The Man Who Inspired the Keep In Touch (KIT) List

After the recent coverage about the KIT List (due to the efforts of great friends!) (http://budurl.com/merc1), and seeing over 350 people come to the recent KIT List meet-up, I wanted to share with you the true source of the “Keep In Touch” spirit, and who is my role model…my Dad!

As most of you know, I didn’t start the KIT List with any grand ideas; I was just trying to stay in touch with my friends at Silicon Graphics. I actually had no idea what I was starting. I’ve told friends that had I known what I was in for, I would have run screaming in the other direction!

But the spirit which started the list, and what made it grow as my friends reached out to help other friends, is from simply modeling what my father taught our family through his actions.

See a quick video of my SGI friends give a hello to my dad at the latest SGI Reunion on 9/14 to encourage him while he was sick at: http://budurl.com/HiBob

The Inspiration for the KIT List

Bob Connelly is the quintessential “Keep In Touch” person. He has stayed in contact with friends over the decades dating back from grade school, World War II, Notre Dame (where he was grateful to attend through the G.I. Bill), clients who became longtime friends, and the many others he’s met over the years. He faithfully went to nearly every reunion, even his ship reunions from the war, and he was part of the creaky cavalcade of Notre Dame alumni who proudly marched into the Notre Dame stadium at a football game who were in their 70s and 80s.

My dad grew up during the Depression which forged the Greatest Generation. His family was financially devastated, and his mother died at a young age of tuberculosis after spending five years in a sanitarium. Yet the suffering and the sacrifices of that economic meltdown bore rich fruits in the courage, ethics and resolve of an entire generation which prepared them to tip the scales and win World War II. They learned to work together with people of diverse backgrounds, develop leadership at young ages, push themselves beyond their limits, sacrifice for others, and hone true character. Those that came home were able to commence one of the biggest growth periods of our nation.

I am convinced that this challenging economy will reap great gifts as well. We are a strong people, and I have faith that we will be better as a result.

The Spirit of Keeping in Touch

The roots of the KIT List are in my father’s many years of regular phone calls to friends across the country, handwritten notes, visiting friends and those who were sick or lonely, and always being willing to help someone find a job, get career or financial advice, or who just needed a warm smile and a good joke. My dad has a vast repertoire of jokes (some old and much repeated!), and I sure wish I had his Irish gift of telling a joke well and making everyone laugh around him. If I’m at an event and I hear people laughing, my dad is sure to be in the middle of it!

After beating cancer, he’s now contending with Parkinson’s Disease. He has patiently endured going from playing tennis three times a week with his old buddies to having his back stooped over into what I describe as a parenthesis with shuffled steps as he struggles to walk. His ever-present smile and twinkle in his eyes have fallen prey to the “Parkinson’s face,” robbing him of much of his facial expression. But he still makes people laugh and he smiles as he peers up at people over his glasses.

Mom and Dad

He’s had to give up many things, including the much-cherished tradition of the Connelly Manhattan which he specialized in making. Yet he never complains except to say, “Getting old isn’t for sissies!” He has weathered many storms due to his optimistic attitude and his enduring faith. He is an optimist by choice – he chooses to focus on what is good, and to let the negative go. He has had a truly happy life and marriage as a result.

  

Learn Each Person’s Story

My dad has always wanted to hear everyone’s “story.” He’s still deeply interested in hearing where they were from, where they went to school, their families, and what is important to them. And he REMEMBERS! I’m astounded on how he recalls so many details about just about everyone he meets, and how he brings both important and small details into their conversations. I think SalesForce.com should emulate the neural network in my father’s brain! If I could only have a fraction of his memory recall!

The secret is that he genuinely cares, and that’s enough to make him commit things to memory and make it stick. He taught us to treat everyone with equal respect, whether they were a CEO or someone who empties the office trash cans at night. It’s evident that after some CEO exploits, that the person sweeping the floor has far greater integrity and character!

My father was successful with his own business because people trusted him – and he worked hard and had deep wisdom. While he is the first to say that he wasn’t the best student, he was very grateful to graduate from Notre Dame. However, he worked two jobs and rushed to graduate early by taking more classes and going to summer school so he would be out before all the other returning GIs graduated! Thomas Jefferson’s concept and Samuel Goldwyn’s quote say it all, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

Before Parkinson's

Since my father just came out of another tough time these past few weeks with his Parkinson’s, I wanted this blog post to give credit to my father for his influence in my life — and for his impact on the creation of the KIT List. His encouragement when I faced my own challenging times, and when I struggled with keeping the KIT List going, has been absolutely vital. His advice, his unwavering support of me and in the KIT List community, has been one of the reasons the KIT List not only still exists, but keeps growing (68,000 members!). His belief in the essential goodness of people is proved by the high-quality and amazing people in our KIT List community.

As so many of are facing financial, medical, or any one of a myriad of challenges in this time, let’s remember the generations before us who not only weathered other tough times, but triumphed and flourished after enduring and doing the right thing. The power of the personal touch and for reaching out to others in authentic and practical ways to help has stood the test of time and it’s the best way to turn adversity into a great opportunity.

Hang in there, help each other…and let’s all keep in touch!

Closing the Book on this Amazing KIT List Adventure!

My dear friends and KIT List Community,

With heartfelt gratitude and a deep appreciation for each of you in this remarkable community, I want to let you know that I’m closing the book on this incredible KIT List adventure this February.

After 25 ½ years, I want to thank you all for being a part of this unique community that grew to over 72,000 top professionals simply by word of mouth and the power of friends helping friends. We estimate that over 135,000 people have been a part of the KIT List community as people unsubscribed as they found jobs, and then returned when they were looking again.

Thanks to you, we’ve been able to share over 176,000 job postings. We’ve also had many free “FriendWorking” events to learn a better way to network by helping others first. I’m grateful to the many hiring experts who generously shared their inside tips both in person and online in our free hiring experts panel events.

I’ll still keep many of the job tips and career management resources up online, as well as parts of the KIT List site. Please see the Resources section below for the links!

I’ve had the honor of meeting many of you in person over the years and connecting by email or phone. I’ve been touched by the quiet courage and heroism of so many who lost their jobs but had families depending upon them – often in very adverse situations like a dying spouse, a sick child, or some special need that made their burden particularly heavy. Yet their spirit of hopefulness, and the desire to do whatever they could to provide for their families kept me inspired to keep the KIT List going during the many times over the years I just wanted to close everything down.

A Time for Something New

Now that there are so many strong job search and career platforms, the KIT List has served its mission and purpose.

I’ve been hoping to dedicate my time to some new things that have been on my heart for a long time. It’ll be involving creativity and kids, who are our hope and future! I’ve also been winding down the KIT List for the past few years since I haven’t had the bandwidth that it demands.

The team at one of the many KIT List Events (Amy, me, Kelly)

I originally planned to close the KIT List in early 2020 – but then COVID hit the whole world. So, I didn’t feel I could close the community in good conscience when so many were out of work during such unprecedented times. That’s when my sister and co-moderator, Kelly, and I created videos to encourage everyone, and provide tips via interviews with hiring experts on how to get a job during a worldwide pandemic. The links to the “The Corona Videos” series are in the Resources section below.

A Bit of Background

In case you don’t know our story, I had no idea what I’d accidentally started in 1997 with my simple “Keep in Touch” email list with my friends at SGI. Had I known what it would entail back in 1997… I would have run for the hills! But I really believe it was God’s idea since I never intended to start anything like this. As friends told other friends about the KIT List, it grew to what I jokingly call “72,000 of my closest friends!” But once it took a life of its own, I just wanted to be a good caretaker of this unique community (that predated LinkedIn and the big job platforms).

It really meant a lot to hear from many of you when you got a job, and how heartening to hear that many of you landed multiple jobs from the KIT List! Someone recently told me that they’d landed four jobs over the years! It was so fantastic to hear from so many recruiters and employers that the KIT List community was their “secret sauce” for finding top candidates.

My Dad was the Real Inspiration for the KIT List

It was actually my Dad who modeled the spirit of helping many friends by keeping in touch over the years through phone calls, helping them find jobs, making hospital visits, or a sending handwritten card of encouragement. I still treasure his many notes to me, and they perk me up whenever I feel down! I wrote a tribute to him in my blog, which I’m SO grateful that I did since he died suddenly just a few weeks later. Here’s the link to “The Man Who Inspired the KIT List.”

Dad before Parkinson’s…he never lost his sense of humor!

Resources for Job Search Will Remain Up!

Over the years, we’ve had many free events with panels of career experts, plus special “FriendWorking” events to learn a warmer and better way of networking where you come with the idea of helping others first. We had hundreds turn out most events!

I’ve also tried to share encouragement and job tips (as well as the life lessons I was learning!) with our community over the years through my email messages to the entire list, and later through the blog posts. I’ll keep the blog up so people can access those tips and resources. Also, I was invited to have a KIT List show on a local TV station a few years back. I’ll keep those shows up since the interviews and inside scoop from the hiring experts remain very relevant. In fact, I received emails from people saying they watched them prior to job interviews – and LANDED THE JOB!

KIT List Resources to help you find a job you’ll love:

• KIT List Blog – More career resources and job search strategies, how to network better through FriendWorking – plus messages I sent to the KIT List to encourage everyone during tough times and share personal life lessons I learned from my own “bumps in the road!“

• KIT List “Get That Job!” TV Show – The inside tips and best practices from the hiring experts on how to nail your job interviews – and ways to grow your career (we get emails from people who landed their dream job after watching these videos before interviews!).

• KIT List “Corona Videos” – My sister and co-moderator Kelly and I interview recruiters and employers on how to get a job in a pandemic (or any difficult market!)
  

A Heartfelt Thank You

It’s been an honor and privilege to serve this wonderful community. I’m so very grateful to the people who stepped up to volunteer their time to help me when the workload became overwhelming.

As the KIT List grew so quickly, I struggled to work on the KIT List in the late-night hours after I’d finished my own marketing consulting work (my paid job!). Some very special people stepped forward to volunteer their help when I was hitting the proverbial wall.

I want to thank Val Cienega, whom I hadn’t met at the time, but was a member of the KIT List community who came forward to volunteer as a moderator for many years! My dear friend from SGI, Amy Sloniker Plunkett, also pitched in and helped with the sheer volume of work needed to moderate and keep our community free of spammers and protect it from those wanting to exploit this large community. Then my wonderful sister, Kelly Connelly, joined in as well. Each of these gifted people had their own MORE than full time “real jobs” and helped in their spare time. I am deeply grateful to them!

Sometimes the best things in life are the unexpected ones. The KIT List was a surprise to me – and it took a life of its own thanks to each of you spreading the word to help your friends and colleagues.

The spirit of the KIT List is due largely to YOU. Your kindness and helping others will continue and grow in other wonderful ways. Thank you for being a part of the KIT List family!

Although the KIT List is officially closing in February, the power of helping others keeps growing as a force for good as you continue to share your gifts in our world.

Thank you for enriching my life in more ways than you will ever know,

Sue Connelly

Your KIT List Founder

An important event for young girls and teens at the Girls’ Festival in San Francisco on 10/15

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to share the news about a powerful and fun Girls’ Festival that WorldWide Women is hosting to help thousands of girls of all ages, covering leadership, STEM, career planning, wellness and more.

Come to the first-ever WorldWideWomen Girls’ Festival
Saturday, October 15
in San Francisco!

Tickets are $10 per person, girls under 12 attend free.

Register now at:
http://www.worldwidewomenfestival.com/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=KIT

Join them for a day of fun, exploration and empowerment!

This festival will bring thousands of girls together to help them discover programs and services available just for girls, make new friends and get inspired to become their best. These programs and services will cover 4 important areas of life: future, possibilities, power and body.

There will be plenty of activities for girls of all ages to choose from throughout the day:

– Participate in workshops, such as “find your dream” career speed mentoring session all day long and “map your future” leadership and skill-building activities.

– Enter contests, including the BizWorld Girlpreneur Competition (a.k.a. shark tank for girls) by September 25th for a chance to win and present their ideas in front of Mark Cuban and Tim Draper!

– Visit exhibits, watch performances by girls’ groups and listen to inspirational speakers.

– Learn about education, STEM, career planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, safety and more.

– Check out science, fashion and art projects created by girls in the makers’ space, and enjoy a Super Cool Girls Fashion Show. Then, take your fitness to a new level with expert sports clinics and demonstrations.

Please help spread the word in social media using the #WWWFestival hash tag.

If you have a young women in your life, this is a must-attend event! Help them on their journey to adulthood!

Warmly,

Sue

It’s Worth it to Reply to Job Postings!

Hi Everyone,

You don’t see the emails we get from people who’ve landed jobs from the KIT List, so I want to encourage you to keep up your efforts. It really is WORTH it!

In fact, with the new KIT List web site that’s in final development, I’ll have a Testimonials section where you can read quotes from our KIT List recruiters and employers who’ve hired great people — and from job seekers who’ve landed jobs that will help keep you inspired!

I know it can be discouraging when you’re in the job-search mode. I also hear many job seekers worry that their resumes go into a black hole when they reply to jobs on the web. On the big sites, that can be true.

With the KIT List, there’s a big difference:

• Your email goes directly to the recruiter or hiring person who posted the job.
• Since we purposely don’t market the KIT List, the people on the KIT List have been referred by another friend or colleague. This has kept the quality of the people on the list high as top people refer other talented people.
• Since we’re smaller than the huge job boards, you’re not one of hundreds replying to a job and getting sorted via a software screening program, so your response will be seen by a real person.

For that reason, it’s also important to take the time to write even a brief cover note when you reply to a KIT List job.

Don’t Overlook the Power of a Good Cover Letter

Over the years, I’ve seen people blow their chance to make a good impression either by not including a cover note at all, or by writing the following:

• “Is this job still open?” Of course it is, they just posted it!
• “What’s the rate (or salary)?” Please don’t do that! Instead, show your interest and value to them first. Save the salary query until the interview, and better yet, let them bring it up!
• “Here’s my resume”

Tips for Your Cover Letter

I’ve talked to many recruiters over the years, and even had them as panelists at KIT List events and on the KIT List TV Show. Some recruiters don’t really look at cover letters, but you’d be surprised that so many actually do! Don’t run the risk of getting weeded out by not having a cover letter when it’s a recruiter or hiring manager who DOES care about a cover letter.

Your cover letter can be brief, but these are a few things that you should include:

• Something stating your interest in the role
•  The actual job title since they are likely hiring for multiple roles
• A few bullets from your experience that pertain to the key requirements listed in the job description
• Make sure you do not have any typos or grammatical errors
• Include a nice closing statement
• Your name and a good number to reach you

Avoid These Other Common Mistakes

It’s also a mistake is to reply to a job for which you are not remotely a fit. You don’t have to be a perfect match with all the requirements, but some people get a bad reputation for replying to just any job. Stay on focus and you’ll be a stronger candidate.

Another mistake is that you get put off by a long list of requirements and you don’t feel like you’re an exact fit. Job descriptions can be unintentionally misleading if it’s been cut and pasted from many other job posts, or if the person writing it didn’t research it well with the hiring manager. I’ve asked recruiters and they said that if you’re a 75% to 80% match with the job requirements to GO FOR IT! Don’t disqualify yourself prematurely.

Don’t get disheartened during the job search process. You never know what effort will be the one that will connect you with the right job. Keep at it, make a great impression with a good cover letter, and we hope you find a job you love soon!

10 F’s for a Fabulous ’15

I have to confess that I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, in fact I kind of stink at them! I’ve started some years with great intentions (usually too long a list!) that didn’t last long…or I gave up entirely and didn’t make ANY resolutions. Hey, then there’s nothing to break!

But I’m approaching this year differently. I’m just going to choose ONE thing on which I’m going to focus, and really give it my best. It doesn’t mean I won’t be working on other things, but keeping it simple and keeping to one big commitment more likely to stick.

I also am also giving this new year the theme “Fabulous ’15” as the motto for this fresh, opportunity-filled year.

My wish is that you also have a Fabulous ’15 — and that this is a very special year for you in which new experiences, people, opportunities and adventures come to you and your families.

When I thought of the “Fabulous” theme, other words starting with F (OK, just the clean words!) came to mind.

Take a look at some of these ideas and see which one resonates most with you for your own focus to make this a fabulous year:

1. Fight
Stand up and be counted for a good cause. This is not a call to arms, but an idea to shift our energy off our own goals and challenges and to dedicate it to protecting or advocating for others or for your community. I love the lyrics from Don Quixote’s song in “Man of La Mancha,” “To dream the impossible dream…to right the unrightable wrong.” The full lyrics are here.

There are so many needs out there, it can be overwhelming. Yet if all of us choose just one special cause, person or issue in which to some extra time, we can really change the world!

2. Fearlessness
I’m striving myself to not let fears, real or imagined, hold me back. The old adage, “Feel the fear and do it anyway” is the way I’m choosing to go. For high performers in this valley, the fear of failure often thwarts innovation and new directions.

I’m resolving to be more audacious in my goals and dreams. To embrace risk in a positive way and push myself out of my own comfort zone. When we think of the amazing things that are accomplished, it’s often on the heels of what seemed like failure. I’m encouraged by the famous failures-turned-success of Edison, Churchill, Disney and Lincoln. This article profiles just a few who risked failure time after time — which led to remarkable achievements that changed the world for each of us.

Where can you rush in where only fools dare to go? Let’s go forward boldly and dream audaciously!

3. Finish
Is there anything that has been on your life or “To Do” list that you’ve been meaning to get around to but it still languishes? How about dedicating some special effort into finally wrapping up that item or action so you won’t be haunted by it — and feel a sense of accomplishment instead? After struggling to revamp the KIT List web site, the new site is almost ready. I will feel SUCH relief when it’s done! Stay tuned for news about the new, more robust site being up!

4. Faith
No matter where we are in our spiritual walk, there’s always room to grow more deeply in our faith, and to work on our own rough edges that life, family, friends and experiences help to smooth.

In these recent years when I’ve said goodbye to loving parents, close friends and people who’ve inspired and touched me, my faith has given me the strength to face the tough stuff, envelop me in grace to see the meaning in the difficult times and to see how there is a gift and blessing that comes from even the hardest things.

I’ve also been deeply grateful to friends who’ve been there for me, and I hope I’ve been there for them in their own challenging times. Illness, death, and hardships come with being a participant on this Earth — and faith and friends give context, meaning and hope to not only endure but to ultimately flourish and grow into a better person as a result.

5. Foundation
Is there something you’ve been wanting to do to build or strengthen for your future? A new skill to enhance your career marketability — or just to learn something that has always interested you? Better financial planning?

I’m an excellent procrastinator for many things on my life “To Do” List. I’ve found that what has really helped me is to have a success team of friends that you meet with monthly (and even do mid-month check-in calls) to help you keep on track and provide what I call “gentle accountability.” It’s good to keep the group small with 4 – 6 people who will commit to each other and to meet regularly. I’ve had various groups over the years who’ve been an incredible help in my setting and reaching short-term and long-term (still in process!) goals. It’s so wonderful to help and encourage your fellow group members and to see the large and small things accomplished. How about starting a group of your own?

Also, my sister, Kelly Connelly (and co-moderator of the KIT List) has found Michael Hyatt http://michaelhyatt.com/ to be an excellent resource for free tips, webinars and podcasts on how to really accomplish the things you want in your career and life. He’s upbeat, interesting and highly informative. It’s worth checking out his resources and get things really moving for yourself. Listen to a podcast while driving and get motivated!

6. Forgiveness
This is an opportunity for grace. Are there things you need to forgive in yourself, or in others, that will free you for better things? The greatest part about the remarkable story of Louis Zamperini in the book and recent movie, “Unbroken,” is not just his courage and resilience, but his freedom when he ultimately forgave his captor and persecutor in the Japanese prison camp where he was the special target of abuse and torture. Forgiveness through faith ended up freeing him from PTSD and alcoholism — which saved his marriage and restored his life and family.

Another favorite book is “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom, who hid and saved over 800 Jews during World War II, but was ultimately captured and sent to the notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp. Her sister died there, and Corrie experienced much suffering while trying to help and inspire faith and hope among fellow prisoners. But she, too, was able to forgive a brutal guard, and the entire nation, and she spent time after the war helping to heal and rebuild people in shattered Germany. Corrie dedicated the rest of her life as a “Tramp for The Lord” (the title of her 2nd book) traveling the world to share the story of redemption, love and forgiveness.

7. Fitness
This is that time of year that we all start with renewed zeal for exercise and health. I don’t happen to one who loves this naturally, so I have to find ways to make it fresh, fun and more enjoyable. I’ve found it a HUGE help to have workout buddies. I’ll get my reluctant tail to the gym or out on a bike ride when I’ve made a commitment to someone else.

Thank you to my friends and family over the years who have been great fitness buddies. I may not like working out, but you make it much more enjoyable! Is there someone who can help you try a new sport or new routine?

8. Friends and Family
It goes without saying how important family and friends are in enriching our lives. We all know that time is precious and fleeting. No matter what our age, health and just being alive can’t be taken for granted. Work and other commitments make far greater demands on our time in this era. What are ways you can build in more device-free time with those you love and experience new things together?

During this holiday season, my family and friends actually spent time doing old-tech games like Charades and Taboo (pretty hilarious). We also did hikes and bike rides, cookie baking/decorating, going to the beach (the source of this blog’s photo! Carmel was beautiful and we saw a large pod of dolphins frolicking in the waves. What a delight!) and other relaxing things that were just a great way to spend time together.

Slowing down and finding new ways to enjoy time together will reap many rewards in our over-programmed society. Also, is there a way to add new and interesting people into your circle of friends? They can open up new horizons and experiences for you, too.

9. Farewells
People, habits, jobs…it’s hard to accept that change is a natural and important part of life. Sometimes we have to say goodbye to loved ones who’ve died, or to jobs that no longer fit us, or to habits that don’t serve us any longer. I’m learning to embrace change more (it’s a challenge for me!). Instead, I’m looking to find ways to try to get ahead of the change curve (what new trends, learning, skills, talents will be tapped?). I realize that while nothing really ever stays the same, how can I make change work to the positive — and mitigate any possible negative impacts proactively?

10. Fun!
In the midst of the hectic pace and overbooked lives so many of us face, let’s be sure to allow ourselves time for pure FUN — with family, friends and new people. Now that even kids’ sports have become so competitive and stressful, we’ve lost the element of fun, learning, exploring, making mistakes and bumping into new and unexpected things! We need free time for true “re-creation.” Unstructured time without electronic devices allows for better ways to tap into our creativity. A good laugh, or even a smile, releases endorphins into our bodies. When was the last time you allowed yourself to just have fun?

I know, this is a long list, but just choose ONE thing to differently.

You’re more likely to be able to stick to it for the long run this year. Keep it simple and avoid the temptation to have a long laundry list of resolutions. Choose one theme on which to focus and REALLY make a difference that you can appreciate and be proud of at the end of this bright, new year! I’m going to do the same.

If you’d like to share your own ideas or themes for the New Year, please add your comment below!

Kelly, Amy and I wish you a FABULOUS 2015 ahead!

Warmly,

Your KIT List Team:
Sue and Kelly Connelly, and Amy Plunkett