Comments on: Finding courage to steer your career http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:26:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1141 Penelope Trunk Sun, 22 Oct 2006 15:41:10 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1141 PunditMom, For what it's worth, I think you do a good job of networking with me via this blog. Your comments are good and the quality of interchange we have via each others' blogs is higher than some of the exchanges I've had at supposed "industry networking events". I think people underestimate how effective commenting on someone's blog is as a networking opportunity -- especially in cases like yours where the commenter has <a href="http://punditmom1.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">a blog</a> or <a href="http://columnquest.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">two</a> as well. PunditMom,

For what it’s worth, I think you do a good job of networking with me via this blog. Your comments are good and the quality of interchange we have via each others’ blogs is higher than some of the exchanges I’ve had at supposed “industry networking events”.

I think people underestimate how effective commenting on someone’s blog is as a networking opportunity — especially in cases like yours where the commenter has a blog or two as well.

]]> By: PunditMom http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1140 PunditMom Sun, 22 Oct 2006 14:06:12 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1140 I have such hard time networking or defending my time, but I continue to try at both. I did find the "courage?" this year to agree to be in a local professional association to meet people I wouldn't otherwise. It is way out of my comfort zone, but I keep telling myself it will be worth it in all sorts of ways in the long run. I have such hard time networking or defending my time, but I continue to try at both. I did find the “courage?” this year to agree to be in a local professional association to meet people I wouldn’t otherwise. It is way out of my comfort zone, but I keep telling myself it will be worth it in all sorts of ways in the long run.

]]> By: Wendy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1139 Wendy Sat, 21 Oct 2006 22:27:30 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1139 I also love the line about the courage to be crappy. Or, in the case of seizing control of your own time, perhaps it's even about: "the courage to underachieve in your career so you can overachieve at life itself." (You might be capable of rising to the top of the corporate ladder; but maybe you'd rather stay a middle manager and enjoy evenings with friends or family, taking great trips, and spending weekends just hanging out with your kids.) I also love the line about the courage to be crappy. Or, in the case of seizing control of your own time, perhaps it’s even about:

“the courage to underachieve in your career so you can overachieve at life itself.”

(You might be capable of rising to the top of the corporate ladder; but maybe you’d rather stay a middle manager and enjoy evenings with friends or family, taking great trips, and spending weekends just hanging out with your kids.)

]]> By: CrankMama http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1138 CrankMama Sat, 21 Oct 2006 00:14:19 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1138 Great post! Courage to be "crappy" is an excellent message! SO many of us are afraid to take risks... success can be as much of a trap as failure. Rachael Great post! Courage to be “crappy” is an excellent message! SO many of us are afraid to take risks… success can be as much of a trap as failure.

Rachael

]]> By: Jason Alba http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1137 Jason Alba Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:50:40 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1137 not to be a "me too" but I loved this post... especially Guy's quote on just launching. I did that in May and have made improvements (some monumental and some gradual) ever since. And I launched my blog shortly thereafter, not know what I was getting into (now I'm addicted - a blog junkie). I suggest one more, off of Jim Collins, courage to "face the brutal facts." I'm all about people understanding that they don't have job security (I thought I did until January), and am amazed that so many people want to ignore this concept, like the big pink elephant analogy. Anyway, face the brutal facts is as applicable to you (the reader) as it is to a company that wants to be "great." not to be a “me too” but I loved this post… especially Guy’s quote on just launching. I did that in May and have made improvements (some monumental and some gradual) ever since. And I launched my blog shortly thereafter, not know what I was getting into (now I’m addicted - a blog junkie).

I suggest one more, off of Jim Collins, courage to “face the brutal facts.” I’m all about people understanding that they don’t have job security (I thought I did until January), and am amazed that so many people want to ignore this concept, like the big pink elephant analogy.

Anyway, face the brutal facts is as applicable to you (the reader) as it is to a company that wants to be “great.”

]]> By: Alexandra Levit http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1136 Alexandra Levit Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:10:17 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1136 Penelope, I love it. Courage is so critically important, as is work ethic. I'm not sure why people believe it's easier to work for themselves, when in fact self-employed individuals who steer their own careers are hardest working people out there. It's easy to show up at an office every day and meet the most basic of expectations. What's difficult is taking those scary, risk-filled steps to go after what you really want in life. I never stop admiring those who can do it without looking back. Penelope, I love it. Courage is so critically important, as is work ethic. I’m not sure why people believe it’s easier to work for themselves, when in fact self-employed individuals who steer their own careers are hardest working people out there. It’s easy to show up at an office every day and meet the most basic of expectations. What’s difficult is taking those scary, risk-filled steps to go after what you really want in life. I never stop admiring those who can do it without looking back.

]]> By: Ben Yoskovitz http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1135 Ben Yoskovitz Fri, 20 Oct 2006 13:32:53 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1135 Penelope -- I'm glad you enjoyed my thoughts on "reasons to say yes" ... it's nice to see people linking over, and especially to see my name so close to Guy's. I hope you'll hop over to Instigator Blog and join the discussion there in the future... Best of luck! Penelope — I’m glad you enjoyed my thoughts on “reasons to say yes” … it’s nice to see people linking over, and especially to see my name so close to Guy’s.

I hope you’ll hop over to Instigator Blog and join the discussion there in the future…

Best of luck!

]]> By: Matt http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1134 Matt Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:37:52 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1134 Penelope: I've been a reader for the past couple weeks and I'm a huge fan - speaking of "courage to," I'm impressed with your own courage to offer candor regardless of topic. Too many believe authority and candor aren't compatible. Anyway, I decided to leave a comment after writing last night that <a href="http://punctuative.com/2006/10/20/letter-to-a-younger-professional/" rel="nofollow">"the virtual mentor cometh"</a> - made me think of your blog and wanted to reach out. Appreciate the great advice, and glad to hear of another former NYCer in the Midwest! Best, Matt Penelope:

I’ve been a reader for the past couple weeks and I’m a huge fan - speaking of “courage to,” I’m impressed with your own courage to offer candor regardless of topic. Too many believe authority and candor aren’t compatible.

Anyway, I decided to leave a comment after writing last night that “the virtual mentor cometh” - made me think of your blog and wanted to reach out.

Appreciate the great advice, and glad to hear of another former NYCer in the Midwest!

Best,
Matt

]]> By: Emily http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1133 Emily Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:53:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/20/finding-courage-to-steer-your-career/#comment-1133 Great stuff, as always, Penelope. Each of your three points hits home for me right now. I think I'm going to make a point of reading one of your columns first thing every day. Hey, there's an idea for you: the Brazen Careerist 365-day desk calendar! I'm glad you liked the Instigator Blog list; thanks for the acknowledgment! Great stuff, as always, Penelope. Each of your three points hits home for me right now. I think I’m going to make a point of reading one of your columns first thing every day.

Hey, there’s an idea for you: the Brazen Careerist 365-day desk calendar!

I’m glad you liked the Instigator Blog list; thanks for the acknowledgment!

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