Needle, Meet Haystack

As lame as he might seem compared to the rest of the Justice League (even Batman, who doesn’t have any powers), Aquaman still has some pretty kick-ass abilities – he can talk to fish, swim (and presumably “swim” in space) with amazing speed and agility, and he’s really strong.  And since 70% of the world is covered in water, as the King of Atlantis (oh yeah, Aquaman is a king too) he rules most of the planet.  So really, all the air-breathers should be giving him a lot more respect.

But Aquaman and his powers aren’t real.

Sure, there are some super powers that seem to be developing in people these days and some that we will soon get from science, but neither of these options pertain to the super powers that everyday people like you and me have.  Don’t think you have any super powers?  Well, what about:

Technology Comprehension – Sure, some people might call you a geek, but they’re not tech-savvy enough to figure out what’s really going on.  When faced with a new program or piece of hardware, can you quickly acclimate yourself to how it’s used, the complete suite of functions, and how to best utilize it?

Why it’s a super power: Think about all those statistics you hear about left-handed people killing themselves with products made for righties.  And I’m sure a small fraction of that number is just can openers.

Confidence and Fearlessness: The number one fear of people in the US is public speaking.  Do you love getting on stage and wowing the crowds?  Or to take it a step further, do you thrive on adrenaline by going skydiving, doing extreme sports or taking on challenges that most people would shrink away from?

Why it’s a super power: Daredevil is called “the man without fear.”  And considering his only other power is that he’s a blind man who can see, I think that comic books would agree with me on this one.

Charm and Networking Skills: I’m not referring to small-talk here; this is James Bond-level, charm-the-pants-off-anyone skill right here.  You can make a connection with almost anyone you meet, adding them to an impressive list of social contacts who would bend over backwards to help you.

Why it’s a super power: Not everyone is charismatic or charming enough to be liked by everyone.  It’s hard enough to make a few friends –  the sheer force of will and confidence that one must have to get along well (and connect) with so many people is superhuman.

Trend Prediction: In the first chapter of his insanely popular book, The Tipping Point, super-author Malcom Gladwell discusses people who have the ability to create and develop widespread trends.  If you’re on the cusp of a new fad with music, fashion, technology or slang at an amazing frequency, you can practically see the future.

Why it’s a super power: Predicting social trends is a very difficult thing to do – companies spend untold millions on attempting to do just that.  Having your finger on the pulse of modern culture is a daunting task that few can execute well.

Empathy: You lock on to people’s emotions, and connect with them easily.  Instead of being oblivious to the feelings of others, you commiserate with them and help forge better relationships.  Kind of the opposite of some of the Twilight vampires.

Why it’s a super power: Wikipedia says so.

Of course, these are not the only super powers that are possible for someone to have.  And each of these skills can be utilized in many different ways, both personally and professionally.  What you need to remember is that your super power should complement your career choice, so you are using your abilities to the fullest.

If Aquaman can do it, so can you.

This past weekend, I had a chance to sit down with some friends, the biggest bowl of popcorn commercially available, and a pretty terrific movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales.  If you haven’t seen it, the basic gist of it is that it’s a Clint Eastwood western from back in the day before he was directing.  As we watched Clint kick all sorts of butt in the Old West, we all found ourselves letting out one definitive statement during various parts of the movie: “What a badass.”

After the movie ended and we all reflected on our shared viewing experience (before getting snack refills and popping in Rio Bravo), I realized something: Clint’s badassery wasn’t just a role, nor was it just his attitude.

It was his brand.

Although many people consider the term “personal branding” to refer to establishing one’s own online reputation through a website, blog, social networks and so on, it refers to a grand tradition centuries older than the Internet.

It’s likely that the concept of the personal brand came about when Og the caveman was able to convince Ug, Thak and all of the other Cro-Magnons that he should become leader of their tribe (which had never before had a leader), and was given the position.  He had found a way to establish himself as a leader, and kept that position and brand until he was trampled by a wooly mammoth.

Personal branding has gone beyond leadership and government to include writers, artists, military personnel, and almost any famous person in all of history.  In fact, one of the best examples of personal branding at its best and worst is the celebrity.

Going back to Clint Eastwood for a minute, one can find a clear delineation between the roles he chose and the image (and subsequent success) that he cultivated from them.  Eastwood, like Western peers John Wayne and Lee Van Cleef, chose roles as a stoic hero (or anti-hero) for almost all of his films.  Even in some of his less genre-specific movies (i.e.: Every Which Way But Loose), he kept a consistent stable of attitudes, mannerisms, actions and reactions that branded the characters as his.  Clint Eastwood has never been a character actor.  Any character that he played would come off as Clint Eastwood’s interpretation of that character

On the other side of the Western Actor Branding Scale, we have thespians like Eli Wallach and Yul Brynner.  While these actors varied the roles, character types, film genres and performances that they gave in each movie, giving them a wider audience into some areas that Wayne or Eastwood might not reach as well, they did not gain as much recognition or acclaim.  Because they let the characters overshadow their own personalities, giving iconic performances as people other than themselves.

When developing your personal brand, a key factor to success is consistency.  If your actions don’t match your words, your resume doesn’t match your experiences or the Google results for your name don’t match your industry, you have a big brand management problem.

If you take the character actor’s method, you might have a more diverse array of skills and competencies, but you will have a diluted personal brand that will not help you establish yourself in your chosen field.  Instead, you need to commit yourself to Eastwood’s method and stay on-point with your messages.  It’s not something that you can pause or turn off – everything you do reflects on the brand of You.

You are your brand.

This might sound a little daunting, but it should come as more of a relief.  You’ve been building your personal brand for years through your education, work experiences, personality and skills.  You already have an intrinsic knowledge of your personal brand and how to best apply it to get what you want.  You can add a web presence, but your personal brand’s product, CEO and mascot has been, and will always be, you.

So the next time you’re trying to boost your personal brand to get more attention from prospective employers, get more hits on your blog or make yourself known socially, make sure to stay on point with a consistent message.  It worked for Clint Eastwood.

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This post was written for the FortuneCity.com Personal Branding Series on BrazenCareerist.  If you haven’t signed up for the site already (even though we talked about this), do it now and check out some awesome career, business and life blogs.

I feel old.

Physically, I’m young.  But when I realize that the shows I loved as a kid are “retro” today, and that some of them haven’t been on the air for the past 15 years (except in syndication), I get the nagging urge to buy some ribbon candy and listen to old records on my gramophone.

It doesn’t help that one of the touchstones of the Saturday morning TV block (which doesn’t exist anymore, another sign of age) has been stirring up a lukewarm bit of controversy.  Or more precisely, Screech from Saved By The Bell is trying to ruin my childhood.

Dustin Diamond doesn’t have it out for me personally.  But when he decided to ditch out on the cast reunion, I had to wonder what’s changed for him.

In this 2002 interview, Diamond seemed to have made peace with his child star past.  But his attitudes in recent years have soured.  When he came to perform at my university in 2007, he became upset and enraged when people would shout out his character’s name or mention the show.  Then again, he’s gone on to follow the former child star path pretty well over the past few years (reality TV, adult film, tell-all book).

Whatever you may feel about his post-SBTB pursuits, Diamond’s actions are an exaggeration of a more common affliction found in those with a fear of being pigeonholed in a certain role, destined to only be remembered for one thing.  And while it’s important to have marketable skills, especially some sort of specialized ones, it’s vital that you not let yourself become defined by those skills.

Rather, you need to continue to cultivate and evolve your professional image and, if possible, continue on the successful path that you’ve started.  Your past experiences have helped shape who you are, but if you let them control you, for good or bad, you will never be able to move on to greater acclaim and success.

If you read Diamond’s old interview, it seemed that he was content with becoming well-known in the chess world and was happy to have the chance to establish himself musically.  Instead, he has chosen to regress to what made him popular in the worst way possible.  When dealing with your professional image and personal brand, you should only use your past as a springboard to the future, not a crutch to hamper your development.

If you want to see a positive example of reconciling your past with your current life and projects, take a look at what another Bayside alum did.

So the last time I did one of these, there was a bit of a to-do from a number of people about my choice of example.  So I would like to offer this disclaimer: this example is to serve as an extended metaphor for a point that I am trying to make in an interesting and unique way.  The comparisons are being made directly between the parties mentioned and are based on a limited amount of exposure to the example groups, so please refrain from comments about how “wrong” my assessment is.  It’s just an extended metaphor.  Also, I use a Windows PC.

When it comes to market dominance in the computing world, Microsoft, despite what some commercials may have you believe, is the clear front-runner.  And for many computer-buyers, a Microsoft PC is the easy choice to make.  A variety of companies make computers with their operating system, which creates competition that is often based on improved (or new types of) hardware or different price points.  Rather than spending money innovating hardware and core system software, Microsoft chooses what works best for its competitors.  Windows code development and add-ons are a more mainstream version of many Linux operating systems, while new media playing software follows the successes of Apple’s programs.  So even though Microsoft may not be an innovator, it has built an empire by learning what critical wants and needs others have, and adapting to them.

When it comes to competing with its next-largest rival in computers, Apple*, and its biggest online rival, Google, Microsoft has one clear strategy: react.  When Apple developed the iPod, Microsoft waited for a market to develop and released the Zune.  Google and Gmail’s software developments are followed by similar services offered through Bing and MSN email.  And when a new company creates an innovative new product, Microsoft will try to purchase that company rather than develop.  Microsoft has positioned itself as a company whose reactive practices have allowed it to follow the right trends a bit later to make safer business moves.

Although one could argue that Microsoft is too reactive (especially in its own ads), its practices have made it a fairly reliable, if safe, brand to consumers.  Being seen as an innovator is a definite benefit for smaller companies, but larger firms like Microsoft and Wal-Mart cannot make such drastic changes without risking alienation from a large contingent of their customers.  Smaller, less noticeable innovations can be made, because no one has a lock on creativity.

When you look at your personal brand, your role in your company or your job search, are you developing new ideas or reflecting those of others?  If your position is less essential and concrete, you may have more freedom to be imaginative.  As such, you can take more risks to harness your inspiration effectively.  In the case of those whose roots have dug in, an essential role in an organization (or a too-specific niche), complacency can set in, leading to personality changes that are not conducive to originality.

So the question is: do you want to be active or reactive in your career?  Neither path is the “right” one, as you can find success on either route.  But the longer you establish yourself in one category, the more difficult it will be to transition to the other.

Or, to put it another way: Are you a Mac or a PC?

As some of my sharper-eyed readers may have noticed, I’ve added a new category to the link bar on the right side of the blog called “Job Tools.”  The first of these sites, and this week’s link, is a great site called Brand-Yourself.com.  The site lets you track your personal brand’s message, level of awareness, online presence and more through a variety of analytics.  It also offers suggestions on sites to join, programs to use and so on.

Paid members get access to even more features, but the basic free package will still give you a better idea of what potential employers see when they look you up, and how you can make sure that you’re getting the right message out.  It takes only minutes to get started, and you’ll be on your way to mastering your personal brand in no time!

Brand-Yourself.com

So now that Extended Metaphor Week is coming to an end, I will leave you with one of the best examples I can think of that relates to your job search.  Of course, I also like trashy TV (less thinking that way), so that might have something to do with it.  So grab the remote, plant your behind on the couch, and get ready to watch some people not make friends.

VH1 is what I would consider one of the great empires of reality television.  Where their casting people find the contestants on their dating shows, I don’t know.  I think they’re grown in vats somewhere in Southern New Jersey, but that’s just a theory.  Regardless of their point of origin, it seems like everyone on every dating show, from Flavor of Love to Rock of Love to Real Chance of Love to Daisy of Love to For the Love of Ray J to I Love New York (notice a trend?) ends up falling into the same trap: a lack of self-awareness.

While it’s easy to understand that copious amounts of alcohol, producers interested in getting good plots from their “unscripted dramas,” clever editors and general silliness may be a large reason that many of these shows have less-than-realistic contestants, it is nonetheless a great way of looking at exaggerated human behavior.  One has to wonder how much those involved are attempting to create a character in the hopes of getting their own spin-off, or are looking for national exposure (many of them are invited to do personal appearances at clubs and bars after they are on these shows).  To paraphrase Chuck Klosterman, most of the drama on these shows would end almost immediately if one of those in the argument would say, “You’re just saying that because you know it’ll end up on TV.”

But putting aside an anthropological and socio-cultural analysis for a minute, we will focus on the point of this example: how it relates to the job search.

The way that many of the contestants get off on the wrong foot (and the way you can almost always determine the “winner”) is by the first impressions that they make with the star bachelor/ette.  Those who drink to excess or who seem too eager to please or too ready to be on TV will not last.  Those who conduct themselves in a dignified – or whatever passes for dignified in the world that these shows exist in – manner almost always win.  They make a positive first impression.

Breaking this down to its most essential elements, the key characteristic that they all have in common is made of two components: setting themselves apart and keeping something back.  While it may just be the editors’ work, it always seems that the eventual winner acts a bit more reserved, relaxed, comfortable, and normal than the rest of the contestants.  They let their personalities shine through, rather than adopting a cover to make them seem to be someone else.  Also, they don’t charge in with everything they have, be it a special talent, skill, or “other” thing.  They show these parts of themselves when prompted to do so, but do not force the issue.  Think of these as good job interviewing tactics.

When the shows are over, the contestants will now have a type of notoriety for being on the shows.  However, they will be known for their parts in edited conversations, key altercations, or some significant action that they performed while on the show.  As people tend to remember things in shorthand, you can use this to your advantage while writing a resume or cover letter.  By adding information (or presenting content) in a way that is different from other applicants, you are becoming more memorable to your potential interviewer.  As long as you make sure it’s for a good thing (an award, project, skill, etc.) as opposed to something negative (typos, curse words, impractical job experience, etc.), your odds of getting a callback will increase.

There are other lessons that the contestants (many through specific instances) on VH1 dating shows can teach you.  Perhaps we’ll go back to that topic at some point in the future.

And by the way, you should not try to get on these shows.  Especially I Love Money.  That show won’t help your job prospects at all.

The other day, I was at my favorite purveyor of massage chairs and Skymall catalog-esque items in the whole world, Brookstone.  And yes, I’m well aware that they’re pretty much the only purveyor of massage chairs and Skymall catalog-esque items now that the Sharper Image has gone out of business, but my point still stands.  After all, I never saw any TempurPedic slippers at any Sharper Image stores!  Then again, I never looked that hard for them.  But I digress.

While looking around at their great selection of combination book light/digital camera/can opener/pliers (available in eight metallic colors!) and iPod charger/flashlight/keyring organizer/stopwatches, I came across this little guy.  His name is Bob Wobble.

Okay, so until our eventual machine overlords tell us otherwise, I guess that Bob Wobble does not really have a gender.  But I’ve never met any women named Bob.  Anyway, Mr. Wobble has several functions, including a clock, an alarm clock, a calendar, a thermometer, and a timer.  He is also egg-shaped, so he wobbles but does not fall over or roll around too much.  Bob is also a perfect example of being “well-lopsided.”

I first heard this term when my high school guidance counselor was talking to me about how to gain a particular competitive advantage in college applications.  And yes, I’m aware that we’ve been talking about specializations this week, but in this case, we’re talking total immersion.

This is about having an all-encompassing, truly expert-level understanding of the ins and outs of a program, procedure, management style, or something similar.  Whereas being a specialist will leave you open to being adept in other areas, to be truly “well-lopsided,” one must have an disproportionate amount of knowledge and skill in one area compared to all others.

Now you’re probably thinking something like, Why should I devote that much time to something like that?  I’m not looking for one key position, and I can’t afford to! Be not afraid, intrepid reader!  This is not about becoming a super-genius in one area of study, but rather more about how to make yourself look better when competing with them for a job.

For every open position out there, there are dozens, if not hundreds of people who fit the exact criteria that the posters are looking for.  Whether it be experience, education, industry work or prior positions, there are “perfect candidates” that fit the mold.  And they do it without having to lie on an interview, cover letter or resume.  These people are so well-lopsided that it looks as if they are a perfect fit in every conceivable way.  This is their weakness.

While you may not have as great of a command on coding C# or designing fonts or recommending stocks, as a specialist (instead of a “well-lopsided”-ist) will have a broader and more comprehensive knowledge base.  This means that you can have a better understanding of the work of those around you, of the company as a whole, and your role within it.  Provided that you’re not a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, your expansive knowledge and experience means that you can offer the company more than just being great at exactly what they’re looking for.  Because while someone who meets all their criteria might be able to do that job amazingly, anyone who has ever worked for more than a couple of days can tell you that your employers will ask you to do a lot of things that were not in the job description.

So, provided that you can be a good asset to your new potential employer, there’s no reason that you can’t overtake a well-lopsided candidate like Bob Wobble.  I mean, he’s shaped like an egg!

I don’t know about you, but I love music videos.

The sets, the effects, the choreographed dancing, and sometimes the music, are great.  It’s like watching the last few minutes of a Bollywood movie without all that plot.  Plus, it can be very funny to watch some musicians “act” in them.

And I must admit, I was a fan of TRL back in the late 90s, though I stopped watching once I realized that most of the music I liked wouldn’t be played during that show.  But even still, it was nice to turn on MTV or one of its relatives, like MTV2 or VH1, or even an imitator like MuchMusic (now Fuse) and be able to listen to music whilst watching a video.

I turned on MTV the other week and was a bit surprised.

There was some sort of reality show thing playing during a peak time when there should have been some spray tanned, overly enthusiastic thirty-something host talking about pop records to an audience of screaming tweens and teens.  I mean, sure, I knew about Jackass and Viva La Bam and those shows in California and the rides being pimped and the spoiled little rich girl birthday party shows, but I always figured that there would still be music.

Apparently, I’ve been out of the loop for so long that the “M” of MTV no longer stands for anything.  But when I thought about it, that might be a good thing.

After all, the channel set itself up as the zeitgeist, the epicenter of pop culture, and the pulse of the youth of America (or something like it).  So in order to stay competitive and keep up with the trends, the channel had to evolve to changing tastes and trends.

I think you know where I’m going with this.

As was discussed in the last theme week, you need to change and adapt to the different audiences that your materials will go out to.  But you also need to adapt to the job market as a whole.

If you’re a younger person, you are now faced with competition from older, more experienced workers who are suddenly in the job pool, applying for the same positions that you are with much more refined resumes.  Like we discussed yesterday, a way you can circumvent this is to craft a specialty that sets you apart from others.  You may need to reinvent and reinvigorate your personal brand several times over to find what works best, but a strong competitive advantage WILL put you far ahead of the pack.

Similarly, older candidates will need something to set themselves apart besides experience.  Whether it’s showing that that experience comes with reinvigorating one’s knowledge by continuing education or certifications or by displaying a list of transferable and desirable skills, keeping current is a must.  It is unnecessary, however, to get plastic surgery.

So even though I’m apparently past my prime for the MTV crowd, I can appreciate what they’re doing.  And I can always watch VH1 classic.

This is a man who needs no introduction.  Not only because I introduced him in the title to this post, but also because he introduces himself.  With little but his name and the combination of two single-syllable words, both told in the exclamatory, Flavor Flav became a rap and hip-hop icon.

As one of the first great hype men (see: Lil Jon, T-Pain), Flav brought excitement to crowds, keeping the energy for Public Enemy at a fever pitch.  While Chuck D’s lyrics were incendiary and Professor Griff’s acts were militant, Flav brought a fun, comfortable, more down-to-earth aspect to the group.  Also, he helped father a new type of reality show.

And perhaps most importantly, he pretty much single-handedly brought the viking helet back into style (way to drop the ball there, Hagar).

So what does a hip-hop pioneer and reality TV veteran have to do with your job search?

Flav is a perfect example of why you need solid references and referrals (or good hype, if you will).  If someone is referring you for a position, they are adding to your value in the eyes of your potential employer.  The concept behind both this and Flav’s success is rooted in something called social proof.

When people hear about something or someone from a trusted source, they think it is more superior than if they heard about it themselves.  This is how critics make their money, and why there are celebrity endorsements.  However, this can also work for strangers.  Even if a stranger introduces you to another stranger, you will still feel a bit more comfortable because of that added step of introduction, which makes them seem important.  In Flav’s case, he was social proof for Public Enemy.  He showed crowds it was all right to get excited about the music, that they could sing along and enjoy themselves despite the serious tones of the songs.

So how do you get social proof?  If you have any contacts that can refer you to anyone at a company you are trying to work for, use them to get that contact, and form at least an acquaintance with that person.  After all, wouldn’t you prefer it if someone called to say that your mutual friend suggested they talk to you, rather than if a stranger called?

Your new contact will probably help you if they can, and their endorsement will make it more likely that whoever is looking to hire you will do so.  A solid list of references can also help with this, although it is a bit more difficult to use them (as they will be called into play after you have been interviewed).

One way that you can be your own hype person, if you can’t get social proof through contacts, is to send a creative application or work samples (if applicable; don’t try this if you’re going for accounting, finance, etc.) to make yourself stand out as a professional.  We talked about personal branding with another celebrity, and that concept works here as well.

So get out there and make some social contacts, get that social proof, and fight the power!

I mean, get that job!

If you haven’t seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for some strange reason (not from the US, no television, don’t enjoy awesome 80s movies, don’t have a soul, etc.), here’s a lovely tribute song, complete with a callback in the chorus to one of my favorite parts.  Afterwords, you can go out and rent and watch the movie.  I’ll wait.

Welcome back!  Sure took you a while (special features, huh?).

For those of you who cheated, the gist of the movie is that Ferris Bueller takes the day off (re: ditches) school with his girlfriend and best friend and goes on all sorts of adventures.  Wow, sure sounds great, huh?

Also, he has to escape the wrath of the principal and get back home in time to not arouse the suspicions of his parents.

So, you, having now passed a few hours’ time watching the YouTube clip and movie, what does this have to do with the job search?

Besides pointing out how awesome Chicago is (and that there are probably a few jobs there, so take a look if you don’t mind moving, or the Cubs), the movie plays out the potential consequences of the age-old problem of relative value.  Which is more important to Ferris: education or shenanigans?  Since he takes the day off, it’s pretty safe to say what his choice is.

So let’s take that thought process and turn it into a job search.  Say that Ferris is currently in a part-time or entry-level job that he doesn’t like much (school), and he wants to take time to look for a better job (take the day off).  He will have to do it without alerting his boss (principal) and co-workers (parents), as this could have dire consequences.  So instead, he plans out how to go about looking for work (shenanigans) without arousing suspicion.

While I wouldn’t advocate Ferris’ method, especially as he pretty much takes over Chicago (the parade and baseball game especially) and uses deceit to get ahead (Abe Froman), there is something in his approach that I do suggest you use: confidence.

Often, when looking for a job while having another one, people get nervous about being found out by their bosses and co-workers.  Clandestine lunch interviews are planned, personal emails are diverted, phone calls are made discreetly (through one’s office phone, of course), and the whole thing has a dirty, torrid affair-like sense to it.  This in turn affects not only the interviewing process, but the person’s feelings towards their current and prospective employers.

But Ferris goes for the gusto.  There’s no shame in looking for something better and grabbing for what one knows that they deserve.  As long as there is awareness and disclosure on the part of the person looking to move on towards the interviewer, there is no reason to feel guilty.  Go for the brass ring, but be cordial and polite to your current employer(s).  And be aware of and ready to accept the consequences.  It’s just a job.  Don’t feel bad about wanting something better.

Unless you’re trying to get a position as the Sausage King of Chicago.   In which case, be careful.

This post dedicated to the memory of John Hughes, whose films I (mostly) missed by a few years in both theatrical release and generation, but still enjoy.