Network Better Have Something To Talk About

Network Better Have Something To Talk About I regularly consult with small business owners (aka solopreneurs) about how to network and market. Those two are almost one-in-the-same, arent they? On a recent call I was talking to a solopreneur about doing webinars or teleseminars. You can get a lot accomplished with a teleseminar, but what if no one comes? Same question with a book what if you write a book and no one buys it? My answer: IT IS OKAY. Perhaps the purpose of the teleseminar, webinar or book is NOT to get it in front of people, have people buy it, or even come (to the webinar or teleseminar) or read it (the book). Let me give you an example: When I go somewhere to speak I might speak in front of 100 people. That isnt very many people!  I dont want to get on a plane, take about a week from my schedule (a trip can take a week 2 travel days, the day of the presentation, the prep before and the catchup after) to get in front of 100 people especially if I do that for FREE! (I usually waive my fee to job clubs) No money (or, the opportunity to make a sale, but Im usually not even going to break even), all that time, for only 100 people? Thats not entirely why I do it. Would I do it if it were 10 people?  I did that before (even though I was told there would be 100 people there). Where is the value? Heres the value and this is important for you as a solopreneur to know, and it is important for you as a job seeker to know: The value is in the pre- and post- marketing. The group who has 100 people coming they might have an email list of about 4,000 10,000 people. I want (them) to TALK ABOUT me, my message, and my trip.  I want them to email their group twice before I come, and twice after Ive left. In each email message I want a link to JibberJobber (the best and most important career management and job search organizer out there) and my LinkedIn book (linking to Amazon and/or my LinkedIn blog). I know have given this job club organizer something to say, about me, to his/her audience. And in addition to the 100 people who actually come, Ill get four touch-points to the 4,000 people on the list.  That will result in: book sales, JibberJobber signups, more evangelists talking about me, curiosity and branding. Is THAT worth it? Shooting an email out to 4,000 people randomly is not a big deal. It would likely have a negative impact. But for the TRUSTED organizer to shoot the email out, and have them say something like JibberJobber is the best and most important career management and job search organizer out there, is really, really, really valuable. My point is, Ive given them something to talk about. What can YOU give your network to talk about? What Ive learned is it cant be one single thing or event. Think of something you can do monthly, or every other month, that they can say oh, that sounds cool.  And Ill tell my friends about it Network Better Have Something To Talk About I regularly consult with small business owners (aka solopreneurs) about how to network and market. Those two are almost one-in-the-same, arent they? On a recent call I was talking to a solopreneur about doing webinars or teleseminars. You can get a lot accomplished with a teleseminar, but what if no one comes? Same question with a book what if you write a book and no one buys it? My answer: IT IS OKAY. Perhaps the purpose of the teleseminar, webinar or book is NOT to get it in front of people, have people buy it, or even come (to the webinar or teleseminar) or read it (the book). Let me give you an example: When I go somewhere to speak I might speak in front of 100 people. That isnt very many people!  I dont want to get on a plane, take about a week from my schedule (a trip can take a week 2 travel days, the day of the presentation, the prep before and the catchup after) to get in front of 100 people especially if I do that for FREE! (I usually waive my fee to job clubs) No money (or, the opportunity to make a sale, but Im usually not even going to break even), all that time, for only 100 people? Thats not entirely why I do it. Would I do it if it were 10 people?  I did that before (even though I was told there would be 100 people there). Where is the value? Heres the value and this is important for you as a solopreneur to know, and it is important for you as a job seeker to know: The value is in the pre- and post- marketing. The group who has 100 people coming they might have an email list of about 4,000 10,000 people. I want (them) to TALK ABOUT me, my message, and my trip.  I want them to email their group twice before I come, and twice after Ive left. In each email message I want a link to JibberJobber (the best and most important career management and job search organizer out there) and my LinkedIn book (linking to Amazon and/or my LinkedIn blog). I know have given this job club organizer something to say, about me, to his/her audience. And in addition to the 100 people who actually come, Ill get four touch-points to the 4,000 people on the list.  That will result in: book sales, JibberJobber signups, more evangelists talking about me, curiosity and branding. Is THAT worth it? Shooting an email out to 4,000 people randomly is not a big deal. It would likely have a negative impact. But for the TRUSTED organizer to shoot the email out, and have them say something like JibberJobber is the best and most important career management and job search organizer out there, is really, really, really valuable. My point is, Ive given them something to talk about. What can YOU give your network to talk about? What Ive learned is it cant be one single thing or event. Think of something you can do monthly, or every other month, that they can say oh, that sounds cool.  And Ill tell my friends about it

Primed to Perform

Primed to Perform (This is the first of a series of posts on  Primed to Perform.) Authors Neel Doshi and Lindsay McGregor have a theory about high performance: why people work affects how well they work. Their 2015 release Primed to Perform, studies how top-performing companies achieve results. Doshi and McGregor believe that great organizations inspire the three most powerful motives for workâ€"play, purpose, and potentialâ€"and eliminate the three most destructiveâ€"emotional pressure, economic pressure, and inertia. They understand how these factors create total motivation (or ToMo, for short). I’ve written about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation before. You may believe that most people work for extrinsic (external) factors like pay, praise, or awards. But in the introduction to Primed to Perform, Doshi and McGregor write, “Money is weak glue.” When members of a group don’t share values and purpose, the group tends to fall apart. Unfortunately, most of what managers and Human Resources staff practice is based on these external factors. Instead, Doshi and McGregor write, we should be focused on what makes every human being tick (and perform at work): intrinsic or internal motivation. They identify the three most important of these: play, purpose and potential. Play is just what it sound like: a sense of enjoyment in the work itself. You may think the term play only applies to jobs that are, well, fun, like working in the arts or working with kids.   But most people who are deeply engaged with their work consider it fun. I once had a CPA tell me that she “loved finding the last of the errors in an account; I get a thrill when I finally balance things out.” I’ve heard the same thing form editors and writers who love finding just the right word or headline, from engineers and scientists who solve problems, and from military members who enjoy the rigorous and deadly serious training they do every day. When you enjoy the work for its own sake, solving problems, getting it right, or doing something for the first time can feel like play. This kind of intrinsic enjoyment gives you a sense of curiosity: “I wonder how this works.” “I wonder what would happen if I tried it this way?” People who don’t enjoy their work never experiment; their curiosity is deadened and they don’t enjoy much about their job beyond punching out for the day. Purpose is the sense that the work you do matters. Great companies help workers connect with the big picture, with what their work does for other people. We’ve all seen disastrous results from  bloated bureaucracies whose workers forget the real people, patients or families, behind the paperwork they’re processing.  Connecting workers with the sense of making a difference in the world is one of the most powerful motivators a manager can tap into. Mission and vision statements have received a bad rap over the past decade, but when done well, the results can be transformational.   Take for example, Southwest Airlines: “When you deliver the highest quality of customer service, and make darn sure people have fun flying with us, they will choose us as often as possible.” Potential  is the idea that we all work for our own goals. Potential is what the authors define as a second order outcome; the work may not be inherently interesting, but it contributes to a personal goal you have. Most of us has are working toward what we define as success, whether it’s financial achievement, acclaim, obtaining a promotion or finishing a degree. You’re working hard now for a reward in the future. This is what helps you change bad habits and start better ones, as well. Doshi and McGregor studied dozens of companies and found that when these three factors were high, the company’s value and worker satisfaction soared. In a later post, we’ll talk about factors that can kill performance.

13 Brand Buzzwords to Nix From Your Vocabulary - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

13 Brand Buzzwords to Nix From Your Vocabulary - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What is one word or phrase youd like to see brands stop using to describe themselves? Why? The following answers are provided by members of  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched  StartupCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. One-Stop Shop You are not a one-stop shop! You excel at one or maybe a couple things. You water down your impact and your brand when you think that making a blanket statement is benefiting your marketing.  Be confident to own what you are the best at, and dont claim you do it all!   â€"  Darrah Brustein,  Network Under 40 / Finance Whiz Kids 2. Disruptive Disruptive. The word just needs to be retired. Focus instead on actually conveying what customer problem your business exists to solve and how you and your team can do it better than anyone else. Demonstrating passion and relevance helps users (and investors) connect the dots.   â€"  David Ehrenberg,  Early Growth Financial Services 3. Innovative We all know if youre innovative or not by how you explain your company.  It doesnt take a rocket scientist to know that youve got something amazing. You dont have to tell us. Yes, your product is the coolest thing since sliced cheese but we dont need to hear about it every time you pitch your story.   â€"John Rampton,  JohnRampton.com 4. The X of Y Everyone wants to be the Uber/AirBnB/Twitter of Y. By describing your company as intrinsically relative to another, you can limit (a)your own creativity, and (b) how others perceive you. The most successful startups especially marketplaces are ones that actually dive deep into the peculiarities of their own industry.   â€"  Basha Rubin,  Priori Legal 5. Guru Please stop saying stuff like youre a social media guru or ninja. As my buddy says, the louder you are, the more you are trying to prove yourself. Let the work do the talk and the clients do the talking for you.   â€"  Kenny Nguyen,  Big Fish Presentations 6. Game Changer Every new product or service could be classified as a game changer if it is slightly different than what is available on the market. Instead of using time in your quick pitch to tell people your idea is a game changer, spend the time telling us about the problem you solve, how you solve it and where you are at today. Let the proof be in the pudding.   â€"  Andrew Hoeft,  Pinpoint Software, Inc. 7. Authentic If you have to point out to people that youre really authentic, theres a problem. Ill decide for myself if I think you and your business are authentic.   â€"Natalie MacNeil,  She Takes on the World 8. Best in Class Unless you are objectively the market leader, you are probably not the best in class. Brands are better off showcasing real, tangible benefits customers have received and letting those benefits speak for themselves.   â€"  Alexandra Levit,  Inspiration at Work 9. Global The past generation of entrepreneurs feels the need to artificially inflate their footprint and show themselves as global or national with offices in all the major cities. Young people can see right through that and the push is to work more locally if possible so its actually counterproductive to making sales.   â€"Josh Fuhr,  Auditrax 10. Crushing Anything This needs to stop being used if anyone ever uses it,  it usually means the opposite. Real  words to use to talk about success are active, particular, and relevant to your business niche, like, Were developing  a suite of elegant  social media tools instead of Were crushing social media. Unless youre actually taking an object and applying force to reduce its size youre not crushing it.   â€"  Jared Brown,  Hubstaff 11. Innovative Apples website never (or rarely) uses the word innovative. Its the first word that springs to mind when describing the company yet they never say it about themselves. Thats because innovation speaks for itself. Its like being cool you dont get to decide if youre cool; other people do. The second you start calling yourself innovative, people begin to doubt it.   â€"  Brian Honigman,  BrianHonigman.com 12. Alternative The word “alternative” is extremely  vague; what exactly is the company or product the alternative to? If it is the alternative to the brand’s perception of the status quo, then it would be more prudent for the brand to use more descriptive, creative words to enhance value to the name.   â€"  Firas Kittaneh,  Amerisleep 13. Scrappy Take the s off the beginning, and thats exactly what this word conveys to potential investors, customers and employees. Most people who are starting a new company begin  small, but thats not a bragging point. Use adjectives that convey the authority and trust you need to build up in the beginning, and most importantly, follow through with actions on your part to create those values.   â€"  Dave Nevogt,  Hubstaff.com

Questions You Should Never Ask to Your Coworkers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Questions You Should Never Ask to Your Coworkers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career We are spending at least 40 hours a week at work so we start to feel like home after a while and get more comfortable talking with our coworkers. Nevertheless different rules apply in professional life and although we see our coworkers more than our family, we should still be careful and never cross some lines. Engaging in certain conversations with your coworkers can damage your reputation or your relationship with them and even get you fired. For this reason, keep in mind the below 3 questions that you should never ask to your coworkers. How much are you getting paid? This is one of the most troublesome questions and it puts the other person in an uncomfortable position. Also, it is usually a contractual requirement to keep this information hidden. On the other hand, what are you going to do if you find out this information? Are you going to go to HR or your manager and complain about your own salary and ask for a raise? Or if you learn that your coworker is underpaid, are you going to talk for him with his manager? Therefore, don’t put yourself and your coworker in an awkward position and avoid asking this question. Are you pregnant? Some people may seem like pregnant because of their belly. Certain medical conditions or medications people use affect their body and this can create the perception of pregnancy. Thus, don’t ask a woman whether she is pregnant unless she tells you. Especially, if you have just met with that person, asking this question may be offending to her if she is not pregnant. Moreover, some women may have fertility issues and asking this question can make them very upset. Who are you going to vote for? This is a very personal question and everybody’s views and opinions might be very different than each other. The safest way is to avoid political conversations in the office. However, if you cannot escape from it, then, try to respect the other person’s opinions. Don’t argue with him/her or don’t try to change his/her opinions. Most probably, you cannot. If you don’t want to deal with him/her, you can minimize your contact. Don’t try to prove that s/he is wrong and you are right. Otherwise, things can get out of control and put you and the other person in an awkward position.

Project Manager Resume Sample - Does It Work?

Project Manager Resume Sample - Does It Work?There are many reasons why a person would want to obtain a Project Manager resume sample. These samples can be purchased online or at your local library and they will walk you through the process of constructing your own cover letter, resume, and even cover letter samples that they feel will work well for you.To be a successful Project Manager you will need to have the right resume or cover letter samples in order to attract potential employers who are looking for more than just an applicant's resume. While it may seem like a daunting task to write a letter or resume for your own information, doing so will help you to be noticed, to get more job offers, and increase your chances of getting a great job.Your resume is the first thing that is going to be seen by prospective employers, so it should be as professional as possible. A well-written resume is going to show off your best qualities and your areas of experience, which means that if yo u want to make it through the hiring process and land your dream job, you are going to need to do a great job on your resume.If you're looking for an online Project Manager resume sample then you'll find one that includes an introduction section, which will give you an idea of what the company is looking for. The Project Manager resumes sample will tell you how you should begin the resume and what types of information you should include with it.If you're not sure what to include with your Project Manager resume sample then you may want to invest in a book or DVD that provides these tips. Most of these tips will involve following a format, writing coherent sentences, and picking a topic for your resume that will allow you to state your experience.The first thing you will want to do when you start writing your resume is to get the employer's attention. You can do this by using your name and then breaking it down into a paragraph, giving a brief introduction to yourself and then statin g your experience in the information that you provide.You can also include a list of your qualifications that include your educational background, your job experience, any awards or achievements, and what kind of organization you've worked for. Doing this will give your employer a good idea of who you are, your experience, and your capabilities.Remember that the Project Manager resumes sample that you are looking for has been designed to help you create your own cover letter and resume. Even though you are required to use some of these guidelines, you'll still want to do some of your own work to ensure that you have something that is unique to you and that will benefit you from the first day you start your job search.

How to Write a Good Personal Statement for Job Application - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to Write a Good Personal Statement for Job Application Many candidates find writing a personal statement hard. Employers often ask for a personal statement because they want more insight into who you are and why they should hire you. A personal statement gives you a chance to highlight anything in your background that is helpful for the employer to know but not immediately obvious from looking at your CV. Here are a few tips on how to write a good personal statement: Step 1 Think about your audience- who they are and what they might be looking for. Review the company’s vision, read about their culture and tailor your answers accordingly. Step 2 Write down a list of achievements and explain why they’d benefit this particular employer. Get clear on the skills you have â€" both job related skills like experience in a particular area or advanced knowledge of a particular computer programme, but also soft skills like communication skills. Step 3 Think of why you want the job. What in your life has been unique and has prepared you for this job? If you’ve had any professional or volunteer experience, which is particularly relevant to this job, mention it. Step 4 Answer any questions the employer asks you to address in your personal statement. Make sure your answers are specific â€" mention numbers and specific results. Step 5 Start writing the first draft of your personal statement and incorporate the achievements you have identified, your career goals and your answers to the employers questions. Make sure each paragraph focuses on one point and is backed by supporting evidence. Step 6 Revise your personal statement. Ask someone to edit it and provide feedback. Analyze the essay to make sure it is easy to read and understand. It is also important you keep it relevant. Anything you say on your personal statement should be suited to the job you’re applying for. Avoid clichés as well â€" don’t say you’re a team player unless you can give specific examples. Hope youve found these tips useful. If  you need personal statement assistance, click here.

The Whys and Hows of Early Job Search Conversations - Hire Imaging

The Whys and Hows of Early Job Search Conversations - Hire Imaging In my last post, I spoke of starting early conversations with reconnection or bone marrow people in your job search. I like to call these first-level conversations for two reasons. These conversations are with people you feel comfortable with already. The conversations are to find information and support, not self-promotion. That will come later, although you will get to practice telling your story to get comfortable with it all. Clients often asked me why this is important. Why not just cut to the chase and get out there selling one’s self. So, is this worth your time? Yes! What are some of the benefits of pacing yourself to have these first-level conversations for just a few weeks earlier in your search? The Whys You can share your positioning statement  or “why I’m on the hunt” story. If you are entering the search with any negative emotion, you get to practice with these folks until the negativity is flushed out. And if you don’t feel negative, you still get to practice before you get in front of decision-makers! You will receive ideas and advice on job search from those who have been there, or can speak from an insider’s perspective. You can share your own plan, and get feedback. That feedback, if positive, should enhance your confidence and fuel action as you move forward. You should get primarily support from these folks and very little resistance or push-back. You should be able to start collecting contact information for your introductions to people at the next level of networking. And along the way, you continue articulating what you need and want, practicing answering questions posed to you, and collecting valuable information and contacts. One word of caution though. There will always be those naysayers who are easy to approach, but will rain on your parade. “Take something right away, even if it’s not quite what you want.” “You need to be practical.” “That’s a tough field.” There will be those people who have had their own negative experiences they still wear on their sleeves. Take what they say, acknowledge it, and move on. But strategically think about talking to people who have potentially helpful information or contacts. Your reality check comes later. For now, you want bone marrow people! The Hows It should feel comfortable to contact these folks. If not, they may be the next level of contacts. You pick up the phone and call those you know; and you ask them about what they know best â€" their own world of work. “Hi Bob, it’s me. Would you be up for a cup of coffee on me sometime this week?” And you make it clear that you just want to have a brief conversation. You are not asking for a resume review, interview tips, and not a job. In fact, it shouldn’t matter how you start the dialogue with these folks. “Mary, I know you’ll bear with me as I muddle through sharing my current situation and why I need your help.” Do have at least some agenda or plan on what you’re going to ask your friend, Mary or your former colleague, Jim. You want this to be a productive conversation versus only chit chat. Cover what you need right away. “Can I pick your brain?” is a good way to start. And take notes! It might go something like this: Synopsis. Paul, I would so appreciate it if you could help me a bit with my job search today. I dont expect you to find me a job or even close. I’d love to get some feedback and hear any ideas you may have . Exit Statement. If you don’t mind, may I tell you first why I’m currently in a job search? And would you please share how it sounds to you? Brand Strengths. Great! That’s helpful; thanks! I also am inventorying my brand and skills. What would you say my strongest selling points are in terms of hard skills, soft skills, and character? Metrics. Is there anything you can think of from our working together that you would call a success story? [Or if you haven’t worked with this person, try out a story]. How does this success story sound to you as one of my accomplishments? People Connection. That is great advice, Paul! Your feedback has been so helpful. As I said, I want to start reaching out to people in my search. Based on our conversation today, who do you think I should be talking to? Industry or Company Direction. Paul, do you know anyone who works at ABC Company? [or] Paul, do you know anyone who works in software development? Magic Finale Question. Who else should I be talking to? Post Conversation Plan. I can’t thank you enough for these names. I’m not rushing into talking to them just yet. I’m going to ask a favor, a big one, I know. Would you be willing to contact these three folks in a week or twoâ€"at my reminder of course, to see if they would be willing to talk to me? The Musts These first-level conversations can mean all the difference in how fast you land; and how you land in a good fit. Everyoneâ€"emerging star or accomplished c-level, needs these bone marrow people to talk to. These conversations help you move forward with names and connections, a well-honed story and statement, confidence, a clear picture for what those next-level conversations will look like. And this is important. Be respectful. Mind their time. Arrive promptly and keep the discussion to the agreed-upon timeframe. Be well prepared with what you will say and what you will ask. And remember to thank these first-level people. Job seekers are often well meaning but let these follow-up courtesies fall through the cracks, because it was a more casual connection. Send a thank-you note. Send an email to expedite it. Follow up with a hand-written thank-you note. Letting someone know that they helped you often makes them feel even more willing to assist you moving forward. An unexpected note of appreciation can really make someone’s day. Don’t stop there. Become known as someone who does what they say they will do. To be really effective, networking is a mutually beneficial relationship. Consider how you can help these friends, family and current and former colleagues. It’s not always about you. You may have connections that would help your contacts. There may be a link to an interesting article or event you’d like share. It really does take a village. Asking for help and giving back can be a domino effect that takes your search and career in a whole new direction. Photo:  Jason Mrachina