Building Basic Leadership Qualities | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

Growing up my mom would always say to us, “Be a Leader and Not a Follower.” I would nod my head okay as if I truly understood what it meant. As a child, I thought it meant being bossy. This thinking got me in lots of trouble on the Bronx streets and eluded me to what the true qualities of a leader are.

As a result, I spent years studying business and other leaders to figure out, “What does it mean to be a leader?” Finally, I learned much of what makes a great leader are the things both spoken and unspoken. Much of this is not taught in a classroom but through years of “real world” experience. For instance:

Looking for Work

Somewhere along the line, our language shifted meaning slightly. “Looking for work” used to mean, “I’m capable and I’m looking for a place to apply what I know how to do.” Now, it means “I’m unemployed and hoping to find an employer to nestle me into their machine.” These are two very different things.

Picking a Job Title on Business Cards

In the freelance world, you have the freedom to put whatever you want on your business card.  The job position you choose will show your audience a glimpse of what they can expect from you and your company.

TheWiseJobSearch: Networking is not a “One Hit Wonder”

I had lunch with a friend yesterday who recently began to market himself as an independent business operations consultant. He’s very highly qualified, however, understands clients won’t be suddenly flocking to his door. He needs to network effectively to find opportunities. He never considered himself a “networker”, but he does it very well.

As we got to talking about his success so far, it reminded me how applicable his experience is to a job seeker as well. He’s becoming very good at it… and that doesn’t mean he simply connects with an endless stream of people and moves on.

Effective networking is about building relationships, adding value, and building trust and credibility. Doesn’t it take more work that way? You bet. Does it work? Exceptionally!

Here’s what he’s been doing, and how it applies in a job search as well…

Navigate the New Twitter Like a Pro with Keyboard Shortcuts

The new Twitter revamp is nice, but one of the features that most piqued our interest—and would make us consider giving its web interface another chance—are the new keyboard shortcuts. Here's how they work.

Hit '?' to Get Started

Thank You Notes: Sending The Right Message | Tim's Strategy

I have to make an admission here.  While in the process of finding a job back in 2007, I didn’t always send thank you notes.  It was counter to most of the advice out there.  I know.  Still is.

How to Get Fit When You're a Couch Potato - by Dumb Little Man

If you know you're not very fit – and some days you only walk from home to your car to your desk and back – then exercise advice can feel overwhelming.

After all, most of the books and blogs and podcasts about exercise are produced by keep-fit types. Thin, muscular, glowing with good health...

...and kinda annoying.

I know they don't mean to be. They're just sharing what they know and love. But the problem is, if you're a coach potato, it's easy to feel judged. And, it's easy to give up before you've even begun. You don't want to spend hours every week in the gym. You don't want a body like a magazine cover model.