Category: young professionals

What I Learned in 2011

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2011 was the year of change. New experiences forged a range of emotions, but there is much to learn from the previously unknown. Let me share with you my takeaways:
 

Achilles Injury: In late January I tore my left Achilles tendon playing basketball. It wasn’t painful when it happened, but immediately I knew something was wrong. After resting it for a couple of days I got a couple of opinions and if I ever wanted to play sports again, I had to have surgery. The next two months were spent in a cast and I felt helpless. I fought to be independent, but needed care especially from my wife. I figured my business would be on hold for a while, but to my amazement I was provided a couple of opportunities in the next several months. 

Serial Entrepreneurs: During a monthly network event that I started at the beginning of the year, a friend who owns several companies asked if I would consider helping him out. At first I thought he was kidding, but after confirming, I took the opportunity. Limping around from meeting to meeting was a chore, yet I was able to sit with numerous entrepreneurs and hear stories that you can’t read in a book. A couple of months later I stepped down and tried a new venture, joining a sales team for a new product. Being part of a strategic new launch is exciting and tedious at the same time. In the end, both weren’t a good fit, but I took the blame for my skill set not being a good “fit” and maintained my professional and personal relationships with two men I consider business mentors. 
Shift in Mindset: One of the main reasons I’ve wanted to have my own business is for freedom and flexibility of schedule. What I’ve learned over the past 4 years is businesses survive and thrive based on cash flow. Since selling isn’t a natural strength of mine I’ve been applying to university positions in hopes to land a more stable position and expand my current platform. It took me a while to tame my ego and fully pursue a job that would essentially replace my own business. I now understand what it feels like to be in my clients’ shoes (I’m a career coach). Through networking I have some leads and will continue to build my connections because that is what I believe is your greatest career asset.

Looking back there was a lot to be thankful for. My faith and dependence on others was tested while I was recovering. I learned a lot (and was humbled) by working with two serial entrepreneurs. I’m now comfortable pursuing a position, then eventually swinging my business on the side. One of the highlights of 2011 was starting a monthly network event geared towards young professionals, called Career Synergy. There I’ve experienced the power of networking and met some great people I respect both professionally and personally. I look forward to 2012 with much optimism, but take time to pause and thank God for all I’ve experienced this year. What did you learn in 2011?  

When Plan B is Plan A

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How often does Plan A happen? Does it lead to disappointment? What if we started looking more favorably at Plan B? How would that affect how we view our current situation? 
Here’s what that shift in mindset from Plan A to Plan B looks like:
Be Flexible. Things aren’t always going to happen the way you planned them to. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have plans. It just means be willing to respond to situations accordingly. You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to circumstances. In my experience as a coach, one of the greatest assets I’ve seen in my top clients is the ability to cope. Flexible people cope more effectively.
Be Realistic. This economy forces us to be more creative and innovative with our resources. You may have to extend the time frame on your dreams. Be willing to make sacrifices short-term for what you want long-term. Having idealistic expectations leads to disappointment. Adjusting your expectations based on the context of your situation will help you view life more favorable. Changing your perspective changes everything.
Be Thankful. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, why not be thankful for what you do have? Your attitude is like the rudder of a ship that determines the direction traveled. Even if you are part of the 99%, there’s still a lot to be thankful for. Count your family and friends as blessings. There are a lot of people in much worse situations than you are. Honestly, in times of frustration, one of the best things you can do is reach out and help someone in need. What are you thankful for today? 

Switching from Plan A to Plan B isn’t about settling. It’s more of an attitude shift to help you cope with today’s challenges. The most successful people deal with failure the best. In fact, they’ve probably dealt with failure more often because they’re willing to face rejection. In my own life, most of the time Plan B worked out much better than Plan A. When you and I focus on the future too much, we fail to enjoy the present. I learned this lesson over time through my wife. She’s more flexible, realistic and thankful than me. Are you willing to embrace Plan B? 

What’s your Social Equity Worth?

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“Social Equity is the perceived value of an individual, organization, or brands reputation and following online. This value increases or decreases based on the online buzz and conversations that take place across the various social media channels on the internet which ultimately transcend to the offline world.”
Isn’t this just a fancy way of saying your online presence precedes your reputation? 
Communication is rampant via social media, but how accurate is your participation online with who you really are? Companies and individuals can easily search for personal information about you online. Is that how you want to be portrayed?
Instead of trying to create a persona, just be yourself. 
Focus on your strengths. Delegate your weaknesses. 
When posting, think twice before sharing emotional reactions in the moment. 
Do you really want your future boss to see that picture of you?
Nobody wants to listen to you broadcast each move you make.

When at work, monitor your boundaries. The lines are blurred in these days of work-life balance, but remember your actions affect others. You may be able to work the system, but act with integrity. Even if no one knows, you do. It’s called being professional.

Your social equity is built on interactions. Treat it as a relationship. Online connections are a means to an end. We do business with people we trust. It’s harder to build trust online than in person. 

Don’t substitute your social presence for interpersonal skills. As technology rises, the desire to connect face to face will continue to grow. That means how you interact in person matters. There will never be a substitute for relationships. 

Social equity is your first impression. Put your best foot forward. You never know who is looking at you for the first time. Seems like that’s worth a lot…   

What does Networking and a Torn Achilles have in Common?

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In late January, I fully tore my Achilles tendon playing basketball and once surgery was recommended I was devastated. I love to workout and a huge part of my business model is meeting people for coffee. Knowing I was going to be in a cast for 6 weeks and couldn’t play sports for months, I prepared for the worst.

Little did I know from then until now, I learned a lot about business through unconventional ways. 

Ironically while I was recovering, some of the relationships I had nurtured for a while started to blossom into opportunities. I was asked to join a couple of start-ups in roles that were outside of my strengths. Instead of backing down, I challenged myself to be uncomfortable. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, but it’s forced me to get out of my comfort zone and learn different business models from seasoned veterans. 

I share my experiences with you because just like recovering from an injury, networking is a slow process.

At the core of networking is relationship building. You and I do business with people we trust. If you like someone, chances are better that you’ll pursue an opportunity with them. We do business with people we like. 

Take a look into your personal network. Forget the size, but measure the strength of it. If you were unemployed, who would you turn to? I’m not talking about your co-workers. Instead consider yourself a brand. Who would you partner with to grow your idea? After all is stripped away, you are left with your network. 

The model has changed for good. It’s not about climbing the corporate ladder anymore. It’s about linking arms with those you want to go into battle with. Networking is no longer an option, it’s a necessity. During lean times, we can’t place our security in positions. They can be washed away in an instant. You and I have to meet people, figure out how we can help each other and make sure to follow-up. 

As vulnerable and helpless I felt while I was in a cast, the shining light was knowing I had others in my corner supporting me. Networking is not a long-term goal, it’s a way of life. 

If you’re looking for a place to start building your network, check out Career Synergy. If you have a strong personal network, continue to build it. As far as we have come with technology, it still comes down to who you know. People will always be your greatest asset. Go forth and network! (now)

Is Favoritism at Work a Good Thing?

Scott Asai2 Comments

Yes. Let me explain myself, before you judge me. 

There’s not enough time in the day to invest in everyone. The higher you move up in position, the less time you have to spend with people. As a leader, you have to make a choice. Spend your time wisely on those you trust and see potential in.

Be fair when it comes to how you treat people. Follow the same policy that applies to your entire workforce, but don’t confuse fairness with productivity. In sports, coaches make decisions based on players’ abilities and urgency within the situation. Why should it be any different in the workplace? 

Ultimately, as a worker, it comes back to you. Have you given your supervisor a reason to look your way? How are you standing out from the crowd? As a manager, would you want to invest time in yourself?

Don’t confuse favoritism with nepotism. It’s not the same. Earn your “favor” with others by your work ethic, professionalism and how you treat others.  

Network Events: The Future of Hiring

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Most networking events promise countless benefits, yet rarely do they match our expectations. The emphasis should be on building trusting relationships, before trying to make your next sale. Friends hire friends…why do you think the rich stay rich?
Let me take this a step further and say network events are the future of hiring. I’m not talking about job fairs, but a place where job applicants can mingle with employers. Think about it. The traditional way of hiring is done through submitting an application, attaching a resume then waiting to be contacted for an interview. Anyone can lie on a resume, but a face to face interaction is what separates the men from the boys.
Imagine, as a job seeker, you were entering a room full of potential employers. You’ve memorized your elevator speech, but there’s no way you can anticipate what questions they might ask. Isn’t that just like the real world? Life is not scripted and neither should interviews. You can learn a lot about someone by having a conversation with them. Their skill set may not be obvious, but confidence, body language, tone, etc. comes off within 5 minutes or less. 

I’m not undermining competence, but instead of meeting the exact educational and experience requirements, wouldn’t you rather hire someone you actually can work with? Talent is talent, no matter what industry. Skills can be taught, but intangibles such as “soft skills,” charisma and confidence usually come with the package. A formal interview is one of the worst ways to predict someone’s future performance. As an employer you want to see a worker in his/her natural environment socializing with others. Where better, than to go “undercover” and meet your next hire at a network event?