The Dream that Got Away

Margaret Phares, PARWCC’s Executive Director, and I had a conversation in a recently taped segment for PARWCC’s LinkedIn Live Series.  Margaret asked me a series of questions that ultimately brought us back to discussing the formation of PARWCC in 1990.  We examined the differences and similarities of the job search and hiring processes between then and now.  And at the conclusion of our conversation, Margaret asked me what my vision is of where the résumé writing, career coaching, and employment industry is heading.  And it was this question that sparked this article.

“What’s my vision of the future?” Margaret asked, and I provided a laconic answer – my vision as succinctly as I could put it.  A few hours after our conversation, while vacuuming my condo, I began to think about my answer to Margaret’s question.  And I became instantly troubled by my answer. 

First, let me share with you that back in the early 1990’s, I had a coach who told me, “Mr. Block, I suggest you never go to bed as stupid as you woke up.  Every day find a way to maximize or expand what you know and what you do.”  

And I have tried my very best to heed his advice ever since.  This single piece of advice was the cornerstone of my success, as I questioned everything I knew and did, so I could optimize or advance everything I knew and did… daily!  So when Margaret asked me what my vision was for our profession moving forward… I realized it was the exact same vision I had 1990!

If I have the same vision today that I had back in 1990, have I not grown?  Did I fail to articulate my own vision to others?  Is my vision and my dream for our profession just an illusion – unrealistic? Did I waste 30-plus years chasing a mirage in my mind? Did I not maximize and expand what I knew and did?  I stopped vacuuming. I sat and pondered. 

I have asked this question over and over since 1990.  “How many job seekers need sleeping pills to get to sleep at night because they’re so excited about waking in the morning to conduct their job search?”  To this day, I still get giggles, outright laughs, or a thumb-index finger shaped zero.  No one.  When Margaret asked me what my vision was for our profession, it was the same one I had in 1990… that our approach, processes, and tools would be so revolutionary, so exciting, so life-changing, that everyone ‘would’ need sleeping pills to get to sleep at night, because job seekers are so jazzed to work with us – to design their futures on their terms.   

Managing distractions

Margaret asked me what I thought the most pressing issue was facing résumé writing and career coaching entrepreneurs, as well as employed industry professionals.  I suggested distractions.  I believe the one major issue that is most pressing is that we all have a gazillion distractions vying for our attention on a minute-to-minute basis, both external and internal, and both conscious and subconscious.  

Think about it, a job seeker and an entrepreneur have the same goal… to influence a “YES.”  But in the process of developing tools and strategies to influence a “YES,” there are a mind-blowing number of texts, emails, phone calls, social media time, podcasts, radio and TV programs, streaming and seemingly endless on and off line venues demanding attention.  Then there’s family, friends, adversities, and our own inner thoughts pleading for time.  Alisha says that a lack of money is her big issue.  But the only way Alisha can resolve her money issue is to reduce her distractions, so she can more constructively focus on solutions.  Managing distractions is a life-saving skill, not just a rapid employment one.

Technology

Of course the topic of technology came up in our discussion, and Margaret asked me what I thought.  And here again, my answers aligned with my vision – my dream.  I replied to Margaret by saying that I believed AI, ChatGPT, and all advanced technologies will teach, coach, and be responsible for  the general, mundane, and  everyday job search stuff moving forward – from résumé to interviewing and beyond.  And mostly, it will teach the same stuff that’s been taught since the dawn of our industry.  

The vision, as I see it, is the collaboration of AI (technology) and human empowerment.  Technology alone, will ensure the status quo insofar as fear, pain, anxiety, and underachievement are associated with the job search process.  But when the processes are totally changed, when the systems are reformed, and when the hiring process itself becomes comfortable and fully engaging, that’s where the opportunities are almost endless. 

The future opportunities, I believe, lie in 1) the ongoing collaboration between technology and human coaches to maximize and advance the rapid employment process, and 2) the development and implementation of new, transformational processes that inspire and empower optimal job seeker engagement – every step of the way.  

PARWCC membership 

Margaret and I talked about the contributions PARWCC members make to their clients, and the contributions PARWCC makes to its members.  My one-word response was, “priceless.”  For more than 25 years, The Jay Block Companies rode the coattails of PARWCC, and so can every member.  The programs, the training, and the camaraderie were invaluable to me.  I am confident I would not have achieved the level of success I did without being an active member of PARWCC.  

And today, PARWCC is more important than ever.  Collectively and collaboratively members must anticipate and envision the future – and create new programs and new tools to meet the future they envision.  A new question and answer:  “How many job seekers need sleeping pills to get to sleep at night because they’re so excited about waking in the morning to begin designing their future?”  Everyone!  What a silly question. 

Helicopter flies on Mars 

It’s all about vision.  Someone had to envision a man on the moon and a helicopter flying on Mars.  Someone had to envision a phone without a cord, and ATMs to get money faster, easier, and friendlier.  So where is the vision in our profession?  

Can you envision a quarter-mile long line of college students excited to work with the elite career empowerment professionals in the university career resource center who have designed a whole new curriculum and process to empower success?  

Can you envision a quarter-mile long line of veterans excited to work with the elite career empowerment professionals in the military’s TAP Career Resource Center who have designed a whole new process that empowers success?  

Can you envision a quarter-mile long line of transitional employees excited to work with the elite career empowerment professionals in the Department of Labor’s Career Resource Centers who have designed a whole new process that empowers success?  

Can you envision, as an entrepreneur, a 2-3 week pipeline of new clients excited to work with you – as an elite career empowerment coach who has differentiated themselves from their old-school competition – and challenges their job seekers to embrace a whole new process – a joyful and effective one?  

For me, it’s the dream that got away.  But the seeds have been planted for the future.  

If you see it and believe it – work to achieve it!

Margaret and I have had many discussions over the years regarding our industry and profession. This past conversation brought back thoughts of my own visions – past and future for PARWCC.  I believe that 1) if we don’t know what we want, we’ll be forced to settle for what we get, and 2) We can either make things happen for us, or allow things to happen to us.  

Today, I believe membership and active collaboration within PARWCC, is more important than ever.  Why?  Because with technology blazing the trail and the mind-blowing changes occurring within our society politically, socially, and culturally, it will take an association with a group of visionaries leading it.  In 1990 a small group of people had a vision – and PARWCC was formed.  Success!  

In 1990, I had a vision – a long line of students eagerly waiting to get into the university career resource center, because their approach to career management was revolutionarily exciting, motivational, and effective.  Not a success.  But now, an opportunity for those who see it as one. 

Thanks Margaret for the opportunity to discuss these issues.