Happy 10th Birthday to JibberJobber!

Happy 10th Birthday to JibberJobber! Yesterday JibberJobber quietly celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Im not going to lie: I took a nice, rich nap These last ten years have been a roller coaster, to say the least.  It all started when I lost my job as general manager and became The Worst Job Seeker Ever. I really was pathetic, sitting on job boards and applying for up to 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, getting nowhere (except more frustrated and depressed). Eventually, I got the idea for what would become JibberJobber, and started to put it together (with a dev team that I worked with in my prior job one developer and one QA expert, both who are still with JibberJobber). We started development in March and launched two months later, on May 15th, 2006. I was still working my job search, hopeful that I would gain some level of income and place in society that I had enjoyed just a few months earlier, but I thought lets try this thing out.  Finally, in September of 2006 it was time to stop the job search burn the ships as they say, and do JibberJobber full-time. In the last 10 years weve grown, improved, learned, and enjoyed the journey. It definitely hasnt been easy I think the entrepreneurial journey is seldom easy. But it has been rewarding. Ive grown and learned. Ive been blessed to make some rich friendships spanning the globe first, with my developers who have been with me from the beginning, and with many career coaches and resume writers and others in this space whos own businesses have grown (or at least survived over the years). At conferences Ive roomed with recruiters (hi Steve!) and resume writers, as well as other speakers Ive dined from San Diego to Boston, from Seattle to Orlando, and many places in-between, with amazing people who have helped me think differently. I feel like Ive been with the whos who of this industry, and its been really enjoyable. Ive also been blessed to talk, one on one, with many professionals in transition around the globe.  The careers my users have had are sometimes intimidating the people Ive done LinkedIn profile critiques for are amazing and somehow Ive been invited into their world at a time of uncertainty, and Ive been able to share some ideas and tips to help move them forward. This has been a humbling and honoring experience. Ive written three books, one of which launched a speaking career that put me face-to-face with greatness. I thought I was a great speaker, only to learn that it really takes at least a hundred presentations before you start to get unusually good (much less great or excellent). I was able to witness this growth, and remember when someone said I saw you speak three years ago (when I thought I was really good), and wow, youve REALLY improved!  It was a compliment, for sure, but I thought I was the same as three years earlier, and I had to then wonder how bad I really was three years before! Oh yeah, throw in 29 courses for Pluralsight (one is retired, and one I just delivered this morning, so if you look now youll only see 27 published courses).  Doing a single course is a massive accomplishment, imo doing 29 is nothing short of crazy. My team has grown and shrunk, weve expanded and contracted, but my core team has always been there.  I regularly say, with pride, that my original two hires are still with JibberJobber I think in todays world that is a major contribution that any employer would be proud of. JibberJobber looks different than it used to, and there are more changes coming.  But our core promise, to help you organize and manage your job search, and become a follow-up tool, will remain at the core of what we do.  I cant figure out whether we are just leaving our awkward stage, at ten years, or if we are just staring it.  Well see how the next couple of years go Finally, I would be remiss to not express gratitude to my wife (and kids). I try to keep them off my blog and out of my social life, because I dont want any haters or harassers (yes, it has happened there are weird people out there). My wife, from the beginning, has been supportive.  Of course, there have been temptations elsewhere, like a steady paycheck, benefits, etc., but she has been a supporter of the vision to HELP PEOPLE and families, and feels, as I do, that this is my calling and contribution. And she has been supportive over the last ten years, even in the many lean times (hey, free JibberJobber aint paying anyones bills not my mortgage, not my kids braces :p) it hasnt been easy for her, but shes been a true entrepreneurs supportive wife, and Im grateful for that. Since we started JibberJobber we added two kids to our family, and shes held the fort down, allowing me to keep moving forward. So todays a day of gratitude and reflection thanks to each of you for your part, big or small. Heres to another 10 years! Happy 10th Birthday to JibberJobber! Yesterday JibberJobber quietly celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Im not going to lie: I took a nice, rich nap These last ten years have been a roller coaster, to say the least.  It all started when I lost my job as general manager and became The Worst Job Seeker Ever. I really was pathetic, sitting on job boards and applying for up to 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, getting nowhere (except more frustrated and depressed). Eventually, I got the idea for what would become JibberJobber, and started to put it together (with a dev team that I worked with in my prior job one developer and one QA expert, both who are still with JibberJobber). We started development in March and launched two months later, on May 15th, 2006. I was still working my job search, hopeful that I would gain some level of income and place in society that I had enjoyed just a few months earlier, but I thought lets try this thing out.  Finally, in September of 2006 it was time to stop the job search burn the ships as they say, and do JibberJobber full-time. In the last 10 years weve grown, improved, learned, and enjoyed the journey. It definitely hasnt been easy I think the entrepreneurial journey is seldom easy. But it has been rewarding. Ive grown and learned. Ive been blessed to make some rich friendships spanning the globe first, with my developers who have been with me from the beginning, and with many career coaches and resume writers and others in this space whos own businesses have grown (or at least survived over the years). At conferences Ive roomed with recruiters (hi Steve!) and resume writers, as well as other speakers Ive dined from San Diego to Boston, from Seattle to Orlando, and many places in-between, with amazing people who have helped me think differently. I feel like Ive been with the whos who of this industry, and its been really enjoyable. Ive also been blessed to talk, one on one, with many professionals in transition around the globe.  The careers my users have had are sometimes intimidating the people Ive done LinkedIn profile critiques for are amazing and somehow Ive been invited into their world at a time of uncertainty, and Ive been able to share some ideas and tips to help move them forward. This has been a humbling and honoring experience. Ive written three books, one of which launched a speaking career that put me face-to-face with greatness. I thought I was a great speaker, only to learn that it really takes at least a hundred presentations before you start to get unusually good (much less great or excellent). I was able to witness this growth, and remember when someone said I saw you speak three years ago (when I thought I was really good), and wow, youve REALLY improved!  It was a compliment, for sure, but I thought I was the same as three years earlier, and I had to then wonder how bad I really was three years before! Oh yeah, throw in 29 courses for Pluralsight (one is retired, and one I just delivered this morning, so if you look now youll only see 27 published courses).  Doing a single course is a massive accomplishment, imo doing 29 is nothing short of crazy. My team has grown and shrunk, weve expanded and contracted, but my core team has always been there.  I regularly say, with pride, that my original two hires are still with JibberJobber I think in todays world that is a major contribution that any employer would be proud of. JibberJobber looks different than it used to, and there are more changes coming.  But our core promise, to help you organize and manage your job search, and become a follow-up tool, will remain at the core of what we do.  I cant figure out whether we are just leaving our awkward stage, at ten years, or if we are just staring it.  Well see how the next couple of years go Finally, I would be remiss to not express gratitude to my wife (and kids). I try to keep them off my blog and out of my social life, because I dont want any haters or harassers (yes, it has happened there are weird people out there). My wife, from the beginning, has been supportive.  Of course, there have been temptations elsewhere, like a steady paycheck, benefits, etc., but she has been a supporter of the vision to HELP PEOPLE and families, and feels, as I do, that this is my calling and contribution. And she has been supportive over the last ten years, even in the many lean times (hey, free JibberJobber aint paying anyones bills not my mortgage, not my kids braces :p) it hasnt been easy for her, but shes been a true entrepreneurs supportive wife, and Im grateful for that. Since we started JibberJobber we added two kids to our family, and shes held the fort down, allowing me to keep moving forward. So todays a day of gratitude and reflection thanks to each of you for your part, big or small. Heres to another 10 years!