It's Your Career

Tips For Tuesday February 16, 2010 - Read "Crush It!" Now!

Just spent the second half of this afternoon finishing a brief for an Atlanta client, and listening to Gary Vaynerchuk reading his book "Crush It!" 

My Tip for Tuesday is that you need to stop what you are doing and go to Audible.com and buy this book.  You will be happy you have it.  You will be happy to hear Vaynerchuk read it to you.  It is an inspiring book.  But I am a big fan of his approach, so I may be a bit biased. 

His primary target audience is the entrepreneur.  However, most of you can benefit from this material.  The book is full of stories and suggestions and examples of the use of media, all kinds of media, in building a business.  Even if you are fully employed in a satisfying career with a great company, you will benefit from reading or listening to this book.

Here is his preview video.

Another talk posted on the TED website worth watching - David Pogue on cool phone tricks | Video on TED.com

David Pogue is one of my favorite NY Times columnists.  He writes the personal technology column for the paper, which comprises a pretty interesting collection of reviews and essays on all things tech.  He also happens to be a pretty good speaker with a natural, conversational approach.  You can learn about technology trends from him.  His columns will educate.  They also piss off a segment of readers.  But he is good at what he does. 

But his presentation is worth watching even if you are not interested in the topic.  He has a great approach to sharing with his audience.  You can learn a lot from his conversational style.  Here he is talking at the EG '08 Conference on cell phone tools and services that can save you money.   David Pogue on cool phone tricks | Video on TED.com.

Turning off the fire hose - It's not just Twitter, it's the internet, stupid.

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            So then I found myself working at CJ Arthurs over lunch, but they have three TVs with the college football games on.  And free wireless, so I was able to see 20 new Twitter followers and the score of the Alston Villa v. Chelsea match.  And catch up on email.  And see birthday wishes on Facebook.

            Not much better at the Wilmette Public Library.  Sort of forgot that it offered free wireless access and electrical outlets.  Maybe the mistake was bringing my laptop. 

            Really do need a Step program.  Don’t even care how many steps.

Twitter is crack - at least it seems that way

            Someone wrote in a Tweet the other day that Twitter is like a drug.  So true.  I find that the whole fire hose full of information and communication hitting me every single day is completely and totally addicting.  I cannot look away from the stream or the links or the articles or the videos, and then I look up and the day is over.   And I find not as much accomplished as I hoped to show for the hours I sat at my desk flipping back and forth between email, Twitter, and the blogosphere.  Constant reading.  Writing back and forth.  Keeping up with the stream.  Adding my 2 cents to the stream, and feeling the gratitude of connection when someone retweets my 2 cents or singles me out for a thought.  Then when I take the step out of the rushing stream, I find myself looking back in with longing.

            I haven’t experienced the same tug of mind with drugs or alcohol or tobacco or any of the other addictions of this day, but it must be the same.  It is debilitating.  Nothing accomplished means no real steps to generate revenue.  Imaginary steps, yes.  Intangible, unmeasureable steps, sure.   My online profile has been burnished by adding followers, more fellow addicts who might listen to me in the stream.  I may have added more potential customers who might see or hear my message when I am able to launch my first product.

            I learn a lot of valuable information during this kind of day - how to make my website more appealing; how to get my offer out; how social media is going to change the way we do business.  But Chris Brogan, or Dan Kennedy before him, or Tony Robbins or Frank Kerns aren't going to get inside my head and do things for me.

            No paying contract lawyer clients came out of that stream this week.  No real coaching or recruiting candidates have come to me out of the stream so far.  No speaking gigs yet.  Seminars aren't full yet.  My great American novel isn't being written by the stream.

            So today when I experimented with no internet and no TV around for distraction, I was faced with the hard and fast truth of me and what I am doing or not doing to generate revenue today and move this show forward.  How much could I get accomplished if I stepped out of the stream for a few days?  Do they have a Steps program for internet addicts?  Hmmmm.

It is all really a work in progress

So I want to give a big honkin thank you to my central group of sounding boards, and most especially to my colleagues on the ABA website for solo and small firm lawyers, Solosez, for the awesome feedback and critiques of this website and the new link for the seminar enrollment.  If you have ever visited this site before, hopefully you will appreciate the format change and the new color scheme. 

I was told more than once, and maybe more than ten times, that my former colors had to go.  Too early '90s.  Of course, I thought the early '90s were great years - I was at Duke and a big college basketball fan.  And I am a big fan of colors.

But, thanks to Jeff Iannone, Steph Pater, Dan Pater and my Solosez colleagues Stefani Devery, Curtis Patalano, Chris Bumgarner and Jake Eisenstein and several others for the excellent feedback.  I'm not saying that the current version is their fault, but I think it is a much improved place and I appreciate you guys taking the time to look and to tell me what you thought.

How are you using it? - Twitter has potential to help with job search | Hire Me - - Hire Me - NJ.com

The question should not be whether you are using Twitter to help you in your job search.  The question should be "how are you using it?"  Twitter is a conversation.  It allows you a connection to people in ways that you probably have not had since you left college.  Engage in the conversation!  Here is an interesting excerpt from an article from a business wire service, included in today's NJ.com site of the Star-Ledger.  Twitter has potential to help with job search | Hire Me - - Hire Me - NJ.com.

Accessible by computer or cell phones, Twitter can be used to post a job, poke around for one, bone up on a potential boss or simply keep your friends updated on your job hunt. It’s free and it’s fast. And while social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn focus on connecting you with people you know, Twitter makes it easier to broadcast messages widely and to form groups of common interests. By "following" others and having them follow you, the conversations quickly multiply.

Tommy Fishback at Izeafest - can you speak like this?

Watch this short video to see a great example of many excellent public speaking tools in action, all from a 14 year old little genius.  He has poise, intelligence, and confidence.  He is articulate, knows his topic inside and out, and is genuinely into that which he speaks about.  He commands the stage with authority, and talks as if he is already in the conversation, not as if he is giving a speech to a room full of adults.  Do all of that, and you too can be a great public speaker. Tommy Fishback at Izeafest, October 3, 2009

Almost everything you wanted to know - The First Law School Seminar Paper on Twitter: Twitter and Employment Law Issues | Social Media Law Student

Here is the best, most comprehensive and most annotated article on Twitter's use and abuse I have seen to date.  The First Law School Seminar Paper on Twitter: Twitter and Employment Law Issues | Social Media Law Student.  Written by a law student, Vincent Pascual, in San Diego.  Excellent work.  Really.  And the Social Media Law Student blog is a good read too.

WTF? GoSoloEsq.com Is Selling MyShingle.com Resources for $29/Month! : My Shingle

If you are considering starting your own practice, do not use the "GoSoloEsq.com" membership site as the starting point.  Carolyn Elefant, a great resource and prolific blogger, has the original starting point.  See  WTF? GoSoloEsq.com Is Selling MyShingle.com Resources for $29/Month! : My Shingle.

Google Fast Flip - great news resource

WOW!!  That is about all I can say about those folks at Google.  What will they think of next?  Scitech - Google Fast Flip.

Keeping up with news in your area should be one of your daily tasks, and now Google has made it even more efficient.  It is well worth a bookmark.

Google Voice - Brilliant!

If you don't have a number yet, get one.  It is the best thing I did practice wise back when the service was known as Grand Central.  One number rings to all of my phones, office, cell, and home.  And the voicemail gets transcribed and sent to me as email.  Brilliant!  Of course Google bought the company.  See a story here - Young Lawyers Blog | Google Voice.

Sarah Palin on "American Chopper" - Broadsheet - Salon.com

I am a big fan of stand up comedy, and especially the Saturday Night Live skits I started watching in high school in the 1970s.  Tina Fey brought a nice burst of freshness to the show a few years back.  That is why I was delighted when she was able to appear again this Fall as a guest portraying Sarah Palin.  Now it is difficult for me to tell the two ladies apart.  I think the clip below is Tina Fey at her best.  So confident in the role she fools everyone. I know my friend Robyn Iannone would be proud. Robyn, what do you think of that bear on the couch?? And is it Palin or Fey? Hard to tell. Surely not the real governor. Surely not.   Sarah Palin on "American Chopper" - Broadsheet - Salon.com.

What is your approach? Pirate Moves- Promoting Without Being That Guy | chrisbrogan.com

Thinking both about how to promote yourself in the job market and how to promote yourself in general, here is an interesting article that sort of lambastes the approach of one of the bloggers I like to read.  The moral of the story is "don't be That Guy", but I disagree.  Be you, and project what works for you.  Of course, you need to be aware of what you are trying to achieve and modify your promotion accordingly.  Shouting at people while trying to get a job in a large law firm probably won't work.  But adding value up front will.  What is your approach?

Here is the article Pirate Moves- Promoting Without Being That Guy | chrisbrogan.com.

Let’s Use the Picnic Analogy

Conn Fishburn from Yahoo gave me a great analogy for thinking about social media marketing when we spoke at IBM’s Research Headquarters in New York last year. He said, “Bring wine to the picnic.” In this case, Conn was talking about the idea that if you show up and try to market, people will be frustrated and will shut you out. Instead, if you bring something of value to people, they’ll be more likely to accept you.

The picnic is a decent way to think about social media environments, especially if you think of it as a pot-luck picnic in a large public park. Let’s envision it: a sunny day, with a warm breeze, and there are people gathering for different reasons. Some are there to just take in the rays. Others are there to practice for a sporting event. Others have come to find romance. Others are organizing a protest. There are even a few people of questionable character looking to cause trouble and improve their standings in life.

Sources: Google In Talks To Acquire Twitter (Updated)

Wow!  First my favorite phone service Grand Central.  Now this.  Is Google a better option for the Big Brother than Microsoft was?  Sources: Google In Talks To Acquire Twitter (Updated).

Selling your self as your job search - A. Harrison Barnes, CEO of LawCrossing, Daily Job Search Advice

Here is an example of what I was writing about yesterday.  This guy sends me emails or links almost every day.  Some of it gets to be annoying.  But I don't stop it or ask him to go away.  Why?  Because he has a way of communicating that keeps me paying attention.  See article here - A. Harrison Barnes, CEO of LawCrossing, Daily Job Search Advice.

And here is a video link I saw earlier this week of the same guy talking while driving in his car.  I think the link was not meant as a good thing, but hearing the guy speak is like reading his posts.  He likes what he is doing, clearly.  And some of the time he has good value to add.

Do you add value?  How are you going to sell that in your job search?

Twittering on Law.com - Small Firm Business - Is Twitter a Valuable Networking Tool or Just for the Birds?

From Law.com this morning, another interesting article on the use of social networks to build a community of contacts.  Small Firm Business - Is Twitter a Valuable Networking Tool or Just for the Birds? by Gina F. Rubel, Esq..  She writes -

TO TWEET OR NOT TO TWEET? As a public relations practitioner and lawyer, I do not believe all attorneys should spend time posting on Twitter.

On the one hand, Twitter is certainly a useful tool and an excellent way to expand your network, build your reputation, comment on legal issues and trends, and establish a relationship with members of the media and other thought leaders. It is also an excellent tool for you to research public opinion on many different topics.

On the other hand, everything you post is up for public scrutiny, you must be careful not to provide legal advice, and you must follow the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct. Tweets used for marketing cannot directly solicit business, cannot be false or misleading, cannot omit necessary facts (tough to do in 140 characters), cannot compare one lawyer to another, cannot contain subjective claims and cannot create unjustified expectations.

And as I've suggested in previous posts, all law firms should be adopting social media policies for these very reasons and to protect their firm brands.

I read this morning that more than 40% of law firms block some or all access to Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.  I wonder if Twitter is next?  Have you found it a useful networking tool?

Social networking as a solution

I noticed yesterday that there are now recruiting solutions being touted for use with Twitter.  I haven't started to dig into what that means yet, but I will share it with you if it looks helpful.

I have also noticed that there is a groundswell around Twitter as a tool for lawyers.  There are groups of lawyers users and categories for and about lawyers in that community (#lawyers is a good start).  I suggest that everyone currently looking for work or thinking about looking for work start expanding your net to include these kinds of resources.  Here is a Law.com intro to Twitter that might be helpful - Tools and Tips

The one thing that is certain about a job search is that the job is not going to come knocking on your front door asking for you.  You need to take advantage of every resource and every opportunity to expand the network of people in the industry.

How to Be Interesting — Copyblogger

Here is an interesting article written by Jonathan Morrow on the Copyblogger site.  It is focused on how to make your writing interesting, and specifically how to make your blog interesting.  He lists a bunch of really good ideas that are useful in many contexts, including for anyone getting ready to speak in public.  See it here - How to Be Interesting — Copyblogger.

For our purposes, the following are excellent suggestions for making your presentation interesting:

6.  make people laugh
11.  unleash your inner dork - along the lines with my argument that you have to stick yourself out there and take a risk
12.  be courageous
13.  be startingly honest
15.  tell a good story - this one is the best, and I have quoted liberally below -

This one has been drilled into us so many times that I almost didn’t include it… except for one thing: people still don’t get it. Yes, stories support your points, make solid openers, and teach people while entertaining them, but a good story can make you a legend. I’m not talking about the little anecdotes that pepper the blogosphere. I’m talking about the story that haunts you on your deathbed. Forget about all the others. Tell me that one.

21.  put your readers (listeners!) first

Good thoughts here.  Use them next time you are getting ready to speak in public!  Make a presentation that people will remember on their death beds!