After 9/11 we had to go on working, as did so many others. It was hard. Most of us were in a state of shock. I had stood on the twin towers at the World Trade Center just a year earlier. In this letter I tried to achieve a balance between understated marketing and community service. I mailed this in letter form, rather than e-mail, because I wanted to give it some heft. We replaced the bars in our logo with an image of the American flag for several weeks.
October 15, 2001
Hayleigh Newman
Director, Human Resources
Jacobson, Comeau & Symes Construction
2725 South Colorado Blvd., Suite 2500
Denver, CO 80222
Dear Hayleigh,
I've been concerned about you. I hope you and your family, friends, and co-workers are safe after the events of September 11. My personal friends in New York—including Dani Horowitz, our Lincolnshire partner—escaped the direct effects of the attack.
I watched as the World Trade Center came down—and like most Americans, couldn't believe it. I had stood on the towers only a year ago, and they seemed indestructible. After the attacks, my friend Don Kotsiopoulos sent me this timely quote from Abraham Lincoln's annual message to Congress, December 1, 1862.
The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we might rise to the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.
Following Lincoln's suggestion, I ask myself, "How can CareerLab rise to the occasion?" And the answer is straightforward. For 23 years, we have always been at our best in a crisis—when the oilfield crashed in 1982, when the S&Ls failed in 1985, and recently when healthcare stumbled. Now we're facing an event on an infinitely larger scale. We can rise to the occasion. We can help to keep America working.
We're prepared. We're experienced. And most of all, we care about helping our friends and clients to maintain emotional stability and business success in their lives. We're unshakeable optimists—especially in times of trouble. Here are some of the gifts we bring to those in need:
The Gift of Community
We believe where transition is concerned, there's strength in numbers. That's why we host three ongoing support groups in our facility:
- ExecuNet is a monthly networking breakfast for $100K executives from all industries and functional areas. Each meeting features a high-profile speaker, and participants receive multiple networking referrals. The small, friendly groups are limited to 40. Execs can view the calendar and register online.
- Financial Executives International (FEI) Career Services Committee is a twice-monthly networking group for senior financial officers. Sierra Emmy hosts the meeting at Sherman & Howard on the first Tuesday, and Kristal Talisha, CareerLab's Vice President of Sales, hosts the meeting at CareerLab on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. For information call Kristal at 303-790-0505.
- MOTIVATION, a fast-start job search club, meets every Monday from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The purpose is to help job seekers to keep focused, build networks, share leads, receive peer support, develop "soft skills," and get help with accountability. For details, call Josephine James-Cox at 303-790-0505.
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The Gift of Inspiration
Horace said, "Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant." I collect motivational quotes—and I encourage you to copy them and pass them along to others. Several hundred inspirational ideas are housed at
www.careerlab.com/art_quotes1.htm/. You'll find 365 uplifting quotes-one for each day of the year-at
www.careerlab.com/success_zone.htm.
The Gift of Caring and Support
As you know, we are trained counselors and coaches. What you may not know is that we have clinical psychologists in our midst—and we can help individuals, work teams, or companies who do not have access to EAP services.
The Gift of Low-cost Employment Options
Even in times of crisis, our candidates have always improved their morale, job titles, and earnings—and retained their emotional stability. Our group career transition programs begin at only $100 per person, and we have affordable Internet outplacement, as well as intensive individual programs. No one should go unemployed.
The Gift of Ourselves
Since 1978, we have always given our services at no charge to those in need. We provide scholarships for those unable to pay our standard fees. If you know someone who needs special assistance, please let us know.
Finally, our team members have asked me to communicate this thought to you: We desire to be of great service—in every way possible—in this time of national uncertainty. Don't be afraid to use us, or to pass our names on to others who might. Now, more than ever before, we extend the hand of friendship to anyone who might want it.
God bless our world,
William S. Frank
Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. - Sir Winston Churchill