The New Look of 2D Barcodes

QR codes are so yesterday!  Well at least that is the word from Microsoft who has developed a flashier version of the Quick Response Code, referred to as "The Tag." If you ask me, it looks alot like something you'd find in Southwestern decor.

The QR code, originally designed for the automotive industry due to its large storage capacity compared to the standard UPC barcode, caught the interest of marketers to deliver information, well for lack of a better word, quickly, via Smart phones.

The Microsoft Tag is the latest format of 2D barcode scanning and you'll have to download a new app to be able to scan them.  This is sure to result in a negative consumer experience.  What's fast about downloading a new app?  I doubt many consumers will bother especially when QR codes are already so widely used.

As with anything new, the critics are furiously blogging.  My initial question....will this be much like Google's attempt to out do Facebook with +1?  Sorry, Google, nice try but no cigar.  Unless the product has fabulous new features, slapping on a new name won't promote a large draw.

Also the Tag must be in color which limits printing options.  With tightening purse stings, I doubt businesses will be running to the presses to print full color just to accommodate this new alternative.   

I don't want to be a Negative Nelly, so here is a video from Microsoft talking about their product so you can form your own opinion.  As always I encourage and appreciate your feedback.

You Can't Be Ambitious For Someone Else

This post is a little more personal but I thought the topic might resonate with others.

I was on a five hour hike with my mentor this past Saturday.  We dove into some personal issues, one of which was inspiring other's success.  I thought she would be proud of the fact that I was looking into a possible career track for my friend but was really surprised that she came back with the question, "why are you being ambitious for someone else?" I guess I never thought about it that way.  People who always try to improve themselves expect and sometimes even force others to have that same kind of drive. 

It may be more of tendency for women to take the lead for others, by researching opportunities, networking on their behalf or by polishing resumes, but in the end if they aren't inspired enough to do these actions on their own, how could we possibility think that they could succeed once we present the opportunity?

This is something to consider while assisting anyone in our life to "do better."  Some of you may have experienced this with helping family members or friends advance their careers.  I believe the biggest take-away was the by exuding the effort to help others, you're not focusing on the steps you need to take to advance your own career.

Although, I am a big supporter of trying to help those who are motivated, the conversation was definitely food for thought. 

Accountability Partners

A sense of accountability or willingness to accept the responsibility of ones efforts to achieve set goals is necessary to accomplish success.   All to often, it is easy to make excuses to why we aren't accomplishing what we need to.  Even easier to make these excuses to ourselves. 

Business mentors or "Accountability Partners" can be great motivators and hinder the use of excuses.  If you have someone to report to, you're less likely to take the easy road.  I know I would be embarrassed to continuously have to tell my Accountability Partner why I hadn't accomplished what I set out to. 

You can find a great Accountability Partner in your business circle.  Fellow Chamber members, industry groups, or even a co-worker.  Be sure to find someone you can trust to keep your discussions confidential, who possess traits of confidence and creativity, and who is able to engage and challenge you.

Meeting consistently is key to a successful partnership whether it be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.  Having a set date to report your progress will give you extra motivation.

Accountability Partners can also help you refine your business skills.  Not everyone is a master of all things and their approach to time management, goal setting, or work/life balance could educate you on better tactics.  They may also have a unique approach to a particular task, extra insight due to experience, or greater personal knowledge on a subject. 

If you don't have one already, I highly recommend that you find an Accountability Partner this year and start enjoying all the benefits of this kind of partnership.  Feel free to post comments about your partnership's successes and lessons learned.

Get a Grip-Handshaking Tips

Ok fellas, I realize etiquette books say that a firm handshake makes a good first impression but keep in mind the hand you are shaking.  If you're shaking a female's hand remember it's alot smaller and delicate.  I had a handshake recently that made my hand sore for the rest of the day.  Granted I remembered that greeting, it wasn't necessarily positive.  Just my opinion.

While on the subject of handshakes, I found a couple tips from an article by Psychology Today.

 Here are a few handshaking tips that may grab approval:

• Men and women should stand when receiving an introduction (unless standing would be prohibitively difficult).
• Keep drinks in your left hand in situations where you are repeatedly being introduced. No one likes a wet or cold handshake.
• Don't offer your hand for a shake if the other person has his or hers full.
• Remove gloves (except when it's extremely cold). 

And I would add, don't act like you're going in for a game of mercy.  Also, please get a complete grip.  Nothing is more emasculating or uncomfortable then the finger shake.

For laughs, check out the blog post below entitled "Awkward Moves-Handshake Edition." by someone named Walrus (it's already got my approval).  It's just for fun, please don't try these moves in the business world.

Awkward comedy is the new slapstick. Gone are the days of laugh tracks, canned humor, three camera sitcoms and everything going back to normal at the end of the episode. Parents are watching “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Grandparents are watching “The Office.”   Everywhere you turn, people are trying to make you feel uncomfortable.  Why shouldn’t they?  In most cases, it’s pretty much hilarious.

I try to be awkward as often as I can.  Awkward handshakes are my area of expertise.  Here are some of my favorite moves, applicable (with often hilarious results) whether it’s your best friend or someone you are meeting for the first time. 

The Premature Negotiator (What I referred to as the finger shake)-  When approaching the introduction, get your Van Damme on, this one requires focus.  You have to grab early, so as to only handshake the fingertips. A fraction of a second early or late, and you’ve either missed and made a fool of yourself, or you just shook a hand that you never intended to.  Get the Purell, it’s gonna be a long night.

The Torpedo-  If done correctly, the torpedo yields extended-periods-of-silence awkwardness.  Go in for the handshake full speed, and at the last possible second, tuck your thumb in front of your pointer finger.  The aerodynamics increase velocity as your hand will slide through his open hand, leaving him not sure if he should continue squeezing your upper forearm or rip his hand away and seek therapy.

The Cold Hand Luke-  Simple, yet effective.  A slight twist on the classic dead fish tactic, advance as normal and commence the handshake, except upon dermal contact let your hand go completely limp.  The key to this one is to maintain eye contact throughout the entire exchange, even a few moments after your hand is released. The title is a nod to Paul Newman, who you should try to imitate as you gaze into the unsuspecting eyes of an increasingly uncomfortable person.

Asking for Referrals

Referrals are a great way to get new business.  Word of mouth marketing might be one of the oldest forms of marketing but in my opinion, is still the most effective.  Nothing sells your product or service better than praise from a trusted source.

So how do you get more referrals?  It's simple, ask.  As my mama always says, "throw it out there, all they can do is say no."  The best time to ask for referrals is right after you've exceeded your customer's expectations.  Briefly state that you're happy they are satisfied and would love to assist any of their family and/or friends who could also use your services.  Shazam! Done.

There is no boring sales pitch leaving your customer feeling greasy, just a mere mention.  Also consider rewarding your customers for their referrals.  It really is the biggest compliment to your company that they would be your advocate, so give them a little thank you.  Gift cards work great and you can even say "thank you" on your Twitter or Facebook feeds as an extra acknowledgment.

Tips for Preparing an Outstanding Resume

No matter if you are in the business of sales or marketing, I'm sure we can all agree that the hardest thing to sell is yourself.  Any good sales person can give you at least five good reasons why dirt in a desert is an ideal investment, but does he have the skills to convince you to hire him? 

Having recently helped a friend with his resume, it got me to thinking about the fundamentals of a good resume.  He, even with several years of experience and tons of success, still had issues talking about how great he was.

So here are a couple tips I have found to be helpful when preparing an outstanding resume.

• Even if you're not looking, keep a log of all your accomplishments.  It's extremely difficult to remember all the things you've done, especially if it's been a couple years.  Keep a list of everything you do, even the tasks that seem routine.  It will help tell your story.  If you don't use this information for a resume, it could be helpful when asking your current employer for a raise. :-)

• Quantify your accomplishments.  Numbers and figures don't just impress accountants anymore.  Some tasks are easier to quantify than others.  For example: Enhanced website's SEO by increasing the number of unique visits by 67%.  That figure is easy to pull from analytical data.  Another example like: Implemented new sales process, increasing productivity by 50%; might be more of a guess than fact.  Just be sure that if you are "guessing" that you can explain the rational of how you came up with that figure.

• Tailor your message.  Preparing a resume is no small task and it's easy to default to an original.  However, each employer is unique and has different needs.  Be sure that you are using your resume as a way to address each of the job requirements listed by that employer and explain how your skills and experience meet those requirements.

• Use a thesaurus.  Not a wordsmith, not a problem.  Online thesauruses are a great way to make your resume more interesting by removing redundancy.  For example, no one wants to see "improved" ten times in a row.  So mix it up with "enhanced."  The reader of your resume will appreciate the extra effort.

Time Management Tips

Isn’t it ironic that I would write a Time Management entry on a blog that hasn’t seen a new post in months!?!  I guess one can only improve by working on what challenges them most.  For the busy professional, time is our most valuable asset and consequently what we have the least of.

Running to appointments, establishing relationships, answering phones and writing countless emails is just the tip of the iceberg.  Creating engaging content for a blog, well that can go on the back burner. However, I hope that some of the tips I’ve collected below will help you to make your entries more frequent.  If not, at least you know you’re not the only one struggling to reach that weekly recommended post.

Plan each day. Make it a point to allocate some time to concentrate on what you need to accomplish.  To-do lists are a great way to manage all your tasks and as you complete them, marking tasks off will make you feel more in control and more accomplished.  I use my Outlook calendar for this purpose to make sure I’m setting aside the time I need to tackle the day’s projects.

Prioritize your tasks. This could be a little time-consuming but it’s important that you spend your time and energy on those tasks that yield the best results.

Say no to nonessential tasks. It’s easy for others to try to “delegate” their tasks especially if you’re proficient with yours.  Only take on additional work after reviewing your goals and schedule to ensure it won’t put you behind.

Take the time you need to do a quality job. Rushed work leads to mistakes, mistakes take double the time to fix.  If you’ve allocated the time for a project, use it.

Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Chipping away at a large project daily can not only help to ensure you don’t get burnt out but also give you time to cross off the smaller tasks, leaving you feeling more accomplished and fueled for the larger job.

Swallow the Frog.  Have dreaded tasks that make swallowing a frog seem pleasant?  Make it a point to spend around 10-minutes each day tackling those daunting projects.  Once you get going you’ll realize that you can finish them.   

Evaluate how you're spending your time. Take a look at your do-to lists and calendar appointments. Keep track of all the items you add to your lists for a couple days.  This will help you define how you’re using your time and see if there are ways you can use it more wisely.

Limit distractions. Close your office door, turn off your phone, or don’t check your email until your project is complete.  You blocked off time for a reason, to get the project done.  Eliminating little distractions will help you complete your work faster and check-off more items.

Don’t be afraid to take a break when needed. Remember in grade school they taught you to skip the hard questions while taking a test and revisit? That was giving your brain a break.  Sometimes a short walk, grabbing a coffee or a quick stretch can help relieve some stress.  The less stress, the less chance you have of derailing your attempts to complete a project.