When Social Networking Gets Very, Very Personal (in a good way)

When Social Networking Gets Very, Very Personal (in a good way) Social networking. Its a funny thing. How much is too much, what about digital dirt, and what about all of the private people out there? I dont have any answers, but I do have opinions. Today well take a detour from the normal issues so I can share something that has been unfolding over the last few weeks, and exemplifies how social, and personal, social networking can be. You may have heard of a blogger named Susan Reynolds. She was diagnosed with breast cancer this month and is having surgery today. She started a blog called Boobs on Ice, and talks about how she used a bag of frozen peas to, well, here it is in her own words: To keep bleeding down relieve pain Id need to keep things cool. Traditional ice packs are hard and heavy. As much as I try to be a good sport Im not into having a brick sitting on my chest. Enter a bag of frozen peas. I tucked it in my bra, took a picture, and was ready to tell the story later that night. That bag of peas added a touch of lightness to what could have been a sad and serious tale. I found out about it on Twitter. You should see whats going on today in Twitter everyone has peas as their avatar. I dont have the grapics skillz so I just borrowed one (I hope it wasnt from Lane Hartwell ;)). It really has been amazing to watch all of the people rally around Susan. what an amazing show of support. Twitter is green. TechCrunch wrote about it (that is a feat). Bloggers all over are writing about it. Dozens of people are giving up billable hours to support this cause, give moral support to Susan, and even donate to the Frozen Pea Fund. Going back to social networking, this is really what it should be about. People. And people helping people. Thank you to all who have proven that we are indeed not alone, there are many good people in this world, and the internet can be used for good! You can do a quick blog search in Google to see what comes up for Susan Reynolds, but here are some posts that really stood out in my mind (the titles are immensely powerful, and show what can really happen with social media): Peas Help WhyMommy give Peas a chance web friends can be real friends. The Power of Community Peas in a pod? Social Media Changing the World Community vs. Cancer Im excited to be a part of a new community movement online Social Network? Its Like Two Peas in a Pod It’s Frozen Pea Friday (Breast Cancer Awareness) Peas help! Frozen Pea Fund Friday I hate peas. Susan Reynolds the Peas of Twitter Twittering Peas and Flickr Frozen Pea Fund Photo of the Day PEAS! For Those Who Pea on Social Media PEAple supporting PEAple.. Live Less Anonymously And, to learn more about Susan Jim Long chats up Susan Reynolds Peas and social networks God bless you Susan, and thank you to all of the superstars who have stepped up to the plate and used social media this way! When Social Networking Gets Very, Very Personal (in a good way) Social networking. Its a funny thing. How much is too much, what about digital dirt, and what about all of the private people out there? I dont have any answers, but I do have opinions. Today well take a detour from the normal issues so I can share something that has been unfolding over the last few weeks, and exemplifies how social, and personal, social networking can be. You may have heard of a blogger named Susan Reynolds. She was diagnosed with breast cancer this month and is having surgery today. She started a blog called Boobs on Ice, and talks about how she used a bag of frozen peas to, well, here it is in her own words: To keep bleeding down relieve pain Id need to keep things cool. Traditional ice packs are hard and heavy. As much as I try to be a good sport Im not into having a brick sitting on my chest. Enter a bag of frozen peas. I tucked it in my bra, took a picture, and was ready to tell the story later that night. That bag of peas added a touch of lightness to what could have been a sad and serious tale. I found out about it on Twitter. You should see whats going on today in Twitter everyone has peas as their avatar. I dont have the grapics skillz so I just borrowed one (I hope it wasnt from Lane Hartwell ;)). It really has been amazing to watch all of the people rally around Susan. what an amazing show of support. Twitter is green. TechCrunch wrote about it (that is a feat). Bloggers all over are writing about it. Dozens of people are giving up billable hours to support this cause, give moral support to Susan, and even donate to the Frozen Pea Fund. Going back to social networking, this is really what it should be about. People. And people helping people. Thank you to all who have proven that we are indeed not alone, there are many good people in this world, and the internet can be used for good! You can do a quick blog search in Google to see what comes up for Susan Reynolds, but here are some posts that really stood out in my mind (the titles are immensely powerful, and show what can really happen with social media): Peas Help WhyMommy give Peas a chance web friends can be real friends. The Power of Community Peas in a pod? Social Media Changing the World Community vs. Cancer Im excited to be a part of a new community movement online Social Network? Its Like Two Peas in a Pod It’s Frozen Pea Friday (Breast Cancer Awareness) Peas help! Frozen Pea Fund Friday I hate peas. Susan Reynolds the Peas of Twitter Twittering Peas and Flickr Frozen Pea Fund Photo of the Day PEAS! For Those Who Pea on Social Media PEAple supporting PEAple.. Live Less Anonymously And, to learn more about Susan Jim Long chats up Susan Reynolds Peas and social networks God bless you Susan, and thank you to all of the superstars who have stepped up to the plate and used social media this way!

Entrepreneurial Exam Reveals Improved Grade - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Entrepreneurial Exam Reveals Improved Grade - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It is said, “Summertime and the living is easy”. We seem to enjoy more of what life has to offer when the warmer weather finally arrives. And my theory is, while we are in this more relaxed state, it proves to be the best time to fully examine our current entrepreneurial status. Challenge Yourself to Take the Entrepreneurial Exam Instruction: To get into the mood for doing this, begin on a high note and then delve into the more difficult questions. Once the more painful subjects are dealt with, return to the happier subject matter and how you might expand upon it. 1.  Are you happy with your achievements? 2.  Of which achievements are you most proud and derive the most joy? 3.  Out of all of your business activities, which do you look forward to doing the most? 4. What does your spreadsheet recording revenue for each stream of income indicate in terms of the poorest performing activities; should these be discarded? 5.  Which activities do you enjoy the least, and is it time to let go of these? 6.  Is it possible to springboard your favorite activities into further products and services? 7.  Do you have an idea that you never shared because it seems too far-fetched? Perhaps now is the time to discuss the idea with trusted others. Unlike a college exam that is over within a couple of hours and most likely never consider again, the answers to the questions may take the entire summer. It may even be agonizing to admit what has been bothering you deep down. But the self-reflection, after all, is also intended to find increased happiness within your business and find new routes to take that offer hope of increased joy. Summer is also a great time to do more reading in order to self-educate or to pay for help on topics for which you didn’t have time earlier in the year. “Bob” is working in his field of education. But he recognized his desire to produce artsy film. Some laugh that it’s too late in life to attempt to do this. Bob already has a hefty student loan and cannot afford another. Bob does not have contacts in the film production field nor any experience, just the thought. On the other side of the coin, he may find a great hobby. It is possible people he meets along the way will take an interest and they might establish a side business. Beneath it all, one never knows until they try â€" and isn’t that what entrepreneurship is all about? This time of year is also a perfect time to reconnect with people you previously met. Even better, should you have an inner circle of other entrepreneurs whom you admire and trust, find a time to chat one on one or as a group. No one has all the answers so by being open to share troubling moments as well as new concepts you will bring about new thought to be seriously considered. “One who refuses to give up” may well become your personal brand. When you take the exam and time to answer properly, you will improve your grade and find the Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, (800) 704-1499, was honored by Open View Labs with inclusion in their international list of “Top 25 Sales Influencers for 2012.” Elinor authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, Sourcebooks and the best selling career book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”, Career Press. She provides team sales training, private coaching and highly acclaimed inspirational keynotes for conferences. Elinor is available for consultation.

Branding A Very Short Introduction for Recruiters

Branding A Very Short Introduction for Recruiters Whether youre a recruiter, HR professional or owner of a business you know that the brand you represent is going to help you attract the right employees. Robert Jones is a strategist at Wolff Olins where he has helped build brands like Barclays, National Trust, Oxfam, Tesco, and Virgin. With a wealth of branding experience under his belt, Robert  is the author of  Branding: A Very Short Introduction which you can get hold of at good bookstores and online. Branding is the most powerful commercial and cultural force on the planet. Please explain. Commercial: I think theres a very strong argument that branding is the single, most powerful commercial force because brand represents a third of the total value of the stock market. So totally intangible stuff to do with brand, and I cant think of another thing in the business world that takes up as much of the value there is in the world as branding. Cultural: I think its the most powerful cultural force simply because its the most ubiquitous cultural force. Of course, religions are very important forces, political parties are important forces, but there are very few that reach pretty much every corner of the planet and affects virtually everybody. For instance, in the most remote parts of the world, youll still see the red of Coca-Cola, and you may also see the red of Manchester United. These things are just pervasive. How would you describe branding? It is a very complex thing, and everyone has a different definition. The important thing is that its not the same thing as logo, or a slogan, or a color. Its the bunch of ideas that a company, or a product, or a service stands for in the minds of people out in the world. So IKEA for example, the brand is not the IKEA logo, or the blue and yellow colors, or any of those things. Its this idea of accessible, affordable, Scandinavian design and its place in our lives. Thats what the IKEA brand is. And thats why it is so powerful. Thats why brands are so valuable because they are in our heads. They worm their ways into the minds of millions, billions of people, and thats what accounts for their value. The really interesting thing which people forget is that when we talk about brands being in the minds of people, those people are not just consumers. They are also employees. So brands are very powerful in the external marketplace, but theyre also incredibly powerful inside the organization. Everybody in IKEA knows exactly what theyre trying to achieve. The brand is built into them to such an extent that if you work in IKEA, your focus on affordable design means that you would never dream of flying business class. Theres no rule that says you cant fly business class, but you just wouldnt dream of it because thats not the brand of IKEA, the brand that, as an employee, you belong to. The founder, Ingvar Kamprad really looks after that brand, whenever he flies to a country to inspect some of their stores, he will always take the airport coach, and always stays in a cheap hotel, hes the original personification of the brand and still going strong. Why do we still fall for brands? Brands give us meaning and belonging, which are deep human needs. Apple for example, compared with other smartphones or other computers, has an additional meaning to do with the importance of design and the need for machines to think about human beings and to behave in human-like ways. One of the stories about Apple that really matters to me is that Steve Jobs was very influenced by his father, who made furniture. His father used to say that its really important to design the back of a sideboard or a cupboard because even though its up against the wall and nobody will see it, its a mark of the integrity of the thing that youre making, an effort of your integrity. Apple, much more than its competitors, thinks deeply about the integrity of its products. Its all of that meaning that I get from Apple. Theres also a sense of belonging to like-minded Apple users and fans. Theres that social sense,  we live in an age of the smartphone culture era, an age of sharing, and brands give us things that we can share with others. When I teach every year, I get a new group of students every September, and they come from every corner of the planet. But within about 20 minutes, they are relating to each other through the medium of the brands that they like and share because they know them, because brands are so universal or a cultural currency that bring people together. Thats why we cant help falling for meaning and belonging. What are the dos and the donts in branding? Its important to appeal to both sides of us as human beings, the rational side, and the intuitive and emotional side. The two really big things on the rational side are to keep being useful, to give people something that they want and need, and to create products with real integrity. Also to stay slightly ahead, giving people new things that maybe theyre only just beginning to discover that they need. That would be the secret of a brand like TESLA, which is a very small car company that is more valuable than many of the very big car companies because of its brand. The other half of it is the intuitive part, which is to make sure that you are in tune with your customers and your employees, share values with them, and lead a little bit in terms of those values and those emotions. A brand that isnt constantly coming up with fresh things both for consumers and employees will gradually die, but its also important to stay true to yourself. Keep refreshing, but dont start lying, dont be false to yourself, dont do things that arent in your heritage. People will see through untruthful, inauthentic brands very quickly. Three things to go for: something big, something simple, and something true. Connect with Robert on Twitter at @robertjones2.

Does The World Cup Affect Workplace Productivity

Does The World Cup Affect Workplace Productivity Do you love watching the World Cup? Do you watch it during work?  When I worked as a corporate consultant back in 2010, streaming video of the World Cup games  was actually banned at our company since it was horribly affecting our Internet network. It made me wonder how many people at my work were actually watching the World Cup rather than working. I also wondered whether it was influencing productivity since it seemed like no one was really working around me. I noticed a few people watching the game and  some cheers coming from the office next to mine.   I even took part in the festivities by taking a rather long lunch to watch one of the games with co-workers (it was a team building event of course). In the past, I never even knew when the World Cup was on.   This year, there was so much more hype and excitement about the World Cup games!    I think this is mainly due to the awesome  wins and stories  from the United States team.   The U.S.’s 2-1 loss to Ghana in the World Cup’s round of 16 was the most watched men’s soccer match in American history, with 19.4 million viewers (14.9 million on ABC and 4.5 million on Spanish language Univision). My husband and I watched most of  the games  and really enjoyed  them.   We even talk about how we wish we would have played soccer  when we were younger  and how our kids will be soccer superstars and play in the World Cup  someday (or  future Olympians instead?) Due to the time difference, games are  played when most Americans are at work. The final game  is today between the Netherlands and Spain.   (Go Spain!) The Stats The  News and World Report estimated The World Cup will likely cost American companies 10 minutes of productivity a day for 21 days. That comes to about $121.7 million in lost productivity in the US.   Even though this number is pretty shocking, Americans probably watch the World Cup less than any other country. In Italy, when workers were told that they couldn’t watch the game, they went on strike a half hour before the game.   Did you know that Brazil basically shuts down everything when their team plays?   No work, school, flights  or  even elective surgeries  so that everyone  can be in front of the TV. Have you noticed decreased productivity at work by you or your co-workers?   Do you think  this is  ok because  the World  Cup  only comes around every four years?

3 Reasons 20-Somethings Should Embrace New Job Opportunities CareerMetis.com

3 Reasons 20-Somethings Should Embrace New Job Opportunities â€" CareerMetis.com Gone are the days when professionals decide to stick with the same dead-end job for years on end.Today millennials are job-hopping more than previous generations. Some millennials may feel pressured by society or family to believe that’s not the best decision. Others don’t want to get stuck in the same job for years and would instead find their place in the world by seeking out new opportunities.evalYoung professionals are better off avoiding peaking before their thirties. Otherwise, they miss out on life, new job opportunities, and will also burn out.Below we discuss why as a “job hopping” millennial, your willingness to embrace change is becoming more acceptable. After we reveal the positives, the stigma that professionals should only focus on their existing career and job may lessen.1) You’ll Miss New OpportunitiesevalIt takes time to get your feet wet in the career world, however, if you feel it’s time to move on from a relatively new job and try something new, that†™s alright.Stay in a position you don’t like for too long, and you may miss out on new opportunities. You should feel comforted knowing that according to a CareerBuilder survey, by age 35, about 25% of millennial employees have worked around five jobs!Don’t be afraid to make healthy choices by switching careers. A new opportunity that is a better fit for you is beneficial both for you as an employee and also for the employer.2) You’ll Burn OutIt’s easy to get caught up in a rat race to find success no matter the cost. However, do you enjoy what you’re doing? Are you more caught up in what you’re supposed to do with your life as opposed to what you’d like to do with your life?Sometimes it takes a while to figure it all out in your career, and that’s perfectly acceptable.evalGoing full speed ahead in a job you despise will only lead to burnout and disliking where you are at in life. If you get to the point where your current position has lead to burnout, getting out of a career rut and back into a positive place is essential.Learn how to move forward and grow by shifting your mindset. Only then will you find new possibilities as opposed to dead ends. There are many ways you can change a mindset and refocus on what matters, such as getting away.One way to avoid burnout in any job is by using vacation days. Many young employees may feel the need to show their boss they’re entirely dedicated to their work by never taking time off. However, it’s the wise employees that take time away from it all.Don’t worry about looking bad for taking a vacation. Usually, a company understands that even their best employees need a break. If a company frowns about employees using their vacation days, it’s probably not a healthy work environment.evalTaking vacation can help you avoid burning out and who knows, you may come back inspired and ready to take on new projects or even a new career.Speaking of taking on new projects, having a strong work ethic is admi rable, but don’t let that be the only thing that drives you.The last thing you need is to take on every project known to humankind because you feel the need show off to your boss or look better than your colleagues. You may be young enough to pull off back to back all-nighters, but that doesn’t mean you’re not susceptible to burning out in your 20s.No one needs a midlife crisis at the age of twenty-five. That can wait until you’re fifty If you work too hard and compare yourself to others based on salary, position, and the like, you’ll lose sight of what matters â€" your happiness. You may look back wishing you’d spent more time with your family, laughed more with friends, and enjoyed the simple pleasures like taking your dog for a walk. Reach the peak of your career prematurely, and you’ll live with regrets. Don’t let that happen.You are the most crucial aspect of your career, and it’s okay to put yourself first. If that means trying out a few jobs before you land “the job,” then that’s perfectly acceptable.Even if you find a new job opportunity that’s a better fit than your existing career, don’t be afraid of change. Getting burned out early on in your career can have disastrous consequences. Young professionals can get discouraged, feel unsettled, unhappy, and burned out if they’re not careful.Find ways to improve and invest in yourself by taking classes, developing new skills, and spending time with loved ones. Gaining experience from several jobs can help you grow and follow your dreams!

Open to Opportunities on LinkedIn - Sterling Career Concepts

Open to Opportunities on LinkedIn Open to Opportunities on LinkedIn In helping a recent client develop her LinkedIn profile, I debated the best way to note that she was open to current opportunities. I had read in the past thatyou should list yourself ascurrently open to opportunitiesbutstruggled with the best way to achievethis.Ill share my experience: As you look through company options, youll see some creative users have addedcompany names such as Open to advertising job but when you select that, it looks awkward on your profile because it populates asan actual company name. At least it lookedawkward to me. I onceread(by Jason Alba, I believe) and agree that listing Open to opportunities or Looking for a new job inthe title line that showsright under your name has two negatives: (1) you risk coming across as desperate, and (2) youre wasting valuable LinkedIn real estate on a one-liner that does not convey your brand or value to a new employer. I much prefer to use that text boxasaheadline that summarizes your strengths as a candidate. Adding a comment in your status box about your job search is another possibility but I only recommend it for active LinkedIn users as it will reflect the posting date. For optimum effectiveness,use this strategy if you log on to the sitefrequently and can enter anew and different status update related to your search at least once a week or else youre leaving stale information out there. My client preferred a more maintenance-free plan so our solution was to list Currently open to opportunities. Resume available upon request. as the last lineofher Summary.Including it any further down in the profile and it would be lost. In her case, it fitnicely at the end of the summary as its own paragraph. So that was my solution. Id love to hear how others havereflected this intheir profile or how some of my colleagues are handling the situation for their own clients. To your LinkedIn success! Open to Opportunities on LinkedIn Open to Opportunities on LinkedIn In helping a recent client develop her LinkedIn profile, I debated the best way to note that she was open to current opportunities. I had read in the past thatyou should list yourself ascurrently open to opportunitiesbutstruggled with the best way to achievethis.Ill share my experience: As you look through company options, youll see some creative users have addedcompany names such as Open to advertising job but when you select that, it looks awkward on your profile because it populates asan actual company name. At least it lookedawkward to me. I onceread(by Jason Alba, I believe) and agree that listing Open to opportunities or Looking for a new job inthe title line that showsright under your name has two negatives: (1) you risk coming across as desperate, and (2) youre wasting valuable LinkedIn real estate on a one-liner that does not convey your brand or value to a new employer. I much prefer to use that text boxasaheadline that summarizes your strengths as a candidate. Adding a comment in your status box about your job search is another possibility but I only recommend it for active LinkedIn users as it will reflect the posting date. For optimum effectiveness,use this strategy if you log on to the sitefrequently and can enter anew and different status update related to your search at least once a week or else youre leaving stale information out there. My client preferred a more maintenance-free plan so our solution was to list Currently open to opportunities. Resume available upon request. as the last lineofher Summary.Including it any further down in the profile and it would be lost. In her case, it fitnicely at the end of the summary as its own paragraph. So that was my solution. Id love to hear how others havereflected this intheir profile or how some of my colleagues are handling the situation for their own clients. To your LinkedIn success!

Why is a Resume Writing Service in Arizona a Good Idea?

Why is a Resume Writing Service in Arizona a Good Idea?A resume writing service in Arizona provides individuals with professional-looking and trustworthy documents that assist in their pursuit of employment. In most cases, a writer can produce resumes for individuals quickly, which is a major benefit to those who need to secure job offers. While many local job applicants find it hard to secure job offers in the private sector, hiring an Arizona resume writing service to provide the necessary services can help ensure success.There are a number of reasons why people may wish to employ a resume writing service in Arizona. The first reason could be due to a busy work schedule that requires the use of resumes to let employers know that you are willing to work. One can never underestimate the importance of this method of presenting oneself to employers. Hiring a professional for the job can be especially beneficial during the application process when you do not have much time to prepare a great resume.Another reason for hiring a professional to assist in the process of applying for a job in Arizona could be due to a desire to have a professional or business entity write a great looking resume. People often underestimate the amount of time that is required to obtain quality resume materials. Most individuals would be ecstatic at the end of the application process if they had a professionally written resume that turned out to be one of the most successful in the applicant pool. As such, a professional can significantly help someone with a writing ability to achieve their objective.Some people have another reason for seeking professional writing services. There are a number of self-employed individuals who prefer to have outside contractors write their resumes for them. This can be especially helpful if one is self-employed or even if one works for a small business with one employee. There are advantages to be gained by outsourcing a resume writing service to one's self , especially if one has a good knowledge of writing as well as resume templates.People seeking a resume writing service in Arizona often want a number of reasons to make sure they make the right choice. By hiring a trained professional to complete the job, individuals are assured that they will be provided with high quality material that can be used to secure the job offer they want. A resume writing service can help to ensure success in getting a job offer.Most individuals who hire professional writers are seeking the best quality service at the best price. The best way to determine the cost of a service is to visit the websites of some of the more reputable companies. With a little bit of research, one can find a number of sites that offer both free and paid services. Individuals should make sure they meet with each company and understand the cost they intend to charge before making the decision.For people who need to secure job offers in Arizona, there are numerous benefits to hi ring a professional. It is not necessary to spend a lot of time researching each service that is available. Professionals are ready to take on any job that involves creating professional resumes for applicants.Job seekers in Arizona will have many resources to utilize in order to find the resume writing service that is best suited for their needs. The internet is a major source of potential candidates for a variety of positions. Once job seekers begin looking, they will likely discover the next step to take is to seek out a qualified and professional service in order to get the resume they want.