How did last week go? Did you complete Dare #2? Or did you try your own dare?

I spent last week asking folks about my newsletters and blogs. The 4 things that I learned where:

1. You get a crapload of emails so career guidance from different sources blends together
2. You want to receive relevant content that includes stories that align with your experiences
3. You could use guidance around navigating the big hairy green-eyed monster of corporate America – office politics
4. You guys are using my tips and strategies without me even knowing most of the time – that’s pretty sneaky of you BUT great to hear

Now, WHY did I ask you to complete last week’s dare #2 to ask customers about their impressions of YOUR work product?

I want to help you avoid a huge interview barrier!

I’ve met so many professionals who do not make it past a first round of interviews because they don’t have real stories of when their work product has influenced the business or personal decisions of end users.

And that’s a problem!

The best interview responses include vivid yet brief stories that illustrate just how your work has benefited its target audience.

Moreover, the best way to convince someone that you can work on their piece of business is if you have intimate knowledge of their target audience – otherwise don’t bother applying for the role.

Getting to know an end user truly does require that you speak with them and hear how they frame their challenges in their words as well as how they are leveraging or not using your work to overcome those struggles.

So, now that I learned my own four lessons, my goal is infuse them into my newsletters.

Now, take your learnings and finesse your own work product.

Also, continuously think about your mini-focus group participants when you are building anything for them – it will add meaning into your workday.

On that note, here is…

Dare #3!  Ask for more.

• Chances are you work for a resource strapped environment even if you are working for a Fortune 100 firm, or
• You’re doing the job of three employees yet receiving the compensation of one full-time hire.
• Otherwise, you wish you could reproduce yourself to more easily manage your workload and instead actually have more time to think strategically? Who hasn’t thought about this???

If you are facing any of the scenarios above then it’s time to ask for more.

Use this Sunday afternoon when you feel the most overwhelmed to think through how you will request more:

• Face-time with your busy direct manager
• Time to complete an assignment
• Resources on your team
• Training to develop that skill you need to refine
• Babysitting time from your partner or a family friend
• Savings from your credit card companies, suppliers, local business owners
• Compensation to justify the aggravation you may be facing on a weekly basis

Whatever you need to loosen that tightness in your chest you feel when things get craziest.

You might be thinking, sure, it’s easier said than done.

So here is your plan, give it a try, think simply, and if you get stuck then reply to this note, I’ll help you:

1. Identify something that you can get more of within 7 days
2. Think through how you will be a more productive employee, loyal patron, or partner following your acquisition of this thing
3. Call for a meeting and ask for more with that list-above handy because it’s your rational argument for wanting more

I’ll explain next Sunday how this went for me and why it’s so important for you to complete this challenge if you are really serious about getting out of your Sunday mental rut.