Strap an unnecessary amount of shiny metal objects to your clothing and take a swig of intensity. We’re about to step inside the realm of very vague advice… and then totally slam it with the most practical information your fingers have ever bleed scrapping to get a hold of.
Out of all the practices in the world what could be the best, most successful ones? Turns out, it’s 5. exactly 5. not 4 or 6, but 5. Did ya ever think it would only be that many? Here’s what’s going on.
Bradford Waugh wrote a very relevant article over at Product Design Hub today called 5 Successful Practices For New Grads. Good stuff, but it failed to give some details I think you definitely need to know.
Not just for new grads
And get this, it’s not just for new grads. As a matter of fact, it’s probably even more relevant for people getting laid-off, looking for work or preparing themselves to just be dang, freakin’ cool.
So, were gonna take Brad’s 5 practices and shed a little more light on ‘em. Let’s do this.
The main points of the article were:
- Talk
goodwell - Get Branded
- Get an Identity
- Immerse yourself
- Screw up
When you read the article, it hits on generalities like – use a thesaurus, get business cards or improve your social profile, but… where do you actually get business cards made? or improve speaking. Simple stuff, but kinda obscure if you’ve never done it before. So here’s what you really need to know to apply those practices for the ultimate success.
Talk good well
If it wasn’t for my dad, I’d talk like a hillbilly. If you’re uncomfortable talking to someone or worried about interviews or conversations, remember this. Smile. not all cheesy like, but in a courteous way. Furthermore, use YouTube, like this Businessweek article describes or review this site called Speaking-English-at-Home.com.
Get Branded
OnlinePrinthouse.com has the best prices I’ve found for quality and quantity of media to brand the heck out of yourself. Us LogoInstant.com for free logos to use or start from.
Get an Identity
Do you have a LinkedIn account? Facebook? Twitter? If not, get one. why? because you can use it to NETWORK. So what do you put on it? Name, City and short Bio to start with. Take a look at Guy Kawasaki’s Profile Makeover to help improve your own details.
Immerse Yourself
You’ll have to do some work here. Start in your area of interest. Start a collection. Use Evernote or Google Notebook. Start a Tumblr or Posterous blog to collect the images, videos and thoughts about your interests/career path.
Screw up
Like this is hard. 
Better put… TRY. Stop learning all the theory and try it. Stop learning about blogging and start a blog. Stop assuming you’ll learn a language one day and Learn one. Stop learning about inventing or assuming someone will steal your idea and get it out there. If you mess up or do something wrong, you’ll do it better the next time.
More suggestions
- Get a portfolio together – It doesn’t have to be fancy. Try using Coroflot.com.
- add value – to everything. Make others better than you.
- bullet points – Be clear and concise. See how useful they can be?
These are great tips for just about anybody in a career or business; working for yourself or for the man. Have you tried branding yourself? Does it matter? What’s worked for you?
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