“Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arrive.” From the lyrics of that song, sung by a young Paul McCartney over the airwaves one day as a recently unemployed New Jersey woman listened in, an idea was born; an idea to begin anew with a fresh outlook on life and a new business to facilitate that dream. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say thank God she wasn’t jamming to “Back That Thing Up.”
As it stands there are thousands of New Jerseyans finding themselves unemployed. Or whatever they are calling it these days…I was outsourced, made redundant, downsized, compromised, traumatized, ostracized or just plain old fired. If you are one of the truly lucky, not to mention, rare ones who have not experienced this upheaval, just rent “Up in the Air” from Netflix and you’ll see what I’m talking about. It stinks. Sometimes you don’t see it coming. Like a skinny guy at a buffet. But there it is. You feel lost, angry, confused and frightened. Like after watching an episode of “Cake Boss.” I certainly have been there (in all fairness, the dog ate my expense report) and I remember very vividly how tough it was to return to the quest for cash sweepstakes that is the job market, and thinking, “Where do I go to learn how it’s done?” “How do I catch up on new technology?” “What time does the lunch wagon get here?”
Which brings me back to that song, and that woman. Her name is Nancy Anderson and her company is called Blackbird Learning Associates. Nancy has spent over 25 years in the pharmaceutical, finance and insurance industries dealing with organizational development and training experience. A relative newcomer to the small business scene, the company was formed in 2009 and has already garnered rave accolades and press. No underachiever, she has also written a new job search handbook entitled “Job Search for Moms.” I would write one called “Job Search for Dads” but that would mean I would have to get up off the couch.
Simply put, the goal at BLA is to make the job search easier. Some areas of expertise are career assessment, resume preparation, interviewing, networking, and job search skills for the mature worker, moms and teens, and soon…the cast and crew of “Two and a Half Men.” Which actually brings me to my next fluid segue…As CBS reels in the effects of losing the star of its billion dollar property, it is sometimes the organization that also needs help after an employee leaves, whether it’s for a better job, or an extended stay at “Lindsay Lohan’s Leisure Ranch and Rehab Center.” Blackbird Learning Associates will work with the company to identify the needs of the organization as it reshuffles its deck. Now if only she could tell me why the cable guy shows up at 4:30 when the appointment clearly says between 9 and 12. Answer me that, Nancy!
Nancy also takes her show on the road, covering topics like mastering the telephone interview and job search for the over 40 worker, making public appearances at libraries all over the state. Thank God she is not touring comedy clubs. I don’t think I could follow her.
For a more detailed look into Blackbird Learning Associates, whether you need her expertise and knowledge or just to feel motivated enough to perform better in your own career, visit her at:
www.blackbirdlearningassociates.com
