Jason Fried along with David Heinemeier Hansson have written a brilliant book about building, running and growing (or not) a business. I like to think of it as a minimalist manifesto.

When I am working with individual clients on their careers, particularly those who have been retrenched, as an exercise I often decide that we should investigate starting a business. 

We investigate a franchise, we consider something relating to their experience and then we invent a product. Perhaps something that they might need in their lives that does not exist. I used to lose potato peelers; always being absent minded and wrapping them in with the peels. Someone invented the big, fat, heavy potato peeler; wish I had!

All of this is just about distraction, about working creatively outside the career problem and thinking outside the square so that that when we return to the career issues, they seem better clarified.

That was until I discovered this book and the last three retrenched people I have seen have all started businesses!

Maybe you should read it too. Change your life today.

If it is a client job interview, and if it is with HR, then it will probably come in the shape of a “Behavioural interview.” So, if you are not an interview expert then Google “Behavioural interviews” and practice.

Review your resume; any of the qualities and skills you have included in your resume are fair game for an interviewer to press so you should have a prepared example for each of the key skills on your resume as well as those you anticipate the job requires.

Reflect on your own professional, volunteer, educational and personal experience and develop brief stories that highlight these skills and qualities in you.

Prepare stories by identifying the context, logically highlighting your actions in the situation, and identifying the results of your actions. Keep your responses concise and present them in less than two minutes.

You must have “achievements” throughout your resume and all achievements must demonstrate a positive outcome for your employer. You will need to be prepared to answer detailed questions about your achievements so be accurate in what you write.

But most of all, just answer the question that is asked, don’t anticipate just listen.

Never forget that you are judging them also, this is a two way street.

He started a recruitment company way back in the 70’s and still owns it; hit a few hurdles late last year, not of his own doing, just the way things go sometimes.

He put a line in the sand and said enough. Restructured, moved to less expensive premises, got re focussed on his core business and is bringing the business back on track.

Fully hands on, 60 plus hours a week with a no prisoner’s attitude.

I know the detail and a lesser man would have quietly given up but not Mesenberg, closing in on 70, pilot, musician, a tough, taciturn elegant man who does not believe in defeat.

Has up on his wall a speech made by Churchill and on our dark days, one we should all reflect on.

“Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense”

The advice is simple,

always was.

If you find yourself in pain,

Because

you’re standing

righteously in doorways

arguing with men who

continue to complain.

That

their way was right

and yours wrong.

And values do not straighten.

Your head begins

to spin and all the words

you speak have

run away from the meanings you meant!

Then stop!

Look!

(All roads lead nowhere)

Decide which way you will take,

rush headlong through

any door.

Determined

never to look back.

Men

call this passion

It’s all they have,

or

need.