Networking

Today I found an interesting compilation of networking articles.

Check them out.

http://www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/networking/


aaron.berndt

Hesitation – Elevator Pitch

Today I hesitated when asked “Well…what do you want to do here?” I worked my way through a reasonable answer, but it could have gone a lot better. I’m not sure why the words didn’t flow out of my mouth eloquently this afternoon. I spend a lot of time thinking about where I’m steering my career. I definitely knew the answer today, just not the best method for explaining and selling it.

This falls in line with my previous post about having a brief elevator pitch about what you are doing and where you are going. There is no need to have a memorized script, but having practiced at least saying the main points would have helped me a lot today.

To expand on this a bit, it is important to think through a few different pitches that you may need one for influential co-workers, networking situations and friends and family. Most of these people already have an interest in you and a quick exciting answer can spur some help for your cause. However, in a networking situation if you stand there stumbling through a rather boring answer you may miss a great opportunity.
Luckily today when I went back to my desk I realized my mistake, re-thought my answer, and went back to my co-workers desk to clarify and got a much better response, “That’s good, that’s very good.”

aaron.berndt

Passion Project

I read an interesting article recently in INC. about brand management (http://www.inc.com/magazine/20070101/features-brandmakeover.html ). The branding, PR, and marketing discussion was an interesting read, however, I was struck by an idea the article presented, a passion project. The article described a project that the brand management firm, Deskey, went through to keep its employees fresh and creative.

Most of Deskey’s current projects consist of accounts for large companies that have significant restraints and lack creative flexibility. Most of the folks working at a brand management firm are going to be the creative type who need to keep creatively stimulated in order not to get bored, unproductive, or unhappy. One way Deskey changes this is to inject a passion project into the mix once in a while. The project will have a scope that is outside the bounds of the normal bread and butter projects of the firm. Some key characteristics of the project are that it is relatively short, can involve the whole group, and requires significant creative flexing. The financial requirements of the project are not as critical since the main goal of the project is to allow the team to get up and stretch its legs.

It struck me that these passion projects could be useful for folks other than just the creative/art department. Engineering teams need to stretch their legs and flex their muscle in order to stay awake during an extended project. Ambitious and intelligent engineers will grab onto these projects and run. Engineering is a method for solving complex problems. It is important to keep all of the tools in an engineer’s toolbox sharp. This requires an engineer to occasionally step outside his specialty area that consumes his day. As an added benefit this will identify your more qualified engineers as they step up and grab the reigns during these projects, since by definition a passion project is a change from day to day activity, and change is hard.

aaron.berndt

Categories

I just learned how to put each post into a specific category.

There is a category link list on the right hand side to filter posts in that manner.

aaron.berndt

Hotel Cleaning

I don’t mind staying at cheap/crappy hotels or motels. Frankly, it is just a place to take an extended nap, clean, and get dressed when traveling for business or on a road trip. Maybe I would change my mind about this if I travel extensively, but for now, cheap is fine.

There is one issue I don’t understand. Why do hotel cleaning supplied stink so much? Everything seems to smell like a mixture of moth balls and some form of chemical fruit smell. They Stink. The smell seems to be present from the cheapest hotels to the pretty good ones. What do the high end hotels do to keep their facilities clean that the cheap ones do not?

aaron.berndt

National Eagle Scout Association

I recently renewed my National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) membership. I made the choice to renew it after a speech I gave at toastmasters, in which I revealed that I was an Eagle Scout. This was my first speech, called “The Icebreaker”, in which I discussed myself. After the speech I was given a review that stated “Being an eagle scout states so much about you that you don’t even need to say it, it’s understood.”

The statement hit home, and reminded me of the awards importance. I’m hoping that through NESA that I get a chance to meet new Eagle Scouts and a chance to give back to the Boy Scouts.

http://www.nesa.org

aaron.berndt

How to survive a management change in a startup

I started as an entry-level engineer at the general aviation company, AA. During my time with the company we have gone through several different management shuffles, additions, losses, and re-shuffles.

Each one of these adjustments can change your current position significantly, either through more responsibility, visibility, or a desired side step. If your not positioned well however, management will make its best guess as to where you belong and could get you locked into a new position that you are not to happy about.

The following steps should help get you get closer to what you are seeking.


1. Make your intentions known.

Not letting anyone know what you want to do makes it much more difficult to get it from them.

Develop and maintain your 2 min elevator pitch. You need to have an idea of where you want to be within the company in 2 yrs, and in 5 yrs. Upper management changes happen quickly and without much warning. When it happens there is generally a scramble to reorganize things quickly. When your boss asks you where you want to be in the company in 2 yrs, he is feeling around his group to determine who can be shifted where and still be happy/productive.

2. Build credibility and keep it/Stand Out of the Crowd

Having a position and projects that are on the radar of upper management is good exposure and opens doors for movement upwards later. Name recognition associated with successful projects comes in handy when the org chart gets shuffled. Your superiors will have you in mind when they need someone to step up and fill a new position.
This is especially handy when new upper managers are brought on board. If your boss and many others speak highly of you to new management you will be included in the new managements plans. If however you do not have a track record that the new management can use to understand your capabilities they will more than likely bring in new talent to cover it.

3. Be Flexible.
Usually accompanying management change is a slightly different company focus. Even though upper management tries to keep things moving forward in a similar manner, new managers have different views on how the projects should proceed. This means that you may need to stick out some less exciting work for the betterment of the company. Things change very fast early on. There is a good chance in 3-6 months there will be a chance for you to change your focus to more exciting projects.

aaron.berndt

Mission Statement Draft 1

I spent the last few days actually trying to come up with a first draft for my personal mission statement. (as part of the 7 habits)

So here it is.

I will strive…

• To live my life with honesty, integrity and consideration for others.
• To express my commitment to love and cherish my sweetheart, family, and friends. To nurture each relationship. To prepare myself to provide for my own family.
• To constantly strive to improve myself personally and professionally everyday.
• To be healthy, fit, and energetic so that I can enjoy life to the fullest and have the energy to pursue my goals.
• To be known not as a stalwart, but someone who is willing and able to grab onto the reigns of change and yell, “Hit it!”
• To be actively involved in the community as a volunteer and a mentor.

aaron.berndt