So are you the waffler, underperformer, big game talker?
Always be sure that your performance is at a level that you are deemed responsible, reliable and a great asset to the team. Just recently we discussed the concept of reputation and credibility. I think that this advertisement reflects that very well. It’s simple, if you don’t follow through on your actions, you will not gain respect from your boss.
And would you REALLY want your boss to do everything at Kinko’s?
Filed under: adam steen, advice, attitude, business cards, maturity, preparation, responsibility
One thing that I would like to emphasize strongly is the concept of always being prepared. You never know who you can run into during the day, and it’s a good idea to be ready from a professional standpoint to deal with it.
This doesn’t mean you have to fold up a resume and keep it in your pocket at all times. However, it would be a good idea to carry around a set of business cards. In your wallet, in your car, in your bag. That way, if one place runs out unexpectedly (though you should always keep track), you will have a backup.
Why is this important you ask?
Today I had the opportunity to sit down with Adam Steen to chat about a few things at a coffee shop. In the middle of our conversation, he noticed that a friend of his had come into the coffee shop. He introduced me to Cheryl. Cheryl is a recruiter/headhunter, a person who can help you find a job after graduation. I had remembered to refill my business cards in my wallet the night before, so I handed her one. She didn’t have one, but because she had mine, she has a way to contact me. If I didn’t have my cards, this would be a lost opportunity.
Not only are business cards a great way to pass on contact information, as a college student it represents a level of maturity that stands out from others. It proves that you are responsible, driven, but most importantly mature and serious. It shows that you have a strong attitude about your future.
Do you have your business cards ready? How have they helped you before?
Your reputation is an asset. Your reputation is what makes you stand out from others. Call it “brand recognition”. You are a brand, and your reputation is the buzz which goes around about you. Whether negative or positive, it’s always there.
That’s why it’s important to keep this reputation under control. And by that, I mean your behavior. If you promise something and don’t follow through on it, that will reflect in what other people think about you (your reputation). If you take something to the next level, that will also reflect in what other people think about you (your reputation?).
Your reputation is like the press release on an investment. If the press release is positive, you can be sure that people will approach you in a positive manner, whether it be companies, prospective schools or anything else. If it’s negative, people will avoid it like a bad investment. Nobody wants to invest their time, money and patience into something that has no return.
When somebody invests their time and money into you, it is your duty to maximize their ROI. Trust me, there are only positives that come out of a strong ROI. To do this, you need to create a strong set of habits. If you invest in yourself, others will follow.
So when you’re at your job, internship or even at school, remember that everytime you do a piece of work, you are returning on somebody’s investment. Make it a strong one!
This short video was developed by Susan P and myself in recognition of Kevin and his birthday on October 20th. We invite you to leave a birthday greeting for Kevin who will be invited to come and read contributions. This will also be posted on Susan’s blog @ http://insightvillage.blogspot.com
With thanks,
Susan and Piotr
Filed under: quotes
“Szacunek dla tych, którzy poświęcają życie
Dla swoich marzeń oni od dawna są na szczycie”
Respect for those who make sacrifices for their dreams, they’ve been on the top forever.
A Polish quote which I came across and really like.
Cheers from Dallas, TX!
Filed under: a game, acting, draft, dressing, reading, recruiting, speaking, work
For a while now I have been playing with the idea that the recruiting process is like going through a sports draft, especially popular here in the US with the NFL, MLS, NBA and other sports leagues. When you think about it, the concept is quite the same.
The recruiting team is the company which wants you. They send out scouts in the form of recruiters and interviewers. Career fairs are like pre-season scrimmage games, where these scouts get to see and get a general idea of the players. Just like in sports you get a signing bonus, and just like in sports you get different teams that may tempt you with different kinds of deals. The structure is not quite the same in terms of teams having selected spots with which they choose their players (1st choice, second choice). Actually come to think of it, they do. Except that instead of the worst teams having the first draft pick, it’s the best teams.
Think of the recruiting process as this type of draft. Would you do anything differently?
Do you think LeBron James did not put in 100% into everything he did? Au contraire. He was the first draft pick, was given a huge salary and signing bonus. What did he do? Take the Cavs to the NBA Finals. They were swept, but years before, nobody cared about the Cavs.
Do you want to fight to be the first draft pick or the one in the 5th round? Or worse yet, get sent home packing after putting forward the effort.
100% has to go into everything.
- You have to look sharp. Looking like a million bucks not only raises your image in the eyes of others, but raises your confidence too. You’ll feel like a million bucks.
- Talk sharp. Articulation is a very important aspect of business. If you want to be treated like you are smart, you have to be able to express yourself. Don’t ramble. Don’t use “like” every 3rd word, you’ll sound like you just walked out of High School. Companies want their employees to sound mature.
- Act sharp. You will be judged by everyone for everything you do. That’s the reality. Make sure you understand business etiquette and follow it closely. Be respectful and you’ll get respect back.
- Think sharp. The only way to be a sharp thinker is to exercise your brain. Read everything. Newspapers, magazines, books. Nothing says “likeable” (read: mature) like being able to connect with anyone on any topic. You can’t know everything without reading anything.
Remember also that you can’t win every game. Michael Jordan got cut from his basketball team in High School. Did he go home, cry and quit? No. He sharpened his act and tried again. Think of how sharp 6 championship rings look on his hands.
After all, you do want to bring your sharpest A-game to the field.
Consecutive days can sometimes be a rollercoaster ride. One day you wake up and you feel like a million dollars, and the next day you feel like you’ve lost it all. Regardless of whether you are having an up or a down, everyday is a learning experience.
Honestly, in the past week I have had quite the learning experiences, mostly coming from negative things. My exam scores were returned, I had to deal with some integrity issues, I was sick, I shot a wedding on Saturday and I missed a meeting this morning. My brother also came to visit, which was a great turn around to the events.
As difficult as the past few days may have been, I make the effort to turn almost anything, positive or negative, into a learning experience.
I’ve learned:
Take a different approach to studying
Understand the importance of alliances
You win some and you lose some
Take better care of myself (eat and sleep healthier)
Buy a louder alarm clock (or a second one)
It’s about who you know
You could connect this to the concept of Kaizen, that was developed by Toyota in Japan. Kaizen identifies the idea of constant improvement. By identifying positive and negative aspects of your day, you can learn from them and strive to improve yourself.
What have you learned today?
Many people don’t understand the power of their words. Words can be used to put down other people, or to make them feel great. Words are sometimes the only contract you hold with other people, ensuring them that you will follow through on what you say. This brings me to the concepts of Accountability and Reputation.
In many cases, people who do not keep their word don’t feel as if they have done anything wrong. Sometimes they will apologize, and sometimes they will blow it off and pretend nothing is wrong. This is the worst response. You have to remember that every single time you tell somebody you will do something with them or for them, whether it be meet for coffee, have dinner or go out for a drink, you have to be accountable for what happens. If you know in advance that you will not be able to make it (or be late), let the other person know that you care and respect them enough to think about them.
Accountability feeds right into the idea of reputation. Reputation, according to the dictionary, is “the estimation in which a person or thing is held, esp. by the community or the public generally.” As much as you may think that free will and doing whatever you want is important, when preparing for the business world you have to understand that reputation will make you or break you. If you miss a meeting or two, or keep coming in to work late, you will be held accountable for those mistakes and your reputation will be compromised. Once this is compromised, it will be harder to get what you want at the firm you’re working at, and harder to climb up that ladder.
If people can’t rely on you, then why would they support you?
You have to be accountable for every single action that you take, whether it is good or bad. By taking this responsibility, you can be sure that your reputation will not be compromised in the future.
Always be on time, always let people know you will be late, and always follow through on what you tell other people. Anything else is disrespectful.
You don’t want to be “that late, lazy and unreliable employee” in the eyes of the company, right?
(that is, if you can keep your job long enough to develop that reputation)
Remember, people talk negatively about products that don’t make the mark. Why wouldn’t they do the same with a person who doesn’t pull his or her weight?
As much as you would like to try, you can’t be perfect everyday. Stuff happens.
You studied for a large exam for the past 3 weeks, and blanked out as soon as the exam occurred. You tried to make time for lunch, but something else popped up. You ordered a sandwich and realized you wanted a salad. You locked your keys in the house/dorm and none of your roommates are around.
Stuff happens.
What you can do, is take it light-heartedly. An exam score is just a number on a sheet of paper. You can eat later. Sandwiches are healthy too. You can go visit with other people while your roommates are gone.
The most important thing to do in situations like this is to look at the situation from another point of view. It is not the end of the world if any such situations happen. Sometimes stuff just happens, and there’s absolutely no way anyone can explain why it happened.
We are like cars. Our body and soul requires maintenance to keep us running. Food is our fuel. We don’t run properly if some parts are broken. And, just like cars, on some days we just don’t work as we should. Just as a car won’t start on a cold day, your body and mind may not start on a bad day. In either situation, it’s not the end of the world. You can take a bus and try to start the car the next day. Instead of groveling about how bad the day is, you can take a different point of view, take it easy, and come back the next day and try to start the right way.
It’s all about attitude.
Keep this in mind
“I don’t have a cent
Will I pay my rent
And even my car doesn’t work
Me and my man, he’s the one
To die for, we have split up
Can’t you see, life’s easy
If you consider things
From another point of view”
- db boulevard
And Remember
“The most successful people are those who are good at plan B.”
- James Yorke
Filed under: advice, attitude, change, comfort, comfortable, life, location, spontaneous
Change is important.
A change of location, a change of image, a change of attitude or a change of lifestyle can all bring benefits.
After being in the same situation for extended periods of time, people become accustomed to and comfortable with their lifestyle. Although we always seek that comfort, it is good to keep in mind that change is also important.
Change challenges the body, the mind and the soul. It opens you up to new horizons, and forces you to adapt to your new environment. Change re-invigorates you.
In the last few months I had gone from
To
To
In a matter of days/weeks.
Each place has its own culture, values, lifestyle and speed at which everything is moving. By changing location, you open yourself up to many new experiences that may even change your outlook on life itself.
How can you change?
- Pick up a new hobby
- Study Abroad
- Wake up earlier and start a new routine
- Be adventurous (food and other experiences)
- Get a new haircut, new clothes (remember, clothes can make you feel like a million bucks)
- Do something spontaneous during the day
And remember, just because you are comfortable with where you are doesn’t mean that you are experiencing life to the fullest! If change ever sneaks up on you, you’ll be ready to deal with it!
