Brazen move

Photo credit: www.zaffiro.com

This is a $100,000 razor.

I am not kidding. One of the (many) concepts from the folks over at Bright Light Ventures. The razor is made from iridium, the strongest metal found on the earth, derived from meteorites and more rare than platinum, but never fear platinum lovers, the screws of the razor are made of pure platinum, it has blades made of solid white sapphire, and the razor comes with free sharpening and servicing for 10 years. So sell the family home and maybe a couple kidneys and you too can own this razor to pass on for generations!

Seriously though, I personally am not rubbing elbows with the kinds of folks that will purchase this. to tell you the truth I don't think they live in Portland. All 99 of these limited edition razors will probably be sold to those residing in the skyscrapers of Dubai and overseeing their oil fields by helicopter. But that is not the point of this post, the theme is, isn't this just so damn brazen? When I learned about it a few weeks back, I took a figurative step back and said to myself, " what kind of person makes a 100,000 razor with sapphire blades? I've got to meet them." And so I did.

This product is brazen, a bit outlandish (for us), but when you think about it, not totally far fetched. There are probably 100 people in the world who will buy this. It's those with brazen ideas that do something about them that see big things happening. The more risk-averse you are, the bigger payoff you can have, the bigger losses you can have to. So the trick is to hedge your bets. What can you afford to loose and how much of it can you afford to loose? When was the last time you had a brazen idea like this? What did you do about it?

Connect your digital persona to real life and differentiate yourself!

This is a quick and simple glimpse of the future. I can't even tell you how excited I am about augmented reality. I cannot wait to have an augmented reality business card. In fact, if there's anybody out there who can help me out with how to start working on one like this, let me know. Check out these awesome augmented reality cards.

In the meantime, are you looking for a way to differentiate your personal brand, be more memorable, and help your personal business card or resume get noticed? A QR code is a great way to link your online persona to your real life persona, and make those paper business cards piling up on your desk of actual use.
First, download a (should be free) tag reader for your smart phone. Here's Microsoft Tag.

Next, decide what info you'd like to share. Do you want to point people to your personal or company website or blog? Maybe you just want to share your contact information? Whatever you want to do, this pixelated little graphic will contain this information.

You can sign in to Microsoft tag manager and create your own tags. This is available through Microsoft and Nokia. You can also create QR codes on Qurify, or Kaywa.

Once you've got your code, share it! Print it up on business cards, company brochures or trade show materials, whatever you can think of. I've even seen these on a t-shirt with the caption "add to friends." So that might be a little too far there...

I think you'll see QR codes utilized during this year's general elections, and more and more on the packaging of your favorite products directing you to become a Facebook fan or Twitter follower.

Dealing with a Bad Boss

We have all had one, and some bad bosses are worse than others. I think we can agree that having a bad boss is soul sucking. It's tempting to switch into self preservation mode, or just go running for the hills. My last boss used to eavesdrop on my personal calls, and tweaked the performance reports he showed me in my "coaching" sessions to make it appear that I was a poor performer, when upon closer inspection I was actually right on par with everybody else. His idea of team building was having the staff decorate miniature Christmas stockings with puffy paint. It's been a while since I left that company, but I know he sends late-night suggestive texts to a former co-worker and friend of mine, even though he's married. Yuck.

Needless to say, bad bosses are out there. But there's a way to handle them. Oprah in her unfailing wisdom posted an article by Suzy Welch. The article talks a bit about a girl named Amanda who entered the world from college full of youthful optimism, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Sounds pretty familiar to me. I expected that all my bosses would be coaches or mentors, there to help me realize the success I was destined to achieve. So not the case. My bad boss experiences helped me to realize that the world was not my oyster, but it also taught me about what I will and will not put up with. In the past I have probably been a little too quick to champion the rights of good and evil at work, I didn't understand how to pick my battles and be a quiet champion. This article really helps to put it all in perspective.

Get real, get a job, then get a life.

I can't even tell you how many times I've heard it this:

A brand new talented employee, full of smarts and potential is hired and her managers are stoked to have her. It all goes smoothly at first, when suddenly she's asking to leave early 3 days a week, then she wants to work from home. Next she wants a company laptop and cell phone, and wants to flex in 2 days a week. Then she needs to take 2 hour lunches to get acupuncture. After 4 months on the job, and mediocre performance, she puts in for vacation time.

I've heard them myself too. From the normal things like having to pick up sick kids from daycare, to needing to leave early to attend a sorority alumni event 2 hours away (yes). Once I was told that somebody was late because that morning they had to chase, corral and muzzle their parents small dogs and put them in carriers for the groomers. And "family obligations take precedence over work." Um, ok.

So here's my dirty secret, I've been there, I get it. I remember back when I was searching for my first job. Having minimal career guidance in the reality check department, I honestly thought I was qualified for a director level position, when I was barely qualified for entry level work. Here's a particularly painful (and stupid) recount. Once I turned down a fantastic opportunity to work in the headquarters of a well-known global coffee company because they wanted me to start as a barista to learn the business. I refused because I thought I was better than that. Karma would have it that a few months later, that's exactly what I was doing, except with no real advancement opportunities in sight. And guess what, I loved being a barista.

I remember thinking to myself when I was in college that there wasn't much else that I could learn. I thought I was pretty much at my prime. That's so embarrassing because it's absolutely ridiculous.
Anyhow girls and guys about town, get real with yourself while you're getting out there. Whether you're searching, or working your way up the ladder. Never look a gift opportunity (horse) in the mouth like I did. Learn, learn, and learn some more. But most importantly remember this, you've got to earn your stripes in a company. And many of the people you work with think differently and approach things differently than you, so take that into account, before you try to cash in your chips. Because if you try too early, it'll be that much harder to earn then back.

If there are some factors that are a deal breaker for you, like absolutely needing to take long lunches so you can go to the gym, or telecommuting a few times a week to be home for kids. You've got to prioritize when you're job searching. How badly do you need the job vs. how important is this to you? Is it something that can hold off for a while until you forge relationships, learn the ropes and establish yourself as a top performer? If so, then it probably should. Just know that if you have to have these things up front, it could potentially make you less easy to hire than somebody who doesn't.

A lot of people get this backwards, they get the job, they want the life, and then they need to get real. This is a pretty harsh sequence to put yourself through.

What's your kickstarter?

I often find myself dwelling in what is sadly still an old boys club, it's true, management is still a mostly male dominated world. When you're out there on a mission day after day, especially when faced with adversity (large or small) it's easy to feel like you're fighting a constant uphill battle. This is why you need a kick starter. When you're feeling like the world is happening to you, and you've been chugging along on idle for a while, what's the thing that makes you flip this back around? Everybody needs their special secret thing that reminds them to keep plugging away, and do it with smarts, style and sass.

Girl Power is so blase, but the thing is, sometimes you need some to "get 'er done" if you will. Girls about town are smart, intelligent, savvy, resourceful, and are pretty much amazing on their own, but when you need that extra kick of somethin' somethin' where do you get it?


Ok, this is truly embarrassing... I think of Elle Woods. Yep. The bubbly, pink silly sorority girl. Elle Woods is always herself, always authentic, and usually kicking ass in some way shape or form. I'm not saying you should wear more pink and carry a small dog in your bag, but when I need to remind myself to be myself, I think of Elle Woods and suddenly I am vivacious, smart, fun and authentic, ready to fight the good fight once again, and kick some ass while doing it.

So what's your kickstarter? And how do you keep it near?

Five not so painful steps to your mojo back and get a great job

It's Sunday morning and I know many of you are dreading tomorrow. Not because you have to go to a high pressure/high stress job, but because you're not going to one. Which is arguably even more high pressure and high stress. There's training to teach you how to be successful in your position, but nobody taught you how to be successful in searching for a position. These days since we switch jobs so often, these skill may arguably be more important!

So I'm going to level with you, just because you happen to not have an official job title at the moment doesn't mean you're any less fabulous, smart, hip, savvy and in-demand as you were when you were commanding your ship. You've just put down the reigns for the moment. It's time to get your mojo back!

I personally am searching for my next opportunity, and I'll give it to you straight, I'm really good at integrated marketing, I'm also an exec MBA at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. I absolutely love business, I eat it up for 3 meals a day. Seriously. Fast Company is bedtime reading for me. So I've got a pretty good handle on what I like and what I'm good at. I am also luck enough to have a fantastic career coach. You may not be in a position to get one yourself, but I'm going to help you get on track. There are 5 steps, and they're not for rookies, or lazy people. Which is why they work!

Here's how to start:

Step 1

Define exactly what you are good at. This is the self discovery and realization, and it's not going to happen if you're making a dent in the couch watching daytime TV. Get out and live your life again. Start a workout plan, eat healthy and create an active routine for yourself. Your blood will pump to your head, and you'll get energized and motivated. You'll start exuding positive energy, and good things happen to those kinds of people. You'll also look dang good.

Some resources for Step 1:
The Strengths Finder 2.0 Buy this book for 10.00 and take the quiz online. You'll receive some great insights into your top 5 strengths and how best to utilize them.
Myer's Briggs Type Indicator Myer's Briggs is widely regarded as an accurate and well-represented personality type. It will give you great insights into how you like to work, and how you relate to the world and others.
LiveStrong.com Great resources to kick start a well-rounded lifestyle, health eating and a fitness routine. There's also an app to help track your nutrition while you're on the go.

Step 2

A very inspirational and smart gal about town gave me a really simple bit of advice. The simple stuff is often overlooked and it's usually the best. She told me to get really specific with myself about the type of job I wanted, the industries I wanted to work in. Essentially to imagine a dream job that I could actually obtain if all the stars aligned perfectly. Then keep this in mind and broaden my search to include all the various ways you could work in or with those industries to make it easier to step into the position I want. Think of all the different possible roads that lead into the position/industry that you want, and make sure your game plan covers them.
Resources for step 2:
The Unwritten Rules of the Highly Effective Job Search I cannot emphasize enough how helpful this book is. Most business and success books are absolutely garbage, some have 1 or 2 good chapters and the rest of it is garbage. I can honestly tell you I read 3/4 of this book. Get the book and read it. It will help you plan and organize your search, and execute it efficiently and effectively.

Step 3

Get out and tell people. Leveraging the powerful effects of networking is the best way to open doors and uncover new paths. If you haven't told everybody in your circle what you are looking for, then tell them. Now. Ask them if they know of any great companies where you might be a good fit. Ask them to keep you in mind. When you're out networking, tell people what you do, be genuine and enthusiastic. Ask them about themselves, listen to what they say. Easy huh? It's not too scary.
Resources for Step 3:
Highly Effective Networking: Meet the Right People, Get a Great Job
Girl About Town talks about Networking with Local Entrepreneur Sean Patrick

Step 4

You're meeting a lot of people, you're telling your story a lot. Your resume is probably flying from desk to desk of key people and decision makers in organizations. (Trust me, it probably it) You've got a lot of people on your team now, but you're still the driving force. It's not out of your hands, so keep things moving. Make a spreadsheet to track who you talked to and schedule follow ups. Ways to do this is outlined in the Highly Effective Job Search book.
Resources for Step 4:
Progress measurement chart

Step 5

Put your nose to the grindstone and get 'er done. But be good to yourself! If you are searching full time, you can put in about 4-5 hours of really good work per day. Then you've got to step away from the computer, put down your cell phone, and go have a life. Find other people who are searching to help motivate you. Find an accountability buddy. If it's a slow week and you feel like you're not making progress, look at your tracking sheet and you can visibly see what you've done.


Before long you'll score not only a job, but a great job for you. One that pays well and has you on track for the career you want. This will be you:

What area of your life is a Blockbuster?

Blockbuster is kind of the whipping boy of business schools these days. We all have a good chuckle at the thought that the CEO of Blockbuster laughed the Netflix founder out of their HQ's a decade ago. We feel a little bit better about ourselves upon hearing how they filed for Bankruptcy with their tail between their legs. Seriously though, who wants to drive to a retail location in hopes of renting a movie that might not even be there? Then have to drive back again the next day to return it; and if we forget, pay a fine? Sounds archaic and completely ridiculous doesn't it? Well we did it. All the time. And Blockbuster thrived. Until we didn't.

"How did they ignore the writing on the wall for so long?"

It's nice to feel like we know better, that type of thing would never happen to me. Right? But wait. It has happened to me before. It happens to us all the time. We all like to surround ourselves with familiar and safe things, the things we are good at and understand. Often to the detriment of our own growth and personal innovation.

What area of your life is your Blockbuster? Maybe you work at a company that is desperately clinging to the unraveling threads of a rapidly declining industry. Maybe you're still trying to sell option ARM mortgages (just kidding), maybe you're a typewriter mechanic. Perhaps you're clinging to an old skill set that's not in demand anymore. I don't know, it's not important. The point is, it's not too late to change course and be a Netflix, not a Blockbuster.

What's next in social media marketing + tech? It's all about augmented reality!

I took the Strength's Finder 2.0 a while back and was not surprised to discover one of my strongest traits (#2 right after Input) is Futurist. I was delighted to read this because it means my manic fascination with discussing and talking about the future and what could and will be is not actually strange! The fact that I can't help but think 10 steps ahead on any process or project I am working on, is apparently a strength too, although I beg to differ on that one.

Below is a delightful little futurist nugget I happened across on SlideShare. If you're like me and like to eat this stuff for breakfast, you'll love this one because it illustrates what the social media driven world will look like post 2012. Get ready for apps galore, and if you don't have a smartphone yet. You might want to jump on that bandwagon now folks.

Social Media 2012 Master

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Salary negotiations: it's smart to ask

The thing about careers in today's world is everybody is always searching. Even if you absolutely love your job and want to stay there forever, chances are good that's not going to happen. Companies are becoming more frank these days about the employee-employer relationship. Chances are good the suit you're wearing is going to outlast your current position. This isn't really a bad thing, it's just the way things are.

So what does this mean for you?

The savvy professional is pretty much in a state of search all the time, even when they're happy in their current position, they know it's smart to keep their options open, stay networked, and stay competitive. This means you're going to be interviewing more, and you're going to find yourself in a salary negotiation more. This is not a negotiation to take lightly, as the outcome can influence your future earnings in subsequent positions.

Here's a handful of tips I've acquired from negotiation experts, career coaches, and top professionals to keep in mind when preparing for a salary negotiation:

1) You're always negotiating, so don't disclose too much, and keep your cards close.
From the moment you begin interacting with a potential new employer, anything you say can and will be used against you when negotiating salary. You never know how a flip comment or too much personal information might be interpreted. So just err on the side of caution, and keep your details to yourself.

2) Avoid discussing salary too early
An employer might want to know immediately what you made at your past job or what salary you're expecting to make sure they can afford you. You should be able to determine the caliber of employee, skill level they are seeking and whether or not they can pay you what you're worth based off the qualifications they are looking for and the duties of the position. So don't have this discussion until there's an offer and they're ready to move forward. This will make sure that you both are getting the fairest deal possible. Try saying something like: "the salary I'd expect from this position would be determined by what my duties and responsibilities will be."

3) Do your research!
Resources such as glassdoor.com and salary.com are great places to get an idea of what similar positions, industries and companies are paying their employees to determine whether what you're asking for is on target, too high, or too low. It's amazing how much people (women especially) underestimate what you are worth is.

4) What's your reservation point?
Your new employer wants you on the lower end of what they have determined to be a fair salary range. Do you know what your range is? If you don't know what the minimum you're willing to accept for the position is, there's not a lot stopping the final negotiated salary from going below that point.

5) What concessions are you willing to make?
There are other ways to make a new position worth signing for besides the salary. Consider trading off the dollars if you need to by determining what other things that are important to you. Additional vacation time, higher commission percentages, performance bonuses, stock and flexible working arrangements are great ways to sweeten the pot.

More tips on salary negotiation from Strategy+Business
More tips on salary negotiation from Askmen.com