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Search MessagesForum Identity: Dave Jensen   Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:59 PM
affiliation/organization: CareerTrax

Here's our first forum contest, something that any forum reader can participate in (but not our advisers or AAAS employees). As you've seen in the last couple of days, your moderator has developed some career strategy posts out of Cowboy wisdom from the American west (yes, Dave lives in Sedona, Arizona, home of many of the most famous Western movies ever filmed). These Cowboy wisdom statements were archived by a genuine Cowboy -- a rancher who, at age 87, still wears his hat and even spurs on occasion. In short, there's a lot of value for the job seeker in these sayings, but it is hidden and it needs to be brought out in the open. In the first two Cowboy Wisdom posts, I brought them out into the open and converted them to job seeker advice. For the contest, I'd like to see how others take one or more of the remainder of these Cowboy Wisdom statements and adapt them for forum readers. Just follow my lead on the first two that I published!

Below my name, you will find the remaining Cowboy Wisdom statements. To enter the contest, simply take one of these (your choice) and use a similar format to one of my posts. You can use the corny Cowboy language I used in my first post, or stick to our usual Business English. Your choice, entirely. Pick whichever one appeals to you, even if someone has already used that one in an entry.

On Monday evening, July 23rd, I'll collect the votes of our advisers and AAAS Staff members Ian King, Ric Weibl, and Jim Austin. I'll ask them which one of the posts made from the Cowboy Wisdom below was the best, in terms of overall impact, writing quality, and career relevance.

The winner will receive a package from your moderator which includes the following books, with a value of over $100 at retail:

1) A rare, advance proof edition (brand new) of Dr. Moira Gunn's new book "Welcome to Biotech Nation."

2) A rare, advance proof edition (brand new) of Dr. Alan Zelioff and Michael Bellomo's new book "Microbe."

3) Brand new hardcover book "Jamming" by entrepreneur John Kao, dealing with startup companies and creativity.

4) Brand new hardcover book "Winning Ways," by workshop leader Richard Lyles, one of the best explanations of the difference between academia and industry.

Have fun, and post your entry now! (Post your entries BELOW THIS THREAD, which will be "stuck" to the top of the forum until Monday at 4 PM PST, when the contest closes).

Dave Jensen

Cowboy Wisdom

- Don't squat with your spurs on.

- Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back.

- Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly.

- Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.

- Never slap a man who is chewing tobacco.

- The quckest way to double your money is to fold it over and to put it back in your pocket.

- Never miss a chance to shut up.

- Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut.

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