The OBJective Journey...

How will your young entrepreneurial spirit save your business?

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:43:00 +0000

Brian and I had a conversation earlier about how our natural entrepreneurial spirits have made us both stand out and feel separated from our peers. We know we have something special within us and are destined for greatness but at times we are left out of the "typical" activities our peers are involved in. How will your young entrepreneurial spirit save your business?

I used to question if I was enjoying my youth to the fullest. Between networking, business meetings, and research, it doesn't leave much time for anything else. As Brian and I discussed, when our peers are "enjoying their youth" we are working on projects or thinking of ways to optimize our opportunities. In a sense, even when I am out on a date or with friends I feel I have to optimize my time, lol. I believe it is the reap what you sow mentality. We have realized, if we're going to retire by 25 we have to put in the work at 20 and 21.

Don't misunderstand, I do know how to have a good time, as you may see from my features on YouTube (Keyword: RilaxUrMind). Tomorrow I am taking a trip to New York, with a couple friends, to see a play. And next week I have a few things scheduled in the nation's capital, including capitol visits and running on the mall lawn!

Having this mindset does many things including:

1) Opens up the door for limitless opportunities
2) Places you in a greater positions to help people
3) Sets you up for a relaxing future

To conclude, I disagree with the old adage that believes young people have the opportunity to make up for their mistakes in the future or we have all the time in the world to get things in order. I'm glad I have this young entrepreneurial spirit and know it will pay off in the end...I just have to find a more effective balance.

How will your young entrepreneurial spirit save your business?

-J

Passion Fruit

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:00:00 +0000

I know two kinds of working people. Those who are happy to keep doing what they are doing for as long as they go undisturbed and those who are always looking for an opportunity to do something better! We won’t judge the former, but I like the second kind of person more.

In this day, people who switch jobs often are termed: “job-hoppers.” According to most sources, people aged 18 to 38 change jobs an average of 10 times (that’s once every 2 years!). This is not a bad thing if the changes lead to discovery of more engaging and more challenging opportunities. Change, is apparently quite good for maintaining the passion you have for what you do. The opportunity seekers understand this and some do it well.

In his article: It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Much You Want It, David Maister explains it this way:

If you truly want to succeed (and many people do not want it badly enough to make it happen) then you must never settle, never give up, never coast, never just accept what is, even if you are currently performing at a high level.

If what you have now isn’t what you dream (or dreamed) of, then you must keep looking, experimenting, and adapting. You must always search for the next thing you think you can feel passionate about, so that you will have a burning reason to show the discipline and drive that will distinguish you.

Once you have found something to try, you must then throw yourself into it and work at it with as much commitment as you can muster until you can answer three questions:

¨ Is it as exciting as I thought it was going to be?

¨ Is there a market for this? (Will anyone pay me to do it?) and

¨ Can I make a contribution that others are not (yet) making?

All three must be present to succeed. If any component is missing you must move on.

I’m only on my first job in the real world and it’s a shame I’ll have to move forward because I quite like it here but as soon as my dream opportunity comes around, I’ll happily hop on that train!

Wednesday Weapon - New Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:10:00 +0000

Friday is the last day at my current job, well same office different position...you know how that goes. Nonetheless I went to lunch today with my division for a farewell celebration, at Elephant & Castle (I've been there twice in one week!!!!!) The lunch was awesome but the feeling was unbearable. A mixture of happiness and sadness mixed into one. With that bundled up inside how could one imagine wanting to move on to the next position. How will your new beginning allow you to soar past your current ending?

I have worked with the team for the last two years...in government terms it is about 5 lol. One of the things I mentioned in my brief farewell speech and will speak to on Friday during the official speech, is the learning experience. I briefly explained how I will be stealing from each of them (pause jaws dropped)...stealing from them in the sense of taking what I learned professionally and holding on to it! Also, thanks to them, I have the best head start any young professional can have in his career...except for maybe Chris Huges, Facebook.:-)

There are three things to keep in mind when exiting, transitioning, and beginning new beginnings:

1) Be thankful for the experience...and EXPRESS the gratitude! - there are many without jobs and experiences like your own
2) Don't burn any bridges - you never know when you'll see anyone again
3) Embrace the change and go into the new beginning with optimism like no other and the mindset of achievement and you will come out victorious.

A promotion is always awesome but when you're one to break the well oiled machine, it gets a little tough.

How will your new beginning allow you to soar past your current ending?

-J

Rest is Best

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:58:00 +0000

This week. I am taking time off. I am still engaging in various activities, but basically doing whatever I want to do. I am writing. I am cleaning. I am reading. I am resting. Resting is very important, that is why God commanded us to do it! In Armerican culture it is seen as a weakness to rest, and busyness is glorified. However, busyness does not equal success or importance. Busyness equals..well..busyness. I know plenty of busy people that are busy going nowhere. I dont want to be one of those people. I am taking extra time to make sure that I do not become one of those people. My problem is simple. I have too many interests and too many dreams, if that is possible. Right now that is the only way I can explain it. Many people have dreams, that never come to pass and scripture says " a dream deferred makes the heart sick". Many hearts have been stricken because of a lack of fulfillment. There are many reasons the dream may not have been fulfilled Perhaps:

1. Lack of Risk Taking
2. Social Pressure
3. Lack of Faith
4. Laziness
5. Procrastination
6. Lack of Focus.

I most identify with number 6 because , I have so many interests and talents that it is hard for me to focus. For instance, I am cleaning my room, sending emails, and writing this blog at the same time. And any second I will probably have a supposed brilliant thought or remember a task I forgot to do, and forget to actually post this. I am working on it this summer though.
My three pillars for the summer are

1. Slow down, to speed up- Get back to basics
2. Focus- Focus on the actual task, and get it done before moving on
3. Discipline- Do what you say your going to do, keep your word to yourself first!

What is keeping you from your dream?

-B

Blog Away

noreply@blogger.com (O) — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:49:00 +0000

I met up with a friend earlier today after a few hours of studying. His his laptop in hand, he proceeded to show me a blog he was creating for himself. It was qute remarkable. Needless to say, I will be one of his subscribers as I think he has some brilliant things to tell the world.

I had a blog once too. It was not used for the purposes of putting professional opinions into the blogosphere, it was used to keep in contact with friends in far away places. So while I was with my friend tonight, I asked him to visit my blog as a treat of what my life was like 2004-2006. Those were my first 2 years of college and I had not made many friends as I missed my old friends too much. I was away from my home in South East Asia immersed in a completely different culture and the blog (in the absence of skype and the likes) was my way of keeping in touch.

Today, I am glad I have an archive of some of the thoughts and emotions I felt in various snapshot moments of my life in college. Blogging is not just for experts. Blogging gives everyone a chance to share their thoughts with multiple people at one time, to improve their writing by having to write often to stay accountable to readers. I think it's a mighty fine hobby and it keeps me looking out for interesting things to talk to others about and gather opinions about.

Are you a blogger or a blog follower? What other great advantages do you see in blogging?

-O

Satuday Saves - How can time with your team, away from work, save your business?

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:15:00 +0000

As you have read; Brian, Omi, and I have been working feverously to build an online aid that will help young professionals communicate more effectively within the corporate environment. We’ve had many advances…and setbacks. Brian has been researching how to build the site, I’ve been building relationships with key players, and Omi has been studying the market. You would think that we never see each other, as we mention conference calls, constant emails, and even Tweets. While it has been a demanding, busy, worthwhile endeavor, last night we had the opportunity to break from our blackberries, twitter accounts, and emails to enjoy each other’s company not as business partners, but as true friends. How can time with your team, away from work, save your business?

Last week, while sitting in my D.C. office, I stumbled upon a “BREAKING NEWS” article that spoke of President Obama and Vice President Biden going to grab burgers. When I read that I was impressed, amazed, and grateful to know that even America’s top executives take the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and enjoy burgers, away from the monotony.

In true President and Vice President fashion; Brian, Omi, and I, accompanied by our Lasting Impressions CEO, Monica Reid, took to the streets of Washington, D.C. for a break from the office. We met at Elephant & Castle to break bread and enjoy each other’s company. The conversation spanned over topics from immigration reform, to religion, to the Bromantic ways of Brian and me. After dinner we all went for a stroll passed the White House, in hopes of the President walking Bo.

It is important for business partners, team members, and any working in general to take a breather from the office. It provides an opportunity to bond, relax from stresses from work and ultimately pursue the mission with a clear mind.

How can time with your team, away from work, save your business?

-J

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:29:00 +0000

Right-brain, Left-brain

noreply@blogger.com (O) — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:41:00 +0000

There was an article today about how right-brained people will rule this century. The argument in this article centered around right-brained people being able to think creatively in a way that the logical, fact-oriented, left-brained people are not able to think. I'm thinking, does this give right-brained people the edge career-wise?

I heard of a kid who got into Princeton by sending a shoe in instead of the required essay. He apparently got in. Then there was the lady who put her resume on a t-shirt and wore it around the place to get a job. I'm pretty sure that was hard to ignore. My only question? Why didn't I think of that?

For someone who appreciates the arts, I have little application for the arts in my daily events. Or do I? Could I find a creative way to put together a spreadsheet or spruce up a power-point that would wow the higher ups? If right-brained people have that going for them, it would be worth exploring thinking the way they do right? Hmmm... there's got to be a snag with this thing. There have been many-a-time when I have tried to allow my right-brain to have it's outside-the-box escapade and my left-brain has replied with a chiding: "No, no, what are you doing? That's not what sensible people do! Stop it!" This might require some training but it would be wise to allow myself on an adventure with the creative side of me sometime. Plus, people like those kinds of people, they seem to have a gravitational pull to themselves.

Are you predominantly right-brained or left-brained? How do you think your style works for or against you at work?

Wednesday Weapon - Opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:41:00 +0000

Did you know that current opportunities create new opportunities that benefit the current opportunities to create far greater new opportunities? Confusing right, I thought the same thing when it came into my fast paced entrepreneurial mind. I try to wrap my mind around how things happen the way they do. How I capitalized on the opportunity to volunteer over the weekend at a character education summit (I meet BILL COSBY!!), which lead to making new contacts, which lead to another great opportunity I can’t yet speak of. Or how I began partnering to build this site, which created an opportunity to be the New Media Strategist for a candidate in next year’s election, which will benefit our endeavor by exposing me to more social media techniques and networking opportunities. I am excited the New Media Strategist position. As you’ve seen, I attended the Politics Online Conference, and have been in and out of meeting, Tweeting, and Facebooking many social networking experts. Heading up this operation is going to be a challenge but I know it will all pay off in the end.

I will say one drawback to doors opening left and right would be time. I have to constantly change the way I am allocating my time to different projects (including my job and school), working out, and social outings. Brian and I will be meeting more this summer, so everything should be culture.

When you have the opportunity congratulate my partner @BrianCitizen (Tweet him!!!!) on his internship with social media giant New Media Strategies, in the Washington, D.C.

Did you know that current opportunities create new opportunities that benefit the current opportunities to create far greater new opportunities?

-J

Tuesday Twist- Finishing Strong

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:47:00 +0000

I am almost done with Exams in school. I did not get straight A's like I wanted to, but I think that my grades will come out ok. Yesterday I found out that I will be interning at New Media Strategies this summer, crafting campaigns for companies that want to be innovative in how they market their brand online! I actually set up the interview via Twitter....a twitterview if you will. I am loving what social media is doing right now and I plan to position myself to take full advantage of where it is going. Now that school is almost over I will be able to focus more on our project and do the things that need to be done. Also, I have been feeling better which has helped me be more productive! I am configuring our blog and coming up with new ideas to make it stand out in the crowd.

Working at New Media Strategies will also help with our endeavor by seeing the inner workings of online brand promotion. Companies are getting more comfortable in social space and I want to be one the people that helps them integrate successfully. Along with that opportunity, I had the opportunity to email one of my PhD professors in Marketing and consumer behavior about how we would correctly handle a survey. We are in the process of getting target market feedback to see how viable our idea is. We want to make sure that our questions are coherent and comprehensive. Stay tuned for our questions so that you can help us build something for you!

What are you about to finish?
-B

What will you miss?

noreply@blogger.com (O) — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:37:00 +0000

I think on the journey to greater things, there is some obvious excitement about what lies ahead. Yet, when I sold my 96' Fender Stratocaster (Electric Guitar) today, I missed it. In fact, I still miss it although I had not played it in nearly 6 years. I purchased an acoustic (which I have wanted for a while) with the money I got from my sale but I haven't quite gotten over my sadness over what was lost to be so excited about my new acquisition. This made me wonder... what will I miss about where I am now when I get to where I want to be?

Despite how much I want my dreams to come true, there are certain aspects of my life right now that I will miss when I move on. I expect the future to get busier and more complicated as it concerns working and relationships but I must say I will miss not having time to sleep in for fear that I might not have enough time to study when I am in Medical School. I will miss not being able to spontaneously take a weekend trip to see good friends...

On the brighter side of things, there will be much to appreciate about a new life. There will be the sense of peace that comes with knowing that I am doing exactly what I was made to do. There will be the satisfaction of seeing so much good come directly from my actions. Indeed, this is something to yearn for, something I must strive for, and with time, I should keep photographs of the old in a box and hold the new in my hand.

What will you miss about times in the past when your dream comes true?

How do business cards save your business?

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:52:00 +0000

Today I attended a Character Education Partnership Summit, with special guest Bill Cosby. This summit encourage increasing awareness and teaching of character education in schools, to ensure students understand what it means to have good character. At the networking portion of the summit I was working my way around the room and noticed I had run out of business cards. This was a positive and negative situation at the same time. Positive because I was shaking hands and working the room relentlessly, but negative because my networking and building relationships was somewhat put on a "professional hold". Business cards are used add a professional look and make for a quick follow up.

On Thursday, I had lunch with PR Prescriptions' Chief Blogger James Walker. As mentioned PR Prescriptions' goal is to advise companies of their PR strategies, in regards to Generation Y. He is a personable, inspiring, and intelligent young professional. We spoke on many issues including social media, the education status in D.C. public schools, and our current means of income. When I asked him about the best strategies for our endeavors, he advised:

1) Specifically identify our market: We said 18-24, when in actuality we need to expand the
focus to probably about 28
2) Go to where the young professionals live: Which currently seem to be social networks
3) Begin looking to build strategic alliances with local job and recruiting sites before going
worldwide

Of course, we will take that advice and run with it! Catch James Walker on Jun Loayza's videoblog at JunLoayza.com.

I gave James Walker a business card and we followed up with each other!...He gave me one too!

How do business cards save your business?

-J

Friday Finds

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:11:00 +0000

1.Disqus is something being tweeted about that facilitates blog comments and easily tracks replies.
2.Tweexchange-allows you to sell twitter usernames!
3. Google added web search to Gmail
4.You can update Twitter and everything else with Ping.fm
5.IMshopping Gives Shopping Advice via Twitter
6. Twitter Now Growing at a Staggering 1,382 Percent
7.Facebook Integration Arrives on TweetDeck
8.Social Networking has become more popular than email
9.My web presence was important in my interview with New Media Strategies
10. We will be moving to Wordpress soon!

What did you find?

-B

Doing a Best/ Worst Analysis

noreply@blogger.com (O) — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:03:00 +0000

I'm enjoying my "Metro-reading" of Take The Risk by Dr. Benjamin Carson. The book is an amazing analysis of real life and the risks involved with living. Every decision, every action poses a risk. Dr. Carson explains that some risks are not worth worrying about but there are also those that make a difference that could distinguish between life and death.

One of the most fascinating things I am learning from the book is what Dr. Carson refers to as a "Best/Worst Analysis." This method of weighing risks that are worth considering in more depth is comprised of just 4 seemingly simple questions.
*what is the best thing that could happen if I do this?
*what is the worst thing that could happen if I do this?
*what is the best thing that could happen if I don't do this?
*what is the worst thing that could happen if I don't do this?
Amazingly, the application of this method of risk analysis makes the pros and cons of a particular consideration simple by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts. I find myself fretting a lot of the time when I am overwhelmed by a decision that requires imminent action. This lesson will be priceless the next time feel encumbered.

As promised, I have a few tips for your next job search. I would suggest you not only use sites like monster in the same way that other use it. To stand out from all the other candidates, I suggest that you send an email to the employer/HR personnel that posted the announcement. If they put their information there, they are probably alright with you using it to contact them. Send an email to the poster alerting them of your interest and highlighting some experience you may have that may be beneficial to them. If you are able to, even a call might work. Outline your conversation with any questions you have and make conversation about any comparable experience to the one you are being offered. However, I would recommend that you do one or the other, not both.

Remember that at this time, you are not employed by the organization yet and the ball is in your court. Play it like you are interested in getting in the game, their game. Still, do not be overbearing but put your goods out there as humbly as you can and see who calls to place an order. And while you're at it, you can think about the best and worst outcomes for your action.

-O

Are offline relations still essential to business?

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:29:00 +0000

I was up late last night chatting with Brian about our future trip to Bermuda, our business of course, and the effect social media has had on our generation. He says that it has totally changed the way we conduct business and connect with key players. Imagine, there use to be a point where an entrepreneur would have to solely depend on the phone book and the gas in his/her car (money for public transportation). Now it is as easy as logging onto Facebook, becoming friends, and sending a message or simply Tweeting. While I agree with him, believe social media may be doing our generation a disservice in the aspect of encouraging offline relations. Are offline relations still essential to business?

Tomorrow I will be having lunch with James Walker, Chief Blogger for PrPrescriptions (marketing firm targeting Gen Y). I saw him featured on Jun Loayza’s video blogging show for young professionals one night, followed him on Twitter, Tweeted him, emailed him…leveraged social media. But it is not going to stay there, I am passionate about face-to-face relations.

In my opinion; from Facebook to Twitter to Microsoft all of the BIG business is done at the table. This is the reason we must encourage more meetings, so when young professionals are faced with offline relations they won’t be caught off guard.

I will let you know how the meeting turned out on Saturday!

Are offline relations still essential to business?

Tuesday Twist- Does your bag have holes in it?

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Im not really sure what my title means yet, but I can already sense the deepness in the question. I just started reading a book called " Does your bag have holes in it?" by Cameron C. Taylor. I have already found some much meaning by just trying to answer that question in my mind in various areas of my life. I feel like sometimes my bag does have holes in it and things fall out because it is so heavy, and I continually add to it. The intended meaning I gather from the title and cover picture is that you may have holes in your logic and thinking that will cause you to lose everything you gain and not truly be prosperous in life. In addition to that, the holes in your logic are due to myths that you believe and try to live out, only to fail. I have had this book for about 2 and a half years, but for some reason it seems like now is the time to read it.

We are at the point in our journey that we have seen that our bag has some holes in it and we have not been able to answer some of the tough questions. But such is the life of an entrepreneur. The one thing we do know is that we will figure it out! We have our faith in God, but we also have a resolve to keep trying until we figure it out. Its almost bittersweet, because there are so many directions that we could go that it is hard to pick one and stick to it and do the necessary research. Josh and I are both eternal optimists and ofcourse we get excited about our own ideas. However, Ideas are a dime a dozen, it is really about implementation. Therein lies the problem. It is very hard to implement things these days with so much technology out there and so much competition. It is almost a curse of so many choices that we just cant pick one! Even with the new blog we are creating with wordpress. there are so many templates we can use, I just havent been able to stick with one and make it work!

I am getting better though and look forward to spending time on the project after school is over. My last summer break... ahhhh!!!

Does your bag have holes in it?

-B

Something on Potential

noreply@blogger.com (O) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:34:00 +0000

Someone more brilliant than I worked out that the world's most wasted resources lie in the graveyard. The talents, ideas and mental gems that were never released get buried and are lost forever! Sad as it may seem, this should motivate the living to do all they can. What a shame it would be for you to die with all the potential that you have that could make the world a brighter place for all. To make this a little more personal, think about how many steps back we would be today if Thomas Edison gave up on the light bulb or the Wright brothers thought it was possible to fly but waited for someone else to try to figure it out. Mind you, Edison didn't invent the light bulb, it was a 50 year old idea that he improved!

My grandmother passed away recently and I couldn't help but marvel at the stories I heard about her funeral (I was unable to travel to attend). The entire town (Otupko, Benue State, Nigeria) was there and people traveled from all over the country and some from as far as England to be there! Why? She made it a point to empty herself into as many people as she could before she was unable to communicate. She turned her entrepreneurship into a means of helping others as well as using it as a way to ensure that her children were well taken care of. And although my nanny couldn't read or write, she could count and she has children and grandchildren who are lawyers, doctors, businessmen and a host of other respectable professions.

I want to die empty. I want my life to have meant something when I leave this place. Corny as it may be, leaving something behind that is worth talking about is one reason I make an effort even when I just want to be complacent and lazy. So I hope to put everything between my ears into the world somehow (books, conversations, etc) before I leave.

How do you plan on giving all you've got? What do you have to give right now?

How will your logo save your business?

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:22:00 +0000

A lowercase “f” or “t”, the golden arches, the letter “O” with features of a flag; these are all logos that stand out in our minds and represent a successful brand. I am sure Facebook, Twitter, McDonald’s, and President Obama, among others were hugely successful because of their logos. When the product can’t be seen or key players can’t be heard the logo still stands. In yesterday’s Friday Finds, Brian wrote “Your logo is your brand...dishing out the money is worth it.” That being said I ask How will your logo save your business?

For the last week Brian, Omi, and I have been going over the logo presentations sent to us from 50dollarlogo.com. There are certain aspects he likes about one and certain aspects I like about the other, while Omi is steadfast in her opinion of one of the options. It is important for us to take the logo seriously and not make any quick decisions. We have to ensure we are not settling for a logo, because represents us.

On the other hand, the process is pretty interesting. I was talking with Monica Reid earlier today, over a couple of Krispy Kreme donuts about the back and forth we all have been having over the logo. I compared it to the checks and balances system of our great nation. It is like the President trying to sell his point to Congress. We have been giving reasons to each other about how our chosen logo represents our brand best, has the best stand alone image, and like Facebook, Twitter, McDonald’s, and the President, make us hugely successful.

Things we’ve learned to keep in mind while creating a logo:

1) Don’t make the logo limiting, as you want your brand to grow and for the logo to encompass the growth
2) Be careful of color choice. I recommend Googling any color you choose to ensure it is sending the right message.
3) Keep the logo simple
4) Keep in mind that the logo is going to be the face of the company. It will be on everything from packaging to billboards. Ensure it adequately represents your brand
5) Construct a trusted team for the approval process
6) Have fun throughout the creation process!!!

How will your logo save your business?

-J

Friday Finds

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:37:00 +0000

1. It is extremely hard to get funding especially when it is your first startup
2. Start small and build credibility
3. 50dollarlogo is a good service... but only for starters. Your logo is your brand...dishing out the money is worth it.
4. We need to get more serious about finding a tech guy
5. We must continue to ask ourselves the tough questions, or else others will and we wont be prepared
6. We need to keep a realistic prospective on everything we do while shooting for the stars
7. Social media job positions are becoming more prevalent.
8. My interview with New Media Strategies went well, and they asked me about my social media experience.
9. Programmers are valuable
10. Slow Down, to Speed up

Figure it out?

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:17:00 +0000

With so many people laid off recently, the competition for
jobs is extremely high and there is a huge range of experienced applicants which
will only get bigger when more college students graduate this may. As this is
the case, it becomes extremely important for applicants to be prepared for the
jobs they are applying for. The preparation of course starts with knowing where
to look. There are uncountable numbers of job posting websites out there that
allow employers to advertise openings in their own words. There in lies a
problem my friend, you have to know what they mean!

One of the potential issues with employers being able to put
up positions on job sites includes deceptive portrayals of jobs offered. Have
you read a job posting lately? With the exception of some very creative ones, many
of them use overgenerous language to advertise their positions. The creativity
used to create the position titles is itself Oscar-worthy but it dulls in
comparison to the description of the possibilities they offer and no other
company offers to allow you to make giant leaps in your career. Unethical? No,
but it does make me worry a little about what to expect when one does get the ‘dream
job.’

Needless to say it is vital to exercise caution in deciphering
these job postings. If you were applying for a job, I would think it would be
important to you to know what would be required of you. It would be utterly
disappointing if you thought your job was highly interactive only to start and
be unpleasantly surprised that you only get to see people when they drop
something off at your desk.

Since it is highly unlikely that employers will stop advertising
jobs the way they do in the near future, it remains a job seeker’s responsibility
to find out what they mean. If your happiness, fulfillment and significance on
the job matters much to you, you’d better start reading between the lines. I’ll
have more on the subject in the coming weeks and together, we can help you get
that “dream job!”

Do you have trouble understanding job postings? What is most
important for you to understand?

-O

Are you and/or your goals too ambitious?

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:26:00 +0000

As Brian mentioned yesterday, we had a conference call with Jun Loayza (@JunLoayza). He’s a great guy, I would recommend reading and subscribing to his blog at Junloayza.com; it will benefit generation Y entrepreneurs and professionals. Jun gave us advice about how to implement and focus on specific and measurable goals. I walked away from the conference call feeling as though our mission to help young professionals communicate more effectively within the corporate environment was too ambitious. It was at that moment that I began to question if our goals were unreachable and even more so, will we be able to successfully make a positive impact on young professionals and entrepreneur, and on a bigger scale…the world. I ask are you and/or your goals too ambitious?

When I think about being too ambitious I think the African American Senator, from Illinois, standing in front of the Illinois State Capitol Building captivating an audience by announcing his candidacy…he’s President. I think of Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Hughes, and Dustin Moskovitz creating Facebook…currently the leading social networking site in the world. I think of the young minister from Alabama who spoke out for freedom and against injustice and inequality…the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.

Are our goals to lead the communication reform among young professionals and entrepreneurs too ambitious? In some eyes it may be, but will that stop us…NO. The answer is first we have to outline measurable REALISTIC goals and develop a solid implantation plan.
We have to dream big and be ambitious! No goal is too ambitious!

Are you and/or your goals too ambitious?

Tuesday Twist-ReFocus

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:55:00 +0000

It is early in the game, but it is time to refocus our efforts. Joshua and I had a conference call with Jun Loayza last night and he gave us some great advice. He told us of his trials and tribulations and he even poked the necessary holes in our business idea to see where we need to make changes. We know we have great ideas, but so does everyone else. It is all about implementation. When Jun asked us why someone would use our website over a simpley google search, we could not find a coherent answer. We were able to think of a few reasons later and we also havent finalized exactly what we want on the site.

We were a little dazed by the rapid fire questions, but we concluded that it is good for us. We have decided to take our most concrete conceptual component and building credibility based on it and our site around it as well. We hope that the component/widget will be downloaded and used so that we will build a buzz for future offerings. We are also looking at ways to monetize as well. This may help us fund the rest of the project or build credibility to get funding. School and jobs have been getting in the way of some of the progress, but we are looking forward to focusing exclusively on business and getting things done. Watch out for updates.

When have you had to refocus?

-B

Breathe, Stretch, Shake, Let it Go!

noreply@blogger.com (O) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:59:00 +0000

I took a second practice MCAT for my Princeton Review Course today. To my surprise, my scores dipped from the first one I took. What happened to all the physics formulas I memorized? All the practice with the verbal section? There are 3 sections: Physical Sciences, Verbal and Biological Sciences. I increased my score in Biological Sciences but somehow lost more points in the Physical Sciences and Verbal sections. Disappointed? Yes. But there’s got to be a way forward.

In my analysis of the situation (and I like to get over bad things as quickly as possible after they happen), I realized how confident I have been in knowing my Biology. I probably don’t know any less Biology than Physics and Chemistry or English for that matter but I am sure of what I know about Biology. Did this make the difference?

As I examined my Verbal and Physical Sciences scores, I figured how afraid I am of doing badly in these sections. A lot depends on me getting as many questions right as I possibly can. Is my desire to do well working antagonistically with my ability? With the Verbal section, I did quite well the last time I took the test. Was I overconfident in applying the newly learned techniques that helped me the last time?

What I need to do is be sure of what I know about Physical Sciences and be calm while I’m taking that section of the test. I actually caught myself holding my breath while thinking of the answer to a question in that section earlier today. Perhaps a little look in the mirror to remind myself of how hard I have worked to get this far and of my God given abilities will reassure me and help me nail it the next time around.

A good balance of confidence and a healthy appreciation of failure perhaps is all I need.

Has your confidence been knocked down lately? What do you do to get back up?

-O

Satruday Saves - How will being a GO-GIVER save your business?

noreply@blogger.com (J) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:38:00 +0000

Brian and I go back and forth on giving each other books to read. I may suggest “The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and for Life” by Laurie Beth Jones; a book about finding the mission statement that best identifies with your career and your life. Brian would suggest “Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul” by John Eldredge; a book about simply looking at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every man: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk. More recently, Brian advised me to read “The Go-Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann; a heartwarming and inspiring tale that brings new relevance to the old proverb “give and you shall receive.” Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read the book; especially now that we’re building the business but I’m sure I will soon enough.

The concept of being a “Go-getter”, in my opinion, is about running as hard as you can towards the goal and accomplishing it no matter what stands in your way. Now, imagine applying that same passion to the “Go-GIVER” inside of you. To give until you have no more to give, to help until all is helped, to volunteer until everyone knows who to call for a volunteer.

You never know what can come out of an opportunity where you give, help, and/or volunteer. For example, on Monday I am volunteering at the Politics Online Conference (POLC) in Washington, D.C. I am doing it, genuinely, because I knew the event would be huge and volunteers were needed, I have a passion for Politics, and I have a passion to help. We had a meeting today to outline our roles at the conference. Following the meeting, I met an interesting young man. After he went into detail about my role at the conference would be, we struck up a conversation. I was intrigued to find he was the database manager for President Barack Obama during his campaign. WOW!! Although, I currently work about two blocks from the White House, I am always overjoyed when meeting people who worked with the President!

Of course, he received a brief overview of our endeavor. That was before shooting for the fence and asking him if he knew Chris Hughes. Without hesitation he answered that they used to work in the same office (he said it as nonchalantly as when he said he saw President Obama on a daily basis). After our conversation, he proceeded to give me an email where Mr. Hughes could be reached…that’s INSANE!!!!

All this from a volunteer effort? From pouring your time and energy into someone else’s passion, dream, life, and/or ambition. You never know the result of volunteering, helping, and giving. Please don’t confuse this by giving, helping, and volunteering with alternative motives. Be genuine and find a cause, initiative, or endeavor you’re passionate about.

If you’re in the Washington, D.C. areas, April 20 – 21st, stop by the Politics Online Conference! Go to the Institute for Politics Democracy and the Internet for details.

How will being a GO-GIVER save your business?

Friday Finds

noreply@blogger.com (B) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:19:00 +0000

1. Joomla is a great place to get started..building a website

2. Google reader makes it eaier to send out blog o days to the team

3. We need to learn a little bit of the tech side of things..otherwise we will be at the mercy of those who kno

4. Facebook has an amazin web 2.0 group that helps people make connections for buildint startups
5. Every social network has its own culture and language
6. Twitter is a good place to find connections for internships
7. Linked in is growing on me.
8. Building your personal online brand is important.
9. We are going to have our first logo built by 50 dollarlogo.com..for obvious reasons
10. Spending tomuch time in front of the comp can make u dizzy