Of Starfish, Spiders and Networkers

Of Starfish, Spiders and Networkers Earlier this year I was at dinner with Scott Allen of The Virtual Handshake and he slipped me a book that a friend of his wrote: The Starfish and the Spider. I finally cracked it open last night and read 30 pages I couldnt put it down! Today while on the plane I was able to finish most of the book (I have about 35 pages left) and I love it this is one of the funnest books Ive read. Ill have a review in a few days but I wanted to bring out just a few things that really grabbed my attention today. Quoting Auren Hoffman, who is what they call a catalyst (as opposed to a power connector, a la Keith Ferrazzi two different roles on being powerful): There are some people who believe in only having deep relationships with people, but then youre limited to twenty close friends. Beyond those twenty, every other relationship is a weaker tie. I find a lot of value in those weak ties. Casual acquaintances fascinate him: You can learn a lot, and you can meet really interesting people. Everyones interesting for at least an hour. And most people remain interesting well beyond that. Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom go on to talk about Auren for a few pages, and what makes him a catalyst it is really intriguing and gives me a new, authoritative perspective on networkings quality vs. quantity debate. Of Starfish, Spiders and Networkers Earlier this year I was at dinner with Scott Allen of The Virtual Handshake and he slipped me a book that a friend of his wrote: The Starfish and the Spider. I finally cracked it open last night and read 30 pages I couldnt put it down! Today while on the plane I was able to finish most of the book (I have about 35 pages left) and I love it this is one of the funnest books Ive read. Ill have a review in a few days but I wanted to bring out just a few things that really grabbed my attention today. Quoting Auren Hoffman, who is what they call a catalyst (as opposed to a power connector, a la Keith Ferrazzi two different roles on being powerful): There are some people who believe in only having deep relationships with people, but then youre limited to twenty close friends. Beyond those twenty, every other relationship is a weaker tie. I find a lot of value in those weak ties. Casual acquaintances fascinate him: You can learn a lot, and you can meet really interesting people. Everyones interesting for at least an hour. And most people remain interesting well beyond that. Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom go on to talk about Auren for a few pages, and what makes him a catalyst it is really intriguing and gives me a new, authoritative perspective on networkings quality vs. quantity debate.

Self-Confidence and Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Self-Confidence and Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Self-confidence, while hard to build, is a key component to any personal branding. In nearly any type of business, successful job search or fulfilling career, when we are confident in our personal brands through a strong sense of self-worth, our capabilities are as limitless as our imagination. Conversely, when we lack the self-confidence necessary to succeed in todays business environment, that insecurity quickly becomes apparent to potential buyers, employers and co-workers, and just about everyone else. Self-confidence can never be faked. Lack of self-worth can have devastating effects on an organizations or individuals bottom line, their client relationships and their career advancement. Personal brands are built through positive self-image, without which dreams fall short of reality. Positive Effects Self-Confidence Brings People who are confident in themselves tend to be more resilient, optimistic, self-reliant and innovative. They also typically make better decisions throughout their careers. You can see the positive effects of building a personal brand based on self-assurance when you study some of the most successful businessmen and businesswomen in U.S. history and the monetary benefits they saw from their belief in their abilities. Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, built his entire corporate brand around the principle of Walmarts confidence that it could deliver better goods at lower prices. People who knew Walton described him as someone who always expected to win.  This is the brand Walton built for himself.  Walton was so confident in his ability to build an empire based on the better-goods-lower-prices model that he overcame business failures in his early 30s to build one of the worlds most successful companies.  Though no longer alive, Sams personal branding lives in the Walmart branding, which, among other things, sends the message that saving money and living a better life dont have to be mutually exclusive. Jack Welch, the former CEO of GE, successfully ran one of Americas largest companies based on self-confidence that he could maneuver a large company in an entrepreneurial manner. This assurance grew nearly all the GE segments. Upon stepping into the CEO position, Welch branded himself as someone who could seamlessly take the company to the next level and the employees followed suit. While Welchs self-assurance might border on arrogance, his belief in his vision and his company allowed GE to successfully brand its products based on Welchs own personality traits.  Those included integrity, maturity, candor and execution. Given up at birth, Steve Jobs overcame a big hurdle in self-confidence to be able to help Apple do what other firms could not make the personal computer cool.  The Apple market position was almost an extension of Jobs own personal branding, which was cool, progressive, sleek and intelligent. While other CEOs were wearing suits and ties, Jobs embraced everything entrepreneurial and unconventional down to his business wardrobe.  3 Tips for Becoming More Self-Confident Now that we know exactly how beneficial belief in ourselves can be and what it can do for our personal and professional branding, it is important to touch on tips for heightening ones self-confidence. 1. Speak to yourself in a positive manner.  When we have positive, encouraging internal dialogue, that builds a sense of our self-worth. We begin to come across to others as positive and encouraging, thus making our personal brand more lucrative and, in a sense, more self fulfilling. 2. Think of problems as challenges rather than as life-ending events. Companies want to hire problem solvers; the American consumer wants to buy based on reliability and durability. 3. Practice. Nobody can become self-assured overnight.  It takes practice and looking at ourselves in a manner that does not hinder our performance or our willingness to take risks, but rather increases the odds that we will live out the career goals that we set out to. The Building Block   Building a personal brand is a crucial thing to do. Positive personal branding is nothing short of essential if you wish to be successful. Author: Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement Sales Recruiters,  a sales and marketing recruitment agency specializing in helping job seekers further their careers through finding them challenging and rewarding positions at progressive, visionary and growing organizations. Ken is also a hands-on NYC Recruiter at the staffing company.  Connect with Ken via Google+  .

What Your Workspace Says About You (Infographic)

What Your Workspace Says About You (Infographic) The average worker spends between 6 8 hours at their desk each day. Any place you spend that much time is bound to become a reflection of who you are. They types of snacks you have out, how cluttered your desk is, what kind of drinks you consume, all shed a little more light on who you are. Todays infographic from San Diego Office Modular Design goes through the seven types of desk personalities. From the Tech Nerd to the Family Man/Woman, each is unique and relatable in an interesting and humorous ways.

Too Much Stress Try These Natural Remedies

Too Much Stress Try These Natural Remedies Too much work.   Politics, both in the world and in the office.   Relationships that take constant nurturing.   And all the other demands of life.   All that means most of us have at least a few bouts of being over-stressed from time to time. Stress, of course, isnt the natural state of your body.   It can lead to all manner of complications and ailments, which can even ultimately end in death.   So its not a good idea to let stress go on with no response to eliminate or at least reduce it.   Hopefully, youre not prone to handling stress with alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal) because both have their own brand of further negative consequences. That said, when there is too much stress in your life, what are some ways to respond to stress that are more healthy?Heres some ideas to help in general, and some ways to handle typical stress-related symptoms. Responding To Stress Naturally When youve got too much stress, try these active responses: Meditate.   No its not about chanting.   Its about centering and relaxing.   Its been proven to have tons of benefits.   If youre ready to get serious about it and want to know more, check out the book review   we published recently about a truly awesome book full of great how-to tips. Yoga and exercise.   Physical activity encourages your body to chemically counteract the negative chemistry related to stress.   Run, walk, climb the stairs, just get some exercise. Pause.   Rather than let your mind and body go into fight or flight mode when you encounter a stressful situation, remind yourself to stop and consider whats going on.   Evaluate your options and remember that this is just a relatively small point in time that will soon pass. Youve got this. Connect with nature.   A walk in the park or in the woods or even the desert can work wonders to re-center and calm yourself. Responding To Stress-Related Symptoms Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O., an Osteopathic Physician lists some ways that stress can affect your body and provides methods to  manage it with herbal supplements and natural alternatives: Symptom: Insomnia Solution:  Magnesium  helps to relax the body while also easing anxiety.  Melatonin supplements  can help regulate sleep and wakefulness and  Chamomile tea  is great for relaxation and sleep. Symptom: Low energy Solution:  Asian Ginseng,  Vitamin B12  and  Green Tea  are all known to increase one’s energy levels. Symptom: Stomach aches, Body aches and pain Solution:  Peppermint oil  is good for stomach aches and occasional  massages  with essential oils  and hot baths  can sooth aches and pain induced by stress. Symptom: Common cold and Infections Solution:  Echinacea and Astragalus,  two herbs with immune-supporting properties, as well as  Vitamin C and D  can assist with common colds and other infections. Too Much Stress?   Take Charge! Just as you would any other conditions that affect your well-being, you can and should take an active role in responding to stress.   Whether its working controlling the stress or its common symptoms, you have choices that can make a huge difference in your health both short and long term.

5 Benefits of Using an Outside Safety Training Program for Employees - CareerMetis.com

5 Benefits of Using an Outside Safety Training Program for Employees Do you operate a company or business that must adhere to strict safety guidelines and rules? Do your employees need to be well-trained and knowledgeable in all things safety-related? If so, then safety training isn’t something you want to take lightly.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comThis is exactly why so many companies and businesses are turning to outside help to assist in their employee safety training program.There are a number of benefits to be enjoyed when using an outside safety training program, as you will discover.1. Take Advantage of the SpecialistsevalBecause safety training isn’t something you want to take lightly, it’s wise to leave it to the specialists. These safety training sessions will be run by those with the training, skills, and knowledge, and may even take place in an outside training facility. If you prefer to have the session take place in your offices, they can always come to you.2. An Engaging Training SessionBecause these training specialists have the exp erience in presenting the material, they have likely found the best and most engaging ways to do so. Material that you may struggle to make interesting and relatable to your employees is a breeze for them, as they are used to it. They know the lingo to use, what areas typically trip people up, and how to make things clearer.3. “Outside Training” Can Mean OnlineThe words “outside training” may not actually mean your employees need to leave their desks. Instead, you can hire a company to put together your entire safety training program, which can then be available to your employees online.Again, this takes the workload off your shoulders; you know it will be pieced together in a way that makes sense and flows, and all the important material will be covered in a professional, user-friendly way.Safety Skills is a company that provides online safety training and is the perfect example of an off-site provider that is able to put together tailor-made safety training packages. They specialize in occupational health and environmental safety training. They also offer the technical means and knowledge to back up their programming.4. Use Team Building ExercisesAnother area in which outside training programs tend to excel is that they make use of team building exercises. This can be off-site in a training facility, in your offices, or online. The use of these exercises usually creates a more relaxed environment, which can make learning much easier and smoother.5. Boost MoraleWhether you choose to engage in off-site training or just use an outside training company to put together your online program such as Safety Skills does, providing your employees with the proper knowledge, skills, and equipment will leave them empowered and boost their morale. Of course, this will all result in maximum productivity and safety in the workplace.Sign Up for Outside Training ProgramsevalThis is just a small handful of the many benefits in using an outside safety training program fo r your employees. If you want to ensure your employees get the proper training, and all the material is covered, then it’s best to leave it to the experts.

Summary Sunday Fix These Wrong Assumptions

Summary Sunday Fix These Wrong Assumptions Could you be making the wrong assumptions? These five  posts support the idea that everything we believe may not be correct. Please, allow me to challenge your assumptions about job search, careers, social networking and new graduate job search! Not only did these posts catch my attention, they  were popular with my network this week as well! Career Wisdom Weve got it all wrong! You wont be just one thing. You should be multiple things at the same time. It is the smart way to run your career. The odds of finding just one thing that will make you happy and fill your bank account are slim. Your chances are greater if you use your talents is multiple ways! You Absolutely Must Be More Than One Thing Jeff Haden LinkedIn Rethink Social Media We all know to invest time on LinkedIn, known as the professional networking site. But dont overlook the power of Twitter!  It is great for brand-building, people are more active here and its easier to connect with people. Read the post then go  network on Twitter  and see the difference! LinkedIn Is Not The Ultimate Career Site, Twitter Is  Undercover Recruiter Are You  Memorable Theres no time for mediocrity. You need to be memorable. What can you do to stand out? Check out these actions and words you can use to set yourself apart. My favorite quote from this article comes from David Ogilvy, advertising superstar. If you cant be brilliant,  at least be memorable  -David Ogilvy How To Make Yourself Unforgettable Fast Company New Graduate Job Search We all know someone just finishing college. They need extra help positioning themselves in the highly-competitive job market, so please, share these two posts with all the freshly-minted graduates you know! The Ultimate Guide To Getting A Job After You Graduate HubSpot 31 Tips for the Newly Graduated College Student Career Cloud Never miss the job search news you can use. Sign up now! Email Address

Reviews of the Ladders Resume Writing Service

Reviews of the Ladders Resume Writing ServiceMany people look for online review of the ladders resume writing service when looking for the best job in their fields. The many businesses out there seem to want new people with all types of experience. This is why a person who has all of this in spades is the perfect candidate for any type of business.But, sometimes a person can get a little burned if they have not written their resume properly. The first thing that should be done before any business opens its doors is to write a very well-written resume. If the person does not do this properly, it could end up costing them a lot of money and cause them to not get a good interview.If a person already has a certain skill that they are seeking then they can look for reviews of the ladders resume writing service to see what people are saying about the service. This is because some people find a particular service and become very excited when they receive a response from a certain company. A fter that person becomes a satisfied customer the next thing that they do is post positive reviews of the ladders resume writing service on the internet. So, it is very important to find out if there are any outstanding negative reviews on the service so that a person knows if they should get involved with them or not.Once a person finds a resume writing service they are interested in they can read through some reviews to see what other people think of the work that has been done. This will help the person to determine if they want to be affiliated with this particular service. There are several places where reviews can be found such as forums, Google, Yahoo answers, and of course through the company's website. This is one of the great advantages to finding reviews online.It is easy to find reviews of the ladders resumes online. A person can usually take a sample resume toa local office to get a second opinion on whether they would like to be associated with the company. The Interne t is also an option for finding reviews.After a person has completed the resume, either by themselves or by hiring a professional, they will want to see if the employer has the same experience. The person can then compare the resumes to see how much experience they each have. The resume will need to include all of the information required by the company. The one that has more experience will be the one that is hired.The resumes should be made according to the general experience that a person has. This will help to get the prospective employer interested in working with the person. It is important to make sure that the person who writes the resume has experience. This way the person will know that they will be able to communicate with the business and can therefore have a better chance of being hired.There are many benefits to using the services of an employer for this. They can take a sample resume and can look at it to determine how well the person has done. These are all things th at a person should consider before they even begin working with a resume writing service.