From time to time I’ve found myself watching the home improvement and flip this house type of show on TV. They are great shows to stimulate ideas about home improvements you’d love to have in your home. Whether it is that awesome outside entertaining space with water feature, built in grilling kitchen area and surround sound entertainment system and wet bar. Or it could be that incredible kitchen remodel or maybe you’ve always wanted to build your house from scratch.
So when Tane came to me with this infographic and “Story of Houzz” I checked out the “Houzz App” and was blown away. Incredible concept and very user friendly.
And in talking to people after being introduced to it, I found many of my interior design type friends had already discovered it and loved it too.
But beyond that, I also loved the story and it can teach you a lot about starting and running a business. And how when you’re open to it, opportunities often appear out of nowhere. And they can be the start of something incredible. Here’s some highlights of the story.
How the couple met on a bus journey from Bangkok
How a frustration turned into a business idea
How that idea came up while chatting at the kitchen table
So check out this infographic and story provided to me by Tane Clark, Marketing Manager with the home improvement solutions provider HalfPrice.com.au. And if you haven’t gotten the Houzz app and find yourself watching home improvement and real estate shows and thinking, “I’d love that in my house!” get the app and check it out. It is pretty amazing.
The Story of Houzz – Home Design Platform
What started as a simple idea has become one of the biggest websites in the world. From a chat at the kitchen table, a community of over 40 million has been created. Houzz’s strength is in the size of its community and it relies upon people sharing their home design ideas with the world.
One particularly effective use of Houzz is in communicating with interior designers. You may have an idea in your head about how you would like your home to look, but explaining this to a professional can be difficult. You may be unaware of the specific terminology that should be used and might completely miscommunicate your message to a professional. The wonderful thing about Houzz is that it has 12 million pictures and the eyes never lie. You can simply show a professional a photograph of what you want and it will avoid any potential confusion.
Check out this infographic and accompanying guide for more information on the growth of Houzz.
From the outside looking in they often seem cryptic, crazy, or an enigma.
As a candidate you may have been contacted by one. Or they’re working on a job opportunity for you but have gone radio silent. And you wonder if they’ve forgotten you or just haven’t heard back from the client.
In this post I take an article I read – Top 17 Songs Every Recruiter Can Relate to – and analyze each of the 17 “Songs” to give you an extra sense of what you’re dealing with. And for recruiters reading this, you can probably recognize many of these situations. I won’t cover all the 17 but pick out some highlights.
Inside the Secret Lives of Recruiters
#3 – Going directly to the hiring manager behind the back of HR (or the proper recruiting channels).
The best recruiters know that the deal is made with the hiring manager, not HR. HR (or the designed recruiting process) is what is in place to make sure HR is kept in the loop and can make sense of things. It is not for the benefit of the recruiter, or for that matter the candidate.
HR generally has way too many applications to process. But the hiring manager is often not adept and doing effective screenings. So if you’r ea good recruiter you satisfy the HR person and at the same time do what you can to develop a connection with the hiring manager so your candidate moves to the top of the list.
As a job candidate working with a recruiter, having someone who is good at what they do, and is getting in front of hiring managers, can improve your chances from 1 in 50 to 1 in 3 (by eliminating the competition other than the other 2 candidates your recruiter supplied to the hiring manager).
#5 – Sifting through rubbish applications.
Dealing with sucky resumes and job applications. And often the insane follow up expectations that candidates have (twice-a-day follow up is too much). Recruiting is often a volume game. But that volume can at times be overwhelming. And sorting through bad resumes can seem like you’re looking for a needle in a haystack.
This is where a good resume writer can be worth their weight in gold. Get a resume that is well written and you jump from #80 of 200 to #5 or #10. And if you can not annoy the hell out of your recruiter, they’ll do their best to put you at the front of the line.
#7 – Everyone’s replaceable.
Recruiters love it when they find the “perfect match”. But often that perfection is a smokescreen for dysfunctional, unrealistic prima donnas. And if the “perfect one” falls through, they often find another gem.
As a candidate you need to make sure you don’t oversell yourself. If you’re remaining in the same industry and working with the same people you have in the past. And assuming you did an awesome job. You will likely be able to find yourself at the top of the candidate list. And if the numbers work, you’re often in.
But what if you’re looking in a new industry? Or looking to work for someone who doesn’t know you or your great reputation? Well like someone selling their house, you view yourself higher than someone with no experience with you would. For them you’re a scary unknown, not a must have hire. So recognize that when you’re making your pitch.
#9 – The Pile of new requisitions to work.
This can be perfect timing for the candidate. You’re in demand. More opportunities than people to fill them. But be careful with this situation too. The mass hire to fill the team for a new project often means they hire many undesirables…people who are unemployed for a reason. Basically they were let go from other companies due to incompetence or drama.
So before you say yes to an opportunity that was way too easy to land, know it just might be that way for a reason. So that is the time to evaluate it a second time.
Bonus Secret
So given the insights already mentioned, what’s one thing I can do to boost my chances (assuming I have a solid resume and there’s an available position the recruiter would be placing me in)?
Recognize that recruiters are people too (check out the rest of the “Songs” to get a sense of what they deal with on a daily basis. It may give you a new perspective and allow you to connect with recruiters better and develop a good rapport. And by doing that the recruiter will often work harder on your behalf than they would if you were a pain in their butt.
To say I’m proud of my sister is an understatement.
Although she’s five years younger than me her drive and pursuit of excellence has always inspired me.
I’ve seen her competitive spirit as she played competitive sports (whether knocking bigger girls around in select and high school soccer, or breaking through women’s barriers by taking on tougher competition playing as a girl on a boy’s basketball team, or taking over the coaching duties when she led a mutiny against an abusive coach). You name it. If the team needed her, she was there. Or when he was valedictorian in her high school graduation class or getting her chemistry degree and then becoming a patent attorney. Annie always drove to be the best. Annie outlines some of that (along with some bumps along the way) in her inagural episode of her unraveling pink podcast.
In this episode Annie and Joanna explore some of the differences between men and women in the workplace. And how both sides can better their communication and get better results from their interactions. Something that all businesses could learn from.
Here’s the 2nd’ podcast. Joanna Bloor and the Blue Bandana. Check it out. Here’s some things I learned that you can apply to your situation.
Why Are You Awesome?
My first takeaway was something that Joanna said about one of the first questions she asks out of the gate in an executive coaching session, “Why are you awesome?” Or “What do you want to be known for?” A key to personal branding.
Men and women often view this differently.
This question is tied to two separate questions Joanna asks.
The first is about the company the person works for,
“What does your company do and why is it important?”
Men and women execs both seem to get this one (yes, their marketing departments have done their job). But it is the next one where you get radically different responses.
That question is,
“What do you do and why is it important?”
Men typically do fine (just don’t say, “I’m strategic” or Joanna will pounce on that – too generic). They have a vision for themselves and often how that ties in to their role in the company and creating a compelling future for themselves and their company.
Women on the other hand often struggle with this question. They typically respond with how they “Get shit done.” Or that they “Connect with people.” Well as Joanna says, that’s “table stakes”. That’s the thing that is a job requirement. Not something that will help you get ahead. Whether that is a promotion or a new job elsewhere, you need a compelling vision for yourself and understand how that creates a better future for the company. Without that you’re just a hard worker and the go-to person (who in reality is often used and forced into remaining in that go-to role, because the company can’t afford to lose you – and they also won’t allow you to progress in your career).
So getting a handle on your personal value., your personal brand is critical. That’s something I come across with the resume rewrites I do for my clients who are heading in a new direction in their career. Often the resume is the end product of an intense conversation about their strengths, weaknesses, interests, frustrations, and vision (yes vision) for themselves and their future.
Getting a handle on this is key for you and your career.
This is the second part of the equation. If you know what sets you apart from the competition (as your personal brand), then next step is to communicate it.
Men typically come from the perspective of, “I should already know how to do this.” And often that results in them often trying to go it alone or not ask enough questions, thinking it makes them look weak. That is a key reason men often hide using a professional coach from others (especially their own company management). We’re taught as men that admitting you don’t know something is a sign of weakness. However if we can’t do it as leaders then how can we expect others to do it? They’ll take our lead by not asking questions and opportunities to improve the organization go by the wayside. A vicious cycle.
For the women, according to Joanna, it is more about society teaching women that self-promotion is “bragging” and that is bad. Or that they shouldn’t push that hard.
Joanna brings up a key “pink bandana moment” that shaped her world view when she left England and came to America and went to high school at 15 in a Texas, a “Friday Night Lights” -style high school.
“You know, you should be careful about how many times you put your hand up. Because you don’t want to come across as too smart. Or the boys won’t ask you out on a date.”
WTF?
Yes, things we’re still screwed up in those days. Thankfully women have largely pushed past that and are now going to college in numbers greater than even men and have more women role models to look up to and guide them.
So how do women get the message out without coming across as bragging or bitchy? But as assertive, confident and awesome?
That’s an area I probably don’t have all the answers for but Joanna gives some clues further in the conversation. Here are a few…
Take the initiative: Often men are just as insecure about effective communication with women as women are about men.
Get to know people: Develop those relationships. With solid relationship you can be open, honest, and share your successes without coming across as bragging – just let it come out in normal conversation.
Own your stuff: Be accountable. We’re not always right or perfect. Accepting that and moving on anyway is part of the puzzle.
Develop a foundation of mutual respect, trust and accountability: This is huge. If you have these things much can be accomplished.
Annie’s listener challenge: What they can you do, that’s not very hard, that will help create a conversation around gender-based assumptions or help reduce gender-based assumptions?
Empathy is where it starts.
And empathy requires having a conversation first. Find out what they’re outside passions are. You can ask questions such as, “What are you into outside of work?” If you don’t know anything about it follow up with, “Can we have lunch? I’d love to learn more about [whatever it is]?”
A special bonus concept (that will help you at work and with your significant other)
Joanna commented,
Women are more spacial and non-linear thinkers frequently. And they talk things out. Men are very, generally linear thinkers – think something then say stuff.
One of her clients commented in a group session,
Hey, have you noticed how Joanna does that? She thinks and talks at the same time. And if you just let her go, by the end of it she’ll come out with something brilliant. So just shut up and in a minute she’ll get there.
When in a meeting with men, she’ll say, “I’m really sorry. I think and talk at the same time. And it’s my way of processing things.” He said, “Oh, my God. My wife does that.”
So guys, if you find the woman in your life talking as she’s thinking, and it seems like it is going all over the board, recognize it could just be the way she’s processing things.
And shut up and listen for the cool, brilliant result. Yes, you could learn something.
To learn more about Annie Rogaski, a thought leader in unraveling gender-based assumptions – so businesses can run better and achieve more by leveraging the talents of all their employees (both men and women), go see her blog “unravelingpink.com”
And if you find yourself at a career crossroads and need to talk it through (whether you need a resume rewrite or just some direction on the next step in your career/life path), contact me.
You’re told you should make them. To better yourself in the coming year.
And so you start of the year with great expectations. And delusions of grandeur. And within a month it all turns to shit.
Why?
Because it doesn’t take into account basic human nature and the lack of self control that is in inherent in all of us.
So what’s the solution?
Before we jump into that lets look at the reasons why if making your New Year’s Resolutions the same way everyone else does, you’re destined for failure.
Why We Fail
Motivation Wanes – The Fallacy of Willpower
You know it. You have this great plan to start working out three times a week before work. Then the alarm goes off. And you think about getting out of bed and heading to the gym. But your bed is warm and it’s so cold outside. And you’re so freaking tired. “Just 10 more minutes then I’ll get up,” you tell yourself. And you go back to sleep. And tell yourself you’ll do it tomorrow.
Life Happens – Interruption City
Or you plan on doing your workout after work as soon as you get home. Go for a run.
But work ran late. And you’re starving. So you say, “I’ll just grab a bite to eat then head out the door for my run.” But then you’re full after dinner. And you need to wait a half hour or so to digest your food. So you turn on the TV. And pretty soon it is too late (don’t want to have your workout keep you wired so you can’t fall asleep). So you don’t go. And tell yourself you’ll do it tomorrow.
Existing Habits Are Like Railroad Tracks
You’ve not worked out in years. But this is the year to start. And you power through it. You start developing your new routine. But you find yourself falling back into the old one. It’s just so easy to backslide and so hard to stay focused and doing the new habits.
It is amazing how much people think they can just will themselves into it. You really are creating a completely new lifestyle (or at least that is how your mind and body are viewing it). And so there is such a strong force pulling you back to what is “comfortable”.
You see it all the time when an athlete is trying to make a change. Like Tiger Woods when he was trying to revamp his swing so he wouldn’t have as many back problems. The new swing was uncomfortable. It didn’t feel right. And that is exactly how a new habit is supposed to feel. It should feel weird. Not you. Strange. But if it didn’t it would lead to doing things the way they’ve always been done. Because that is familiar. And comfortable. An normal. And ultimately not beneficial. So you backslide. And tell yourself you’ll do it tomorrow.
Lack of Flexibility – When Fixed Goals Become Irrelevant
Then there is the goal you set at the start of the year. And after a few months your life changes or the circumstances what mattered when you set the goal are no longer relevant. And so you have a now ineffective or useless goal that gives you a reason to stop.
Instead of choosing a new goal or focusing on your other goals that are still relevant, you bail.
So understanding the reasons we fail is part of the puzzle. Now lets look at the building blocks that are necessary to create a program that will help us succeed despite those human frailties.
7 Keys to Successful Changes (or Goal Acquisition)
In classic goal setting the idea was you would exert the power of your will over your decisions and actions. Those who succeeded were the ones who had the strongest will.
But that doesn’t work for 99% of us. We’re not robots who can be programmed to succeed, ignoring emotions, normal human psychology, and weakness (yes that fudge brownie sitting on the counter calling your name won’t move itself out of your sight).
And so setting New Years Resolutions or worthy goals often becomes an exercise in futility.
But why is that and how can we overcome our weaknesses?
Kevin Hogan’s article addresses that issue. Basically he breaks things down into “Self-Regulation Units” or “SRU’s”. The idea is when you start your day you have the ability to use your willpower. But as you get tired, hungry, and have to overcome adversity throughout your day (aka make difficult choices or decisions), your ability to use your willpower diminishes.
Ultimately to the point where you can no longer use it. And that is where you end up giving into temptation. Or not taking the actions that are required to achieve your goal.
For instance imagine you’ve had a rough day at the office or you’ve been at home with the kids all day and they’re driving you nuts. So at 7 PM at night when things start winding down, do you really think you’ll be able to muster the energy and convince yourself to not grab that beer or large plate of comfort food and get your workout in? Or jump into that challenging project you need to knock out?
No. It won’t likely happen.
That is why Kevin recommends tackling your most critical goal-achieving tasks first thing in the morning. Often that means waking up 2-3 hours earlier than normal (or at least an hour if you’re going to get a workout in). That way you can tackle those most impactful tasks while you’re still fresh and have few interruptions or temptations.
Knocking out several hours of high value work at the start of your day will both reinforce an awesome success habit, and it will also do more to move you rapidly towards your goals than anything else.
Not a morning person? It can still be done but may require a few more of these steps to overcome those derailing influences that will inevitably be coming your way.
Using your environment (or the power of the Man Cave)…➔
