Becoming one of the best in your field is not easy. It takes dedication, determination, and the know-how acquired by only a select group of people. But maintaining this success and growing into a better version of you can often times be an even greater challenge. Many people reach the top of the mountain once, but to do it again and again takes a special type of person. To be the best, you have to navigate the torrential terrain and reach the summit day in and day out.
Being the best is one thing, but preserving and sustaining your reputation as one of the go-getters and game-changers can be an even greater challenge. But the success stories that have occurred over and over again are not coincidence. These people have a formula and have mapped out a path to reach the top of the mountain each time they begin their ascent.
So this begs the question: How do the best get better?
They are Students, Not Teachers. The best are willing to be vulnerable. They carry themselves with a confidence and energy that is engaging and relatable, but they also know there is much work to be done. The best get better through always looking for the opportunity to learn. Whether it is through a mistake, a success, or another person, they simply never stop striving to learn. So many successful businessmen and women are content teaching others, and speaking about their triumphs. But the terrain is treacherous and the competition is always looking for a leg up. That being said, if you are not learning and increasing your aptitude, times will change and you will be left in the dust. In life, the opportunity to learn is available around each and every corner. But you have to turn those corners and seek out these prospects. The best do just that. To get better, they understand they do not know everything, but also have an inner drive and fire that pushes them to constantly learn more.
They are Doers, Not Sleepers. I always say the best never sleep. Not literally. By that I mean they do not rest on their laurels. What they have accomplished is on their resume, but does not define their destination. The best get better because they want more, do more, and inevitably get more. It is so easy to be a sleeper, feeling like you have done enough and the rest will take care of itself. But the best are doers, not sleepers. They are always looking for the next opportunity or the next great idea. Think of people like Arthur Blank, Mark Cuban, and Steve Jobs. These are the trailblazers of our time. They are constantly reinventing, reassessing, and reorganizing their businesses. The second you think they have no more tricks up their sleeves, they wow you with a success of enormous proportions. The best are always doing, and never rest on what they have done.
They are Encircled, Not an Island. The best do not run alone. They get better by surrounding themselves with the best…the best mentors, the best employees, the best strategists, and the best team. The best businessmen and women do this very well. They get better through the people around them. They are not islands and do not stand solo, keeping distance from others and rarely working with a strong and dedicated team. The best understand that to get better, you have to turn to the experts. The smartest thing you can do is surround yourself with people that are smarter than you in various areas, people who compliment your skill set and enhance what you can deliver.
These are just three of the numerous tools the best constantly implement into their lives to become better. They constantly reinvent and reshape their lives and diligently work to build and rebuild. They are students of the game, they are doers, and their circles are large and include dedicated and intelligent mentors, employees, and trusted advisors. Maintaining greatness is just as difficult, if not more, than reaching greatness. But the best work hard day in and day out to ensure they can summit the mountain and handle the torrential terrain.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Go Time...
Last week we talked about the steps you can take to lay the groundwork to find your perfect career. Before you even walk into the office of someone you want to connect with, there are a number of things you can consider doing before the encounter even begins. The three crucial steps you can take before your interview are to begin networking with your potential employer early, researching your new company, and rehearsing your interview numerous times. Implementing these skills into your interview process will give you the inside track and a leg up on the competition. Let's take this concept and stretch it out into relationship building as it relates to business development as well.
So what happens after your interview or even the sales call? Selling yourself after an interview is much like selling your brand after you have made a pitch. You think you nailed it, but there is a lot of competition in this day and age for any coveted job opening or potential business partner. The goal is to start the race with a substantial head start, and by networking, researching, and rehearsing you definitely did that. But what steps can you take now to ensure that your head start on the competition stays intact? To some the below will seem like basic fundamentals, however in this "instant what next" society we live in, many folks both young and experienced alike would be wise to put into practice these fundamentals:
Follow Up. Out of all the steps you can take post interview, your number one focus should be on ensuring your name stays top of mind. Stay relevant in a productive way. Sure, do the obvious things, like an email or hand-written card thanking the person with whom you interviewed with for his or her time. This demonstrates that not only are you passionate about the job, but also that you are the type of person that follows up and follows through. In that note, add a nugget or two that demonstrates you listened well. Maybe it is a reference to something they had to do or a trip they were taking or a business meeting they mentioned to you. Furthermore, finding and sending relevant articles or media coverage to your potential employer is a great way to keep your name fresh and express your passion for the opportunity.
When it comes to selling, following up will be vital to your success. In fact, I tell business development teams the meeting really starts when you walk out the door. Some of the best ways to do this are through social networking and the Internet, including connecting with your contact on Linked In, Facebook, and any other social networking sites. Many of these mediums offer you the ability to direct connect to your contact and to utilize the "like" option on Facebook to support their efforts. This may seem like a small step, but it brings your name to the forefront of your contact's mind. Not to mention it creates a platform to stay connected to their activities without bothering them.
Use Your Network. Again, we go back to the power of your network. Most of your interviews will come from word of mouth via a friend, colleague, or family member. After your interview, use these people to plant seeds. Perhaps you got the interview through a current employee at the company with which you interviewed. When he or she sees your interviewer, ask them to mention how much you enjoyed the interview and how impressed you were with the company and its vision. People love to be appreciated and to know that others buy into their vision. And through channeling your network, you have the ability to show the person making the big decision how engaged you really are.
The same can be true in sales. After an important pitch, I encourage people to find articles or topics your contact may find interesting or helpful towards their business development and send direct links to them. Also, work hard to incorporate social networking opportunities like Twitter in order to tweet about your contact's brand and even retweet the contact's Tweet's in order to garner support and spread the word. Right then and there you are demonstrating how you can be a vital tool and resource.
Keep Your Options Open. People sometimes make the grave mistake of closing off all other options while waiting to hear back from that one person. In this tough competitive environment, it can take employers weeks to make a decision. Even more of a concern, they are deciding from a large pool of qualified candidates. Just like in investing, remember to diversify your portfolio. Sometimes in life, the best prospects come when you are not looking for them at all. When awaiting a response from a potential employer, keep interviewing and creating prospects for the future so if this particular opportunity does not pan out, you are not left waiting for the next one.
Keep pitching, keep hustling, but consider the positives and negatives of your social media and communicative decisions. The interview and sales process is about hard work and these small steps post interview and post sales call can often times be the difference.
So what happens after your interview or even the sales call? Selling yourself after an interview is much like selling your brand after you have made a pitch. You think you nailed it, but there is a lot of competition in this day and age for any coveted job opening or potential business partner. The goal is to start the race with a substantial head start, and by networking, researching, and rehearsing you definitely did that. But what steps can you take now to ensure that your head start on the competition stays intact? To some the below will seem like basic fundamentals, however in this "instant what next" society we live in, many folks both young and experienced alike would be wise to put into practice these fundamentals:
Follow Up. Out of all the steps you can take post interview, your number one focus should be on ensuring your name stays top of mind. Stay relevant in a productive way. Sure, do the obvious things, like an email or hand-written card thanking the person with whom you interviewed with for his or her time. This demonstrates that not only are you passionate about the job, but also that you are the type of person that follows up and follows through. In that note, add a nugget or two that demonstrates you listened well. Maybe it is a reference to something they had to do or a trip they were taking or a business meeting they mentioned to you. Furthermore, finding and sending relevant articles or media coverage to your potential employer is a great way to keep your name fresh and express your passion for the opportunity.
When it comes to selling, following up will be vital to your success. In fact, I tell business development teams the meeting really starts when you walk out the door. Some of the best ways to do this are through social networking and the Internet, including connecting with your contact on Linked In, Facebook, and any other social networking sites. Many of these mediums offer you the ability to direct connect to your contact and to utilize the "like" option on Facebook to support their efforts. This may seem like a small step, but it brings your name to the forefront of your contact's mind. Not to mention it creates a platform to stay connected to their activities without bothering them.
Use Your Network. Again, we go back to the power of your network. Most of your interviews will come from word of mouth via a friend, colleague, or family member. After your interview, use these people to plant seeds. Perhaps you got the interview through a current employee at the company with which you interviewed. When he or she sees your interviewer, ask them to mention how much you enjoyed the interview and how impressed you were with the company and its vision. People love to be appreciated and to know that others buy into their vision. And through channeling your network, you have the ability to show the person making the big decision how engaged you really are.
The same can be true in sales. After an important pitch, I encourage people to find articles or topics your contact may find interesting or helpful towards their business development and send direct links to them. Also, work hard to incorporate social networking opportunities like Twitter in order to tweet about your contact's brand and even retweet the contact's Tweet's in order to garner support and spread the word. Right then and there you are demonstrating how you can be a vital tool and resource.
Keep Your Options Open. People sometimes make the grave mistake of closing off all other options while waiting to hear back from that one person. In this tough competitive environment, it can take employers weeks to make a decision. Even more of a concern, they are deciding from a large pool of qualified candidates. Just like in investing, remember to diversify your portfolio. Sometimes in life, the best prospects come when you are not looking for them at all. When awaiting a response from a potential employer, keep interviewing and creating prospects for the future so if this particular opportunity does not pan out, you are not left waiting for the next one.
Keep pitching, keep hustling, but consider the positives and negatives of your social media and communicative decisions. The interview and sales process is about hard work and these small steps post interview and post sales call can often times be the difference.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
The First Meeting Starts Today
Finally. Resume after resume, cover letter after cover letter, and phone call after phone call, you can calendar it. September 21st, 2011. 1:00PM. In the heart of Midtown. You finally have a date for your interview with one of the most successful and trendy employers in the City. You have worked hard to get your foot in the door and in just fifteen short days, you will be sitting in front of your potential employer, resume in hand, and pitching yourself for the job of your dreams.
This scenario has happened to many of us: the coveted first interview. And in this competitive and difficult job market, the opportunities are few and far in between. So you have to make the most of each one with which you are presented. But this one in is particularly important, because this interview is for your dream job.
So just a little bit over two weeks out, what can you do to plant the seed and lay the groundwork for your first meeting?
Start Networking Now. The first impression for your interview starts today. When you walk into your future boss’s office, your reputation should precede your meeting. Before I pitch a new client or athlete, I always focus on his network and reach out to that person through the network. I do this because any positive reinforcement or endorsements I receive will be vital to winning my potential client over. I do this through finding out who is close to my new client and networking with them. The same can be true for your future interview. Many times, you may get your first interview through a contact in the office. Reach out to your contact and show your enthusiasm and excitement for the potential job, and hopefully that will be relayed to your interviewer.
Your goal should be for your reputation to reach your potential interviewer before you do. Your future boss will be interviewing numerous people and it is crucial to your ability to get hired to be on his radar while he is interviewing everyone else. You may be his first interview, you may be his last, but having his eye and his ear will be beneficial to propelling you to the top of his list.
Do Your Research Early. You have to know your employer inside and out. What do they stand for? What drives them? What is their purpose? What type of position are they hiring for? Who are their typical clients? These are just some of the questions you should know the answer to before you walk into the conference room. In this day and age, with the web and social media sites, it is very easy to research an employer and all of the big players at almost any company.
Your research should start there, going to your future company’s website and reading all you can, attempting to gain any meaningful and useful information that you can incorporate into your interview. Every business has a purpose and a goal, and when you interview with a new employer, it should be your priority to ensure your vision resonates with theirs. I always take the time before pitching to a new client to research the web, find relevant articles about the company, and then incorporate those articles and media coverage into my interview. This will not only demonstrate that you are meticulous and prepared, but that you are passionate about the job.
Rehearse Your Interview. The interview is coming soon, and you only get one shot at it. There are no make-ups or do over’s. Tough questions will almost certainly be thrown your way, and how you answer these questions will almost certainly be the difference between getting the job or not. So it is vital to not only practice, but also prepare. Start by creating a thorough list of potential questions your future boss may ask, and write down the answers to these questions. This will help you avoid being caught in an uncomfortable position, unable to answer a question quickly and efficiently.
Furthermore, after preparing these questions, find a close friend or loved one and role-play, with that person acting as your employer, throwing out your tough questions. Do this a few times until you can answer these questions without hesitation. Practice makes perfect and in what will become a dogfight for this open job, you want every advantage you can have.
These are just a few of the most effective tools and resources you can implement into your interview preparation to ensure you get a leg up on the competition. And in this economy, you need every advantage you can get. But it does not stop there. There are just as many steps you can take after your interview to put an exclamation mark on your interview.
Check back next week for what you can do after your interview to get the job…
This scenario has happened to many of us: the coveted first interview. And in this competitive and difficult job market, the opportunities are few and far in between. So you have to make the most of each one with which you are presented. But this one in is particularly important, because this interview is for your dream job.
So just a little bit over two weeks out, what can you do to plant the seed and lay the groundwork for your first meeting?
Start Networking Now. The first impression for your interview starts today. When you walk into your future boss’s office, your reputation should precede your meeting. Before I pitch a new client or athlete, I always focus on his network and reach out to that person through the network. I do this because any positive reinforcement or endorsements I receive will be vital to winning my potential client over. I do this through finding out who is close to my new client and networking with them. The same can be true for your future interview. Many times, you may get your first interview through a contact in the office. Reach out to your contact and show your enthusiasm and excitement for the potential job, and hopefully that will be relayed to your interviewer.
Your goal should be for your reputation to reach your potential interviewer before you do. Your future boss will be interviewing numerous people and it is crucial to your ability to get hired to be on his radar while he is interviewing everyone else. You may be his first interview, you may be his last, but having his eye and his ear will be beneficial to propelling you to the top of his list.
Do Your Research Early. You have to know your employer inside and out. What do they stand for? What drives them? What is their purpose? What type of position are they hiring for? Who are their typical clients? These are just some of the questions you should know the answer to before you walk into the conference room. In this day and age, with the web and social media sites, it is very easy to research an employer and all of the big players at almost any company.
Your research should start there, going to your future company’s website and reading all you can, attempting to gain any meaningful and useful information that you can incorporate into your interview. Every business has a purpose and a goal, and when you interview with a new employer, it should be your priority to ensure your vision resonates with theirs. I always take the time before pitching to a new client to research the web, find relevant articles about the company, and then incorporate those articles and media coverage into my interview. This will not only demonstrate that you are meticulous and prepared, but that you are passionate about the job.
Rehearse Your Interview. The interview is coming soon, and you only get one shot at it. There are no make-ups or do over’s. Tough questions will almost certainly be thrown your way, and how you answer these questions will almost certainly be the difference between getting the job or not. So it is vital to not only practice, but also prepare. Start by creating a thorough list of potential questions your future boss may ask, and write down the answers to these questions. This will help you avoid being caught in an uncomfortable position, unable to answer a question quickly and efficiently.
Furthermore, after preparing these questions, find a close friend or loved one and role-play, with that person acting as your employer, throwing out your tough questions. Do this a few times until you can answer these questions without hesitation. Practice makes perfect and in what will become a dogfight for this open job, you want every advantage you can have.
These are just a few of the most effective tools and resources you can implement into your interview preparation to ensure you get a leg up on the competition. And in this economy, you need every advantage you can get. But it does not stop there. There are just as many steps you can take after your interview to put an exclamation mark on your interview.
Check back next week for what you can do after your interview to get the job…
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Work on closing relationship gap
It's the toughest job market in almost anyone's memory. A lot of people are looking for jobs, and a lot of them are having challenges getting them.
That's due, in part, to this fact: The way many job applicants look for a job is opposite of the way companies look for employees.
What do I mean?
Most applicants send a resume and hope that it gets noticed enough to allow them to secure an interview when and if there is an actual job open. Whereas companies often look for potential employees in this order:
1. Referrals from trusted colleagues and friends.
2. Candidates supplied by career fairs, recruitment drives, search firms or employment agencies.
3. Responses to want ads and Web sites.
4. Unsolicited resumes.
People hire people, they don't hire paper. So, you need to build relationships with the people who you think will hire you or help you.
Relationships almost always trump resumes. A resume is a great way to showcase your "stats" and experiences, but your resume can't vouch for your intangible qualities. It can't fully illustrate your character, your consistency, your ability to anticipate, your judgment, your creativity, your reliability, your passion, your genuine style, your management style and/or your coachability, just to name a few.
You need to find ways to demonstrate your intangibles, and when you do, you close the relationship gap that exists between you and the people who can hire you. You need to "recruit" these people.
How do you close the relationship gap and connect with the people who can hire you or, at least, help you?
Let's say there is a job open at a company and you don't know anyone at the company. My advice is, send your resume to the person listed (i.e. director of human resources) but also send it to the person you would report to. After doing that, continue to track every move that the company makes (i.e. new clients, new business, articles, etc.). Identify ways you can support their business needs based on knowledge you gather. Identify ways you can add value.
Be, what I like to call, "respectfully aggressive" in regards to "recruiting" them.
E-mail congratulations on their successes, ideas, articles you believe they may find interesting that demonstrates your awareness of their business. The overall goal is for them to realize you are in their world and that you can add value. If you do this well, you will demonstrate they need you and need to hire you to improve their business.
Or let's say a job opens at a company and you know someone at the company. My advice is contact the person you know inside the organization and make them aware that you saw the job posting and are eager to apply. Gain their blessing for you to copy them on your application to the person noted on the job posting. Also, ask if they would be so kind as to hand your resume or place a phone call endorsing you to the respective people in the company. Execute and then continue to close the relationship gap with the appropriate people inside the company. By illustrating your intangibles, you will close the relationship gap and increase your odds of securing an opportunity.
You will work about 100,000 hours in your life --- make sure you spend the time needed to find a career you love.
That's due, in part, to this fact: The way many job applicants look for a job is opposite of the way companies look for employees.
What do I mean?
Most applicants send a resume and hope that it gets noticed enough to allow them to secure an interview when and if there is an actual job open. Whereas companies often look for potential employees in this order:
1. Referrals from trusted colleagues and friends.
2. Candidates supplied by career fairs, recruitment drives, search firms or employment agencies.
3. Responses to want ads and Web sites.
4. Unsolicited resumes.
People hire people, they don't hire paper. So, you need to build relationships with the people who you think will hire you or help you.
Relationships almost always trump resumes. A resume is a great way to showcase your "stats" and experiences, but your resume can't vouch for your intangible qualities. It can't fully illustrate your character, your consistency, your ability to anticipate, your judgment, your creativity, your reliability, your passion, your genuine style, your management style and/or your coachability, just to name a few.
You need to find ways to demonstrate your intangibles, and when you do, you close the relationship gap that exists between you and the people who can hire you. You need to "recruit" these people.
How do you close the relationship gap and connect with the people who can hire you or, at least, help you?
Let's say there is a job open at a company and you don't know anyone at the company. My advice is, send your resume to the person listed (i.e. director of human resources) but also send it to the person you would report to. After doing that, continue to track every move that the company makes (i.e. new clients, new business, articles, etc.). Identify ways you can support their business needs based on knowledge you gather. Identify ways you can add value.
Be, what I like to call, "respectfully aggressive" in regards to "recruiting" them.
E-mail congratulations on their successes, ideas, articles you believe they may find interesting that demonstrates your awareness of their business. The overall goal is for them to realize you are in their world and that you can add value. If you do this well, you will demonstrate they need you and need to hire you to improve their business.
Or let's say a job opens at a company and you know someone at the company. My advice is contact the person you know inside the organization and make them aware that you saw the job posting and are eager to apply. Gain their blessing for you to copy them on your application to the person noted on the job posting. Also, ask if they would be so kind as to hand your resume or place a phone call endorsing you to the respective people in the company. Execute and then continue to close the relationship gap with the appropriate people inside the company. By illustrating your intangibles, you will close the relationship gap and increase your odds of securing an opportunity.
You will work about 100,000 hours in your life --- make sure you spend the time needed to find a career you love.
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