I met Kenny Moore via an email from a former business colleague while I was writing this section of your website. Talk about serendipity! The email introduced me to Kenny's wisdom, humor and spirituality as they relate to the world of business - and more specifically to finding a job. With his permission, I am delighted to share Kenny Moore's insights and hope they will lighten your journey to a satisfying new job.
To set the table for his thoughts on finding a job, let me share with you that Kenny Moore's business practices are based on those of Louis Armstrong who said: "I am here in the service of happiness". Louis died a rich and beloved man. His voice still sings in the ears (and hearts) of millions.
There is something truly magical here for everyone, regardless of your affinity for spirituality - or not.
Read and enjoy the wisdom of Kenny Moore - and I'm sure he would encourage you to laugh out loud while you do! (I did.) An occasional AHA probably wouldn't be totally out of order either.
Finding a Job:
21st Century Style
The economy is down. Outsourcing is up. Globalization is in. And college grads are soon to be let out. This has placed a great number of unemployed people on the streets looking for work. Some timely advice is warranted.
For the past 20 years, I've worked for a heavenly CEO (figuratively speaking) in a New York City based Fortune 500 company. Prior to that, I spent 15 years working for another heavenly CEO (literally speaking) as a Catholic priest in a monastic community. Oddly enough, the work remained similar in both jobs, but the incentive plans varied greatly.
Here's my practical list of worldly and otherworldly advice for getting that perfect job:
- Suicide is no longer an effective strategy for initiating a job search.
- Employers continue to remain more interested in your personal passion than in a PowerPoint presentation.
- The ability to manage anxiety, ambiguity and uncertainty is more valuable than an MBA in Finance.
- Developing a greater sense of humor and openness to surprise gives you a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
- Selling your soul to gain employment is bad for business and prolongs your stay in Purgatory.
The Sacred Side of a Job Search
Getting a job also has divine implications because it's tied into our vocation. We show up on this earth with a host of talents and personal gifts that are meant to be used. Not only in the service of ourselves but also for the betterment of others. Aristotle said that where the needs of the world and your talents cross, therein lies your vocation. Our ultimate happiness is connected less to making wads of money and related more to cooperating with our divine calling. We can also expect to undergo some suffering in living out our destiny, but the price is worth paying. As the corporate mystic, Elbert Hubbard, reminds us "God will not look for medals, degrees or diplomas - but for scars". I anticipate that in our final performance review, we will be compensated copiously.
Finding one's vocation is not an easy task, so here are some helpful hints from a former monk to serve as a guide:
- Pay attention to things that you naturally do well, skills for which you've received no particular training. These "charisms", gifts from the gods, serve as an indicator for your future role in the world.
- Give closer scrutiny to childhood memories. At an early age, well before parents and educators interferred, you intuitively knew why you were here and what you were meant to do. But very quickly it got socialized out. This wisdom is never lost, just stored in your soul for future reference and recall.
- Listen to your dreams. Write them down and host a dialogue with them regularly. Angels are sent nightly to reveal divine wishes, offer counsel for personal decisions and provide preparation for pending challenges. Spend time improving your skill set for dealing with the sacred realm of the night.
- Understand that luck and serendipity are intentional events that are sent for encouragement, insuring that you continue to show up and cooperate with a divine master plan.
- Strengthen your interior life. Spend ten minutes a day in silent reflection. No prayer is required; no mantra needs recitation. Simply sit in silence and listen to your lungs breathe and your heart beat. Wisdom will be dispensed, the work of your life will be revealed and your vocation will slowly be made manifest.
Some Strange Parallels
Years ago when I left the monastery and returned to the world, I was looking for a job and seeking a spouse at the same time. These two searches curiously seemed to have much in common and the lessons I learned then seem to still apply today.
- In both venues, we are well advised to dress impeccably, put our best foot forward and intentionally misrepresent the facts about who we really are. This bolsters the odds of improving our standing in the community as well as garnishing a better future.
- Someone once told me that the closest we get to being godlike in this lifetime is on our resume. From what I can tell, this falsification of our true identity, professionally and personally, continues to remain a viable strategy for getting both jobs and spouses. Unfortunately, the likelihood of staying with one job for your lifetime seems to be statistically less likely than keeping the vows of your first marriage in tact.
- Showing good form continues to win out in dealing with both prospective employers and potential mates. On the first meeting, good hygiene matters. Also, as Bill Clinton and Eliot Spitzer remind us, taking advantage of another person simply because you can has a way of hurting both your job and marriage prospects.
- Surprisingly, keeping your mouth shut and listening on a regular basis makes the other person experience you as a strong communicator.
- Lastly, before getting into bed with anyone (literally or figuratively), make sure you protect yourself. Failure to do so leaves you legally and/or physically at risk.
And for God's sake, when consummating a deal, stay away from self-enhancing drugs. Regardless of what Bob Dole tells you, it's likely to compromise your on-the-job performance.
More About Kenny Moore
Kenny Moore is co-author of The Ceo and the Monk: One Company's Journey to Profit and Purpose, published by John Wiley and Sons and rated as one of the top ten best-selling business books on Amazon.com. He is Corporate Ombudsman and Human Resources Director for an international energy company. Reporting to the Chairman, he is primarily responsible for awakening joy, meaning and commitment in the workplace. While these efforts have largely been met with skepticism, he remains eternally optimistic of their future viability.
Kenny Moore has more than 20 years experience managing corporate change, developing leaders and healing the corporate community. He's been profiled by Charles Osgood on "CBS Sunday Morning" and interviewed by Tom Peters, The Wall Street Journal and Fast Company magazine regarding his unique leadership stype.
Prior to his work in corporate America, Kenny Moore spent 15 years in a monastic community as a Catholic priest. Several years ago, he had the "good fortune" (his words not mine) of being diagnosed with "incurable" cancer, at its most advanced stages. He underwent a year of experimental treatment at the National Cancer Institute and survived. Kenny came away from that experience recalling the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside us". His lifetime goal is to spend more of his time playing his music.
Having dealt with both God and death, he finds himself eminently qualified to work with senior management on corporate change efforts.
Visit Kenny Moore
At the conclusion of each of his treatises, Kenny says, "If you're thinking about writing to me, give in to the temptation. I love getting mail . . . and being influenced by what you have to say."
I did and I'm so glad because it enabled me to share this with you. You can also visit Kenny Moore's website or find more of his thoughts on this site.
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