There are fights that you will always remember! In sales, in management, in negotiations. In every aspect of your business life. I trust though that you remember more those that you lost more. Have you ever considered why is that happening? "My God! I won $1.000.000". "What was I saying?" "Oh yes... remember that time I lost $1.000??? That @!$%&# made a better offer than me and tricked us!" Yeap! that's exactly how you treat yourself! It is said that a miracle can remain in your memory alive only for three days. A sad situation maybe even for a life time! But why? Any thoughts? It's really simple!
Today is Wednesday. What do you remember of last Wednesday? It's only seven days away! I remember that we were not accurate in one offer we did. Nothing else. Then I search my calendar and I see that I signed two important contracts! No it was not Thursday but Wednesday!
The answer: When you loose... your ego is hurt! And our ego status is not under negotiation! Nobody is able even to touch it. Though! To loose is also a part of the game, but to loose means that your tactic and strategy was not correct. You may use such situation as a paradigm to avoid. Actually a path to win! What was your greater loss? Do you remember how you felt? Scary ha? In business there are only two options. Quit... or Conquer! What is your choice?
Olga insisted that I give some tips on interviews. Let's see...
First of all, you need to understand for whom you apply for a position. It is actually for your benefit since you will work there, and if you don't like it, it will mean that at the beginning you didn't observe small things that would have annoyed you.
Who is the person that you are going to meet? Do you have some information about him/her? Do you know his/her position in the company? I remember long time ago I had an interview in front of a panel of five managers of an International company and I was prepared to answer with specific words to each one of them that they would expect to hear in order to be sutisfied.
Think: you don't have a second chance to make a good first impression.
Smile always. Have in mind your values, and how these values will contribute to the company. Never say negative comments about previous companies that you have been employed.
Be confident but not arrogant! I remember that many arrogant people left my office with the head down, because they didn't realize that are not perfect, and someone can spot those tiny details that will expose you!!!
By the way... I have failed in two job interviews and I tell you... I became a better person after that. It always matters how you will treat a failure. My choice was to become better as a person and as a professional and I thank those people for their behavior. What was yours?
Everything as perfect. I had my notebook, my favorite pen, the CV of the candidate and of course the appointment at 13h45. I always set almost strange hours just to see if the candidate will be there that time.
13h40
Hello, I am Mr. X. Z. and I am here for the interview! (you should have been here after 5 minutes!)
Please come inside, coffee?
No thanks... (Why not? who said it's bad anyway to accept some coffee???)
- me smile - so Mr. X. tell me about yourself
blah blah blah and blah (is there a pattern that people follow on interviews? "my" and "I", after 2-3 minutes I interupted)
Why Apogee Mr. X.
Hmmm, you had a post, and I need a job (sincere... but...)
So you practically know nothing about our company, but you want to work with us!
- red face ... no responce-
What is your expertise you Z, please call me N.?
Well N. I am a really good programmer (practically 8 months of experience) and I want 1000 net (there I gave up!)
Thank you Mr. X. we will inform you
I really want to work with you N. (he continues!)
We'll be in touch, have a good day (he didn't touch the water... ok we washed the glass afterwards, don't worry)
This is a typical scenario. It happens about 70%. Why? There are two basic factors for that.
The first is the "ego". You see there are two egos. The good one is self esteem and should exist by being conscious and sincere with yourself and abilities. The bad one is the one that makes people blind and ignorant of their actual situation.
The second one is barrier people set on knowledge. If you want to achieve something you should read and investigate the facts. No matter what you do if you don't enhance your knowledge field you will be always low paid and with no perspective.
This time I was the one to buy! As you might have understood, mobility in Apogee is something like air for fire. Therefore, we need to arrange accommodation for our partners/staff across Europe. Of course we have an agency that we cooperate. After some calls of our administration, for a specific need of an apartment we had, and their let's say not-on-time-return-call, I called them.
10h30
Hello Mr. X, this is Mr. N. calling, how are you? I am calling for an apartment we need immediately and Mrs. M. told me that you don't have one.
Hello Mr. N. Yes we don't have one, but I can give you Mr. Y phone number, he also have an agency, and he might be able to help you.
10h32
Hello Mr. Y this is Mr. N. I got your phone number from Mr X. and I need an apartmnet
Could we meet at 11h30 ?
11h35
deal! I got the apartment
13h30
Hello Mr. N. this is Mr. X (the first one) I called you because I do have an apartment for you!!!
...
This is the perfect example of not calculating / understanding correctly your resources / capacity and furthermore giving your customer to a "friend".
