There’s a story on CNN.com today about internships –  not for college students, but for workers 50 and over. Brilliant. Why should it be any different for anyone, age or otherwise?  It all comes down to networking, finding a way to get your foot in the door, then working hard and proving the company needs you, showing your value.

I’ve heard several ‘older’ workers lately lamenting the lack of jobs, worrying about their futures.  However, when I ask the questions below, the answers are usually the same – no.  Didn’t have time. Been meaning to do that. Planned to do that next week.

Need a job? Need to change jobs? Looking to advance where you are?

Ask yourself these questions:

Do you have a mentor?
Do you have a specific goal?
Have you called anyone to make contact today and offered them something instead of just asking for something?
Have you followed up with at least one person you met this week – with a call, a note, info you promised?
Have you gone to an event this week and met new people, networked new relationships?
Have you asked for what you need?

That’s what these ‘older’ workers are doing in the CNN story. Making the call, asking for the internship, learning something new with a mentor, networking and finding a way to keep working. Hustle folks, hustle.

And, answer the questions with ‘yes.’

As long as the work gets done, gets done in a timely manner, is quality work and keeps the ledgers on the profit side – do you care where your employees are or when they work?  If so, why?

Despite the fact you really couldn’t call what I do “playing golf,”  it is what I set out to do with a long time girlfriend yesterday. A quick nine holes to catch up on the last twenty years or so.  I have a golf bag filled with clubs I have no idea how to use, plenty of balls to donate up to the lake gods and my entire productivity suite with me – my iPhone.   In between fishing balls out of the lake and wandering through the high grass, I could check email, tweet on Twitter, post and comment on Facebook, link up on LinkedIn and answer to all the needs of my clients and family.

Except one.  So, I picked up the phone and called Allen Caudle, COO of Vollmer Public Relations, my biggest and ‘bestest’ client.  Explaining that “my hands are freezing on the golf course and I can’t type that many letters right now,” I responded to his query verbally (what a concept.)  He laughed, we discussed his question and decided a course of action, and I went off to hit more balls in the water with a satisfied client back at the office.

Heading home from the course, I called my managing partner to see how speech bookings were coming for the next couple of months (fine, thank you for asking.)  It was obvious she was outside and not somewhere quiet.  ”I’m at the zoo. I needed to see the seals.”  I told her I would call back or email later.

As I hung up, that exchange made me smile and laugh.  Sometimes you just need to see the seals or find your golf ball. Clear your mind, smile and laugh, relax a little – and then go back to the grind.  We’re all better for it.

So, I repeat my initial question – as long as the work gets done, gets done in a timely manner, is quality work and keeps the ledgers on the profit side – why do you care where your employees work or when they work just so long as they work?

When is the last time you sent your employees to the zoo?

Tweet?  Friend? Recommend?

Twitter? Facebook? LinkedIn?

As social media has become a regular part of my day, networking with business associates for more speeches and appearances as well as discovering what my friends’ latest antics are, I wonder if it is really worth the time sink it has become.  Or the ‘time vampire’ as Charlie the Wonder Husband refers to it.

The answer?  Yes!

As a news junkie, I am able to keep up with breaking news and interesting stories on Twitter as well as make professional connections with other speakers and meeting planners.

On Facebook, I can connect with friends and former KLOL fans and let them know I am now a professional motivational business speaker, traveling the country to help others “Find Your Inner Rock Star.”

And LinkedIn?  Well, that was the one I was ready to drop, just for the sake of time.  Before I hit the delete button, I thought I would ask my social network what they thought.  Last Thursday I tweeted “Reasons to stay on LinkedIn?”  Answers poured in on both Twitter and Facebook.  The consensus?  Split right down the middle:

• I’ve reconnected with some very important professional contacts over linked in. You never know who you will find! I don’t do anything social over there, but I do keep my resume up!
• None I can think of other than it is just one more way to connect but at some point the connections overwhelm and complicate more than they help
• It’s all about the groups. There is a great book publishing professionals group.
• I haven’t found any reason yet for LinkedIn. All the connections I have already know me and my business. I take my FB seriously as a business tool and use it for that; I’ve made many more connections and referrals both in and out from here.
• LinkedIn is too boring for me!
• Linkedin’s entire thing is professional networking vs. social networking, and although you can certainly do some of the former on FB, I don’t know too many people who post their resumes or have the ability to search by keywords in resumes or have professional recommends on FB. I’m in my current position because a recruiter saw my profile on Linkedin
• I use it to keep up with where my peeps are working since the economy tanked. There’s been lots of movement and this is the best way I know to stay on top of the career side. Other than that…nada.
• Too many to count! Many more contacts, easier search and even by job title. Events search in your area or others. Love Linkedin
• Not unless you’re a recruiter or involved in recruiting
• LinkedIn’s most valuable feature for me is the discussion groups. I do wish that they didn’t attract so many spammers, though.
• ‘cuz there is no cost…and ya never know.

Not two hours after I considered ending my relationship with LinkedIn, I got a call from a friend’s sister.  I had not talked to or communicated with this woman in a couple for years.  Seems her company was working a huge government project and they were looking for a PR firm with specific requirements and capabilities.  She looked me up on LinkedIn and saw my affiliations in my profile including the fact that I work as a consultant with a large PR firm in the Southwest.  She called, I could confirm this PR firm met the requirements they were looking for and made the connection.  All because I had my professional affiliations listed and spelled out on LinkedIn.

So, yes, I will stay on LinkedIn for now.  Social media is time consuming but so was email and American Idol at first.  I have just had to learn to balance it all and still get the job done.  And an important part of that job is maintaining relationships.

Relationships are everything and all three – Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn – give me the ability to keep up with those I know, meet new people and keep up with the world.  Nothing will ever beat good old-fashioned, face-to-face meetings and personal phone calls, but none of us have the time to meet and talk that much.  Social media keeps me, well, social.

So, follow me on Twitter and I’ll follow you.  Be my friend on Facebook and post interesting things.  (Remember, I don’t care if you eating yogurt or walking the dog.  That is not interesting or helpful.)  And, post your professional profile on LinkedIn “cuz ya never know.”

Oh and by the way, be sure to Digg this from the share bar below.  You don’t Digg?  Well, it is another thing to add to your list….

As Peter Shankman tweeted throughout the PepsiCo Trends Conference last night, I couldn’t help but laugh as I saw the “trends” that were emerging from the conversation.  At least from Peter’s perspective.   I had dinner to serve and clean up after, math and science homework to get through and the American Idol results show to watch.  Sometimes I just have to trust Peter to keep me up on things. 

From the conversation taking place, these are the tweets that caught my attention the most: 

Avg woman 5’4 and 167 pounds in America in 2008. Elevators and Toilets in hospitals are all in code violation now. #peptrends.

Lots of messages of Wellness – 50s, 60s, 70s will all be about wellness, embracing maturity. #peptrends

much more willingness to buckle down and be practical (fix chair, not throw it out.) #peptrends

Grandma, Priest, Boss – If either of the three would be offended, DON’T POST IT. #peptrends

These aren’t “trends.” This is how we were all raised or should have been raised by our parents.  And it’s how we should be living our lives and running our businesses each and every day.   And, raising our own kids and conveying to our employees.

Allow me to translate for you:

Watch how much you eat and be sure to exercise

Take care of yourself and others

Don’t spend money you don’t have

Be nice

As we look forward and all work together to find ways to make it through the hard times, remember these “trends” in the good times as well. 

You’ll be well served to listen to your mother…and follow Peter on Twitter!