Which Wolf Do You Feed?
(A Reflection for the What Matters Series)
What is it that you love? Which wolf do you feed?
When we love what we do, that love becomes fuel. It feeds our soul, opens the door to creativity, and links our work to something larger than ourselves. Creativity, after all, is a chain—each link formed by what we choose to nurture within us.
The old story of the two wolves captures this truth well. Inside every person, there are two wolves—one good, one bad. The good wolf is patient, kind, curious, and generous. The bad wolf is angry, jealous, and fearful. Whichever wolf we feed becomes stronger.
The bad wolf shuts doors. It tells us to compare, to resent, to stop exploring. The good wolf opens them. It loves to learn, to see beauty in imperfection, and to connect what we know with what we still long to understand.
Amy Tangerine, in A Life You Love, writes about “crafting a life and soul that you love.” That act of crafting begins with awareness: What draws us in? Why do we love what we love?
A writer may love the characters in a story. A painter may love the light on a canvas. When something new—an idea, a feeling, a discovery—joins that love, creativity happens. The work begins to speak back, guiding us toward what we didn’t know we were seeking.
Feed the wolf that listens, learns, and loves. That’s where creativity lives.
The Happiness Found in Serving Others
Happiness often begins with being willing to show appreciation and return kindness. It’s easy to assume that the purpose of life is simply to be happy — yet genuine happiness, the kind that lasts, usually comes through serving others.
When we serve without expectation — not to be seen, rewarded, or remembered, but simply to lessen another person’s burden — we discover a deeper joy. Service shifts attention away from self and toward connection, and in that movement, something changes inside us. We find meaning.
Those who live this way tend to carry less stress, bounce back faster from setbacks, and see their lives through a clearer lens. It isn’t that they avoid difficulty; it’s that service gives their difficulty purpose. The act of helping becomes its own renewal.
Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” The “why” often appears not in moments of personal triumph, but in moments when we make someone else’s path easier.
As I wrote in What Matters, happiness is not a destination but a reflection of the small choices that connect us — gratitude, listening, empathy, and purpose. When we choose to serve, we begin to live our “why” each day.
The good life isn’t about what we gather, but what we give — and the understanding that every act of kindness adds meaning to both lives involved.
“Rommel, You Magnificent Bastard: Why Words Reveal Strategy”
“Rommel, You Magnificent Bastard: Why Words Reveal Strategy”
“Rommel, you magnificent bastard! I read your book!” — General George S. Patton Jr.
General Patton’s famous quip is more than military bravado. It’s a sharp reminder that words reveal strategy. Every speech, book, or article tells the world how you think. Sometimes that works in your favor; other times, it arms your competition.
The truth is, what we say and write always gives us away. Our patterns, priorities, and blind spots leak through. For leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs, that’s both a risk and an opportunity.
The Risk: Giving Away Your Playbook
When you publish an article, launch a book, or share your story, you aren’t just building your brand—you’re handing others a glimpse into your strategy. Competitors may notice your focus areas. Colleagues might catch weaknesses you didn’t intend to show. Even silence on certain topics tells a story.
That doesn’t mean you should stop writing or speaking. It means you need to be intentional. Decide what message strengthens your credibility and what details should stay behind the curtain.
The Opportunity: Reading Between the Lines
Patton’s edge wasn’t just in reading Rommel’s book—it was in learning how his opponent thought. You can do the same in business and life.
Read your competition’s work. Their blogs, reports, and talks show you where their energy is going.
Notice what’s missing. Absences often reveal as much as statements.
Study their framing. How someone tells their story says a lot about their priorities and fears.
This isn’t about copying. It’s about awareness. When you know why others say what they say, you’re better positioned to anticipate, respond, and lead.
The Magnificent Bastard Mindset
In literature, the “magnificent bastard” archetype is the character who is always one step ahead—clever, strategic, and impossible to outmaneuver. Patton’s quote suggests we can all learn from that mindset. Not by being manipulative, but by staying informed, thinking critically, and preparing before others do.
The Takeaway
Every word you share is a signal. Every word your competition shares is a clue. Use both wisely.
Patton’s lesson is as relevant in boardrooms and LinkedIn feeds as it was on the battlefield: knowledge isn’t just power—it’s positioning.
Question for Readers: How do you “read between the lines” in your industry? Do you actively study your competition—or let them study you?
Change Doesn’t Always Mean Movement
Life teaches us through change. It presents choices, challenges, and transitions that reshape who we are. Change is constant—but it’s a misconception to believe that every shift automatically triggers another.
Some changes are catalysts. They ignite a chain reaction, leading to new habits, new people, new ways of seeing ourselves. A single decision—taking a new job, moving to a different city, ending or beginning a relationship—can spark growth that extends into every corner of our lives. We often celebrate these moments because they feel alive, dynamic, and full of forward motion.
But not all changes are catalysts. Some are conclusions. They don’t set off fireworks; they simply create space. They allow us to adapt, reflect, or breathe. A major life shift doesn’t always demand more movement—sometimes it calls for stability. Sometimes the wisest response is to pause, to rest in the unfamiliar, and to give ourselves the chance to understand what the change has already brought.
A new job, for example, might launch a fresh chapter with new colleagues and new routines. Or it might be the opposite: the job could provide the structure and peace you’ve been missing. The same event—a job change—can mean transformation in one person’s life and much-needed grounding in another’s.
The real lesson is this: change opens the door, but we choose how to walk through it. We decide whether to keep moving, stay still, or settle in. Growth doesn’t always look like acceleration. Sometimes it looks like building roots, letting quiet routines take hold, and learning to be content where we are.
I’ve noticed in my own life that the temptation is to assume one shift requires another. If I’ve changed jobs, maybe I also need to change where I live. If I’ve started a new habit, maybe I need to reinvent my entire routine. But often, the best progress comes from letting a single change breathe—allowing it to stand on its own, without piling on more transitions than I can process.
Change asks something of us, but it doesn’t always ask for more. Sometimes it asks for less. Less urgency. Less striving. Less noise.
So the next time change arrives—whether welcomed or unexpected—pause for a moment. Ask yourself: Is this change calling me forward, or is it inviting me to rest? Do I need to accelerate, or do I need to let the ground settle beneath me?
Because while life teaches us through change, wisdom comes from how we respond.
"What Our Brains Are Really Doing in Stillness"
In my latest Substack post reflection, I take a closer look at what our brains are really doing in moments of stillness — and how those quiet pauses can open the door to mental clarity, spark creativity, and bring emotional balance.
Do We Need to Fall to Grow?
Do we need to fall to grow? This short poem explores the quiet wisdom found in struggle, recovery, and reflection—where clarity often begins in the fall.
Read moreThe Quite Strength of Gratitude
Attitude shapes the way we see the world—and the way the world sees us. It’s more than a passing mood; it’s a reflection of our emotions, beliefs, and behavior. A positive attitude doesn’t guarantee ease, but it makes challenges feel more manageable. It helps us stay grounded, connected, and hopeful.
Words Are More Than Just Words: Why How We Say It Still Matters →
Two people can say the same thing, but only one of them is heard. I’ve seen it happen in conversations, meetings, interviews—even in the quiet moments between friends. Someone speaks clearly, and yet the message doesn’t land. Meanwhile, another person uses almost the same words, and suddenly the room shifts. There’s understanding. There’s a connection.
What changed? Not the facts. The difference was in the language.
Words aren’t neutral. They’re not just carriers of data. They carry tone, emotion, intention—and history. Even the simplest phrase comes wrapped in personal experience, shaped by culture and context.
That’s why I believe terminology isn’t just about technical accuracy—it’s about how we connect. It’s not academic. It’s human.
Take a look at the difference between these two questions:
“Can I help you?”
“How can I support you?”
Or these two responses:
“I don’t care.”
“It’s up to you.”
Same surface-level meaning. Totally different emotional effect. One leaves room for agency. The other shuts it down.
We often underestimate how much power these subtle shifts in language hold—not just to express ourselves, but to shape how others feel, respond, and remember what we said.
In relationships, this matters deeply. I’ve had conversations where miscommunication didn’t come from disagreement—it came from different interpretations of the same words. Tone wasn’t the issue. It was terminology.
It turns out that how we speak to others is often how we make space for them. It’s how we say: I see you. I want to understand.
Professionally, the impact is just as real. The way we describe ourselves on LinkedIn, in a résumé, or in a job interview doesn’t just reflect our skills—it signals how we think, what we value, and how clearly we can communicate.
A poorly chosen phrase can diminish a strength. A well-placed word can reframe a whole story.
In a world where attention is fragmented and conversations happen fast, it’s easy to reach for what’s familiar. But slowing down—to think about not just what we’re saying, but how we’re saying it—is a small act of care.
Care for the listener. Care for the relationship. And care for the story we’re telling about who we are.
Because when we speak more intentionally, we’re not just choosing better words.
We’re choosing to be seen.
We’re choosing to be understood.
We’re choosing to connect.
And that still matters.
If this reflection resonates with you, I explore more of these ideas in my book, Terminology Is More Than Words—but this stands on its own as a simple reminder: language isn't just a tool. It’s a bridge.
The Fragile Beauty of Being Understood →
Why Meaning Isn’t Fixed—and Why That’s What Makes Communication Human
We often speak as if communication is simple: say what you mean, and others will understand.
But the truth is more complex—and more human.
Even in nonfiction, no two people read the same sentence the same way. Experience, emotion, and perspective shape how meaning is received. That’s not a flaw in communication—that’s the beauty of it.
It means that understanding isn’t fixed. The words you speak or write may be clear in your mind, but they’re interpreted through someone else’s lens—through their story, their mood, their readiness to receive.
And that’s what makes human communication both fragile and deeply beautiful.
Because when someone does understand you—when your words, shaped by your experience, are received by someone else in a way that moves them—that’s not just communication. That’s connection.
It reminds us that words are not just tools; they’re bridges.
That listening isn’t passive; it’s an act of empathy.
That saying something well doesn’t guarantee being understood—but saying it honestly increases the chance you will be.
This doesn’t mean we should stop trying to be clear. It means we should try to be present.
To listen as well as we speak.
To ask, not just “Did I say it right?”—but “Did they hear it the way I meant?”
We don’t need perfect understanding to feel understood.
Sometimes, we just need the effort.
And that, too, is what makes communication matter.
Finding a Career That Fits:Why Your Skills and Joy Matter →
"Want a job that actually fits? Discover how aligning your strengths and passions can help you find more fulfilling work—and why self-awareness is your best tool in today’s job market."
Read moreThe Foundation of Authenticity: Understanding Your Core Values
Authenticity is a popular buzzword, but how many people actually live authentically? It starts with understanding your core values—because you can't be true to yourself without knowing who you truly are.
To begin your journey toward authenticity, you must first clarify your values and beliefs. Start by making a list of what you believe. At a fundamental level, most people hold core values, whether consciously or unconsciously. Begin by identifying some universal values:
Honesty: Even those who may choose to be dishonest often expect honesty from others. This highlights honesty as a core value—one that is desired universally, even when not always practiced.
Accountability: Most people value accountability in others, expecting them to take responsibility for their actions. Recognizing this value in yourself can lead to greater integrity in your own behavior.
Knowledge and Growth: Lifelong learning and personal development are fundamental to many. If you value gaining knowledge and continuously improving, this is another principle that should make your list.
Reflect and Refine Your Values
Listing your values is only the first step. To truly integrate them into your life, actively reflect on them in your daily decisions and challenges.
When faced with a decision, ask yourself: "Does this align with my core values?" For instance, if you value knowledge, does your career allow you to learn and grow? If you value honesty, do you communicate transparently with others?
This process of reflection helps you uncover even deeper values. For example, while you may initially list honesty as a core value, you may discover that transparency, respect, and integrity are equally important to you. Over time, this list evolves and becomes a clearer guide for your actions.
Living Authentically with Your Core Values
Core values are not just words on a page—they are the foundation of who you are. They shape your decisions, guide your behavior, and determine how you show up in the world. When you understand and live by your core values, you create a strong sense of self and a consistent, authentic identity.
#PersonalDevelopment #Authenticity #CoreValues
Gratitude Proceeds to Happiness, and It Is Required If We Want to Achieve It →
By Brent M. Jones
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful. It results in being willing and ready to show appreciation for and to return kindness. It brings a warm feeling of thankfulness towards the world or specific individuals. The person who feels gratitude is thankful for what they have received and does not constantly seek more. By actively practicing gratitude and focusing on the positive aspects of life, one naturally experiences increased happiness
Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, feel more alive, express more compassion, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
We will still have negative thoughts, but gratitude will help balance them out. “Gratitude is an emotion that grounds us and is a great way to balance out the negative mindset that uncertainty engenders,” said Dr. Guy Winch, author of the book Emotional First Aid.
The process of feeling grateful compels us to reflect on our relationships. It makes us feel closer and more connected to others, which helps motivate and sustain our efforts at self-improvement. We won’t be able to maintain our efforts for self-improvement without the help of others, and we will fail when we have the wrong motivation. When we're motivated by negative emotions, it is nearly impossible to sustain efforts to change. Is gratitude a soft skill?
Ask a person who is not grateful for the good things in their life, and you will find an unhappy person, but if you teach yourself or that person to understand and learn gratitude, it will become a life-changing soft skill.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous.
"Thanksgiving is about Gratitude"
Why Life is Good
Life is good or bad, depending on where you are or who you are standing by. The question becomes a little more complicated as you consider where you are going or have been.
A person's goodness in life consists of how external things impact the person and how the person impacts everything around them. Goodness can also be present or lacking in a person's consciousness. For goodness to be present, there must be a value created.
On the other hand, the question of the meaning of life today, or maybe tomorrow, could be that day by day, somehow, we might qualify for what our status might be after death. It's a journey of self-reflection and understanding. So, for them, the meaning might be “each day.” It could be added that one should find out what is wanted for the best situation after death and then do it.
Looking around at what life is about each day, it is hard to discount that life is full of other people. Yes, many are weird. Others will have opinions about us and whether our actions make sense. But in these interactions, there is a potential for personal growth. Perhaps even the weirdo may have an idea of how others treat them compared to how they treat others. This being the case, it works in favor of concluding that the meaning of life is in how we treat others.
Intellectually Arrogant People See Themselves as The Master of a Particular Subject →
by Brent M. Jones (Published on LinkedIn)
Arrogance can be positive if it involves breaking stereotypes and stepping outside one's comfort zone, but that isn’t usually the result.
Intellectual arrogance is a set of characteristics that tends to blind an otherwise intelligent person from recognizing and learning the truth. Intellectual humility is the recognition that the things you believe in might be wrong; a benefit of intellectual humility is the recognition that one's perspective will always be limited.
This recognition leaves a person well-positioned to learn as much as possible from peers and subordinates. Examples of intellectual humility: I question my opinions, positions, and viewpoints because they could be wrong. I reconsider my thoughts when presented with new evidence. I recognize the value in views that are different from my own. I accept that my beliefs and attitudes may be wrong. I am willing to learn from younger people with less experience, often referred to as reverse mentors. An example of this would be those who are technologically savvy or skilled in something new or different.
Intellectual Arrogance is not just a personal trait; it's a barrier to your growth. When you believe you're superior to others, you expose yourself to new knowledge and experiences. This self-imposed isolation can hinder your professional and personal development, preventing you from reaching your full potential.
In an Inc. Magazine article titled "Only One Thing Will Hold You Back From Achieving Great Things in Life," Warren Buffett states that the one bad habit of paying close attention to is ”Intellectual Arrogance” and ignoring it becomes self-destructive in the long run, and not doing something to rid yourself of it may hold you back
The need to show people you think you're smarter than they are is one way to derail yourself from building solid relationships. To counter the effects of intellectual arrogance, the most intelligent people stretch their knowledge by being open to soaking up philosophical wisdom or even just inside the latest developments of others.
In other words, being clever without arrogance means acknowledging that you don't know everything. Because, let's face it: if you're the most intelligent person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
A Master Communicator Influenced This New Book 33 years later →
Listening to a Master Communicator Influenced My New Book 33 Years Later. The article was originally posted on Brent Jones’s LinkedIn Newsletter.
Brent M. Jones is a Published Author, Writer, Speaker, Career Development Advisor, Consultant, and Experienced Business Executive
It has been 33 years since the day I sat by Stephen Covey, preparing to speak ahead of him. I just completed a new book, Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language, and that experience and some thoughts about it served as chapter one.
Seeing how Covey’s The 7 Habits book is still doing now impresses me as an author. Back in 1990, it had just come out. I had read it several times, and my path had crossed Mr. Covey before, but look at his Amazon Book Stats.
Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language - Chapter 1: Listening to a Master Communicator
I learned some valuable lessons about effective communication firsthand from a master communicator. One Sunday in 1990, I had the privilege of speaking at the same event as Stephen R. Covey and sitting next to him in the speaker area. He was a guest speaker at a church meeting, where I was also assigned to speak.
Stephen Covey was in every way a master communicator and a renowned author. He was named one of Time magazine's 25 most influential Americans in 1996, and his book, which had just come out, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," has so far sold over 40 million copies worldwide since its first publication in April 1989
The experience taught me how a speaker can capture an audience's attention and what makes communication more powerful through the speaker's skills.
Covey was different in front of an audience than privately. We visited before the meeting started and while sitting together. I knew several people who worked with him who had said that the speaker and the everyday man were very different men. It seemed to me visiting with him that he was exciting and indeed a good man, but besides his relaxed presence and bald head, he didn't stand out. Our conversation was low-key and casual.
When he stood up to speak, everything changed. He was charismatic and purposeful, and every eye was on him. His messages demonstrated his deep understanding of people and an incredible memory of recalling relevant details often sparked by his surroundings. He spoke without notes and found powerful words to deliver his message and, when needed, instant recall from long past events. The day I spoke with him, he didn't use a slide deck (a collection of slides used as visual aids during a pitch or presentation). He did many business presentations and often had hundreds of slides he could have brought to a screen. He seemed to know each by number, calling the needed slides up by number. As I recall, he was also well-known for that skill.
Over the years, I have asked others who knew him what made him so charismatic. Some felt that his bald head made him stand out, drawing attention to him, while others believed that his use of power-packed words, incorporating data into his speech, and speaking spontaneously without notes were unique. Many have commented on how well-dressed he always was when speaking. The audience didn't take their eyes off him when he said or was in the room. He seemed to be
Covey's message to the young adults in the audience that day was inspiring. He knew his audience, spoke their language using powerful words, and delivered his message using familiar church-based terms. Covey understood their goals and talked to them, not just at them. His body language was fascinating, and he stood in a calm, relaxed, and respectful manner while moving his head and arms like a symphony conductor, bringing relevance to his words. He spoke without notes, maintaining eye contact with his audience. His credibility made Covey stand out, which is evident from his effort to learn and understand what he presented to young adults. It was indeed a masterful message.
As a skilled master communicator, Covey could adapt his style to different audiences. He spoke using the terms of this audience's faith and the setting they were in. In his book, he said, "Becoming a good communicator requires behaving and thinking in a certain way." He demonstrated this thought that day, clearly showing that he could adapt to find what the audience was listening for.
For my book, just released in ebook and paperback, the product description is:
This book will equip readers with the essential toolkit for becoming a Wordsmith. With the right words, readers can communicate effectively and express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with clarity and precision. Inside, readers will find a comprehensive guide to understanding communication, effective communication, and how to improve communication skills.
The benefits of reading this book include:
- Unlocking the power of influential communication to establish meaningful connections
- Discovering the right words to make a lasting impression
- Transforming your life with the correct language
- Step-by-step instructions on how to become a Wordsmith
- Industry-specific terminology, search engine optimization, demographic analysis, and situational analysis
- Tips and tricks for effective communication
The Primary Function of Nonverbal Communication is to Convey Meaning →
The title of this article is also the title of Chapter 10 in my new book, soon to be released, “Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language.”
The chapter begins: A primary function of nonverbal communication is to convey meaning by reinforcing, substituting for, or contradicting verbal communication. Nonverbal communication is also used to influence others and regulate conversational flow.
Your nonverbal communication cues—how you listen, look, move, and react—tell the person you're communicating with whether you care if you're being truthful and how well you're listening. Your nonverbal signals match your words and increase trust, clarity, and rapport.
We use nonverbal communication to:
• To Convey Meaning and Provide Information. ...
• To Regulate Interactions.
• To Express Our Identities.
• To Indicate Relational Standing.
People use this type of communication to:
• Contradicts verbal messages
• Reinforces or emphasizes the verbal message
• Regulate the flow of verbal communication
• Complements their verbal messages
• Substitute for their spoken words
Nonverbal communication is a crucial aspect of human interaction. It involves using body language, gestures, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues to convey emotions, attitudes, and intentions.
Professor Mehrabian Albert Mehrabian, Ph.D. well known for his studies in nonverbal communication. He believes there are three core elements in the effective face-to-face communication of emotions or attitudes: nonverbal behavior (facial expressions, for example), tone of voice, and the literal meaning of the spoken word. These three essential elements, Mehrabian argues, account for how we convey our liking or disliking of another person. His particular focus is on the importance of such nonverbal ‘clues’ when they appear to conflict with the words used and the tone in which they are spoken. Mehrabian developed his early theories on this subject during the 1960s. Drawing on the findings of two experiments he conducted in 1967, he formulated the 7-38-55% communication rule.
Professor Mehrabian's findings as typically cited or applied:
• 7% of messages about feelings and attitudes are in spoken words.
• 38% of messages about feelings and attitudes are paralinguistic (how words are said).
• 55% of messages about feelings and attitudes are in facial expressions.
The Professor’s studies did not account for the profound changes in communication since the 1960s and assumed some things that likely changed the outcome.
For example, when he used test subjects, he had a speaker present a word, but he wasn’t asking about the words at all from those in the test, but rather the speaker’s intent. When asked that, the audience responded that it decoded the intent behind the speaker’s words from visual clues 55 % of the time and from the tone of voice 38 % of the time. Only 7 % of the time did the audience go to the actual words.
The words we use are less important than our feelings and attitudes about the words and, generally, when we present them. It is also clear that body language, especially eye contact and facial expressions, are far more influential than words.
Body language offers the speaker and the audience a great deal of insight into how words are received. The speaker also uses body language demonstrated by the audience to judge and moderate the impact they are making.
Your body language is directly related to your mind; according to Dale Carnegie, well known for his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, and a renowned professor at Harvard University, stated that our body language not only impacts others but has a tremendous impact on our behavior.
Nonverbal language is the most honest form of communication because the body rarely lies. People will first believe the nonverbal when you say one thing and do another (when your verbal and nonverbal language is not aligned)
Posted on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/primary-function-nonverbal-communication-convey-meaning-jones
Is saying that soft skills are underestimated really an employment trend?
When you hear about “Upskilling” what they are saying is more than soft skills are needed. That new hard skills are felt to be necessary in todays evolving job markets?
Are they really more important than polishing and using your soft skills. That has been the push in recent years. The implication is that with economic uncertainty on the horizon, upskilling opportunities for the workforce will become a prominent retention strategy, demonstrating an organization’s desire to drive employee growth and development.
Organizations today have picked up on employee’s desire for continuous learning, and push to offer learning and development programs set in place.
Employers want to attract the best talent and many now believe that to do that a potential employee would be wise to cover any skill gaps that may have. The result is offering the opportunity to job seekers and employees to develop or learn new skills is a solution.
Technical skills constantly change, but soft skills remain with you throughout your career. That's because they are relevant, transferable and keep an individual highly employable.
Soft skills sets top leaders apart. Interpersonal communication, decision-making, time management and collaboration are all soft skills for employees and job seekers alike.
More News about Soft Skills
LinkedIn's Global Talent Trends report found that 92 percent of hiring professionals say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills
Is Zillennial a real thing? Put simply, Zillennials are a micro-generation that sits in between Millennials and Generation Z. Ketchum Inc. defines GenZennials as those born from 1992 to 2000.
Power skills are soft skills rebranded as people skills and they're a top asset in today's workplace. If you want successful managers and leaders, you need them to have power skills. Power skills include traits such as emotional intelligence, integrity, empathy, communication, and more
Are Soft Skills Important? According to the Society of Human Resource Management's (SHRM) 2021-22 State of the Workplace report, 77% of HR professionals said that improving employees' soft skills was key to their organisations' future plans.
Why Millennials Lack Soft Skills. Because Millennials are so proficient and reliant on technology, many of them haven't properly developed other skills apart from working on digital device
The Secret to Networking and the Informational Networking Revealed →
I have written two books about Networking, and both used up space explaining the “informational interview.” In some ways, it is a surprise how these terms are just accepted, even in some cases understood, but so infrequently ignored when they would help.
This isn’t just for job seekers. It is what we do. You’re a lawyer with a big case but must understand what the other side thinks. You are a salesperson, and you need to understand who the real competition is and what they have. All your buddies at the hangout seem to have changed their attitude about you, and you don’t know why? Here it comes, the secret solution. Go ask. Of course, in some cases, you need to know who to ask.
Many years ago, going into sales and selling food to restaurants, I needed to know what they were buying. The easy solution I used then was to look in their garbage can. In some cases, it even told me who the competitors were.
Networking will likely take you places you never expected. Yes, garbage cans, but you will find meaningful connections everywhere. You know someone who knows someone. Remember, six degrees of separation is the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of "friends of friends” can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. This is also known as the “six handshakes rule.” In March 2023, I published “Networking With a Purpose The Informational Interview, Its Use, and Why it is a Valuable Tool.” The introduction page states:
“In the following pages, I explain the purpose of informational interviews, their benefits, and the strategies to build a network efficiently. Here you will find a step-by-step guide, including a list of sample questions to ask to feel confident embarking on this critical process in your journey. Rest assured, the skills and strategies detailed in this book will serve you long after they land you that coveted job (or answers about your lawsuit or competition) as a powerful weapon for long-term success.
Did I hear someone say, “Gosh, Brent, is that why you wrote this article today to sell your book” Of course not. (Amazon link amzn.to/3T50llg )
Career Change Considerations: Active - Passive Search, Loyalty, and Needed Research
This article is also included in CEM LinkedIn Articles Section as well as on LinkedIn on my newsletter site