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.
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