Happy New Year!

New year, new beginnings...

So, how to keep relevant and employed in the new year? That's the million dollar question. Here are a few considerations and if you see yourself answering yes to these questions, be sure to keep reading!

1. Does your job seems mindless to you? You just go in hang out and go home? Do you just push paper around? Can a monkey do your job? (Well, not a real monkey. But someone out of college or an illegal immigrant?) Are you making a decent salary doing it?

2. Are you keeping up with your industry? Still using old ways? Don't know about the new technologies in your industry? Not current on your industry certifications?

3. Has business been declining? Have there been less people every year at work? Is management rumbling about business being bad? People NOT being hired? Seeing more managers than actual workers?

4. New companies and/or technology in your industry taking over and doing better? Your company fighting to be relevant?

These are just a few off the top. But if you've agreed or relate, you're in for a shock. Still confused, I'll elaborate with an example.

The US Post Office.

10 years ago, they gave the packaging business and express mail away to UPS and FedEx. They spent billions on technology to install high speed readers than handled letter mail.

Well, there was this thing called the internet and email that came around and decimated their letter business.

Now the post office is regulated and constrained. Unable to move into new businesses, so they will shrink to a point where they will almost disappear and another 5-10 years.

Things they should have gone into.

1. Maps. Most people don't realize, but they have the most up to date maps and business address of anyone. After all they have to deliver it. That data is extremely valuable to providers, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps and GPS manufacturers. The issues they face today, is the ability to update them. The post office does this on a daily basis.

2. Secure email. They can provide a secure email account, easily. Think about it, no fake accounts. Like a PO box, but you have to go to the post office to validate with a federal ID. No fake accounts, these people would be the people they say they are. Spam? A thing of the past. If you aren't on the approved sender list, then it gets junked. You have to send a person the mail first and they need to reply to send future mail.

3. Drop ship locations. Like the UPS stores. They have the MOST locations of any retailer. Accept packages from your competitors. Amazon also has a "Locker" at select locations.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=200689010

How to avoid this?

This is hard. In the end, it's up to you the individual. NOT your company.

Most companies have a large middle and upper management with lots of internal politics. Things won't change, it's what's wrong with the government now. But that's another story. So ultimately, it's up to you, because people will always save themselves first. It's rare that they don't, but don't be upset when they don't. They have families and priorities also.

The best example I can use, is myself. You can tweak the information to benefit you.

1. Check Monster. Are there a lot of positions available in the industry doing what you do? Is the job in demand? If you see the salary declining... as in desktop support becoming a $15 an hour job vs a $80,000. It's time to get out.

2. Keep up with your industry. Read blogs, news, trade journals, etc. Learn the new technology that comes to your industry.

3. Partake in new things at your company. New projects, new technology, etc. Go with it and don't fight it. It may help you in your new job.