December 12, 2011

Words of Wisdom from Steve Jobs – Part 2

Issue #210

The Power of Doing What You Love

Last week, we began a three-part series reflecting on the Commencement Speech Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios, delivered to Stanford University students on June 12, 2005.  His speech basically told three stories.  Each was a message unto itself.  The first part was about trying new things without worrying about connecting the dots.

This week, we’ll read the second part of his Commencement Speech – just as he spoke it – plus a little commentary at the end.  In his second story, he talked about finding and doing what you love.  This advice is not revolutionary, but neither is it necessarily common or easy to achieve.   Mr. Jobs found his passion, lost it, and then found it again. He and the world were the better for it. Continue reading →

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December 5, 2011

Words of Wisdom from Steve Jobs – Part 1

Issue #209

Don’t Worry About Connecting the Dots

Many things serve as inspiration for the Monday Mornings with Madison column.  Over a year ago, a colleague sent me the Commencement Address by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios, delivered to Stanford University students on June 12, 2005.  It was no surprise that Mr. Jobs was a gifted communicator.  With very little preamble, he basically told three stories.  Each was a message unto itself, and each was inspirational. 

As 2011 draws to a close and we begin to think about 2012, Mr. Jobs’ words of wisdom to those graduating students some six to seven years ago about past, present and future are particularly poignant, especially as we contemplate a year gone by that also brought Mr. Jobs’ untimely demise.  This week, and for the next two weeks, we’ll share most of that Commencement Speech — in three parts — and then perhaps dare to add a little insight of our own.  His first story was about connecting the dots.  Continue reading →

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November 28, 2011

One Thing: Every Business Should Find Theirs

Issue #208

Customer service is a topic that eventually finds its way into practically every dialogue about business at one point or another.  Business school professors expound on the importance of it.  Writers of blogs, columns and broadcasts wax poetic about it.  Executives ponder over how to improve it.  Customers complain when they don’t get it.  It is a quintessential concern of any good business.  It is also the failing of many businesses, new and old.  Good customer service, it seems, is a moving target that many businesses fail to hit at one point or another.  Tales of consistently great customer service are almost as unbelievable as stories about the Tooth Fairy, leaving many to wonder if being able to provide great customer service consistently is really only a fairytale.   Continue reading →

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November 21, 2011

THANKFULNESS: THE PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH, SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS

Issue #207

For most people, Thanksgiving Day is a day to gather with friends and loved ones to eat, drink, be merry, watch football, prepare to do some intense shopping… oh, that’s right, and give thanks.  The tradition dates back to 1623, and the first official National Thanksgiving Proclamation was signed by Congress on November 1, 1777.  At that time, little was known about the actual benefits of thankfulness.  Giving thanks was done as a spiritual act.  Today, thankfulness is thought of as a gesture of politeness or a way to affirm others.  Saying thanks is seen as something done for someone else.  However, it turns out that there are also tangible, measurable benefits derived from the act of being grateful for the person giving thanks.  If you want to be healthier, more successful and happier, simply be more thankful.  Continue reading →

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November 14, 2011

DOES CUSTOMER RESPONSE TIME MATTER?

Issue #206

Customers do not like to wait.  The golden rule in business is that customers should be helped right away.  We’re not talking about a manufacturer making a customer wait for the release of a new product or model… which can actually increase brand value by creating excitement and buzz.  Instead, we are referring to the time a customer actually waits to be assisted with whatever they need from the business.  Continue reading →

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November 7, 2011

LEVERAGING LINKEDIN – PART 6

Issue #205

Joining and Participating in LinkedIn Groups

You’ve joined LinkedIn, created an impressive Profile and linked to all of your colleagues, coworkers past and present, schoolmates and associates.  Is that enough?  No.  While that was a lot of work, that work was all in preparation for the real point of social media… expanding your network even further and dialoguing with others in your industry and areas of expertise or interests.  That’s the ‘social’ part of social networking.  Continue reading →

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October 31, 2011

LEVERAGING LINKEDIN – PART 5

Issue #204

Strategy For Linking To Others

Over the last four weeks, we explored how to set up a complete and compelling professional profile on LinkedIn.  If you’ve done the work of establishing a profile that really reflects who you are as a business professional (the first step), you are now ready to start ‘using’ LinkedIn.  Here is where a lot of people get stuck.  Many people say “I have a Profile, but I don’t know what else I should be doing.” Continue reading →

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October 24, 2011

LEVERAGING LINKEDIN – PART 4

Issue #203

New Ways To Make Your LinkedIn Profile Pack More Punch

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at how to leverage the power of LinkedIn by creating a personal Profile that really grabs readers.  In one web page, your Profile is supposed to tell the world who you are as a professional.  That’s a tall order.  Being succinct and choosing words carefully is key.  In a relatively small amount of space, you’ve got to explain what you stand for, how you’re different from everyone else, what you’re passionate about, and how you’ve contributed in the workforce without sounding canned.  Continue reading →

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October 17, 2011

LEVERAGING LINKEDIN – PART 3

Issue #202

Creating a Compelling LinkedIn Profile Readable in 60 Seconds or Less

LinkedIn is a vast, powerful and free networking tool for professionals with over 120 million members.  It is also a site that ranks highly with search engines, thus exposing members to an even wider audience worldwide.   That’s why it’s important for all professionals to have a complete Profile on LI.  However, it’s not enough just to have a Profile.  Your Profile should be compelling!  It should tell the world who you are as a professional – what you stand for, how you’re different from all the rest, what you’re passionate about, and how you’ve contributed in the workforce.  Continue reading →

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October 10, 2011

LEVERAGING LINKEDIN – PART 2

Issue #201

The Three Cs of Creating a Profile on LinkedIn

Do you have a Profile on LinkedIn that meets the three C’s:  complete, correct and compelling?  If not, keep reading.  If you think you do, think again.  Unless you set up your Profile in the last few months, LinkedIn has added new sections which may not have existed when you set up your Profile.  Your Profile may not be complete. Continue reading →

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