The Future is Blurry

The Future is Blurry I recently did a mini survey of companies to try and determine how clear, or otherwise, they are about their vision and their mission. Interesting exercise I can tell you! A number of things were clear from the responses but if I had to pick three key points they would be: There is a definite lack of clarity when it comes to vision generalization I know, but definitely true! There is ambiguity between what a vision is and what a mission is. Most of the visions shared with me could do with a bit more excitement, if I am to be honest! Yes, indeed the future is blurry!  I know there are tomes written and forests felled to provide the paper for all that has been written about vision and mission, but let me give you my tuppence worth to clarify how I define vision and mission.  Vision clearly demonstrates where you want the business to be it communicates the purpose and the values. It answers the question “Where do you intend to be?”  Mission articulates what you will do to get there, and what you will deliver to your customers.  Here are some examples: Google (source) Vision Focus on the user and all else will follow. Mission To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Toyota USA Vision To be the most successful and respected car company in America. Mission To attract and attain customers with high-valued products and services and the most satisfying ownership experience in America. Interestingly, the two are quite different, but where they want to go is very clear as well as how they intend going about it. Not wishing to position myself among Google or Toyota I thought I would share my own! My vision is to help my clients win at business and life. My mission is to coach top teams, executives and business owners to perform at their highest level possible. Truthfully, my vision and mission are the absolute drivers of my business and I am thoroughly passionate about fulfilling them! It motivates me every day and helps me determine the most important things I should be doing at any one time! Why is a  vision and mission important? So, why am I going on about vision and mission? Because they are absolutely critical to long term success. They are your guiding light, your North Star or however you want to describe them. You can look at those and then you know whether you are going in the right direction or not. In the absence of having clarity around your vision and mission, you can end up just being a busy fool! Lots of activity but no clear focus. The beauty of having real clarity about your vision and mission is that it gives you context for everything you do. Now, when decisions have to be made about allocating resource be that people, time or money, all of which are extremely valuable! you can now view whether that decision is going to get you closer to the achievement of your vision or not. For your people, it is critical that there is extraordinary clarity around your vision. You see we all want to belong to a cause that has a real meaning, and when we go to work, it is no different. Your people want to do more than just turn up for work and get paid! They absolutely do! They want to feel that what they are doing is making a contribution and that it matters! The alternative is drudgery there is no heart and soul involved. Also, they will not believe that the future is exciting! How can they? There is no future painted for them. The consequence is an under performing workforce, and one with a high turnover. Not where you want to be! Those organisations who get this vision piece right have a more committed workforce enjoy a more high ly productive workforce who will always go that extra mile for you. If your major focus is only on where you are going to generate revenue next month’s, or next year’s income, then your sights are too low and you are likely to always be in survival mode. That is not an invigorating objective for your people it just sounds like squeezing the orange dry! Aim high set your vision and mission to be something worth going for and something that will make a difference! Then go about sharing it with your people again and again! You can never communicate too much!! Please, don’t settle for mediocrity set out your stall to be of some significant worth. Share the output from your thinking with me I love hearing what you are working on. Don’t worry about getting it word perfect you can get that right afterwards. Just get the sense, significance and emotion of it. Come on, hit me with your drafts of vision and mission it will be worth the effort, for you and your business. I promise you!

2007 Personal Brand Award - Darren Rowse - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

2007 Personal Brand Award - Darren Rowse - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career All over the internet, we hear the name Pro Blogger.   When this term comes to mind, we think of an individual who is especially talented as a blog author.   We also think of Darren Rowse, who has no undoubtedly taken the blogosphere by storm.   With over 30,000 feed subscribers and almost a six figure salary, Darren is a force to be reckoned with.   He a 35 year old Australian living in Melbourne and has been a full time blogger since 2004, starting his first blog on November of 2002.   His first blog, Livingroom, is a site about Spirituality, Pop Culture, Life in Australia and miscellaneous topics.   He is also one of the founders and the VP of Training for b5media.   B5media, which is based in Canada after it secured $2 million in venture capital funding two years ago, has a sales team that sells advertising on nearly 250 blogs globally, organized into about 15 channels.   He has even earned press in The Australian and BusinessWeek.   In the blogosphere, Darren serves as one of th e top candidates for written and podcast interviews.   He has even been selected for a blog face-off, between him and Jeremy Schoemaker.   No matter what Darren does, it turns to gold and is rewarding.   He helps bloggers develop their skills and teaches them how to monetize their website to achieve the same success he has gotten.   All and all, I would like to reward Darren a Bronze Personal Brand Award for having a distinct and recognizable brand online.

Interview jitters Heres how to make yourself look great

Interview jitters Here’s how to make yourself look great You wake up, your next job interview in three hours, your natty suit and kitten heels waiting by the door. You didn’t sleep much last night; the tension was just too great. And, as you walk up to the mirror, the stress and strain of the job hunt shows. Bags under your eyes, skin drier than the Gobi desert, hair like Worzel Gummidge’s and eyes blearier than a sleep-deprived bloodhound. It’s not ideal for an interview, is it? While job interviewers should be entirely objective when it comes to appearance, most aren’t. Instead, you could be evaluated on something entirely arbitrary â€" how attractive you are. Christine Rudder’s book Dataclysm, drawing on a sample of 5,000 female applicants, showed that those most attractive to the hiring manager were the likeliest to be asked for an interview. So, the beauty game is (as immoral as it might seem) is, in part, a necessity. There are, however, tons of ways to beat that bedhead for good. Just follow these tips and you’ll look dazzling every time a high-flying job interview is in your midst. Lock down those locks Do you ever trip over your armpit hairs? Has anyone ever mistaken you for a Wookie? Do you carry an emergency shaving kit wherever you go? Are you able to use the leftovers of your trimmed body hair as a draught excluder? It might be time to sort those unruly locks out. Laser hair removal, a simple process where those feisty follicles are scythed off, will leave you as hairless as a baby seal. Instead you won’t have to worry about a bad case of stubbly legs come interview day. Dream of success Trying to get some sleep before a big interview is like trying to kick water uphill â€" no matter how much you attempt to clear your mind, you’ll still end up staring at the ceiling with your eyes wide open. But if you’ve got your circadian rhythms sorted already, catching a few Zs will be far easier. Avoid television and computer screens before bed (they overstimulate the mind) and read a relaxing book instead. You’ll soon find yourself nodding off like a log â€" and wake feeling refreshed. Water load of health Put away those Diet Cokes, shelve those energy drinks and glug some H2O, instead. With an average eight glasses of water a day you’ll feel more awake thanks to a healthier blood circulation. Combine all these tips and you’ll be acing interviews left, right and centre.

Guest Post Ready for a Career Change Try an MBA

Guest Post Ready for a Career Change Try an MBA Are you having trouble envisioning your future in your current position or field of business?   Would you be surprised to know that roughly two thirds of MBA students have enrolled in their programs to enable a career change?   While admissions committees are looking for candidates with clear and directed goals, they understand that many applicants are aiming for new experience and opportunity through their MBA program to facilitate a career shift. Obtaining an MBA may be a great way to change careers or take yours to another level. The exposure you receive to new networks, relevant activities and classroom learning are all capable of significantly changing your mindset as well as your outlook on your industry. If you’re interested in switching careers through an MBA, youll want to do some soul searching before you apply to a particular program.   While an MBA may be an excellent vehicle for career change, it may also require a hefty investment. Therefore, it’s a good idea to figure out where you want your MBA to lead you before you pursue this degree. That process might also help you compile a stronger application essay that contains carefully planned long-term career goals. Once you have been accepted, clearly understanding what you want and expect upon completion of your degree will help you to plan, as best as possible, how to take full advantage of your time in the program.   If you think about it from a business perspective, you will certainly want to get the most value for your money.   The best way to do this may be to create your own opportunities while in the program.   For example, research your target industry and look for clubs or professional organizations that will expose you to companies or potential employers, in that industry. One could argue that an MBA is less about the classroom learning and more about the exposure and networking.   As an MBA student, youll have access to an abundance of resources and people that may expand your career opportunities.   It will be your responsibility to make the most of the time you have during your program. So don’t expect that the program will help you figure out what you want to do with your life.   If you decide to pursue an MBA, you should know what you want to do before you enroll. Having a plan means that you can judge whether you are getting your money’s worth. If you need help figuring out what you want your future to look like, consider some of the following steps. Take the time to research different MBA programs and particular areas of study within the program. Look to find something that really sparks your fire. While doing this, locate a seasoned business leader that you respect who can mentor you in your transition. Many professionals enjoy giving back to younger individuals in a mentor-protégé relationship. They can be helpful in guiding your thought process. When making difficult decisions, it’s useful to hear yourself talk out loud about what you have been thinking.   This will either reassure you that you’re thinking in the right direction or make it clear that you really want to do something completely different. Once you have determined what you want your future career to look like, put it down on paper, in detail. Look for ways to build experience in the direction you want to move. Written   by University of Pennsylvania graduate and freelance writer  Kerry Auge and edited by Laura Morrison, the Content Manager of GradSchools.com. If you are interested in earning an MBA, find out here

How to Choose the Best Baltimore Resume Writing Service

How to Choose the Best Baltimore Resume Writing ServiceBaltimore resumes are some of the most carefully chosen pieces of business card paper to post at a job interview. Their immense utility in completing their professional nature is an important part of their appeal. Employers and potential employers are attracted to Baltimore resumes because they can never be mistaken for a layman's missive.Whether it is a business person who needs a quality resume or a layman who wants to land a job, Baltimore resumes are something that is essential. It is the best weapon that helps you get a job. But how can one even begin to write one? That is exactly what we are going to talk about.There are many good resources on the internet that provide tips for Baltimore resumes. Some of them are free, while others cost money. Each kind of Baltimore resume writing service offers a different approach to the very same problem. You can select from the choice depending on your comfort level and budget.One of th e most essential points to keep in mind is the kind of employer that you have met. If you have met an employer who is particular about their standard of work, then you would probably need to write a Baltimore resume that is more specific and direct. The more precise you are in your presentation, the better.Any Baltimore resume should not only follow the layout and pattern of a plain English resume but should also contain a mix of typography and bold print. These two elements of Baltimore resumes will help you keep the attention of your employer at all times. Be sure to use both of these features in order to avoid the dreaded jargon and double speak.The next thing to consider is your target audience. These are the people whom you want to present yourself to. They can be your friends, family, co-workers, or your own self. You should be able to pick the type of Baltimore resume writing service that would suit you and your purpose the best.After you have decided the type of Baltimore re sume service that would best fit your purposes, you should look for a template to use for the type of resume that you are writing. This will save you from having to worry about using an entirely new template every time you want to write a Baltimore resume. A template is usually easier to work with because it already has the basic components needed for a standard format. Once you have this, you can tweak it as per your requirement.Your Baltimore resume can be as important as your bank account in someone's life. Therefore, take the time to find a good resource that can help you understand the task and provide you with the tools that you will need in order to put together a great looking and functional document.

Getting Recruiters To Find You On LinkedIn

Just like with other paid ads online, just showing up on the page isn’t enough. The ad headline and description text needs to compel you to click.On LinkedIn your Photo, Headline and Recommendations have the greatest impact on click rates (from my own experience). See this screenshot: By making small changes to these three elements, you will begin to see increases in the number of times your profile was actually viewed. This is the graph called Views from the page we just visited.If youre not seeing an upward trend, the fix your photo, headline or number of recommendations.Third, Be an Internet MarketerSimply by shifting your perception of LinkedIn from an online resume to an online advertising platform, you can approach your career opportunities much more quantifiably. First you have to show up on search results for the right people, then you have to compel them to click. Using LinkedIn’s two graphs, Appearances in Search and Views, you can measurably make improvements and incre ase your chances of getting recruiting to that dream position.If writing your own profiles has been a bit frustrating, you are not alone. Many people struggle with writing about themselves. And your career is nothing to take lightly. If youd like to see some stellar results from LinkedIn, check out my LinkedIn profile writing service.

Guide to Austin Career Information Job Hunting

Guide to Austin Career Information Job Hunting The word on the street is that Austin is a tough job market.  With 50,000 students buzzing around The University of Texas at Austin (UT) campus and desperately wanting to stay in this weird city, it can be a tough to land a job. Personally, I relocated here about four years ago and it took a lot of networking and knowing whos who to break into the job market.  This was not the first time my family and I attempted to relocate to Austin.  Our first attempt was in 2005.  I did the traditional approach: apply to postings online and create the best resumes and cover letters.  Back then (this was almost 10 years ago) I even mailed copies of my information to people! I was focusing on education, primarily UT, so if you are looking at other markets your experience may differ. No matter what the market though, its a who you know market.  But then again, so much of any job search is this way these days.  I recently heard that Austin has the most college educated people working in service positions.  That is primarily because students at UT graduate and want to stay.  So, they have great degrees but gladly take a job serving in a restaurant over leaving the city.    That makes it a tough job market indeed!  However, not all hope is lost.  Here are a few ways to break into the Austin job market. In general, Austin is quickly becoming the new high-tech hot spot, and also has healthcare (new Dell medical school), entertainment, education, government, and an entrepreneurial vibe. Network Social networks.  Use them extensively.  LinkedIn is such a great resource and they now have so many options to gather information.  Use the find alumni tool that is under Connections at the top.  It will populate where you graduated from school and you can search by location.  Connect, re-connect, and reach out.  I would encourage you to put a personalized message when connecting so people have a general idea of who you are.  Id say reach out to a lot of people as well.  For every 10-15, you may get 2-5 people respond and thats okay! Also, join groups that bridge your area of interest with Austin groups.  This is an easy way to gain access to a bigger network.  Utilize the get introduced function as well.  If you want to connect with a 2nd connection, you can ask your first connection to make an introduction.  I find that people, generally, like to help!  Dont be pushy and show your honesty, people want to help. Professional organizations Join a professional organization in your current city that also has representation in Austin.  Chances are that you may meet someone where you are, that has a connection to someone here in Austin.  Attend meetings, reach out to presidents and leadership teams of professional organizations in Austin.  That is a great way to build your network.  Be prepared for the next step; which is have you resume updated and ready to share.  Once you make a connection, if they ask for your materials, youll want that step to go quickly. In your networking, try to distinguish  the hiring managers and the connections.  People want to help, but recognize that a connection who doesnt have hiring capability will not be able to give you a job.  Ask the question of, who are the hiring managers that are able to make those decisions?  Youll want to personalize your cover letter and resume as much as possible.  Be careful here though.  The strength of your connection will be best if its authentic.  Having a get agenda can turn people off.  Gather information, but limit your neediness.  Reach out to your friends to ease your frustration rather than coming across too strong with a new connection. Job search everywhere Dont give up!  It took us awhile to get here.  All I can say, Austin is worth it.  Here are my favorite sites to get started: Glassdoor Forbes Best Cities   List of Austin Job Boards UT Job Board Austin Public Info Austin Chamber Think.Inspire.Change.Grow By Dawn Shaw|2017-04-21T18:17:30+00:00August 14th, 2015|Career Change, Job Search|0 Comments