I was contemplating writing a blog, but there seems to be a lot of etiquette surrounding blogs, and I didn't want to get caught up in that. However, there are issues that are time-sensitive that I would like to address "in public," since I know that many of my friends and family are interested in hearing from me.
So I make no promises about how often I will update this page. If you want to receive a notice when I do, please feel free to join my Yahoo! group. I promise only to send two types of messages to the group: blog and web site update notices and networking-type notices. I would use LinkedIn for this, but I recognize that many of my contacts are not on LinkedIn, so that wouldn't work. If you go to my LinkedIn profile, you can then send me an invitation to connect. Please note that I only connect with people that I have spoken with at least once, so if you don't already know me, please email me to set up a call.
This update page has 2 main topics:
My current career explorations, including an active job search and a latent study of educational directions to support my interest in performance improvement.
The situation in Israel as I see it. This is in response to the fact that many people ask me about my take on the current situation in Israel. Those of you who are familiar with my bleeding heart (liberalism) might be surprised to read my current thoughts.
Well, it has been over a month, and there is so much to tell that I will just jump right in.
I am looking for a good tag line for my LinkedIn profile. Can you help me think of one? Please send me your suggestions. If you come up with a tag line I use I will cook dinner for your family (up to 6 people; date to be arranged by mutual agreement; and you should know that most people think I cook well...). I would say I am a generalist who can figure out how to achieve almost any goal, and I stand out when there is no tried and true way, but that is not a tag line...
I have been applying for jobs that have the title "Operations Manager" or that have "supervisor" or "analyst" in the description. This includes line manager jobs, particularly in small, narrow fields, where the chances of finding someone with a lot of subject or industry experience are not high, and they want strong managerial skills. Working with management consultants on documenting current processes through interviews and other means would also be something I am both good at and enjoy. I have had some good success in coaching people lately, but I like to be involved in the processes themselves, and therefore have skipped the role of coach; but I would welcome a job that included a coaching function. I love the energy at startups, but right now they have to have the capital to pay me. I am afraid I just cannot afford to work for equity at this point.
On the job search front I have been attending two networking groups for job seekers - Experience Unlimited (EU) and CPC Job Connections. They are great in helping keep my spirits up and meeting amazing people. I even got to be on TV as part of a workshop on LinkedIn. The last two speakers at Experience Unlimited were Marty Nemko and Jason Alba, who were both amazing. They gave some great advice and were entertaining. I must mention that Marty Nemko speaks about his father, who was a holocaust survivor, and helps keep the holocaust on people's mind using his second generation experiences, in a way that is relevant and in good taste. Thank you, Marty!
New initiatives (at least for me) include:
I didn't want to bury this in the list, but I am working on a grant proposal to help emancipating foster youth create Permanency Pacts with supportive adults (volunteers from the community). Email me if you are interested in:
I have been attending many cultural events. Most of them I see as a volunteer usher - Circus Oz at Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall (where I will be attending a taping of "Wait, wait, don't tell me" on Friday); Smuin Ballet at the Lesher was amazing last week; Betrayal at the Aurora Theatre was good (not amazing, but interesting), and has been extended. I also went to a Gap presentation at the Aurora (a free event) and Dan Hoyle was brilliant (though the play was a little rough - which figures since it isn't finished yet). Next week is the last one - it is free, and starts promptly at 7:30 on Monday, 2/23 (did I mention it is free?). The free day at the Asian Art Museum is the first Sunday of every month (see details at the web site). Orionne and I saw the Afghanistan exhibit and it was great, but we also visited the regular exhibits, and spent a lot of time there, too. We need to go back.
The Contra Costa International Jewish Film Festival starts at the end of the month, and I am volunteer coordinator. This is always a "fun" job because our top donors have reserved seating, and some of the single-ticket patrons have a problem accepting this. Our constituents can get quite feisty, so some assertiveness is required. If anyone has any suggestions (or would like to volunteer for the more difficult posts)... you guessed it, email me!
On the exercise front I have been attending Israeli Folk Dancing every Wed. in Kensington. My Kundalini yoga class is going the way of the Economy. The instructor is moving to Santa Fe, where there is promise of construction jobs for her husband and they have free housing. So I am looking for another class - preferably free, like this one. To add insult to injury, Elephant Pharm, where the classes were hosted every Monday morning, has closed. I continue to try to walk twice a week - up hill from our house, and around down Scenic Drive.
I have a reading list a mile long, and instead of me working through it, it feels like it just keeps on growing. As you can see above, there is so much going on that I get a little distracted. I will maintain the list and transfer books to the "read" section (and hopefully annotate them, too).
Last but not least, we are very excited that Orionne will be the lead in the production of Seussical at Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette (you can already purchase tickets but I don't think it is necessary - I have never seen the kids' productions sell out).
Oops - almost forgot to give you a knitting update (well, I did forget, and added it way after I finished the spell check). I have finished a few projects recently, and have been trying to make it a policy to wear as many of my creations as possible. Right now I am working on a lace baby blanket in the most beautiful red... Jackie will have her baby in early March (I think), so I am on a deadline. I probably won't make it, but we decided this is a summer blanket, anyway. I was astonished when I succeeded in finding yarn to match the paint chip!
So enough from me for now. Please tell me how you are doing!
This week I ramped up my research efforts in anticipation of an interview next Friday. This includes reading the company's web site, talking to people from similar cultures as the interviewers, and learning everything I can about the company's highest priorities. On the week of January 26th I will be attending an ISPI Institute (workshop). I also want to read a book by Ronald Heifetz, a Harvard Business School faculty member (thank you, Racheli, for the pointer!), who apparently focuses on the importance of the interaction between people and process in the workplace, similar to what I found working at Cal. Thanks to Roger Addison, the instructor of the ISPI Institute, I have added the environment to this equation.
In the mean time I have been facilitating workshops (on job seeking and networking) for Experience Unlimited, helping establish success teams for CPC Job Connections, contemplating starting my own job networking group at CBS, as well as coaching and mentoring others, helping them jumpstart their job search and use some of the non-traditional approaches that have worked for me in the past. I have made some great new friends, many of them fellow scanners from fields I have never interacted with before. I have called people to get help and found myself helping as much as I have been helped.
I have evolved significantly in the last 5 years. I have become more self aware, pragmatic, and sensitive to others' reactions. I have learned to adapt to American culture specifically, and other people generally. I have become a consensus-seeker, and have emerged as a leader among job seekers.
The future is exciting, I can't wait to get there! And meanwhile, I make sure to enjoy every minute, and appreciate the wonderful people in my life. Of course, I continue to dance and knit and
Thank you for your assistance during my transition. I am inspired by how many people came forward and helped in different ways. This email is going out only to people who have expressed their interest in helping and hearing how things are going - 5 family members, 24 friends and 17 new contacts, and I am meeting two new people next week. This does not include the more than 50 people I have met lately in networking. I am grateful to you all. I am writing to update you on the latest developments.
I performed about 20 informational interviews, many of them face to face, and have explored many directions. Pretty early on I identified a name for what I have done and want to focus on in the future - it is called Performance Technology, and the activity is called Performance Improvement. It is an offshoot of training, and is documented in detail at ISPI.org.
I have explored a few of the academic programs in the area, and cannot say I found one that is right in terms of program and requirements. I am still considering getting an MBA as background. As far as I can tell I need to develop my own program - consisting of some theoretical courses, some applied courses, and a hefty reading list. I would like to find someone to help me evaluate educational resources for their rigor and application to my needs, to help me identify quality classes, and differentiate between courses that are equivalent to reading a book and those where participating in a class or workshop would bring real added value.
The highest priority for now remains finding work. I had an interview at a Consulting company that works with non-profits and governmental agencies. They have checked one reference, so I hope to hear something positive from them soon. I have applied for a position at Cal, and spoken to people in the department. I have been applying for positions with employee supervision, positions at consulting companies, as well as governmental positions, although I could use some guidance in how to do the latter successfully. Apparently many of the Performance Technology methods are widely used, if not developed, in the military and federal government.
I look forward to staying in contact with you, and telling you about all the exciting events as they unfold.
I see myself as part of Israel's PR machine, and I explain the situation to everyone who will listen. I am "left-of-center" but the withdrawal from Gaza has proven that land-for-peace simply doesn't work. And after years of heavy bombardment of Israel's south, it is about time Israel reacted. My liberal bleeding heart applauds Israel for responding in her own time, when it best suited her, and when she could hope to achieve her military goals, not as a reaction to Hamas terrorism.
So I implore the right-wingers to stop creating artificial fences - we all believe in the same goal - peace - even if we differ in our beliefs of how this goal should be achieved. In this case, in late December, 2008 and early January, 2009, I am completely behind Israel's actions. I have heard many of my American friends, even those who do not watch Fox news, express similar sentiments. So despite the poor PR job, Israel has made its point well by acting with restraint when it was warranted, and going full out (like now) when it is called for.
Through the LinkedIn group I found a great article about the history of the situation. It is short and a very easy read.