September 14, 2012
September 7, 2012
The Japanese
Change is inevitable. Whether it comes in your personal life, or in politics, it will happen as time passes. Large changes occur very infrequently though. It is usually small changes over a period of time that add up to a large one that make the difference.
The Japanese have a word for this... カイゼン or Kaizen.
September 6, 2012
No Wrong Answers (Part Deux)
Yesterday I wrote that you can really give no wrong answers as long as you can back it up. Today, I feel the need to explain a little more.
Explain yourself, in as few words as possible.
Every word that you say or write should have a purpose. If you are spending more than a couple minutes talking to someone, or more than a couple sentences, then you need to rethink what you are saying.
The only exception is if they ask for more detail or more explanation.
Explain yourself, in as few words as possible.
Every word that you say or write should have a purpose. If you are spending more than a couple minutes talking to someone, or more than a couple sentences, then you need to rethink what you are saying.
The only exception is if they ask for more detail or more explanation.
September 5, 2012
No Wrong Answers?
A lot of people have asked me what are the correct answers to typical interview questions that get asked. The thing is though, a lot of times there are no "right" answers. Let me say that again...
There are no "right" answers.
Sure, the interviewer might be looking for a certain point about team skills, ability to solve problems, etc, but there are going to be others that they had not thought of as well. The main point here is that once you choose an answer, back it up. There is a reason you chose it. So tell them why. If you can do that, your answer may turn out to be better than anything they had heard before.
And of course, be honest. Don't make up some completely bogus answer just so you can tell them what you think they want to hear.
There are no "right" answers.
Sure, the interviewer might be looking for a certain point about team skills, ability to solve problems, etc, but there are going to be others that they had not thought of as well. The main point here is that once you choose an answer, back it up. There is a reason you chose it. So tell them why. If you can do that, your answer may turn out to be better than anything they had heard before.
And of course, be honest. Don't make up some completely bogus answer just so you can tell them what you think they want to hear.
September 4, 2012
Jeans to an Interview
What to wear to an interview can be extremely confusing sometimes. I have already mentioned that you shouldn't dress to impress, but should you wear a suit? Maybe just a pair a slacks with a nice dress shirt? Or something in between?
What if you know that a lot of current employees wear jeans around the office? Can you do that as well?
The rule of thumb that I have come to understand is that you should always be dressed at least one level more formally than what your potential co-employees are wearing. This will allow you to communicate that you take the interview seriously, but you are not trying to stand out.
Example: Normal employees wear slacks and polos. I would recommend that you break out the suit with a dress shirt. You might be able to get away without a tie.
What if you know that a lot of current employees wear jeans around the office? Can you do that as well?
The rule of thumb that I have come to understand is that you should always be dressed at least one level more formally than what your potential co-employees are wearing. This will allow you to communicate that you take the interview seriously, but you are not trying to stand out.
Example: Normal employees wear slacks and polos. I would recommend that you break out the suit with a dress shirt. You might be able to get away without a tie.
September 3, 2012
Jimmy John's
To be honest, I personally like the subs at Subway better than Jimmy John's. There is one thing that Subway doesn't have that JJ's does though...
The signs.
Anyone who has ever eaten or walked into a Jimmy John's knows what I am talking about. One struck me while I was eating dinner last night there.
It read, "The answer to every question that you don't ask is no."
This really stuck out to me, because this is a saying that I have been trying to live by more or less. It doesn't do you or anyone else any good to question something in your head, and then never openly ask about it. It could be an idea that no one had ever thought of before, but could be the one that changes the world.
AND... Even if the answer to the question happens to be no, then you are no worse off than where you started. You instead have more information now to figure out how to make that "no" into a "yes". It goes back to me and my risk taking. In the future, I would hate to look back and think to myself, "What if I had asked that question? What if the answer was yes? What would be different now?"
The signs.
Anyone who has ever eaten or walked into a Jimmy John's knows what I am talking about. One struck me while I was eating dinner last night there.
It read, "The answer to every question that you don't ask is no."
This really stuck out to me, because this is a saying that I have been trying to live by more or less. It doesn't do you or anyone else any good to question something in your head, and then never openly ask about it. It could be an idea that no one had ever thought of before, but could be the one that changes the world.
AND... Even if the answer to the question happens to be no, then you are no worse off than where you started. You instead have more information now to figure out how to make that "no" into a "yes". It goes back to me and my risk taking. In the future, I would hate to look back and think to myself, "What if I had asked that question? What if the answer was yes? What would be different now?"
September 2, 2012
Gentleman Clubs
I can hear the laughter from where I'm sitting. People are saying, "Oh I can't wait to hear how he pulls some business professional idea from THAT!" Are you ready for it? One word....
Confidence.
That's right. Think about it. The women who are essentially the focal point of those businesses need to have the utmost confidence before they step out on the stage. They are putting their entire ego out directly in the line of fire with no hope for cover if need be. They are extremely comfortable in their own skin.
And so should you be.
Most of you most likely will not follow in their footsteps, but you must carry that same amount of confidence with you into every interview and every business deal that you do. Control the room and people will notice. They will do what you say.
Do me a favor? If you liked this article, "like" us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/prepyourself
Confidence.
That's right. Think about it. The women who are essentially the focal point of those businesses need to have the utmost confidence before they step out on the stage. They are putting their entire ego out directly in the line of fire with no hope for cover if need be. They are extremely comfortable in their own skin.
And so should you be.
Most of you most likely will not follow in their footsteps, but you must carry that same amount of confidence with you into every interview and every business deal that you do. Control the room and people will notice. They will do what you say.
Do me a favor? If you liked this article, "like" us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/prepyourself
September 1, 2012
"Horton Hears a Who"
Most positions that people interview for now require passing several interviews. One with a potential coworker or manager, and then most likely one with an executive. It goes without saying, but with each successive step, they become more challenging and more formal.
Everyone is nice to the face of the interviewer, but what shocks me are the number of people who are rude as soon as they step out of the room.
If you have an interview or a sales meeting with a high up executive or anyone for that matter, you should be courteous to everyone you come in contact with.
Treat everyone the same.
You should be as polite and respectful to the secretary and the janitor that you pass in the lobby as you are to the executive that you are meeting with. First reason is that they ALREADY HAVE a job.
You don't.
Also, if you disrespect them enough, they will tell that executive you met with. At that point there is no way to gain it back.
Everyone is nice to the face of the interviewer, but what shocks me are the number of people who are rude as soon as they step out of the room.
If you have an interview or a sales meeting with a high up executive or anyone for that matter, you should be courteous to everyone you come in contact with.
Treat everyone the same.
You should be as polite and respectful to the secretary and the janitor that you pass in the lobby as you are to the executive that you are meeting with. First reason is that they ALREADY HAVE a job.
You don't.
Also, if you disrespect them enough, they will tell that executive you met with. At that point there is no way to gain it back.
August 31, 2012
Shine Your Shoes in 3 Steps
Shining your shoes is an extremely easy way to dress up your suit
going into a business meeting, or make a great first impression out on a
date.
Items you will need:
- shoeshine and polish brush
- buffing cloths
- shoehorn
- brown or black polish
- all purpose leather cleaner and conditioner
Give Them a Quick Shine:
1. Clean your shoes so that they are free of any dirt and dust that may be on them. This will help to ensure that you have the best substrate to work with. Dry them with a cloth, but ensure not to scratch them at all.
2. Spread on polish as if you were waxing a car. Make sure that it goes on evenly and gets worked into all the cracks and crevices of the shoe. Let it sit for about 15 - 20 minutes before using a shoe shine brush to wipe it off.
3. Use the buffing cloths to give your shoes the shine that they really need. Small, quick, circular strokes seem to do really well.
Items you will need:
- shoeshine and polish brush
- buffing cloths
- shoehorn
- brown or black polish
- all purpose leather cleaner and conditioner
Give Them a Quick Shine:
1. Clean your shoes so that they are free of any dirt and dust that may be on them. This will help to ensure that you have the best substrate to work with. Dry them with a cloth, but ensure not to scratch them at all.
2. Spread on polish as if you were waxing a car. Make sure that it goes on evenly and gets worked into all the cracks and crevices of the shoe. Let it sit for about 15 - 20 minutes before using a shoe shine brush to wipe it off.
3. Use the buffing cloths to give your shoes the shine that they really need. Small, quick, circular strokes seem to do really well.
August 30, 2012
A Very Old Tradition
Whenever you meet someone new, what is the first thing that you instinctively do?
Shake their hand.
It has been a gesture of good will for the past one hundred years or more, and will continue to be until the end of time as far as I can tell. There are a lot of different ways that people shake each others hands I have found, but not all say the same thing.
To make the best impression, get a firm grip and shake moderately hard, but not enough to cut off circulation. Don't be the limp fish making the entire interaction uncomfortable. As you shake their hand look directly into their eyes, almost as if you are trying to look through them.
Sounds awkward and uncomfortable, but trust me you will stand out and make an impression.
Shake their hand.
It has been a gesture of good will for the past one hundred years or more, and will continue to be until the end of time as far as I can tell. There are a lot of different ways that people shake each others hands I have found, but not all say the same thing.
To make the best impression, get a firm grip and shake moderately hard, but not enough to cut off circulation. Don't be the limp fish making the entire interaction uncomfortable. As you shake their hand look directly into their eyes, almost as if you are trying to look through them.
Sounds awkward and uncomfortable, but trust me you will stand out and make an impression.
August 29, 2012
Please leave a message after the tone
It seems in today's world, everyone has a cell phone. Which is great! I can now get in touch with anyone anytime I want wherever I want. That is the theory at least. The truth is that whenever I call someone....
No one answers.
I feel as though fewer people are answering their phones even though they seem to be attached to them at all times. Why this is the case, I'm not sure. I have gotten the chance to listen to some pretty interesting voice mail prompts though.
Those prompts where you lead someone on like you're actually talking are funny to your friends, but if you are expecting and interviewer to call you back, or have any chance at all that a professional may dial your number, you may want to make it sound a bit more professional. I have heard numerous times when an executive was calling a new hire to offer a job, and after hearing the childish voice mail prompt retracted his offer.
Word to the wise... Change your voice mail message to something sounding more professional. You will not have to worry when someone important calls you, and you will sound more mature to everyone else.
No one answers.
I feel as though fewer people are answering their phones even though they seem to be attached to them at all times. Why this is the case, I'm not sure. I have gotten the chance to listen to some pretty interesting voice mail prompts though.
Those prompts where you lead someone on like you're actually talking are funny to your friends, but if you are expecting and interviewer to call you back, or have any chance at all that a professional may dial your number, you may want to make it sound a bit more professional. I have heard numerous times when an executive was calling a new hire to offer a job, and after hearing the childish voice mail prompt retracted his offer.
Word to the wise... Change your voice mail message to something sounding more professional. You will not have to worry when someone important calls you, and you will sound more mature to everyone else.
August 28, 2012
"Not the gumdrop buttons!"
Last night, my fraternity held elections for the new Executive Board
for the upcoming school semester. One requirement of all the actives is
that they wear "pin attire" or a suit and tie. I couldn't help but
notice that although all of my brothers looked great, they failed when
it came to buttoning their jacket.
There are two main tips that I have learned about buttons on suits. (these go for men and women) First and foremost, if at any point you find yourself standing, your jacket should be buttoned. The jacket should then be unbuttoned when you sit down, and vice versa. Sometimes its tricky to stand, button, and shake someone's hand all at once.
Practice this before interviews and meetings so that its natural when actually put into practice.
The other piece is to know which buttons to button on any suit jacket. There are many tricks to use, but the one that I use the most is the saying "sometimes, always, never". On a three button suit you can say one word for each button as your work your way down. This way you know which are and aren't appropriate. For a two button jacket, you just start with "always".
These tips should help you get through most situations. If you would like to know anything else feel free to comment on the article and I'll help you out!
There are two main tips that I have learned about buttons on suits. (these go for men and women) First and foremost, if at any point you find yourself standing, your jacket should be buttoned. The jacket should then be unbuttoned when you sit down, and vice versa. Sometimes its tricky to stand, button, and shake someone's hand all at once.
Practice this before interviews and meetings so that its natural when actually put into practice.
The other piece is to know which buttons to button on any suit jacket. There are many tricks to use, but the one that I use the most is the saying "sometimes, always, never". On a three button suit you can say one word for each button as your work your way down. This way you know which are and aren't appropriate. For a two button jacket, you just start with "always".
These tips should help you get through most situations. If you would like to know anything else feel free to comment on the article and I'll help you out!
August 27, 2012
Recommended Reading
Seth Godin, the marketing guru wrote an article a couple of days ago entitled Tattoo thinking.
I would recommend reading it.
I would recommend reading it.
August 23, 2012
The Three Musketeers
In my first two days of classes this semester, almost every one has at least one assignment in which it must be completed in a group of four or five students. This is completely different than what I'm used to in classes like chemistry and physics where you normally work by yourself. Group work is almost frowned upon as cheating.
When you think about it though, many times out in the business world, you are handed a problem with almost no background information. And, you are instructed to work in a team. At this point you have two options:
1. Take control and do all of the work yourself and most likely not sleep for numerous nights on end, cause yourself exorbitant amounts of stress, and possibly miss the deadline.
OR
2. Work with your team and delegate responsibility so that each person works hard, but does not work themselves to death.
Working in a team also helps you to sort out answers to problems that you may not have thought of before. Thus making the team look even better to the authority figure.
I have heard it many times before from very successful people, "Leaders do not necessarily do all the work themselves, or are the smartest people. They surround themselves with smart individuals so as to help each other out."
When you think about it though, many times out in the business world, you are handed a problem with almost no background information. And, you are instructed to work in a team. At this point you have two options:
1. Take control and do all of the work yourself and most likely not sleep for numerous nights on end, cause yourself exorbitant amounts of stress, and possibly miss the deadline.
OR
2. Work with your team and delegate responsibility so that each person works hard, but does not work themselves to death.
Working in a team also helps you to sort out answers to problems that you may not have thought of before. Thus making the team look even better to the authority figure.
I have heard it many times before from very successful people, "Leaders do not necessarily do all the work themselves, or are the smartest people. They surround themselves with smart individuals so as to help each other out."
August 22, 2012
Marketing 101
The first day of classes in a semester is always the best for most students. The instructor reads through the syllabus, maybe shows a short video, and then goes "Okay, no homework!".
You can't do much better than that. Except for class being canceled.
In my upper level marketing class today though, my professor made the comment that the first thing to learn in marketing is that the customer's point of view is the most important point of view.
Now this may seem like basic thought when running a business and trying to sell a product or service, but how do you apply it when you don't have a job?
Who is your customer?
Your potential employer. Everything you do, resumes, cover letters, the way you dress, all of that is how you market yourself. You yourself are the product that you are selling. So the question becomes then, what exactly are you or do you want to be marketing about yourself?
You can't do much better than that. Except for class being canceled.
In my upper level marketing class today though, my professor made the comment that the first thing to learn in marketing is that the customer's point of view is the most important point of view.
Now this may seem like basic thought when running a business and trying to sell a product or service, but how do you apply it when you don't have a job?
Who is your customer?
Your potential employer. Everything you do, resumes, cover letters, the way you dress, all of that is how you market yourself. You yourself are the product that you are selling. So the question becomes then, what exactly are you or do you want to be marketing about yourself?
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