And For Those That Have Jobs…

I write a lot for those that don’t have jobs. Even though we are all just a few hours away from getting a pink slip (the image is what I have on the back of my business card), I am… well, not opposed to doing a great job while we are at work! As a matter of fact, sometimes I think that my blog tone and attitude makes me unemployable… I imagine there are hiring managers out there saying “never hire Jason Alba or he’ll get our entire workforce networking, developing personal brands, and paranoid about losing their jobs!”

Alas, I believe in giving more than 100% to the employer (and, of course, balancing your life as well). It’s exciting to be on a winning time, with a winning product or service, make a difference in the world and your industry… and get paid for it! So, for those of you that have jobs I wanted to share a few blogs that I really, really like. In alphabetical order…

45 Things – Helpful information and advice from America’s favorite workplace columnist. Anita Bruzzese writes for lots of newspapers and some huge online sites, so you’ve probably come across her columns. She also has written two books… her focus has been on the workplace. I love her style, and find her posts to be really cool. I’m intrigued by the old media / new media debates so I find it refreshingly cool to see a syndicated columnist writing a real blog (partly because I know I can learn from her training and discipline that she gets from being a real journalist (as opposed to me, just a blogger ;)). (hat tip to Liz Strauss for introducing me to Anita!)

Cube Rules – Career Management for Cubicle Warriors – I’ve enjoyed Scot Herrick’s blog for quite a while, even before he was famous :p Scot has a full-time job with a huge company so he has a very different perspective than I do. I love what he writes because once you land that job you really should think proactively about how to do the best job you can. And, of course, I really appreciate Scot championing JibberJobber – we both realize how easily you can go from “I’m not looking” to “I’m looking,” … right?

Kent Blumberg – Leadership, strategy, and performance – Kent has had an awesome career in high-level leadership positions. I have adopted Kent as a mentor (not sure he knows that) and have asked him to be on my board of advisors … the experience and wisdom that he brings to the table, and his blog, is really quite powerful. As a leader, a CEO, a manager, I think his blog should be required reading, it’s almost like getting a mentor in a box. Oh, did I mention that he’s exceptionally intelligent? Not a big deal, I know plenty of dumb intelligent people, but because of Kent’s style his intelligence really allows him to swim around all the wisdom and come back with some awesome, awesome lessons. Presented for less-intelligent people like me 🙂

Thom Singer – Some Assembly Required – Thom’s books are often compared to Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone. Here’s what I love about Thom, though. I know Thom, we’ve dined together, and we’ve had calls and regularly exchange e-mails. He is approachable, and I know that he does what he write about (he’s a regular blogger and working on his third book). Thom practices what he preaches. Thom is a networker. I’m sure Keith is too (duh), but so far he has been absolutely unapproachable (I’ve talked with “his people” but never, never him). Each time I read one of Thom’s posts, which focuses on networking and has a slant for those that are networking in their job (not necessarily for a job search), I know that it’s something that he has already lived through.

Some others that I strongly recommend include:

• Nerd Guru – Pete Johnson blogs a lot on job and career stuff but also, as the Architect of HP.com, blogs on leadership, project management, technology, etc.
• Beyond Blinking Lights and Acronyms – On Creating Real Value Through Information Technology. Mike Schaffner recently landed as CIO of a multi-billion dollar company in Texas and, lucky for us, had already honed his blogging skills, so we get to read a new CIO blogger… very powerful learning here.
• Profitable Marketing – Perspectives on how Analytics is shaping Marketing & improving Business – Adelino de Almeida has an excellent blog for marketers, especially those number crunching, put-the-bean-counting accountants-to-shame, statistical types. (for the non-statistical numbers folks with interest in accounting read Andy Sernovitz, Seth Godin, or David Armano)
• Get Fresh Minds – Ideas so fresh… they should be slapped! – Katie Konrath writes on creativity and innovation with a passion that I rarely see. She is also living a very exciting life, right now in Germany to learn German. Anyone that has “creativity” or “innovation” in their job description needs to check her out.

There you go – all of these folks are friends and have incredible blogs – if you are currently employed you need to be following some blogs in your industry or trade!