I'm working on getting the new objourney.com site done by the end of the week. We used bluehost for hosting and then used their one-click service to download wordpress.org files. Gen-Y colleagues informed us that Wordpress is the best way to go if we are serious about our blog. Wordpress looks more professional, is more comment friendly, and is more customizable. It is also harder to configure and get up and running. My friend from millennialMarketer.com gave me advice on how to make the site. He also showed me how to use Powerpoint and Istock photo to make a logo! He also told me to go to Woothemes to secure a customizable theme template. It took me awhile to get it all together but if you go to objourney.com you can see the progress. The programming lingo is completely foreign , and I consider it a necessary evil(No offense to programmers, I envy you!)
While working on the blog aspect of things, I have also been doing research on our business subject matter and have made great strides in picking website components. I even created a storyboard of what I wanted from different sites and used print screen to copy and past print screens accordingly. I then uploaded the powerpoint file to googledocs and shared it with collaborators. GoogleDocs makes everything so much easier and it will continue to get better. It automatically saves everything as you write, which is a lot better than Word freezing on you without saving the work! Microsoft should be scared!
One of the best things I have done to manage school, work, two businesses, church, and living is to create a schedule for myself three days at a time. This way, I don't get caught up in the emotions of the day and what I don't feel like doing. One of my youth pastors always said, you have to go through the process to get to the promise. The grunt work is the process.....our concept is the promise. Watch out.
What kind of process are you going through right now?
From Japan to South Africa and Sweden to California, business cultures differ. For the business traveler, it is vital to know what to expect and how business is done in different cultures. How rude it would be for an American Business man to remain seated in a meeting room when an older Eastern management figure walks in. Indeed, it might be the deal breaker for the parties involved. Respect of elders is a very important thing to remember to practice especially as many higher-ups in the east tend to be older men.
Doing business with other cultures, especially if you are bringing your services to other countries follows a similar pathway as dating. If you were dating someone from another culture and saw the potential for something more, it will behoove you to learn his/her culture. You would learn how they greet so that you don’t offend them as signals are very different in different cultures (i.e. an open palm used to wave hello or goodbye in the west is an offensive gesture in the Hausa community in Nigeria). You would also want to know what to give as a gift to woo your love interest. In many eastern cultures, a token of the right kind signals friendship and a will let the other party feel more at ease. If you follow the scripts you have rehearsed in life experiences, they may help bridge the gaps in situations like these, especially if they are new to you.
One of the lessons I am learning these days is that business and life have a lot of parallels. There’s much in real life that teaches us about business. The principles are practical and most of us already know them. It is the assembly of our knowledge to create a direct reference that is a little harder for some than it is for others.
How have past experiences helped you with professional connections lately?
Malcolm X said "Our OBJective is complete freedom, justice and equality by any means necessary." I realize, at the time “By any means necessary” meant doing what you have to do, to get the results you want even at the cost of violence. Well besides the violence, an entrepreneur has to sacrifice, work harder, and ultimately do what they have to do to get the desired result, by any means necessary. How will you grow your business by any means necessary? Last night Brian, Omi, and I had a teleconference late last night. I recall Omi saying she could be at a social gathering (sacrifice), Brian saying he was up for hours working on the logistics of our sites (work harder), and I was driving home in the pouring rain (do what you have to do). We had to discuss our immediate goals for our endeavor, to help young professionals communicate more effectively within the corporate environment. See goals below: (contact us to see the progress)
Brian (@BrianCitizen): 1) Create and submit logo options for review and unanimous approval 2) Complete the logistics for our OBJourney’s new home 3) Continue to build relationships with key players within the corporate and social media community
Omi (Facebook): 1) Research the wants and needs of our constituents 2) Continue to build relationships with key players within the corporate and social media community
Me (@JoshuaEPorter): 1) Get with Kimberly Smith, of Mayfair Electronics, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office to finalize the legalities of our business 2) Finish survey, for graduates, to be sent out to universities 3) Get with Monica Reid to further discuss grants from federal, local, and state government entities 4) Continue to build relationships with key players within the corporate and social media community
It is also imperative to complete tasks by any means necessary (though I would not recommend violence, nonetheless, thank you Malcolm X for playing a key role in our country’s history). Despite the rain, sleepless night, and social gathering we completed a task that brought more tasks.
It is important to outline goals immediately, without direction and implementation you just have a dream…that makes you just like everyone else.
How will you grow your business by any means necessary?
1. Creating your own logo and marketing materials when you are first starting may not be the best idea 2. CNN is the most innovative News Network when it comes to integrating social media. Check out what they used to dissect President Obama's latest News Conference. 3. A Social Media press release is different than a regular press release. 4. Searchme integrates a visual component to the search process. 5.When first starting out it is best to look at other peoples sites, see what you like, and turn it into a storyboard of your desires. 6. Creating an effective tagline is a process! 7. Dream building is important for your team! We are going to the White House! 8. Istock photo is a great place to get pictures for your blog or logo. 9. Hulu.com is a free online video service that offers hit TV shows and movies. So when you need to take a break but dont want to leave your working area. Check out Hulu! 10. Yelp may be able to help your business!
Relax and public speaking is an oxymoron right? Wrong, as a matter of fact you have to relax in order to effectively speak. And you must effectively speak in order to communicate your business’ mission…and so forth.
I was speaking with one of my mentors, from the Department of Education, today. He is a public speaker…meaning he gets paid to speak! I explained to him, how Brian, Omojo, and I are building an online aid to help young professionals communicate effectively within the corporate environment. He agreed with much of our mission and goals. He mentioned the hardest thing to do is “effective communicate” this to the masses for their buy on and support. He recommended joining a Toastmasters chapter, in order to learn the essentials of speaking publically.
A couple weeks ago I was speaking with my good friend Ryan Durkin (@Durkin), Director of Business Development, of CampusLIVE. Being that CampusLIVE has been featured in Businessweek as one of the top 25 company’s run by executives under 25, I asked him for advice. I asked him the best practices of reaching out to the masses and growing our endeavor. He suggested I read How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking. I thank him for the recommendation and it was an awesome book!
I have been successful in the corporate environment and a large part was due to my public speaking skills. Skills I have developed, studied, and have a passion to refine. It has not been simple…overcoming my natural stutter has been an issue I struggle with. I don’t want people to think I am nervous when I speak but sometimes it just happens. That will not stop me from speaking publically, being personable, and seeking to communicate at the highest levels. Below is what I have picked up that has helped me while being in the corporate environment:
1) Just Relax – whatever you have do before hand. Some people count M&Ms and some people Tweet 2) Have a positive posture – I’m sure if you’ve seen Hitch, you recall Will Smith stating 90% of what you’re saying is not coming out of your mouth and a great majority of that is your body language (Hitch is one of my favorite movies…hence the reference) 3) Ensure your tone matches what you’re saying – Napoleon Hill ran a study that showed people may not come away from a meeting knowing what you said but they will remember how you said it 4) Do something with your hands – think of your hands as reinforcement for your point. If they don’t agree people will be thrown off. I separate this from posture, because you can have positive posture and poor hand motions. 5) Dress for the occasion – today my mentor emphasized; you want to sound as good as you look and look as good as you sound 6) Practice, Practice, Practice – there have been a few times when I thought I could go off the cuff with a speech or briefing. Every time I failed. 7) Study great speakers – my personal favorite! We have been fortunate to have Youtube and other tools that allow us to go back in time. The other day I was watching JFK’s inaugural address and the way he moved and put emphasis on words was amazing. There is the President and various motivational speakers; Napoleon Hill, John Maxwell, etc, let’s not forget about your teachers and supervisors.
I highly recommend taking something from everyone you have verbal contact with. This way you can know what and how to speak publically and vice versa.
How will you use public speaking to win friends, influence people, and relax?
Positive Thinking, Positive Action is the name of a book I read last year. In this book, the author illustrates the logic of keeping a positive attitude in life. Part of his reason was that worry and fear usually don’t help solve a problem causing negativity. Also, positive people seem to have better days as such an attitude tends to draw similar responses, even solutions from others.
There is an older man at my job (lets call him Tim) that is always cheerful and extremely jovial. He has the same attitude towards everyone, regardless of caliber. Tim’s friendliness is genuine, however, and it makes the other person feel important (they are not for points he cashes in at a later time; like: “Oh! That is so your color!”). I was challenged when I watched Tim conversing over the sound of the Hoover to the cleaning guy the other day. I usually say “thank you” and “How are you” to the guy when he comes around my office but Tim was asking about the man’s son and how everything was going with something about a conversation they seem to have had prior. A thought went off: “If I could have conversations like this one with everyone, I could have things work my way all/ most of the time too. Just like Tim!”
I think we could all learn a thing or two from Tim. On entering the workforce, it is vital that newcomers learn to develop attitudes that will make people want to stick around them, especially if it is in a field you are trying to build a career in. The confident nod and verbal greeting topped off with a smile goes a long way when your application for the advanced position is up against someone with more experience than you have. What’s more? People are so much more inclined to do things for those who have a genuinely respectful attitude not only when they want something, but all the time.
So, as we millennials walk into offices demanding our rights and dreaming of decor for the corner offices that are probably not ours yet, let us remember to listen to the answers we get in reply to questions like: “How are you?” Your next conversation could bring you a step closer to the corner office.
Is greeting everyone in your workplace a necessary gesture or is it overkill?
I have been innovatively creating title descriptions for myself over the last few months to totally encapsulate my skill set. So far I have come up with Opportunity Recognition Specialist(Can recognize opportunities in any situation), Web Navigation Specialist(Google Search Guru), and Chief Imagination Officer ( Borderline Crazy). This journey has allowed me to be creative in such ways that I have only dreamed of in the past. Entrepreneurship does have its added risks, but the incubation of college life makes it a little easier to bare. Along your journey you will need to learn to define yourself and your role within the company you are building. Let me explain to you why I have chosen those titles:
1. Opportunity Recognition Specialist- I almost drive myself crazy with all of the ideas I come up with. Most are discarded moments after conception, but others linger until I must share them with others. Thankfully I forget most of them as the excitement gives way to reality. However, allowing my mind to wander and wonder through endless possibilities has opened many doors. I look at things differently. Its hard to box in my thoughts in aconcise manner and present them to you for your use, but a couple things I can say are: -- Start to study how other people are using what you are using only a daily basis, to make money. (ie, Facebook,Twitter,Blogging). --Start to think of ways that certain opportunities can lend to your credibility and what you want to do down the line. --Start to study the biography of those that do what you want to do -- Seek out all the free help you can get in your area of passion
2. Web Navigation Specialist- I have become really good at finding anything I need to find on the internet, whether it be through social networks, emails, or a regular google search. Having these skills limits the amount of time I need to spend on trivial ordeals. Learn to navigate the large social networks by knowing who you are looking for and what the best way is to get in contact with that person. The best way to do that is through trial and error. Dont be upset if you cant find the person or you do not do it right the first time.
3. Chief Imagination Officer- I wish I had the kind of imagination that could come up with a title like that. I actually stole it from a lady who works in the property management arena. I was actually complimented for it on twitter by @markbonham. I thought it truly summed up one of my greatest qualities which is creating a vision for our team.
There are always moments during your journey of building your business that have to be documented and saved to memory. Saved in the back of your mind for the day you appear on Oprah, CNN, or a late night television show. Last night, I had one of those moments. I was kicked out of a Starbucks during a meeting, by a fellow young professional behind the counter. How will young professionals save your business headaches?
I cannot be mad at the young professional, as he was doing his job. I was in the middle of briefing when he let us know they were closing. It was not a problem, we took the briefing back to her office and continued. I’m sure Starbucks is proud to have him as an employee…I would be!
Yesterday evening, I gave my first official briefing on behalf of our endeavor. I had the PowerPoint, pen, and paper…thoroughly prepared. I briefed a good friend of mine, Monica Reid. Not only is she a Legislative Assistant/Analyst, for a local Government Relations Office; but she is a precocious, intelligent, and experienced young professional and entrepreneur!
The purpose of our meeting was for me to gain some of her wisdom, regarding the best practices for reaching out to local and federal government entities for grants and funding. Once again, I’m keeping in mind that this is an inclusive endeavor. We want to include government at all levels. In the end it will help the development of young professionals in accomplishing their mission. The briefing gave her a better understanding of our vision, mission, goals, operations, and campaign strategy.
Below you will find the vision and mission of our endeavor:
VISION: to lead the communication reform among young professionals and entrepreneurs within the corporate environment.
MISSION: to help 18-24 yr. old professionals and entrepreneurs more effectively communicate within the corporate environment.
I was interested in her feedback on our endeavor; Ms. Reid suggested we extend our focus in on high schools and possibly add a component that will help young professionals write effective resumes.
I look forward to working more with Ms. Reid on this project as she is a successful young professional and entrepreneur, who is has expertise in her field.
How will young professionals save your business headaches? As Monica Reid and the Starbucks employee did…
1. Twitterlight is a confusing application to me, but is supposedly one of the top 10 Twitter Apps 2. Peoplebrowsr allows you to have a live slide show of your facebook, twitter, friendfeed etc status updates in one place! 3. Liveperson allows you to sign up as an expert or to get expert advice from experts in almost any field for a nominal fee. 4. Lingoz.com is trying to be the wikipedia of dictionaries. 5. Exceptional logos can be made for your blog with an integration of powerpoint and istock photo ( Example) 6. Using social media to get a referral or too get an inroads into the company is effective (ask me how) 7. Opportunity recognition skills are important and helping other people recognize opportunities could be quite profitable 8. All of the big whigs in Gen-Y online seem to know eachother 9. Google Docs is a must have for an entrepreneurial team 10. Entrepreneurs need hobbies to take their minds off of work every once in a while (Try Rock Wall Climbing)
The rule applies in all aspects of life and I am pretty sure it has saved many workplace and business relationships. The ability to say, “I was wrong, I’m sorry,” seems to be one many people lack but it is vital in a functional relationship as there is usually some form of disagreement or confusion in the long run. In the past week, I have been planning several events at work and due to the sheer volume of logistics involved; I have made some honest mistakes. What I haven’t done is blame other people or circumstances for my lack of attention to detail. I have found that it pays to apologize and it gives people a respect for you that they probably wouldn’t have if you made excuses or ignored the situation. The benefits of the humility shown in the act of apology are matchless to the zero reasons why people don’t do it.
A situation last week comes to mind: I was at a McDonalds (only because I got some good coupons in the mail and haven’t had any in a while). I added the 2 for $1 Apple Pie to my order but there was only 1 Apple Pie left. The manager told me this and proceeded to very rashly ask me to leave it out completely and choose something else or just take the one. His attitude was rude and I was turned off. A simple apology for running out would have sufficed and I would have been in a better mood leaving. I vowed never to return to that McDonalds based on that experience.
A simple apology goes far in making things better and allowing the involved parties continue on as opposed to the ugly feelings rashness creates. In fact, a survey was conducted in the United Kingdom that found: “More than a third of consumers would stay loyal to a firm if it apologized following a customer service failure.” The study goes on to say, “Reducing customer defections [desertion of allegiance] has been found to boost profits in 25-85% of cases, yet in 73% of cases the organizations made no attempt to persuade dissatisfied customers to stay.” In this case, saying, “I’m sorry,” lends itself to more benefit than the basic smoothing over of things, there is a tangible value attached to it. This should be reason enough to say the two little words but it seems to be a stumbling block for many.
Do you think it is sometimes not ok to apologize for a mistake?
You never have a second chance to make a first impression! This is one aspect young professionals and entrepreneurs MUST understand. This is also the reason effective communication is critical to the corporate environment.
In regards to communication, the first impression persists on two important fronts. There is the written first impression, the in-person first impression. Both impressions are essential to building businesses. Brian, Omi, and I (@JoshuaEPorter) look to our written introductions to launch the majority of our opportunities. We have to up our entrepreneurial quotient when it comes to our in personal introductions. How will your first impression lead to your second opportunity?
Don’t tell anyone you read this from me but I will give out 7 of my keys for making a good first impression via email, Facebook message, Tweet, etc. 1. Research - You have to know as much about the person as possible before meeting them 2. Notice Shared Interest - Find something in that research that interests you 3. Greet – greet respectfully! Young professionals and entrepreneurs, I know we all are cool…in our own ways…but lay the slang and quote unquote young people jargon to rest for now 4. Be enthusiastic – as you may recall from my previous “How will networking help you win the war” blog this stands constant. Begin with an enthusiastic, GENUINE, remark. Ex. “Hope all is well” or “Pleasure meeting you” But you must mean it!! 5. Site the research and shared interest – granted I’ve talked to Jun Loayza for a while now, I noticed yesterday via Twitter that he is a fan of Daft Punk. So am I! So I Tweeted him a simple “What’s your favorite song?” “Superheroes” was his favorite although “Around the World” is mine 6. Keep your request short and to the point - don’t forget this is only the first impression…don’t come off needy! 7. Salutation – don’t ever…EVER, not bid someone adieu! *Also to borrow from my friend, Guy Kawasaki, “Your subject line is a window into your soul, so make it a good one.”
Below are my 7 keys for making an effective first impression via in-person:
1. Approach – I don’t believe I cannot stress enough how essential it is to be ENTHUSIASTIC. People mirror you and respond to. Instead of “Hello name” with a frown, try “Hello name” with a smile and confidence 2. State name – I have a bit of a stutter when I talk. I thought it was a horrible thing, until I went to a Dale Carnegie training course and introduced myself with a pause in between my first and last name. The host said “WOW! You must have been to one of our trainings, because you say your name at perfect timing.” Ensure there is about a second or two between your first and last name. 3. Eye Contact – this is important for many reasons. It brings the person into your world and gives them the feeling it is just the two of you. 4. Handshake – ensure your handshake is sending the right signals. Teach yourself to be conscious of your hand placement. Gauge whether or not touch with the free hand should be involved. It can be inviting but also can back fire. 5. Conversation – CHARM, there are ways to charm in a non romantic way. Just be interested in the person, listen, and respond 6. Salutation – once again, as simple as the greeting. Ex. “Once again, it was a pleasure meeting you” Saying goodbye, the right way, is important. It also helps to give the person a take away i.e. a business card or such, especially if it is impromptu. 7. Most important read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
How will your first impression lead to your second opportunity?
Reading other blog posts and stories online has allowed Omi, Joshua, and I to see our strengths and weaknesses in a new light. One of our areas of strength is being able to communicate a "call to action" and have others rally around our ideas. We have even surprised ourselves by some of the support we have received, but the more we think about it, the more we understand that it is not all by coincidence that we often get favorable responses.
Monica O'Brien wrote about the 4 Communication principles for a newbie to social media and we realized that we follow those principles pretty well. We understand that there is a certain way to go about asking for favors, advice, and opinions on issues. I personally love to help people, but I am turned off many times by how I am approached. The approach is usually " Help Me. Help Me". Ive grown up on the biblical principle of teaching people how to fish, instead of giving them fish. The problem is that most people just want the fish. Fishing becomes boring,unnecessary, and unfair because it involves waiting and patience....virtues that seem to elude the masses.
While I'd like to say just Go Fish! I want to leave you with a few simple tips when asking advice of others:
1. Make them feel important
- Don't be fake about it either. Obviously the person is important if you are asking for help, advice or tips. Don't come at them like a big shot. Be humble. I have had some of the greatest conversations with people, when I came into the conversation ignorant about the subject matter. I got to talk to the founder of the largest Christian Ad Agency in America about an internship, and he said he loved helping people like myself, because he started as an intern. I also talked with a former Head of State of Bermuda, because I was ignorant about how business was done in Bermuda, and I got in contact with him via facebook. We have met in person and have become great friends. Joshua has done even more than that! Do not feel the need to impress them, instead tell them why you are impressed!
2. Know what you want when you ask
-This one is hard for me. This is because I know that the person I am asking has a wealth of knowledge that I want to tap into. However, my question may not encompass everything I want to learn so I am kind of hoping to spark something that will have them talking forever. However, it is very important to know what you want specifically so that you do not waste the time of the individual you are asking. This opens the doors for future communication and adds to your credibility.
3. Bring something to the table
-People can sense when you are just trying to get something out of them. They can sense when people are trying to take advantage of them and their connections. Give them a reason to help you. Some will do it out of the kindness of their hearts, but make it as easy as possible to help you. Bring something of mutual interest and find a way to communicate the mutual benefits. Also include why you are asking and what the outcome will be once advice is given. Don't be desperate, because a person may not want to lend their credibility to a desperate effort.
4. Know the lingo
-Use key phrases like:
Dear Mr helper, I noticed your expertise in..... Dear Ms Helper, I noticed that you are an authority on.... When you have an opportunity could you........ Given your experience, do you have any advice or tips that would aid in what I am trying to accomplish What is the best way to get in contact with you? I look forward to hearing from you..
-Dont Say Helper-
You are so hard to get in contact with **High Priority** Please hurry with a response Please help me I dont know how I could ever
These principles have worked for us throughout this journey and they will work throughout yours as well
What are some techniques you use to ask for help? -B
I buy Starbucks coffee for the quotes on the cups. Most people don’t even know they are there but the first thing I look at when I receive my cup of Macchiato is the little quote right above the warning: “Caution: The beverage you are about to enjoy is extremely hot” or something along those lines. One of my favorite Starbucks collected quotes says: “Failure’s hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you’re successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever.”- Po Bronson
I thought about it when I saw it and remembered a poem from high school that started: “Success is counted sweetest by those who know the least.” The imagination of success especially that which is within your grasp is a blissful thought. But sometimes, this fore-taste becomes a hindrance to the real deal. Even worse is the fate of being successful at the wrong thing and allowing other people’s ideas of what you could be drive you to make choices in which you will excel but find no fulfillment. And like the quote, the enjoyment of the sounds of applause from yesterday’s accomplishments can cause one to lack motivation for today’s work.
Today, like many other Monday mornings, many woke up and were motivated to go to work only by the adverse consequences of not going. Bills stacked high and buried in debt, one settles into a routine that he is forever bound by. And perhaps the pop band Switchfoot says it best when they say: “We were meant to live for so much more, have we lost ourselves?” Perhaps we can blame fear for the choices we make, and for me, perhaps the fear of not succeeding is hardest. Question is: what if I do? I know there’s more to life and I’m reaching for it at all costs. My small success: studying for my MCAT consistently.
How much is today’s applause worth to you tomorrow?
I personally like a strawberry with my ice cream but like a blackberry with my business…corny, I know but true. Although I-phones are popular with their apps and entertainment capabilities; Blackberries lead the business world. But like any other resource, it has to be used effectively in order to produce desired results. Can your Blackberry save your business?
I have the Blackberry Bold. It is by far the best phone I’ve had. I am able to check my email, Tweet, be lost and found with the GPS (more lostJ), read the Wall Street Journal, and keep up with my relationships all on one device. That is just the beginning of the vast capabilities of the Blackberry; just yesterday I added an app, courtesy of Brian Citizen, called Vlingo. With the app I am able to send voice controlled text messages, emails, and update my Facebook status. My voice is transformed into text! With the access to the internet at the palm of my hand (no pun intended Brian, who still has the Palm), I am able to do research in realtime.
Consider this, our President did not want to put his down when he came into office. Mr. Obama had them tweak it to where it can be used within the parameters of the White House!
I have no worries with getting Blackberry thumb. I recommend the Blackberry Bold, or any others for that matter, to do business and communicate effectively within the corporate environment. I will touch on the “Business Image” in a later blog, but the Blackberry also looks awesomely professional on your hip men, and nothing says Ms. Independent like a woman who pulls a Blackberry out of her purse.
Can your Blackberry save your business? You tell me…mine is helping me build our business and will save it through the ups and down.
1. There is a Top 10 list of social networks for entrepreneurs 2. There are rules for social media communication 3. Starbucks is a great place to brainstorm ideas 4. The Widget used on 15secondpitch.com gives us ideas for our own widget. 5. TweetDeck and Twitterfeed allow you to have a constant twitter presence and tweet more efficiently 6. Quiet time to think things through is better then just going at it non stop 7. Using social networks for referrals really does work 8. There is hope for us Jacks of all trades 9. We must analyze our competition 10. We may need to look into online office applications
One of my favorite scenes in the world renowned play, Les Misérables has a song that goes:
And little people know When little people fight We may look easy pickings But we've got some bite So never kick a dog Because he's just a pup We'll fight like twenty armies And we won't give up So you'd better run for cover When the pup grows up!
This morning, after reading an article about the youngest Congressman in Washington, D.C., 27 year old Aaron Schock, I thought I’d do a quick Google search of young business owners/ entrepreneurs. The results were not shocking (because we all know how fabulous Gen Y minds are), but it was reassuring to see that the world will never lack creativity and for as long as humans exist, and we will never be done making things better and easier. Needless to say, a lot of our ideas have got quite the bite!
Gen Y’ers seem to be the generation who grew up when all pre-existing inventions were being refined to make them easier and more user-friendly. So naturally, we are inclined to making things that simplify life and just like user-friendly gadgets/ apps, we like to help people. Although there has been no better time in history for creativity to thrive, age seems to be a factor for those trying to be heard in avenues where group-think is favored and a ritual for doing things has been established. However, many workplaces are adapting to the ways young people operate and are even adopting some of our methods to succeed e.g. using facebook to get to know their clientele.
As far as innovation goes, I think the new-school is becoming more like the old-school. Long before the industrial revolution and corporations took over; society was made of entrepreneurial minds trading their talents or products for a living (from the milkman to the heir venture capitalist). Today’s intellectuals are finding ways to own their trade, much like our fore-fathers did when life was less complicated (career-wise). So Instead of getting out of college, getting a good job and climbing up the ladder at some other person’s pace, we are creating our own ladders and it seems to be working well.
These past few days I have truly been on Executive status, traveling throughout the greater Washington D.C. area. In going to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 101 classes to FOSE 2009, the metro and I have become keenly aquainted. Nonetheless, I would not trade it for a typical day at the office, because I would not have had the opportunity to meet and greet as many people as I have. I've embraced my first Tweetup, meet the founder of Govloop.com (the Facebook for government employees), and shook hands with key players within DHS. With that in mind, I ask, what is in a handshake?
With social media being on the rise, it is a wonder anyone takes the time to personally meet anyone. Could you blame them? You Tweet someone a question on Twitter and you receive an answer; you message someone on Facebook and you have a business deal; you read someone's blog, email them, and now you're dating (I don't know well that works, but try it). While all those things are cool, quick, and easy contact, I am an avid meet and greeter. I make it a goal to shake hands with any person I contact within the social media realm.
So I arrived towards the end of the Web 2.0 panel, consisting of masters such as Dr. Mark Drapeau, Govloop founder Steve Ressler, among others. Although it was informative I was more interested in the meet and greet time. I had been tweeting with Dr. Mark Dreapeau and Steve Ressler throughout the morning, both recommended we Tweetup (meet and greet) after the panel discussion. Patiently, I waited as they discussed matters of integrating Web 2.0 into the government workplace. When they finished I had the opportunity to shake hands, exchange business cards, and essentially begin the process of building relationships!
Each person was interested and wanted to know more about our endeavor of building an online aid that will help young professionals/entrepreneurs communicate more effectively within the workplace. I see them as the key players and leaders of the Web 2.0 movement in the Washington, D.C. area. I will follow up with them tomorrow to further discuss how we can be assets to each other.
On the metro I met two generation Y’ers, who were at FOSE 2009 also. They are fellow young professionals and love social media. I approached, introduced, shook hands, exchanged business cards, and hopefully they are reading this blog as you are.
This may be impromptu but below are a few high level tips for a meet and greet:
So I am on spring break. It's spring, but I find myself not taking much of a break. I am not in Mexico ( Where no one should be at this time) and I did not take a long road trip anywhere. I am at my parents house working a part-time job trying to pick up the hours that I would miss at my school job. Tis the life of an entrepreneur. It is part of the journey as some would say. However, the break has lent itself some time for reflection
I was actually an All-State Punter back in high school(Go Figure). It was not a position widely held by an African American. However, I used to play soccer and since I could kick the ball pretty hard, I gave it a shot. I actually had the chance to play for a Division 2 college, but I decided to forgo that opportunity, because I was not very fond of the school. However, one of the greatest lessons I took away from learning how to punt was learned from former college punters.
I first learned how to punt by zooming in on a punter's form in Madden 2006. Needless to say, my form was horrible. To correct this matter, I got a personal trainer that helped me reach the level of all-state my senior year. The lesson that I learned from him and others at a punting camp was that you can either "pay now and play later or play now and pay later".
I take that same attitude into everything I do. I watch people all around me at school that play around with the great opportunity they have. Their attitude is that they have 40 years to be serious so they might as well play now. I want to pay now so that I can play for the next 40 years! Although with most Americans taking the first stance, playing for the next 40 might get lonely. I'll get over it!
One of the trends I see taking hold in society today more than ever is the “busy-body”, or “do a whole lot of things averagely” trend. During my college years, I was guilty of trying to drive on overload. I was that student that wanted to be a part of every organization that was recognized on campus as an elite organization. I took every opportunity I was given to join whatever club there was that would serve to ‘boost my resume’. I spent Saturdays giving tours to prospective students or volunteering at a good-will organization, weekdays at meetings and weeknights at more meetings and events. While the things I did were good, I wonder today how much of an impact I would have had if I unleashed all my potential on one or two good things.
Napoleon Hill touches on this in his book, Think and Grow Rich. He explains that the art of focusing your energies on a particular endeavor is one of the driving forces that allows people to find answers to the hardest questions. The clutter created by floating thoughts about various different things hinders the clarity of mind in which bright imaginations come to life. The same principle can be applied to action. When there are too many projects going on at one time, the sheer pressure of finishing all of them can be overwhelming. Sometimes, this feeling cripples a person to the point that no action is taken at all. It’s a little like that old familiar feeling of having to clean a cluttered room; there just isn’t a logical starting point and you don’t want to start because it may never end.
Now, not too far removed from my college days, I understand the very sad reality for a Jack of all trades. Not only is this poor kid not excellent at anything, there is also the unfortunate truth that the dilution of his potential could have cost the world something great. Someone probably would have come up with flight if the Wright brothers didn’t but there’s also the chance that the technology would not be this advanced if they weren’t obsessed with the idea at the time that they were. What if they got side-tracked by other projects and decided not to spend as much time as they did exploring the impossible? And what if they didn’t do it and the next person who could think like them was born 50 years later? They would have robbed a generation of people of the luxury to cross seas within hours.
So, in order to focus my energies on just one or two projects at a time, I have learned to say ‘No’ to other shiny objects. I can see them glitter in my rear-view mirror once in a while and the attraction of how beneficial they are remains there, but I’m convinced that ignoring them for a while will allow me to give them full attention at a later time.
What deserves your full potential now and what can have it later?
We are in a time where every news channel is reporting job loss. Unfortunately, the number of jobs are decreasing and the number of graduates is still rising. Finding work in a recession may sound discouraging to the many college students graduating this year, but you can't lose hope and we have to help each other. Help each other to refine our professionalism and become the impressive job candidates out of college. How can we save each other in a recession?
I read in a blog from fellow Brazen Careerist blogger, Nisha Chittal, that graduating college students cannot lend their energy to the discouraging articles about scarcity in the job market. Rather, stay optimistic about the future. She mentioned the many alternatives for graduating seniors. Those alternatives include: choosing action over talk. doubling your job hunt efforts, networking harder, trying your parents’ companies, trying nontraditional career paths, working abroad, temping for a while, try a whole new industry, scraping your well-laid plans, since the economy doesn’t care about your plans. This is my personal favorite of hers; refuse to abandon your dreams.
Ditto to Nisha's approach. I hope you obtain your degree and know that everything is going to be kosher. Brian, Omi, and I are creating an online aid to help you refine your professionalism and have you communicating with the best of the best of the best...SIR (a littleMen in Black reference). This is so, when it is time to compete, you have not only a degree but the upper hand. There is still alot of work to be done and we still ask for your help. We will help save you if you want to save yourself!
9.One of the most cost effective ways to build a website is to find a computer science geek on campus to do it
10.When planning your website, look at other websites that have components that you want and use the control + print screen button to copy and paste them into a story board so that you have a running list of what you want.
“Chance favors the prepared mind,” says Louis Pasteur. I couldn’t agree more. I had a friend in college who was one of the friendliest, most outgoing party animals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting but he was also the smartest kid I knew back then. I was not able to figure out how he missed classes, skipped recitations and still ended up getting an ‘A’ on the test and the class. To me, he was just one of those lucky people with brilliant genes. I on the other hand, would always have to work extra hard to get mine, hardly missing a class and making it to office hours like it was a duty. It always baffled me to see his grades when we got our tests back so I asked him how he did it.
Unbeknownst to most of his friends, Albert studied whenever he was not on the social scene. When he missed class, sometimes, it was not as a result of being tired from staying out late but more so the result of studying late or early for the test next week. He was book smart, no doubt, but he was also a strategic planning genius! He didn’t waste time attending class if he knew the teacher was not going to veer from the lessons in the book (which we would have to read anyway). This ability to plan strategically is apparently the very fine difference between the ordinary and extraordinary.
Although most of us would like to be called anything but ordinary, we constantly take short-cuts and refuse to do the things that might bump us up a notch. When I unexpectedly got sick this weekend and was too weak to write a blog for Monday, it would have helped to apply the principle of strategic planning. I had read somewhere a while ago that great bloggers always have a blog prepared one or two days in advance, yet I never did it. Do I not want to be considered ‘great’ or was it simply a case of good old laziness? Fortunately, Joshua was able to fill in for me with an outstanding post. However, it got me thinking on a deeper level of all the times I’ve waited until time was nearly over to do something? Fact is: I could have exceeded expectations and not simply met them if I was better prepared.
So it is with most things in life: we get what we put in. My big move: I’ve decided to raise my status from the status quo to fabulous! I am currently taking the Princeton Review Course to help me prepare for my MCAT in May and sacrificing my weekends just until then. Perhaps this time, Chance will be on my side.
What’s your next big move and how do you plan on getting there?
Sometimes building a business can feel like a series of battles. Constant battles with your social life, battles with your time, battles with your money, battles with your education. All the battles to win the war. The war of inspiring, helping, and bettering the lives of as many people as possible, while being able to retire at 25 in the process. In essence, the war is ensuring your business touches the masses. Networking is one of the weapons that you use to help in winning the war.
We’ve been fortunate enough to meet and speak with some of the most influential people in the world. We’re able to reach out to have questions answered and alliances formed. Today, Brian was on a on a search for an answer to a question regarding, who will host this blog. Brian hopped on Twitter and tweeted Monica O’brien and I got busy on my Blackberry emailing Jun Loayza (unless you’ve notice they are a few constants throughout our blog, a relationship built awesome additions to our network). Monica and Jun both informed us that Bluehost would be the most lucrative for our blog.
The great aspect is that we have never met either of them…yet. I am a passionate person to person meet and greeter. I just want to stress there is no excuse for anyone to not network. There are so many tools online now that you can find the people under the rocks who don’t know these tools exist!
Tonight I’m headed out to College Park to meet and greet hipster Mickey Factz, who graced a cover of XXL Magazine. I was introduced to him via email. He introduced me to The Cool Kids at the end of last year and I had the opportunity to meet Q-Tip (yes, A Tribe Called Quest Q-Tip!). Networking does not just exist in business, but also in pleasure.
I would like to share with you, 7 keys to networking I’ve learned:
1) Be enthusiastic – you want to bring someone on board to support your endeavor or whatever you want to do you have to get them excited about it. Enthusiasm is contagious and thankfully there is not remedy…That’s for you Dr. Odihi
2) Decide who you want to meet and network with – whether at a business function, on Twitter, or at a pool party. Pick a person and focus your mind on meeting them.
3) Don’t overthink the introduction – this brings about stuttering or wordy written messages/emails. When you’re calm the right words will flow out of your mouth like gravy on potatoes (I haven’t had dinner yet)
4) Be empathetic and genuine – put yourselves in their shoes. For example: if it’s an executive and you see they are working the room, quickly, state your name and exchange business cards. Contact him within the week and remind him who you are and where you met him. Yes it is possible to be empathetic online…I just did it. (I knew that was one of the things you may be wondering). People respond to people who genuinely care. “Brown nosing” may get you the response to your introduction, but being genuine builds the relationship
5) Keep in touch – this is something many do not do…until they need something. Then the person called on feels used and is reluctant to return your call or email next time. A simple “How are you?” works wonders!!!!
6) Educate yourself in many aspects of life – you have to be able to relate with people. Brian and I always say, “We are able to hold a conversation with any one about any topic” that is because we stay conscious of the world we live in
7) Don’t burn bridges – stop and analyze what you’re about to say or write if it may destroy what you have built don’t say or write it! Sometimes it is better to just let things roll off your shoulder…THERE ARE GREATER THINGS IN STORE, TRUST ME
I would like to thank fellow blogger and someone in my network, Andrew Stuhl, for inspiring this blog. We spoke via email in regards to networking earlier in the day.
Let me know if you need help gaining more cavalry to win the war!
There are no overnight successes. Even successful people who seem to have come out of nowhere put in long hours of unnoticed and unacknowledged work. Success is also not something that happens in a day…or is it? As I was watching the State of the Black Union on CSPAN over the weekend, I sat in amazement, listening to some of the most prolific thinkers and practitioners that America has to offer. As I watched their thorough discussion of various topics and I started to wonder what their days look like. What time do they get up? What is the first thing they do when they get up? What do they read and not read? What do they watch and not watch? Do they ever take breaks? All of these questions invaded my mind as I wondered what kind of discipline it took to get to those levels of success.
Vault.com has a section on their website that allows you to see the “day in the life” of a certain occupation. Although not exactly what I was looking for, it did offer insight into what a day would like if I chose a certain profession. This information is also useful for entry level workers and young professionals because it may make them more aware of the intricacies of various positions. What is more important to me than a certain occupation is the day in the life of those that are widely known for their success. I have heard of the seven habits of highly successful people and I have seen the books on how to manage tasks/time. However, what I haven’t yet seen is something that would allow us to learn and the daily grind and sacrifice it takes to be where those people are.
One thing I have learned is that Entrepreneurship is often filled with days of ambiguity and wondering what the next step should be. Am I keeping up with others? Am I working too hard or not enough? Where did those hours go? Those are the questions I find myself asking at times when balancing two businesses and school work. However, the dreams that I have and the competitive spirit within me keep me on this road. The opportunity to meet some of these individuals and gain access to their daily regimen is a goal of mine and one that will be achieved shortly. They may not have become successful in a day, but by looking at one of their days it will be easy to see why they are successful. What does your day look like?
Omi is under the weather; please keep her in your prayers. Although it is an honor to fill in for her today, like you I am anxious for her return to the blog on Thursday!
About an hour ago, I tuned into CNN for President Obama's confirmation of the nomination of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary. She is going to be an essential leader in the reform of the health care system and many other pressing issues. I wish the best of luck to her and her team. The word REFORM stands out to me; to reform means to improve or amend what is wrong, corrupt, or unsatisfactory (courtesy of Dictionary.com). That being said, what does it mean to be a leader of reform? A leader in the communication reform? A reform to increase the effectiveness of the communication amongst young professionals/entrepreneurs within the corporate environment.
After watching President Obama and Governor Sebelius speak of reform today, it occurred to me that Brian, Omi, and I were going among the names of great reformers. Reformers like a passionately articulate preacher from Atlanta who had a dream; a hip hop star who went against the mainstream with his lyrics, dressed the way he wanted and still graduated; a young college student who wanted to reform the way we communicate and find people throughout the world. I was on checked my Facebook this morning courtesy of Mark Zuckerberg, listening to Kanye West while writing this blog and will study a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. speeches later this afternoon to hone my public speaking skills. All of these gentlemen, among many others, have reformed different aspects of our world.
One thing I’ve noticed in the above reforms, the coming reforms from the new Administration, and the developing reform the young professional/entrepreneur community is that they all begin for the people and are seen through by the people. There are leaders of the reforms, but leaders are nothing without supporters, devils advocates, and faith.
Our endeavor is a reform for young professionals/entrepreneurs but will be seen through by your support, disagreements, and our collective faith that we will communicate more effectively within the corporate environment. Thank you for joining us in this reform and let’s begin this week with a reform mindset.
What does it mean to be a leader of reform? You tell me!
Omi went to the Bridge Church DC- www.thebridgedc.org/ Brian was on the road back from Gospel Today's 20th Anniversary- www.GospelToday.com Josh went to Fresh Annointing International Christian Ministries- www.FAICM.org
