Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less is my new career success coach book.  I’m proud to say that it has just gone into its second printing.  Thanks to all of the nice folks who have positively reviewed in on Amazon.com.  You can pick up a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or on line at amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download the eBook version for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 74…

When someone compliments you, just say “Thank you.”  When someone criticizes you, say “Thank you.  I’ll work on that.”

Giving feedback is a difficult interpersonal skill to master.  Receiving feedback graciously may be an even more difficult skill to master.  I think it all comes down to self confidence. 

Confident people accept positive feedback in the spirit in which it was given.  They don’t discount it.  On the other hand, confident people accept negative feedback for what it is – the opinion of one other person.  They listen to what is being said, and then decide what – if anything – they’re going to do about the feedback. 

Whether it’s positive or negative, confident people respond to feedback in a gracious manner.

If your confidence or self esteem is a little low, you might have a tendency to respond to positive feedback inappropriately.  When someone compliments you, do you say answer like this?  “It was nothing,” or “Anybody could have done it,” or “It really wasn’t that big of a deal.”  This is unassertive behavior and it marks you as someone lacking in confidence.

Besides that, it discounts the feedback and the person who is giving it to you.  Here is come great career advice.  When someone compliments on a job well done and you say, “It was nothing,” you’re questioning the other person’s judgment.  You may not realize it but you are.  He or she took the time to compliment you.  The appropriate response is “Thank you.”  You might want to add something like, “Your feedback means a lot to me.  I value your opinion.” 

Don’t discount yourself, your accomplishment, or the other person by minimizing what you accomplished.  On the other hand, don’t overinflate the feedback.  Take it for what it is, a comment on something you did well.

Negative feedback can be more difficult to take.  You can feel attacked personally.  My best career advice is to not take negative feedback personally.  Don Miguel Ruiz’s little book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, is a favorite of mine.  “Don’t take anything personally” is the second of the four agreements.

Don Miguel Ruiz explains it this way…

“Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

This is great career advice for accepting negative feedback.  Remember that feedback is a projection of the other person’s reality.  It may be correct.  It may be incorrect.  That’s why I always advise my career success coach clients to respond to negative feedback by saying, “Thank you.  I’ll work on that.”  By saying this, you are acknowledging the feedback and the person who provided it.  You are not committing to doing anything specific about it.

You should think about the feedback and then decide what to do.  It may be nothing, or you may choose to make some significant changes in your behavior.  The important career success coach point here is that you get to decide how you will deal with feedback.

Here are my three best piece of career advice on what to do when you’re presented with negative feedback…

Avoid being defensive – don’t try to justify what you did or didn’t do.  Listen to understand.  Ask questions to make sure you completely understand what the other person is saying.

Don’t fight – accept the feedback, even if it makes you angry.  Take time to reflect.  You can always have another conversation if you think the feedback was inaccurate or unfair.  You’ll be calm, and in a better position to make your points.

Listen attentively – make sure the other person knows you’re paying attention by your body language, facial expression and questions.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  You can create positive personal impact by responding to feedback – both positive and negative – appropriately.  Follow the career advice in Tweet 74 in Success Tweets.  “When someone compliments you, just say ‘Thank you.’  When someone criticizes you, say ‘Thank you.  I’ll work on that.’”  If you follow this advice, you will become known as someone who responds to feedback graciously.  And those kinds of people always create positive personal impact.  This is great common sense career advice.  I urge you to put it to work.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 74 in Success Tweets.  What’s yours?  How do you handle negative feedback?  Please take a minute to leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud

PS: I think the Four Agreements are powerful life and career advice.  Here is a quick synopsis of all four that I found on Wikiquotes…

Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don’t Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Don’t Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less is my new career success coach book.  I’m proud to say that it has just gone into its second printing.  You can pick up a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or on line at amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download the eBook version for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 73…

Be gracious.  Know and follow the basic rules of etiquette.  Everybody likes to be around polite and mannerly people.

A couple of years ago, I published a book called Straight Talk for Success.  A few months after it came out, I received an e mail from a young guy named Jim whose boss had given him a copy of Straight Talk.  In part, here’s what it said…

Bud:

I read your book Straight Talk for Success, excellent.  You are indeed the common sense guy!  I have learned a ton from reading that book from how to brand myself, to dinner etiquette (glass on the right, bread dish on the left, outside in with utensils).  Truly found your book easy to read and loved it…

I am 27 and feel like a sponge for all this information. 

Just wanted to thank you for your words of wisdom and for writing about some of the unwritten rules in business.

That was great.  I always like to receive positive feedback on what I write.  However, I was gratified that by sending me an email, Jim was putting to work some of my career advice on creating positive personal impact.  He showed me that he is a guy who understands the basics of etiquette.

Have you ever sent an e mail to an author thanking him for what he’s written?  Did you get a response?  Please leave a comment sharing your experience – positive or negative — with us. 

Here’s a personal story about this.  A while back, I was in the New York City area.  When I’m there, I listen to Q 104.3 the classic rock station.  Maria Milito was on as I was driving to the airport.  She played a great set.  When I got the airport, I logged on to the Q104.3 site and sent her an e mail telling her I enjoyed her show.  I got a response from her in less than a half hour.  Everybody likes positive feedback – trust me on this career advice.

Back to Jim’s e mail to me — sending a thank you note to someone who has done something for you is common sense and proper etiquette.  Sending a note to a stranger whose book you read and enjoyed is even better.  By doing so, Jim branded himself (in my mind at least) as an interpersonally competent guy, and someone who is business savvy.

In reality, there is no difference between business etiquette and social etiquette.  Well mannered people are gracious; they always focus on making other people feel comfortable and appreciated – whether in a business or social setting.

As Jim points out when he mentioned business dining etiquette, there are some rules to follow.  But knowing the rules only makes it easier to concentrate on the conversation instead of worrying about making a social gaffe.  Most people will overlook minor faux pas if you are truly gracious.  But it still is a good idea to brush up on dining etiquette before important business lunches or dinners and interviews.

Sharon Hill is a friend and etiquette consultant.  She once told me a story of a young man who lost a sales job because he didn’t know how to properly eat a foil wrapped baked potato.  Do you know how to eat a foil wrapped baked potato properly?  I’ll send signed copies of Straight Talk for Success and Success Tweets to the first person who responds to this question.

Personally, I think that this is a sad story – for the young man,  and for his potential boss.  Not knowing a minor point of dining etiquette shouldn’t disqualify an otherwise qualified candidate from a job offer.  If that’s the candidate’s only flaw, he can learn that lesson once and be on his way to a successful career.  However, in this case the hiring manager saw it as a deal breaker – and he had the ultimate say so.

When it comes to etiquette there is an old saying…

Those who know, know.  Those who don’t know, don’t know.  Those who know always know those who don’t know.

Think about it.  Take the advice of this career success coach.  Learn and follow the basic rules of etiquette – especially dining etiquette.  You’ll look polished.  You’ll present well.  More important, you won’t have to worry about the rules when you’re in a social situation.  You’ll be able to concentrate on the conversation – which is the important reason for any business meal.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people create positive personal impact.  You can create positive personal impact by becoming known as a gracious person.  Follow the career advice in Tweet 73 in Success Tweets.  “Be gracious.  Know and follow the basic rules of etiquette.  Everybody likes to be around polite and mannerly people.”  Small things — like saying “please” and “thank you,” smiling at others, taking a second to hold a door for someone who has an arm full of packages, allowing someone to cut in front of you in traffic — are the marks of gracious people.  If you build your personal brand on gracious and ethical behavior, you will be well on your way to the life and career success you deserve to be.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 73 in Success Tweets and on creating positive personal impact by knowing and following the basic rules of etiquette.  What’s yours?  Please leave a comment sharing your ideas with all of us.  As always, thanks for reading – and writing.

Bud

I am continuing with my series of posts on the career success coach advice in my latest book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  It has just gone into its second prinitng.  You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download a free copy at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 72…

21st century technology has created new etiquette rules.  Learn and use them to appear polished on line and off.

People with positive personal impact are always polite.  They know and understand the basic rules of etiquette.  But 21st century technology has created new etiquette challenges.  Here are a few thoughts on how to be courteous while using your latest gadget.

• Never text and drive – never.  If you want to make a call, use your hands free device.  Better yet, wait till you get where you’re going to make cell phone calls.

• When you are in a public place, like an airport concourse, don’t stretch your laptop power cord across the floor.  You can cause a serious accident.  Find a place to sit where you can be close to the power source – even if it means sitting on the floor while you charge your battery.

• Listen to local people in your car, instead of relying on your GPS device.  It’s the polite thing to do – and you will probably get where you’re going sooner.

• If a stranger offers to take your picture, return the favor.  Ask if he or she has a camera and would like for you to take a photo of him or her and friends.  If not, ask if they have an email address where you can send a picture of him or her that you will take with your camera.

• Use the “reply all” button only when everybody on the original e mail list will really want to hear your thoughts.  In most cases, it’s better to reply to the sender only.

• Don’t wear your Bluetooth earpiece if you are not on a call.  At best, you look like a limo driver.  At worst, you look foolish.

• DO NOT TYPE E MAILS IN ALL CAPS.  All caps indicate that you are yelling.  It is bad form and does not help you make a positive personal impact.

Computers and airplanes present other potential etiquette gaffes.  Here are my thoughts on airplane computer etiquette.

• When you’re on a plane and your neighbor is working on his or her laptop, don’t snoop.  That spreadsheet is none of your business.

• Don’t stare at your neighbor’s movie.  If you’d like to watch it without sound, ask first.

• On the other hand, be neighborly.  If you see someone straining to peek at your movie or music video, invite him or her to watch.  You might make a new friend.

• Bring headphones.  If you plan to watch a movie or play a game with sound, spare your neighbors the noise.  If you forget, ask a flight attendant for airline headphones.

• Defend yourself.  Bring earplugs or noise canceling headphones to shut out others’ laptop sounds.

• Speak up.  If you have a problem with the sound or the content coming from your neighbor’s laptop, tell the person.  If that doesn’t work, contact a flight attendant. 

• Be considerate.  Leave the porn and gore flicks at home.

But cell phones are still the most abused electronic device.  Here are my thoughts on what to do and what not to do when it comes to creating positive personal impact with your cell phone.  You probably don’t know it, but July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, so this is a timely post.

• Avoid speaking loudly on your cell phone when you are in a public place – a restaurant, airport concourse, airplane (before the door closes).  No one wants or need to hear your conversation.  This is good advice for two reasons.  First, you won’t be disturbing the people around you.  Second, your business will remain private.

• Ask permission first. When you think that you may be receiving an important call, let others know and ask their permission to leave your phone on and to take the call.

• Excuse yourself. When the all-important call comes, excuse yourself and find that secluded spot.

• Turn your cell phone off. Whether you are attending personal or professional functions, just turn off the phone. You can check your messages later. Few of us are so indispensable that we cannot be out of contact for a few minutes or hours.

• Use the silent ringer or vibrate function appropriately. When you are in the presence of others, it is just as inconsiderate to check the incoming call as it is to answer it. If your phone vibrates, excuse yourself to check the call, or better yet, check it later. You are really discounting a person to whom you are speaking suddenly say, “Do you mind if I check my phone and see who this is?” You almost hold your breath waiting to see who will win the attention of your companion, you or the caller?

• Keep your voice down. The phone may look tiny, but it picks up sound perfectly well.

• Behavior is the problem, not the phones.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people create positive personal impact.  They follow the career advice in Tweet 72 in Success Tweets.  “21st century technology has created new etiquette rules.  Learn and use them to appear polished on line and off.”  New electronic devices can help you stay in touch 24/7.  They can also lead you to break simple rules of etiquette and civility.  Use your common sense when using your electronic gadgets – especially the text function on your cell phone.  Never text and drive.  Texting and driving is dangerous, illegal in most states, and an accident waiting to happen.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 72 in Success Tweets.  How about you?  What etiquette tips do you have for using electronic devices?  Please take a minute to share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment.  As always, thanks for reading.  I really appreciate you.

Bud

With this post I’m  more than half way through my series of career success coach posts explaining the ideas in my latest book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download a copy for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 71…

Observe successful people in your organization.  What do they wear?  Dress like them and you won’t go wrong.

This tweet is pretty self explanatory, so this will be a brief post.  That doesn’t mean that the career advice isn’t important though.

If you’re like most people and work for a large company, you’ll notice that your senior executives and other succesful people dress well.  Most days, they’ll be wearing a suit.  You don’t have to wear suits all the time, but you should follow their example. 

Most executives and successful people I know wear clothing that fits well, is clean and in good repair – you should too.  Here are a few of my best tips for dressing like a successful person.  They are good career advice for anyone who wants to move up.

If you’re a man…

Wear nicely tailored wool slacks – not khaki’s.

Wear long sleeved collared shirts – not golf shirts.

Tuck in your shirt.

Wear a tie every couple of days.

Keep your shoes shined.  Wear tasseled loafers or brogues. 

If you’re a woman…

Wear a conservative hem – no more than two inches above the knee.

Make sure your blouses fit, that they don’t gap.

Wear heels that are no more than two inches high.

Wear hosiery that is skin color or darker.

Wear understated makeup and a mild fragrance.

There are exceptions to any rule.  Steve Jobs, Apple CEO comes to mind.  His business attire seems to consist of black mock turtle necks, jeans and sneakers.  If you work for Apple you might be able to get away with this type of attire. 

However, you probably don’t work for Apple.  You probably work for a large company where the executives dress more conservatively.  That means you should follow their lead. 

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people create positive personal impact.  Your attire has a lot to do with the personal impact you create.  Follow the advice in Tweet 71 in Success Tweets.  “Observe successful people in your organization.  What do they wear?  Dress like them and you won’t go wrong.”  This is important career advice.  If you follow the lead of senior executives and other successful people when it comes to your attire, you’ll be a step ahead of the game.  Sometimes this means dressing up more than you would like.   But it will put you on the road to the life and career success you want and deserve.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 71 in Success Tweets.  What’s yours?  What do the successful people in your company wear?  Do you dress like them?  Please share your thoughts on this in a comment.  As always, thanks so much for reading.

Bud

With this post I’m half way through my series of career success coach posts explaining the ideas in my latest book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download a copy for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 70…

Business is the first and most important word in “business casual.”  Dress like you’re going to work, not a sporting event or a club.

I saw a tweet on line yesterday that said…

“The impression you make when first meeting someone is 7% verbal, 28% body language, and 65% visual.”

I retweeted this bit of information.  I’m not sure if the numbers are 100% accurate, but they are pretty much aligned with my personal experience.  That’s why the career advice in this tweet is so important.  When you’re going to work, look like you’re going to work.

Recently, I came across the website of a company called Personal Impact International www.personalimpact.ca.  The “quick tips” button on their website yielded some great information on how to dress appropriately at work.  Take a look…

Personal Impact Quick Tips from Personal Impact International

When in doubt dress up.  In business, it’s better to be over dressed than under dressed.

Dress to Impress. Impress your boss – Dress at the same level or one level down. Impress your client – Dress at the same level or one level up.

Impress with Less for Less.  Buy quality, timeless styles. The best you can afford. Colors and styles that mix and match create Wardrobe Capsules that save you money.

Play it Safe all Year Round. Choose seasonless fabrics such as lightweight wools, fine cottons, and silks. Natural fibers look and feel more expensive.

 Love What You Buy. Don’t buy anything on sale you wouldn’t have paid full price for.

Think in Three’s. Less is better when in comes to color. Wear no more than three colors at once including accessories. Patterns count as one color.

Plan Ahead for Professional Polish. It’s the little things that count. Grooming really does make a difference. You — and your clothing — should be in tip-top condition.

Add a Little Pizzazz. Take it easy on the Accessories. Accessories can create the look that says ‘me’. Accessories are the extras that can give you individual style. But remember, in business less is more.

Make a Statement in Shades. A dark or muted jacket worn with a light or contrasting top highlights the face adding authority and presence.

Dress Down with Style. Even on casual days, be prepared. Keep a coordinating jacket handy for the unexpected meeting with the boss or clients.

Avoid Image Blunders. Everything has it’s time and place. Sexy, frumpy and sweaty have no place in the work place — even on casual day. Clothing worn for special activities should be saved for those activities.

Make a Little Adjustment. Making small alterations to the sleeves, hemline and waistline or simply changing the buttons can make your clothing look custom tailored, and you look like a million.
 
Common Sense Prevails. If it doesn’t seem quite right, it probably isn’t. Common sense and tasteful good judgment can create impressions that help you soar to the top.

I like this career advice – if for no other reason that the last point – “common sense prevails.”  The Personal Impact people are right – “if it doesn’t seem quite right, it probably isn’t.”

Things have changed and are more casual today.  Way back in 1983 I showed up for work in a blue blazer and dark charcoal slacks, white shirt and tie.  My boss called me into his office and told me that a blazer is a “sport coat” and that I was at work, not a sporting event.  He suggested that in the future I should stick to suits for work. 

That was then.  This is now.  Times change, and the workplace is more casual.  Today a nice blazer and slacks with a tie is considered quite dressy.  However, the career success coach point remains.  When you go to work, dress to make a positive impression on those around you.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people create positive personal impact.  To create positive personal impact, follow the career advice in Tweet 70 in Success Tweets.  “Business is the first and most important word in “business casual.”  Dress like you’re going to work, not a sporting event or a club.”  As I’ve mentioned, when you’re going to work, dress like you’re going to work.  It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed at work.  When I’m working at home, I may be dressed in my exercise clothing.  However, when I go out – even for a meeting with a client I know well – I shower, shave, comb my hair and put on clothes appropriate for the meeting.  A lunch or coffee appointment usually means a pair of nice slacks, a blazer and an open collar button down shirt.  A visit to a client’s office always means a jacket and tie.  Work is work, fun is fun.  Dress appropriately for each.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 70 in Success Tweets.  What’s yours?  Please take a minute to share your thoughts with us in a comment.  As always, thanks for reading.  I really appreciate you.

Bud

I’m almost half way through this series of career success coach posts explaining the ideas in my latest book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download a copy for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 69…

Demonstrate respect for yourself and others in your dress.  People will notice and respond positively to you.

How you dress says a lot about how much you respect yourself, and how much you respect other people.  You read that right.  Your attire is about respect.  If you respect yourself, you will dress well and look good.  If you respect other people, you will dress well and look good.  It’s as simple as that.

Just this morning, I saw something on line from the Napoleon Hill Foundation that applies here.

“If you haven’t the willpower to keep your physical body in repair, you also lack the power of will to maintain a positive mental attitude in other important circumstances that control your life.”

While this quote is directed at your physical condition, it applies to the condition of your wardrobe as well.  You have to take the time to keep your clothes in good repair.  Clothes that are clean and pressed, fit well and are in good repair show that you care.

Clothes that are wrinkled, have spots from previous wearings, are too tight – or too big – and have missing buttons or undone hems characterize you as someone who doesn’t care.  Someone with little self respect.  Someone with little respect for other people.

People notice how you look.  It’s as simple as that.  So put a little thought into getting dressed each day.  Make sure that what you wear reflects the professional you are.  You don’t have to spend tons of money on your wardrobe.  But you do need to maintain it.  Pay attention here, this is solid career advice.

When I was in high school, I saw a movie called “To Sir, With Love.”  Sidney Poitier played a teacher in a tough neighborhood in London.  He was determined to teach his students life lessons in addition to the regular curriculum. 

He had only a couple of shirts and ties.  But he washed and ironed his shirts after every wearing.  He looked good in the classroom.  He did this because he respected himself and his students.  He wanted to be a positive role model. 

That movie is over 40 years old, but Sidney Poitier’s dedication to pride in personal appearance has stuck with me all these years – and it’s the main lesson that comes from today’s career success tweet.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people respect themselves and the people they meet.  Your appearance is one way to demonstrate self respect.  Follow the advice in Tweet 69 in Success Tweets.  “Demonstrate respect for yourself and others in your dress.  People will notice and respond positively to you.”  Taking a few minutes each day to make sure that your clothes are clean and in good repair shows that you care.  And when you care, other people notice and respond positively to you.  Showing that you care is a great way to create positive personal impact.

That’s my take on the career advice in tweet 69 in Success Tweets.  What’s yours?  Please take a minute to leave a comment, sharing your thoughts with us.  As always thanks for reading.

Bud

I’m almost half way through this series of career success coach posts explaining the ideas in my latest book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download a copy for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Success Tweet 68…

Be well groomed and appropriate for every situation.  Always dress one level up from what is expected.  You’ll stand out from the crowd.

Your appearance says a lot about you.  My best career advice on to how your attire can help you create positive personal impact is simple common sense.  Dress one level up.  In other words, dress a little nicer than you have to.  For example, if your office is casual wear a dress or a suit every once in a while. 

I always get dressed up when I am meeting clients.  Many of my clients dress casually.  When they tell me, “You didn’t need to wear a suit today,” I say, “Yes I did.  I’m meeting with an important person — you.”  Show respect for yourself and the people around you by dressing well and looking good.

Accessories are an important part of your appearance.  In general, you want your accessories to compliment, not overpower your clothing.  Keep them understated and elegant.  Large rings and earrings, bracelets that jangle every time you move can distract from your look and your professionalism.  Save the bling for evenings out, tone it down at work.

Pay attention to your electronic accessories.  A couple of years ago, I saw a Wall Street Journal article about electronic accessories.  It made some interesting points about cell phones, PDAs and other electronic helpers – all small enough to tote around with us all the time – and how they can hurt your image as a professional.  Look around, you’ll see that most senior executives aren’t overburdened by electronic accessories.  They don’t wear cell phone ear pieces and don’t clip their phones on their belts.  Keep your electronic accessories in your briefcase or purse, not on display.  You will be projecting a more professional image.

In Wildly Sophisticated, my friend Nicole Williams lays out ten fashion commandments.  I think they are invaluable advice for creating a professional look and helping you dress one level up.

1. Sweat the small stuff. People don’t necessarily notice if you’re groomed, but they definitely notice when you’re not.

2. Restrain yourself. Never let your accessories wear you.

3. Know your body. Recognize that every style trend is not designed for you. This isn’t a limitation – it’s just reality.

4. Black is your friend. Black staples – pants, skirts and jackets are clean, classic and they always look good. They’re flattering, will work with everything else in your closet and will stretch your clothing budget.

5. Focus on your feet. A great pair of shoes can make all the difference in your look.  Make sure your footwear is polished and clean. This is another one of those details that people really do notice.

6. Welcome the three-way mirror.  Make sure your clothes fit well.  Clothes that fit well make you look more professional and help your confidence.

7. Work it. Style is really a synonym for self-expression. You’ll feel and look better when your clothes reflect your personality.   I’m a big guy.  I look better in conservative clothing, so I wear Brooks Brothers – and often get complimented on my appearance.

8. Buy quality. In the long run, quality clothes will actually save you money.

9. Invest in accessories.  Your bag or briefcase is a constant companion. Clients, employers and colleagues notice what’s on your arm. Invest in a quality piece that reflects your style. And in this age of laptops, cell phones and PDAs, a bag that will carry your hardware is a lifesaver.

10. Relax. Bottom line? Its just fashion. Give it your best shot; know that style matters and that looking groomed and professional are important for your career.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Follow the career advice in Tweet 68 in Success Tweets.  “Be well groomed and appropriate for every situation.  Always dress one level up from what is expected.  You’ll stand out from the crowd.”  “Act as if” is one of the bits of career advice I often offer my career success coach clients.  One way to “act as if” is to dress as if you’re in the position to which you aspire.  That means dressing at least one level up from what is expected of you.  For men, a blazer and slacks with a nice shirt and tie, or for women a suit with a silk blouse and tasteful accessories will help you create the look of a successful professional – someone who is going places.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 68 in Success Tweets.  What’s yours?  Please take a minute to leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us.  As always, thanks for reading.  I really appreciate it.

Bud

I’m in the middle of a long series of career success coach posts based on the ideas in my new book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore or on line at Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can get a free download at www.SuccessTweets.com. 

 Today’s career advice comes from Tweet 66…

Nurture your network.  What your friends, colleagues and customers say about you is how others will think of your brand.

Successful people build strong networks.  Strong networks are a great way to develop your personal brand — or to wreck it.  Here’s a true story about one of my career success coach clients.

James was with his company for close to 30 years and was a very senior executive. He had risen through the ranks and was well regarded by almost everyone who knew him. But, a couple of years ago, he was asked to resign. 

 James became the protégé of a senior manager early in his career.  As the manager moved up, James moved up with him. The manager had great faith in James’ business acumen and his problem solving ability. Whenever a problem arose, James’ manager would ask him to “look into it and fix it.”

 James enjoyed these challenges. He was smart, and had an uncanny ability to zero in on what was going wrong. He was equally adept at coming up with solutions to problems.

 James created issues for himself though. Most of the time, the problems he was asked to fix were not in his area of responsibility. They were problems that his peers, other people at his level who reported to his boss, were experiencing. In pleasing his boss and solving problems, James stepped all over the toes of his peers – sometimes not so gently. They came to resent him for it.  And this hurt his personal brand.

One day, his boss left the company. One of James’ peers was appointed to take his place.  Three months later, James was asked to resign. He was asked to resign not because of his performance. In some ways, it was because he was too competent.

He was asked to resign because he hadn’t built strong relationships with his peers. Often, by doing what his boss wanted, he alienated the people closest to him. 

James and I began working together.  My career advice to him was to build his brand by working on his interpersonal skills.  I helped James understand that it was important not only to do a great job, but to do so in a way that did not alienate those around him.

I’m happy to say that James landed a job as President of a small company in his industry.  We still speak.  He tells me that the secret to his newfound success comes from both his willingness to work hard and to build and maintain relationships with people at all levels of his company.

James’ story illustrates an important point about career success.  Successful realize that relationships are the key to building a winning personal brand.  No one can go it alone and succeed.  You have to build and nurture a strong network of colleagues and peers. 

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people’s personal brands identify them as being interpersonally competent.  Interpersonally competent people build and maintain strong relationships with the people close to them.  They also resolve conflict in a manner that enhances, not detracts, from these relationships.  If you want to build a brand that identifies you as being interpersonally competent follow the career advice in Tweet 66 in Success Tweets.  “Nurture your network.  What your friends, colleagues and customers say about you is how others will think of your brand.”  Put as much effort into building strong relationships with your colleagues as you do in producing good results.  Remember, success depends not only on what you do, but how you do it. 

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 66 in Success Tweets – the importance of relationships to your success.  What do you think?  Please take a minute to leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud

I’m enjoying writing about the ideas in my latest career success coach book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.   You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets at your local bookstore and on Amazon.com.  Better yet, you can download a free copy at www.SuccessTweets.com.

Today’s career advice comes from Tweet 67…

Demonstrate self respect.  Be impeccable in your presentation of self – in person and on line.

Successful people, those who create positive personal impact, dress well and don’t post stupid things on line.  You don’t have to spend a fortune to dress well.  Here are my best tips for looking good at work.

Business Casual…

Men should wear khaki or light gray slacks, an oxford cloth button down shirt and a blue blazer, and carry a “just in case” tie in their briefcase.  Women should wear slacks or a skirt, blouse and jacket. 

If you don’t know, err on the safe side.  Men and women should wear suits, and men should wear a tie.  It’s always OK to ask about a company’s dress code when you are arranging a first meeting.

Quality matters…

All of your clothing should be of quality fabric, clean and neatly pressed.  Shoes should be shined.  Heels should not be worn down.

Grooming…

Wear your hair neatly styled.  Make sure your breath is fresh.  Keep your fingernails trimmed and clean.

Hosiery…

If women don’t wear hosiery, they should make sure their legs are well maintained.  They should wear professional shoes in the office.  Save the strappy sandals for weekends and get-togethers with friends.

Have an “Outfit B”…

It’s a good idea to keep a backup business outfit in your office.  This can help when you have an unexpected meeting come up – or worse yet – if a waiter spills something on you at a business lunch.

Here’s an example of the importance of  “Outfit B.” idea really hit home with me.  Several years ago, I was conducting an offsite team building retreat.  We were in a meeting room at a hotel.  We adjourned to the dining room for lunch.  The person next to me order fried mozzarella sticks as an appetizer.  They came with a side of marinara sauce.  We were squeezed in pretty tight.  When the waiter came with the fried mozzarella, he was balancing the cheese and marinara sauce on a small tray.  My friend said, “let me help you,” and picked up the mozzarella sticks.  That upset the balance of the tray, and the marinara sauce spilled all over me.  I was wearing a pair of light colored khaki slacks and a light pink button down shirt.  Both were ruined. 

Fortunately, I was staying at the hotel where the meeting was taking place and was able to go to my room and change.  However, from that day forward, I always kept a change of clothing in the closet in my office at work.  I never needed them, but I felt better being prepared.

A while back I came across a great article on HRGuru.com called “What Professionals Should Never (Ever) Wear.  Here are the items that the authors suggested you should not wear to work.  Some are funny.  Some are downright stupid.  They all are just not good common sense…

• Crocs
• Uggs
• Fanny Packs
• Scrunchies
• Sweatshirts and Sweatpants
• Footless Leggins and Spandex/Yoga Pants
• Leather Pants
• Face Tatoos
• Velour/Juicy Tracksuits
• Message T Shirts
• Too Much Exposed Skin
• Heavy – or no – Makeup
• What You Wore Yesterday
• Sequins
• Flip Flop Sandals
• Excessive Jewelry
• Sports Teams Jerseys
• Hats and Caps
• Long Fingernails
• Messy, Wrinkled or Torn Clothing
• Wallet Chain
• Glitter
• Sunglasses Indoors
• All Over Animal Print
• Short Shorts

You’d think that people would have the common sense to avoid wearing these items at work.  However, I can recall seeing each of these fashion faux pas – with the exception of Mike Tyson face tattoos – in places where I have worked.  One of my professors at the Harvard Business School used to wear a wallet chain.  He looked like a biker in a suit.

Finally, your on line presentation of self is important too.  My best career advice is to Google yourself.  See what comes up.  If it’s something embarrassing, or something you wouldn’t want your employer to see, make sure you remove it.  This holds true for your Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.  Be just as impeccable in your on line presentation of self, as you are in person.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people create positive personal impact.  You can create positive personal impact by being impeccable in your presentation of self – in person and on line.  Follow the career advice in Tweet 67 in Success Tweets.  “Demonstrate self respect.  Be impeccable in your presentation of self – in person and on line.”  Professionals should dress in a professional manner.  Your attire and grooming are important keys to creating positive personal impact.  It’s important to look good.  Wear quality clothes and shoes that are in good repair.  Keep your hair neat.  Dress a little better than you have to.  And, look in the mirror on your way out the door.  Ask yourself, “does what I’m wearing today demonstrate that I respect myself and the people I will meet today?”  If yes, get going and have a great day.  If no, take a few minutes and changed into something more appropriate.  You’ll build a professional brand.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 67 in Success Tweets – being impeccable in your presentation of self.  What’s yours?  Please leave a comment sharing your thoughts with us.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud

This is another in my series of posts further explaining the career advice in my new book Success Tweets: 140 Bits of Common Sense Career Success Advice, All in 140 Characters or Less.  You can purchase a copy of Success Tweets on line at Amazon.com, or in your local bookstore.  Better yet, get it for free at www.SuccessTweets.com.  You can see an interview I did about Success Tweets on the Selling Books.com website.

Today’s career success coach advice comes from Success Tweet 65…

A good personal brand highlights your uniqueness.  Be unconventional.  Break rules.

I love the movies.  Lst year, I was really pleased when I was asked to review a book called The Big Picture: Essential Lessons for the Movies.  Authors Kevin Coupe and Michael Sansolo do a great job of discussing the life and career success ideas in over 200 movies.  This is a very thoughtful book. 

Kevin and Michael make some great points about success that pop up in some unlikely movies.  For example, they use the movie Babe to make the point that it’s important to be different – and break some rules — if you want to get recognized and succeed.  That’s great personal branding and career advice.  Creating and nourishing your unique personal brand is the first step in creating positive personal impact. 

Here’s some of what Kevin and Michael have to say about Babe…

“Babe is a simple story, but it contains an important lesson.    Think of how many businesses have stuck to the way things always are and completely missed the opportunity to become something entirely new, bigger and better.

“MTV didn’t invent video or records, but pulled them together in an entirely new cable channel.  CBS, in contrast, owned a television network and a record company, but missed the chance.”

I experienced a rule breaking moment the other day.  I was in a local bookstore looking for a book on fitness.  As you can imagine, there was no shortage.  As I opened various books to check them out, I found Tamba Mbawa’s business card in every one of them.  I purchased a book and took it home.  When I got there, I went to Tamba’s website to see what he is about.  Not surprisingly, Tamba is a personal trainer and fitness coach. 

I thought this was a great example of breaking the rules and personal brand building.  Tamba spent the time to go to a local Barnes and Noble and place his card in every one of the fitness books they have on the shelf.  He was getting his name in front of a very targeted audience; people who purchase books on fitness.  Pretty cool idea in my book.  And one that is a perfect manifestation of what Kevin and Michael have to say about breaking the rules to get recognized for your uniqueness.

When I first started blogging, my dad read a few of my posts and said, “You’re giving away some of your best ideas.  You shouldn’t do that.  You need to be selling your advice, not giving it away.”  At the time, content rich blogs ran counter to the rule of jealously guarding your proprietary information. 

I told my dad, that I’m happy when people read my blog and find ideas they can put to use.  More power to them.  I also told him that people who find my ideas helpful are more likely to look to me for career advice when they run up against a problem they can’t solve on their own.  I was breaking a rule to build my brand.

Interestingly, giving away solid useful information is the new rule.  Ask any internet marketer or marketing guru.  They will all tell you to build a relationship and establish credibility with your target audience by providing them with useful information at no cost.  Funny how things change.

George Bernard Shaw is my favorite playwright.  There is nothing so good as a well performed Bernard Shaw play.  He also had something to say about breaking rules…

“All great truths start out as blasphemies.”

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

So go ahead, break a few rules.  Be a little unreasonable.  Be unconventional, make your brand uniquely you.

One last story.  Tim McKernan had one of the most unique personal brands, I have come across.  He was The Barrel Man, a superrfan of the Denver Broncos. For 30 years and in all kinds of weather, he attended every Bronco home game wearing nothing but an orange barrel with a Bronco’s logo and a cowboy hat and boots.

He wore his costume for the first time in 1977.  He had a $10 bet with his brother.  He bet that the costume would get him on TV.  He won that one, and was on TV every time the Broncos were for the next 30 years.  John Madden always mentioned him when he was doing a game in Denver.

Tim’s unique brand got him inducted into the Visa Hall of Fans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He passed away in 2009.  He was in the stands for both of the Bronco’s Super Bowl victories.

You don’t have to go to the lengths Tim McKernan did when building your brand.  But I encourage you to think like Tim.  Being a little outrageous, like wearing only a barrel to football games in December in Denver, can help you stand out from the crowd and get recognized.

The common sense career success coach point here is simple.  Successful people build personal brands that are unique.  Breaking a few rules is one way of building a unique brand.  By breaking the rules, I don’t mean doing something illegal or unethical.  I mean thinking outside of the box and not being constrained by conventional wisdom.  In the movie Babe, Babe the pig succeeds because he doesn’t act like a pig.  He is friendly and mannerly – characteristics not usually associated with pigs.  What rules are holding you back from building a great personal brand?  How can you break them to demonstrate your uniqueness?  Follow the career advice in Tweet 65 in Success Tweets.  “A good personal brand highlights your uniqueness.  Be unconventional.  Break rules.”  Don’t do anything that will land you in jail, or get you fired.  But think outside the box, find ways to create a Cherry Garcia brand, not one which is plain vanilla.  Think of new ways to combine ideas.  An iPod after all, is nothing more than a hard drive with a set of headphones.  Figure out how you can become the iPod in your work team.  Create a brand that shows how unique and fascinating you really are.

That’s my take on the career advice in Tweet 65 in Success Tweets.  What’s yours?  Please take a minute to leave a comment.  Share the most unique personal brand you’ve come across.  As always, thanks for reading.

Bud