9 Proven Sales Tips for Introverts

9 Proven Sales Tips for Introverts

BY GRANT CARDONE | January 3, 2013




image credit: Shutterstock

Meet me at a party and I won't have a lot to say. Sit next to me on a cross-country flight and I may not say a word to you the entire trip.

I am an introvert.

It has never been easy for me to start a conversation with people I don't know. But you wouldn't know it if you saw me on a Google Hangout, in a TV interview or at one of my sales seminars. When I got out of college I was terrified to go on a job interview until I realized employers weren't going to come to my house and hire me. At 23, I sold cars for seven years and never got comfortable saying hello to a customer. Yet I still figured out how to reach the top 1 percent of all the salespeople in the auto industry.

We can all be introverts or extroverts, depending on the situation. I know people who would be viewed as extroverts at a party they host, but when they are guests at a party where they know no one, they appear to be introverts. As a professional speaker and educator, I become extroverted in order to deliver information, but when I attend seminars I am much more introverted.

So, how do you become extroverted in a sales situation when you are not naturally comfortable with it?

This is what I do to step out of my comfort zone:

Get passionate. I become so excited about what I'm selling that I have to share it with the world. Becoming passionate about your product or service makes you less interested in how you are perceived and more concerned about showing excitement about what you have to offer.

Do one thing a day that you fear. It’s very important for me do the things that make me most uncomfortable. You need to be courageous and make a point of facing your fears, no matter how big or small. The single scariest thing for me was visiting my customers or prospects in person. So that is exactly what I did first thing every day to get over my fear. It instilled courage in me, belief in myself and changed my focus from limitations to possibilities.

Be so persistent you get criticized for it. In life and in business, especially sales, you won’t become successful if you never get criticized. Follow up on customers so much that they actually complain about it, and once they do, keep following up until they admire you for your persistence. If you believe in your product, company and yourself, then you will be willing to insist—and risk being criticized for it.

Say hello to everyone you pass. I refuse to walk past any person without acknowledging him or her. I force myself to look everyone in the eyes and say hello. This builds a muscle enabling me to decide at will when I want to be extroverted, whether in a sales call or other situation.

Observe people for their differences. After a series of failed sales calls, you may start to see all prospects as likely rejections. What you need to do is take a moment and observe how people are different from one another. This will stop you from thinking that everyone is going to respond the same way your last few prospects did.


Force yourself to be in public. Step out of your home and office often so you can socialize with people. When I move to a new city, I will go to the same place over and over until I am comfortable and know everyone there. I have done this same thing with my children, bringing them to the same grocery store every morning until they could talk to the people working there as family.

Deliver public speaking engagements. The only way to become comfortable speaking to people is to get in front of audiences. Join a supportive group such as Toastmasters International where everyone is learning how to speak in front of others.

Stay busy. When you're constantly on the go, you don't have time to be uncomfortable. You have to ask for help, get help and talk to people because you are running from one sales meeting or event to the next. So, get moving.

Help other people make sales. Anytime I go a few days without making a sale for myself, I immediately offer my help to other salespeople because it’s a great way to get outside yourself. After several failures to close, a salesperson can become introverted and anxious. But by working with someone else's prospective customers and having nothing to lose yourself, you will feel more relaxed and regain your confidence. Once you score a sale for someone else, it’s back to your own prospects again.

3 Golden Rules of Negotiating

3 Golden Rules of Negotiating

BY GRANT CARDONE




image credit: shutterstock

The art of negotiating escapes most of us, even good salespeople, because few take the time to correctly understand the word and follow the golden rules of negotiating.

The first and biggest error is a misunderstanding of the word. When I ask people at my Closers workshop what the word “negotiating” means, I get answers like, "how good a deal can I get" and "how cheap can I buy." For many people, it’s a process of painful tactics of stall and overcome or a give and take mostly involving the surrender of price and terms.

“Negotiate” comes from the Latin negotiatus, which is the past participle of negotiari, and means to carry on business. This original meaning is critical to understand because the goal of negotiating is to continue doing business by conferring with another to arrive at an agreement.

So, scrap the notion that negotiating means lowering the price to reach an agreement. A lower price does not make for a better deal; it only makes for less margin for you and your company. Your goal is to come to an agreement about a proposal, and the way to do this is to build value in your offer. The solution your product or service offers is the focal point of negotiations, not the price.

Here are three of my 12 golden rules, which I won’t allow myself to violate in any negotiation, whether simple or complex:

1. Always Start the Negotiations. You must initiate the process because whoever controls the start of the negotiations tends to control where they end. If you let the other party start negotiations, you will be constantly giving up control, often without even realizing it. For instance, when you ask someone what his project budget is, you are allowing him to start the negotiations. You will then spend your time chasing his number rather than finding the best solution. When I sit down to work out an agreement on the numbers involved in the decision, I will even interrupt to prevent the other side from controlling the starting point. Sounds bizarre, but that is how important starting the transaction is. I once had a client who wanted to offer his terms upfront. I politely said, "Excuse me, I appreciate your willingness to tell me what you can do and would like just a moment to share with you what I have put together for you. If it doesn't work, then please tell me." This allowed me to control the starting point.

2. Always Negotiate in Writing. I see so many professional salespeople make the mistake of discussing and working on the terms of an agreement without ever committing their ideas to a written agreement. But the purpose of negotiations is to arrive at a formal written agreement, not tell a story or spend time talking. From the first moment I make a proposal, I refer to a document that is being created in front of the client. It includes all the points of agreement and becomes real to the prospective customer. Negotiating first and then having to create a document adds unnecessary time to a transaction. But if you build your written agreement as you negotiate, you are prepared to ask for a signature the moment the decision to buy is made.

3. Always Stay Cool. The negotiation table can be loaded with agendas, egos and emotions. Great negotiators know how to stay cool, providing leadership and solutions, while the rest of the room becomes insanely invested in personal agendas and useless emotions. Crying, getting angry, name calling and blowing off steam may make you feel good, but such behavior will not benefit you while negotiating. When the rest of the room gets emotional, stay cool like Spock and use logic to negotiate and close.


Read more stories about: Sales, Negotiating, Grant Cardone

The Brazilian Treehopper may be the strangest creature we’ve ever laid eyes on

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JAN 14, 2013 8:05 AM59,095 104

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The Brazilian Treehopper may be the strangest creature we’ve ever laid eyes on
Robert T. Gonzalez

Because holy crap, just look at that headgear. Everyone, meet Bocydium globulare. Better known as the Brazilian treehopper, B. globulare excels at living a solitary life, hanging out on the leaves ofglory bushes, and head-sphering its way into your nightmares.

The Brazilian treehopper is 100% real, but the image up top is of a beautifully crafted model, created by legendary science sculptor Alfred Keller (1902—1955). Over on Why Evolution is True, Jerry Coyne reflects on a 2010 Nature profile on Keller (warning: paywall), his sculptures, and the utter weirdness of B. globulare.

"The first thing a biologist does on seeing a model like this is think, 'This can't be real,' and resorts to some Googling," writes Coyne. "Sure enough, it's a real insect."

He continues:

The second thing one asks is, "What the bloody hell is all that ornamentation on the thorax?" (Note that the "balls" on the antenna-like structure aren't eyes, but simply spheres of chitin.) A first guess is that it's a sexually-selected trait, but those are often limited to males, and these creatures (and the ones below) show the ornaments in both sexes. [Art Historian Martin Kemp, an expert on visualization in art and science] hypothesizes-and this seems quite reasonable-that "the hollow globes, like the remarkable excrescences exhibited by other treehoppers, probably deter predators." It would be hard to grab, much less chow down on, a beast with all those spines and excrescences.

Note, though, that the ornament sports many bristles. If these are sensory bristles, and not just deterrents to predation or irritating spines, then the ornament may have an unknown tactile function.


Full size



See more photos of living treehoppers like the one pictured above — along with several other photos of membracids, the headgeared group of insects to which Bocydium globulare belongs — over on Why Evolution Is True.

See also: this gallery of weird treehopper insects, courtesy of New Scientist, and this series of amazing membracid photographs by photographer Patrick Landmann.
Tip of the peduncular hat to Maria!
Top image of a sculpture by Alfred Keller; photo of live treehopper by Patrick Landmann

FYI: Why Would Someone Create A Fake Internet Girlfriend?

FYI: Why Would Someone Create A Fake Internet Girlfriend?
Put some people in front of a screen, and they won't always reveal the most truthful information.
By Colin LecherPosted 01.18.2013 at 5:30 pm3 Comments


Manti Te’o US Presswire

This week, Deadspin broke the news that Notre Dame football star Manti Te'o's dead girlfriend--one of the most heartbreaking sports stories of last year--was a hoax. The fake girlfriend was created by a 22-year-old guy named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. Turns out, Tuiasosopo might've engineered other false personalities, too. We had to ask: What would make someone do that?

The short answer is, some people look at the internet and, subconsciously, see a chance to experiment with identities, free of consequences. Those people can be shy or outgoing, cheerleader or geek, but there seems to be some kind of personality type that changes when given a megaphone and the shelter of anonymity. We don't know who, exactly, will be the ones to open up--it's even debatable if it's an "opening up" or a chance to act out of character--but for some reason, there's a small segment of the population that's prone to deception, given the right forum.

Sure, everyone lies a little. Technology has--and has always--helped us fudge the truth. Jeremy Birnholtz, an assistant professor at Northwestern University, studies so-called "butler lies," small fibs created by the ambiguity of technology or gadgets in the vein of a butler telling a visitor the master isn't available. Running late? Tell your friend his text didn't go through; he's got no way to pin it on you, anyway. A face-to-face conversation takes away some of that ambiguity.

If we wanted to extrapolate to bigger lies, we can look at a related, widely cited theory about anonymity: the online disinhibition effect. It's worth reading the entire article, but the short version says giving people a platform--especially one where they're invisible--is enough to make them act out. What we can't say for sure is who's going to exhibit the effect. The paper's author, John Suler of Rider University, explains why:
Personality styles [vary] greatly in the strength of defense mechanisms and tendencies towards inhibition or expression. People with histrionic styles tend to be very open and emotional, whereas compulsive people are more restrained. The online disinhibition effect will interact with these personality variables, in some cases resulting in a small deviation from the person’s baseline (offline) behavior, while in other cases causing dramatic changes. Future research can focus on which people, under what circumstances, are more predisposed to the various elements of online disinhibition.

One of the pillars of Suler's theory is the "minimization of status and authority," the idea that everyone is equal in front of a screen.One of the pillars of his theory is the "minimization of status and authority," the idea that everyone is equal in front of a screen, and it makes sense that someone less concerned with authority might be more likely to lie.

What's more, Birnholtz explains, social media has made lies more viable by changing our expectations for truth. He says the leading theory of online identity used to be reminiscent of the old New Yorkercartoon: "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." In other words: people use the web to try out a different identity.

But recent research shows that's not what's happening, Birnholtz says. People, for the most part, just want to be themselves online. In fact, the truth is the rule, not the exception, for the most popular forms of social media.

That guy with a throw-away account in the comments section or on Reddit could be a doctor, sure, but most people aren't banking on that. Take Facebook. It's a supremely self-correcting ecosystem. You can lie, but the expectation for truth is high enough that the lie will be pointed out. In other words, so many people aren't lying that users are primed to expect the truth. All of those fake share-this-to-donate-money links on the social web keep getting shared for a reason.

It's a tangled web we weave: Yes, (some) people are more likely to act out, and deceive, on the internet. Today's internet is more widely self-correcting, but at the same time, a subconscious expectation of truth might make us less prepared when a lie does come. Might not be such a bad idea to always assume you're talking with a dog.Put some people in front of a screen, and they won't always reveal the most truthful information.
By Colin LecherPosted 01.18.2013 at 5:30 pm3 Comments


Manti Te’o US Presswire

This week, Deadspin broke the news that Notre Dame football star Manti Te'o's dead girlfriend--one of the most heartbreaking sports stories of last year--was a hoax. The fake girlfriend was created by a 22-year-old guy named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. Turns out, Tuiasosopo might've engineered other false personalities, too. We had to ask: What would make someone do that?

The short answer is, some people look at the internet and, subconsciously, see a chance to experiment with identities, free of consequences. Those people can be shy or outgoing, cheerleader or geek, but there seems to be some kind of personality type that changes when given a megaphone and the shelter of anonymity. We don't know who, exactly, will be the ones to open up--it's even debatable if it's an "opening up" or a chance to act out of character--but for some reason, there's a small segment of the population that's prone to deception, given the right forum.

Sure, everyone lies a little. Technology has--and has always--helped us fudge the truth. Jeremy Birnholtz, an assistant professor at Northwestern University, studies so-called "butler lies," small fibs created by the ambiguity of technology or gadgets in the vein of a butler telling a visitor the master isn't available. Running late? Tell your friend his text didn't go through; he's got no way to pin it on you, anyway. A face-to-face conversation takes away some of that ambiguity.

If we wanted to extrapolate to bigger lies, we can look at a related, widely cited theory about anonymity: the online disinhibition effect. It's worth reading the entire article, but the short version says giving people a platform--especially one where they're invisible--is enough to make them act out. What we can't say for sure is who's going to exhibit the effect. The paper's author, John Suler of Rider University, explains why:
Personality styles [vary] greatly in the strength of defense mechanisms and tendencies towards inhibition or expression. People with histrionic styles tend to be very open and emotional, whereas compulsive people are more restrained. The online disinhibition effect will interact with these personality variables, in some cases resulting in a small deviation from the person’s baseline (offline) behavior, while in other cases causing dramatic changes. Future research can focus on which people, under what circumstances, are more predisposed to the various elements of online disinhibition.

One of the pillars of Suler's theory is the "minimization of status and authority," the idea that everyone is equal in front of a screen.One of the pillars of his theory is the "minimization of status and authority," the idea that everyone is equal in front of a screen, and it makes sense that someone less concerned with authority might be more likely to lie.

What's more, Birnholtz explains, social media has made lies more viable by changing our expectations for truth. He says the leading theory of online identity used to be reminiscent of the old New Yorkercartoon: "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." In other words: people use the web to try out a different identity.

But recent research shows that's not what's happening, Birnholtz says. People, for the most part, just want to be themselves online. In fact, the truth is the rule, not the exception, for the most popular forms of social media.

That guy with a throw-away account in the comments section or on Reddit could be a doctor, sure, but most people aren't banking on that. Take Facebook. It's a supremely self-correcting ecosystem. You can lie, but the expectation for truth is high enough that the lie will be pointed out. In other words, so many people aren't lying that users are primed to expect the truth. All of those fake share-this-to-donate-money links on the social web keep getting shared for a reason.

It's a tangled web we weave: Yes, (some) people are more likely to act out, and deceive, on the internet. Today's internet is more widely self-correcting, but at the same time, a subconscious expectation of truth might make us less prepared when a lie does come. Might not be such a bad idea to always assume you're talking with a dog.

8 Ways to Come Up With a Business Idea

8 Ways to Come Up With a Business Idea

BY JANE PORTER




The start of the year is a great time to gear up to start a business. But, of course, you first need to figure out a winning concept. "You have to come up with a lot of ideas to be successful," says Stephen Key, cofounder of the website inventright.com based in Glenbrook, Nev., and author of One Simple Idea for Startups and Entrepreneurs: Live Your Dreams and Create Your Own Profitable Company, (McGraw-Hill, 2012).

Key, who has licensed more than 20 products in the last 25 years, says he generates ideas by finding different ways to engage his mind, from walking the aisles of stores to brainstorming about holes in the marketplace.

Here are eight techniques from Key and other experts that could help get your creative juices flowing:

Ask yourself, "What's next?"
Successful business ideas are often ahead of the curve. Think about trends and technologies on the horizon and how you might move into those areas, says Sergio Monsalve, partner at Norwest Venture Partners, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based venture capital group. He suggests, for example, thinking about innovations related to the living room and home entertainment systems now that companies like Apple are developing new television technologies. "What can that mean in terms of new ways to live in your house and be entertained?" he says.

Related: How to Turn a Worthless Business Idea into a Million-Dollar Startup

Do something about what bugs you.
When Colin Barceloux was in college, he thought textbooks cost far too much. In 2007, two years after graduating, he decided to take action and founded Bookrenter.com, a San Mateo, Calif.-based business that offers textbook rentals at about a 60 percent discount. What began as a one-man operation created out of frustration now has 1.5 million users and 200 employees. "You just have to look at what frustrates you," he says. "There's your business idea right there."

Look for new niches.
Your business idea doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. Take a look at what some of the big players in an industry are missing and figure out if you can fill the gaps, Key says. In 2003, for instance, he started the company Hot Picks, now based in San Jose, Calif., after realizing the major brands in the guitar pick industry weren't offering collectible novelty picks. Key designed a skull-shaped pick that filled an empty niche and was sold in 1,000 stores, including Wal-Mart and 7-Eleven. "The big guys leave a tremendous amount of opportunity on the table," he says.

Apply your skills to an entirely new field.
Think about your skills and whether they might be useful in a new area, suggests Bill Fischer, professor ofinnovation management 
at IMD
, the top-rated Swiss business school, and co-author of The Idea Hunter: How to Find the Best Ideas and Make them Happen (Jossey-Bass, 2011). Consider, for example, JMC Soundboard, a Switzerland-based company that builds high-end loudspeakers. Jeanmichel Capt invented the speaker by applying his experience building guitars as a luthier, using the same resonance spruce to create a loudspeaker that produces a high-quality sound and looks like a sleek wood panel. There's also Providence, R.I.-based Dear Kate, a company founded by Julie Sygiel, who used her training in chemical engineering to create a stain-resistant, leak-proof underwear material that active women can use without worrying about menstrual leakage during a workout.

Related: Zipcar Timeline: From Business Idea to IPO to $500 Million Buyout

Find a category lacking recent innovations.
When coming up with ideas, Key likes to identify markets that haven't had many recent innovations. For example, when he realized there were few new developments in the product information label business, he created Spinformation, a label consisting of two layers—a top layer that rotates with open panels through which you can see, and a bottom label that you can read by spinning the top layer over it. Companies needing to fit more information about a medication, for example, could use the extra label space for the details.

Make a cheaper version of an existing product.
Companies often get their start by offering customers an existing product at a lower price. Take Warby Parker, an eyeglasses company launched in 2010 by four business school friends. The New York-based business sells prescription glasses, which are typically priced at $300 or more, for $95. Since its launch, it has grown to 100 employees.

Related Video: Warby Parker and Inspired Vision

Talk to shoppers.
To come up with an idea that meets people's needs, there's no better way than by talking to shoppers. If you are interested in mountain bikes, hang out in the aisles of sports and bike shops and ask customers what they wish they could find in the marketplace. If you're interested in developing an e-commerce business, consider sending an online survey to potential customers to learn about their needs and interests.

Play the mix and match game.
Walk up and down the aisles of a drug, hardware or toy store combining two products across the aisle from each other into one, Key says. That should spark quite a few ideas, but be prepared for most of them to be bad. "You will come up with all these horrible ideas, and every once in a while you will find some brilliant idea out there," he says.

Read more stories about: Business ideas, Starting a business

6 ways to kill your chances in the interview

6 ways to kill your chances in the interview
January 17th, 2013
By Susan Ricker


From applicant tracking systems toappropriate résumés, there are more than enough hurdles to overcome before making it to the interview in a job search. However, this may feel like the greatest challenge for some job seekers, as many have come out of interviews without the slightest clue how it went.

CareerBuilder surveyed hiring managers to find out what’s going on in job interviews and why a promising candidate for a job may not get picked. Six major factors were a part of why interviews go badly for some, and while these mistakes may not seem substantial on their own, the job market is still too competitive to allow these simple errors. Learn from these six ways to kill your chances in the interview and how to avoid certain death.

When asked to identify the top detrimental mistakes in job interviews, hiring managers reported:

Mistake No. 1: Appearing disinterested is a top turnoff, according to 62 percentof employers.
Tip: Body language and how you respond to the interviewer’s questions may be sending a different message than what you mean. Be attentive during the interview, sit up straight and make eye contact with your interviewer. Also take your time responding to give thoughtful answers that will make it clear you’re interested.

Mistake No. 2: Answering a cell phone or texting – 60 percent
Tip: As soon as you enter the company’s building or the site for your interview, turn your phone off and put it away. While it may be tempting to use your phone while you’re waiting or leave it on silent, don’t risk your chances of getting the job because you wanted to check your phone. Give your attention to the interview and focus.

Mistake No. 3: Dressing inappropriately – 60 percent
Tip: While what you wear on the job will vary by industry and company, the standard and most appropriate look for a job interview is a business suit or a version of “business casual,” a collared shirt and dress pants. You should look and feel professional so both you and the interviewer can focus on your answers and not your clothing.

Mistake No. 4: Talking negatively about a current or previous employer – 58 percent
Tip: Interview answers walk a fine line between appreciating your past employers and making it clear that this job opportunity is preferable. Stay positive during your interview and concentrate on how your past roles and employers have prepared you for this current role, and if you do have a negative experience, keep your answer short and end on a positive, like what you learned and have done better since.

Mistake No. 5: Failure to make eye contact (72 percent) or smile (42 percent), bad posture (38 percent) and a weak handshake (28 percent)
Tip: While a certain amount of stress is understandable for an interview, do your best to appear confident and friendly by preparing for your interview and practicing your answers ahead of time. When you feel adequately prepared, your confidence and smart answers will wow the hiring manager.

Mistake No. 6: Not providing specific examples – 34 percent
Tip: When answering your interviewer’s questions, remember that they’re trying to make a smart business decision about who to hire. While you may feel that you’re the most creative, capable and task-oriented candidate, it’s better to provide quantifiable proof of your worth, like how much new business you brought in or the top ways you saved your company money.

What else can job seekers do to prepare for interviews? “A job interview can be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences out there, so it’s important to plan and practice,” says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “Have a friend run through a mock interview with you, asking questions you think will come up and some curve balls you’re not expecting. Thoroughly research the company ahead of time and draft responses that incorporate your accomplishments. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to run into mishaps.”

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Firearms Refresher Course

Ben Ferguson Show

Firearms Refresher Course
1. "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~Thomas Jefferson
2. "Those who trade liberty for security have neither." ~ John Adams
3. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
4. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
5. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
6. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
7. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
8. Know guns, know peace, know safety.
No guns, no peace, no safety.
9. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
10. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
11. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
12. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.
13. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.
14. What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you NOT understand?
15. Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.
16. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves to the government, criminals, and street gangs.
17. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

"I love this country, it's the government I'm afraid of."

Magnifications of sharp objects

Hypodermic Needle with blood

Sewing Needle before and after

Bee Sting and Needle

Rattlesnake Fang

Blood cell on needle tip

Hypodermic Needle with blood cells

Record Needle

Hedgehog Quill

Record Needle

Mosquito Mouth

Hypodermic Needle

Hypodermic Needle

hypodermic Needle piercing skin

Hypodermic Needle

Spider Fang

Staple in paper

How to Answer the Top 10 Interview Questions

How to Answer the Top 10 Interview Questions




By: Jennifer Kumar

We all know that good preparation is the key to success at interview. One aspect of this is thinking through the type of questions you are likely to be asked and having a killer answer up your sleeve. To get you started, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most comon questions asked at interview and some pointers on the kind of approach you could take to answer them.

1) “Tell me about yourself”

Here, your ability to think on your feet is being tested with a deliberately vague and open ended question. Simply outline several of your strong points and accomplishments and don’t be disconcerted if the interviewer remains silent when you pause. If you get really stuck think how your best friend would describe you! If you are relatively new to the job market, tell them about your educational achievements. Excellent grades, academic prizes or winning a scholarship are all good qualifications. Extra-curricular activities can also be selling points for some jobs. When you’ve run through your strong points, briefly sum them up then stop talking. If the interviewer continues to pause, stay silent and patiently wait for the next remark. He or she may be mulling over what you’ve said, or be testing your reaction to stress.

2) “What qualifies you for this job?”

Employers are looking for a fluent description of your background. To impress the interviewer with your quickness and intelligence memorise the key facts and dates on your CV, then prepare some success stories for each and drop them in casually as though they were spontaneous thoughts. Always make your opening line your most major achievement – it is often what makes the biggest impression.

3) “Why do you want to work for this organisation?”

Being unfamiliar with the organisation will spoil your chances with 75% of interviewers, according to one survey, so take this chance to show you have done your preparation and know the company inside and out. You will now have the chance to demonstrate that you’ve done your research, so reply mentioning all the positive things you have found out about the organisation and its sector etc. This means you’ll have an enjoyable work environment and stability of employment etc – everything that brings out the best in you.

4) “Why do you wish to leave your present job?”


By: Mathieu Bouchard

Never say anything negative about your present employer and don’t mention money as a motivator either. The interviewer will reason that if you’re prepared to leave one organisation for money, you might leave his/her company if another waved a bigger pay cheque in front of you. The safest track to take is to indicate a desire for greater responsibility and challenge, or the opportunity to use talents you feel are under-used. Make sure your abilities are relevant.

5. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?”

Replying ‘in your chair’ is dangerous!

A few managers might be intrigued or amused but many will be annoyed by your arrogance or intimidated by the fact that you may be right. Mentioning any specific goal can be risky as it may not fit into the career path in that particular organisation, or may cause concern that you’ll be discontent until your goal is achieved. Instead, frame your reply along these lines:


I would hope that by then my hard work and enthusiasm would have led to increased recognition and responsibility within the organisation.

6. “What sort of salary are you looking for?”

When you’re talking about money, never describe your salary demands as what you actually need but rather as what the job is worth. Always give a range (e.g. £40,000 to £45,000). If you’re unsure of what the job should pay give your current salary and state “but money isn’t my motivation for changing jobs”. Since organisations use your current salary as a guide line as a basis of what to offer remember to include bonus, annual raises if you are about to receive one etc.

7. “What are your weaknesses?”

The best “weaknesses” are disguised as strengths, such as “I dislike not being challenged at work”. Another good approach is to mention a weakness that is irrelevent for the job or one that can be overcome with training. Try to keep these to one weakness, explaining why you think it is a weakness and what you are doing to overcome the problem – a well thought out strategy you have developed to deal with the issue will turn this potentially tricky question into a positive.

One common variation on this question is to ask about any problems or failures you’ve encountered in previous positions. In describing problems, pick ones you’ve solved and describe how you overcame it. Show yourself to be a good team player by crediting co-workers for all their contributions. To distance yourself from failure, pick one that occurred earlier in your career when you were still learning. Don’t blame others – simply explain how you analysed your mistake and learned from it.

8. “What’s the worst problem you’ve ever faced?”

Here the interviewer is offering you the two ways to trip yourself up:
First of all, the question doesn’t confine itself to the workplace, so there is temptation to reveal a personal problem. Don’t! Restrict yourself to employment matters only.
Second, you are being asked to reveal a weakness or error again. You must have a good response ready for this question, one which shows how well you reacted when everything depended on it.

Always show a problem you have solved and concentrate your answer on the solution not the problem.

9. “What are your strengths?”

Your answer should highlight the qualities that will help you succeed in this particular job. (Back up each point with something specific). Give examples and quantify how your strengths benefited your previous employers. You should also demonstrate reliability, and the ability to stick with a difficult task yet change courses rapidly when required.

10. “How would you describe a typical day in your current job?”

You are eager to look good but don’t make the common mistake of exaggerating your current position. Mentioning some of the routine tasks in your day adds realism to your description and show that you don’t neglect important details such as paperwork. Put yourself in the interviewer’s place as your answer. When you’ve been doing a job for years it becomes second nature to you, and you must be aware of all the tasks you undertake. You should spend a few days making notes of your activities at work to regain an outsider’s perspective. Try to show that you make good use of your time, that you plan before you begin your work and that you review your achievements at the end of it.

Gill Buchanan is co-founder and director of Pure Resourcing Solutions, which specialises in permanent and temporary recruitment and retention solutions in the Accountancy, Financial Services, HR, Marketing and Office recruitment markets. Gill has gained over 20 years specialist recruitment expertise working in Sydney, Australia and in Cambridge.

How to Answer the Top 10 Interview Questions The Undercover Recruiter - Recruitment and Career Secrets Revealed

The 11 Fastest Growing Industries In The U.S.

The 11 Fastest Growing Industries In The U.S.
By Business Insider
Posted Jan 11th 2013 @ 7:36AM




By Sam Ro


Sageworks, the financial information company is out with its list of fast growing industries in America.

"With manufacturing having played a pivotal role in the economic recovery, it's no surprise that several manufacturing industries are among the strongest growing over the last 12 months, based on current estimates," they write.

"It's possible that those are tied together as businesses have started to use some of their cash to invest in needed equipment and upgrades," said Sageworks analyst Brad Schaefer. "All of those took really big hits in 2009 because companies weren't investing in a lot of equipment."



More: 10 Most Stressful Jobs In The U.S.Of the top 11 industries, employment services stands out as the one requiring the least amount of manual labor.

"I see the employment services industry doing fairly well again, just because a lot of people are still uncertain about the economy and the political atmosphere, which contributes to businesses hiring temporary or contract workers instead of full-time employees," said Schaefer. "I don't think that's something that'll go away for the next year."

Here's a table of the jobs:

Don't Move Here: 5 Cities With The Highest Unemployment

By Business Insider
Posted Jan 11th 2013 @ 8:47AM




By Vivian Giang


At the end of 2012, the U.S. national unemployment rate was 7.8 percent and the country added 155,000 jobs in December, but these numbers still reflect a troubling economy with a long way to go.

"This shows the depth of the recent employment recession -- worse than any other post-war recession -- and the relatively slow recovery due to the lingering effects of the housing bust and financial crisis," writes Bill McBride of Calculated Risk.

According to a brand new BLS employment report, unemployment rates were lower in 322 out of 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 36 areas and unchanged in 14 areas compared to the same time last year. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., recorded the highest unemployment rates at 27.5 and 26.6 percent -- both cities have a large immigrant and migrant farm worker population.



More: Jobs Report: Unemployment Rate Holds Steady At 7.8%The largest unemployment rate drop (-3.2 percent) took place in Pascagoula, Miss., and Bismarck, N.D., registered the lowest unemployment rate at 2.6 percent. In the new year, President Obama is planning on creating 1.1 million jobs from the American Job Acts, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

The BLS data isn't adjusted for seasonal factors, such as hiring during the holidays. The list below compares the unemployment numbers in these hard-hit cities to regional statistics:


1. Yuma, Ariz.

Yuma
Percent Unemployed: 27.5%
No. Unemployed: 24,800
Arizona
Percent Unemployed: 7.5%
No. Unemployed: 227,600

2. El Centro, Calif.

El Centro
Percent Unemployed: 26.6%
No. Unemployed: 20,600
California
Percent Unemployed: 9.6%
No. Unemployed: 1.77 million



More: European Unemployment Hits Record High3. Yauco, P.R.

Yauco
Percent Unemployed: 16.3%
No. Unemployed: 5,800
Puerto Rico
Percent Unemployed: 13.2%
No. Unemployed: 167,300

4. Yuba City, Calif.

Yuba City
Percent Unemployed: 15.8%
No. Unemployed: 10,900
California
Percent Unemployed: 9.6%
No. Unemployed: 1.77 million

5. Merced, Calif.

Merced
Percent Unemployed: 15.7%
No. Unemployed: 17,200
California
Percent Unemployed: 9.6%
No. Unemployed: 1.77 million

The Right (and Wrong) Way to Ask Someone to be a Reference

The Right (and Wrong) Way to Ask Someone to be a Reference
by Anne Pushkal — January 11, 2013




“Iris listed you as a reference,” the caller said. My stomach dropped—Iris hadn’t said anything to me about job hunting, had she? I waffled. “Umm, I’d like to help you, but can you give me a little more information about the job she’s applying for?” The caller refused, citing privacy laws, and hung up—without my recommendation.

Iris was my former employee, and I would gladly have recommended her if I’d had any warning, but caught off guard, I fumbled. Iris had made one of the biggest blunders a job seeker can make: She provided references without checking with them first, setting herself up to look less-than-stellar when those references were called. Needless to say, she didn’t get the job.

You’ve already done the hard work of earning good references. So how do you make sure you don’t make Iris’ mistake—and that your references work for you, not against? When it comes time to provide their names and contact info, follow these simple steps.


Start Yesterday

The hiring process can unfold pretty quickly, so before you even start applying, make a list of anyone you might ask for a recommendation: your direct supervisors from jobs or internships, key co-workers, or even people you’ve supervised, all of whom should know you and your work well. A volunteer position can also yield excellent references.

Then, narrow down your list. You’ll generally need two or three references for any given job, but you might want to have one or two more lined up, since some may be more appropriate for certain jobs or skill sets.


Choose Wisely

When you select references, choose people who will speak well of your qualifications, accomplishments, and character—and who are articulate and can explain them clearly to a recruiter. Recent references are best, although there are exceptions. If a past job is especially relevant to the one you’re applying for, you’ll want to include someone who supervised you there.

Or, if you didn’t see eye-to-eye with a recent supervisor, choose someone else from the same organization who has a more positive view of your performance. If the recruiter asks, you can say (truthfully) that this is the person who knows your work best.


Ask Nicely

Once you’ve made your wish list, call each of these people (or see them in person if you can) to ask if they’re willing to serve as a reference. Email only if you must—it’s much less personal, and also less immediate. If it’s been a while since you’ve spoken to a prospective reference, briefly remind him or her of who you are and what you worked on together, and fill him or her in on your current career direction.

Most importantly, always frame your request in a way that allows the reference to refuse gracefully—for example, “Would you be comfortable serving as a reference in my upcoming job hunt?” or “Do you have time in the next few weeks to serve as my reference?”

If your prospective reference shows any hesitation, accept this politely, thank her, and move on to the next person on your list. Never, ever pressure a reluctant reference, unless you want to experience the Limp Recommendation of Death—potential employers often view even a neutral reference as negative. Ideally, you want your new boss to worry that your former supervisors might trample each other for a chance to say how great you are.


Make it Easy

Once someone agrees to serve as a reference, give him or her an idea of what type of position you’re applying for (you can even shoot over the job description) and what skills and qualities you’d like to showcase. It’s also helpful to email your references your resume, along with other information to refresh their memories of your successes, such as projects you worked on or reports you created. But keep it brief—your reference is busy. In any case, while a little memory-jogging context is helpful, his or her own recollections of your awesomeness will be more credible than a script that sounds like your cover letter.

Be sure to take a moment to confirm your references’ current titles and contact information, and ask how they prefer to be contacted by the recruiter.


Keep it Simple

Once you have your supporters lined up, prepare your reference list, a simple document that matches the font and style of your resume and cover letter. For each reference, include a name, title, organization, division or department, telephone number, and email address, as well as a sentence briefly explaining the relationship (e.g., “Carlton was my team leader for two years, during which we collaborated on four major product launches”).

Then, when you speak to a hiring manager, have your reference list ready—but don’t volunteer it or send it with your application unless your prospective employer asks for it. If your employer isn’t looking for references, there’s no reason to give out this list.


Follow Up

Demonstrate your savoir-faire by thanking each reference with a handwritten note soon after they agree to help you. Make sure to let them know immediately each time you submit their name as a reference, so they’ll be ready if they’re called (email is fine for this). And when you score that sweet new spot, or even if you don’t, make sure you let your references know the outcome—people like to know what’s happened in a process they’ve been involved in, and following up with an update is part of maintaining a good relationship for the long-term.

So keep the relationship healthy and show your appreciation—remember, you may need to ask your references for something again one day.

Read more: http://www.thedailymuse.com/job-search/the-right-and-wrong-way-to-ask-someone-to-be-a-reference/#ixzz2Hggazmpr

What You Should Know About Working With A Recruiter

What You Should Know About Working With A Recruiter
By CareerBuilder
Posted Jan 11th 2013 @ 8:23AM



By Debra Auerbach


In today's competitive job market, many job seekers would welcome additional job-search assistance. While some job seekers know exactly what they want to do or where they want to work, others need some direction. Recruiters can be a great resource, yet some job seekers aren't aware of who they are, what recruiters do and how best to work with them.

The following Q&A with DeLynn Senna, executive director, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, provides insight into the advantages of working with a recruiter.


Q: What does a recruiter at a staffing agency do?
Senna: First and foremost, recruiters help people find jobs. Staffing professionals identify matches for candidates with client companies, looking for a fit from both a skills and a corporate culture perspective. Because they have a thorough understanding of what their clients look for in applicants, recruiters make the job search quicker and more efficient. Through their networks, recruiters also are able to target specific companies where candidates would like to work. The services recruiters provide don't end there, however. For instance, they help candidates hone their résumés, prepare for interviews and manage salary negotiations.


Q: Why would a job seeker use one?
Senna: Recruiters can be candidates' eyes, ears and advocates in the job market. They often know of opportunities yet to be advertised and help professionals throughout the job-search process as an adviser, coach and confidant.

Meeting with a potential employer can be a daunting prospect for many people, but recruiters can help job seekers quickly build rapport with hiring managers. Recruiting professionals provide advice on interviewing with each contact, including questions to ask and not ask. In addition, recruiters have insight into current salary trends, what a company is likely to pay and how to navigate compensation negotiations.



More: How To Get The Most Out Of A Networking Event
Q: Does this usually cost the job seeker anything?
Senna: A reputable staffing firm will never charge a job seeker a fee.


Q: How should a job seeker prepare before enlisting the help of a recruiter?
Senna: Once you're ready to work with a recruiter, make sure your résumé and online profiles are current and they project the image you want people to have of you. Hone your elevator pitch about the type of position you want and why you are a good fit for it, and line up your references.


Q: What does the process of using a recruiter generally look like? How do they work with each other throughout the process?
Senna: The job seeker-recruiter partnership can begin a couple ways. In some instances, a recruiter, through her network, may reach out to a professional to discuss career opportunities. Other times, job seekers will register with the staffing firm. In both scenarios, the next step is for the candidate to discuss his career objective, and the recruiting specialist will then review the person's résumé to see if there is a potential fit with an opportunity at a client company. If there is, the job seeker will be invited for an interview, at which point the recruiter also will conduct a skills assessment and ask for references.

Throughout the process, candidates should keep their recruiter apprised of their search. For example, if you think you'd like to work at a specific organization, tell your recruiter, who may have a contact there and be able to secure an interview for you. Also keep in mind that this is a partnership. Stay in touch, letting your recruiter know what's working and what's not, and be open to her doing the same.



More: Are You Networking With The Right People?
Q: How does a job seeker find a recruiter?
Senna: To find the recruiter that is right for you, research the staffing firms in your area, just as you would any employer. Review local business publications and websites, and tap your network for their recommendations. When evaluating your options, look for a firm that specializes in your field and has a history of success.


Q: What myths would you like to dispel about recruiters?
Senna: A recruiter is your job-search partner. This is not a simple transactional business relationship. Recruiters want to help you find a great job and can be a valuable resource throughout your career.


Debra Auerbach is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

How to Master Any New Skill in 2013

How to Master Any New Skill in 2013

Steve Rubel
January 10, 2013


Congratulations. When the clock struck midnight on January 1, in football speak, you earned a whole new set of downs.

Now that the new year is here you've likely set some fresh career goals. Some may include learning new skills.

This can be intimidating. Creating new habits and rewiring your brain is hard work. Some believe it requires 10,000 hours of practice.

Tim Ferriss sees things differently. Then again, he sees the world differently.

The bestselling author takes a 20/80 approach to life. He has a knack for identifying the 20% of the effort that generates 80% of the results and applying it to a multitude of endeavors.

In is latest book, The Four Hour Chef, Ferriss explains how he turned himself from a cooking chump into world-class chef. More importantly, however, he outlines in great detail what I think is a breakthrough model for learning in a fast-paced world.

I met with Tim recently to learn more about his methodology, which he calls D.S.S.S (or "diss") for short. It has four steps: Deconstruction, Selection, Sequencing and Stakes.

Deconstruction

The first step, Tim suggests, is to start with the outcome in mind. You need to know very specifically what you hope to achieve and how to measure it. Then, you can work backward and identify the specific ingredients that are required to succeed.

For example, in his quest to become a three-time New York Times best-selling author, Ferriss deconstructed the grassroots support that made Fifty Shades of Gray a smash. He also keeps a massive swipe file in Evernote of different book marketing campaigns that caught his eye.

In Chef Ferriss recommends seeking out and meeting pros who are at the height of their game. This is something I try to do regularly.

The goal here is simple - it's to identify commonalities.

Selection

The next part of the process, Ferriss says, is to hone this down to the difference makers - the critical 20%.

Some of these techniques will be timeless principles that have worked for years. For example, when it comes to books, good writing remains good writing. Hard work remains hard work.

However, this also means attacking a subject with a beginner's mind and asking "seemingly ridiculous questions" Ferriss told me. This Zen-like approach led to a partnership with BitTorrent that drove one million free downloads for Chef without any negative impact on sales - plus a ton of media coverage.

Sequencing

Success, of course, is not just what you do but how you do it. That's where sequencing comes in.

Ferriss uses a series of two week tests to determine how to order the various 20% skills in the right order. This gives him several different data sets that he can compare. The key is to pick hard numbers (like sales data).

Stakes

Finally, there's stakes. This is what keeps you motivated. In a career context, Ferriss says, the stakes are built in. If you don't stay ahead, your career can flatline.

However, if you need motivation, the author suggests using sites like StickK - where you make your commitments public and incur financial consequences if you fail to meet them.

For more on Tim Ferriss' D.S.S.S. approach to learning and, oh by the way, several hundred pages on how to master cooking, you can pick up The Four Hour Chef exclusively via Amazon.

Employers Tell The Weirdest Interview Mistakes They've Seen

Employers Tell The Weirdest Interview Mistakes They've Seen
By Pam Kruger
Posted Jan 10th 2013 @ 3:48PM
Filed under: Interview Questions, Interview Tips, Job Search Tips, Interviews, Communication


If you're job hunting, presumably you know not to stuff into your pocket the candy sitting on the interviewer's desk. And you know that the proper way to greet the president of the company is with a handshake, rather than a hug.

But CareerBuilder recently surveyed 2,600 hiring managers and 3,900 workers about strange interview mistakes they've experienced. And the survey by job-search site, which is an AOL Jobs partner, uncovered those mistakes -- and some even weirder ones.

Too Much Information
In some cases, the interviewees showed the kind of candor that makes others want to run. Such as:

A candidate explained he had to quit his banking job because he always was tempted to steal.
A candidate said he didn't like getting up early and he didn't like to read either.
A candidate said he didn't want the job if he would have to work a lot.
A Complete Lack Of Manners

In a tough economy, you might think that most job applicants would err on the side of formality, trying very hard to be polite. But according to the survey, some job applicants seemed to go out of their way to offend.
A candidate reached over and put a hand on the interviewer's knee.
A candidate interrupted the interview to call his wife and ask what was for dinner.
The Mistakes You're Probably Making
According to hiring managers, the most common interview killers they've seen are:
Failure to make eye contact (72%)
Appearing disinterested (62%)
Answering a cellphone or text during the interview (60%)
Talking negatively about a current or former employer (58%)What are the craziest interview mistakes you've seen - or made?


Don't Miss: Companies Hiring Now


More
13 Mistakes To Avoid In Job Interviews
How To Ace The 10-Minute Interview
What Hiring Managers Really Look For



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From Seinfeld to Sushi: How to Master Your Domain

Jeff Weiner
January 07, 2013

I recently read a great profile in the New York Times about Jerry Seinfeld written by Jonah Weiner (no relation). In addition to providing a view into the life of one of the most successful stand-up comedians of the modern era, the article focuses on the method behind Seinfeld's observational comic genius, and specifically, the painstaking process he applies to developing a joke.

I always find it valuable when people at the top of their profession provide insight into how they do what they do, but as a long time fan of the comedian and the show (in my opinion, Seinfeld stands alone as the best sitcom of all time), I found this to be a particularly engrossing read.

I was also struck by the number of similarities between Seinfeld's approach to his craft and that of Jiro Ono, the 86-year old master sushi chef and subject of the highly acclaimed documentary "Jiro Dreams of Sushi." I strongly recommend the film to anyone interested in watching the pursuit of excellence personified.

Here are my observations regarding five shared practices from two wholly unrelated masters of their domains:

1. Never stop practicing (there is no perfect)

Jiro has been preparing sushi for over 70 years; Seinfeld has been a stand-up comic for over 35 years. Both are widely considered to be among the best in the world at what they do, and yet listening to them, one comes away with the impression they will never be satisfied. They are constantly practicing, honing their work, and seeking to improve.

As Jiro describes it: "All I want to do is make better sushi. I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. There is always a yearning to achieve more. I'll continue to climb to reach the top but no one knows where the top is."

Seinfeld explains:

“If I don’t do a set in two weeks, I feel it,” he said. “I read an article a few years ago that said when you practice a sport a lot, you literally become a broadband: the nerve pathway in your brain contains a lot more information. As soon as you stop practicing, the pathway begins shrinking back down. Reading that changed my life. I used to wonder, Why am I doing these sets, getting on a stage? Don’t I know how to do this already? The answer is no. You must keep doing it. The broadband starts to narrow the moment you stop.”

2. Sweat the details

There is no detail too small. Jiro serves sushi differently to left-handed and right-handed patrons, and once required an apprentice to make egg sushi 200 times before it was deemed acceptable. Seinfeld relentlessly iterates how to word a punchline. As the profile on Seinfeld describes it:

"Seinfeld will nurse a single joke for years, amending, abridging and reworking it incrementally, to get the thing just so. “It’s similar to calligraphy or samurai,” he says. “I want to make cricket cages. You know those Japanese cricket cages? Tiny, with the doors? That’s it for me: solitude and precision, refining a tiny thing for the sake of it.”

In this regard, their approaches are highly reminiscent of Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive at Apple, where obsessing over the smallest detail is not just part of their design ethos, it's core to the company's DNA.

3. Keep chipping away


Michaelanglo once famously described the act of sculpting this way:

“In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.”

Jiro and Seinfeld appear to be applying a similar sensibility to their work, i.e. constantly removing the superfluous to reduce the object of their attention down to it's quintissential qualities.

Watch Jiro prepare a piece of sushi, and you aren't just watching him adding a piece of fish to a mound of rice, but rather the culmination of decades of trial and error, identifying what improves the taste, look, and feel of the dish, and leaving all else behind.

The same holds for Seinfeld's approach to mastering a joke as illustrated in the following anecdote:

I had a joke: ‘Marriage is a bit of a chess game, except the board is made of flowing water and the pieces are made of smoke,’ ” he said. “This is a good joke, I love it, I’ve spent years on it. There’s a little hitch: ‘The board is made of flowing water.’ I’d always lose the audience there. Flowing water? What does he mean? And repeating ‘made of’ was hurting things. So how can I say ‘the board is made of flowing water’ without saying ‘made of...'


So,” he continued, “I was obsessed with figuring that out. The way I figure it out is I try different things, night after night, and I’ll stumble into it at some point, or not. If I love the joke, I’ll wait. If it takes me three years, I’ll wait...The breakthrough was doing this”— Seinfeld traced a square in the air with his fingers, drawing the board..."Here, I’m doing some of the work for you...They don’t think about it. They just laugh.”

4. Work clean

Both the article and film capture the somewhat non-descript, though Zen-like, environments where the two do their work. Jiro's restaurant is underground, near a subway stop, and seats only ten; sushi is served on a simple black serving dish. Seinfeld works in an Upper West Side apartment described as "Clean, modern and cozy, it resembled some hip therapist’s office: a high-ceilinged, poured-concrete box with a long plushy couch, a little balcony and a kitchenette."

In their spaces, both masters operate free from distraction and with complete focus on the job at hand. Jiro prepares each dish and then cleans his workspace the instant it's completed. In the film, a classical score accompanies his motions -- it's hard to draw a clear distinction between where the food preparation ends and the cleaning begins.

Similarly, Seinfeld has his own specific approach to writing a joke: "Seinfeld...grabs a legal pad and a Bic pen and sits at his desk. No street noise penetrates. The pages of the pad are destined for either a wastebasket or a master file containing Seinfeld’s entire act, handwritten."

5. Be passionate

It's hard to imagine a person dedicating their life to a single vocation without having a deep love and passion for what they do. That would certainly appear to the case for both Seinfeld and Jiro. From the Times article:


For Seinfeld, whose worth Forbes estimated in 2010 to be $800 million, his touring regimen is a function not of financial necessity but rather of borderline monomania — a creative itch he can’t scratch. “I like money,” he says, “but it’s never been about the money.”


He told me: “That’s the wiring of a stand-up. This is my best way of functioning...” He compares himself to baseball players — putting spin on the ball as it leaves his fingers, trying to keep his batting average high — and to surfers: “What are they doing that for? It’s just pure."


Similarly, here's Jiro responding to a question on retirement: "I've never hated this job. I fell in love with my work and gave my life to it. Even though I'm 85, I don't feel like retiring. That's just the way I feel."





One final observation: I've found the more I pay attention to the habits of individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their profession, the more I recognize clear patterns between them.


Apparently, I'm not the only one who sees the similarities.

Several weeks before the Times piece was published, I shared the story of Jiro with a few people at a dinner event. A few weeks later, while in the midst of reading the Seinfeld article, I stopped to open an email that had just been sent by one of the dinner's attendees. The email simply said, "Refreshing last paragraph...your sushi analog in baseball!"

There, in the last paragraph of an article announcing the Yankees had re-signed baseball great Ichiro Suzuki, was a quote from Ichiro that read, "I believe the Yankees organization appreciates that there is a difference between a 39-year-old who has played relying only on talent, and a 39-year-old who has prepared, practiced, and thought thoroughly through many experiences for their craft."


I smiled to myself at the timing of the email and responded to my friend with a link to the Seinfeld article I was still reading. It wasn't until a few minutes later that I reached the conclusion of the profile:


The game resumed, and Ichiro Suzuki, the lean Yankees outfielder, approached the plate. “This is the guy I relate to more than any athlete,” Seinfeld said. “His precision, incredible precision. Look at his body type — he’s made the most of what he has. He’s the hardest guy to get out. He’s fast. And he’s old.”