Avoid Babbitry and Stand Out From the Crowd
Do you suffer from babbitry?
It means an excessive feeling of self-satisfaction. It also means small-mindedness, smugness, middle-class mentality.
But my friend, novelist Cathy Day, gave me the best definition of all: a person and especially a business or professional man who conforms unthinkingly to prevailing middle-class standards. The word comes from Sinclair Lewis’ novel, …
Networking Without Neediness
How do you meet people at a dinner or networking event? How do you approach a total stranger without coming off too aggressively or being seen as looking to make a contact to better one’s self?
Steve Boyle of No Excuses, No Regrets Basketball, asked me that question via email a few months ago, and …
Should Your Online Persona Be Different From Your Offline?
“What if my personality in real life is different from my online one?” I was once asked during an interview. “Do I need to hide who I truly am online so people will want to connect with me and I can find a job?”
My answer: If you need to hide who you truly are …
Personal Branding Interview: Rich Gorman
Today, I spoke to Rich Gorman, who is the owner of DirectResponse.net. Gorman is considered an industry expert in the field of Direct Response Marketing, with over 10 years of online marketing experience. In addition to consulting, Gorman maintains a blog at DirectResponse.net that has helped him to spread the word about a relatively new …
The Best Place to Network? Local Coffee Shops
Over the last several years, I’ve drunk enough coffee to float a battleship, all in the name of building my personal brand, and networking with the people I needed to spend time with.
The place I did it? Independent coffee shops nearly all of the time.
I’ve spent so much time in indie coffee shops …
Giver’s Gain: Leverage Your Network Without Abusing It
Steve Boyle runs a cool nonprofit called No Excuses, No Regrets Basketball (the site is being redesigned right now, so follow him at @SteveBoylenenr if you want more information). The organization is dedicated to motivating players to achieve academic success and to be a better person on and off the court (I’m paraphrasing here).
Needless …
4 Tips Introverts Can Improve Their Networking
One of my favorite jokes about IT professionals is “How can you tell you’re talking to an outgoing IT pro? Because when he talks to you, he looks at your shoes instead of his own.”
I have a friend who fits the computer programmer stereotype. Very shy, not very outgoing, doesn’t like being in crowds, …
Personal Branding Interview: Deborah Shane
Today, I spoke to Deborah Shane, who blogs here and is an author, entrepreneur, radio host and expert. Her new book Career Transition-make the shift-the 5 steps to successful career reinvention is available now. In this interview, Deborah talks about how you know when you need to reinvent your career, how to go about reinventing …
Save Your Brand And Dump The Teleprompter
Will video help of hurt your personal brand? Actually, it can do both. A poorly made video will give the impression that you don’t put forth quality products or service. And, a poorly executed video will give the impression that you’re less than professional in your appearance or position.
Yet, for any brand video is …
Personal Branding Interview: Alina Tugend
Today, I spoke to Alina Tugend, who is the author of Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong. Alina has been a journalist for more than twenty-five years and writes the biweekly consumer column “Shortcuts” for the New York Times business section. In this interview, Alina explains her research findings behind her new …