Age and Sex Discrimination... Really?

I continue to be fascinated by people in the 40's (or 50's or 60's for that matter) who blame their job search predicament or career woes on their age and their sex, things they have no control over. Sadly, many career counselors and professional groups often promulgate these theories rather than challenge them.

The bottom line is every human being is their own unique personal brand. If they believe they are too old to compete against people who are less mature, less managerially savvy and have a brighter upside, then they are. If they believe they are being hindered from growth in their workplace as a result of the "old boys club" which holds them down, then they will be.

Our mind, energy, confidence and motivation should only get better as we enrich our knowledge base through diversified people interactions and an attitude of positive change for ourselves and those around us, every day.

I'm 48 and still working towards my business prime. Now if you want to talk about my tennis game, that's a different story.

Thank You Toastmasters

Until 8 years ago, I feared public speaking. But I'm all about positive change for the clients and professionals with whom I work, so I took my own advice and in 2002, joined a local Toastmasters group.

Thirty people from all different walks of life, some very savvy in their presentations, others not. We shared common goals: to support each other, improve our confidence and impact an audience with our unique experiences, spoken word and personal brand. I left Toastmasters in 2005 after achieving the Competent Toastmaster designation (10 speeches) and now present to groups...small and large with only minimal butterflies.

Whether you are an executive, manager or professional in transition, join a local Toastmasters (http://www.toastmasters.org/). Or consider starting Toastmasters in your Company as an innovative, fun way to impact relationships, communication and your Company's success.

You'll be pleased with your results!

Social Responsibility - YOUR Time has Come

I've been barraged lately, in a quiet way, regarding Social Responsibility.
This is good and will make our society a better place to live and work.

Monster.com has beefed up marketing and PR specifically focused on Goodwill & Social Responsibility.
On Linked In, recommendations appeal directly to our sense of Social Responsibility.
Just this morning, a Biz Conference Panelist reminded us to help struggling friends & colleagues to stay upbeat and well networked.
The Presenter at a SHRM function (Society of Human Resource Managers) I attended last month focused exclusively on the "push down" requirements of Corporate Social Responsibility to small and mid-sized Companies.

What are you doing with YOUR Power of Social Responsibility?

Twitter- I Guess I Do

Twitter confuses me. I really, really want to like it.

As With Viral Marketing (see a few blog posts ago), Twitter sounds cool.
Girls like Twitter.
Yeah, and all the stars are Twittering too.

So I went on Twitter last week and three seconds after I signed on, two acquaintances become my Twitter friends. Is their computer immediately "clicked in" to find me or something?

So I get my 5 minute feel for Twitter and I'm just not getting it. Can you help me hot girls? Cool people, give me a clue? Any Divas around? Can YOU tell me why you care what I am doing moment to moment, thought to thought (except when it affects you) or why I should be caring about what your doing.

Help? Bueller? Please Help?

FAQ's -10 Minutes to Change Your Life

Appreciate all of your feedback and constructive ideas regarding my new business launch, 10 Minutes to Change Your Life (http://www.10minutestochange.com/). In advance of the next Website update, below are the Answers to YOUR most frequently asked Questions...

How do I prepare for our 10 Minutes to Change Your Life Session?
Companies need to complete the Purchase Order.
Managers of Participating Employees must complete the Pre-Session Comment Forms.
Individual Participants will schedule an appointment by calling 888-341-2525 and are required to complete an application. Forward the completed application to nancy@10minutestochange.com; if you are in a career transition, please include a copy of your current resume and cover letter.

What happens during a “10 Minutes to Change” Session?
A 45-60 minute interview-style discussion is conducted with Eric Frankel.
Immediately following the discussion, you receive a confidential 10 Minutes to Change Your Life CD, based upon information reviewed in advance and your Personal Evaluation. .

Why is it called “10 Minutes to Change Your Life”, not 45 or 60 Minutes to Change Your Life?
The “10 Minutes” represents communication delivered by the Life Changer (Eric Frankel), recorded on an Audio CD.

Why is the 10 Minute Audio CD so important?
The CD will enhance the “10 Minutes” of Feedback to 10 Hours of Feedback as you utilize the content for ongoing inspiration, focus and reinforcement. This will optimize your Personal Brand and Career Success.

Can a “10 Minutes to Change Your Life” Session be conducted via telephone?
Yes, we are able to offer sessions via telephone for individuals and corporations outside of the Tri-State area. However, Eric Frankel’s business and philosophies are predicated on in-person contact. Because “10 Minutes to Change Your Life” is only one session, participants span a wide geographic area from NY, NJ, CT and PA.

Are all 10 Minute to Change Sessions held in your Westwood, NJ office?
Yes, except where Companies purchase Sessions for multiple employees. In this case, we will facilitate one on one sessions at your location for half-day or full-day time frames. You can arrange to have us come to your company by calling 888-341-2525 or sending an email to:nancy@10minutestochange.com.

Great idea! I’d love for My Company to consider your services, but I’m not sure how to ask my manager. Any Suggestions?
The simplest way is to ask them directly. “10 Minutes to Change Your Life” is an Innovative and creative way to show you care about your job and your company. You certainly can’t go wrong by asking. If you prefer, feel free to give us a call to talk and brainstorm about an approach. Together, we will come up with a win-win scenario.

What’s so great about Eric Frankel?
Eric Frankel has incredibly diverse business experience. He embodies empathy, passion, and top-notch business instincts. Eric has an uncanny ability to understand and evaluate companies, complicated situations and individuals in a very short timeframe.
Eric will deliver… personalized, meaningful, and positive change in a nurturing, constructive manner.

Find out what the Buzz is all about!
Let Eric Frankel Change Your Life in 10 Minutes

Very, Very Cool Phrase

Viral Marketing is a very, very Cool Phrase. I kinda understand it's meaning, but only the basic definition.

I gotta learn more about Viral Marketing. Makes me feel good when I say it... Viral Marketing... like I know what I'm talking about.

Or maybe I should just leave Viral Marketing alone.

Nah, I'm Publishing this Post for Future Readers of My Blog, NOW!
Be free as a bird, Viral Marketing...

Deliver Great Service... Receive Great Dividends

Yesterday, my wife Nancy did something which makes a world of sense, but as a society we don’t do often enough.

She Made Sure Excellent Service Was Recognized.

While enjoying a holiday meal w/extended family, we were impressed by our waitress who greatly enhanced our dining experience. In addition to a solid tip, Nancy did one better by informing the restaurant owner this woman had earned our utmost respect.

Ideally, the waitress and the restaurant will now earn more and other patrons will enjoy a dining experience similar to our own.

While we are often frustrated by bad service (and usually let higher ups know about it), let's make sure we praise superior customer interactions, as well.

Let's Pay It Forward.

Is Madoff the Tip of the Iceberg?

I'm Speechless, at least for a few minutes…

The Madoff case reminds us that:
1.) Our financial service industry is riddled with corruption.
2.) The SEC is likely beyond repair.
3.) Our Accounting System is failing.

How can we rely on the balance sheets and P&L's of publicly held companies? Are the Big 4 accountants asleep at the switch? Is there any real oversight provided by the SEC other than deadlines and requirements?

We must react to these piercing alarms of the insane world we are living in. We need the good guys to take control and rewrite the rules to restore credibility and confidence.

Kind of like a superheroes movie with "Superaccountants", perhaps an Underdog Character shaped like a pencil.

All kidding aside, let's go President Obama...

A Gem of a Concept

Got an email from a terrific lady who says "I take great pride in working hard every day."

If every employee worked hard every day-

• we wouldn’t have as severe an economic crisis and
• we’d be getting out of it much sooner.

Thanks for the great input, Mary Ann!

Create Energy, Even in a Stagnant Workplace

Too often, professionals describe to me their monotonous work environment, where business is anything but exciting...

You have the ability to change this environment. In this economy, we need to be nimble, carefree, loosey goosey and risk tolerant (especially when so many are risk averse).

Some of my favorite ways workplace energy is produced…

Sales and Revenues create energy. create Energy.
Client Care creates energy.
Creative Ideas create energy.
Relationships create energy.
Women create energy.
Teams and Collaberation create energy.
Receptionists (no kidding!) create energy.
Good Leaders create energy.
But most of all, YOU create energy.

What’s does the energymeter say about you and your co-workers today?

More Guidance Required for Internet Marketing

10 Years Ago we were introduced to the Power of Internet Marketing.

So why aren't more Technology Companies... or perhaps PR Companies really challenging and working with their clients to better position their Web Site, Web Presence, Search Optimization, Blog, Social Networking, etc, etc, etc.

Seems to me like Internet Marketing is more important, opportunistic and powerful than ever before. Are their enough savvy technology consultants out there who can deliver value in a concise, impacting and responsive manner?

The Power of Positive Thinking

Entrepreneurial opportunities abound today if YOU are

1.) Financially Savvy (Cash is once again king and costs controls are a necessity)
and
2.) In the Right Mind Frame of Mind (positive thinking, focused, minimize pessimism).

Economic and business experts are faltering in their efforts to correlate our short US history to the current complex economic environment.

Step back, talk to peers, come up with your own observations and remember brighter days are ahead and long as you believe that they are!

Getting Cold Out There

The colder temperatures don't compare to the "frigidity" and indecisiveness displayed currently by many middle market CEO' s.

Business success is about action, not inaction. Inaction leads to complacency, rumors and decreased everything.

Companies who study, create, adjust and ultimately "buy" based upon a well thought out action plan for the coming year; ... will truly differentiate themselves.

A Bit About Baseball

As a certified "Yankee Hater", nothing better than watching top quality baseball from the Rays and Red Sox. The Yankees won't make the playoffs the next two years, they just don't compare in energy, young talent and team chemistry.

Yankees will offer Joe Torre the manager job end of next year and he'll turn them down, or maybe he won't...

I've Had Enough!!!!

Enough that i'm blogging for the 1st time in 2 months.

Enough that I'm writing this at 10:30 at night.

Enough that my self-induced withdrawal yesterday ... caused me to come home in a crappy mood and take it out on my wife.

What have I had enough of?

CNBC on the Internet, CNBC on TV, sweating the difficult economy and digesting the seemingly incomprehensible day to day news.

But you know something? I don't follow the daily sagas and I'll filled in anyway during social and business discussions.

Most of us are better off not focusing on the day to day and minute to minute updates.

...Somehow, I feel much better today. My 2nd day of withdrawal, I am once again 100% focused on my clients, my business, my family.

I developed a cool new business concept this evening and I'm being nice again to my wife.

Anyone know what's on CBS?

Translating Marketing into Every Day Life

Just interviewed a solid executive and we were chatting about the importance of marketing in any size company.

The normal "buzzwords" came up...intellect, presence, attire, knowhow, likeability... all emanate directly into your organizational positioning and market presence.

Oh yeah, then he brought up (unsolicited) Social Networking- the omnipotent, the unknown, the vast potential- everyone is racing to harness the power of this burgeoning area.

Impact Shareholder Value thru Differentiation

Differentiate your Marketing Approach… through high quality, “crisp” communication and presentation materials. Ensure consistent “image”, branding and name recognition as the foremost goals of your e-mail and letter writing campaigns, marketing handouts and Website.

Differentiate your Sales Goals… by stressing performance and measurement tools in advancing relationships, not just closing deals. Mandate all salespeople to spend a minimum of 25% effort in cold calling or more affectionately, “hunting” initiatives.

Differentiate Customer Perspectives… by accepting only the highest levels of quality and responsiveness from every employee. Seek customer feedback to understand the “differentiators” of doing business with you vs. the competition. Ensure customer service escalates in personalization and satisfaction in the hand-off from sales to production/distribution/project management.

Differentiate your Accounting Function… by requiring timely, accurate, concise management information to impact executive decision making. Ensure finance team leaders and staff work cohesively with other departmental functions.

Set goals for all Department Managers to differentiate themselves… by successfully balancing the accountability for departmental excellence with the ongoing necessities of staff development, training and communication.

Differentiate your Internal Communication… with credibility, mutual respect and consistency. Recognize the immense power of your words –both negative and positive.

Clarify your strategic focus and align your organizational structure, your advisors and your capital with the means to get there. Differentiate Personal Relationships… with employees and advisors to remain objective regarding the required skill sets and personalities necessary to successfully execute and grow.

What's My Biggest Weakness?

I ask this question in every interview, but no interviewee has ever turned the tables on me. Probably the right move...

I've worked very hard to resist the need to provide an immediate answer to questions I haven't had time to think through (i.e. pricing strategies, plans of action, people and structural challenges). While the immediate response serves my innate need to please others and seem intelligent, I'm too often minimizing the potential benefit to both the individual posing the question and myself.

Sustain Momentum After the Elevator Pitch

Networking functions are frustrating. Sure I connect with interesting people, but I'm left with an impression garnered only through their Elevator Pitch, not a meaningful reflection of their demeanor, perspectives or likability. So I spend additional time over lunch or coffee to identify the smaller % who I can collaberate with to provide meaningful, lasting value.

Many professionals have developed an effective introduction, but fall short in differentiating their product and service, their knowhow, themselves to provide a lasting positive impression. Whether you are in a job interview, selling to an A level prospect or at a networking function, make sure your communication is effective (and consistent) throughout the process, not just in the beginning stages.

Monday, Monday... Just Like any Other Day?

Usually, I love Mondays- the whole week in front of me to advance opportunities, projects and relationships. I'm re-energized from a "lighter" weeekend business focus and my creative juices are flowing.

But occassionally, Monday unveils it ugly side; like yesterday. A CEO stood me up (still overseas, guess he didn't receive my voice mail confirm on Friday), a schedule left with three hours to kill from the road (despite advancements in technology, this is not my ideal) and two remaining meetings which were only OK.

But hey, it's Tuesday now, Monday is in the past and thankfully, I have plenty of time, energy and will to make the week a highly successful one. Lets Roll!