EDITORIALS

It has been my observation for many years that most of our members who are in their 40’s and 50’s move from large corporations to middle market ones. The reason, as I have often pointed out is that large corporations don’t hire senior executives except rarely. For good and valid reasons, t...

I have often wondered how actors polish their performances before the first show. With only the director and the producer in the audience it just can't be the same. Sure you are up there on stage and perhaps even in full costume, but there is no audience clapping or talking to each other t...

One of the core values of being a member of The FENG is that we share job leads.There are a lot of reasons why we do this, and it isn’t just because it is a nice thing to do. It is actually a very smart thing to do. The only problem is that it is apparently a counter-intuitive idea. So, fo...

As a season, summer is sure hard to beat.The days are warmer here in the Northeast. The days are also longer. No more getting up when it is pitch black and coming home when it is pitch black. (Winter is so depressing!) And, outdoor activities like sailing, tennis, and golf sure can’t be be...

I used to be very good at multi-tasking. Now that I have gotten older, I am not as good at it.I have a lot to do every day, so when someone writes or calls, I find it very helpful if they take a moment at the beginning of their communication to give me some hint how I might be most helpful...

I suppose it is hard to believe, but those on the receiving of networking calls actually experience more stress than you do.Yes, I know that picking up that 400-pound phone isn’t easy, but neither is responding to phone calls from those who have been trained in the NFL approach to networki...

I’m sure all of you have been to weddings and other kinds of gatherings where the host for the event has the need to say a few words. Not being great public speakers, these opportunities can be very painful or at times very funny, even when the host doesn’t intend for them to be.One of my ...

Some of the notes that I get from our many learned members fill me with dismay. I often wonder, do they send notes with spelling and grammatical errors just to me, or do they provide this special service to everyone in the world?I do get a chuckle over some of them, but by and large I get ...

There was an article in The Wall Street Journal in 2013 titled: “Didn’t Get the Job? You’ll Never Know Why” by Lauren Weber.It was an interesting article and if nothing else, it proved that the more things change, the more they stay the same.I have often said that when the answer is no, th...

I have always had great interest in how others do their work, and more importantly how others utilized my work product. To deliver a report in person and actually observe it being used I always found to be a real learning experience.I think you will agree that most financial reports are ha...

A few counter-intuitive thoughtsSharing job leads is only one of many counter-intuitive ideas that those of us who have been involved in The FENG for a period of time simply accept as the truth.As I often say, some of the ideas we have developed in The FENG take a little living with before...

Looking back on my visualization of middle age when I was in my youth, I must confess the picture currently is a lot different.At the ripe old age of 78, I thought I would share a few thoughts tonight in the hopes that others would be willing to share theirs. Any editorial/notes from membe...

With the number of folks competing for every available job these days, it is easy to fall into the trap of trying to “cheat” in some way to create a competitive advantage for yourself. The sad truth is that most of the approaches I see on a daily basis do exactly the opposite.The tradition...

As a breed, us financial types are such a precise group of individuals. It is at once our greatest strength from a work perspective, and in the context of job search, one of our greatest failings.The fear, as I understand it, is that we might be offered some opportunity that is somehow out...

More often than not, members of our networking group prefer to change industries when they change jobs.I have to agree that changing industries isn't such a bad idea. In fact, the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills we have learned to a totally new situation is an attractive conc...

One of my favorite “sayings from the Chairman” is: I try to make things so easy that anyone can do it. That way if I try hard, I can too!KISS or “keep it simple stupid” is one of the most often violated principles of job search and part of the reason that we fail to communicate our true va...

I was in Chicago several years ago and had the great pleasure of having breakfast with Brad Hughes, one of our “Founding Great Grandfathers.”According to legend (and I can say that since The FENG is over 25 years old), Brad was one of the very few folks who ALWAYS brought job leads to pass...

We don’t get as many members applying without sponsors as we used to, but we still get a few.For those who are qualified for membership, each Monday morning after I have finished my new member review for the weekend and sent out our new member announcement, Judith Rudikoff, one of our Admi...

Here in Connecticut spring has arrived and with it the beginning of the boating season.As I begin each season, I sit myself down and remind myself of the ease with which tools are lost over the side. As you settle into outfitting the boat for the season, bringing down the gear and reinstal...

Let’s face it, those who “move the iron” -- even the new stuff, have a difficult job. But those who sell used cars have it the worst. The phrase “like a used car salesman” is very much part of the American lexicon.It implies the worst of the sales profession. No matter what vehicle you pur...

A few years ago, I got a lovely note from one of our alumni members lamenting the fact that he rarely gets any phone calls from his fellow members requesting networking assistance. Even though he was feeling unloved, he asked me not to mention his name for fear that all of you would call h...