This is no time to blend

This is no time to blend Cover Image

If you haven’t seen the movie “My Cousin Vinny,” you may not really understand where this line comes from. If this is the case, please accept my apology for this reference out of left field. It is an old movie, and it wasn’t a great one.As opposed to the marketing and sales folks I have me...


Oct 16, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

It’s always about you

It’s always about you Cover Image

For those of you who are movie fans, there was a memorable scene in a totally forgettable movie called “The Mexican” with Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. Julia is throwing Brad’s clothes down on him from a balcony while having an argument with him and screaming: “It’s always about you!”Well, ...


Dec 12, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

When things get quiet

When things get quiet Cover Image

Every once in a while, things get quiet. There is no email (except for our newsletter), and there are no phone calls or Zoom meetings to attend.If you are actively looking for work, it can be a maddening experience.Instead of sitting with your hands folded on your desk, this is a good time...


Nov 22, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Any excuse will suffice

Any excuse will suffice Cover Image

I am sure you have heard it too, the at length explanations others give as to why they are looking for another job. Sometimes I forget to mention at the beginning of our meeting in Connecticut that I really don’t need to know and you don’t really need to tell anyone. No explanation is actu...


Jul 29, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Playing to an empty house

Playing to an empty house Cover Image

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 ...


Jun 16, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Points of difference

Points of difference Cover Image

If I may paraphrase a line from the somewhat forgettable movie “My Cousin Vinny,” this is no time to blend. (With Marisa Tomei and Joe Pesci)The essence of a job search is identifying and communicating that which is unique about you to the rest of the world.It is of course normal for human...


Jun 11, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

All things to all people

All things to all people Cover Image

It sure is difficult to be focused. As each of us over the age of 40 looks at our career prospects for the rest of our working lives, it is all very easy to believe that we need to expand the market for our services to ensure that we can find another job. (After all, how many buggy whips a...


May 09, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Arrested but not convicted

Arrested but not convicted Cover Image

One subject that comes up all the time is the importance of having an explanation as to why you are looking for another job.I have always felt that it was a waste of your valuable time to provide an explanation in your 90 second announcement, and I still feel that way. Unless you were arre...


Apr 21, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

What are your sizzle points?

What are your sizzle points? Cover Image

Very few among us are professional sales folks. It is for this reason that some of the more subtle elements of interviewing can easily go by us. When you decide to make a purchase, you often have to justify it to others. When you do, you will find yourself repeating things the salesperson ...


Apr 17, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Explaining the magic

Explaining the magic Cover Image

I am often asked by our members to give them a “formula” for constructing their very own 90-second announcement. If only that were practical.The problem with 90-second announcements is very much related to the very limited time you are allowed. Having been in the advertising business for n...


Apr 03, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Actors on a stage

Actors on a stage Cover Image

In certain respects you have to envy actors. Every time they get up on stage they get to assume the role of some new personality or character. Sometimes I wish I could do that.I have often thought about my 90-second announcement and wondered what it would be like to assume the role of some...


Mar 24, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Explaining the magic

Explaining the magic Cover Image

One of the great challenges we face as financial folks is explaining to non-financial types what we do for a living. And, some of us financial types do things that are so esoteric that we need to work hard to even explain what we do to fellow financial types.At one time, I was Chief Financ...


Mar 04, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Explaining the magic

Explaining the magic Cover Image

One of the great challenges we face as financial folks is explaining to non-financial types what we do for a living. And, some of us financial types do things that are so esoteric that we need to work hard to even explain what we do to fellow financial types.At one time, I was Chief Financ...


Mar 04, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

I'm a complicated guy

I'm a complicated guy Cover Image

I always try to tell people who ask that I am just a simple financial guy. But I guess the truth is that all of us financial types are complicated in one way or another. Unlike lawyers and doctors who (thanks to Hollywood) everyone THINKS they know what they do every day, our profession...


Jan 31, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Projecting a winning attitude

Projecting a winning attitude Cover Image

If there is anything that typically jumped out at me when we had our meetings here in Connecticut, it was the need for us financial folks to be completely honest, even in our assessments of ourselves.However, interviews and 90 second announcements are no time for an extensive evaluation of...


Sep 22, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

An advertising over promise

An advertising over promise Cover Image

For almost a decade I was Chief Financial Officer of an Advertising Agency.In addition to learning how to deal with a wild and crazy bunch of folks, I learned a lot not only about the advertising business, but also about advertising in general.One of the facts that I learned was that a goo...


Nov 28, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

This is no time to blend

This is no time to blend Cover Image

In the movie “My Cousin Vinny” starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei there is a very funny scene at the beginning of the movie when they arrive in a small Alabama town from New York City, the dialogue for which goes like this:Vinny Gambini: What are you wearing?Mona Lisa Vito: What?Vinny Gam...


Apr 24, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

I’m a complicated guy

I’m a complicated guy Cover Image

I always try to tell people who ask that I am just a simple financial guy. But I guess the truth is that all of us financial types are complicated in one way or another. Unlike lawyers and doctors who (thanks to Hollywood) everyone THINKS they know what they do every day, our profession (o...


Jan 25, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Actors on a stage

Actors on a stage Cover Image

In certain respects you have to envy actors. Every time they get up on stage they get to assume the role of some new personality or character. Sometimes I wish I could do that. I have often thought about my 90-second announcement and wondered what it would be like to assume the role of som...


Mar 19, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Explaining the magic

Explaining the magic Cover Image

I am often asked by our members to give them a “formula” for constructing their very own 90-second announcement. If only that were practical. The problem with 90-second announcements is very much related to the very limited time you are allowed. Having been in the advertising business for ...


Apr 01, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

What are your sizzle points?

What are your sizzle points? Cover Image

Very few among us are professional sales folks. It is for this reason that some of the more subtle elements of interviewing can easily go by us. When you decide to make a purchase you often have to justify it to others. When you do, you will find yourself repeating things the salesperson t...


May 10, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG