Using LinkedIn, Part Four

Next, take a look at those in your network who you really know and who know you. If you can give a positive testimonial to others, do so and ask them to return the favor.

Having solid testimonials has multiple benefits.

First, LinkedIn will give you higher rankings in searches.

Second, as people look you up, others view of you will improve.

Third, as potential HR or hiring managers check you out, these testimonials become references and sources for them to contact to know more about you. Which is why I recommend that all testimonials are genuine and valid. If you get caught with fluff, that probably won’t be good!

Next, there is a Twitter like function – which also can be connected to your Twitter account. Again, I encourage you to post mini-blogs that communicate what you are professionally doing. A good example might be a speech in Hong Kong. An example of what you may not want to mention is that you are leaving your house to go to a ball game during office hours. Burglars might love you and your boss might not be as thrilled!

Are there others suggestions that you have?

Using LinkedIn

The first step to using LinkedIn is to join! Go to LinkedIn.com and follow the directions. There are different levels. The first level is free – I recommend starting at this level. The other levels cost money but may be worth reviewing.

What are the benefits?

1. Allows you to begin building a long term network. When people change jobs, they usually update their LinkedIn profile. Not true with most other memberships.
2. Provides discussion groups, blogs, and links to personal websites.
3. Expands to allowing access to groups, where you may belong, and their respective membership
4. Hundreds of millions of contacts are available either by directly connecting or by referrals.
5. Encourages online testimonials that others can see when they look you up.
6. Includes your resume that others can see
7. Builds your online network and brand 24 / 7.

If you are not using LinkedIn, I don’t believe you are serious about trying to get a job or client.

Using Internet Tools for Jobs and Clients

This week I want to share with you how to use the internet to help you get a job or a client. First, which internet tools do you think are best?

I use the phrase internet “tools” deliberately. None of them are a solution – although others will tell you that they are the “secret”. Here is what I personally see as the best tools and uses of them:

1. LinkedIn – The best tool on the web. Designed for networking, targeting people and companies, and making your profile plus testimonials available to everyone. Also has groups which can dramatically increase your exposure.
2. Plaxo – A good tool. Designed for keeping contact information but can offer other benefits. I would call it LinkedIn lite. I use both but prefer LinkedIn.
3. Facebook – A great personal site for social networking. I am told that they now allow a separate “business” site but cannot find it yet. It was just announced that Facebook is getting more hits than Google. Impressive.
4. Twitter – A great tool for keeping up or broadcasting what you are doing. Perfect if others want to follow you. For example, you follow a targeted company Twitter for all new job postings.
5. Many others…There are many others such as Ecademy, which I use for international presence. In every case you need to review to see if they “fit” what you want to do.

My recommendation is to focus on LinkedIn and use the others on a more focused basis.

Why? LinkedIn is the primary choice of top companies and executives (hiring and buying managers). Go where your customer is going! Plaxo is good but limited. Facebook is scary – often too much personal information that can tarnish your image, but may become the #2 tool to LinkedIn. Twitter is primarily for following companies for job or procurement opportunities. Having others follow you is wonderful but are they the decision makers? Ecademy seems to attract a wide range of people, including many who may be not as “professional” as LinkedIn. This site appears to attract many individuals trying to make money but does offer a rich social experience.

Tomorrow, I will begin a series on how to work with LinkedIn.  You can begin to educate me on what you know and how you use any and all of these tools for how to get a job or a customer.

Using Ideas From Others

I deliberately like to use insights from others. It increases knowledge. It also can increase awareness that many who speak don’t have a clue what they are talking about. However, it is the process of listening to many that you can learn what is truth, what is sound knowledge, and what is best practice.

When you find someone who consistently says things that you recognize as right, then you can begin to trust most of what they say. Not all, but most. For example, you might not agree with everything I say. That is good. You should hear what is said and be able to intelligently accept or reject it with sound reasoning. My goal is not to propagandize but to teach the skill of thinking.

Similarly, you should test every principle that you hear. If you listen to me enough, by now you should have recognized that much of “traditional teaching” is to keep the common man common. It is often propaganda that insiders ignore.

To demonstrate, I used two lists by different authors over the past two weeks to show my thoughts. First, I chose authors whose lists I thought would be of value to you. Then, I expanded upon their comments. In many cases, if the authors saw my comments, they too could agree or disagree and say why. So, my comments in no way are to be taken as negative toward those authors – actually I was complimenting them by using them.

This illustration has a purpose.

Most successful people surround themselves by those whom they can trust and by those whose advice has proven to be wise counsel. That is why they are often called “Trusted Advisors”.

Note that a trusted advisor to a Mafia Don might not be the best trusted advisor to a Banker. Notice that the belief systems, values, and interpretation of “good advice” may be different.

I encourage you to begin surrounding yourself with those whose advice matches your belief systems, values, and what works.  I also encourage you to constantly compare your belief systems and values to others to be sure that the foundation of your life is built upon what you really want it to be. You may learn something new and useful. You may also save yourself from a lot of heartache.

Secrets of Networking, Part 7

The seventh point from a blog by Charlie Robertson from the book “Deserve What You Get” by Jay Levinson is:

7. Sincerity – you can make a decision to be caring, responsive, and open, and then make the effort to project and follow up on these things.

Do you think most people, according to this definition, are sincere today? Are you?

There are several good points to make. First, you can intellectually agree and decide with your mind that you want to be caring, responsive, and open.  But until those attitudes are in your heart (emotional center of values), then you will merely be hypocritical. You can pretend to project these traits and even follow up on them but unless they are part of your true self, it will only be an act.

So, how do you move a trait from agreeing that you need to change to agreeing that you want to change to actually making the change?

There are actually several methods with differing degrees of success. But the first step is to think about the statement and ask yourself if you even care about this trait. If not, you would be wasting your time to pretend about it.

If you truly value this trait, how badly do you want it? How would it impact your life? Are you willing to pay the price? If not, why bother?

If you want something bad enough, you will make the effort and eventual change.

In my opinion, most people in the United States want to be sincere. We just have and see a lot of bad apples. So, the next question is, “how are others seeing your sincerity?”

We see a lot of frauds, silver bullet speakers and easy solutions that are anything but sincere. A person who is sincerely looking out for our interests would be a breath of fresh air! What is your reputation?

Secrets of Networking, Part 6

The sixth point from a blog by Charlie Robertson from the book “Deserve What You Get” by Jay Levinson is:

6.  Gratitude – all of us feel gratitude at one point or another. Some people market themselves by expressing this gratitude with a smile, with a few words, or with a handwritten thank you note.

This is a hidden secret. It sounds trite. That is why it is a hidden secret.

None of us can do everything by ourselves. Most of us can actually do very little without the help of others. Networking is all about others helping us and introducing us to others who can help us (as well as the reverse). We should be thankful – and express our thankfulness.

Thankfulness expressed is saying that the other person is appreciated. How many spouses go everyday without receiving any expressed appreciation? What does it cost me to say “thank you”? How can that impact our spouse, besides their falling on the floor in amazement?

I personally thank and appreciate my God for all He has done and will do. I thank and appreciate my wife for being the wonderful person she is and all that she does for me. I thank and appreciate everyone who helps me.

My response, learning from how much I appreciate others, is to help them. Everyone wins when you make a habit of expressing gratitude.

Secrets of Networking, Part 5

The fifth point from a blog by Charlie Robertson from the book “Deserve What You Get” by Jay Levinson is:

5.  Respect – you say a lot about yourself in the way you treat other people and in the professionalism in your appearance.

I agree, with a caveat. If you practice appropriate manners, customs, and expectations then you are showing respect. If you are about helping others and not self-absorbed, then you are showing more than respect. You are showing trustworthiness, compassion, and understanding.

By appropriate, some examples are:

• You understand rules of networking, relationships, the office, and home
• You practice what is right in the environment where you are. These are different depending upon country, industry, cultural societies, and even within a department within a division within a company.
• You understand what is not right in any circumstance.

You understand that respect does not mean you sacrifice your values to show respect. It does suggest that if your values may be compromised, perhaps you should not be going there or perhaps you should move on.

If you want to help others, then you will generally be aware of how to show respect. Most of those who fall into the trap of disrespect are those whose opinion about themselves and their self interests are so high that they demand others respect them and their rights even as they disrespect and trample upon the rights of others.

Secrets of Networking, Part 4

The fourth point from a blog by Charlie Robertson from the book “Deserve What You Get” by Jay Levinson is:

4. Demeanor – your demeanor, your ability to smile, to get along with people, to get excited and to show emotion are very important.

Again, I would not put this #4. However, it does have an impact on the first impression (10 seconds time) and your ongoing brand. It also impacts your “likeability” quotient.

When Lindsey Vonn won her downhill skiing Olympic gold medal, she cried. I don’t know about other viewers but she touched the heart of my wife and me. It seemed genuine, was appropriate and was emotionally touching.

However, there is a trap here that you should consider.

I would rather have someone with a focused and intense personality who performs rather than a “likeable” person who performs poorly. I would rather have an authentic and honest person than one who wears a mask of likeability. Your brand is who you are all the time. If you are caught being a hypocrite, you will get caught eventually. Then, your trustworthiness will be questioned.

I recommend first, be authentically who you are. Second, check out your demeanor. If there are areas of improvement (which most of us have), then seek to understand the root causes of why we are the way we are. If you are unhappy on the inside, putting a mask on the outside will eventually come back to bite you. Deal with root causes. You might need some professional help.

At the same time, check out your smile, your ability to get along with people, and your likeability. It will impact your success.

I am merely suggesting that long-term success first includes authentic trustworthiness.

Secrets of Networking, Part 2

The second point from a blog by Charlie Robertson from the book “Deserve What You Get” by Jay Levinson is:

2. Punctuality – being on time is a promise that we get to keep regularly. It is expected of most of us. When you are late the person may feel resentful about being stood up and that they are not important to you. Even if you show up 2 minutes later, going through that thought process at all is not good for a relationship.

First, I disagree that punctuality should be ranked this high. This list is being shared to help you but is not nearly complete or prioritized the way I would prioritize it. However, it is a valid point.

Just yesterday, when I am actually writing this blog, I had an appointment with someone referred to me. We were supposed to meet at 10 am at a location of his choosing. The morning of the meeting, he sent me a text message saying he would be there at 9:45. So, I left early and allowed time for heavy traffic. Fortunately, traffic was light. I arrived at 9:20, purchased some coffee, and worked while waiting.

9:45 came and went. 10:00 came and went. Shortly after 10, the other party called saying he was running a couple of minutes late. He quickly apologized (his prior meeting lasted longer than anticipated) and we had a good meeting.

Should he have made allowances? Sure, just as I did my leaving earlier. Was I a little miffed? Yes. If I thought it was important enough to be early, shouldn’t he have planned his day better? Shouldn’t he have planned for “traffic” time. Would that have taken some time away from him if “traffic” did not exist? Absolutely! But then he could have also brought along some work to do.

Am I ever going to forgive him? Let me put it this way. There have been meetings where I either totally forgot about them or put them down incorrectly on my calendar. Sometimes I am left waiting while no one shows up and sometimes they show up and call me saying, “Where are you?’ This rarely happens, but it does happen. Life goes on.

But the principle is sound.  Punctuality is honoring the other party and showing that you can be trusted to respect the other party’s time. If your reputation is that, “you are never on time” then the message is that you are all about you. So, why should I hire you? Why should I want to buy from you? Why should I even want to reset an appointment with you?

Learn the rules. Be punctual as a lifestyle. Apologize when the rare occasion happens that you are late – it will happen. Be sure your brand is someone who tries to intentionally arrive early. My person rule is 15 minutes early. What is your rule?

Secrets of On-Line Branding, Part Six

Continuing with Merideth Levensen’s article, point number six is:

6. Over-promoting yourself: Keep it cool. There’s no need to go nuts with all this stuff.

How much time do you have? Who is really looking at what you are doing? Is each site really worth the time and effort?

Again, in today’s fast pace environment, we all want to help ourselves as much as possible but usually end up with memberships in too many sites, with too many passwords, and too much of a risk in confusing our brand.

We need to focus on what is most important and do that well.

This is why I disabled my social sites called Whacked Executive Network and Whacked Community Network. As my business expands, what I need to do changes. I just don’t have the time to continue with sites or things that are not current and relatively easy to do.

It is fine to experiment, to learn, and to continue improving your message but keep in mind that if you spread yourself too thin you may lose focus, lose a consistent message, and lose getting what you really want. If you are caught on personal sites while at work, you may lose your job.

Take a look at what you are doing on the internet. Do you need to go on a social networking diet?

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