few lessons all young professionals can learn from Mike Vick's situation:

1. To whom much is given, much is required. You have all been blessed with a great gift of talent, college education, and employment with a good employer, or in starting your own business. Don't take these things for granted. No matter how much you may think, "you are your own man (or women)," "untouchable" and "arrived," you must remember to be a good steward over your career and new personal and material success.

2. You are hired for the complete package you represent to employers, not just your performance on the job. Like it or not, when you accept employment you are committing to a complete lifestyle of what the employer sees as acceptable personal and professional behavior "on and off the field." If you don't believe me, try dancing on the table at the next corporate reception, and see how long you are "your own person"; or better yet, get arrested over the weekend or while on business travel---see if they care "how great a professional" you are after that! Companies do not want their brand to be damaged or associated with inappropriate or questionable behavior. Like it or not, you are expendable.

3. All professionals (adults for that matter), need to know when to cut the old "posse." If your old neighborhood "posse" is becoming destructive and starting to derail your professional and long term life plans, it's time to move on. Remember that you have a lot to loose if something goes wrong, many of the old posse unfortunately may not feel that way. Quite frankly, some of your old posse may even want to see you fall now that you have become a success and starting to acquire some of the finer things in life. Don't worry if they see you as a sell-out if you move on, so what, lay aside the weight, move on, it is better to be a sell-out, than to be held back by people who will not respect your values or dreams of having a happy and productive life.

4. Lift them up...don't let them drag you down! Your old friends deserve to hear and witness your ascension to success, you are actually a living testimony to them that they too can succeed. Don't put them down, encourage them to achieve by following their own dreams, guide them to positive information, resources and people. But if they won't aspire to do any better, don't climb back down to their level by trying to relive your "thug days,"or by becoming a "thug-want-a-be."

We can all succeed and experience great personal, professional and community successes in life. But the formula for success always requires discipline, and the need to realize that to move forward, some things, behavior, and people may have to be left behind.

Many including my 7 year old son who adored Micheal Vick now are also hurt and affected to see another bright young Black man and professional fall to the misfortune of a destructive lifestyle. Keep Mike in your prayers, and watch your behavior "off the field".

Let us know what you think.

Kim R. Wells

kwells@howard.edu

Strategies for Internal Career Advancement

Recently a reader wrote the Black Collegian and requested that Kim R Wells provide some advice regarding the following situation.

Reader Message:

Hi,I have a question, if you would be kind to answer for me. I would really appreciate it. I am working in a company, and like my work, but it is not exactly in my preferred line of work. I would need to do some academic upgrading before I can really get the job I want there. I recently went for a job interview which is in the same department as the the job I really want. However, I realized in the interview that I might not be happy with the corporate culture for this job, and with the expectations to work overtime and on weekends (occasionally). If I am offered this job, how can I politely refuse without causing any hard feelings among the people in that department, with HR, and with my present co-workers. ---Salary? Present co-workers? I still want to move on eventually but I thought this would be a good step forward. They caught on to that fact during the interview, and asked me if this is a stepping stone in my path to a better job. I said it would probably be several years before I completed enough academic upgrading, but eventually I would like to move on.

KRW Response:

Dear Reader,

I like the fact that you are looking to the future and seem willing to take the next steps in your career through education and exploring job opportunities with your current company. Too many professionals totally overlook opportunities with current employer, and don't consider the excellent "in-house" opportunities for training, tuition assistance programs and other programs such as mentoring that can assist in achieving their career goals.

Also remember while you are pursuing your career goals there will always be seasons when you may need to strategically accept opportunities that are not exactly what you want at the time, but could assist you in the long run in moving forward with your career goals. Most successful professionals will tell you that they had to be flexible at various times in their career and take opportunities that would assist them in achieving their goals, but maybe were not exactly want they wanted at the time. If you are flexible, you can build certain professional competencies you need to develop, get in the "right" department, or find jobs that enable you to visibly "show your stuff" to the right people in the organization. Being flexible and taking strategic "side-steps" in your career can also assist you in receiving great mentors, training, and gain valuable experience that you can leverage to achieve your long term career goals.

Don’t worry about the extra hours and occasional weekends unless you have childcare needs or have other personal issues that may be of concern (and if so speak confidentially to a human resources professional that may be able to assist you by identifying programs or flexibility within the opportunity that will enable you to take the position). I suspect that when you move to the top of your profession, overtime, and weekends will still be a part of your professional life. Sometimes we need to determine what we are willing to sacrifice in order to achieve our greatest goals. Very few people "stumble to the top" most get there through being competent and willing to work hard for what they want.

Also remember that most quality employers recruit employees with the intention of developing the new hires skills and overall value to the organization. If an employer is not excited about your development and career advancement, be careful that there may be other more serious problems at play in the organization that may warrant your keeping your eyes open to other opportunities outside of the company.

If you have already informed this group that you will not be taking the position, don’t worry about it as long as you did it in a timely and professional manner. I suggest a great letter outlining the areas that were of some concern as a follow-up, but be sure to express that you still have a long-term interest in working in that area. Consider also keeping contact with them in case another more desirable situation should open up in the future. Keep moving forward in developing your skills and talents, I wish you all the best in pursuing your goals. Keep me posted at kwells@howard.edu or write back through the blog.


Kim R. Wells

We Have A Lot to Remember This Memorial Day

In recognition of this past Memorial Day weekend I want to take a moment to thank all of the brave men and women who fought for and died for our great country.

I want to give a special thanks to those men and women of color who endured the challenges of racism and discrimination in the earlier times of the military. These great men and women set into motion a movement that eventually shattered old stereotypes of Blacks that called into question the competence, intelligence, bravery, patriotism and leadership potential. These courageous men and women who fought in every major American conflict dating back to the revolutionary war, showed all in the United States and the rest of the world that African Americans were not only great patriots, but capable of doing great things in leadership and in life when given an opportunity. God Bless all of you and thank you for your service to our country.

Mastering Your Time Like a Top Executive

One of the most consistent problems I have seen with young black professionals is the lack of time management or poor time execution. Let's keep it real, this problem is often at the heart of the career and professional development challenges for many of us.

Over the years as a consultant and now as a director and executive at Howard, I believe poor time management is often the core issue that has kept many African Americans from gaining business opportunities, receiving promotions, gaining the respect of their peers, and importantly the respect of leaders in their organizations that struggle in considering them as key "go-to people."

Remember there are 3 basic time masters:

• Sloppy-always late or inconsistent - They always drain others in getting your part done!


• Mediocre-time management that most think is OK. - You are just another face in the crowd, most will see your contributions as just doing your required job, nothing special.


• Executive- You are always a cut above, prepared-in advance, early to meetings, excellent quality is your trademark. Top executives love working with people like this.

Be known for getting the job done! Look at a few of these tips:

Always know the complete scope of a project or task before starting out--Some people have made a career in college and now professionally in waiting until the last minute to even begin reviewing the scope and key components of time sensitive tasks. Slow starters always create drama for everyone when they need assistance from others to get their sloppy and poorly executed part done. Also poor quality is usually the trademark of people who never appropriately scope out their time sensitive tasks and projects. People who start off late, drain others in getting the job done, and turn in sub par work eventually are labeled in top organizations as a "liability" ---being shown the door is always close at hand.

Set realistic timelines of tasks. Don't promise things you can not deliver. It is better to establish reasonable and mutually agreed timelines when planning to deliver tasks, than trying to be "a star" and over promise and under deliver.

Use your PDA, Blackberry, Trio etc., to document , review, and give alerts for due components, tasks and deliverables. Share and facilitate buy-in with others that are involved.

Develop a timeline for effective teaming, identifying, defining, and completing of tasks. Share timeline with all, and check in with others in advance to ensure all team members are "on task." Always build in flexiblity for potential delays.

Start doing your part on time. Stop blaming others for not getting started, because you were waiting on them to return your call, or to provide some data etc. Always find a way to communicate with others for materials or information needed, while moving forward in anyway possible to complete the task at hand.

Build in flexible time to your timeline. Stuff happens...lets face it. For me it is always the copier demon, or the printer demon--for some of you it is your server demon, or a traffic demon--we all have a few demons that always seem to wage personal wars on us, prepare for them, plan for them don't let them win! Plan to have documents and task done in time so that unplanned delays can be effectively managed without hurting the quality and timeless of your work.

Manage interruptions. Whether they are time consuming emails that are not a priority, unscheduled phone calls from people (ask them to schedule a follow-up time), needy friends and family, or just chatty people who are notorious for draining your time--- you must learn to say no--in a professional manner of course, schedule more appropriate times, and deal with first things first.

Always build in time to review documents for quality and lack of mistakes. When people make it a happen to start late or finish late mistakes are usually a problem.

Take extra steps if necessary to get the job done! This may require coming in early and staying a few minutes late to ensure the job gets done and to maintain a solid standard of excellence in your work. Trust me you will feel much better in getting a job done on time and receiving the rewards and praise; than being late, turning in work with mistakes and receiving criticism... and maybe the door.

Sometimes your career comes down to a few key opportunities. make the most of them, manage your time so you can always deliver tasks with excellence and on time. We will definitely revisit this topic in the future.

See some additional excellent advice and quotes on time management at http://www.alice.org/Randy/timetalk.htm a website developed by Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon University.

Kim R. Wells

"No Brothers Left Behind" by Kim R. Wells

New from TBC: "No Brothers Left Behind" by Kim R. Wells

In the Second Semester 2007 Super Issue of THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine, now available on college campuses, "No Brothers Left Behind" by Kim R. Wells provides insight into the aspirations, frustrations, and connections among diverse young Black men in reaching their career goals.

The feature is based on a roundtable held at Howard University, facilitated by Director of Career Services Kim R. Wells. An extended Web feature will also be posted at THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online, with additional updates posted on the blog.

Originally posted: Thursday, March 01, 2007
Labels: career, college students, men's issues