MyLifeMyCareer.com

MyLifeMyCareer.com is officially one years old, and probably a little older since I am a few days late on the announcement. It's hard to believe that I have been out of college for a year and half now, and even harder to believe that I've worked for more than an entire year with no summer or winter vacation like back in my academic days. Time flies whether you're having fun or not, so do your best to put yourself in a position where you can manage working 5 days a week for 52 weeks out of the year (minus 2 - 3 weeks of vacation time.)

If you haven't heard, Vonage, the voice over IP technology company with the annoying commercials, was accused of knowingly violating patents from Sprint and Verizon. Whether they knowingly violated patents is a big issue, but the fact is that they did violate patents for similar technology and uses. The courts are have re-opened one of the cases, and the other case is being appealed (Read more: Vonage Investor Relations page)

Whether you're trying to start a business in your dorm room or trying to fly solo on the side of an entry-level job it is so important to research copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Before you sink a significant amount of bills into your idea, look for any possible infringements or legal issues that could sink you soon after you start swimming. Hire a lawyer to handle the research for you if you are dead serious about doing things the right way.

Starting a web-based business should involve researching domain name legal hurdles, business names already in use, graphics and content that you post on your website, and so on. Unfortunately, there is tons of gray area in the world of web laws as lawmakers and politicians are still trying to figure out what the internet is. It's always safer to lean away from any name or content that you even have to think about if it is usable or not.

Monster or CareerBuilder? Don't favor either of them, because certain companies only commit to using one or the other. If you want access to the widest spectrum of available jobs and positions offered by all companies then use both sites frequently.

As more and more companies outsource their online recruitment efforts to the two major players, some will not take the time to pay the extra money for double job postings on the two sites. I'm sure that Monster and CareerBuilder cut deals to companies, but currently the price is steep for a single job posting at $419 for a 30-day single job posting on CareerBuilder.com (as of 9.25.2007). I don't know many small businesses that can afford to post multiple positions, so you can see why a company would only post on one site if they are trying to meet their revenue goals by limiting expenses.

Of course, another reason that certain companies only use one site or the other is if they are larger and are constantly posting available positions. I would not doubt that the executives at the job searching giants cut deals to the bigger clients under the condition that they use their services exclusively. That's just my personal view and guess as to the way the job searching industry works.

Regardless of how or why companies only post on one site or the other you need to have your resume and be active on both sites.

If you build it -- and it's cool -- they will come. The business model to support it will come later. - (Wired Geekipedia - Free)

The new business plan is in, and it sounds surprisingly easy: make something neat, let people use it or have it, and you may make a significant amount of coin some day in the future. For a generation that doesn't know how to plan for the future (only time will tell, old-timers), this sounds a lot like investing. Spend a ton of your hard-earned savings on a piece of stock that may be worth something worthwhile down the road, or it may be worthless. You could also spend a lot of your own money and personal time developing a concept into a product or application which could be worthless or worthwhile sometime after the development.

It's important to note that many of these ideas start as just being cool ideas in the eyes of the creator. The intention to launch a business around the idea doesn't come until much later. This is about as pure as it gets in the terms of successful entrepreneurship.

Let's face it, this is the basis of any good business that the owner truly enjoys. You have the person who was always cooking up delicious baked goods, always distributed for free at cookouts and outings, and finally the right person helped them see that they could turn this passion and talent into a successful business.

Too many entrepreneurs start businesses or plan for a business with one thing on their mind - money. I'm sure many of the online applications have been started that way as well, but just as many and many more successful ventures started out of a hobby or enthusiasm for solving problems without realizing that problems were being solved.

Many new businesses fail within the first few years because they were started with an average to solid business plan, but no passion. Much less is at risk if you are doing what you love.

I was checking out what was on tv today, and caught an hour long program on PBS titled, Buffet & Gates Go Back to College. Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are extremely successful individuals, and both of them in the same room would probably be worth 60 minutes of my time. They were at a Q & A session on the campus of the University of Nebraska, and only students were allowed to ask the questions. I decided to take notes after the first 5 minutes blew my mind. These are very informal as I was just scribbling down thoughts as I was watching, so you have been given fair warning.

Worry about your inner scorecard rather than your outer scorecard.

Create an environment where you can think independently. It's very important who you look up to as well as surround yourself with.

There's a simple trick to making the ethical or right decision: if a newspaper article was written about it and made publicly available would you still make the same choice or take the same action?

Don't take a job for the money. Don't work for an organization that you are not excited about and believe in. You may not be with the same company in ten years, but you are always learning and building your skill set. If you're waking up excited to work you are at the right place.

The biggest mistakes are the ones that don't show up - ideas that are not pursued or opportunities that are missed.

Public speaking is a very important skill. Invest in yourself as you are your greatest asset.

Stand out, and stand out without trying just by being you. Some people just have "human skills" and some do not. The great leaders and success stories do not just go through the motions.

You will change the world. It may not be in a dramatic or hugely noticeable way, but it will be equally impressive because you are affecting somebody's life whether you know it or not.

Take in a diverse atmosphere and spend time with different types of people from all backgrounds who may not be successful individuals. Some have lucky tickets in life and some do not. Be thankful for what you have and be sure to give back and work to solve important issues and problems facing the less fortunate.

Knowledge is more widespread globally, now. Be aware of the positive and negative intentions of those who possess this new knowledge.

Teach your children to act responsibly and to be humble. Teach them the dangers of buying into the "material culture" that is infesting our country.

Taxes are not fair. The richest individuals are taxed less than someone making an average or below average salary. Secretaries may pay more in payroll and income taxes than Warren Buffet. He could've avoided paying taxes his entire life by borrowing against his stock and allowing his estate to pay it off when he passes away.

Divert the consumption of wealth towards charitable activities rather than towards yourself.

Maintain a great work life balance. If you love your work and love your family more you will be very well off. The biggest goal for success in life is raising a great family.

You have lived a successful life if when you are older the same people who loved you before your success still love you.