The Ultimate 22 Year Olds Survival Guide For Work and Life PDF

1 | The Ultimate 22-Year-Old’s Survival Guide for Work & Life | ©2016 milewalk
I promise you this isn’t a booklet regarding how I want to be twenty-two years old again. I’m
well more than twice twenty-two years old and ten times happier now than I was then. Of
course, that’s not worth rubbing in.
What I do reflect upon is how I would have lived had I known almost thirty years ago what I
know now. That IS information worth sharing and what this guide is all about.
Over the past few years, I’ve written a number of blog posts for college students, very recent
college graduates, and young professionals of any type (whether you graduated from college
or not). I decided it would be nice to package up some of those writings in this handy, free
giveaway for you to enjoy.
Inside you’ll find guidance in several areas such as:
 Taking action during college to set up the life you want

 Developing and build a winning attitude for life
 Building your own mentor
 Figuring out your purpose in life
 Designing a killer resume and LinkedIn profile
 Jumpstarting a successful job search
 Avoiding key job search mistakes
 Negotiating your job offer
 Understanding effective and timeless communication techniques
 Learning great professional and personal etiquette
 Staying focused
You might be wondering why all my best job-interviewing techniques are missing from this
awesome guide. Don’t worry. Click here to download Interview Intervention: Communication
That Gets You Hired. I give it away because it’s the kinda guy I am!
I truly wish someone had given this to me when I was your age. It would have made a
tremendous difference for me. I hope it makes a positive impact for you!
12 Things to Do During College to Get the Life You Want .........................................................................4
15 Things to Do When You’re 22 to Make Life Easier When You’re 40 ................................................... 7
34 Things Every 22-Year-Old Should Know................................................................................................. 11
28 Two-Word Lessons to My 22-Year-Old Self ........................................................................................... 16
3 Things to Do When You Don’t Have a Mentor......................................................................................... 19
How to Figure Out Your Purpose in Life in Fewer Than 600 Words ..................................................... 21
The Ultimate Resume for Any 22-Year-Old ................................................................................................ 23
The Anatomy of a Top 1% Most Viewed LinkedIn Profile ........................................................................29
Just Graduated? Use These 9 Tips to Jumpstart Your Job Search ......................................................... 32
9 Worst Job Mistakes By Recent College Graduates ................................................................................ 35
Negotiate Your Job Offer Like a Pro .............................................................................................................39
9 Timeless Communication Tips that Will Make You Lovable ............................................................... 41
Top 12 Professional Etiquette Tips for New College Graduates ........................................................... 44
The 3 Real Reasons You Can’t Stay Focused ............................................................................................. 46
12 Things to Do During College to Get the Life You Want
According to the Institute of Education Services, over 21 million students will attend an
American college or university this year. Assuming there are roughly twice as many nail-biting
parents concerned their sons and daughters might complete their education four years older
and none the wiser, I’d like to offer some ideas to help maximize the benefits long after
graduation day.
Before we get rolling, let’s address what I consider the benefits of going to college. Keep in
mind—everyday—these benefits only have a fighting chance of outweighing the cost (Is the
Cost of College Really Worth It?) if you practice achieving them!
 Gain knowledge.
 Learn to live as an adult.
 Situate yourself for your first job.
 Lay the foundation to enjoy a fulfilling career.
Most people behave in a transactional manner as it relates to college—they put themselves

through it to get a good, first job. That focus is not only shortsighted, but also causes the
student to miss out on the most important long-term benefits of attending.
Let’s have a look…
Pick the right college or colleges. This comes down to two areas—your interests and
economics. If you were interested in engineering, don’t attend Harvard when you can go to any
one of dozens of other schools stronger in that area (US News). You might also want to
consider a junior college before hopping to a large, expensive university. The economics are
better and you won’t sacrifice any earning power once you’re done.
Choose the right major. Study what you love not what you think society considers acceptable.
I’m sure for some of you, your parents will be the issue. Sometimes Mom and Dad don’t want
to pay for the basket weaving degree. If that’s the case, go as generic as possible (Business,
Liberal Arts). In most cases, you won’t use the specific knowledge you attained at school. You’ll
learn what you need to know while working for your companies. I studied Electrical
Engineering and started my career in Information Technology consulting. My first duties
required me to wear a tie and develop software in a language I’d never seen before. Now, I
wear pajamas to work, am a recruiter, and write books on employment. I’m the norm not the
exception.
Question everything. It’s easier to believe a lie you’ve heard a thousand times than a truth
you’ve heard once. I assure you, you will hear many lies. What you learn isn’t ultimately a
function of what they teach you. What you learn is ultimately your application of what the
teachers are attempting to teach you. If what they teach you sounds peculiar, it probably is.
Never forget that the only way our society makes progress is when someone does something
differently. That someone needs to be you. Start building your courage now.
Simulate real-life situations. You only get return on your investment if you can apply what you
learn beyond your college years. That becomes easier to do if you prepare for it. Whether you
reflect at the end of each class, midway through the semester, or at the end of the course,
make sure to connect the dots between what you learned and how you think it can help you in
life. If you can’t figure out how to do this, you went to the wrong school or picked the wrong
major or have a really bad teacher or some combination of all three. Go back to items one and
two and start over.
Seek opportunities to practice what you learned. The previous point focused on simulation, but
this is about actually doing. Get a job in your field. If you can’t, get a job that will teach you
similar skills. If you can’t do either of those, volunteer. Believe me, this item will likely yield
the greatest dividends.
Monitor your areas of interest and follow or connect with professionals in that space. The sad
fact is you will gain more knowledge and insight by following prominent leaders than sitting in
your classroom reading the textbook. They are writing, speaking, or blogging about current
events and issues. Follow them on sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Many of them
have blogs to which you can subscribe. You can also follow companies and review their job.
It’s better to get a sense now of what that job actually entails than discovering it as an
unhappy employee.
Build your social media platform and keep it clean. It’s never too early to show the world you
are knowledgeable and fun. Check out Your Social Media Platform: 7 Steps to Building a Strong
Reputation. You will also want to review Time for a Social Media Shower? lest you’ll need to
deodorize those unflattering pictures.
Get credentialed. If you’re studying a major (Engineering, Information Technology, etc.) where
you can get additional certifications, go get ‘em. You should also seek training or other
volunteering opportunities.
Focus on the “living” part just as much as the “learning” part. Wake up. Make your bed. (Yes,
make it.) Shower. Go to class. Play intramural sports. Go grocery shopping. Wash your clothes.
Go to the campus bars. Join the clubs. Buy your girlfriend or boyfriend a gift. Repeat.
Hang on to everyone’s contact information. They’ll be somebody someday and you’ll likely
need them. Trust me. Maybe you’ll be somebody someday and you can help them. Hope for
the latter. Plan for the former.
Style your resume and keep polishing it. When you’re eighteen years old, imagine the resume
you’d like to have when you’re twenty-two years old. Write it now! Then actually do it and start
filling it in. Consider it your list of goals for college. It’s amazing how much you can achieve
when you envision it and write it down. If you need a little help with what that could look like,
check out The Ultimate Resume for any 22-Year-Old.
Learn how to interview for a job. Read Interview Intervention: Communication That Gets You
Hired. I’ll give it to your for free.
15 Things to Do When You’re 22 to Make Life Easier When You’re 40
We have all looked back on our lives—for however brief a moment—and wondered what if I
would have known better at the time?
I also wished when I was a 22-year-old I had a few more of the ingenious inventions others
created. I would have loved to have had email and a cell phone. It would have been especially
handy if the cell phone could house all my friends’ phone numbers. Instead, I had to write
them in an actual notebook (called a phonebook). Of course, I lost that book (a few times) and
it wasn’t backed up to a cloud thingy like we have today. Don’t even get me started on how
there wasn’t an Apple Store I could zip into to have a blue-shirted-tech-geek (proper term, not
derogatory) provide me with a new book with all the numbers (none lost).
I was thinking the other day, what lessons could I share with new professionals to get them
started on the right track?
Network. I meant that as a verb. I also meant the “offline” version as opposed to the abundant
“online” version. I know you’re just getting started, but imagine if you met one new person
every week for the next eighteen years and maintained those relationships (in some capacity).
Those 936 people will be more valuable than any compounding interest you generate from
your investments (eh, keep reading). Those 936 will actually introduce you to others and so
on…compounding relationship interest so to speak.
Network Part Deux. Hang on to everyone’s phone number, email address, next of kin, favorite
foods, and any other data you can gather. You will need it someday. You’ll even need the
information from the people you don’t like. Trust me. (Feel free to network online here.)
Network Part Trois. I have no idea why I’m using French, but it seemed to be the thing to do
since I went with deux for two. One of the most important aspects of networking is actually
providing help before you need it. Start helping others as early in your life or career as
possible and don’t use a scorecard. Help people because you want to help them, not because
you need something in return. The universe will take care of the repayment—likely tenfold—if
your heart is in the right place. The universe will typically deliver the repayments using
different couriers.
Be nice. That means to everyone, especially those who can do nothing for you. It goes double
for the subordinates you’re likely to have in a few years. One benefit of many years of work
experience is knowing that if you work long enough you have an estimated 67.58% chance of
reporting to one of those subordinates some day. (They also might serve as an unsuspecting
reference sought on your behalf thanks to the networking and social sites.) I might be off the
tenths or hundredths place, but who wants to quibble? If you never need them, you can take
comfort knowing that you’ve generally been a nice person.
Remain observant. There are absolutely no rules when it comes to innovation and invention.
You also need not many years of work experience. You simply need “necessity” as the saying
goes (coupled with the passion and energy to see it through). If you want something to make
your life easier, more efficient, more fun, or whatever, think about how to bring a contraption
or process or website into the world to make it happen. If something already exists, look for
ways to make it better or use it in conjunction with your new inventions. Some ideas might
require extensive research and product development. Other ideas might only require an iOS
application.
Keep an open mind. The more you learn, the more you’ll realize how inexperienced you are at
so many things. The other thing you’ll learn is there are loads others can teach you—no matter
who they are. I learn a lot from people in their twenties. That stands to reason, because I also
knew everything when I was their age.
Collect memories not things. Things come and go. They wear out. They cost lots to maintain.
Memories can last a lifetime. Here’s another way I like to look at this: Your entire past simply
trains you to live today—the only day you can live at any moment. Your past is nothing more.
Nothing less. I want to be trained not only to survive, but also to enjoy every minute to the
fullest.
Travel. See collect memories not things. Feel free to grab a few mementos along the way. A few
things here and there won’t hurt.
Balance your day. Variety is truly the spicy topping of life. Variety should be applied to
everything except having multiple spouses (at least at the same time). If you learn to balance
your day between work and play as well as within work and play, you’ll remain fresh and
perpetually interested. Creatures of obsessive habit get bored or burned out. Aside from my
daily exercise and social activities, I make sure to do a little part of each aspect of my
businesses—long-term marketing, short-term marketing, sales, fulfillments, product
development, writing, networking, and so forth. Every. Single. Day. Try to work variety into
whatever you do. You’ll smile more often without effort.
Balance your diet. You’ll look better and feel better.
Enjoy what you have instead of pining for what you don’t have. What you think about creates
energy. What you think about you bring about as a result of it. Cherish and appreciate all that
you have from a roof over your head to the people in your life. You’re appreciation will set you
on an amazing journey. Here’s a little test: Do you know how many thank-yous, I-appreciate-
yous, and I-love-yous you’ve said in the last day? Do you know how many I-can’t-believe-its or
why’d-they-do-that-to-mes you’ve said in the last day? Count ’em today. If you can change
your rhetoric, you’ll change your life.
Pursue your purpose in life. Although I want you to enjoy what you have, I also want you to
strive for what you want. That means discovering what it is and working smartly, remaining
patient, and enjoying the journey until you get “there.” I’ve heard many think successful
people know how to delay gratification effectively. I think that’s nonsense. Successful people
never delay gratification because they are gratified daily in their pursuits. See How to Figure
Out Your Purpose in Life in Fewer Than 600 Words.
Read. You don’t have to believe everything you read or everything you hear, but reading will
do you a tremendous amount of good. It’ll help make you more knowledgeable, mentally
stimulated, relaxed, a better orator, a better writer, and more focused. And, think about the
entertainment value!
Save. This can be a little every day or every paycheck or every month. If something goes into
the pot without coming out, the pot just keeps getting bigger. You get more financially
comfortable by accumulating dollars as opposed to spending them. If you want to spend
beyond what you’re earning, there ought to be some extreme return on your investment. Keep
in mind, the most financially successful people never spend money unless they see it as an
investment into some aspect of their life or business. This can be additional schooling,
building a business, or something of that nature. “Poor” people typically buy things they can’t
afford with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t know or care about.
Don’t compare. Comparison kills. Even worse, it provides a lower bar than what’s truly
attainable for you or anyone else. Think abundance as opposed to a zero-sum game. Think
with no limits. Comparison also leads people to be “realistic.” Being realistic never changed
anything. Being unrealistic does! Read Out of Reach but in Sight!
34 Things Every 22-Year-Old Should Know
I’ve been wanting to write a blog post like this for a long time. Those that know me well
recognize me as a self-help junky. As such, I genuinely attribute the largest portion of my
professional development to the research, reading, and practicing of personal improvements
I’ve done over the years. That, combined with years of professional experience, has taught me
many lessons, some of which I’ve shared here. I assure you right beneath the surface of these
life lessons is insight that will help you advance your career.
You’ll notice that while many items fall into categories of time, accountability, effort, and
people, most are related to outlook and attitude—the two things that seem to transform
everything.
Let’s start with time, today, and the, uh, future you think you see…
1) Treat every day as if it’s the first day of the rest of your life or career. I don’t care if it’s not
Monday or January 1st. The other six days of the week or 364 days of the year work too. This
means you get to box up all your so-called failures as if they never happened. Unfortunately,
this means you box up your successes too. The great news is that both of these actually cause
strain which you can now let go. Every day technically is a new beginning.
2) Time is NOT money. Time is time. Money is money. Lose one and you can earn it back. Lose
the other and it’s gone forever. Does that sound like they’re equal?
3) “Five-year” plans have ruined more present moments than all other distractions
combined. You’ll be far better off with fifteen-minute plans. Not only will you be more
accurate a far greater percentage of the time, but you’ll also rarely be disappointed in the
outcome because you’ll have far fewer variables go awry. Stay present. You can only live life
to the fullest in the moment. The past and future are mere distractions. Enjoy the job you
have today. You’ll be happier and it’s a nice stepping stone for your future.
4) Learn how to say NO at the right times. The faster you learn this, the more happy days you’ll
live and the more productive your workdays will become. Trust me.
Over time you’ll make lots of mistakes and “fail”… but, trust me, everything you want is on the
other side of fear.
5) You’ll make a lot of mistakes in your life. You’re better off making those errors of
commission rather than omission. When you look back, you’ll be much sorrier for the things
you didn’t do as opposed to those you did. Along those same lines, it won’t matter much the
choices you make as much as it will the conviction in which you make them. Be committed to
everything you do. Take the job you want even if it’s “risky.”
6) Technically, I don’t believe there is any such thing as failure. Sure, the word itself is in the
dictionary, but I’ve never noticed one in my life. Perhaps it’s because I don’t believe in what I
look at. I believe in how I see it. Even so, I’ll play along…the embarrassment of failure is way
easier than the responsibility that comes with success. If you think you can’t, you won’t. If you
think you can, you will. Even if they don’t succeed, winners still think they did. It’s not
delusional. It’s called mastering your psyche. Never be afraid to try to new things. Everything
you want is on the other side of fear.
7) There is no such thing as failure—part two. The only exception to this rule is trying to please
everyone. You will certainly fail at that. That rule is bulletproof. No exceptions.
All I need to do is pay attention and work hard and I’ll find the success I’m looking for. Right?
8) Open your eyes and stretch your ears. Something happens every moment. When you’re
talking it’s impossible to experience the moment. It’s as if your brain shuts off when your
mouth is moving. The only exception is screaming on the downslide of a rollercoaster ride.
9) I tend to notice two types of people—those that are disciplined and everyone else. 100% of
the people in the first group eventually become successful. Some of the people in the second
group do as well. Remember, what you do everyday matters more than what you do once in a
while. Promotions don’t happen because of one big success.
10) Hard work doesn’t guarantee results. Smart work increases the likelihood of good
results. Concentrate on what you do along the way and embrace the journey with no
attachment to the outcome. You’ll enjoy yourself more and likely have better results. You’ll
also avoid disappointments that could result from faulty expectations. Technically speaking,
any outcome that didn’t occur the way you thought it would means you had faulty
expectations. Faulty expectations arise for two reasons—you can’t see the future and you
developed those expectations without all the necessary information. Don’t expect people to
buy the best product. Don’t expect your boss to be fair. Don’t expect life to be fair.
11) Intelligence is overrated. Talent is really overrated. You only need three things to be
successful—Passion, Vision, and Commitment. Contrary to what people think, you’re not born
with passion. It’s grown. Vision isn’t seeing into the future. It’s making the future happen the
way you want it to. Commitment is the most important item. It makes up for any
shortcomings of the other two. Live every workday to the fullest. When it’s over think about
how it’s moving you toward where you want to be. At any moment, don’t be afraid to change
your career.
12) You can have endless dreams, but not endless priorities. It’s a great lesson for life, love,
and upward management of your boss.
13) School does not equal education. Going to school helps you earn a degree. You know you
have one when you can ethically place the letters after your name such as Andy LaCivita B.S.er
of Everything. If you have to pay for someone to teach you something—anything—that’s not
education. That’s paying for a degree or certification or whatever. Real education occurs when
you do something you love for free or by the good graces of some employer and get paid for
it. No one can teach you more than you. No one can teach you more than you. It was worth
saying twice.
14) Own your stuff. Take accountability. The world would be an easier place to live if everyone
did so. The word “fault” could be eliminated from the dictionary. That’d make me smile
because then no one would be trying to assign it when they should first look in the mirror.
People make the world go ‘round. Sometimes you need them and sometimes you don’t. But, all
the time, watch who you befriend…
15) You don’t need a mentor. No one cares about your life or your career more that you
do. You can outsource a lot of things, but living your life isn’t one of them. Managing your
career isn’t one either.
16) Leaders build more leaders, not more followers. “A” players hire and develop “A”
players. “B” players hire and don’t develop “C” players. Protecting your turf might last for a
while, but when your reign is over you’ll be far less developed for surrounding yourself with
less talent. If you’re the smartest person in the room, go find another room.
17) Keep everyone’s phone number—even the people you dislike. They might be helpful
someday. If given the choice between knowing the right person or having your MBA, remember
that friends hire friends before they hire credentials.
18) Never treat your subordinates poorly. I assure you someday they will be working at
company you’re trying to get into. It’s also possible that someday you’ll be reporting to one of
them.
19) Here’s an average for you. You become the average of the five people you spend the most
time with—especially at work. Think about that.
Even if you did nothing I previously mentioned, staying true to your instinct and keeping a
positive outlook and attitude will set you in the right direction…
20) Apply the transitive property often. It will lead you to valuable deductions such as The
More Things You Have In Your Life = The More Upkeep = More Stress AND Just Enough To Make
You Happy > Never Satisfied = More Days You’ll Live Happily. Another one of my favorites is
The More Bells & Whistles Your Product Has = The More Complicated It Is To Operate = The
Less People That Buy It.
21) Always listen to your inner voice. It’s smart. It’s correct far more times than the external
voices you hear. If the business deal sounds bad, it likely is. If it sounds good, but feels bad,
it likely is bad too.
22) Everything is as it’s supposed to be. The sooner you accept that, the happier you’ll
be. Everything that happens in your personal and work life caused you to do certain things—
for good reason. Don’t believe me? Look back at your life or your career. I guarantee there is a
pattern that connects the dots. If you’re not happy with the pattern, there are two things to
consider. First, you’re probably not looking hard enough. Second, your future is spotless.
23) The more people who tell you something is wrong, the more right you probably are. The
degree to which something is right for you usually is inversely proportional to the number of
people who tell you it’s not. It’s also easier to believe a lie you’ve heard a thousand times
than the truth you’ve heard once. Never hesitate to follow your instinct and create a path for
your life and career. If it feels like a bad idea in your gut, it is. There’s also no need to confirm
your gut with anyone else. Never feel the need to subscribe to one of society’s pre-canned
menu options for life or work. We only grow as a society when people choose to be different.
You’ll never grow as a person without doing the same.
24) You will be happy because of what you think not what happens to you. If you’re
conditionally happy, you’ll have less happy days. My way, you’re happy every day. Happy
people accomplish more, learn more, and are more fun to be around. Someone once asked
me, “How can you be so happy so often?” I said, “Because I always think I’m happy.” I’m
always right about that.
25) Experience doesn’t always lead to good judgment—gathering all the facts and making
completely informed decisions does. Listening to another’s experience before you attempt
something can be helpful. But, remember, when they did that something they did it without
your one constant variable—YOU. Applying the transitive property that I love, this means that
you can’t experience anything without actually experiencing it yourself. What makes you think
the outcome would ever be the same when you insert yourself into the player’s seat? Different
variables lead to different outcomes—better and worse.
26) Life isn’t always fair. Over the long run, however, the universe is incredibly balanced.
Karma also has no deadline.
27) Patience is not a virtue. It’s learned. Don’t ever confused patience with being worn down or
not caring. They’re not the same.
28) There’s no shame in quitting. Winners do it all the time. They just know the right time to
move on. It’s usually right before things turn really sour. It’s also never before they’re about to
a make a breakthrough. In that sense, timing might not be everything, but winners sure know
how to set a clock.
29) You get back what you give off. Sending good things out into the universe and building a
bank of goodwill is better than any checking account with a seven figure balance.
30) Comparison is a recipe for mediocrity. If your goal is to be “better than” someone else or
you grade life on a curve, you’ll never reach your true potential because you’ll feel you’ve
reached it when you’ve surpassed someone. Usually that only means you’re leaving something
on the table. Comparison kills.
31) When giving or receiving advice, remember that advice is typically a person speaking to his
or her younger self. For example, it took 30 items for me to realize my 46-year-old self is
dispensing advice to my long-gone 22-year-old self. Oh. And, remember, free advice doesn’t
cost you anything until you act on it.
32) Question everything. Not in an insubordinate but an inquisitive way. Once you know the
“Why,” you’ve increased your chance of fixing the problem by 87695%.
33) Nothing is original. I’m sure anything I’ve just written has been written or dispensed
before. Everything that needs to be said has already been said. We just need it repeated
because no one was listening the first time. I think that happens because of this recurring
dream I keep having. I’m driving down a highway and see the big green town road sign on the
right as I zip past. The sign says, “Welcome To The Town of NO ONE CARES…Population 7
Billion.”
34) If you never try you’ll never know. Not knowing is my biggest fear. Only those willing to go
too far can actually know how far they can truly go. Life was meant to be lived. Don’t wait until
it’s too late to start.
28 Two-Word Lessons to My 22-Year-Old Self
If someone had handed me these life lessons for young adults, I would have lived my life
differently. Of course, I say that with a giggle because we all know blogging didn’t exist in 1988.
Seriously, I don’t truly think that because I believe the universe is perfect the way it is. “What
is” is what’s supposed to be, otherwise it wouldn’t be.
But, for amusement, I often reflect on the lessons I’ve learned. If I was smart enough to learn
them sooner, I would have. I’m sure you would have too.
Here’s what I would have told myself:
1. Try It. You won’t know if you like it until you do. It’s technically the only way you can
discover your passion. You’re never born with passion. It’s something you discover by
falling in love with something you experience.
2. Start Now. The best time to plant an oak tree was fifty years ago. The next best time is
today. You and your retirement account will thank me.
3. Eliminate First. This is something 99% of the world doesn’t understand. Everyone
wants to add things to their lives. The secret to accumulating more and accomplishing
more is by doing things in this order: 1) Evaluate, 2) Eliminate, 3) Try, 4) Review, 5)
Clean Up Mistakes, 6) Repeat. Number two makes numbers three through six a lot
easier. This works great with clothes, people, and generally anything else you can
think of.
4. Go Big. Your accomplishments will be in direct proportion to the height of the goals
you set for yourself. Whoever said, “Failure is not an option,” was a fool. Failure should
be your most probable outcome when you first attempt something. If it’s not, you
didn’t set your goal high enough! Read Out of Reach but in Sight: Using Goals to
Achieve Your Impossible.
5. Keep Moving. It’s always easier to direct an object in motion than a stationary one. You
can be concerned with checking all the boxes on your lesson plan before you take
your first step. Alternatively, you can work on checking the boxes along the way.
6. Quit Sooner. Don’t be a fool by spending time on things you don’t love. Speaking of…
7. Time Wins. Time is the only commodity you can’t win back, earn back, or recreate.
When it’s gone, it’s gone for-your-ever.
8. Give first. It’s better to be a giver than a taker. It’s really better to ask for a favor after
you’ve given one. But, don’t keep a scorecard. Just consider it goodwill.
9. Own It. Take responsibility and accountability for your actions. It’s important to
understand you need to take responsibility for your response to any situation. I
promise you’ll be the criminal in every crime scene in your life. At this moment, you
are the sum total of your decisions from your yesterdays. Own them all.
10. Say No. The faster you learn to politely say “No”, the happier you’ll be. More than half
the problems in your life won’t be due to misfortune. They’ll exist because you said,
“Yes” without thinking first. See My Favorite 8 Ways to Politely Say “No.”
11. Read More. It’s fun. You’ll learn things. You’ll sound smarter. You’ll write better.
12. Write More. It doesn’t matter if your spelling is poor or your grammar is bad. It doesn’t
have to be for an audience. Writing will help empty your brain and relax you. For some
reason, thoughts get disentangled when they pass over the lips and through the pencil
tips (or, uh, fingertips). More importantly, what gets written down tends to get
accomplished. Who knows? You might even become a published author someday.
13. Listen First. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen first. Listen often.
Listen to understand, not to reply. You’ll be amazed at what you can learn. You’ll also
be amazed at the number of things you hear that are incorrect. (See Number 24.)
14. Save First. Don’t borrow money you don’t have to buy things you can’t afford to
impress people you don’t know. Here are my two best suggestions: Save first; buy
second. The only exception to this is rule is if you’re spending money to invest in
yourself. This includes schooling, business, and so forth. Technically, in these cases,
it’s referred to as an investment.
15. Travel More. You’ll be far better off if you collect experiences rather than things.
16. Wear Sunscreen. You’ll have fewer wrinkles and likely significantly reduce the
possibility of a bunch of diseases you won’t like.
17. Call Mom. She misses you. I don’t care if you called her an hour ago. She still misses
you.
18. Family First. Contrary to what many people think, you can choose your family. It’s not
in a name or a bloodline. It’s your choice.
19. Fifteen-Minute Plans. Forget the five-year plans. The people who are most successful
and happy in life aren’t the ones who can plan for the future. They’re the ones who live
the present to its fullest.
20. Ask Her. She won’t bite and you’ll never know how she feels until you ask. Make sure
you’re smiling when you do. People like smiles.
21. Teach Yourself. I can tell you what it feels like, but you’ll never know until you touch it.
When people try to guide you by sharing their experiences, they will forget the most
important factor. They’re notyou. They can’t do what you can do. They don’t have your
heart. Don’t ever forget that.
22. Work Smarter. This is way better than working harder. For more on that, check out 7
Secret Ways to Boost Productivity.
23. Maintain Contacts. Hang on to everyone’s phone number. You will likely need them
someday.
24. Question Everything. You won’t believe the number of things you’ll hear that aren’t
true. Many of these will be long-held beliefs by many who were too lazy to wonder.
Blind acceptance is the fastest way to failure.
25. Be Original. You’re the only you on this earth. In fact, you’re the only you that has ever,
or will ever, be created. Would you rather enjoy being yourself, or pretend to be
someone else? That would make one more of someone else the world doesn’t need.
Just wasteful.
26. Life’s Unfair. I’m not sure I can add any more here, but I’m sure you’ll discover what I
mean sooner than you’d like.
27. Don’t Worry. Or you will go through so many terrible, horrible things in your life…
before they never happen.
28. It’s Possible. I cringe every time I hear the word impossible.
Best of luck. I know you’ll grow into a fine man who will help many people. Just remember, you
will never lose your way as long as you stay true to yourself.
3 Things to Do When You Don’t Have a Mentor
Last week I received a comment on a blog post I wrote a few years back titled 34 Things Every
22-Year-Old Should Know. The gent asked for more insight regarding why I felt a mentor wasn’t
necessary.
You can outsource many things in your life, but your career is not one of them. Go out into the
world. Try. Make mistakes. Learn. Repeat.
The lessons you learn by doing will be more beneficial than those lived vicariously.
Of course, mentors can be extremely helpful assuming you have the right ones. I consider it a
bonus more than a necessity. (Let’s leave alone situations where mentors can be harmful by
dispensing poor advice.)
The commenter’s question caused me to reflect on my life.
I’ve had one mentor. Someone took me under his wing when I was twenty-four years old and
carried me so to speak until I was in my late twenties. These were the days long before you
could access someone at a moment’s notice via the Internet, laptops, cell phones, and chat.
Our communication was verbal. (We also spend some time avoiding dinosaurs and now other-
extinct creatures.)
I asked myself, “How have I managed so well over these past twenty or so years?”
I realized I do three important things—I look around instead of up, engage with virtual
mentors, and participate in strong communities.
Look Around
Mentors don’t have to be wise old men or women with gray hair and wrinkles. If you pay
attention, you’ll gain tremendous insight from friends, family members, coworkers, business
owners, and anyone else you faithfully observe.
Learn by watching. Seek people, whoever they might be, who have been through what you
want to experience. Approach them if it’s appropriate. You can request introductions. You can
email them. There are many possibilities.
Think about how effective it can be when you target the advice you seek.
Virtual Mentors
It’s easy enough to Google a topic, but Cyberspace is crowded with blogs, communities, online
forums, chat rooms, and social media sites. This density makes it difficult to find the right
virtual mentors whose advice you’d embrace.
What’s more, how can you be sure what you read, hear, and watch is good advice?
Obviously, it makes no difference whether someone is whispering it in your ear or whether

you’re reading, hearing, or watching it. Either way, you’ll ultimately need to be brave enough to
try it and live it.
My suggestion is to do some Googling until you find the right individuals, bloggers, authors, or
speakers that excel in your areas of interest. Ask your friends, family, and coworkers with
similar interests where you can find great resources.
Initially, follow as many as you can. Weed them out over time. That way, you can focus on a
manageable number whose insight you enjoy the most.
Communities
There are online and offline communities for anything you can imagine. It makes no difference
what your interest or niche is.
I’ve recently been studying, training, and building a practice for launching products. (Yay, be
on the lookout for products coming soon!)
As part of that learning process, I’ve been participating in a community that was built through
the online training course I purchased.
I have been overwhelmed with joy by people’s willingness to share their experiences and
provide insight and help when needed. I can simply toss out a question on the website or
Facebook page. In minutes, I’ll have ten responses regarding potential solutions from people
who have already tried that approach.
Additional areas to investigate as it relates to that communal spirit are peer mentor resources.
An Internet search will yield loads of insight related to this.
How to Figure Out Your Purpose in Life in Fewer Than 600 Words
It appears as though for some it’s hardwired at birth—already soldered into that circuit board
many call a brain. For others, it appears in a flash, as if during some particular instant “it”
decided this was the moment to appear. Although disguised as a purpose, I call the latter
passion—a love you develop for something you experienced since the time you were born.
For most, however, it’s thought to be evasive. Evasive, though, would be incorrect because
more than likely it’s simply being ignored. What is it? It’s your purpose. How can you find it?
Just pay attention to what’s happening to you. You can also breeze through this article on how
to figure out your purpose in life in fewer than 600 words.
As a recruiter, although more often serving as a therapist, I get asked this question daily.
People want to know, “How can I figure out what to do?” or “What’s my purpose?” or “What
should I do with my life?” They ask as if I have a menu of options they can choose from.
Although I don’t, there are some thought-provoking ways to help you determine this. Let’s try
a few.
What do you do when you procrastinate?
When someone isn’t sure what he or she’d like to do with his or her life, I ask this question. In
80% of the cases, I’m certain these individuals can turn their “hobbies” into their professions
AND earn a nice living. I know many say that their hobby wouldn’t be fun once they have to do
it. I don’t buy that. Assuming you’re not delaying your life by playing video games, give this one
a good, long thought.
What can’t you go one entire day without thinking about?
For myself, I use this one often to determine whether I need to quit something. The opposite
also works. It’s a wonderful, daily inspiration of what you should pursue or continue to pursue.
If you ignore it, it’ll likely serve as a perpetual reminder that you’re missing your calling.
If money were no object, what would you do?
When you look back on your life, I promise you’ll be more sorry for the times you missed than
the dollars you missed. Money is fungible, memories are not and can last a lifetime. I’m sure a
few of you reading this are still dismayed at the IPOs you missed, but over a 40- or 50-year
career you’ll be shaped far more by what you do than what you earn.
What do you want to be most remembered for?
I constantly work backwards. I sketch the end result I want. This helps provide clarity and is
also tremendously helpful in keeping your focus. I used the word sketchinstead of something
more rigid because I think you need to have a vision, but also leave room to recognize
alterations you’ll need to make along the way. I assure you, if you head down a path where
you are doing something you love each and every day, fantastic opportunities will surface as a
result of your attitude, alertness, and proficiency in which you perform whatever it is you’re
doing.
When during your life were your head and heart most in sync?
I know of no more powerful force than an individual who’s entire being is in sync. The
alignment between what you think, how you think, and the passion in which you carry it out is
unstoppable. Throughout you’re life, you’ll be stopped more often by yourself than others.
Don’t let anyone dictate your outcomes. Most importantly, stay true to who you are.
For more information on this topic as well as setting goals to achieve great feats, see Out of
Reach but in Sight: Using Goals to Achieve Your Impossible.
The Ultimate Resume for Any 22-Year-Old
How confused are you right now? How many resume samples have you reviewed? How many
different opinions can there possibly be regarding this ridiculous piece of paper required to
facilitate an over-in-a-blink-of-an-eye moment? Unfortunately, the answer to the last
question is too many.
Before we get you un-confused, let’s have a little fun at my expense. Believe it or not, I was
once a 22-year-old. I was a graduate at that time and had burning palms thanks to the shiny,
hot new Electrical Engineering degree I was holding from Iowa State University. The motion of
throwing my hat and tassel in the air seemed to make that degree disintegrate as quickly as
my memory of Ohm’s Law.
I assembled an obnoxiously thick stack of beautiful one-page, yellow-papered resumes

because someone “advised” me to do something to make my resume stand out among the
employer’s pile of white ones. I think I took that advice a bit too literally and, mind you, this
was decades before Elle Woods made famous her pink, scented resume. #trendsetter
I don’t want to be melodramatic about your current blink-of-an-eye moment that might last
months for some, but a strong resume coupled with an effective job search will help put you
on a better path to finding your first professional job.
Since resume writing is as exciting as a trip to the dentist, let’s have a little fun with some dos,
don’ts, whys, and why nots. I’ll do my best to be entertaining. You do your best to stay awake.
Deal?
THE MUST DOs…
Make it one page. Don’t argue. You’re twenty-two years old. How much could you have
possibly accomplished? I’m forty-eight years old. Mine’s two pages, but I could trim it to one if
I wasn’t so lazy.
At the top…
Name. Call me “captain obvious,” but my review of over one half million resumes (not a typo)
shows me this is something worth explaining. Under no circumstances should you include your
middle name (or parenthetically cite your nickname). Unless you’re a serial killer or
presidential assassin (think John Wayne Gacy, Lee Harvey Oswald), use your first and last
names only. Famous people use two names. Really famous people use only one name or a
nickname (think Oprah, Sting, Madonna). Employers are reviewing many resumes along with
yours. They have trouble remembering your first name let alone your last name. Throwing in
your middle initial or middle name is piling on and downright cruel. I can’t believe I felt
compelled to use one hundred fourteen words to explain how to use your name. I’ll be briefer
with the rest.
Home Address. Use your permanent address in the location you plan to reside. Don’t use your
school address unless it’s the only address you have. Use mom and dad’s or uncle Jim’s or
whoever is living where you plan to locate.
Phone Number. Use your cell number. There is no need to indicate it’s your cell number.
Employers will be annoyed if it’s not. Whatever you do, don’t use your home number or your
mom and dad’s home number. While I’m at it, take off whatever ridiculous voicemail greeting
you have. If an employer bothers to call you, you want the nice person who took the time to
dial you to feel like he or she made a smart choice in calling you for a job interview.
Email Address. Use a nice, clean, and representative email address that won’t send everything
to spam. Stay away from addresses such as, iamonecooldude@noonewillhireme.com or
sororitysusie@myfacebookpagerocks.com. Stick with johnsmith@gmail.com or
janedoe@yahoo.com.
I’m sure you’re wondering where this information should be located on the top of the page.
Generally, people read from left to right, but resume reading is a bit different. Resumes are
scanned. (Sorry to hurt your feelings. No one cares about every accomplishment you’ve had in
your life.) When I review a resume, I start in the middle at the top of the page and look for the
name. If you make me scan both sides to find the information I’m seeking, I get irritated. (You
can judge me on my tolerance level for name placement once you’ve reviewed as many
resumes as I have. In fact, if you ever want to punish yourself, it’s a great self-torture
technique.) Place your name in the center and then your address, phone number, and email
address below it in that order. I made a pretty picture at the bottom because as the saying
goes, no one reads words anymore.
Next…
I’m sure you’re thinking education! No. And, I hope, for heaven’s sake, you’re not thinking
Objective Statement. (For more information on this, see the section below titled I Want to
Scratch My Eyes Out.)
Give me a little appetizer so I can get a complete thought (a la an Executive Summary) in my
head of what I’m about to absorb. Your resume is a marketing document. Effective marketing
leverages frequent touch points via multiple channels to the buyer. You only have one channel
and very little to market, but let’s turn an inch into a foot.
Profile. Consider this brief section the Cliff Notes version (or is it Spark Notes?) of you. By
summarizing your stardom in a few lines you can anchor their memory and get them excited
regarding what they’re about to read. Make sure to do it in a manner that only gives them a
peek and entices them to read the rest. This will also help with employers that ludicrously
eliminate new professionals based on the school they attended. You should make reference to
(not necessarily specifically list out) key areas such as your studies, internships, summer jobs,
volunteer work, committees, and so forth. The most important item is to roll this together and
(do your very best to) slant it toward the type of job you want. I know this concept might be a
little difficult to grasp, so here’s an example for a recent graduate who wants to pursue a job
in sales:
“Indiana University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Psychology minor.
Held various summer jobs and internships focusing on sales support activities. Served on
several university and fraternal committees. Built additional sales-related capabilities via
school fundraising activities and other volunteering efforts.”
And next…
Education. List your degree, school, city and state of the school, and year you attained the
degree (or year you anticipate attaining the degree). Also include any honors, additional
training, certifications, study abroad programs, or other relevant “educational” experience.
This is THE one and only time your Educational information should appear this high in your
resume. After your first professional job, drop it to the bottom portion. And, yes, that includes
the graduates from Harvard and Yale.
Work Experience. As you become a more seasoned professional, the Work Experience section
will be the lengthiest section of your resume. As a student or young professional transitioning
to the workforce full-time, your Work Experience section will likely be equivalent—in
substance—to the other parts of your resume. I suggest identifying the company you worked
for, its city and state, and the year(s) or season (e.g., Winter, Summer) you worked there. As a
precursor to sharing the accomplishments you achieved or responsibilities you maintained, I
also recommend including a brief sentence summarizing the company to ensure the employer
understands. Don’t assume all employees are familiar with all companies.
And finally…
Other. At the bottom, make sure to create a section(s) that highlights other noteworthy
information. The list here is endless and I won’t try to be inclusive, but you can include items
such as volunteering, community service, and other collegiate activities. You might also have
other unique experiences such as being a multilinguist. Most importantly, this is an area to list
whatever you think sets you apart. Don’t take it lightly.
THE ABSOLUTELY DO NOTs…
Objective Statement. I wish I could find whoever started this idea and give them one good
flogging. Your resume communicates what you offer, not what you want. Never. Never. Never.
References Available on Request. Duh. You just wasted four inches of resume-real estate on
something everyone knows and almost no one checks.
Objective Statement. In case you were sleeping three seconds ago and just woke up.
Personal Information. I’m 5’6’’ and 140 pounds. I have two dogs. Their names are Harley and
Ginger. My fiancee’s name is Lynda. She’s a schoolteacher. If she reads this she’s going to be
mad that I named the dogs first. I run marathons and am a scratch golfer. Did you care about
any of that?
Font. I don’t care what font you use. Just don’t make it something funky unless, of course,
you’re interviewing for a creative design position. I would, however, change it from Times New
Roman just to show the employer you’re not so lazy you can’t even take the time to switch
Word’s extremely boring font.
Picture. If you have one on your resume, I’ll use it as a dartboard. I don’t care if you look like
Brad Pitt. Actually, I’ll especially throw darts at it if you look like Brad Pitt.
Confidential. As in the word confidential. Are you kidding me?
Available for relocation or travel. The job descriptions or job applications will request this.
Leave it off the resume.
THE EHs…
There are a few items I’m indifferent about.
LinkedIn Profile URL. If I don’t have mine on my resume, would you be able to find me? Enough
said.
Twitter Handle. If I don’t have mine on my resume, would you be able to find me? Is there an
echo?
Your blog. Might be relevant if it’s good.
Your website. Some students and young professionals have built nice ones. Just make sure
it’s really good.
If you’d like more insight on resume writing, check out How to Write a Resume That Gets You
the Job Interview and A Resume Quickie.
The Anatomy of a Top 1% Most Viewed LinkedIn Profile
The other day I received this nice email from LinkedIn. Apparently, they wanted to let me
know that I was one of the top 1% most viewed LinkedIn profiles of their over 200 million
member site. (At this time, there are now over 440 million people on the site.) Of course it
brought a smile to my face.
While, in isolation, this is no accomplishment, it is certainly a positioner into the world of

business. More importantly, it compelled me to share my suggestions regarding how to best
position yourself on the leading business networking site.
If you don’t think much of LinkedIn or consider it an unnecessary tool because you are
gainfully employed and happy in your current job, I’d suggest remembering the date you read
this when you find yourself unhappy in your current position or, even worse, unemployed.
I’d also like to share some statistics that my firm has gathered from companies we’ve worked
with as well as several thousand people we’ve interviewed over the past few years:
 One in four employees is hired via an employee referral.

 80% of companies currently use LinkedIn as a source for recruiting.
 If you are under 50 years old or earn less than $100,000, you have a 27% chance of
finding a job through your personal and professional network.
 If you are over 50 years old or earn more than $100,000, you have a 46% chance of
finding a job through your personal and professional network.
 By simply creating a LinkedIn profile, you have an 8% chance of securing a job (4% via
corporate recruiters and an additional 4% via executive recruiters searching for
prospective employees).
These statistics alone should be a good indication it’s worthwhile to create a complete profile
and build your network. And, these statistics merely represent the job-related areas. They
exclude many other benefits of connecting with people such as visibility to relationships or
potential introductions for selling or buying purposes.
Here are some of the key areas to address in your profile:
Picture. Hello! It’s the first thing someone sees (read “looks for”) when they open your profile.
Oftentimes, a user has discovered your profile based on a search they’ve performed. These
search results return a list of people that match designated criteria. On the left column is your
picture—before they see your name! Your picture is also one of THE best memory devices for
them. It’s easily remembered, even more so than your credentials. A gray faceless cartoon
character surrounded by a white background in the little box can lead the user to infer you’re
either lazy or hiding something. A good, professional picture is welcoming. I’d like to repeat
the word professional. It’s a professional site. Leave the picture of you with your dog or kids
for Facebook, unless, of course, you own a pet store or pre-school.
Activity. This is your current status or anything you’d like to share. Consider this a major
vehicle to get noticed. I’d rather not see that you’re currently grocery shopping, but if you have
an article you’ve written or read, you might want to share it with your connections. I also
notice that employees share positions their employers are seeking. These types of updates
often get circulated and draw people’s attention to you. Use it appropriately.
Background. This is a wonderful section at the top that allows you to summarize yourself. It’s
most effective to include an overview and key accomplishments. You’re also allowed to attach
files, presentations, videos, and a few other goodies. I have included links to one of my recent
TV appearances, my organization’s corporate overview, and a complimentary copy of my first
book. I realize many of you might not have these, but you can certainly attach your resume or
a non-proprietary presentation you’ve prepared. Another item I suggest everyone develop is a
handbill or what I call a FAB presentation—Features, Accomplishments, and Benefits anyone
would realize as a result of hiring you.
Experience. I’ve heard some folks suggest not to be too detailed when you outline the
information of your work history. I have absolutely no idea—nada, zip, zero—as to why anyone
would think this is a good idea. While I certainly don’t want someone to send me a five page
resume when I’m interviewing him for a job, I would strongly suggest you make your LinkedIn
Experience section as detailed as possible. (And, make your work history, companies, and
positions look identical to your resume because employers will often review your profile in
addition to your resume. They are looking for connections as well to do informal reference
checks.) If a user comes across it, they can simply skim over what they don’t want to read in
detail. The search engine, however, has no time constraints. More importantly, it can only find
you if the information is there. Be detailed. Include key words in several variations so
someone who’s searching can find you. How many different ways can you say “Sales?”
Business Development, Account Development, Account Management, Account Executive,
Hunter, etc.
Skills. You’ve got ‘em. Cite them. These are also used for search purposes and your
connections can endorse that you have them. It’s a nice touch.
Education. Put it in. It shows you’re educated, but there are other benefits which I cite below.
Additional Information. There is a variety of other incidental information LinkedIn allows you
to provide, but one I find useful here is “Advice for Contacting.” It allows you to share with the
public your thoughts on how to get in touch with you and the reasons you feel are appropriate
to connect. It’s good to keep this updated.
Recommendations. Get ‘em. People like to see that others think the world of you. The more the
better. Reciprocate where appropriate.
Groups. You get 50 of them. Join them. Use them. Even if you don’t have a ton of time to read
through all the updates and inquiries, it will allow you to be connected to others within the
group. If you share a group with someone, you can mail them directly without having to pay
for additional In Mails (LinkedIn’s version of an email) or using up your allotted amount. You
will also have visibility regarding job opportunities that members share with the group.
Connections. The more you have the better. Keep in mind, however, the quality and your
knowledge of the people you’re connected to is important. You want to have a high-quality
and diverse set of connections. You also want to be able to provide insight regarding the
individuals should someone seek your reference. LinkedIn has several tools you can use to
expedite the building of these connections by accessing your email accounts such Gmail,
Yahoo, Outlook, and so forth. They also allow you to look for people you went to school with
(which is why it’s important to cite your specific schooling) as well as people you worked with.
There are a host of benefits, tools, and vehicles to access individuals as well as share
information via LinkedIn. It’s a wonderful tool with many obvious and hidden benefits. It all
starts with a strong profile and good connection base. Happy connecting!
Just Graduated? Use These 9 Tips to Jumpstart Your Job Search
Times have certainly changed. When I graduated from college in the late ‘80s, the biggest
struggle my friends and I had was choosing among our handful of job offers. Today’s market
has more than “eradicated” those “struggles” of yesteryear.
Trust me, my friends and I were no different than you are. Times were different. Companies
were different. Companies approached college and campus recruiting differently.
As I’ve been coaching and mentoring recent college graduates over the past few years, I’ve
noticed the processes and tools “aiding” them in finding their first after-graduation job lack
something essential—the human element. (Sorry I’m so “Quote Happy” today. Not sure what it
is.)
When I recently asked a college intern (from a Big Ten school) working for my company how he
was searching for his post-graduation job opportunities, he confirmed it was mostly through
online means and networking. He indicated that big companies rarely visit the school to
conduct on-campus interviews.
While technological advancements have helped us with our business and personal lives, they
have also inadvertently introduced setbacks in our ability to handle with care one of the most
interesting and life-changing events—someone’s transition to their first professional job.
Recruiting has been and always will be a hand-to-hand combat sport, but it’s especially
important for companies when selecting new professionals who don’t have much, if any, work
experience to evaluate. Successful recruitment and employment often comes down to the
person’s traits, which aren’t detectable in the flat computer-screen, tablet-obsessed world
we’ve created.
Where does that leave—in May—a graduating senior without a job? What can you do to
jumpstart your job search?
Expand your network. Make it your mission to meet as many people as possible. (Actually, do
this for the rest of your life and safely guard every phone number and email address you
accumulate. You’ll need these at some point in your career. Trust me.) Join relevant
networking groups. Use the social tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to expand
your network. That will give you more visibility to opportunities available in the market. If you
do identify a job opportunity at a particular company, you might improve your chances if
you’re able to identify someone you know who works there. See How to Build Your
Professional Network and 15 Things to Do When You’re 22 to Make Your Life Easier When
You’re 40.
Style your resume. I’m sure many of you are aware of this critical self-marketing tool. I’ve
written a few articles that will be helpful. You might need to make some slight alterations for
the fact that you are recent college graduates, but stylistically the principles I’ve outlined will
still be “in style” long after I’m gone. See How to Write a Resume That Gets You the Job
Interview and A Resume Quickie.
Spice up your LinkedIn profile and take a social media shower. As an extension of expanding
your network, build an excellent online presence. One of the greatest tools at your disposal is
LinkedIn and you will gain an additional 8% chance of being discovered simply by having a
well-built LinkedIn profile. You guessed it. I have an article for that too. See The Anatomy of a
Top 1% Viewed LinkedIn Profile. Steal what’s relevant. Also, for the love of all that is holy,
make sure to deodorize your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr accounts. That means
completely embarrassment-free. If you think any picture or comment might be embarrassing,
it is. You’re better off being delete-happy than saving the pictures for your kids. Eh, you won’t
even be able to afford kids if you can’t find a job.
Improve your interviewing skills. Books like Interview Intervention: Communication That Gets
You Hired will certainly help you. No need to buy the book. I’ll give it to you for free because
that’s the kinda guy I am. Click the link, sign up for the milewalk newsletter, and you’ll have a
coupon in your email inbox within seconds. Just promise to send me an email to let me know it
helped you. That’ll brighten my day.
Leverage the career sites. There are loads of nice job sites that will help you with material, job
postings, and so forth. LinkedIn is wonderful, but you already knew that because you’re
reading this article. I also recommend Careerbuilder, Indeed, Glassdoor and other similar
sites.
Target companies as opposed to jobs. I realize you want or need a job, but it is actually more
effective to target companies. You join a company. You don’t join a job. Consider what you
offer based on your studies, skills, internships, and summer jobs and think about which
specific (or types of) companies can use someone with those experiences. If you’re well-
rounded and are willing to do anything to get your foot in the door, great! You’ll have a big list
of companies. If you’re a bit more specialized (e.g., engineering, legal, etc.), perhaps target
firms that perform those business services. One of the best exercises is to identify companies
that are growing. Search lists such as the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000 or Best Small Companies.
Those companies are on those lists for a reason. And, of course, they’re growing and hiring
people. I know this because they can’t get on those lists if they’re not hiring people. You’re
inexpensive. Embrace it. Don’t worry about whether they have a job posting that matches
something you’re qualified to do. Call them. Ask for the Human Resources or Recruitment
Department. Tell them you’re interested. Send them your resume. It works.
Improve your knowledge—and credentials—of the subject matter. Seek training courses or
certifications you can achieve in your area of study that would make you more marketable. As
I mentioned, you’re inexpensive, but you’re also inexperienced. Companies need to balance
their resources, but gaining credentials even if it’s a training certification can tip the scales in
your favor. If nothing else, it shows you take initiative and are ambitious in developing
yourself.
Volunteer your time in targeted areas. Volunteering is one of the most wonderful activities you
can do. I realize volunteering means no pay, but it also means providing goodwill to the
universe, which usually has a way of being repaid with interest. It also connects you to others
and enhances your network. Volunteering will also improve your social skills and serve as a
pleasant distraction from the job search. Variety, in and of itself, usually yields some very
pleasant surprises.
Treat your job search as if it IS your job. In the last three or so years, I’ve seen many recent
college graduates become emotionally deflated because they couldn’t get that dream job right
after they graduated. They did what anyone in their situation would do—they got some job.
That some job often gets in the way of searching for the job. Work double-time if need be. Like
anything in life, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. Try to organize your day and make it a
full (eight-hour) day when you can. Keep a positive attitude. Take action.
Happy job hunting!
9 Worst Job Mistakes By Recent College Graduates
As young adults about to enter the day-in-and-day-out lifestyle, you’ll quickly discover there
are basically three types of people in this world: those that don’t, those that do, and those
that do effectively. You’ll need to be part of the latter group to succeed at your very first
professional job search.
The truth is the title of this article should be Nine Things Every Person Does Wrong When Job
Searching. That title doesn’t “grab” because the veterans of the day-in-and-day-out lifestyle
are very busy between the day-in and day-out part. Recent college graduates without a job to
interrupt their days, however, might have a bit more time to read this. Of course, there’s also
the freak-out factor. So, when titling our weekly posts, we bloggers tend to cater to those we
think will read it. (I’m human too.)
On a serious note, these are bloopers and blunders and you better fix them quickly if you want
to get off your parents couch anytime soon. (I assume your parents have over the last few
years slowly removed the furniture from your bedroom as mine did so many years ago. It
helps them cope when they do it slowly. It turns out they’re human too.) Speaking of humans…
You don’t interact with humans. The Internet is fabulous, but by itself is generally ineffective. I
don’t win business simply by sending someone an email. You don’t get a job interview simply
by submitting your resume via the torturous Applicant Tracking System that has become the
bane of your existence. Certainly search and send your resumes, but follow up with a call or
voicemail. Why? Guess how many of your peers do it? You wouldn’t need all your fingers let
alone your thumbs before you hit the number. It is not how many people apply. It’s how many
people apply, follow up, and follow through. All of sudden, that indicator on the website
showing the “number of applicants” who has applied for the position becomes a meaningless
representation of who is truly in the race. Make the call. You’ll thank me.
More on humans. You don’t develop your professional or personal networks properly. I’m going
to apologize for all the “adults” who made you live in the world of instant gratification. Sorry. I
truly am. Developing your network is not solely about finding an accountant who can get you
that first accounting job. It’s a lifelong, diverse process. In the short-term, however, you need
to build your second-degree connections. Those are your friends’ friends. One of your friends
might get you a job interview, but it’ll more likely come from one of their friends. If you’re an
accountant, in addition to thinking where can I find other accountants, think where can I find
influential people with lots of connections. Like, for example, me or your widely successful
aunt, uncle, cousin, or anyone else who knows a lot of good people.
You don’t network online effectively. Unless you’ve been living in a dorm cave, you’ve heard of
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and so forth. Most people think those sites connect individuals.
They do. What most people don’t realize is that those sites (and others) are great for
connecting with interest groups, meet-up groups, alumni groups, and so. Don’t just build your
network of online individuals. Build your network of online groups as well. “One” online
connection can mean access to hundreds of thousands of people sharing the same interest.
You look for jobs not companies. I realize you want a job, but you actually join a company not a
job. Look for companies that would benefit from someone with your abilities and studies. If
you’re an engineer, look for engineering or technology companies regardless of whether they
have a job posting. One of the best exercises is to identify companies that are growing. Search
lists such as the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000 or Best Small Companies. Those companies are on
those lists for a reason. And, of course, they’re growing and hiring people. I know this because
they can’t get on those lists if they’re not hiring people. You’re inexpensive. Embrace it. Don’t
worry about whether they have a job posting that matches something you’re qualified to do.
Call them. Ask for the Human Resources or Recruitment Department. Tell them you’re
interested. Send them your resume. It works. (Hey, there’s that human thing again.)
You don’t leverage your university or college. I realize these days that the university career
offices aren’t what they use to be. Everything is online and they basically leave you to your
devices. Even so, there are usually websites that the university offers for alumni, companies
that are willing to post jobs to those sites, and so forth. LinkedIn also has school alumni
groups that share ideas and job listings. Be aggressive when identifying opportunities for your
alma mater to aid you.
You don’t research enough. We’ve already touched on a few research items related to people
and jobs, but mapping your network is a critical research exercise worth its own discussion. In
addition to researching and reviewing job openings and companies, you should also make a
relationship map as part of that exercise. Here’s an example that we used previously. Sure,
accountants know other accountants. But, the lawyers and doctors and real estate agents you
know use accountants. Business owners know accountants. There are intertwined
relationships in the business world. If you can’t connect the dots, then ask Mom, Dad, big
brother, big sister, cousin Hank, Uncle Bob, or whoever’s a Magellan fan to draw you a map of
the corporate world.
You don’t take to social media fully. Social media is fun and fabulous. It can provide all kinds
of help and get you into all kinds of trouble. Perhaps you saw my recent article called Time for
a Social Media Shower? Breeze through it to ensure you deodorize yourself so you can start
your job search April fresh. Most people will leverage the social sites to network or look for
jobs. I’m okay with that. But, you can also use social media to build your social platform. This
can be your elaborate online resume. Start creating your LinkedIn Profile, Twitter Account,
Website, Blog or whatever other platforms you enjoy. If you have a cohesive message—
especially if it offers some insight related to your interests—it could be helpful. I realize my
platform leverages three decades of work experience and a significant amount of personally-
developed content, but you can review it as an example and align yours accordingly. If you
haven’t developed much content, you can share articles of interest, comment on them, and be
a connector. You might be thinking, but I have nothing to say. If that’s the case, start building
your platform by connecting to those with similar interests. This is extremely easy to do on
Twitter because you can follow whomever you want. Be a spy first and then go from there.
You don’t thank. Thanking someone is a lost art. In your life, you’ll forget to thank many with
no other consequence than a disappointing thought from your friends and loved ones. During
your job search, it becomes more fatal. Knowing how to thank is one thing. There are many
samples (How to Write a Thank You Note That Gets You the Job). Knowing whom to thank is a
different story. I’m sure 99% of you won’t go to this level of effort, but I would suggesting
sending thank-you notes (that’s an actual piece of paper) to anyone who does anything for
you during the search. That includes your dad’s friend who had lunch with you to provide
guidance (you know who you are), the acquaintance who provided a referral for you, the
cousin who gave you helpful material to read, your friend who reviewed your resume, and the
guy who held the door for you when you went to the restroom. Buy a big stack. Send them out.
You think everyone hates paper? Maybe. You know what I do with the thank-you cards I
receive? I place them nicely on my desk or bookshelf. I never worry about running out of room
because so few people ever bother to send me one. I look at them daily and never forget
those who sent them to me. I n-e-v-e-r forget and I meet four thousand new people year in
and year out. That’s not an exaggeration. Make yourself one of one, not one of four thousand.
You don’t optimize your day or focus. If you only ate hamburgers, you’d be fat. If you slept all
day, you’d never get anything done. This is analogous to what most people’s job searches
looks like. They’re excessive in all the wrong directions or nonexistent. Like everything in life, a
balanced and well-planned daily diet will be beneficial. Your day needs to be planned—
effectively. It needs to be executed—effectively. (I realize you might be working a part-time
job, so feel free to adjust accordingly.) It needs to look something like this. How much time
you spend in each area might be different each day, but a steady diet of each will serve you
well!
 Wake Up. Make sure you’re still alive.
 Morning ritual. Do whatever gets you excited—exercise, meditate, yoga, read, write,
eat, shower (please), and coffee.
 Research: Find jobs and companies and build your relationship map.
 Apply: Send your resume to wherever you think is appropriate. This can be directly to a
potential employer or acquaintances or friends. Circulating your resume is the key.
 Network. Human interaction! Yay! Call relevant people (or leave voicemails), meet (yes,
get up from behind the computer), schedule appointments to meet, etc.
 Write Thank-You Notes: Make sure you keep a list and the bigger the list the better.
The more people you need to thank, the more productive your day was. If you’re
empty here, you had a bad day. Don’t fool yourself. The number of people you have to
thank on a given day is one of the very best indicators of how productive your day was.
 Plan For Tomorrow: Don’t wake up tomorrow thinking about what you need to do.
Know in advance. Make it happen!
Negotiate Your Job Offer Like a Pro
You know that expression often used in sales negotiations, “He who speaks first, loses”? Well,
that doesn’t always apply in negotiating your employment offer. There are so many factors to
consider, the first of which is when the employer inquires about your current or desired
compensation.
The turf you’re standing on is everything…
Speaking of many factors, I’d like to mention before we dive in that the remainder of this post
will not be about the standard steps and responses you should take when negotiating an
employment offer. I think you’ll end up on the short end if you think there’s such a thing as
“standard.” No siree! A master of negotiation understands that the landscape upon which you
negotiate is ultimately what helps you negotiate anything effectively. The more you
understand about the landscape, the more effective you’ll be.
The “When” is everything, uh, else…
In the case of negotiating your employment offer, the most important success factor in
achieving what you want is making sure to request it when your “stock” is highest. This is
unlikely to be during the first interview. You simply haven’t had enough opportunity to dazzle
them. If it is, you won’t be in the process very long nor need to be concerned about this. So, if
during the first interview, the employer asks your desired level of compensation, I would
recommend responding with something such as, “Here is my current level of compensation. I
am certain if we are the right match for each other we will be able to come to an agreement
that’s amenable for both of us.” You’ve now provided the company with valuable data (if they
didn’t have it already).
But in the end, compromise is really what matters most…
Keep in mind, the more they like you, the more they’re willing to pay. The more you like them,
the less you’re willing to accept. (In the same vein, I don’t recommend employers explaining
up front what the position pays. In the same manner the candidate has not had a chance to
impress the company, the company has not had a chance to impress the candidate. The
candidate might, in fact, be willing to negotiate away dollars for the pure joy of working there.
She doesn’t know that yet because she has very little information.)
If the employer indicates they would like to extend an offer to you, position yourself to review
the offer in its entirety. Review your current situation, requirements, timing constraints, and
compensation. Take a close look not only at the potential compensation level but also at the
company outlook, culture, role, professional development, coworkers, autonomy, work and life
balance, location, travel, and benefits. (See 5 Questions to Ask Before You Job Search and The
Top 12 Happiness Factors for Employees for more insight.)
Being a team is way better than either party being selfish…
Perhaps the most important thing to remember at this stage is that as soon as the employer
announces it would like to extend you an offer, you have instantaneously become
teammates—not adversaries—in the negotiation. You either both win (if you accept) or both
lose (if you do not). What do teammates do? By connotation, they work together to accomplish
a common goal. That means communicating with each other to express your needs, areas that
are important to you, where you can be flexible, and your rationale for wanting certain
components in your overall compensation package. To the extent you can convey to them that
you “want to make this work,” you will substantially increase the likelihood of realizing what
you want.
How much “think time” should I request?
This is a critical decision, so make sure to request the appropriate amount of time to consider
it. There is no one set industry standard for the duration. The most important factor is to
provide the company with a definitive date you will respond—and stick to it.
If you need a few days, you can simply indicate so and respond at the appropriate time (or
before) with a verbal, e-mailed, or written confirmation. I recommend the verbal response,
especially considering the magnitude, but also realize all situations are different.
If you need a few weeks, I recommend agreeing to a touchpoint with the employer sometime
in between so as not to have an extended period of silence. This checkpoint serves as good
opportunity for both parties to ask questions or provide clarifications.
9 Timeless Communication Tips that Will Make You Lovable
People make the world go ’round. Communication is the grease that keeps us all running
smoothly.
Some people think communication starts with your mouth. No. Others think communication
starts with your ears. No. Communication actually starts with body language, whether near or
from afar.
Before we dive into the tips, I’d like to share a little story.
Several years ago when the economy was rough, I needed an assistant. I placed an
advertisement online and as suspected received many applicants (504 to be exact).
I paired it down to thirty people who looked promising on paper. One of my employees phone
screened them. I met with ten people we felt would be the best fit.
I decided to meet the tenth candidate for lunch. As I approached the building, she was sitting
on a bench outside. From seventy-five feet away, I caught her stare. She smiled. She rose. Her
smile got bigger.
As we approached each other, she extended her hand and gave me a shake with the proper
strength that said you wouldn’t need to look any further. Then her words came out, “It’s so
nice to meet you.”
She was nicely dressed and her overall appearance was well, but not overly, manicured.
She had only uttered six words, but I knew as long as she didn’t throw her chopped salad in
my lap my search was over.
She turned out to be absolutely fabulous.
First things first…
Smile. Do you realize even though the corners of your mouth need to rise, smiling takes less
energy than frowning? People respond to this because you appear warm, welcoming, and
nonjudgmental. They want to share themselves with you and learn about you. Smiling is so
important I hang up on people who don’t smile when they’re on the phone with me. I learned
this trick from a United Airlines customer service agent when I asked her why she was able to
find me a significantly lower airfare when the previous agent I worked with could not. She said,
“Mr. LaCivita, when you call us and the person who answers isn’t smiling, hang up and call
back.” So, the answer to your question is this technique also works when the other party can’t
see you.
Shake hands firmly. I don’t care whether it’s a man, woman, child, or dog, give them a good
shake. Please stand when you do it. I don’t care if you’re in the middle of your $58 filet mignon.
Stand up! Show the other person you think his or her hand is worth shaking. If you’re wearing
a hat, cap, bandana, headband or whatever else people wear on their heads these days, take it
off. It’s a polished move and shows you’re respectful and cool.
Mind your attire. When was the last time you walked into a bookstore and dashed to the worst
book cover you could find? Of course, people will eventually realize bad writing and bad
stories even if your book has a sexy cover. If you’re an unpleasant person, it won’t matter if
you’re wearing couture. You’ll still be better off dressing well than like a slob. That will at least
make a good impression before you open your mouth.
Think, say, do. You’ll never be more in harmony with yourself or the rest of the world than when
these three things are the same.
Open your mind. I like to say an open mind is a peaceful place. Your biases will make you a
terrible listener. You’ll dismiss what you don’t want to believe and rush to an agreement for
what you want to believe. Before you can be a great listener, you need to unclutter the
baggage and noises in your head.
Stretch your ears. The weird-looking things on the sides of your head are amazing. Mine help
me experience joy before I walk into my house as I hear my fur babies bark before on the
other side of the door. They also help you understand what the other party needs or cares
about. Be a giver by listening first.
Think positive thoughts right before you open your mouth. Stay positive. If someone says
something, before you respond, it’s better to wonder why she thinks what she thinks. Give her
the benefit of the doubt. Ask her why. Once you understand her “why,” you’ll be able to shape
your response in a good-natured way.
Use positive words after you open your mouth. How you say what you say is just as important
as what you say. I’m convinced you never need to use negative language even in the harshest
of situations. Negative language never yields the best outcomes. It’s demotivating.
Did I hear you correctly?
Perform the intent check. Even if you have an open mind and are listening, make sure you
understood him or her. There needs to be a mutual understanding otherwise you technically
miscommunicated. I like to perform an intent check when someone shares something
important. Simply repackage what the other person said and confirm, preferably in different
words, what the other person meant.
Your actions speak so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying…
Do what you say you’ll do. Smiling and using positive language is meaningless if you don’t do
what you say you’ll do. This nonverbal communication has a higher decibel level than anything
that can possibly come out of your mouth—even if you’re screaming at the top of your lungs.
Follow through on what you promise!
Top 12 Professional Etiquette Tips for New College Graduates
At milewalk, over the last few years, we have interacted more with recent college graduates
and young professionals than in our previous years. It’s a sign that the employment market is
gaining strides and top talent is difficult to find no matter how senior or junior your positions
might be.
I thought it might be a nice idea to share some of the time-lost etiquette tips that should have
lived forever, but for some reason seem to have one foot in the grave.
Here we go…
12. Dress Up. There are loads of great stories about the world’s most brilliant braniacs or
successful entrepreneurs that dress like slobs. Once you become your generation’s Steve Jobs,
you can dress however you like. Until that time, remember that after your face your attire is
the first thing someone sees. Sometimes, it’s the first.
11. Be On Time. That means be on time for work, for meetings, and anything else that actually
has a scheduled time.
10. Shake Hands. Stand up when you do it. Look the person in the eyeballs. Shake firmly. If you
don’t do all three, you’re effectively saying, “Your hand isn’t worth shaking.”
9. Listen First. You’ve heard that expression you have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
Well, it’s good one. Listen first and twice as much as you speak and you’ll sound smarter twice
as often and be wrong half as much.
8. Shut Off Your Cell Phone. Unless you’re a doctor, lawyer, on call technician that fixes my
computer when it breaks, or waiting for your wife to deliver your child, turn your cell phone off
when you’re meeting with people. Don’t worry about what scandal is trending on Facebook.
It’ll still be there by the time your meeting adjourns.
7. Write Proper Emails. That means correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and so on.
6. Do One Thing at a Time. Technically, “multitasking” as people like to call it, is nothing more
that quickly switching between tasks you think you’re doing concurrently. (You’re actually
doing them serially, but you’re switching between them so quickly it appears to you as though
you’re doing them at the same time.) Focus on whatever you’re doing when you’re doing it.
This includes listening to your boss while she is speaking instead of checking your email.
5. Follow Through. Always deliver on your promises. Always do what you say you’ll do. Always.
Always. Always.
4. Be Open Minded. Regardless of how ridiculous someone’s opinion sounds, look for the
positive in it and the creativity it might provide your overall idea or solution. Think of all the
amazing gadgets you’re probably using to read this post. How ridiculous did they once sound?
3. Be Diplomatic. As an extension of being open minded, make sure to be tactful when

interacting with anyone within (or outside of) your company. There’s absolute no point in
being a jerk to anyone—no matter how much someone might deserve it.
2. Introduce People. That means make sure you always make sure every person in the room
knows each other. Expand that within your company. Then do it outside your company. It’s
called networking and it’ll save your life one day.
1. Treat Everyone Like They Will Someday be in a Position to Offer You a Job. Chances are they
will be. Chances are they will be…in case you didn’t hear me the first time.
The 3 Real Reasons You Can’t Stay Focused
I’m sure more than a few are getting ready to read about the main culprit—your friends’
fabulous Facebook posts. Eh, those little social media scoundrels are amateurs when
measured against real killers that cause your head to swirl at the flicker of any shiny white
light.
When all is stripped away from the things you turn to when you’re unable or unwilling to
concentrate, you’ll find there are three real reasons you can’t stay focused.
Before we consider those, I want to explain what I mean by focus. I’m not speaking of the four
minutes you’ll need to sit still to read this juicy post.
I’m referring to the focus of your life, project, goals or anything else that provides you a
figurative north pole. Let’s try to build you a compass.
The What. You Have No Vision or Blurry Vision.
If you can’t envision clearly what you want (to be) or what your goal looks like, you’ll meander.
It’s a cold hard fact.
Let’s not worry just yet how your vision becomes reality. Let’s, uh, focus on first things first.
You might think you have eagle vision. Great! Does your “what” require others to help you
achieve it? If so, they’ll also need to see your vision clearly.
Any architect needs great contractors who understand their purpose, the blueprint, and
timeline.
If the team has blurry vision, you’ll get blurry results.
My vision, for example, is clear to me. It’s a mere fifteen words. I want to be a premier source
of help for people who want to improve their lives and careers.
If something enters my life that doesn’t coincide with that vision, I quickly escort it to the
door.
The Why. Don’t Forget Why.
I never want the “how” to drive the “what” or “why.” You shouldn’t either.
The first thing you need to figure out is what you want and why you want it. If you have a good
reason, you’ll succeed. Just make sure it’s your reason and not someone else’s “why.”
You’ll succeed because your “why” will fill you with love and passion for whatever you’re
doing.
People fall out of love with activities or efforts they undertake because they stray from their
“why” or their “why” changes.
The reason I want to be a premier source of help for people who want to improve their lives
and careers is because I love helping people and I want to have a positive impact on their
lives and the world as a whole.
My desire to positively influence more people drives me to figure out new ways to reach more
people. My vision hasn’t changed for some period of time. Neither has the reason I do it (my
“why”). My tactics (the how), however, are continually improving.
The How. You Don’t Have a Map.
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You have your vision and you’re clear on “why.”
Sadly, many don’t make it this far because they let the “how” drive the “what.” This causes
people to throw in the towel before they start because they don’t know how they’re going to
get all the way to where they want to go.
If you undertake any journey, you don’t need to see the entire route. You need to see the first
step, then the next, and so on. That’s the fun part, not the hard part. It’s better to try. Produce
version one. Repeat. Produce version two. Repeat.
If you undertake something more finite, such as building a house, you should complete the
blueprint first to ensure all the nails, boards, bricks, and pipes fit together. You shouldn’t start
building before all the specifications are approved (at least if you intend to live in the house).
All three of these pieces are equally important to being directed and staying on track. If you
don’t know where to go, anywhere will be fine. If you don’t care, anything will be fine. If you
don’t have a map, any route will be fine. Do you want fine?

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Inside you’ll find guidance in several areas such as:

 Taking action during college to set up the life you want

Most people behave in a transactional manner as it relates to college—they put themselves

Let’s have a look…

Balance your diet. You’ll look better and feel better.

Here’s what I would have told myself:

The commenter’s question caused me to reflect on my life.

Obviously, it makes no difference whether someone is whispering it in your ear or whether

What do you do when you procrastinate?

What can’t you go one entire day without thinking about?

If money were no object, what would you do?

What do you want to be most remembered for?

I assembled an obnoxiously thick stack of beautiful one-page, yellow-papered resumes

THE MUST DOs…

THE ABSOLUTELY DO NOTs…

Confidential. As in the word confidential. Are you kidding me?

There are a few items I’m indifferent about.

Your blog. Might be relevant if it’s good.

While, in isolation, this is no accomplishment, it is certainly a positioner into the world of

 One in four employees is hired via an employee referral.

Here are some of the key areas to address in your profile:

Happy job hunting!

 Wake Up. Make sure you’re still alive.

The turf you’re standing on is everything…

The “When” is everything, uh, else…

But in the end, compromise is really what matters most…

Being a team is way better than either party being selfish…

How much “think time” should I request?

She turned out to be absolutely fabulous.

First things first…

Your actions speak so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying…

3. Be Diplomatic. As an extension of being open minded, make sure to be tactful when

The What. You Have No Vision or Blurry Vision.

If the team has blurry vision, you’ll get blurry results.

The How. You Don’t Have a Map.

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