A Twitter colleague asked me a pertinent question about job searching. I said I would respond in the blog. Let’s begin.

5 Tips To Energize Your Job Search:

1. What turns you on? What do you love to do even if you did not receive payment. Famous Footballer Dick Butkus shared that idea with me. I keep it in mind.

Do you enjoy doodling? What “make do’s” have you rigged up to make a task easier? For example, I have kitchen tongs that lost the slider clip that keeps them closed like for salad mixing. I put a thick rubber band at the base and it does the job. Could I patent that idea?

2. What three skills can you generalize into a field you have eyed from afar? Technology guru? Gadget master? How about mini seminars to show others who shrink with fear at the thought? Local community centers and colleges offer classes. Create an outline and see where it goes. How well do you organize your thoughts? These may be clues for new pursuits. Follow the trail to the lowest common denominator.

3. How much additional training do you need to be adept at a new-to-you skill? You can be self taught. Start with How to sites the trail will be long, but you will be wiser at the end.

4. Would you hire yourself? What first impression do you make? How is your vocal tone–whiny, nasally, robust, booming? Record your voice. Most phones have recording capability today. Listen as if you were answering a phone message and heard you. What is your reaction? How is your vocabulary? Are you using bloated language because you think it makes you sound smart?

5. Dust off the credentials. Are you the sum total of a list of tasks? How do your personality and positive traits shine through? What is the freshest upgrade you have? What were life changing moments as you pursued your goals?

ACTION Plan:

Once you have selected companies to put on your wish list, respond to what attracts you to it.
Do you like their logo, colors, images on the website? What does a website or job posting bulletin say about the company culture that appeals to you?
Does the language they use sound inclusive, diverse, progressive, and do you know if they promote from within?
Keep a separate folder for each company on your computer. When you take action, record your progress.

This is a start. Please ask me questions.
Your comments and ideas are invaluable. Please share your strategies. Remember to interview the company as well. Show up curious and meaning business. If is something you want, ask for the position with examples of how you can handle similar circumstances. Good luck. Be fearless. The interviewer is scared too. They don’t do this everyday. MC

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by Coachcubas

Action plan, Behavior, Leadership Insights, Value, Wisdom

Are You A Hero Or A Goat?

February 21, 2011

This question can be a useful tool to measure your intentions or to assist you while making a decision. We know intentions count when seeking a solution or serving a client.

Just stopping long enough to ponder this silly comparison may add perspective to your choices.

Here are a limited list of conditions for comparison:
Heroes—

Heroes are selfless. They DO something for nothing.
Heroes put others first.
Heroes give others credit.
Heroes can act and respond quickly.
Heroes are self-directed.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes
Independent thinker.

Goats—

Goats are always looking for a handout for something to “eat.”
Goats are friendly and need to be herded.
Goats can give milk, one flavor, and you do the work!
Goats are sure-footed and climb rough terrain when guided.
Herd mentality.

Ultimately, I ask myself, “Do I want to be a hero or a goat?” What am I willing to do, to step up for my friends, family, or clients? Sometimes, we have to break our own “log jam.”

What are your steps to make a decision? -MC

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by Coachcubas

Action plan, business coaching, communication, entrepreneurs, Marketing, Strategic Planning, Strategy

Marketing Budgets 101—An Easy Introduction

September 2, 2010

Congratulations. You stopped long enough to read this and get out of the task mindset.

Often, clients ask me how to budget for marketing. As we are in unchartered territory, the usual “left-overs” approach to marketing will sink a business today. At the core, it is not about the money. It is not about competition. It is about how you make your case to assure your prospect of a smart buying decision. They must feel secure that you will deliver on your promise. The prospect wants to feel good about a relationship with your company. Provide that link with your marketing message.

Amazingly, when companies are concerned about making payroll or staying afloat, the first place they cut is sales personnel. Think about it: how does that make sense when these “boots on the ground” or the voices on the phone or at the networking meeting are the circulatory system of your company. My personal favorite is how marketing money is slashed because it is a non-revenue producing department.—Try running a company without it.

The other mystery is how many small business owners do not understand marketing beyond a phone book ad. Advertising is a tool of marketing.

Here are a couple of tips as you review and revise your marketing plans. (Yes, I trust that you have one!)
1. Have a written marketing plan.
2. Define your primary, secondary and ancillary target audiences.

Assign a percentage of budget to each category.
Include research to map the psychographics of your audience:

Where do they shop?
What are similar values they hold and relate to your company values?
What causes are important to them?
What do they read?
What percentage of time are they online, reading print and want to be contacted?
Answers provide a place to start about placement of your marketing messages.

These are sampling questions for your website to conduct an online poll, survey after you have established and earned the trust of your visitor.

3.   15% designated to search engine optimization (SEO) functions. For example, if you have $500 for online marketing, $75 would go for SEO.
4.   Calculate your annual sales and take 5-7% as your marketing budget. Of course, if you are launching new products or services, you may want to assign a separate budget for those items.
5.   Who can best implement and manage your marketing? If you are doing everything, you are doing nothing well. This book will change how you view running your business, The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. You can easily order a copy by clicking on the Amazon box.

If nothing else, a simple outline encompassing the issues above will help you to run your business, stand above and look down (meta view) and begin to see how all the moving parts work together. If nothing else, consider ways to apply the suggestions. -MC

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by Coachcubas

5 Tips To Energize Your Job Search

Are You A Hero Or A Goat?

Marketing Budgets 101—An Easy Introduction

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