Lunch and What Not

I had lunch with a two wonderful individuals the other day. One I've had the pleasure to get to know over the past few months, and one whom I had just met 5 minutes before. It wasn't me sitting at that table. In the corner, one of not so many females, surrounded by suits. I like the suits.

It's in my blood. The closed toe, blackberry dependent, high rise hustler. I crave the energy of the diversified. Ask me to get the job done, and I'll do it. The dilemma is being asked. The problem is maybe I'm just being too easy. Why wait for permission. I know what I want. Now, sitting in the corner, I just need to go get it. I've always been a player, now in this climate, it's time for me to choose the game.

This lunch sandwiched between two friends sent a clear message. Start to read between the lines, then write the next page. The gentleman who preferred his tea iced welcomed me into this regiment. Although glancing down to hit a few bottoms every so often, he ignorantly paved the way for my future. The man to my left, always a cheerleader, bantered back and forth. There I sat seeing green, waiting for the moment my mind would catch up with my mouth. I knew exactly what to say. The words were stuck in another time zone.

I know exactly what I am capable of, I know exactly where I want to be, I know exactly who I want to encounter along the way. Sure I welcome surpises along the way. This is what keeps life intersting. Having been smeared with the dilemma, surprise one has been ruined. Time to wake up Natalie. Rule number one: remember to speak the words in your mind at every moment along the way. You never know who you are going to be having lunch with.

It's Time To Shine....with a little help from my friends!

When I first landed in Los Angeles, I was ecstatic with the opportunist climate. What better a place to pursue a career and a masters degree than a place completely overpopulated; copious with agencies, athletes, businesspersons and oozing possibilities. As I settled, the smog lingered. The more and more I engulfed myself into the professional and social sector I had the sudden notion that everything was not as it seemed. Everyone was putting on one big show. As if a film crew was following them around shooting their fifteen minutes of fame. Possibly a characteristic of Hollywood, duh, but I was not here to land an agent or spend hours sitting in a waiting room to show the talent reps what I've got, talent baby. Still I believe Los Angeles has potential for any career. Now at the end of my academic road, I am an advocate for the aura surrounding the entertainer. They can teach us all a thing or two about the form of networking. In this economy, perhaps the most powerful asset us career seekers have is the power of the relationship. This is an art. One I do not label myself as an expert, but an understudy.

Job seeking is like dating, we wouldn't waste our time with anyone who didn't make a good first impression. With this in mind, I suggest a few simple guidelines.

1. Find your red flag and wave it. Everyone has at least one good quality. If you're having a hard time pin-pointing yours, ask a friend, a colleague or a family member. You need to have confidence to ask out that hottie, and you need to have confidence in your ability.
2. Be approachable. No one is ever going to ask you to dance if your planted in the corner. Get out there. Mix, mingle, socialize. Be the one person in the room everyone wants to talk to.
3. Make eye-contact and smile. DUH!
4. Have a conversation. Let them talk. Let them tell their story, DO NOT just tell them who you are, where you've been, where you're going and how they can help. No one likes a self-loving, entitled, one-sided conversation. You'll loose them after the first five minutes of "look at me, look at me" ramblings.
5. Form a relationship. You wouldn't go up to your next potential date and ask them to marry you before even introducing yourself. Well, ok there are those overzealous individuals, but this practice is highly unsuccessful. The divorce rate is over 50%.
6. Remain optimistic. So the last person you talked to just was not feeling it. There are plenty of fish in the see. No matter what city your in.
7. Follow-up. So you have this rule not to call until at least 3 days after the first time you meet. Well, they gave you their contact information for a reason. Use it.
8. Be consistent. So they can't get you a job tomorrow. Maybe someone who knows someone who knows someone can in 6 months. They won't remember you if you don't keep in touch. All successful relationships are communicative.
9. Research the next potential informant. Where do the popular kids hang out. Go there. Know who might be there and google them. At the very least you'll learn something, but will also have an opening line. Creativity is key. We've all heard the, "Are your legs tired? Because you've been running through my mind all day."!!
10. Finally......Be all you can be. At this point you should be well into the relationship, have found your mentor and formed a lasting impression. Don't mess it up. A simple thank you goes a long way.

We are all putting on one big show.

The performance, a never-ending interview. The chance to meet our next employer, a friend of our next employer, or better yet a cousin's wife of our next employers ex-golf partner back in their hometown. You never know who you are going to meet. So go forth, stand out in the crowd, be the itch that won't go away. Good luck, hell we all need it!