Volunteer for your Career
Sometimes you just need to volunteer. I could, without much trouble, make the argument that nearly all of my speaking today came largely from my volunteering to lead a round table discussion at a conference that no one else wanted to lead. The topic was “Dealing with difficult employee Issues like pornography, personal hygiene other difficult behaviors in the workplace.
I don’t remember exactly why they didn’t have someone to lead it… I just remember hearing them talk about not be able to find someone. So I volunteered and said, “I’ll do it.”
It turned out to be a wonderful session… we laughed, learned and talked about the tough stuff. It seemed that I may have even had a knack for it. The feedback was positive and the event planner appreciative. A post conversation led to an invitation to prepare a future session. That particular meeting planner has become a dear friend and has hired me for 8 consecutive years now.
At another event someone was needed to act as a “GameShow” host . So I volunteered and said, “I’ll do it.”. It also was great fun. It also was followed with a conversation where I received appreciation and another invitation.
I am guessing the majority of you reading this could share stories about how volunteering to help or lead some unwanted or difficult project opened doors and accelerated your journey of success. (Stories/comments always welcome at www.kirkweisler.com/t4d)
The last couple years I have been blessed to serve as the Mater of Ceremonies for the annual ITSMF USA Fusion Conference. In addition to my MC duties I volunteered to fill other roles which as led to other opportunities. This year I will MC and serve as one of the 4 Keynote speakers. The Topics for each Keynote are pretty fun. BOOM, ZOOM, VROOM and my keynote titled which is “From DOOM and GLOOM to BLOOM”.
The Economy is still recovering, conferences are working hard to stay in the game, serve their constituents and not lose money. So I volunteered to do 10 recordings about reasons not to miss the event. I’ve never done anything like this…and I told them they didn’t have to use them unless they thought it would do more good than harm. They used them!! (To hear them click HERE) I volunteered to do the Keynote and additional work for the same fee as last year when I didn’t do the extra work. Please don’t misunderstand me here… I’m not trying to sound like some sort of saint…I’m just saying that Volunteering to do extra stuff has never done anything but bless my life and enhance my career.
So remember… “Volunteering can open more doors, more quickly than 1000 applications, interviews or Monster Postings.” Volunteering can give you a chance to shine, a chance to serve, and a place to connect with others who just may be looking for someone like you.
Kirk Out
August 4th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Kirk,
Back in the early 90’s when the country was going thru a recession my husband and I found ourselves unemployed and couldn’t find a job. Times were tough with no job and 3 children to support. Opportunity presented itself that I could go back to school. After completion, my colleagues decided they wouldn’t take a job unless it paid so much $$ per hour. Well I knew I didn’t have the experience, and certainly didn’t have any money, but asked my instructors if they could find someone to hire me on just for the experience, they didn’t have to pay me, just let me work. Needless to say, I had to prove myself and loved the job, so in a matter of about 3 months, I went from the filing clerk, to the bookkeeper to the assistant manager of the largest medical practice in the county. I loved it and stayed several years before moving on.
Karen
August 4th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Kirk - you are really onto something. I have volunteered thinking it is so I can give back, but what I have found I receive more than I give (personally and professionally). Even at work, I found being willing to volunteer for just about any task has helped my career flourish. I owe these learnings to a guy I heard speak a conference eight years ago (Kirk Weisler).
P.S. I have a cassette (yes a cassette) tape of your talk from 2001 on my office shelf to remind me of what great leaders do!
August 4th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Very good article Kirk.
Slightly off topic: I have to say, I’d love to hear more about whatever conclusions came out of that first meeting about dealing with difficult employeeissues.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:57 am
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August 9th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Kirk - volunteering is what got me into what I’m doing now: It got me to be a chapter president and now regional director of HDI, it got me to write not 1 but 2 books, and it got me to stand up and give keynote speeches just like you do.
Your advice to me 5 years ago rings as clearly in my head as if you’d said it to me 5 minutes ago: If not you, who? If not now, when? The time will never be JUST RIGHT. Make the leap of faith and dive in RIGHT NOW, and your life will be blessed for the decisions you make. Though it may not be easy, it will be worth it, for you will have enriched the lives of others.
I hope in some small way I can be a small sliver of the light you have been in my world to those around the world. I will not rest until I have given all I have in the service of others.
Thanks for the lessons Kirk. You’re the best!
August 13th, 2009 at 2:01 am
[…] event in Milwaukee, and he completely changed the course of my life by talking about the power of volunteering for your career. I left a comment that I’m excerpting below for you: Your advice to me 5 years ago rings as […]