Using LinkedIn, Part Three

After your profile is published and you are increasing your network through your contacts, I recommend that you begin joining groups where you are already affiliated.

If you are looking for a job – and are employed, you may want to be very careful what is in your profile and what you say!

Otherwise, your company, prior companies, colleges, associations, church, societies, etc. will probably have one or more groups that would recognize you as an eligible member. I encourage you to join. This will expand your network geometrically with people outside your network but associated to you by a group. You can then selectively invite those within the group to join your network or just contact them through the group.

Now, you can begin participating on these groups discussion boards or blogs. This begins to let others know you and your brand. My recommendation is to keep your comments professional. This is not Facebook. Potential decision makers, hiring managers, influencers, and trusted advisors may be turned off if you are not careful. Manage your brand.

Any other suggestions for group memberships?

Using LinkedIn, Part Two

Start by completing your entire profile.  The more you input, the easier it will be for others to find you. LinkedIn will also rank you higher.

There are many secrets to optimizing your profile. You may wish to take a look at how top users do theirs.

I strongly encourage you to use your value proposition as a major branding technique and key words in the specialties section of your summary profile.

Be sure what you write is correct, without grammatical mistakes, and is what you want the world to see. LinkedIn will create a special link which will be your profile. In other words, this IS what the world will see.

Next, begin inviting others to join your network. In my case, I only allow those to join my network whom I feel I either know or would benefit those already in my network. However, many others believe that anyone should be able to join their network. These people care called “open networkers.” Both views have strengths and weaknesses. You have to decide which direction you want. If you are selling to masses, are a recruiter, or trying to help others access your network to find the maximum number of contacts. If you are an executive or professional, you might be more concerned with quality over quantity.

One caution. When inviting someone, ask them to select “archive” if they don’t remember you or want to connect. If they select “I don’t know them”, LinkedIn will punish you after five such responses. This is intentional with the LinkedIn philosophy of developing trusted networks.

Let me know what you think and why!

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 10

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

10. Initiative – starting something is important, but you must carry it through and complete it. This earns respect from the people you are with.

Actually, initiative and follow-through are two different animals. You may start something, but I may have to finish it.

It is my observation that most people have little to no initiative. They like the status quo and dislike change unless it favors them. Most seldom start any new project and oppose those who do.

Therefore, those who do have initiative are to be encouraged and mentored to continue volunteering, continue creating new ideas, continue connecting the dots, and continue stepping out on the edge.

Not finishing what you start is not always wrong. If you learn after you start that you are going the wrong way, then stopping or turning directions is wise indeed.

Most successful entrepreneurs are self-initiators. Most intrapreneurs (entrepreneurs within a corporate structure) are self-initiators. Most jobpreneurs are self-initiators. Most fail – many times; but the winners get up and keep learning, keep trying new ideas, and keep reaching for the stars. They may not reach the stars, but I would rather be surrounded by those with initiative than those who sit on the bench.

It is said that Thomas Edison tried over 10,000 ways to create the light bulb. He got up from each failure with the knowledge that he learned from the last failure how to not repeat the same mistake and then initiated a new approach, and a new approach, and a new approach…until he succeeded. Then he began on his next initiative. If you tour his old factory, I am sure that you will see many ideas that never made the light of day. Yet many of his inventions changed America.

Be an initiator. Then, add to that trait persistence, perseverance, and never giving up. Eventually you will succeed.

The smartest initiators start something and then surround themselves with those who implement their ideas. Many of them are called business owners.

My advice, the hardest step is to get started. Get up. Get started. Get help to accomplish your goals.

Secrets of Networking, Part 9

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

9. Enthusiasm – enthusiasm is said to be self-confidence in action. It comes before success. Positive enthusiastic energy is one of the most sought after traits.

Actually, I disagree. Passion is the source of enthusiasm, energy, and perseverance. It is a secret ingredient to success.

Enthusiasm without passion is generally self manufactured and will die with challenging circumstances. Enthusiasm without substance is not a pretty sight. It can be over-reaching, arrogant, and obnoxious. It can also be based upon false reality and delusion; which can be destructive.

Here is a suggested formula: Belief System + Values + Passion + Mission = an irresistible force that will accomplish something. What it accomplishes depends upon what the belief system and values are based upon.

In searching for results in life, I strongly recommend that you look beneath the surface to be sure that the foundation is solid. True lifetime success is built upon a solid foundation.

Do I like enthusiasm? Of course! It is contagious! I am even more excited when it is based upon substance and principles that agree with my conclusions of a strong foundation.

Secrets of Networking, Part 8

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

8. Feedback – the people in your life want to know what you think. If you can deliver negative feedback with respect and kindness, it will be welcomed. If you can deliver positive feedback, it will be cherished.

This is not a point that I would emphasize. My observation is that people generally want to know what you think if it is good. If it is constructive criticism, no thank you. If it is negative, “how dare he…” What is your observation?

In fact, I see insiders who constantly see areas of improvement for others but rarely mention them.

The wise man, who wants to get wiser, does seek negative feedback. He can weigh its value and decide to accept it or to reject it but if delivered with respect it is always welcome – if timed and worded properly.

Most of us appreciate positive feedback as long as it is not merely polite stroking. If it is sincere and appreciative, we may feel a little unease but it is welcome.

Some of us, including myself, give feedback as a way of sincerely wanting to help others. It is not always appreciated. We sometimes get burnt by the receiving party but helping someone see their blind side is, in my opinion, the most sincere way of trying to help others.

However, if you are crude or malicious in your remarks, please do it elsewhere.

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.

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