In this case it was the work of an old boyfriend who posted the photos online. However, today our online and offline lives have become blurred. One can easily affect the other. Often with devastating results.
In the old days (back in 1990) it was easy to "reinvent" oneself after a particularly stupid or embarassing episode in life. Just change your name or move to California. Now the Internet follows you everywhere. Forever. Even the tiniest piece of our past can resurface and bite us in the behind.
The 17 million claimed subscribers to AdultFriendFinder, four million on AshleyMadison and millions more on sites devoted to finding others who share our naughtiest sexual predilections often post photos (frequently very explicit). But is this a smart thing to do? Probably not. Someday when you're trying to get that security clearance for a goverment job or the CEO spot at a major corporation or you've decided to become a minister, those photos showing you in a three-way with your neighbor will probably weigh against you. The only jobs available to you may be as a politician or Wall Street banker.
THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE.
Change is happening in our world at an exponential pace. It's important to stay attuned to how these changes affect you. Perhaps the most important change of all is how the Internet has opened up the world for all to see---often including your previously private information. Some of this is willingly shared on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. But a lot more---from court records to family history---is now available for the world to view. Managing the changes in life has become a new responsibility for all of us---and something new to learn how to do (as if we need another).
MANAGING YOUR CAREER.
As Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro point out in their book Repacking Your Bags, and Richard Bolles, says in his book What Color Is Your Parachute?, these days nearly everyone will be "between" jobs at some point during their career. It doesn't even matter how good you are. As a result, you must be prepared to go job hunting for the rest of your life. "It's up to you to create your future."
YOU PRIVATE LIFE AND CAREER IMPACT EACH OTHER.
It's vital to build a reputation based upon the totality of your life. These days you're judged by "who" you are as much as by your skills and experience. Living a life of honesty and integrity and doing work you care about in support of something meaningful is the only way to create a life that isn't wasted.
Bertrand Russell said, "If you look about you at the men and women whom you can call happy you will see that they all have certain things in common. The most important of these things is an activity which at most times is enjoyable on its own account, and which, in addition, gradually builds up into something that you are glad to see coming into existence." So, it is critical to living a successful life that you learn to manage and direct it based upon core values of honesty, integrity and truth---and choosing life work based upon these values.
LOVE IS EVERYTHING.
Author and career expert Richard Bolles recently said to me, "The things you love control your life." Love should be the basis for everything you do. Love your work. Love your friends and family. Love your neighbor. Love your country. Love yourself. As The Beatles sang, "Love is everything."
THOSE WHO DON'T LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.
In my book (soon to be published) A Plan For Life: How to get it right in the 9 key areas of life, I provide the best thinking from the best minds in history about how to make smart decisions in each important area of your life---from choosing a career to getting married to staying healthy. If you fail in any of these areas it will negatively affect all the others. If you manage each area intelligently you improve your chances of living successfully in all areas.
Avoid mistakes (like posting naked photos of yourself) in life by learning from advice from the great minds throughout history. Everything we need to succeed is available, if you search it out. These days "learning from our mistakes" may not be the best option. Learning to avoid making mistakes in the first place is the key to a successful life.
GETTING A JOB BY GETTING IT RIGHT IN YOUR CAREER.
Getting it right in your career is what our upcoming 2-day event, The Career ReBoot Camp, is all about. At The Career ReBoot Camp participants get everything they need to become competitive in today's challenging---and changing---job market. Included are:
- A headshot photo taken by a professional photographer.
- A videotaped mock interview with evaluation.
- Image and personal branding tips.
- Seminars on a range of career subjects such as networking and working with recruiters.
- Speeches by career experts including Keynote Speaker Richard Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute?
- Social networking companies who can set up an account for you at the event
- Hiring companies.
- Business start-up opportunities.
- The Small Business Development Center (SBA) and local government job assistance.
The Career ReBoot Camp will be held October 26/27 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in San Rafael, California (10 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge). Cost is just $249. Parking is free. Continental breakfast is included. Call 415-516-9343 or email CareerReBootCamp@gmail.com for more information.
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