Networking is Key to Propel You Toward Career Success
Did you go through the goal setting exercise outlined in the August '05 Dose of Reality™? [see the end of this article for subscription information and back issues] If you did, fabulous! With your goals written down, you’re lightyears ahead of your peers. Get a load of this: A study was conducted a few years ago of graduates from a business school. Only three percent of grads had clearly articulated and written goals...but those grads earned ten times more than the 83% who had no goals at all. Even those grads who had some sense of their goals, but had not written them down, earned three times as much as those who hadn’t given goals a second thought. How’s that for motivation to get this exercise done?Now that your goals are written down, do you think you can accomplish them all by yourself? Stop right there if you think you can. You may have impressive work experience and education, but ‘what you know’ has less to do with your future career success than ‘who you know.’ Start right now on creating an impressive network of contacts in your chosen field of work and you’ll find yourself propelled toward your goals faster than you imagined possible.Whether you’re still in school, or looking for your first job, or already in a job, a network of contacts in your chosen field is invaluable. But don’t run out trying to meet as may people as you can…you need to get yourself prepared first. Get a three-ring binder with forms you’ve created for tracking all the important information you’ll keep about each person you meet. It will be invaluable to you for decades to come. Next, practice name/face memorization tricks if you’re not proficient in this very important networking skill. And if you’re not already up-to-date on information in your field(s) of interest, go to the library or get online and read all the latest magazines and journals so you will have at least a basic understanding of what’s happening in your field. That way you won’t be caught off-guard if asked for an opinion on a hot topic.Where to Start?Begin with your school’s alumni association, job fairs, and on-campus recruiting events. If you’re already working full-time, start right there at your office—in your department as well as others. Join a professional association and become an active participant. Don’t just read their newsletter or sit quietly in the back of their meetings—that won’t get you anywhere.More places to find people i

8 Ways to Avoid Litigation When You Sell a Business
Based on recent litigation storm clouds, business owners planning exit strategies better batten down their legal hatches.As a small business owner, your company most likely represents a significant portion of your net worth. That’s why it’s crucial not to let litigation wash it away when the time comes to convert your years of hard work into cash.Selling a business involves substantial amounts of money and a wide range of issues including warranties and representations, disclosures and contractual obligations. Consequently, there are many opportunities for litigation to arise. Not only is litigation highly unpleasant and disruptive to your lifestyle, it is also very, very expensive - even if you win.But other than wishing, hoping and praying, what’s a small business owner to do? Rather than complaining try something more constructive. Here are eight strategies to follow when selling your business that can help minimize litigation issues.1. Honesty is the best insurance policy. Tell the truth about your business. Do not attempt to hide any problems or issues that, if left undisclosed, might be the basis for future litigation. Rest assured that the cost of disclosure in a transaction is very small when compared to the cost of litigation for non-disclosure.2. Develop a confidential business review. This is a high-quality and comprehensive document that describes your business and its background. Within this document, clearly disclose any negative issues that are involved in the business. Not only will disclosure reduce litigation risks, it will also add to your credibility with potential buyers and save you time by eliminating those who are unwilling to accept the realities of your business.3. Accurately communicate historical financial results. Do so in a manner that demonstrates the earning power of your business. Ideally, this information will be presented in a summarized format that recasts your discretionary and certain other expenses to show EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization).4. Require your buyer to go through extensive due diligence. Due diligence is the process by which a buyer conducts an independent investigation of the information you have provided about your business. The written due diligence materials should be incorporated into the final legal documents to minimize your litigation risks.5.

Why Hire an Advertising/Marketing Consultant?
As a business owner, you have the option of taking several different approaches to handling your Marketing and Advertising. You may choose to handle the responsibility yourself, with the idea that no one understands your business quite the way you do.. You may also consider hiring a full time marketing manager or even assigning the tasks, as they arise, to someone already working within your organization. Consider this… When your business needs plumbing work do you do it yourself? Hire a plumber to be on staff full time? Or ask your accountant to handle it?Call in the Experts.Though some advertising and marketing ventures seems simple enough to be handled ‘’in house’’, nothing is as costly as a marketing misfire. Not only may you be sending out the wrong messages, to the wrong markets, but also by the time you catch it, your budget may be in no shape to recover and redirect. The truth is, no one can do the job as effectively and efficiently as someone who lives and breathes the industry everyday. Plus, the added perk of consistent media contacts that will prove to be financially beneficial to your business.Seeing the forest and the trees. When you hire a consultant you hire an objective opinion, as well as a fresh point of view. Sometimes a business may lose perspective on itself by being too heavily immersed in the day-to-day operations, and lose itself in the big picture, missing the small details… or vice-versa. Sadly, sometimes a business’s marketing will clearly reflect this. The president of a private jet company’s focus is on the bells and whistles of his fleet. It’s what he sees as important in his view of his business. Inevitably, his marketing may also focus on this portion of his business, ignoring what he is really selling to his potential clients: The feeling and the status of private jets.If you add another ball, technically it is juggling.If you, as a business owner, or an employee take on the added tasks of the marketing of the business, attention is being taken from other projects and responsibilities. Inescapably, focus and demands are bound to pull from one and take away from others until something falls to the floor. Consultants are dedicated to one, and only one, portion of your business. Their focus is committed, and they allow you to keep yours where it should be.The Gumby Factor.Consultants are very flexible. Immediately ready and available to take

Create Your Own Self-Brand For More Success
When I originally published this article, there was a picture next to it of three well-known name brand products. There was Tide laundry Heinz ketchup, and Pepsi cola. Even though the pictures of the ketchup and cola bottles were small, you could still easily determine their brands from the colors of the packaging and the shapes of the bottles.The managers who manage those brands at their respective companies have worked very hard over many years to make certain that you (in the U.S. and certain parts of the world) recognize these brands and, hopefully, purchase them. Even though they appear as tiny little pictures on your screen, it’s likely that you were able to identify them very quickly because their managers have focused on getting their images into your mind for years.Companies brand products all the time. So why not brand people?In fact, famous people become brands: actors, professional athletes, and others define themselves using branding techniques, and then market their brand for success.The fact is, if you don’t brand yourself, someone else will, and it probably won’t be the brand you want for yourself.I’ve been studying personal branding for business for a while and I’m putting together a series of talks and a coaching program based on this topic.Branding yourself is for executives, entrepreneurs, and those who aspire to be either. It will help you re-think where you have been, where you want to be, who you really are, how that fits into the marketplace, and how to market yourself for the rest of your career.Branding yourself helps you think of more (and better) possibilities for yourself in your career or business, while remaining true to who you really are. This is not about creating a “fake you.” It’s about digging deeper to find more business possibilities that ring true to your authenticity.This self-branding thing can get really involved: there are a lot of steps to discovering, creating, and marketing yourself as a brand successfully. To help you out, I've created a "Brand Yourself! Coaching Program". It is a self-paced coaching program you can purchase directly from Borgeson Consulting. I'm very excited about this program! Since it is self-paced, it is very affordable - less expensive than traditional coaching by telephone, and you complete it at your own pace.The

Secrets to Securing an Overseas Teaching Position
In less than a day you can take advantage of the staggering overseas teaching opportunities.This is the single most important letter you’ll ever read…Here’s Why:Now for the first time ever you’ll be able to navigate the vast overseas teaching market with ease.I hope this e-course will fulfill your teaching dreams!I will be short and get to the point.So let’s take a sneak preview of some of the short and easy tips you can look forward to receiving.Today’s Tip“How to find and choose the right school for you?”Every English language school swears they are the best. Every school site you visit online has one main purpose: to recruit a foreign teacher at low cost.Most English language schools promise high salaries and flexible work schedules. However, the reality is that everything is subject to chance once you arrive at the school.So, how do you find and choose the right school?Here’re some pointers to note if you’ve not built your own list:1. Write down all the reasons why you want to teach overseas. 2. Make a list of all the countries you would like to visit. 3. Identify how teacher relates to your career, short-term and long-term goals. 4. Determine what is most important: salary, flexibility, experience or career building. 5. Make a list of the top 5 to 10 schools you are considering lending your expertise. 6. Make a list of the pros and cons of each school you have selected. 7. Apply to a select few and tell them exactly why you have chosen them from a vast crowd. 8. Now that you have made a good decision, your next step is negotiation.That’s the end for today’s great tip…

London's Business Travelers: Choose A Bed That's Close To Your Arrival And Departure Gates
As an international centre of business, the City of London hosts countless business events and conventions at any given time of the year. Moreover, many UK and worldwide business’ headquarters are based in London, prompting routine and special business meetings to take place in the city. Consequently, the city of London is well practiced at catering to the business industry and providing its fleeting business commuters with the best accommodation and business facilities available.Certainly, one thing that London's business travellers will never have trouble finding is suitable accommodation. And whilst hotels which cater specifically to business travellers can be found all across the city, an increasing number of these travellers are choosing to stay in London's various airport hotels - and with good reason, as there are various benefits to staying in an airport hotel while on your business trip to London.For instance, on arriving in London, you won’t have to endure another leg of your journey in an effort to wade through the hectic London traffic to reach your hotel. Moreover, airport hotels usually have shuttle services from the airport, so you and your luggage can be comfortably and conveniently transported to your accommodation. And on departing from London, you won’t have to withstand any rush to make your flight, because you’ll be right around the corner from the airport. In addition, because so many business travellers already stay in airport hotels, they are particularly well equipped to cater to both business individuals and parties. For example, conference rooms and a frequent shuttle service to the city's business districts are usually offered. However, London's airport hotels are also fully equipped with parking and car hire contacts - so you can choose to rent a car and commute to the city centre instead.If you frequently travel to London on business, why not consider staying in one of the numerous airport hotels in London? Whether you’re flying into Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead or Luton, there’s always an airport hotel that’s ready to offer you a comfortable and convenient stay. Moreover, airport hotels are known to be less expensive than city centre hotels, and they often have additional specials or packages on offer - so your business trip won't break the bank.So, why not consider staying in one of London's airport h