10 Kesilapan Utama Dalam Perniagaan Kecil

Kesilapan-kesilapan berikut merupakan kesilapan umum yang dilakukan oleh kebanyakan usahawan dan pemilik perniagaan kecil. Berhati-hatilah dengan kesilapan yang amat merbahaya ini……..

1. Terlalu yakin dengan sesuatu idea dan taksub dengannya.
Jangan terlalu yakin dengan satu idea sahaja.  Ingat, idea adalah matawang kepada usahawan.Pelbagaikan idea dan lihat yang mana berupaya memberi ganjaran dan kejayaan kepada anda.  

2. Tiada Pelan Pemasaran

Pelan Pemasaran boleh memberikan perhatian yang anda perlukan kepada pihak sasaran. Ia menjadi daya tarik  pelanggan terhadap anda! Terdapat lebih dari 25  cara untuk memasarkan perniagaan anda dengan kos yang rendah ataupun tanpa melibatkan sebarang kos. Perlaksanaan pelan pemasaran secara berkesan, cekap, konsisten dan penuh bergaya dapat menjimatkan kos panggilan.

3. Tidak mengenali pelanggan anda

Perubahan pada citarasa pelanggan dan juga produk serta perkhidmatan persaing akan mempengaruhi  perniagaan anda, kecuali jika anda kenal pelanggan secara dekat, tahu kehendak mereka pada masa kini dan masa hadapan, tahu corak pembelian mereka dan tahu bagaimana untuk membantu mereka walaupun anda tidak mempunyai produk atapun perkhidmatan tersebut.

4. Tidak peka dengan kedudukan aliran tunai syarikat 

Walaupun anda mempunyai produk yang paling terbaik, pelanggan  mungkin tidak akan membelinya dalam tempoh waktu yang anda  fikirkan. Oleh itu kedudukan aliran tunai yang  mantap penting untuk menampung diri dan syarikat anda dalam tempoh tersebut.

5. Tidak peduli tentang kakitangan 

Salah satu cabaran yang paling sukar bagi seorang usahawan atau pemilik perniagaan ialah untuk memberi motivasi, bimbingan dan mengurus pekerja. Tanpa kesabaran, kesungguhan dan kemahiran, masalah tersebut akan menjadi lebih teruk. Moral dan produktiviti pekerja serta keuntungan syarikat  boleh musnah dengan segera!

6. Keliru tentang kemungkinan dengan realiti

Usahawan yang berjaya hidup di dalam dunia yang penuh dengan kemungkinan tetapi mereka berbelanja dalam dunia realiti.

7. Tiada pelan penjualan.

Tanpa pelan penjualan, maka tidak ada cara  untuk mengukur perkembangan kewangan dan kemajuan perniagaan anda.  Anda memerlukan plan yang realistik untuk melihat dari mana, bagaimana, bila dan siapa yang  membawa masuk jualan. 

8. Penyendiri

Anda mungkin tahu kesemunya tetapi anda tidak boleh melakukanya seorang diri dan berkembang pada masa yang sama. Anda perlukan kakitangan untuk mengagihkan tanggungjawab kepada mereka.

9. Tiada  'Mastermind'

Anda perlukan satu lembaga penasihat ataupun seorang mentor! Bagi mereka yang memopunyai pernigaan yang kecil , ini mungkin ini tidak masuk akal. Lembaga penasihat ini mungkin terdiri dari anggota keluarga atau sahabat yang anda percayai.Jadikan mereka Ahli Lembaga Pengarah,  kaji pelan dan keputusan perniagaan bersama mereka. Adalah sangat kritikal untuk mempunyai seseorang yang boleh memberikan idea dan pandangan yang objektif.

10. Berputus Asa

Kebanyakkan usahawan yang berjaya pernah mengalami kegagalan. Oleh itu, sekiranya anda gagal, biarkan kegagalan itu. Bangun dan belajar dari kesilapan dan kegagalan lalu. Jangan berputus asa dan menderita.

 (sumber : http://www.punb.com.my/index.php?ch=bm_med&pg=bm_med_biztip&ac=46)

principles as the foundation of guerrilla marketing:

principles as the foundation of guerrilla marketing:

• Guerrilla Marketing is specifically geared for the small business and entrepreneur.
• It should be based on human psychology rather than experience, judgment, and guesswork.
• Instead of money, the primary investments of marketing should be time, energy, and imagination.
• The primary statistic to measure your business is the amount of profits, not sales.
• The marketer should also concentrate on how many new relationships are made each month.
• Create a standard of excellence with an acute focus instead of trying to diversify by offering too many diverse products and services.
• Instead of concentrating on getting new customers, aim for more referrals, more transactions with existing customers, and larger transactions.
• Forget about the competition and concentrate more on cooperating with other businesses.
• Guerrilla Marketers should use a combination of marketing methods for a campaign.
• Use current technology as a tool to build your business.
• Messages are aimed at individuals or small groups, the smaller the better.
• Focuses on gaining the consent of the individual to send them more information rather than trying to make the sale.

(source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_marketing)

8 Rules For Good Customer Service

Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. You can offer promotions and slash prices to bring in as many new customers as you want, but unless you can get some of those customers to come back, your business won’t be profitable for long.

Good customer service is all about bringing customers back. And about sending them away happy – happy enough to pass positive feedback about your business along to others, who may then try the product or service you offer for themselves and in their turn become repeat customers.

If you’re a good salesperson, you can sell anything to anyone once. But it will be your approach to customer service that determines whether or not you’ll ever be able to sell that person anything else. The essence of good customer service is forming a relationship with customers – a relationship that that individual customer feels that he would like to pursue.

How do you go about forming such a relationship? By remembering the one true secret of good customer service and acting accordingly; “You will be judged by what you do, not what you say.”

I know this verges on the kind of statement that’s often seen on a sampler, but providing good customer service IS a simple thing. If you truly want to have good customer service, all you have to do is ensure that your business consistently does these things:

1) Answer your phone.

Get call forwarding. Or an answering service. Hire staff if you need to. But make sure that someone is picking up the phone when someone calls your business. (Notice I say “someone”. People who call want to talk to a live person, not a “fake recorded robot”.) For more on answering the phone, see Phone Answering Tips to Win Business.

2) Don’t make promises unless you WILL keep them.

Not plan to keep them. Will keep them. Reliability is one of the keys to any good relationship, and good customer service is no exception. If you say, “Your new bedroom furniture will be delivered on Tuesday”, make sure it is delivered on Tuesday. Otherwise, don’t say it. The same rule applies to client appointments, deadlines, etc.. Think before you give any promise – because nothing annoys customers more than a broken one.

3) Listen to your customers.

Is there anything more exasperating than telling someone what you want or what your problem is and then discovering that that person hasn’t been paying attention and needs to have it explained again? From a customer’s point of view, I doubt it. Can the sales pitches and the product babble. Let your customer talk and show him that you are listening by making the appropriate responses, such as suggesting how to solve the problem.

4) Deal with complaints.

No one likes hearing complaints, and many of us have developed a reflex shrug, saying, “You can’t please all the people all the time”. Maybe not, but if you give the complaint your attention, you may be able to please this one person this one time - and position your business to reap the benefits of good customer service.

5) Be helpful - even if there’s no immediate profit in it.

The other day I popped into a local watch shop because I had lost the small piece that clips the pieces of my watch band together. When I explained the problem, the proprietor said that he thought he might have one lying around. He found it, attached it to my watch band – and charged me nothing! Where do you think I’ll go when I need a new watch band or even a new watch? And how many people do you think I’ve told this story to?

6) Train your staff (if you have any) to be ALWAYS helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable.

Do it yourself or hire someone to train them. Talk to them about good customer service and what it is (and isn’t) regularly. Most importantly, give every member of your staff enough information and power to make those small customer-pleasing decisions, so he never has to say, “I don’t know, but so-and-so will be back at...”

7) Take the extra step.

For instance, if someone walks into your store and asks you to help them find something, don’t just say, “It’s in Aisle 3.” Lead the customer to the item. Better yet, wait and see if he has questions about it, or further needs. Whatever the extra step may be, if you want to provide good customer service, take it. They may not say so to you, but people notice when people make an extra effort and will tell other people.

8) Throw in something extra.

Whether it’s a coupon for a future discount, additional information on how to use the product, or a genuine smile, people love to get more than they thought they were getting. And don’t think that a gesture has to be large to be effective. The local art framer that we use attaches a package of picture hangers to every picture he frames. A small thing, but so appreciated.

If you apply these eight simple rules consistently, your business will become known for its good customer service. And the best part? The irony of good customer service is that over time it will bring in more new customers than promotions and price slashing ever did!

(source: http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/customerservice/a/custservrules.htm)

INFORMATIVE WEB ABOUT MANAGEMENT

http://managementhelp.org

Gaining Knowledge
Sharping Skills
Changing Better Attitude

blue ocean strategy

"creating new market space rather than competing in an existing industry"
- blue ocean strategy

5 Simple, Low-Cost, No-Cost Marketing Strategies

1. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone & Network More Often

Develop your networking skills by stepping out of your comfort zone and by attending events where you don't know a soul. The first step in reaping big rewards with your networking is to enjoy the process of meeting new people and taking the time to get to know them first.
Get Out - Be a Joiner and Get Involved!

2. Build Strongly Connected Business Alliances

Build a strong network that supports your business success. This will develop magnified marketing and tons of referrals from your best customers.

Promote and market your business alliances. Don't ever lose the contact! Keep them in mind when referring business. Talk about them and their business in the community. Support them in any way that you can.

Seek out more joint venture opportunities with your alliances. Ask, “How can I help you become more successful and how can we work together to achieve our goals?” You'll note that people pay attention when you ask this question and focus on them first before promoting YOU and what your do.

3. Promote Your Business with Public Speaking

Being asked to speak about your expertise at a business-networking meeting is a great way to promote what you do.

Public speaking is a powerful marketing tool that costs nothing but your time—especially if you are featured as the expert in your topic.

Your success depends upon communication. How well you communicate can determine whether your business quickly grows into an industry leader or joins thousands of other businesses caught up in mediocrity.

Toastmasters networking clubs offer you the tools that will enable you to become an effective communicator and leader all at a very low cost. Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization that was established 1924 to help people speak more effectively.

4. Ask For Referrals and Testimonials

There are two easy steps to creating glowing testimonials. The first is to simply be aware.

We all love compliments. Next time you receive one don't just say thank you. Look the person complimenting you straight in the eye and say, “I appreciate your noticing, that's so nice.

A great testimonial like that could be so helpful to my business.

Would you mind writing it down for me on your letterhead? Thank you!”

The second step is to use these testimonials to promote your business and make new prospects into clients.

Testimonials are one of the easiest, most effective, and lowest cost promotion tools. Although testimonials many be as good as money in the bank, referrals are money in the bank. Once you've honed you referral approach, I can almost guarantee your bank balance will blossom.

A referral is simply one happy client or customer telling another. It is word of mouth praise.

5. Promote Your Expertise to the Media

Become the Media's Expert of Choice.

Create a top-25 list of media contacts and stay in touch with them on a regular basis by sending press releases, photos and stories from business promotions, exciting news about your business, etc.

Add a strong “hook” that ties your story into a current news story or add benefits that promote the community in some way.

Keep improving your innovative marketing skills and enjoy reaping the benefits of attracting more customers like crazy!

3 teras etika kerja

1. 'ubudiyyah : pengabdian kepada Allah SWT, iaitu semua perkara atau pelaksanaan tugasan adalah berorientasikan kepada Allah SWT semata-mata. Justeru, selari dengan garisan syariah yang membawa kepada pengiktirafan perbuatan tersebut kepada ibadah.

2. mas'uliyyah : rasa sanggup menanggung amanah kerja untuk menyempurnakannya pada tahap 100%, di samping sanggup menjawab segala persoalan yang ditimbulkan sama ada oleh orang bawahan, rakan sekerja, & pihak pengurusan atasan.

3. itqan : penunaian sesuatu kerja itu dengan bersungguh-sungguh, iaitu tidak bekerja secara sambil lewa. mengambil serius kepada setiap tugasan, walaupun sekecil-kecil membuah sampah ke dalam tong sampah.

office hour

lazimnya, waktu kerja pejabat (8 jam) ialah:

8.00 am : check in
1.00 pm : rehat
2.00 pm : sambung keje
4.00 pm : check out



kenapa tidak dimurnikan dengan nilai-nilai Islam? this what i've practic in my own company :

8.00 am : aku check in
9.00 am : pekerja check in
10.00 am : rehat (solat sunat dhuha)
10.15 am : sambung keje
1.00 pm : rehat, lunch, solat zuhur berjemaah
2.00 pm : sambung keje
4.30 pm : rehat, solat asar berjemaah
5.00 pm : pekerja check aku, aku sambung keje
6.00 pm : aku check out!

mesti ada yang kata, "uish, mana bleh ni! banyak sangat rehat! kerja masa tak efisien". bagi aku, aspek keberkatan dalam mencari rezeqi mesti diambil kira. kalu dapat buat sales 1 juta sebulan pun, kalu tak berkat, tiada gunanya...

interpretasi penguasaan kota konstantinopel dalam konteks pengurusan

ilustrasi Sultan Muhammad Al-Fateh

Sultan Muhammad Bin Murad II "Al-Fateh", dalam siri-siri kejayaannya dalam peluasan empayar Khilafah Turki Uthmaniyyah, kemuncaknya ialah kejayaan menguasai Kota Konstantinopel daripada kekuasaan orang kristian ortodoks, baginda terlebih dahulu memenuhi 3 krateria sebagaimana yang disabdakan oleh Rasulullah SAW iaitu :

i) Pemimpin yang baik - Sultan Muhammad sendiri sangat gigih dalam menyiapkan dirinya sendiri. Antaranya ialah, baginda turut serta dengan membuka serban dan baju untuk membina benteng kotanya, sehingga semua ulama & menteri berasa malu dan seterusnya turut sama mengangkat batu & membina benteng. Selain itu, dalam situasi memilih imam solat jumaat pertama selepas berjaya menguasai kota konstantinopel, membuktikan baginda seorang yang hebat dalam konteks ibadah, iaitu sentiasa solat fardhu berjemaah, solat sunat rawatib, qiamullail sejak dari usia balighnya.

ii) Tentera yang baik - teliti dalam memilih para tentera khas untuk menggempur kota konstantinopel. Sebelum berperang, tentera khas ini dikumpulkan di sebuah pulau, dan diberikan latihan ketenteraan, dalam masa yang sama, aspek ibadah juga ditekankan seperti solat, puasa, dan qiamullail.

iii) Rakyat yang baik - mempraktikkan tindakan Khalifah Umar RA, iaitu turun menemui rakyatnya dengan menyamar sebagai pengemis atau musafir, tanpa diketahui oleh menteri-menteri yang lain, kecuali 2 orang kanannya yang turut bersamanya. Kehadirannya juga tidak disedari oleh rakyatnya, dan pada permulaannya layanan buruk terhadap baginda, seperti dihalau, dan diberi upah yang sangat sedikit, sama ada daripada orang miskin mahupun orang kaya. Setelah beberapa tindakan diambil, rakyat baginda menjadi baik, dan tiada lagi layanan buruk.

cuba 3 krateria ini diinterpretasikan dalam kontek pengurusan organisasi:

i) pemimpin, diinterpretasikan sebagai CEO atau pemilik organisasi/syarikat.
ii) tentera, diinterpretasikan sebagai Ahli Lembaga Pengarah atau pemegang saham.
iii) rakyat, diinterpretasikan sebagai para staf & pekerja.

dengan adanya CEO yang baik dan professional dalam mengurus tadbir organisasi; ALP atau share holders yang setia dengan CEO dalam merealiasasikan visi yang baik; dan para staf & pekerja yang amanah dalam memenuhi obligasinya, serta taat setia terhadap Agama, insya Allah penguasaan terhadap ekonomi dunia mampu dikuasai oleh umat Islam!

cuba anda interpretasikannya dalam konteks yang berbeza.

kumandangkan bacaan ayat-ayat suci Al-Quran di ofis anda!

pada suatu pagi, seawal jam 10 pagi, pernah aku sekali pergi shopping di PKT Kedai Mulong. namun apa yang menarik, bacaan surah Yasin oleh Al-Ghamidi dikumandangkan!

orang kata, baca surah Yasin semasa hendak mula bekerja/berniaga boleh menjadi pelaris. apapun, hikmah tersebut kita kembalikan kepada Allah SWT, dan yang penting mulakan setiap pagi hari dengan bacaan Al-Quran, mudah-mudahan apa jua yang dilakukan seharian nanti mendapat keberkatan & keredhaan Allah SWT.

job vacancy

job vacancy

reunion shp utm batch 2001-2005 at PD, N9

reunion bekas siswa/i kursus sarjana muda sains (pembangunan sumber manusia), universiti teknologi malaysia skudai, pada 10 & 11 januari 2009, di port dickson.

sorry kengkawan, aku tak dapat hadir. apa pun tahniah kepada penganjur :) termasuk aku yang jadi ajk t-shirt ! macam geng tv9 la plak...huhu

sorry is lorry

sorry, no posting lately. set up my bisnes blog. plz have a visit & order !!!

http://icareonline.blogspot.com/

Harga runcit petrol turun hari ini

Harga runcit petrol, turun RM0.15 hari ini. Syukur, alhamdulillah.

What a 4-Year Old Can Teach You About Managing Your Boss

By J.T. O'Donnell, author of "CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career"

I had a revelation last week: My 4-year old daughter is gifted at managing up.

Does she work? No -- but as I see it, right now, I'm the boss and she's an employee in our family firm. And I've noticed that she's become quite adept at getting what she wants from upper management.

Please know, I'm no push-over. I stand my ground on the important issues like "No popsicles for breakfast" and "socks are not optional when it's two degrees outside." But on the fuzzier stuff, I must concede that she's mastered the art of persuasion.

So, it occurred to me that we could all learn from her expertise. Consider these three techniques as performed by my pint-sized employee:

1. Learn how to say "no" disarmingly
When my daughter doesn't want to do something, she stares deeply in my eyes and with an "I'm so sorry to disappoint you" smile and calmly says "No thank you." It throws me off every time.

First, the thank you is so polite, who can criticize that? Second, her body language and facial expressions are soft and non-confrontational. It's hard to respond negatively to someone who is displaying no anger or tension of their own.

Translation: Employees who learn to engage in conflict without confrontation are appreciated for their calm communications skills by management.

2. When you want something, be a sweet but squeaky wheel
Once my daughter has decided she wants something, here's what she does: first, she asks for your time and tells you it's serious. She sits right down and holds your attention with her eyes. Then, she explains in detail what she wants and why it is so important that she have it. She is energetic and passionate in her description.

If she doesn't get it, she asks why. And if she doesn't like the answer, she says no more and walks away.

But that's not the end of it.

Shortly thereafter, she returns, having thoughtfully pondered my denial and ready to further explain additional reasons for me to change my mind, as well as reasons why my own argument doesn't hold water. Additionally, if I say "no" yet again, she solemnly walks away, waits a while, and then comes back again and asks for the same thing in a slightly different way, hoping her willingness to compromise will pay off.

At this point, she watches me intently for signs that I am going to either A) cave in and let her win, or B) start to raise my voice and get angry. If it's the latter, she immediately calls it quits -- for the day.

She knows just how far to rock the boat and has no problem waiting for a better time to try again. She doesn't hold a grudge, she stays happy and upbeat, as if nothing has happened. In her mind, it's a minor setback, as opposed to a crushing loss.

This approach always makes me want to be able to say "yes" to her next request because I'm so impressed that she accepted the "no" without making a scene.

Translation: Employees who patiently promote their cause and can accept an unfavorable decision gracefully are respected and valued by management.

3. Use unexpected recognition as a way to score points
My daughter doesn't butter me up. She doesn't gush with compliments in an effort to get what she wants. But every so often, quite randomly, she will say or do something that makes me feel fabulous.

One day, when I was especially frustrated and feeling overwhelmed by all that I had to do, she looked at me with a compassionate face and simply said, "It must be tough to be a mommy."

Ironically, it's technically not even a compliment. She didn't have to lie and say she thought I was a great mommy. I wouldn't expect her to. I'm the rule enforcer -- who likes that? But, she acknowledged the difficulty of my role and that recognition felt wonderful. So much so, that I canceled an appointment and took her out for ice cream.

Translation: Employees who convey their respect and appreciation for the level of responsibility and efforts of management are seen as good team players.

These are just a few of the ways that my 4-year old manages her boss. Why not try them? With a little practice, you could be managing up with the finesse of a pre-schooler while reaping the rewards bestowed to wise employees.

JT O'Donnell is a nationally syndicated workplace columnist and author of the book "CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career."
Copyright 2008 J.T. O'Donnell. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.

source: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1696-Workplace-Issues-What-a-4-Year-Old-Can-Teach-You-About-Managing-Your-Boss/?sc_extcmp=JS_1696_advice&SiteId=cbmsn41696&catid=WI

Dressing for Success at Work

Company dress codes are a never-ending battle in the working world.

Battle No. 1: Employees misinterpret the dress code or they don't abide by it.
Battle No. 2: Companies have a code in place but don't enforce it.
Battle No. 3: Companies don't have a dress code but they still reprimand employees for wearing certain attire. Or,
Battle No. 4: There's constant objection from certain industries along the lines of, "Why do I have to look nice at work if I don't see anybody?"

For example, if you're a sales employee who meets with clients every day, it makes sense to dress professionally. But for the writer who sits in his cube all day and rarely sees the sun, let alone another person, does it really matter what he's wearing?

If he wants to be promoted, it does. In a new CareerBuilder.com survey, 41 percent of employers said that people who dress better or more professionally tend to be promoted more often than others in their organization.

Where do wardrobes really matter?

According to the survey, dressing professionally is more important in some industries than it is in others. Financial services is one industry that places the most emphasis on professional work attire. Fifty-five percent of workers in this sector say well-dressed employees are more likely to be promoted than others. An additional 51 percent of sales representatives say the same thing about the likelihood of promotions in their industry.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, only 33 percent of manufacturing employers and 37 percent of IT employers say that professional attire influences whether or not an employee gets promoted.

Employer restrictions

Especially in the warmer months of the year, employees take advantage of more relaxed dress codes. But, professionalism shouldn't decrease as temperatures rise. How you dress plays a critical role in how others perceive you at work. Dressing professionally in the office, despite the urge to wear a tank top and shorts, will help you project a motivated image to your boss and co-workers.

To many employers' dismay, traditional dress codes aren't always enough to keep employees from dressing inappropriately. In order to force employees to dress more professionally, some employers are banning certain items of clothing in order to limit the options workers have when it comes to their work wardrobes.

Sixty-four percent of employers surveyed have banned flip flops, while an additional 49 percent have forbidden mini-skirts. Thirty-eight percent banned sleeveless shirts and 28 percent have prohibited jeans. More than one-third (35 percent) of companies have gone as far as to send employees home for unsuitable work garb.

Here are four tips for dressing professionally on the job:

- Stock your closet -- Start with the versatile basics, such as a pair of black pants, a dark pant suit, some button-down collared shirts and a classic pair of dark shoes. Once you have the staples, you can continue to build your wardrobe to give you plenty of professional options.

- Keep it neat and clean -- Make sure your pants, shirts and other clothes are ironed, stain-free and in good condition. When your clothes look sloppy, so do you.

- Steer clear of bar attire -- Don't mistake the office for your local watering hole. Leave the slinky shirts, tight pants and cut off t-shirts at home.

- Look the part -- Have a client presentation or a meeting with the CEO? Dress for the part, making sure you choose appropriate articles of clothing for your role.

Rosemary Haefner is the vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.com. She is an expert in recruitment trends and tactics, job seeker behavior, workplace issues, employee attitudes and HR initiatives.
Copyright 2008 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
Story Filed Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 1:02 PM

Learning To Success From Donald Trump

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American business magnate, television personality, and author. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, a US-based real-estate developer. Trump is also the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates numerous casinos and hotels across the world. Trump's extravagant lifestyle and outspoken manner have made him a celebrity for years, a status which was only amplified by the success of his NBC reality show, The Apprentice (of which he serves as host and executive producer). He is the son of Fred Trump who was a wealthy real estate developer based in New York City.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

Help! I'm Stuck in the Wrong Career

Are you a copywriter trapped in an accountant's body? Or are you a sales manager who longs to be a clinical therapist? Not everyone gets things right coming out of the gate. Our first job tends to be doing something we may or may not have real talent for, in an industry that doesn't really interest us.

From there, you get promoted or change companies, but usually stay with what you're familiar with. Before you know it, you're on a career path you never intended. If you think you're stuck, think again. It's not too late to try something else.

Lawyer to Football Coach
Tim was an associate with a Chicago law firm. His parents were proud and his friends were impressed. But something was missing.

"I wanted to be a lawyer, because I thought it would prove I was a success," Tim admits. "But it just didn't feel natural. I couldn't stand the sedentary nature of the job and I wasn't using my talents as a motivator.

"I began thinking about what excited me... what I naturally gravitated toward," he recalls. "I realized it was football and mentoring young people."

Tim met with his high school football coach who just happened to be looking for an assistant. Tim asked for the job -- and got it.

"People thought I was crazy when I quit the firm," Tim says. "My father -- a plant worker -- was furious at first, because having a lawyer in the family had been his dream as well as mine."

But Tim loved his new life, has had great success and today is the head coach of a Division III college.

Stay at Home Mom to Aesthetician to Doctor
Karen was a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom who had recently gone through a divorce. She had a college degree in biology but hadn't worked in 12 years. She found a job at one of the many med spas opening in Southern California. She began as a receptionist and showed such an aptitude for dealing with customers that the spa's sales grew dramatically.

When the owner complimented her on this, Karen asked if he would help her get an aesthetician's license. He agreed, and within six months, Karen began performing procedures at the spa.

"I loved helping people improve their appearance," Karen recalls. "But after two years of extracting blackheads and performing Brazilian waxes, I needed more of a challenge."

So Karen applied (and was accepted) to medical school. "Money is tight," she admits. "But there are some wonderful government programs out there which I am taking advantage of."

She is set to graduate in June and will begin her residency in dermatology.

Is a Career Change Right For You?
If you're considering switching fields, take the following litmus test to help you decide:

# Are you changing careers for the right reasons? Many people switch careers because they're running away from a problem in their personal life. If that's the case, you're better off asking for a new assignment or getting a new job within your field. Be sure you understand what your desired career entails and that you're truly passionate about it before taking the plunge.


# Do you have the right stuff? You may have the will, but do you have the skill? Gauge your aptitude through volunteering or vocational testing.


# Can you afford to make the switch? Do you have a cushion to get you through the transition? If it involves further schooling, have you checked out the possibility of a grant, scholarship, student loan or educational assistance from your employer?


# Is there a demand for your chosen profession? It's easier to make the change if there's a shortage of workers in the field you wish to enter.


If you answer "yes" to all four questions, embarking on a new career may be the answer. Sure it will take planning, courage, faith and some sacrifice. But with the average worker estimated to put in over 11,000 workdays in his or her lifetime, wouldn't it be great to be doing something you love?

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Copyright 2006 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
Story Filed Monday, September 24, 2007 - 3:50 PM

source: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1458&SiteId=cbmsn41458&sc_extcmp=JS_1458_advice&catid=gc

Are You Burned Out?

Almost anyone who has held a job knows the twinge of dread on Sunday evenings as the countdown to the workweek nears its final hours. Friday afternoon becomes the light at the end of a dark, five-day tunnel.


For most people, this is a momentary feeling that comes along when work is particularly stressful or when it's been too long since a vacation. Unfortunately, that feeling doesn't disappear for many workers. If you can relate, then you might be burned out on your job.

"Most people will experience temporary periods of burnout or imbalance," says Jim Bouchard, author of "Dynamic Components of Personal Power." "Long periods of imbalance can be dangerous to your health, destructive to your relationships and can endanger your job."

How do you know when you've crossed from a rough patch into a burnout?

Burnout creeps up and you don't know until you're in the midst of it, says Dr. Todd Dewett, author of the book "Leadership Redefined."

"It does not happen overnight. It happens in tiny little chunks slowly. This is why it is difficult to read any given instance for what it is, let alone judge where you are in the process of becoming burned out."

If you're not sure whether you're just having a bad day or are experiencing something worse, here are some signs that you're burning out, according to Dewett:


* Your professional relationships don't matter anymore.
If the breakroom chats and hallway conversations with your colleagues went from fun diversions to nonexistent, your heart is obviously not in the job anymore.

* The quality of your work isn't what it used to be.
When you're disillusioned with your job, you're not going to perform to your best abilities. Maybe you don't notice the drop in quality or maybe you do notice but just don't care.

* You're no longer goal-oriented.
When your motivation is getting to the end of the day instead of getting that new job title, something's not right.


Recognizing that you're burned out is a good first step, but it won't mean much unless you take action to change the situation. Talk about it, both to yourself and to other people, Dewett suggests. When you share your newfound realization with the important people in your life, you make a strong commitment to doing something about it, he says.

Here are some other ways to beat burnout:

Spice up your routine. Figure out what new responsibility you are capable and willing to assume and ask that it be given to you. "You may have to apologize and/or show a rejuvenated effort at work in order to get what you are asking for," Dewett warns, "but do it because new variety and stimulation is vital to overcome burnout."

Rediscover your motivation. "Goals work. Be specific and set deadlines," Dewett recommends. Analyze each goal and figure out what skills you will gain, what new experiences you will have and whom you might meet. "Make the goals at least modestly challenging, and feel free to share them with others to increase your commitment," Dewett encourages.

Have a plan. Create a list of skills you need to obtain, people you need to network with, financial items to take care of, and overall steps you need to take to get into a job or business that you are passionate about.

Sometimes you need to remove yourself from the situation if you want to make any progress. If your boss has written you off entirely, if you don't have the resources to improve your skills or you were never a fit for the job, Dewett says there's no way to work from within the system. For example, if you're an accountant whose passion has always been photography and not numbers, you can't make yourself love your current job. So don't be afraid to make the jump to a better career.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Copyright 2008 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
Story Filed Wednesday, July 02, 2008 - 9:59 AM

source : http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=1541&catid=WI

How to Answer: 'Why should I hire you?'

"Why should I hire you?"

This is the classic question most of us hear during an interview. It's often preceded by the phrase, "I've already interviewed another person for this position who looks perfect." Then comes the killer question, "Why should I hire YOU?"

Sometimes the most innocent interview question can prove to be the key to the empire for some, while it can be the swan song for others. The next time an employer asks, "Why should I hire you?" see the question in a new light - as an opportunity to shine and pull ahead of your competitors.

Be careful to avoid clever retorts or comedic one-liners here. Your interview is serious business and a wrong answer will send you packing. This is the one question that interviewers like to ask because the answer can separate the contenders from the also-rans. Give a wrong answer and the large "game over" sign flashes above your head.

What hiring managers really want to know is, "What's special or different about you?" or "How are you different than all the other candidates who have applied for this position?" With this in mind, a good way to approach your answer here is to launch into your best "story" that answers this question: "Will you go the extra mile?"

Why is the employer asking why he or she should hire you? Because there are only five areas of interest he or she is concerned with:


1. Your skills
2. Your knowledge about the company
3. Your manageability
4. Your affordability
5. Whether you can go above and beyond your job description.


In this day of "lean and mean" operations philosophy, employers are looking for employees who can think bigger and perform duties beyond their jobs.

Realize that there will always be competing candidates with a higher skill level, more experience, more education and training or even a smoother interviewing style. The one equalizer though, is the ability to demonstrate how you have risen above and gone that extra mile to accomplish an important task, complete the job or realize an important goal.

Here, you recount that story of exactly how you worked 60-hour weeks, acquired new skills or did whatever it took to distinguish yourself and meet the challenge head on to successfully make the sale, save the project or rescue a client. If you can put a dollar value on the result, your story will only be that much more dramatic.

Knowing this ahead of time, it's wise to put in the time beforehand to work on your answer to this question. Pick your best example of how you went above and beyond in your job. Work on your story to perfect it. Set the scene, describe the challenge and describe your role and the successful conclusion. Use this as an example of how you use your particular set of skills in an extraordinary time to "give it your all" and produce a clear benefit to your employer.

Since no other candidate can duplicate your own personal story here, you'll make a memorable impression. Not only that, but quite possibly you'll pull yourself ahead of that "perfect" candidate who preceded you.


As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked," Turner has been interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at: http://www.jobchangesecrets.com/

By Joe Turner, author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked"

Copyright 2008 Joe Turner All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
Story Filed Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 5:33 PM