Get That Job! » inspiration

The Pursuit of Happyness

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:39:05 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Few movies have moved me on such a visceral level like “The Pursuit of Happyness” starring Will Smith. The movie is based on real-life events of Chris Gardner.

I recommend seeing it. Again.

This scene is his interview for his internship.

The Pursuit of Happyness – Job Interview

In this scene, it’s his last day of his unpaid internship. A truly inspiring one.

Best scene of Pursuit of Happyness

Your Job Searching Success Story – with a Prescription

Some Friday Fun – VIDEO

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:34:26 +0000

We need more laughter. How about 4 babies laughing at the same time?

A pink slip or a blank page?

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:54:33 +0000

Getting laid off and losing a job doesn’t have to be the end of the world. It can be the best time to reinvent yourself. As one person in Lemonade: The Movie said, it’s not a pink slip – it’s a blank page.

Pursuing Your Passion

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:31:40 +0000

: Image by ?§m? via Flickr

Ever feel like someone’s trying to tell you something?

Early this afternoon I did an in-person interview for How I Got My Job with a good friend of mine, Marc Hopkins, about how he got his recent job as an adjunct professor at a local university. During that interview he talked about YourOneDegree.com. From their website: “Your One Degree is the specific focus and direction you were put on planet earth to pursue and accomplish.”
Later this afternoon, while browsing the aggregate feed for this year’s National Podcast Post Month (NaPodPoMo) website, I found this post from Will Brown entitled Pursuing Your Passion. I was intrigued so much that I had to take a second listen.
My good friend and Cincinnati-area colleague Cliff Ravenscraft from GSPN.tv has a blog and podcast entitled Pursuing a Balanced Life. You may have seen some updates on Twitter with the #PABL hashtag; Cliff and this community are behind that. He left a high-paying job selling insurance to pursue a passion in podcasting and has been able to make a living doing that. I’ve heard him share his story a number of times, and I continue to be inspired.

Maybe it’s that being in transition removes a lot of the other constraints I felt like I was under when I was working full-time, but I’m at least seeing a lot more varied opportunities come my way to try new things.

What about you?

What Questions Do You Have On the Pursuit of Passion? (celestinechua.com)
Following My Passion Has Changed My Life (podcastanswerman.com)
How to Profit From Your Passion (usnews.com)
Loving What You Do (twistimage.com)

SUCCESS STORY: New media

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Image by aloshbennett via Flickr

Saw this tidbit in the collection of draft posts I’ve had for quite awhile – July 19, 2007, in fact! I bet there are lots of stories like this around now:

Donna Papacosta on Twitter: “@chrisbrogan: People have found me, and hired me, because of my blog and podcast.”

Check out How I Got My Job! for information on an upcoming project I’ve been working on.

Ron Hittle inspired me with one sentence

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:31:00 +0000

“To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.” – Stephen R. Covey, via QuotesBlog

I met Ron Hittle about 3-1/2 years ago at a career workshop at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I remember that it was an encouraging and inspiring time for me, since I was really struggling for direction in my career. The encounter and events since then have showed me how powerful connecting with one person can positively affect another.

That year I also met a recruiter in the Dayton area, and we’ve exchanged e-mails and phone conversations over the past three years or so, having become part of each other’s professional network.

She mentioned early on that I must have met Ron Hittle.

“How did you know that?” I asked.

“From then ending of your voicemail message,” she replied. “I do that, too.”

Imitation, it’s been said, is the sincerest form of flattery. This recruiter and I at different times had adopted Ron’s way of closing a message as our own.

It’s a little bittersweet that I share all of this, because a few moments ago, she called me to say that Ron Hittle passed away this weekend. He’d retired some time ago and had been dealing with some health issues, but it still came suddenly. My thoughts and prayers go up to the family, as well as those who knew Ron well. He will surely be missed.

As I mentioned, I didn’t know Ron that well, but he left a lasting impression on me just from one statement from his voicemail message, because it points to my own ability to do something about my life versus letting something happen.

If you’ve received an email from me or have heard me sign off on my mostly music podcast, you probably already know what I’m about to say.

Most people I know usually end a conversation by saying, “Have a great day!”

Ron Hittle would say, “Make it a great day!”

Thanks, Ron. I think I will.

Find information on Diversity recruiting at DiversityJobs.com.

No related posts.

SUCCESS STORY – Getting a job despite your efforts not to

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 21:06:00 +0000

Sometimes the need is just so great that the company will jump through hoops to get and retain you, despite efforts you might make to the contrary.

I talked with a woman today who does Accounts Receivables about how she got her current job. She did that work for a group of doctor’s offices before she went on maternity leave. She wound up finishing her Accounting degree before she came off leave, so she opted to look for a full-time job outside of her job with the doctor’s offices.

She said she applied everywhere and doesn’t remember when she was contacted by the recruiter who was hiring for her current position. Then when it came time for the interview, she had to reschedule a couple of times.

While on the job for awhile, the company came in and eliminated half of the department. Thinking her own job was in jeopardy, she found another one and put in her notice. The VP of Operations begged her to stay and sent a message to her boss demanding that she give the accountant a raise.

Please share your own job-hunting success stories here so everyone can know they too can Get That Job!

You Are the Star of Your Show!

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 11:55:00 +0000

Okay, I realize this might sound a bit weird…

Some of you may know that I host and produce the Journey Inside My Mind Podcast, which I have done for over a year now. At the end of the theme, before the opening monologue, I have an audio clip that I created that goes like this:

Man:What happens when a man goes through his own portal?

Woman:We’ll see.

Announcer: Get ready… here’s Dan Johnson!
(applause and sound of kids cheering)

I love having that clip because it gets me charged up and ready to move on with the show.

I recently have started using that same audio clip as the Start Windows sound for my computer. So now, as I boot up my machine and log in, I get introduced!

Like I said, it may sound a bit weird. Maybe even a little corny. I don’t care. It charges me up for doing work.

What does this have to do with a job search? Well, in the same way, we all are the stars of our own show. Every day you get to live is a new palette for you to carve out a masterpiece. I think that how you approach it says a lot for your effectiveness. Sometimes we need something to inspire us to get started.

What inspires you to make it a great day?

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Give Yourself a Pep Talk

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:45:00 +0000

You’ve received no phone calls or contacts about jobs for which you’ve applied. You search job listings and don’t find openings that match your qualifications and experience. You might start to feel down.

I know because I have been there, am there, and will be there again. How can I get myself back up?

I think I need to give myself a pep talk. You might feel the same.

Every day and maybe throughout the day, I’m going to look the man in the mirror right in the eyes and say, “You are important. Your work is important. You are valuable. Someone wants to pay you for what you have to offer.”

I believe that. I’ve been working on believing in things that are not as tangible as I’d like them to be. I’ve started thinking big and dreaming big.

If I let myself get caught up in negative energy, it will eventually lead to more and more inaction.

“Your work is important. Someone wants to hire you. You just haven’t met each other yet.”

No related posts.

Have the right perspective

Daniel Johnson, Jr. — Thu, 26 Jun 2003 13:23:00 +0000

“Anyone who sees in his own occupation merely a means of earning money degrades it; but he that sees in it a service to mankind ennobles both his labor and himself.” — A. Lawrence Lowell, also posted at QuotesBlog

Get That Job! » inspiration

The Pursuit of Happyness

Some Friday Fun – VIDEO

A pink slip or a blank page?

Pursuing Your Passion

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SUCCESS STORY: New media

Ron Hittle inspired me with one sentence

SUCCESS STORY – Getting a job despite your efforts not to

You Are the Star of Your Show!

Give Yourself a Pep Talk

Have the right perspective