One-E-Anna Notes - Issue #028 - April, 2005


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A monthly newsletter to conduct you on the way to successful performance and harmony in your life.

Brought to you by E. Anna Watkins, MBA, CPCC - Career & Life Coach

Welcome!

Welcome to all new and continuing subscribers! I am happy to be writing this to you on another beautiful sunny day in Albuquerque where I have just returned from watching a mass ascension of 100 hot-air balloons. Wow! What a fabulous way to start the morning!

I hope that you will enjoy this issue and will forward it to others. Tell your friends to subscribe by sending their names in an e-mail message to on-1535@ezezine.com Thank you!

And the Winner Is -
Our March subscriber referral contest has ended and we have a winner! Congratulations to Ellen Murray! A $20 gift card for Amazon.com has been sent to Ellen. Thanks to all who participated by referring new subscribers. Watch for future contests. You could be the next prizewinner!

Tips Booklets Online

Too many heavy books cluttering up your house or office? Paulette Ensign offers a vast array of tips booklets online for only $4.77 each! When you order an online book, it often arrives in your e-mail within minutes! No waiting for the mail to arrive every day and watching for that book you wanted. And - you won't have to search for it on bookshelves if you save it into a folder on your computer. Check out her website at www.tipsbooklets.com and peruse the titles there. Examples: 101 Travel Tips for Women, 113 Ideas To Secure Your Financial Future, and Presenting Your Message Like You Mean It

My booklet 64 Tips for Informational Interviews is available in the Careers category. You can get it today!

What's in this issue?

  1. Feature Article - What's Your Silver Bullet?

  2. Your Coaching Assignment

  3. Interview Tip - It's the Top!

  4. Class Schedule

  5. Information on Coaching & Resume Writing Services


1. What's Your Silver Bullet?

Many of our readers can remember that exciting show from early television, "The Lone Ranger." (If you listen, I'll bet you can still hear the theme song, "The William Tell Overture" in the distance.) In every episode the Lone Ranger and his faithful companion Tonto came to the rescue of someone in need. After they defeated the bad guys, they could be seen riding off for their next adventure. At this point one of the onlookers always asked, "Who was that masked man?" They would then show the silver bullet that the Lone Ranger left as his 'signature.' He was the only hero of the Old West who added that last special touch to his work.

Who can doubt the power of a signature when you consider the brand names that adorn our clothing, our appliances, our cars, and even our food? We are drawn to a signature representing a particular standard and quality. Remember that the 'signature' goes beyond a name. Perhaps it's a money-back guarantee, a bonus with every product, cash back or 'frequent flyer' points - anything that adds a distinctive stamp.

Professional Speaker Barbara Glanz tells about speaking to a large group of supermarket employees and challenging them to create their own personal signatures that would bring unique spirit to their work. A few weeks later she received a phone call from a young man who identified himself as a bagger for the supermarket. He told her that he was a person with Down's Syndrome. He liked what she said about creating a personal signature so much that he asked his father to help him use the computer so that he could find a thought for the day every day, print copies of that thought, and place them in the shopping bags of his customers. This 'personal signature' had an enormous effect on the shoppers! Everyone wanted to get into the line where Johnny was bagging groceries, and some people shopped more frequently because they wanted a thought for the day every day.

Wouldn't it be great to have people clamoring to get into your line? You can get people to notice when you add your signature - a special touch that distinguishes your work. Whether it's the way you speak to customers, the extra attention you provide, or the way you listen and respond to your customer's needs, you can place a unique stamp on your work. Your signature shows that you are proud of what you have accomplished and that you want to share your best with others.

What's your silver bullet?

Don't forget that it (your product or service) is not differentiated until the customer understands the difference.

- Tom Peters


2. Coaching Assignment

a)

List what you think is unique about your work.

b)

Write comments others have made about the distinctiveness of your work.

c)

Write as many ideas as you can to create a 'signature' that emphasizes your unique touch.

d)

Share your signature ideas with someone you trust and get additional input.

e)

Make a decision. Choose your signature and begin using it!

f)

Write to tell me about your signature. I would love to hear your stories.


3. Resume Tip - It's the Top!s

Imagine that you have applied for an exciting new job and that you are anxiously awaiting the chance to interview for the position. In the meantime, by some strange twist of fate, all the resumes that were submitted have been mysteriously truncated. Only the top four inches of each resume is remaining! How do you feel about that? Can you feel secure in the knowledge that you have placed your most powerful marketing at the top of your resume?

This image is not so far from reality. With the flood of resumes that come pouring in for many jobs, the reviewers do not have time to read all of them thoroughly. They will, however, notice what they see first at the top of your resume. Put a strong summary statement and list of key skills where they can quickly read and be convinced that they want to interview you. (The job of a resume is to get you an interview. Period.)

Go ahead. Test this scenario and evaluate your current resume. Cut or tear off everything but the top four inches. If your message there isn't compelling enough, it's time to revise!


4. Class Schedule for Anna Watkins

May 3, 2005 - Discover the Power of Informational Interviews - FREE Teleclass at www.teleclass.com at 9:00 PM Eastern time.

June 11, 2005 - Informational Interviews: Connecting with People To Advance Your Career - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

June 18, 2005 - Take 3 Steps to a Successful Interview - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

July 9, 2005 - Informational Interviews: Connecting with People To Advance Your Career - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

July 16, 2005 - Take 3 Steps to a Successful Interview - FREE workshop at Wyoming Library, Albuquerque, NM at 1:00 PM Mountain time.

Use These Links To Register for My Teleclasses

For my Teleclass International classes -
http://www.teleclassinternational.com/search_results.html?keyword=Watkins

For Teleclass.com classes - http://www.teleclass.com/classsearch.lasso
Use keyword Watkins


5. Complimentary Coaching Sessions and Resume Reviews
How about a free sample coaching session or resume review? You can easily arrange this. Contact me by e-mail info@one-e-anna.com and I will follow up with you to schedule an appointment - no strings attached!


Special Attention
Visit www.lifeafterlayoff.org to find resources for yourself or your friends who are in job transition. You may notice that they have recently been kind enough to add "Advice from Anna" as a feature on their site.

Subscriber Note

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www.one-e-anna.com

THANK YOU!