Finding Inspiration and Being Remarkable - Thinking the Seth Godin Way

Finding Inspiration and Being Remarkable - Thinking the Seth Godin Way Like a lot of business people, I enjoy reading business books. I read on all kind of topics, but find myself regularly coming back to the writers who really fire my imagination. If you’ve been on any of my workshops you will know that I often quote from my two favourites: Tom Peters and Seth Godin. Tom I enjoy, but Seth inspires me. Seth’s words help me to look at what I am doing and how I focus on my business and my marketplace. Seth and I have never met, but if he likes it or not, Seth is a mentor to me. He mentors me in a very specific and cool way. I read his words, or listen to one of his books on audiobook, and I start to see the obvious. Of course, things are only obvious once they are pointed out to us. We all need this kind of inspiration in our working lives. We need to find the work or words of others to help us broaden our minds. If we don’t have that inspirational role model, we are stuck with only our own thoughts and ideas. Yes, of course, this is obvious. But only obvious once you see it. The beauty of the e-world we live in is that we don’t have to wait for an author to publish a new book, we can subscribe to their blog feed, follow them on Twitter or Google+, or like them on Facebook. We can often even watch them on YouTube. We can take bite-sized chunks of their thoughts and use these to help us think about our own businesses. Seth talks a lot about being remarkable. Being different and standing out, finding your ‘purple cow’. Being a leader. Getting to that point, however, requires us to think about what we want to achieve, how we want to be known and how do we get there. It requires us to take time away from our desks, open our minds to the endless possibilities around us and formulate a process, a direction, a goal to chase. In its simplest form, a business plan. Most of us will have planned our startup, our next 12 months, our new division. But the constant appraisal and re-appraisal of our businesses by seeking inspiration from others can be the difference that it takes to make us get to remarkable. Be remarkable. Take inspiration. About the author:  James Nathan  runs the James Nathan experience; the Business Development, Sales and Service Excellence Expert for Professional Recruiters.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Scale Up Excellence

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Scale Up Excellence One of the most difficult problems a leader can face is how tospread and grow successthroughout a team or organization. Companies like Facebook and Google have added thousands of employees successfully without sacrificing excellence, while Starbucks and Yahoo faltered as they focused more on creating a big footprint instead of ensuring the right mindset permeates an organization. In a new book based on seven years of research,Robert SuttonandHuggy Raolook at how successful leaders and companies worked to spread a culture of specific beliefs, behaviors and practices. The book,Scaling Up Excellence: Getting To More Without Settling for Less,provides case studies and insights from those who have been in the trenches of scaling challenges. For example, in the early days of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg was close enough to workers to constantly hammer home his vision. But as the company grew, that no longer became possible so employees are now sent to a six-week boot camp, where they performed various small assignments for about a dozen diverse groups before they are given a specific job within the company. During this time, the companys credo of move fast and break things is reinforced, along with the companys core beliefs. In addition, each new employee is given a non-management mentorto help him or her navigate boot camp. This practice helps Facebook scale up talent because it lets mentors stick a toe in the management waters, the authors explain. Rao says that those organizations that scale well do so not byspreading(see more here)

This one goes out to the ladies...

This one goes out to the ladies... This week I want to take a moment to thank those people that really keep relationships in check the friends/the confidants/the ladies. Now some might wonder what do your friends have to do with romantic relationships? Well, Ill tell youEVERYTHING. Im not just talking about approving or disapproving of a significant other, cause lets be real, you cant expect everyone to like a new beau. But having those friends that you can talk to about your relationship (whether your definition of friend in this case is man, woman, mother, or psychiatrist) is CRUCIAL. My friends just GET ME. In Greys Anatomy terms, this is Your Person. They know exactly who I am, so they tell me like it is, they know when Im calling bullshit, and they know when Im not being myself. Therefore, my friends are perfect for talking about relationships with. Here is an example: I was dating a gentleman, (we might all remember him as the one I saluted), and he met a few of my friends. My friends didnt hate him- he was exactly my physical type and was older and successful, but they totally knew he wasnt right for me. They called me out like nobodys business and acknowledged the fact that I was dating him for the wrong reasons- reasons only, that they being my friends would know about me, that others would not clearly see. They acknowledged everything that I knew was true that I just hadnt been able to express  outloud. And Im so happy they did. I cannot emphasis strongly enough how much these relationships mean to me. When I want to go crazy hypothetical, when I want to bitch about something so little that it shouldnt be bitched about, when I get myself riled up for no real reason, my friends keep me in check. They tell me to slow down, to breathe, and that theyve been there too. To know that my friends have been in the same situations, felt the same things, or know me so well that they understand why I feel the way I do, keeps my relationship in perspective and my relationship is better for it. So ladies- thank you. So I ask you, do you have the confidants? Who is Your Person? Id love to hear! Lets talk. Happy Thursday yall!

Why Listening is the Most Powerful Personal Strategy You Can Use - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Why Listening is the Most Powerful Personal Strategy You Can Use - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Getting support from others is less about showing how fabulous you are. Its more about showing them you know how fabulous they are. According to personal and professional development expert Brian Tracy in The Power of Charm, acceptance, appreciation, approval, admiration, and attention are key behaviors that make others feel more important and help win them over. Id actually add an adjective before each one: sincere. No one wants to be showered with false flattery, but they do like it when you genuinely notice things. And how do you show that? By listening. Over the last couple of weeks, the topic of listening has come up in a variety of places. From a reporter confiding to me about a source, He just didnt listen to my questions to the exasperated look I caught from a friend when the story she was telling was interrupted for the fifth time by one of our dinner companions. When people dont feel heard, they feel detached from you, and thats dangerous to the health of your personal brand and your network. In an era of mass A.D.D, has listening become a lost art? How can we become better listeners? Two ears one mouth Listening in person means paying attention to what someone is saying, without jumping in to hog the spotlight with your own insights. When they talk, its their moment, give them the space to shine. Resist the urge to be their color commentator. Its annoying, for example, when a friend starts saying, I was on a plane to Salt Lake City last week when…, and you jump in with a personal trivia nugget, Oh, Salt Lake City, thats such a great place for skiing. It reminds me of the time I… In other words, leave the pop-up video commentary to VH1. Showing that youre listening online is even more powerful, because when its so easy to post our thoughts, activities, and feelings everywhere, we dont want all those thoughts, activities and feelings to be about us. Actively read the blogs and status updates of your network, review their tweets, and share your reactions. Even better is to find opportunities to forward links to their content to your own network to help get their message in front of more people. Acknowledge those who took the time Im definitely trying to get better at responding to blog comments to acknowledge those whove taken the time. Its definitely a work in progress, but Ive made it a priority (by the way, if youre going to leave a comment, thank you in advance, Ill give a personalized reply as soon as I can!). You might be thinking, Who has time to listen when there is so much to pay attention to? Just because you cant pay attention to everyone, doesnt mean you shouldnt pay attention to anyone. Obviously, those whose work is most relevant to you will get more of your focus. And personally, I tend to pay more attention to people who are paying attention to me. Its just human nature, I think. Though you dont want someone to come on too strongly and try to be your BFF after three or four retweets (hey, I cant be bought that cheaply). To spoof a famous saying, In the land of the deaf, the one-eared man is king. If you can listen to your customers, your prospects, your interviewers, your colleagues, and your supporters even just a little bit better than your competitors do, youll have a big advantage even when all else is equal. Author: Liz Lynch is founder of the  Center for Networking Excellence and  author of Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online (McGraw-Hill, 2008).  She writes, speaks and consults to experienced professionals on  how to seamlessly integrate social media and traditional networking to save time and accelerate results.

5 Tips to Fixing your Professional Relationship with Your Boss After an Argument - CareerMetis.com

5 Tips to Fixing your Professional Relationship with Your Boss After an Argument An argument with your boss will make the workplace feel awkward. There’s always a time and place for disagreement, or at least fair and respectful constructive criticism.Once in a while, some people may get carried away and turn what would have been a productive discussion into a full blown argument.evalArguments don’t always lead to employees losing their jobs, as long as they weren’t egregiously ugly. Employees who can fix the situation and restore the harmony may not even see any consequences, provided they act quickly and appropriately.If you’ve just gotten into a verbal tiff with your boss, you’ll need to act soon â€" no matter whose fault it was.1. Give Yourself an Intricate AssessmentevalAn argument involves two people. You need to start by examining yourself, and how you contributed to the argument. Even if it started with your boss angering or upsetting you, you need to consider what you did in response that escalated the situation.Maybe you let your feelings get t oo far ahead of your thoughts. Maybe you’d let some unresolved issues accumulate, resulting in a heated exchange.You can’t assume what your boss was thinking at the time, or what your boss should have done differently. Taking a personal inventory allows you to form the right response to the situation.Be willing to accept the mistakes you’ve made â€" if you deny them all and reject the notion of accountability, you won’t be able togrow personallyand professionally.2. Give Your Boss an Intricate AssessmentevalYou can’t get inside your boss’s head, and it might be inappropriate to ask probing questions. Instead, you’ll need to take what you know and piece together your observations. Is your boss obviously going through a rough time right now?Has the workplace been extremely stressful or shorthanded? If your company going through major transitions that haveput a lot of pressure on your boss? These factors may have contributed to the argument you had.Developing some empathy for your boss’s position will help you form the proper apology. When you have a solid grasp of all the factors affecting the situation, you can choose your words carefully. You can avoid hitting tender nerves or bringing up issues that may have started the argument in the first place.You may come to the conclusion that your boss did or said things that were objectively wrong, regardless of the circumstance. If your boss used offensive language or direct insults at you, especially if you weren’t speaking in the same manner, this may be larger than the typical workplace argument.evalSeriously contemplate whether or not you can continue to work with your boss in situations where you were made to feel unsafe, denigrated, or discriminated against â€" especially if other employees have expressed a similar sentiment. This is an issue that HR needs to address immediately.3. Learn the Art of ApologizingGenuine apologiesare the only apologies that matter. When you make thorough use of th e word “but” or try to explain why you did the things you did, it might appear that you’re attempting to shift the blame onto someone else.A true apology is thorough ownership for one’s own part in a dispute or a bout of misbehavior that doesn’t address or reflect upon the other party in any way. If they have something to apologize for, they need to recognize that on their own. They may not, but you can’t control what your boss does.Even if both you and your boss raised your voice, it’s not up to you to address what your boss did. You might have been yelling in response, but that wasn’t important. What’s important is that you chose to react that way, and that’s exactly how you need to accept ownership of it.If you have a great boss, he or she might feel compelled to apologize for what was done in response to your apology. Blameless apology opens the door for a productive dialogue where both people can begin the discussion about what they need to do better.This ma y not happen right away because your boss might not yet be ready. At the very least, minds will be kept open and you’ve handled your own part.4. Modify Your BehaviorsSaying you’re sorry but not acting like your sorry won’t make much of a difference. If your boss has taken an issue with recurring behaviors or a workplace problem that’s been ongoing.To demonstrate that your apology was sincere, you need to make sure that your actions are matching your words. If you don’t fully commit yourself to your efforts, you’re going to find yourself back in the same position. This might lead to permanent career damage, so it’s crucially important to devote yourself to professional betterment.evalEven if your boss laid out some feedback or criticisms that seemed exceptionally harsh, you need to show that you were receptive to what was said. Have you really been showing up late a lot? Make an effort to come in five minutes early as often as you can.If your boss said thatyou’ve been argumentative or arrogant, take every opportunity you can find to be receptive and humble. Let everyone see that you’ve acknowledged your wrongdoing and are making an effort to restore peace and harmony.5. Prevent The Situation from RecurringevalArguments leave some lingering tension. It might take a few weeks for things to fully cool down. While tensions are still high, another argument is much more likely to happen. You might need to take a day to apologize if you feel too strongly about the situation to be able to apologize without a bias.No matter how you decide to handle the argument and its aftermath, you need to be sure that your emotions aren’t affecting your ability to move forward.It might feel embarrassing when the argument happened recently, but that’s a feeling that will dissipate with time. You likely depend on your boss for a lot of things, but it’s important to remember that your boss is also depending on you.evalSymbiotic relationships are the easiest to re pair, and if you’re both competent professionals, you’ll be able to let the past go.

5 lessons for start-up success

5 lessons for start-up success 5 lessons for start-up success Winning isn’t everything in life, but it’s absolutely critical if you’re an entrepreneur trying to get your start-up business off the ground. To make sure your business succeeds, check out these five lessons for startup success from entrepreneur Georgianna W. Oliver, founder and CEO of Package Concierge. She built and sold two companies before launching her current business. Like other entrepreneurs, Oliver has experienced her share of highs and lows along the way. 1. Don’t overlook the importance of timing You’ve heard the old adage that timing is everything. When it comes to starting a business, Oliver agrees 100 percent. Don’t leap before you look closely at the market, as well as the broader economy, to determine whether the timing is right for your product or service. She launched Package Concierge in late 2012 as the U.S. economy and the real estate market were rebounding from the recession. It was definitely the right time to start a new business geared toward high-end apartments, even though she was aware of the need for her product much earlier. Now, the luxury apartment business is booming, and so are Package Concierge’s sales. 2. Promote professionalism Your new business may just be getting started, but as a founder and leader it is essential that you think about professionalism in every aspect of your company. Professionalism is how you present yourself, your product, your brand, and how you correspond with your prospects, customers and colleagues. Document everything, establish policies and create procedures. Hire a bookkeeper even if only for a few hours per week. Follow a budget and practice good financial management from the start to ensure your business is able to scale from day one. As the business grows, all these items will become more important to ensure stability, maintain employee confidence and present a professional appearance for sales leads, clients, and business and financial partners. 3. Stick with what you know Maybe you work in real estate, but have a great idea for a healthcare app. You might make a go of it, but your journey will be far more challenging than if you identify a business opportunity within your current industry. According to Oliver, a great idea can only take you so far without proper context, insight, operational understanding, hands-on experience and connections. Such domain expertise can put you years ahead of the competition. All three of Oliver’s businesses have been technology solutions for the apartment business because she knows the industry, understands its challenges, and has valuable and longstanding advisors and connections to help improve the quality of her company’s product and services for her customers. She is a big believer in experience and recommends entrepreneurs work in their target industries for five years before jumping into the game. For those too eager to wait that long, she advises they find and leverage a support system of experienced business people in their target markets who can offer valuable insights and advice. 4. Invest in people and product Investing in your team â€" training, compensation package and professional development â€" is important so that everyone understands the company’s commitment to excellence. Regular team meetings and huddles are critical for communication, setting priorities, avoiding surprises and keeping everyone on the same page. Oliver says entrepreneurs should also continuously invest in their product. In the end, it’s the quality and performance of your product that must stand up to customer scrutiny, inspire loyalty, and withstand the test of time. Early on, Package Concierge selected a less expensive Chinese manufacturer to build its locker system. When the prototypes were delivered, she knew immediately it was not a product she could stand behind. It was an expensive lesson, but one that led her to join forces with a reputable, U.S.-based manufacturer capable of creating a high quality, reliable, scalable product that meets the standards of her industry-leading clients. 5. Be a leader, but don’t go it alone If you are a leader in your industry, your customers have been your friends, your supporters, and your strongest advocates. Your customers count on you to deliver what you promise, and you count on them to provide quality feedback and help you develop your offering to be the best in class. Oliver believes this type of network is invaluable to entrepreneurs and established business leaders alike. Even as she guides her third business down the path of success, she relies on her network of peers and industry influencers to guide her in making important decisions. There are countless factors that lead to success, and many others that can lead to failure. Entrepreneurs who lay a solid foundation clearly have an edge. Add professionalism, a commitment to quality and operational excellence, and leaders can build a company that will surpass their highest expectations.

Creating A Format That Is Easy To Read

Creating A Format That Is Easy To ReadWriting resumes can be an intimidating task. You have to make sure that your resume contains all the necessary information that the prospective employer is looking for. This will make you stand out from other applicants.Well, now there is an easy way for you to make sure that your resume is formatted in a certain way that will impress the employer. In this article, I will show you how to do it.When creating a resume, you have to make sure that you are able to present it in the most impressive way possible. Your job as a resume writer is to provide details that will help the hiring manager to make a decision as to whether or not you should be hired. With all the information included in your resume, it is almost impossible for anyone to ignore your application.When it comes to creating a resume, you will have to know what types of information will help the employer decide whether or not you would be a good candidate for the position that you are ap plying for. Knowing this information ahead of time will help you avoid future problems with your resume. The key is to create a format that will make it easy for the employer to read and understand your resume.What type of formatting can you use to create a format that is easy to read? Well, here are a few simple examples.o Good format - The first thing that you need to think about when creating a format for your resume is whether or not it makes sense. Does the format make sense? Most resumes have a specific format that you can find on the internet. If you are unable to locate this form, then you need to consider altering the format of your resume.o Format but customize - There are people who create resumes without the format and modify it to their liking. The first thing that you should consider is what information you are trying to highlight. Once you know what you want to emphasize, you can modify the format of your resume to highlight those specific things.o No format - The las t type of format is one that does not follow any particular format. This type of format is very basic and it is intended to give the impression that you are a beginner in the job market. This format will not be effective with the hiring manager and will create a lot of problems for you if you use it.