Negatives to Positives

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It's easy to figure out what we don't want in life.  You can make a rather extensive list of what's wrong with your life now or what you don't want to go wrong (many of us probably have semi-conciously).

The problem with negative goals is that they're impossible to measure – you have to measure the level of not-badness which is to say the least pretty difficult ("My unhappiness level is 10% below my projected goal!  Yay?").  Goal-setting is important to reaching your goals, obviously, but negative goals will drive you batty because there's no way to measure them.

THe solution I've found? Phrase negative goals as positive ones.  Turn them around and phrase them in positive – measurable – ways.

Don't say "I don't want to work a boring job" say "I will find an exciting job that fits my interests" then detail those interests and traits of a job – and go looking for it.

Don't say "I don't want to be alone" say "I want to make sure I am involved with friends that like my hobbies, and will join a club or clubs involving that".

You get the idea.

This is important in our careers – and even more important in a time of economic downturn where it's way, way too easy to be negative.

Go ahead.  List all the things in your life you're not happy with or your negative goals and rephrase a few as positives that you can measure.

– Steven Savage

Convention Idea – The career table

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A roundup of other convention ideas is here.

You've gone to many a fannish convention, event, etc.  There's ALWAYS tables of stuff there, from flyers for other conventions, advertisements for service,s and even giveaway/white elephant tables.

So if you're working with a convention why not suggest a career table?

Have a table just for people to put out flyers for colleges, temp agencies, coaches, online training, networking groups, etc.  People are going to look for interesting flyers and opportunities anyway – set up a clearly designated table just for career things.  Tie it into your other career events if you want.

This of course may or may not work depending on the size of your convention, interest, and space.  But properly promoted and maintained, I see it as a viable idea to try – doing it for a few conventions may let it take it off.

– Steven Savage