PIVOT (2)

Lebron about to pivot

This is the second part of my PIVOT post on Smart Responsible Gaming.  The use of the term pivot in basketball is to help a player avoid a defender and find an opening on the court to take a shot, make a pass or drive to the basket. It opens up the court to you. You are that player and the world is your court.

The next letter in the acronym is O.

O is for optimistic about what you are trying to do. Don't expect the road to be easy. But never

become downtrodden or thinking you should give up. If not today then tomorrow. If not this week

then the next.

T is for tenacity in your pursuits. You refuse to be easily dispelled. Denzel Washington gave a motivational speech and stated "Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship."  "Without commitment you will never start and without consistently you will never finish." He ended by saying, "see you at work."

                                       
                                                         SEE YOU AT WORK!

                                              Part one of PIVOT can be read here.

PIVOT

This is my latest series of post that will be a part of Smart Responsible Gaming.

As a percentage of the gaming, casino and hotel industry returns to work, many 

co-workers are still on furlough or in between job opportunities. Since we 

are all in this together, this series is to help make this transition a successful one.

That is why I have chosen the acronym PIVOT in the form of initialism. I will 

share the 1st three letters today. 

The P is for planning what your next move will be. First, find out when the next 

wave of call backs to your current employer are projected for. Then you can 

determine how long you may have to wait. You can gauge the length of your 

unemployment benefits and and take advantage of any training module that may 

be available to you.

The I is for intelligently mapping out your strategize. Reach out to other members of 

your professional network and let them know that you are looking for opportunities. 

Update your resume. Have 2 copies available. One is for the type of job that you had

previously. The second will be tailored to industries that are hiring your skill set. 

Highlight the characteristics that make you appealing to a recruiter. Be prepared to have 

a phone interview or a virtual meeting via Zoom.

The V is for value you place on your self worth. You must decide how much you should be 

compensated for what you can do. Then negotiate with yourself and determine what percentage

 you could accept from any employer. Keep in mind this is a competitive job market.

I will complete the PIVOT acronym in my next blog post.

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Monday Motivation: Plan B

In last week's Monday Motivation, we covered a blueprint for a to return to work with safety, health, and social distancing policies in place. If you missed it here is the link. The next step for most of us will be how we go from being at home all day to working again. This is not a given or an automatic situation. Most operations are opening at less than 60% of pre COVID levels. This poses the thought that we may need a plan "B". This is if we were employed by an operator that is conservatively reopening. 

The plan "B" must start with an evaluation of your skill set and the value you bring to your team. If your self-evaluation does not grade out high, then you must take steps to improve it. You may have to apply at other companies that are in your field or have a demand for your talent. This is the 1st step of Plan B.

Since we are entering the "New Normal", we must become comfortable with the business aspects of virtual interaction. No one will be likely to interview you in person. So, you must be prepared to log into a link or a Zoom panel that will ask questions of you. This may be foreign to most of us, but we have the luxury of time to master it. 

Have the person that you are in quarantine with do a role play with you. You should dress as if you were going to meet an employer in an office setting. Then download the Zoom App. Once you are satisfied with your responses in the role play, have another person contact you on Zoom and conduct a 10-minute interview. The person you are quarantine with can critique it. Make sure you have a well-lit background and optimum camera angle. In order to make it fun as well as productive, everyone can switch roles.

Then you look at who is hiring and what their needs are. If your resume can convey that you are an asset, then send it to their H/R department. Follow up on your letter or email within 7 business days. If there is a mutual interest you can suggest the virtual interaction. Your innovation will make you stand out from your peers. Nothing over the top but allow your personality to come out during the exchange. Warmth always works!

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Gaming and Wagering: COVID-19 call to action

Whether you are in Philly. Atlantic City or Las Vegas, if you work in gaming and hospitality, we are all experiencing the unimaginable right now. All of the casinos and hotels are closed. The "non essential" businesses which includes everything that is not related to health care and food distribution are shutdown as well. Which brings me to you.

My question is where is your glass?  In a virtual sense because we can't get together unless we Facetime or Zoom.

My next question is where do you see your glass? If you see your glass as half empty because of the pandemic, the words associated with that perception are void, not filled and desolate. If you see your glass as half filled. the words associated with that view are optimistic, prospective and engaged. All of us are binge watching and wishing this would end tomorrow.

My point is that we all got the same glass. Perhaps not the same situation. But it's not where you're at, it's what you going to do about it. So since we all got to be alone together, let's be creative together and figure out the next move. Not the next 2 months. That may be overwhelming. It is for me! But I can manage this day and the gift that was given to me. We can all do that. This was my last post on LinkedIn. It will tell you how to do it. Fill your glass!

Every Monday, I will share some Monday Motivation as long we are alone together. Share this post if you find it beneficial. Have a phenomenal week!

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