Make It Happen
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Priorities

Tools of the Trade

by RandallCraig on January 3, 2012

Filed in: Blog, Career Planning, Make It Happen Tipsheet, Professional Development, Social Media

Tagged as: , , ,

If you are reading this and profess to have some expertise in Social Media, then you may be offended by my next comment: it soon won’t matter, and your “expertise” is fast becoming irrelevant. Your long term career is in jeopardy, and your short term prospects are also questionable.

Note that I didn’t say that Social Media is becoming irrelevant; exactly the opposite is true. If you value your Social Media expertise, consider the impact of these two converging trends:

  1. The general population – and certainly the business world – is fast approaching your level of knowledge. No one will be willing to listen to (or pay) for common knowledge.
  2. There is a dramatic shift from learning about Social Media, to learning about how Social Media can support real business goals. Core expertise (Strategy, Marketing, Finance, Sales, HR, Operations, etc.) has enduring value much more so than expertise on using a tool. While it is true that some people make their living as driving instructors (tool: car) and call center trainers (tool: telephone), at best these are niche professions.

This Week’s Action Plan: Unless you see your long-term career as a Social Media expert, it’s time to focus on the basics of your expertise, and not just a single tool of your trade, Social Media. This week, consider where you’re spending your time: If you’re spending too much time on the tools and not enough getting better in your core, then flip your priorities… or eventually become irrelevant.

Note: The Make It Happen Tipsheet is also available by email. Go to www.RandallCraig.com to register.

Randall Craig

www.RandallCraig.com
www.ptadvisors.com
www.ProfessionallySpeakingTV.com

The Social Benchmark

by RandallCraig on April 12, 2011

Filed in: Blog, Business Development, Make It Happen Tipsheet, Management, Strategy

Tagged as: , ,

In your professional field, who is the best at what they do? Chances are, you didn’t name yourself. This is not surprising – between personal modesty, and our competitive instinct to look over our shoulders, we will usually make the comparison to others.

Management experts will tell you this is wrong; that the correct approach is to focus on the customer:  if you meet your customer’s needs, then all will be well.  They are correct, but there is a powerful benefit to comparing yourself to your competitors: you gain insights into the market from a completely different perspective. You can examine their service approach – and possibly glean some insights that will make you even better.

In fact, the quest to be the best can only happen when you incorporate the best ideas – no matter the source.  This practice is called Benchmarking. It is useful in strategy, in marketing, in Social Media, and even on a personal level.  Disregarding (or ignoring) great ideas just because they come from competitors, junior members of the team, or from the web is silly.

This week’s action plan: Whatever task you are doing this week, take a minute to do some benchmarking: First, choose your comparators. Then find out what they’re doing. Finally, extract what is applicable, and make it your own.

Additional Insight: A common problem occurs when you choose the wrong comparators. Merely comparing yourself against the usual (and often average) suspects means a usual and average result.

Note: The Make It Happen Tipsheet is also available by email. Go to www.RandallCraig.com to register.

Randall Craig
www.RandallCraig.com
www.ptadvisors.com

Leave it til later

by RandallCraig April 28, 2009

Most people have no problem doing tomorrow what could have been done today. In fact, many spend their entire careers getting good at procrastinating. We know this isn’t healthy, so we do what we can to improve – we invent motivating slogans: Get it done! Just do it! Start your engines! Even the name of [...]

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Urgent vs. Important

by RandallCraig September 16, 2008

We are a society looking for instant gratification. When a customer calls, we rush to meet their needs. When we check into a hotel, we expect prompt, courteous service. When we drive our cars, we always take the shortest routes – at the fastest speeds. And when we do a great job, we want to [...]

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Mission Possible

by RandallCraig April 8, 2008

What would you do if you could have five “free” years to do whatever you like? Would you pick up a musical instrument? Would you spend more time building relationships with your friends and family? What would you do if you could re-do your education completely? What would you do if you could choose a [...]

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The Hare and the Fox

by RandallCraig July 25, 2006

An old master was with his disciple walking in the woods, when they observed a hare being chased by a fox. The student observed that it would not be long before the hare would be caught, and eaten by the faster (and probably smarter) fox. The master replied that this particular rabbit would get away, [...]

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