Hugh Morgan

Job Search Sites Are (Almost) Useless

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In fact, they are more than useless, they are a time suck.  LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed are designed solely to collect resumes for companies and recruiter, to give them a valid sample of candidates to take through an interview process that Human Resources has dictated.  This will not help you at all: you need to drive the search for your next gig by building your personal network.  Spend no more than 10% of your time looking at job postings and do this only to understand what target companies are up to.

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The Mighty Baguette

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Few food items have the totemic significance of the baguette, embodying much that we love about France, its mother country.  It’s origins are unclear but were driven by Viennese innovations in the 19 century (e.g. The steam injected oven).  The name for the long cylindrical loaf shows up definitively in the 1920s for the Department of the Seine:m “The baguette, having a minimum weight of 80 g [2 3⁄4 oz] and a maximum length of 40 cm [16 in], may not be sold for a price higher than 0.35 francs apiece”  The high surface area to volume ratio means that the loaf does not stay fresh for more than a few hours.  I find baguettes purchased in France, frankly, somewhat bland, which I think is due to strict pricing and content regulation.

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Crafting a Sales Email

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Email is at once one of the most powerful inventions in the last 25 years and the channel that plagues almost everyone.  Keep your emails concise and sharp.  Think about every word, every phrase.  Make the subject line clear and moderate (No hype).  An intro, a body and a conclusion, often one sentence each separated by paragraphs that give the reader context and ask for action are key.  Make it easy for the reader to evaluate and move on – no one has time for anymore than this.

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Emotionally Adept, Not Emotionally Intelligent

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The term “Emotional Intelligence” (EQ) was coined in the early ’60s and does not refer to intelligence at all.  Rather, characteristics it describes may be: a. learned skills; b. A behavior base; c. a form of knowledge; d. a measure of cultural conformity; or e. adherence to moral precepts.  The idea that understanding others and being able to work with them, or perhaps manipulate them, is an essential trait for senior managers working with teams.  Indeed, High EQ has mixed correlation with productivity.  High EQ is correlated with better mental and physical health.

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Be Steady, Systematic

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When you are looking for your next gig, remember that you are running a marathon, not a sprint.  Treat it like a job, put in 8 – 10 hours a day, take weekends off.  Exercise, get sleep, eat right, be systematic and steady – the momentum you build will get your through the peaks and valleys of the experience, which can be emotionally taxing.  Placing in the larger context of your career, your work like, will help you maintain perspective.

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