When I was younger and even more sarcastic (How could that be John?), I was in an interview and was asked my least favorite question: "What is your 10 year plan?" Even back in the pre-hisoric times of my youth, this was a stupid question. I know what the interviewer wanted. "Where are you going and how does this job fit into your plans?" But most interviewers ask clever robotic questions that are part of a list and do not t...

Nobody should be the victim of their own resume.Odds are you have neglected your resume. It is a poor reflection of who you are, what you have done and where you are going. I see so many horrific resumes! This is your key marketing and networking document whether you like it or not. Once you come to grips with the fact that this document will probably determine how your career path goes, hopefully you will spend more time u...

We constantly make decisions in our lives - including professionally - that in some way contribute to our success or failure. Often times, it feels like the safest paths are the ones we should follow, particularly during a time of economic uncertainty. John Kobara, Vice President and COO for the California Community Foundation, makes his pitch to Tim Muma for the importance and value of taking risks. Different factors may p...

Tim Muma continues his conversation with John Kobara, Vice President and COO for the California Community Foundation, on the ideas of taking risks in one's career. Ambition and passion should play a strong role in the process of risk-taking, but John stresses that the biggest issue is that people don't take the time to figure out themselves first.

We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger. ~Tad WilliamsLying is so complicated. You have to remember who you told and who knows. It is an endless process to avoid the truth.Telling the truth is much different than not telling a lie. It starts with little l...

Networking is a buzz word, but many people still struggle with what it means and how to best utilize it as a tool, particularly when actively searching for a job. John Kobara, Vice President and COO for the California Community Foundation, has focused on helping organizations and individuals realize their potential by connecting and helping one another through networking. Tim Muma talks with John who shares his knowledge an...

When I was much younger, I got the good advice to get on a few boards--non-profit and for profit--advisory and fiduciary. I naively thought it was difficult to get on boards and further that it was some type of honor. Of course there are a select number of boards that are highly coveted, but the vast majority are accessible to the qualified and the connected. I also made the mistake of thinking that well known people...

I was on a career panel this week with Tim Harris Executive VP of the Lakers. We were presenting to a bunch of students at UCLA who want to know what they are going to do with their Sociology degrees. Tim and I were both Sociology majors. Sociology, like a lot of social science or liberal arts educations truly enables graduates to do whatever they want to do. And we discussed these virtues. These are hollow words to those w...

How will I know when I can take a risk? This may be the most popular question I get. Some hear about my career path and some are hovering around a decision and they wonder---How will I know when to jump? How will I know if it is worth it? How will I know if I should take the chance? We are confronted with these decisions everyday and I assert almost every moment. Managing risk, choosing options, deciding not to say so...

Well intentioned people approach me and tell me that "networking" is so passe. It is an old school technique and phrase that really has not role in today's modern society. That I should be really talking about "relationship development" or "connecting" or using social media. And this is exactly why I have continued to use the term networking. :) Networking is a well worn word but it also still conjures up resistance. My v...