Creativity is one of the buzzwords that employers and educators are throwing around now. We often hear “Our young people need to know how to be creative”. First of all, can these people even define what creativity is? I think it is the ability to have the flexibility to get an outcome in an environment, regardless of what is happening in that environment. It is all about tracking in real-time what is happening and acting upon that information to get your desired outcome.

Here is a great example of creativity:

Click here to view the embedded video.

So where does the gazelle fit into all of this?

Well as well as being quick, and nimble, gazelles are incredibly smart and they do what it takes to get the result that is going to work out best for them. That is how you are going to get the results you want in your life. It is about having the behavioral flexibility to succeed, regardless of what happens in the environment.

So what do you need to be doing to become a creative gazelle?

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60% of college graduates expect to return to their family home upon graduation. This “Failure To Launch” is not so much that the economy is in bad shape, it is that schools and colleges are not preparing you for the getting started in the emerging economy

The simple truth is you need more than a college degree these days to build a career that is satisfying.

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Your parents had it easy in many respects they went. The problem is that they went to college, graduated and were guaranteed a career that paid well, had security, benefits and would last them a life-time. You are moving into an economy that offers none of these, despite what anyone else tells you.

THE TOOLS AND SKILLS YOU NEED FOR THRIVING IN THE NEW ECONOMY ARE NOT BEING TAUGHT AT SCHOOL.

On this seven lesson free video series you will learn how to:

Focus on precisely the actions to be doing in order to build a massive critical understanding of your field.

Keep you constantly oriented towards the possibilities of what you can create for yourself.

Fill in the gaps that your education has left so that you can learn what it takes to thrive in the emerging 21st century world.

Develop a mindset to enable you to create opportunities in your chosen field.

Develop the confidence to succeed in building a satisfying career.

Become someone who is self-educated and able to find the resources you will need to succeed.

Learn how to collaborate and network with like-minded individuals to achieve your outcomes.

Your parents had it easy in many respects they went. The problem is that they went to college, graduated and .Here is what others are saying about it:

Eventually, you’ll run into NLP techniques and patterns that don’t work for you. Apparently, they will always seem to work for everybody else.

The truth is that they don’t work on everyone at all.

They might work on many people.

But not all.

And you happen to be one of them.

The reason for this is that we all process our intake of the world differently. And that’s why the Swish Pattern (among others) might not work in all situations for you.

What should you do when you encounter a pattern that allegedly works for everyone but you?

You need to go back to the most important piece of the self-help puzzle: modeling yourself.

You MUST discover how you operate when you’re at your best. It’s essential. It beats any other excellence pattern you’ll encounter in trainings or on the web.

Incidentally, this dovetails into the work of Joseph Riggio of Mythoself(TM) and Robert Johanssen of Svensk NLP (who created the Riggio Model). The real question is, how can you tap into your personal best continuously?

Because at your personal best, most of the issues you want to change or improve cease to exist. You’re at your peak state. And at your peak state, you’re unstoppable.

All this to say, don’t think there’s something wrong when some supposedly universal pattern doesn’t perform effectively with you. It’s not you who’s wrong for the pattern. It’s either the pattern that’s wrong for you or is being misused in the situation at hand.

Model yourself and resolve the problem.

To learn more about NLP modeling, visit http://www.HowToMasterNLP.com and download your Free Skill-Building Guide.

Author: Steve Bauer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Someone who leads has to by definition make decisions. They assimilate the available information, and based upon a strategy they have in place, make what they consider to be the most useful decision.

A recent poll showed that 59% of Americans did not favor the health care bill. Republican politicians used this as their main argument as to why the bill should not be passed. THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP. This is following others in a popularity contest. Give me a reasoned argument as to why the health reform bill is a bad thing (and there are many). This is not what I want my politicians doing. I may be old fashioned, but I want my leaders to lead.

We get taught to follow in school. There are “right” answers that give us the check-marks which make up our grades. And what do we give our innovators, our creators, our potential difference makers, those who want to think outside the box? We give them an “F” because they do not get the “right” answer. This discourages many people to think for themselves and develop their own reasoning. The emerging economy is only going to reward those who have their own opinions, and are able to become a creative force. In short, people who know how to lead.

As a footnote, out of the 59% who did not support the bill, 13% said it didn’t go far enough. So the reality was more than 50% favored health care reform. The politicians were acting on information that they cherry-picked for themselves (no real surprise there, I guess).

True leaders use information from all sources to make great decisions. And they have reasoned arguments for these ideas, not just facts and figures that indicate that they are the victors in an imaginary popularity contest.

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The days when a college degree was a guarantee to a lifelong career are long gone. Graduates today are finding it challenging just to get a job when they play by the “old rules”.

According to a MonsterTrak study conducted back in November 2009, a full 60% of the class of 2010 expects to be living with their parents when they graduate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the unemployment rate for the age group 20-24 is nearly twice that of the national average. Add to that debts from student loans, and the outlook for our young people today could be viewed as bleak. Or is it?

Our Society has entered a time of huge transformative change. We are moving into a post-industrial world, and the rules of the game are changing. What we are seeing is a huge shift from an industrial economy where size was everything – to one where ideas are becoming the crucial currency. The person who finds success in this emerging economy is going to be very different from someone who was able to succeed in the 20th century.

The days of America being an industrial titan are gone. Instead, our most innovative companies are the ones with an eye on the future. The most productive individuals have worked out that they need to be people with great ideas, and not simply workers who are good at following instructions. The ones with the brightest futures are the ones creating their own futures. The message is a simple one: either get on board or get left behind.

Practical Idealists

In 2008, Tufts University published Practical Idealists: Changing the World and Getting Paid (Studies in Global Equity) by Alissa Wilson, Ann Barham, and John Hammock. It was a study of innovative thinkers and doers who are ahead of the curve, and are literally shaping the emerging economy. They are doing what they have a passion for, making personal sacrifices along the way, and doing it because they feel compelled to do it. They range from Eric Greitens, a humanitarian who has spent his life helping others in the third world, to Kelly Letzler who has set up a network of kitchens for feeding homeless. Kelly’s future projects include “Healthy Minds for Healthy Kids”, an initiative to educate kids to pick better dietary choices. These exemplars represent a small, but growing number of young people who want to do something they feel matters.
So what should young people be looking to offer to make themselves a force to be reckoned with in the new economy? Here five things that are essential for young people to thrive as we move forwards:

Creativity

Your ideas will be much more valuable than your ability to do routine and mundane tasks. Those who can take calculated risks and live on the cutting-edge of their profession will be the difference-makers of tomorrow.

Adaptability

There are no real figures as to how many careers changes an individual in the Class of 2010 is expected to have (estimates vary from 5 to 15). What is true, however, is resilience and willingness to “do what it takes” is going to be key in order to find success in the emerging economy.

Collaboration

Someone who is successful in the emerging economy will be able to establish meaningful networks and collaborations with others. They will learn to work with and become people of influence.

Integrity

The old economy was typified by doing what it took to make a profit, regardless of the cost to individuals, society, or the environment, exemplified by “what is in it for me” thinking. The emerging economy is exemplified by delivering value, and doing so with integrity and honesty. It is about having a passion and doing things for others.

Mastery

Once having reasonable domain knowledge was enough to get by. This is no longer enough. Now it is essential to have mastery in an area, as well as excellent leadership and communication skills. Those who are at the top of their craft will be the ones doing the most interesting and productive work. They will be the difference makers.

Schools and Colleges

Harvard Professor Tony Wagner points out in “The Global Achievement Gap” that the US is getting left behind in many critical areas because we are still using 20th century ideas in many of our schools and colleges. He urges, through his “Change Leadership” group urgently update our curricula to ensure that the US remains competitive. Institutional change is, as we know, extremely slow. And while some schools and colleges are striving to stay relevant, others are happy to keep the status quo intact.

Technology

Of course the internet, information processing and technology will have a huge impact in the emerging economy. To many observers, the speed of technological change we have seen up until now is slow compared to what we may expect in the future. Chris Anderson, author of “Free: The Future Of A Radical Price” states:

“If the past 10 years have been about discovering post-institutional social models on the Web, then the next 10 years will be about applying them to the real world.”

This means very real change in which we do business, and we need to be preparing our young people for this change. And these changes are going to make things we consider to be cutting edge today, like Facebook and X-boxes, seem obsolete.
Is change easy? Of course not. But individuals, such as those who are profiled in “Practical Idealists” are showing the way for people who are refusing to be one of the statistics of the old economy. They are doing the hard work necessary to leave the world a better place for their own children. They are making sacrifices in many areas of their lives. And, if they leave the world a better place and have a fulfilled career while doing so, I believe that they are necessary sacrifices that are worth making.

I finished off yesterday’s post with the three things that I consider to be essential for people who want to have success in the emerging economy. Today I will outline how you can put them to use in your everyday life:

1. Flexibility

You all know people who are able to respond quickly and effortlessly to changes in the environment. The interesting thing about people who are able to display a great deal of “behavioral flexibility” are the ones who are the most centered inside themselves. As the speed in which we live at gets faster and faster, you will need to be able to respond to these changes, almost before they happen.

2. Resilience

This is the ability to get back off the floor over and over again after setbacks. It is about staying focused on the outcomes that you want to have You have heard about Thomas Edison and the number of times he “failed” before his invention of the lightbulb. For him, those iterations were not failures, they were simply what he did to gather more information before he achieved his outcome- the invention of a light-bulb.

3. Creativity

Creativity is a buzzword thrown around by educators. Creativity for me means that you have a vision of a future that you want to bring into being, and from there you work out a strategy for making that vision become real. It is what you uniquely bring to the world.

Where do we learn these things? Schools usually only pay lip-service to creativity, critical thinking and other real life skills that are becoming ever more important. Where you really learn these things from experience, from getting out in the world and trying them out. In the emerging economy, you will be rewarded for the experience you have, not the certifications you have on your wall.

What do you consider to be important as we head full steam into the post-industrial world?

Here are:

Some great, forward thinking people:

Click here

So we voted for a president who said he’d implement change. For whatever reason, that change has been slow, or even non-existent.Don’t let that fool you, however..

Times they are a changing…

The world that your parents grew up in does not exist. You do not rent VCR tapes at your local video store, and you do not go home and play Atari games with your friends. In those days, we lived in a booming, thriving economy, and once you got your degree, your company hired you and you got on with doing your career. You got great benefits, and maybe changed direction once or twice in your life before you retired. This will not be the case going forward, and do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

How The Emerging Economy Will Be Different

The emerging economy will not reward you for being compliant, for sitting around waiting for someone to tell you what to do. There will be no job security, particularly if you sit around hoping that you don’t get fired. There will be plenty of low paid menial jobs in this new economy, but if you are reading this, my guess is you are not setting your sights on being a $7 per hour burger-flipper.

The only security that will be available is the security that you generate for yourself. This means doing something that you like, doing something that you are good at, and putting your heart and soul into it. There will be times when you get paid very little. Times when you do not get paid at all. It will be so easy to quit and go and try and find some security.

But, if you are truly interested in making a difference, in doing something that matters, the there are a number of things that will be essential for you to have.

What you need:

1. Flexibility

2. Resiliance

3. Creativity

Where will you learn these skills? In part 2 tomorrow, I’ll outline ways in which you can begin to become someone capable of making a difference.

Today we have a guest post from Josh Nankivel from PMStudent.com:

James is a UK subscriber to the Project Management Career Newsletter. We had this discussion via email and James gave me permission to share with you.

James, I get the impression that much of your exposure to project management thus far has been academic in nature. You’ve earned your degree and gained knowledge of MS Project and Prince2. This is a great start.

What I DON’T Recommend

project management career path - by Nicholas_T via Flickr

Just to be clear I want to make this point explicit. You might be tempted to go after some other certification or even an advanced degree. For your particular situation I advise against that until you have gained some real work experience in the field, unless of course you can manage to work full time and also do some coursework and study. It doesn’t sound like you have any (or enough) project management experience to qualify for many of the certifications out there like the PMP, aCCP, etc.

Others I have spoken to in the past have been in the same situation. My fear is that by going back to school in lieu of gaining work experience, someone might be unconsciously running back into an academic comfort zone. I think you are hitting the nail right on the head to say it’s time for you to go get your foot in the door and start actively working towards your career goals. As Travis Anderson pointed out, you always want to sharpen the saw though in some way. More related discussion here.

Parts of the following are drawn from “What Everybody Ought to Know About Switching Careers to Project Management.”

Get Your Foot In The RIGHT Door

I think this is a critical thing that many job-seekers miss, regardless of your role. Look for an environment in which you can flourish first. I have a LOT of experience looking for jobs (hey, I didn’t get fired OK?) due to having been laid off 5 times (so far).

Things have rarely happened to me by throwing my resume out to the job boards. I stopped doing that long ago. When I started researching companies (not jobs), networking as a way of life by helping others (not just when looking for a job), and reaching out directly to people in my prospect companies, things began to happen.

It’s a lot of work and produces results. There is no easy button.

Finding The Right Organization

1) Look for companies that are very project-oriented. Medium to large firms who’s business model is geared towards completing projects for their customers are best. Several benefits here:

* Once this kind of firm gets to a certain size, it’s inevitable that they will develop solid, formal project management practices for their business. Otherwise, they die.
* This is likely to be a mentor-rich environment.
* You are more likely to be provided with formal PM training in a company like this.
* You can join in a capacity you are already very comfortable with as a member of the project team; be a sponge, volunteer as much as possible for things related to project management….generate new ideas where you can volunteer even!

Entry Into Project Management

2) Become a member of a project team in the right environment. You could go technical, or look for jobs that have titles like “project analyst”, “project coordinator”, “business analyst”, etc. This is a bit hit-and-miss, because different companies call these positions by different titles. I had a job where I was an “MIS analyst” and doing development/process improvement to start out, then transitioned the % of my time spent doing project management up over time.

You will be more likely to land a position like this right out of the gate than to have a significant project handed to you. This goes well with the last bullet from the previous section; make sure you are in an organization where you can volunteer to run small projects, go out of your way to assist and learn from veteran project managers, and establish a great track record in the organization.

Volunteer

Chet Frame left a comment also advising volunteer work for non-profits or other organizations. I completely agree. If you can run projects for the organization this is a great way to get some real world experience.

For instance, I belong to several groups in the PMI and in the past I found a project that I could carry out, did some preliminary work to plan it out at a high level, and then proposed it to the board.

They accepted it, and I recruited team members. I was the project manager. If the board hadn’t accepted it, I would have tried again. And again. And again. I was actually working full time and doing 12-16 credit hours at university too.

If you can set aside a few hours per week for personal development, you could do something like this.

Josh Nankivel, PMP coaches new and aspiring project managers to achieve their career goals at pmStudent.com. He has been managing IT and non-IT projects in Computing, Financial Services, Telecommunications, and Aerospace for over a decade. Josh’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Project Management. He lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA with his wife and 3 sons.