Use Book Launch to Promote Your Next Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Use Book Launch to Promote Your Next Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Distributing is an incredible method to advance your image and manufacture mastery. Not exclusively would you be able to make a buzz about your message, however pull in new customers. So on the off chance that you havent composed a short (or long) book, yet - put that on your to-do list. Once finished, it takes the correct advancement system to make this effective for both print and computerized books. Okay like greater perceivability for your next distribution? Amazon alone is only a little bit of the promoting puzzle. By being dynamic via web-based networking media with an expert site and blog your own image can guide perusers to your book. Pre-discharge book dispatches are the subsequent stage in the wake of building your locale and notoriety on the web. Indeed, even with a low spending plan your image can energize an elevated level of desire and draw in perusers before you book is distributed. Step by step instructions to Create a Stand-Out Book Campaign There are a few different ways you can design a book dispatch occasion to assemble a group of people for your up and coming discharge. • Reach out to book bloggers Get associated with book analysts where your image's crowd are dynamic perusers. Impart on their online journals and join bunches on places like Goodreads where you can post supportive data and associate with perusers. This would all be able to pave the way to a book giveaway occasion with a particular time span, and open the entryway of chance for bloggers to audit your work. • Host an online course Your own image can develop a crowd of people for your up and coming discharge by facilitating a free online class or live spilling occasion. By featuring a portion of the primary concerns and giving important data individuals will need to find out about your book, which expands your odds of a deal. • Take preferred position of Amazon's pre-discharge choice Authors can sell their books on Amazon before their distribution is discharged. This alternative is a decent method to produce a buzz for your image and expectation for your book. • Invest in internet promoting Social media offers all the more advertisement choices that brands can exploit effortlessly. Both Facebook and Twitter have moderate rates for short time periods, and now both Instagram and Facebook are permitting a purchase button for portable clients. This might be definitely justified even despite the venture to commence a mindfulness online for your book. An effective book dispatch includes building the correct connections and having a strong showcasing system set up. Make arrangements a couple of months ahead of time before you start your advancement, and exploit your current fan base with pre-discharge declarations that urge your locale to share.

Five careers in housebuilding

Five careers in housebuilding by Amber Rolfe Ready to renovate your career?OK, so you’ve always been interested in building things, design and construction is your passion, and you just can’t get enough of Grand Designs. All that’s left to do is put your expertise to use in one of the many steps it takes to put together an actual house (step aside, Lego).To give you an idea of what you could do, here are just five of the best careers in house building, and our advice to help you get started:Architect What they do: Help to design, restore, and alter both new and old buildings â€" through research, client communication, and detailed drawings. Their role is not only to produce a functional design, but also to work with users and clients to ensure the plans are safe and economical. Although Architects are usually office-based, they may have to visit sites and clients to discuss and assess plans.What you need: Aside from good drawing skills, creativity, and an excellent imagination â€" Architects will al so need to be analytical with a great attention to detail. A degree in architecture is essential too, along with at least two years professional experience.What you can earn: Entry-level Architects start on around £28,000, with salaries rising up to £45,000 with experience.Perfect for: People who only play The Sims in build mode.Our advice: To make sure you’re heading in the right direction, it’s essential to study for five years (to gain an accredited degree) as well as work professionally for at least two years (as an assistant or trainee). Any other relevant experience will also improve your chances of being considered. Gathering an extensive portfolio of sketches and designs is a great way to increase your chances of being accepted onto a good course, and can show employers your capabilities accurately.How to become an ArchitectView all Architect jobs  BricklayerWhat they do: Although there are various jobs involved in the many aspects of house building, the structural fra mework all comes down to bricks and mortar â€" and it’s a Bricklayer’s job to put these together. They’re based primarily on-site, using specialist tools and equipment to mix cement and shape mortar in order to carefully align and lay bricks for walls, chimneys, archways, and other types of brickwork. They’re also responsible for carrying out measurements and checks to ensure each row of bricks is straight and level.What you need: An organised and methodical work ethic, alongside an ability to work well in a team. A good level of fitness is also essential. You won’t need any formal qualifications to become a Bricklayer, but you will have to apply for a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to get started.What you can earn: Salaries start at around £15,000, with highly experienced Brick Layers able to earn up to £30,000.Perfect for: People who always win at jenga.Our advice: There are many ways to get into brick laying â€" so all you have to do is pick one that suits you and your preferred working style. Whether you want to enter the role through an apprenticeship, start by getting work experience on a building site, or gain an industry-recognised qualification, getting involved in any way possible will improve your chances of being considered for a full-time position.How to become a BricklayerView all Bricklayer jobs  Joiner What they do: Build, cut, and put together wooden objects â€" without the use of nails or screws. Although their role crosses over with carpentry, Joiners are more concerned with the assembly of things like doors, floorboards, or window frames â€" whilst Carpenters are responsible for fitting them at a construction site. So whether they’re constructing a kitchen cabinet or putting together a staircase, a Joiner’s work is vital to the construction or renovation of any new home.What you need: An ability to follow detailed drawings and plans accurately, combined with a mathematical mind. You won’t need a degre e, but employers will often look for candidates with some experience in construction.What you can earn: Salaries may vary depending on how many hours you work and whether you’re self-employed â€" but typical incomes usually start at around £18,000, rising up to £35,000 with experience.Perfect for: People who can build something out of anything.Our advice: Consider gaining some on-site experience and/or relevant qualifications to enhance your practical skills and knowledge â€" and to make sure you’re standing out to employers. Whether you join through an apprenticeship, or start out as a Labourer or Joiner’s ‘mate’ â€" there are many ways to learn on-the-job and improve your chances of progressing into a career in joinery.How to become a JoinerView all Joiner jobs  Quantity Surveyor What they do: Manage the financial and contractual aspects of construction projects, to ensure they’re completed within a specified budget. They could work for a consultancy (meaning they fo cus on the design stage) or a contractor (meaning they’ll focus on the construction stage). Typical tasks will vary depending on this, but Quantity Surveyors could spend their day-to-day doing anything from assessing the costs of materials and adjusting budgets to preparing contracts and writing reports.What you need: An ability to convey complex information to non-specialists, combined with strong numeracy and financial management skills. Additionally, you’ll need to be able to use practicality and logic to solve problems and come up with innovative solutions. The role will also require candidates to have a degree that’s accredited by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).What you can earn: New Quantity Surveyors will usually earn between £20,000 and £30,000, which could rise to as much as £65,000 with experience.Perfect for: People who aren’t afraid of checking their bank account.  Our advice: Don’t worry if your degree isn’t in quantity surveying, as there are many postgraduate courses available to give you the essential skills needed to get started. And, even without a degree â€" it’s often possible to find work as a surveying assistant or technician whilst studying to become a fully qualified Quantity Surveyor.   How to become a Quantity SurveyorView all Quantity Surveyor jobs  Site Manager What they do: Also known as Project Managers or Construction Managers, Site Managers are responsible for supervising and running construction projects on-site. Whether it’s by liaising with clients, supervising construction workers, checking site reports, or making safety inspections â€" their role is all about overseeing a build and making sure it’s progressing. Not only do they ensure work is in line with specifications, they also work with Quantity Surveyors to monitor costs.What you need: Whilst communication skills and an ability to work well with and motivate others is essential, you’ll also need to be able to combine this wi th a great level of commercial awareness, decision-making ability, and building knowledge. Although a degree is usually required, extensive experience in construction could be enough to help you work your way up.  What you can earn: Typical starting salaries are around £27,000, which could rise up to £70,000 if you become a Senior Site Manager.Perfect for: People with who like to be in control.Our advice: If you’re not in a position to study full-time, don’t panic. Many construction courses can be studied part-time, and employers will offer sponsorship opportunities to help out with the cost of your degree.How to become a Project ManagerView all Site Manager jobs  Honourable mentions: Plumber, Electrician, Roofer, Carpenter, Scaffolder, Buyer, Planner, Engineer, Landscaper.Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs now  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressm essage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. How to start looking for work What job suits me?

Organize Your Job Search Needs This is your week!

Organize Your Job Search Needs This is your week! Its been quite hectic around here lately I announced the JibberJobber anniversary upgrade options a month ago but never really let too many people (like, my users!) know.  This week we emailed all of the people who have signed up (and have chosen to get those types of emails) letting them know that the special is good through this week. There are two bundle options, both of which include the buy-on-year-get-one-free.  That is, for $99 you get 24 months of JibberJobber, which comes out to about $4/month.  That is a sweet deal, right? For this anniversary special you can also get (at no additional cost) either: The new, awesome, 3 hour LinkedIn DVD, ($50 value) or 3 premium streaming videos, including Blogging for Job Seekers, Twitter for Job Seekers and Social Networks for Job Seekers. ($150 value) To take advantage just login to your JibberJobber account and go to the Upgrade page (located at the bottom of any page), upgrade for one year and let us know which bundle you want. Let your buddies know, buy this as a graduation gift, or get it for that friend who is struggling in their job search. More details on JibberJobber specials here. Organize Your Job Search Needs This is your week! Its been quite hectic around here lately I announced the JibberJobber anniversary upgrade options a month ago but never really let too many people (like, my users!) know.  This week we emailed all of the people who have signed up (and have chosen to get those types of emails) letting them know that the special is good through this week. There are two bundle options, both of which include the buy-on-year-get-one-free.  That is, for $99 you get 24 months of JibberJobber, which comes out to about $4/month.  That is a sweet deal, right? For this anniversary special you can also get (at no additional cost) either: The new, awesome, 3 hour LinkedIn DVD, ($50 value) or 3 premium streaming videos, including Blogging for Job Seekers, Twitter for Job Seekers and Social Networks for Job Seekers. ($150 value) To take advantage just login to your JibberJobber account and go to the Upgrade page (located at the bottom of any page), upgrade for one year and let us know which bundle you want. Let your buddies know, buy this as a graduation gift, or get it for that friend who is struggling in their job search. More details on JibberJobber specials here. Organize Your Job Search Needs This is your week! Its been quite hectic around here lately I announced the JibberJobber anniversary upgrade options a month ago but never really let too many people (like, my users!) know.  This week we emailed all of the people who have signed up (and have chosen to get those types of emails) letting them know that the special is good through this week. There are two bundle options, both of which include the buy-on-year-get-one-free.  That is, for $99 you get 24 months of JibberJobber, which comes out to about $4/month.  That is a sweet deal, right? For this anniversary special you can also get (at no additional cost) either: The new, awesome, 3 hour LinkedIn DVD, ($50 value) or 3 premium streaming videos, including Blogging for Job Seekers, Twitter for Job Seekers and Social Networks for Job Seekers. ($150 value) To take advantage just login to your JibberJobber account and go to the Upgrade page (located at the bottom of any page), upgrade for one year and let us know which bundle you want. Let your buddies know, buy this as a graduation gift, or get it for that friend who is struggling in their job search. More details on JibberJobber specials here.

How to Make Your Next Business Trip a Million Times More Fun - Classy Career Girl

How to Make Your Next Business Trip a Million Times More Fun You don’t always have a lot of free time on your international business trip (despite what people may think), but every so often, you may be lucky enough to have a meeting on a Friday and a meeting on a Monday and no plans in-between. This can be a wonderful opportunity to explore a different part of the world and to gain priceless memories. But sometimes after planning the work portion of your business trip, you may have forgotten to plan for the weekend. Here are my key pieces of advice for researching what to do, even at the last minute. How to Make Your Business Trip a Million Times More Fun 1. Read hotel reviews I find that reading a few pages of the reviews on TripAdvisor about the hotel, even while I’m already staying there, often gleans some very useful information such as “They have a free shuttle to this tourist destination” or “The concierge desk was able to recommend a day-tour company that was affordable,” or “A really good restaurant is within walking distance.” Reading other reviewers’ experiences can help give you ideas. 2. Use your human resources Hotel employees are generally a great resource (except if they are not from the local area) â€" if there is something you want to do, go and ask if your guidebook has it right.  You might find after talking to the hotel employee that the market you wished to visit is actually only open on Sundays or that tomorrow is a holiday and you should just go this evening instead.  Likewise, at the end of a business meeting, if you feel comfortable with your international colleagues, say: “I actually have a day off tomorrow. Is there anything special you recommend I do?” You’ll definitely get different insights from your foreign counterparts than an outdated guidebook, and you may get a more authentic experience as well! 3. Use Social media Get on Twitter and Instagram and search for the city that you’re in or follow local tourist offices’ accounts. Looking at others’ photos or posts can give you great ideas about what to expect. I often also ‘like’ the hotels’ Facebook pages ahead of time so that I can see when they post local events. You also might want to make a post such as “Here for a long weekend! Any suggestions for a first time visitor?” and tag the Twitter handle of a tourist office or your hotel, and often they will retweet to their followers and garner suggestions.  (Hint: I also tweet the hotel and let them know I’m excited to stay with them!) 4. Get your Google on Although it’s a little cheesy, looking up “top things to do in_____” can actually give you a great starting point to start to see what consistently comes up and what is a reasonable amount of things you can get done in a day. I also find the search term “24 hours in _____” to be useful, although sometimes those types of articles focus a lot on food and drink. Looking at the “Activities” page of a TripAdvisor destination quite useful â€" I just scroll through all the activities until I see one that looks interesting. This is how I found out about the beautiful Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro â€" a beautiful peaceful park with little caves and winding paths and monkeys hiding behind palm trees, but not a spot that’s often mentioned in standard travel articles. 5. Choose a starting point and then wander In metropolitan areas, just ask your hotel if it’s safe and/or recommended to walk around your hotel, and they will point you in the right direction. During a prior business trip, I stumbled upon wonderful little souvenir shops, artisan storefronts, and delicious coffee houses this way. Alternatively, take a taxi or public transportation to a starting point (for instance: the town square or a shopping district) and then just explore on foot. You may stumble across some wonderful surprises. 6. Follow your heart My first time in Hong Kong, I didn’t actually spend that much time in the typical Hong Kong areas â€" instead, I took a cable car to Lantau Island to see the huge Buddha statue there. It was an incredible experience, but it’s not the first on the list of things to do in Hong Kong if you look it up online â€" many sites assume you want to stay super close to your hotel. But I really wanted to see it, and after doing some research, I found out it was perfectly possibly to get there and back in a half-day excursion, and quite easy.     I’m really glad I followed my heart as I had no regrets about visiting beautiful Lantau Island and I highly recommend it to any Hong Kong visitor. So if there’s something you really want to do or that speaks to you, don’t feel guilty for not rushing around to see other touristic stuff that you’re really not interested in. 7. Check out some guided tours There are some experiences that it may be more cost efficient or safer to pay for a guided tour. Viator is a great website I use to check out the options, as well as inquiring at the hotel desk. You can pay for a cooking class, go on a boat tour of a seaside city, hire a private driver, or perhaps have a wine tasting tour. The options are limitless and sometimes the guided tours are great options to reach destinations that are a little further away and hard to get to without your own car. It can also be nice to have someone else take care of the transportation and make sure you see as much as possible in 8 hours if you’re short of time. I’ve had great experiences doing independent sightseeing as well as small group sightseeing. 8. Listen to your body If you’ve been going non-stop for a week and are feeling unwell, consider if you are really and truly interested in exploring, or whether you just feel you “have” to. At some point, your health is more important than that photo-op.  If all you want to do is take decongestant and snuggle in your comfy hotel bed, give yourself permission to spend a weekend morning doing so.  I promise you it’s okay! A good rest can do wonders to reinvigorate yourself â€" and don’t forget you need to hit the ground running on Monday morning. Don’t overtire yourself out so much on the weekend that you’re a poor business traveler for the next week. I hope you have a wonderful weekend on your next global business trip adventure, and let me know what fantastic sites you visit!

Why You Should Be Writing Just For The Health Of It

Why You Should Be Writing Just For The Health Of It For many of us,  writing is a practical tool. We use it to communicate our thoughts, ideas, and experiences with other people, usually through email and social media. However, considerable scientific research is showing that writing has exciting health and wellness benefits too. In the infographic below, Global English Editing outlines 11 science-backed ways writing improves your mind, body and spirit. Writing: Its Good For You! Writing not only helps you become a better communicator, but studies have found that reflective journaling is an effective way to develop critical thinking skills and clinical reasoning skills too. In addition, writing can also help you have a better memory. Do you know that writing regularly can help benefit your immune system, reduce blood pressure, and improve lung function? Research has also shown that participants who journaled about what they were grateful for every week, compared to those who wrote about daily hassles or neutral events in their journals, were more physically active, reported fewer physical ailments, were more content with their lives, and were more optimistic about the week ahead. As you can see, writing not only helps you become smarter and achieve your goals, but can ease what ails you too, whether physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual. Check out the infographic for a full explanation of the 11 science-backed ways writing can improve your mind, body and spirit. Here are the 11 science-backed ways in more detail, including links to original studies 1. Communicate Better Writing well helps you become a better communicator. By being able to write well, you’re also able to express yourself verbally to communicate well with others. This leads to better relationships with people and having your needs met more easily. And just as importantly, you can understand yourself better too. 2. Become Smarter Studies have found that reflective journaling is an effective way to develop critical thinking skills and clinical reasoning skills. Writing in a reflective journal can help you evaluate information better, and increase your ability to conceptualize and apply what you’ve experienced or learned. A reflective journal can include positive or negative experiences, thoughts, ideas, feelings, class notes, and anything that can help you inspect your own thoughts and feelings. 3. Increase Your Memory Capacity Having a better memory will help you become smarter as well. As it turns out, writing can help you have a better memory. A study found that when 35 freshmen students were assigned to write about their thoughts and feelings regarding upcoming college life, these students displayed a greater increase in working memory 7 weeks later, in comparison to the 36 students who were assigned to write on a trivial topic. Researchers theorize that by expressing oneself through writing about things that are bothersome, stress and worries can decrease, enabling more space and resources to be freed up for memory capacity. 4. Achieve Your Goals Would you like to learn how to play the piano? Or get an A in your Physical Chemistry class? Research showed that when participants kept a journal of what they were grateful for, they were more likely to have strived closer towards the attainment of personal goals over a two-month period, whether these goals be academic, interpersonal, or health-related. In contrast, participants who journaled about daily hassles in their life, or even neutral life events, did not progress towards their goals. Another study found that expressive writing can help boost students’ grade point averages. Write your heart out, young academics! 5. Boost Job Prospects For those who have recently lost their job, and don’t know what to do, writing can help people become reemployed faster after job loss. In a study with 63 recently unemployed professionals, the ones who wrote about their thoughts and feelings regarding their job loss got another job faster than those who wrote about neutral topics or those that did not write anything. Another study showed that expressive writing has also shown to help people miss fewer days of work. University employees who utilized expressive writing to write about traumatic experiences had a 28.6% decrease in absentee rates that month from work, compared to the 48.5% increase in absentee rates among employees who wrote about non-traumatic topics. 6. A Healthier Immune System In a study involving 50 healthy undergraduate students, those who wrote about trauma reported more positive emotions, fewer illnesses, and showed evidence of a higher functioning cellular immune system. In another study, 40 medical students who tested negative for hepatitis B antibodies were randomly assigned to write about either their traumatic experiences or a neutral topic, and then were given a hepatitis B vaccine. Those assigned to write about traumatic experiences mounted a greater vaccine response by producing more antibodies. In a study of HIV positive patients, those who wrote about their emotions experienced a reduction in HIV viral load and an increase in immune function. 7. Reduce Blood Pressure When university employees in a  study were asked to write either about traumatic experiences, or a superficial topic, those who wrote about trauma had significantly reduced blood pressure measures. See a pattern emerging? 8. Improve Lung Function Not only does expressive writing enhance your immune system and reduce blood pressure, but it can also raise lung function. A study found that patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis experienced better lung function and reduction of symptoms after writing about stressful life experiences. 9. Boost Athletic Performance Athletes often use training logs and journals to help themselves excel. Writing can keep track of goals,help an athlete learn about experiences, assist in managing emotions, and can be a key to athletic self-development. So if you want to write down how you felt during your last run, or keep a record of the amount of weight that you last dead-lifted, etc., your performance will likely benefit. 10. Heal Trauma Let’s face it. Dealing with your emotions and venting past hurtful experiences and traumas is hard. Expressive writing, which involves personal and emotional expression and the articulation of trauma, has been found to help deal with traumatic and upsetting experiences. Research has shown that participants who wrote about their personal traumatic experiences benefitted from improved health, fewer stress-related trips to the doctor, reduced stress levels, and improved mood. Study participants were able to vent negative emotions and organize their anxious feelings associated with trauma. Thus, writing expressively has a healing quality. 11. Gratitude Life is better when you are grateful. Especially when you write down what you are grateful for. Research showed that participants who journaled about what they were grateful for every week, compared to those who wrote about daily hassles or neutral events in their journals, were more physically active, reported fewer physical ailments, were more content with their lives, and were more optimistic about the week ahead. . Main image via pixabay.

5 Ways to Keep Your Staff Motivated This Holiday Season

5 Ways to Keep Your Staff Motivated This Holiday Season Keeping employees focused as the holidays approach can be a challenge. As the festive spirit spreads, distractions from work pile up. But there are simple things you can do to make workers feel appreciated and motivated at this time of year. A recent survey by the online print company, instantprint, has revealed that 94% of employees want some form of reward from their employers at Christmas this year â€" and it doesn’t have to be strenuous or expensive either. There are a wide variety of things you can do for your staff this holiday period to keep them focused and motivated. 1. Give them Gift Cards Instantprint’s research quizzed 1,500 workers about what they would like their festive reward from their employer to be. Gift cards were the top choice with 29% of the vote. Gift cards are a great option if you want your employees to have some form of a physical gift from your company. You can now purchase a variety of cards, valid in stores for all tastes. Providing these for your staff during the festive period will allow them to choose a gift that means something to them. 2. Arrange Early Finishes Being able to leave work early is a great benefit as Christmas approaches. A shorter working day lets employees complete that last bit of Christmas shopping, spend more time with their loved ones and get into the festive spirit. 28.9% of workers said that an early finish would be the best thing their employer could give them this festive season. If it’s workable for your business, try to provide this for your staff. You could create a schedule throughout December, allowing you to plan for a few employees taking early finishes each day. Or, you could close-up early on the 24th so that everyone can get home and prepared for Santa’s visit. 3. Splash out on an Open Bar for the Christmas Function Most companies will have some sort of festive outing, whether organized by staff or management. These events can help make and cement strong bonds between your teams, creating a positive work environment. One way to encourage Christmas parties and make sure attendance is good is to provide an open bar for your employees. One in five workers lists this as their most desired reward from their employer this festive season. Your open bar does not have to last the whole night, even just the first one or two drinks will be appreciated. If you want to make sure everyone benefits from the bar equally, you can issue drinks tokens to staff, which they can use to purchase drinks throughout the evening. 4. Give your Staff Physical Gifts One in ten employees would like a physical gift, chosen by their employers. This could be food, drink or a practical gift, like a travel cup. If you choose something that will last, like a travel cup, it can have a dual purpose. Not only will it be a show of appreciation to your staff, but you could feature company branding on it, creating a new avenue for increasing brand awareness. 5. Make a Charitable Donation At this time of year, it’s always good to think about those less fortunate than ourselves and try to help them out. Giving a donation to a local charity in the name of your employees can help them feel good about the company they work for and the good they are doing in the world. 7% of staff would like their employer to choose this option as their festive gift. If you’re looking to keep employees motivated this holiday period, these ideas should set you on the right track, but you don’t have to limit yourself to just one. If possible, try combining a few to get the most from your staff this Christmas. About the author: Hannah Rogers is a Content Specialist with Search Laboratory. She has expertise in HR, regularly writing about employee motivation, company cultures, and other related topics.

Childhood Dream of Driving Trains Comes True Case Study - Career Pivot

Childhood Dream of Driving Trains Comes True â€" Case Study - Career Pivot Childhood Dream of Driving Trains Click to Enlarge We all remember growing up with our childhood dreams. Maybe it was to be a policeman or fireman or cowboy. For most of us, we let each childhood dream fade away. We went about our lives growing up, getting an education, getting married, having kids, and pursuing a career that put food on the table and paid the mortgage. Sound familiar? The Story of Mike Martin. Mike was born in the mid-1950s and grew up in New York State. He will tell you he liked anything with wings, wheels, or keels. He was fascinated by anything that moved. After graduating from high school, he attended SUNY Farmington where he received an Associates Degree in Aerospace Technology. He then moved to Texas and started rebuilding airplane engines. When that company went bankrupt, he ended up working in machine shops. That was okay, but that was not going to get him ahead in his career. Career Start At the time, people told him that he was a really good with people and should go into sales. Mike said okay! Sound familiar? Mike did not follow his passion. Mike did what many of us do in that positionâ€"he did what he was told to do. He spent the next 20 years as an outside sales guy…driving a truck and selling various maintenance supplies like cables and wiring. He liked being out and about. As years passed, margins on his commissions got leaner and leaner. It became very hard to make money. Sound familiar? Many of us have seen our chosen profession whither in the new economy. Now in his early fifties, he returned to college to get a Bachelors Degree in Pilot Science. Over the years, he had achieved his pilot’s certification and loved to fly planes. Remember that, as a kid, he loved anything that had wings, wheels or keels. After graduating, he worked at an executive airport for awhile but found the work environment less than inviting. So what did he do? He returned to sales! Listen to the most recent episode Sound familiar? When things do not initially work out, many of us revert back to what we know. He looked at becoming a school teacher. That was a tough transition. That is when Mike found Career Pivot. Birkman Assessment He took the Birkman Assessment and it told him the following: His core interest is music. As most of you know, it is tough to make a buck in the music industry. He was well-suited to piloting, driving, operating, or navigating transport vehicles or material-moving machinery (e.g., aircraft, automobiles, water vessels, construction cranes, locomotives, tractors) Sound familiar? It was his childhood dream! We talked about what motivated him. We talked about what made him happy. He had to be playing music and he got to do that through his church. He now realized how important it was to him. Now he just needed to get to driving something, being outdoors, and helping people. Following His Dream Mike looked at the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) but they had no positions. He then looked at Houston Metro Rail and saw that they were expanding. He applied to be a Light Rail Vehicle Operator. They replied back and asked him to take an assessment. He passed. He did not think they would want him. They asked him to come in for an interview. He studied up for the interview by reading an article on how a gentleman had become a driver for the London Underground. He prepared cards with all of the questions he thought they would ask him and studied those cards right before the interview. It was a panel interview where they asked him to open and close a special driver’s seat. The secret was there was a special pin that had to be removed to get the seat to close. He did it flawlessly. In fact, it was fun. They were watching to see if he would get frustrated. After the interview, they took him out into the rail yard to see if he could physically do the job; throwing some switches, climbing in and out of the train, and walking the yard. This is when Mike started to get excited. This was his childhood dream. He was going to get to drive a train. Getting Hired Several weeks later, he was told to report for a 10-week training program. Mike moved his RV to Houston and started the class. Mike was being careful. He did not want to rent a place if he did not make it through the training. He made it with flying colors! Mike drove trains for a few months but was moved to the team testing the new red line. He gets to spot problems and propose solutions. The money is decent. With overtime, he does okay. More importantly, he loves what he is doing! His family is still in Austin and he goes home on the weekends. He wants to move up to be a supervisor and a trainer and believes he can work there for as long as he wants. This was all triggered by a simple assessment pointing him back to his childhood dream. His childhood dream came true in his 50s. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...