Archive for personal development
Walking your Talk: Establishing Core Values for your Business
Posted by: | CommentsIn creating websites for clients over the last six years, I’ve met many different types of people, all within the context of a specific task at hand: developing a website. The process requires planning, thoroughness, and vision. It also requires the ability to idealize, on paper and in one’s mind, prior to making the website a reality.
Our process affects our customers in many different ways, usually bringing forward many emotions related to decision-making. We’ve refined our process to lead to a focused, calm, assured, and effective result. However, we’ve found someone’s internal emotional state often has the ability to influence any external endeavor.
I think about how this reflects in my daily life.
- Why am I here?
- What do I represent?
- What guides my daily decision-making?
- Who am I in my marriage, my business relationships, and my family?
- How do I do the right thing as a parent, volunteer, and member of my community?
Stephen R. Covey, in Seven Habits of Highly Succesful People, writes about character development. He researched the history of self-help and personal growth articles, and he notes that in the first 150 years of the United States, the literature focused on character-building. The tools promoted were related to character traits, such as integrity, honesty, personal responsibility, and honor — these are more “internal” qualities. In modern times, he found a shift in the literature towards technique-building. The tools promoted were related to influence, such as relationship management, networking skills, and personality-shaping — these are more “external” traits.
Covey encourages us to live from the inside out. He speaks to the importance of understading and focusing on our internal assumptions and beliefs, prior to us attempting to “change the world.”
Essentially, he challenges us to walk our talk.
Many of us are in business in the first place because doing what we do gives us unlimited opportunities to literally embody our values. Many of us believe we are here for a reason, we provide important services to our customers, and we use our skills to our greatest ability. My business practice is a way for me to take my core internal beliefs and project them outwards to the world in the form of my products and services.
What is your core set of principles you live by? Does your business reflect those principles? How can we move into greater alignment between what we believe and how we operate in the world?
I invite your feedback on how this works for you.
10K Webdesign offers a discount on all quoted estimates if your business is green-certified or takes other socially responsible or environmentally sustainable steps.
Special offer for Women on Business readers: purchase an e-version of my 240-page book on “Fifty-one Ways to Build your Community of Clients Online” for only $9.99 (use PayPal or your credit card to pay). 200 copies available. Use this discount code: womenonbusiness.
For instant download click to purchase
Learn more about this resource.
Forget About Sex—Let’s Talk About Hair
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Frances Cole Jones, contributing Women On Business writer
For those of you scratching your heads (Sorry, I’m in a punning kind of mood) at the title—and the topic—of this piece, here’s a newsflash: many, many people spend as much (or more) time thinking about how they’re going to wear their hair at their presentation as they do thinking about what they’re going to say at their presentation.
(And while I will admit the preponderance of these conversations tend to be with women, I have had in-depth hair conversations with my male clients, too.)
My trouble is that I can think of few people in the world less qualified to talk about hair than myself. Mine mystifies me, which is why I outsourced the whole project to my wonderful stylist, Dickey, and why I sat down with him recently to get the answers to some of your most pressing questions:
Straight or Curly?
Dickey’s specialty is textured hair, which is how I ended up in his chair. What we’ve both observed from our work with hundreds of clients is that there are certain professions that prefer straight hair— for example, finance, telecommunications, business/strategic consulting. For whatever reason wearing your hair straight makes them feel you are more in control of your information.
Up or Down?
Those with long hair struggle with the “Up or down?” question. In this realm we have one hard and fast rule, and a few recommendations:
- Rule: I don’t care which you choose—and I’m sorry if I sound like your mother– but GET IT OUT OF YOUR FACE. Nothing is more distracting than having your bangs in your eyes, wisps trailing near your mouth, etc.
- General recommendations: Again, more ‘controlled’ professions are going to prefer a more ‘controlled’ look. If you’re worried you look young for your age, putting it up will give you far more authority than wearing it down.
Long or Short?
This often comes down to face shape, hair texture, etc. (For example, if your face is small, big hair isn’t going to serve you.) The most important thing, however, is that you look like you chose your style—rather than having it look like something you defaulted to in College and never gave another thought. After all, you don’t want to it to look like you could—with a quick outfit change—be serving chicken wings and beer in Any College Town, Anywhere USA.
Anthony Dickey is the founder of HairRules. He believes many women struggle with the one-sized fits all approach to hair care, but if there was more focus on an individually prescribed, texture-specific approach women could execute whatever style they wish more confidently. Hair Rules is a unique, texture-specific approach to hair care- giving women options to wear their hair any way they choose, via healthy, responsible methods. For more go to www.hairrules.com.
Develop Your Own Advisory Board
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women On Business writer
I read an article recently about the many benefits which accrue to companies that form advisory boards. Though not to be confused with Boards of Directors, which have specific fiduciary responsibilities, advisory boards are neither accountable nor do they have decision-making authority. They can, however, be valuable in a number of ways. In essence, advisory board members are chosen, based on their expertise, to give advice. It’s a good idea and it struck me that if companies do it – why not individuals? Wouldn’t each of us profit by assembling a team of advisors for the “me” brand?
It doesn’t have to be anything formal. It really comes down to the idea of proactively selecting a few people who you can call upon to be helpful as you move forward in your career, and regularly staying in touch with them. The first step in creating your own advisory board is to determine the areas in which you need and want input.
Do you need help with political savvy? Presence and style? Leadership skills? Communication? Connections? Career management? Negiotiation? Think about the top three to five areas where you need help based on feedback you’ve received or categories in which you know you’re weak. Rank the attribute you would be most interested in learning more about as number one – and so on.
Then you’ll want to think about the people you know who possess knowledge and expertise in these areas. If you’d like to do better in your communication, for example – ask yourself who has communication skills you admire? Or if you want to meet people in your field – who is the best networker you know? These can be people inside or outside your company, a former – or even current – boss, males or females.
Once you have a list of possibilities, consider who would make a good “advisory board” member. Qualities to consider are – is the person approachable? Would he or she be honest with you? Is he or she open to mentoring? Does he or she appear able to make the time to get together? Now that you have identified your potential advisors, you’ll need to plan your approach.
The most direct way to approach a potential candidate is to speak to her or him in an informal setting. Let the person know you would like to seek advice on a particular subject and ask if this is agreeable. Make sure you indicate how much time this will involve – and that you are respectful of his or her schedule.
Now you are ready to have your personal advisory board! How you manage your experts will determine how helpful they are to your growth. Stay focused on what you need – and what is realistic – and make the most of this opportunity!
What do you think? Please join the conversation!
Leverage the Social Web to Define Your Personal Brand
Posted by: | CommentsPersonal branding is absolutely essential in the world of the social Web. The first place potential employees look to learn about you (after reading your resume) is the Internet. Your Twitter stream, Facebook profile, LinkedIn profile, and so on all offer a glimpse into who you are as an employee and where you’re heading in your career. You need to be sure that your online persona is branded appropriately to help you reach your goals.
Branding yourself is just like branding a product line or business. The same principles that marketers use to create brands like Nike, Campbell’s, and Honda apply to personal branding. Consider women like Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart. Both of these women have defined their personal brands, created a brand image, message, and promise, and continually meet the world’s expectations related to their personal brands.
By branding yourself, perceptions are created about who you are and what you can do. Just as people have expectations for Oprah Winfrey’s behavior and business decisions, your colleagues, peers, superiors, clients, and potential employers will develop expectations for you based on the personal brand that you define and live.
Following are the three critical steps of building a brand that you should keep in mind as you develop your own unique persona that will be the foundation of your personal brand:
1. Consistency
Once you determine what your brand image, message and promise should be, you must consistently present yourself in the same way through every interaction, communication, and so on. Inconsistency leads to confusion. When you’re trying to build a career, consistency is essential.
2. Persistence
You need to relentlessly communicate your personal brand message, so it becomes the cornerstone of your online persona.
3. Patience
Understand that building a brand takes time. It’s a long term strategy that can help you establish yourself in the image and niche you wish to carve out for yourself throughout your career.
Resources For New Entrepreneurs
Posted by: | CommentsIf you have always thought about becoming an entrepreneur, or have recently started your own business, there are many resources you can use to help guide you. I have gathered together some of the sites that I visit and that I think are useful for those interested in taking the entrepreneurial route.
Do I have what it takes?
Some fun online tests to help you determine if you’ve got what it takes to make it as an entrepreneur. There are many more tests online, but here are some to get you started:
http://www.liraz.com/webquiz.htm
I’ve got what it takes – what now?
Sites to help you create your business plan and start your business.
http://www.bdc.ca/en/business_tools/business_plan/default.htm
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/sme/create-plan/business-plans.html (or your local bank might have their own small business section)
http://www.ontario.ca/en/communities/entrepreneurs/index.htm?openNav=businesses
I’ve started my business – what’s next?
Some useful tips on how to grow your business, how to market your company, etc.
http://www.inc.com/growth-strategies
http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/growth-strategies
Staying informed
Sites that will help keep you knowledgeable about entrepreneurship and other fun facts.
http://www.successmagazine.com/
http://www.forbes.com/forbeswoman/
Now that I’ve provided you with some links, you should be able to browse and visit sites everyday that will help motivate, support and push you to become a successful new business owner. Feel free to share some with me – there is a wealth of information out there for entrepreneurs, especially women, so spread the word and let’s get to work ladies!
What are you worth? The cost of branding you.
Posted by: | Comments“The cost of doing business” speaks for itself. You have to put money out to make money; feed the investment so that it grows becoming lucrative and prosperous. A fundamental basic that business leaders process regularly, right? Absolutely!
Why then do many business professionals treat themselves and their own career marketing tools with substandard expectations? As a career strategist and resume writer, pricing of services is one of the top #3 questions asked of clients. Certainly understandable and always welcome!
If you are willing to spend money on high end clothing, hair salon upkeep or high end handbags, perhaps you may want to redistribute where you are investing your hard earned dollars. Are you buying into someone else’s brand or are you taking care of your own?
While most professionals realize the time, complexity and strategic writing that goes into developing a solid and effective marketing tool, there are always a few folks who see their resumes as a typeset piece of paper tracking the basics of their work history asking, “Why does it cost so much”?
Top 5 Reasons Professionally Written Resumes Cost Money
You are paying for a customized marketing tool reflecting your most important commodity…YOU. Customized, one-on-one marketing takes time and a specialized set of skills from a writer who has the ability to dig deep into extracting your key skills and accomplishments.
- A behavioral based trained professional writer has a unique skill set in individualizing and interpreting your core competencies in writing. This takes credentialed training and years of practice which is more than just being a technical writer.
- Strategic writing and appropriately targeting a clients goal is factored into a professionally written resume. When I am asked to write a general resume, I educate potential clients that this is not a service that I offer. A general resume is as useful as trying to catch a variety of fish using one type of bait.
- Researching industry trends, verbiage and current job marketing opportunities takes time. Behind the scenes, a top notch resume writer is busy collaborating with industry peers, researching web sites and bringing forward new information to support the needs of the client.
- Credentials cost money. Most writers have a varied assortment of credentials, education and training to support their writing. For a writer who is continuing to learn, refine skills, seek out new credentials and advanced exposure to global assessment programs, know that the cost of doing business will be aligned according to skills being offered.
Lesson: Invest in your professional brand by having the appropriate tools. If you are going to drive a fancy car, wear high end heels or expensive jeans, become truly authentic and coveted by having a top notch resume in your tool kit.
