Inspiration

Say what you want about bartending, but it sure does seem to offer job security!

After 77 years of pouring drinks, the Guinness Book of World Records' longest serving bartender is finally hanging it up. Cammarata's Cafe, the establishment built by Angelo Cammarata and now owned by his sons, has been sold. Angelo is 95 years old.

While others may be able to claim tending bar for long periods of time, what gives Angelo the edge is his start date – the stroke of midnight, April 7, 1933. The very second prohibition ended in the United States.

Searching for a job is time consuming. Finding a job that you will enjoy and stay with will likely take even longer. However, if you aren't currently working it is probably best if you approach your job search like you would your typical job, full time. A few hours a week won't get you very far in the job market so if you are serious about your job search plan on putting some quality time into your efforts.

If you do decide to put in 40 hours a week here is a suggestion on how you should break your schedule down to accomplish your goals.

If you're looking for a job, you probably see hundreds of job postings online every day. Considering people continue to lose their jobs every day as well, this doesn't make much sense. If you've submitted your resume to many of these postings, I'm sure you share the sentiment that many of my candidates do. "Should I really even mess with submitting my resume to online job postings?"

The answer to this question is yes, but there are some important things to keep in mind before you do:

• Many postings are automatically populated to the web from staffing firm web sites, or corporate web sites. What this means is, some of the positions may be closed or "dummy postings" for companies to network with candidates for jobs they see on a regular basis.
• Some companies are required, by law, to pursue every avenue available to hire a qualified candidate. This means they must internally post a job and post it for the public to view, before they can hire anyone for a specific position. Consequently, a hiring manager may have to post a job for a required amount of time, even though they have already identified someone to hire for a newly created opening.

Many companies hire directly off the postings they post online, and many staffing companies do in fact have the positions that they post as well, so don't be completely discouraged by postings online. This info is useful to explain why you might not hear anything back from those countless submissions.

Everyone has to start somewhere...

The new class of 2009 will now be entering the job market and trying to attain the fast track to the top. Many of us are still on that corporate ladder trying to get there. Though it is beneficial to have a strong education, well connected network, and solid career path in front of you, it helps to put in a lot of hard work and keep yourself motivated to reach your goals.

Consumer confidence has risen to an eight month high, as reported by the The New York-based private research organization Conference Board. What does this mean for you? More spending by the general public and private/public companies. As a direct result we will see the economy slowly start to strengthen, triggering less employment cuts by some companies and new hiring by others.

"Looking ahead, consumers are considerably less pessimistic than they were earlier this year, and expectations are that business conditions, the labor market and incomes will improve in the coming months," Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said. "While confidence is still weak by historic standards, as far as consumers are concerned, the worst is now behind us."

With confidence in the economy strengthening you can prepare for future opportunities by developing your own insight and knowledge to your specific industry that you are involved with, updating your resume, and applying for jobs now if a move is warranted.

In every defeat there is opportunity.

If you've recently lost your job and are thinking about freelancing or finally starting that company you've always dreamed about, why not?

There's no better time than the present.

Since it was published in 2007, I've heard from multiple people that I needed to read this book.

Something about the title, "The 4-hour Workweek" just sends shivers down my spine. It just sounds so incredibly spammy and unrealistic. It brings about the image of complete sloth. It's so anti-work ethic. It's so.... not for me.

After hearing the suggestion for the millionth time though, I gave in. And truth be told, it's a much better book than it sounds. Honest.

I found this book to not only be eye opening, but packed with specifics and examples. From how to cheaply automate or outsource mundane life tasks to how to come up with products that drive passive income. Income that enables you to accomplish your life goals now. Not waiting for some magical retirement date. At it's core, that's the message of this book. Instead of one giant retirement at the end, take a bunch of mini-retirements through out.

Tim Ferriss, the author, comes across as an eccentric sports nut who is obsessed with travel. He created a supplement for body building called "BodyQUICK". Building up the company, he found himself overwhelmed and overworked. He then proceeded to outsource everything and simplify things using the principles of 80/20 (e.g. 80% of the revenue is generated by 20% of the customers, same with the headaches). It's by telling his story that he shows the steps needed to take. The title is in reference to how much time is required by him to oversee his business. Essentially he's an owner now, not a manager. Not much sloth to that. I mean... That's sort of the point, isn't it?

Too many bills that need to be paid, no time to pick out gifts or go grocery shopping - How about all those customer support e-mails you get now from that product Tim helped you create? And the Shipping? My god, the shipping. Or maybe you're still corporate and you have a big presentation to give and no time for research. Tim's answer? Outsourcing. The book lists companies and examples of hiring people overseas for as little as $4 an hour to accomplish these tasks. $15 if you want someone with a masters degree. Incredible.

There are other points of interest throughout the book that I think are relevant to our readers. How to talk your boss into letting you work from home and the importance of 'batching' similar tasks together come to mind.

It's a worth while read and eye opening in a lot of ways. Sure, Tim Ferriss's ideal day involves travel and kick boxing, where mine might involve reading a book out back (something he slams, by the way) or attending a family members little league game, but the point of the book is just as applicable.

Don't get so caught up in things that you miss out on life.

Use technology, use globalization, use your brain power to come up with ways to simplify your work. That's what I walked away with from the book and something we can all likely get behind.

Making the best out of unemployment in New York City, laid off computer programmer Nick Goddard organized an event called the "Unemployment Olympics". Games like "pin the blame on the boss" and the "fax machine toss" allowed people to get out, burn off some steam and have a little fun in the East Village.

No one likes being unemployed and surviving requires finding ways to de-stress and smile from time to time. Big props to the folks who participated and organized the event!

"New Yorkers gathered for an unusual olympiad Tuesday, the first ever Unemployment Olympics. Participants were required to show proof of unemployment to compete" Associated Press

Photos of the Event

'Mike Rowe the host of "Dirty Jobs," tells some compelling (and horrifying) real-life job stories. Listen for his insights and observations about the nature of hard work, and how its been unjustifiably degraded in society today.'

(Hat tip, PunkRockHR)

"Determination gives you the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you." Denis Waitley

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." William Jennings Bryan

"Confidence is the result of hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication." Roger Staubach

"Do whatever it takes, whenever it needs to be done, regardless of whether you feel like doing it or not." Greg Hickman