Iphone blog: Make the summer the time to get ahead
I’m at the airport waiting for My flight to nice, France. In my suitcase i have two books, trust agents and six pixells of separation. I got them around christmas, but have not had the time to read as Ive been busy reading school litteratur. I have à rule: no reading for fun until done reading for school. As this never happened, i try to do all of My reading between the courses and om the summer holiday.
And after à few years of using the time i have off to read non-fiction litterature and work, i have learned far more which is useful for My work Than at the university. Simply because i’ve read what interests me instead of what i have to read. I think that most People underestimate reading to complement school and says that work experience is the best and often only complement. And i agree that is is, but reading Will teach you à lot.
When we work and/or study, that is our excuse to not go that extra mile. When we are on a vacation we just sant relax.
But why not bring à few books to the beach or your computer to the summerhouse for rainy days. You might just learn à few new things or get an idea which Will give you à promotion you wanted. Reading on the beach might be what reduces your stress in the fall. Give it à shot?
Why you should be a mentor
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill
In the beginning of his career, Winston Churcill had a mentor in Bourke Cockran a British Lawyer and Politician. If Churcill mentored any one particular himself I have not figured out, however with quotes like this, he inspired many.
A mentor is a professional advisor; usually two of the most important qualities of a good mentor are that they have “learning attitude,” and “effective managerial skills.” If you have this qualities I encourage you to become a mentor, to a fellow novice as myself.
Last week, I read a blog post from an internationally recognized young entrepreneur. He wrote that he never had a mentor and he thought that the reasons where that; character did not fit with a mentor and many think of him and others like him as “young people who think they know everything.”
I was a bit surprised by this, because I have never looked for a mentor but I have always seemed to have mentors, and has he is some one I admire I just assumed that he had many mentors and supporters.
Have you heard the Buddhist proverb:
“When the student is ready the teacher will come”
When I have needed guidance and help, the help has come in one way or another. I guess I never asked the question “would you be my mentor?” instead I just asked questions and the relationship that has formed between me and the more experience people I have asked, have become a mentoring one because of this.
No matter if you get asked to become a mentor or just naturally find yourself in that position, I encourage you to do it, and here are a few reasons why.
Teaching make you analyze and draw conclusions of your work
It is one thing to know something and to do that, it is another thing to explain how it is done for someone else. Teaching and explaining what you do, make you look at things differently and learn them more thoroughly. Therefore you will become better at what you do by constantly teaching it to someone else, and depending on the level of expertise of your mentee, you might have to become better at what you do to be able to fully answer the questions you get. This can also lead to advancement in your own career as you will show the features that are wanted in people who are promoted: unselfishness, desire to develop and leadership etc.
You have a better change to stay connected with what is “new”
If you are a few years into your career, it is very likely that the things you were taught in school have changed since you graduated. In most fields, things such as strategies and techniques changes very fast, and it is harder to stay updated when you are working full time. Therefore, a mentee can assist you by teaching you about the latest development and what is taught now compared to when you where in school. Thus, you can get a competitive advantage and get a wider picture by letting the mentee teach you stuff as well.
The relationship is both give and take.
As I just said; the mentee can teach you things as well. However, this is not the only way the relationship goes both ways. Maybe the mentee have a few connections that you can benefit from. Or computer knowledge that can help you with you online resume? Or be a very good listener, who you can speak to about changing career without judgment? Sure, you are the more experienced in the relationship, but that does not mean that you cannot gain from it. I think that the relationship is even better if you benefit from it, both because you will be more inspired to teach if you get something back, and because the mentee can feel that him or her is contributing as well.
With that said, the benefits of being a mentor is plenty; You become better at way you do, by teaching and analyzing. You stay connected with what is new and gain competitive advantage. And the benefits of the relationships goes both ways.
So what is there to wait for? Go and find you novice and start mentoring today!
Would you drop out or not, if you got your dream job?
Earlier this week I got the question; “If you got offered to start your dream job, would you drop out of school? I mean you seem to know so much already, do you really need to study anymore?” My first response was, “I think that the more I study, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” I really believe this which is why I continue to study and not only my major but other things as well.
So back to the question, would I drop out? I guess, this is one of those questions you cannot really answer until you’re in the situation and know all the details. However, I believe that I would not drop out.
The reasons for this are plenty;
- People who stop studying to work tend to never finish their degree
- I would worry on how I would do in future positions and when it came to promotions if I did not have a degree, (though this might not matter after a few years of working.)
- I believe that academic studies are important though I agree that you learn more by doing.
- Lastly, would I want to work for a company that could not wait for me until I finished school?
My ideal situation if this would happen would be to start working and finish my degree while working. As I have been working all through school, I know that this is possible though it might need some schedule management.
Anyone who would be in this situation should probably contemplate the same things.
What do you think you would do? Do you agree or disagree with my reasons for not doing it?
Networking Tips: Modern Examples of Conversational Clothing
If you have read about networking you have probably come across the tools that are “conversational clothing.” The idea of conversational clothing is to wear items that catch people’s attention and invite a conversation. A very common example is a pin. A pin that you might have inherited from your aunt, found in an English second hand-store or that have some other interesting story. Thus by wearing this pin and being asked for it, you can network and start conversations easily with an “easy in.”
Now, as you might have guessed I don’t use pins, I never have and I’m pretty sure I don’t even own one. Considering that they are not that fashionable I guess that the same thing goes for you, if you are a girl. If you are a guy, then you probably never used one.
Recently though, I figured out that I do own an item that really catches people’s attention 
and create conversations. It’s a beanie, with the print “bad hair day.” In Sweden this beanie has been very popular during the last winters and if you Google the print on the beanie, you will find a lot of conversation around it. However, as I do not live in Sweden I manage to create a lot of conversations while wearing this, mostly because people wonder if I’m actually having a bad hair day or if I just like the hat. And everyone especially in the morning seems to wonder were to get one.
This made me start to think about the benefit of conversational clothing and how ridiculously effective it can be. In my case I manage to talk with a lot of people who I often just greet briefly, and it is just because of the hat. What other things could be useful?
A friend recently launched her own business, Nuance Journals, which creates and sells hand-made journals. Now, if you take a look at these journals they truly have personality and look very unique, which I think could create a few conversations. I mean in a time where it is difficult to impress with the latest tech-item, this might be the excellent choice.
How about you? What do you use for to start conversations? Have you tried wearing conversational clothing, or do you own any items that create conversation?
10 Reasons To Why Students Should Blog
Yesterday, I got the question “why do you blog?” of course I had around a million answers to respond with. Then I realized that the reason the person asked was not to find out why I blogged but to see if there was any reason to why he should blog.
This got me thinking about what blogging has done to me, and why I continue to blog. Thus I wanted to create a list to why I think that students should blog to complement their studies and choice their own professional path. Because I honestly believe that when I want to apply for a job or make decisions for my career this blog will matter.
Blogs give individuals an opportunity to express their opinions and make them count in a world of millions of others. Years ago, you needed to be a journalist or a politician to get your opinion heard; today, blogs offer anyone the opportunity to express oneself.
Now this list is written on the presumptions that writing is a way of studying; When you have put something in your own words you know it a lot better than if you only read it. Also, I talk about blogging about subjects, interest etc. and not a personal blog about what I did today.
1. Gain a deeper knowledge for the subject you are studying – or show people that you know about another subject.
When it comes to University classes I many times feel that even though I’m taking classes in subjects that interests me and the classes are really good, I do not really learn what had expected to learn. By blogging you can assign yourself any subject you want to analyze and write about and then learn about it yourself.
2. Improve your creativity by finding new subject to write about.
Initially blogging might be very easy and the subject may come to you by the second, but sometimes you will lose your flow or you might not find and interesting angle. Then creativity will be essential to keep your blogging up, and of course there will be other ways to improve your creativity like with the blog design etc.
3. Develop your analytical thinking though writing insightful posts.
It is one thing to republish the news or the facts that you read about, but adding value to them and figure out new angles is what will improve your analytical thinking. After all, for most subjects people already have a source for the news, so from you they will be looking for something a bit more insightful.
4. Create pieces for discussion and debate subjects that interest you through comments on your blog.
I bet that you many times wonder about what other people think about a subject. A blog could be the ideal way to find the answers. Many bloggers write about subjects that interest them and ask questions or do other things to make people comment. Then they learn from others by reading and participating in the discussion that can come out from that.
5. Improve your language skills, writing will give you a wider vocabulary and better grammar and if you prefer your could practice your professional writing.
As I write in my second language I broaden my vocabulary by having to find words representing what I am trying to say. But if you blog in your first language this same thing will probably work with synonyms and finding more precise definitions on what you are trying to say. Thus both will give you a wider vocabulary. Along with this you will improve your grammar by writing on a regular basis. Here I also want to point out that a blog, if you want it to, could be great way to learn to write professionally so that you are always ready to present yourself well.
6. Show that you are trustworthy by keeping the promise to your readers – blog on a regular basis.
All bloggers know that the traffic to their site decrease if they do not update regularly. Now what regularly means defers between bloggers, some updates a few times daily, while I update two or three times a week. This is what my readers expect from me and that is what I give you.
7. Improve your skills to express yourself, practice to write in a way that influences people.
It is one thing to use well thought out words and proper grammar, but expressing yourself in a way that influences people takes quite some talent. Some might have I naturally, while others have to work on it, and might never reach the same level. A blog could be a great place to practice.
8. Show that the interest that you have for your future profession is a passion.
Now, when most students who come home from school might be tired of the subject they study and want to do something else. Which is why showing a real interest for the subject you study could give you a great advantage in the future. When it comes to hiring, who will an employer choice – the blogger or the student watching tv?
9. Build a name for yourself, a personal brand, share your ideas and thoughts with the world and let them get to know you.
A blog is a great way to take control of your personal brand, to show people who you are. Now, you might not be an expert in a subject, and be honest about that. But you still can contribute you can still teach people who now less than you about the subject something. Or perhaps you can give a person who knows more a few great ideas. Let people get to know you and what you think, and one day you will probably be an expert.
10. Create a written portfolio showing that you are knowledgeable in the subject that you want to work in and you are very likely to get a head when you want to apply of a job.
What all comes down to, it being prepared for your future profession. Surely a diploma and a degree will do that, but your fellow student will have that to and compete for the same jobs. A blog will give you a differentiator, a lead, something that proves that you know what you are talking about. It is a written portfolio of your thoughts and ideas, or perhaps pictures, which make you, stand out.
Now, already when writing this I can think of more ideas, but I am going to stop here for now. I have given your some of reasons and explanations and left some things unsaid. Do you blog? Why do you blog? Why do you recommend others to blog? It is your turn to contribute to the list..
This week’s challenge: do a spell and grammar check for your LinkedIn profile.
I’m the expert at missing a letter here or there when I type, especially when the missed or wrong letter only give me another word and thus are not caught by the automatic spell checker. However, I believe that in blog posts for example, people tend to forgive misspelled words easier than on a resume.
Lately I have read a lot of CV’s and personal letters as I’m about to completely rewrite my CV and personal introduction as it has been awhile since the last time. Though many people have managed to inspire me in with their CVs and LinkedIn pages, I’m still chocked of how people seem to forget to proofread and complete a grammar check on their LinkedIn page, something they tend to be better at on their other CV’s.
I think this is because people tend to spend less time setting up their LinkedIn profile than writing a CV. Also, I think is more likely that, people review their resumes before sending them out and do not have the habit of doing the same with their LinkedIn profile page. This is unfortunate, because almost all headhunters will Google you, and hopefully find your LinkedIn page. Thus, your LinkedIn page might be a big part of your application even though if you don’t link to it.
Therefore, I challenge all of you to do a spell and grammar check to your LinkedIn profile before the weekend!
Please share if you completed the challenge and if you indeed found any spelling or grammatical errors.
Use Google Alerts to Receive an International Daily Update of Your Favorite Subject
Recently I have started to use Google alerts to track more and more subjects that I have different interest in. From the beginning I mainly used it to track the buzz around the company I have been working for but many more ways to use it. So, in case you only use it for that or any other one reason, I thought I would share how I use it.
The way I use Google Alert makes it become a daily digest with an international summary of my interest, kind of my personal newspaper. Here is a few ways to use it:
Tracking your personal or company brand
Track your name or the name of your company, so that you can read anything that is being said about you. This is good both to see what people are saying, but it also gives you the opportunity to quickly respond to things that are said. As an example this can help your customer service to catch unsatisfied customers and make sure that they will return in the future.
Track the company you want to work for
If you are looking to work at a particular company it can be great to track what is being said about them. That will give you an opportunity to get to know about their staff, customers and client. This knowledge could give you an advantage in an interview and before that it might help you find out if you are what they are looking for, or how your knowledge could help their business.
Research a subject you are interested in
Tracking everything that is being said about the thing you are interested in might be a lot if it is a broad subject. However, you can choice either to specify your interest or to choice to have the alerts “once a day” or even “once a week” so that your inbox doesn’t get flooded with updates. Personally I limited one of my interests by choosing to only follow it in Swedish, as it is a subject is a lot smaller in Swedish, so that is an opportunity to. Either way, by tracking you interest you will be really up-to-date with what is going on, all over the world.
Is one-way communication enough in the 21th century?
Once I heard about a man who was considered an excellent communicator. He always returned letters and phone calls, and remembered to get in touch with people he had not talked to in a while. Quite impressive to accomplish that reputation without the techniques we have today. Most people did not know the keys behind his skills; discipline and continuity. Every Tuesday leaving work and spending a few hours with his family, he went to his study and did all his correspondence in one night. Sure, this might seem a bit strict and impersonal, but no one knew, they just admired him for always getting in touch.
How good are we really at communicating today? What do you do and how well do you do it? Could you become better at emailing old associates, contacting them more often? What opportunities did you lose because you did not follow-up?
We have social media, email, cell phones, instant messages, and the more traditional tools as well, but how much to we really use them. When your wall on Facebook is constantly filled with information about what your friends are up to, and will blogs you get the details as well, in other words one-way communication. So, do you really email them and call them to ask them another time what you already know or do you spare your conversations for the people you meet everyday instead? Does this mean that even though technique is making communication easier, we actually drift further away from our associates?
Time is money, but lost opportunity is also an expense. In the end, how many lost contact can you afford, or will people still consider you a contact just because you are connected on facebook?
How many letters have you send this year? I often read in marketing books that sending a letter to a person is a great way to market because it is much unexpected today. I would love to get a letter from a company instead of an advertisement, but I do not have one yet. This goes for personal situations as well, I would love to get a letter once in a while instead of a mail. Because it feels like someone actually took the time to contact me. When I moved to D.C. a few relatives and I started sending letters and pictures to each other by mail instead of the more usual email, and every time I got one it made my day. That little action that show that someone thought a little bit extra on me means so much. So why are we not doing that more often?
Maybe letters are not the way you communicate. But the issue seem to be the same with email and text messages. People do not take the time to communicate as much nowadays, and the new excuses keep coming.
Will people stop caring about nurturing relationships because they will accept that no one has the time? Or can you become a real winner in the situation by actually making an effort to communicate? And is that even possible if the person you are trying to contact with has chosen the first?
Personally, I will continue to make an effort to communicate, and if it comes to it, I will put correspondence on the agenda.
What do you think?
What is the art of powering through?
Everyone is different and thus work in different ways. I guess this is also the case when it comes to getting things done. Now, I have not read the book “Getting things done,” which I have been meaning to, so my opinion might change. But for now, I would say that everyone has different ways to complete their todo-list. That is if you even keep a todo-list.
As you know, from a previous post I have a todo-list actually I have a to-do book. Keeping a list makes me more structured and help me to not forget about those smaller things that could make a difference, but is not really super important. Anyway, I am usually very good at getting things done and thus crossing them of the list. But once in a while I find myself struggling with one or two of the things I need to get done, for various reasons. I am sure you recognize the situation.
Anyway, in the past I usually dealt with the situation by doing everything else on the list until the only thing I had left was the thing I really dreaded doing. This used to work very well, and I was happy keeping it this way because I spent most of my time doing the things I liked to do. However, this stopped working the day my list grew longer and the things I was postponing became more time consuming. Thus, instead of only postponing them until I had to complete them, I ended up never doing them, because never managed to get everything else done. So to not be known as someone who did not keep her word, and most for my own sake, I needed to find a solution, and I did.
I decided to complete my todos in a hierarchal order no matter how much I was dreading them, the only time I am allowed to bend this rule is for things that come with a time-frame. Said and done, I began following my new rule. Which worked great for a while, and I got a few things I really dreaded to do crossed off.
However, when I again ended up in a situation where there were less things on my list, I realized that I not only neglected the highest priority things, I did nothing else either. I got lazy! So, perhaps I should change back to my previous rule, since that worked better when I had less things going on?
Do you have a todo-list? What are your secrets to getting things done? How do you power through those things that you really do not feel like doing?
Get better by saying NO and succeed
I am one of those people who have a really difficult time saying no. Especially when it comes to things I enjoy, but also when it comes to doing people a favor. My problem is so big that the parents of my friends started telling my mom that I would get burned out when I was only 14. I am still not close to burned out and I will not be as long as I remember how and why to say no.
But I’m not supposed to talk about me; I just want to remind all other people like me why it is sometimes better to say no.
Many students who have shown their capability in the beginning of their study program start getting a few or more offers as they reach graduation day. By this time they also start feeling the pressure of having to find a job and mange to support themselves after school. Thus it is easy to begin accepting every offer, take extra classes etc. To make sure, that you have done your best when it is time to graduate.
Of course this might be the best you can do and it could open a lot of opportunities. But it could also mean that you are taking on too much, and that is the danger of it all. If you start taking on too much you cannot longer perform the best at everything you do, and will have to start compromising to have time to get everything done.
This mean that you can end up on the “okey” pile in a lot of what you do instead of the “excellent” pile in everything you do. And which one of these piles will matter in the end?
Surely this is not only a problem that students face, but that all human who strive to be the best and to succeed. You can be at many stages in your development, sometimes you have to get better at your weaknesses and other times you should focus on what your good at etc. But either or you should never take on too much at the same, time leading to not succeeding in anything.
Because after all people like successful people and head hunters want the best! Show yourself that you can do a few things great and believe in what you do and they will see it as well.