How's your online tapestry?

I'm always thinking about my next job and what I have to do and showcase now for that next employer because you never know when that time is going to come...  The online footprint in now generally accepted as a way to dig up dirt on any candidate whereas only a few years ago it was fairly controversial as to whether that info was fair game for an employer to use.  So the first step in this preparation effort is to make sure that LinkedIn, FB, Twitter, and Pinterest are all tightened up.  Does this post add to my profile to a would be employer or does it detract?

I hope that this online tapestry adds up to something positive.  But as we know, HOPE is not a strategy.  I've always kept an eye out for a way to streamline 'all of me' instead of leaving it all up to chance and Google.

I found a great new way to provide unique depth to my profile and I control who I share it with.  It is not public and cannot be trolled or viewed by anyone like recruiters on LinkedIn.

MyCred is a great new tool that helps me to streamline all of me and distribute on my terms, no more leaving it up to chance.  It's an online portfolio that allows you to store and control all of your work and personal history along with interests and pretty much anything else you can think of that would be of interest to a prospective employer or college admissions board.  I've got all my social media links in there so there is no need to dig around to complete the picture of who I am.  Add pics, links & video, it is comprehensive and very cool.  I got lost in loading all the links of my road race finishes over the year.  I had forgotten how much I've really done.  MyCred acts as a great personal archive too.

I have MyCred portfolios for my kids already as a place to hold all of the stuff that I'm going to forget about as time rolls on.  Early grades and accomplishments that begin to paint the picture of who they are populate the portfolio but it also houses goals and development opportunities for themselves and anyone else they choose to share this or any part of this info with.  It's powerful and easy.

It's worth looking into.  https://medcred.com/

Here's mine

Represent yourself well and on your terms.
I wish more candidates applied to my jobs with this type of depth.

And we're back...

We leave the U.S. and the markets crash.  We arrive in the U.K. and London burns.  Good thing nothing crazy happened when we were in Paris, that city is absolutely perfect the way it is!

Things are expensive over there and the exchange rate doesn't help but the opportunity to experience some of Europe with our kids was worth every over priced British Pound and Euro.  Exposing them to a world outside of what we live every day and helping them to understand and experience that it is a big world out there, is truly a priceless experience.  They probably won't remember too many trip details down the road, the recall will begin to take shape around the pictures and video.  But who knows what the long term impact will be?  We will continue to provide experiences to challenge and expand their developing minds to recognize the amazing possibilities and opportunities they have before them.

Enough of that!  We had a blast and by following some of my own saving/spending rules, it was not a budget busting experience.  Whoa!

These kids hardly know who the Beatles are but they got the full-on Abbey Road experience!

Time to start planning the next trip...  where should we head next??
Brian

3 Interview topics for work and home

Recently, I've been spending a lot of time consulting (as you may have noticed from my sporadic blog activity-- bad form, I know).  The company is hiring a few people and I'm leading the interview processes.  I've tightened up the job descriptions (based on the general goals and specific expectations for the position), written compelling (hopefully) job posts and outlined the phone and face-to-face interviews.  Ready to roll!

Going through this exercise got me thinking about my role at home...

Are my skills good enough to actually get this job at home if I had to apply for it?!

I ask candidates questions that lead to insights about skills and experiences that are likely to transfer into success in the key competency areas of the job.  Drive and the pursuit of continuous improvement are basic expectations at work.  Do I have that at home?  Probably not as much as I should.  Sometimes I need to remind myself that my "work family" isn't the real one and the real one should get my best effort.  Always.

Here are a few core competencies and questions that seem to apply for the job at home AND work:

Planning:  "How/When do you plan your day and your week?  How/When do you set your goals for yourself?"
Organization: "How do you keep yourself organized.  Tell me about a recent project you organized and what you might do differently next time.  How did you prioritize the steps of the project?"

My personal favorites: Self-Awareness, Improvement:
-  "When was the last time you asked for feedback?  What did you learn about yourself?  What action steps did you take to improve?"
-  What is the one area you feel you could improve upon that would make the greatest impact on those around you?  What have you done in the last 30 days to develop in that area?

Based on your answers, would you give you the job?

Leader Learning

Every Sunday I get a nice measured dose of leadership sandwiched between coffee and coupons.  An interview with one interesting leader can be found each week on page 2 of the New York Times business section, "The Corner Office" (July 10: Plants & People parallels: Weed, Water, Nurture) by Adam Bryant duputy national editor of the New York Times.

The topics are interesting and insightful from leader backgrounds to interview questions, employee motivators to current management challenges.  If you're interested in improving any leading or managing that you do...  this is a great way to do it.  

Today's interview was about how early childhood work ethic influenced professional success.  I had my son (10) read it and we talked about it.  This is just one of the many examples of how this series has impacted my efforts leading at home.

It's a quick, quality read and with kids running around on a Sundy morning, that's a must!

Here is just a sample, the month of May, of the headlines that drill down into great learning and useable leadership fodder for work and home:

May 29, 2011

Liz Elting, TransPerfect

---

A Work Ethic Shaped at an Early Age

May 22, 2011

DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU

Barry Salzberg

The Right Job? It’s Much Like the Right Spouse

May 15, 2011

INWOOD HOUSE

Linda Lausell Bryant

Note to Staff: We're a Team, Not a Family

May 8, 2011

ARUBA NETWORKS

Dominic Orr

Yes, Everyone Can Be Stupid for a Minute

    

A great learning tool.  Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing these valuable insights Adam! (@nytcorneroffice)

Guest Post on OurMomSpot

My guest post on OurMomSpot: 

Read about what it's like to be a Stay at Home Dad!
#Parents #Marriage @DailySaving 


http://t.co/dLHLZVb via @OurMomSpot


Thanks for all the support!
Brian

Grocer plays on pump pressure. 3 flags.

"Spend $15 on things you don't usually buy and 
probably won't use and save $1 on $40 of gas!"

-the fine, fine print

We know that sellers go to great lengths to contact and manipulate buyers.  The goal being to have us buy, buy again and buy more still, certainly more than your frugal self budgeted.  We have seen an explosion in rewards programs, CareCards, store specific bucks, loyalty programs, etc.  Does your keychain look like you're on the janitorial staff at the high school?  Those are, in part, intended to have us feel like we are special, part of the group, and as a result, getting a good deal from our pals, uhm, sellers.  When you stop to think about it, they all subtly play on some very basic human needs we all have, recognition, acceptance, and being part of something.  Fine.

Hey, have you seen the price of gas lately!?  Looks like $5 per gallon this summer.  WHAT?!  That's crazy!! "but wait", says my local grocer, "allow me to play on your fear and anger.  I will comfort you with a deal, friend."  Game on.

I've seen a few fringe "gas rewards" programs but the full-court press is on as gas prices continue to climb.  As with any advertised sale or deal, you've got to break it down into little pieces to get to the bottom line and determine if it's a good deal for you.  Here are a few things to consider before you buy that $2 box of fruit gushers to save 30 cents on gas.

1.  First PLAN to buy what you NEED based on the PRICE of that item alone.  Don't consider buying dog biscuits to get 100 points that will turn into 25 cents next week if you make it to the only Shell station across town, when you don't even have a dog.  Really, only if the program fits YOU, not the other way around, proceed...

2.  RUN THE NUMBERS:  Let's say you do plan to buy what you need at the price you want it at and you manage to get 200 points, whoa!  How much gas do you need and what's the total savings?  Scratch it out on paper and decide for yourself if it's worth it.

3.  APPROVED GAS STATIONS: Make sure you know where you can use the gas points and that it is convenient enough for you to actually use.  We'd hate to see you do all this work and then not even use your points!

Good luck!
What has your gas rewards experience been?

Suze's grade is in...

How did we do with our "How Am I Doing?" Segment ?

Our segment aired Saturday night (4/30/11) on The Suze Orman Show on CNBC.  Suze went over the details of our situation and handed out her grade:

Time for Suze to rock some feedback for DailySaving!

I love to get and give feedback.  I've come to realize I need it.  It's how we get better and help others to do the same.  My career as a coach, manager, and director has conditioned me to think, "How are we doing and how can we do better?"  When I was working full-time, that type of communication was free flowing.  Being home now, my kids are not really into the notion of performance planning and formal performance reviews!  Imagine that.  Although those things do take place in different forms at home, there is a significant feedback void for me, especially in my new areas of responsibility.  


I am no longer accountable for a sales team of 100 sales reps and 10 managers, now one of my top priorities is family finance.  I always balanced the checkbook, paid the bills, etc., but I have taken a much deeper dive into the books now that I have more time to do it.  One of the frustrating things for me has been, "How am I really doing??"  I talk often about defining your own reality and Suze Orman has recently been talking about "Standing in your Truth", both the first step to making real improvements to your current situation.


One of the ways I put myself to the test, to see how I'm really doing, was getting in touch with the aforementioned Suz and opening the family books to her.  They thought my story was compelling enough for a spot on her show!  I put the numbers together for her and taped the segment a few weeks ago.  It is airing this weekend on CNBC!!!

Brian:

Your "How am I Doing" segment will be on this Saturday, 4/30/11. The Suze Orman Show airs on CNBC at 9:00pm eastern and repeats again at 12:00 midnight.

Thank you again for participating on the show.

Producer
Suze Orman Show/CNBC


My need for feedback (I'm sure there's plenty of deep-seated insecurity in there too!) to improve drove me to find some new ways to get it and now it's out there for everyone to see...  Oh my.  Wish me luck!!!  And if you get a chance tune in, let me know what you think!  (you know I love feedback...)

4-30-11 RESULTS

How else do you measure your own performance (family, financial, etc.) when there is not a formal feedback mechanism in place?

Listen. Your favorite topic is YOU.

Listening is underrated.  It is too often overlooked and not worked on like many other skills.  How many times have you heard, or even said, "you have two ears and one mouth for a reason", "listen more, speak less", "be a good listener, your ears will never get you in trouble",

Do you know your number? Go Micro.

Recent economic challenges have forced many people to take a closer look at their finances and that, of course, is a good thing.  The practical matters of spending less than you earn, saving, and budgeting have become familiar practices for more people than ever before.  I hope it sticks (we can be a fickle bunch, can't we?) but that's another topic for another day.

The Excellence lesson from Lombardi

The Super Bowl is this weekend and how can you think of the Green Bay Packers without thinking of Coach Lombardi?  He has become an icon for excellence that transcends sports.  We often see quotes and pictures of the legendary coach around people and things associated with success.

The staying power of the hand written note.

What are the things that have had the most impact on you over the years?  Little things do mean a lot and a hand written note, on the surface, is a little thing.  It is widely recognized as a good practice in business.  I've found that it works at home too.

Leadership Philosophy (home/work): Expectations & Feedback

I built my career on helping my sales reps and managers focus on clear goals, listen to the challenges they were facing, ask good questions to stimulate thought (available resources) and creativity (new ideas/resources), and provide the coaching support to help them achieve their goals.  This is my passion and what I have done successfully for 20 years.

My management philosophy (past work and now home) boils down to goal clarity, excellent communication, and continuous improvement (a culture of not being too satisfied and that it's ok to make mistakes).  You've got to know where you're going and make sure that all behaviors are aligned to help you get there.  Ok, those are a few management buzzwords and I know I got a few Dilbert-like comments during meetings when I used them, so I adopted a basic phrase that I beat like a drum.  It stuck and it always seemed to apply to help directors lead, and my managers coach more effectively.  It even applied to my Dad in his transition.  I also realized that I use it, unconsciously, with my kids.

EXPECTATIONS & FEEDBACK.

We know that much employee frustration (family too when you think about it) comes from the fact that they truly don't know what's expected of them.  Goals and objectives need to be clear and confirmation of understanding needs to be established,  which is often taken for granted.  I ask my kids to, "repeat back to me what you just heard me say", sounds basic but a lot of communication is lost in translation somewhere and is therefore ineffective.  Don't assume.  Make sure the EXPECTATION is clear.  Allow for discussion and input to make sure that it is realistic and attainable but in the end it must be clear, well established and agreed to.

That's the easy part.  Feedback is fun and easy when it's good but when behavior falls off course and isn't where it should be...  we need to have the courage to have an uncomfortable conversation to provide quality feedback.  Feedback that is objective, honest, fact-based, clear, concise, and definitely not emotionally charged.  What makes this Step #2 MUCH easier is if you have done Step #1 correctly.  If the expectations are clear and agreed upon, you can guide the other person to discuss how their own objective behavior is is falling short of expectations that you have discussed together in detail.  It can be a conversation that you initiate and guide that leads to another discussion about how to correct, or improve that behavior in the future.  The tone of the discussion is not accusatory, "you failed", but one of isolating specific behaviors and finding ways to do it better next time.  Creating an environment of trust and collaboration is a key ingredient to success.

I applied it at work, I use it at home (could still do it more consistently), and this student just got to use it with the teacher.  I love this stuff!

Decision Making: Don't leave it up to the waiter.

We were out to dinner last night and my wife couldn't decide between two interesting fish and chicken dishes.  She asked the waiter to help make her decision, "Which is better?" she asked.

Pay it forward. It helps keep the budget in line.

I'm on a new kick.  Laundering money.  At least it feels that way...

We all know that a cardinal rule of personal finance is, "Don't spend money you don't have."  Easier said than done, right?  I have a Upromise MC.  We're trying to stuff a few extra bucks into the 529's we have set up for the kids #CollegeNextYear!  Upromise gives 1-5% cash back on all purchases made with the card.  It's not a ton of money but we might as well get something for spending.

One of the features I like most about this cc, unlike other cards is that I can transfer more money to the card than my current balance (up to $500, same with AMEX).  I love it!  It's a great budgeting tool.  I can better plan out and pay for the coming week of spending with $$ I HAVE.  Remember the days before the now ubiquitous online account management/billing/payment functions?  Get that cc bill and hold your breath opening it to see what the damage was for the month?  That was like driving a car on the highway blindfolded! (Many of our younger friends never felt that pain #ShockAndAwe)

Don't fall for the lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig.

Today I broke one of my own cardinal rules.  In fairness to me (excuse alert!), I was out of my routine.

Help someone get an early start. They will be benefit greatly.

I've spent much of my time at home trying to figure out if I should be worried.  Another chapter in my personal "define your reality" series...  What I have learned is that I put a tremendous asset on my side: time.

A Financial iPOD for all ages

I want my kids to grow up with a firm handle on personal financial responsibility, embedded in their little brains tomorrow as deeply and comfortably as the things they do so effortlessly today.  Technology

The other Family Planning

I usually spend Sunday night and Monday morning planning out my week, making sure every day is as efficient and productive as possible.  Some weeks are better than others but things have been rolling along pretty well as I cross the one year milestone of running the family business...  The kids seem to be doing fine, my wife is thriving at work, not worrying too much about me burning down the house, or allowing the kids to do so.  It looks like I'm doing ok on the day-to-day requirements but then I started thinking about the big picture...  Are we on track?  On track to what?

They bet you will make a mistake. They're usually right.

I was blazing though my food shopping route today, working the plan that I had put together on Sunday.  I had my sale items listed by store with the coupons organized in their respective store envelope.  Every shopping trip is a game to me, who will get the better of this transaction, Them or Me?