Bear with me for a second, this will be a bit nerdy.  Typical website systems these days store the content (such as the words your reading now) in one place and the visual information (such as colours and layout) in another place.  Why?  This allows the developer to change the way the website looks at any time without having to re-write the content.  Literally, you can change how the website looks with a single click.

Okay the nerdy talk is over.  Now take that way of thinking and apply it elsewhere.  Can you see the benefit?  Develop a framework where all you need to do is change a single part instead of recreating the wheel every-time.  Challenge any complicated or redundant tasks in your life to find develop a similar process, maybe you could save yourself a lot of time.

What successful people set their own standards, raising the bar of expectation.  You’ve heard the cliché all the time, “we’re looking for someone who goes above and beyond.”  The job description is a guideline, usually not a mandate.

If your job is of the custodial nature, you may have to clean under a specific mandate, but I’m sure it doesn’t say that you need to smile.  That job description didn’t instruct upon you to make a positive environment for yourself and your colleagues.  If you did as such, wouldn’t you be the first one be promoted into management?

I’ve always believed that you should set your sights higher than the expectation.  Let your superiors know you’re going to raise the bar, but tell them how far.  Reason being, you don’t want to create disappointment; exceed but allow room for you miss your own mark.  Promise less than you know you will deliver.

To look at this analytically from the point of sales targets; lets say in a quarter you aimed to hit 120% of the market and you ended up at 110%.  If you never told them your goal you would be a star at 10% above the goal. If you told your boss your were going to hit 120%, you would still be in his/her good books but have created a 10% disappointment.  It is important to manage your relationships, not just your clients but in your company.

So go above and beyond by setting your standards higher than expected, but be smart in sharing them.  Be perceived as someone who goes above and beyond, even when you miss your own mark.

Great feedback helps to uncover the hidden issues that get overlooked.  It may not be obvious that the person missed their sales target due to their lack of tech savvy need to better manage communications.  This may be an issue the person has not realized or embarrassed to bring up.  A trusting relationship and a leader whom knows how to dig deeper can uncover these issues.

The feedback is not only given to the person being led, but also for the leader.  A great leader is always learning how to become better in return.  Otherwise all of those whom are being led will outgrow their leaders.

Last night I came across a website based feedback system that within seconds of watching their walk-through video I was completely sold.  Can’t say when I will use this in my future, but I plan to make I do.

Rypple is a program that allows for the feedback sessions to be ongoing with a Facebook like commenting format.  Not only is great for the one-on-one, but you can share the feedback with all of your colleagues.  This could be great for company morale and motivating the individual.  I can’t say much more than you need to watch this video!

Over the years I have met a lot of people, and if you look at my iPhone at this very moment you will see I have 715 contacts.  Do you think all of them remember who I am?  I doubt it – and so should you.  Think about all the contacts in your phone, and consider how many of those people respect you enough to pass your information to a prospective employer or client?  How many of them would be willing to be a reference?

At this point in time I am confident that I can name at least a dozen people who know me well enough to know my core strengths, and would promote me positively to a prospective employer – or client.  These relationships are the most important relationships to have, and are relationships that are important to maintain.  Networking – and meeting a bunch of people – is good, but only as good as the number of memorable relationships you walk away with.

The lesson here is that in the end what matters is not how many people you exchange business cards with, but how many valuable relationships create with people. Valuable relationships are those with people who are willing to sing your praises, or at the very least…remember who you are.

Searching & Applying

This is the tried and true method of searching out job postings and applying.  I’ve been looking at LinkedIn postings and sending out applications.  The one thing I’m trying to do that goes beyond the norm is looking at links between the person whom posted the job and my connections.  In addition to this, I have also been speaking with friends whom know of job postings they come across.  You can’t find it all yourself.

Multiplier Effect

Beyond getting my first job in Toronto I’m trying to establish a strong network of connections.  Right now I’m talking to every connection I know whom may know people of influence in the city.  I’m simply asking them to share any connections they think I should meet.  The goal is to try to get an average of two referrals from each person.  Now I’m not asking just one or two people, but aiming closer to ten people.  The overall goal is to meet approximately 20 different people within the coming weeks.  The coffee meetings are to talk about Toronto (living and working), as well as to see if they know of any companies I should talk to about employment.

Having Something to Share

I wanted to use a tool that would make it easy for my connections to explain to their friends whom I am.  Therefore I created a profile and put up a link to my resume.  I believe it speaks highly as to whom I am and what I’m about. Check out my About.me profile here.

Market Yourself

Can’t expose my plan here, but if you treat yourself as if you were a product, how would you convince the consumer to purchase?  Apply that thought to yourself.

Hope these ideas help you if you’re in the job hunting space right now.  Let me know if you have any thoughts.

The beauty of delegation is that you can get two (or more) tasks done at the same time. That’s if they all start at the same time.

The other reason why delegation is key, at least for me personally, using your weak skills is demotivating and may result in slow to no work getting done.

I’ll leave you with this quote to ponder:

“You can go far alone but further together.”

The reality of this is that many of us are skilled at informal communication amongst friends with no norms for social behaviour.  What is lacking is the ability to transcend that our communication skills into formidable strategies and tactics for business application.

How can so many people whom sign onto Facebook five times a day have never even seen the “Pages” application for businesses?

The reality of what is coming – lots of companies are expecting the masses of graduates to be able to utilize these tools effective, but most will not.  Frankly most have barely learnt the simple formatting tools in Word.  Don’t even get me started on how many people I have shown the table of contents part of Word (or Pages on the Mac).

I believe those whom now invest their time in understanding the different ways to use technology (not just social media) to make business more effective and efficient will become the cream of the crop. They will be part of that handful in the next couple of years that will simply rise at an exponential rate as their classroom counterparts are left behind.

Let me use a simple explanation of a free tool that gets overlooked, but those whom use it get more done with less work.

In the Apple computers there is a program called Automator (there are PC equivalents), that you can plan out a set of computer functions across multiple applications and let the computer run the process automated.  This means, that boring 5 hour of repetitive tasks you would have to do manually, you can leave running in the office while you are out closing deals.  Not only that, but the accuracy will go up if you setup the steps properly with a shorter completion time – this is real multi-tasking.

Overall, I may sound like I’m trying to speak down to my own generation, but I’m not.  My goal is to say “wake up” and smell the opportunity.  Stop cursing out your computer and learn how you can use it more effectively.  Ask yourself what do you want your computer to do for you and not what you can do with it.

First I read a great blog post by my friend Andrea about not hesitating when it comes to starting your blog.   The second, I heard the following lyric by Shad (Canadian rapper) on CBC Radio 2 that follows:

“You can’t be everything to everyone, so let me be anything to anyone.”

It’s funny how the coming generation is expected to have so many skills.  We’re expected to: be great presenters, understand technology, be great with math and planning, to be well-balanced by understand sacrifice, to be entitled and humble.

What I don’t think we learn enough of, is to specialize.  What is that one thing you’re great at and then just go for it!  Don’t expect that audience to be there, create it.  If you’re thinking something, I bet someone else is to.

I really love what Shad said, “let me be anything to anyone.”  I know I’m not the right cup of tea to everyone, but I know I have inspired many.  To some my personality is arrogant and to some they view me the complete opposite.

What I know is that I will be a leader, a tech geek, an entrepreneur and someone living life with a lot of passion.  I know I will be open to opportunities, change and experience.  It won’t please everyone, but it sure will please me.

So let me ask you this:

What are you going to be and to whom does it matter?

Shoes

They always say, shoe’s make the outfit – they can also break it. One of my biggest pet peeves in college has been running shoes worn with a suit. Some of them I know are thinking “I’m keeping my individual style” and some are thinking “I can’t afford them.” Usually the guys who ‘can’t afford’ dress shoes can afford a 48 case of beer.  Enough with the excuses – borrow someone else’s if need be (and don’t wait till last-minute).

To put the record straight, wearing running shoes with a suit makes you look as smart as betting on the rabbit (lure) at a dog race. It’s not “cool,” it’s not even cute.

A good pair of dress shoes can make fitted jeans and a t-shirt look good. Nothing can make baggy clothing look smart – I know I tried in high school.

Fitted

Let me restate this, I used to dress all “thugged” out with baggy clothing, so I understand the need for expressing yourself. Now let me ask you this, “are you trying to express that you’re not to be taken seriously?”

Everyone has a body type, to make yourself look good, you should have clothes that fit your body type. This doesn’t mean that you get the same fitted shirt as your friend, you get the one that makes you look good – exceptional even.

Colours & Tones

Colours have meanings, learn them (Google colour meanings). For instance, red is bold and makes a statement, but don’t wear it unless it’s on purpose – otherwise it can look arrogant or too bold. And as for tones, a dark jeans with a colourful shirt can say a lot. Wearing all light tones takes a certain style that you need to know what you’re doing, or save it for Miami.

Suits

Now for those who really know me, they know one of my nicknames has been “the suit.” I love my suits, nothing like a well fitted one. First off, get the right size and secondly, get the one that matches you body type.

As per the jacket, there are three things to pay attention to.

1. Are the sleeves long enough?
2. Does the jacket cut into your waist?
3. Do you have enough shoulder/arm room that it doesn’t bunch around your back?

As per the pants, make sure that it doesn’t look like there’s a flood rising near the ankles.  If you’re creating unnecessary bulges around the waist area, expect some awkward looks!

Overall, the suit should look it was made for you, not your little or big brother (or sister).

Exit with Style

To close, I have two things to say. First, step your clothing game up, it matters cause people notice. Secondly, in the words of Barney Stinson, “SUIT UP!”

It’s not who you know, but who knows you and what they will say about you … if anything at all.

What does this mean?  It means that you will ascend faster in this world if you build great rapport with people, that they remember you and have great things to say.

I have a teacher personality by nature, always trying to help and explain things to people.  I’ve built my reputation mostly on reciprocity of giving a helping hand to people, whether requested or not.  Always trying motivate people through the lessons of my struggles from personal stories.

Many times I meet with potential clients whom I don’t do any work with, but give them website and marketing advice.  Why would I meet with people whom aren’t making me any money?  When someone in their network needs my services, I’m much more likely to be near the top of that list of recommendations.

Ask yourself the simply question, what legacy are you leaving behind from the actions you take?  Will people remember you, and if they do, is it for the reasons you want?

Tron was barely in the second movie and it was still named after him, because of his legacy. Okay bad example, but point made.