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Make It Happen Tipsheet

  • Freakonomics

    Freakonomics

    I just finished reading another fascinating book: Freakonomics by Steven Levtitt and Stephen Dubner. This pair of authors (one an economics professor while the other an accomplished journalist) have probably done more to explain economics than any of the two-dozen-odd economics textbooks that I have in my library. Levitt's area [More]

  • Winning the Interview Beauty Contest

    Winning the Interview Beauty Contest

    How can you do better at job interviews? It's not about being "lucky", nor is it about winning a beauty contest, it's about preparation, presentation, and perseverance: Fish where the fish are: Only apply for those positions where you have a strong chance of success. Energy wasted with pointless applications [More]

  • Closing the Expectations Gap

    Closing the Expectations Gap

    Expectations matter.  I recently had the pleasure of spending time in Houston, Texas. The people were friendly, the weather was great, and the event was a success. I stayed in one of the nicer hotels, The Westin, which was convenient, but also because of a great prior experience there. They [More]

  • Stick to your Strengths

    Stick to your Strengths

    Have you ever wondered how a professional athlete chooses their sport? While they may have some natural ability, this isn't the whole story. Their path to stardom likely looks like this: They started early, They practiced relentlessly, They found a coach who cared, They loved what they did, and They [More]

  • Don’t Focus on Results

    Don’t Focus on Results

    Did you reach your quota? Have you completed that report? Did you win your case? How many people did you serve today? While you might be measured on different criteria, there is one common thread: each of these statements focuses on results. And focusing on results... results in, well, results. [More]

  • Good Job

    Good Job

    When was the last time your boss said "good job"? Of course, good leaders understand the importance of praise, and we always feel motivated when this happens. But is there a connection between doing a good job, and getting a better one? There is - but not in the way [More]

  • If you put your mind to it

    If you put your mind to it

    If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. How many times did you hear this from your mother, father, or favorite aunt or uncle? If you're like most people, you've heard this expression many times -- when you were growing up. (As an aside, how many times [More]

  • Hunters and Farmers

    Hunters and Farmers

    Sales managers use an interesting description for their salespeople: they are either farmers or hunters. Farmers sell more by cultivating existing relationships, while hunters sell more by developing completely new ones. Most people don't think of themselves as salespeople, but in truth, everyone has at least one thing to sell: [More]

  • Knowledge to Action

    Knowledge to Action

    When was the last time you read a good book? Or rather, when was the last time you read a good book that was good for you? No, not a trash novel, or even one that is mildly entertaining. What is a good book? It is one that moves you [More]

  • Give to Get

    Give to Get

    What goes through your mind when you get an unsolicited call from someone you met at an event several years ago? Typically, they ask you for something: an informational interview, a sales pitch, or perhaps an introduction to a third party. You think: Who is this person? Why are they [More]

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