You big dummy....

The business world can be a challenging, chaotic and often funny place. In the spirit of reminding ourselves that our situations are often more ego-threatening than life-threatening, enjoy some "insight" from those who just don't seem to get it...(all taken from various list of dumb things)

Quote: "I like Mackey's haircut. I think he looks cute."- Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, posting under the screen name Rahodeb, on a Yahoo Finance stock forum. The Federal Trade Commission later revealed that Mackey authored this and numerous other posts over an eight-year period, hyping his company and himself while trashing the competitor Wild Oats. TNT? To build buzz for its animated show Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network placed electronic lightboards depicting a character from the show saluting passersby with an upraised finger. Problem was it triggered a bomb scare that shut down two bridges, an expressway, a subway station, and a stretch of the Charles River. Best Buy...at this kiosk:The state of Connecticut sued Best Buy for setting up in-store kiosks set to a website that looks identical to bestbuy.com but lists higher prices than those they would actually find online. Wet paint of the 21st century: To test Google's ability to block harmful advertising, Belgian IT security consultant Didier Stevens posts an ad that reads "Is your PC virus-free? Get it infected here!" It is accepted by Google and displayed 259,723 times; 409 web surfers actually click on the ad. (source: CNNmoney.com) No comment: Upon her death, Leona Helmsley leaves $12 million to her white Maltese, Trouble. How did that work out for you? "I believed fundamentally that the balance sheet was strong. I believed that then and I believe that now." - Ken Lay, court testimony (April 06')

Getting Linkedin to pay-

I am going out on a limb here and saying that right now I believe Linkedin to be the most undervalued tool many of us have in our social networking belt. Twitter this and Facebook that but whether you are looking for a job, friend, ex-coworker or a sale to close the month it has the easiest and probably most productive platform of what I have seen so far. Now, I admit that I have had an account for over a year now and just over the past 2 weeks really been digging into the capabilities of this site and encourage you to do the same!

Some interesting things to check out:

1. Search capabilites by industry and company (also tells you how far down the connection line you are to them)

2. See who has viewed your profile (specifics available for the premier member)

3. Q&A section...lets you post and answer questions from others. They have a ranking system that gives incentives for people to take time and answer truthfully so some great free advice is possible.

Take some time and revisit your page update and make a few connections a day. I can think of much less effective ways to spend 15 minutes!

Is your coach earning his keep??

With all of the career changes happening now and the business landscape looking like it does, life coaching and business coaching business is picking up for those who can provide results. Coaching can be a powerful tool if done right. The one-on-one relationship is designed to engage a person in a deep and honest exploration of goals and the actions required to accomplish them. It’s about knowing when to kick and when to hug and holding you accountable to make consistent (sometimes dramatic) progress towards your most important aspirations.

If your considering a coach or mentor a few things to consider and principles that we and 360 Solutions believe are the most important for a successful venture!

1. Clients are capable, resourceful and whole. We believe this is the most important principle of coaching. Many of the helping professions treat people as though they were broken, dysfunctional or less than capable. To us the best coaches recognize the brilliance and power of their clients to solve their problems. In short they don't need to be told what decisions to make just guided to help them make better decisions themselves. The true power of it is not in answers but in the questions.

2. The agenda should come from the client. Clients are in charge of the coaching relationship. The job of the coach is to “hold the client’s agenda” and ensure that they are continually moving towards the results they want. The coach is not an expert who can tell clients what is most important in their lives or how to live their lives. The coach helps clients give voice to what is most important and then focuses on the process of how to get there. This principle honors and respects the full capability of clients.

3. The focus is on outcomes. Coaching “begins with the end in mind.” The coach is continually helping clients clarify the outcomes they want. As such, the focus of coaching is on creating the future rather than getting over the past. Helping clients articulate the outcomes they desire guides the entire process, whether setting goals to achieve a larger life vision or solving day-to-day problems.

4. The process addresses a client’s whole life. Coaching helps clients achieve fulfillment in all areas of their lives. Clients are “whole people” and success or failure in one area of their lives affects other areas as well. For example, physical health influences relationships, career and spirituality. And so on. The process of coaching includes a perspective and assessment of many areas of life as well as learning to make choices that lead to greater balance in all areas of life.

5. The relationship is the catalyst. The relationship between clients and coach acts as a catalyst which “calls forth” the full potential of clients. Through their interactions with a coach, clients tap into their power and abilities to create the life of their dreams. However, the focus of the relationship is not on the coach, per se. The power is derived from the relationship, tailored to the unique needs of each client, and mutually designed to empower clients to achieve their highest goals.