This is Not Career Advice

​Sure, I can tell you how to get to the country store.

Just go up the road until you get where the Smith's cow is sure to be grazing.

Turn left, and keep driving until you see the old foundation of Pete's Diner. There are a few vines growing over that slab, but you can see it if you know what you're looking for.

Then turn right. Go past three dirt roads. Be careful counting; don't count the dirt driveways leading into the fields.

When you get to the fourth dirt road, turn right again. The country store is not too far past the tree that got hit by lightning and burned a couple years ago.

When I started this project, I recognized
career advice is cheap.
And its price represents its value.
But providing someone a strategy that
they can use to create their own career success?
That's worth doing!

Resource: The Seven Steps of Eliminating Seven-Step Processes, Laws, Principles, Habits...

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This is Not Career Advice

Some years ago my brother Reid asked me a great question about my career in learning and performance. He said, "Kent, why do you continue in that career when managers like me can just hire people with the skills they need?"

He had been able to raise himself to a director position with no problem.

So I asked, "And how many other people hold the position of director?"

And he said, "Well, not many."

And I said, "You've gotten there because of the things you bring to the table. You're talented. You're able to look at systems. You can actually develop a strategy to develop your own career. Because you can develop strategies for all sorts of things.

"You've been able to do that, but I'm here for everyone else."

ADVICE VS. TOOLS

Here’s what I’ve noticed.
 

THE LIMITATIONS OF ADVICE

Like Reid, those that have the career they want work by strategy, not someone’s advice based on their choices and results. And there’s good reason. The limitations of advice are illustrated by this story:

The Smith and Jones families had their first children at about the same time. The Smiths had very little trouble with their child. The Joneses--they had a lot of trouble with their child. So the Smiths gave them lots of advice, based on their perception of their success.

Until the Smiths had child number two.

• Advice is context based. Unless you have the same situation with the same type of personalities and the same type of events leading up and happening during it, advice may not be relevant at all.
• Advice is often short-lived. Tomorrow, things could change dramatically. Today you might be working in your office and because of an event, tomorrow everybody might be working from home.
• Advice can produce emotions. The advice receiver will wonder what affect accepting or rejecting advice given will have on the relationship with the advice giver.
   

THE ADVANTAGE OF TOOLS

Tools, however, have wide application.

A hammer can be used in many places and situations. It can be used to both demolish and construct.

Using a tool promotes the use of strategy. Before and during use you're thinking through that next use or the next motion. When you've got that hammer you certainly don't want to position yourself such that your thumb becomes the major target.

Tools are multi use. They're not one and done. You can use that tool in new situations. You might have to use it with a different strategy, but you can pick it up and still use it again.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR GREAT CAREER

In this VidBook, I focus on what is actually most important to your career. And what is more important to your career?

Two tools and a strategy.

Because each journey is unique.

Yes, advice may apply. But these two tools and a strategy will let you find your own answers.

Why just two tools and a strategy? Too many tools and you’ll never know which one is best.

Instead I’ve created two unique multi-tools, tools that will work in whatever situation you’re in. You’ll learn how to use the tools later, but let me introduce them to you.

The first tool is the VAO Model. It’s like a power tool with a choice of accessories to meet your specific needs. The VAO Model centers you on the Value-Added Outputs that clarify expectations and make your real value visible.

The second tool is the Individual Mesh. It’s like a probe that helps you look at a situation from several different viewpoints. Through use of the Individual Mesh, you can provide your own career advice based on your current situation.

The strategy is Meaningful Competence.

WHAT IS MEANINGFUL COMPETENCE

It's building work and life satisfaction through contributions that matter. It's figuring out:

• How your contribution makes a difference to you and the organization's mission.
• How to measure, document, and communicate your value.
• And how to become even more competent at making your contribution.

Note that the strategy is not centered on only giving your organization value, but making sure you know your value.

A PATH TO AN ENHANCED CAREER

Because we’re not giving advice, you’ll find this approach to be very different from what you’ve seen in the past. For that reason,

I’ll spend the first three section introducing the approach. You’ll see:

• Why you can and should take control of your own career in this new way.
• Why I focus on creating value, not giving advice.
• How the two tools and a strategy support your efforts to reveal and increase your real value that, in turns, helps you enhance your career, helping you achieve your career desires.

The next four sections teach you the strategy and how to use the tools.

The last section tells you how to stay relevant. It also includes guidance on when to look for that next job using an approach based on the two tools and a strategy so you make a better decisions, and gives advice on how to always have your resume ready.

​

You've purchased this program to enhance your career, not to just listen to some older person give you advice.

Are you ready to not get career advice?

Let's get going by making sure you believe you do have career choices.

In this chapter you'll learn my opinion about advice and the reason for a focus on strategy.

This is one of the core chapters that prepare you for addressing your career in a way that will give you an advantage over others. 

What I noticed is that those who enjoyed their career most had developed a career strategy. And that's what you develop with this VidBook.