I, of course, do not remember too much of the 70’s since I was very young at the time and still trying to master walking, talking and learning my ABC’s. I do remember being with my dad in line at a gas station and hearing him and my mother worry about how they were going to manage with the cost of inflation. Anyone remember when you had to put 20% down to purchase a home? I sure do because that was always the talk at my home, when my parents finally were able to purchase a home to own themselves, it was a big deal.

The 70’s seem to be in rerun again. Oil seems unstoppable, the ripple of inflation (or stagnation depending which side of the cup you think is full) is now becoming a full blown tidal wave. What happened in the 70’s also need to look at the proceeding 60’s era. Low unemployment, low interest rates, and progress in industrial manufacturing. Then in the 70s people were compounded with the war in Vietnam, Oil and starting to look at pollution and the environment. Doesnt sound all the unfamiliar does it?

What can be taken from history is how some buisness were resilient and some created, some lost in those tough times and how do we as a HR industry learn from the past and make the future even brighter?

-In the toughest times, ingenuity always wins. Take Bill Gates, a prodigal of the 70’s, who know in 2008 he would retire as one of the iconic businessmen / Software developer of all time. When companies are looking how best to stretch the dollar, be there with ideas. When they dont have ideas, find your own and make something from it.

-Find your way around the middleman - whom ever he or she maybe. In trying to get healthier, I have been told by a nutritionist that I should shop at the grocery store on the outer perimeter. Dont shop down the isle. You see the perimeter has all the basics. Bread, Meat, Dairy and Produce. This will keep down your grocery bill and also keep you from spending money on needless preservative and high calorie foods. So – I ask, who is your middle man? What can you do to for your company to eliminate those additional costs and just do business around the perimeter.   

-Network more than you ever have before. You see one of the keys to many making through the 70’s was networking, just not in the way you think of it. Someone in the neighborhood had to drive and run an errand, and let everyone know to see if there were items they needed or would like to come along and share a ride. Some planted gardens and shared, in returned recieved something they were in need of. Yes, money is the key to buying power, but it isnt the spark that makes something run, or the door to unlock. It is that personal involvement in the lives of others and communicating and sharing of resources that makes even the roughest of spots easier to navigate. Your network is your most powerful tool in this trying time. You can reach out to them and maybe find an opportunity you didnt realize was available. Never leave any stone unturned and never let your network grow cold and always remember to give back when you can.

I am going to commit, once again, to writing more on my blog. People arent looking to rss feed me for inactivity. I appriciate all of you who still follow and check in with me now and then.

I have learned a tough lesson in recruiting recently. It is a dog eat dog environment and sometimes even the good ones still end up with the short end of the stick. Here is a story my dad told me once..

There was this bird, he so enjoyed where he lived, a beautiful tree to nest in, perfect weather that allowed him to have plenty of food, warmth and comfort. He had found his Utopia. Fall came, and with it cooler weather. Many of his friends began to fly south for the winter, but this bird, he waited.. he wanted to enjoy his spot just alittle longer. Not much later, it began to snow and sleet. The bird had to begin to fly south. Reluctantly, he did. However, it wasnt long before his wing began to ice up, and he fell to the ground in a large field. Soon he was covered in snow and was close to death. Then a cow came along, and pooed on top of the bird. Humiliated, the bird resolved he was soon to die, but then the poo with its warmth began to melt the ice and snow and he began to sing and chirp. A cat came by – hearing the bird sing and dug the bird out from the poo, but then ate the bird.

Morale of the story??? Not everyone that craps on you is the enemy, and not everyone that digs you out of trouble is a friend.

I know, it was hard for me too to get the point, but once you get in that kind of situation, or if you have been, you do get it.

Recruiting is like living 24/7 as a cast member of Survivor. You never know who has alliances, you is back stabbing you, and who is genuine, and the whole time we are all trying to make a living and earn an income for our families. No, we dont report directly to our colleagues – and maybe that is the problem, because then we can be careless with how we treat each other and end up either destroying ourselves or others reputations and then lively hood. Those of us in recruiting are the A type personality. Driven by goals, wanting to lead the pack and set new heights. In the march for money it doesnt matter who gets stepped on along the way. And personally, it is getting old.

This has nothing to do with my new job. It is amazing, and I can tell anyone that if you havent had a chance to work with or know Leslie O’Connor, she is the real deal and can inspire other females you can be highly successful in recruiting.

This has to do with working with others in recruiting who are not people I report to directly, just colleagues.

Playing games and ruining peoples reputation to work in this industry or any industry is wrong. And if you are one of those people, maybe I said something to have you think differently before doing it again.

Yes, we are in recruiting to make money – but money isnt everything there is…

TTFN..

Amie

I read an article this morning that I just LOVED. Wished I wrote it myself, but that is ok, just gives me something to comment on.

Six Good Things That Happen to HR Pros During Recessions

Kris Dunn has everything right. From delivering the bad news to employees to bench building. I needed a good reminder this morning to look around and see the good that can happen in this recession and that I am on the right track with what I am doing..

1.) – Movin on Up! (Tag in Jeffersons music) – Inside of movin to the East side, I am movin my way onto the home office -gas -commute -firewalls in corporate office that keep me from recruiting on facebook and other social sites that I am doing at home as it is and putting in alot of hours.. I get to all that and more hours being successful at HOME.

2.) Webinars and Online Studies.. Now that is what I am talkin about.. I will have more time to hone up on my skills even more.. Plus, Source Con is in just a few days and that always sharpens my edges – even if I can not win, I still love competition.

3.) Bench Building – Man, I love that mysterious and ever so elusive word. I am always looking to bench build verses fire fighting. In a recession market, here is the time to shine and work it. I think reaching out to social networking and in person networking (Like the Linked Cincinnat and Dayton group meetings) are the key. I have attend a few in person meetings, but not enough. I have also filled two reqs recently with my local networking verses my national networking. That has been very neat for me! And my local networking also helped me fill the City Manager position in my town. How? I called a friend of mine in Ohio that I know was a mayor a few years back. She called her network, even tho they are not City Managers, but got me contact names of 3 people who were and knew who was looking for new opportunities confidentially. One of those 3 calls was my new City Manager in Greenfield. Only downside was that it was a volunteer fill. No placement fee for that one. Thats ok tho, what I got in return was people in town I never see because I have had this crazy commute is that I am good at my profession, and they maybe should think twice the next time I run for City Council (and I will again) that just because I am not over the age of 50, I can be a very productive member of city administration. That is the problem tho. If you look at the City of Greenfield website, all the council members are over 50. At some point, old towns need to look at the young ones who can lead them too…

Ok, sorry about that trail, I was talking about HR and Recession, Right…??

Last point from the article

4.) Me time..

     Man, I havent been on a vacation in two years… But, with a recession..lol..gas prices..I dont see that happening this year either.. I will try to pencil that in for 2010.

TTFN..

Amie

I am excited to announce that I have accepted an opportunity to work at Search Wizards with Leslie O’Connor and her great team there. I start working with Leslie next Monday the 19th.

The 19th is a very big day since the Source Con Challenge arrives that day as well.. I can not wait to see what is in store.. The teaser video on Jim Stroud site was pretty cool.

I am feeling really blessed. I had a great Mothers Day, and I am not a hallmark kind of gal, so we did not go out to lunch or do anything super grande, but what I did get is alot of hugs and home made cards from my beautiful kids. They make the day for me, not trinkets..

Also, I have been super stressed, with commuting, wanting to take my career up another notch and honestly trying to be everything to everyone wasnt happening. It has been great to see how making priorities has really impacted things personally and professionally for me.

Interesting to see an imemergence of free job boards and resume boards again recently. hmm.. I dont see where it adds any value, or decreases the paid sites value. To me the quality hire isnt on the boards anyhow, just interesting to follow.

Ah, and again, someone has posted on ERE there is a War for Talent.. A drum that is beaten and beaten and beaten. So much so we are all deaf to the tone. The writer infers more to the global demand from the EU. With many EU nations taxed so high on their income, I dont see the masses here in the US flocking over to the EU. (Unless they are a democrat.. but they are also still here : ie – didnt Alec Baldwin promise to leave the US if Bush was reelected?? He is still here…)(Ok, this isnt about politics so I will stop)

The war for talent is not really a war. There is talent every where. What there is a need for is skilled, trained HR professionals to look anywhere and everywhere to find them. As in Jurassic Park, which my husband loves to quote..”Life finds a way..” Well, business also finds away. When they can not get the talent they need, they look to agencies and outside contractors.. but always, business finds a way. We just need to be there to fill that need.

Here is the good news tho… I have learned something valuable. How to say no. Really. I have.

In the few months I have done a lot of stretching myself outside of my box. My network in business and in my home community has exploded so much and I was EXCITED! I thought it was an awesome wave and I didn’t want to stop riding it. Problem was, the ride had me.

Honestly, I have been managing my current responsibilities at OA and I just finished finding and hiring a City Manager for my small town. That took a TON of meetings. Getting something done in a municipality is a nightmare! You can not just open a req, and fill like any normal position. The amount of public meetings needed is more than enough for me to realize that I am glad I do not fill those positions on a full time basis. (Although, I have filled a position faster than cities in Ohio using an executive firm) Also, I was asked to be a consultant for my towns EMS provider. They are having alot of trouble. Thought I could do that and network with more people in our town, since working in Cincinnati, I never get a chance to do this type of stuff. Problem is, they are in a crisis mode, and I tried to get into it…Then things started to fall for me personally.

In the mean time of all of this, I have had awesome opportunities come to me professionally in the recruiting world. I wrote a small article for The Source, and Jim Stroud published my sourcecon post. I have had many requests to keep writing. So, I was also trying to think of things to write about on top of the many things already listed…

Think that is just it??? There’s more.

I also have an amazing friend and now have the privilege to call business partner. We are working on a start up. Cant say what, but it is going to be a big launch. I am hoping to write more about this just a few more weeks. The hours alone on reading, talking and conference calls is unbelievable. Starting a business is not for the weak or timid I can tell you. It not only takes blood, sweat and tears, it takes the dust left when you have no more.

And, last, but in no means least, my family. My amazing, wonderful, family.

You don’t see this on my resume or on posts, but if you know me personally, you know that my husband is a Pastor. He is the Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Greenfield Ohio. We live in a small town and I commute an hour and 20 mins to work and from work. Living in rural Ohio does not afford good working opportunities, and when you have a passion and talent to recruit, you go where the jobs are. I am hoping that changes with my start up, but until then, I am still making this crazy commute. Enough of my commute tho, and back to the family. With being a Preachers wife, there are a multitude of other things I handle outside of my work. I also deal with a stigma that Pastors wives are not ones that typically work or seek a career. (Note to you that may think that, read Prov. 31, whole chapter, then we’ll talk…) Anyhow, it does lead to people treating me poorly. I ran for City Council in my small town, and I received snail mail that was anonymous that threatened me. It would say a Pastors wife should be seen and not heard, or to my husband that he needs to control me and put me in my place or else. It was, and still is, a hard thing for me. I have a drive, a talent, and not everyone, even in the year 2008 can see that you can be a Pastors wife and have goals, talents and a drive to do something in life. This is a hard balance for me, and I can honestly say that I dont always balance things well. Which is the point of my post.

The other important part of my life are my four amazing children and one foreign exchange student. You read right 5 children. (Don’t ask about the grocery bill…) I have one in Highschool, one in Jr. High, to in elementary and our foreign exchange student at OSU in the Aerospace engineering program. They are all special and smart and beautiful. I can not find anything other than my husband that makes me happier than my children. Giving them a life and parenting I never received, is my ultimate goal in my career. It really isn’t about me, ever. It is, and for, them.

So, now that you have the readers digest version of my life.. You are probaly thinking… huh???? What is the point already?

I got excited about the successes.. and thought I was the bomb..

Then

I cracked

I took on too much

and I melted down.

Nothing like a drama movie, but things started falling apart. My temper was short, I was not sleeping at night. I would find myself up at 2 am using my laptop or berry. Then I just shut down. Lights were on and no one was home.

So, I have spent all this week clearing out the unnecessary and saying no to some, and yes to other things.

My first step to enlightenment??? Sleep. Rest.

Family time was next.

Then I asked my husband and close friends for their opinion. Let me tell you, that is not pretty. It is a hard pill to swallow, but having those who know you best to bring you back to reality is better than any $75 nut job.

I can tell you, I am still recruiting, that is something I enjoy and keeps my family going since the church isn’t able to support us financially. I am still working on the business. The city manager and ems, well, not on the plate.. and this is the first I have written in a while as you can see from my last post. My amazing hubby, kiddos, and our church, they are a constant, and I couldn’t breathe if I didn’t have them.

I don’t know an answer as to how to not to get overwhelmed. But I do know that stopping and getting off the ride and changing the speed is not only ok, it should be done alot more than we can ever realize.

Thanks for listen… Amie