37 Secrets Only Successful People Know
Everything
you need to know about business, collected into a single handy article.
The
business of business isn't really all that complicated. While there is, of
course, specific knowledge required for specific industries, this post
encapsulates everything that you'll need to know to survive and thrive in
the business world.
The
lists below are adapted and condensed from my recently published book,Business Without the Bullsh*t: 49 Secrets and
Shortcuts You Need to Know.
HOW
TO MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS
1.
How to Become More Optimistic
1.
EXPECT
something wonderful to happen every day.
2. TREAT people as you'd want
to be treated.
3. DON'T waste breath fighting
about things you can't change.
4. CONCENTRATE on the job at
hand, not the results you seek.
5. ASSUME other people mean
well.
6. AVOID depressing people and
conversations.
7. EAT something delicious
every day.
8. TURN OFF the background
television.
9. ADOPT an attitude of
gratitude.
10.
REMEMBER
that the best is yet to come.
2.
How to Eliminate Stress
1.
CULTIVATE
the patience and perspective to let go of your results.
2. FOCUS on what you're doing
now rather than the results.
3. IF you're overworked,
negotiate a more reasonable workload.
4. CUT your hours to the
"sweet spot," which is about 40 hours a week.
5. AVOID people who won't or
can't control their own stress.
6. FIND a place where you can
work quietly away from distractions.
7. TURN OFF news programming
that's designed to rile you up.
8. TURN DOWN projects that you
can't do well.
9. STOP arguing with fools and
strangers online.
10.
ARRANGE
tasks consecutively rather than trying to multitask.
3.
How to Overcome Fear
1.
CONFRONT
your fears head on to reduce their power.
2. IMAGINE dealing with the
fear to make it less daunting.
3. REMEMBER that fear is just
excitement in disguise.
4. USE fear to spawn the
energy you need to perform well.
4.
How to Cope With Rejection
1.
REALIZE
that rejection is just a difference of opinion.
2. UNDERSTAND that rejection
only hurts because you let it.
3. REMEMBER that every
rejection moves you closer to your goal.
4. KEEP other opportunities in
reserve so you can quickly move on.
5.
How to Rise Above Failure
1.
CREATE
goals that motivate you to achieve something possible.
2. ALWAYS write goals down;
display them where you'll see them.
3. DECIDE by
saying "I must..." or "I will..." rather than
"I'll try...."
4. BREAK your big goals into
smaller, measurable milestones.
5. CHECK whether you're moving
toward or away from your goals.
6. WELCOME setbacks because
they'll hone your plan.
7. REMEMBER that the only true
failure is failing to take action.
HOW
TO MANAGE YOUR CAREER
6.
How to Achieve Your Dream Job
1.
KNOW
what would constitute your dream job.
2. FIND role models and
incorporate their way of thinking.
3. HAVE the courage to
sacrifice your security.
4. LEARN to sell your ideas
and yourself.
5. CREATE a plan and start
executing it today.
6. ADJUST your goal as you
learn more about yourself.
7.
How to Attain Career Security
1.
LIVE
below your means until you've got six months of income saved.
2. DEVELOP expertise that
makes it less likely you'll be fired.
3. CULTIVATE new opportunities
and record them in an escape plan.
8.
How to Get More Done Each Day
1.
DON'T
take calls from people you don't know, unless you're working in telesales or
product support.
2. USE email instead of
time-consuming voice mail
3. LIMIT your chitchat with
co-workers.
4. TURN OFF "alerts"
that interrupt your thinking.
5. KEEP TRACK of how you spend
time; that's half the battle.
6. REMEMBER that 20 percent of
your actions produce 80 percent of your results.
7. ONLY DO the 20 percent that
produces the 80 percent of your results.
8. PRIORITIZE based on what
accomplishes the most with the least effort.
9.
How to Use LinkedIn Effectively
1.
YOUR
personal brand will define how people see you.
2. GET a professional portrait
and expunge unprofessional ones.
3. CUSTOMIZE your résumé to
match your career goals.
4. SOLICIT recommendations
that are realistic and relevant.
5. AVOID blogging, unless
you're being paid to do so.
6. KEEP your irrelevant
opinions off the internet.
10.
How to Land a Job Interview
1.
CREATE
and sell your own job description, if possible.
2. GET a current employee to
recommend you, if possible.
3. CUSTOMIZE your résumé to
match the job description.
4. EXPLAIN "who I
am" in terms of the specific job.
5. DESCRIBE specifically how
you helped former employers, not what you did.
6. INCLUDE benefits that echo
phrases from the job description.
11.
How to Ace a Job Interview
1.
DON'T
put all your eggs in this one basket.
2. FIND out all you can about
the hiring firm.
3. DEVISE questions that show
you've done your research.
4. REHEARSE answers to the
standard questions.
5. WEAR what you'd wear if you
worked there; don't be late.
6. GET the offer, then decide
whether you really want the job.
HOW
TO MANAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES
12.
What Great Bosses Believe About Their Jobs
1.
BUSINESS
is an ecosystem, so cooperate, don't fight.
2. COMPANIES are communities,
so treat people as individuals.
3. MANAGEMENT is service, so make
others successful first.
4. EMPLOYEES are your peers,
so treat them like adults.
5. MOTIVATE with vision,
because fear only paralyzes.
6. CHANGE is growth, so
welcome rather than shun it.
7. TECHNOLOGY eliminates
busywork and frees creativity.
8. WORK is fun, so don't turn
it into a chore.
13.
How to Create Loyal, Effective Employees
1.
MANAGE
individuals, not numbers.
2. ADAPT your style to each
person.
3. MEASURE what's truly
relevant.
4. ONLY one priority per
person.
5. STAY even-tempered.
6. TAKE responsibility for
your low performers.
7. SHARE your thoughts and
ideas.
8. ASK questions rather than
providing answers.
9. TREAT everyone as equally
as possible.
10.
DON'T
expect more than you're willing to give.
11.
EXPLAIN
the reasoning behind your decisions.
12.
DON'T
prevaricate, decide now!
14.
How to Hire a Top Performer
1.
KNOW
exactly whom you're looking for.
2. CONSTANTLY seek viable
candidates.
3. LOOK for character, not
experience.
4. RESILIENCE is the mark of
potential greatness.
5. SEEK out the
self-motivated.
6. ATTITUDE is all-important.
7. DON'T settle for canned
references.
15.
How to Hold a Productive Meeting
1.
HAVE
an agenda before you meet.
2. PROVIDE background
information.
3. DON'T let the meeting
meander.
4. DOCUMENT what decisions
were made.
16.
How to Offer Constructive Criticism
1.
ADDRESS
undesirable behaviors when they happen.
2. OFFER praise, then identify
the behavior you want changed.
3. ASK questions to understand
the "why" behind the behavior.
4. AGREE upon a plan to change
the behavior.
5. MONITOR and reinforce the
changed behavior.
17.
How to Redirect a Complainer
1.
SCHEDULE
a conversation when they try to start one.
2. SET the agenda for the
conversation as a "problem-solving" session.
3. LISTEN respectfully to the
entire complaint.
4. ASK what the complainer
plans to do.
5. CONFIRM that your advice is
truly wanted.
6. PROVIDE your best advice
(if it's wanted).
7. END the conversation at the
first "Yeah, but...."
18.
How to Fire Somebody
1.
TELL
it like it is without the biz-blab.
2. SHOW empathy for your
co-workers.
3. EXPLAIN why it's happening,
as far as you legally can.
4. CUT quickly, heal, and move
on.
HOW
TO MANAGE YOUR CO-WORKERS
19.
The Ten Types of Annoying Co-Workers
1.
WAFFLERS
can't decide, so force the issue.
2. CONQUERORS must win, so
make them team leaders.
3. DRAMATISTS crave attention,
so ignore them.
4. ICONOCLASTS break rules
needlessly, so avoid them.
5. DRONERS are boring, so find
something else to do.
6. FRENEMIES sabotage, so keep
them at arm's length.
7. TOADIES are irrelevant; be
polite but ignore them.
8. VAMPIRES leach energy,
unless you stay upbeat.
9. PARASITES steal credit, so
track who's contributed.
10.
GENIUSES
are all talk, so pester them until they deliver.
20.
How to Earn the Respect of Your Peers
1.
BE
yourself rather than your role.
2. SHOW interest in other
people.
3. SHARE the limelight.
4. DRESS and groom to match
your ambitions.
5. PAUSE before speaking to
mentally frame your thoughts.
6. SPEAK from your chest
without verbal tics or an end of sentence rise in pitch.
21.
How to Play Clean Office Politics
1.
FIND
OUT what other people need and want.
2. BUILD mutually useful
alliances with those you can trust.
3. KEEP TRACK of the favors
you owe and the ones owed you.
4. USE your alliances at key
points to help achieve your goals.
22.
How to Recruit a Mentor
1.
MENTORS
crave to teach people what they've learned.
2. SEEK OUT mentors who have
experience and skills you lack.
3. ASK for advice and let the
relationship develop.
4. BE KIND when you outgrow
the relationship.
23.
How to Shine in a Meeting
1.
TREAT
meetings as a possible way to advance your agenda.
2. AVOID meetings that don't
serve your own agenda.
3. DECIDE whether each meeting
will be useful or useless.
4. EITHER decline to attend or
prepare well; no in between.
5. TAKE notes, so you can
speak coherently when it's your turn.
6. SPEAK confidently, and, if
appropriate, segue into your agenda.
7. PUBLISH your own
"minutes" of the meeting.
24.
How to Cope with an Office Bully
1.
DON'T
try to calm the bully down or apologize.
2. INSIST on respectful,
professional behavior.
3. IF the unprofessional
behavior continues, leave the immediate area.
4. COPE with your own emotions
privately.
5. REVISIT the issue at a
later date.
6. DECIDE whether the
relationship is worth it.
HOW
TO MANAGE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS
25.
The Five Rules of Business Communications
1.
KNOW
your reason for communicating.
2. PICK a medium that's
appropriate for the other person.
3. SIMPLIFY your message for
easy mental consumption.
4. EDIT out all buzzwords and
corporate-speak.
5. AVOID jargon, unless
dealing with fellow experts.
26.
How to Have a Productive Conversation
1.
KNOW
the reason you're having a conversation.
2. IGNORE your internal
dialog.
3. LISTEN carefully to the other
person.
4. CONSIDER what was said and
echo it back.
5. RESPOND with something that
adds to the conversation.
27.
How to Write a Compelling Email
1.
KNOW
what decision you want made.
2. EXPRESS that decision as a
conclusion at the beginning.
3. SUPPORT that conclusion
with simple arguments.
4. PROVIDE evidence to bolster
each argument.
5. REPEAT your conclusion as
an action item.
6. WRITE the subject last and
include a benefit.
28.
How to Create a Great Presentation
1.
LESSEN
stage fright by speaking to individuals, not the entire audience.
2. PLAN OUT an emotional
journey for the audience.
3. FLAG the places where the
audience will feel emotions.
4. BUILD a story that creates
the emotions in that order.
5. ARRANGE everything into a
simple structure.
6. MAKE slides relevant,
short, simple, and readable.
7. CUSTOMIZE your presentation
and rehearse it.
29.
How to Deliver a Great Presentation
1.
STAND
UP rather than remain seated when you speak.
2. CHECK your equipment in
advance.
3. HAVE somebody else
introduce you.
4. SET AND RESPECT a time
limit.
5. AVOID "warm-up"
jokes, unless you're a comedian.
6. ADJUST your presentation to
the "feel" of the room.
7. SPEAK directly to audience
members.
8. DON'T meander and skip.
9. MAKE eye contact with
multiple people.
30.
How to Work a Room
1.
BE
CURIOUS about people and what they do.
2. WHEN ASKED, describe
yourself in terms of the value you provide.
3. IF the other person seems
uninterested, move on.
4. EXPLAIN how you're
different from the competition.
5. IF the other person seems
uninterested, move on.
6. OPEN a conversation to
assess mutual needs.
7. IF interest continues, ask
for a real meeting.
31.
How to Negotiate a Deal
1.
DEFINE
what's on the table in the deal.
2. DECIDE what's important to
you and what's not.
3. HAVE reasons why those
things are important to you.
4. RESERVE a plan B, so your
hand isn't forced.
5. LET the other person open
the negotiation.
6. WORK together rather than
digging your heels in.
7. CREATE a deal that reflects
what you both value.
8. STOP negotiating when the
bulk of the deal is defined.
HOW
TO MANAGE YOUR BOSS
32.
The Twelve Types of Bosses
1.
VISIONARIES are
inspiring but can act like jerks.
2. CLIMBERS want to get ahead,
so expect no loyalty.
3. BUREAUCRATS hate change, so
document everything.
4. PROPELLERHEADS love
gadgets, so become an expert.
5. FOGEYS want respect,
so recruit them as mentors.
6. WHIPPERSNAPPERS are
insecure, so don't make suggestions.
7. SOCIAL DIRECTORS love
consensus but may suddenly explode.
8. DICTATORS make fast
decisions but cause disasters.
9. SALES STARS would rather be
selling, so let them do so.
10.
HATCHET
MEN execute layoffs, so get another job pronto.
11.
LOST
LAMBS need your help but may get dependent on you.
12.
HEROES
are rare, so enjoy them while it lasts.
33.
How to Keep Any Boss Happy
1.
DO
what you say you'll do.
2. KEEP your boss in the loop.
3. CARE about your quality of
work.
4. ACCEPT decisions when
they're made.
5. SOLVE problems without
whining.
6. BE concise and clear.
7. MAKE your boss successful.
34.
How to Get the Best from Your Boss
1.
COMMUNICATE
what you need in order to do your best.
2. KEEP your manager informed
of your progress.
3. MAKE a case for keeping you
in your job.
4. ENSURE that everyone knows
how much you contribute.
5. UNDERSTAND your boss's
goals and desires.
6. CULTIVATE a common
interest.
35.
How to Ace Your Performance Review
1.
FIND
OUT what you must accomplish and document the conversation.
2. TRACK and report on your
accomplishments against your metrics.
3. WRITE your performance
review draft or provide "inputs" to same.
4. IF the boss attempts to
renege, insist on some other reward.
36.
How to Handle an Unreasonable Request
1.
BE
flexible about what's unreasonable.
2. IF you accept the task,
negotiate something in return.
3. CULTIVATE the courage
to say no.
4. REMEMBER that once you do
it, it's part of your job.
37.
How to Ask for a Raise
1.
DON'T
bother discussing what you need, want, or expect to be paid.
2. BASE your proposed raise on
your financial contribution.
3. LET your boss know how much
it would cost to replace you.
4. GATHER information to
buttress your case.
5. ESTABLISH a discrepancy
between your value and your pay.
6. FIELD objections, so
they reinforce your case.
7. PUSH until you've gotten a
commitment with a number.
8.
BY GEOFFREY
JAMES
Excerpted
and adapted from the book Business Without the Bullsh*t, by Geoffrey James.
© 2014 by Geoffrey James.
http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/37-secrets-only-successful-people-know.html
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