Business Record - Iowa Biz

Ditch the labels and trust your own style

Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection.

For anyone who knows me well, they know that I’m always quick to jump on board. Even in the expression “When one door closes, another one opens,” I’d rather find a window than wait for that other door to open.

I tend to process information quickly, often going with my gut, and feel comfortable making decisions in short order and moving on to the next thing. Some might consider this a great asset to have -- recognizing opportunity and seizing it -- while others might be quick to categorize me as an overly confident millennial who needs to slow down and pay some more dues before tackling greater responsibilities.

On the other hand, there’s also a style like my friend Kyle Oppenhuizen utilizes, the current president of YPIowa and communications manager at the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Kyle is known for listening to different opinions, thoroughly thinking through complex issues and considering all possibilities before reacting. Instead of seeing Kyle as a thoughtful and successful problem-solver with strategic insight, some might try to label him as not having an opinion because he does not pre-emptively react.

They couldn't be more wrong. While Kyle and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum in the way we process information and make decisions, I think his approach is a great way to do things, too.

Why? For starters, because I hate labels. Too many people like to categorize things -- label them -- because it makes their lives easier. If we know what category something belongs to, we know how to handle it. But labels create familiarity. And, like the old saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt.

It's far too easy to miss out on a great relationship or opportunity when we take the easy way out by slapping a label on a person, place, situation or thing.

Someone with my personality might get high marks in the leadership column because we're eager to take charge and get things done, while a more introverted person might get overlooked.

In fact, according to a USA Today poll, 65 percent of executives indicated introversion was a barrier to rising through the corporate ranks. But there's plenty of research that shows people who come off as shy are often great leaders because they're some of the best listeners. That makes them good consensus builders. I think they have an advantage, too, because when they do talk, people are likely to listen.

While my eagerness and confidence works for me, Kyle's careful approach works well for him -- and could work well for you, too.

In the end, it's all about finding the right style for you. What you think might be your greatest weakness could actually be your greatest strength.

Don't sweat labels like "extrovert" or introvert." Just ditch the labels and embrace your own style.

In other words, be yourself. 

 

Email Cory at:

corys@fehdesign.com

president@ypcdsm.com 

Opening the door to social networking

Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection. 

It’s nerve-wracking stepping into the unknown. Unfamiliar with a place that is completely full of individuals you have never met before but have to introduce yourself to, and wanting to make a great first impression. The downside to social networking is having to step outside of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to the unknown. However, the upside is endless. Countless opportunities are waiting as soon as you open the door to social networking. So get ready to open that door! 

Relax. Get comfortable with the idea that there’s no perfect way to go about it, but that the people inside are just like you. Being uncomfortable is a good thing. It helps you grow, and gives you confidence when confronting that anxiety again.

Ask questions. When you get nervous, just ask about them -- the other people. Get to know the other person better. Not only will it take the spotlight off of you, but the person you’re trying to connect with will be much more interested in you and your business once you have shown interested in them.

Don’t talk about your job titles and the responsibilities that come along with it. There might be hundreds of individuals at an event, and the best way to stand out from the crowd is to not bore people by listing off your resume. People tend to gloss over job titles and responsibilities as easily as they might forget your name.

A good friend of mine, Danny Beyer, gave me a great piece of advice in saying, “Ask them what they are passionate about.” It sounds a bit personal, but it has worked countless times in my experience. People like talking about things they care about, and oftentimes it may not be their job. Don’t let yourself become “what’s his/her name.” Instead, when it’s your turn, talk about what you are passionate about and how those passions motivate you. Emotions resonate with individuals more than words do. When you mix emotions such as passion to your career, you will be well remembered. Take it from someone who is usually remembered as the young architect who enjoys talking transit and eats way too many tacos.

Open the door, be yourself, and success will follow. 

 

Email Cory at:

corys@fehdesign.com

president@ypcdsm.com 

Making the case for community involvement

- Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection. 

Today is the third of three posts on the value of community engagement. In the first post, Sharp let his friend Kim Hanken write about the value of being involved in your community. Yesterday, Sharp gave advice to millennials on how to find companies that share their community interests. Today, he writes about the benefits for companies to have a culture of community engagement. 

Being active in the Young Professionals Connection, I'm surrounded by millennials who are active in our community. But it's important for employers to recognize that it's not just the YPC crowd that wants to be involved in community causes through their work.

Hard evidence is all around us that millennials want to work for companies with a culture that encourages volunteerism.

From what I've seen, it honestly doesn't take too much explaining to the vast majority of business owners and bosses in the Des Moines metro because they already get it. But promoting that culture is important for employers to consider when thinking about how to encourage productivity, employee retention and healthy workplace morale.

For those few who still aren't convinced, it's easy for employees to make a persuasive case that community involvement is worth the investment. It starts, as I mentioned yesterday, with "building the business reputation, business recognition, networking opportunities, and opportunities to improve the community," according to a 2012 Dun and Bradstreet story, "Community Involvement Helps Generate Capital."

It definitely doesn't stop there. You can also cite a May 2013 study by Cone Communications and Echo Research that 4 of 5  consumers -- 82 percent -- consider corporate social responsibility when deciding what companies they want to do business with, where they shop and what they buy.

And there's more. Like the 2013 article in Entrepreneur, "The Power of Giving Back: How Community Involvement Can Boost Your Bottom Line," that reinforces the case. In it, writer Lindsay Lavine quotes philanthropy consultant Erin Giles as saying, "I've found that customers really want to know how you're making the world a better place."

Having a strong community presence can set a business apart from the competition. And that's smart business.

Lavine contends that community service should be much more than an afterthought; it should be part of the company's business plan. (That makes it pretty important, in my book.) Her suggestion is to consider four things, in particular, when putting a community service plan on paper.

Step one is building relationships in the community by focusing on what groups or issues really need attention. The second step -- getting employees on board with community involvement -- builds a collaborative and inspired team by providing "leadership opportunities for employees, which leads to increased staff performance and fulfillment and, ultimately, increased productivity and sales," Lavine writes, citing Giles' expertise.

Bosses may feel more comfortable committing employees to community projects if they follow Step 3 -- creating a custom volunteer plan in which they weigh employees' strengths and choose activities based on their specific strengths.

And, finally, it seems counterintuitive because we're always told not to brag about our good deeds, but businesses shouldn't hide their community involvement. In fact, Giles recommends that companies put a dollar value on employees' volunteer activities based on the cost of their donated time. Doing that will make it much easier for existing and prospective clients to measure a company's charitable contributions to the community.

So, when you're making the case to your boss that he or she should let you get more involved in community causes through work, don't just take the word of an opinionated millennial like me. Go in to the boss well-armed with all the facts you can put together, and you'll be able to convince even the biggest skeptic that it's in the company's best interest for employees to roll up their sleeves and get involved in community causes.

If they still don't change their mind, it just might be time for you to find a boss who shares the same commitment to our community that you do.

Want a company that respects community involvement? Ask. Just ask.

- Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection

This is the second of three posts on the value of community engagement. In the first post, Sharp lets his friend Kim Hanken write about the value of being involved in your community. Today, Sharp gives advice to millennials on how to find companies that share their community interests. Tomorrow, he writes about the benefits for companies to have a culture of community engagement. 

 

It's the question on a lot of millennials' minds: How do I find the right company that encourages community involvement or convince my current boss that it's worthwhile for our company to let me be more involved?

Don't take my word for it. There's plenty of research to back that up. I don't have room here to share all the details with you but the 2014 Millennial Impact Report, sponsored by the Case Foundation, is a good read on this topic for employees and employees.

But here's the key part: Millennials' preferences in the workplace include "how they engage with their company and what they look for in corporate cause work, with 'cause work' meaning the programs and initiatives companies execute that help people and communities Companies increasingly approach employee culture and corporate responsibility as important assets that inspire retention, productivity and a variety of other organizational benefits. As companies and nonprofits work together more, and more employers include cause work in their values, research is needed to understand the next generation of employees, their attitudes and their preferences for company cause work."

Sounds great. But even if companies are more focused on creating the right culture to attract and retain millennials, how do you find the company that will respect and value the causes you believe in and support?

Ask. Yep, it's that simple. Ask.

Whether it's in a job interview, meeting a company employee at a reception or party, or even picking up the phone and calling the company with specific questions, ask:

• What's the company policy on volunteering? Is it a new or longstanding policy, and is it likely to change anytime soon?
• What has the company's experience been with employees who have been involved in the community?
• What causes does the company support -- or not?
• How much company time is an employee allowed to devote to cause-related activities? Is it all paid or just time off?
• Does the company match charitable contributions? If so, which organizations are eligible?

If you work at a company that currently isn't big on community involvement, the case for letting you do it is very persuasive. It starts with "building the business reputation, business recognition, networking opportunities and opportunities to improve the community, according to a 2012 Dun & Bradstreet story, "Community Involvement Helps Generate Capital."

FEH Design, the architectural firm where I'm an associate, has really supported me being involved in areas that have fired my enthusiasm and allowed me to build a network of productive relationships, including the Young Professionals Connection, the DART 2035 Advisory Committee and the Greater Des Moines Partnership's Transit Future Work Group.

In return, my employer has realized benefits, including organizations that want to work with FEH Design because of its commitment to community involvement and emerging leaders. It may seem like a tiny difference to some, but small things can make a big difference in a competitive marketplace.

That's enough ammunition for now.

Tomorrow: I'll cover that topic in detail -- and then you'll have plenty of great arguments ready to make your case.

Double dividend ... and more

- Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection

Kim Hanken, a friend of mine from Ankeny, was sharing some thoughts about the benefits of community involvement for young professionals. Since I couldn't have said them any better, I thought I'd go ahead and share them straight from her.

"What I’ve learned most about my community involvement is how much it has made me grow not only as an individual but as a professional," said Kim, who serves on the boards of directors for Ankeny Young Professionals, Art for Ankeny and YP Iowa.

Right off the bat, that's a powerful double dividend for young professionals.

She said the relationships she's created and maintained through the various community activities she's been involved in "have helped me succeed in a career that requires the 'who you know' element."

"It has also built a strong sense of loyalty within me to my city. By creating personal buy-in to the success and growth of my community, I’ve discovered how important I am to the future of the city we call home," she explained. "Many of my strengths that I use at work were discovered -- and continue to be discovered and tuned -- through giving my time to my community."

In the process, her love for networking, connecting and collaborating has helped her learn how to work with people who have a wide variety of personalities, backgrounds and priorities.

She believes that employers also receive big dividends when they encourage young professionals to be involved in community activities. (This topic of community involvement is so important for young people that I plan on writing about it for the next month or two, beginning with one of the biggest questions: How do I find the right company that encourages community involvement or convince my current boss that it's worthwhile for our company to let me be more involved?)

"Oftentimes we get caught up in the return on investment of community involvement and we forget that ROI doesn’t have to mean dollar signs. ROI can be skills and traits. It can be friendships, mentors or even a life lesson in who you don’t want to be," she said. "The nice thing for your employer is that by sending employees out into the community you are empowering them to care, to be passionate, and enriching their lives without spending an extra cent."

Kim also makes the point that you don't have to spend years and years … and years before reaping those dividends. She has said that she really didn't get involved in her community in a big way before 2013. In 2014, she was named the Ankeny Young Professional of the Year. A year later, she was recognized as the Ambassador of the Year by the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce. 

One more thing about Kim -- she's a mom to four children. 

If she can become involved in her community in such a big way with her commitment-packed schedule, what could possibly hold the rest of us back from doing the same thing? 

 

Email Cory at:

corys@fehdesign.com

president@ypcdsm.com 

Finding your passion

- Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection. 

People who know what they want to do with their lives, what really fires them up every day they go to work, are lucky.

People who knew it at an early age are the luckiest of the lucky.

I put myself in that second group -- the luckiest of the lucky -- because I knew from the time I could pick up a crayon that I was going to be an architect.

What do you do if you're not that lucky? What do you do if you're a young professional -- or older -- and you haven't found that career path that sparks a real passion in you? Or, what do you do if you thought you were on the right track but have figured out you don't like where you're headed?

First off, chill out. (Play some Foo Fighters, have a beer, go listen to some live music or Keep Calm and Eat a Taco -- those are a few things I do in these situations.) Don't get down on yourself. Life is about trial and error. Sometimes you have to see for yourself what you don't want to do before you know what you do want to do.

Second, do something. Don’t make excuses. Don't resign yourself to keep doing something you don't love deep down to your core. We all have to do things we don't like sometimes, but don't keep dragging yourself to a job you hate for any reason. I can't think of many things that will kill your passion faster than that.

So how do you find your passion?

Talk to people you know and ask them -- especially those who are really passionate about their work -- why they love doing what they do and what they think you'd be good at. Listening to advice is good; nothing says you have to take it. Especially if you think someone is trying to pressure you to be something you're not or to do something you don't want to do.

Making sure you have off-work passions is another great way to keep you pumped up about your profession. Des Moines has so many awesome recreational opportunities and groups to get involved with that there's bound to be something for everyone.

If you haven't been out of college long, you may not be feel like taking another test, but that might be the smartest thing you can do. You can find your passion by taking any number of aptitude tests that will either reinforce your thinking or point you in a whole new direction.

When it comes time to look for a job, look for someone who has the same values you have -- and the passion you want to have.

Whatever you do, think big, dream big and make something big happen for you. And, start now.

Passion makes the difference

- Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection 

No one is ever going to have to guess whether I have a passion for architecture. 

From the second I could draw, I was drawing. I loved spending time with my dad, who is an architect. I may have thought about a couple different career paths, but nothing was going to stop me once I set out to become an architect.

 

I love everything about the art and science of architecture. I love the first meeting with the client, hearing their dreams and ideas. I love putting those ideas on paper. I love bringing designs to life. And, I love walking around the space when it is finished.

The whole process fascinates me. I have a real passion for architecture.

I honestly believe you get out of something what you put into it. If it’s worth doing, I want to put as much into it as I can to stoke my passion.

You don't have to ask if someone's really passionate about something. It shows.

Passion is heart. Passion is genuine excitement.

Without passion, work is, well, work. It's a daily drudge, a grind that steals your energy instead of energizing you. You're just taking up space and you might as well not be there because you're not only robbing your boss of someone who could do the job better, but you're also robbing yourself.

I'm a walking proof of the old saying that if you love what you're doing you never work a day in your life.

Why would you possibly do something day after day, month after month, year after year that you're not passionate about? Why would you be in a job where you're always watching the clock instead of being lost in something you love?

If you don't love your career -- and you need to think of it as a career instead of just a job -- then don’t waste another minute deciding to do what you're going to do about it. That doesn't mean you quit on the spot. You should create a plan for success.

Just do it sooner than later. Much sooner.

Next month: Finding what makes you happy

The coin toss that wasn't

- Cory W. Sharp is an intern architect at FEH Design in Des Moines and the current president of the Young Professionals Connection

"Why are you here?" someone asked me the other day. "Not just as the Business Record's newest blogger covering young professional topics but as a young person living in Des Moines? Didn't you think of going somewhere else?"

It was a good question -- one that I considered a coin toss as I was approaching graduation with an architecture degree from Iowa State and I tried to decide between Des Moines and Denver.

I love Denver for a lot of reasons. I love its weather where the summers are warm but you can still go snowboarding in the mountains. I love the vibrant arts and cultural scene, the polar bears at the Denver Zoo, advanced public transportation system, its variety of restaurants (including lots of great taco places) and that you can be your own person but it's not too far from home.

But "home" is a powerful word.

There's no getting over the fact Des Moines is home.  But would it be worth staying home if home limited my options? Fortunately, as Des Moines has changed over the past decade, that's not a trade-off I had to make.

I'm here because Des Moines has so much to offer; I'm not the only young professional to figure that out, of course. Just look at the boom in downtown residential living, our own growing variety of restaurants, arts and cultural options -- to name just a few trends -- to get your answer. But, growing up in Des Moines when there wasn't always all that much to do, those changes have only made me love our city even more as time has gone by.

I'm also here because of the influence my parents and other mentors have had on my professional life. (My dad is a principal at FEH Design, the architectural and engineering firm where I am an associate. My mom owns the Heart of Iowa Market Place in historic Valley Junction.)

One piece of advice they've given me over the years is that you only get out of something what you put into it. I've seen them put plenty of hard work, hours, brainpower and, maybe most importantly, passion, into their careers and community involvement. They've also invested a lot of energy and emotion into our family, too. That's what makes it all work so well at home, too.

Because of their advice -- and help from others -- I got involved in community activities like the Young Professionals Connection even while I was still in college. That involvement has taken me through various leadership roles in the YPC, where I'm serving as president this year.

Those connections have made living and working in Des Moines all the better.

I'm looking forward to writing in the months ahead about a range of topics important to young professionals and, as a result, important to their employers. From how to find your passion and how to be a great employee to getting your voice heard, giving back to the community and more, I've always benefited from great guidance from my parents and mentors, so I look forward to sharing their perspectives and more with others.

And, I'm glad I knew in my heart that I didn't need to leave my future to a coin toss.

 

Email Cory at:

corys@fehdesign.com

president@ypcdsm.com 

 

 

Getting off the hamster wheel

Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator.

Have you ever been driving a car while thinking about all the activities that you have in the day ahead when you suddenly realize that you don’t remember the last two minutes of driving?

So many of us go through life unaware that we are on autopilot. We get out of bed, do the same morning routine, go to work and get home just in time to start making dinner, hopefully squeezing in a few minutes to relax before getting up and doing it all over again.

Without being consciously aware of it, our life becomes a “hamster wheel” of our daily schedule. I noticed my “hamster wheel” about eight months into my full-time job. I realized that I was doing the same things at home and work because that was just what I was used to doing! I seemed to do it without even noticing.

One day I realized that I didn’t want to be missing out on the here and now, by living on autopilot. Neither should you. Here are some things that help me focus on the present.  These things have helped me become more creative and productive at work, and in my personal life. I enjoy my life more when I’ve made it a priority to become intentional with my focus.

• Notice when you are starting to let your mind wander, forgive yourself for it, and bring yourself back to the present.
• There is never just one way to do your job. Have fun by thinking outside the box and doing something differently than you have before.
• Make a list of all the things you like and don’t like about your current situation.
• Create goals to help you change things that are holding you back.
• Meet people you can learn from and also cultivate relationships with others who can learn from you. Giving back is a powerful motivator.
• Make time for things that you love outside of work. It is extremely important to give yourself time to regroup and enjoy your hobbies and relationships.

There are many ways to keep yourself from becoming complacent at your job or at home. You can choose happiness and control whether you are stuck on a hamster wheel, or whether you take your life back and get intentional with it.

-Meridith Freese

Connect with me!

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese

Be straightforward

Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator.

For young professionals in the workplace it is often easier to sit in a meeting with upper management, people you might not know, or even with co-workers and just willingly agree with everything that is said, (even if you think it is a lousy idea). It could be because you do not feel comfortable disagreeing with your boss or simply because you do not want to rock the boat.

On the other hand, if you do muster up the courage to speak your mind, you may beat around the bush or gently relay your feelings so as not to step on anyone’s toes.

Being straightforward is not a bad characteristic to have. In fact, many people appreciate a simple and easy to understand communication style. I know I do. Being a straightforward communicator can carry a stigma that you are too frank or too impatient. While I disagree with the stigma, I do believe that while being straightforward, you should still always be polite.

I am fortunate that when growing up, all my siblings were taught to “say what we mean and mean what we say.” My family members are all outspoken, straightforward people. I am just hardwired to be that way.

I was also extremely lucky to come into an organization where I was encouraged to speak my mind and bring in new ideas. But even if you are not hardwired like me or don’t work for a company that you feel you can be open with, do not be afraid to be straightforward with anyone.

If done the right way, being straightforward can make you look humble and sincere. Be genuine, be authentic, and be straightforward.

-Meridith Freese 

Connect with me!

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese

Tips about end-of-year performance reviews

- Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator.

The West Des Moines Chamber has a young professional’s group called New View that I coordinate. At the October New View event I thought it important to bring in an HR specialist who could help young professionals learn how to handle their year-end review along with negotiating their salary.

There was great interest in this topic and we sold out the event within days. Our expert, Sarah Charlier with Merit Resources, gave a 45-minute presentation. A lively question-and- answer period followed among attendees. I wanted to share some of the interesting tips that were given, both for those going through their first review and those on the other side of the table giving the review for a new employee:

• Do your homework: 60 to 90 days out from your review you should be collecting information about what you have done in the past year. Using quantifiable numbers and percentages will put into perspective how much you’ve accomplished.
• About 30 to 60 days out, you should be evaluating yourself. What goals have you met or exceeded?  Have you followed company policies?
• Start the compensation discussion early. Do not surprise your boss with wanting a raise at your performance review. And if you are asking for a pay raise, make sure you have substantiated the amount you are asking for.  Be sure to also express your interest in taking on more opportunities along with the new salary.
• The day of your review, be ready for any hard truths. Have a response ready for almost any answer your boss will give you. If you receive a no, don’t be afraid to say you are disappointed but then follow up with questions about how to get to the next level in your company.
• Be confident by being prepared. People giving reviews do not want you to sit across from them giving one-word answers and appearing intimidated. You’ll be best served by making the meeting a conversation.
• Ask for feedback on how you’re doing. You won’t grow personally or professionally without feedback and sometimes that may come in the form of criticism. 

These are just some of the excellent tips that we received that Tuesday morning. End of year reviews and salary negotiations don’t have to be terrible, terrifying experiences. Be prepared, confident, and use the opportunity of having your boss' full attention to your advantage. 

-Meridith Freese 

Connect with me!

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese

Pick your battles

- Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator.

Everyone is faced with challenges at work. They can range from a disagreement with co-workers or having to deal with people who disagree with you on any given subject. It does not always matter who the battle is with. It’s more important which battles you choose to take on and how you fight them that matters.

The first thing you should ask yourself is how important is this issue? Sometimes we have the tendency to fly off the handle and get upset after an altercation. The best thing is to take a day or two to process the situation and then decide how you want to proceed.

If you have decided the situation is important enough, and you don’t want to leave it alone, the next step is deciding if you have the authority to bring the issue forward. If not, you need to find someone you can discuss the issue with and if they will help you bring it to light.

Another important thing to remember in the midst of a difficult situation is to avoid getting overly consumed with the negatives and instead to work toward a solution.

That brings me back to when I was growing up and getting advice from my parents. In a house of five children we often heard “Don’t tattle. I don’t want to hear a problem I want to hear a solution.”

This was an important life lesson. My parents were teaching us to work through situations where we could find logical answers to problems on our own. That is often times what your boss is challenging you to do. Bringing up a problem is not so difficult if it is followed up by a workable solution.

We will always face conflicts in our professional life. It’s how you deal with them that will set you apart. 

-Meridith Freese

Connect with me!

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese
Email: Meridith@wdmchamber.org
Blog: The-Write-Of-Passage.com

No-phone zone

- Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator.

Are you guilty of sometimes sneakily checking your phone for texts or emails during meetings? As I step into more meetings, I have noticed that there is usually at least one person looking down at their smartphone.

While our world is becoming more technologically advanced, I still find this to be a bad habit not only in the business world but also in your personal life. 

Here are some things to think about next time you look down at your smartphone during a meeting:

1. Consideration: It makes you look like you don’t care about what other people are saying.
2. Respect: It is rude to not look people in the eye when they are speaking.
3. Engagement: People want to know that you are listening to what they are saying.
4. Selfishness: It looks like you think your time is more important then theirs.

I am aware that some people will read this and think “but if I have an emergency I am going to answer the phone.”

I am not insinuating that you should not have your phone with you. I think it is perfectly acceptable and more polite to say "Excuse me, I need to take this and step out of the room" than to constantly check your phone during a meeting.

I also think that people assume that millennials believe that it’s ok to be on your phones because this is what our world is evolving to. But I think we can all agree that no matter what age we are, we don’t want to appear inconsiderate of other people.

Especially if you are trying to impress the boss, make the meeting room a no-phone zone. 

-Meridith Freese

Connect with me!

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese
Email: Meridith@wdmchamber.org
Blog: The-Write-Of-Passage.com

Generational divide

- Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator.

The West Des Moines Chamber held a Food 4 Thought breakfast series event discussing the differences in generations in the workplace.  There was a panel of four accomplished individuals representing each decade. As I sat in the age-diverse audience, I was listening to all the comments and questions and it lit a fire under me to try to explain how I, as a millennial, look at the workplace. 

I understand that some millennials get labeled “entitled”. I do not think this is the correct description for our generation. I believe that millennials just have a different way of doing things then the generations before them. And although I am a millennial, I think it is safe to assume that the generations before us did things a little differently upon entering the work world compared to generations that proceeded them. 

Here are some qualities that I think millennials have that distinguish them from other generations (with exceptions of course):

• Millennials don’t always take the first answer given to us; we are constantly looking for different ways to get things done faster and more efficiently.
• We have social media in our back pockets.  We are good at it and can use it to our advantage.
• We don’t believe people should be treated differently because of their gender.
• We like flexible schedules and managing our own time.
• We often like “dressing for success”, but other times we would be just as efficient in jeans, maybe even more so.
• We are not afraid to move from job to job to find what will make us the most happy as we build our career path.
• We are pros at the work-life balancing act.

Here are some qualities that I believe older generations might stereotype millennials about (with exceptions of course):

• We don’t respect people in authority.
• We are always running late.
• We are not present, or “in the moment” because we are too attached to our phones.
• We are lazy because we don’t always have to work 8-5 to get our work done.
• We can’t handle the big projects because we don’t have enough experience.

These are just some of the examples of stereotypes that I see millennials dealing with. I strongly encourage you to look at your workplace and figure out ways for you and your coworkers of different generations to listen to each other’s opinions. Each generation has much to learn from the others. You can find ways to work together to make your organization successful. And millennials, if you want to break the stereotype of being the entitled generation, use it as motivation to work as hard as you can every day to prove that you are good at what you do and you deserve respect and authority. 

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese
Email: Meridith@wdmchamber.org
Blog: The-Write-Of-Passage.com

Take the first meeting

- Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator.

As a marketing manager, it is important for me to have relationships with people in the media industry, as it is my job to promote the West Des Moines chamber events and get the word out about all that we do. I wanted to expand my media circle but did not know where to start.

A friend of mine and fellow blogger, Danny Beyer, suggested that he was going to meet someone with the Business Record the following week and that I should be there when his meeting wrapped up so that I could meet them also.

I had just graduated college only a few weeks prior and this was going to be my first coffee meeting with a stranger. I was nervous. The introduction through Danny went very well and I was able to turn that new relationship into a productive one. This one casual after-coffee meeting ultimately turned into the opportunity I’ve been given to write this blog today.

In college you take classes about how to successfully manage your time, develop a professional persona, and how to work collaboratively. No matter how well you master these skills -- and they are all important -- there is nothing that will drive your success as a young professional more than going out and meeting people.

I was not an honor student while at Iowa State. I did not have a perfect attendance record. I did, however, have the ability to speak confidently to people face-to-face. Even if you are not naturally outgoing, the more you network and put yourself out there, the more comfortable you will become.

Meeting people and being interested in them is a great life skill, especially when you are beginning to build your professional circles. Never doubt that you have something to offer and always take that first meeting. You never know where the opportunity will take you.

-Meridith Freese

Connect with me!

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese
Email: Meridith@wdmchamber.org
Blog: The-Write-Of-Passage.com

How do you sound in emails?

- Meridith is the manager of marketing and communications at the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the West Des Moines New View Young Professionals coordinator. 

One of my responsibilities for the West Des Moines Chamber is to send out weekly mailings to our membership. I enjoy being able to interact with our membership and this task has given me that opportunity. One email that I received last week, however, forced me to contemplate how I come across in email correspondence. Here is a portion of the email that I received:

“First it would be nice that the emails come from The Chamber.  Right now they say they are coming from Meridith Freese.  For the longest time I would not open them because I did not know who this was and thought it was spam or something. Also, I tried to reply to your email, but you made the background brown so when I typed my message you could not read it with that background.”

Right away I noticed that there was no cordial greeting in this letter, and no professional closing or signature at the end. Just a paragraph of criticism for me to read. While I do not mind getting constructive criticism, I do believe there is a way to give a critique in a respectful manner as opposed to an oppositional one. (And I wondered if I would I have received this email if the title of President was in my signature line? I will never know.) But what I do know is that even though this person could have been extremely sincere in their suggestions, trying to be helpful, I did not take it as such. The lack of conversational politeness felt disrespectful to me and it was difficult for me to get past that to “hear” the point.

Being able to understand how you sound in an email in this tech savvy world is critical to your success in your career.  Here are some suggestions that I urge you to consider before you push the send button:

1. The subject line is crucial to summarizing your intent.
2. Do not overuse capitalization or the exclamation point.
3. Always, always, always use a personal greeting, and please take the extra few moments to make sure you are spelling the person’s name correctly.
4. Keep your messages short and about the subject at hand.  Respect people’s time.
5. If it will turn into a conversation, pick up the phone instead.
6. Ask yourself, how I would feel about this email if it were sent to me?

Even though this may seem like common sense to some, it still is occurring frequently in the workplace. Take the time to make sure that what they "hear" is what you mean. 

-Meridith Freese

Connect with me!

Facebook: meridith.freese
Twitter: @MertFreese
Email: Meridith@wdmchamber.org
Blog: The-Write-Of-Passage.com

Demand to be introduced

 

- Meridith Freese writes for young professionals

One of my first meetings as a full-time employee was a lunch meeting at Bravo with my boss Dave Schwartz and the Pleasant Hill Mayor and Kum & Go Sustainability Manager Sara Kurovski. 

We were discussing different topics and getting to know one another, but it was after this conversation that I got one of my first lessons in being a young professional in the real world. As we were leaving Bravo, Dave had stopped to talk to two other people who were in the booth behind us that he knew. I stood there with Sara as we watched him catch up and she leaned over and whispered to me, “Demand to be introduced.” I watched Sara leave my side and introduce herself to the table.

I contemplated the idea that I had stood in the background and watched others' conversations many times before. Why hadn’t I reached out my hand and introduced myself? Was it because I thought I was too young to be in the conversation? Or was it because I was trying to be respectful in letting them have their discussion? Whatever the reasoning, I decided that day that I would no longer be overlooked.

As young professionals, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, we need to be assertive in meeting people. We want people to know who we are and we want them to know that we are here to make as much of a difference as they do. Even now I will still catch myself standing in the background but the difference is, I notice it and I am able to correct it. I have realized that by extending my hand for an introduction, I am allowing myself to grow my network and quite possibly open a door for opportunities later.

Not only will you empower yourself by overcoming your fear, but the ones you are reaching out to will respect you more. You deserve to be in the conversation as much as anyone. Demand to be introduced.  

-Meridith Freese is the marketing manager for the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the coordinator of New View Young Professionals in West Des Moines.

 

 

 

Meet new blogger Meridith Freese

I graduated from Iowa State University in December of last year and I was primed and ready.  I knew it all. I had my college degree in hand and I was ready to take on this so-called “real” world. 

I was, after all, an event management major and who wouldn’t want to bring me on as an employee to change the course of business going forward. Well, perhaps a slight miscalculation on my part. Maybe I was not as ready to change the face of American business as I thought. Oh, if only I knew then what I know now and that’s why I’m writing this blog.

My goal is to soothe the transition for the recent grad and provide some wisdom for those in the first stage of their career who are getting ready to move on to phase II. Everything from gaining that all important first job to dealing with college loans, to generational issues, to taking appropriate credit for your work, to career guidance – mentorship, and on and on. Are you kidding me, you didn’t get all of this in college?? And what do you mean there are no more summer vacations??

With each blog I want to provide you with great insight into this strange world we now find ourselves in. We don’t want to just survive, we want to thrive. We want to make a difference with our employer and we want to make a difference in the community where we live.  We want it all and we’re not going apologize for that.

This transition may have been a little scary at the start, but now I look at it a lot differently. This new world needs the talent, energy and passion we bring every day.  And, each day we can learn a little from our surroundings that will only help us prepare to be effective leaders for many years to come. Get on board, it’s going to be a great ride!

I want to write about things that matter to you! Reach out to me, I would love to get to know you and make a difference for any young professional.

Facebook : meridith.freese

Twitter : @MertFreese

Email : Meridith@wdmchamber.org

Blog : The-Write-Of-Passage.com 

-Meridith Freese

Leadership lessons learned from the Cyclone basketball team

Kyle Oppenhuizen is a Business Record reporter and the 2014 president-elect of the Young Professionals Connection (YPC). 

First of all, let me go on the record in saying this:

I love this year’s Iowa State Cyclones basketball team. Win or lose in tonight’s Sweet 16 game against the University of Connecticut, this team holds a special place in my heart for so many reasons.

Now you know my (strong) bias.

One of the special things about these Cyclones is the leadership that its coaches and players have shown. As a young professional, I try to soak in leadership lessons however I can, and there have been plenty of opportunities while watching this team.

Here’s are a few strong leadership moments from this season:

Keep your cool: In the last few minutes of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina, Iowa State found itself trailing by five points during the last media timeout. The season was on the line, and the team had its back against the wall. What did coach Fred Hoiberg tell his team? Smile. It worked. The team went on a run and eventually won the game. Lesson learned: In trying circumstances, keep your cool and your team will follow suit.

Keep a good attitude: Of course, in that game against North Carolina, the Cyclones were playing without one of their best players, Georges Niang. Niang broke a bone in his foot during Iowa State’s first round game. It was a devastating turn of events for the Cyclones, but not only did Hoiberg find a way to adjust his game plan in less than two days, Niang actually called a team meeting on Saturday night before the game just to get everyone in the same room to talk as a team. The Cyclones could have easily folded, but instead they went out and earned one of the biggest wins in school history. Lesson learned: Adversity will hit, but with the right attitude you can overcome it.

Have confidence: In Iowa State’s final regular season game against Oklahoma State, Naz Long missed a three-pointer late in the game that would have given the Cyclones the lead. During a stoppage of play, Long told an Oklahoma State player “I’ll put any dollar that if I get this ball again, it’s going in.” He got it again, and put in a long three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game, sending Hilton Coliseum into the kind of frenzy I’ve rarely witnessed. Lesson learned: A little confidence goes a long way.

Be a team player: Melvin Ejim just does things the right way. A true student-athlete, Ejim is smart, well-spoken, and full of class. And the Big 12’s Player of the Year. He’s not flashy, and he’s not always the most talented player on the court. But he makes plays within the flow of the offense and often acts as the glue that pulls the Cyclones together. Lesson learned: It’s not always the most charismatic, or the most God-gifted, or the most outspoken person who is the best leader. Hard work and the desire to most-effectively help your team will pay off in the long run.

Learn from hardship: This team is full of guys that have gotten a second chance in some way and made the most of it. Lesson learned: People make mistakes, and sometimes just run into tough circumstances. What counts is how you learn, grow and respond.

Take advantage of the moment: Maybe my favorite story so far: There’s been some speculation that playing at Madison Square Garden in New York City will be a bit intimidating to the Cyclones, especially since their opponent has already played there twice this season. But according to a photo on the Iowa State Athletics Facebook page, Hoiberg gathered his players at midcourt during Thursday’s practice and said “See those bright lights up there? This is what we played for all year.” Lesson learned: Enjoy the moment. Don’t fear it.

Have some fun: Oh, I almost forgot. After Iowa State’s win Sunday, Hoiberg broke out his dance moves in the postgame locker room celebration. Let’s put it this way: The Mayor dances about like me, which is not a ringing endorsement. But he owned it, and his players loved it. Lesson learned: It’s OK to cut loose every once in awhile.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Hopefully I can learn a few more lessons, but whatever happens from here on out, I’ve enjoyed the ride.

Go Cyclones!

Keep Des Moines cool

Kyle Oppenhuizen is a Business Record reporter and the 2014 president-elect of the Young Professionals Connection (YPC). 

I am somewhat ashamed to say that I’ve never been to Austin, Texas but I’ve always heard good things.

Austin seems to be one of those small cities that everybody knows about for all the right reasons. In my reporting at the Business Record, I have heard people compare Des Moines to Austin and Madison, Wis. - as in, “we can be as cool as those cities.” Those are cities I have started to refer to often when I gush about how great Des Moines is becoming. We’re not a big city. We don’t have oceans or mountains. But we’ve got a lot going for us.

So when the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Mary Bontrager told the story of an Austin-native calling Des Moines “Austin-cool” at a recent Business Record Power Breakfast, I nearly did a fist-pump.

You see, even though I’ve never been to Austin, or Madison, I have a very positive connotation in my head for what those two cities represent. Those cities are cool, and everyone knows it. Why else would there be any reason that I know Austin’s slogan, “Keep Austin Weird?”

Well, in my opinion, Des Moines is cool. Everyone who lives here knows it. And those who don’t are starting to take notice. Did anyone see the “Today” show feature?

As Iowans, we’re a pretty humble group. We know we’ve got a good thing going here, but we haven’t always been the best at touting ourselves.

It’s time to change that.

We’ll have our opportunities. Bontrager made multiple mentions of the Partnership’s CarpeDM site, a forum for people to share what they love about Des Moines. That’s a pretty simple way to highlight our successes.

For perhaps a more complex way, think about this: The Iowa Caucuses will make a visit in early 2016, which means candidates and the national media will soon be making visits to our state. From what I’ve noticed, Iowa doesn’t always get the most, well, flattering national press (insert generic ‘B’-roll of cornfield). But guess what: Here in Iowa, we feed the world, and that’s really cool. Not only that, we have a world class city that has almost all of the amenities a person could want, with a fraction of the traffic, and maybe the nicest people you’ll find anywhere.

I’m not saying to bang our chests or let our heads get too inflated. What I’m saying is this: We’ve earned the right to brag. We don’t need to be “weird” like Austin, but Des Moines is cool. Tell your friends.

--

I welcome feedback and ideas. Email me, follow me on Twitter, or comment on this blog post.

Email: kyleoppenhuizen@bpcdm.com
Twitter: @KyleOppenhuizen

Take advantage of the moment in 2014

-Kyle Oppenhuizen is a Business Record reporter and the 2014 president-elect of the Young Professionals Connection (YPC). 

One of my favorite television shows is The West Wing, the fictional White House-based show starring Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet. I was recently re-watching an old episode that helped me identify my motto for 2014.

The scene that caught my attention was one in which President Bartlet is having a particularly tense dialogue with a senior White House official, Toby Ziegler, played by Richard Schiff. Ziegler tells the president that a charge against him is that he watches the pitch go by.

As a baseball fan, that made me think: What pitches do I watch go by when instead I should swing for the fences?

I recently had coffee with a Greater Des Moines leader (I won’t mention a name, since this conversation was off the record). This person mentioned an important lesson learned in leadership - take advantage of the moments worth taking advantage of.

I don’t make new year’s resolutions, but I often try to set the tone for my year by setting a motto, one that seems particularly fitting to where I am in my life. This year that motto is “Take advantage of the moment.” In other words, don’t watch the pitch go by.

So what’s the “moment” that your business or organization could take advantage of this year? What pitch should you swing at?

Maybe it is finally time to launch that new product. Or is the moment right to plan that next big event in Des Moines? Perhaps it is something smaller, like picking your moment to recognize your team of employees or nonprofit volunteers for a job well done.

Whatever it is, find your moments and take them. You never know when you’ll get the moment again. And if you watch the pitch go by, you can’t expect your competitors to do the same.

-Kyle Oppenhuizen

Young and optimistic

-Kyle Oppenhuizen is a Business Record reporter and the 2014 president-elect of the Young Professionals Connection (YPC). 

I went to my first Young Professionals Connection event shortly after I moved to Des Moines in 2010. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure I remember what the event was, although I’m pretty sure it was a happy hour and I’m absolutely sure I left thinking there was little chance I’d get more involved in the organization.

Fast-forward three or so years, and here I am taking over as president-elect of YPC.

I’m also taking over as the Young Professionals blogger for IowaBiz. As a Business Record reporter, I have helped manage IowaBiz for a couple of years. One thing I always tell new bloggers is to keep the focus of their blog content on helping others; not promoting their organization. Yet here I am, writing my first blog, with the overwhelming desire to shout from the rooftops about how great YPC is.

So let’s get this out of the way.

I’m young, motivated and pretty much in love with Greater Des Moines. You can read why in a previous guest blog post here. There are so many opportunities to get involved in this area. Why have I chosen to make such a strong commitment to YPC?

Personally, the organization has given me a chance to connect, learn and grow in this community. Rewind again to 2010. Before I joined YPC, my life consisted of: Go to work at 8 a.m. Get off work at 5 p.m. Go home. Repeat.

I dragged my feet on getting involved in the community, or doing much of anything outside of work and driving up to Ames to watch Cyclones football and basketball (not that I’ve given that up).

Two things happened. One, as a writer at the Business Record, I got to see the accomplishments of other young professionals in the community. Most of them were part of YPC. Around that same time, the Forbes ranking came out. I wanted to be a part of that.

Two, great people, such as former YPC President Jason Wells, kept hounding me about getting more involved.

YPC became my way to make friends. It became my way to get involved in and connected to Des Moines, and helped me grow as a person and professional. Without YPC, I might not still be living in Des Moines.

Now is my chance to give back, and to do everything in my power to give other people the same experience. And ultimately, make Greater Des Moines a better place for all of us.

The good news is that YPC is a top-notch organization in this community that truly connects young professionals to everything Des Moines has to offer. The even better news is that we can and must do better. In the past year, we have sought and listened to specific feedback from our membership, and as a board, we spent eight hours with a consultant, Alan Feirer, to evaluate who we are as an organization. We are not resting on our laurels, and that is exciting.

I’m passionate about YPC. Hopefully you have found something you are equally passionate about to give your time to.

Moving forward, I hope to share with you lessons I’m learning as a young professional in this community in the hope that YPs and non-YPs alike can learn something. I like to learn, and I like to share what I’ve learned. Luckily, I have plenty of opportunities to draw experience from my reporting duties at the Business Record, my aforementioned role in YPC, and even through my everyday interests. Don’t be surprised when you see me share life lessons that I learn from watching Iowa State University football games. (No. 1: Never give up when times are tough. See how easy that was?)

Thank you for reading.

-Kyle Oppenhuizen

I welcome feedback and ideas. Email me, follow me on Twitter, or comment on this blog.

Email: kyleoppenhuizen@bpcdm.com
Twitter: @KyleOppenhuizen

6 steps to successful "out-of-your-league" networking

Emilee Richardson is the president-elect for the Young Professionals Connection, and is the
marketing and communications coordinator at the Science Center of Iowa.

Last week, I was in Washington, D.C. as part of the Greater Des Moines Partnership's annual trip.

In case you don't know, each year, the Partnership takes roughly 200 business executives and community leaders to D.C. for the purpose of education and advocacy. Each year, the YPC president-elect is sent on the trip. This year, that privilege was mine.

This trip is truly unique. The Greater Des Moines Partnership represents more than 4,700 businesses and 150,000 employees in Central Iowa. And on this year's trip, 190 of us came together to represent one unified voice advocating for the issues most important to our region.

That's a powerful voice, wouldn't you agree?

The trip consisted of meetings, workshops and receptions... essentially, it was 60 straight hours of networking (which was evident by my lack of a voice on Friday).

Now, I’m no newbie to networking. But at the Iowa Congressional Reception on the first night, as I mixed and mingled my way around the room of seasoned business leaders, I realized that I was a little out of my league.

Networking is easy with your peers, but when it seems that everyone knows everyone - and everyone has been doing this since before you were born - it can be a little intimidating. I didn’t go all the way to D.C. for nothing, though, so I decided to dive in. And as I did, I found a pattern... one that weirdly resembled a military maneuver.

6 steps to successful networking, Top Gun style:

1. Find a wingman. This way, you won't look really awkward while trying to accomplish the next several steps. Your wingman can be a friend or acquaintance. Preferably, your wingman will be someone who also is looking to meet a few of the movers and shakers in the room.

2. Identify a target. In these situations, there are often people in the room who you know of but haven't officially met; or maybe there’s an acquaintance who you want to chat up or pitch an idea to. Find this person (or persons) in the room.

3. Move into position. Many times, your target is already in a conversation. Prepare to network by meandering through the room with your wingman and positioning yourself within 10 feet of the target. This is important so that you will be able to swoop in as they're leaving a conversation or jump in during a lull. Avoid awkwardness by conversing with your wingman. Leave yourself available by glancing around the room. [Pro tip: Do not make eye contact with your target until you are ready to swoop. Otherwise, you'll blow your opportunity.]

4. Make a smooth entrance. When you see your target moving away or notice a lull in conversation, make your move. If you know the person's name, follow these steps: (1) approach, (2) say the person's name and (3) say something along the lines of, "good to see you!" If you don't know the person's name, follow these instructions: (1) approach, (2) say something along the lines of, "I don't think we've met. I'm ____."

5. Introduce your wingman. After initial hellos, introduce your wingman to the target with a simple, "Have you met ____?" There’s value in knowing people, and successful leaders know this. By making the introduction, you appear well-connected and gracious. Plus, you’re helping out your wingman, too!

6. Make a graceful exit. This is the tough part. If your target doesn't initiate the exit, you can oftentimes be left with nothing more to say. A few strategies for a graceful exit: (1) excuse yourself to get another drink / check out the food, (2) say “well, it was really nice talking with you” and exchange cards or reiterate how you plan to follow-up. Always end with a firm handshake and by thanking them by name.

Note: While these tips are said with a hint of silliness, they are mostly accurate. Networking is a skill that can only be mastered with practice. It is good to have a few guidelines going in, but what works for me might not work for you. If you have other successful networking tactics, I’d love to hear!

-Emilee Richardson

Our people are our attraction

Note: Kyle Oppenhuizen is a reporter for the Des Moines Business Record

Every now and then, I run into one of those moments that make me want to stick up for Des Moines.

The most recent example involved a co-worker. I made a sarcastic comment about a 40-degree rainy April day being “beautiful,” and she responded by saying, “Don’t you go anywhere nicer. We don’t want you to leave.”

She was, of course, referring to what has to be a universal sentiment among Iowans on cold, rainy days: “Why don’t I just move to California, Florida or Hawaii?”

But it made me think about the comment on a deeper level, as journalists are prone to do. I’m 26 years old, single, childless, and, for all intents and purposes, not tied down. What is stopping me from going to a land with beaches, or mountains, or warm, tropical weather? Or New York, Chicago or Washington, D.C.?

The immediate response when I ask that question in my head?

“Because Des Moines has great people.”

There are so many examples of this:

• We’re Iowa Nice. That almost goes without saying. (Warning: linked video contains adult language).
• We make our own fun. I can’t go skiing, but in the summer, I can step out the door of my downtown apartment complex almost every Saturday and find something fun going on within blocks of where I live. That includes the Downtown Farmers Market, the Des Moines Arts Festival, the 80/35 music festival and Cityview Brewfest, just to name a few.
• We want to be more like Austin, Texas, or Madison, Wis. So we MAKE ourselves more like those cities. It’s easy to see it covering the business community. Our business leaders make things happen. It’s always been that way. But recently, you can feel a groundswell of others stepping up to make Des Moines a cooler place to live. There are groups like the Young Professionals Connection (full disclosure: I’m a board member and very passionate about the organization) and the Des Moines Social Club. There are regular people, such as Mike and Kate Banasiak, who, on a whim, create their own events. There are businesses like Full Court Press and Raygun that make Des Moines more fun and a little bit edgy. The list could go on and on.
• We try things. Some fail, like Project Destiny. But that’s OK. We try more things, like Capital Crossroads.
• We’re humble. We almost have to make a point to remind ourselves to brag every now and then. But hey, we do have a trophy case of Forbes magazine honors to do the bragging for us.
• We’re passionate. We don’t just get involved in the community to put it on a resume. We do it because we care about what we’re doing. Our city leaders make volunteering a full-time job; just look at our United Way numbers and the work that goes into those campaigns. Those who aren’t leaders yet aren’t afraid to get involved; just look at the profiles of our Business Record Forty Under 40 honorees.

There are many other things I could have listed, and in some ways that’s the point. Des Moines is a cool place to live, work and play, and it offers many things to many people.

So it’s true. We don’t have mountains. We don’t have oceans. Sometimes the weather sucks.

But in Des Moines, we, the people, are our own attraction.

-Kyle Oppenhuizen

Business Record 

Let’s talk about Iowa’s “brain gain”

The East Village in Des Moines, Iowa, a neighborhood west of the Iowa State Capitol. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Everyone’s heard about Iowa’s “brain drain.”

Educators, policy makers and business people have woefully cried for years that all of the state’s “best and brightest” are leaving Iowa for higher paying jobs on the coasts. They exclaim, “what have we done wrong?” and “we must do something about this!”

But what about those of us who’ve chosen to stay in Iowa?

I attended a YPC Civic Cafe luncheon a few weeks ago, and the topic was the history of YPC. Mary Bontrager of the Greater Des Moines Partnership was one of the panelists. Mary has an especially relevant perspective because she played a major part in the creation of YPC in 2000, when leaders in the Partnership realized that YPs were a growing segment of Des Moines’ population and deserved a voice in the community.

During the luncheon, Mary mentioned that YPC’s original founders had a big issue with this idea of the “brain drain.” And I agree!

Yes, it’s true that some students are leaving the state... but a lot of smart, talented and driven young professionals also choose to stay.

YPs throughout the state are bringing new ideas to the table, making a difference and doing big things. Need proof? Just check out the Register’s YP Spotlights or read about the Business Record’s 40 Under 40 class. Look around... I’m sure there are young people making a difference in your workplace or community.

What we realize is that Iowa is special. It’s a place where your big hairy audacious goals can become a reality, because there are people who will listen to and support the big ideas you have. Des Moines is a large metro area with the supportive community of a small town, and that’s just not something you can find on the coasts.

We recognize that. We’ve stayed here. We’re the “brain gain.”

-Emilee Richardson

How to survive in a post-report card world

Report Card (Photo credit: AJC1)

I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review called “Women Need to Realize Work Isn’t School.” It can be summed up by this one simple but kind of radical idea: “In school, being disruptive might get you sent to the principal's office, but in business, disruption is a proven path to success.”

Having spent my whole life as a good, well-behaved student, this really caught my attention. But to be honest, I think it’s much more than a woman’s issue...

Many of my peers are a handful of years removed from college. Most of our lives have been dictated by a system that favors following the rules, picking up on what others expect of you and generally doing what you can to make interactions as painless as possible.Those things are good; disruption is bad. Or so we’ve been trained to believe!

However, many young professionals - both male and female - graduate and enter the workforce only to find that the skills that propelled them to the top of the class may just be holding them back in the office.

So what’s a YP to do? The article offered five suggestions to “disrupt yourself,” and I’d like to adapt them to apply to this young professional demographic as a whole. So here are their tips with my take:

1. Their tip: Figure out how to challenge and influence authority.
My take: It’s not about making others happy. It’s about trusting your ideas and being confident enough about them to stand up and challenge the status quo. Instead of working your tail off to figure out what your boss wants from you, figure out what you can solve, on problems they haven’t even thought of.

2. Their tip: Prepare, but also learn to improvise.

My take: If you were the studious type who spent long hours in the library and felt well-prepared going into every exam, this one’s for you. Believe in yourself! Take a chance. Speak up in that meeting. Volunteer to do something out of your normal comfort zone. It’s scary, but it’s bound to pay off.

3. Their tip: Find effective forms of self-promotion.

My take: In school, you got a report card to validate your exemplary performance. In order to make an impact in your office, you have to work hard, perform well and make sure people know about it. It’s easier said than done, but if you can master it, you’ll go far.

4. Their tip: Welcome a less prescribed, full of surprise, career path.

My take: Our whole pre-adult life, our lives are on a fairly straightforward path... We go from 1st Grade to 2nd Grade to 3rd Grade; from Algebra 1 to Algebra 2 to Pre-Calc; from elementary school to middle school to high school. Real life doesn’t work like that - and that’s OK! Most careers paths are a lot more random. In fact, millennials are projected to hold 14 jobs by the time we’re 40. Once you accept that, you can welcome the surprises and see them for the great opportunities they are.

5. Their tip: Go for being respected, not just liked.

My take: This one is especially hard for those rule-followers. In business, your ideas aren’t always going to be popular and you’re not always going to please everyone. However, you can have an opinion and gain the respect of your colleagues, and in the end, respect is always better than popularity.

The working world is not the classroom, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave all of those skills behind. The most successful will be the ones who can blend the skills of the school place with the skills of the workplace. A bit of both will help you get ahead.

-Emilee Richardson

To work well with others, understand yourself

Linkware Freebie Image Teamwork Puzzle Concept. Photo credit to: thegoldguys.blogspot.com/ or www.lumaxart.com/ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Group work is a delicate thing.

From classroom groups to workplace groups to extracurricular groups, how you behave and the ways you interact can make or break the outcome. To make your work more successful and productive, it’s important to realize that people work differently, and those differences make us more creative.

I recently learned about the “Four Essential Working Styles” of a group. It’s a way to identify a your personal working style, to learn about the personal working style of the other members of your team and to understand how being aware of these differences can improve your group’s interactions.

Here’s how it works: The activity is based on a compass, and you pick the compass point that you most identify with. As you read the descriptions below, think about which style most suits you:

North - Action: Just get it done! Like to act, try things out, plunge in. People are apt to say, "Enough talk. Let's move on this!"

South - Community: Consider everyone's feelings. Like to hear and honor all voices before acting. People often check to see if everyone is OK. They may speak up when a break is needed.

East - Vision-Making: Look at the big picture. People will often inquire about why something is being done, what the purpose is or if an idea has implications that haven't been considered.

West - Structure: Pay attention to the details. People often ask when, how, who says, how long, what time?

Once you’ve identified your personal working style, the next step is to analyze yourself a bit further. What are the strengths of that personal working style? What benefits do you bring to a group? On the other hand, what are your limitations? What challenges might you bring to a group? And lastly, what do people need to know about working with you to make work more productive?

Thinking this in-depth about your own style can be quite eye-opening, but it’s especially effective when you do it as a team.

The last time I did this activity was with the 2013 Young Professionals Connection board, and as we went around the room, the differences between the groups were plainly apparent. The West group (Structure) said, “We need all of the details. Send us bullet-pointed emails,” while the East group (Vision-Making) said, “Don’t bog us down. We prefer phone calls to long emails.” The South group (Community) said, “We want everyone to feel comfortable, and we take criticisms personally,” while the North group (Action) said, “Give it to us bluntly.”

At this point, I suggest looking around the room and taking note - especially of the people on the opposite side of the room. Once you recognize your different preferences, working together becomes much more productive. We don’t all work the same, but we can work together.

-Emilee Richardson

New Year's resolutions for young professionals

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions.

But I am big on lists. And since 2013 is a big year for me, I decided to combine the two and give it a shot.

First, though, a little background. I’m Emilee Richardson, 25, and the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the Science Center of Iowa. I’m a native of Clarinda, Iowa, and a graduate of Drake University. I’ve been in Des Moines for almost eight years, and 2013 is a big year for me because I am assuming the role of president-elect for Young Professionals Connection (YPC).

YPC is a focused extension of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, and our mission is to attract and retain young professionals to Greater Des Moines through through social, civic, charitable and professional development endeavors. 2013 is also a big year for YPC, because we recently surpassed 700 members. That means the impact we can have on the community is... big.

This list of resolutions is mostly a series of challenges I’ve set for myself, but I’m hoping other young professionals can relate. So without further ado, here are my BIG resolutions for 2013:

1      I resolve to be better at remembering names and faces. More than anything I’ve found while networking my way around Des Moines is that people really notice when you remember their name. And doesn’t it feel great when someone remembers yours? There are plenty of tricks for name memory. One is to repeat the name immediately after you’re introduced and again before you end the conversation. Another I’ve tried already this year is to have the person spell their name. I’m a visual person, and since my name has an odd spelling, I like to know whether Caitlyn is spelled with a C or a K and if Stephen is with a ph or a v. Find what works for you.

2      I resolve to listen more intently. When you’re talking to someone at a networking event, where there are crowds of people and distractions all around, it’s hard to devote your full attention to a conversation. But to get to know someone, you have to listen to them - and not just superficially. Really focus on listening intently. First and foremost, listen with you’re introduced (see #1). Then, if your conversation has to be interrupted, promise to follow-up (see #3). Ask for a business card or, if you already know the person, plug a reminder into your smartphone to send an email later (see #5).

3      I resolve to follow-up. Following-up can take many forms... Maybe it’s following up on a conversation you had when you met someone. Maybe it’s following-up on one of those to-do items from your meeting. Maybe it’s following-up on an email that’s been sitting in your inbox. Even if it’s a simple, “Got your message. I’ll get back to you by X date,” it at least shows initiative and gives you a deadline. Following-up makes you look more professional and more personal all at once... It’s a win-win!

4      I resolve to make real-life connections. Des Moines is full of smart, engaging, interesting people, and you can learn something from every single one of them. The good news is that there are far fewer than seven degrees of separation for most people in the city. So reach out. Connect. Meet people. Another great way to make real-life connections is to connect other people. (No, I’m not suggesting you play matchmaker.) Connecting people you know - whether they have similar interests or business ideas that align - can be rewarding, too.

5      I resolve to use my smartphone and tablet for good. Our generation gets chastised for having our noses in our phones all the time. But who says you can’t use your iPad to learn a new language, manage your time better or read articles and news while you’re on the go? Go beyond the call, text and game features. Use your calendar to add that event you just heard about or schedule a reminder to email that new contact. You know the saying... There’s an app for that. Use it!

These are my resolutions for the new year. Can you relate? Can these five little tips can make a big difference in your personal and professional life?

Shameless plug: Test out these skills at YPC’s Kick-Off Party on January 25 at The Exchange. There will be 300+ young professionals to meet, listen to, follow-up with and remember their names. Put it in your smartphone now so you don’t forget!

Cheers to a big year - Happy 2013!

-Emilee Richardson

Collaborate

col•lab•o•rate – intransitive verb : to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.

Des Moines is great at embracing new opportunities.

Collaboration remains one of the best opportunities for young professional organizations in Des Moines. It is something more and more community leaders are looking for and may have a larger impact than you think.

There is no doubt Des Moines is near the top of the list in terms of having some of the most developed and diverse YP groups in the country. If you can dream it, I can just about guarantee you there is a group in Greater Des Moines for you to join. Heck, before I moved to Des Moines I didn’t even know YP groups existed or could be nearly as effective as many are.

This past week I had meetings with three different area YP groups and the same discussion came up with all three. Des Moines number of YP groups per capita has got to be off the charts. However, the next question was always: Where is the collaboration?

The next logical question you are most likely asking yourself is: Why collaborate? Young Professional groups in Des Moines already have a strong influence in Des Moines, which is one of the reasons there are many of them. Just imagine what kind of affect a collective, cohesive voice could have.

I remember when I was first learning about the young professional and networking scene in Des Moines having lunch with Zach Mannheimer, Executive Director of the Des Moines Social Club. He said something along the lines of Des Moines having the opportunity to set precedence…

Sure there are many groups in larger cities. But how much of an impact does each of those groups have in a city like New York or Chicago? Mannheimer went on to say this opportunity for Des Moines was to truly bring these groups together in a way no one else has… yet.

I couldn’t agree more. Sure you will see different organizations team up for an event here or there or work on a project together. But what is needed is the opportunity to make a truly collective voice. And trust me, there are strides being made and efforts to truly unite groups around Des Moines. In fact, as much as I love discussing this, I can’t say I even know the right solution to fulfill this opportunity.

Maybe you do.

- Jason Wells

Des Moines' New Year's resolutions

Who still has their New Year’s resolution intact? 12 days would probably beat any record of mine!

Now maybe it's not your resolution, but a goal I often hear, especially from young professionals, is to take more action and be a stronger part of their community. This is the year to go with that!

David Elbert’s column for the Des Moines Register got me thinking about upcoming projects for Des Moines in 2012. Here is my take on a few that he notes and a few others to keep in mind:

1) Principal Riverwalk – I know, I know, they've been saying this project would be finished for a while now. This is the year I think it finally happens! Finishing the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates was a great step in getting the riverwalk area ready for completion. This riverwalk will do a lot for Des Moines in making the best use of its most aesthetically pleasing geography.

Here is the page where Principal outlines the projects still to be completed. There is a contact us page for those looking for volunteer opportunities on projects.

2) Walnut Street Transit Mall – Well the first attempt didn't go so well. In fact, the only thing that travels down Walnut Street as it is today is buses. That is all about to change. The plans for Walnut Street plans aim to make it a retail and entertainment attraction area, and hope to open the road to normal traffic as well.

This is something I can't wait for! It should expand the arts and culture feel in downtown Des Moines as well as help make downtown feel complete. I've always felt this is the one area I'm supposed to avoid downtown. It should be quite the opposite soon!

3) The Tomorrow Plan – Led by the Metro Planning Organization, The Tomorrow Plan is aiming to create a 30-year sustainability plan for the Des Moines region. While the process has been underway for some time, the majority of the effort and results will come out in 2012.

There are many opportunities to get involved in this initiative, from a speaker series to public hearing events. This sustainability outlook should be especially important to young professionals as it is taking a look at the best use of the region for the next 30 years. Be sure to visit The Tomorrow Plan online to stay up to speed and see upcoming events.

4) YPC Rain Garden – The Greater Des Moines Partnership's Young Professionals Connection (YPC) had been approved to build a rain garden for downtown Des Moines. The exact location is still awaiting confirmation. Already making plans and mapping out resources is YPC's Impact Downtown committee which will take the lead on the project.

This initiative is a great opportunity for YPC to aid downtown Des Moines in a very tangible way while adding to the sustainability of the area. The Impact Downtown committee meets monthly and is open to anyone wanting to take part in the process. Please visit Young Professionals Connection's calendar online for upcoming meetings and a soon to come webpage for the project.

Now, jump off the couch and take a part in seeing Des Moines take some pretty darn cool steps forward in 2012!

- Jason Wells

Occupy a responsibility

I never did receive high marks in sociology. So you may want to stop reading now. 

Otherwise Occupy a seat and weigh in with your own thoughts.

I had planned to start a discussion on some of the specifics regarding Occupy, meaning, looking at the specific needs, protests and arrests. However as I sat down with Des Moines own Cat Rocketship, who is on the communications team with Occupy Des Moines. She enlightened me to look at Occupy in more of a way that encompasses many aspects. It was a way that brought culture and social values more into play.

Des Moines may not resemble much about Wall Street, but Occupy Des Moines is doing its part to support the social movement. Is this movement something that is going to take shape? Time will tell.

Don't be so quick to judge. When the Occupy movement first launched “We are the 99%” grabbed me right away. While I think it carries a positive message, I had the same question you did… "Can an organization really represent 99% of a population?" Of course not. And just as any new uprising, Occupy is an organization that is still figuring out who it is while taking on several stereotypes.

Let me say this about stereotypes. Criticizing a group without offering any advice along with it, does not help anyone. Those of us who are involved in many organizations know that your critics are always the loudest. Complaining without suggesting makes one part of the problem, not the solution. Same goes for the organization itself.

So does Occupy have suggestions for solving the problems they have identified? I would say the movement is young and still has a lot to prove in this area. Not having a cohesive message and not knowing what you are fighting for breeds chaos. But chaos has been the basis for many strong social movements in our country.

According to Rocketship, Occupy is still trying to grow a voice and be heard. I think it has a long way to go to show that it is actually going to propose a way to change things for the 99%, but the voice is loud enough to have the potential to do so.

Rocketship enlightened me on one aspect I originally never looked at. The principals our country was founded on. That all men are created equal. That all different groups of people have a right to the same tools for success. And this isn't something Occupy wants to turn into a party or political debate. But rather start the conversation on a basis of democracy that we can all agree on. And making sure the 1% is doing its part to help others achieve their goals.

Some have looked at Occupy and brought into question at what level does personal responsibility come into play? Suggesting that those taking part in Occupy are looking for handouts. While that is a concern, this is one area I strongly appreciate about movements like Occupy. Protesters are taking the time and energy to be heard and to question our leaders. That is taking responsibility. As citizens it is our duty to question our leaders.

Regardless of your opinions on the topics Occupy is bringing to the forefront, I think there is a lot to appreciate about the way the movement is starting the conversation. I personally plan to attend a general assembly of Occupy Des Moines to educate myself if nothing else, with the understanding that 99% of us can't agree on many issues.

Will Occupy make a large enough difference to change Corporate America?

“It's tough to tell people they have the power to change,” said Rocketship.

And making sure people have that power is something worth fighting for.

- Jason Wells

Generation what???

Wait for it. Wait for it...

I can't wait any longer! This isn't a game. It's my career! It's my life!

According to the New York Times, today's young professionals are part of a new generation...

Welcome to "Generation Limbo."

Those words really caught my attention, and in a way they seem accurate. But only to an extent.

In many ways Allison Jones is right on with "What to Do While You’re Waiting It Out." Yes, the economy needs to see a period of continued growth. And yes, young professionals should look to new ideas to gain experience and knowledge in the meantime.

But you only live once and I don't want to spend my one life waiting it out.

Oh no, you're stuck in the middle of reading another "It's the economy, stupid" post...

But anyone who thinks the magical day is coming when the stock market starts to jump 100 points a day and companies start hiring millions of workers may be dreaming. In fact Generation Limbo could apply to anyone in the workforce. Even if you work for a well-established company your job is temporary. Just ask Bank of America employees.

For young professionals still defining their career, there is more and more evidence that the best way to do so is to create it on your own. Whether it be through entrepreneurship, freelance or contract work you can put your future more in your own hands by working for yourself.

More than anything, be open to new opportunities. Take the chance to get involved where you can. You never know where the road less traveled will take you. As young professionals, let's stand up to Generation Limbo and prove that it is actually code for Generation Opportunity!

P.S. Get excited for my next post in two weeks when we take a look at the new monster that is Occupy! Or is it?

- Jason Wells

Bridging the gap

Too often I get asked who are the next group of leaders in Des Moines? Who is working to make sure Des Moines stays at the top of Forbes rankings?

There are countless networking events and conferences around the city and state. However, what there aren’t enough of are cross-generational opportunities. To be honest I think there are a lot of young professionals in Des Moines trying to step up and take the reins. But how often are they put in front of the current leadership?

I have had the opportunities to attend various events and sit on leadership boards. By now I can just about tell you what the demographic will be for most events. And it isn’t a wide range. Too often I am in a room where 90 percent of the attendees might be mistaken for my parents. Too often I am in a room where 90 percent of the people are within a few years of my age.

Did you know that Iowa has a statewide YPIowa Conference every year to help YPs stay on the path to success through leadership, professional development and social skill building? Each year a different YP organization from around our great state gets to host the conference as an opportunity to showcase their region and organization as well as to gain the experience in putting on such an event.

This Friday the Sioux City Growth Organization (SCGO) will host the 2011 YPIowa Conference in an effort to help put young professionals on the “Fast Tract to Success!”

For those needing more of a background, YPIowa is an organization focused on helping young professionals around the state grow their communities to help ensure long-term success in Iowa. There is no organizational structure. For example the SCGO is not a “chapter” of YPIowa. However, YPIowa does host events to help the YP organizations from around the state come together to share ideas and opportunities.

Our neighbors to the West in Omaha host an annual Omaha YP Summit, which is one of the largest YP conferences in the country. Now the YPIowa Conference is not on that level yet, but it continues to grow across the state and attract more attention every September.

So why is this conference important to the state of Iowa and what makes it deserving of more attention?

Because the YPIowa Conference is about finding the next group of young leaders. This week attendees of the Sioux City hosted event will attend breakout sessions focused around professional development, personal growth and young professionals. Teachers and mentors from those already considered a thought leader on their particular topic will educate and converse with professionals to help advance them towards their career and life goals.

If you live in Iowa and are still looking for those breakthrough opportunities, are you attending? Current leaders wondering who is going to keep Iowa on top, are you attending?

In Iowa let’s do more to put the next generation of leaders in front of the current mentors. Let’s rid ourselves of the perception that young professionals aren’t ready to look for a chance to step up or that leaders don’t have time to share with the next generation.

The opportunities are available. It’s what we do with them that counts.

- Jason Wells

A better Des Moines through 2050

Image via Wikipedia

Sustainability.

You’ve probably heard this word bouncing around the Central Iowa region recently. I question how many of us actually know what it means.

Sustainability: “The quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.”

In other words it is about being responsible in order to make a better future for Des Moines and the Central Iowa region. At first, I’ll admit the subject seemed a little dry to me. But I’d be willing to bet it seems that way for a lot of young professionals.

On Tuesday, the Des Moines Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will publicly launch The Tomorrow Plan with an event at the State Historical Building. In short, it’s about “Planning for a Greener Greater Des Moines.” Makes sense, right?

After taking a step back and educating myself on what this is really about, it’s a topic that should be anything but dry to young professionals. The Tomorrow Plan is trying to provide for a better Des Moines through the year 2050! (Read a Business Record Story)

2050? Even I’ll be past my prime by then! All the more reason sustainability should be something young professionals not only take an interest in, but an active role in.

I’m not an expert on sustainability by any means, but I’m in the process of learning what goes into it… Everything! Whether it be transportation, environment, construction, etc.; it all goes hand in hand. You need to factor in all the different components just to make a simple improvement to one.

Everything about Des Moines points towards a city that is poised for growth and success. Whether you are looking for a great city for young professionals, a place to raise a family or quality of life, you notice Des Moines is at the top of all these lists.

In order to keep Des Moines ahead of the curve, studies of the regions projected growth and existing conditions will help MPO leaders put together a plan and the necessary framework to allow for a bright future. As a young professional building a future in Des Moines, now is the chance to take part in what that future looks like.

The Tomorrow Plan kick-off event in Des Moines is planned to be interactive. Not just a chance to listen, but a chance to take action. Come check it out from 4 to 8 p.m. at the State Historical Building. (Click for details)

Part of planning for success is never being satisfied!

- Jason Wells

Stay on the tracks...

I’m perfect.

Ok, well how about close to it? Of course not!

That’s mistake number one I’ve seen from young professionals in my short career. And I’m as guilty as the rest of them. You’re not perfect and you don’t know everything despite what your mother may have told you growing up. :)

“3 Common Mistakes That Derail Young Professionals” is a great read. In fact, I think it was nice Susan Davis-Ali only pointed out three mistakes because there are definitely many more. However, she does point out that these common mistakes should be avoided. To this I argue that making mistakes is all part of the learning process. So while young professionals may be able to dance around these after reading, there are still many more hurdles to trip over.

Belaboring a point, showing off and offering advice are all valid concerns brought up by Davis-Ali. They all fit into that umbrella of trying to be perfect and know it all. If I’ve learned one thing so far it is that you really start to learn once you realize how little you do know.

It’s only natural for young professionals almost done with or recently graduated from school to feel on top of the world. It’s an exciting and nerve-racking time when you are trying to start your career off right. But it doesn’t have to show. Hopefully these tips will help us start our train off on the right tracks as we look to begin our careers…

1)  Show you want to learn – I’ve long suggested to young professionals starting a new position or internships to schedule a meeting with managers outside of your day-to-day interactions. Show you want to learn what they do, how they do it and why it is important.
2)  Ask questions – Well, not too many. But let your co-workers know you are there in a positive way. Show you are taking an interest in meetings and want to help out.
3)  Be yourself – There is such a thing as being too professional that comes off arrogant. Be friendly. People work well with people they like.

What are some of the mistakes that have tripped you up? How can others avoid those pitfalls?

The Changing Job Market - Part II

Finding a job in large corporate environments isn’t what it used to be.

And this isn’t saying large corporations can’t be a great place to work. Major companies provide jobs for a large number of people in the Des Moines area, just like in most other cities. What is changing is twofold: the desires and expectations once you are in a position.

Before we dive into the specifics of that, let’s also consider the other side. Generation Y. Yes, the YPs out in the work force today are definitely searching for a new path to success. Many of them have watched their parents work for the same company for 20 or more years. A larger percentage of those entering the workforce today are more eager to try new things, jump around and not commit to one opportunity.

I particularly like this post on "6 Ways the Recession Has Changed Hiring Practices."

Sure these “movements” or changes are generalizations and not hard set rules. There are still many young professionals working hard up the old corporate ladder. And it isn’t a bad time to be doing so. After all, the baby boomer generation continues to get closer and closer to retirement. Consider this piece of information shared by Ben Stone at the 140 Character Conference in Des Moines this week: By 2014, half of the workforce will be Generation Y.

Yet many young professionals are determined to find their own path. I’ve heard several hiring managers say how today’s workforce is more willing to turn down guaranteed, solid corporate salaries in order to go their own way.

However, maybe the lasting recession we are still fighting through has much to do with that. Some Generation Y workers have been forced to take a new outlook and have a jaded attitude towards corporate America after getting laid off so early in their career. One could argue that corporations have still yet to prove post recession that a job there is much more stable than beginning your own start up company.

Many of the retiring baby boomers may have built their career with just a few different endeavors and spent their last two decades with the same company. I don’t see that in store for today’s young professionals. Some corporations don’t give out incentives for employees to stay like they used to and Generation Y workers seem to always be looking for a change.

It isn’t a debate of a right or a wrong way, but more a sign that with time, things change. What I take out of this is “value”. How are companies going to show they still truly value each seat at the table? How are young professionals going to show they value their position and have the necessary dedication?

- Jason Wells

The Changing Job Market

Image by Al_HikesAZ via Flickr

While asking around on hot young professional topics to blog about, as you can imagine, the word “jobs” came up several times. As overwhelming of a topic that it is to blog about, I’ve decided to tackle it in a three-part series. Hopefully, in reading this, you can learn as much as I did researching and drafting it.

Things aren’t what they used to be. The recession is going to have permanent effects and younger generations are demanding a cultural change.

First let’s explore a couple of facts for our three-part series…

1) Entrepreneurialism is at an all-time high, especially in the YP community.
2) Corporations are contracting out more and more work/projects.
3) Younger generations demand a more casual and flexible work-life balance.

Part I: “Why Now is a Great Time to be a Young Entrepreneur”

The 2007-2009 recession naturally spurred a jump in entrepreneurialism. However, it’s not going away. More and more success is being had by start-up companies. Beyond that, today’s young professionals have a strong case of independence. No, it’s not a disease! But it is a desire they have to do their own thing.

With that comes more of a demand for work-life balance and an ability to drive your own schedule. There is a lot less desire in the younger generations to find that 8-5 desk job. Many of today’s entrepreneurs consider their local coffee shop or a co-working space to be their office. It’s not a barrier to entry anymore, and it’s where young professionals want to be.

Social networking has enhanced the tools available to YPs looking to make it on their own. There is more of a focus on personal branding than ever before. With personal branding comes the need to determine what identity you would like to take on. Find me a young professional working through the corporate grind that considers their 8-5 jobs as part of their identities. If you can find one, I’ll show you 1,000 that don’t.

As a young professional, now is the time you can afford to take the risk and make it happen on your own. With a good business plan in place, there are more and more grants becoming available at both private and state level for entrepreneurs.

We all want to have a job we can truly love. What better way than to make it happen on your own?

Next week: Part II – “6 Ways the Recession Has Changed Hiring Practices”

Connect to the Unconnected

Image by chrisafer via Flickr

Wait. What? You mean I need to know people who don’t know many people? That seems to defeat the purpose of networking in many minds.

But after reading the post “The Most Important People in Your Network” by Rob Cross on the Harvard Business Review, it all started to make a little bit of sense.

We have all heard that it’s not what you know but whom you know that counts. However, many young professionals out there building their network, myself included, seem to be focused too much on the quantity of contacts they have, instead of the more important one: QUALITY.

But wait. Don't I need to be “in the know?"

In today’s social media age, there are too many people waking up each morning with the thought, “How am I going to gain 100 more followers on Twitter today?” Now, I’m a believer that it is important to have a social media presence, but maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is, “How am I going to gain one great new contact today?”

Cross does a good job outlining why bigger is not always better. What I took away from it that we need to be making sure our contacts are working for us. You can have a presence on as many social networking tools as you want, but if you are running into the same group of people or stretching yourself even thinner, what are you really accomplishing?

Having fewer contacts that keep you top of mind might just be a more powerful tool than a handshake with 100 different people each morning. Those few excellent connections will be more likely to share new ideas, be a better learning tool and be more likely to introduce you to others you REALLY need to know.

I’m actually hoping to see a few constructive responses to this post. After all, I have a hard time piecing together why it would be a negative to have more connections. Maybe you feel the same way?

However, there is one golden rule we all need to take away from this post - especially those of us who are young professionals with popped collars thinking we just have to know everybody.

Build relationships, not connections!

Get well soon!

Image via Wikipedia

I was driving around downtown Des Moines last week, enjoying one of our rare 50-degree days in an unseasonably warm February. I couldn't help but notice the lack of public activity available downtown.

Now don't get me wrong, Des Moines has really improved and downtown and continues to. But it got me thinking about the importance of wellness opportunities within the young professional community. After all, YP athletic organizations are seeing a lot of momentum.

No matter the size of the city you live in, health and wellness (great blog!) is something necessary to a successful community. Gyms and other fitness programs are one thing. However, that isn't something visible.

Where can I drop what I'm doing to shoot some hoops, play some tennis or get a game of flag football going? What's a kid got to do to get a playground up in here?

I'm a big proponent of physical activity no matter how you choose to get it. Today's YPs make a good effort to stay active, which can be a big factor when choosing a place to live. There have even been whispers that Des Moines is focused on becoming a "wellness capital." That would be a big step in attracting a younger demographic to the state as well.

At work, you hear about it more and more. If your employer doesn't already have some sort of incentive package for staying in good health then I'm sure there is one coming your way. It's true, staying active relieves stress and happy people make better employees.

Here are a few things vital to having a culture of wellness to attract people to your city:

• A central park: A place to throw a Frisbee or to knock a tennis ball around downtown.
• An events schedule focused on wellness: Okay, so maybe you can’t run a marathon, but you can do the 5K!
• Wellness center: Where are the healthiest places to eat around town? What intramurals can I join?
• Incentive package: Cities need to be incenting businesses to incent their employees to be healthy and cut health care costs.

Hi, my name is...

Image via Wikipedia

"The name's Bond. James Bond."

No matter what field of work you are in, I could list 100 reasons why it is important for you to get out and NETWORK.

Don't worry, I'm not going to. However, in constantly being bombarded with networking events to attend, I can tell you that it is a skill you need to learn.

Yes, networking is a skill. And like anything else, it comes easier to some than to others. There are many types of "introverts" who have difficulty walking into a crowded room where they may not know a single face.

If you fall into that cateogy, please read "The 4-step program for successfully networking as an introvert" by Jamie Millard and Chris Oien, both of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of the Twin Cities.

Understand that learning how to network and building a network takes time. For the introverts who need that extra push into the room, know that everyone there is in the same shoes you're in. They wouldn't be there if they weren’t interested in meeting you. :)

After giving the 4-step program more thought, I think these tips are excellent even if you are the most outgoing person in the room. Networking takes a plan. When you go to the grocery store with a list you have a plan. And nine times out of 10, you walk away with a completed plan plus a little extra. Think of networking the same way. Go in with a mission as simple as connecting with five new people. You'll walk out meeting 10 and being well ahead of your goal!

My favorite point made in the 4-step program blog is "know your talking points." In other words, have a plan for what you are going to say. To take this advice one step further, I would suggest beware of getting backed into a corner with one or two others. Hit on your key points, sustain the connection and move onto someone new.

Oh, and as you move on to introduce yourself to someone new, be sure to extend your "Hi, my name is..." with the same confidence Mr. Bond delivers his famous line.