Your new employer asks you to attend a networking event at the Chamber of Commerce.  She wants you to meet people, put forth a positive attitude, and let people know about your place of employment and what your company does.

The first thing you do in preparation for the event is to retrieve your copy of Outfluence, The Better Way to Influence, and turn to Chapter 20, which focuses on Your Personal Presentation.  There you will be reminded about silent communicators that you will want to be aware of.

Before you enter the event you will want to reinforce five specific Outfluence behaviors:

•         Smile

•         Make your greeting memorable

•         Listen

•         Think of others before thinking of yourself

•         Inspire your performance

Now we’re coming to the application of all your preparation: contact with the people you want to Outfluence.  How do you begin to use the knowledge you’ve gained? Vince Clews, a respected writer, producer, and director says he employs Outfluence by, “Simply being honest about who I am, what I do, and what the person I’m working with, selling to, or working for can expect me to deliver. In the final analysis, it comes down to honest, personal interaction. It’s the same whether it’s work-related or in personal situations.”

In the charming movie, Phenomenon, John Travolta played the role of a small-business owner. One star-filled evening he was walking along the sidewalk when a searing burst of light struck his head. It left him with a whopper of a headache, but also with the intellect of a genius and the memory of a supercomputer. Certain activities in which he engaged caused the FBI to test his intellect. During the test, he found himself telekinetically moving a pencil back and forth across a tabletop. The examiner asked him how he was doing that, and the Travolta character replied, “I just tell it to move with my mind.”

This analogy describes perfectly how Outfluence is implemented. An Outfluencer attempts over time to persuade a person to respond in a desired way. An Outfluencer moves

a person honestly, sincerely, and strategically with integrity and good intentions. Travolta’s Phenomenon character was a good person whose only desire was to share his astonishing

gift with his neighbors. His neighbors were suspicious for a while. After all, in today’s society people are not accustomed to displays of generosity delivered without expectation. Outfluence

does just that and thereby is a phenomenon of its own.  Everyone uses telekinetic energy every day. Instead of using it to move pencils, we use it to move people. We either attract or repel them. Energy can be physical; you see it and it touches you. Sometimes energy translates into sound and you hear it. It can also touch other senses without being seen or heard, such as warmth. Sometimes energy touches us emotionally and evokes human feelings. This is the energy of Outfluence. Outfluence touches emotion and moves people.  Accomplish that at the Chamber event and your employer will take notice, and she might even put you on the fast track to advancement in her company.

This six-part series of daily pearls is designed to give the job seeker an edge in the highly competitive job market.  We have talked about the basics – preparation, removing distractions, Constant Messaging®.  We have gone through the interview process.  You have now been offered a position at your company of choice (a large accomplishment in itself!) and now you are entering your probationary period.  The company wants to see you perform before a final decision is made on your permanent employment.

Now is the time to move to the next phase of job security.  Today we are going to focus on your inspired performance.  An inspired performance requires a little more emotion, a little more sacrifice, a little more effort, and a little more focus on the needs of others.

Emotion.  As we reviewed earlier in this series, controlled emotion is good.  Uncontrolled emotion can be unsettling for those around you.  The type of emotion a new employee wants to display is keen interest in every aspect of the job, a strong desire to learn, a helpful attitude to everyone in the company, a suppressed ego.

Sacrifice.  Alert your family and friends that you may not be as available to them as usual for a while.  Your new job may require more of your time initially as you learn the totality of its requirements.

Effort.  Every employer prizes a self-starter.  An employer notices the employee who anticipates the company’s needs and prepares to meet them.  Satisfied customers drive company growth.  Work hard to let customers know they are valued.

Others-Focus.  Awareness of silent communication will enable you to recognize unusual stress within fellow employees or within customers.  Communicate with them.  Help them if you can.  Pay attention to little things – people appreciate it.  For example, if you work in a grocery store and one of your jobs is to manage the shopping carts, be aware of shoppers who are transferring their groceries from a cart to a vehicle.  Offer to return the cart to the store for them.  It saves them a few steps and it delivers the silent message that you care, that you are willing to go the extra mile for them.

Every job has its uniqueness.  The nature of the inspired performance you bring to your job will involve the examples I have given you in today’s Pearl and much more.  Outfluence coaches can help you identify the unique aspects of your job and design a plan of inspired performance with you.

Networking is an important component of doing business.  We will focus on the business of connection in tomorrow’s edition of The Job Seeker series of the Pearl of the Day.

I watched the first two broadcasts of the “new” American Idol.  I enjoyed both the contestants and the judges.  The contestants have always been emotional; they wear their hearts on their sleeves.  Past judges would occasionally let their emotions show.  Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez have given indication that they like the emotional aspect of the show, and they show it.

In Part II of The Job Seeker series I wrote about Constant Messaging® which is a form of communication focused on the senses – hearing, seeing, and feeling.  Today let’s look into emotions and what effect emotions have on decision-making.  Just why is it that we are attracted to shows like American Idol?  It has to do with a hormone called Dopamine.

Dopamine was discovered in 1958. It is a hormone that plays a critical role in something known as the reward system, a collection of brain structures which attempts to regulate and control behavior by inducing pleasurable effects. In his book, How We Decide, author Jonah Lehrer explains that, “dopamine neurons automatically detect the subtle patterns that we would otherwise fail to notice.” These patterns are translated by us into feelings, and it is feelings, or emotion, that guides our decisions.

The great American humorist and social commentator Will Rogers said that the ability to make good decisions comes from the experience of learning from our bad decisions. The secret, then, to making more good decisions than bad decisions is to pay attention to our emotions and regulate them. The way a prospective employer does that is by thinking about his decisions. Every decision he makes is accompanied by a moment of silent awareness. Through education and practice, he has learned to be cognizant of silent awareness moments, to anticipate them, and to pay thoughtful attention to them. When you as an employee prospect respond emotionally but with thoughtful consideration of the consequences, you are applying intelligent emotions to your actions. The result is good decision-making by you in the responses you make during the interview.  The prospective employer is attempting to make a good decision about you as he listens to your verbal responses and responds to your emotions. Good decisions advance both of your goals.

The reason people like me enjoy American Idol so much can be found in the personal stories that the contestants tell.  Their stories of struggle and dreams and family and disappointment raise our interest, and our emotions, to the point of pulling for certain contestants to really be good.  If they turn out to have real talent, we’re hooked.  We’ll watch week after week.

As you walk into an interview room and attempt to secure an offer of employment, remember that the person you are talking to is an emotional human being just like you are.  At this point he has seen your resume’ and is attracted to your story.  He is pulling for you to live up to your resume’.  Your goal is to thoughtfully, purposefully and genuinely sell your story to him.  Carefully use emotion to inspire your interview performance.

In Part IV of The Job Seeker series we will explore inspired performance and how it will give you another edge in a job interview.

Interviewing for a job is serious business.  You present yourself at a place of business that someone started and worked hard to build over several years, maybe many years.  A loyal customer base counts on this business delivering a consistently high level of service.  The employees of the company rely on each other to perform at a high level in order to meet the quality and service expectations of their customers and thus to preserve their jobs.  Their livelihoods are at stake.

When you walk in the door, the question for today is will the owner and the employees say “Oh, my . . . this will never do.”  Or will they say, “Oh, my!  This looks like somebody we want as part of our company.”

The determining factor will be in the level of awareness you have of your Constant Messaging®.  Constant Messaging is detected through sensory perception.  In other words, in an instant people you come into contact with judge who you are and what you are about from what they see, hear, and feel.  As you walk in the door, they “see” what you look like, what you are wearing, the quality of your eye contact, and the sincerity of your smile.  They “hear” your attitude, your vocabulary, and your delivery.  They “feel” your strength or weakness by your handshake.  When you survive this first hurdle of the job interview by making an excellent first impression, you will move into the interview room where your preparation for the interview will be on full display.  Here are a few important personal attributes you will want to address prior to arriving for the interview.

Scouts working for teams in the National Basketball Association have an interesting method of assessing a college player’s assets.  They ask five questions:

1.      Does he have a weapon? For example, the “sky hook” that Kareem Abdul Jabbar had in his day.

2.      Does he have a position? Can he play either guard, center, or forward so well as to leave no doubt as to what position he should play?

3.      Can he get his own look? In other words, can he work the court in order to get a shot at the basket from his highest percentage spot on the floor?

4.      Can he defend his position? A player has to move his feet quickly in order to stay in front of his opponent and keep him from scoring, or at least to make it difficult for him to score. It takes commitment to play good defense.

5.      Does he “get it”? Can he lead? Does he have a work ethic? Is he responsible? Will he be a team player?

You can make the same assessment about yourself. A prospective employer will want to know the same things about you that the basketball scout wants to know about a player.

When making your personal assessment here are a few basic questions you will want to address:

1.      Do you have a weapon? What makes you nearly impossible to replace?

2.      Do you have a position? What’s your specialty?  What are you bringing to the company?

3.      Can you get your own look? Are you self-sufficient? Are you a self-starter?

4.      Can you defend your position? Do you know your stuff?

5.      Can you express yourself? Do you “get it”? Are you a responsible individual? Are you a team player?

These five questions get right to the heart of the matter, don’t they? To begin your assessment, make an honest determination of your attributes. Next, evaluate the

requirements of the position to which you aspire. Finally, formulate a plan to fill in any gaps between your current attributes and the requirements of that position. The purpose of personal assessment is to make you a better product to sell.

When you know the answers to these questions you will be able to align your Constant Messaging® to the expectations of the company with whom you are interviewing for a job.  Constant Messaging is not a gimmick.  It is part of a lifestyle that relies on thoughtful, purposeful, and genuine application for its effectiveness.  For more information, please search the Outfluence website or contact us at 888-881-1660 to learn more about our coaching and teaching services.

Today is a great day to look for a job!  Here’s what you do:  put on a conservative, professional-looking set of clothing, shine up your shoes, and head out to a coffee shop or a mall area where you know local businesspersons frequent.  Get yourself a cup of your favorite morning beverage.  Sit down amongst the folks and begin to meet people.  As you are standing in line waiting to place or receive your order, be sure to strike up a conversation with someone near you.  Be confident, friendly, complimentary, and most importantly be yourself.  Don’t be loud.  Always be respectful.  Listen more than you talk.  Make good eye contact.  Don’t be afraid to smile.

You don’t want to be too aggressive.  You don’t want to appear desperate.  You just want to get to know people.  When you meet someone you really like and you determine that they come into the establishment often, make sure you return at the same time on future days.  Get to know them better.  Over time you will get comfortable enough to begin talking about opportunities.  It won’t take long.

Of course, if you meet someone with whom you connect right away don’t hesitate to ask if there are employment opportunities where they work, or in their company if you discover that you are speaking to the owner.  Company owners are always searching for people who are:

• energetic,
• self-starters,
• good communicators,
• flexible,
• and team players.

You want to display these qualities.  These are all qualities that you can communicate silently.  You can find more information about silent communication in this website.

As a job seeker you have to find ways to differentiate yourself from the crowded playing field of job seekers.  I’ve told you what employers are looking for and I have told you where to get information about differentiating yourself.  If you need coaching, our Outfluence coaches can help you in person, over the phone, or via e-mail.  The cost is minimal; the result is the job-seeker’s edge.  Call  Al directly at 410-365-0742 for more information.

Every day needs to be inspired, and you are the only one who can inspire your day today.  Go out and inspire today by helping someone, meeting someone, or doing something special that will move you closer to your goals.

There she was, walking along in the mall, focused on the cell phone in her hand. The security camera was watching as she approached the area of the fountain and the pool filled with water. Other shoppers were in the area but they too were focused – on where they were walking. In the background were storefronts, with people entering and exiting the shops. It was a normal mall scene.

Then an amazing thing happened. The young lady, cell phone in hand, walked into the small ledge surrounding the pool, tripped and fell head first into the water. Without a moment’s hesitation, she stood up and walked out of the water and continued on her journey through the mall.

Everywhere you look these days people of all ages seem to have their heads buried in their electronic devices. Walking through the mall, driving in their vehicles, at family gatherings, in the workplace, in school – it seems technology is controlling us rather than empowering us. Is it?

Abilene Christian University began a research project about a year ago to determine ways that the iPhone and iTouch, in conjunction with an extensive resource network, might enhance students’ educational experiences. Response to the project has been positive. New tools are being provided to the students and the learning environment is being transformed.

Other educational institutions have been using the Internet as a learning tool for several years. All of us who are teaching and coaching are finding our way through the continuous waves of technology advancements as we try to avoid drowning in the volume of products reaching our desktops. Technology is certainly occupying a lot of our time but it is not controlling most of us. Is technology empowering us to learn more and do more? Absolutely it is. All I have to do is look at my granddaughters and the amazing things they are accomplishing before they are through elementary school to evidence that.

One of the best things we can do for our teens and our young adults is to encourage them to build strong face-to-face friendships. At some point they will have to lift their heads out of the digital world into the real world and communicate with real people.

I encourage my young friends to consider adopting these 10 principles for a happy and productive life, one filled with meaningful person-to-person communication:

1.Respect People.

Every person you will see has a story, just like you do. Get to know as much as people want to share of their stories. When you know something about a person, it is easier to build a relationship. Make friends, not enemies. Set a good example for people to follow.

2. Master Silent Communication.

Outfluence is a communication model. 70% of all communication is silent. Visit www.outfluence.com often to learn why it is important to use your silence thoughtfully, purposefully, and sincerely.

3. Learn.

Learning opens the door to opportunity and turns hope into reality. The more you learn the more valuable you become to more people. Create your opportunities; you control how many you have to choose from.

4. Serve Others.

Every time you meet another person, focus on encouraging, listening to, or serving him. Always remember that you will get back whatever you give to the world. Give of yourself freely, without expectation.

5. Small Stuff Matters.

Pay attention to the little things. Write thank you notes when people do nice things for you. Also write notes to friends when they accomplish something special. Be courteous to people. People appreciate these things, even if they never acknowledge them, and your kindness makes you memorable. You will notice it in how they treat you.

6. Believe in Yourself.

You can do anything that you want to if you believe in yourself. Do not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Think for yourself. Be a leader, not a follower. Keep on moving forward toward your goals. Overcome fear by taking action.

7. Make Wise Decisions.

Don’t be afraid to try. It is okay to make mistakes, but consider decisions carefully. Find a mentor, a person that you respect, to help you make decisions. You can recover from everything except death. When you fail, “stop” before proceeding again, “look” at what caused your failure, and “listen” to your inner voice. Your inner voice must affirm your belief in yourself. Remember, failure is temporary. Failure stops when you begin again.

8. Attract Positive People.

You’ll want to make friends with people who begin a relationship with a great and sincere smile and who make eye contact with you. These silent communicators tell you that a person has a good self-image. A good self-image is an indicator of a positive and a successful person. As the relationship builds you will confirm the truth about the person. Keep in mind—what’s the best way for someone to get that message about you? Absolutely – greet everyone with good eye contact and a sincere smile.

9. Understand Consequences.

Every decision in your life carries with it a consequence for you and often for others. Take time to consider important decisions. Fight the urge to make quick emotional decisions. They are usually bad decisions. Think before you make a decision, just as you think before you speak.

10. Work Hard.

Be prepared to work very hard to succeed. There is not a quick path to achieving your goals. Hard work makes you feel good about yourself. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. Hard work is one way that you contribute to your community, and it’s how you build your own life.

“What time is it!?”

“Game time!”

The undisputed leader of the Baltimore Ravens football team, Ray Lewis, starts every game with his famous pre-game dance and chant.  Fans love it.  Teammates respond to it.

But now that the Ravens are in the playoffs, Ray decided it was time for another message.  This one is a silent message.   Quoting from the Baltimore Sun, “For once, Lewis delivered a pointed message without having to say a word.”

In the locker room, prior to the opening round game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Ray wore his Super Bowl Championship ring earned a decade ago.  As his young teammates came to look at it, the message had been delivered.  Ray wanted his team focused on the ultimate prize – the Super Bowl championship and all that it means.

The silent message he was sending was, Men, this is what we’ve been working for.  Not very many people get to wear this ring.  It’s special.  The memory of what it takes to get one of these will stay with you forever.  The friendships we have built will stay with us forever, unlike other teams in the league who leave the game having never won a championship and having very little reason to be called back together.  We, the Baltimore Ravens, will be in demand.  Everyone will want to talk to us.  Because we will be champions.

As much as 90% of all communication is silent.  Ray Lewis knows how to deliver silent messages that get results.  Wouldn’t you like to know how it’s done?  Wouldn’t you like to lead your organization without having to say a word?  We’ll coach you through it.  Give us a call today at 888-881-1660.  Champions know the value of silent communication.

On a 3-hour drive from Richmond, Virginia to my home in Maryland I listened to the Motown channel on XM radio.  I was coasting along I-95 at a leisurely pace within the speed limit when James Brown joined me in the car.  Do you know people used to say that James could raise the dead when he started groovin’ in his signature style?  Well, as he got it goin’ I felt my foot pushing the gas pedal toward the floor and I noticed my aggressive side beginning to appear.

But when the balladeers followed with their mellow offerings, I felt my body relax and I returned to coasting along at a leisurely pace.

Isn’t that interesting?

I want you to take a little test with me and let’s see how our behavior changes in different circumstances.  How about when we associate with people who are a bit rowdy; do you think our behavior changes?  Have you ever attended a sporting event where your own child was playing?  They write books about the aggressive behavior of some parents at sporting events.  When we watch the children of friends play, we are supportive and we cheer, but the passion is not the same as when it’s our own kids.

Another circumstance in which I see behavior change occurs in moments of frustration.  If the frustration occurs with a friend or colleague, we empathize and we are patient.  But when frustration occurs with a family member, we are likely to fly off the handle and say something we will regret later.

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.  Today’s Pearl is don’t be the problem; be the solution – stay in control of your emotions.

9-year-old Christina Taylor Green had lofty dreams.  She wanted to help other people.  She traveled with her neighbor in Tucson, Arizona to see her Congressperson, a woman, a role model, someone from whom she could learn about public service.  You know what happened.

President Obama spoke at a memorial service for Christina and five others who were killed that day in Tucson, and the Congressperson who was gravely wounded, and the numerous other people who were shot and injured.  He asked each of us to “live up to her expectations.”   The President implored his fellow citizens to communicate with each other “in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds.”

When an Outfluence professional speaks to an organization or conducts a workshop, he or she introduces Outfluence as a communication model that puts others first.  Constant Messaging® is focused on establishing a personal brand that is welcoming and giving.  During the creation of a Quiet Storm of Outfluence we teach our audience to encourage and uplift those with whom they come into contact.  Through awareness of what silent communication is and particularly awareness of how our communication impacts others, we silently change attitudes, make friends, and grow in our personal lives and in our careers.

My friend Dylene Cymraes captured the power of the Outfluence lifestyle when she wrote these words:  “In a group of at-risk kids, leadership emerges. A young man named Steven sits in the circle of his peers: his clothing, mannerisms, and attitude all command respect from the kids around him. They might snipe at each other, show disdain or disregard—but when this young man speaks, they listen. He has found a voice —his bearing denotes his own brand of leadership ability.

“But Steven is woefully unprepared for what lies ahead. In this venue, he has some level of respect; but in the adult world for which he is headed, the baggy pants and chains won’t help him gain an adult’s favorable vote in an interview. It’s not because he’s not interested in his own success; but he may not have the tools to operate in an adult world.

“The message most children send is one of frustration, rebellion and exploration. As they move from this place in their lives to more interaction with the adult world, most are unaware that what they don’t say is just as powerful as what they speak. Because they are not given tools to understand how impressions are formed, many will struggle with job or college interviews, as well as further work.

“As a facilitator and communicator for over 20 years, I know how much unconscious communication influences attitudes and opinion. The Silent Communication concept raises awareness by showing actions speak more eloquently than words ever will—and leaves a much deeper impression. If teenagers are given this powerful information, and taught how to make it work in their favor, they will be better prepared to meet the new responsibilities adulthood demands.”

Mr. President, as you so eloquently asked the nation to do, we are working toward becoming better people.  The best way we have discovered to do that is through the teachings of the Outfluence lifestyle that simply puts the needs of others first.

The Entrepreneurs Exchange of Annapolis, Maryland recently invited Al Betz to speak to its members.  Al’s topic was An Introduction to Outfluence.  He described Outfluence as a communication concept whose business objective was to elevate customers’ interest in the members’ businesses to customers who advocated for the members’ businesses.  His presentation included a discussion of the primary components of Outfluence – Constant Messaging®, the creation of a Quiet Storm of Outfluence, and Inspired Performance.  Al encouraged the business owners to strive to be tenacious in the pursuit of their goals, to explore creativity in all aspects of their ventures, and to approach every opportunity with integrity.