Steve Dorfman speaks on Gen Y

I bumped into Steve Dorfman, founder and CEO of Driven to Excel, and he took a few moments out of his time to speak with me! He also founded Young Professionals Leadership Group. One excellent piece of advice (that I need to write an entire post about) is that you should NEVER SAY NO to an invitation. I 100% agree and it's great advice. Check out the interview below.

Tee Morris speaks on Gen Y

I had a chance to speak with Tee Morris after his 'Anti-Social Media' presentation at the Washington Networking Group.  He is founder of Imagine That! Studios, and bestselling author of Podcasting for Dummies (among other books!).  Below is our quick interview where he gives all of us 20Somethings some advice.

How to write your performance self-review

Most people groan when they have to write a self evaluation -- you shouldn't.  Review time is the time designated to be all about YOU. More importantly, its your chance to directly affect the mindset of your manager right before he writes your review!  Basically, your manager is asking you to tell him why you are valuable and deserve a raise -- don't' blow it.

If your company uses a template, they might ask you what sorts of tasks you enjoy doing.  You should answer the question, but I have always found task based reviews lacking.  This is a very brief example of something you could write:

I like working on strategy work, process improvement work, or managing projects.  I also think that answering this question in a task-based way does not capture what I would really like to do.  I am more concerned with making sure that some of my values are met. The questions I ask myself are:

1.    Am I learning something new on this project?
2.    Am I building on skills that I want to improve? (i.e. strategy work)
3.    Am I working in a command and control environment or am I empowered to make change on the project?

It’s a much more complex mix of variables that determine if I like to do something, and these questions are a large part of it.  

You should also put together a list of specific topics you want to discuss during the review.  Make sure you include your managers concerns and ask them to tell you how you fit into the organization, and what their vision for you is over the next few years.

Lastly, make sure you remember all the awesome things you did over the year.  Don't limit it to tasks, talk about your energy, motivation, what you brought to the company culture, how you helped peers, make sure you highlight all the intangibles.  

20Something TakeAway:

1. Make sure you drive the conversation.  Don't be a passive victim of your manager, be an active agent in the conversation!
2. Make sure you talk about intangibles.
3. Forcing the company to talk about where they see you will make them think harder about helping you move your career forward.
4. Review time is YOU time.  You spend 364 days a year focusing on what they want.  They can spend 1 day focusing on you.  
   

Ignite #2 Video Posted

Ignite Baltimore had technical difficulties, so they borrowed MindGrub's video in order to post my talk.  Unfortunately, they also ran out of tape before my talk was done!  Enjoy what you can!

What to do when you have a lost opportunity?

Recently, after receiving rave review at the PMI Region 5 Leadership conference,  I was talking to a client that wanted me to speak at their non-profit organization in Charlotte, NC.  They offered to fly me down and pay for the flight, hotel, and any incidental expenses.  I readily agreed.  Then, they asked another question that totally caught me off guard.   "Are there any other fees?"

I have spoken to different chapters of various industry groups, and have always understood that they don't typically pay for speakers. So when asked, I stammered that there were no other fees.

I immediately knew I had bungled the answer, because they were clearly willing to pay something to have me speak there.  What to do in this situation?  I had just left money on the table when I clearly could have gotten something out of it!!

I had two options:

1. Be embarrassed that I bungled my response and decide to go ahead and do the presentation for free.  
2. Try to salvage the situation and so something about it.

I decided to do #2.  But, there is something wrong about going back and asking for money after you had already told them that it was free.  I emailed one member of that organization whom I spoke to and asked them if they had a few minutes to talk on the phone, as I would like their advice on something.  Then, on the phone, I explained that I was trying to get my speaking career off the ground, and if she had any advice.  I went on to say how I was new to this and still don't have the experience to make all the right decisions.  She deals with speakers all the time, so I would like to pick her brain.  After a good discussion, I asked if there was anything she thought I could do in regards to the current situation with the nonprofit organization.  She said she would see if there was anything she could do about getting me at least something for my efforts!  Yes, it wasn't a promise of compensation, but now at least there is a chance to get something where as before there was no chance -- and I made a great contact with someone that can help me in the future!

 The moral of the story?  Don't worry if you screwed up -- Don't worry about "going back on your word" (this is what it felt like to me), but you can always try to salvage a situation.  I'll make sure to keep you folks up to date on what really happens.

20Something TakeAway:

1. It's never to late!  Swallow your pride and go hat in hand to ask for what you really want.
2. Be humble and ask for advice.. after all, people love giving it.
3. Get people emotionally and logically on your side -- you can do this by asking for advice and putting them in your shoes.

Come watch me at Ignite Baltimore tonight!

5 Minutes, 20 slides.  What would you say? 

I accepted this challenge, so I will be speaking at ignite baltimore tonight!  Swing by if you are in the Baltimore area.   The goal is to spark new conversations and collaborations across cultures and disciplines.

http://ignitebaltimore.com/speakers
The Windup Space
7 pm
12 w. north ave, baltimore, md 21201

How to find a mentor

As a 20Something, you should constantly be on the look out for mentors.  Having a mentor can really change your experience of a company from being the miserable to likable or from likable to totally awesome.  So if we all know its important, how does one go about finding a mentor?

Walk into peoples offices and start talking to them.  Yes, it sounds crazy, but it works.  I've done this to dozens of people.  They are usually very friendly and willing to sit down and talk with you.  I have NEVER had anyone not be friendly or be open to talking.  Often, I end up talking for over an hour!

Here are some pick up opening lines you can use:

• Hi, I see you all the time but I haven't officially met you, I'm Bruce.
  
• Hi, We sit next to each other but I haven't really talked to you.  I'm Bruce.
  
• Hi, I work on this project, but I've always been really interested in department/role.  Do you have a minute to chat?
  

From here, ask about them, talk about yourself, and then this part is really important.  ASK for their advice/opinion on something!  This is how you can start the mentoring relationship.  Then stop by regularly if you guys get along and if you like that person.

Super Hint:  My friend Jeff Landsberg of www.tonmiletrader.com fame gave me this awesome tip that I have used to great effect.  If you are a guy, find a male mentor that does not have children, or one that does not have a son.  They will see you as "the son they never had", and do a really GREAT job being a mentor/champion.  I do not know how this works for females, but I suspect that most women want to help other women succeed in a male dominated workplace.