How Important Are Past Achievements?

If you measure the worth of a person, do you measure him for what he has done, or what he is about to do?

Resumes are set ablaze with any iota of achievements and accomplishments. Many interviewees learn to play up their strengths and nullify their weaknesses. Certainly, the extreme version is when embellishments and selective deletion either makes for a fascinating candidate or a dubious and suspiciously ‘too good to be true’. You may be familiar with the saying: If it is too good to be true, then it’s too good to be true.

Yet, having observed these through anecdotal evidence and first-hand accounts, enhancing your resume is vastly different from padding your LinkedIn ‘work history’ or updating your Facebook profile page. As you design personal and professional challenges and achieve your goals/outcomes, these add on to your value of your credibility. Credibility involves experience and expertise. How much are you doing to develop both dimensions of your persona and stature?

In recent days of the London Olympics 2012, we have noticed how in the choppy, equal-lane, world of swimming two main messages. Firstly, how quickly it is for audiences and fans to dismiss a champion’s past performance because of failure to meet expectations. Secondly, consider how an emerging champion is questioned for their youthful potential. Either we have become cynical about human performance, or we are losing touch about the hard work and dedication each candidate has invested to build their status and reputation. Michael Phelps earned both kudos and kicks for his disappointing showing (for not bagging gold in his pet events), while the Chinese teenage-torpedo Ye Shi Wen is being suspected of using illegal sports-enhancing drugs. How does it feel to bear the weight of an entire nation that pins its hopes on you to do well, or bag a medal, or a gold medal? The shadow of other people's doubts (and even mistakes) can follow you around like Lance Armstrong, years after retiring from a marquee race. Accusations, however unjust and unfair, blemish one's reputation just because of doubt.

There is just no way to work around the doubters and the haters. Haters will always hate.

How Will You Add Value To This Job?

‘How do you think you can you add value to this company?’ is a valid question that experienced interviewers may ask. It may be over-asked until it is a cliché, yet it has it relevance. In marketing, we call this a differentiator. How are you positioned differently from others?

Corporate headhunters will not call upon you unless you have made a mark in the ocean of professionals. What is your specialty, and have you attained expert-status and mastery? How do you stand out? How do you demonstrate that you are out-standing, while retaining your humility and humbleness?

Do a SWOT analysis. Identify at least three factors each for your Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. When applied from product branding to personal branding, the SWOT analysis reveals useful information about your value. Define ‘experience’ beyond the fact that you are aging, or spent more years in the company than the junior staff. What have you done to convert your years of loyalty to the company into the reputation as expertise, subject-matter expert, creative problem solver, and leadership?

In competitive sport, your results indicate your place in the universe of competitors. Your competency in one area of talent and development, leads to your competitiveness. By moving up ten ranks, and improving on your relative and absolute rankings, you will move up from amateur to elite status as an athlete. The podium-winners become a preferred choice for selection for interested and eager sponsors.

If you are not a leader in your field, then you are a follower, and, there are many of them out there. Mediocrity is in abundance. Mastery is rare. Re-position yourself a resourceful professional and prove your worth. Back up your talk and promises with results and resolve. Prove to them that you are worth it.

Leadership Lessons: How educated are you about marketing? How seriously do you apply Personal Branding 2.0? How do you brand yourself as a leader in your field? Distinguish what your worth is, how you can be valuable, how you add value and value-add, show your worthiness, and make it worth their while.

It’s Easier To Work With Professionals

What is the difference between a world-class photographer and an amateur photographer? Answer: Both know how to take good photographs, but the professional knows when.

I have often heard colleagues and clients mutter: ‘I rather work with professionals!’ What do they mean?

Professionals are people in occupations (professions) who profess to do something, or one thing very well. They may not be the ‘jack of all trades’ yet they may be a master of one skill or expertise. With a strong experiential background, they take pride in having ‘been there, done that, and goofed up’. They tend to have experienced similar situations, processes, and problems that accompany them – that is the value they offer to each business relationship.

Professionals cost more, and you are investing in their time, expertise and value. Would you short-change a valuable staff? I hope not, for they are worth more than their salaries. You may pay peanuts, however if they suffer from a peanut allergy than nothing else matters than their well-being. You have heard the saying ‘Penny-wise, and pound-foolish’? Being cheap has it consequences in business as well as in recreation. Hire a professional emcee, and reduce the risk of inappropriate behaviors and unprofessionalism.

Those dressed in red: Officials and volunteers.

Stick to your purpose and passion: mark of a professional.

Even if the professionals are volunteers on your committee, they should be treated as professionals. Each of these generous ones brings more than charity to the table. They extend a helping hand that is filled with resourcefulness, resilience, and relevance. Ask, and seek help. By engaging them, you engage their skills, experience and expertise.

Race briefing by seasoned endurance athletes.

Yesterday morning, Triathlon Family organised its annual triathlon sprint. With the integrated and concerted efforts of its volunteers and committee, the show went on safely, with purpose and poise. We had professional life-guards, event-organisers, seasoned race competitors, medical specialists, safety-crew, and more. The organizers and volunteers deserved their kudos. Certainly, consultants were behind the design and delivery of the event that saw 130 paying participants (who competed and completed, and made the event successful). Once paid, you will have to deliver.

All TriFam committee members were there including President, Vice-President and advisors.

Spare a thought instead of thinking of spare change.