I Want You to Want Me !!!!

“People will hate you, rate you, break you, and shake you; How strong you stand is what makes you”- Judy Reynolds, Facebook 2011.

Interesting comment I received via Facebook the other night. And how timely and true it could really be. Everyone wants to be number #1, sometimes so much so, that they forget the things they felt were important at one time, or feel that success is the be all and end all. To me, this all comes down to merit, how much faith we place in ourselves; and how much of a hold we allow others to have on our affairs.

Everybody would love at one time or another to be the “Top Dog” but what is the true cost of this position? Is it something which could consume us to the point which it becomes all we are focused on? (to the dismay of those closest to us) or will it be something that we only occasionally think about, because we are happy with the “status quo”. I think when we are younger, a good portion would be ‘A’ because we are trying to prove ourselves as a worthy employee. As we get older, not so much, as with age comes the general thought that we have taken all the steps necessary to prove ourselves; and now we are letting our drive and reputation lead the way somewhat. There will always be that young pup chomping at the bit to succeed and prove he is the new “chosen one”. One day (s)he will realize that motivation will only get you so far; sometimes skill and knowledge do trump youth.

That’s not to say that those around you won’t try at some point to burst your bubble. This could be a healthy case of jealousy over your success and what they deem “the golden horseshoe”. Skill still counts in today’s workplace and if you can receive the education needed to continually improve in your work environment, good for you! At the end of the day, it is your standard of living which you should be concerned with; and even your closest advisor isn’t going to take responsibility for your welfare. How bad do you want the “Brass Ring” and to what lengths are you willing to go before reality kicks you in the keister?

Never be afraid to be yourself; popularity contests are only for the insecure and those who know no better. by keeping your head down and your goals up, you will find a balance can be struck between what you are seen as and what you really are capable of. Stand firm, and don’t for one minute change your belief system, at the end of the day it just isn’t worth it, and probably sooner than later; the others that have been judging you, will see you were right the whole time.

Now that, is Something to Think About….

©2011 thedanieljsmith

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How Much is Too Much?

This is probably a topic I have already had my say on. If not, please let me ramble for a few minutes on the importance of some personal information on an online profile (used to acquire business)

I think it is safe to say that most of us are active on Linked In, Twitter, Facebook, Recruiting Blogs, (or any blog in general) and on these and many other sites we have been asked to provide some information of a personal nature (Name, E-mail, Phone Number, or any way someone can contact you). Its surprising how many people don’t leave any information at all, or give half an effort, almost like they don’t want any contact, just the ability to give their point of view on anything, because it is the one that counts.

Especially interesting is the amount of people who have a fantastic looking Linked-In profile, complete with a decent profile picture and glowing recommendations, but NO e-mail address or contact phone number!! Why do half a job? It would seem to me that setting up a profile in the first place would be to attract interest, either if your abilities are needed by someone (in a hiring position), or you seem to have posted a reasonable amount of information that causes someone to wish to reach out to….

Never mind, they can’t reach out to you because you are still a phantom. Yes I am sure you answered all the questions you thought were important, but unfortunately you left out a key one—How to get in touch with you.

Even if you are just using these accounts on an employee/employer basis; something as basic as an email address or a business phone number would do wonders for people wanting more of what you appear to be selling—Your opinion.

It can be flattering to have others try to look you up. From a personal branding perspective it is almost a slam-dunk in needed information. And probably more important, giving out the e-mail from any provider does not guarantee that you will be on the receiving end of a boatload of spam, or offers to buy-in to some foreign currency scheme left by a “recently deceased” loved one.

If this is a concern, allow me to introduce you to the solution- Your delete button and your junk folder. If you start receiving alot of unwanted crap—Send it to the cleaners and give it all the respect it deserves. More times than not, you will receive solid invitations from people like yourself, looking to expand on their PROFESSIONAL Networks. It shouldn’t be perceived that giving an address equates to opening the book on your life (thats why you have personal e-mail and professional e-mail); not everyone wants to know all about you—Just what you have to offer or could possibly bring to the table in a business situation.

That is a rather large word—Business; but one that surprisingly is necessary. How do we find our leads or prospective business colleagues? A lot of them could come from everyday life; or they are contacts you have know for years and feel safe dealing with. But where does that leave the new business required to move forward and stay profitable? Do you really want to lose out on future dealings by not completely giving the necessary information at this time? Probably the answer is NO.

Yes, there are lead creating programs that could probably guess the information; but I do not see any reason why we would leave a sure thing to chance. There is even a chance that a close contact has the information you require, but that would allow someone else in on a potential business deal that you would like not to talk about until it is time.

The nice thing about generic e-mail programs is that they are readily available from most search providers. (Hotmail, Yahoo, G-Mail to name a few) if you really don’t wish a business account. However please bear in mind that the more professional your appearance; the more you will be perceived as the guy to reach out to who knows how to get things done.

Anyone who has read previous blogs will know that this is something I am passionate about; not because I am looking to change anyones business model.. but because it only makes good business sense.

PLEASE, PLEASE, if you are going to set up a fantastic profile outlining all of your good qualities and your business acumen; add that additional sentence by posting an E-MAIL Address. You may find an increase in queries and business contacts because of it. From me to you……that is…..

Something to Think About!!

©thedanieljsmith 2011

I may be reached at www.linkedin.com/in/thedanieljsmith

Trust

One word, Five letters, Able to do a lot of good or create a lot of damage. Something usually given too early and withdrawn too late.It’s hard to give at first, and real scary to receive. My question today: When do you know the time is right to “use” Trust ? This is open-ended as it could pertain to people, to jobs, to life-situations; basically to anything or anyone you feel will help you accomplish your end-goal in life.

Sure I understand that we must have enough respect for ourselves that any decision we make in regards to other people or projects will at least be thought through before beginning, and we are not signing any “big-money” deals without checking with those closest to us. Who do we know “they” are, and how do we know “they” actually have our best interest at heart.

We have to realize that in life, everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE has an agenda, and guess what: Your thoughts, feelings, concerns or well-being aren’t necessarily at the top of their list. The sooner you realize that two letters are all that is important to the other party (the first letter is “M”…you guess the other), the sooner we can bring some clarity to our life. As a judge of character, by nature, We Suck! Too often do we move ahead before we know the destination, too soon do we trust when we don’t know the motivation and too soon do we care when all the information is not forth-coming.

Recently, I have had cause to pause and (metaphorically) bang my head against the wall (anyone who knows of me will see the irony) all in the hope of making sense out of, not one, but two (2) crummy situations, Neither of which were of my creation, other than I proceeded on a path that wasn’t “fully paved”. The moment the rough patch was hit, those I was counting on had left for greener pastures. C’est La Vie… or something like that. I will survive and be stronger with the knowledge that I have to get up each and every time I am knocked down, and take the bad with the good. Hopefully next time, I will have the sense to see the forest, and look through the undergrowth before proceeding…..Who am I kidding, I’ll just dive in head-first like I always do, and pay the price with a splitting headache when it is all over.

Those who know me, know I wouldn’t do anything different, I’m just that type of guy.

If you think you see yourself in the above piece, think long and think hard before you firmly commit to something that the other party has no real intention of following through on. This has nothing to do with Sales, or with Recruiting or Sourcing; just a life lesson and….

…Something to Think About

Trust

One word, Five letters, Able to do a lot of good or create a lot of damage. Something usually given too early and withdrawn too late.It’s hard to give at first, and real scary to receive. My question today: When do you know the time is right to “use” Trust ? This is open-ended as it could pertain to people, to jobs, to life-situations; basically to anything or anyone you feel will help you accomplish your end-goal in life.

Sure I understand that we must have enough respect for ourselves that any decision we make in regards to other people or projects will at least be thought through before beginning, and we are not signing any “big-money” deals without checking with those closest to us. Who do we know “they” are, and how do we know “they” actually have our best interest at heart.

We have to realize that in life, everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE has an agenda, and guess what: Your thoughts, feelings, concerns or well-being aren’t necessarily at the top of their list. The sooner you realize that two letters are all that is important to the other party (the first letter is “M”…you guess the other), the sooner we can bring some clarity to our life. As a judge of character, by nature, We Suck! Too often do we move ahead before we know the destination, too soon do we trust when we don’t know the motivation and too soon do we care when all the information is not forth-coming.

Recently, I have had cause to pause and (metaphorically) bang my head against the wall (anyone who knows of me will see the irony) all in the hope of making sense out of, not one, but two (2) crummy situations, Neither of which were of my creation, other than I proceeded on a path that wasn’t “fully paved”. The moment the rough patch was hit, those I was counting on had left for greener pastures. C’est La Vie… or something like that. I will survive and be stronger with the knowledge that I have to get up each and every time I am knocked down, and take the bad with the good. Hopefully next time, I will have the sense to see the forest, and look through the undergrowth before proceeding…..Who am I kidding, I’ll just dive in head-first like I always do, and pay the price with a splitting headache when it is all over.

Those who know me, know I wouldn’t do anything different, I’m just that type of guy.

If you think you see yourself in the above piece, think long and think hard before you firmly commit to something that the other party has no real intention of following through on. This has nothing to do with Sales, or with Recruiting or Sourcing; just a life lesson and….

…Something to Think About

Daniel J. Smith
Community Manager/ Sourcers’ Apprentice

Radical Events
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When in Doubt...Just be Yourself!!!

In this day and age where every little look means something, and every little phrase or #tweet means something else, where do we draw the line? At work, we are expected to achieve certain goals and carry a certain aura around us, In our personal life we spend an equal amount of time (or more) trying to distance ourselves from our work persona to lead a relatively happy home life. My question is this….What would happen if we just chose to put forth one (1) image and let the chips fall where they may?

Would it really be that bad to have some of the home-life drift into business? This may allow you to see obstacles in a new light, thereby allowing you to come to an answer in less time and with better-than-expected results. How bad would it really be if a little of the home-body or family-(wo)man to drift into the work arena and possibly keep the peace in a tense situation, or again set an alternative view to a pressing problem.

It doesn’t matter what you do, at some point that line has either become or will soon become blurred, your “secret” identity will become public and you will be outed as the super person you always knew you were. Why keep the good traits secret, or only bring them out on special occasions? You don’t (traditionally) keep secrets at home or with your inner-circle; so why not just take the bull by the horns and expand that horizon and allow everyone to see all facets of you.

Someone said to me recently, “Think of your life as a triangle, with you as the base and home and work at the sides. Do you not think that at some point home will blur into work and work into home?” If you think about it, it is rather inevitable and you will have to confront the obvious….No matter how hard you try, you are only one person and you can only please so many people in one day, why not start with yourself? Best laid plans occasionally do come to fruition and bear the mighty fruit that comes with success as surely as you can shoot yourself in the foot as you attempt to sell a new client on your product, thus losing the account. If we present one persona, one visible identity, then there would only be one person disappointed with the results… You!

Please yourself and by default you can have both a happy home life and a successful career.

Daniel J. Smith
Community Manager

Threewords Me: http://www.threewords.me/thedanieljsmith
Awesomize Me: http://www.awesomize.me/thedanieljsmith
Join My Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Daniel-J-Smith/199011880109236
Join My Branchout: http://bit.ly/i5uwAn 

My profiles:          
Contact me: 

 thedanieljsmith 

 danieljsmith@hotmail.ca

See the full gallery on Posterous

When in Doubt....Just be yourself!!!

In this day and age where every little look means something, and every little phrase or #tweet means something else, where do we draw the line? At work, we are expected to achieve certain goals and carry a certain aura around us, In our personal life we spend an equal amount of time (or more) trying to distance ourselves from our work persona to lead a relatively happy home life. My question is this….What would happen if we just chose to put forth one (1) image and let the chips fall where they may?

Would it really be that bad to have some of the home-life drift into business? This may allow you to see obstacles in a new light, thereby allowing you to come to an answer in less time and with better-than-expected results. How bad would it really be if a little of the home-body or family-(wo)man to drift into the work arena and possibly keep the peace in a tense situation, or again set an alternative view to a pressing problem.

It doesn’t matter what you do, at some point that line has either become or will soon become blurred, your “secret” identity will become public and you will be outed as the super person you always knew you were. Why keep the good traits secret, or only bring them out on special occasions? You don’t (traditionally) keep secrets at home or with your inner-circle; so why not just take the bull by the horns and expand that horizon and allow everyone to see all facets of you.

Someone said to me recently, “Think of your life as a triangle, with you as the base and home and work at the sides. Do you not think that at some point home will blur into work and work into home?” If you think about it, it is rather inevitable and you will have to confront the obvious….No matter how hard you try, you are only one person and you can only please so many people in one day, why not start with yourself? Best laid plans occasionally do come to fruition and bear the mighty fruit that comes with success as surely as you can shoot yourself in the foot as you attempt to sell a new client on your product, thus losing the account. If we present one persona, one visible identity, then there would only be one person disappointed with the results… You!

Please yourself and by default you can have both a happy home life and a successful career.

Recruiting and the Upcoming Election… « Something To Think About…..

Canada is about to have yet another election on May 2,2011, Many people have varying degrees of opinion over the value of an election, from saying that there is merit in “shaking up” the status quo, to relegating it to a popularity contest where the winner was never in doubt, as the candidate got their name out just one more time than their opponent. And it seems invariably that after the election takes place, there are nay-sayers about the process, and that they were right in not voting, as “their vote doesn’t matter”
That is all well and good; and being a democratic society we all have the right to that opinion. I am of the mind that “Change happens when Change Happens” or the ripple in the stream effect: Change can happen, just not overnight, and you have to be prepared for the long haul. Great opinion, but what does that have to do with recruiting. Those who don’t take the time or do the research really don’t have anything to complain about if the election doesn’t play out just like they want, the same is said for the job-seeker who doesn’t do his/her homework
There are two parties involved in any recruiting contract: you have the Recruiter; and you have the Job-seeker. How the two came into this situation probably had to do with an opening at an expanding organization. The recruiter heard about it and went about finding the candidates required. Our job-seeker may not have actively been searching when (s)he was contacted; but was curious about a “better offer” and opportunity than they currently have. Dollar signs and thoughts of a better life and promotions fill their mind. Possibly they were bored with the current challenge, or feel that they were not appreciated enough to continue down the present career path, and opt for the new opportunity. This brings us to the election scenario. On the ballot there are a number of options, the candidates in your home area. You get to pick one and if enough of their friends get the vote; then you have a new government. If you haven’t done the homework, or the research, there is a possibility your vote may go to the wrong party.
In a job-search situation, the recruiter has an opportunity. Whether it is right for the individual, that remains to be seen. How many people actually map out a career anyway? More times than not, if an opportunity sounds solid, we pursue it. And when it goes “south” who do we blame: Everybody who had a hand in “the hire” except for ourselves.
I guess what I am trying to say in a long-winded way, is you have to take responsibilities for your decisions, and stand by them. A recruiter will present an opportunity, not break your arm if you choose not to proceed. You have to step up and follow through, however next time (and there will be one) you have to remember to do your homework first. This way you know what you will receive, and the surprises will be less.
That is a Radical idea….and Something to Think About….
©2011 thedanieljsmith