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When Seeking a Job/Career – Consider This Question

26 Jan

When considering changing careers – or looking for a new gig, you should consider this question: What job or industry has a trade show that would be your version of “kid in a candy store” or heaven?

I just returned from SHOT (Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade) Show in Las Vegas where the average guest walks an estimated 5 miles a day for four days. Not to mention you lose your voice, your face hurts from smiling so much and your body has officially decided it will no longer carry that 10 pound computer bag.

Taken in our booth looking out on the crowded show floor

So the 40,000 of us who attend the trade show must really like our jobs/careers – or we are suckers for pain.

I have a very gifted graphic/web designer friend seeking a job and it made me think, she would be in heaven at an Adobe graphics show.  So much so she probably wouldn’t even notice sore feet or tired shoulders.

My version of super-fun convention was a Creating Keepsakes scrapbooking show I attended in Iowa with my mom and sister. I could have taken class after class and spent all my money very happily there.

I also think a travel-related convention would be exciting to work in/attend.

My husband’s trade show heaven would probably be the PGA show in Orlando.

My point is – all of us are seeking that perfect mix of a job you love that doesn’t feel like a job. If you can happily stand a 4-day trade show and leave ENERGIZED saying,  “Man, I can’t wait for next year.” Then I think you found your calling.

 
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Write About What You Know – And If You Don’t Know? Ask.

22 Dec

I recently stumbled upon an article titled: “TV Gun Shows Go Mainstream in 2011.” I was intrigued, given my profession, what this article would entail. I figured it would be something about the gun-related shows popping up on “other” networks. And I was correct.

But what inspired this post is the opening paragraph: “Whether it was due to political sensitivity, a lack of interest in shooting sports, or because producers couldn’t figure out how to make shows about guns appeal to a broad audience, things have changed. At one time the only shows that covered any shooting sports were typically hunting-focused and only available on select networks.” (Wow – what a generalization.)

When I scrolled down to read about the author, I discovered she’s not from our industry and typically writes about education. When I googled her name, I found articles on obesity in college kids, embracing social media in schools, and coping with ADD in college. I did not find an article about guns, outdoor TV and anything related to TV whatsoever.

The remainder of this skeleton article simply regurgitates show summaries and where that show is found. She does not talk about any new gun shows that aired on traditional outdoor networks in 2011. 

Which, by the way, Sportsman Channel debuted three new shooting shows in 2011, including

Patrick Flanigan photo courtesy of Sportsman Channel

Ultimate Shot and Tac TV. And four shooting shows returned in 2011 including Modern Rifle Adventures and the iconic Guns & Ammo TV.  We also have a brand new shooting show debuting next week with world record holder Patrick Flanigan with Shell Shocked!

Okay – my point of this post is to WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW. Stick to one genre and do that genre well. Become an expert and people will seek YOU out. It is your brand. Don’t muddy the waters of your brand and write about something so completely out of your circle, it will confuse your readers and editors.

And if you stray from your usual topics – ask an expert to get an understanding before writing incorrect, or even damaging, articles. A simple google search will turn up the answers you need. Or visit Outdoor Blogger Network to find experts of all sorts of genres in the outdoors.

Larry Vickers being B.A. Photo courtesy of Sportsman Channel

I need to correct this writer – there is no “lack of interest in shooting sports.”  National Shooting Sports Foundation will be able to give you plenty of stats to show the INCREASE in shooting sports participation. And did you catch this recent article in the Wall Street Journal about more women taking up shooting? Huh.

If you are seeking an expert in the gun field – call on our friend, Larry Vickers, or perhaps one of the gents from the 50 year-old-brand, Guns & Ammo. They know a thing or two about shooting sports and personal defense.  Or reach out to me at Sportsman Channel. I can connect you with more than 100 experts in their respective genres.

 

 

 
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What the heck am I doing?

09 Dec

I haven’t written in this blog since October – geesh. To say that I am busy is a good excuse, but I really struggle with this constant fear of “who gives a crap what I write about?” In my head, I write posts all the time. Some are witty and funny (to me anyway). And most have nothing to do with the outdoors or the outdoor industry. They are just observations I make.

But I think a lot of people write posts about observations. How many blogs do you know have the word “musings” in their title or subtitle? Like, “This Blog is John’s Musings.” And its all about John’s observations into his life. I guess that’s truly what an online weblog, or blog, is really about.

Don’t we want more than that? Don’t we want real substance? We have too many emails flooding our inbox as it is and don’t we want the ones in there to be something that will enlighten us, teach us, make us laugh?

Maybe I’m putting too much pressure on myself. This is, afterall, just a blog.

Lately, I’ve come to write odd, little posts on my local Patch.com website. There, no one knows me and feel freer. This blog is attached to my company (though not endorsed by my employer, anything I say in here can be used against me – so that’s always good to have over your head).

So should I keep this up? And how do I find focus for this blog? Or should I just write about whatever the heck I want?

 

 

 
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Do Well at Your Job

20 Oct

Hiring managers want one thing from a prospect – someone who loves their current job and doesn’t want to leave. In fact, the more that person doesn’t want to leave, the more the hiring manager wants them to fill THEIR position. But it’s not just a fact of loving your job – you actually have to be good at it.

Society tells us to find what we love and then we will perform that task with gusto and greatness. So if you absolutely love being a cop, you probably take pride in your job and you actually WANT to be the best darn cop on the streets. And precincts from all around will want YOU to be a cop in their area because you are so good at your job. 

How do you find that one person who is not only great at their job, but loves it to? (Because we all know of people who are good at what they do, but really hate their job – Wall Street comes to mind.)

And how can you become a person who both loves their job and is good at it?

Make a plan - then follow it. Photo credit: jojo nicdao

Pray on it. And ask Oprah.

But seriously. Those of us in the outdoors aren’t here for the multimillion dollar companies and the benefits they provide. We are here because we absolutely love the outdoors and this is where we want to stake our claim.

You don’t make beaucoup bucks being a “star” on outdoor TV. (Hopefully I didn’t burst anyone’s bubble there.) I think production companies assume that just picking you for the job is pay enough. I mean, hey, you are on TV after all.

If you are on TV, you obviously love your job and you are probably pretty good at it. Society tells us money will follow.

And I believe that. Because people will notice how much you enjoy your job, they will want to be around you – and by that I mean they will want to hire you. So while your first step into a job you love may not pay – I truly believe it will lead to bigger and better things. Should you allow that. (Self-sabatage is a whole ‘nother blog topic.)

If you want to be in the outdoor industry – find any way in. Work at Cabela’s. Intern for a producer. Carry someone’s camera around for awhile just to “learn the ropes.” I don’t care if you are 18 or 58. If you need a step in, that’s how you do it. Then you network like crazy. You talk to everyone you can. You attend trade shows and show how much you love your crazy job. Potential hiring managers will see that enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge.

You may not earn big money right away, but it will come.

It has to, right?

 

 
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7:59:59

11 Oct

She pulled into her company’s parking lot and found a stall facing the entrance. She turned off the vehicle and instead of gathering her purse and lunch, she sat there in the cold.

The clock read 7:57

She stared at the building entrance and watched her coworkers drudge through the snow to begin their day. The clock turned 7:58

She glared at the clock, daring it to turn to 7:59.

It flipped to 7:59 and then she counted 59 seconds before getting out of the car and walking in.

“This isn’t right. This isn’t normal,” she told herself. And she knew she had to do SOMETHING, but wasn’t sure what that “something” was just yet.

This true story is from Sunny Anderson, host of Cooking for Real on Food Network.  She recently spoke at a Women in Cable Telecommunications event where she was one of several inspiring women who spoke about their experiences climbing the corporate ranks.

Sunny spoke more about her stumbles and trials of finding her perfect job. She actually started out in the military, being a military brat herself, and leaned toward radio broadcasting. “Like Good Morning Vietnam,” she recounted to us.

The above story is when she took a radio DJ job inDetroitand loved the job at first, but it eventually headed south.

She stuck with it for awhile thinking the feeling would move on, or the job would improve or whatever we tell ourselves to get through the day.

photo credit: emohannink

It didn’t, of course. I can’t remember exactly what pushed her onward, but it had to do with asking for more money & responsibility, which was denied.

She eventually did move on to a bigger, better radio station, but the “7:59:59” bug returned again. This time she moved quicker to land her next happy place.

Are you in a 7:59:59 place? When I heard Sunny recount that she actually waited for the clock to hit 59 seconds before heading into the office, I thought she was crazy. It was as if her subconscious was screaming at her, “You hate this job! You are better than this! Get out!”

It took her a bit before she listened to what her “inner voice” was telling her. Once she started listening, she eventually landed the gig on Food Network. 

Are Sunday nights filled with anxiety, fear and hopelessness because Monday looms so close? It is very difficult to do, but seeing these little clues, like sitting in a cold car until the last possible second to head inside, are the keys to our happiness.

 
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