Use career milestones and critiques to re-energize your career (Love Lines)

By Bruce A. Love

As we enter the holiday season and approach the end of the year, we often reflect upon our annual activities and accomplishments, and develop goals and strategies for improvement for the coming year. Many of us do this when we reach a birthday, an anniversary, or other milestone as a way to reassess where we are and where we want to go. Most companies conduct employee reviews as a way of helping employees see their accomplishments (or lack thereof) and allow them to strive for continuous improvement in their careers. Many employees dread these, because some companies use them as a way to demonstrate that the employee really doesn't deserve a raise. Done properly, the performance review can help employee and company alike.

This column marks two milestones for me. My first column submitted to the Altoona Mirror went to print on the first Saturday of December in 2003. In addition to marking my two year anniversary, this column also is my hundredth published by the Mirror. I expect that my Managing Editor will want to give me a nice raise (hint) and dinner for two at the restaurant of my choice (2 Sheetz MTOs with large drinks works fine for me). Of course, if any of my faithful readers want to participate in celebrating these milestones, I am accepting questions, comments, and suggestions for future columns - a good question can be priceless!

As I look back over my first 100 columns, I am pretty satisfied with the lot. Some, however, need to be revisited for an update.

In one column, I indicated that I was switching from a free anti-virus program (AVG Anti-Virus) to a subscription-based Norton product. I did, but uninstalled Norton about a week later because it was such a memory hog. AVG is doing just fine.

In August of 2004, I wrote that I would switch from my Cable broadband connection to DSL. I did, but I am now having a change of heart since Sprint raised their rates to outrageous levels. Also, when I had cable, it gave me a faster connection - but that may differ for each situation according to location. Don't get me wrong, I still do not like my cable company because they make me pay for channels I never watch (see April 2004), but I do like cable broadband!

Some of my favorite columns involve visits to local retailers. I hope to do more of that in the coming months. If you want a public critique of your business, drop me a line at info@loveconsulting.com, and you may see your company in print!

Most of the time, I am very positive whenever I refer to businesses. Businesses have many challenges, and should be commended for what they are doing right, and for giving many of us a place of employment. I once wrote that I preferred the roll Sheetz previously used, but that preference is probably just a product of my environment (having grown up in and around Philly where we have a more sophisticated pallet for rolls). I hope I have made amends with Sheetz, by indicating in this column that I would be thrilled to get a gift certificate for a Sheetz MTO from my editor (another hint). I am very impressed with the Sheetz organization for several reasons, but especially for them giving this lowly part-time columnist an interview with the "big guy" for that column - even after they learned of my roll preferences!

In one column about business and product naming practices I came down a little hard on one local college that most people can't spell, can't pronounce, and will never remember (outside of this very local region). But in all honesty, some colleges are just stuck with the name of their patron saint (and you can't do much about that).

My readers frequently ask if I come up with my own titles. Until recently, I would have said that 95% of the titles are ones I have suggested. That number is closer to about 50 percent now, but is usually in the spirit of the one I have suggested. Sometimes an extra word or deleted word makes a title fit the available space better. If the title above reads, "Beloved [pun] Columnist Celebrates an Anniversary," you know they have used the one I have suggested! Occasionally, I leave little typos in my columns. I do this so my editor will feel needed. Most times Kristin finds them. On occasion, she'll sneak some of her own into my columns - she is such a prankster, that one!

One column you did not see (which left a big blank on this page back in late July of this year) was scratched by the editors for fear of legal actions when I pointed out shady (though legal) practices of some "work from home" business sellers. Two weeks later, a similar exposé aired on the TV program, "48 Hours." I think they are getting an Emmy for it. Although I lost my chance for a Pulitzer, I also avoided a visit from the company's henchmen. Since this is my anniversary, I am sure my editor won't mind if I share the name of those small business scammers with you now: "#%@&*#" and "$#@*&." It feels much better to get that off my chest!

Drop me a line to give me a performance review. It could prove quite entertaining for me, and fodder for another column!

Love Lines

Love Lines is a blog for business and technology discussion.
Many of the entries are columns written by Bruce or Kären Love.
Click on "Comments" or any title below to post comments on any entry.

Use career milestones and critiques to re-energize your career

Search

About

Love Lines

Love Lines is a blog for business and technology discussion. Many of the entries are columns written by Bruce or Kären Love. Click on "Comments" or any title below to post comments on any entry.

Use career milestones and critiques to re-energize your career

Search

About

Love Lines is a blog for business and technology discussion.
Many of the entries are columns written by Bruce or Kären Love.
Click on "Comments" or any title below to post comments on any entry.