Speaking as an Expert Makes You One - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Speaking as an Expert Makes You One - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I had been writing for seven years before I finally decided to call myself a writer. Even so, I was unsure. I wasnt A Writer. I was an Oh, Im also a writer. . .? (You know that annoying way people put the question mark at the end of a statement? I did that for three more years.) But now, 24 years after I started writing, I finally achieved what I consider to be my capstone accomplishment as a writer: I gave a keynote speech about writing to 150 bloggers. It wasnt the books Ive written that I consider my crowning achievement. It wasnt the newspaper columns, plays, speeches, or even the blog posts Ive written.   It was the speech itself. Because even after 24 years of being a writer, there was still a small part of me that questioned whether I was really a writer. Even after 24 years of being a word slinger, I still worried that someone could cast doubt on my self-proclaimed title. By giving the day two keynote at Blog Indiana though, I was able to plant that flag in the sand and could stop anyone from taking it away from me. After all, if I stand up in a room full of people and declare myself to be an authority on something Ive done for over two decades, then I must be a really-and-for-true writer, right? Hell yeah! I had never felt more like a writer than I did when I was finished. So heres the lesson I want to share If you want to be the smartest person in the room, if you want to be the authority, if you want people to mention your name as the expert about a topic, speak about it. A lot. Not just once at your local Toastmasters group, or to the local I dont get it nonprofit charity group. Attend a conference in your field, and speak about an industry niche or specialty. If youre a librarian, talk about how social media is changing reading habits of patrons. If youre in sales, talk about how referral networking leads to better results than cold calling. If youre in publishing, talk about how ebooks are changing traditional publishing. If you talk about a topic enough times â€" assuming youre also blogging about it, guest blogging, and writing for industry journals â€" you will soon be the expert on that topic. It will be your name that everyone bandies about when that topic comes up for discussion. If youre not a public speaker, learn how. Join a Toastmasters group and start learning. Once you complete your Certified Toastmasters (CTM) program, offer to speak for free to small community groups and at special events. Get several of those under your belt, then speak at industry conferences. Take advantage of every speaking opportunity you can. Every time you do this, promote your talk to your social network so they can see youre a speaker. Take some photos and then write a follow-up blog post about your talk. Whenever possible, get videos to put on your website as further proof of your speaking ability. Of course, this means you have to have the goods â€" the actual knowledge you profess to own. Dont get up and  BS your way through a presentation, counting on basic, scant knowledge to skate you past a bunch of people who actually do know better. Theyll see right through you and youll lose any credibility you had built up to that point. So get educated about your biggest passion and start telling as many people about it as you can. Its a great way to build your personal brand, and put that final stamp of expertise on what you do. Author: Erik Deckers is the co-owner of Professional Blog Service, and the co-author of Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself. His new book, No Bullshit Social Media: The All-Business, No-Hype Guide to Social Media Marketing, which he wrote with Jason Falls, will be released in October 2011.

How to Write a CV for the First Time

How to Write a CV for the First TimeIf you are reading this then you are probably wondering how to write a CV for the first time. A lot of people have trouble with writing them, or may even be having some difficulty with it now and I'm going to share with you how to do it.Firstly it's important that you know what a CV is and how to write one. I am not going to go into great detail on this so if you are interested in learning more about this topic you should read our post on it: Introduction to CVs.The question I'm most often asked when starting out with CVs is whether or not they are just a resume and why. Well, the short answer is yes. But they are also a way of showing employers that you have actually made an effort and have put in the hard work to make yourself available to them.So now you have the question on how to write a CV, it's very important that you pick up your pen and start writing. The next question is which method should you use?Firstly I would say that the biggest pro blem with resumes is not knowing where to start. It doesn't matter if you use MS Word, Microsoft Word or just plain old Word, you need to start by deciding which question you want to answer.If you are struggling to think of questions to answer this might be because you don't know where to start, the best way to go about this is to write down all the questions that you have and then simply looking for them in the list. A lot of people struggle to find their CV questions but don't worry it's not difficult and you will get there in time.The second thing that I would recommend is that you start by figuring out what type of CV you are going to be writing. This is not always as easy as it sounds but once you have you should easily get it.As you can see the method I used was a bit more advanced than the other methods out there. You should start off writing a CV and then pick and choose to write the more in depth sections of it. Once you get your head around the structure then I'd suggest t hat you move onto the more advanced methods.

5 Reasons Why Your Performance At Work Is Declining CareerMetis.com

5 Reasons Why Your Performance At Work Is Declining â€" CareerMetis.com In a world where high-demand is a common ingredient in daily life and working performance is expected to be top-notch, many people are suffering from the struggles of keeping a balanced working life with their personal time, thus, in many cases, leading to serious health issues for not taking into account the amount of stress we put in our lives.Regardless of what people may think of what is healthy or not for a working environment, 5 crucial factors can be killing your overall performance, and we are going to cover them in detail in this article.1) Not Sleeping EnoughevalWhile many of you can relate to the scenario in which not sleeping seems like the solution for meeting up with a huge workload, actually is the very first cause of why so many works are being held behind.Studies show that people that sleep less than 6 hours a day are prone to suffer from cardiac illnesses, anxiety, depression, diabetes, not to mention chances of becoming an overweight person are twice what could be expected for an average person.The reason for these elements to occur is related to our metabolism, which is severely affected by switching shifts or reducing the sleep time needed per day. Alterations in metabolism due to poor sleeping can be acknowledged in less than a week of sustained habit, requiring in some cases professional help to counter side effects like gastritis, insomnia or anxiety attacks.2) Lack of a Proper ScheduleAnd behind the lack of adequate sleep time comes the sole reason why people are constantly delayed with work: they simply don’t build up a schedule.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comWith milestones to meet, reunions to attend, time to study or put to practice newly acquired skills, it’s important to track down all the activities to fulfill during a day as to prevent not only losing time in unimportant activities but also to remember everything that should be done in a day.3) RelationshipsBy this, we are not only referring to personal relationships as what cou ld be coupled but also working relationships. People that are constantly exposed to stress, in most cases, happen to be suffering from stressful relationships with their bosses, co-workers, and taking that amount of stress to their household.Photo Credit- Pexels.comRemember that attitude is the first step towards a top-notch working performance. In case you have differences with your boss, it is best to sit down and talk about a way in which both of you can manage to achieve the goals the company has without compromising, even more, your personal relationship as part of the organization itself. A discouraged employee won’t be able to deliver the same energy to the working environment as a person who feels the work that is doing as their project.4) Lack of ExerciseevalThere is a well-known link between a sedentary lifestyle and a good amount of health issues, and besides those who can define themselves as couch potatoes, people happen to fall under the claws of a sedentary lifestyl e out of lack of time for doing the needed exercise time a day.Motivation is a factor of course, as people that are suffering from financial inconveniences won’t be feeling driven to take sport as an activity in contrast which what happens to successful business entrepreneurs; however, there is important to not take lack of exercise as just another element to add to your list of pending things to do â€" by doing 45 minutes of intensive walk sessions a day you most likely feel renewed energies by the end of the week.5) Distractions, Distractions and More DistractionsNot every single person that quotes distractions as the reason why their performance is struggling has ADHD. The most common distraction to take into account for the past 5 years is social media and mobile phones, thus the reason why they are banned in many working environments.Nevertheless, there are other important elements to consider in our working environment that can lead to distractions:Loud conversations.Music.L ack of proper working space.Phone calls.Outside factors: urban noise.Uncomfortable working furniture.Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comevalIn case you wish to help your overall performance, do sit down and track the elements you consider might be taking your focus from the work to get done.If the factors are strictly your responsibility â€" like losing time in chit-chat or social media â€" then it is time to consider new habits; if, on the other hand, is related to your current working conditions, then politely approach your bosses and talk about what could be done and how can you help to fix this situation.Not only you are showing interest in doing a better job, but also you are acknowledging your current limitations â€" an A+ score for projecting a professional image with your boss.

Open Source Car - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Open Source Car - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog The OScar Project is an attempt to design a car using an Open Source, web-based approach. Anybody can contribute to the concept and design at the website. I loved this quote from the site: You cant treat a car like a human being. A car needs love. Walter R?hrl Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Do You Need More Reasons to Enhance Your Online Profile -

Do You Need More Reasons to Enhance Your Online Profile - Photo by Turbo Because every bunnys doing it?   I couldnt resist the pun when I found this image on flikrIn all seriousness, I read yet another reason to update your linkedin profile and focus on your social network Yesterday, my cyber-friend, Chris Russel at Secrets of the Job Hunt, blogged about a recent survey developed by Robert Half International. An independent research firm interviewed 150 senior executives from the nations 1,000 largest companies.   They asked executives: Which of the following technology tools do you believe will be most useful in your firms recruiting efforts in the next three years? The responses: Professional networking sites (such as Linkedin).62% Social networking sites (such as Facebook or MySpace ).35% Video resumes..20% Second Life..7% None of these..15% Other/dont know. 10% * Multiple responses were allowed. (For the record, both Chris and I were surprised at the 20% figure for video resumes, as our experience is that they are not widely used.) Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Job Hunting For Dummies, noted, Tried-and-true methods such as networking at industry events, submitting well-written resumes and cover letters and diligently following up with hiring managers are still essential to landing the ideal jobCombining personal and online networking offers the best of both worlds. I love to quote experts who agree with advice Ive been giving for years! Follow this link for tips to get your social network going. For suggestions to improve your linkedin profile, click here. Follow this link  to read our advice regarding networking in general. Keppie Careers will help you enhance your linkedin.com profile.   Email us at results@keppiecareers.com for more information about our high quality, affordable services.  

Tips on Writing a Resume

Tips on Writing a ResumeThe main purpose of writing a resume is to get an application letter from your prospective employer. So, the main task is to know how to use your resume effectively for this purpose.If you have an objective or a career objective, it is advisable to write it in your resume. You can write it in your cover letter. However, if you have a personal objective, then you can add that at the end of your resume.Before you send your resume, write a cover letter. It is important to include all your qualifications and skills in the resume. A resume needs to be able to persuade your employer to take you seriously.When writing your resume, there are some points that you should consider before going to the human resource section. One point is to determine if your job title is considered to be professional. One thing is that you need to convince your prospective employer that you are qualified enough to join his team.You should write in your resume about the position that you a re applying for. For instance, you are applying for a management position, the point that you should mention is that you are the best candidate to fill the role. The other important point that you should consider when writing a resume is to include your educational qualification. In fact, this will tell the recruiter if you have the qualification to take up the position.At the end of your application letter, you should write about your skills and knowledge. When it comes to skills, you should mention them in the end of your resume.To summarize, the resume should contain important information that can help your recruiter to decide whether you are worth the interview or not. So, make sure that you include these points in your resume.

LGBT Workplace Discrimination Where Its Legal to Be Fired

LGBT Workplace Discrimination Where It's Legal to Be Fired Millions of LGBTQ Americans can be fired â€" legally â€" due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. But this harsh reality will soon be put to its biggest test. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider three cases that hinge on this issue of workplace protections for LGBTQ workers. Depending on how the court decides, this move could expand protections for LGBTQ individuals in the workplace across the country, or upend or stall progress advocates have already made on the state level. Without a federal law or extension of the Civil Rights Act, 21 states and the District of Columbia enacted legislation in recent years that prohibits discriminatory employment practices based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 24 other states, at least one city or county has created its own ordinances to do the same for private employees. It’s a complicated issue for workers in many states. Michigan and Pennsylvania, for example, do not have state-wide laws related to this issue but they interpret existing federal laws to offer these protections. In Wisconsin, a state-wide law exists but only prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation not gender identity, a distinction that leaves out transgender and queer workers. And states like Ohio and Indiana have protections for LGBTQ state employees. The Supreme Court will hear the cases in the fall and likely make a decision in the middle of the 2020 presidential election. The biggest question at stake is whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, color, or national original, also protects sexual orientation and gender identity. And that depends in part on whether sexual orientation and gender identity can be defined as “sex” in these circumstances. These cases could also hinge on whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a federal law that prohibits state agencies from impeding a person’s religious freedom, could outweigh accusations of workplace discrimination based on these factors. The three cases the court will consider include a New York-based skydiving instructor who said he was fired because he was gay, a Georgia county government employee who said he was fired because he was gay, and a Michigan funeral home employee who said her employer fired her after she told him she was transitioning. A Supreme Court decision could have an insurmountable impact, as federal agencies and appeals courts are split on the issue. The appeals courts in the 2nd Circuit and 7th Circuit ruled that the 1964 law does protect Americans from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The 11th Circuit ruled the law does not protect discrimination on this basis. Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the Justice Department argues Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not protect sexual orientation. But the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws in the workplace, considers sexual orientation and gender identity protected under federal law. The case will face a court without Anthony Kennedy, who retired last year. The justice was seen as a vital swing vote particularly for cases surrounding LGBTQ issues. Justice Brett Kavanaugh has since replaced Kennedy’s vacated seat on the court. (Sen. Cory Booker, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, asked Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings whether a person can be fired because of his or her sexual orientation. “In my workplace,” Kavanaugh responded, “I hire people because of their talents and abilities.”) Advocates on both sides of the issue are eager a Supreme Court decision could set a new precedent. Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative group that filed a petition to the Supreme Court to hear the Michigan woman’s case, argues a ruling in her favor would “rewrite federal law by replacing ‘sex’ with ‘gender identity’.” The Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ civil rights group, hopes the court will swing in their favor and incite the implementation of further protections for LGBTQ individuals in and outside of the workplace. “No one should be denied a job or fired simply because of who they are or who they love, including LGBTQ people,” said Sarah Warbelow, Legal Director for the Human Rights Campaign in a statement. “The growing legal consensus is that our nation’s civil rights laws do protect LGBTQ people against discrimination under sex nondiscrimination laws. The Supreme Court has an opportunity to clarify this area of law to ensure protections for LGBTQ people in many important areas of life.”