Awakening in Life and Work
“I don’t need to fight, to prove I’m right. I don’t need to be forgiven.”- Baba O’Riley, The Who
Over the weekend, I turned 40. For some, it’s a reminder that we are getting older. For others, it’s the thought that the greatest years of your life are still ahead. Prior to my birthday, I had a few weeks where I felt really old. I was no longer a “young guy,” but an older man. However, the day my birthday hit, a real change came over me. This wasn’t some magic light or message from above, it was an awakening.
You may not realize it, but your awakening can happen at any time and any place. It can happen at age 21, 30, 40 or 50. It can take place in your car, with a friend or even in your office.
Say you get let go from your job, like I did in 2010. Is this your awakening? It very well may be. For me, it was the start of a dream. For you, getting let go may be the beginning of the rest of your life or it may be something that hurts you for a bit. There is not a super serum that changes you overnight (even though you may think you are Captain America). Your awakening may take some time to grow.
The same goes for your work. You may have been exposed to some great mentors and work in an environment that has allowed you to grow. Does this mean it is time for you make the leap into starting your own business? It could be. Is this, as Oprah calls it, an Aha! moment? Probably.
The moment your mind and body align, you are having an awakening. I have a good friend in PR that was putting together some social media marketing plans. He read a post about B2B marketing with Facebook at Social Media Examiner. It changed his perspective and was an awakening for him moving forward. He now understood what it took for him to really grasp the connection with social.
Remember… Your awakening may come at any time. You need to grasp it and understand the how it will shape you. Now, and for the future.
Let me know what your awakening in life and work has been in the comments.
Winning in sports… winning in business
I’m a huge sports fan and find tons of inspiration from coaches and players that show great leadership qualities. There’s Mark Messier, Herb Brooks, Derek Jeter… the list goes on. Tom Coughlin is another person that leads by example with words and actions. The two-time Super Bowl winning coach of the New York Football Giants released his new book on March 5, titled “Earn the Right to Win.”
As a person that subscribes to being a “student always” (thanks to Stephanie Florence for that), I began reading the book, which is like a manual of how to prepare for and achieve success, based on Coach Coughlin’s decades of coaching experience. The great thing is that it can be applied to your business as well.
As you all may know, I am a big Giants backer. However, when I’m looking to improve myself, team loyalty doesn’t matter. Coach Coughlin’s book can really teach you something about how to better yourself and be successful. It’s the first book that I highlighted sentences and points as I was reading (thanks Nook!).
Here are a few things I’ve taken from Coughlin.
Create a Structure- Without this, how will you ever begin to succeed? You need structure in your life and business. Any successful entity has set a foundation for future success. This starts with hiring the right people or working with the right clients that are interested in achieving the same goals. Speaking of goals…
Set a Goal or Goals- Coughlin says, “Achieving any goal begins with thorough preparation.” He’s spot on. When we are trying to win a client or project, we can not just give a half-hearted effort. If you are trying to set a goal of having three full-time clients by the end of 2013, then prepare to give it all you’ve got. Show a potential (or current client) you are willing to go above and beyond your retainer.
Go All In- Tom Coughlin learned a life lesson from his father after a loss in a high school football game. “If your going to do something, do it to the best of your ability- or don’t waste your time.” That is the same way we should be as we conduct ourselves as solo professionals or in an agency/firm setting. Give that client project all you’ve got. If you don’t get the client, at least you know that you did everything possible. If you don’t, you’ll always wish you could have done more.
Go with Confidence- This is something I subscribe to as a business owner. Coughlin’s point here is the more confidence you have in yourself and your preparation, the better you will perform. That, in turn, will help your confidence in your own ways and abilities. Don’t doubt, BELIEVE!
All four of these tips can go a very long way in helping you earn the right to win. I recommend Coach Coughlin’s book for new and current pros who want to be- or continue to be- a success. I read the book in one night and since it is on my Nook, I’ll be carrying it with me for inspiration and wisdom for years to come.
Path: Gaining Traction or Social Clutter?
One of the things I enjoy about my job is researching new ways to help clients in marketing their businesses and brands. So, I tried Path at the recommendation of colleague. Launched in 2010, Path is a more personal social network than Facebook and Twitter. On iTunes, it says that Path is, “the best way to share life and stay connected with family and friends.”
I’ve been using Path for almost a year and there are many things to like about it. Path is a tad more personal than Facebook, but still (like Facebook), allows you to comment on friends’ posts. You can also add emoticons to a friend’s Path (without leaving a comment), much akin to the “like” on Facebook. A few of the other items that are a plus is how it allows you to add photos (like Facebook), tag where you are (like Foursquare), and let people know what music you are listening to at the current moment.
I’m never one to totally close the door on any social network, but as I’ve used Path I’ve come to these questions more than once: “Why am I using it” and “How is it really different?” I’m not sure I see how Path fits for a brand, business or even for personal use. Sure, the “more personal” side may be great for some, however, just what value will it bring me or even a client?
Of course, not every social network is made to be used by businesses. In the case of my personal use of it, I’ll admit that I haven’t embraced it totally, although I do post and react to friends’ posts.
I asked this question on Twitter on Tuesday: “Working on a post on Path. Why do you use it? What do you like/dislike?” Here are some reactions…
While this is only three people, it gives you a good idea what some feel about Path. Heather’s point is very well taken. I do see some different emotions there than on Facebook. Harrison’s point, though, is how I tend to feel. It doesn’t pull me away to say, “I have to post on Path right now.”
At the end of the day, a social network needs to be appealing and have something that other ones don’t already. Ask yourself these questions: “Is it worth my time?” and “Will it enhance my social experience?” If your answer is no to one or both, don’t use it.
What say you on Path? Let me know in the comments!
Guest Post: Job Search =Life Search
(Jas’ note: I’m thrilled to have Alex Crispino guest post on the blog today. She’s a fellow Temple Owl and someone I’m proud to call a colleague. She never backed down during her job search challenges and her story is something everyone can learn from.)
As a senior in college, I started my job search early, thinking I would find my dream job right after graduation. Most of my friends did the same. We worked hard during college and felt prepared to enter the real world. But, honestly, nothing prepares you for that.
Both graduating college and job searching bring a wave of emotions. You feel excited to start your life, but you’re also terrified that you will fail. My job search started in March 2012 and did not end until November 2012 when I landed my first job. Here are the three major lessons I learned, thanks to that process.
- Know Yourself: When I started job searching, I was so desperate for any job, that anywhere I applied, I either wasn’t qualified for or I didn’t like. You must know yourself, what you are passionate about, and the general direction you’d like your life to go in.
- Be Flexible: Yes, you can be somewhat picky. But, you must have an open mind, apply to jobs that utilize your skillset and are interesting. I thought I would only have a job in PR. However, my current position has little to do with PR. That doesn’t mean I don’t find it interesting and I use tools from my PR toolkit daily.
- See the Bigger Picture: Landing your first job out of college is very important. Of course, your goal should be to find a job you love that supports what you studied in school. But, your life, your existence, should not be defined by this first job. Your career will be filled with jobs, successes, failures and constant changes. Stay grounded and remember work is just a part of your life.
My job search taught me so much about who I am and what I want out of my life. I learned that you never truly know what you want and that’s okay. Each day with each job, you must work to better yourself. If you don’t continue to challenge yourself and set higher goals, you will become stagnant.
My job search became a soul searching mission. It helped me to align my professional goals with my personal ones as well as showed me my true strengths and weaknesses. Despite unemployment, I am grateful for my post-graduate journey and learned so much during the process.
Alex Crispino graduated from Temple University in 2012 and currently works at Pricewaterhouse Coopers as a Learning and Development Consultant. While at Temple, Alex was Director of PR for PRSSA, an Account Executive for PRowl Public Relations and a Resident Assistant. She currently lives in New Jersey, but enjoys working in New York City. You can follow Alex on Twitter, @AlexCharli and her blog, Rockstar in Training.
Fake Hacks Are NOT a Good Marketing Plan
We have all witnessed the Twitter issues brands Burger King and Jeep had as its accounts were hacked. It was embarrassing for those brands and something that can be prevented. However, Viacom-owned MTV and BET decided it would be a brilliant (not) idea to hack themselves to capitalize on the hacking craze. My colleague Mike Schaffer touched on the PR side of this mistake on his blog.
As this started out, it seemed like a hack. Many on Twitter were even saying, “Not another one.” After perusing both accounts, it was clear it wasn’t a hack, but a marketing and publicity ploy from the start. Any smart marketer, PR pro or social media community manager will say this isn’t something that should EVER enter your minds as a good idea.
First, this is a good way for a brand to put themselves in the crosshairs of a real hack, something that isn’t a great idea. It’s like swimming into shark infested waters with a bag full of shrimp. Second, the moment you buy into doing something that is fake, you are doing marketing wrong.
There is no “swag” here. While MTV and BET may have thought this was brilliant, the people who panned it were numerous. You make your brand out to seem like it is run by high schoolers or worse. I know if I polled ten of my community manager colleagues, nine would say this was a horrible idea.
As a community manager and marketer, you need to consider your audience’s intelligence as well. MTV saying “We totally Catfished you guys” says one thing: We don’t think our followers are very smart.
MTV and BET probably felt that they could get away with something like this. No, you can’t. You just made your brands seem pathetic and desperate for attention… the wrong kind.
The Value of Mentoring
On Monday night, Feb. 18, various PR pros gathered for the HAPPO chat on Twitter. The HAPPO community are PR folks from around the country who help new and current pros with career guidance and information on the job market. HAPPO was co-founded by Arik Hanson and Valerie Simon in 2010 and, since then, has helped many a pro. I’m lucky to be part of HAPPO as Buffalo, N.Y.’s champion.
Monday night’s Twitter chat focused on how to build and sustain a mentor in public relations. I couldn’t have been more excited about this because I enjoy being a mentor to future and current pros. Whether it is a simple phone chat or reviewing a resume, your advice and guidance can be invaluable. What makes a good mentor? Here are my five things that I believe do.
1.) Trust- There’s no doubt that trust is the first one here. If you don’t trust your mentee or they don’t trust you, there’s no relationship. Understand that your actions (on both sides) will help shape the future. If you show a potential mentee that trust doesn’t matter, you’ve failed.
2.) Honesty- It doesn’t help you or your mentee if you just sugar coat everything. Be honest in your assessment of their resume, cover letter, approach to interviews, etc. Your mentee should want that honesty because it’s going to help them in the future.
3.) Make the time- If you agree to mentor someone, stick to it. Don’t say you’ll talk and then blow them off. It shows that not only are you disingenuous, but may also hurt your relationships with others.
4.) Touch base often- If I haven’t heard from a mentee or chatted in a few weeks, I’ll reach out with a short email, direct message or tweet. I never want a mentee to feel I’ve forgotten about them. It’s also a great way to see if your mentee may be struggling with anything.
5.) Think about the future- Your chats and resume reviews may end up being a great asset. As you continue the relationship, you’ll be able to (possibly) assist a colleague in filling a position or even a position in your own business.
Keep in mind you can not force a mentor/mentee relationship. It has to work on both sides!
Blog Series: Taking the Next Step in Your Career
Maybe you are a recent graduate and entered the workplace just months ago. Or, maybe you have been in your job for five years. Regardless, you should always be thinking of this phrase: How do I take the next step?
Complacency is never a good thing, so you should always be driving yourself to be a success. By settling, we lose the drive and the ambition to take that next step.
I’ve had a number of jobs and switched careers. All those experiences helped me launch my own business. Here are five tips that I believe can help you take your next step.
1. Keep Your Eyes Open- You never know when a great opportunity may come upon you. Never just dismiss it; think about the pros and cons. I always do a personal SWOT analysis at every opportunity.
2. Be Smart- I never would tell someone to jump to another job just for the sake of jumping. Do your research. Look at what you can offer them as much as why they can offer you.
3. Spread Your Wings- As much as you may not want to, considering a job in another city or state could be the perfect move. It offers the challenge of learning a new area and making a name for yourself. Plus, meeting new people always helps to challenge us.
4. Listen to a mentor- A trusted colleague can sometimes be the best sounding board. They can also often give terrific career and life guidance. They’ll also be blunt in their opinions, which you should listen carefully to.
5. Don’t Doubt Yourself- This sounds easy, but it isn’t always the case. You are the one that knows your skills best; believe in yourself and know that even though you may not know it all, you can still be a success.
Do you have some tips that have helped you take the next step? Let me know in the comments.
