Steven Joiner

North Carolina State University

BA

Secondary English Education, Film

1997

University Scholars Program Graduate, Exchange Student (University of Helsinki)

San Francisco State University

MA

International Adult Education

2004

Focused on the interrelationship of government policy, corporate funding, and NGO programming in the delivery of educational services to workers involved in the international supply and manufacturing chain. For example, think foreign workers who make goods that ship to Europe and the United States.

Title

Keynote: Intention to Action. Action to Career  Truman State University

2010-04-07

Title

Recreating the Second Half: Intentional Volunteerism and Re-Careering   Portland State University Alumni Association

2011-05-14

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Idealism, Purpose, and Well Being in Life’s 3rd Chapter  National Career Development Association Featured Session

2010-07-02

21st Century Talent Management for Individuals

The workplace is broken and, while professionals are suffering as a result, we’re also partly responsible. Too often we think of careers, jobs, and professions with an antiquated, 20th century perspective. Instead of the outdated career topics like resumes, networking, interviewing, and tracking “hot hiring markets”, let’s start from a more useful place.

The truth of the matter is that we have the power to shift how we think, to change our perceptions of the workplace, and, as a result, to be more fully engaged rather than cogs in someone else’s machine. It is our responsibility to ourselves and our 21st Century Worklife colleagues to change the face of work and demand a workplace where we can fully invest our talents and passion. But we can only succeed if we all get involved.

Community Impact and Intentional Engagement

People often come to me and ask for resources to help them find that ‘dream’ job, that ‘meaningful’ volunteer opportunity ‘where I really fit it’, and/or that ‘place where they can make a difference’. People come looking for the magic career bullet. They’re looking for that hidden resource list to which no one else is privy. Whenever I encounter this perspective (which is often), I tell folks, ‘There is actually a magic bullet and that magic bullet is to take responsibility for your trajectory, to stop relying on others to tell you what you’re looking for, and to approach the world from a perspective of intentionality, integrity, and focus. Who wants in?’

Resistance and Change Management

There is one really easy way to kill a good idea: think about all the reasons it won’t work. Remember when you were a kid and anything was possible? Remember when you would make statements like, “I’m really good at…”, “I’m really smart/strong/fast”, and/or “I’m going to be an archeologist fighter-pilot with a PhD and a black belt who used to play football for the Air Force Academy” (yeah, that was me)? Resistance comes in many forms but it starts in the mind.

We have a society that encourages deficiency thinking, doubting, and pessimism.

We have a society telling us we’re never worried and afraid enough (“Tonight on the evening news: 6 ways you can die in your sleep followed by a report on how you might never see your children again!”).

There is plenty to worry about, plenty to doubt, plenty to resistance. Funny thing though is there is plenty more to embrace (including your own resistance)… if you have a different perspective.