I love geographic information systems! The creativity in map design, the science of spatial analysis, and the cross-industry power are amazing.
But sometimes things don’t quite go the way we planned.
Sometimes we find ourselves unemployed…. And this SUCKS!
You feel lost, you feel out of place, you feel like you are missing out.
The truth of the matter is, that your skills are slowly fading away.
According to research people will have forgotten 50% of what they learned within 24 hours, and forget 90% within a month.
This is true with skills you have learned over years… if you don’t use the skills, you will lose the skills!
BUT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!
You can become 2 to 5 times as hirable, learn new skills, AND increase your network in just 30 days!
Knowing that you are in control is half the battle that will keep you sharp and ready for work!
What can you do in 30 days to become 2 to 5 times as hirable?
Easy… a 30-day challenge!
But what is a 30-day challenge?
A 30-day challenge is a proven strategy for implanting new habits, learning quickly, and showing off your skills in a fun way. Learn more here.
I completed the #30DayMapChallenge and it was AMAZING.
I increased my network connections, increased my skill set, and created a useful GIS tool that I gave away for free (Here it is if you want it… Fast Feature Creator for ArcGIS).
HOWEVER, before you start any 30-day challenge you need to remember to always do two things.
First…
Show up and do the work… EVERY DAY.
Life belongs to those who show up. If you want to be 2 to 5 times as hirable, you have to commit to yourself to get the job done.
The great thing is, that you don’t have to do a huge amount of work every day, maybe 2-4 hours… which is nothing if you stop watching Netflix.
Second…
Small steps every day compound to HUGE results.
Just like the beauty of compound interest, doing a little bit of work every day turns into massive results.
You could spend 1 hour a day doing a 30-day challenge, or you could spend 1 hour watching Netflix.
This also works in reverse… bad habits compound as well!
You are wasting your life watching Netflix… especially if you are unemployed.
Why are 30-day challenges so great?
The point of the 30-day challenge is to “Work Out Loud”. This means posting to your social media.
Here are 5 important takeaways you will get out of 30-day challenges, then I will give you a bunch of 30-day challenges you can start doing NOW!
Keep your skills sharp
You are slowly losing your skills if you are not using them, now you can use them as you see fit!
By doing the challenge, especially in an area you know, you can keep your skills ready and up to date.
You also be more creative than you would have been at your job or any job. Try new colours, new symbology, new layouts!
You can also get feedback from your network (talked about below)
Show off what you are capable of doing
Through a simple graphic, PowerPoint, document, blog post, vlog, you can show off what you are capable of doing.
You can show off your creativity like you never have before. Employers want to see what you can do… show don’t tell!
This public display of skills is worth 100 submitted resumes.
and you don’t have a boss to run your ideas by… just put them into the world.
You can also mix and match your skills together… Baking and GIS! Baking and Geoscience!
Networking
Your network will see what you are doing. Your network will cheer you on. Your network will grow.
In a connected world, you have to put yourself out there.
Your social media is your resume.
Learning new skills
Whether the 30-day challenge is to do a new skill, or your posting on social media is a new skill… YOU ARE LEARNING!
You will see a noticeable difference in how you think and what you do when you consistently do a challenge every day.
Again, 2 hours of Netflix, or 2 hours of a 30-day challenge every day?
Pad your resume (social media)
The more you do, the more you can show off, the more you can pad.
Your social media is your resume.
Online is the NOW of how jobs are found. You have to have more than just a paper resume.
Here are some ideas for a 30-day challenge
Have fun, you now have a ton of ideas to go out and make happen.
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out my other links!
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Geographic Information Success 