Hiro mentors Emma in discovering her power in "Heroes"

Finally getting over that bug, and sinking my teeth into something new- mentors. One thing I haven’t been fortunate enough to have is a mentor in my professional life, but I’m absolutely convinced that it’s crucial to being successful. The latest episode of  ”Heroes” drove it home.

In “Tabula Rasa”, more than one story line was running on the same theme. After learning that Hiro is dying, Peter asks for Noah’s help in finding someone with the power to heal. When they do find someone with that power( a teen named Jeremy Greer), they discover his power has developed so that he can take life as well, but doesn’t know how to control it. After Peter is accidentally shot, Noah desperately coaxes him to use his powers to heal Peter. Meanwhile Peter has referred Emma (played by Deanne Bray), someone whose just discovered her power, to Hiro. At this point her power frightens her, wants nothing of it and pleads with Hiro to help her get rid of it. Hiro shows her through a magic show that her power is a gift.

Everyone Needs a “Master Shifu”

I can’t avoid bringing it up because it’s on cable everyday. Everyone has gifts, great and small( and just plain weird), and it takes a Master Shifu from “Kung Fu Panda” to bring it out, develop it, and turn it into something awesome. Robert Half Technologies wrote an article finding and working with a mentor called “5 Steps to Help You Make the Most of a Mentorship“. Aside from the 5 steps, the most important idea they illustrate is that you may have raw talent and skill, but without experience to appropriately apply that talent, it’s not that helpful. A mentor can combine knowledge and experience with your natural talents.

Combining Old School and “Your” School

Good mentors hold themselves to a high standard. The high standard is usually defined by mentoring someone who through their own accomplishments  and experience, adds something new to the art,discipline, or job. Circle of life stuff, you know. So, should you decide on getting a mentor, make sure your talents, whatever they are,  mesh with their knowledge to create something that’s..you.

Got a good mentor? Share something about them here.

Noah and Claire talk about new career paths in "Heroes"

Last night’s episode of “Heroes” looks at another side of careers common in today’s job market- being forced out of your job and career and forced to find another calling. So how does one find their calling?

In “Acceptance” Noah Bennet (played by Jack Coleman) has left his job with the government hunting mutants and has turned down any opportunities to do so for anyone else. Noah’s daughter Claire (played by Hayden Panetierre) visits him in his spartan apartment where he lives also facing divorce. As Claire spends the day trying to get her father to look for normal work, Noah’s at a loss on what to do next in his career in light of his dark and secretive past. Claire imparts a sage idea:

“Life changes. We all change. Sometimes you, have to remember who you were, to figure out who you want to be.”

By the end of the episode, Noah realizes there’s no turning away from his life investigating and uncovering conspiracies regarding mutants.

Searching Your Soul for Your Career Path

There’s no easy way to look at yourself and finding your calling. It takes the slow working tools of life experience, pleasure, pain, triumph and tragedy to shape the passions that define your calling. An honest self examination of those passions and who you are as a whole can help you in your search. Alaina Love suggests identifying what kind of worker you are and evaluating opportunities as outlets for your passions in “Discover Your Passions to Find the Right Job“. Love has identified 10 archetypes to categorize what type of worker you are to figure out what kind of work you’d be happy doing.

Hard Looks (and Feedback) at Yourself and From Others

Emotion and stressful circumstances can make it difficult to get an honest look at who you are and who you want to be, which is why it’s important to do as much of it outside your head as possible:

1. Keep a Journal- get it on paper and look at it after you’ve gotten some distance from it. See if you gain any insight from what you’ve put down.

2. Ask “Trusted” Associates for Feedback- Notice I didn’t say friends or loved ones. While you need them for moral support, you need someone who’s going to be impartial about their impressions of you and your past work.

3. Revisit Things (and Find Things) That Inspire You- see if they’re still meaningful. See where they take you.

4. Make a Plan- once you’ve found a calling, make a plan to pursue it to include timelines and exit strategies. Point is not to get stuck or flounder if it doesn’t work out.

There’s no shame in finding yourself with out a path. Trick is not to beat yourself up, and to listen closely to yourself for the new path to who you want to be.

How did you find you calling? Share it here.

Adelle and Victor have an improper affair on "Dollhouse"

I really don’t like writing about scandal, but the 800 lbs. gorilla brought into the room by David Letterman’s criminal case really makes it hard to ignore. While I’m still a fan, the indiscreet activities divulged in his case have brought up once again the subject of sexual relations in the workplace. It was also addressed in an episode of the “Dollhouse”, where its chief Adelle had some indiscretions of her own.

For the non-watchers, “Dollhouse” is about a powerful organization which underground activities include pimping out men and women whose personalities have been wiped and replaced with personalities and skills “made to order” for each client. Personalities include the obvious “professional escorts” to kidnapping negotiator (yeah, sounds so wrong on so many levels, but you still wanna find out what happens next). In ” A Spy in the House of Love”, we learn that the Dollhouse chief executive Adelle (played by Olivia Williams) has appropriated one of her “dolls” (in-house term is “active”) for her own personal use. Under the guise of a fake client, she has Victor (played by Enver Gjokaj) programmed to be her perfect romantic partner. By the end of the episode even the chief of a futuristic whorehouse thinks its wrong (even though he knows nothing about it), and ends the affair.

Power and Sex are a Bad Mix (at least for one) in the Workplace

As I’ve written before, there are risks as well as benefits to romance at the office, but when it involves superiors and their subordinates, it’s gets more risky than beneficial. Aside from extortion which is unfortunately Letterman’s case, you’re at least running the risk of perceived favoritism, because you really can’t keep a secret like that at work. I’m not even going to get into when one of them, either of them is married, or attached to someone else. You can read more on that in mainstream media. The point is, if you are a boss in your company, if you get involved with your employees, you’re playing with fire. Same thing applies going the other way. An imbalance of power, even in consensual relationships, makes it a toxic one. If you find yourself in one, you have 2 plays- quit, or if there’s illegal activities, step up and blow the whistle.

Got a story about workplace affairs? Share it here (don’t use real names though, not interested).

Richard Castle's (Nathan Fillion) "in a pinch" for his mistake on "Castle"

Not that big a fan of shows about murder mysteries, but “Castle” is admittedly good stuff. In the season premiere, the only way to keep his ‘ride along’ arrangement with Det. Beckett is to admit he screwed up when he dug in to her mother’s murder case. In an age where denying responsibility is the norm, should you ever own up to your own mistakes at work or in your career in general?

The quick rundown for the uninitiated- “Castle” is about mystery novelist Richard Castle (played by Nathan Fillion) who investigates murders with NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (played by Stana Katic) for the sake of research for his current and future novels( I’ll save the workplace romance innuendos for another post). In”Deep in Death”, Castle has jeopardized his arrangement with Beckett by investigating into her mother’s murder. He thought he was trying to put the case to rest for her. She thinks he dug up something she’s tried for so long to put behind her. They both agree that once they solve the case of white-collar pro turn dead drug mule is solved, Castle is done tagging along on her cases. After they’ve solved the case, Castle’s daughter Alexis (played by Molly C. Quinn) discusses a boyfriend FAIL moment with her father. She ends by asking why can’t guys just say they’re sorry. Castle thanks and hugs his daughter, goes straight to the police station and apologizes in earnest to Beckett, who decides to change her mind about ending the arrangement.

FAIL- Own It or Deny It?

While its debatable whether or not Castle got off too easy, it’s important to determine(for each of us) how we handle accountability for our mistakes not just at work, but in general. Eve Tahmincioglu looks at the risks/benefits of whether or not to admit a mistake in “Should You Admit a Mistake?“.

I’m an Owner

A couple of weeks ago, I had plans with the family to fry a turkey breast, which involves a rather large, and dangerous outdoor fryer. The day we were supposed to cook it, the ‘head chef’ (my sister) had some scheduling issues the rest of us weren’t aware of and were left to assume we’re to cook the turkey breast on our own. After a butt-load of mis-communication and erroneous assumptions later, I ended up burning a whole at the bottom of the fryer. Totally owned it, which enabled me along with the rest of us to improvise a method of frying a turkey breast indoors, WITHOUT the house fire. The only way I can feel better about screwing up and rectifying the situation is for me to own it. I know it depends on the individual, what they did, and what the situation is before deciding to own up to something, but it’s just easier for me to own it. I think it’s wasteful to point fingers, especially before a problem is solved, and I really like being part of the solution, even if I caused the problem to begin with.

Should you own or deny your mistakes? Weigh in here.

Ando and Hiro chase their superhero dream careers on "Heroes"

Just getting my feet wet with the new fall TV season. While the jury’s still out on new shows, I’ve been a fan of “Heroes” almost from the beginning. In the 2-hour season premiere, Hiro, Ando and Peter Petrelli are chasing their dreams of becoming true-blue superheroes. When it comes to our careers, how can we be successful without dreams and the will to pursue them?

In the Season 4 premiere, Hiro (played by Masi Oka) and Ando (played by James Kyson Lee) are intent on making superheroism a profession by starting their own heroes for hire business called “Dial a Her0″. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, Peter (played by Milo Ventimiglia) is taking the superhero/alter ego route by playing a mild mannered NYC EMS Tech, while secretly using his super powers to save people’s lives. All are trying to live their lives on their own terms after an unending string of events that have forced them to use, lose and regain their powers to save humanity in one way, or another.

Don’t Just Dream It, Do It

For me, life can sometimes feel like it’s forcing me to live on its terms, pulled one way or another by obligation and circumstance. The only way to live your life or develop your career the way you want is to HAVE dreams and to PURSUE them.  Curt Rosengren suggests filling in the blanks of your dream to make it reality in “How to Move Forward With Action or Dream“.

Make Sure It Comes From the Right Place

However your dream is borne, make sure it comes from the right place- heart and soul. You’ll need both to make your dream come true. If it comes from anywhere else, you won’t have the courage or the passion to take one step.

What motivates you to chase your dreams? Share it here.

Jack Carter facing change and choices on "Eureka"

I thought I would save my next post for when the fall TV season is in full swing, but I felt it was important to throw this one out there. In the season finale of “Eureka”, Sheriff Carter is faced with a life choice. Made me wonder what is the best way to handle life choices such as career change without creating another ‘fail’ moment.

In “What Goes Around, Comes Around”, Carter faces a couple of big changes in his life. His daughter Zoe is going away to attend Harvard. His girlfriend Tess (played by Jaime Ray Newman) is leaving for a job in Australia. Carter finds himself wondering whether to follow Tess to Australia (which may or may not end his tenure in Eureka) or not. Obviously he’s sticking around or else they’d have to call the show whatever Australian town he’d move to, but the point is we all face big decisions, in our lives and our careers. Is there a way to make those decisions less scary? Selena Dehne has some suggestions in “Confused About Changing Careers?“. Aside from doing research into your decision, Dehne also writes that you should consider alternatives to retraining and exploring your career path options in your career change.

Finding Yourself Is Never Easy

For those NOT blessed enough to find your calling when you were a kid, it can be scary making a career change. I’ve made several myself. The biggest question you have to ask yourself is are you making this change for you and your own happiness, or out of obligation to something or someone else. If it’s the latter, chances are it won’t last. Given changes made with the best of intentions still may not pan out, but hopefully you would’ve learned something valuable and applied that knowledge to new experiences. So, if you do find yourself facing a change, my advice is to be sure it’s in the pursuit of your own happiness.

How do you handle career and life changes? Share it here.

Know of a TV show you’d like me to write about? Let me know by using the Contact Me link.

Myka and Pete's close working relationship on "Warehouse 13"

In any workplace, it’s a nice to have a co-worker you can count on, even though appearances can be deceiving. It’s hard to dispute that what makes “Warehouse 13″ entertaining is the “relationship” between Pete and Myka. While the sexual tension is amusing, it’s their professional and platonic relationship that can be beneficial, but misconstrued by others.

In “Nevermore“, Pete follows Myka as she visits her parents in light of a family emergency regarding her father (played by Michael Hogan). Turns out the family emergency involves an artifact and they spend the episode trying to neutralize it. During the episode, it’s apparent the bond between Pete and Myka grows stronger as a result of what she and her parents are going through. In larger terms, the workplace is a stressful environment and having a trusted partner and friend to help you deal is a huge help in my book.

What It Means to Have a “Work Spouse”

Call it what you will. Your best friend at work. Your best work buddy. Your actual “partner” at work. Having someone you can trust and work closely together can be beneficial to your work and career as whole. Careerbuilder.com helps to determine whether or not you have what they call a “work spouse” in “7 Signs You Have a Work Spouse“. The article also explores the risks and benefits of having one. It’s not surprising that the benefits and risks are similar to those for dating someone in the workplace, minus the sex part. The trust, teamwork and productivity are offset by other co-workers feeling excluded, the proximity to co-workers where your working relationships have gone sour, and jealousy of actual spouses.

Same Sex Work Spouse

I would add that the your work spouse doesn’t have to be of the opposite sex. I have contacts that outright call their business partners their “spouse” even though they’re of the same sex. I believe the same benefits and risks still apply though.

From my point-of-view it’s nice to have a “battle buddy” as those from the military would say. It can be tough dealing with anything alone. As with any relationship, it takes work to make it work, but it’s also important to be as above board and transparent as possible to any third parties, whomever they may be.

What’s your “work marriage” like? Post it here.

Quirky but non-toxic co-workers on "Warehouse 13"

On “Warehouse 13″, everyone has their quirks to say the least. Pete is a manchild. Myka’s uptight. Artie keeps too many secrets (I still they’re all awesome, though). It’s inevitable that people are going to rub you the wrong way, whether they have a grudge against you, or it’s just how they role. In this post we’ll take a look at the kinds of co-workers to avoid, or at least minimize contact as much as possible.

In most cases, if someone at work is rubbing you the wrong way, chances are that’s are that’s how they role. They’ve gotten so far in their career putting goals before people, stepping on toes (and sometimes faces) is justified. “Just business” as they say. If they actually have  a grudge against you, it’s probably because they perceive you as threat to their careers and will do whatever it takes to ruin yours. While avoiding these folks is desirable, it’s pretty hard to do. Your only other options are:

1. Stand up for yourself (call them out on their games and don’t back down)

2. Find another job

Jonathan Littman has similar advice and writes about 10 other types of co-workers that damage your piece-of-mind and your career in “10 Least Wanted Co-Workers“.

Keep in mind a big factor that causes people to behave in inappropriate ways is the company itself and how well it may or may not be doing. If the work atmosphere is one of fear and fierce competition, you may find more than one co-worker that’ll threaten your job and career. Be careful.

What type of co-workers do you find torturing and career-threatening? Post it here.

Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen in "Burn Notice"

Yes, “Burn Notice” is still on mid-season break, but a spy organization who hasn’t taken a break from hiring is the CIA. They’re not just hiring Michael Westens, but for everyday jobs as well.

The Agency Is Looking for You

Michael Westen is more than qualified to work as a spy for the CIA. Military training, strong sense of morals, and an ability to lie at near pathological levels. While the Central Intelligence Agency is always looking for people like Michael Westen, there are other positions the agency is also trying to fill that may be suited for people like you and me. Eve Tahmincioglu writes about the agency’s hiring increase and about life working as  an undercover and non-undercover employee of the CIA in “Top Secret Jobs at the CIA“. If you don’t have a 2 black belts in martial arts, that’s OK. Tahmincioglu writes the agency is looking for college students, former wall street workers and people with language skills to fill a number of administrative and analyst positions.

Not Easy Getting In Or Staying In

Tahmincioglu also writes that it’s a highly competitive hiring process with extensive screening and background checks. Should you make the cut, your family life may suffer depending whether or not you position is undercover. You’re also still subject to background and security checks after you’ve been hired.

Believe in What You’re Doing

From my experience working in government, I think the difference between a rewarding government career and a hellish one with little pay and a lot of bureaucracy is just how much you believe in what you’re doing. If you’re truly committed to serving the country, it really makes it all worth it.

Other Government Opportunities

If the CIA is not your thing, you can find out what other government agencies are hiring on USAJobs.gov.

See yourself in the CIA? Let me know by posting here.

Artie get grilled with Mrs. Frederic (CCH Pounder) in "Warehouse 13"

For some, undergoing an annual review can be like facing the judges on “Top Chef” or any other reality competition show of your choice. On the latest episode of “Warehouse 13″, Artie takes a bold approach to a surprise review meeting with warehouse management called the “Regents”. With some documentation and some open communication, you can ace your review meeting with your pride and career intact.

In “Breakdown“, Pete and Myka are left to watch the warehouse while Artie runs an administrative errand. While on that errand, he’s invited to a meeting with Mrs. Frederic (played by CCH Pounder). The meeting turns out to be a surprise performance review of Artie, by the mysterious governing body of the warehouse called the “Regents”. As Artie is being grilled, he figures out the reason behind the meeting is their fear of Macpherson, a rogue ex-warehouse agent introduced in “Implosion“. Artie declares in a not-so-subtle way that the only way to stop Macpherson is to let him do his job. Although it would be nice to stick it to your manager on just how valuable you are to your company, there is a nicer, more PC way to do it.

Make Your Case

Patrick Erwin shares some simple tips to tackle your annual review in “Do You Panic at Review Time?“. Erwin writes that you should document the work you’ve been doing as well as your accomplishments to ensure that your manager hasn’t overlooked anything.

Evaluate Yourself

Erwin also writes you should be assessing yourself and taking steps to improve your performance from one review to the next.

Communicate with Your Boss

Finally, Erwin writes that you can take the edge off the fear of reviews by getting constant feedback from your boss or manager between review periods. They can give you guidance on how to improve and you can keep them on the same page as far what you’ve done and accomplished.

I’ve had my fair share of reviews myself, and I can say things go much better when you and your boss are on the same page. If you have regular contact with your boss, keep them posted on what you’re doing and getting guidance from them on what you should be doing, there won’t be any surprises during review time. It’s pretty tough to be a valuable contributor to your company if you don’t tell anyone what you’re doing, nor can you be a valuable contributor if your boss isn’t giving you any feedback on how to be more valuable to them or the company.

Any tips for surviving performance reviews? Post it here.