Life Tips With David Hottle

Desperate Measures

2008-12-20T03:04:00.000-08:00

These days, job candidates are resorting to more creative methods.

In a survey of Executives, they were asked to describe the most unusual or creative tactic they’d seen job candidates use. Their responses were:

“One candidate handcuffed himself to the desk during the interview.”

“One candidate sent his resume written on a softball.”

An applicant rented a billboard that could be seen from our office window and used it to list his qualifications.”

“Someone being interviewed jumped on the managers desk to make his point.”

“One job seeker sent lottery tickets with her resume.”

“A candidate sent us a T-shirt with the names of everyone in the company on it – and her own.”

“A candidate baked cookies for me and used icing to write several reasons why I should hire her.”

“One person sent everyone in the company flowers. He didn’t get the job, but the office smelled great.”

“A job seeker had prepaid Chinese food delivered to me. Inside the fortune cookies was his name and phone number.”

“A guy organized a chain letter that included a request to send his resume to 12 other companies.”

And the strategies that worked:

“A person offered to work for free on a trial basis. I hired her.”

“One applicant brought us doughnuts every day until he was hired.”

The Truth Behind Job Search Myths

2008-10-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone is an expert when it comes to looking for a job. So it’s no wonder that so many people have misconceptions about how to actually find a great opportunity. From resumes that miss the target to forgetting about the cover letter, the are common mistakes made by job seekers every day just because they don’t know better. Here are six common job search myths and the real story that job seekers need to know.

Myth: If a company likes what they see in my resume, they’ll call me.
Reality: Good jobs are never won by waiting by the phone while the information age has made it extremely easy to send resumes, many people forget that the work involved in a job search does not stop once the “send” button is pushed. Companies receive so many resumes each day, and simply do not have time to respond to every inquiry. Therefore, it is up to the job seeker to make contact. Every resume you send should be followed up with a phone call. In his book, 95 Mistakes Job Seekers Make –and How to Avoid Them (Impact Publications), Richard Fein suggests job seekers make a chart that includes each company’s name, contact person and phone number, and a column for keeping track of action to date and next steps needed. He says you should call one week after sending a resume, and then again a week to 10 days later.

Myth: If it isn’t advertised, it’s not available
Reality: while there are certainly great opportunities to be found in the classified ads and online job postings, many open jobs are never advertised. So while it is important to include want ads and career websites as a part of your job search, this should only be one element of your strategy. In addition, you need to proactively call companies that interest you, as well as network. Call the head of the appropriate department and ask about openings. Request to come in for an interview. Have lunch with contacts and get your name out there. Chances are you’ll find just as many opportunities from cold calls and networking as you will from the help wanted ads.

Myth: A cover letter is just a throw away addition to a resume.
Reality: In almost all circumstances, resumes should be accompanied by a cover letter. This document can be used to your advantage if your letter is well written and specific to the company and position. According to Fein, cover letters can serve five major purposes: Highlighting items that are particularly relevant or impressive in your resume; reframing items to connect them specifically to the company’s needs; adding new material that is relevant to the specific job opportunity; explaining your interest in the specific job; and addressing credibility gap issues that appear in your resume. It’s clear cover letters can do a lot for your job search – make sure you put the time into creating them

Myth: A resume should explain responsibilities at previous jobs.
Reality: A resume needs to give the reader an idea of past positions you have held, but should not read like a page of job descriptions. Instead, you should write your resume like it is an advertisement for yourself. Fein says job seekers need to provide examples of success in their resumes. “Employees are paid not just to do, but to produce,” he says. “Your resume should focus on results.” Instead of just telling the reader about your duties, include facts and figures to demonstrate your success and accomplishments.

Myth: The more resumes I send out, the better.
Reality: while many people take a shotgun approach to job searching, this strategy generally does not end in success. “Your job search needs to be intensive, rather than extensive,” says Fein. This means you should focus your energy on quality contact with companies and opportunities that are truly worthwhile rather than doing mass mailings and nothing else.

Myth: every resume should show a chronological procession of experience
Reality: While chronological resumes are good for those who have been in the workforce for many years, new job seekers should take a different approach, says Fein. “Job seekers with no experience should organize their experience into categories,” he says. For example, if you are looking for a sales job, you would have a category called “Sales experience,” and list facts from a wide range of experience in that category. This will make it easy for the reader to see how your past experience relates to the position available, even when you do not have a long list of jobs.

Be Prepared When Opportunity Calls

2008-10-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Job interviews by Phone Are No Less Formal than Face-to-Face Meetings

Ms. Gikas was interviewing a senior-level manager on the phone when suddenly the job candidate paused. He said he was reading an email, recalls Ms. Gikas, a managing director in New York at Major Public Relations Firm. “It showed me that his conversation with me wasn’t very important,” she explains. He wasn’t invited to interview in person.

Job hunters often mistakenly believe that phone interviews are less formal than face-to-face meetings, recruiters say. Yet they’re a critical first hurdle in landing a job.

For applicants, the goal of a phone interview is to secure an in-person meeting. For recruiters, it’s to narrow their list of prospects. You can increase the odds of passing this initial screening if you follow the advice in these four tips:

Minimize Distractions

Flushing toilets, clamoring dishes, and barking dogs sometimes interrupt phone interviews, recruiters report. If you have scheduled a conversation, plan to be in a quiet place, says Chris Wilkins, manager, strategic staffing at office of Ingersoll Rand Co. If the call was unexpected, it is OK to ask to reschedule, he says.

Avoid using a cell phone, if possible, “You never know when a signal is going to be problematic.” “I’ve had that happen several times with candidates. It was hard to hear them, and calls ended prematurely.”

Sharpen Verbal Skills

Given a phone interview’s lack of eye contact and body language, candidates are evaluated largely by what they say and how they say it, according to recruiters. Interviewers listen for clues indication such qualities as passion for the job, professionalism and whether the person might be a good cultural fit. In may, Ruth Bielobocky, principal of Ion Design LLC, a marketing communications firm in Frederick, Md., rejected a candidate for a senior copywriting job because she wasn’t able to “get a sense of who he was,” she says. “I couldn’t imagine putting him in front of a client to communicate a concept, because you need to have enthusiasm and intonation in your voice to sell.”

“Teen speak” and other unpolished speech habits are a common knockout factor, says Mr. Wilkins. “I’ve had people call me ‘dude’ and ‘brother’ and use words like ‘freakin,’” he says. Other turnoffs are gum chewing, smoking, and eating.
Prepare in Advance

If you’ve scheduled or are anticipating a phone interview, keep notes and your resume at hand, says Amy Segal, director of talent management for Verizon Communications Inc., a New York based Telecommunications Company. “The interviewer is none the wiser,” she notes.

A bit of homework can go a long way. In January, a candidate for a job as vice president of human resources at Ingersoll Rand impressed Mr. Wilkins by mentioning its acquisition of Italian manufacturers CISA Spa. “The press release came out literally the day we spoke,” he says. Mr. Wilkins invited the candidate to interview in person, though the person withdrew because of the job’s location.

Susie Klinck, manager of the site-management team at the Palo Alto, Calif., office of Xerox Corp., says a candidate for a content-manager position at the technology and services company emailed her some work samples, and they reviewed them together on the phone.

The candidate secured an in-person interview. While she didn’t win the job, says Ms. Klinck, “being able to review her work together went a long way in her getting as far as she did.”

Follow Up

After a phone interview, send a thank-you that recaps your best selling points.

Yvonne Gagnon, a part-time communications-management student at Manhattanville College’s School of Graduate & Professional Studies in purchase, N.Y., did just that after a phone interview in July. She had emailed her resume to a recruiter at an executive-search firm and called a few days later to follow up. She was interviewed on the spot for a communications job at a credit-card company. “I didn’t know anything about the position or where her questioning was going,” She says. Afterward, Ms. Gagnon crafted an email summarizing what they had discussed and information that she hadn’t thought to mention.

“I’m really glad I did it, because I ended up getting five [in person] interviews” for that job through the recruiter, she says. While she didn’t get the job, she still makes follow-up emails a practice. “The face-to-face interview won’t happen if you don’t treat a phone interview with the same gravity,” she says.

A Short Course

2008-09-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Six Most Important Words:
“ I admit I made a mistake”

The Five Most Important Words;
“You did a good job”

The Four Most Important Words:
“What is your opinion?”

The Three Most Important Words:
“ If You Please”

The Two Most Important Words:
“Thank You”

The Least Important Word:
"I"

Four Don'ts When Dealing With Corporate Recruiters

2008-08-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

What's the first step to getting a job interview? Getting past the recruiter.
Recruiters are usually your first contact with a potential employer. And they often decide whether your resume lands on the hiring manager's desk or in a far-off filing cabinet.

While it's important to know the basics of what recruiters do, you also need to know what they DON'T do. After all, you don't want an inappropriate request to ruin your chances for an interview.

Here are four things you shouldn't ask of a recruiter.

Don't Be Overly Friendly
Sure, recruiters are usually warm, friendly and helpful. After all, it's their job to put you at ease and guide you through the hiring process. But they're professional colleagues, and it's crucial that you never forget it.
Think of the recruiter as a respected coworker and treat them accordingly. Be friendly, but not overly casual or familiar. It's wise to keep personal conversations, jokes and physical contact to a minimum.
After a tough interview with a hiring manager, you may be relived to see a recruiter's smiling face. Don't be tempted to let your guard down though; you're still "on," even if the interview has ended.
A useful rule of thumb: Don't say or do anything in front of a recruiter that you wouldn't say or do in front of your boss (or your mother).

Don't Expect Career Coaching
The recruiter's goal is not to help you get a job. It's to help you navigate the hiring process at one specific company. Recruiters aren't career coaches. It's not appropriate to ask them to help you craft your cover letter, edit your resume or plan your career path. You can ask questions about the company or industry in general, but try to relate your questions to the job you're being considered for. And save your best, most thoughtful questions for the hiring manager -- that's who you need to impress most.

Don't Ask for Insider Information
There's only one job candidate you really need to worry about: You.
Though it may be hard to resist, don't ask about who you're up against for a job. Recruiters generally won't share information about other candidates. And asking for specific details about the competition makes you look insecure in your own skills.
However, questions about the hiring process or the position itself are fair game. Here are a few questions you can feel comfortable asking:
• Are you still interviewing candidates?
• How large is the current pool of candidates?
• How would you describe the ideal candidate for the job?
• Is there anything I can do to make myself a stronger candidate?
The best way to get an edge on the competition? Make yourself a more competitive candidate.

Don't Request Special Treatment
Although you may wish you were, you're probably not the only candidate for the job.
And, while recruiters are often happy to help, their aim is not to be your advocate to the hiring manager. Their aim is to fill a position.
Never ask a recruiter to put in a good word for you with the hiring manager. If they think you're a strong candidate, they'll probably sing your praises anyway.
Also, don't ask them to relay a message to the hiring manager for you. Instead of saying, "Tell So-and-So it was very nice to meet him ...," send a thank you note.
Taking the initiative and speaking for yourself shows the hiring manager that you're capable, confident and conscientious.

Remember, if you treat the recruiter well, chances are they'll treat you the same way.

Suffocate Your Fears

2008-07-20T05:02:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Robert Schuller

Isolate yourself from those who would tell you, “It can’t be done,” It’ll never work,” “Somebody else tried it and failed,” It’s never been done before.”

Isolate yourself from such destructive, negative forces.

Isolate yourself against the persons who generate depressing, discouraging vibrations.

Suffocate your fears. Deprive them of their life support systems.

The harder you work, the luckier you get

2008-06-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

By Barry Farber
Luck is created by increasing the frequency of those activities that are most likely to lead to success.

For instance, a salesperson who calls on 10 people will be luckier in terms of finding a viable prospect than will a salesperson who calls on two people. There’s no getting around it: It takes effort to get lucky.

Tiny pieces of luck seep into every small step you take toward your goal. Put all those steps together, and you’re more likely to get that lucky break!

Or, as the writer and educator Shelby Steele once said, “Opportunity follow struggle. It follows hard work. It doesn’t come before.”

The extra push
The one trait that makes some people more successful than most others is working past the general work ethic, putting more work into their job than the next person.

It’s that extra push that makes the difference, whether it’s finding ways to get new prospects, serving current customers, or working with a vendor. What counts most is the “behind the scenes” effort that your prospects and customers don’t see.

Hard work is never glamorous. Nobody sees it. There are no TV shows that begin with the announcer saying, “Today we’re interviewing the successful salesperson Bob Jones of Acme Corporation.”

Enjoy the benefits
So what caused high achievers to put in the extra effort? Sure, they have pressures and obligations like everyone else, bills they have to pay and goals they want to meet. But that’s not why they do it. They do it because they like to do it and they want to enjoy the benefits that hard work brings.

The Most Memorable People in the World!

2008-06-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

Pop quiz (and it doesn’t count if you look up the answers.)

Who were the highest paid CEO’s for the past 3 years?
Who were the last three Heisman trophy winners?
Who were the last three winners of the Miss America pageant?
Who were the last three winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature?
Who were the last three recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize?
Who won the last three Academy Awards for Best Actress? Best Actor?

So, ho did you do? You probably left more than a few answers blank. Well, don’t worry, you are not alone. Few people remember yesterday’s news. And that’s what these folks are. Sure, they’re the best and brightest in their fields, the wealthiest, the most attractive, and the most successful. But sooner or later, the applause dies, the beauty fades, the awards tarnish. And wealth? Well, you really can’t take it with you.

Okay, now try this quiz:

Name three teachers who helped you get through school.
Name three friends who helped you through tough times.
Name three people who’ve taught you valuable lessons.
Name three people who’ve made you feel loved and appreciated.
Name three people whose company you enjoy.
Name three personal heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Bet this one was easier. The people who truly make a difference in our lives are rarely the ones with the biggest names, the most money, or the greatest number of accolades.

They are the ones who care!

Weakness or Strength?

2008-05-13T05:05:00.001-07:00

I heard this story and hope that I can repeat it properly.

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take for example, the story of one 10-year old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. He was doing well, but he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei’” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied. Not quite understanding but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches with his one move. The championship match proved to be more difficult, because his opponent was bigger and more experienced.

For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

“No,” the sensei insisted. “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament.

On the way home, the boy asked what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grip your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his greatest strength.

Recession-Proof Your Career

2008-05-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

Recession fears are causing more than just stock-market jitters this winter. They're also shaking some workers' confidence. Even if there isn't an official recession, a number of areas are already seeing layoffs and hiring freezes. Here are some strategies for recession-proofing your career.

Stick around. If you work for a company in distress, your first instinct may be to jump ship. But if your new employer later decides to lay off workers, you'll likely be most at risk of getting a pink slip. Be a good sport. Following layoffs, you may be asked to take on additional work that was part of a former employee's responsibilities. Haven't been asked to take on extra projects? Volunteer to help. Work harder and smarter. Act the way you did when you were gunning for a promotion. Companies are less likely to get rid of star performers.

Prepare for the worst ahead of time by making sure your resume is up to date. Network now. Don't wait until you need help finding a job. Take a pay cut. Consider offering to accept a temporary salary reduction. Search internally. If you see a layoff coming in your division or department, it may be easier to search for another position at your current firm

Winning Hand

2008-04-07T14:11:00.001-07:00

Championship poker player Barry Shulman offers his inside tips for improving your poker game and, consequently your entrepreneurial game.

Read Looks and Gestures. Are players leaning forward? Are they acting quickly? Poker helps you read nonverbal cues crucial when you’re deciding whether to press for that extra percent.

Know Your Limits. The mental stuff separates the good from the best. If you run into 50/50 circumstances six consecutive times and lose all six, are you capable of maintaining self control?

Understand Risk/Reward Scenarios. If you have a 1 in 13 chance of hitting an inside straight, the question is not, can you make the straight? But, what’s the upside? Make sure the reward is worth the risk.

Improve Number Related Skills. When the flop comes, you should know if your hand has an 80 percent or a 20 percent chance of winning.

Learn Effective Bluffing. Pretending you have something you don’t often backfires. The same applies in business, so be prepared to deliver the goods.
Consider Slow Playing Techniques. Slow playing is when you have a good hand and play as if you do not. You might achieve a greater return if you don’t show the strength of your hand.

Grasp The Risk of Ruin. If your business is worth $1 million, and there’s an opportunity costing $1 million with a return of only $2 million, it’s not worth the risk. If it fails, game over

Bulking Up

2008-04-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

A little training each day helps you pump up your game at the bargaining table.
Can dealmakers improve their negotiating chops through daily practice?

Listen. Any decent book on communication skills will tell you how truly difficult it is to be a good listener. It doesn’t come naturally. Pick somebody each day to practice on. Don’t interrupt; don’t judge; don’t go away on a mental holiday. You will almost always pick up great business intelligence when you really listen.

Learn to be a Good Conversationalist. Ask open-ended questions. The ones that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. Hint: They begin with how, why, what, who, where or when. This is how to gauge your opponent’s vulnerabilities and ferret out their underlying interests.

Be Obnoxious to Someone. Find someone annoying to practice on. Being petulant and irascible has its time and place at the bargaining table. You won’t use this tool often, but it’s nice to have it on your belt. And this kind of role playing experience will give you great perspective when you invariably find yourself on the receiving end.

Continue Your Education. There are lots of great books on negotiation. Read one. No matter hoe experienced you are, you’ll probably learn a technique or two that’s either new or something you haven’t used in awhile. Find a situation to practice it. This is how to expand your repertoire.

Flinch and Make a Counteroffer. Flinch and make a counteroffer on purpose. Reaction time can be critical. So hone those haggling reflexes till they become second nature.

Agree With Everything Someone Says. Disagree with Everything Someone Says. How does it feel? What makes you edgy? How is the other person reacting? At what point are they getting torqued? Negotiation is give and take, push and pull. Being able to sense your own thermometer as well as the other guy’s is an advantage.

Make An Outrageous Demand. Sometimes dealmakers need to be aggressive and audacious. They need to move beyond their comfort zones and test the limits. Bluff. Bluff big time. Ask for the moon and the stars.

When a famous violinist was hailed as an overnight sensation, he said, “I practiced for 20 years, and now they call me a genius.” Do your daily deal making exercises, and someday, you too, will play your opponent like a Stradivarius.

When You Fail, Don’t Give Up

2008-02-26T04:57:00.001-08:00

These people didn’t.

R.H.Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.

Novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published the first of his 564 books.

Thomas Edison was thrown out of school in the early grades when the teachers decided he could not do the work.

Harry S. Truman failed as a haberdasher.

When Bob Dylan performed at a high school talent show, his classmates booed him off the stage.

W. Clement Stone, successful insurance company executive and founder of Success magazine, was a high school drop out.

What can you learn from Emmitt Smith winning "Dancing with the Stars?"

2008-02-26T04:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how many of you are hooked on this TV phenomenon, but there is a lesson individuals can learn here.

Just in case you lived in a cave, Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys (Superbowl Superstar) was in a dance competition called "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC. He started out with not much dancing talent, experience, knowledge or expertise. Most of his competition was younger, built more like dancers, and some had experience.

WHY DID HE WIN?
It was his attitude, charisma, work ethic and tenacity. It doesn't matter what he does, he gives it a 100% effort. He entered the competition expecting to WIN! No matter how much he mentally or physically was in pain - he appeared to be having the best time of his life and smiled the entire time.

One by one he knocked out his competition with his uncanny focus and newly learned talents. He ignored pessimists or ridicule for the ridiculous outfits he wore. He only focused on the RESULTS he wanted.

Are you a CHAMPION in your profession?
Do you challenge yourself every day to achieve peak performance, no matter what obstacles are thrown at you? Do you work harder than your Competition? Do you provide better service? Do you challenge yourself to continually learn new skills? Do you take things "personal" or stay focused on your GOAL?

What you are doing RIGHT NOW is starting to set up 2008! There is no trophy at the end of our year....but you can achieve more than you think!

There is NO LIMIT on what you can achieve if you just make the commitment! Take time to commit to the changes you must make starting NOW to have your BEST YEAR EVER!

Recession-Proof Your Career

2008-02-12T07:22:00.000-08:00

This was sent to me by a friend, Thought I should share this with you.

Recession fears are causing more than just stock-market jitters this winter. They're also shaking some workers' confidence. Even if there isn't an official recession, a number of areas are already seeing layoffs and hiring freezes. Here are some strategies for recession-proofing your career.

Stick around. If you work for a company in distress, your first instinct may be to jump ship. But if your new employer later decides to lay off workers, you'll likely be most at risk of getting a pink slip. Be a good sport. Following layoffs, you may be asked to take on additional work that was part of a former employee's responsibilities. Haven't been asked to take on extra projects? Volunteer to help. Work harder and smarter. Act the way you did when you were gunning for a promotion. Companies are less likely to get rid of star performers.

Prepare for the worst ahead of time by making sure your resume is up to date. Network now. Don't wait until you need help finding a job. Take a pay cut. Consider offering to accept a temporary salary reduction. Search internally. If you see a layoff coming in your division or department, it may be easier to search for another position at your current firm

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE #1

2008-01-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

In honor of the Superbowl and Football playoffs, a classic reprint of advice from one of the most famous coaches of all time. Enjoy.

“YOU’VE GOT TO PAY THE PRICE”
by Vince Lomabrdi

“Winning is not a sometime thing: it’s an all time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. I have never finished second twice in my time at Green Bay and I don’t ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do and to win and to win.

Every time a football player goes out to play his trade he’s got to play from the ground up—from the soles of his feet right to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That’s OK. You’ve got to be smart to be No.1 in any business. But, more important, you’ve got to play with your heart—with every fiber of your body. If you’re lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.

Running a football team is no different from running any other kind of organization—any army, a political party, a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win—to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don’t think it is.

It is reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That’s why they are there—to compete. They know the rules and the objective is to win—fairly, squarely, decently, by the rules but to win.

And in truth, I’ve known a man worth his salt who, in the long run, deep down in his heart, did not appreciate the grind, the discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

I don’t say these things because I believe in the “brute” nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But, I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour---his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear—is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the filed of battle—VICTORIOUS!!”

Nine Things People CARE ABOUT!

2008-01-02T05:09:00.000-08:00

People DON'T CARE how good you are...
THEY CARE how good you're going to help them become!

People DON'T CARE what you've done...
THEY CARE what you've LEARNED and how those lessons can help them!

People DON'T CARE what you can't do...
THEY CARE what you CAN DO!

People DON'T CARE what they hear you say...
THEY CARE what they SEE you DO!

People DON'T CARE what you do for a living...
THEY CARE what you're passionate about!

People DON'T CARE if you're having a bad day...
THEY CARE how you're going to help them have a better day!

People DON'T CARE about price...
They care about value, convenience and risk!

People DON'T CARE about your company...
They care about the problems your company can solve!

People DON'T CARE about being apologized to...
They care about answers, solutions and resolutions!

When You Fail, Don't Give Up

2007-12-04T10:36:00.000-08:00

Turning Connections Into Compatriots

2007-12-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Health, Wealth and Children

Pay careful attention to these three things that engender the deepest emotional bonds between people: health wealth and children.

When you support people during an illness, help increase their personal wealth, or take a sincere interest in their children, you engender lifelong loyalty.

You help them fulfill their most basic needs and allow them to move up Maslow’s pyramid of needs to address some of their higher desires.

Connecting With Connectors

2007-11-09T05:33:00.001-08:00

If you’re only six degrees separated from everyone in the world, it’s because some people know a lot more people than others do. They are super connectors. Here are four examples of super connectors: restaurateurs, headhunters, politicians and journalists.
Such people should be the cornerstones of any flourishing network because being connected to them means you are also loosely connected to many more people, often from many different worlds than yours, which can be valuable when you need expertise not possessed by your close friends.
Your “weak ties” are important. Most of your strong contacts live in the same world as you. But your weak ties are hanging out with different people, often in different worlds, with access to a whole inventory of information that’s unavailable to you and your close friends.
Once you become friendly with a super connector, you’re only a couple of steps away from the thousands of people whom that person knows.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

2007-11-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

Got the after lunch blues? A survey of 1,000 British office workers conducted found that more than half of female and more than a third of male workers suffer an afternoon slump in energy that affects their memory and performance. The study blames the food and beverages workers consume for lunch and snacks, and a lack of exercise.

For example, eating a lot at lunch sends more blood to the gut to aid in digestion, leaving less to supply other body parts including the brain. The kinds of food eaten also affect energy. High sugar foods such as white bread sandwiches and buns deliver a quick energy kick, followed by a slump.

A nutritionist suggests brown rice, salad or whole meal sandwiches with peanut butter or hummus, plus three servings a week of oily fish, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and help regulate neurotransmitters, and eggs and dairy foods to supply vitamin B-12, which produces memory-boosting acetylcholine.

The worst snacks for alertness are chocolate, cookies, and highly processed snacks. Instead, eat apples, dried apricots, yogurt, bananas or peanuts.

As for drinks, sodas are a no-no. Instead, drink fruit juice and sip water to the tune of two quarts or so per day. And although coffee can deliver a quick boost, six or more cups will leave you drained.

Exercise is the third part of an energy maintenance program. A 10-minute walk at lunchtime will help you feel more energetic, and a 20-minute daily walk improves mental health.

Create Your Own Reality

2007-10-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

In college we used to sell coupon books door to door, and we used to have a term, “Create your own reality.” This meant that as soon as someone broke a sales record, it changed our entire outlook on our job. For example: If the record was 20 coupon books in four hours and one day someone broke the record and sold 25, we were no longer happy if we sold 20. Why? Because we now realized it was possible t sell more.

Every day we were trying to create a new reality. The same story is true of Russian Olympian Vasili Alexeev. He was trying to break a weigh lifting record of 500 pounds. He had lifted 499 but couldn’t for the life of him, lift 500.

Finally, his trainers put 501.5 pounds on his bar and rigged it so it looked like 499pounds. Of course, you know the story. He lifted it easily.

Once he created this new reality, other weight lifters went on to break his record. Why, because they now knew it was possible to life 500 pounds.

The limits we set for ourselves exist in our minds. Sometimes, if we let our hearts do the talking and believe in our ability to overcome past perceptions, we can create another reality.

You Need to Ping All the time

2007-10-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

Eighty percent of relationships is just staying in touch. “Pinging” is a quick, casual greeting that can be done in many creative ways. Once you develop your own style, you’ll find it easier to stay in touch with more people and in less time than you ever imagined.

Before there is substantive recognition, people you’ve just met need to encounter your name in at least three modes of communication: e-mail, phone call and face to face.

As far as content is concerned, there is the “ I just called to say I care” ping that is used for closer contacts. Let them know it’s been too long since you’ve spoken.

For people important to your career or business, favor the “value added” ping. Perhaps you want to recognize that someone has been promoted, or that the company had a good quarter. Send relevant articles, short notes of advice, or other small tokens that convey that you are thinking of them and eager to help.
Avoid pinging at holiday time when everyone is overwhelmed with mail. But do recognize people’s birthday.

Lessons From The Apprentice

2007-09-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

Now that this reality show has run its course, what lessons can we draw from it?

Just to recap, The Apprentice is a reality show withv young business women who more or less look like sex goddesses are pitted against young business men who for the most part are buff as can be, in a cutthroat competition for success. Think Survivor, only in Armani suits. And this time, the last person standing wins a six-figure salary and a year working for real estate developer Donald Trump.

The show features some hard lessons you aren’t likely to learn in B-Schools or in “Masters” courses.

Reality #1: For all the enlightened talk of teamwork, when push comes to shove, people often look out for themselves and try to blame others for their failures. Sure, reality might not always be so blatant. The outright bickering and backstabbing seen on the show might be enough to get someone fired in the real world. But those clever machinations and the endless scheming by participants to dis their colleagues’ ideas in an effort to save their own hides, that’s as real as it gets. Lesson: Always watch your back.

Reality #2: Call it the Donald Trump version of marketing 101. Quality isn’t what drives customers to buy. Exposure is what matters in a celebrity obsessed society. What else explains why some contestants, already successful, would be humiliated before 20 million viewers? And why is Deutsch Inc., one of the ad industry’s most cutting edge shops, lending its good name to a sensationalist show like The Apprentice?
Lesson: There’s no such thing as bad publicity.

Reality #3: Think sex has been banished from the workplace after three decades of efforts to improve equality? Think again. So far, the women are relying on something far more basic than their smarts to win. In the first episode, they boost lemonade sales by kissing their customers, while in the second they beat the men’s team with a sexually suggestive ad proposal. The clincher: The women make their presentation to the ad chief in snug retro flight attendant outfits. No surprise the guys never had a chance.
Lesson: Sex really does sell.

What made this show so compelling, and entertaining, is that it’s like a funhouse mirror of the business world. Everything was a bit off kilter but recognizable. Don’t quit B-school. But by watching The Apprentice, you might learn something just as important. Buy the DVD's.

What can you learn from Emmitt Smith winning "Dancing with the Stars?"

2007-09-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many of you are hooked on this TV phenomenon, but there is a lesson individuals in any profession can learn here.

Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys (Superbowl Superstar) started in a dance competition four months ago. He started out with not much dancing talent, experience, knowledge or expertise. Most of his competition was younger, built more like dancers, and some had experience.

WHY DID HE WIN?
It was his attitude, charisma, work ethic and tenacity. It doesn't matter what he does, he gives it a 100% effort. He entered the competition expecting to WIN! No matter how much he mentally or physically was in pain - he appeared to be having the best time of his life and smiled the entire time.

One by one he knocked out his competition with his uncanny focus and newly learned talents. He ignored pessimists or ridicule for the ridiculous outfits he wore. He only focused on the RESULTS he wanted.

Are you a CHAMPION in your profession?
Do you challenge yourself every day to achieve peak performance, no matter what obstacles are thrown at you? Do you work harder than your Competition? Do you provide better service?
Do you challenge yourself to continually learn new skills? Do you take things "personal" or stay focused on your GOAL?

What you are doing RIGHT NOW is starting to set up 2008!

There is NO LIMIT on what you can achieve if you just make the commitment!