tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76631604326572169302024-02-19T05:24:39.742-05:00Disguised Limits#1 Opportunities Blog #2 Motivational Blog & #3 Empowerment Blog @ NetworkedBlogs.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-9849218048610788442015-11-04T14:47:00.000-05:002015-11-04T14:47:07.241-05:00Building Your “Standout” Brand as a Consultant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj2DLv0Qd8VcuTw6ECAe0qCOi88gp_tHaV1VfQ9J_DVqzIR0xZ-FyxqGmjB4cP_5ZSf9tlWEknvKBBi2veY4SjoPT4qRfeYA7FJ5qilsJ4ao5qTBIKMYy1aI7gZSFZm2hQLpmNK6Y_Zk/s1600/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAQqAAAAJGQwYWQ3NDhjLWZlYmQtNGJhZC04YTNmLWYzMWE3NDVkMjM4Mg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj2DLv0Qd8VcuTw6ECAe0qCOi88gp_tHaV1VfQ9J_DVqzIR0xZ-FyxqGmjB4cP_5ZSf9tlWEknvKBBi2veY4SjoPT4qRfeYA7FJ5qilsJ4ao5qTBIKMYy1aI7gZSFZm2hQLpmNK6Y_Zk/s320/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAQqAAAAJGQwYWQ3NDhjLWZlYmQtNGJhZC04YTNmLWYzMWE3NDVkMjM4Mg.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px;"><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" style="color: #8c68cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#BetheBoss</a></strong><br />
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<em>“I am a consultant.” </em>This declaration is probably heard more these days than ever before. More than at any other time in history, this economy has prompted well educated highly skilled professionals to seek to earn a living by plying their trade without working for an employer. So how does the “standout” consultant rise above the masses of tenderfoot claimants who are just temporarily between jobs? Conversely, how can bright new consultants convince prospective clients that they are really tuned-in and not just singing the same old song?</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Many people who in recent years have found themselves unemployed are well trained and highly qualified. More importantly, the need for their skills has not disappeared. Most of these people were simply “laid off” in order for the company to cut the costs of salaries and benefits. Now these companies are challenged to continue to increase productivity with less manpower and faced with diminished brainpower.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Many of these displaced workers were key management and executive level employees. Because of their high salaries and the fact that there are fewer openings for top-level positions, they may have limited success finding a new job at the same level. In order to earn a living, out of necessity these former long-time employees are now faced with the daunting task of becoming first time entrepreneurs.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" style="color: #8c68cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#BetheBoss</a></strong></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Given the economic trends concerning workforce expansion and economic productivity, hiring consultants as opposed to full-time employees is becoming the rule rather than the exception. Translation: This isn’t your grandmother’s workforce. Progressively more opportunities to become a consultant may become available in the future than permanent full-time jobs created. </div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
So what does it take to gain a foothold as a consultant in this current environment? <strong>Essentially all consultants have to do 3 things to succeed</strong>:</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong>1) </strong>Define your area of expertise</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong>2) </strong>Find Clients</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong>3) </strong>Deliver a quality product</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<iframe data-mce-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jMzqGfO4T6w?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jMzqGfO4T6w?wmode=transparent" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Numbers 1 and 3 will be determined by the experiences and abilities that you have acquired throughout your career. Number 2 will be a function of your efforts to effectively build and promote your brand in order to stand out from the competition.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
When you walk into your local Home Depot in search of a new hammer, you assume the hammer is a good one because of the quality you expect from the Home Depot brand. To gain this same level of confidence from your prospective clients will require you to create the perception that your generic skills are of a higher quality than the identical skills presented by the next guy. This seems like it could be a daunting task. However, by employing a few strategies you can manage to stand out from the crowd.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" style="color: #8c68cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#BetheBoss</a></strong></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
As a reminder, there are 3 <strong><em>Branding Fundamentals</em></strong> that should always guide your <strong><em>Branding Strategy</em></strong>:</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong>1) </strong>Build your Brand <strong>Identity</strong></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong>2) </strong>Maintain your Brand <strong>Consistency</strong></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong>3) </strong>Focus your Branding <strong>Outreach</strong></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
The image that you present through your marketing materials (business cards, correspondence, website, etc.) is very important. The information this <em>“identity package”</em> transfers to the public are the first signs of your dedication to quality. What these materials communicate will be the first sign that the potential client will receive as to the soundness of your thinking. You must make sure that these simple things create a lasting impression, which will help potential clients remember you instead of the other guy.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
In this day and age, you must build and manage a quality online reputation. There are a number of well known platforms available for establishing an online presence. However, most business people drop the ball when it comes to monitoring and managing their internet presence. The analytic tools of your various pages and blogs should be evaluated regularly to make sure you are consistently reaching your target market. Using online tools and social media better than the next guy will definitely give you a leg up on the competition.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Another vital yet overlooked key to successful branding is building and managing the right relationships. Who you associate with and are associated with can make more of a lasting impression than you ever could by attempting to make your own unassisted introduction to certain prospects. A referral from someone your client already knows and respects can be the key to opening the door to new business. Sometimes, it really does come down to who you know.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
In summary, to attract customers as a consultant in this competitive environment you will have to stand out from the competition. Once you determine your area of specialization and determine the niche market that you will service, finding clients will be your greatest challenge. To be successful at building your business, you will have to build a brand that stands out from the competition. The keys to successfully leveraging that brand will be determined by maintaining the consistency of the brand and continuously engaging your target market.</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" href="https://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/ic?type=content&keywords=%23BetheBoss&sortBy=DD&?trk=li_corpblog_corp_AmyChen_betheboss" style="color: #8c68cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#BetheBoss</a></strong></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Vince Rogers is an accomplished resource manager, communications strategist, change agent and thought leader. He is academically trained in economics, marketing, management and professional communication. He possesses many years of successful professional experience in financial services and real estate management and marketing</div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
Please follows his posts on LinkedIn @<strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" style="color: #8c68cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers</a></strong></div>
<div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px;">
<strong>Photo courtesy of <strong><a data-mce-href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/" href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/" style="color: #8c68cb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.freedigitalphotos.net</a> </strong></strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-78753141010037126582015-10-15T17:50:00.000-04:002015-10-15T17:50:18.479-04:00CAREER BRANDING USING LINKEDIN @ WomenPartner.org<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<header class="entry-header single-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #313131; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px;"><h1 class="entry-title single-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Cabin, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span id="yiv9252203650yui_3_16_0_1_1444280886637_6895" style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;">Vince Rogers <span style="font-weight: normal;">article “</span></span><span class="yiv9252203650" id="yiv9252203650yui_3_16_0_1_1444237527980_2529" style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;"><i><a href="http://womenpartner.org/2015/10/05/career-branding-using-linkedin/" target="_blank">CAREER BRANDING USING LINKEDIN</a></i></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;"><i>”</i></span></h1>
<h1 class="entry-title single-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Cabin, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;">is featured in a series of articles to promote the </span></h1>
<h1 class="entry-title single-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Cabin, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;">“</span><span class="yiv9252203650" id="yiv9252203650yui_3_16_0_1_1444237527980_2537" style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://womenpartner.org/one-million-woman-link-up/" target="_blank">One Million Woman Link-Up</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;">” initiative of </span><span class="yiv9252203650" id="yiv9252203650yui_3_16_0_1_1444237527980_2539" style="font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://womenpartner.org/">WomenPartner.org</a></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wKA9p0eC81NcOWSzJ7aMSoJjPjPwNTxsDnQJGYHQwH2G0mL9iK_PctswdPlQX1UPMrkirJhOuKqnGSud9kmXxtuPz2c6wBkzyCUXpsiQldHDIwrcOGaebNFlSR36p8j4Rr9wSIvWFpU/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wKA9p0eC81NcOWSzJ7aMSoJjPjPwNTxsDnQJGYHQwH2G0mL9iK_PctswdPlQX1UPMrkirJhOuKqnGSud9kmXxtuPz2c6wBkzyCUXpsiQldHDIwrcOGaebNFlSR36p8j4Rr9wSIvWFpU/s1600/index.jpg" /></a></div>
<h1 class="entry-title single-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Cabin, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></h1>
<h1 class="entry-title single-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black; font-family: Cabin, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase; word-wrap: break-word;">
CAREER BRANDING USING LINKEDIN</h1>
<div class="colored-line-left" style="background: rgb(0, 142, 214); box-sizing: inherit; float: left; height: 2px; width: 80px;">
</div>
<div class="clearfix" style="box-sizing: inherit;">
</div>
<div class="entry-meta single-entry-meta" style="box-sizing: inherit; padding: 10px 0px;">
<span class="post-author" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; margin-right: 10px; padding-left: 18px; position: relative;"><i class="icon-man-people-streamline-user" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 13px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;"></i></span></div>
</header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; line-height: 26px; padding: 10px 0px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">When it comes to utilizing </span><i style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;">“social networking</span></i><i style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666;">“</i><span style="color: #666666;"> websites, it can be hard to resist the urge to mix business with pleasure. We often hear about people, especially young women, having negative outcomes because of decision makers scrutinizing their Instagram pics, investigating their FaceBook pages and deciphering their random Twitter “Tweets”. Potential clients, bosses and co-workers are allowed to bear witness to them engaging in various youthful indiscretions that can hinder their career and professional mobility.</span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tailoring the privacy settings of your accounts should suffice to prevent these intrusions into your online realm. However, the more purely social sites may not be the proper setting to build your professional brand in the first place. Unless of course you are an up-and-coming bikini model, aspiring twerk-team MVP or the next “Sweet Brown” variety of internet celebrity.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">FaceBook </i></b>is very popular with young professionals. It provides access to a wide array of fun applications, games and social events. It can also be used as a tool to help brand yourself. You may do this by posting relevant content to your page that can be read by your “friends”.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Twitter </i></b>is another widely popular portal to the world of social networking. It allows you to communicate succinct messages to your “followers”. The site also allows you to follow important contacts. You can even send <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">targeted messages </i>to key people.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Instagram</i></b> has become the premier platform for people to share photos. The site almost single-handedly created the “selfie” craze. Regardless of whether these pics are in good taste or not, just the sheer number of selfies a person posts can be viewed negatively by others.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">For the most part, these sites give users access to a wide array of purely fun applications. Because the goal is primarily to have fun, most people have a hard time presenting a cohesive professional image using these sites. Instead, many people who attempt to use these sites to help build their personal brand, can’t resist engaging in the less professional offerings that drive the success of social networking sites. Ultimately, they end up with pages consisting of a mix of some pertinent information peppered with an assortment of cool, but potentially damaging pictures, random quasi-humorous “tweets” and other non essential content. Some of which might even be considered, lewd, vulgar or even pornographic by employers and potential clients.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to professional branding and career positioning, <b style="box-sizing: inherit;"><i style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="http://linkedin.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #008ed6; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s ease;">LinkedIn</a></i></b><b style="box-sizing: inherit;"> </b>is a more relevant online networking tool. It can be most adequately utilized to establish a well conceived, powerful and consistent personal branding strategy on the World Wide Web. LinkedIn allows you to be proactive with your branding strategy, rather than hoping that the right people see and understand your posts on the other social sites.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course with any successful branding strategy, you must take the time to conceive and execute a plan that addresses your desired outcome. This strategy should achieve the dual goal of positioning you as an expert and networking with the people who you want to make aware of your expertise. There are essentially <b style="box-sizing: inherit;">3 Keys to Creating a Successful Branding Strategy on LinkedIn:</b></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">1) </b>Create a Powerful <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Profile</i>page.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The first step to developing powerful relationships on LinkedIn is to <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">fully complete your profile page</i>. This will give your profile a better chance of standing out to potential connections. The key to any good relationship is that it be mutually beneficial. It should be clear to potential contacts when they look at your profile why they should want to build a professional relationship with you.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">2) </b>Strategically Build Your Network of <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Contacts</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">To start with you will want to add contacts that you know well and who know you such as:</span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">Former Employers</b></span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Co-workers</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Professors</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Classmates</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Each time that you add a new contact, you should write them a recommendation or endorse one of their skills. Eventually you can ask for recommendations in return. Having recommendations will make your profile stand out to potential new connections more than anything else.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="box-sizing: inherit;">3) </b>Join the Right <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Groups</i>.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">After you have acquired some contacts and recommendations, you should then join <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">LinkedIn</i> <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Groups.</i> Make sure that you join groups in the specific areas of interest that you want to build your network. Now that you’ve joined the right groups, you share a common interest with some of the top people in your field. This will make it more likely that they will accept your unsolicited connection requests.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The keys to personal branding that you will need as you start to use LinkedIn are the same skills you will need as you pursue any branding strategy. As you build your profile on LinkedIn, remember that you are attempting to position yourself as a trustworthy subject matter expert in your field. Then as you pursue the task of building your contacts, keep in mind that you must assemble a winning team in order to achieve long-term career and professional success.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The best way to make a good connection is to be become a resource to others by:</span></div>
<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Promoting your contacts businesses.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Putting links to their sites on your websites and blogs.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing recommendations for them.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Commenting on their posts.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Answering their questions and polls.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Strive to become a valuable resource to your LinkedIn connections. This creates a reason for them to expand your relationship or to interact with you “offline”. Escalating your relationship with influential connections beyond LinkedIn can be the key to landing your “dream client”, promoting your business or landing a lucrative new project.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In summary, you can build a strong brand by properly leveraging LinkedIn. The key steps in this process are creating a powerful <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Profile</i>, strategically joining the right <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Groups</i> and acquiring the right Connections and <i style="box-sizing: inherit;">Recommendations.</i> It is also very important to become a dynamic resource to others, rather than just an inactive contact. If you follow these steps, you can utilize LinkedIn as a powerful platform that can dramatically enhance your professional success.</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincevision" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #008ed6; text-decoration: none;"><b>Vince Rogers</b></a> is an accomplished resource manager, communications strategist, change agent and thought leader. He is academically trained in economics, marketing, management and professional communication. He possesses many years of successful professional experience in financial services and real estate management and marketing. His articles have been regularly “Featured In” on multiple channels @ Pulse | LinkedIn</em></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-58642525605413074022015-03-12T14:18:00.000-04:002015-03-12T14:18:21.982-04:00Insight <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJOmuyZ59vreS4jhx9qDbT3zGU7ynMUgSLKRySy5XTM6sycbUzaViGcE5bdgDEAFC8adQ3wMs0zIx8fAYG4CyFJREmBMjiDXB-U60AAlXy8FiR-FGlXG7slBBXY_whnip3AUXT7Q-pf8/s1600/JGBlock-RootofSuccess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJOmuyZ59vreS4jhx9qDbT3zGU7ynMUgSLKRySy5XTM6sycbUzaViGcE5bdgDEAFC8adQ3wMs0zIx8fAYG4CyFJREmBMjiDXB-U60AAlXy8FiR-FGlXG7slBBXY_whnip3AUXT7Q-pf8/s1600/JGBlock-RootofSuccess.jpg" height="195" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"....are you dealing with the fruit of the problem, </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>or the root of the
problem?....</i>" </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~ <span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/vincevision" target="_blank">Vincent L. Rogers</a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-92097703056629679222015-03-11T13:33:00.000-04:002015-03-11T13:33:44.315-04:00Overcoming the "9 Deadly Challenges" that we all face in life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34SSmCvKO78T9ILJHDQuuerNjB2A0Tx596slzDpq-ZgrfZaGNuabT3xb3SqH-TLIq8KiGHmLED6drN74Su_K7oL_XRSKyixEaNm8dQB0j8wUdoNyeyDQDPdsBuUulIkKOvgSkiFs_lDU/s1600/What+Doesn't%2BKill%2BYou%2B-%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34SSmCvKO78T9ILJHDQuuerNjB2A0Tx596slzDpq-ZgrfZaGNuabT3xb3SqH-TLIq8KiGHmLED6drN74Su_K7oL_XRSKyixEaNm8dQB0j8wUdoNyeyDQDPdsBuUulIkKOvgSkiFs_lDU/s1600/What+Doesn't%2BKill%2BYou%2B-%2BCover.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
In 2013, I was writing a Personal Branding column for Examiner.com. In my role as the <strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.examiner.com/personal-brand-in-atlanta/vince-rogers" href="https://www.examiner.com/personal-brand-in-atlanta/vince-rogers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Atlanta Personal Brand Examiner</a></strong>, I provided readers with expert information about building strong professional identities. My writings empowered many people. Yet even the best advisers sometimes find themselves in need of wise counsel from others.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Therefore, I decided to seek relevant articles written by other expert <em>Examiners</em> about the issues that concerned me. I compiled them into an e-Book that I shared with the public for a limited time and free of charge. Over the years, I have determined that there are <em><strong>“9 Deadly Challenges” </strong></em>(<em>Fear; Stress; Worry; Negativity; Procrastination; Impatience; Materialism; Debt and Negative Priorities)</em> that prevent people from overcoming the obstacles that we all face in life. I included in this collection nine articles that discuss these topics, written by various Examiner.com contributors.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<iframe data-mce-src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/45376659" frameborder="0" height="510" src="https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/45376659" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="477"></iframe></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
These<em> "9 Deadly Challenges" </em>are the greatest killers known to mankind. They murder ambitions, slay dreams, annihilate finances and slaughter the spirit. I would like to share with you a few thoughts of my own about these "<em>demons</em>". They are as follows:</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Fear</strong>: <em>Fear</em> causes paralysis by making us believe that moving forward with something will result in undesirable consequences. The reality is that staying in the same place will most likely result in a negative outcome as well.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Stress</strong>: Failing to manage or alleviate negative <em>Stress</em> can result in spiritual, mental, physical and even sexual dysfunction - ah, got your attention now. Learning to identify the source of, understand your reaction to and manage the stressors of life is critical to personal and professional satisfaction.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Worry</strong>: In the Christian Bible, Matthew 6:27 says "<em>Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?</em>" There's really not much else that needs to be said on the subject of <em>Worry</em> - nothing good can come from it.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Negativity</strong>: <em>Negativity</em> or looking at things positively are both habits that have to be cultivated and practiced. There is almost always a bright side to everything; you just have to <em>choose</em> to see it.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Procrastination</strong>: <em>Procrastination</em> or even its cousin "<em>Amateur-crastination</em>" is brought about by the mother of all paralyzing behavior - "<em>Perfectionist Panic</em>". The cure to this deadly disease is to dedicate yourself to winning small victories each and every day - don't try to eat the entire elephant in one bite.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Impatience</strong>: <em>Impatience</em> stems from the deadliest of the 7 sins - Pride or a belief that nothing or nobody else matters except your own desires or ambitions. Yet it has been demonstrated many times that the most successful enterprises and relationships are those that include other people and considers their needs as well as your own.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Materialism</strong>: The love of things - <em>Materialism</em>, <em>is the root of all kinds of evil, not <em>the love of money</em>.</em> Determine what things are keeping you in a state of servitude and further away from living the life that you want to live - then try to get rid of them!</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Debt</strong>: As W.E.B DuBois once said, "<em>To whom you give your money, you give your power.</em>" Your Creditors are your Masters! - free yourself from <em>Debt</em> slavery as soon as possible.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Negative Priorities</strong>: Having <em><strong>Negative Priorities</strong></em> means putting things that may make life easier, ahead of things that make life more fulfilling. Having <em><strong>Positive Priorities</strong></em> means putting things that that make life more fulfilling, before things that just make life easier. We should manage our priorities in much the same way that we manage our money. Create a <strong><em>"Priorities Budget"</em></strong> to determine what is most important to you - then stick to it!</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Hopefully, you can benefit from the articles in this collection as well as the personal insights that I have shared. I believe that by confronting these "<em>demons</em>" we can overcome the <em><strong>“9 Deadly Challenges” </strong></em>that we all face in life<em><strong>.</strong> </em>Everybody faces these challenges to some degree. I am confident that with some effort and commitment to change we can gain freedom from these killers of achievement.</div>
<div class="center" style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; text-align: center;">
<strong>####</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>Vince Rogers</strong> is an experienced resource manager, communications strategist, change agent and thought leader. He is academically trained in economics, marketing, project management and business communication. He possesses many years of successful professional experience in financial services and real estate management and marketing. Please follows his posts on LinkedIn @ <strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers</a></strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Also, please read the article<strong> "A Success Plan for Your Personal Relationship with Money" </strong>to learn more strategies to "....<em>free you from the fear, stress, worry and negativity that are preventing you from pursuing your dreams.</em>" <strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140328194853-1669339-a-success-plan-for-your-personal-relationship-with-money" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140328194853-1669339-a-success-plan-for-your-personal-relationship-with-money" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140328194853-1669339-a-success-plan-for-your-personal-relationship-with-money</a></strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-62582340510905636502015-02-09T22:13:00.000-05:002015-02-09T22:13:48.638-05:00Best Advice: It's Not About Being Ahead of Your Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<img alt="" class="center" data-mce-src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/8/005/0b5/2f1/321c033.jpg" height="272" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/8/005/0b5/2f1/321c033.jpg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; text-align: center;" width="460" /></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BestAdvice</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
As I sit here waiting on my groceries to be delivered by Webvan, I am reminded of some advice that an old friend once gave me while riding around in his Yugo. I'm spending the time waiting on the delivery van by socially networking with my friends on Yahoo! 360 using my Go Corporation tablet device. I'm doing this while also enjoying an old episode of <em>"Sports Night"</em> on my WebTV. Seriously, we were actually riding around in a Yugo when he told me this.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Many years ago, my buddy <strong><a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dwayne-redding/6/441/68" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dwayne-redding/6/441/68" target="_blank">Dwayne Redding</a></strong> and I were riding around discussing strategy for a movement that he was leading. As a 22 year old college student, he almost single-handedly <strong><a data-mce-href="http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/utils/getfile/collection/signal/id/21883/filename/21850.pdfpage/page/1" href="http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/utils/getfile/collection/signal/id/21883/filename/21850.pdfpage/page/1" target="_blank">forced the Georgia Board of Regents to divest from South Africa</a></strong>. While he wasn’t right about the Yugo becoming the next Volkswagen, he was absolutely correct when he told me that <em>"....it's not about being ahead of your time, it's about being right on time...."</em> Although we were separated in age by only one year, it is still one of the wisest pieces of advice that I have ever received.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<iframe data-mce-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-VV9NOBYDC4?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VV9NOBYDC4?wmode=transparent" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BestAdvice</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Many entrepreneurs believe that they can come up with the next big thing, if they produce an idea that is ahead of its time. The fact of the matter is that most game-changing ideas come from years of hard work in the trenches solving problems in the realm of the mundane. Companies like Apple, Facebook or Google might seem like they were the result of divine inspiration. In actually, they came about through years of analyzing, understanding and responding to consumers needs and solving everyday problems.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
There's only one proven way to be right on time. It is to develop a useful product or service that adds value to people's lives right now. My buddy may not have been correct about the Yugo being the next big thing. Yet he was definitely correct that being ahead of your time is usually not as the company's tagline once touted <em>"The Road Back to Sanity."</em> It has proven more often than not to be the road to years of creative frustration and entrepreneurial burn-out.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<iframe data-mce-src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/44180360" frameborder="0" height="355" src="https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/44180360" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BestAdvice</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Vince Rogers is an experienced resource manager, communications strategist, change agent and thought leader; trained in economics, marketing, project management and business communication.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BestAdvice</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Also, please read the article <strong>"Taking Initiative – When Passion Meets Purpose" </strong>to learn how to <em>"</em><em>....</em><strong><em>convert your passion into a tangible force for positive achievement</em></strong><em>....."</em><strong><em><strong> <a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140401141726-1669339-building-confidence-by-winning-small-victories" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140401141726-1669339-building-confidence-by-winning-small-victories" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140401141726-1669339-building-confidence-by-winning-small-victories</a></strong></em></strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-44500609082211466532015-01-22T14:26:00.001-05:002015-01-22T14:26:40.809-05:00Taking Initiative – When Passion Meets Purpose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcxiVzTVGpVOgMtSLBdx6E_tVf-Aesw8BixPId0q562X9FcN8PPcjL-DBP-cQqLLYrTxZbc2xNO7Cac4ubTn7pA4dBxwp-4Y6qjgXkq-etzG48KWkG_V13ZIieh1uJOiAw0-IRG8fxpE/s1600/131c982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcxiVzTVGpVOgMtSLBdx6E_tVf-Aesw8BixPId0q562X9FcN8PPcjL-DBP-cQqLLYrTxZbc2xNO7Cac4ubTn7pA4dBxwp-4Y6qjgXkq-etzG48KWkG_V13ZIieh1uJOiAw0-IRG8fxpE/s1600/131c982.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">The celebrated writer Aldous Huxley hypothesized that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Every civilization is, among other things, an arrangement for domesticating the passions of men and setting them to do useful work."</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">His statement highlights the two key factors which are essential for a person to realize their utmost human potential. To achieve a higher purpose, you must have a passion for something worthwhile. In order to convert that passion into a force for positive accomplishment, it is necessary to have an organized strategy for transforming that passion into purposeful action.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When passion meets purpose, the result is high level achievement. The willingness to act boldly, consistently and persistently are the keys to effectively implementing your <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Success Strategy</em>. The stories associated with the greatest achievements of mankind usually follow this outline. Yet there are many visionary achievements, advancements, ideas and inventions that the world is still awaiting.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DXIZoaD8NBg?wmode=transparent" style="border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Throughout the course of history, magnificent strides have been made by people of action. The persistence of visionaries is what has given birth to the greatest advancements of the human race. Consistent dedication to worthwhile values and principles has led to myriad social changes that have made life better for more people. At least one bold new idea for innovation and enterprise probably lies dormant within you as well. Will you make the world better by sharing your gifts? If so, start now.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In order to convert your passion into a tangible force for positive achievement, you have to create a game-changing <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Success Plan</em>. Then you must consistently and purposefully take the initiative to work your plan every single day. Make a commitment to make this the day you begin to take initiative. It is up to you and you alone to take the necessary steps to discover your passion and fulfill your purpose!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Vince Rogers is an experienced resource manager, communications strategist, change agent and thought leader; trained in economics, marketing, project management and business communication.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please follows his posts on LinkedIn @ <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers</a></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Also, please read the article<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Building Confidence by Winning Small Victories"</strong>to learn about the<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> "....the catalyst that propels you to keep moving towards ultimate success...." <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140401141726-1669339-building-confidence-by-winning-small-victories" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140401141726-1669339-building-confidence-by-winning-small-victories</a></strong></em></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-5281928118096387822014-12-29T15:38:00.000-05:002014-12-29T15:39:47.328-05:00Back on the Chain Gang: Fixing the Damage of the Prison-Industrial Complex<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF1dkfyaqSVIBa1ROvWOrBlbWPaekpMQTtUDd_iNhWUIV2ApqHtuhOGiTa8VGB7KAXxQsaskOToEcoqlvKi4lpv437hlaW1sSoWCpFtASjCnnOsUal41O3_0ibsE0fW7DGLLVyM9NuMo/s1600/ded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBF1dkfyaqSVIBa1ROvWOrBlbWPaekpMQTtUDd_iNhWUIV2ApqHtuhOGiTa8VGB7KAXxQsaskOToEcoqlvKi4lpv437hlaW1sSoWCpFtASjCnnOsUal41O3_0ibsE0fW7DGLLVyM9NuMo/s1600/ded.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BigIdeas2015</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
For many Black and Hispanic youth, going to jail has become a badge of honor. This is a very puzzling phenomenon. The stigma of going to "juvenile" or jail used to be shameful, it is now a sign of being "hard" or being "down". Why is it that so many "minority" youth have become willing to abide with "doing a bid?"</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Many people blame hip-hop culture for this phenomenon. They believe it glorifies violence, criminal behavior and living the "thug" lifestyle. However, it seems that this is putting the cart before the horse. Young Black and Hispanic men have been disproportionately incarcerated in America long before there were any such things as hip-hop music recordings or the associated films that tell similar stories. Therefore, hip hop culture is only a platform for young people to give their version of a certain narrative, not the cause of the problem.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
According to a 2002 study conducted by the <em>Labor Studies Journal</em>, <em>"Over the last two decades, the U.S. prison population has quadrupled." </em>In response to this occurrence, the study concludes that <em>"corporations are seeking profit-making opportunities from this prison population"</em> and there are <em>"two major areas through which corporations are capitalizing on prison labor: prison privatization and creating prison based industries"</em> This is in spite of solid evidence that a better solution to the crime problem might be improving the education system. A 2012 study conducted by the Justice Policy Institute concluded that: <em>"As education is correlated with crime rates and incarceration, addressing shortcomings in the [D.C.] education system should be part of a comprehensive public safety strategy."</em></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Yet rather than exploring how to invest in transformative education reform, the business community has positioned itself to capitalize on the anticipated robust growth in the incarcerated population as a source for cheap labor. The public sector has settled on promoting "tough on crime" rhetoric rather than renovating the education system. While business people and politicians vilify rappers for profiting from glorifying fantasized acts of criminality in songs, they plot and scheme to profit from the increasing prison population in reality.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
As stated in the July/August 2006 issue of the <em>Associated Oregon Industries Business Viewpoint</em>, <em>"Although it is adults that go to prison, the likelihood that a child will ultimately end up there can be predicted before they can tie their own shoes. Some prison systems have noted a correlation: they have started to project the number of beds needed in the future based on current 3rd grade reading scores"</em> A progressive nation simply should not adapt to such a cynical vantage point. Working to create and implement policies that would diminish dropout rates and instituting a relevant modern curriculum that prepares students for the economic realities of today and the opportunities of the future are better solutions.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
The leaders of society should look to the <em>"Hip-Hop Generation"</em> as a source to search for answers. Instead, it seems that many of the powers that be are looking at disadvantaged youth as a legalized source for slave labor. Instead of objects on which to place the blame for the ills of society, we would all be better served if the business community looked at educating young people as an opportunity to improve society. That should be regarded as one of the nation's top priorities for competitiveness in the global economy of the future.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Sadly, educating the disadvantaged has not recently been a genuine national priority. Therefore, young Black and Hispanic youth are looking to jail of all places for a sense of structure, family and community that is lacking in their homes, schools and neighborhoods. The aim of government policies in America's urban communities should be to eradicate drugs, crime and poverty. Instead, they aspire to demonize, incarcerate and ruin the lives of young people who struggle to exist alongside these challenging circumstances. To paraphrase the lyrics of a song by controversial rap duo Dead Prez, policymakers and business people must realize that the real problems plaguing our society are "... bigger than hip-hop…."</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<iframe data-mce-src="//www.youtube.com/embed/S4jUowKoBX0?wmode=transparent" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S4jUowKoBX0?wmode=transparent" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BigIdeas2015</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Instead of taking an optimistic view, many people would rather continue casting poor Black and Brown people as the villains in the story of America’s economic saga. They view investing more resources into these people’s failing schools as just another bad investment. They believe that their past investments in the shameful institution of slavery (which made the greatest contribution to building the wealth of America) come with no obligations to the slave's descendants. That is what makes their investment in the new slavery of the prison-industrial even more deplorable.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Furthermore, they believe that the time limit has expired for the inferior education system that they provided for the descendants of slaves to pay dividends. This is the reason why “minority” communities must continue to demand that investments be made to provide quality education. Uplifting disadvantaged Black and Hispanic youths should be something that we are all committed to, not allowing “Corporate America” to continue legally enslaving them. Innovative programs that respect diversity and adequate funding to the degree necessary to make a real difference must be sought from both public and private sources.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
The two most recent U.S. presidential candidates identified budget deficits, foreign currency manipulators, and other abstractions as national security issues. Intensive investment in education that will elevate minorities into the mainstream American society of the future should also be regarded as a national security goal. It is a goal that should be viewed as strategically vital to America’s continued economic viability. Recent events involving the killing of unarmed Black men by overly militarized police forces occupying poor communities is evidence that something must change in America. It should be clear that creating more opportunity for disadvantaged Black and Hispanic youths is an issue that is vital to preserving a more perfect union.</div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BigIdeas2015</strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
Vince Rogers is an experienced resource manager, communications strategist, change agent and thought leader; trained in economics, marketing, project management and business communication.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Please follows his posts on LinkedIn @ </span><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers</a></strong></div>
<div style="color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px;">
<strong>#BigIdeas2015</strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-42653151056184762562014-12-09T10:11:00.000-05:002014-12-09T10:11:26.060-05:00The Road Not Taken: Choosing Love or Money<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="article-header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="article-cover masthead" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px -50px; min-height: 80px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<img alt="Article cover image" class="cover-image" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/jc/p/6/005/0a0/386/3083ebb.jpg" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 698px;" /></div>
<div class="source-promo " data-li-uetrk-token="0_af4JZP6LtT9Y9jzC6T9VKAyPSRKWKC7QHm8PCcuJsKIGu7HaPVMjNO9qJZol1DQSOdxl5NXlnS2qduUrSzjrGCf2HGCaf0HpWdysg8OdWg9oex_GPwZhg0nJXLEXxTVyAaMCTLA9uOvLf3bP9d9_E9vYZWda7C0q3lLLFW8SQzekKftUDA4dw7eqVGVmQx8WRAmKpM9DDsQ4YakAam7Tg85VW_93foHu-dNogEQXcCkwMixC_u9TK_DoGvZi-6lCaP68vi4AOBB7mr46pI3Wl5ec0tclQwKn6CYN4JPMnohVYuG409M86GNrYJKK816V" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: -60px auto 0px; max-width: 50%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h4 class="title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a class="name" data-li-uetrk-click="tl" href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=1669339&authType=name&authToken=hh81&trk=pulse-det-athr_prof-art_hdr" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Vince Rogers">Vince Rogers</a></h4>
<div class="subtitle" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-line-clamp: 2; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #8b8b8b; display: -webkit-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 17px; max-height: 34px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Change Agent & Thought Leader</div>
<div class="actions" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 6px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Edit post</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="article-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h1 class="article-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 36px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=zs2j-i304kjhb-2g&t=gde&midToken=AQGeTJh0QGyIvQ&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=5&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-disc-0&itemID=5943284669293293571&itemType=member&anetID=6628332" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">#RoadNotTaken</a></strong></h1>
<div class="article-body" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 25px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What would you do if you were faced with a choice between one job that doesn't pay and another one that does? Many years ago I was faced with such a choice. The options that I was presented with were choosing between pursuing an unpaid internship and applying for a low paying entry level job. Doesn't sound like much of a choice does it?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A friend let me use his college ID to get into the University's placement office. Back then, they were known for being the source of "the" best jobs for young people. However, on that day there were exactly two notices on the board. Although I was interested in both career fields, I had more of a passion for one of them.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One of the job postings was for an unpaid internship at the Public Relations firm A. Brown-Olmstead Associates.<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>At that time it was <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.newaboa.com/aboutintro.htm" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">"....the largest independent organization of its type in the Atlanta market...."</a></strong> The other notice was for a minimum wage cold-caller position at Lehman Brothers, the fourth largest Investment Banking firm in the nation. Despite the low pay, the job presented one of the only opportunities to break into "the business" at a legitimate top-notch firm. Also, the Lehman Brothers investment sales training program was <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Successful-Telephone-Selling-Martin-Shafiroff/dp/006096491X/ref=asap_B001IXRQMI_1_1" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">the premier telephone sales training program</a> </strong>in entire the world.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
At this time in my life I was in search of a prestigious and rewarding career. Regardless of how much I earned, I knew that just saying I worked at Lehman Brothers would carry a certain gravitas. The prospects of learning about the financial markets and one day attaining the lifestyle of an investment professional were very appealing to me. Yet there was still a slight problem - I was even more interested in the world of marketing and public relations.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The position at the PR firm would probably have provided me with inestimable skills that I would build upon for the rest of my life. In the long run, this experience probably would have also led to a lifelong career of professional fulfillment. Honestly, I probably would have pursued the opportunity, if they had just provided for daily bus fare and lunch money. Unfortunately, the reality of earning zero capital gains made me choose to let this option expire worthless (that's Stockbroker talk).</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
While working at Lehman Brothers, I was promoted to Assistant Sales Manager. I passed my Series 7 licensing examination and learned the business working alongside one of the top producers at the firm. I went on to work as an Account Executive at the now infamous biotech stock trading firm <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/business/david-blech-a-biotech-king-dethroned.html" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">D. Blech & Company</a></strong>, the venerable "white shoe" investment banking firm Bear Stearns and finished my career "on the street" as a Business Development Officer and Registered Sales Principal at one of the industry leading discount brokerage firms, T. D. Waterhouse. My career in the financial services industry was a rewarding and challenging experience, but it was certainly no picnic.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n9_nGwVV_gw?wmode=transparent" style="border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=zs2j-i304kjhb-2g&t=gde&midToken=AQGeTJh0QGyIvQ&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=5&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-disc-0&itemID=5943284669293293571&itemType=member&anetID=6628332" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">#RoadNotTaken</a></strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Making such a decision isn't easy. Did I make the right one? The answers to such questions are as knowable now as who would win a bare knuckle fight between Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano at the Apollo Theater in Harlem in the 1920s during the middle of the Ramadan fast. What I do know now is that if the PR job is what I really had a passion for, then I should have found a way to make it happen. Also, I've learned that if you think money is the only thing that makes a career rewarding, you probably have yet to find out what you really love.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When making such a choice, I have found that there are 4 factors that should always be considered. This is true whether you are making career decisions or any other decision that has consequences for your future. These factors are: <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Health; Wealth; Fame and Family</strong>. To make the right decision, it is necessary to be honest about the degree to which these four things are important to you.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Health:</strong> Choosing the wrong career can literally be bad for your health. I can testify beyond a shadow of a doubt that the stress and pressure of the financial services industry was sometimes almost unbearable. In the short-run, you might be able to cope with a degree of career stress because you're making a lot of money. Yet in the long-run, it won't be worth it to you if you're ultimately making yourself sick.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wealth: </strong>They say money isn't everything. People who have a lot of it tend to say it more than other people. However, it's still true. Sometimes, sacrificing a little money now to do something you love may pay off big for you in the future.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fame:</strong> Some people are prestige driven. Some people are just salary driven. People who are prestige driven might choose a job, based on the reputation of the company or even the reputation of their boss. If that's what floats your boat then fine. Just be aware that fulfilling opportunities may exist at lesser known companies and working for non-rockstar bosses.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Family: </strong>Certain careers that may be professionally rewarding may make it difficult to start or maintain a family. All of the money in the world may not compensate for the long hours spent away from family that some careers require. Some of the best paying, prestigious careers have some of the highest divorce rates. Spending long hours at work might make you a lot of money, but winding up in divorce court years later might cost you half.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There will always be hard choices to make. There will also always be roads not taken. That's why you need to have a solid set of criteria for making decisions. Hopefully, you'll make good choices that won't lead to a life filled with uncertainty and second guessing.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=zs2j-i304kjhb-2g&t=gde&midToken=AQGeTJh0QGyIvQ&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=5&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-disc-0&itemID=5943284669293293571&itemType=member&anetID=6628332" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">#RoadNotTaken</a></strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Vince Rogers is an experienced resource manager, communications strategist, change agent and thought leader; trained in economics, marketing, project management and business communication.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please follows his posts on LinkedIn @ <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers</a></strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Also, please read the article<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Final Four: Health; Wealth; Fame; and Family @<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140322165921-1669339-the-final-four-health-wealth-fame-and-family" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140322165921-1669339-the-final-four-health-wealth-fame-and-family</a></strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=zs2j-i304kjhb-2g&t=gde&midToken=AQGeTJh0QGyIvQ&ek=b2_anet_digest_weekly&li=5&m=group_discussions&ts=grouppost-disc-0&itemID=5943284669293293571&itemType=member&anetID=6628332" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #7b539d; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">#RoadNotTaken</a></strong></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-40310154005480804442014-11-02T09:12:00.000-05:002014-11-03T21:25:31.321-05:00Let's Fix It: College Athletes - To Pay or Not to Pay?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
by <b><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" target="_blank">Vince Rogers</a></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnF31gVO5xzEQTDQ6EvqCKyNL1Q7RbeJTmSzLPvkQonx5paBbPKIbnivJ66Q2G7B3bTafhjXcEGgzejavGegJOkl732wNWhMUYE2ucxmfBvvTRqyGBFPBm0nmZF6xFF9boGgh6SYN9PQ/s1600/10492093.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnF31gVO5xzEQTDQ6EvqCKyNL1Q7RbeJTmSzLPvkQonx5paBbPKIbnivJ66Q2G7B3bTafhjXcEGgzejavGegJOkl732wNWhMUYE2ucxmfBvvTRqyGBFPBm0nmZF6xFF9boGgh6SYN9PQ/s1600/10492093.jpeg" height="164" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4d4f51; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Currently, I am watching the University of Georgia Bulldogs renew their annual rivalry on the “gridiron” with the Florida Gators. Sadly, they are being <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">somewhat</em>outclassed. It just so happens that the “Hairy Dogs” are without the services of their difference-making Heisman trophy hopeful running back Todd Gurley. Gurley is absent from the proceedings because he is serving a multi-game suspension for allegations of violating NCAA rules. Those rules preclude college athletes from profiting from the commerce of their own name or likeness.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Mr. Gurley is accused of exchanging his autograph for money, which for some reason when transcribed onto various items makes them more valuable. The college or university is free to sell certain items bearing the players name and number (sans the players autograph) as they see fit. The essential reason that the players are prohibited from profiting from such transactions is because they are classified by the NCAA as “amateurs”. That is because they don’t play for the existing professional leagues. Instead they play for academic institutions that reward them in-kind with potentially infinitely valuable free educations at some of the best institutions in the world.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
So the simple question here – is that fair? In my opinion the answer is yes. Of course many people disagree. Luckily, I propose a solution to the problem which should settle this endless arguing – whew.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I will limit my discussion of the solution to college football. However, the plan would work for college basketball and any other sport as well. Before I continue I will mention a couple of the reasons why I am against the idea of paying athletes involved in the major revenue sports at the major schools. Simply put, it is because it diminishes the value of playing other sports and of getting an education at smaller schools. I think that it also further devalues the importance of Women’s athletics.</div>
<h2 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
#FixIt</h2>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dollars or Sense – You Play the Game to Win</strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The essential issue here is the classification of players as amateurs. They are unpaid despite the fact that they play on teams that earn large amounts of financial revenue from their efforts. Proponents of paying players argue that the school, coaches and merchandisers make helmet-loads of money by exploiting these young people's talents. Some players have even alleged that they have to find creative ways to just get enough food to eat every day.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Yet the issue here really isn’t whether students deserve to get paid to play. The issue is why did they choose to play college football in the first place? They could simply attend school and devote their full attention to academics like most college students in America. Because it is also a fact that out of almost 70,000 NCAA football players, only about 250 will be drafted into the NFL each year. So the question arises, is the young man playing football for the love or the money?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
However, the value proposition for the school is very different. A college football team may carry 85 scholarship players. The cost of housing, feeding, outfitting and educating each of these young men can be as much as $125,000 a year. While young master Gurley may be earning his keep and then some, I assure you that all 85 of these competitors won't be “stars”. In addition, the team can also utilize the services of as many as 40 other non-scholarship players. These athletes also receive some of the benefits of the program.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
To fans, it may seem prudent to at least pay the true “money-ballers”. Yet in reality, a system would have to be created that assigns an equitable value to all players. Each athlete possesses different tangible and intangible talents. How would you fairly price each of their services in a “non-professional” market environment?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The answer I believe is that the onus for making this decision should reside with the players, not the program. Along with his support system, the player should assess his value and chances of playing at the ”next level”. It should be his decision as to whether he came to college to have fun while playing a little ball or whether he is pursuing a career path towards becoming a professional football player.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In my opinion, it would be unfair to force the pressures of performing to earn a living on every already heavily burdened scholar-athlete. A better way of doing things would be to create Student-Athlete and Athlete tracks which would empower each player to choose their desired path. Under the new Student-Athlete Track vs. Athlete Track, players would declare themselves as one or the other (Student-Athlete or Athlete) as of their first day on campus.</div>
<h2 style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size: 28px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
#FixIt</h2>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Student-Athlete Track vs. The Athlete Track</strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Student-Athlete Track would work essentially as it does now. You decide to treat athletics as an integral part of your college experience. However, you are just as committed to excelling academically. The Student-Athlete could also choose to convert to The Athlete Track if he decides later that he has a greater chance of going pro than he first considered. He may also opt to change tracks if he decides academics are too difficult or getting in the way of his pro’ football dreams.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This brings us to the Athlete Track. The young man who chooses the Athlete Track carries zero academic requirements. He is an employee of the Athletic Department. Those who choose this track will devote all of their efforts to becoming professional football players.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The façade, temptations or impediments of being a Student-Athlete would cease to exist. You come to work as a football player and you are compensated as such. Your off-the-field life is yours to manage as you see fit. Also, if by chance you either see the added value of pursuing an education or your prospects of becoming a professional player become less likely, you can chose to switch to the Student-Athlete Track.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bottom Line of Scrimmage</strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
So how much would an Athlete earn? I'm glad you asked. Each participating school would contribute a proportionate share to a fund used by the NCAA to pay "salaries". Every participating player would earn the same amount at any school. Also, t<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">he NCAA would enforce a zero-tolerance crackdown on the payment of any additional compensation or fringe benefits by the school</span>.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In both cases. you may only switch tracks one time in your career. Under the new system, current NCAA eligibility requirements would stay the same. I believe that such a system would alleviate the pretense and potential corruption that comes with young men pursuing athletic careers, while pretending to pursue academics at the same time. I also believe that despite the public outcry for paying players, most young people will choose to pursue the Student-Athlete Track.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you value the education, then you receive it and it doesn’t detract from the possibility of succeeding on the field. If you value the opportunity to prepare for a career in professional football more than an education, then you are allowed to regularly improve your skills in near-professional level contests. You get to train for your future career under the best possible conditions that exist outside of the professional leagues. I believe that this is a true win-win proposition and would satisfy proponents and critics on both sides of this issue.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; margin-bottom: 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Follow </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/vincevision" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><b>Vince Rogers</b></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> posts on</span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://linkedin.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"> LinkedIn.com</a></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> to get more valuable information and insights @ </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1401987335952_2072" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Roger</b></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">s</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-46421381240997105592014-06-23T12:37:00.002-04:002014-06-23T12:37:59.134-04:00Build an App that Builds Your Brand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div id="article-header" style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 20px 20px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h1 class="article-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">by </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" target="_blank">Vince Rogers</a></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="article-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">In general, an </span><em style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"App" </em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">(short for Application Software) according to Wikipedia "is all the computer software that causes a computer to perform useful tasks beyond the running of the computer itself." </span><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/apps" style="border: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Apps</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> have been around nearly as long as computers. However, the word is now almost exclusively used to refer to mobile application software. </span><em style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mobile Apps</em><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> are used by smartphone, tablet computer and other mobile device users to access quick solutions.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="left" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/p/5/005/04e/3ec/17ae7fe.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; max-width: 606px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="article-title" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're a technology "wiz", creating the next hot app might make you rich. However, even if your app doesn't get purchased by another company for millions of dollars, you can still profit from the app "Gold Rush". You can create a simple app that showcases some aspect of your brand. Clients, prospects or even potential employers can access and use your app on a regular basis. If used strategically, apps can be a powerful tool for building your brand. A good app can provide users with a consistent reminder of what is unique about you or your organization.</span></span></h1>
</div>
<div id="article-container" style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="article-body" style="border-top-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The beauty of apps is that you don't have to be a Silicon Valley code writing champion to create one. According to Atlanta technology expert Jeff Bond of Bond Tech Consultants<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.bondtechconsultants.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">www.bondtechconsultants.com</a></span> <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“apps will be as important today as the web browser was 20 years ago”. </em>Some easy to uses sites that can help you to build high quality apps are:<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Appery.io; Conduit or Appsme</em>. If you feel that the task of creating the app yourself is too daunting, you can always hire an expert like Mr. Bond to do the job for you. In either case, he suggests that what is most important is that you <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“have a clear understanding of what purpose the app will serve.” </em>Bond believes that is the basis for creating a powerful app that promotes your brand.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Some time ago, I used a simple platform named "Mobile Mags"<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://mobilemags.360fashion.net/" style="border: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://mobilemags.360fashion.net</a> </span>to create a downloadable version of my <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Big Fundamentals of Success Planning </em><a href="http://mobilemags.360fashion.net/em/magp.jsp?mag=The_Big_Fundamentals_Mobile" style="border: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://mobilemags.360fashion.net/em/magp.jsp?mag=The_Big_Fundamentals_Mobile</a></span> It has proven to be a simple, easily accessible, yet definitive piece of branding. It enables clients to have access to information that they can use regularly, and provides a consistent reminder of who provided them with that information. I am sure that you can come up with your own solutions based application that can do the same thing just as well or better.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As I have stated elsewhere, you and you alone are responsible for controlling the quality of your brand. The image that you present and the information you transfer to the public are signs of your dedication to quality and the soundness of your ideas. Creating a handy <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/mobile-app" style="border: 0px; color: #006699; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Mobile App</a> that provides users with creative solutions or valuable information can accomplish all of these things. It is a great way to elevate your image, show people that your brand is of high quality and demonstrates that your ideas are sound. So let’s get started and here’s wishing you Happy App’ing!</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">Follow </span><b style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/vincevision" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">Vince Rogers</a></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"> posts on</span><b style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://linkedin.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"> LinkedIn.com</a></b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"> to get more valuable information and insights @ </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1401987335952_2072" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Roger</b></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">s</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-58102370823221069902014-06-05T13:01:00.002-04:002014-06-05T13:01:35.692-04:00If I Were 22 - These Are 10 Things That I Wish I Knew<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLXGH65hp1MGYN6yr4zcXBmToJe7OE5oYwJG8v66DHVrcrA8CaaMvCmkU9gEUg8owFk8itWceLWG9HTjrR7I2zS_1jmajszmOzfjx_6S8ID-1t090r0zA3o7WR1vbDIKmTAFr37drHRo/s1600/36f1885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLXGH65hp1MGYN6yr4zcXBmToJe7OE5oYwJG8v66DHVrcrA8CaaMvCmkU9gEUg8owFk8itWceLWG9HTjrR7I2zS_1jmajszmOzfjx_6S8ID-1t090r0zA3o7WR1vbDIKmTAFr37drHRo/s1600/36f1885.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
When I was 22, I was an Event Promoter. I produced parties and small concerts. This was something that I had been doing since shortly after I graduated from high school. I believed that this was the first step in my journey towards becoming an Entertainment Industry <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Mogul”</em>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In order to have the flexibility that I needed to work on my business by day, I also became a Bartender. Ultimately, I would work at a nightclub named <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Charles Disco”</em>, which was famously depicted in the Outkast song<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Spottieottiedopaliscious”.</em> I would spend my days organizing my next event. I spent an equal amount of my time trying to find a way to eventually promote my first big concert. This seemed to be a perfect plan.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
During my 22nd year on this planet I experienced some significant successes. I also experienced a major failure. I promoted my most successful event early in that year. Later in the year, I promoted my first big concert. I was now a <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“big-time”</em> Concert Promoter.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The responsibility of promoting this event came complete with booking major New York City Rappers, purchasing professionally produced Radio Commercials and acquiring high-profile “Corporate” sponsors - the “Whole Nine”. Attendance-wise it was a success. Yet due to some outrageous financial chicanery on behalf of the box office personnel and my business “partners”, it was a financial disaster.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Following this turn of outrageous fortune, I decided that it was finally time to get a real job. I was forced to transform into a quitter from a go-getter – at least in my mind. I saw getting a job as absolute failure. My Mom was sure proud of me though. I now had an ample, steady income and was working for a prestigious company – with benefits. As time went by, the sun rose to reveal other possibilities and the window of opportunity for pursuing the old dream of music industry “Moguldom” eventually closed.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Did I make the right decision to <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“give up”</em> and join the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Rat Race”.</em> Well to be perfectly honest with you, too much time has passed and there were way too many other variables involved to answer that question simply. However, there are many things that I didn’t know then that I know now that might have given me a better chance of achieving success and holding on tight to my dream. <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If I were 22, </strong>these are 10 things that I wish I knew. I now share them with you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">#IfIWere22</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maintain your emotional balance as you travel the distance between the voyage and the victory. There will be up and downs. Don’t over-celebrate your victories. Don’t overly grieve your losses.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Greatness is the ability to pursue your personal vision over a significant period of time. You will have to consistently bring creativity and innovation to your field of endeavor. Also, you must maintain your integrity without ever sacrificing your commitment to excellence.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Success </em><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">doesn't always depend on coming up with the best idea. Sometimes it’s just a matter of putting your greatest effort into the idea that you come up with. Don’t waste too much time searching for the best idea of all time. Yet, you shouldn’t waste too much time on a bad idea either. Yeah, it’s tricky.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Challenges are Opportunities.....Disguised as Limitations. What may seem like an insurmountable problem may just be an opportunity to </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">learn a valuable lesson, not a reason to quit.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5) </strong></em><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reciprocity is the recipe for prosperity. If you help other people, they will help you to achieve more success than you could by yourself.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Your greatest source of future wealth will be determined by the purchasing decisions that you make today. Credit card payments, student loans, car payments and debt in general can rule your life and steal your ability to pursue your dreams.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The image that you present and the information you transfer to the public are signs of your dedication to quality and the soundness of your ideas. If you don’t look the part or sound like you know what you are talking about, sometimes it won’t matter how much passion or even ability you possess inside.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You must assemble a winning team. You alone will never possess all of the skills and abilities required for perfection. Nor will you ever be able to earn every certification or degree needed to answer all questions. You must find out how to attract, learn from and utilize the right people.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9) </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Compromise is the mature acceptance of the fact that no single person needs to succeed at the expense of another </em></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to win. It’s not a “Dog eat dog world”. Successful people eventually realize that it is a people helping people world. Not a single ruthless Gangster ever makes it to the end of the movie.</em></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10) </strong></em><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It matters not who is in power, where you went to school, or whatever obstacles appear to be in your way....when you have a plan, everything becomes your resource.</strong></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">#IfIWere22</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The path to success is not easy. I am still on it. It is a long winding highway. Yet with a plan and some rules of the road to follow, hopefully you won’t spend your entire life looking for the next exit.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">#IfIWere22</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Follow <b><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/vincevision">Vince Rogers</a></b> posts on<b><a href="http://linkedin.com/"> LinkedIn.com</a></b> to get more valuable information and insights @ <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1401987335952_2072" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; outline: 0px;" target="_blank"><b>www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Roger</b></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/1669339-Vince-Rogers" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; outline: 0px;" target="_blank">s</a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-63645325060220911282014-01-28T12:24:00.000-05:002014-01-28T12:24:44.886-05:00"Brand Smart" - Free Gift<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4977921437286176382" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fcRfDZDRuSp3N87NAE8Mv-kYzk7lj74ZOmMQGtVE3hveoDeq-ujd9UTCyZ1vwBqKntBfhtIhRC9B3-9qfNz9E0UYbjFV48Ao9NDGXpGaEVISjnNtYRQzx7MuPEM71j5aOFk-q30ujFA/s1600/Brand+Smart+-+eBook+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fcRfDZDRuSp3N87NAE8Mv-kYzk7lj74ZOmMQGtVE3hveoDeq-ujd9UTCyZ1vwBqKntBfhtIhRC9B3-9qfNz9E0UYbjFV48Ao9NDGXpGaEVISjnNtYRQzx7MuPEM71j5aOFk-q30ujFA/s1600/Brand+Smart+-+eBook+cover.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span class="text" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Greetings:</span></b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span class="text">I would like to offer you the gift of a free copy of my</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="text">e-Book – </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><span class="text"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><span class="text"><b>“Brand Smart: 30 Concise but Powerful Articles </b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><span class="text"><b>by Branding Expert - Vince Rogers”</b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/product-21398007.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="color: blue;">www.lulu.com/shop/product-21398007.html</span></b></a></span><span style="outline: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><br /><br /><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="text"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">This <span style="color: blue;"><b>free download</b> </span>of<span style="color: blue;"> <b>"</b></span></span></span></span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Brand Smart"</span> </b><span class="text" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">will be available only for a limited time. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span class="text" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span class="text" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">The only thing that I ask you to do in return is to<b> </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span class="text" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">click the “f Like” </span></b></span></span><span class="text" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue;">symbol </span></b></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="uiGrid _51mz pluginConnectButtonLayoutRoot" id="u_0_0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 13px; width: 300px;"><tbody>
<tr class="_51mx"><td class="_51m- vTop hCent" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.079999923706055px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><form action="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like/connect" ajaxify="/plugins/like/connect" id="u_0_1" method="post" rel="async" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="pluginConnectButton">
<div class="blueButton blue pluginConnectButtonDisconnected" style="border: none;" title="Like">
<div class="pluginButton pluginButtonInline" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(96, 127, 214) 0px 0px 1px inset; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(91, 123, 213), rgb(72, 100, 177)); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-color: rgb(88, 116, 195) rgb(73, 97, 168) rgb(65, 89, 159); border-style: none; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-weight: bold; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(53, 76, 140) 0px -1px 0px; white-space: nowrap;">
<div class="pluginButtonContainer" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
<div class="pluginButtonImage" style="display: inline-block;">
<button style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: -1px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(53, 76, 140) 0px -1px 0px;" type="submit"><i class="pluginButtonIcon img sp_like-blue sx_like-blue_favblue" style="background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/yK/r/uGFy9lAuh_c.png); background-position: 0px -42px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 14px; left: 0px; margin: 0px 4px; position: relative; top: 3px; vertical-align: top; width: 14px;"></i></button></div>
<span class="pluginButtonLabel" style="padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: top;">Like</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</form>
</td><td class="_51m- pls _51mw" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.079999923706055px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; width: 246px;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span class="text" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">on the right side of the page.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><br /><span class="text">After reading the book, if so inclined I would greatly appreciate it if you would write a short review. Thank you in advance.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="text"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">Continued Success,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"> </span></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><br /><br /><br /><span class="text">Vince Rogers</span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><span class="text"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<h2 style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Brand Smart</span></h2>
<div class="author-info" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 5px 0px;">
<span class="authors" style="display: block; text-align: center;">by<a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?contributorId=968175" style="color: #005388; text-decoration: none;" target="_parent"> <span class="author"><b>Vince Rogers</b></span></a></span><br /><div class="spotlight-action" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="format-summary" style="display: inline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="spotlight-action" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="format-summary" style="display: inline;">
eBook (PDF), 112 Pages </div>
<div class="ratings" style="display: inline; position: relative;">
<span class="star-rating " style="display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="4.5 out of 5 stars."><img alt="" src="http://static.lulu.com/shop/template-resources/20140120-1442/images/product/rating/star_full.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://static.lulu.com/shop/template-resources/20140120-1442/images/product/rating/star_full.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://static.lulu.com/shop/template-resources/20140120-1442/images/product/rating/star_full.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://static.lulu.com/shop/template-resources/20140120-1442/images/product/rating/star_full.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://static.lulu.com/shop/template-resources/20140120-1442/images/product/rating/star_half.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /></span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="product-image" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; float: left; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 15px 20px 10px 0px; max-width: 240px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Brand Smart" src="http://static.lulu.com/browse/product_thumbnail.php?productId=21398007&resolution=320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; max-width: 240px; padding: 5px;" /></div>
<div id="productPreviewAction" style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;">
<a class="preview-action" href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/product-21398007.html#" style="color: #005388; display: inline; text-decoration: none;">Preview</a></div>
</div>
<div class="pricing" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 15px 0px 5px;">
<div class="actual-price-display" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="price-label" style="color: #666666; font-size: 1em; vertical-align: middle;">Price:</span> <span class="actual-price" style="color: #fd1c32; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle;">Free</span></div>
</div>
<div class="shipping-info" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<div class="ship-time" style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center;">
Download immediately.</div>
</div>
<div class="description" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
The 30 concise but powerful articles that comprise Brand Smart will provide you with all of the essential knowledge needed to build a successful branding strategy. Brand Smart will provide you with the tools and resources needed to build a first-class personal brand. It will also help you to develop a professional branding strategy that will elevate your organization high above the competition. The information found in Brand Smart will empower you with the basic knowledge that you need to build your brand, the advanced ideas that you need to gain a dominant brand presence and innovative concepts that will help you to rise above even the sharpest competition.</div>
<div class="description" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div>
<div class="description" style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span><a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/product-21398007.html" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;"><b><span style="color: blue;">www.lulu.com/shop/product-21398007.html</span></b></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-23611343244698027182014-01-13T19:07:00.001-05:002014-01-13T19:07:15.958-05:00Brand Smart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Now Available </b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b><span style="color: blue;">Brand</span> <span style="color: red;">Smart </span></b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>30 Concise but Powerful Articles by Branding Expert - Vince Rogers</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=14334822"><img alt="Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu." border="0" src="http://static.lulu.com/images/services/buy_now_buttons/en/book_blue.gif?20131219144112" /></a></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>The 30 concise but powerful articles that comprise Brand Smart will provide you with all of the essential knowledge needed to build a successful branding strategy. Brand Smart will provide you with the tools and resources needed to build a first-class personal brand. It will also help you to develop a professional branding strategy that will elevate your organization high above the competition. The information found in Brand Smart will empower you with the basic knowledge that you need to build your brand, the advanced ideas that you need to gain a dominant brand presence and innovative concepts that will help you to rise above even the sharpest competition.</b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX4eKyGdMyy0mAheApweAkXJlQGHqtl5vZlhoiiqYXQjU8LLFuqbig3yG4Fbwe7uqapyfoyIcnKTHaLM6MaA_RfWuyMXzuM3xpFOyNRlAtARnHZ2xD5ArDzAm56TJ0hGmHHRX4e-FSg8/s1600/Brand+Smart+-+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX4eKyGdMyy0mAheApweAkXJlQGHqtl5vZlhoiiqYXQjU8LLFuqbig3yG4Fbwe7uqapyfoyIcnKTHaLM6MaA_RfWuyMXzuM3xpFOyNRlAtARnHZ2xD5ArDzAm56TJ0hGmHHRX4e-FSg8/s1600/Brand+Smart+-+front+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, helvetica; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: left;"> "Your branding strategy is a living, breathing and perpetually evolving entity. Just like the activities of a real person, your branding efforts serve to build long lasting perceptions. The reputation that you build is based on people’s opinions about your brand’s appearance and personality and by how many people have been influenced by your branding efforts. Your branding strategy irreversibly shapes public perception and serves to form an enduring legacy."</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: left;"><b>~ Vince Rogers</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: left;">To purchase a copy of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: left;"><i>Brand Smart</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: left;"> please click here </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/product-21391900.html"><span style="color: red;">Brand</span><span style="color: blue;"> Smart</span></a> </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=14334822"><img alt="Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu." border="0" src="http://static.lulu.com/images/services/buy_now_buttons/en/book_blue.gif?20131219144112" /></a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: left;"><b>a forthcoming e-Book will be available soon.</b></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-41110100936264269832013-12-31T11:38:00.000-05:002013-12-31T11:38:16.582-05:00Happy New Year from Disguised Limits!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7346080640578982169" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAVhkxSMLMNrtOKTM9MH4nNeaY5jxDZzydkNk3JoXYQtkpTK_2gmxDSQoTOxJrjtjcgqRI5MYHp3hJ1Q-INFTvraRr6qh4PAzW38705gCd8YuKlH1rV3dZuB5RGuLp3NBPR3P9WN3Iak/s1600/Happy+New+Year+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAVhkxSMLMNrtOKTM9MH4nNeaY5jxDZzydkNk3JoXYQtkpTK_2gmxDSQoTOxJrjtjcgqRI5MYHp3hJ1Q-INFTvraRr6qh4PAzW38705gCd8YuKlH1rV3dZuB5RGuLp3NBPR3P9WN3Iak/s320/Happy+New+Year+Blog.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="316" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">****Please accept this free download of </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><h2 style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Very Best of Disguised Limits: Volume 2</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOXIgBxSc9fcYh78myx3k1bhqm4L5cojxJMCQU7CIjxNDkqR6ZOMs6CF6om2xJfD3p1Nep3CNQLIieAzZtMPnSDP2CEvUcSTiLPhwpQbTFgeuovND5oiyIB5wcgEmhl7yYpogHzyz_Rg/s1600/VBDLII+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOXIgBxSc9fcYh78myx3k1bhqm4L5cojxJMCQU7CIjxNDkqR6ZOMs6CF6om2xJfD3p1Nep3CNQLIieAzZtMPnSDP2CEvUcSTiLPhwpQbTFgeuovND5oiyIB5wcgEmhl7yYpogHzyz_Rg/s320/VBDLII+Cover.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/vincent-l-rogers/the-very-best-of-disguised-limits-volume-2/ebook/product-20371331.html"><span style="font-size: large;">www.lulu.com/shop/vincent-l-rogers/the-very-best-of-disguised-limits-volume-2/ebook/product-20371331.html</span></a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">as my gift to you****</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Peace & Blessings,</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Vince</span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-14938262288448945442013-12-21T16:06:00.000-05:002013-12-21T16:06:59.896-05:00Home of the Braves – Understanding Your Target Audience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTJcaps-0_E_vt4le6kETyupKuylEbp2E90CqkQSsqUqEY30jWkbF-BpnCnUsJKLRpmdwH7Gb8Uk5p6CUAfzzgJVPyFvWoTSiqYwWoxvsefJXM-yPXjbAOr6uhPrBJDJjQ12jRohCcqk/s1600/turner_field2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTJcaps-0_E_vt4le6kETyupKuylEbp2E90CqkQSsqUqEY30jWkbF-BpnCnUsJKLRpmdwH7Gb8Uk5p6CUAfzzgJVPyFvWoTSiqYwWoxvsefJXM-yPXjbAOr6uhPrBJDJjQ12jRohCcqk/s320/turner_field2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
by <b>Vince Rogers</b><br />
<br />
The Atlanta Braves are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball. They rank #10 on the list of most World Series appearances with a total of 9. Nine, you might ask? Why I’m a loyal, lifelong, die-hard Braves fan and I only remember 5 appearances by Atlanta, you might say.<br />
<br />
Well the fact of the matter is that the Braves are also the most mobile franchise in American professional baseball history. Despite the uproar over the recent announcement that the Atlanta Braves are moving to a new Cobb County, Georgia location by the start of the 2017 season, in the past the Braves have also called Boston and Milwaukee home. Yet this move within the same Metropolitan area is somewhat unprecedented. The shift in location is seemingly based solely on matters of branding, positioning and responsiveness to their target audience.<br />
<br />
On November 11th, John Schuerholz the General Manager of the club announced that <em>“We are extremely excited that our address will still be Atlanta and so will the name across our jersey.”</em> Despite this assurance that the team was not abandoning their allegiance to the name <em>“Atlanta”</em>, residents of the city proper – Atlanta, they regarded the team’s announced move as an alienation of affections. The team’s diverse fan-base of Black and White, affluent and working class and urban and suburban devotees had supported the team through more years of thin than thick. Now it seems that the only loyalty the team is being responsive to is the opportunity to move to "<em>greener pastures"</em>.<br />
<br />
Schuerholz would go on to say in his video statement that <em>"We wanted to find a location that is great for our </em>fans<em>, makes getting to and from the stadium much easier, and provides a first-rate game day experience in and around the stadium."</em> These words left many people who felt that they were Braves<em> fans</em> scratching their heads. Well the fact of the matter is that what Mr. Schuerholz really meant was Target Audience – not fans. Yet in the GM’s short statement, he captured all of the elements that should go into the hard realities of understanding your Target Audience.<br />
<br />
<strong>Location</strong><br />
<br />
As evidenced by the above map of the Braves' 2012 season ticket purchasers, the heaviest concentration of paying fans live much closer to the proposed new stadium location than to the current one. The team further elucidates the question of access and location on their transition website <strong><a data-cke-saved-href="http://homeofthebraves.com/overview" href="http://homeofthebraves.com/overview">http://homeofthebraves.com/overview</a></strong> They state that <em>“The reason for moving is simple…. our fans, access to Turner Field. There is a lack of consistent mass transportation, a lack of sufficient parking and a lack of direct access to interstates”</em>. Simply put, a business should try their best to be easily accessible to their target customer.<br />
<br />
<strong>Ability to Pay</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
The aforementioned statement by the team mentions providing a first-rate game day experience as another reason for the move. The alternative translation is not based on what the audience demands, but based on what else can the team supply to a wealthier customer. According to <em>Wikipedia</em>, as of 2007, the median income was<em> $70,472</em> in Cobb County compared to <em>$45,171</em> in the City of Atlanta in 2010. By having better access to a more affluent fan-base, the team will be able to open up new profitable revenue streams, such as dining, merchandising and other ancillary income opportunities.<br />
<br />
<strong>Psychographic Targeting</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
Psychographic Targeting is a fancy way of saying that you need to know what your customers like. One essential but touchy aspect of the Braves decision to move is that the game of baseball is not as attractive to non-White inner city residents as it used to be. In recent years initiatives have been taken to revive Black youths interest in the game. Nevertheless, interest in <em>"America's Favorite Pastime"</em> and the target audience’s connection to the team better reflects the demographics of Cobb County.<br />
<br />
As emotionally and economically disruptive as the Atlanta Braves decision to move the team to Cobb County may be for the City of Atlanta, as a business decision it is pretty sound. In your efforts to determine, understand and respond to the needs of your target audience, it would be wise to regard the same criteria as this beloved successful franchise. Access to your target customer, their ability to pay and their psychographic characteristics are inescapable considerations. Hopefully, the City of Atlanta will create new opportunities out of this situation, the Braves will find success in Cobb County and you will master the process of understanding your target audience as a means to building a major league brand.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-6973325081887640942013-12-05T12:53:00.003-05:002014-03-17T17:48:53.682-04:00Developing a S.M.A.R.T. Career Plan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsWsBCojeN6eSgtOndx8744Ujlc1dCyXW_3qXLfDwel7N_QDHlgTGwvO9_pyExf-LYpSKy1aRa0ZZMGG6aU84vbQ8IQ1ya2IKBNiyiK32qaS7gipMe1wxmjmUl1AfFIGLjwdn_EvwPR0/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsWsBCojeN6eSgtOndx8744Ujlc1dCyXW_3qXLfDwel7N_QDHlgTGwvO9_pyExf-LYpSKy1aRa0ZZMGG6aU84vbQ8IQ1ya2IKBNiyiK32qaS7gipMe1wxmjmUl1AfFIGLjwdn_EvwPR0/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: left;">by </span><b style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: left;">Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Whether you are choosing a first career or changing careers, you need a career plan. After carefully assessing your </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">Skills and Talents</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">and defining your </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">Unique Selling Proposition</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">, you should now be ready to identify the industry and specific occupations that you are interested in. Finding the best career opportunity is the ultimate goal of your career plan. Personal development and goal setting experts have determined that the best way to achieve any goal is to be </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">S.M.A.R.T.</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">about it.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for a <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/goal-achievement" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">goal achievement</a> process that stands for S<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">pecific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound</em>. The concept is derived from the pioneering work of management guru <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Peter Drucker</em>. The idea is founded upon the belief that goals are more likely to be achieved if they are precisely defined. Rather than saying <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I’m going to buy a new car</em>, an example of a S.M.A.R.T. goal would be <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I am going to buy a 2014 Lexus LS Hybrid for less than $120,000 by December 3rd 2014</em>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
This goal of buying the Lexus is specific because it identifies an exact year, make and model of car. We can measure whether the goal is attained by whether I am able to acquire the vehicle below the specified price. By setting an exact date, I am challenging myself to follow the necessary plan that is required to achieve the goal. Yet when it comes to your career plan, there are a few additional considerations.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Specific</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
There may be some preliminary steps that you need to take on the road to obtaining your ultimate job. You might have to earn your Bachelor’s degree first and start out as a kindergarten teacher’s aide on the path to becoming a college professor. Nevertheless, you should seek to identify your ultimate career ambition rather than a short-term job objective. The various <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/jobs" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">jobs</a> and educational pursuits that lead to your ultimate goal should be considered as rungs on the ladder to ultimate career success.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Measurable</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Attaining the position that you seek is not the only measurement of successfully reaching your career goal. While formulating your plan, you might consider the salary, work hours, and location of your ideal job. However, you should also think about less tangible aspects of a career such as stress level, professional integrity, and work-life balance. You should measure success by the overall satisfaction that you derive from your career, not just how much money you make.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Attainable</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
We are all at different stages in our lives and possess different competencies and capabilities. If you have properly researched your career alternatives, you should discover the industry and positions for which you are best suited. However, it may be difficult to resist the tendency to pursue a career for the wrong reasons. Pursuing a career that is not best suited to your personality, age, education, or ability is inadvisable.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Relevant</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
If you have carefully researched you career alternatives, hopefully your search has led you towards pursuing a career in a thriving industry. This may not always be possible given your educational attainment and transferable skills. As the economic landscape changes it is best to be involved in an industry where career prospects are growing. If you are not currently well suited to a viable industry, it might be worth the investment to pursue continuing education or internship opportunities that prepare you to make a career change.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Time-Bound</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
As stated earlier, setting a specific date forces you to follow the steps that are necessary to achieve your goal. The tendency to take some shortcuts should be avoided at all cost. However, while on the long road to becoming a doctor, you may find that you are better suited to be a Pharmacist. Nevertheless, if you find that you are indeed on the right career path, you should be committed to investing whatever time that it takes to reach your ultimate goal.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Getting S.M.A.R.T.E.R.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Now that you are on the S.M.A.R.T. road to achieving your career goals, you should make an immediate commitment to becoming even <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">S.M.A.R.T.E.R.</em> You must consistently <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Evaluate</em> your plan to determinate if your career goal is still valid and viable. Then you must <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Review</em> your plan regularly to make sure that you are always focused and on the right track.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Developing a<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> S.M.A.R.T.</em> career plan might sound like a lot of work. Yet without one, your career search might become aimless and stagnant. Taking the time to create <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound</em> career goals may be the difference between becoming stuck in a dead end job or flourishing in a satisfying career. To insure that you stick to your plan, you must also commit to becoming even <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">S.M.A.R.T.E.R</em> by regularly <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Evaluating</em> and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Reviewing</em> your plan.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-78065199763936017962013-11-27T00:11:00.000-05:002013-11-27T00:13:21.860-05:00Of Mentors and Mastermind Groups<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk90AfZsxx8bQ4NqsYon4BJkgL5bOO5STo-it5RHzZAuINdWAgRphMngioF_C2cy0wTzAupl5e-Ex0IWgNXfedai1xzWxr4_ORZmoIVCZXSgL6fPkFG0z6elmvCph9gyphe2w9n98mm-o/s1600/e50c233c6167b802a5da7fdca4b16869-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk90AfZsxx8bQ4NqsYon4BJkgL5bOO5STo-it5RHzZAuINdWAgRphMngioF_C2cy0wTzAupl5e-Ex0IWgNXfedai1xzWxr4_ORZmoIVCZXSgL6fPkFG0z6elmvCph9gyphe2w9n98mm-o/s320/e50c233c6167b802a5da7fdca4b16869-0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Suppose that you were a novice investor, presented with two options for learning to understand the ins and outs of navigating the markets. The first option would be attending regularly scheduled face-to-face meetings with legendary investor Warren Buffet. The other choice presented to you is attending weekly group discussions between beginning, intermediate and experienced investors. Which alternative would you choose?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Warren Buffet is arguably the most successful investor in history. Most up-and-coming investors would probably consider regular interaction with him to be the ultimate choice. However, because of the resources that Mr. Buffet has at his disposal, his risk and reward decisions are based on buying thousands of shares of a stock. The deals that he might suggest to you may prove to be impractical if you can only buy just a few shares.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Conversely, the weekly meetings with a wide range of investors might provide you with exposure to variety of useful information. However, if you have recently inherited millions of dollars and just happen to have an MBA in Finance, you may benefit more from the weekly buffet with Buffet. A combination of both close intimate personal and dynamic group interactions might be the preferable way to obtain the career guidance you seek. Therefore, it is important that you understand how to choose the right trusted Mentor and/or how to join or form an effective Mastermind Group</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Defining Mentors and Mastermind Groups</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
The term<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Mentor</em> is of ancient origins. Mentor is a figure from Greek mythology who during the Trojan War was the advisor of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus. The modern mentor/mentee relationship can be formal or informal. The fundamental characteristic of the relationship is that a more experienced or knowledgeable person (Mentor) provides some form of guidance to another person (Mentee).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
A <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Mastermind Group</em> is a more recent conception. The idea derives from a term introduced by <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Napoleon Hill</em> in the classic self-development book <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Think and Grow Rich”</em>. However, such advisory council type relationships have existed as long as human beings have formed organizations. Hill defined a Mastermind Group as follows: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"The coordination of knowledge and effort of two or more people, who work toward a definite purpose, in the spirit of harmony."</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
The concept of the Mastermind Group had been out of fashion for a time. Yet with the advent of other collaborative business and professional tools such as <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Social Networking, Coworking, and Crowdfunding</em>the use of collaborative tools and resources are now all the rage. Conversely, until lately the Mentor concept has been in vogue. Yet in recent years the <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/mentoring" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">mentoring</a> model and the associated expectations of such relationships are now being regarded by some as outdated and unrealistic.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Finding a Mentor or a Mastermind Group.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
As stated earlier, I don’t think the choice is really an either or proposition. Mentoring relationships are valuable and successful ones are priceless. Mentoring relationships may come about organically through a chance meeting or via an introduction by a mutual friend. They may also be formal relationships such as apprenticeships or a condition for being accepted into a professional organization. To help you find an empowering mentoring relationship, here are a few suggestions that you might consider:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1. Clarity </strong>- Be clear about why you want a Mentor and your expectations from the relationship.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2. Compatibility</strong> - Your personality and communications styles should be conducive to developing a good working relationship.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3. Connection</strong> - A mentor should be someone who mirrors your own values, not just someone who has achieved the career stature that you’d like to achieve.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4. Collaboration </strong>– In all successful relationships, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">reciprocity is the recipe for prosperity</em>. You should seek to contribute as much to the relationship as you expect to withdraw.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
There are several different ways to find a Mastermind Group. For example, you can participate in your existing <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://linkedin.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">LinkedIn.com</a></strong> groups online or find face-to-face opportunities via <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://meetup.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Meetup.com</a></strong>. However, a very strategic way of finding the Mastermind Group that best suits you is to start it yourself. Some tips for starting a Mastermind Group are as follows:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1.</strong> Make a list of the ideal people that you would like to interact with, whether you know them or not.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2</strong>. Begin to invite them one by one to have coffee or a meal in an informal setting.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3.</strong> Then invite a few key people to an informal gathering at your home or other casual setting where you also discuss the formation of the Mastermind Group.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4.</strong> After gaining a commitment from your key people, and interest from other prospective members, arrange to have your first meeting.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Finding the right <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Mentor</em> or joining the right<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Mastermind Group</em> could lead to expanding your <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-brand" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">personal brand</a> in ways that you couldn’t imagine. A Mentor can help you to expand your vision and avoid common pitfalls on the road to success. Membership in a dynamic and diverse Mastermind Group can expand your career horizons exponentially. Gaining access to either one or both could prove to be the best career decisions that you ever make.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-82591794359291890922013-11-14T12:11:00.005-05:002013-11-14T12:12:54.723-05:00You Need A Bio!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lceRA3imaPRZA_uFMmKVDP1sl_yIRG8mkZsxNTZ_SFnAGAeCFvLo-879QUtd71-Vrmj-XnaZRWUClvjsLkADCaLow9Uod0ppWblOfVUJwi7V0HV3oSgQJmjuP2b8EFzCHCDfUN_zU8E/s1600/3cbe9c9e0c313fdd1d14a84929299e20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lceRA3imaPRZA_uFMmKVDP1sl_yIRG8mkZsxNTZ_SFnAGAeCFvLo-879QUtd71-Vrmj-XnaZRWUClvjsLkADCaLow9Uod0ppWblOfVUJwi7V0HV3oSgQJmjuP2b8EFzCHCDfUN_zU8E/s320/3cbe9c9e0c313fdd1d14a84929299e20.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Your resume is like a personal Operating Statement. Your Education section states what you’ve invested in your enterprise over time. Your Experience section shows the output that you have produced over time. Hopefully, when you present this statement to a potential prospect, it provides a clear picture of your overall career Net Worth.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
It has probably been years since many of you have been asked for a resume. This is primarily because you have achieved a level of expertise and generated a word of mouth reputation that opens most doors. Yet at some point, you will ultimately be asked to produce a resume. This may be the case when pursuing some opportunity that requires verifiable documentation of credentials.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Yet in most cases, you will probably just be asked for a simple resume to document your professional accomplishments. If that is the case, you may make more of an impression by producing a compelling personal Bio instead. If your resume is a simple operating statement, then the Bio is a bottom line statement of the overall intrinsic and extrinsic value of your <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-brand" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">Personal Brand</a>. A well written Bio differentiates you from the competition and positions you as an authority in your field.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Everybody loves a good story. More importantly, good personal or professional relationships are built upon people <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">connecting</em> with each other. There is probably no better way to get people to like you than to get them to connect with your story. Your resume enables a person to know something about you, but your bio compels them to get to know you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
One of the acknowledged experts on writing a Bio is Storytelling expert Michael Margolis the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Dean”</em> of Story University <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.getstoried.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.getstoried.com</a></strong> According to Margolis, there are 3 questions all people want to know about you:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1</strong>. Do I share something in common with you?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2</strong>. How do we relate to each other?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3</strong>. Are you relevant to my success?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
He insists that nowadays it's your Bio that people want to read first, not your resume. In order to make you Bio stand out, he claims that it must also answer the following 5 Questions:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1</strong>. Who am I?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2</strong>. How can I help you?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3</strong>. How did I get where I am?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4</strong>. Why can you trust me?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5</strong>. What do we share in common?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Personally, I have 4 different Bios for: Business; Leadership; Writing and Academics. While you may not need four bios (and I probably don’t either) these are 4 good categories to consider when constructing your Bio. The goal is to turn your list of accomplishments into a compelling narrative. You may do this by answering the following 4 questions</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1</strong>. Why did you choose the school you attended and your discipline or major?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2</strong>. Why did you become a published writer and why do you write about these subjects?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3</strong>. Why did you choose to take positions of leadership in your industry or community?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4</strong>. Why did you choose your profession and why do you want to continue in the future?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
By answering these questions and following the steps outlined previously, you should be able to create a very compelling narrative. Undertaking the exercise of writing your Bio should also provide you with some clarity and perspective about your past, present and future professional goals. Being able to tell your story is an essential component to building your personal brand. Writing your Bio should also enable you to assess how effectively you are presenting your Personal Brand and help direct the course of your future <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-branding" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">Personal Branding</a> Strategy.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-58465496707586691772013-11-02T13:13:00.001-04:002013-11-02T13:20:22.486-04:00Is Your Industry Dying or Changing?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawv0dGO7PkxSudZlvnVQG58zKDNJKRzJXIfxju6-4fCD_pw_OrsmCOB36mc8weTQFTl3nvNY4WX9kEKQIk6j10qmujZtVoppcF1rEyh9K6BYPose7fnRSboGWtvUGp75ePamnDqVvviU/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawv0dGO7PkxSudZlvnVQG58zKDNJKRzJXIfxju6-4fCD_pw_OrsmCOB36mc8weTQFTl3nvNY4WX9kEKQIk6j10qmujZtVoppcF1rEyh9K6BYPose7fnRSboGWtvUGp75ePamnDqVvviU/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">What comes to mind when you hear the words </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">book store, post office, home phone</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">or</span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">public library</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">? These entities used to be as fundamental to our way of life as air and water. Now physical books are being replaced by e-readers, letters in your mailbox have been cancelled out by e-mails in your inbox and the mobile-phone has diminished the combined necessity of the precision wristwatch, the digital camera, the pocket calculator and even the portable music player. Technological advancement and consumer demand are acting in unison to interject constant change into all aspects of our lives’.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Some people say that all change is good. Yet, that doesn't change the fact that sometimes it catches many people completely off guard. If you are unprepared for change you can become overwhelmed, anxious and even downright desperate. Change often happens in gradual recognizable steps, rather than rapid surges. Nevertheless, most of us tend to have change thrust upon us instead of being prepared.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
The changes that I've already mentioned affect people not just as consumers, but also affect your current and future career decisions. Staying on top of changes and trends in your industry must become a vital concern, regardless of whether you’re a new-hire or a seasoned executive. In fact, knowing what’s going on in your industry can make the difference between whether you’re looking forward to receiving a big promotion or being abruptly laid off. A savvy, career-focused employee should put themselves in a position to recognize the signs well in advance.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
For instance let's consider the future of the aforementioned public library. The internet has become most people’s principle research tool. The internet and e-books have replaced the need to sift through the card catalog or lug home a big heavy book. Furthermore, the coffee shop has become the preferred destination of those who wish to eat, drink and be merry while they read. They prefer this more social setting to being constantly reminded by the mean old librarian to shush. Yet in Birmingham, England they just recently constructed a new $300 million (£188m) library!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
So what do they know that we don’t? Apparently, they know that regardless of changes in the future customers that they serve and the changing format of the product that they deliver; there is still a vital need for a free public space that educates people. The big question is determining what type of resources do they need to make available to their changing public? According to Brian Gambles, a project director at the new library in Birmingham, the library of the future must contribute to the surrounding community by actively being a <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“….part of a better economic future.…”. </em>It can no longer<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </em>just be a place to sit and read a good book.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
This type of proactive approach to embracing and understanding change is not just limited to progressive Brits. Here in Atlanta at the West End Branch of the public library system, Robert E. White a Library Associate, is embracing the change he saw taking place in his industry and responding to the needs of the surrounding community. Over the years, the library has incorporated special programming that suits the specific needs of the patrons that they serve. They provide offerings that range from sewing classes that cater to the local Senior communities, to Search Engine Optimization workshops that target aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to join the ranks of thriving West End businesses.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
White was inspired by personal vision and professional necessity to enter a Master’s degree program in order to enhance his understanding of changes in his industry. He is now envisioning a plan to one day transform the library from a learning center into an empowerment institution. White believes that the Library will one day become a <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“....Regional Center for continuing education and economic empowerment that fills in the learning gaps for all types of education, career and business development needs...."</em> This focus is indicative of the type of control and confidence that comes from having a proactive commitment to understanding the changes taking place in your industry.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
In addition to earning a new advanced degree in your field like Mr. White, some other ways to keep up with changes in your industry are as follows:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1) </strong>Ask the Audience – Create a questionnaire or opinion poll that helps you gain information about how your industry is perceived by customers, co-workers, clients, etc.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2) </strong>Phone-a-Friend – Find an expert in your field or mentor that you can regularly communicate with about changes in your industry.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3)</strong> Final Answer – Once you have decided on a course of action, be decisive. Take action, whether it means looking for new opportunities in your current industry, or switching to a new career field altogether.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
People often refer to the decline of the "Buggy Whip" industry, due to the emergence of the automobile, as a metaphor for companies being unresponsive to change. In actuality, few industries totally disappear. Yet all industries experience change and transformation. Understanding the changes taking place in your industry can be the key to building a career based on processing good information, instead being at the mercy of other people making moves.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-85216896760122877782013-10-20T15:33:00.001-04:002013-11-02T13:23:57.692-04:00Using Visual Content to Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvNd-Y5epXUOEs7hhJfwvfPpFhsnkfmQ4mUrf3YTL7osTjlf3JlxX8Qih6rw1fOftHLTxV952HiYwLZm7jLm8fJPztbygK8V57CmIEfzBnTEGd2_QJ0i6aSkf2DpzTWtVFmt_jZYTKwk/s1600/263965177de8e0ff449d8b427da0a038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvNd-Y5epXUOEs7hhJfwvfPpFhsnkfmQ4mUrf3YTL7osTjlf3JlxX8Qih6rw1fOftHLTxV952HiYwLZm7jLm8fJPztbygK8V57CmIEfzBnTEGd2_QJ0i6aSkf2DpzTWtVFmt_jZYTKwk/s1600/263965177de8e0ff449d8b427da0a038.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">When it comes to career and professional branding,</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/linkedin" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: normal; opacity: 0.7; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;">LinkedIn</a> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com</a></strong></em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">is the most powerful tool available on the World Wide Web. It enables users to manage a well conceived and consistent on-line</span><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-branding" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; line-height: 1.625rem; text-decoration: none;">personal branding</a><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">strategy. LinkedIn empowers them to control the dynamic content they share and the important people they share it with. Now LinkedIn has responded to the needs of savvy professionals who desire to add unique visual content to their profiles as well. This enables users to further distinguish themselves from their competition.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Standing out from the competition is the primary objective for achieving success with your branding strategy on LinkedIn. In the process of creating a powerful LinkedIn profile, most people simply strive for completeness and accuracy. They rely on effectively communicating their skills verbally. The only advantage comes from hopefully doing this better than the competition. Yet for a decision maker examining one after the other text heavy profiles, using the right words just may not be enough to grab their attention. Effective writing is certainly a powerful tool, but in many cases<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Using Visual Content to Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile</em> may be the best way to gain a leg up on the competition.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Visual content includes (but is not limited to) the following:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1)</strong> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Videos</em><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2)</strong> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">PowerPoint Presentations</em><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3)</strong> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Infographics</em><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4)</strong> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Covers</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Of course with any successful branding strategy, you must take time to conceive and execute a plan that will produce your desired outcome. This strategy should achieve the dual goal of positioning you as a trusted expert and networking with the people you want to make aware of your expertise.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
There are essentially <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">4 Keys to Creating a Successful Branding Strategy on LinkedIn:</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1)</strong> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Upload a Profile Photo that tells your Brand Story in one image</em><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2) Complete your Powerful Profile page.</strong><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3)</strong> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Strategically Build Your Network of Contacts.</em><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4)</strong> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Join the Right Groups.</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
When you complete the major sections of your LinkedIn profile (<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Summary, Experience and Education)</em>you will now find a new symbol next to the word <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Edit”</em>. This symbol is also found beneath the individual entries in each section. This button enables you to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Click to add a video, image, document presentation….”</em> It also allows you to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Add a Link”</em> or <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Upload a file”.</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Some tips to consider when uploading visual content you should consider are to:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1) </strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Only upload unique content that you have created</em><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2) </strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Only display your best work not the most work</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Brand conscious professionals are using visual content to enable visitors to see the product of their labor rather than just a simple description of their work. For example an Artist or Chef may want to share a picture of their most eye-catching creations. On the other hand, an Anchorman or Public Speaker would greatly benefit from uploading a video of them commanding an audience rather than simply state that they are a dynamic orator.<br />
<br />
Savvy professionals who use visual content effectively on LinkedIn will find it to be a “game changer” It is an essential tool for empowering their on-line branding strategy. Used effectively it will enhance your perceived expertise and the quality of the professional contacts that you attract.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-29225443676149776832013-10-19T20:55:00.000-04:002013-11-02T13:24:32.768-04:00Using Pinterest to Promote Your Personal Brand Identity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0GSw8ZKcrbvNEPfPppD5rDkeIq1lrrK8yWcsEvrOmIlWE7mzWm4bJTBg-219Tcp-9jMEcncoiT7cAo80DFj0sPYgvnfKfc9M5CO2onujNhSbrIxQyHcU90jHW2Mq8n63XnbAeDwIHLM/s1600/e8b7f00e758c7da085b73364e101b5ab.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0GSw8ZKcrbvNEPfPppD5rDkeIq1lrrK8yWcsEvrOmIlWE7mzWm4bJTBg-219Tcp-9jMEcncoiT7cAo80DFj0sPYgvnfKfc9M5CO2onujNhSbrIxQyHcU90jHW2Mq8n63XnbAeDwIHLM/s320/e8b7f00e758c7da085b73364e101b5ab.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">To some people, </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;"><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/pinterest" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Pinterest</a></strong><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.pinterest.com</a><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">is the most esoteric of the four major</span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/social-networking" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; line-height: 1.625rem; text-decoration: none;">Social Networking</a><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">sites. Maybe esoteric is not the right word. What would be a better way to put it? Okay, some people just don’t get Pinterest at all.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
On the other hand, according to <a href="http://www.ebizmba.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.ebizmba.com</a>an estimated 85 million users absolutely love Pinterest. They have earned this position by surpassing upstart Google Plus and the pioneering MySpace. They have achieved this impressive milestone in just a little over 3 years of being in business. While avid users may love it, some may still wonder what is the point to all of this “Pinning”. Well rather than offer my personal opine on this point, let’s hear from the people at Pinterest about what it means to be a pinner.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pinning, Re-Pinning and Liking</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
A <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Pin” </em>is simply an interesting image or video. According to the Pinterest powers that be, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love.”</em>These beloved pics and clips are collected, organized and shared onto <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Boards”.</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
There are 3 ways to add a Pin to a Board:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1) </strong>You may upload a Pin from your computer<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2)</strong> You may add a Pin from a website by copying and pasting a link<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3)</strong> You may install the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Pin It”</em> button to your browser to Pin directly from a website</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Pinners access the Pinterest main page and scroll through pins that have been pinned by their “Friends” and onto boards that they follow. Pins are displayed chronologically as they are pinned. You may also perform keyword specific searches for pins. The way that you share pins of other users is by either<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> “Re-pinning”</em> them onto your boards or <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Liking”</em> them onto your page. There are two ways to expand the number of people that you share your pins with:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1)</strong> Finding your friends from other social networks who are on Pinterest.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2)</strong> Following the boards of other random Pinterest users.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Pins are then <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Re-pinned”</em> and/or <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Liked”</em> by other <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Pinners"</em> and vice-versa.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Now with all of that having been said, some people (including regular users) still have no idea how to use Pinterest effectively. However, for most people this is irrelevant. For most people Pinterest is just a place to look at pretty things. In my opinion this isn’t the worst thing in the world. However, if you do want to use it more strategically you must devise a plan. This plan should consist of the following 3 steps:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1) </strong>Strategically create boards that showcase your “<a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-brand" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">Personal Brand</a> Portfolio”<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2) </strong>Strategically pin images and videos that best tell your “Personal Brand Story”<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3) </strong>Strategically follow boards and pinners that Enhance your on-line “Personal Brand Network”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Showcasing Your Personal Brand Identity on Pinterest</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Pinterest is an excellent way to display your professional portfolio and accomplishments. You can pin videos that you’ve created, covers of books that you’ve written or images of infographics and images that you’ve designed. You can pin them to Boards with straightforward names like “My Books” or give your boards eye-catching or though-provoking names that showcase your creativity. Some examples of other ways that you can use Pinterest as a <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-branding" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">personal branding</a> tool are as follows:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1)</strong> Create a shareable online <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Brand Identity Package</strong></em> by pinning images of your logo, business card, brochure, etc.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2)</strong> Create a shareable <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">On-line Resume</em></strong>. (You might do this by sharing an image of each school that you've attended and job that you’ve had, along with explanatory text for each pin in the “Description” field)<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3)</strong> Create boards that tell your unique <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Personal Brand Story” </em></strong>(The potential ways to use Pinterest to do this are unlimited)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Adding Friends and Liking Boards</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
If you choose to use Pinterest solely for the purpose of building your personal brand, you may want to be more selective about the friends that you add and boards that you follow. If you’re only adding pins and creating boards that tell your Personal Brand story, then you should try to be more selective than on other social networks. Much in the same way that you add connections on LinkedIn, you should try to share your pins with people that you are trying to build a professional relationship with.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
The primary gateway for adding friends is via your existing FaceBook network. You already share images with those people on that platform. Therefore it would be more effective to select only some of these friends to be a part of your Pinterest network. It is worth mentioning that most people on Pinterest will just be sharing pictures of gourmet food, beautiful people and nice clothes. The good news is that you can still pin these images to the “Your Likes” page by clicking on the “Like” button found on each pin. So you can still participate in the social experience of Pinterest while working to promote and build your on-line Personal Brand Identity.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Happy Pinning! – To get started visit <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.Pinterest.com</a></strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-22963113373460361792013-10-16T21:01:00.003-04:002013-11-02T13:25:08.214-04:00Taking Your Personal Brand “Global” through Networking and Publishing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">The </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">Bard of Avon</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> once famously alleged that</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;"> “Some are born great, some achieve <a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/greatness" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">greatness</a>, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” </em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Few would argue with William Shakespeare being considered as an authority on greatness. When it comes to being an authority on writing and books he usually gets the last word as well. Yet a prolific writer residing in the modern</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">“A-Town”</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> has attempted to best the Bard – at least on the subject of Greatness.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxQQe8rDo9sZotwW0tgGEUCQ5PHkK6AyzyRTaiG18Tvm0_YeCzqv2u6dmmnJmlIquj_T0BNPQP-b3LZaW0qEo45n9z6yQLG5H1AvogilNoyoFnrG2Jeb-FtCY_7kOYr_JnABNqmaNcM0/s1600/0ffa6431f56d28b44df13c4e85424b9b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxQQe8rDo9sZotwW0tgGEUCQ5PHkK6AyzyRTaiG18Tvm0_YeCzqv2u6dmmnJmlIquj_T0BNPQP-b3LZaW0qEo45n9z6yQLG5H1AvogilNoyoFnrG2Jeb-FtCY_7kOYr_JnABNqmaNcM0/s320/0ffa6431f56d28b44df13c4e85424b9b.jpg" width="228" /></a>Atlanta based motivational author and entertainment impresario Germaine Moody - the self proclaimed<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“King of Networking”</em>, has produced the most ambitious book ever on the subject of Greatness. In the book <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“50 Seeds of Greatness”<a href="http://www.50seedsofgreatness.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.50seedsofgreatness.com</a></em></strong><a href="http://www.50seedsofgreatness.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a>Moody addresses 50 vital topics that can empower readers to <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“....produce an abundance of whatever we desire, while also leaving a legacy of our presence on Earth." </em>However what makes the book so remarkable is that he also amassed almost <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">400 Contributors</em> from over <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">100 Countries </em>around the world to take part in the project. This extraordinary accomplishment is currently being considered for inclusion in the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Guinness Book of World Records </em></strong>as the largest and most international publishing undertaking of all-time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
By writing this book, Mr. Moody has also come up with an ingenious way to expand his brand. This high-profile endeavor has enabled him to network with other movers and shakers around the world. The way that he accomplished this was by issuing an International call for authors to contribute their own thoughts about greatness to the book. Contributors from around the world were asked to answer the question <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"What does Greatness mean to me?"</em></strong> He presented this invitation primarily via <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">LinkedIn</em>. This enabled him to exponentially expand his network of professional contacts, while also creating an International marketing campaign for the book and acquiring high quality content for the project.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
I was among the change agents and thought leaders who were asked to contribute their definition of greatness to the project. In addition to contributors from Atlanta and the United States, the book includes words of wisdom from as far away as Albania and Zambia. By showcasing a wide ranging group of contributors, it is insured that readers will be exposed to an unusually broad array of insight and wisdom.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Undertaking this project is clear evidence that Germaine Moody may very well be the King of Networking. He is a dedicated <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“networker”</em> who believes that <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“....Networking is essential, no matter who you are, where you are and no matter what industry you work in....”</em> Aspiring pretenders to his throne can definitely learn a lesson or 50 from the <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“King”</em> On the subject of networking, Moody goes on to say that <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“People will always be your greatest assets and resources, in business and in life."</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
In keeping with his dedication to the business of networking, he has already moved on to his next equally ambitious publishing and networking project. His upcoming book <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"The Networking Bible"</em> (due April 2014) reveals fundamental keys and secrets to networking. One of the most important strategies that he will cover in the new book is <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Gaining access to your greatest influencers”</em>. In addition to his publishing projects, Moody also operates a vast networking group dedicated to the <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Atlanta-Entertainment-Industry-presented-MogulMixercom-2399133/about" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Atlanta Entertainment Industry</a>@ LinkedIn.com. It is clear that if you are a student of greatness, a practitioner of networking or you aspire to number yourself among the Atlanta entertainment industry elite, Germaine Moody – “The King of Networking” is a person you need to know.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
To learn more about the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">50 Seeds of Greatness</em></strong> book please visit <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.50seedsofgreatness.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.50seedsofgreatness.com</a></em></strong> and to network with <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Germaine Moody, “The King of Networking”</strong></em> visit<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/germainemoody" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/germainemoody</a></em></strong></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-84567310907466005752013-10-15T09:13:00.000-04:002014-03-17T17:50:39.675-04:00Using Toastmasters Int'l. to Become a Competent Personal Brand Communicator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a class="icon icon--inline icon--chat" data-disqus-identifier="node/65869821" href="http://www.examiner.com/article/using-toastmasters-int-l-to-become-a-competent-personal-brand-communicator?cid=db_articles#disqus_thread" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 1.875rem; margin-right: 5px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="border: 0px !important; box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px) !important; display: inline !important; height: 1px !important; margin: -1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">Comment</span></a><br />
<div class="node__content cf" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<div class="article-content article-content--story node--story" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by Vince Rogers</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoLbSKF1lP-QdVGk6xLXFS1e9R7KcLQ2cc48lxqQ4bhQoFmddw2UCr9Bz9CSGxJbMLPkBoXuWkeUxYk9vHm6kFTaiUS7AJECfgPQ3Yu2UZD6VWvv9KDerMYNEaTFMaUWwAKH4yeg8df0/s1600/071a5dc948c9af94c2809c907ec64f9d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoLbSKF1lP-QdVGk6xLXFS1e9R7KcLQ2cc48lxqQ4bhQoFmddw2UCr9Bz9CSGxJbMLPkBoXuWkeUxYk9vHm6kFTaiUS7AJECfgPQ3Yu2UZD6VWvv9KDerMYNEaTFMaUWwAKH4yeg8df0/s320/071a5dc948c9af94c2809c907ec64f9d.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">It has been said that</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/public-speaking" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">Public Speaking</a></em><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">is the greatest fear of most people. This is very unfortunate, because public speaking is probably the ultimate tool that can be used to establish your</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-brand" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">Personal Brand</a></em><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">. Actually, getting to the point where you are sought after to speak publicly signals that you have accomplished the ultimate goal of</span><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-branding" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; text-decoration: none;">Personal Branding</a><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">– achieving</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">“Brand Leadership”</em><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">. According to</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"><a href="http://www.businessdictionary.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.businessdictionary.com</a> </strong><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">Brand Leadership is defined as becoming the</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">“....Most widely....recognized product in a particular market segment....”</em><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">The kids these days would call that being a</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem;">“Boss”.</em></div>
<div class="article-content article-content--story node--story" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 26px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div class="article__body" property="schema:articleBody content:encoded" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
So what do you do if you are ready to take that step into the Public Speaking “arena”, but you have yet to conquer the fear? Well one strategy is to just find an audience and start speaking. Even if you could find the courage to do that, how do you find a willing audience if you have yet to become a sought after spokesperson? Since 1924 many aspiring orators have joined<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/toastmasters" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">Toastmasters</a> International </em></strong>as a resource to use for<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“….developing public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback in local clubs….”</em></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Toastmasters succeeds in empowering speakers by providing them with constructive audience feedback in an environment of mutual encouragement. According to their website <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.toastmasters.org/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.toastmasters.org</a> </strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere.”</em> Over time, members progress towards the goal of becoming a <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Competent Communicator”</em></strong> by:</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1) </strong>Utilizing the constructive Feedback provided through peer Evaluations.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2)</strong> Confronting their fears by regularly making impromptu presentations.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3)</strong> Managing the various aspects of making effective presentations by Conducting Meetings.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4) </strong>Progressing through the self-paced <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Competent Communication Manual”</em>.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
The <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Competent Communication Manual</strong> is the essential foundation of the Toastmasters program.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
I recently visited a local Toastmasters Club in order to witness the process firsthand. I was invited to the<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cascade United Toastmasters Club</em> by their newly elected <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Vice President of Membership</em>, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ms. Alison Gibson</em>. It was clear to me that the Toastmasters method was effective in helping members to manage their fear of public speaking and build their communication skills. The reasons why each individual joins Toastmasters are different. In Alison’s case, she proclaims that she wanted to among other things<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“....</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">improve my listening skills</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">....”</em></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Joining a Toastmaster Club is a very straightforward process. There are essentially 3 Steps:</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Step 1</strong>; Find/Visit a Club <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.toastmasters.org/findaclub" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.toastmasters.org/findaclub</a></strong><br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Step 2</strong>; Ask the Vice President of Membership for an application.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Step 3</strong>; Return the completed application and dues to the VP of Membership.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
There is a customary $20<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> New Members Fee</strong>, plus a $36 bi-annual <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">International Dues</strong> payment. There may also be club dues, which vary from club to club.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Personally, I found the experience to be as advertised. I was even drafted into service to give feedback about different aspects of the meeting. For most people, the combination of immersion, participation, support and encouragement has proven to be an effective method for alleviating the fear of public speaking and acquiring the necessary skills to become a competent public communicator. Consistently engaging in this process should ultimately lead to gaining the tools needed to become an in-demand public presenter and cementing your <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Personal Brand Leadership.</em></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
To learn more please visit <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.toastmasters.org/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.toastmasters.org</a></strong></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-42115795663196374382013-08-28T11:51:00.001-04:002013-11-02T13:25:45.356-04:00Using "LinkedIn Skills" to Showcase Your "Personal Product & Service Offerings"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-dI96uZlpG03lmWbLX9YdzCiLmTWnImrKA0I7zFnPDzxgph0yk9bcGqnQRcstO22Q2jojKHBv5faeAgRlNHEi-tWq7Jzxp3X_zoOUrdhPrygrgCZWj24f-0ARjiWerJdTYfJKHVFveA/s1600/3603c69ed21ad991f797bc2b600a27a8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-dI96uZlpG03lmWbLX9YdzCiLmTWnImrKA0I7zFnPDzxgph0yk9bcGqnQRcstO22Q2jojKHBv5faeAgRlNHEi-tWq7Jzxp3X_zoOUrdhPrygrgCZWj24f-0ARjiWerJdTYfJKHVFveA/s320/3603c69ed21ad991f797bc2b600a27a8.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;">In February of 2011, </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/linkedin" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">LinkedIn</a> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com</a> </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;">introduced</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;">LinkedIn Skills <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/skills" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/skills</a> </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;">LinkedIn Skills is a special section that enables users to showcase their</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Skills & Expertise"</em>.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;">In today's economy, the ability to communicate your skills and talents is more important than just merely listing your career positions and job duties - no matter how impressive they might be. As stated by</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"><a href="http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/02/03/linkedin-skills/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pete Skomoroch</a></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;">an official LinkedIn blogger,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;">"....To succeed in the talent economy, it is crucial to showcase your skills and....the expertise you need to get the job done."</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem;"><br /></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
Just like any other enterprise, building your <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="inline_link omniture-click-processed" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-brand" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;">Personal Brand</a></strong> consists of identifying your product and service offerings. Your <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Personal Product & Service Offerings" </em></strong>may be as simple as Meat Processing or as complex as Investment Banking. Whatever your skills and abilities may be, it is important that they accurately reflect what you have to offer. The salable skills and areas of expertise that you claim to have, they represent the personal goods and services that you have in inventory for sale to a potential consumer. Also, it is important that they be relevant to the type of opportunity that you are pursuing.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
To access the Skills and Expertise section and add it you your profile, you must follow these steps:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">1) </strong><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Log in to your</span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">LinkedIn Profile</strong></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;">2)</strong><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Locate the</span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;">Recommended for </strong><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">you</span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span></b><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">section on the right side of the screen and </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Add</span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;">(+)</strong><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">the</span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> Skills & Expertise</strong><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">section to your profile</span></span></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">
</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;">3)</strong><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Select</span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;">Edit Profile</strong></span></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">
</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.625rem;">4) </strong><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Scroll down to the the Skills & Expertise section</span></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">5) Click</span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">"Edit"</strong><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">to</span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">Add & Remove Skills</strong><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">and</span><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">Manage Endorsements</strong></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
As far as Endorsements are concerned, their usefulness is debatable. They may or may not have an impact on people who view your profile. In many cases, persons who endorse your skills may be familiar with you, but unfamiliar with your career aptitudes. However, the exercise of building your list of Skills & Expertise is primarily meant to help you to take a personal inventory. Gaining and utilizing endorsements is a secondary strategy.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
In the upcoming series of articles that comprise the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Creating Your Personal Brand: A 12 Step Success Plan" </em></strong>series, we will discuss a comprehensive strategy for <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Evaluating Your Skills and Talents.</em>In the meantime, making effective use of the "LinkedIn Skills" section is a powerful way to understand and promote your "Personal Product & Service Offerings". Building your list of "Skills & Expertise" will help you to understand what you have to offer to the world. It will also help viewers to synthesize the other content in your powerful LinkedIn profile.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663160432657216930.post-9740220626271667452013-08-21T11:49:00.000-04:002013-11-02T13:26:15.859-04:0020 Questions – Identifying Your Brand Personality <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by <b>Vince Rogers</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomrcHCyhbDrKwVRLP-ssTXjrnxMOKDh2ysDzz_AWKJZy5IkH9v32sr50JxjjLzwrRUxz8qi1iooHgxoi0Qm33tyuT8f2seL91JC7wZT_IwbF7xAXShIwhxxEvPf042GNMZ6b9yBTalhE/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomrcHCyhbDrKwVRLP-ssTXjrnxMOKDh2ysDzz_AWKJZy5IkH9v32sr50JxjjLzwrRUxz8qi1iooHgxoi0Qm33tyuT8f2seL91JC7wZT_IwbF7xAXShIwhxxEvPf042GNMZ6b9yBTalhE/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Many of us have played the game </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">20 Questions</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">. In this game of deductive reasoning, multiple questioners ask up to 20 questions to a single person. The person must ultimately reveal the secret answer that they are holding onto, if the questioners ask the right questions. Asking the right questions can help you to reveal the secrets to discovering your </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">Brand Personality</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> as well.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
In their efforts to empower clients, Alphonso Whitfield and Margaret Diggs of Waycross, Georgia based <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Vital Portal <a href="http://www.thevitalportal.com/" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.thevitalportal.com</a></strong> have devised 20 essential questions that you can also use to help uncover your Brand Personality. According to Whitfield, the Vital Portal is used by <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“ventures of all sizes to climb the business conditions learning curve quickly and efficiently.”</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6okCni8-mi73xWiJwwjOXJvseHBIqbHq90Rf3Ll2y8ypu0Fqfy_8eIJJkRl-cvODFLSXpTfvbKes1vDobIOmvNvh3KHTEf3i41LHL_IjMUsftCl24X5awbk5PJ1v967tiDmnVrWxi0Q/s1600/download+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6okCni8-mi73xWiJwwjOXJvseHBIqbHq90Rf3Ll2y8ypu0Fqfy_8eIJJkRl-cvODFLSXpTfvbKes1vDobIOmvNvh3KHTEf3i41LHL_IjMUsftCl24X5awbk5PJ1v967tiDmnVrWxi0Q/s1600/download+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">Investopedia defines Brand Personality as </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.625rem;">“A set of human characteristics that are attributed to a brand name.”</em><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;"> Therefore, when it comes to building a </span><a class="inline_link" href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/personal-brand" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0088cc; line-height: 1.625rem; text-decoration: none;">Personal Brand</a><span style="line-height: 1.625rem;">, understanding your Brand Personality means understanding YOU.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
The 20 Questions that the team at Vital has devised are as follows:<br />
1) What did you aspire to be as a child?<br />
2) If you could meet anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be?<br />
3) What would you say to them?<br />
4) What is your vision of a perfect team?<br />
5) Give us your definition of success.<br />
6) Tell us about the best part of your work.<br />
7) What keeps you awake at night?<br />
8) If you could be a dessert, what would you be and why?<br />
9) What is your favorite word or phrase, the one you tend to use most often?<br />
10) Walk us through a typical day at your current/previous position.<br />
11) Who has been most influential in your life?<br />
12) If you could go back to a specific era in history, which one would you choose and why?<br />
13) What have been the biggest disappointments of your career?<br />
14) What is your favorite way to relax after a long hard day at work?<br />
15) Tell us how you think five co-workers/team members would describe you.<br />
16) What career accomplishments are you most proud of?<br />
17) What are/were your favorite things about your current/previous position?<br />
18) What made you choose this occupation?<br />
19) What behavior(s) did you inherit from your parents?<br />
20) What would be the FIRST thing you would do if you knew today was your last day?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
The answers to these 20 Questions can help you to gather the vital information that you need to understand your Brand Personality. Understanding your Brand Personality is an essential, yet often overlooked component of building your Personal Brand. These 20 Questions were designed by Vital to help you gather the information you will need to navigate this process successfully.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.625rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px;">
Information is without a doubt the most important of my <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Six Keys to Success</em>. Obtaining the right data in order to make the best possible decisions (not the most conveniently available data) is the key to formulating a winning <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Success Strategy</em>. This is true whether you are embarking on a personal endeavor, a professional enterprise or taking a risk in any area of your life in which you are seeking to be successful. Ultimately, if you input good data into the formulation of your <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Success Plan</em>, chances are excellent that you will end up with a plan that should lead you to your desired result.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk2dsTJZPKtKhhJKn6csfwsQ1_ZjFbEMPYqlTaZfxiPCnig-8eTeDbl2ww0RJMqU7HiGHulG9oD9yWmrPKcs850D3PeiXbAx7pALzMI2DzvoA_25MCGI198PMTj_Qglr7YCzjOvArpBg/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk2dsTJZPKtKhhJKn6csfwsQ1_ZjFbEMPYqlTaZfxiPCnig-8eTeDbl2ww0RJMqU7HiGHulG9oD9yWmrPKcs850D3PeiXbAx7pALzMI2DzvoA_25MCGI198PMTj_Qglr7YCzjOvArpBg/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.vincerogers.biz/"><b>www.vincerogers.biz </b></a></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08976515943234811219noreply@blogger.com0