About

Resume:  Myer Resume October 2019

 

Profile:

A product of the turbulent 60’s, much of my early life reflects the ups and downs of a political maverick and philosophical idealist.  The experiences as a student and civil rights activist, an early “war on poverty” warrior and editor of an award-winning college newspaper influenced my future.  Upon graduation from college I went off to Washington, DC to do my part to “change the world.”

My career spans 50 years of experience in the labor movement, national politics, global business and academia.  I have lived and worked in the United States, Europe, China and Japan.  Four passports evoke memories from travel to more than 30 different countries for the conduct of business, special assignments and vacations.

Now retired, a term I generally avoid, since leaving the Maine Technology Institute in 2018 I have continued to work with selected business clients and entrepreneurial start-ups and initiated the writing of a memoir of my unexpected life story.

My spouse, Keiko Fujikawa Myer, and I live in Tokyo Japan.

Who am I?:

In 2003 a headhunter contacted me about some significant employment opportunities.  While I was not looking to re-enter the corporate world, the reality was that finding employment or consulting gigs in Maine was proving difficult.  After a number of conversations I agreed to meet with two of the firm’s search committees.  In preparation for the meetings, the headhunter said, “Look, these guys know all about your experience and record, your talents and skills.  That part was an easy sell; you are their number one candidate and I expect you will get offers.  They simply want to meet you in person to find out who you are, really.” He then went on to say that he needed a brief “Who Am I” statement from me; 250 words or less!

Sounds easy?  As I pondered the assignment on the train back to Maine from NYC I began to realize how difficult it was to complete.

A link to the current version of my statement (it’s 248 words) is below.  While I rarely get an employment inquiry today, I have found updating the statement to be a valuable way to reflect and stay in touch with who I really am as a person.

I used this technique with my MBA students at UMaine.  After struggling with the assignment, they all agreed with my assessment that it was the most difficult document that had ever attempted to write.  I encourage you to try it!

Oh, you might be interested in how the story ended.  I did indeed get two very attractive offers and was confident I could negotiate even better contract terms.  After some long discussions with Keiko and former colleagues, I turned down both offers.  I decided that based on who I was at that point in my life, my internal compass was pointing in a different direction.

I embarked on a quest to find a way to share my political and business experiences with college or university students.  Along the way, in addition to some interesting consulting work that came my way, I did take a job with LL Bean –– as a seasonal part-time cashier.  I actually enjoyed the experience and turned out to be a good retail store management type.  LL Bean retained me after Christmas and kept giving me more responsibility.  From Head Cashier to Assistant Floor Manager to a full-time position as a Customer Service manager.

Five weeks later, lightning struck and I was offered a full-time faculty position at the University of Maine Business School as “Executive-in-Residence.”  You can read about that in my forthcoming book titled The Accidental Professor and Other Tales of an Unexpected Life.

Link to: Myer Who Am I – October 2019