Nicholas Bate: Being the Best: The AZ of Personal Success: The A-Z of Personal Success
Nicholas Bate: JFDI: The Definitive Guide To Realising Your Dreams
Nicholas Bate: Have It Your Way: 52 brilliant ideas for getting everything you want
Nicholas Bate: Beat the 2008 Recession: A Blueprint for Business Survival
1. Really understand the job you are applying for. No, REALLY understand it.
2. Stop being cool: be enthusiastic. Be likeable.
3. Give business reasons why they should pay you at the top of the scale. Your large mortgage is irrelevant (to them).
4. Look and act the part. Er..your shoes.
5. Give them an absolute definite reason why you are the best and unique person for the job.
Top blogger and thoughtful commentator Michael Wade has a great cut-out-and-keep in your wallet or purse post.
...He was telling me about his uncle, who, about four decades ago, got his high school sweetheart pregnant. So instead of going off to college, he found himself with a new wife, a child on the way, and an assembly-line job at General Motors. But even though this situation clipped his wings considerably, he still ended up having a nice life in the end, with a home, a big yard, two cars, a steady paycheck, weekends fishing or hunting deer, and vacations in Hawaii every year or so. "The days where a blue collar guy like my uncle could have a nice life without doing much," my friend said, "those days are gone. Gone forever."
Yep, a good post from Hugh which reminds us to stay vigilant with our personal brand.
Wondering where to start? Read this from Tom Peters.
Whatever you do this week, be brilliant at the basics e.g.
in that meeting
ask: what do we want to walk out of the door with in 1h's time?
in that presentation
think: what change do I want in my audience?
in that sales call
consider: what do they want which only we can offer?
for your personal productivity
ask: what are the vital few, the real high pay-offs?
for your work-life balance
decide your zones (e.g. you+kids zone), beyond which you will not trespass
for your health
walk every lunch-time; rain or shine
for your kids
be interested and interesting
for the changes you seek
start. Now.
It's a new month which is as good a reason as any to re-set your Personal Compass. On a geographical compass, there are four main directions. On my Personal Compass, there are six. Set a direction for each:
Career: where do you want to be in 3y time? How will you get there?
Mind/Body: what's the next thing you need to do to maintain your wellness?
Finance: on a scale of 1-10, where would you rate your personal finances? Next step/s to improve the rating?
Relationships: which ones needs a bit of maintenance?
Fun: Ensure you are having it, ottherwise, what is the point?
Contribution: Give back. It's fun. It helps you grow.
It's that time of year. The full-time MBA starts. And after a brief honeymoon period it doesn't take long for getting a job to become the hot topic. And that's why you should be a regular reader of the blog by Rowan Manahan and start with the invaluable topic of case questions.
You'll probably also want to get a copy of his book here.
Jason Bourne: This is Jason Bourne.
Noah: I was wondering when you were going to make this call. How did you get this number?
Jason Bourne: You didn't think I was actually coming to Tudor City, did you?
Noah: No, I guess not, but if it's me you want to talk to, perhaps we can arrange a meeting.
Jason Bourne: Where are you now?
Noah: I'm sitting in my office.
Jason Bourne: I doubt that.
Noah: Why would you doubt that?
Jason Bourne: If you were in your office right now, we'd be having this conversation face to face.
The Bourne Ultimatum, 2007
Excellent people always know when you are bull**itting.
A top tip here for building your brand. And a great, practical blog, too.
and he's re-energised. And tanned. And there are photos, too. All here.
and here's one I received recently. I have emboldened various parts of the text
"It's taken this long, but I've finally done something large and risky to improve my life.....
I left the world of XX at the end of May 2007, after many years there. As you know I had been looking for the next change in my life for years, and whilst I didn't know what would make me happy, your advice to 'keep looking and keep trying' stuck in my head. In June I moved out to XX, where I have begun a different career in an an area that I find interesting, whereas technology did nothing for me... I genuinely feel that I'm helping people and I already have a few clients on board, who are very happy with the service. In short, I feel I'm making a difference to these people.
I had to take what I believe to be an enormous risk, to give up what many perceive to be a "safe" environment, pack up my house and move out to a new country, to work in a new job, in a new sector, where my basic salary is far lower than it was previously. Even some of my family were discouraging me from making this move, After 6 weeks of being here, I honestly feel that I have made the ideal move, and work has now begun to take off and I am feeling very positive about the future. The first month was very difficult, a true emotional roller coaster, but the skills I picked up from the Excellence Program have given me a fantastic foundation to get me through these times.
You were right: it's been hard. But coming out the other end I am so unbelievably glad I'm doing it."
It's the week-end for many of us. A good time to resore our energy, sense of humour and our direction. Use the above as a mini inspiration: if you want change, it can be done.
