04.22.08
In a World with Google – No Excuse
Read With The Lobsters! – Every weekend, Katelyn and Lindsay discuss the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi in an effort to sharpen networking skills.
Never Eat Alone was really my saving grace last week. In an effort to put into practice what I’ve been learning from Ferrazzi, I scheduled a lunch with someone my former boss recommended I meet. I received his contact information from my boss and knew nothing about him other than that he had also interned for her some 10 years earlier. The night before we were scheduled to have lunch, I opened Never Eat Alone to read the next chapter titled “Do Your Homework.” Coincidence? I think not. The opening quote sums it up:
“Spectacular achievement is always preceded by spectacular preparation” – Robert H. Schuler (p. 67)
Ferrazzi continued on to contradict my entire thought process on researching someone. Normally I would assume you would research future acquaintances to have the upper hand, the inside scoop, the dirt, but Ferrazzi learns personal details so he can uncover a similarity that might exist. Similarities lead to interesting conversation which can lead to genuine connections and friendships, which is what we are learning networking is all about. Besides, he is also correct in that people are flattered when you show you’ve taken the time to do your homework on them.
Needless to say, I immediately googled and researched as much as I could about my lunch partner for the following day. It turned out that we had a lot more in common than a previous boss and our lunch was so much fun as a result!
04.20.08
A New Approach
Read With The Lobsters! – Every weekend, Katelyn and Lindsay discuss the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi in an effort to sharpen networking skills.
Networking is no longer a dirty word.
Until now, I’ve always felt that networking was just a nice way of saying “using people” and I’m sure to some people, that’s all it is. But Ferrazzi explains that in reality, networking is all about helping people. He says,
“The more people you help, the more help you’ll have and the more help you’ll have helping others. It’s like the Internet. The more people who have access, and use it, the more valuable the Internet becomes.” Page 16
When you think of networking in this light, it becomes easier and more fun. View networking as a way of contributing value to the whole group, and know that you are not the only beneficient. The more people you help, the greater your network of connections become. No matter what level of your career you’re at, there are always people you can help. Keep your eyes open for situations where you can be of service to a friend or colleague.
Ferrazzi says that another way to make networking more positive is to involve your passions in the process. He suggests ideas like bringing someone along to participate in a shared hobby or a mid-day coffee break at a cafe – something other than a standing meeting in an office. I think this is a great way to shift the focus onto making a friend, instead of just making a business connection. It’ll make the relationship more personal and more beneficial for all involved.
What are your views about networking? What are the best ways you’ve found to connect with people?
04.17.08
Following Your Bliss
Read With The Lobsters! – Every weekend, Katelyn and Lindsay discuss the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi in an effort to sharpen networking skills.
Okay, so I’m a little late with this post, but that’s what I get for waiting until the last minute to do my taxes.
The concept that jumped out at me the most was Ferrazzi’s idea of the “blue flame”. He says,
“We all have our own loves, insecurities, strengths, weaknesses, and unique capabilities. And we have to take those into account in figuring where our talents and desires intersect. That intersection is what I call your ‘blue flame’ – where passion and ability come together. When that blue flame is ignited within a person, it is a powerful force in getting you where you want to go.” Page 26
So often the question of what we’re meant to do in life or what career will make us happiest is overwhelming. This “blue flame” idea is a great way to go about answering those questions. You make a list of your greatest joys and another list of your greatest strengths, and wherever those criss-cross can lead you to a career you’ll be passionate about. This can also be a great red flag as to your fufillment in your current job. If you make a list of the things you’re passionate about and your current career isn’t related to any of those passions, chances are you’re not as fulfilled from work as you could be.
The hardest part for me is not discovering what I’m passionate about, but discovering what I’m most passionate about. I’m the type of person that when I like things, I like them a lot. (Any Journey fans out there??) So when I think about my passions, I end up with a longer list than I know what to do with. I suppose this is a good problem to have, but I really can never decide what my ultimate passion is. In a previous post called ”Question My Sanity“, Katelyn and others made lists of daring career and life choices that could replace their current plans. I believe I would be truly happy doing any of those things I listed. I also am quite happy in my current field. Which one of these is my truest passion? How do I decide?
Maybe I don’t have to. It would be no use to me to put pressure on myself to decide which path I should pursue if that means not taking the time to enjoy the one I’m on. It’d kind of be like worrying about how to be happy instead of just being happy. I like my field. It’s exciting and interesting and I have a steady income. So for now, I’ll just enjoy it. If there ever comes a time when I’m not as thrilled, I have those other fields to try my hand at. In the meantime, I’ll work in those other passions as extra-curriculars.
How about you guys? Is anyone else torn between more than one passion? Do you wonder whether there’s a career that you would like more or be more suited to?
04.13.08
Friends Remain
Read With The Lobsters! – Every weekend, Katelyn and Lindsay discuss the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi in an effort to sharpen networking skills.
This weekend I finished reading Section One (The Mind Set) of Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone. These are great introductory chapters that outline the need for a network and motivate you to alter your mindset and go out there to make lasting relationships & friends. The summary points at the end of chapter 2: “Don’t Keep Score” are what really stuck with me from this section.
“Business cycles ebb and flow; your friends and trusted associates remain” (p. 21).
“Job security? Experience will not save you in hard times, nor will hard work or talent” (p. 21).
Both of these statements really hit home for me in our current economic times. I feel increasing uncertainty for not only what my personal career holds for me, but how the economy will effect my ability to find my dream job. What I am learning when it comes to finding or landing the job you want is the importance of having contacts rather than an impressive resume. And wouldn’t it be great if those contacts were not simply a friend of a friend, but someone you have a relationship with who can really vouch for you?
For now, I feel grateful to have a job I feel secure in, where I am learning and growing professionally. I know though, that this will not be my last job, and I know that when I am ready to move on, I will need the help of those within my network. Without knowing exactly where I want to go next, I am going to make it a point to meet and build relationships with people from all different areas of business and service, because you never know where they may be able to help you in the future. So I plan on using this time while my job is good and steady to meet people and network as much as possible, so that when the timing is right, my relationships will be in place.
Speaking of building our careers and changing jobs – Ferazzi mentions a branding idea that I have heard before, but would like to mention here.
“Each of us is now a brand. Gone are the days where your value as an employee was linked to your loyalty and seniority. Companies use branding to develop strong, enduring relationships with customers. In today’s fluid economy, you must do the same with your network.”
I plan on creating lasting impressions and really looking for relationships rather than simply a collection of business cards. I plan on giving/helping before receiving.
I’ll keep you posted on my continued reading of this great-so-far book and also of my own networking experiences now that I am motivated and reminded of their importance.
04.11.08
Kant Philosophize Enough
Sorry for the title. I couldn’t help it.
I was fortunate enough to have room in my schedule for a philosophy course during my sophomore year of college. Philosophy was much more interesting, and more relevant than I had expected. Sure, it can be somewhat passive and abstract at times, but I think the more you know about philosophy, the more you see it in your daily life. I guess that’s true with most studies.
In my class, we watched films like “The Matrix” and “American Beauty” and discussed how elements of Plato and Descartes were present in the stories. The end of semester project was the most interesting – we had to write a paper outlining our own personal philosophies. It can be really difficult to try to define yourself in five pages, but I found it to be a poignant exercise. It’s as close to a life plan as I think you can get. I wish I still had mine that I prepared for that class (it was lost forever when my hard drive decided to implode a few years ago – and no, I still don’t backup even though that was one of the most annoying and inconvenient things ever). I wonder if my personal philosophy has changed since then.
I know you’re saying that if it was really my life philosophy, I certainly should remember what it was. Well that’s kind of my point. Unless you occasionally step back and take the time to flesh out what your personal philosophy really is, how can you tell if you’re following it? Most likely, all of us have a discrepancy between the philosophy that we want to have and the philosophy that we practice on a daily basis. Think of yourself as a “seize the day”-type person? Tell me when was the last time you practiced carpe diem. Are you still thinking? Maybe that’s not really your philosophy. Or maybe that is your philosophy and you just need to be more conscious about it.
I realize that the laws of human nature mean that there’ll always be a difference between what we are and what we want to become. That’s life. But here’s my challenge to you: take some time – take 15 minutes and put together a rough outline of what your personal philosophy might be. Don’t try to be all-encompassing. This is a huge question and probably a never-ending one at that. I’m not asking you the meaning of life. The easiest way to get started is to think about someone you admire. What attitudes and traits do they have that helped earn your admiration? Then you can take it back to you. How do you approach situations? What strategies do you use to deal with things? What things or concepts do you value?
Or, if this is getting a little too abstract for you, think about your favorite quotes. You know, the ones you put on your facebook page or have on a poster in your room. Chances are, these quotes sum up part of your personal philsophy. That’s why you like them. So use those as a starting point and try to expand on them a little.
When you try this, let me know how it goes. As I write, I’m reaching for my collected Oscar Wilde to fish for some quotes to get me started…
04.08.08
Never Eat Alone
I wanted to let everyone know that over the next few weeks Lindsay and I will be reading and discussing the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. Our conversations will take place in our weekend posts. So if you’d like to grab a copy and join in the reading and/or discussion we’ll be making our first post this weekend.
Happy Reading and Happy Networking!
The Popularity of Philosophy
An article in the NY Times today explored and tried to explain the growing popularity of the philosophy major. I, for one, never took a philosophy course in college. I took an ethics course, which is similar, but not philosophy. So I did some pondering on my own as to the value and benefits of a philosophy degree.
Philosophy (noun) – The rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics.
Philosophy is derived from the Greek “love of wisdom.”
What a great thing – the “love of wisdom”. Who wouldn’t want to major in that? When I was in college, however, I think I would have agreed with the mother in this article who asks, “what are you going to do with that?” Before I had experienced much of the world, I wanted a practical degree – one that would get me a job post-college. Would I make the same choice now? Not necessarily. Now I think I would agree that preparing your mind in how to think for yourself is the best education. Not only will it help you look at situations and ideas objectively, but it will teach you to question and never settle.
Of course there are going to be certain fields, like medicine, that require a specific major in order to get a job, but for most other fields, the majority of the training and learning are done on the job and not in school. In that case, why not spend college looking at and analyzing the world in which we live? I think this is something that far too few of us actually do. So to all the philosophy majors out there, I say – we need you.
04.03.08
Traveling on a Small Scale: Explore Your State
I too see the value of travel, especially as a twenty-something with as much independence as I’ll ever have. Yesterday, Katelyn gave some great ideas for traveling on a budget. While you’re saving funds and accumulating time off work for those trips, here’s an idea to hold you over: day-long road trips within your state or surrounding area.
It doesn’t matter where you live – there are bound to be tons of possibilities for day trips. It’ll get you away from the craziness of daily life and provide you with an interesting experience, be it adventurous or educational.
The cost can be minimal. Gas is getting expensive, but compared to the cost of a hotel or airfare, it looks dirt cheap. Take a friend along and split the fuel costs. To save even more money, pack a picnic lunch with food from home. That way you’ll only pay for gas, dinner, and possibly the attraction you visit – unless you’re super savvy and pick a free (!) attraction.
I’m planning on visiting some of California’s missions, like this one in San Juan Capistrano. Cool old buildings + California history + beach town = great day trip.
So why not see something new, maybe learn a thing or two, and get the feeling of a mini-vacation all for a minimal expense?
04.01.08
Around the World on a Budget
I have talked with many different people in my life thus far who stress the importance of travel. There is nothing that brings about self-awareness like experiencing new places and seeing how other people live.
If having a family is in your future, it makes sense that the most convenient times in life to travel are either when you are young and single (or in a relationship), or when you are retired. I, for one, would like to travel while I am young so I can carry my learnings and experiences with me for the remainder of my life. So what does traveling when you’re young mean? It means traveling within a STRICT budget. It means making the majority of your travels domestic rather than international, visiting cities where you have friends who will provide you a place to stay, and flying on over-crowded, low-customer-service airlines. Even still, on a typical young professional’s income travel can be costly.
Here are some tips I am slowly, but surely, leaning in my small (but growing) traveling experience:
1.) Take advantage of holiday weekends for travel so you can use fewer vacation days. If you already get Friday as a holiday, take Monday as vacation and you magically have 4 days for a trip!
2.) Don’t rule out driving unless you absolutely don’t have the time or you’re planning a cross-country trip. Sometimes, when you add in time for getting through security and transferring flights, driving could take the same length of time and could save you money.
3.) You’re young — take the overnight or super-early flights for less cost.
4.) If you frequent a certain airline, sign up for frequent flyer miles or that airline’s equivalent. It’s free and could eventually score you a free flight.
5.) Research local entertainment that would be cheaper than touristy attractions. Just being in a new city is plenty. There is no need to break the bank while you’re there.
What do you think…Should traveling be a priority even though we are on tight budgets? Do you have any travel tips for cutting costs?
