Setting a Networking Goal

I believe in networking, and think it is worth some effort to network with other professionals in your area. It’s not a guaranteed way of improving your career, but I think over time you will end up becoming a better professional over time if you network with others.

In order to build and maintain a network, you have to put forth an effort regularly. My suggestion is that you set some networking goals for yourself that you can achieve, and that don’t create a large burden on the rest of your life.

I have one friend whose goal is to meet three new people at each event. He makes it a point to introduce himself to new people and find three people to have a five minute conversation with each time he attends an event.

It’s close to the end of the year, and you ought to be thinking about your goals for the new year. What do you want to accomplish, how do you want to grow? When you set some professional goals for 2012, think about including a networking goal or two. Build a short plan that you can review before your next user group meeting, happy hour, conference, whatever, and make it a point to strengthen a bond, or build a new one when you go.

Goals for 2012

As we get close to the end of the year, what are your career goals for 2012? Hopefully you are setting some that will motivate you and help you grow your career in the new year.

If you had goals for 2011, you ought to start by reviewing those goals and noting your progress. Did you accomplish them all? If you did, then were they too easy, or did you make a strong effort to accomplish them.

If you didn’t accomplish them, why not? Were they too ambitious or too hard? Did you run out of time, change focus, or just get too busy? It’s entirely possible that any or all of those occurred, since they might not have been good goals for you.

In either case, re-assess what you want to accomplish for 2012. you can aim for more or less than in 2011. You can lay back in 2011 if you need the time off, or charge forward harder, but make a serious effort to re-examine your professional life and take charge of your career.

People Lie to You

It’s true, people lie to you.

It’s hard to get an honest assessment out of the people closest to you. They often don’t want to say anything bad, or tell you that they view you poorly. Your family and close friend don’t provide the honest assessment you might need about your professional brand or work.

However people you don’t know very well will lie as well, and you can’t necessarily trust their opinions precisely because you don’t know them very well.

How can you get an honest assessment? You have to work at it. Ask someone you trust, but someone that is strong enough to disagree with you. Tell them you really need an honest opinion from them on something you’ve done, and that you expect there is room for improvement.

Hopefully you have a few of these friends or family that can help you improve the way you present yourself in a professional setting.

Branding Yourself - PASS Presentation

I guess I did well, with 67 people in the talk and 39 feedback surveys. The average was between 4-5 for all categories, but some great comments for a few of the questions:

Did you learn what you expected to learn?

• GREAT SESSION
• PLUS SOME!
• YES! NOT TOO MUCH NEW STUFF BUT I FEEL TEN TIMES MORE EMPOWERED TO GET MY OWN BLOG OFF THE GROUND. THANKS.

How would you rate the Speaker’s presentation skills? (1 - Very Poor, 2 - Poor, 3 - Average, 4 - Good, 5 - Excellent)

• Steve is an excellent speaker. He repeats audience questions!
• NOT BAD BUT NOT STANDING OUT IN ANY WAY EITHER.

What will you take away from this session?

• Update my resume! Get blogging more.
• A LOT
• IT IS TIME TO VAN SP_UPDATERESUME
• GREAT, GREAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIPS! ESPECIALLY LIKED THE PART ABOUT BLOGGING. WELL DONE!
• IDEAS FOR FINDING EMPLOYEES AND OWN CAREER
• THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING MY IMAGE
• STEVE OPENED MY EYES TO THINGS I ALREADY KNEW BUT WASN'T REALLY AWARE OF.
• LEARNED SOME GREAT TIPS FOR IMPROVING "BRAND" TO HELP IN KEEPING/FINDING JOBS
• GLAD I CAME. VERY ENJOYABLE AND INFORMATIVE.
• SUPERB PRESENTATION!
• I GOT SOME GREAT TIPS TO IMPROVE MY ONLINE PRESENCE.
• DESIRE TO PROMOTE ONLINE PRESENCE
• I ALREADY STARTED TO UPDATE MY ONLINE PRESENCE AND I'LL BE UPDATING MY RESUME WHEN I GET HOME.
• GREAT STUFF! MORE GOOD INFO THAN EXPECTED!

This is definitely one of my favorite talks. If you’d like to see it, let me know, or let the organizers know for your next event.

The Test

When I was a young man, I was given some great advice. Before I post anything, send an email, write a letter, etc., stop and think about the content. If the content appeared on the front page of the Washington Post the next day, would I be OK with it.

That was the “Washington Post” test, but today it’s the “Kid Test”, or the “Mom Test”. I write a lot, but I think I ought to be able to look my kids, or my Mom, in the face and explain what I wrote.

Before you send an email, post a blog, or do anything that could be permanent on the Internet, stop for a minute and apply the test. Will you have a problem with what you wrote? If you have any doubt, don’t post it, and get a second opinion from a friend.