Ethics and Your Personal Brand: It’s Just Common Sense

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For some reason I’ve always been one to err on the side of caution when it comes to my personal brand.

I’m especially careful about how I conduct myself at work and work-related functions. The lines become blurred between personal brand and the company’s brand. It’s important that we represent each other well.

Call it ethics if you like. I prefer to think of it as common sense.

Perhaps it was the education I received at my first post-grad school job.  We were given extremely large amounts of responsibilities for such young people, including large budgets, overseas travel and managing a team.  With those responsibilities came some perks including product discounts and being wined and dined by vendors.

Fun and stress and work all mixed together into one large cocktail.

Most people handled it quite well. We had it drilled into our heads that every single minute we were representing the company and our actions needed to be stellar.  If not, there may be consequences.

Personal reputation was everything; none of us wanted to damage our brand since we all wanted to be promoted.

Our behavior was important when it was just corporate employees, but even more so when vendors were present. We had to represent, no matter how many glasses of Grappa they tried to buy us at the dinner table in Italy.

This was business.  Yet sometimes there were temptations.

My VP did a great job of showing us right from wrong.

One day she called all of us to an impromptu meeting in her office. Of course we were nervous; think of Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada”.  We just knew that there was going to be more work, probably involving lengthy spreadsheets.

Goodbye, weekend plans!

We all squeezed into her office and with a smile she pulled out the most exquisite Italian leather handbag, saying, “I just had to show this to you!”  It was a gift, straight from the House of Ferragamo in Italy.

Problem was she couldn’t keep it.  Company rules stated that we could not accept any gifts with a retail value of more than $25.  Anyone caught in violation of this rule could be fired.

The packing materials alone probably cost $25. The handbag itself had to be more than one thousand.

So she hosted a handbag party, with all of us holding the bag, looking at the bag, carrying the bag around her tiny office, pretending – just for a moment – that we “owned” the bag.

Then she did the right thing: she packed it up with a gracious thank-you and shipped it back.

Could she have kept the bag?  Probably.  She certainly made enough money to purchase such a bag; it’s doubtful that anyone would have questioned her.

That’s not the point.  It was unethical. It was wrong to keep it.  And in doing the right thing, she protected her personal brand.

The news today is full of stories about people of all ages who have not learned this lesson.  It’s hard for me to understand why it’s so difficult for people to do the right thing.

Even if something is “okay” – meaning it’s not necessarily wrong or unethical – we need to take a step back and ask ourselves, “Is this the image I want to portray?”

For young people who are just beginning their careers, this concept is especially important to grasp. Especially since all eyes will be on the “New Kid” for a while. We talk about this when I guest lecture on Ethics at my alma mater.

Trust me; the company wants you to have a good time at sponsored dinners and functions. Enjoying the music and having a cocktail with clients is fine. But going too far and puking at the feet of the CEO? Not your best move.  (Seriously; I saw this happen once.)

Think about your brand and how you represent, both yourself and your company. Your behavior will help define your brand. With social media it’s easy to document it as well, which is almost scary.

Call it ethics if you want to be fancy.  I think it’s just plain common sense.

Advance Your Career By Working For Free

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Work for free.  That’s almost an oxymoron, isn’t it?

After all, isn’t the whole point of going to work, toiling away for forty-plus hours a week, to earn money?

Luckily for me, aside from a slight misstep with my first career, work has never been “toil”.  I’ve enjoyed my chosen field and am grateful to never feel like I’m working.

That said, I still enjoy getting paid.

There are times, however, when you can boost your career by working for free.

Sounds like crazy-talk, I know. Many will simply quit reading right now.  Go ahead; that leaves more opportunity for the rest of us.

Take myself, for example.  As a writer I like to get paid for my work. Duh.  Yet websites and other publications like to get free content.  The battle wages between getting paid vs. getting noticed.

When writers are first starting out, it’s more important to get noticed.  The goal is to build a following; to become the “go-to” person that people seek out on a specific topic.

Then the tables start to turn.  The websites and publications need you.  In addition, if you have strategically aligned yourself with publications that attract a large following, your byline can tie back to your own website where you can market yourself, maybe develop an email list of visitors.

Now you have people to market to; potential paying customers. It’s business in the making. See how that works?

Retailers have known for eons that the best way to attract paying customers is to get people to sample their products first.  Get them hooked.

Same thing for those selling something less-tangible, such as a service.  Give your target audience a sample; a taste of your work so they can try it before they buy it. Once they know your capabilities and feel comfortable with you, they will be more willing to spend money for a long term agreement.

Consider the fact that most jobs are obtained through networking. Why? Because the people in your network know you; they know you’re work and are confident in recommending or hiring you.

Some Ideas

  • If you are a consultant or small business person, consider trading work with someone to help build word-of-mouth marketing.  If you’re a marketer, offer to develop a Marcomm plan for an IT consultant in exchange for his help with your computer issues.

 

  • Perhaps an internship is the way to show you are willing to do what it takes to start a new career.  Many internships pay a nominal salary too.  And no, you’re not too old to do an internship.

 

  • Volunteering is another great way to gain experience and spread the word about your fabulous work skills.  Non profits do have paying jobs; they may just be hard to find.  Get your foot in the door by volunteering your business skills for a project.  Get to know the executives and board members. When the project is over, ask them for a recommendation that you can use on LinkedIn, and let them know that you would be interested in working for them when a job opening comes along.

Work for free, or work for less.  Either of these is super important for anyone who is starting out, wants to gain exposure or wishes to change careers into something totally different.

Give it some thought. You may just advance your career by working for free.

Interview Musts

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There are certain things that are considered “musts” when it comes to interviews.  An early arrival, manners and basic hygiene top the list, followed closely by breath mints.

To me these are all part of SOP – standard operating procedure.

It’s been brought to my attention that the younger crowd is not up on all of the SOP’s.  They may get the manners and hygiene, but I’ve noticed that many fail to bring copies of their resume to interviews.

I guess they think hiring managers are mind readers.

Since college students are in full interview mode right now, for either internships or full-time jobs, here is a brief list of Interview Musts:

  • Bring plenty of copies of your resume. Never assume that everyone you meet will have received a copy. In fact, some managers may have only been given five minutes’ notice that they will conduct an interview.  So make it easy for them and present a copy of your resume.  They will appreciate it.
  • Bring your business cards. This is a nice addition to your resume.  Also helps if you meet so many people that you run out of resumes.
  • Dress for success. Even if the firm is casual, you should be dressed for business.  Shoes should be clean and polished. Clothes ironed. Ladies, don’t carry too many bags.  If you carry a tote, then have a small handbag.  No need to look like you’re moving in with so much luggage.
  • Be prepared! Have your quick “About Me” speech with a memorable story ready to go so that it rolls off your tongue in a conversational manner.
  • Show them how you are the best candidate for the job and that you can solve their problems.  If you could only tell the hiring manager three things about yourself, what would they be?  Avoid things like, “I’m dedicated, hard-working, passionate and I’ve always wanted to work here”.  Use succinct stories that show examples of who you are instead of fluffy words.
  • Always be “on”. From the time you walk in the building to the time you get back to your car, be in “interview mode”.  Everyone you meet is judging you as a potential candidate.  If they take you to lunch, they are interviewing you whether it seems like it or not. They will watch to see if you speak about relevant topics, if you are too quiet or talk too much, if you talk with your mouth full, etc.  I’m not kidding.
  • Thank Them.  Thank each person after each interview.  And follow up with hand-written thank-you notes mailed either the same night or the following morning at the latest.

This list of “interview musts”, while not all-encompassing, is a great reminder for all of us to be prepared for interviews. Now go get ‘em!

Show Don’t Tell: Interview Advice for Students

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Despite the snow and ice from the Siberian Express, technically its spring and college students are in full interview mode. Some are looking for summer internships while those ready for graduation are seeking full-time employment.

Because of this my phone and email are buzzing constantly with students seeking interview advice.

Biggest question I’ve gotten so far involves responding to the inevitable, “Tell me about yourself.”

So simple, yet complex at the same time, and something that so many stumble on.

The solution? We practice as if I was the interviewer. I ask the students to show me what they’ve got.

Responses include a variety of descriptive words that, in the students’ mind, give the interviewer a good picture of who they are.   I call them “fluffy” words. 

Fluffy words include “Determined”, “dedicated”, “detail-oriented”, “leader”, “passionate”, “risk-taker”, and “driven”.  The list is endless.

While these words may actually be true about the candidate, they don’t really help.  The interview needs to see the concept in action, not just hear the words.

What the interviewer needs is a good old-fashioned grade-school style “show and tell”.

I’m sure you remember show-and-tell.  It was fun to hear about Billy’s vacation to SeaWorld and that he was chosen to feed the dolphins.  But it became more impressive when he pulled out the framed photo of him standing on a platform with the trainer in front of the entire crowd with the dolphin in mid-air grabbing the fish from his hand.

The conviction or proof of your words is in the story that surrounds them. 

My favorite uncle was a real character (doesn’t everyone have such a relative?) who was the ultimate salesman.  He could sell ice to an Eskimo living in an igloo.

He was also a charmer who never met a stranger.  He would tell people that he was the Lone Ranger; it was his opening line.  Once he had their attention, he would prove his identity by pulling a silver bullet out of his pocket.  That was the Lone Ranger’s calling card; he always carried a silver bullet.

Just to be clear, my uncle was not the “real” Lone Ranger, despite carrying a silver bullet in his pocket.  In the world of sales, where building an honest relationship is important, this was his way of proving that he could be trusted.  “I told you I could prove I was the Lone Ranger with a silver bullet and I did”.

My advice to the students is to show the interviewer what they are capable of through short stories about their work.

Show how they are leaders: “As president of the engineering society, I managed an annual budget of $10,000 and led the direction of the student-run board, including decisions on fund raising, social activities, and hiring speakers.”

Sounds much better than “I am a proven leader on campus”.

The interviewer needs to understand what we’ve done; they want to see our fun vacation photos or see the proof that we’re the Lone Ranger.

Remember to show your experience to the interview. Don’t just tell it with fluffy words.

Sometimes You Can’t Beat Experience

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Do you ever wonder about your capabilities at work?  Perhaps you wonder if you’re really any good at what you do, or if you’re even remotely smart.

No? Well lucky you. You can quit reading now.

Despite years of job success and multiple degrees which tell me otherwise, I sometimes doubt my intelligence.

This doubt permeates my thinking when more confident (read: cocky) individuals are present.  Not one to boast, I’m usually left wondering if I really have anything to offer at all.

Many times I think I’ve got a good answer to whatever we are discussing. Part of me wants to chime in, many times in disagreement as I believe others at the table are incorrect in their assessment.  The other part of me wants to keep my mouth shut just in case they are, indeed, correct.

So I sit in silence with Mr. Doubt Monster.

For me, one of the best ways to confirm my intelligence is to spend time with students.  I love working with college marketing classes and mentoring the kids who are pursuing careers in marketing or PR.  Each time I head to campus though, my doubt monster pops into my head, trying to convince me that I don’t have much to offer.

I have learned to kick that doubt monster out of the car.

Once on campus and engaged in the classroom, any doubts are quickly erased as I realize how much I really know.  To me, the points I share are just things that are part of my job and have become second-nature. To the students, they are something new and interesting to learn.

Here’s the deal:  Experience is one heck of a teacher. The lessons happen daily without formal tests so it’s hard to gauge success.  Trust me when I say that time + experience = lessons learned.

We don’t realize how much we’ve actually gained throughout our careers until we start sharing that knowledge with students who are only armed with textbook knowledge.

Recently a student contacted me about a class marketing project, wanting to ask some questions and run a few things by me to see if she was on the right track.  It involved a consumer promotion which is right up my alley.

After reviewing the information, I quickly started asking questions that she and her group had not considered.  In my mind, this was rudimentary.  But to her it was mind-blowing. And I realized just how much I knew, and that this knowledge was valuable.

She’s not dumb and I’m not Einstein.  It’s simply that years of hands-on corporate work give me a lot of experience in this arena.

It’s an awesome feeling to realize how much you know.  And that this knowledge is useful to a company and others.

Lesson here is to truly understand what you’ve learned from working for so many years. Be able to articulate that knowledge when interviewing.  Share that knowledge with those just starting out, as they will appreciate the help. 

School is great – and necessary; it gives us the foundation to build our careers.  But sometimes you can’t beat experience.

Flying Interview Questions

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Car 1

Ashton Cooper took a surprise hit as we were driving home.  That’s right; Ashton – my Mini Cooper Clubman – had a run-in on the highway with a large piece of flying debris.

We were enjoying a nice ride when suddenly out of nowhere a shredded tire flew right at us.  With just seconds to make a decision, I clutched the steering wheel and held on.  Good news, the piece of tire landed on the ground in front of us.  Bad news, we had to run over it.

Instantly I could tell Ashton was hurt.

He was shaking and different lights illuminated the dashboard. As I searched for an exit, I watched through the rear-view mirror as Ashton’s bumper flew out from under the car down the highway.

Sort of good news: Ashton was no longer shaking. Sigh.

We cruised to a pit-stop to assess the damage. I took photos and texted them to Hubby for a second opinion.

This was uncharted territory for me. Having never been in an accident of any kind (knock on wood) I was not experienced in this situation.  Not to mention I was just outside a small town about an hour from home.  It’s not like Hubby could drop everything to come get me or I could quickly ask my favorite auto mechanic what to do.

I had to think on my feet. And quickly.

So I did what anyone would do in a small town where you don’t know anyone: go to a busy restaurant and ask the manager for a reputable auto mechanic.

Worked like a charm.  After securing what was left of the bumper, the mechanic assured me that Ashton was good to drive home.

Flying objects coming straight towards you are no fun.  Although I’m glad to know that I was able to deal with it; the experience taught me to quickly assess the situation and stay calm under pressure.

Sometimes job interviews sling a flying object or two at candidates, with random questions coming out of nowhere that might catch us off guard.  We only have seconds to develop an appropriate response or risk being left out of the prospective hiring candidate pool.

Happened to me once, after three hours of interviewing with multiple people.  The final interviewer wanted a numerical answer on the spot to the question, “How many gas stations are there in the United States?”

Never. Saw. It. Coming.

Luckily I realized he was more interested in my ability to think logically than actually knowing the correct number of gas stations. I explained my thought process and gave him a number.  He was happy with my answer, enough so that I received a job offer.

I’ve never forgotten that lesson: to be prepared for unexpected flying interview questions. 

How do you prepare? Ask friends and family to help. Share questions that each of you have experienced during interviews to learn from each other.  The last thing anyone wants is to be all “deer-in-the-headlights” when a random question strikes.

It’s important to note that such questions may appear to fly out from left field, with no relevance whatsoever. Yet they are asked for a reason; there is a “question behind the question”.  Treat them as seriously as the rest of the interview.

Ashton and I were very happy to get home.  He’s seen a couple of car doctors who assure us they can repair the damage caused by the flying tire.  Which is great because I’ll need him to drive me to interviews.

Why I Would Never Hire Kanye

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Watching award shows are like watching movies you’ve never heard of before.  Sometimes they are great; sometimes they are snoozers; and sometimes there are surprises.

Sunday’s Grammy Awards showcased a lot of great talent. Artists both new and old were in attendance, performing and supporting each other, singing and dancing to the beat.  It was like watching mini concerts by some of our favorites.

Everything was great until one decided he didn’t agree with who should receive an award and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Was this really about Beck winning Album of the Year instead of Queen Bey?  Or was it Kanye trying to grab attention for himself?

Who knows?  And it doesn’t really matter.  Either way, Mr. K looked foolish.

Let’s assume for a minute that Beyonce did deserve to win, was this really the right forum?  It was disrespectful to the winner (who deserved to win too), it was embarrassing to all involved and ultimately it was not going to change the outcome.

Clearly “Ye”, as he called himself in an after-Grammy interview rant, didn’t think this through.  This is why I would never hire Kanye.

Companies need people who can keep their cool under pressure.  People who can use critical thinking skills in the heat of the moment to refrain from making rash decisions that, even if the intention is good, may make everyone look bad.

There are times at work when all of us want to jump up on the table to defend an idea or make a statement by walking out of a meeting.  I beg you not to.

Believe me; I’m all for pushing to get an idea heard.  It’s just that there is a right way – and a wrong way – to do so.  Rushing the stage and ranting are usually not good.

Don’t be like Kanye, rushing onstage or ranting about the fact that your idea wasn’t the winner. It’s a foolish idea.  Instead of remembering your good idea, others will remember the poor execution of your presumably well-intentioned message.

 

 

The Power of Positive Thinking

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Positive thinking is critical to success.

Not in the “Build it and they will come” – Field of Dreams sort of way, but you have to believe in yourself and your idea in order to have any chance at all.

Last week I saw the power of positive thinking in action as a judge at SMU’s first Big Idea Day competition.  Six months earlier students had pitched their Big Ideas, with winners receiving seed money to begin working on their businesses. Now I was invited to participate as the same students presented their business plans as well as work to-date, for the opportunity to receive additional funding to continue.

Sort of like “Shark Tank”, without the high-rolling judges writing personal checks to finance the projects. Thank goodness they were not looking to me for funding.

The ideas were great, but what impressed me the most was the students’ positive attitudes.

They simply were undeterred by things that would stop most career veterans at the get-go.

As judges it was our job to determine which Big Ideas truly had a chance for success as well as evaluate the business plans and other predetermined criteria.  It was hard to focus on the idea and not let years of work experience jade us in our decisions.

Negative thoughts instantly popped into our heads.  Permits, legal issues, security, technology, shipping, advertising, staffing; the list went on and on.  The who, what, where, when and how questions seemed insurmountable to us, in many cases.

Not to the students.  They were ready to roll up their sleeves and make the idea come to life.  They were passionate about their plans and ideas; everything seemed possible with hard work and determination.

Part of that, of course, is the wonderful naiveté from simply being college students who lack real-world experience. Yet I admired their grit and determination.  We were all that way at one time, immune to common convention and the “rules” that have become second nature.

As career veterans sometimes we zone in on what can’t be done.  Budgets and bureaucracy and legal ramifications and just  being told “no” so many times over the years has worn us down. Along with experience – or dare I say egos – that whisper, “I’ve tried that before; it won’t work”.  Doesn’t matter that it was years ago and under different circumstances; we think we know best.

We err on the side of caution, working towards what we know we can accomplish and succeed at instead of the riskier, harder ideas that take more time and effort with the possibility of failure.

It’s so easy, isn’t it? To get caught up in what can’t be done instead of the endless possibilities of what might be accomplished?

Face it: innovation – trying something new – takes lots of work. And it’s easy to fail.

Yet the rewards for success are great.

Same thing for our job search.  We get caught up in the “I can’t do this”, or “That will never work”, and other negative thoughts.  Why not just say “Yes, I can try”?

At the very least, develop a plan that allows you to thoroughly think things through. Allow yourself to dream about the possibilities; the “What ifs?”

Developing a Big Idea to start a new business or searching for a new job or the riskier idea of changing careers are all challenging.   The question is, do you put in the hard work to go after your dreams or do you sit back in the safety and comfort of what you know?

Go for the positive attitude and the Big Idea.  You will be amazed at what you can accomplish.

 

Five Ways to Help Your Job Search in 2015

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The end of January is here already! Where did the month go?

Don’t know about you but my resolutions are not holding up quite as well as I had hoped.  Sigh.

Since we have a few days left in the month I thought we could revisit five ways to help your job search.  These tips were first published on my blog in 2013 and they are still good for all of us to remember. Especially those of us who work from home.

Revise your LinkedIn profile

It goes without saying that your online profile should be up to date.   Even if yours is up to date, most of our profiles can use some improvement. Re-read your profile, or better yet, ask a trusted friend to read it with a critical eye and make recommendations.  Added bonus: when you update your profile, LinkedIn alerts your network reminding others of your skills and expertise.

Reach out to 5 contacts from your network each week

I find this is super easy to work into my schedule.  And it’s important to do whether we have a job or are out of work. Identify five people with whom you haven’t spoken in a while and send them a quick note to start a dialogue.  It doesn’t have to be lengthy; just a simple “Hi, It’s been a while since we’ve spoken; hope things are going well for you.  I’m great; currently exploring opportunities.  Would love to catch up with you over coffee/via email/over the phone.”

And then follow through.  Again, this is something I do all the time, even when I’m working.  Building and maintaining your network shouldn’t wait until you really need a job.

Get away from your desk/out of the house

I never understood how important it is to leave the house until I was laid off.  Like my new friend who spends her days at the computer, our homes can suck us in, making us feel guilty for leaving or fearful that if we leave, we will miss the perfect job opportunity.  In my experience, all that does is add to the negative thoughts that surround us.  Getting out of the house, even if it’s to grocery shop or walk around the block, it can help clear my mind and give me a new perspective.

Attend a seminar or networking event

In the same vein, now is the perfect time to learn something new at a seminar or expand your network.  This is good for everyone, whether you are working or looking for your next opportunity.  It gets you away from your desk or out of the house, meeting new people, learning something new and it may provide a job lead. There are plenty of low-cost/no-cost events like this to attend; search your area for events.

Exercise

Ouch – this is tough for many of us who would prefer to sit on the couch with a box of donuts.  Oh wait, that’s just me.Seriously, getting daily exercise helps me deal with stress and it was critical when I was laid off.  I’ll admit that is seemed counter-intuitive to take time away from my job search, yet the exercise helped clear my head, improved my mood and had the added benefit of counter-balancing my love of dessert.  Plus I felt better about myself in general which is always good.

I know what you’re thinking: “Even if I do these things, I may not find a new job”.  You’re right about that; nothing is guaranteed.

Yet what I’m suggesting takes very little effort and has other benefits as well. I know my waistline benefitted from time at the gym.  Even if you complete each of these suggestions every day, that’s maybe 3 hours of your time – leaving 5 hours to sit at the computer. Every. Day.

Get out of the house! It will do you – and your career – good.

 

Old Friends, New Faces: A Lesson In Networking

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“OMG! You look awesome!”  “So great to see you!”  “How in the world are things going?”  “We have SO MUCH to talk about!”

The room was buzzing with everyone talking, and shrieking as another person entered.  The beautiful hors d’oeuvres went untouched; no time to eat when we had so much to say.

It was a business meeting, the kick-off event that would set the tone for the rest of the week. Colleagues who had become friends, getting together to catch up.

There’s nothing like it, is there? The camaraderie, the excitement, the “Is that what you really look like?”

Say what?!

Yes, despite years of doing business together, this was the first time some of us had ever met in person. The event could have been titled, “Old friends, new faces”.

I was particularly interested in attending since it would be the first time I would meet my publicist, live, in person. 

Yet it didn’t really matter if we met or not. We already knew each other.  Over the years we have logged countless hours on the phone. We’ve texted and Skyped and emailed and Facebook’d and Tweeted. Our business relationship is as rock-solid as if we had originally met in person.

So how did we ever find each other, several states away? Through networking, of course.

Much is said about the importance of networking in the business world.  I talk a lot about it during presentations on career transition or when I’m working with college students. Who you know – your network – will be instrumental in both your business life and your personal life.

You never know who you know that knows someone.

My story is a classic example of networking at its best. It happened organically, which is usually the case.  I was talking to another person in my network about a project I was working on when she suggested I contact her colleague, who had experience in the same area.

Introductions were made, we had a phone conversation and before you know it we had a business deal.

Similarly, job opportunities can happen through networking.  It’s not always what you know but who you know.

Networking is so important to me that I purposely set aside time to send short notes to people, forward job leads, or to simply say hi.  Even if it’s just a quick acknowledgement on social media, at least they know I’m there.

It amazes me that others don’t understand the power of networking. Recently I had someone tell me that they don’t use LinkedIn or Facebook.  The reason? They don’t have time.

Whoa. That makes my head hurt.

Both are great networking tools, with different purposes that make it easy to connect with others.  LinkedIn should be a no-brainer for everyone of working age.  It’s your online showcase that tells your professional story to business colleagues.  Recruiters search LinkedIn too, looking for qualified candidates.

FaceBook is clearly more social yet can be effective at building your network. Friends have other friends that might be able to help you professionally.  Just be sure to take it off-line when you need to chat about a job.

Many people tell me that social media is a time-suck and that’s why they don’t use it.  I say that’s an excuse; one that is only going to hurt them in the end.

Networking is part of your job, requiring some time and effort, as well as a bit of strategy. Build it into your work plan, set aside time, and do it.

Or you can sit back and wait until you really need a recommendation or, heaven forbid, a new job.  That strategy – or lack of networking – may bite you in the butt.

Alex and me 1-18-15