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• Year End Advice: Smile and Mov

  • From: Bud_Bilanich
  • Description:

    212 – The Extra Degree is one of my favorite books.  It makes a simple point.  At 211 degrees Fahrenheit water is just hot water.  At 212 degrees it boils. 

    The authors, Sam Parker and Mac Anderson, say…

    • “Raising the temperature of water by one extra degree means the difference between something that is very hot and something that generates enough force to power a machine…It reminds us that seemingly small things can make tremendous differences.”

    Sam Parker has written a new book, Smile and Move.  I love everything about this book – from the title on.  “Smile and move,” are two great ideas for becoming interpersonally competent.

    I blog about interpersonal competence on Fridays.  Interpersonal competence is one of the keys to success that I discuss in Straight Talk for Success.  If you want to become interpersonally competent, you need to do three things: 1) get to know yourself, use this self knowledge to better understand others; 2) Build solid, long lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with the important people in your life; and 3) learn how to resolve conflict in a positive manner.

    Smile and Move presents some great advice on interpersonal competence.  It shows you “five ways to smile” and “four ways to move” to be of better service to others.  Service to others is at the core of interpersonal competence.  Sam Parker says he wants to start a movement where we all happily serve on another.  He says there has never been a better time for this movement.  I agree.

    Here are Sam’s ideas on five ways to smile and four ways to move…

    Smile – Be Happy
    • Wake up – Show others you care by giving attention to their needs.
    • Be thankful – The opportunity to serve is a gift…not an entitlement.
    • Be approachable – We’re at each other’s service, and contact is where it starts.
    • Complain less – We’ve got work to do.
    • Smile. Really. – It’s where pleasantness begins.

    Move – Do Something
    • Start early and go long – Get lost in your service to others.
    • Exceed expectations – Dismiss mediocrity.  Expect more from yourself.
    • Have a sense of urgency – Predict and pre-sweat the details for others.
    • Be resourceful and resilient – Service is about giving someone what they need…no matter what.

    There is even a kid’s version of Smile and Move.  While I think that interpersonal competence is important for success as an adult, I think it is a very important skill for children to develop.  Sam Parker has hit a home run – no, make that a grand slam – with this book.  I’ve purchased a couple as Christmas gifts and know I’ll be buying and giving away more in 2009.

    The common sense point here is simple.  Successful people are interpersonally competent.  Sam Parker’s new book Smile and Move makes some great points about how to become more interpersonally competent: smile, be happy; and move, do something.  You can read the book online in about 20 minutes.  I’ve already read it twice, and will read it again as soon as I finish writing this post.  This is my final post of 2008.  Smile and Move is my holiday gift to you.  Check it out online.  I think you’ll find that it’s a great book that is full of good ideas for 2009 resolutions.  In 2009, I resolve to: wake up, be thankful, be approachable, complain less, smile more, start early and go long, exceed expectations, have a sense of urgency and to be resourceful and resilient.  I’ll be blogging about my experiences as I go forward.  Happy holidays to you and your family.  I hope that 2009 brings you peace, love, health, happiness and prosperity.  Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts this year.  I am looking forward to further exploring personal and professional success with you next year.

    Bud

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 273
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• Conversation Primer: Ask, List

  • From: Bud_Bilanich
  • Description:

    It’s December 18.  Christmas is one week away.  Chanukah starts on Monday December 22.  The Winter Solstice is Sunday December 21.  Kwanzaa begins on Friday December 26.  In short, it’s the holiday season.  I don’t know about you, but I like celebrations, so I celebrate all of the winter holidays – regardless of the tradition in which they are based.

    Seriously, this is a time for getting together with friends and family.  There are lots of social events this time of year.  Social events provide you with an opportunity to work on your conversation skills.  Why not mix a little self development in with the fun?

    As I discuss in Straight Talk for Success, dynamic communication is one of the keys to personal and professional success.  People who are dynamic communicators have mastered three skills: conversation, writing and presenting.

    There are two things you can do to develop your conversation skills at holiday parties: ask questions and listen.  As you are getting ready for an event, remind yourself to ask and listen.  When you arrive, put these to tools to work.

    Ask questions, whether you’re speaking with old friends or people you’ve just met.  Really listen to their answers.  Respond appropriately to show you’ve been listening.  People like to talk about themselves.  Give them the opportunity to do so by asking questions and listening.  You’ll be the most popular person at the party.

    There are a couple of benefits to doing this at holiday parties.  First, you’ll learn some interesting things about other people.  I was speaking with a friend I’ve known for 25 years yesterday.  We were chatting about a lot of things.  I learned a lot of things about her early life that I never knew before.  None of what I learned was earth shattering news, but I came away from the conversation with a new and different perspective on her.  We both felt a little closer to each other because of this conversation, questions I asked her and her answers.

    Second, you will be getting some great practice for work conversations in 2009.  The people who do the best at networking events, are the people who ask the most questions of the people they meet.  The best sales people are the ones who take the time to understand customer needs.  How do they do this?  By asking questions. 

    Mix in some work with fun at the holiday parties you attend this year.  Use these events as an opportunity to sharpen your conversation skills. 

    The common sense point here is simple.  Successful people are dynamic communicators.  Dynamic communicators are great conversationalists.  You get to be known as a great conversationalist by asking questions of others, really listening to what they have to say and responding in a manner that keeps the focus on them.  Holiday parties provide a great opportunity to practice this “ask, listen, respond appropriately” conversation model.  Try it, you’ll find it will lead to some fascinating conversations this holiday season.  More important, you’ll be practicing the conversation skills that will serve you well in the new year.  Besides that, if you use holiday parties to practice your conversation skills, you’ll be less likely to drink too much and do something you might regret when you see the video on YouTube! 

    That’s my take on how to practice your conversation skills this holiday season.  What’s yours?  Please leave a comment letting us know what you think.  Thanks for reading.  Happy Holidays!

    Bud

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 603
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• Necessity is the Mother of Inv

  • From: Susan_Wilson_Solovic
  • Description:

    OR..........Necessity is the Mother of Mittens.
    
    It’s not very often you see a grown man sporting mittens shaped like bear paws and a neck scarf adorned with a stuffed animal.  In fact, can’t say I’ve ever encountered that before – until last week.  Headed to a meeting in the Time Warner building in Columbus Circle, I passed through an area outside of Central Park where a variety of vendors were selling specialty gifts for the holidays.  And there he was – up close and personal.

    You simply have to stop and say hello to a man with bear paws on his hands.  And it turns out, Jeff Golden wasn’t just modeling the winter accessory, he’s the co-owner and inventor of BearHands® & Buddies.  He told me it was a ski trip a few years ago that inspired the concept for the gloves.  Jeff and his partner Zach Golden, (father and son), recognized the need for a way to keep your hands warm and still access your fingers without removing your gloves.  As they say, necessity is the mother of invention – or, in this case, mittens.

    Jeff and Zach designed a unique, super-warm, Thinsulate™ lined, paw-shaped mitten that permits you to access your bare hand through a secret Velcro flap.  The mittens come in a rainbow of colors as well as several fur patterns and range in sizes to fit the tiniest hands in your family all the way up to the adults.  Three of my step-grandchildren are getting them for Christmas. (One is a teenager and Jeff and I decided, he might be too cool to appreciate the mittens right now.)  The two girls are also getting the “Buddy” scarves – both hot pink, one with a French poodle and the other with a teddy bear. 

    Founded in 2002, BearHands® sells through children’s stores across the country and is beginning to expand globally.  During the holidays, in addition to the booth at Columbus Circle, there is also one in Bryant Park.  You can find a retail location close to you on their website.  In addition, there are tons of testimonials, including a few from some well-known celebs. 

    The reason I wanted to share this story with you is not simply because it’s a cute entrepreneurial success story.  It’s also not to justify my holiday shopping break during a normal business day.  I’m writing about this because Jeff is a typical entrepreneur working hard to run a business.

    You see, normally Jeff wouldn’t have been at the booth.  He’s usually back at their Little Ferry, NJ headquarters.  But as luck would have it, his car broke down that morning as he was delivering something to the Columbus Circle location.  Jeff’s misfortune was my good fortune that day because I got to meet the man behind the paw.  And there’s nothing better than a great small business story to pick up my spirits. 

    BearHands® has been featured on “The Today Show” and in “Parenting” magazine.  The day I was there, the Fox network was filming a story. 

    If you have a great small business story, please share it with me.  I believe small business is going to be the savior of our country’s economy in the next couple of years so I want to know what’s up in your world of entrepreneurship. 

    Even if you just have an idea for a business and need advice or resources, let me know.  That’s what SBTV.com and I are here for – helping you succeed.  Please consider joining our new SBTV.com community – Small Biz Central.  That’s where you can interact with our experts, other business owners and me.  You can also upload your video, audio and text content to become one of our contributors.  I like to call it; YouTube meets LinkedIn with a purpose for small business. 

     

    Bearhands & Buddies produce products that are everyday items that have been recreated in a unique way and appeal to people of all ages. They are a great combination of fun and functionality and find smiles wherever they go!

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 485
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• Planning a Holiday Party? Som

  • From: Susan_Wilson_Solovic
  • Description:

    Can you believe it? The holidays are here.  In fact, this week is the SBTV.com holiday party. I'm looking forward to it. It's a great time to get everyone together and say thanks for a fantastic year and it's a wonderful opportunity to meet spouses, partners, friends and significant others.

    Of course, there are often the post-party stories that get told over and over again about someone dancing with the lamp shade on his head or a stolen kiss under the mistletoe. Most of the antics are harmless, but if the festivities can get out of hand that could mean serious consequences for your business.

    As an employer, you can be held liable for actions occurring during or as the result of your company sponsored social event – particularly if alcohol is served. It's a concept known as social host liability and it is recognized by many courts across the country. (It's a good idea to consult an attorney and your insurance carrier before your event.)

    Here are some ideas to help you host a fun, yet safe holiday soiree. First, make sure attendance at your event is voluntary. You want to eliminate any implication that work is being conducted at the party.

    Secondly, make sure you don't drink too much. Yeah that's right. Limit the number of drinks to one or two. You need a clear head and good judgment to avoid problems. Arrange for alternative transportation. Ask for volunteers to be designated drivers or arrange for a taxi service to ensure your guests arrive home safely.

    Plan your menu so there aren't a lot of salty foods. Salty foods make you thirsty and as a result you drink more. Make sure you serve your guests their drinks. Don't provide a self-serve bar. It's even a better idea to hire a professional bartender who can keep eye on how much your guests are drinking. Also, make sure you have plenty of non-alcoholic beverages on hand. Consider hosting your party in the afternoon or early evening when people tend to drink less.

    Finally, stop serving alcohol at least an hour before the party ends. Instead, offer a coffee bar and some wonderful deserts. I don't mean to put a damper on your event, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You don't have to be a grinch.  It is possible to host a fun event for your team and still protect your company from liability.

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 366
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• Best Vacation Tip for Small Bu

  • From: Susan_Wilson_Solovic
  • Description:

    Do you actually go on vacation when you go on vacation? Typically, I don't.

    This Thanksgiving week my husband and I went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We frequently choose that holiday week for our vacation because I'm only gone for three business days. (Yeah, I know – pretty pathetic.) Of course, that doesn't mean I don't work.

    Much to my husband's chagrin, packed right along with the sunscreen and swimsuits, are piles of uncompleted work projects. In the past I've finished book manuscripts, written business plans, even reviewed financials as part of a due diligence process. But this trip was different.

    First the resort didn't have an Internet connection in the room. Panic attack! Then, my phone signal was extremely weak. Another panic attack. I had to face the facts: My constant communication connection had been unceremoniously cut.

    Okay, I can deal with that, I thought. So I accepted my plight and decided to focus on projects that didn't require communication with the outside world.

    But guess what! I did nothing. Yep, absolutely nothing. Didn't accomplish one darn thing the entire week. There was something freeing about being cut-off from the world. I wasn't compelled to check emails all day long or return phone calls. Instead, I took leisurely walks on the beach, enjoyed lazy lunches at beachside cafes, read a couple of great books, watched a few movies and relaxed. And amazingly -- I enjoyed it.

    So my best vacation tip to my fellow small business workaholics, go on vacation and do nothing. RELAX.

    Oh by the way, here's a photo I snapped one morning on the beach. Enjoy.

     

    

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 409
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• Stress Management and The Sere

  • From: Bud_Bilanich
  • Description:

    Outstanding performance is one of the keys to success that I discuss in Straight Talk for Success.  If you want to become an outstanding performer, you need to do three things: 1) become a lifelong learner; 2) set and achieve high goals; 3) get organized, manage your life, time and stress well.

    It’s December, the holiday season and the end of the year rush to finish goals.  In other words, a stressful time.  I have found that the Serenity Prayer helps when I am feeling stressed.  If you’re not familiar with the serenity prayer, it is elegant in its simplicity and wisdom.

    “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

    The other day, I saw a blog post by Laura Ries on Success Television.com.  Laura listed 99 reasons why she says the Serenity Prayer.  I’d like to share them with you here.  Some will make you smile, some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. 

    1.     A sunny day
    2.     A rainy day
    3.     Getting to work on time
    4.     Being stuck in traffic
    5.     Waking up late
    6.     Tossing and turning all night
    7.     A good night’s sleep
    8.     The flu going around
    9.     Spring flowers
    10.   A friend getting married
    11.   A brand new baby
    12.   A heart condition
    13.   Kidney failure
    14.   Sudden death
    15.   C-section
    16.   Hours of labor
    17.   Dementia
    18.   Distinguished leader award
    19.   High school graduation
    20.   Grandbabies
    21.   Browsing the library
    22.   Divorce
    23.   Cheating
    24.   A job well done
    25.   Differing values
    26.   Smiles
    27.   Twinkling eyes
    28.   A good laugh
    29.   Brilliant sunsets
    30.   Fall colors
    31.   Grandma’s quilt
    32.   22 year old suicide
    33.   Social injustice
    34.   Child support arrears
    35.   Scoliosis
    36.   Chronic ear infections
    37.   BS degree
    38.   MBA
    39.   Sharing good news
    40.   Sharing bad news
    41.   Good friends
    42.   Not so good friends
    43.   Betrayal
    44.   Trust
    45.   Places that look like picture postcards
    46.   The house looking like a tornado hit it
    47.   House full of kids, love and laughter
    48.   Empty nest
    49.   Retirement
    50.   Fluffy pillows
    51.   Clean clothes
    52.   Forgiving someone
    53.   Taking a stand
    54.   Taking a nap
    55.   Having money
    56.   Taking a risk
    57.   Winning a game
    58.   Losing a game
    59.   Starting over
    60.   Starting over, again
    61.   Letting go
    62.   Holding on
    63.   Solving a puzzle
    64.   Holding hands
    65.   Anticipation
    66.   Friends moving
    67.   Meeting new people
    68.   Spending time in a sacred place
    69.   After effects of a storm
    70.   New building
    71.   Making ice cream
    72.   Old, forgotten memories
    73.   Snow ball fights
    74.   Incontinence
    75.   Pillow fights
    76.   Fire works
    77.   Car wrecks
    78.   College shootings
    79.   Genocide
    80.   Playing in the rain
    81.   First dates
    82.   First day of school
    83.   Graduation
    84.   New beginnings
    85.   Birthday cake
    86.   Favorite meal
    87.   Purring cat
    88.   HPV
    89.   Broken heart
    90.   Watching your child sleep
    91.   Watching your child play
    92.   Hospitals
    93.   Job interviews
    94.   On the job training
    95.   Mended heart
    96.   New day
    97.   Virgin snow
    98.   Kids growing up so fast
    99.   HOPE
     
    Laura says…

    “Some days I fight against the things I cannot change.  I cannot change that dementia is slowing taking away my grandfather.  And I hate that.  And I struggle.  Then I look for the blessing, and I keep looking until I find it.  Otherwise, I’d lose sight of the good things in life.

    “Grandpa is here, he is sharing the stories of his life we never knew.  This is reminding me to share with my children stories they have never heard about me as well.  My children are going with me to visit Grandpa, and that is a blessing as well.

    “What are some things in your life you can change?  What are some things you cannot?  Can you find a place where letting what is be OK?  Are you making the changes that you can?”

    The common sense point here is simple.  Outstanding performance is a key ingredient of success.  You can’t become an outstanding performer if you can’t manage your stress.  Stress happens when you feel out of control.  You can’t control everything that happens to you.  You can control how you react to things that happen to you.  If you decide to “accept the things you cannot change, and change the things you can,” your stress levels will diminish greatly – in this holiday season and as you work to become an outstanding performer 2009. 

    That’s my take on the serenity prayer and outstanding performance.  What’s yours?  Please leave a comment sharing your thoughts and experiences with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

    Bud

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 281
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• A Change in Perspective Can Ma

  • From: Bud_Bilanich
  • Description:

    I was honored to have Straight Talk for Success featured in the Bookshelves section of the most recent issue of Women’s Edge Magazine, a great print mag.  I found a very interesting article by Sherry Essig in that same issue, “It’s Your Day -- and Your Choice.”

    Sherry discusses an affirmation she uses at the beginning of each day to help keep her focused, on track and productive…

    “Today, I choose to believe that I will be on an interesting hike filled with learning and opportunity.”

    She says she got this idea after reading an interview with an IBM executive who began every day by repeating…

    “I choose to believe today will be the greatest adventure ever.”

    I like this thinking.  Outstanding performance is one of the keys to success that I discuss in Straight Talk for Success.  If you want to become an outstanding performer, you need to do three things: 1) become a lifelong learner; 2) set and achieve high goals; 3) get organized, manage your time, life and stress well.

    Sherry Essig makes some great points about how to manage your time, life and stress. 

    “Project not going as planned?  No reason to get tied up in knots, it’s all part of the greatest adventure.    Flying high after the successful rollout of a new initiative?  Whee, what fun, but don’t forget it’s just part of the greatest adventure.  Stress level climbing?  Time to regroup and remember adventures are about discovery and fun.”

    In other words, don’t let your life run you, run your life.  Don’t get too low, or too high, or too freaked out. 

    As Sherry says…

    “Stuff happens every day: good, bad and irrelevant.  Your perspective creates your experiences – and when your perspective changes, so does your experience.”

    I have a friend who lost her job recently.  It wasn’t her fault.  The startup for which she worked was undercapitalized and tanked in this tough economy.  At first, she was freaked out.  She spent the weekend scouring the job boards, looking for a job, any job for which she could apply. 

    By Monday, she realized that she had enough money to last for a while, and that she could use this time to find another job she really liked, or start a business using her graphic design and project management skills.  She sent me an e mail saying…

    “The phone has been ringing all morning! I couldn't keep up with the calls on two lines. The positive energy that's getting returned to me is overwhelming.  I haven't even gotten out of my pajamas yet and a business is starting to form.  I'm going to ride this wave. But first I'm going to do the laundry… My intention is to live every day of the next six months as if I'm the luckiest girl in the world, and we'll see where that takes me.”

    See what a little shift in perspective will do for you? 

    The common sense point here is simple.  Outstanding performers manage their time, life and stress well.  As Sherry Essig points out, stuff happens – bad stuff, unpleasant stuff, stressful stuff, stuff you can’t control.  Many things in life are out of your control.  How you react to your experiences is one of the few things you can control.  When you choose how you want to view your day and the things that happen, you are taking control.  That’s real power.  Taking this type of power and control over your life will help you meet your goals, become an outstanding performer, and a career and life success.  That’s what has happened for my friend.  And it can happen for you, if you are willing to take charge of your life.

    That’s my take on how choosing how you will react to the events of your life can help you become an outstanding performer.  What’s yours?  Please leave a comment sharing your experiences on reframing the difficult things that have happened to you and how you were able to turn them into positives.  As always, thanks for reading. 

    Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA.  I am going to take off some time and enjoy the long weekend with Cathy and friends.  I will post again on Monday December 1.  I have many things for which to be thankful.  I am especially thankful for you and the time you spend reading and commenting on this blog.  If you are in the US, Happy Thanksgiving.  If you are in another country, tomorrow is still a good day to take some time to count the blessings in your life.

    Bud

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 231
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• Build Relationships With Peopl

  • From: Bud_Bilanich
  • Description:

    This must be my week for experiencing bizarre behavior.  Yesterday, I blogged about an individual who questioned a colleague’s ethics, when he was actually questioning some of the assumptions she made as she collected data on a project.  I used this example to reinforce the point that precision in language makes for effective communication.

    Today I’d like to tell you another odd story.  If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I am an alumnus of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Harvard attempts to create a personal relationship with every one of its applicants.  They accomplish this by asking alumni to conduct personal interviews with applicants in their local area. 

    I have been volunteering to do these interviews for almost 20 years.  I enjoy doing the interviews.  It is a way to be of some service to both the university and the young people who are applying for admission.  Also, I enjoy meeting these young people.  Most of them are truly exceptional.
    I was assigned two students to interview this year.  My plan was to conduct these interviews next week.  I am meeting with a young woman on Monday, and had hopes of meeting with a young man on Tuesday or Wednesday. 

    Every student I’ve ever interviewed has appreciated the fact that Harvard reaches out to them.  There are several reasons for these interviews.   One reason is to provide some feedback to the admissions office on candidates by someone who has met them face to face.  Another is to completely explain the admission process to the candidate.  A third reason is to answer questions the candidates may have about the university and student life. 

    These interviews are a chance for the students to demonstrate their interpersonal competence.  Interpersonal competence is one of the keys to success that I discuss in Straight Talk for Success.

    I sent an e mail to both the young man and young woman to whom I had been assigned.  The young woman responded quickly and cordially.  We scheduled an interview for next Monday.  I am looking forward to meeting her.

    It was a different story with the young man.  In his initial response, he indicated that he was too busy to meet with me and asked to do the interview via phone.  When I told him that these are meant to be face to face interviews, he suggested that we meet Wednesday afternoon as his school will be closing for the Thanksgiving holiday at 12:15 that day.

    I suggested that we meet at a local Starbucks at 2:00.  I have been meeting students there for several years.  The young man responded, “Since I will already be at my school at that time, I feel that it would be more accommodating to meet there.”

    I explained to him that this was not a recruitment interview, rather it is a courtesy that Harvard extends to its applicants.  I also explained that I am volunteering my time to conduct the interview and write the report in the spirit of service to both him and the university.  Because of this, I get to choose the venue.  I also explained that the interview is not a required part of the application process. 

    The next day, I received an e mail from him that said, “Mr. Bilanich: I have thought about the scheduled meeting next Wednesday and have decided not to follow through with this interview.”

    Having said all this, I need to say that this is a young man, probably 17 years old.  His social skills are probably not well developed.  However, his handling of this situation demonstrates a lack of interpersonal competence.

    Let’s look at the facts here.  This young man is applying to Harvard – a university that accepts a very low percentage of applicants; one that has more high school class valedictorians applying than there are spaces in the entering class.  Most students jump at the chance to meet face to face with someone who can enhance their odds of being accepted.  These interviews can help greatly.  In an interviewer meeting conducted at the end of the interview process a few years ago, I successfully argued for the admission of a student who would have been overlooked had I not been there to advocate for her.  I could have done the same for this young man had his credentials and interpersonal skills impressed me.

    This young man missed that opportunity.  He was extremely blasé about the whole process.  First he suggested a telephone interview.  Then he almost demanded that I meet with him at the time and place of his choosing.  Finally, he canceled because I insisted on a venue away from his school.

    Because he was assigned to me, I will have to complete an interview report.  Unfortunately for this young man, the only thing I have to report is that he chose to decline the interview.  The admissions office will most likely see this behavior as a lack of interest in the university.  In other words, this young man has turned a potential positive into a negative.  I am sorry that he chose to do so.

    I can only speculate on why he chose to not avail himself of this opportunity.  Maybe he applied to Harvard on a lark and does not expect to be accepted.  Maybe he is strong academically and thinks that his grades and board scores will guarantee his acceptance.  Maybe he is a legacy and is counting on that to get him accepted. 

    His reason for turning down the interview is not the important point here.  What is important is the fact that he had an opportunity to enlist an ally to his cause and chose to not do so.

    There are several common sense points here.  Successful people are interpersonally competent.  Interpersonally competent people go out of their way to build relationships – especially with people who can help them achieve their goals.  When you are faced with a situation where someone is willing to help you, go out of your way to meet that person at least half way.  Don’t feel that your performance or reputation is enough to guarantee your success.  Take every opportunity you have to build relationships and demonstrate your interpersonal competence.

    That’s my take on the strange case of the Harvard admissions interview that never was.  What’s yours?  I’m really interested in hearing comments on this one.  Please take a few minutes and tell us what you think.  As always, thanks for reading.

    Bud

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 197
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• What Does It Take to Launch a

  • From: KenE3C
  • Description:
    Clovis L. Prince is President and CEO of Prince & Associates, diverse conglomerate of companies in the communications, real estate, hospitality and restaurant industries with revenues approaching $1 billion dollars. Considered one of the pioneers of wireless telecommunications, Prince widened his focus to provide independent communications consultant services throughout the United States and internationally. The company, now operating in multiple offices across the United States, is rapidly becoming a multi-million dollar operation with major clients such as Bechtel, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint/Nextel, Extended Stay Hotels, Ericsson, Inc., U.S. Cellular, Florida Department of Transportation and others. As Mr. Prince?s vision continued to grow in 2007, Prince & Associates expanded its real estate endeavors to the hospitality industry wherein the company entered into franchise agreements with Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) and Choice Hotels for Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Suites hotels in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Prince further diversified the company in 2007 with the creation of a new restaurant concept called Prince Bistro, a casual American eatery with a projected 11 locations by the end of 2009. Also, the corporation entered into a franchise development agreement with Papa John?s Pizza, as the largest minority-owned franchisee in the United States, with 19 locations in the San Antonio and Houston, Texas markets, to be completed by the end of 2011. Listen, Learn, Enjoy and Share with a Business Associate! Bumper music provided by Bryan Hunley of New Whyne Music E3C Links: www.BetterSalesandProfitsNow.com (company website) www.my-business-community.com (community website) www.E3C.typepad.com (Blog) www.E3C.podOmatic.com (podcast) www.E3CPassionateEntrepreneur.pbwiki.com (wiki) www.mybusinesscommunity.ning.com (business social network) Is Your Business A Hobby, Job or Profitable Enterprise? Take the Quiz and Discover For Yourself! Click on this link: www.my-business-community.com/quiz1/player.html (multi-media presentation) Get My Business Tips! Go to my business profile and sign-up! http://mybusinesscommunity.ning.com/profile/KenE3C
  • 1 year ago
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