Airplane Networking

Have you been in a plane and the people behind you get asleep? Have you ever had an interesting experience of an airplane flight?

Let me tell you that the past week I have to airplane travel and on the back line two people become asleep, that wouldn't be weird unless both of them started a snoring conversation. The first one snore, the second one answer with his sonres to. At some point that became a growling, aspirations and exhalations symphony. That make me think of this post. I will share some tips to avoid complicated situations in a plane:

1.- Consider that in many occasions the people who travels is tired, so they probably decide to sleep during the flight, do not disturb them, it will be probably that you may not get the best results.

2.- It's important the courtesy during flights, the spaces are reduced and the people some times is despaired because the waiting times. Be courteous with your seats neighbors, sometimes a thank you said at the right moment will provide the possibility to talk of some other thing.

3.- If your neighbour is not working, but reading or eating, it is possible that you may ask some questions like where he travels or the purpose of her trip, if the people is in a conversational mood you may have some talking time with this new acquaintance and in your way to make a card exchange.

Pay the most attention on your new friend reaction, so you may get the best results of a stressful situation and turn them into successful networking.

Resolution's review

We are at the middle of 2015, and its about time to review the new year's resolutions. Just to know what it's the worth of having resolutions if one can accomplish them?

1.- Have a post at different social networks: YouTube, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, Vimeo, Reddit, Linkedin, Goodreads, Pinterest  

I think this is one of my not accomplished resolutions, I'm still working among the same social networks, just entered to Instagram. I haven't used Flicker, YouTube, Vimeo, Reddit and Goodreads.

New plan: At least 1 entrance in one of this networks, it seems a lot more easy than the past resolution.

2.- Make a Virtual Networking event 

Almost ready, I will share with you my experiences, we will have a Virtual Info Session on June 17th, the invitations have been sent.

3.- Make a Face to Face Networking Event.

I've had a lot of this events, not all of them organized by me, but still the resolution has been accomplished and there will be many more events the upcoming months.

4.- Describe 5 different Networking "events".

Foodworking, Petworking, Gymworking, Dietworking, Weddingworking... the mission has been accomplished. Now the following resolution, continue making reviews on different networking events.

5.- Have at least 10 Blog Followers 

Also accomplished, as in today we are 10 people, new aim, 20.

As you may see is not that difficult to follow up your new year's resolutions, just have a look at them and review them in the middle of the year. How are you doing with your personal resolutions?

Wedding Guest Networking

This past weekend I was invited to a wedding, and in my lunch group we share a little bit about some activities that wedding guests should consider to make some networking with the bride and groom. I share some thoughts about it:

1.- The married couple usually take a lot of time and effort preparing the event, sometimes more than a year. Think that if you were invited to a wedding, it's because you are important for them, so make the effort and prepare yourself for the event.

2.- Plan ahead the type of clothing you will be wearing, think that the bride and groom want to be with you and have fun, so practical and comfortable, without loosing style, is the best.

3.- Be part of the event, if there is dancing, dance, if you have to give a message, share, if it's photograph time, look for a space and be there. The couple invited you because you are special to them and they want to have memories that you have a blast at their wedding.

4.- Confirm your assistance with some time space, make sure that on the wedding day you won't be "lazy", it's important that you don't leave empty spaces, the bride and groom take care about your confirmation and are counting on you.

5.- If you were invited to a religious ceremony and then to a party, the best thing to do is to make sure you go to both of them. It doesn't seem good that you only participate on the party, its important that the marrying couple be aware that you want to be with them too. 

6.- Don't forget to send a present, nowadays it's easy to make some account transfer, buy on line gifts, use the gift table at a department store. The couple, but specially the bride, will remember what was your gift.

Always remember that the most important thing is that you have fun and by this mean you will make that other people have fun too. Are you ready for your next event?

Networking Quotes

Today I like you to consider some inspiration to begin your day. I share some networking quotes that may lead you:

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others." (African Proverb

"The opposite to networking is not working." (Someone smart)

"The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work." (Robert Kiyosaki)

"Everyone should build a network, before they need it." (Dave Delaney)

"Networking is an essential part of building wealth." (Armstrong Williams)

"Social networks represent the digital reflection of what humans do: we connect and share." (Jeremiah Owyang)

"You only win when you help others win." (Paul Zane Pilzer)

"It's all about people. It's about networking and being nice to people and not burning any bridges. Your book is going to impress, but in the end it is people that are going to hire you." (Mike Davidson)

Have a nice and motivated day!!!!

Networking and Collaboration

Nowadays when you think about innovation, collaboration schemes are used to enhance ideas, products, services or just to create something new. For me it's a way to do intentional networking.

I'm going to present some examples on how collaboration has promoted or changed some of everyday activities and so different in the past.

Musical Collaboration: For sure you have listened singers that have made different musical collaborations, this mixes have taken them to explore rhythms, musical tendencies, and then they came back with a different proposal that works. Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Shakira, Ricky Martin had made their carriers by doing important collaborations that lead them to reach different audiences.

Food Collaboration: Maybe you are familiarized with Gaston Acurio proposal, he is a well known chef with 34 restaurants among 11 different countries. His popularity increased when he collaborated with colleagues and cooks to improve the taste of the food he was offering to his customers. He had a TV show and share with the people his recipes, sometimes he had feedback and improved them. Thanks to this collaboration, Peruvian food is now worldwide recognized among the best.

Entrepreneurship Collaboration: Do you have a good idea, but lack of the monetary funds to put it on practice? Use collaboration, there are a lot of well-intended people that are interested in changing this world, invest their money towards progress and have a little fun on the side. Kickstarter its a web page that allows entrepreneurs to post their projects and share them. If you are a regular people you may invest on a project that you found interesting. When the project gets the requested funds, it became an obligation to make true the project, some of them have gained and surpassed the money that they have assured their product sales for the rest of the year.

So when you have a good idea, consider to share it with more people, maybe transform your idea in a joint project. And don't forget to change to a Networking Mindset attitude.

Intercultural Communication

Have you ever experienced that even speaking the same language you won't get understood? It happens so me frequently, so I want to share with you some examples that I've experienced so you may have reference to act when in similar situations you are.

1.- The verb grab or take (agarrar o tomar), in Mexico will never be get (coger). The Mexican double meaning of the words has some sexual connotations, so be careful when you are here and use this word, people will start laughing.

2.- Here we ask things very careful and we take a lot of consideration on the words we use in order to not come out with an aggressive comment, at the North the people is less stressed about this situation and we are considered to be belligerent: "Can you hand me a napkin please?" but in the center and south of this country it would sound like: "May I bother you with a little napkin, pleasssy?" At some other countries you may not bother or give more information... you just ask for your napkins and because its the waiter obligation to provide them, in so many cases the word please is not used at all.

3.- When you go to latinamerica and they ask for your number, they are meaning your id number, not your cellphone. Do not get confused by this, they are not being flirty, this is a common mistake that happens usually to  Mexican girls.

4.- If they call you in Mexico and you answer "what (que)" your mom will argue and tell you it's not "que" you have to say "instruct me (mande)". At any other country the people should understand with a "tell me" or a "yes" and our very common word "mande (instruct me)" make people think we are still in a servant economy or so. 

5.- Last but not least I would like to give a special mention to the Mexican "ahorita" (right now), this may be from one minute to an extra 3 week delay, the difference may strive on the context and your special need. One day I took my car to the shop, for a minor repair, the repairman say me "ahorita" and it took him 3 weeks to give my car back.

So remember depending on the place you are, you may consider to review the local definitions of the words, be careful on your language use.

Interview Tips

Have you done a job interview and feel you were not well prepared? Here I share some activities that you may do to cover some mayor aspects on your dressing, personal arrange or performance, so you may feel that you have done well no matter the job you are asking for:

At my job I had the opportunity to interview a lot of candidates to fill out positions of different types and in different cities, most of the times a good resume is the key, but when I have to choose between some different candidates here are some activities that I always watch:

Common non verbal mistakes:

1.- Avoid eye contact. When the people doesn't look back, you loose confidence on the candidate, in my case I think there is something that doesn't want to be shared.

2.- Not knowing the company. You may review some important information on the Internet, there are some basic aspects like divisions, markets, cities or sites that have presence. It's really easy nowadays to be prepared. 

3.- Don't smile. Having people with a sad face is not a well sign of organizational behavior, if you are not in a good mood, think of something funny before you get into the interview. Remember to bring the best out of you.

4.- Have a bad posture. Like the previous tip, a bad posture sells boring and tedious, no one would like to hire someone that lacks of enthusiasm on the activity is being offered. 

5.- Fidget too much. When people moves too much on their chair, they are sending the message that are nervous or that they want to get out of there fast, don´t give your interviewer the option to let you go outside fast, the more time you have to present yourself the best.

6.- Have a weak handshake. This also means lack of confidence, practice if you think you need a harder grab.

7.- Play with the hair or touch your face. Everything that has to do with movement implies nervousness, remember that you are selling your own person at the interview your skills and your knowledge, don't let a nervous hands get on your way.

8.- Cross your arms. In ontological language means closure, if you are in an interview send the correct message that you want to share your experiences with the company.

Consider also to pay attention to the following activities:

The interviewers look up for the dressing, acting and walking when the people cross the door. Then they pay attention to your voice quality, grammar and confidence and third they look up for your word selection when speaking.

Last, but not least, if you are not on the fashion industry, very trendy or stylized people is not very good seen by interviewers. In many cases interviewers choose the people to hire when reviewing their clothes.