With money you can buy a house but not a home
With money you can buy a clock but not time
With money you can buy a bad but not sleep
With money you can buy a book, but not knowledge
With money you can see a doctor, but not good health
With money you can buy a position but not respect
With money you can buy blood but not life
With money you can buy sex but not love
Friday, March 30, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
22 Solid Career Lessons
Here are 22 solid career lessons as a result of over 3 decades of professional research.
Lesson 1.You're like a small company: "You, Ltd." Even if you work for a big company, you're on your own. Companies aren't people. They're things, often uncaring things. Companies don't have feelings. Those who expect companies to "take care of them", or to "do the right thing" are often disappointed, especially when they feel they have strong friendships in the company. No one (can or should) cares more about your career than you do. Remember that, and don't expect "the company" to take care of you.
Lesson 2.Certain people belong in certain kinds of jobs. You do have special gifts that fit you for some, disqualify you for others. Self knowledge is essential (but rare). Take time to assess your skills, temperament, and aptitudes in depth. Everyone--even senior executives--could benefit from the help of a qualified career counselor.
Lesson 3.Careers are short-term. On any given day, your present job can end, even if you own the company! Therefore, think short term. Don't take your present opportunity for granted. I define a consultant as "Someone who wakes up every morning unemployed." You should feel the same way. Wake up every morning feeling unemployed--appreciate your job--and figure out what you're going to do next. It's always great to have a "Plan B."
Lesson 4. It's more important to be a "people person" than to be an achievement-oriented person always winning at the cost of others. People skills are more important than technical skills. Even in technical jobs, you have to interface with someone. Often the average performers who are easier to get along with last longer.
Lesson 5.Your achievements (results, accomplishments) are your stepping stone for the future. They will determine your marketability. In marketing yourself, it's results that count. Make sure you're contributing something substantial and measurable every single day. Make sure you keep a written record of your results. Always ask yourself at the end of each day “What have I achieved today?”
Lesson 6.If you lose your job, 80% of your marketing for a new position is already done. That's right. Your reputation, results, accomplishments, people skills, kindnesses, contributions, friendships are all a matter of record. If you've been a contributor, if you've been kind to others and easy-to-work-with, you'll be in demand. If not, you won't. No consultant in the world can create friendship for you if you haven't created it for yourself.
Lesson 7.Changing fields, industries, and functional specialties is difficult, and more difficult the bigger the change. Plastics manufacturers won't want to hire you if you've been in steel. And vice versa. Choose your career path carefully. As management expert Peter Drucker says, "The best way to predict the future is to plan it."
Lesson 8.Salesman, Customer Service Representative, Staff Accountant, Technical Writer isn't a career. Accounts Payable Clerk, Junior Accountant, Accountant, Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance is a career.
Lesson 9.People tend to earn what they deserve to earn.
Lesson 10.Love, happiness, friendship, and time for oneself are just as important as career. If career is everything in your life, you could be disappointed if your career is sidetracked.
Lesson 11.If you're fired or laid off, ask yourself why you didn't see it coming; or if you did see it coming, ask yourself why you didn't do something about it. Figure out your part in causing the problem. Then set about creating a new, better life for yourself. There is a better life in your future.
Lesson 12.Don't ever let yourself be unemployed, even for a day. Volunteer a few hours, work part-time for a temporary agency, help a friend in his or her company. Do something to get yourself out of the house. Unemployment is a mind-set you should avoid.
Lesson 13.Don't stay in a job you hate. Hating your job can kill you.
Lesson 14.Too much success can kill you. Notice I said "too much success," not "too much stress." Learn when enough is enough. Success itself can cause you problems. If you think you're burning out, you may be right. Highly successful people are the most subject to burnout of all. They demand the most from themselves--and everyone around them
Lesson 15.Success is difficult. If success were easy, everyone would be successful.
Lesson 16.There's a special place for everyone. You can create the kind of future you want. Just remember:
Lesson 17.Nothing good happens fast.
Lesson 18.The workplace is fun and challenging. It can also be cruel and heartless. It rewards effort and planning, but tends to punish indifference and lack of preparation. Those who don't manage their careers--who just let things happen-often end up in painful, dead-end jobs and lifestyles.
Lesson 19.You are fully in control of your own future. No one can deny you a happy life if you decide to plan it and work for it. No one can stop you from becoming successful, but yourself.
Lesson 20.It's never too late for a new beginning.
Lesson 21.Your friends--even distant friends--are your best allies in a job-search. No one will help you more than those who already know your name. So make an extensive list of everyone you've met in life--and let them know your situation.
Lesson 22.Align yourself with winners. Hang around with winners. Success really does rub off from others. There's no substitute for "knowing the right people," and for "being in the right place at the right time."
Lesson 1.You're like a small company: "You, Ltd." Even if you work for a big company, you're on your own. Companies aren't people. They're things, often uncaring things. Companies don't have feelings. Those who expect companies to "take care of them", or to "do the right thing" are often disappointed, especially when they feel they have strong friendships in the company. No one (can or should) cares more about your career than you do. Remember that, and don't expect "the company" to take care of you.
Lesson 2.Certain people belong in certain kinds of jobs. You do have special gifts that fit you for some, disqualify you for others. Self knowledge is essential (but rare). Take time to assess your skills, temperament, and aptitudes in depth. Everyone--even senior executives--could benefit from the help of a qualified career counselor.
Lesson 3.Careers are short-term. On any given day, your present job can end, even if you own the company! Therefore, think short term. Don't take your present opportunity for granted. I define a consultant as "Someone who wakes up every morning unemployed." You should feel the same way. Wake up every morning feeling unemployed--appreciate your job--and figure out what you're going to do next. It's always great to have a "Plan B."
Lesson 4. It's more important to be a "people person" than to be an achievement-oriented person always winning at the cost of others. People skills are more important than technical skills. Even in technical jobs, you have to interface with someone. Often the average performers who are easier to get along with last longer.
Lesson 5.Your achievements (results, accomplishments) are your stepping stone for the future. They will determine your marketability. In marketing yourself, it's results that count. Make sure you're contributing something substantial and measurable every single day. Make sure you keep a written record of your results. Always ask yourself at the end of each day “What have I achieved today?”
Lesson 6.If you lose your job, 80% of your marketing for a new position is already done. That's right. Your reputation, results, accomplishments, people skills, kindnesses, contributions, friendships are all a matter of record. If you've been a contributor, if you've been kind to others and easy-to-work-with, you'll be in demand. If not, you won't. No consultant in the world can create friendship for you if you haven't created it for yourself.
Lesson 7.Changing fields, industries, and functional specialties is difficult, and more difficult the bigger the change. Plastics manufacturers won't want to hire you if you've been in steel. And vice versa. Choose your career path carefully. As management expert Peter Drucker says, "The best way to predict the future is to plan it."
Lesson 8.Salesman, Customer Service Representative, Staff Accountant, Technical Writer isn't a career. Accounts Payable Clerk, Junior Accountant, Accountant, Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance is a career.
Lesson 9.People tend to earn what they deserve to earn.
Lesson 10.Love, happiness, friendship, and time for oneself are just as important as career. If career is everything in your life, you could be disappointed if your career is sidetracked.
Lesson 11.If you're fired or laid off, ask yourself why you didn't see it coming; or if you did see it coming, ask yourself why you didn't do something about it. Figure out your part in causing the problem. Then set about creating a new, better life for yourself. There is a better life in your future.
Lesson 12.Don't ever let yourself be unemployed, even for a day. Volunteer a few hours, work part-time for a temporary agency, help a friend in his or her company. Do something to get yourself out of the house. Unemployment is a mind-set you should avoid.
Lesson 13.Don't stay in a job you hate. Hating your job can kill you.
Lesson 14.Too much success can kill you. Notice I said "too much success," not "too much stress." Learn when enough is enough. Success itself can cause you problems. If you think you're burning out, you may be right. Highly successful people are the most subject to burnout of all. They demand the most from themselves--and everyone around them
Lesson 15.Success is difficult. If success were easy, everyone would be successful.
Lesson 16.There's a special place for everyone. You can create the kind of future you want. Just remember:
Lesson 17.Nothing good happens fast.
Lesson 18.The workplace is fun and challenging. It can also be cruel and heartless. It rewards effort and planning, but tends to punish indifference and lack of preparation. Those who don't manage their careers--who just let things happen-often end up in painful, dead-end jobs and lifestyles.
Lesson 19.You are fully in control of your own future. No one can deny you a happy life if you decide to plan it and work for it. No one can stop you from becoming successful, but yourself.
Lesson 20.It's never too late for a new beginning.
Lesson 21.Your friends--even distant friends--are your best allies in a job-search. No one will help you more than those who already know your name. So make an extensive list of everyone you've met in life--and let them know your situation.
Lesson 22.Align yourself with winners. Hang around with winners. Success really does rub off from others. There's no substitute for "knowing the right people," and for "being in the right place at the right time."
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
This is Good
The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, “This is good!”
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king.
The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.
Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, “This is good!”
To which the king replied, “No, this is NOT good!” and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village.
They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb.
Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.
“You were right,” he said, “it was good that my thumb was blown off.” And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened.
“And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.”
“No,” his friend replied, “This is good!”
“What do you mean, ‘This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?”
“If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you.” Situations may not always seem
pleasant while we experience them, but it depends the way you see them… the choice is yours!
“This is good” friend,
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king.
The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.
Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, “This is good!”
To which the king replied, “No, this is NOT good!” and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village.
They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb.
Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.
“You were right,” he said, “it was good that my thumb was blown off.” And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened.
“And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.”
“No,” his friend replied, “This is good!”
“What do you mean, ‘This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?”
“If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you.” Situations may not always seem
pleasant while we experience them, but it depends the way you see them… the choice is yours!
“This is good” friend,
Monday, March 12, 2007
Brain of an Indian
BRAIN OF AN INDIAN*
This is not a story but a true incident that happened in USA.
An Indian man walked into a bank in New York City one day and asked for the loan officer.
He told the loan officer that he was going to India on business for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000.
The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan.
The Indian man handed over the keys to a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank.
He produced the title and everything checked out.
The loan officer agreed to accept the car as collateral for the loan.
The bank's president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Indian for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan.
An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parked it there.
Two weeks later, the Indian returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest, which came to $15.41.
The loan officer said, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled.
While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi millionaire.
What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow "$5,000"The Indian replied: "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return'"
Ah, the brain of the Indian... This is why India is shining!!!!!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Telephone Courtesy
Telephone Courtesy does a whole different in today’s corporate world. When callers are treated courteously they normally respond by treating you more pleasantly and with greater respect.
Courtesy even help irate or angry caller become more reasonable.
This enable you to identify and resolve their problems with minimum of conflict and stress on both ends of the line.
Telephone courtesy not only smoothens your relationship with callers, it also helps you become the best you can be as a professional member of your organization’s team.
When you treat all callers courteously even those that you handle for others; you make everyone’s job a lot easier.
Most of all telephone courtesy make your job more interesting and enjoyable.
It is important that you keep the caller point of view and need foremost in mind, especially when you are under pressure. When you do, your job will be more stimulated and rewarding than when you are unable to see pass you own pressure and concern.
Courtesy even help irate or angry caller become more reasonable.
This enable you to identify and resolve their problems with minimum of conflict and stress on both ends of the line.
Telephone courtesy not only smoothens your relationship with callers, it also helps you become the best you can be as a professional member of your organization’s team.
When you treat all callers courteously even those that you handle for others; you make everyone’s job a lot easier.
Most of all telephone courtesy make your job more interesting and enjoyable.
It is important that you keep the caller point of view and need foremost in mind, especially when you are under pressure. When you do, your job will be more stimulated and rewarding than when you are unable to see pass you own pressure and concern.
Below are the key skills of telephone courtesy in answering calls:
Answer calls promptly
You should answer each calls before the second ring if possible. It leaves a favorable impression of your organization and makes the caller feel special.
Identify yourself and your organization
.You should identify yourself and your organization in a clear, distinct tone of voice. many caller contact you not knowing if yours is the right organization to satisfy there need. By the identification, you reassure callers that they have dialled correctly. More you build their confidence, at the outset of the call, in the fact that they have contacted a professional, competence organization. By identifying yourself, you show your willingness to assume your personal responsibility. You confirm that you are not “just someone who work here” or someone who prefer to hide behind smokescreen. Given your name confirm to caller that there is a person on the other end who wants to satisfy their needs.
Be prepared
You must know your product and services. This includes current on any revisions. Or updated information that caller expects you to have. By having the require information, you build their confidence you and your organization. You show that you are confidence and ready to satisfy their needs.You should also know the name and extension co-workers who have the information you lack. This shows that you are part of the cohesive team. It also ensure that you will direct callers person rather than given them the run-around. It often help to have this information taped to your telephone for quick and easy reference.You should also have a pen and notepad handy at all times. This saves callers from having to wait while you are trying to locate them to take notes.
Keep written record
You should take note of all pertinent facts the caller gives you. Keeping a record written of information put the caller at ease and prevents future confusion, misunderstanding or costly errors.
Use the caller’s name
You should use the caller’s name frequently. People value their name, so you should listen to the correct pronunciation. If in doubt please ask for clarification. When you use a caller’s name it shows that your full attention is on this call and on this caller’s unique needs.
Speak with enthusiasm
Your voice should be enthusiasm, pleasant and personal, yet businesslike. You should be sincerely courteous. You should avoid artificially enthusiasm or mechanical, voice. You should to come across naturally and professionally. Since caller can’t see you your voice alone must make them feel welcome. Caller will be strongly affected by both what you say and how you say it. While an indifferent or artificial tone of voice can put callers off, a warm , welcoming tone of voice can draw the caller in and help make the entire transaction smoother and more enjoyable for both of you. Your enthusiasm also helps build the caller’s confidence in you organization’s competence.
Explain all transfer
You should never transfer a call without being sure that you are putting the caller in touch with right person on your end. Explaining why you are transferring the call to your co-worker. This will help the caller feel in control and move in the direction of having his needs met caller’s resent being transferred to someone who is no more qualified satisfy their needs to satisfy their need that the first person they reached.
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