No Relevant Skills How A New Take On Value Can Help You Feel More Confident In Your Career Change

No Relevant Skills How A New Take On Value Can Help You Feel More Confident In Your Career Change Expert Advice > How to make your skills and experience work for you No Relevant Skills? How A New Take On Value Can Help You Feel More Confident In Your Career Change * Feeling uninteresting, underqualified and unimportant? Struggling to see what you could offer in a different field? Natasha suggests a new perspective on the subject of ‘value’, and some simple but effective ways to share it, no matter where you’re at or what your background. Trying to break into a new career can feel like stepping naked off a cliff. Not only are you trying to make a leap into completely unknown territory, you're also doing it in your most vulnerable state. Your CV or résumé feels limp and alien, your qualifications are not relevant, and while you've heard people say that the world of work is about who you know, not what you know, the thought of trying to explain yourself to someone from a brand new industry in a way that's interesting and relevant is paralysing. “What do I have to offer?” “Why would they be interested in me?” “None of my experience is relevant and my transferable skills are ten-a-penny â€" I'm worthless to them.” Work is all about the exchange of value, right? So somehow, you should be able to demonstrate your value â€" to show people, and their companies and organisations, why you're worth paying attention to. But as far as you can tell, you've got nothing of interest to them. So… now what? In the traditional world of work, 'value' is personal When you think about 'value', you probably think of it this way: Value is something you have, or don't have The value you have to offer is what's on your CV or résumé(qualifications or experience) Value is about you. And that third point is the crux of the issue. Chances are, throughout your career, you've been trained to keep the focus on yourself. When you write your CV or résumé, there's one word that shows up everywhere: 'I'. When you go to job interviews, every response you give to a question starts with that same word: 'I'. “I did this.” “I achieved that.” “I led this, I made this happen.” So the idea of 'value' becomes personal. It becomes about your self-worth. The question you find yourself wrestling with is: “Am I valuable?” No wonder it feels hopeless â€" heartbreaking, even â€" to come up short. But what if 'value' wasn't about you? What if value was about them? What if, instead of gazing at yourself, examining yourself for stamps of approval and marks of acceptability, you focused your gaze out-there, on the people you want to work with? Who are they, beyond 'the people who have the thing I want'? Who are they, beyond 'the people with the power to judge me'? What do they need? What do they desire? Instead of trying to make yourself valuable, how can you make them feel valued? Businesses, companies, organisations are made of people. And while the business may have cold, hard 'criteria' and unforgiving systems for measuring your 'worth' if they're going to employ you, those people have needs and wants and hopes and dreams and problems and questions, just as you do. And building relationships with those people is one of the most powerful things you can do in your search for, and your shift into, fulfilling work. So if you want to engage with the idea of value in a new way, and in a way in which you can bring value, no matter who you are or what your background is, it's time to switch your thinking. 1. Listen The first step to making anyone feel valued â€" a person, a company, a whole industry â€" is to focus on them, not on you. Listen. Seek to learn. To understand. Have conversations (often known as informational interviews) with people working in your chosen industry, and in the company or companies you're most interested in. Start following industry media â€" follow their Twitter feeds, set up Google alerts, read relevant blogs and commentary. Go to events related to the area you're interested in. Fairs, conferences, talks, seminars, Meetups. And listen. Soak it all up. Don't go to focus on yourself, and how you do or don't have anything to offer. Go to learn. Go to understand. In informational interviews…. be curious Don't sit there worrying about if you measure up, or how you're coming across. See your 30 minutes together (or an hour, or however long you have) as an opportunity to make the person you're speaking to feel seen, and heard, appreciated and understood. Listen for the things they're not saying, as much as for the things they are, and ask about them. Pay attention to the little things â€" the names they mention, the issues they're struggling with, the things that make them smile. “I spent as much time as I could with tech people to learn the lingo, how they think, where they come from, and how to talk to them. “I leveraged any contact, and even contacts-of-contacts, to immerse myself in tech. It's important not to be creepy and only talk business. I was interested in their lives and how they got where they are (which in itself was pretty interesting and informative). Actually I ended up developing some real friendships with a couple of the contacts I made.”â€"Andrea, who shifted from Construction to Software As you follow industry media… notice What patterns are you seeing? What gaps? What frustrates you about what you see? What delights you? What can you notice, as an 'outsider', that someone deep in the woods of familiarity might not pick up on? What is nobody talking about? What's needed? At events and talks and fairs and conferences… observe What conversations do you hear, time and time again? What questions do people keep asking? What language do they use? What problems are they trying to solve? “Since immersing myself in the social impact design world, I've learned about not only what, how, and why people are doing this work, but also the gaps that still need to be addressed. The social impact design field is nascent so the opportunities to contribute and take part are tremendous.”â€"Katie Crepeau, who shifted from Architecture to Social Impact One of the most valuable things you can offer â€" to anyone or anything â€" is your attention (there's a good reason we say that you 'pay' attention) And whether it's small-scale, over a coffee with a new connection, or larger-scale, with your time and energy over months of events, it will pay off. Your connections will enjoy their time spent with you â€" time spent with someone who's genuinely curious, engaged and observant. You'll gather information that you wouldn't get â€" couldn't get â€" any other way. You'll immerse yourself in a world that might have seemed impenetrable before, given your lack of qualifications or experience, and (like a duck) it'll become infinitely more navigable with every step you take. And the more attention you pay, the more you'll start to see more opportunities to make the people â€" and the companies â€" in that industry feel valued. 2. Ask “Last time we spoke you mentioned you had some issues with finding funding for that new project. How can I help?” “I attended the conference you spoke at last month, and I was really interested in what you said about the big goal you're working toward this year. How can I help?” “I've been following you on Twitter for a while, and I can see how passionate you and your organisation are about this cause. How can I help?” Your concern, and your time, are 'value' A shared interest, mutual enthusiasm, your support â€" simple things with enormous value. The fact that you care about what a person or a company is doing speaks volumes, and even the act of asking carries its own meaning and significance. Maybe there's a clear answer right away â€" a task you can complete, a question you can mull over, a service you can offer, an insight you can share â€" or maybe not. Either way, the fact that you noticed something, and then asked for a way to offer your support, will land powerfully. You've acknowledged the value of what they're doing. You see them, doing something that matters. And you want to support them in achieving it. It won't be found on your CV or résumé. There's no certificate for it. It's not about you. But it's true, lasting 'value'. The fact that you can't see a way for you to add value, doesn't mean there isn't one One of the tricky things about real talents is that they're usually so natural to you, you're not even aware they're anything special. The way you can always see the bigger picture â€" surely everyone can do that? The way you can glance at chaos and put a system in place to create order â€" that's normal, right? The way people just seem to melt and soften around you â€" isn't that just how life is? So when an opportunity arises for you to offer value that's uniquely 'you', you may not even see it. But asking what you can do to help a person or an organisation, particularly if you've built up some kind of relationship with them already, gives them an opportunity to highlight what they see you can provide, even if you can't see it yourself. Once you know what people want and need, you can find it If you've listened, paid attention and learned about the person or the industry you're looking to add value to, you can probably hazard some good guesses about what they need and want. But if they've told you specifically what they're looking for (because you've asked), you're in a far better position to offer targeted value. Much like when you buy your first red car, you suddenly start to see that same red car everywhere on the road, your brain will start to notice things in the world that are relevant for the person or company you're building a relationship with. And once you've started putting your mind, whether consciously or subconsciously, to work, you can offer something more actively… 3. Give Even more powerful than an ask is a direct, specific offer of value. “Here's what I've noticed (as I've been listening), and here's how I see I can contribute.” While asking is an easy and effective access point to learning more about what a person or organisation needs, it places the responsibility on them to come up with a suggestion or request of something you could then do or provide. Offering something that you've noticed and found a solution for off your own steam â€" that offers them value with zero effort required on their part. And while this can sound scary and significant, it really doesn't have to be, especially when you remember that value isn't about you â€" it's about them. Size isn’t everything Not long ago, I was approached by a woman who was interested in finding out more about what I do for a living. We jumped on Skype, chatted for an hour or so, and at some point I briefly mentioned the poet Mary Oliver, whom I loved. The next day I opened my inbox to find an email from that same woman, thanking me for my time and sharing a link to an article about Mary Oliver from one of her favourite blogs. I knew she had really been listening. I knew she'd gone away and looked up what I'd said. I knew she'd found a little something to offer back to me as exchange for my time and my energy, and she'd taken the time to send it. She hadn't needed a qualification for that, or 'three years' experience', or even to feel for herself that she had 'industry-relevant value' to offer. She added value to me, by making me feel valued. That small gesture stayed on my mind for weeks afterward. And when, at Careershifters, we needed a few thoughtful, observant members of our community to help us solve a problem, she was the first person I suggested we invite. She'd proven she was thoughtful. She'd shown she was observant. A month or so after that she joined our team, in a very small way. Offer what you can, when you can You may not have the skill set to be able to step directly into a paid position within the company you have your eye on right now. But that doesn't mean that you have nothing to offer. An article you stumbled across online that speaks to what they're working on. An introduction to someone you know that you think would be a helpful connection. Sharing their project among your family and friends, to help them gain support. An hour of your time to help them make sense of their ideas. Some of your expertise in your existing area of work, to help them tackle a problem. Like Thea, who used her marketing background as currency to help her learn more about the world of sculpture: “I decided I didn't want to sell all my original sculptures (each once takes so long to create, I find I get personally attached to them), so I went to investigate 3D printing them at a local event. It was there that I got talking to an entrepreneur who was in charge of a medtech start-up. “He helped me to explore 3D printing my sculptures. In return, I offered his start-up marketing advice and guidance. A year later, he offered me a role as Communications Director.” Thea Partridge â€" From Account Manager to Portfolio Careerist If you've listened, if you've paid attention, and if you've asked, you'll know something about what they might need. You'll be able to see opportunities to help. And you'll have built up a level of trust and mutual respect that is, quite frankly, priceless when you're trying to move into a new industry. Make it easy for them The greatest offers of value make no demands. Respecting someone's time and energy leaves them feeling seen, acknowledged, and special â€" again, rather than making your offer about you and how great you are, it leaves them feeling valued. So when you're looking for ways to support what they're doing, find a way to make an offer that requires little or no investment on their part. Not only does it show them that you're honouring their experience, it also leaves very little reason for them to refuse! Lee Mannion did this to brilliant effect during his shift: “I made an offer to the guy who's now my boss. “The offer was this: “'I'll come and work for you for a week, for free. And if at the end you like what I've done, you can pay me â€" and if you don't think I'm any good at it, don't pay me.' “It was about figuring out what someone might need, and presenting it in a way where they have nothing to lose â€" all he had to do was find me a chair in the office. “I came up with some ideas for stories, and then I wrote them â€" so he was getting free content for the website as well. “He didn't have to pay me, so he had nothing to lose by giving it a try.” Lee made it easy: free support at zero risk. Flip the script on your internal narrative Let's be honest: career change can be a very self-absorbed process. Big philosophical questions abound: “Who am I? What am I here for? What's my purpose? What's my passion? Why would anyone pay attention to me? What do I have to offer? How do I get them to take me seriously?” And all that automatic 'I' and 'me', while important in the right places and contexts, can keep you utterly trapped when it comes to the concept of value. Switch that conversation around, though, and move your focus to other people, and not only will you feel lighter (because the spotlight's not on you any more), you'll get further, too. What kind of things would you do if your measure of value wasn't about you? Let me know in the comments below.

What To Wear During Interviews Heres Our Essential Checklist

What To Wear During Interviews Here’s Our Essential Checklist You’ve done your research, applied for the job and now you have an interview. Congratulations! But, what are you going to wear? Of course, you are smart, professional and skilled for the job, but it has become more human to perceive a person by what they are wearing. You’ve scored your dream employer, now it is time to come face to face with potential colleagues who want to take you seriously. Interviewing is different now than it has been in the past. You are no longer required to be in a full tailored suit if interviewing for a position in the creative field.  Nonetheless, your wardrobe tells a story. Its obvious on paper you can do the job, but how you dress and present yourself can say a great deal about your character, confidence and work ethic. Looking the part can be costly if your closet isn’t equipped with essentials to turn your next interview into an offer. Essentials are timeless pieces that can be paired with almost anything in your closet. Before choosing your interview outfit, take some time to consider must-have interview wardrobe essentials.   Your interview is the time to shine in front of hiring managers that you are perfect for the role. With the right approach you maintain proper appearance and ensure your abilities speak louder than your fashion choices. Here are a few interview dress tips for anyone who wants to land a good job and make the right organization fit: A Classic Blazer The most important essential you can own. A blazer is unique in its way to transition any look from day to night. Opt for two in colors of navy and black that can be paired with printed tops, trousers and skirts. Blazers are also a good way to spice up a boring dress work dress. A Button-down shirt A button-down shirt is an item that is frequently worn during interviews and once you land the role. Spending a bit more for better quality is highly recommend. When attending an interview a white or blue button down is viewed as “you mean business”. Add personality with a tie or necklace that pop nice off the muted hues. Signature Jewelry Certain jewelry pieces elevate your look. Find the right pieces that speak to your personality. Whether it is delicate gold/silver pieces, diamonds, pearls or a statement necklace, be it an item that can be easily incorporated into your work wardrobe once you land the role. Tie and pantyhose Although these more conservative items are not the norm in every workplace, consider where you are interviewing before deciding on either accessory. Functional Shoes and Accessories You may   think that your shoes and handbag do not mean much with your potential employer but they do. Carrying an old handbag or wearing busted shoes will put a damper on your professional look and confidence. Instead, opt for a pair of dress heels that are comfortable to walk in with appropriate heel height for the office.   When looking for the perfect interview bag, consider what you will carry. A structured tote, a roomy messenger or an all-in-one briefcase in a neutral color can ensure you’ve got space for everything you need the day of the interview. This guest post was authored by Nikki Woolfolk Nikki Woolfolk is an Atlanta-based personal stylist to professionals for  Label Content. She is known for taking professionals in search of an image reboot and transforming them to come off as successful. Nikki offers a free eCourse  â€˜How to Build Your Wardrobe Without Killing Yout Wallet.’ Through education and hands-on experience, Nikki takes her knowledge of fashion and delivers it to professional women. She will help you solve your fashion dilemmas, teach you how to shop on your own and help you radiate confidence through your wardrobe.

Heres the high-priced advice college applicants buy that doesnt trigger the FBI

Heres the high-priced advice college applicants buy that doesnt trigger the FBI Porcelain Pencils by Katharine Morling The FBI  just announced a sting operation that caught 50 rich and famous parents paying millions of dollars to bribe and cheat to get their under-qualified kids into top colleges (and, mysteriously, some not-top colleges). Last year a magnet school in Louisiana, which had been celebrated for getting poor minority students into top schools year after year,  admitted to lying and cheating to get the kids in. Ive been convinced that the college system is broken for a while, so I spent a good part of last year interviewing high-priced college consultants (many who are former staff on admissions committees to top-flight schools). My goal was to figure out what sort of advice these consultants give parents. I didnt receive any illegal advice, but I was shocked by how many corners you can cut without breaking any rules. Here are some tips I learned: Move to Wyoming.  Colleges  work hard to get students from each state. And standards are lower for states with sparse populations. Brown University has an 8% acceptance rate but a 30% acceptance rate from Montana. And colleges are shying away from racial diversity and focusing on diversity of backgrounds.  So if you cant move to Wyoming or Montana, at least go somewhere rural. Hide your ethnicity.  If your name is Jose Gonzales, let the admission committee assume youre one of  the rare qualified hispanic males  applying to their school. If you are Asian but your name doesnt reveal it, consider that  Asians need to score much higher than white kids  to get into top schools before checking any extra boxes. Play beach volleyball.  There are hundreds of schools with varsity beach volleyball teams including Stanford, Berkeley, and UCLA. Give it a try. Seriously. There are no national high school rankings, few club teams, and you dont even have to be tall. Most cities with sand have free beach volleyball in the evenings. Even in the North. Play enough to know the basics. Then contact recruiters who have no idea how to find sand players. This is not cheating. Its playing by the rules. Play violin.  So many kids play string instruments that colleges dont think of it as a hook anymore unless you have some remarkable achievement as a string player. Luckily you can enter  this international competition and, for just $600, everyones a winner and then everyone gets to perform at the winners recital at Carnegie Hall. Study literature. Colleges need to make sure they have students for their tenured teachers in humanities.  Its a serious problem  because so many kids are choosing STEM majors instead. So tell the college youre planning to study literature. Write your essay about Proust. And then theres no rule that says you cant change majors after you start college. Start a company. So many  kids start companies  that now admissions officers expect you to report how much your company  earned. This is not difficult, even for non-millionaires. Learn to post earnings the same way startup founders post earning:  high growth no profits. Youll be like a proâ€"on the cusp of VC funding. Hire a scientist.  The wait list for high schoolers to do volunteer work in a lab or hospital environment is more than two years in in some cities. But you  can hire a professor at a major university to do a science experiment with your kid and then write a recommendation to colleges. No waiting! Homeschool. Stanford accepted 5% of applicants but 27% of homeschoolers. This disparity is because homeschooling gives kids more time to cater to the arcane admission system that colleges set up. Most of  what colleges want to see on an application doesnt happen in school, so why bother being there? Put a science lab in your bedroom.  Wait. No. Dont. Because the Siemens Science Competition (formerly Westinghouse, then Intel) was shut down because all the kids who were winning had access to their parents labs at major universities. Siemens said they thought there were more effective ways for them to promote learning. And then  Siemens started giving scholarships to disadvantaged kids. Yes, we are all outraged about the lengths people will go to get their kids into colleges they dont deserve to attend. But the truth is that parents are scared. Theyre scared that they are not doing enough to help their kid become a successful adult. This is why we want to know what other parents are doing. We want to know what our options are. If we werent so stressed about how to raise our kids we wouldnt be so outraged that other people are cheating. And actually, the workplace is just like college admissions. You learn the rules and use them to your advantage. So teach your kids when theyre young that the higher the stakes the game is, the more arcane the rules are. And the more arcane the rules, the more likely it is that you can find a backdoor route to the top. But pretending the system is a meritocracy encourages more discrimination, so says economist Robert Frank. And belief that one has succeeded inside a meritocracy leads to more self-congratulatory, selfish behavior. Frank says people who accept that  all  of life is about skill  and  luck are much more likely to be thankful and therefore more generous. Bottom line: Gaming the system is a great idea, but you cant game the system if you dont have good grades. Hard work counts, too. So raise a kid who has gratitude. Because when it comes to being a happy person, having gratitude is much more important than having a fancy diploma.

3 Ways to Take Your Personal Brand Offline - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Ways to Take Your Personal Brand Offline - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I’ve shared lots of tactics with you about branding yourself online. But what about when you take relationships offline? When you meet people you may (or may not) have a relationship with online? Although you’ll be in a different environment, a lot of the same rules still apply to offline relationships. You want to convey your personal brand as congruently as you’ve portrayed yourself online. And you also want to continue to create mutually beneficial relationships with your connections. Taking off Here are a few good ways to take your personal brand offline and meet people in the “real world”: Join or volunteer at an organization that aligns with your expertise or interests. Whether it’s in the nonprofit sector or helping out a local small organization, your experience could be very beneficial for whatever organization you choose. You’ll also meet many different people who you can add to your professional network. Meet your online network offline. Organize an event or meetup for a group of your online network to further your relationship and connection with each person. Attend networking or other events. You don’t just have to limit yourself to networking events. Attending business events, professional development opportunities and conferences can be great (if not better) ways to take your personal brand offline. Don’t forget to: Always have a business card handy Ask for a business card or contact information when meeting someone new Be polite and courteous in your interactions Genuinely make connections with the people you meet As always, you should follow-up with each person afterward. I would suggest connecting with them on Twitter or LinkedIn or sending them an e-mail shortly after meeting. What else would you suggest for taking your brand offline? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder president of Come Recommended, a career and workplace education and consulting firm specializing in young professionals. She is also the author of  #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.

Resume Writing Service LA

Resume Writing Service LAA resume writing service LA is a company which provides professional service to their clients. These services vary and will be determined by the particular service needed, the type of person's needs it is going to meet, the skill level of the writer, the client's budget, and the kind of contract that is in place.The writer will be responsible for researching the client and his or her present situation. The writer will then create a brief but adequate resume which describes the skills and work experience that are needed for the position. When the client has determined which types of services that they want, the writer can then begin working on the research.The researcher will gather all of the information the client requires and compile this in a manner that makes it readily available to the client. This part of the service may take a little time due to the volume of information. It is best to have a second individual assisting in this part of the service to e nsure accuracy.The research is completed and submitted to the client. This is a critical part of the service because the client can verify that all the information is correct. Any errors in information or spelling will require a revision and a rewriting process, which are often difficult to accomplish when the client is undergoing an emergency.Once the information has been verified by the client, the writer can then create the final draft of the resume. The resume can then be distributed to potential employers who will be looking for someone who meets the requirements set forth by the client.The resume will then be reviewed by the client, who will determine whether or not to hire the writer. The writer will make sure that any errors are corrected and any grammar and spelling errors are fixed. The writer will use the resume as a starting point and then add additional sections to it if the client desires.A resume writing service in LA is going to be one of the most important component s of the hiring process. The writer has researched the specific needs of the client and has found a company that can meet those needs and offer a job with an increase in pay. The writer will then sit down and create a resume that will be attractive and helpful in placing the client in a position of prominence.The work experience and skill required by the person will be listed along with the position which the person has held previously. This portion of the service is one of the most important and is used as a prerequisite to hiring someone for a position which is desired by the client.

Thinking of Self-Publishing Your Book Take Guy Kawasakis Advice - Kathy Caprino

Thinking of Self-Publishing Your Book Take Guy Kawasakis Advice Image via CrunchBase Last month, I had the terrific pleasure of chatting with Guy Kawasaki, co-founder of Alltop.com, founder partner of Garage Technology Ventures, and former Chief Evangelist for Apple.   Guy is the author of ten books, including Enchantment, Reality Check, and Rules for Revolutionaries.   If you haven’t followed Guy’s writing and blog, you’re truly missing out.   He’s utterly brilliant, wise, iconoclastic, brutally frank, and downright hilarious. And if you’re considering self-publishing a book, make the first resource you read Guy’s new book APE: Author- Publisher â€" Entrepreneur How to Publish a Book co-written by Shawn Welch. I don’t recommend resources lightly, but as one who worked in traditional publishing for years and had my own book Breakdown, Breakthrough published traditionally, I believe Guy’s new book is a true winner, full of practical, realistic solutions, strategies and tips for self-publishers. In 2011 the publisher of Guy’s New York Times bestseller, Enchantment, could not fill an order for 500 ebook copies of the book. Because of this experience, Guy self-published his next book, What the Plus!: Google+ For the Rest of Usand learned first-hand that self-publishing is a complex, confusing, and idiosyncratic process.   He decided to learn as much as he could about successful self-publishing, and share his knowledge with all those who want to venture into the self-publishing arena. I asked Guy about the process of self-publishing, what he’s learned from it, and also what makes it worthwhile to write a book in the first place. Here’s Guy’s take: 1)   Why write a book in the first place? If you’re writing a book simply as a means to an end â€" to get rich, or to get the word out about your expertise, or to attract more consulting or coaching business â€" forget it.   Stop what you’re doing right now.   If you’re thinking just about what you can get out of it, you’re probably writing a “crappy” book (Guy’s word), and your “crap” will be forever immortalized in black and white.   Something you definitely don’t want. Guy advises, “Write a book because you have something important to say. If you have a life story that inspires, or information that you believe everyone in a particular niche NEEDS to know, then do it.”   But don’t just rush to get something out because you think it will enhance your career, profile, business, or bank account.   You just won’t succeed with those inner motives. (On that note, I’ve been floored by the advice I’ve heard some small business and entrepreneurial success coaches offer my colleagues and clients â€" to just slap together a book quickly and get it out there, to make money and build their credibility. I’m with Guy â€" your credibility is shot if you do that, and trust me, your discerning readers can tell what you’re trying to do. Also, don’t forget that the vast majority of authors don’t make any money on their books.) 2)     Your karmic scoreboard Guy believes in the concept of a “karmic scoreboard” â€" that what you put out in the world will come back around to you.   Self-publishing solely to advance yourself reduces your “karmic score.”   On the other hand, being kind, generous, and helpful â€" being of service to others as your first goal â€" increases your karmic score.   If your motivation is to help others with no expectations of what you’ll get in return, you’ll find that the process is also self-supportive, because when you set out to support the enrichment of others, it comes back to you tenfold. 3)   Artisanal publishing  (vs. self-publishing) the new trend in publishing In his book APE, Guy talks about “artisanal publishing” as a process that features writers who love their craft, and who control every aspect of the process from beginning to end. In this new approach, writers are no longer at the mercy of large, traditional publishers, and readers will have more books to read. The self-publishing world has eradicated the filters and barriers that the traditional publishing world represented (where editors â€" typically male made the judgments about content and worthiness).  In the old days, the imprint of the publisher was a proxy for quality â€" if you were accepted by the publisher, you passed the test.   Now the proxy for quality is how your book fares in terms of reviews and ratings on Amazon, and sales.   Customers vote on the book’s quality or on their need to expose themselves to your material by clicking to purchase, or not clicking. Guy explained that when readers contemplate buying your book today, they often don’t even notice the publisher.   They look instead at the ratings and reviews received by the audience. What’s key in artisanal publishing is that you start with a good book, and then market the book with everything you’ve got.    Marketing a book for many would-be authors is a daunting task, and thousands of self-published authors are ignorant of what’s required to get the word out (or they detest the marketing process altogether).   In the end, if you want to be a successful artisanal publisher, you have to be willing to market. To further the artisanal analogy, think of an artisanal baker.   Do we think s/he is an entrepreneur? Absolutely! She is making the bread, selling it, distributing it, etc.   Would you ever go up to an artisanal baker and ask, “Is the reason why you have your own bakery that you didn’t get accepted by a large national baked goods manufacturer?”   No. We don’t even think of that question. Guy is hoping that artisanal publishers will soon earn the same respect and merit as other artisans. 4)     How to know if your book is worthwhile? I asked Guy his thoughts on the question, “How can you evaluate if your book is worth publishing and will be a work of quality?” First, Guy believes you absolutely need professional copyediting.    All writers, even great ones, need copyediting.   Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do this on your own. You can’t.   If you skip this step, the quality of your product will be sorely compromised. Secondly, you must put yourself through a rigorous process of evaluating your book through the eyes of potential readers/buyers.   Pretend you go to Amazon.com or visit a Barnes Noble bookstore.   You see amazing books written by Anne Lamott, Isabel Allende, Patricia Cornwell, Condoleezza Rice, John Grisham, Lee Child, David Baldacci. Then you see your book â€" The Schmoe Story, by Joe Schmoe.   Guy asks you to evaluate: “Why would anyone give a hoot about your book?”   You need a true reason, an engaging shtick or an angle â€" not a fabricated one, but authentic and gripping that makes it an important story to tell.   Your material has to be compelling and contributive, adding in a positive way to what already exists on the topic. He gives an example of the gripping story of a single mom who endures a grueling four-year process to adopt a child from Guatemala, and is asked over and over, “Why are you adopting?” by her friends at home.   Then, when bringing the child home, she is asked if she is the child’s nanny.   Guy shares, “This woman’s story is just as important (arguably more important) than George W. Bush’s memoir.   There’s a reason people will care about this unknown, single adoptive mom’s story â€" there’s a reason this book matters.   You don’t have to be rich and powerful to have a riveting story to tell. How do you really determine if your story is worth telling? Pretend that you didn’t write the book â€" would you really care about this author and this story? To help make the book better, Guy is a fan of obtaining as much feedback as possible from his potential audience, a process he calls crowd feedback. Guy admits “Strangers aren’t kind.” You’ll get a host of brutally frank comments, feedback and input that you can use (with discernment) to understand if this book has a true purpose for existing, and how to improve it. 5)   Are you ready to engage in artisanal publishing? Guy shared: “If you gave me two choices â€" one where there’s a small group of powerful people who pick the winners and losers versus complete and utter anarchy where anyone can publish a book, I would pick anarchy, fully realizing that most books that emerge in this arena will be poor quality.   The situation of anarchy and the lower barrier means that there will be some gems that would never have been published in the old world   true gems and that makes it worthwhile. “Imagine a world where you couldn’t start a company unless you had an MBA.   That would rule out Google, Apple, YouTube, Cisco.” Supporting artisanal publishing is similar to saying “NO!” to the idea that only people with MBA’s can start a successful company.   Guy shares, “A world where only a few hold that type of control and power is not a world I would recommend.” As my fellow Forbes contributor Roger Dooley writes â€" “Perhaps the greatest contribution of APE will be that some individuals who have great ideas but haven’t felt they could write a book or get it published will now be empowered to start their journey.” I couldn’t agree more. Are you interested in self-publishing? First, read Guy’s book APE â€" Author â€" publisher â€" Entrepreneur: How to Publish A Book.   Then, make sure you have an important story to tell, get the editorial help you need to ensure high quality, prepare yourself to fully engage in the marketing process, and go for it! (And for beginning marketers, check out my Prosperity Marketing Mindset program to get you started.)

Resume Objective Statements need to DIE

Resume Objective Statements need to DIE Resume Objective Statements Must DIE Heres Why: Resumes need help, and I am on a mission. And it isn’t a very pretty one. Every every single time I see a resume that still has “Objective Statement” emblazoned across the top of the document as the very first thing the reader sees, I flinch. It used to be that I thought perhaps this outdated component would fade away much like bellbottoms, but sadly, that hasn’t come to pass. It’s still out there, just as blindingly ugly as a really loud pair of plaid pants. And unfortunately, it’s about that difficult to avoid noticing. Whether the candidate is a more mature worker closing in on retirement, or a fresh-faced new graduate who got really bad advice from an ignorant college career center, the objective statement is a disease that still needs to be eradicated. Unfortunately, it still keeps getting propagated, and the only prevention method is education. The objective statement must DIE. And here’s why: It’s self-centered. It’s fluffy. It’s ineffective. It’s stupid. Wow. Sure sounds like I don’t share any love with the objective statement. Darn tootin’ right. I hope this blog post gets picked up and circulated because the sooner the objective statement goes away, the better chance job seekers have to connect their expertise and strengths to solve employer needs. The problem is that an objective statement is completely self-centered.   It’s written to describe what YOU want, when the employer doesn’t care about that. They only care about what you are going to do for THEM. From the employer’s viewpoint, there’s nothing bigger as a turnoff as a resume that starts out talking about what the job seeker wants.   The mere fact that the candidate applied for the job implies that they want the job. So the objective statement pretty much is a “well, duh” sentence, anyway.   And completely useless. Getting rid of the resume objective statement and replacing it instead with a job title headline that is the same as or similar to the title of the job being targeted is MUCH more effective. Then, right after the job title headline, provide a value proposition that connects the job seeker’s personal attributes with key skills that an employer needs in relation to the job title headline. As a result, an ineffective, self-oriented objective statement is replaced with a clear link to what the employer is hiring for, along with a specific statement that creates a compelling reason as to why the employer might want to hire them. Much better, don’t you think?