Top Exec Blog (Web Log)

It's a fact of life in this choppy economy, even while productive and happily engaged in gainful employment some people get struck by "Layoff Lightning". The unfortunate reality is that some get bolted more than once, despite a solid work ethic, excellent reports from their customers, partners and the like. No doubt some mathematical "genius" has done the math, and that person ends up on the list of those who are to be laid off. Sad, but true, this type of lightning does strike more than once in the same place.

So, when the person who has been struck, and hit by what might be called a "denial of service" attack by the ertswhile employer (nefarious dastardly corporate goons, no doubt), it's always nice to have someone else express compassion and support. This happened recently to someone I know, and the happenstance handover of the following words took place, spontaneously, at the dentist's office. Not only was the newly-unemployed given a dazzling new smile, but the smile was sustained by the words of support and the following prayer. Enjoy! It may speak to you, and salve any wounds you're feeling after receiving a jolt or bolt of layoff lightning:

God is ready to present you with new opportunities.
He wants to open new doors before you.
It doesn't matter what's happening in the world around you, in the economy, the housing industry, or with job reports;
God's World still remains true!
He rewards the people who seek after Him.
He's not the least bit concerned about how He's going to supply your needs.
There is no recession in heaven!
He has His eye on you, and He still opens doors that no one can shut!
In an instant, He can bring the right people into your life, the right opportunities, and the right resources to take you to a new level.
But in order to go to a higher level, you have to have a higher way of thinking.
You can't stay focused on what's happening in the natural nor allow worry and fear to fill your thoughts.
Remember, God's ways are higher than our ways.
He is working on your behalf behind the scenes in the supernatural realm.
Choose to keep an attitude of faith and expectancy.
As you do, you'll move forward through the open doors of blessing God has prepared for you.

                            ---- Joel Osteen

Thanks for reading. Keep the faith, and always, always, always, keep moving forward.

© Daniel A.Cabrera, TopExec.org, all rights reserved, 2010.

A friend of mine has consulted with me a number of times about work issues, and how to create a new assignment for herself, while dealing with an indecisive company and a somewhat difficult client located on the other side of the country. Here are some of the thoughts I shared with her.

Topic: Your soon-to-be-realized trip to Atlanta 

Comments: This is your big opportunity. Despite the many months of delay, and frustration, it's now time for you to take the leadership role that you have asked for, and show them what you are made of. It's time to decide to be decisive. In fact it's time to PLAY BIG, showing with your experience, intelligence and expertise that you are in charge. This does not mean that you won't be consulting with your supervisor, or the client contacts in certain circumstances, but you are the one who is leading this project, therefore you have to be decisive in a big way. 

What's at stake? Well, of course, the client account, and their satisfaction with you and your firm. What else? Your reputation and credibility with your home office. What else? The future potential to this employer (and others) to show what you can do in a difficult and long-distance assignment. Anything else? Well, how about your own satisfaction and pride? What about your ongoing education in the way things get done, and the way YOU get things done, via the thinking, planning and executing that you, and you alone (with whatever virtual support you get from the home office) carry out while in that far-away city and client location. 

Is it ok to make mistakes? Well, some might think no, this is do-or-die, and don't mess up at all costs. However, if you think about it, the reality is there is no ONE way to do anything in business today. We all have to be creative and decisive and stick our necks out at times, and make the best decision and the best execution on that decision possible. This is where it gets interesting, of course. Are you thinking about all the options? Have you done your homework? Are you prepared? Can you pull it off, and what will you need from others, in order to create the result that you want for your client, your company and yourself? These are important attributes, and I'm sure that you are spending a lot of sleepless days and nights thinking about them. 

Are you really seeing the broad picture, as well as the operational, hands-on details? Well, maybe yes, but to the extent that you will see things much better when you are on the ground and involved in the day-to-day activities with your client, there is no doubt that your preparation and well-considered plans will begin to come together even more when you take on the project, on day one. Can you anticipate all the problems or situations that will arise once you take control? No, but you will probably have thought a lot about how to best prepare for this, so stay cool, and stay focused, and it will work out.  

There is no doubt that this will be a challenging assignment. After all that's why it's called "work", and that's why they pay you to take on these kinds of challenges. What makes it fun is that it's something totally new for you, and your skills and other talents will allow you to make the most of the opportunity. That is really great, and I hope that you enjoy every moment of it. As I mentioned, it's time to decide to be successful, time to decide to be decisive, and time to thrive in a brand new environment where the only way for you to make it happen is to make up your mind and execute.  

I hope this helps. I'm sure you have thought about all of this already, and when that plane touces down in ATL, I'm sure you'll feel a few butterflies, but with the determination that you have to make this "your" victory, and "your" project, and thus open up a new door for your future career in consulting or professional services, or whatever else you want to do, this is the time, and you are the person to make it happen. Enjoy! Good luck. You are going to knock 'em dead!

*****

Thanks for reading. Keep those comments and questions coming. We're all riding on the Career Path Expressway, and this is just one more itinerary as recreated by yours truly. Enjoy the ride!

©Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All rights reserved, 2010.

For a look at my blog on topics specific to doing business in Latin America, please see this site, and good reading!

 http://latinknowhow.blogspot.com/

The two travelers approached the airport customer check-in line from different directions. One was a family man with a young wife and infant child. The other, a more seasoned veteran of airports and travel challenges, was traveling alone. In a brief moment of interaction the former accused the latter of trying to take cuts in a line that was interrupted by a woman sorting her luggage, whilst sitting on the floor.

Tempers heated up. The older guy defended himself, saying he’d waited patiently while the other guy and family took their places in line. Then he went on to say there was no need to be rude and in fact he had waited courteously while the man and his family took their place. The young father carried on, saying that in fact the older guy was trying to cut in the line. At one point the young father moved aggressively towards the middle-aged traveler, as if to strike him, in response to a snide comment, but the wife prevailed and settled him down. There was more verbal sparring, and sharp glaring looks, and finally, with the wife pleading for her husband to forget it, and stop quarreling, the interaction ended.

As an observer, I wondered what it would take for the two to realize that their interaction and heated tempers warranted an apology. Even as I watched, they continued to wind in the snake-like line, separated only by one other passenger, till they both reached the ATM-like check-in machines side-by-side, each ignoring the other as best as possible. What would it take to say, “Sorry, I over reacted. I apologize if I upset you (or upset your wife)”. Yet it didn’t happen.

They continued on, passing from the check-in to security clearance and on into the vast waiting areas of an International airport, yet no apology came. What might have happened, if one or the other had acted on his Christian or Jewish or Muslim (or any other value system) precepts, and turned the other cheek, offering an “I didn’t mean to upset you, sorry”.

Would the world have been made a better place? Would the individuals involved have felt less stress, more peace? Who knows, but it caused me to think and ponder as to why we so often boil inside and leave things unresolved. What holds us back from saying something as simple as, “I regret what happened. Sorry.”? I know, for one, that the next time something like this happens to me, I hope to be grown-up enough to speak out loud and say it. Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong, the lesson learned is to speak up, be mature enough to say it, and make sure not to leave an apology unspoken.

Thanks for reading.

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All rights reserved, 2009.

For other perspectives from me, specifically on Latin America, see this blog: http://latinknowhow.blogspot.com

As we all know, time passes rapidly. Life rolls by readily, and before you know it, the years are piled up all around (and behind) you. No regrets, just hope I wrote a good story, as I went along, with a lot of good chapters, overall.

Along the way, from childhood on, we make friends, lose friends, re-connect with them and scratch our heads often, to ask, “whatever happened to so-and-so?” With the Internet, we often have friends we never knew we had (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.), just as we can dig up folks from the past (or they dig us up), if we so desire.

Well, something like this happened to me recently, and while it’s not earth-shattering, it does warrant a commentary. In fact, it’s happened to me multiple times this year, and I wasn’t even trying.

Years ago, I was a starving musician (true story), working my way around the Southern California scene to find a record deal and become a star. Needless to say, it didn’t happen and no gold record came of it. However, I did share some formative years and some fun (and not-so-fun) times with a number of guys, including one from my small-town childhood, who went on the music venture with me, as well. Flash forward, and before you know it, a pile of years has grown up around me, and I haven’t spoken to him in more than 20 years.

Well, somehow, via the Internet, he got in touch with me. We exchanged emails, but never got around to phoning, till one day, while sitting in an airport I dialed him in California. Neither of us recognized the other’s voice (time ravages all parts, no?), but there was a camaraderie and a friendship that burned brightly as soon as we spoke. We spent 45 minutes talking about family, common friends, memories of our rock ‘n roll days, current events, politics, you name it. It was a warm and satisfying conversation, as if we’d never fallen out of touch. For someone like me who moved away from the home town long ago, and someone like him, who moved back to that same home town in recent years, it was an amazing moment of memory and friendship.

Fortunately, this is not an isolated experience. Others have reached out to me, and in their unique ways, they have expressed their regards and strong links to a friendship kindled years ago, in a work circumstance, university classroom or other shared experience. So as I reflect on this, and similar events, it occurs to me that we should all find ways to rekindle the flame of friendship. Whether that’s with the next door neighbor, or some long lost colleague/friend/mentor/teacher, it’s probably worth it. In fact, you often find out that people appreciate you more after all these years, then perhaps they seemed to way-back-when. Memory being as subjective as it is, and time being as elastic as it can be, there’s nothing like a phone conversation, email commentary or other communications with someone from the past to elicit opinions and compliments that just might surprise you. Hope it works for you the way it worked for me. And, I hope the flame of friendship warms your soul, one way or the other.

Perhaps you want to share this with someone. Thanks for reading.

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All rights reserved, 2009.

From the Right Coast to the Left Coast, this message found its way into the world today, from one friend to another. I thought it might be worth posting. I hope you enjoy it.

Life is so short, and moves so fast, that times with loved ones and good friends are irreplaceable. I continue to marvel at how fast children grow up, and how we sometimes drift away from good friends (or they from us). It's all a wonderful, precious thing, called LIFE, and though we get bogged down in STUFF, the reality is as precious and valuable as we choose to make it. For example, from my home office, every day I can hear mockingbirds cheerily singing throughout the day. As you know they have a vast and never-ending repertoire, and are delightful in their singing ways.

So, if they sing so joyfully, am I appreciative for the birds and for my hearing and for what those songs do to my heart? Yes. At least, on my better days, I strive to be thankful and mindful, too, of how we are surrounded by such beauty.
 
Well, my thoughts can take me many places, on a beautiful SoFLA day. I just wanted to send some sunshine your way. Have a peaceful and prosperous day, and remember to listen for mockingbirds.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment, or share this post with someone else.

Another blog you might like:

http://latinknowhow.blogspot.com

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All Rights Reserved, 2009.

No doubt about it, the empty eyes of ghosts are staring at each of us, whether we realize it or not. They seem to be real, even solid in their stance, but if you look carefully, you see that they are just empty, transparent and not meant for this world. These are the ghosts on 108th Avenue.

Where I live and walk and enjoy the songbirds every day is, generally speaking, a very nice part of south Florida. It's got a good reputation, has a lot of trees (an "Arbor City") and generally, its city services, police protection and other civic amenities are very good for its citizens. In fact, where I live is even considered a safe haven from hurricanes (a reality in south Florida), such that the entire county government moves here when the coastal headquarters are threatened by deadly wind and rain of Hurricane (fill in the blank).

Yet, something is amiss. As I mentioned, there are ghosts living right here, in plain sight. They are putting on airs of being "OK", but really they are not the same. They are now ghosts, and whether the neighbors like it or not, they are a sign of the times. Who are they? Why are they here? They are the houses that no longer have owners or residents. They are the fine, upstanding middle class citizens that no longer have their gardens tended or their insides filled with useful things, like furniture and decorations. They are the sad leftovers of the "home loan craze" and "financial bubble" that was the middle 2000's, as in 2004-2009, which we are still living through at this time.

It's not hard to spot them, but you have to take the time to look. If you cruise by at 30 MPH in your four-door wheels, then perhaps you'll miss them. But if you walk by at 3-5 MPH on a morning stroll, you'll notice the lawn is unkempt. You'll see that plants in the landscaping are dying or sorely in need of a trim. The roof will be dirty and unkempt (here it's a rule to keep the barrel tiles clean), and sometimes you'll see through semi-covered windows that the insides are hollow and not a human soul is to be found in the ghosts on 108th Avenue.

Sad to see, and scary, too, as ghosts are. What do you see in your neighborhood? How do you deal with it, and what is the future for these forlorn folks? Sale, Lease or Rent or worse (foreclosure?), what's in store? Do you know friends or ex-neighbors that have been swept out of their homes and into less-desirable settings? I hope that all of us find a way out of this spiral to ghostliness and ghastliness that touches us all.

Thanks for reading. Share this blog with a friend or post a comment, but keep reading, and whatever you do, do your part to help those who are close to turning into ghosts. We don't want this to haunt anyone, ever.

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All Rights Reserved, 2009.

From the great state of Utah, to the sunshine state of Florida an email came winging my way recently, with the following proposition (paraphrased):

I'm a young father with several kids, and my passion is Latin America. Can you provide me any insight into whether this is a good area for me to focus my career? I speak Spanish well, and love the region. How would this benefit me and my family to focus on the region you know so well?

Needless to say, my curiousity was piqued, and I responded, which eventually allowed us to have a substantive phone conversation and several more email exchanges. Based on what my new friend indicated, my words and comments were useful to him, and we plan on keeping in touch, both via LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com ) as well as by phone and email. He's even promised me lunch, the next time he passes through the Miami/Ft.Lauderdale area.

How did this come about, and how did he find me? By reading my blog (LatinKnowHow) and by discovering a common interest, he simply decided to reach out and explain his career issues. After all, working for a Utah-based firm, while selling into the Rust Belt of the USA, and pining for an opportunity to speak Spanish, learn Portuguese and interact with the warmth and vitality of Latin America must have caused him some restlessness, don't you agree?

Bottom line? Blogging is good for a lot of things, not the least of which is self-expression. It's also exceptionally good for meeting new people with similar interests, and shows a willingness to communicate one-on-one or one-to-many with one's thoughts and interests. Have you tried it? Do you read anyone's blog or contribute comments or share some of your expertise in any way that others can be touched or enriched by? Try it! You just might find that someone else appreciates your thoughts, on the Career Path Expressway™.

Thanks for reading (and commenting). Share this with a friend, and consider a peek at my other blog, cited above. Soon, I'll even be posting in Spanish and Portuguese on blogs associated with SonicWALL in Latin America. Hey, the more the merrier!

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All rights reserved, 2009.

On a recent business trip to Miami to visit a new set of customers and partners, I had the distinct impression that I was a part of the U.N. Instead of working for the multinational organization with headquarters in New York City, however, I was just making a day trip from Fort Lauderdale to the heart of one of Miami's export districts.

In the course of a single day, I had the pleasure to speak French, Spanish, Portuguese and English. Further, I met and interacted with people from Colombia, France, Panama, Brazil, Venezuela, USA and Nicaragua. Undoubtedly, I also interacted with people born in Cuba, but now a longtime part of the fabric of greater Miami-Dade County.

What makes this remarkable, in a country of considerable depth and richness, when it comes to the immigrant talent that makes up so much of the USA, is the incredible concentration of all these folks in a small part of one big city, Miami. For me, it was a wonderful example of how diverse and interesting the USA is, and how vital it is to be able to speak multiple languages, and to get in tune with different ways of doing business.

How about where you live and work? Any examples of "United Nations" coming together and interacting on a regular basis? Any mix of languages or national backgrounds sounding in the background of your day-to-day? Take a careful listen, and you, too, might find something similar to what I did in the United Nations of Miami.

Thanks for reading.

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All rights reserved, 2009.

From time to time, people ask me for career advice, or job-hunting tips, or related experiences. This is one example, and I hope it helps in case you're riding on the Career Path Expressway™.

The question posed was, "What are the critical factors to overcoming an 8 year absence from an industry (IT Services) and trying to break back into a senior sales or sales leadership role?"

My answer was, Keep it simple, keep it honest and use your best anecdotal and "narration skills" to explain the absence.

In my case, a few years back, I was recruited away from software and high-tech sales into the financial industry. The role offered broad responsibility in marketing, business development and web strategy initiatives, so that was all positive. Likewise, the experience and pay were positives. However, when the industry started to go south, it was time to re-position myself and return to the software industry. Whether this journey ends in software, high-tech or a "blended" opportunity is what makes the career hunt exciting (and challenging).

Nontheless, if you craft (beforehand) a very solid and compelling explanation as to why you changed course then, and why you're returning to your roots now, you'll likely be able to persuade others as to what you learned, how you will apply that now, and why you're the best candidate for this opportunity. The truth is always the best medicine for any part of your past, even as you use it to pave the way to a future career choice.

For more commentary from this blogger on specifics relating to Latin America, try reading a new blog, called LatinKnowHow. Please share it with others, and feel free to comment here, on TopExecBlog, or on the new one. Thanks for reading.

© Daniel A. Cabrera, TopExec.org, All rights reserved, 2008.